Steady On (closed)

[WriterWriter]

Trent had slipped away from the Urgent Care as soon as he was sure Raina was being cared for. He'd pulled his badge out without knowing who might be sitting there watching. For all he knew, one of his undercover investigation targets may have been there for treatment of a stab wound or drug overdose or ... hell, anything. He'd taken a long moment to look at each and every face, to ensure than none were familiar, then got the hell out as fast as he could.

Later, though, he made some calls and located her in ICU. He identified himself as one of the investigating officers, and with the small amount of personal information he had on Raina, he was able to convince her to give him a full run down of her situation.

There was good news and bad news, as there always seemed to be.

The good news was that she likely didn't suffer any permanent damage. A few stitches and some bed rest, the nurse said, and -- thinking Trent would find it funny -- added, "A couple of weeks and she'll be back to work ... on her knees."

The bad news, of course, was the part about a couple of weeks. Raina would, essentially, be out of work for a while. No man wanted to pay good money to have sex with a whore who was black and blue and grimaced in pain with every movement of her body.

Of course, because of who and what Trent was, the good news and bad news came with lucky news: even before he'd gotten off the phone with the nurse, the Narcotics detective had decided that he would take care of the prostitute until she was back on her feet ... or knees ... or back.

She looked up at him as he entered the ICU room, and he smiled as well as he could. He had a less than impressive bouquet of flowers in one hand and a book in the other. "Hey. May I...?"

After she gestured him in, he moved to her bed and sat carefully down, apologizing when she grimaced in pain. He set the flowers aside as he looked over her beaten face.

"I've seen worse," he said, shrugging before he added, "I've done worse."

They chatted for a moment, then he lifted the book and showed it to her: Fifty Shades of Gray. "Everyone's told me I need to read it, but ... who's got the time? Maybe you can read it and tell me what it's about."

They chatted some more, and then out of the blue he said with a serious tone, "I need the name of the guy who did this to you."

 

[LoyaliaStar]

Raina couldn't say how long she had been in and out of consciousness but each time she vaguely recalled seeing a nurse or doctor fluttering around her..hell, sometimes she could've sworn she saw Trent but couldn't be too sure..

Finally the next time she did wake up, a nurse was there checking her vitals and when she saw Raina had opened her eyes, she smiled at her, "good evening, Raina, how are you feeling?"

It took a few tries for Raina to speak because her throat was so dry, so the nurse got her a cup of water, which she took gratefully. Even though it hurt to sit up, Raina did so without assistance and took a few long sips before settling back against the bed.

"Do you need some pain meds?" The nurse asked.

Raina gently shook her head no. Even though her body was in pain all over, she didn't want the medication..she felt that she needed to suffer after what she had put herself through by being so stupid with Paul.

She could've been firmer with him, but he scared her and Raina was too proud to admit that....as she got lost in her thoughts, she realized the nurse was fine and there stupid Trent..

"Hey. May I...?"

Raina nodded slightly as she pointed to an empty chair near the head of the bed. As Trent sat down, Raina was shocked to see him here..trying to make light if the situation, she told him quietly, "sorry, I probably look like shit, huh ?"

"I've seen worse," he said, shrugging before he added, "I've done worse."

If she could give him a puzzled look, she would have but it hurt too much, "How did you know I was here?"

She listened to his answer and let it sink in, so, he had seen her getting the shit beat out of her..wonderful..if he didn't think of her any less then, he was sure to think less off her now.."Thank you for bringing me here, I'm just sorry you had to see that and now, see me like this.."

As he set the book down, Raina did finally smile a little, "Everyone's told me I need to read it, but ... who's got the time? Maybe you can read it and tell me what it's about."

"Maybe..but it makes me wonder what sort of friends are telling you this," she said, trying to lighten the mood..

"I guess I have time to read it since I won't be able to do anything for a few days..I need to call the diner, let them know I won't be in for a few days.." She let that hang in the air..they both knew her other job was going to be questionable for a lot longer than I few days..hell, what was she going to do about money..her rent..thinking about ask that made her head hurt a lot more..

"I need the name of the guy who did this to you."

Raina shifted a little..at least as much as she dared so as not to cause any pain, "Trent..don't..if I get him in trouble, he'll find me and do a lot worse..please..besides, it won't do any good, what's going to happen to him if he's arrested? Nothing. A also on the hand perhaps. And then me.." She took a sharp breath and winced in pain, perhaps she should've asked the nurse for pain meds..

Trent was quiet for a moment before her liked at Raina..have her a hard look and she knew he wasn't going to leave until she told him his name..

"His name is Paul..Paul White..his number is in my cell.."

 

[WriterWriter]

Trent reached a hand out and moved a lock of her hair away from her bruised face. He smiled, saying, "You're a mess. I don't suppose you have health care."

She didn't, of course. He told her not to worry, that he'd see to it that she got everything she needed. "Don't worry about money. The Department has a Victims Fund that I can tap."

They chatted for a few minutes, about nothing in particular, then he stood up, leaned over her, and kissed her on the only unbruised part of her face that he could find. As he did so, he inconspicuously picked up her cell from the nearby rolling table.

"Get some rest," he said before turning to leave.

He made note of the fact that the vertical blinds were pulled shut over the ICU room's big glass, then stood just outside the room, scrolling through Raina's contact list. Some time during his investigation of her cell, the nurse in her room pulled the cord for the blinds, revealing Trent to Raina's view. Not only did she see him with her phone but she saw him pull out a huge wad of hundred dollar bills and ask the Charge Nurse about paying Raina's bill.

 

[LoyaliaStar]

When the nurse entered, she saw the pained look upon Raina's face. She knew a person in pain and didn't say anything as she readied a syringe with something to help her and also to get some sleep.

"Is there anything you need? You didn't eat dinner.." There was a tray on a bedside table where the food remained untouched.

"I wasn't hungry.." Raina said, as she looked at the book that Trent had left and smiled a little, if she could shake her head at it, she would have. The flowers were resting on the chair he had vacated.

It got Raina thinking more about Trent and their evening together before the shit hit the fan with Paul. What if she had pushed things a little further with him? She might have avoided Paul all together but then again, he would have just come over every night until he got his time with Raina.

It was a mess. Her life was a mess..

The nurse had left but not before she opened the blinds to the room and that's when Raina saw Trent. With her phone and then, talking with the nurse and giving her money.

What the hell was he doing?

She wanted to sit up but that's when the drugs hit her and made her feel like she was floating. She then tried to speak but couldn't speak..instead, she drifted off, falling into a restful, must needed sleep.

 

[WriterWriter]

(OOC: I need Raina's surname.)

The next day, Raina awoke to find a pair of men in cheap suits just beyond the window of her ICU room. The first was talking to the nurse while the second studied Raina. When he saw her eyes open, he tapped his partner for his attention. The pair of them, over the objections of the nurse, made their way inside.

"Hello, Raina, yes?" the blond man asked, reaching into his jacket, withdrawing a leather wallet, and flashing a badge. "Gregory Hume, Homicide Division. This is my partner, Max Taylor."

"Officers, she really needs her--"

The nurse stopped talking when Taylor turned to block her path and began whispering quietly to her about their intent to be easy with Raina. He walked the woman back out to the hallway and pulled the curtain shut, essentially telling her to bug off.

"We're really sorry to bother you while you are still recovering from your injuries," Hume went on. "But ... that's what we want to talk to you about. Can you tell us who did this to you and why?"

He pulled out a pad and pen to begin taking notes. Raina told the man only what she wanted to tell him. He asked a few follow up questions, which -- again -- she answered as she wished.

When it was obvious that she wasn't interested in telling him anymore, Hume said bluntly, "Paul Hanson is dead. His body was found in an alley this morning ... just four blocks from your home. Witnesses say he was being chased by another man from the direction of your apartment building. He was beaten ... then shot in both knees with a small caliber weapon. Who ever did this to him ... another witness says the man stood over the top of Hanson and watched him bleed out before simply ... walking away."

He watched her reaction, then asked accusingly, "I don't suppose you know who would do something like this, do you?"