IN THIS SKIN -- CHICAGO FIRE

39;

Marley recieved a call from Jay telling her when and where to meet Doctor Charles. She was nervous, she expected him to try and get her to talk about her ordeal straight away and she wasn't sure she was ready for that. She sat in her car with Kelly and Britney. Britney was driving- Marley didn't trust Kelly with her baby. She had found herself growing closer to Britney. Whilst she hadn't really spoken to her about what had happened, it was comforting to have someone there for her to distract her, and away from the firehouse they would sit together and watch movies or binge watch shows and eat junk food and be generally distracted from what had happened. Marley let out a sigh- she had been avoiding this talk for as long as she could- she'd never even told Voight what had happened properly, he had just assumed.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Kelly offered upon sensing her discomfort. Marley hesitated.
"No. I need to do this alone." She said, determination lacing her tone.
Marley left the car and watched as Britney and Kelly drove away. She eyed the hospital nervously, walking in slowly. Almost in a daze, she walked into the emergency department. Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, her anxiety radiated off her body. Almost instantaneously, she felt her body collide with someone elses. The man who had bumped into her was dressed in red scrubs and had dropped the several folders he was holding. Her heart skipped a beat as she dropped to the floor to help him retrieve his files.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, I was in the way, this is my fault-" She began frantically. The man observed her as he also picked his files up. Her hands were shaking and her voice was unsteady. They held eye contact for a moment, and he could see that her face was flushed.
"Hey, it's no big deal," he began, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?" He asked, keeping his hand on her elbow to steady her. Marley shot him a small smile and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I guess here isn't the best place to start day dreaming," He chuckled at her. "You might be able to help?" The man nodded, and Marley couldn't help but laugh as she virtually saw him transition into 'doctor mode'. "I'm looking for Doctor Charles? I was just told to come here at this time but no one really told me specifics." She explained. A flash of recognition appeared in his face.
"Oh, sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's Marley, right?" She almost frowned, nodding. "Don't worry, Jay told me you were coming."
"You know Jay?" She queried as they began to walk to an office. The man grinned at her.
"Very well. I'm his brother." Her eyes widened.
"You're Will?!" She exclaimed, a large smile on her face. "Jay's told me all about you."
"Did he also mention that I got all the handsome genes?" He grinned at her, glad that the she was now seeming less shaky and anxious. As soon as he had realised who she was, he recognised her from the news and from Jay. He knew why she was searching for Doctor Charles- everyone knew the trail was coming up and it was only normal for her to need to testify. He led her to the door and knocked for her, and upon hearing Doctor Charles welcome them, he opened the door, gesturing for Marley to enter.
Marley sat on the chair across from Doctor Charles, her nerves building. After brief introductions, he leaned back on his chair. Marley stared at him.
"I don't know where to start," She said, after a moment of silence. Doctor Charles shrugged.
"It's entirely up to you. I'm here to help you process and come to terms with things so you can talk about them during a trial. I do think you need to realise though, that your ordeal with the man who took you is not going to be the only thing that will be brought up," he began. Marley frowned at him, confusion flooding her features. "From what I can gather, from what the detectives have told me, his defence is going to try and find anyway they can to prove you were, or rather, you are, mentally unstable. See, their story is that you were being manipulated by Voight and Nadia was too, so you both tried to escape him, and Greg Yates wanted to help. Now, Nadia's past is not something that you need to be concerned with, as you know what you saw, but your past, now that's something they will try to hold against you. So, these sessions are vital for you to talk to me about anything at all that may hint that you have ever been in an unstable frame of mind at the time that you usually struggle to talk about." Marley's head dropped. She knew what he was talking about- if Greg or his defence knew she'd ever been hospitalised for depression and suicidal thoughts then they would more than likely be able to spin a story about how she was unstable, and Marley needed to be able to talk about her mental state, something she still struggled to do. She nodded, signalling that she understood.
Doctor Charles learnt more than Marley in that session. He learnt how shy and reserved she was; he learnt how unwilling and ultimately untrusting she was; he learnt that giving her the confidence she needed to be able to share things with him was going to be more difficult than he had thought. Marley, however, learnt nothing more than that she didn't like or even want to talk. After about an hour of empty talking, the session ended. Doctor Charles had decided half way through that it may be worthwhile bringing in Sarah Reese to help with Marley, as he knew she was probably going to be more trusting of a fellow young female, rather than a man who was a similar age to the one who had assaulted her. Marley had met Sarah briefly as she was leaving Doctor Charles' office. Marley had immediately felt like she was more comfortable around her than the male doctor. She couldn't explain why. She was constantly around men at the house, she lived with them, but maybe it was something to do with unfamiliar men that she was scared of now, maybe it was the way they looked, the way they spoke- she could drive herself crazy thinking of reasons why. But that's what she didn't want to do- to think.
After brief introductions, Marley headed to the exit, catching the eyes of Will once more, who smiled and nodded at her as she left. She returned the smile, pulling out her phone and calling Kelly. He picked up quickly.
"Hey babygirl, you done?" He asked, and Marley couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, just leaving now."
"Okay. I'm on my way then."
"I can walk if you'd rather?" Marley offered, but instantly heard Kelly argue back.
"Nope, I'll pick you up then we can go out for something to eat, just you and me." Marley felt her heart swell, it had been a long time since the two had spent some time together without anyone else around, and she was glad he wanted to spend time with her.
"Okay, sure, sounds good." She smiled.
"Be there in a few babe."

Marley sat on a bench whilst she waited, a smile still on her face. Her eyes stayed firmly fixated to the pull in spot. Her mind drifted. Last time she waited outside a hospital, she was taken. She closed her eyes, trying to push back the thoughts that were rising about what had happened to her. She felt someone sit down besides her, and their eyes watched her.
"Are you okay?" The man asked, after watching her for a moment. She was semi-grateful that someone had come and interrupted her thoughts. Nodding, she offered the man a smile.
"Yeah, just thinking." He nodded back, seemingly understanding her.
"Anything important?" Her smile dropped slightly.
"Last time I was sat here, I was kidnapped and almost died." She tried to say this as casually as she could.
"Oh," the man said, a flash of recognition appearing. "I thought I recognised you, Marley. I'm Conor Rhodes, one of the doctors who was involved with your case when you were in here." He introduced, and Marley immediately felt guilty for not recognising someone who had helped her to live.
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I was so out of it when I was in here that I can't really remember much-" A laugh from Conor interrupted her apology.
"There's no reason to apologise to me, I hadn't expected you to know who I was. Don't sweat it." He explained gently, rising from the seat. "Well, I'd better be getting back to it. It was nice to meet you, Marley."

When Kelly had pulled up at the hospital and opened the door for his daughter, she had calmed considerably. Once she was seated, Kelly closed her door gently and rounded to his side of the car.
"So," He began, starting the engine of his car. "What do you want to eat?" Marley shrugged.
"I don't mind. You're on shift later, aren't you?" Kelly nodded. "So just something like a sandwich then? No doubt Mills will be cooking something later." Marley smiled, watching as Kelly nodded his head once more.

The pair drove in silence for a short while, with nothing but the car radio playing. They pulled up outside a sandwich shop that Kelly knew Marley liked, and the two walked in, Kelly placing his arm around the teenagers shoulders. She smiled as she rested her head on his arm, walking slowly besides him.
"You know kid," Kelly began, looking down at her. "I don't think I tell you enough, but I really am so proud of you, and proud to be your dad. You amaze me so much, everything you've been through, yet you're still strong and happier than before. I really do think you're incredible." Kelly said, watching as Marley's cheeks grew red. Her smile broadened.
"Thank you, Kelly. I love you." She said, and Kelly planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you more, Marls."