Author: Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 or higher
Category: J/A, L/G
Summary: One way or another someone�s always late. The outcome could either be serious or lucky
Disclaimer: I own no one.
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The night was already planned out. They would rent movies, eat popcorn, and pig out. A Friday night when Helen and Will went out for the night, Kevin was at his basketball game, and Luke was off to who knows where. He said something about science before he left.
Joan was all ready for Adam�s arrival. She heard a knock on the door and smiled. He was early. She went to the door and answered. Her smile turned into a frown.
Adam knew he was late so he was already coming up with ideas for nearly cutting their night short. He got to the door and noticed it was open a bit. He gently pushed it open and looked around.
�Jane?� He called softly. He looked around and noticed a chair was turned over. He began to get worried and walked through the house looking for his girlfriend.
He heard noises upstairs and headed up.
�Jane?� He heard sobs and went to the bathroom. He opened the door and what he saw was an image he�d never forget. She was sitting at the edge of the tub, where her hand was testing the scalding hot water. Her clothes were torn and she was bleeding.
�Oh my God.� Adam ran over and turned off the water. �Jane, what are you doing?�
�I have to make it go away. Make it go away!�
�What happened? Tell me!�
�I can�t.� She tried to turn on the water but he grabbed her arm. She shrieked and backed away from him, her eyes wild with fear. It suddenly occurred to him.
�Oh no. Jane, who did this? Tell me.�
Joan looked at him but didn�t say anything. �Adam?�
�What?�
�Hold me?�
Adam nodded and gently pulled her into his arms, allowing her to cry.
Adam led Joan through the white hallway. She was holding onto him for dear life so he had no idea how he�d use the phone to call someone. Joan noticed someone and gave them a glare. He was confused and looked up. She was looking at an older woman in a nurse�s uniform.
�Jane?�
Joan shook her head and looked at Adam. �What?� she asked.
�We�re here. Are you sure you don�t want me to call your parents?�
Joan nodded. �I can�t tell them. Especially not my mom.�
Adam didn�t question her and he sat her down on a chair before going to the payphone.
15 minutes later, Grace and Luke walked in. Grace looked as pale as a ghost and Luke had murder written on his face.
�Where is she?� Grace asked.
Adam pointed at a door and Grace went in. Adam stood up to meet Luke�s eyes.
�Who did this to her?� Adam had never seen Luke look so angry.
�I don�t know. She said he was wearing a ski mask.�
Luke closed his eyes.
�Do you want to sit down?�
�No! I want to find whoever did this and cut off a certain part of his anatomy.� Luke�s hands clenched tightly into fists.
�So do I.�
Grace walked out after 10 minutes.
�How is she?� Luke asked standing up.
�Freaked out. Terrified. I�ve never seen someone look like that before.�
�What did the doctor say?� Luke asked.
�The physical scars will heal. The emotional ones�yeah right.� Grace said bitterly.
Adam looked at Luke. �We have to call your parents.�
�What did Joan say?�
�She said no.�
Luke went to the phone. Adam looked at Grace.
�What else did she say?�
Grace looked at him. �He didn�t use a condom.�
Adam closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
A little later, Joan walked out and Adam went to her.
�Hey.�
�Hi. Are you okay?�
Joan shrugged. �I think so.�
�Your parents are on their way.�
�You called them?� she said accusatory.
�I did.� Luke said.
Joan stared at him for a bit before hugging him. Luke gently hugged her but barely touched her.
�Okay enough with the mushy stuff. Let�s get you home, Girardi.� Grace said.
�Grace.� Adam started.
�No, it�s okay. She�s right. Let�s go.� Joan, for once, let Luke engulf her in one arm as they walked out of the hospital. A car pulled up and Helen rushed out.
�Joan.� She hugged her daughter tightly and Joan closed her eyes. �I�m here now, sweetheart. I�m here.�
�That�s all I need.� She said softly. She looked at her father. �Daddy?�
Will walked over. �I�m here, Joan and we�re going to find whoever did this to you.�
She nodded. Luke stood behind them trying to mentally shake off his anger. Grace just watched them all silently while Adam was tormenting himself with the picture of his girlfriend sitting at the bathtub battered and torn apart.