The Greatest Sacrifice

[charmed60]

Thank you so so much Red Ranger, Barbara, Carina and Sabrina (hey that rhymes ) I'm so pleased there are still people reading this so thank you for not giving up on me!

Martha stirred the sauce in the pan which was sizzling under the heat of the gas. Her eyes glanced over a picture in front of her on the windowsill, of her and Jack at a barbecue last summer. She shook her head sadly. They hadn’t spoken since the class the other day, he’d made attempts but she’d just brushed him off, she was still so angry and it frustrated her that he wasn’t taking her fears seriously. He thought it was all a joke. She heard the key turn in the lock and sighed heavily, hating the awkwardness that had been filling the room between them lately.

“Hey” he awkwardly started as he placed his bag on the settee and headed towards the kitchen area to grab himself a juice. “Have you had a good day?”

“It was okay” she mumbled, turning down the gas before heading towards the fridge, bumping into Jack.

“Sorry…”

“Sorry…” he echoed at the same time before a smile spread across their faces, one which Martha was desperately trying not to allow. “I am you know” he continued.

“You are what?” she queried, confusion evident on her face.

“Sorry” he smiled. “For not supporting you properly. I know you’re scared and I was wrong to walk out on the class the other day.”

“Yes you were” she agreed, enjoying watching him squirm.

“I was talking to Steve earlier and he told me what a pratt I’ve been. I don’t want you to think you can’t talk to me about the things you’re worried about. In fact I want you to because…well I’m worried to. I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m scared that I’ll be a bad Dad. But I think together we’re going to be really good parents. You are going to be a beautiful mother” he soothed, tucking a piece of stray hair behind her eye.

“You know for an idiot, you do know all the right things to say Mr Holden” Martha smiled through tears.

“It’s part of my charm” he smirked, his dimples that he’d inherited from his father highlighted on his cheeks. He reached forward and put his arms around her, holding her tightly to him. “I’m not going to let you down Martha I promise.”

“I know” she agreed, confident that things were finally going to be okay.

********

“Could you call Mr Ellis in bay four’s wife for me please Julie?” Rachel requested, handing the patient’s notes over to her colleague before looking down at her pager which was buzzing urgently at her.

“Rach” Derek called down the corridor. “I’ve got a patient in triage requesting to be seen by you.”

“Uh-oh, what have I done wrong?” she joked, hoping it wasn’t a disgruntled patient. She was far too tired to be dealing with that right now. As she picked up the phone to call the number displayed on her pager, Derek grabbed her arm and pulled her away to a quiet corner of the ward. “Woah what’s going on?” she queried, raising her eyes at his unusual behaviour.

“It’s the woman from the other day, the one you treated with suspicious injuries” he whispered. “Her husband isn’t with her” he emphasised. “I’ve directed her to your office, for privacy.”

Rachel nodded swiftly, realising what Derek was trying to say. She passed him her pager and asked him to inform them that she was busy before quickening her pace along the corridor, her hands shaking with nerves. She was afraid of what would be greeting her on the other side of the door but knew she had to be strong, this could be her only opportunity.

“Lucy” she smiled warmly, “it’s good to see you again. How are you doing?”

“I need somebody to check that my baby’s okay” Lucy whispered timidly, pulling on the bottom of her t-shirt as she avoided eye contact with Rachel.

“Why don’t you take a lie down on the bed” Rachel offered, wondering how best to deal with this situation. She reached down to pull up her top gently, noticing the hesitancy on her patient’s face. Dark red welts and deep bruises shone out at her, which made her want to gasp out loud but she tried desperately not to show her shock.

She lowered Lucy’s top again and requested that she sit up so that they could talk.

“I just need you to listen to my baby’s heartbeat, please” she begged, not moving from the bed.

Rachel nodded before reaching for a sonicaid she’d thankfully used on a patient earlier that day. She squeezed gel onto Lucy’s battered abdomen and tried gently not to press too hard, noticing her wincing as she moved the probe along in search of the sound they were both holding their breaths waiting for. Rachel breathed out loudly and smiled instinctively as the fast paced echoes of Lucy’s unborn child’s heartbeat rang out in the room. “Your baby’s fine. Do you think we could maybe talk now?”

“I know what you’re going to say” Lucy whispered to her, wiping a tear from her eye and sitting up gently.

“How did you get those bruises?” Rachel tentatively asked. She knew what the answer was but without hearing her patient say the words there was no evidence for her to act further.

“I’m sorry I can’t stay, my husband will be home in an hour or so” Lucy apologised, gathering up her things before heading towards the door.

“Lucy please” Rachel begged, placing her hand firmly on the door. “You obviously came to me because you want help but…I can’t give that to you if you won’t talk to me.”

“He’ll be angry if I’m not there when he gets back” she whimpered.

“Okay, then how about I arrange to meet you tomorrow, when he’s at work perhaps.”

“I don’t have anyone to watch my daughter, the nursery’s closed and I don’t want to bring her here, she’ll ask questions.” The thought of a young child living in that environment made chills shoot down Rachel’s spine and she struggled to contain her emotions.

“Then perhaps I could meet you at home?” Rachel offered, smiling encouragingly. “About one in the afternoon, I could come during my lunch break.”

Lucy hesitated for a moment before nodding her head and agreeing to the offer. Rachel relaxed her arm from the door before slipping her card into Lucy’s open hand. “If you need anything, you can call okay, anytime.” Following her out of the door she found it so frustrating that there was nothing she could do to prevent her going home. The thought of what her husband was doing to her made her sick to the stomach, she couldn’t believe that any man could do that to anyone, let alone the woman he was supposed to love. But men did do it, she knew that. All too well.

“Lucy, what are you doing here” Rachel heard a deep voice growl as Lucy suddenly stopped, frozen in her tracks. As she looked up Rachel felt her whole body go cold and she suddenly realised why she’d found him so familiar the other day.

“I thought you were at home…sweetheart” he questioned as Rachel rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt to appear concerned.

“I…I wasn’t well” she whispered timidly, unsure of how best to answer him.

“She fainted” Rachel interrupted. “A passerby found her collapsed in the street and called an ambulance, by the time they got her here she was conscious…” She remembered when he was called in for a patient who’d been attacked on her way home; she hadn’t liked him then either. He was too smarmy, unsympathetic.

“It’s nothing serious I hope” he interjected, placing his hand firmly on his wife’s arm. She winced.

“Just all part of normal pregnancy.” Rachel forced a smile, praying that he’d believed her total fabrication of the truth.

“Superintendent Reynolds, you ready to go?” a booming voice called from the other side of the corridor. Rachel looked aside to see an officer in matching police uniform, waiting for his boss.

“Something’s come up, I’ve got to take my wife home. I’ll see you tomorrow” Lucy’s husband called after him before turning his attention back to her. “It’s a good thing I got called in here on a case today isn’t it, come on darling” he smiled, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist.

“Lucy are you sure you don’t want to stay overnight, just in case it happens again?” Rachel pleaded, desperate not to let her go home with him.

“It’s okay doc, I’ll look after her” he winked before leading his wife away. Rachel cursed under her breath as she watched Lucy shrivel under the touch of her husband’s embrace until they were out of sight. She didn’t even look back.

Preview:

Things turn from bad to worse when Rachel makes a home visit to Lucy.

[HighwayUnicorn]

Oh dear! Gosh, he is so manipulative & Lucy needs to get away from him.

It's sweet that she worried about the baby & I loved how caring Rachel was.

Another great chapter & I look forward to more. Well done.

Love Carina xxx

[Barbara]

Aw Jack and Martha made up! I'm glad Jack realised he wasn't supporting Martha the way he should.

Maybe Rachel could talk to Jack about that man if he's in the police force. Jack may know him or have heard about him although I'm not sure it'll help. Lucy's husband looks like he is violent at home but pretending to be a nice guy in public. I hope he doesn't hurt his wife when they're back home. I hope he isn't hitting his child too.

More please.

[Red Ranger 1]

Glad that Jack and Martha talked things over and made up.The bit with Rachel meeting Lucy was fantastically writing:You could really feel Rachel's concern and feeling of helplessness as she tried to help her but seemed to meet obstacles at every turn.Looking forward to more of this!

[suzannelgnz]

Laura- sorry I haven't commented on this fic.I'm looking forward to continuing to read it

Rachel's certainly in a difficult situation,hopefully she gets to talk about it as much as she can.

Jack and Martha fluff =

[Sabrina]

Aww, Jack and Martha made up.

Lucy's husband is unbelievable. I hope she gets away from him soon.

Looking forward to the next chapter.

[KirstyEkua]

So sorry for the late comment!! But better late than never right?

I really love how you are writing Jack and Martha. It's so realistic and i do think it's natural for Jack to act the way he did at the class, having a baby is a scary thing! I did laugh at him though, being all horrifed about it all. I did like how at first they were both freaking out together but i did feel really sorry for Martha when Jack ran out of the room. She's the one that has to actually have the baby! The talk between Martha and Rachel was lovely and it's really sweet how supportive Rachel is. I thought it was lovely that Martha asked her to be at the birth. It's nice Martha has a friend to confind in and the fact she's a doctor is just a bonus!! Liked how Rachel mentioned she'd be there with Tony, kind of shows how she is feeling about the relationship!

I love how you are building up the story with Lucy. It's very intirguing and full of underlying tension! I love how Rachel opened up to Tony and explained her fears to him. It's natural for her to be worried and i think it's very Rachel like but i fear no good will come of it!! Tony's concern was nice and i love the stage their relationship seems to be at.

2nd Chapter

I'm glad Jack and Martha made up! Jack was very charming The whole scene was brilliant and really captured both their personalities. The twist with Lucy's husband being a police officer was so unexpected but really adds a whole new dimension! He is already coming across as a nasty, manipulative piece of work and there's something quite sinister about him. I worry that Rachel is getting far too involved but i do think it's in her nature. Poor Lucy. She is in an awful situation and as much as it is worrying i do think it's good she has Rachel looking out for her. I love the little Derek mention too! I like how Rachel has been concerend from the start; she has great intuition and i hope things don't go too far with Lucy.

So excited for more

[charmed60]

Thank you thank you thank you Carina, Barbara, Red Ranger, Suzanne, Sabrina and Kirsty. You're all such faithful readers and reviewers, I'm grateful for each and every one of you! I haven't had a chance yet to write the chapter I previewed in the last one but I have written a little so thought I'd update. Sorry, work has been hectic! Will get on the bit a.s.a.p!!!

Rachel pulled up on the driveway, her mind full of thoughts that she couldn’t clear. She wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or upset about seeing Lucy today. One part of her was relieved that she’d been able to talk to her on her own and that her suspicions had pretty much been confirmed. Yet on the other hand, knowing what Lucy had to go through first made her feel sick to the stomach and the revelation that a child, a young innocent, little girl was living in that environment terrified her. She just prayed that he wasn’t hurting her to. She saw the light on Tony’s porch was on and smiled to herself. He’d been an amazing support to her and their relationship seemed to be going from strength to strength which was such a relief for Rachel. It didn’t feel like she had to work hard to hang on to him or spend hours trying to impress him just to make him love her. Everything just felt so…natural. They hadn’t said ‘the words’ to each other yet; she knew deep down she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t sure if it was love but she knew that he’d made her the happiest she’d been in a really long time. She opened the door to her house and threw her keys down on the windowsill before looking up and pausing in her tracks.

“Evening” Tony smiled. He was dressed in a smart, midnight blue silky shirt and black jeans, the top three buttons undone Rachel didn’t fail to notice. The kitchen table had been laid out with candles and a beautiful small bunch of red roses.

“Hey” Rachel beamed, “what are you doing here?”

“I thought I would cook you some dinner. Jack and Martha have gone out for the night so he let me in, I hope that’s okay” he queried.

“Of course it is, you’re welcome to come and cook me dinner anytime” she grinned, moving forward to kiss him softly on the lips. “Thank you.”

“You haven’t tried it yet” he laughed, pulling out her chair for her before moving over to the fridge to pull out a bottle of wine he’d bought earlier.

“We both know you’re a far better cook than I am so the chances of me not liking it are about zero to none.”

“How was your day?” he questioned, sitting opposite her as he poured out a glass for her.

“Long” she sighed, “although erm, Lucy, she came back in to see me. On her own this time.” Normally Rachel wouldn’t talk so openly about her patients and she rarely ever brought work home with her but this patient was different and she trusted Tony to be honest with her.

“Really” he commented, “is that a good thing?”

“Well I’ve managed to arrange to go and see her tomorrow to speak to her properly on her own. Hopefully I’ll be able to convince her to leave her husband or at least seek help. I didn’t realise before but she’s got a daughter who is at nursery. She’s so little, I dread to think what she’s seen” she shuddered, although part of her thought that it was better than the alternative.

“Wait when you say you’re going to see her tomorrow, where would this be exactly” Tony pressed, ignoring her last comment.

“At her house” Rachel replied bluntly. “Being able to be in her environment without worrying about having to rush home is the best…”

“You’re going to her house” Tony almost shrieked, “Rach, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. In fact I know it’s not a good idea.”

“She’ll be comfortable…”

“I’m not thinking about her, I’m thinking about you” Tony interrupted. “What if he comes home while you’re there?”

“He wont” Rachel confidently shook her head. “He’ll be at work. Oh and that’s the other thing, he’s a police offer, a superintendent. That’s where I recognised him from. He’s often called into the hospital if there are sensitive incidents that require a higher power.” She took a breath and noticed that Tony wasn’t even looking at her. “What’s wrong” she enquired.

“I’m just, I’m not happy about you going to her house that’s all” he replied sharply, trying to stay calm.

“Tony” Rachel sighed, “I’ve given her my word, I can’t let her down. I’ve managed to get her to trust me now and I don’t want to do anything to risk that.”

“Okay, I understand that, I really do” he nodded, “but I’m not letting you go alone. I’m coming with you.” He saw the hesitancy in Rachel’s face and she began to shake her head.

“Look I’ll sit in the car okay” he added before she could speak. “She won’t even know I’m there but at least if he comes home or something happens I can warn you and get you out of there safely. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Rachel sat stunned for a moment, surprised by his reaction before a smirk appeared on her face.

“Why are you looking at me like that” Tony squirmed self consciously.

“Because I didn’t realise you were so bossy” she laughed, poking him playfully on the arm.

“I’m just worried about you” he smiled defensively. “And seeing as you’re so stubborn and won’t listen to me then the best I can do is compromise.”

“You’re learning quickly” Rachel winked, stroking his hand gently. “Cheers” she smiled, raising her glass to his. She hadn’t thought about the possibility of Lucy’s husband coming home; she’d been so pleased to get Lucy to talk to her that it hadn’t even crossed her mind. She hated to admit it to herself but she was glad Tony had refused to let her go on her own. She didn’t want to think about what could have happened if he wasn’t there.

[HighwayUnicorn]

Another great chapter there. A bit of protective Tony too.

Loved that he doesn't want Rachel to go on her own.

But I do hope Rachel can help Lucy & that Lucy accepts help.

Although saying that, it's not that easy to walk away from a violent relationship.

Well done & I look forward to more.

Love Carina xxx

[Red Ranger 1]

Lovely chapter.I could see both their points of view:How Rachel wanted to help Lucy and how Tony was more concerned with making sure Rachel was all right.His solution was a good one.Looking forward to more!