Unknown - driven

“Alright then. Let?s get to work. I?ll clean off her face, then we?ll take her into X-ray. Find out what we have to work with here.”

They worked in silence for the next several minutes, tenderly cleaning away the dried blood that had accumulated on Cat?s face and neck. With the application of a local anesthetic, Norton sunk three sutures into the cut above the young woman?s brow, then covered the area with a bandage.

“Ok, that?s all I can do for right now. She?s gonna have a nice shiner, but the eye itself isn?t injured, and her nose is going to be sore for a few days, but it should heal just fine on its own. I?ll wheel her into X-ray and get a look at those ribs.”

The police arrived just as Norton was wheeling Hodge into the X-ray suite. Dylan stepped out of the exam room to speak with the two uniformed officers. It only took minutes to tell them what little she knew, and to secure a promise that the media would not be informed of this attack at this time. She also told them she would take the responsibility of notifying Catherine?s family, which the men agreed to.

The officers were ones Dylan had met before, and she knew that if anyone could find out who committed the assault, it would be them. The taller one, Sergeant Tony Moore, was a deeply closeted gay man, and his partner was an outstanding, open-minded police officer.

After shaking hands with the officers, Dylan returned to the examination room in time to see a very groggy, but awake, Cat wheeled back in. Dylan smiled in relief and crossed the room to stand beside the stretcher. “How are you doing?” she asked, clasping her hands behind her back in order to resist the urge to reach out and stroke the young woman?s hair.

“Feel like I got run over by an elephant,” Cat replied, her voice slightly muffled from her swollen nose and upper lip.

Blue eyes darted up to the physician. “Is there anything you can give her for pain?”

Norton smiled. “Getting to that right now, Coach.” Crossing the room, the doctor retrieved a medication vial and a wrapped syringe. “Catherine, I?m going to give you some medicine to help with your pain. It?s going to make you pretty sleepy.”

“Sleepy is good,” Cat replied, wincing as she shifted in the bed. “Sleepy is real good.”

Norton returned with the filled syringe. “You?re going to need to be watched over for a couple of hours. Do you live with a roommate? Family?”

“No,” Cat whispered, eyes forlorn.

“It?s ok,” Dylan replied, stepping forward. “I?ll take her home and keep an eye on her.” She looked down at Hodge. “If that?s okay with you.”

“I don?t want to be a bother.”

Dylan didn?t miss the faint blush that suffused Cat?s face as the younger woman?s eyes darted away from her own.

“It?s settled then.” Picking up Cat?s housekeys where they lay on the table next to the stretcher, Dylan jiggled them in one fist. “Home it is.”

“Ok, let?s get this shot over with then, Cat, and you can be on your way. Nothing broken, just banged up. You should be as good as new in a week or so.”

“Hate shots,” Cat mumbled, but didn?t make a sound when the drug was injected into her hip. Her eyelids soon grew very heavy, and, allowing them to slip closed, she was soon deeply asleep.

“Are you sure she?s going to be okay?” Dylan asked, concerned.

“Yes. She?s a very lucky woman. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn?t try to get up on her own in the middle of the night. The drug I just gave her is pretty potent stuff.” From the pocket of her lab coat, Norton retrieved a bottle of pills. “Give her one of these with water no sooner than every four hours if she complains of pain.”

Dylan took the pills and pocketed them. “Will do. Anything else?”

“No. You have my number in case anything comes up, but it shouldn?t. As I said, she?s very lucky.”

“I don?t know if I?d call what happened to her ?lucky?, my friend,” Dylan softly commented, looking down at Catherine?s bruised and swollen face. Rage once again flared through her, but she clamped down on it with savage intent.

Time enough for anger later, when it would do some good.

Dylan unlocked the door with one hand while holding Cat up with the other arm securely wrapped around the young woman?s waist. “You might be small, but you?re packed,” she grumbled as she attempted to move the heavily sedated woman inside.

Hodge roused a bit at the sound of Dylan?s voice, and giggled at what she thought?in her drugged stupor?she?d heard. “Stacked?” She giggled again. “I didn?t think you?d noticed.” She tried to get a peek down her own cleavage, but for some reason, her arms weren?t cooperating. Nor were her eyes, which seemed to be content right where they were, staring at Dylan?s beautiful face in profile.

“Oh believe me,” Dylan mumbled, half under her breath, “I noticed.” The words came out without her permission, but strangely, it didn?t feel as out of place as it should. She?d have to think about that later, too.

“I heard that,” Cat replied in a sing-song voice. “Pallas Dylan The Goddess Lambert thinks I?m stacked.” That came out a little louder than Dylan expected. A lot louder, actually, and she found herself looking up and down the hallway, praying she was the only one who?d overheard the declaration.

An empty hallway answered her prayers, and she looked down at the young woman again, finding her deeply asleep and all but lounging on Dylan?s tall, strong form. “Oh boy,” Dylan breathed, shifting her body and pulling the limp young woman into her arms once again.

Flipping a switch right next to the door, Dylan prayed for light and was rewarded. It was just an entry light but it was enough so she could see into the loft apartment. If the situation hadn?t been so serious Dylan probably would have been impressed with Cat?s taste and her level of organization. As it was, all she wanted to do was get the young woman to bed.

She took a better hold on Cat, who groaned at the stronger contact. “Sorry,” she whispered as they made their way into the large living room. Very gingerly she lowered her battered player to the sofa, taking care to arrange her position as gently as possible.

Reaching over to the end table she clicked on the lamp that sent more soft light into the well-kept living space. She noticed the bedroom on the second floor, seen easily through the loft railing, and trudged up the steps. Approaching the large bed, she stripped back the comforter and took the blanket underneath and grabbed a pillow before heading back down the stairs and into the living room.

Returning to Cat, she placed the items on the back of the couch and then took a deep breath as she prepared for what she knew she had to do next. First she removed the player?s sneakers and tossed them to the floor. Then she reached for the snap of her jeans. Slowly and very carefully she undressed the young woman, leaving her clad in her panties, sports bra and socks. Once Cat was covered with the blanket, Dylan released a breath she wasn?t aware she had been holding.

“I don?t think you?re gonna want these anymore,” she whispered, holding the ripped and bloodied clothes in her hands. Looking around, she spied a tall garbage can in the kitchen and disposed of the clothing promptly, shoving it down far so that it wouldn?t be the first thing Cat saw when she entered.

She leaned against the counter, wondering what she should do next. It had been a long time since she?d had to care for anyone but herself. The rustiness showed itself as indecision.

Long fingers taped repeatedly against the Formica counter top as she pondered. Calling Cat?s parents seemed to be the next logical step, but she had the feeling that Catherine wouldn?t appreciate that.

She?s an adult, Dylan. Let her make up her own mind about it. No sense butting in where you?re not needed. If she wants to call, she?ll call.