CH 29

“Lt. Taggert, have a seat.” He said as he shook his hand. “I’d rather not. Look I think I’ve waited too long to come to the police about this and I’m just so afraid that it’s too late.” Nik said, tears hazing his eyes. He looked at the bald man with the intense stare behind the desk in front of him and wondered if he could trust him. Taggert stood up and walked around his desk to the young man standing in his office. “I understand but you need to stay calm, for your friend. Now let me see the pictures.” He said as he held his hands out. Nikolas put them in his hands and watched him as he looked down at the first one. Taggert looked at the image on the picture, it was a girls legs, covered in bruises. He had seen pictures far worse then the ones in his hands but something about them gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. As he continued to flip through the pictures, that sick feeling grew stronger with every new impression. The images of this girl he had never met, for some reason got to him. Her exposed shoulder, her arms, and her legs, all covered in bruises. The girl was clearly beautiful, just her body alone was proof of that, even though flawed with discolorations in the shape of fists, he knew that this was a beautiful girl. When he flipped to the last one, he gasped, the pictures slipping through his hands and falling to the floor. Nikolas looked at him oddly. “They’re hard to look at, I know.” Nik said thoughtfully. Taggert looked up at Nik in shock. “How do you know this girl?” He asked quickly. “I told you, she’s my friend.” Nik said as he bent down to pick up the pictures. “What’s her name?” Taggert choked out. Nikolas looked up at him, getting a strange feeling from the officer. “Her name is Gia.” He said. “Gia.” Taggert breathed, bringing his hand up and clamping it tightly over his mouth. “What’s wrong?” Nik’s brow furrowed as he looked up at Taggert. Taggert moved closer to him and picked up the picture again, the one on top, the last one he looked at. It was almost the exact image of her that he had etched in his brain since the day he left, so many years ago. She was only nine years old when he ran away from home. He remembered going into her room and looking down at her as she slept so soundly. He ran the back of his hand over her soft cheek and told her that he would always love her. Now as he looked at the picture in his hands, and saw Gia covered in bruises, rage filled him. “Who did this?” He asked angrily. Nikolas sighed. “I told you, her stepfather.” He said, slowly loosing his patience. He was shocked when Taggert suddenly grabbed him roughly by his shirt. “Tell me his name now!” He yelled. “Phil, his name is Phil. I think his last name is Donavan but I’m not sure.” Nik said quickly. “Phil?” Taggert repeated. He dropped his grip on Nik’s shit and turned away from him. He remembered that his mother had a friend named Phil. But he didn’t think that they were involved. “We need to get to Gia.” Nik said, breaking him from his thoughts. “I need to send help over there. Stay here, I’ll be back. Then, you’re telling me everything you know.” Taggert said as he rushed out.

Gia’s eyes fluttered open. “Can you hear me?” she heard a voice say. “Nikolas?” She mumbled incoherently. “No sweetie this is Bobby Spencer, you’ve been brought in to General Hospital because you were badly beaten. Your wrist may be broken and you were badly bruised. Do you need us to contact anyone for you?” Bobby asked kindly. Gia moaned as she searched her mind for an answer to the question given. “No, there’s no one.” She said softly. “OK sweetie you try and get some rest now OK?” Bobby said. Gia nodded her head lightly and closed her eyes again.

Nikolas was now sitting in the chair in Taggert’s office, nervously drumming his hands on the wood armrests of the chair. He quickly turned his head when the door was opened. “Look man I don’t know what’s taking so long but I really need help and I need it now.” Nik said in annoyance. Taggert’s eyes widened slightly at his tone. “I want you to tell me how long that this has been going on.” Taggert ignored Nik’s comment. Nikolas threw his back. “I don’t know. I’ve only known her for three months and I do know that it’s been going on that whole time. I’m not really sure about before that, but think it’s just recently gotten worse.” Nik said. Taggert slowly nodded his head, feeling guiltier by the minute. “How long has she lived in Port Charles?” He asked. “I said I’ve only known her a three months. God why do you keep asking me stupid questions like that?” Nik said angrily. “Because I want to know how the hell my baby sister could be living here, being abused by her stepfather, and I never knew it!” Taggert screamed. Nik flinched at the rage behind his scream, shaking his head as he let the information sink in. “Your sister?” He breathed. “Gia was so young when I left. She’s so grown up now.” Taggert said as he looked down at the picture. “You’re saying that Gia’s sister?” Nik asked. Taggert nodded his head softly. “She’s beautiful isn’t she?” He said, flashing a weak smile at Nik. “Yes she is.” Nik whispered. “Are you her boyfriend?” Taggert asked suddenly. Nikolas looked away guiltily. “I wish.” He said softly. Taggert looked at him. “You’re in love with her aren’t you?” He asked. “Yeah, I am. Gia’s an amazing person.” Nik said. Taggert fought back tears. “Yeah I know.” He said softly. “I just want to make sure that Phil can never touch her again.” Nik said desperately. “He won’t. I’ll make sure of that.” Taggert said.

Gia opened her eyes again; she looked around and saw that she was in a hospital room. She smiled weakly as the Dr. came in and walked over to her. “Ms Campbell, my name is Dr. Tony Jones it’s nice to meet you.” Tony said as he sat down in the chair next to her bed. “Nice to meet you too Dr.” Gia said softly. “You know Gia you’re very lucky that someone called 911 when they did. Now aside from some deep bruising to your ribs, and your fractured wrist, there seems to be nothing wrong with you. However I would like to keep you here for observation, internal bleeding is a concern here. I’m not sure if you understand the seriousness of your injury Gia. But I’m telling you that you are lucky to be alive.” Tony said. Gia closed her eyes briefly. “I thought that I could handle him on my own.” She said sadly. “Well we’re going to get you the help that you need. We called social services and they’re on their way to investigate your situation.” Tony explained. “What? No.” Gia shook her head frantically. “We only want what’s best for you and it’s clear to me that you need to get away from whoever did this to you.” Tony said gently. “No.” Gia repeated. “Well we are required to report every case of child abuse that comes in, to social services. Now you have a visitor but after they leave, you need to get some rest.” Tony said as he smiled at her. “Visitor.” Gia was confused. “Yes it’s a young man. He says he’s a good friend.” Tony said. Gia nodded her head softly.