Aria (a psych fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Hey guys! So, this chapter contains some sensitive material. I've provided a summary of the major plot points in the author's note at the bottom of the page, so if you don't think you'll be comfortable reading the chapter, you won't be confused as to what's going on, never fear. Again, there is NO explicit (M rated) content in this chapter (or in any of my writing, really), but there are mentions of sexual assault, so if you aren't okay with reading it, skip to the handy-dandy family-friendly chapter synopsis at the bottom (to be honest, it was kind of hard for me to write - I've never really written about anything like that before, so...).

Also, thanks to TheShulesLovinPsycho! I'm glad you liked the disclaimer! Yeah, I still feel awful about my friend not making it. He's taking it pretty well, though, and he's determined to try again next year, so that's good. And it's definitely not weird that you knew exactly what insulted author noises I was making - great minds think alike, right;)

When Aria came to again, it took her a few minutes to realize she was in a hospital. She nearly had another panic attack, before she remembered her conversation with the paramedic, and let out an enormous breath of relief. She noted that, though she still felt sore, she could now breathe properly; her pleasure was significantly diminished when she realized that the thin hospital gown displayed many of the embarrassing bruises on her neck and arms. The door opened, and her eyes widened, expecting Henry, or Shawn and Gus, or Juliet and Lassiter...but instead in came a doctor. A male doctor, she noticed with distaste. They couldn't have given her a female doctor? Really?

"Morning, Miss Spencer, my name is Dr. Albert Langdon." She nodded politely, wondering how long she'd been out, if it was morning, and he took that as a cue to continue. "One of the paramedics told me of your request to keep your condition confidential-"

"That hasn't changed."

He raised an eyebrow. "I see. As you most likely have noticed, most of your body is covered in bruises. One of your ribs was fractured, as was your left ankle; both clean breaks, though. You're a very lucky girl."

"Really? 'Cause I don't really feel that way."

He ignored the sarcasm. "Lucky to be alive, and lucky you didn't need surgery. Now, if you wouldn't mind describing the circumstances leading to these injuries..."

"I don't know," she lied.

"What?"

"I was at a friend's beach house over the weekend. I come home from school, go to a crime scene with my older cousin - he's a police consultant - and next thing I know, I'm hyperventilating and passed out and I wake up here."

He seemed unimpressed. "Right. Has your guardian ever abused you?"

"Excuse me?" she asked, shocked. "Never. I swear it on my life. Shawn Spencer is a good man. He can be immature, but never violent."

"All right," the doctor said, though he still didn't appear to be convinced. "One more thing. I'd like to perform a rape kit."

"No." She didn't even think before rejecting the request. "I think I would have noticed if someone had...attacked me like that."

Langdon's expression grew softer, gentler. "Aria, I understand this must be uncomfortable for you to discuss. However, someone put you in this condition, and if they assaulted you, any evidence collected could help apprehend the perpetrator."

"No," she repeated. "I wasn't...you know. I wasn't raped."

He sighed. "Very well. Would you be all right if I allowed your friends and family to visit?"

"Okay. But, um, could you get me a scarf? Or a blanket, please? It's just, the bruises..." she trailed off.

Langdon nodded. "Of course."