Saving Her

Chapter 19

Third Person

*Trigger Warning: mentions of self-harm and suicidal thoughts

Over the course of the next few weeks things for Camila went from good to worse to better, back to worse and finally back to better. The days were filled with therapy sessions, time in the art room, visits from friends, doctors and nurses constantly checking on her and checking her medications.

One day when Shawn was visiting, Camila had just come back from an extremely hard therapy session and she told him she wished Andy had just killed her. She felt like her life didn't have a purpose anymore. She tried to suffocate herself with her pillow. She just wanted the pain to go away. Having to constantly relive that night over and over again was intense and uncomfortable. Camila was placed on suicide watch, which prolonged her stay and during that time she was not allowed pillows or sheets on her bed until she could prove she wasn't a danger to herself.

Those days for her family and friends were extremely difficult as well. They were not allowed to see her for fear that the outside world would act as a trigger. One of the only things they kept her sane was seeing the necklace Shawn had given her. She was not allowed to wear it for fear she would strangle herself with it, but Tiffany had gotten her a plastic box with lock and key that she was able to keep it in just above her bed on a small shelf. She was allowed to see Tiffany because she worked on the unit and it was almost impossible to not bump into her.

After two weeks on suicide watch, Camila was allowed to go back to her old room, accept visitors, and more importantly, she was allowed some time in the outside world. Part of her treatment involved transitioning her to life outside the hospital. She needed to start to figure out what things would trigger her and figure out what she could handle without having a breakdown.

On her discharge day, about three months after her attack; Camila honestly felt like she had made huge strides and her therapist was pleased with her progress. She still had to attend weekly therapy sessions, and had monthly checkups with her doctors until they felt like she might not need medications anymore. Camila knew she still had a lot of healing to do, but the fact that she wasn't alone would make all the difference.

Shawn, her mother and sister and Aaliyah were all there to pick her up that day. Karen and Manny were at their house preparing a welcome home dinner for her.

Walking out with her bag on one shoulder and her discharge paperwork in hand, she was greeted with countless bear hugs, kisses, and Shawn even brought her a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and Gerber daisies. Sinu drove them all to the Mendes home and the whole car ride, Camila held on to Shawn's hand and rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers fidgeting with the infinity sign of her necklace that had found its rightful place around her neck again. She was tired, but for the first time in months, she was at peace and was happy.

After a wonderful dinner full of Camila's favorites, Sinu drove her girls back to the house. Camila was excited to be home, but knew her first night outside of Toronto General would be difficult.

That night she slept in bed with Sofi as her sister held her. They cried themselves to sleep, mostly out of relief that Camila had finally made it out of the darkness and was on the road to healing and recovery, and also because they never thought they would find themselves in this situation.

Understandably so, the next few days were rough for Camila. She continued to sleep in Sofi's bed and a few nights Shawn slept between them, which was not uncommon. She was so grateful for Shawn in those moments because it showed he really truly cared. Not that she questioned that, but it was nice to have the confirmation.

She was also granted time off of work, but eventually planned to return. Although there were memories there that might haunt her, she knew she needed to go back. It was part of the healing and growing. Her papa would want her to, and she knew that. She was fiercely strong, and was not going to let this get the best of her any longer.

_______________________________

Of course Andy was fired and his medical license was stripped. On the day of the trial to determine his sentence, Camila felt sick to her stomach, but her mother had bought her a beautiful black "power suit" and after "power posing" in front of her mirror, she knew she could handle the day. It also helped that Shawn, Connor, Brian and their Commander would be there.

Each would end up testifying in favor of Camila.

After hours of deliberation, the jury and ultimately the judge found Andy guilty of first-degree rape and sexual assault as well as pre-meditated assault of a healthcare worker. All counts felonies, landing him the maximum sentence of 60+ years in prison. He was not granted a chance for parole and he would not get out early for "good behavior."

Camila remembered the look on Andy's face when he learned his fate. She had thought he'd show remorse for what he'd done, but in those months he'd been locked up before the trial, she could tell by just looking at him that he had changed. A sick and twisted smirk spread across his face when the judge slammed the gavel, declaring him guilty, and as he was being escorted out of then courtroom his eyes bore into hers. The same blackness in them she remembered vividly from that night. With a chuckle, he yelled across the room, "It was all worth it princess. I'll always have had you before your Shawny boy!"

In the seconds after Andy's declaration, Shawn wanted so badly to charge after him; land a punch square on his jaw or in his gut, but his friends held him back. He was snapped out of his anger when the crowed gathered in the courtroom gasped. Camila had fainted, most likely from a mix of exhaustion and Andy's sudden but cruel outburst. Jumping over the wooden barrier between the crowd seats and the main floor, he quickly kneeled and pulled Camila securely in his arms. The medics on stand-by evaluated her when she came to, determining she would be just fine, but suggesting that they leave the courthouse to remove her from the environment.

They were hounded by reporters as they left the building, but Shawn had Camila wrapped tightly in his arms, while his brothers in blue made sure her family was safe as well; getting them to their cars without much trouble.

In the following weeks after the trial, the news headlines gave them all a constant reminder of that had happened to Camila. Those days were some of the toughest they would face altogether, but never being alone made it a lot easier.

Camila would later find out that some members of the jury were victims themselves and all spoke highly her papa and his work at Toronto General. She also learned the judge had a zero tolerance policy for people like Andy and was grateful for that. She thanked her papa and whatever higher being she needed to that she was able to get this closure.

She was lucky to be alive and she knew that!

Weeks later, after much discussion, it was decided that Shawn would move out of his apartment and move in with the Cabello girls. It was an easy decision and made Camila extremely happy. What she wasn't expecting was to feel something else as well. Even after everything, she couldn't help but blush the first time she saw him bare chested in her kitchen making coffee before work.

A fire sparked in her she had never felt before and it was only a matter of time before all her free thoughts were filled with Shawn.

Was she falling for her best friend?