Dr. Cashby [✔]

Chapter Thirteen: The Distance Is Destroying Us

POV from Austin

"Is-is she really gone?" I whispered. The vet nodded and placed his hand on mine. 

"Do you still want her to be cremated like you asked?" he asked. I nodded, letting a tear fall from my eye. 

"Please." I croaked. The vet gave me a gentle smile and patted my arm. "Just-give me a call when it's done?" 

"Of course." the vet nodded and I stood up, walking out of the room. My eyes caught Robyn's and I walked to her. 

"How are you?" I asked softly. Robyn shrugged, shuffling her arm behind her. I sighed and held out my hand. "Show me." 

Robyn bit her lip and slowly let her arm from behind her back. I felt my mouth quirk down, my eyes flinching shut slightly. 

"This is-this is really bad, Robyn. Why didn't you tell me how bad this is?" 

Robyn let her shoulder rise and fall as I skimmed her torn up skin which was still bleeding through the gauze. "Well, the dog is a pitbull. It's name is Killer. Killer bit me. It wouldn't end well for Killer." Robyn admitted. I shook my head, thinking very highly of Robyn at this moment. She lied so Killer wouldn't be put down. 

"Robyn, we have to get this checked out by a professional." I whispered, giving her back her arm. She shrugged again. 

"Maybe." She shook her head and my phone rang causing my body to stiffen. "Answer it, Dr. Carlile. Can I have the rest of the day off?" 

I nodded numbly as Robyn walked away, silent tears falling down her cheeks. I answered my phone with a gentle cough. 

"Hello?" 

"Austin, it's me. Tino." said Dr. Arteaga's voice. I coughed louder and shook my head. 

"Hi, hey. Wha's up?" 

Tino was quiet for a moment before answering. "I think you need to come back here to my office. Immediately." 

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"You're right." Tino shoved me a file across the table, his head shaking. "You're right about Alan. His rape kit turned out positive." 

"It did?" I gasped, opening the file up. 

"Yes. Now I don't want to go into details, but I wanted to talk to you about figuring out who this person is." Tino shook his head. "Whoever it was, they didn't sign in. We checked the tapes, we didn't see a face. Also, we talked to Alan, but he punched Matty in the face." 

"This is-I can't-We have to do something!" I snapped, standing and pacing. Tino shrugged. 

"What can we do then?" Tino asked, rubbing his temples. "You can talk to him, can't you?" 

"I can't guarantee that he'd actually tell me anything. But I'll try. Make sure none of his visitors are allowed to see him unless I meet with them first." 

Tino nodded, still dumbfounded at this new discovery and shook his head. "Alright. Go ahead. Tell me what you find out." 

I nodded and walked from the room, going to find Alan. 

I opened Alan's door and closed it behind me, sitting down on the bed next to the lump which I presumed was Alan. Oli was still in the infirmary for one more night and Josh was out with Chris doing something in the Garden Room. 

"Hey." I said softly, putting my hand on Alan's back. Alan flinched away from me and tossed the covers from his face. 

"What do you want?" Alan didn't sound angry, but weak and emotionless. I swallowed hard and stroked his cheek with my hand, brushing his tears away from his cheeks.