All of the characters in this work of fiction are over the age of 18.

This chapter contains sex, eventually.

In previous chapters, a young widow identified the men who raped her and killed her husband. The widow, Marie, inherited a small fortune and lived on the south shore of Long Island with her sister, Jenn, and Jenn's fiancé, Chloe. After over a year of mourning, Marie (who was a nurse) began to date. The doctor she was seeing was seeing three other nurses with whom Marie worked. Marie and her co-workers have agreed not to see the doctor socially. Chloe worked hard to get Marie's friend, Holly, elected as a judge. Holly had agreed to marry Chloe and Jenn in May. Jenn and Marie's parents, Harry and Catherine, had a sub named Annie whom they tied up and fucked. Harry has given Chloe his blessing to marry Jenn. Marie's brother-in-law, Frank, calls Marie every other Sunday morning. Chloe was returning home from mailing her wedding invitations at the post office when she was struck, on her bicycle, by a young woman in a car who ran a stop sign to send a text.

I would like to thank all the people who have commented and voted on my previous chapters. One gent went so far as to read the first five chapters in one day and comment on each one. Cheers, mate! I do read my comments and will often comment right there with you, so feel free to ask polite questions. I would prefer you did not call me a fucking idiot, even when it seems appropriate. I feel ineffable joy when the authors I follow take the time to read my stuff. Therefore, special thanks go to Jessie92 for her help in shaping this chapter and for her incredible advice about my writing in general. If you have not read Jessie92's amazing series, The Descending of Jessica, do yourself a big favor. Read it now. I can wait. Thanks, also to Dru_Druthers, who has, remarkably enough, read my works and has also given some excellent advice. If you have not read Dru_Druthers' two magnificent series, Hidden Desires and Finding Love, check them out as soon as humanly possible. Jessie92 and Dru_Druthers are the top two names on my favorite authors list, so you just have to go to my profile to find their work. Thanks also go to sweetestsin316, thestoryguy33 and seattlejack who were gracious enough to let me edit some of their stories for Literotica. These folks are also on my favorites list.

As always, polite constructive criticism is appreciated.



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It was a typical Wednesday morning in the Emergency Department for Marie, until the ambulance brought Chloe in. She was the victim of a hit and run. There was blood all over Chloe's face and arms as well as blood seeping through the blanket covering her, indicating other injuries. Marie made sure she saw Chloe blink before allowing herself to look away.

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To Chloe's credit, she did not allow herself to lose consciousness. There was a protective cell phone bag on her bicycle which shielded Chloe's phone from the impact. She reached into the bag to retrieve it and called 911. Chloe saw and memorized the license plate of the hit and run driver. She was checking her memory; focusing on this moment to make certain she wouldn't lose it.

"911 Emergency Services," said a confident, albeit bored, female voice. "What is the nature of your emergency?"

"I've been hit by a car and it just kept going," said Chloe.

Fearing a concussion, Chloe asked if the dispatcher could stay on the line until the ambulance arrived. The dispatcher did so and the two women talked about everything Chloe could remember about the incident. Chloe was a little fuzzy about a few things, at first, but her memory seemed to be intact.

When Chloe mentioned where she was coming from and why, it piqued the interest of the dispatcher, who identified herself as Gail. Gail was also a lesbian who was in search of an LGBT-friendly judge to perform a wedding ceremony in Suffolk County. Chloe was able to provide Gail with Holly's cell phone number from memory.

Gail did not worry that this conversation was being recorded. Everyone at work knew she was a lesbian. She never tried to hide it. Besides, the young woman she was talking to needed to stay awake until the ambulance got there. Gail spoke openly to Chloe and gave her encouragement as they spoke.

The ambulance arrived and Chloe hung up with Gail. The paramedics disentangled Chloe from her wrecked bike and carefully loaded her onto the stretcher. They raised up the legs of the stretcher, after belting her in, and banged it hard so the legs folded as the stretcher rolled into the ambulance.

Once inside, Chloe's clothes were cut off of her and she was quickly covered with blankets. Chloe was very nervous. She was more than very nervous. This was actually the first time since being hit by the car she was feeling something that actually registered as fear. To be suddenly stripped like that by two people she did not know was unnerving, to say the least. She understood she was a trauma patient, but her clothing was loose enough that it could have easily been slipped off her body without destroying it. If the man with the scissors had such little regard for her personal belongings and her privacy, how much could she really trust him? She kept her eyes on this man while his partner got behind the wheel.

Chloe did not really feel any pain. She felt sore on her right arm, her back, her lower chest, her head and both legs. It was a warm, throbbing, soreness that she felt she could deal with. Chloe looked at the medical instruments bouncing gently in the back of the ambulance with her. The rhythm of the bouncing equipment should have been terrifying, but she found it soothing. She was relaxing a tiny bit.

She was put on oxygen with a nasal cannula, at two liters, and the paramedic riding in the back with her asked her to talk as much about the accident as possible. The back of the ambulance was cramped and bumpy and it took her a few moments to adjust to her surroundings. She did not have the chance, yet, to completely relax. This guy saw her naked and he was a dick to her nice clothes.



She pushed that out of her head and focused on the task. Chloe remembered everything. She explained that she was returning home from mailing wedding invitations. She clearly described the car and the driver as well as the iPhone the driver was texting on. She said the license plate number of the car. Chloe asked to be taken to Good Sam's hospital. It was where they were going anyway.

Soon after coming in the entrance to the ED, Chloe saw Marie and she smiled despite her soreness. Fear faded into something akin to joy at seeing her dear friend waiting for her arrival. The paramedics noticed how Chloe physically relaxed as soon as the injured redhead saw the raven haired nurse. Marie held Chloe's bloody and bruised hand in her gloved hands and Chloe allowed herself to close her eyes for the first time since being struck. She didn't care if this was a mistake; she needed to relax and this was her first opportunity.

The ambulance driver asked Marie, "Do you know her?"

"Yes," said Marie. "She's engaged to my sister."

"The good news is that I got the invitations sent out," said Chloe softly with a groan. Her eyes were still closed.

Dharmesh was the doctor on call. He recognized Chloe and worked very professionally to get her stabilized. Dharmesh always liked Chloe. He knew of no reason not to like her. He never gave Marie a chance to tell him it was Chloe who told her he'd been lying to her.

It was agreed by all that Chloe's helmet took the brunt of the impact. It was at that moment that Chloe thought about all of her birthday presents that were destroyed in fewer than 12 seconds. The bicycle she loved so much was now a metal pretzel. Her safety vest and the strap of her helmet were cut off by the paramedics. Her phone and her bike clips were placed in a bag by the paramedics. Her bike rack was bent; her panniers flattened. Her headlight was smashed. Chloe was sad and angry that a careless driver could do so much devastation in such a short span of time.

Chloe was in and out of consciousness during her stay in the ED. At least, this is how she felt. In actuality, she realized, there were certain moments she did not remember. This thought was horrifying to Chloe, who was so genuinely proud of her memory. She tried to remain positive as she tried to hold on to all the things she could remember.

She did remember when Marie gave her a bed bath. Marie was completely professional and yet, at the same time, incredibly seductive. Marie removed Chloe's nasal cannula. Chloe felt the warm, wet, soapy washcloth on her forehead and down her cheek then around her face. A second washcloth, to rinse the soap, followed quickly in the exact same movement. The drying towel came next and Chloe felt clean and refreshed there. This same process was repeated over her entire body. Marie slowly slid the blanket off Chloe's body.

There were no words exchanged between the two friends during the bed bath. This added to the surreal and seductive nature of the moment. Chloe could feel her breathing increase. She stared at her suddenly taciturn future in-law with a mix of awe, respect and lust. It was the same emotions she always had for Marie, but the proportions were different.

Chloe's room in the Emergency Department was essentially a cubicle with a bed in it. It wasn't even really a bed. It was a stretcher with a set of sheets on it. She was in treatment room 6, which put her right by the nurse's station. If, at any time, Chloe pressed her call button a nurse would emerge almost instantly. It was usually Marie. Chloe carefully regarded Marie. It wasn't as though Marie was usually voluble, but she was not speaking at all. It was making Chloe horny.

The soapy washcloth felt so good on Chloe's perky breasts. Marie had to lift them each to wash underneath. Her skilled touch was amazing; clinical, yet sexy as hell. Marie had started at the top and was working her way down Chloe's body slowly. The fact that each part was massaged three times in a row with a slightly different sensation each time was alluring to Chloe.

The soapy washcloth felt different than the one rinsing her, which was surprising. Chloe would have expected them to feel the same. The soft drying towel felt wonderful and always arrived just before the water from the rinsing cloth could turn cold.

The washing ritual descended lower and soon Marie was washing Chloe's pussy. It seemed remarkable to Chloe how intimate this act was and how routine it most likely felt to Marie. Chloe's breathing increased. She looked deeply into Marie's eyes. They seemed greener than usual.

The three cloth system felt AMAZING on Chloe's vajayjay. Her heart rate, which was being monitored, definitely increased. All too soon, Marie's talented hand moved on. Flashes of emotions swept over Chloe; sadness, disappointment, longing, sexual hunger.

Chloe noticed some tender areas as the washcloths and towel caressed them and told Marie as she felt them. Chloe's legs were particularly sensitive and Marie was washing off a lot of blood from Chloe's legs. Chloe also felt tenderness when she was log rolled by Marie to wash her back and ass. Once Chloe was washed, rinsed and dried, a fresh hospital gown was placed on her. The raven haired nurse returned Chloe's nasal cannula and adjusted it for a snug fit. Marie took a brush and thoroughly worked all the knots out of Chloe's red hair. Chloe remembered closing her eyes.

There was a point of confusion when Chloe woke up. At first, she thought she was looking at Marie. After taking a closer look, she saw the young woman facing her was not wearing scrubs, had her hair down and that her eyes were blue.

Chloe broke into a big smile and lurched forward to hug Jenn. Jenn quickly moved to accept the hug. Chloe had to let go of Jenn with her left arm, which was tethered to an IV drip. Chloe did notice the leads, and the heart monitor they were attached to, were gone. It was during her embrace with Jenn that Chloe realized they were not in the ED. They were in a larger room, but that was not to say the room was large.

There was only one bed in the room. There was a window that overlooked the football field of the Catholic High School next door to the hospital. There was a television in this room. There probably had been one in treatment room six, but Chloe did not notice. She only saw this television because Channel 12 was playing softly.

There were two chairs. One of those chairs held Jenn. She was so gorgeous. Chloe still felt horny from the bed bath despite the obvious fact that the bath obviously had taken place hours earlier. Chloe was staring at her sexy fiancé, not realizing she was licking her lips.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," said Jenn. "Ree called during her break and told me everything she knew. She told me it would be best to wait until you were out of the Emergency Department and were placed on the Med/Surg unit. Once you were moved, Ree called again and I came right over."

"Did you come here for a conjugal visit?" asked Chloe in a husky voice.

"Baby, I'd love to," said Jenn, "but we'd wake up Frank and you know he has a crush on you."

"What do you mean 'we'd wake up Frank'?"

Jenn tilted her head and indicated the large man curled up in the other chair in the room. Chloe looked carefully, recognized her drinking buddy and wondered how the hell he got here since she felt she hadn't been in the hospital very long.

Chloe cleared her throat after an initial attempt to speak failed and asked, "How did he get here?"

Jenn gave Chloe a loving smile and said, "After Ree's first call, I went out to Hoffman Avenue to try to find your bike. I collected what was left of it and then I sent out a mass text letting everyone know you'd been in an accident.

"My text included a picture I took of the remains of your bike. I came home and sorted through the items from your bike that were salvageable. There wasn't fucking much.

"Later, when Ree called to say you'd been put in your new room, I rushed out the door and Frank was walking towards the house. When he got my text, he jumped in his seaplane and got an itinerary on route, whatever that means. He flew all the way up and landed just off from Lindenhurst Beach. He left it parked there in the Great South Bay and swam the fucking remainder. He had a 'dry bag' with a change of clothes in it. It was such a romance novel move."

"How'd he get here so quickly?"

"Baby," said Jenn. "I sent out my text over twelve hours ago. How the fuck do you feel?"

"Stiff and sore, Sweetie," said Chloe, "but I think I'm okay to go home now. Did you bring clothes for me? Mine were cut off my body on the ride over."

"Baby, you can't fucking leave yet," said Jenn. "They need to run some tests and both of your legs are broken. You also cracked a couple of your ribs. Just lay back and try to relax, Baby."

"I don't mean to be rude, Sweetie," said Chloe, "but that came out sounding a little obtuse. You tell me my legs are broken, my ribs are cracked, and then say to relax? That's like in that Batman movie we saw where Batman tells Katie Holmes not to panic and the next thing he says is that she's been poisoned. The two concepts do not mesh together very well."

"Maybe I can help you to relax," said Jenn. Jenn stood up and peeled off her lavender blouse to reveal a lacy black bra. Jenn kicked off her heels, lifted up the covers and scooted into the bed next to Chloe. She leaned in and sucked on Chloe's earlobe. She stopped just long enough to ask, "Is this better, Baby?"

Chloe moaned in reply, "Mmmmmmm, much better." Chloe had barely noticed she was no longer wearing a nasal cannula.

Jenn held Chloe carefully as she nibbled and sucked on the earlobe. After seeing the bike, Jenn had feared the worst. She allowed herself to relax as she felt her sexy betrothed in her arms. Chloe was so warm and so soft to touch. It was a matter of willpower for Jenn to keep her libido in check. Holding back was never one of Jenn's strong suits, but she persevered.

Earlier, she had pulled off Chloe's covers to look at the bruises and bandages. Jenn had lifted Chloe's hospital gown and inspected the body she knew so well. Jenn had seen and touched the bruises when Chloe slept and, therefore, had a good idea where she could and could not touch her fiancé.

Jenn's hands did not roam over Chloe's soft body, despite how much they both wanted that. They settled into an almost possessive hug. Chloe's breathing slowed down a bit and she felt her body relax. She felt safe and she felt loved.

Chloe remembered closing her eyes, but had apparently drifted off. When she opened her eyes, things were very different. Chloe was now in bed between Jenn and Frank. They were in the same room as earlier. It was daytime and occasional sounds could be heard from the football field through the open window.

Frank had his arm draped around Chloe's shoulder. Jenn still hugged Chloe possessively. Marie and Holly sat at the foot of the bed and Catherine and Harry were seated in the chairs. Marie was not in scrubs and her lovely raven hair was down. She was wearing a light blue sweater with jeans. Holly was in a black suit with a white pullover top and a pencil skirt.

Chloe could feel herself grinning. It had been a very long time since Chloe had felt like a member of a family. Her parents had disowned her long before they died. Her father was not going to have a "lesbian whore" for a daughter. All of her stuff was tossed into a garbage bag and she shuffled off looking for a place to live. When her parents died, she had no tears left for them. They were already as dead to her as she had been to them. Looking around the hospital room made Chloe realize that these wonderful people were her family. They were here for her and she was thrilled. She carefully wrapped her arm around Frank's neck.

"You actually flew all the way up here in your seaplane to see me?" Chloe asked.



"Hell, yeah, I flew up to see you," said Frank. "Good wing men are hard to come by."

Chloe replied, "Maybe you're not such a punk after all."

"You really have no idea how to compliment a man, do you?" asked Frank.

"You let me know when a man shows up and I will compliment him," said Chloe.

"Right," said Frank in a sarcastic voice. "You're not a man hater."

"The term is misandrist," said Chloe, "and, no, I am not." Chloe turned to Marie and asked, "So, when can I go home?"

"It's going to be a little bit," said Marie. "I have some contractors working on the house, so I paid for this room, including breakfast, lunch and dinner for Jenn, for the next three days."

"Why are contractors working on the house for three days?" asked Chloe.

"To make the house wheelchair accessible," replied Marie.

"Why are you making the house wheelchair accessible?"

"C, Honey," said Marie, "you broke both legs. You are going to be in a wheelchair. We live in a house designed after Super Storm Sandy. We need to make it accessible."

"Is that practical?" asked Chloe. "I'm not going to be in a wheelchair forever..."

"Practical, schmactical," said Marie. "I want you to be comfortable in your own home."

Chloe brightened at Marie calling it her own home. Chloe often felt like a guest at the home of the Stevens sisters. She knew she was loved by both of them, but never completely felt at home there until Marie used that phrase. It took the argument out of Chloe.

"Ok," said Chloe, "three days. Wait. You bought meals for Jenn for all three days?"

Jenn asked, "You don't mind, do you?"

Chloe had a huge grin on her face and said, "Shit, no!" Chloe did not like strange beds; Jenn knew this very well. Chloe was so happy that Jenn would be staying with her in the room during meals. Chloe suddenly remembered the rest of what Marie had said. She had purchased the hospital room for the three days. This most likely meant Jenn would be staying here the entire time. That would explain why Jenn was told to wait until Chloe was in her new room.
Chloe rested her head on Jenn's shoulder and looked at the rest of her visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens always looked like they were teenagers in love. They were almost always holding hands. Mrs. Stevens, Catherine, looked very much like her daughters. She and Marie had the same hazel eye color. Mr. Stevens, Harry, could easily be described by Chloe as a silver fox. She was not sexually attracted to him, but Chloe could appreciate how handsome Harry's almost white hair made him look. Holly had been uncharacteristically quiet. Chloe was about to address the beautiful blonde judge when Frank spoke up suddenly and cut her off before she could open her mouth.

"Hey, Ree, is my room at your house still available or do I need to make other arrangements?"

Marie walked up to Frank. She grabbed him roughly by the shirt collar and pulled him in as she kissed him hard on the lips. The kiss lasted at least eight seconds. Marie broke the kiss and slapped Frank hard across his cheek. The entire room was silent. All eyes were on Marie.

Marie did not speak for the longest time. When she did finally say something, it was nowhere near what anyone was expecting her to say.

She said, "It's Thursday. I have to go to my counseling session." Without another word, Marie walked out of the room.

All eyes swiftly turned to Jenn and Chloe, the two Psychology majors in grad school. Holly was the first to speak.

"What the hell was that?" she asked.

Jenn said, "I'm not sure. I think.... She might finally be there."

"She's finally where?" asked Frank as he rubbed his cheek.

"Stage One," said Jenn with a meaningful tone.

"Stage one of what?" asked Holly.

"Well," said Chloe, "J is referring to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' five stages of grief but it's misleading to say stage one."

Harry asked, "Why is that?"

Chloe said, "It's misleading because there is no right or wrong stage to start with. Many people think there is an order to them. They think you go from Denial to Anger to Bargaining to Depression to Acceptance. That simply isn't true. Some people start at Anger; some start at Depression."

"That's right," said Jenn. "It's not always a one and done, either. Some people don't accept the stage they're in and they backslide. It's not unusual for a person to go back and forth between two stages for a while."

"Ok," said Frank, "what stage is kissing and slapping people?"

"Probably Denial," said Chloe. "That's another issue with Kübler-Ross. There isn't always a clear-cut divider between stages. That could easily have been Anger or Depression we just witnessed. It could even have been a little bit of the three stages combined. The important thing to take away from this, though, is that Ree might finally be on the path to facing her grief."

Catherine asked, "Almost two years in mourning doesn't count?"

"No," said Chloe. "It doesn't. Not for nothing, but Ree was only going through the motions. She wasn't confronting her grief. She was in denial, and I'm not talking about the Kübler-Ross stage. She was denying her grief. She put a lid on it so she could go to work everyday and so she could testify at those trials. She put a lid on her grief so she could be brave for us."

"Is that such a bad thing?" asked Catherine.

Chloe asked in reply, "Do you know what happens when you put a lid on a boiling pot?"



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Marie arrived at Dr. Clarke's office right on time; as usual. Kevin opened the door for her and she walked in. Normally, Marie would enter the counseling office and sit in the chair facing Kevin's chair. This time she sat on the couch. The couch also faced Kevin's chair. There was a window behind the couch. Above the window was an analog clock that ticked quietly during each session. The walls were flanked with bookshelves.

Kevin noted Marie in a new place and addressed her warmly, saying, "Good Afternoon, Marie. How have you been?"

Marie sat perfectly still, almost stoically, for a moment or two and then she was actively sobbing. Kevin made no attempts to stop her crying. There was a coffee table in front of her with tissue boxes. She obviously needed this, so Kevin let her cry. He did not make faces or shift in his seat. He sat there as though he was patiently waiting for an answer to his question. Marie's upper body heaved violently as she sobbed. Kevin stayed calm and quiet. These were not histrionics. These tears were real and necessary. Kevin did not try to draw significance to this crying. Certainly, this was a significant act. He did not, however, try to discern the reason for the effusion of tears.

Marie did not try to speak. She let the tears flow out of her. She released all of the pain she held in for all this time. Twenty-two months of guilt and anger she never allowed herself to share with anyone leaked out of her eyes. She turned herself and laid on the couch. Her sobbing continued. After an unimaginable length of time, Marie spoke as she cried.

"Oh, God. Why? WHY?!? Oh, my God. Oh, why?"

"'Why' what, Marie?" asked Kevin.

Still crying, Marie said, "Why.... why did... Why.... Why did I live?"

Kevin's face did not show the surprise he felt. They had never covered survivor's guilt in previous sessions. He asked, "Don't you believe you deserve to live?"

"NO!!!" shouted Marie through her tears. "Trent was so good. He was so good. He was trying to protect me. He dropped like a brick. Why did I live? Why did I live? Why... Why did.... Why didn't I stop him?"

Kevin, seeking clarification, asked, "Why didn't you stop Trent from protecting you?"

"No," cried Marie. "Why didn't I stop him from getting out of the car?"

"I don't understand."

"I could have made him call AAA," sobbed Marie. "He didn't want to wait. I should have made him call and kissed him while we waited for help to arrive. Or... Or... or I c-could have made him take a different exit. We weren't out of gas. We just didn't have enough to make it to the city. We had enough to get off the Southern State and get on the Wantagh Parkway. We probably had enough to get on the Grand Central Parkway. We could have gone to a gas station that was closer to the exit. Why did I have to live?"

"You lived because you had skills Trent did not," said Kevin. He wanted to see what reaction that would provoke.

"No, I could have stopped it. If I was stronger, I could have gotten him to wait for a better exit. We would have been fine," said Marie.

"Why didn't Trent make the decision to wait?" asked Kevin. "Why couldn't Trent wait?"

"He was an asshole!" blurted out Marie through the tears. Her face felt hot. She couldn't believe she had just said that. She examined the ugly words that had just erupted from her tongue. Was it true? Was that entire nightmare of a night Trent's fault? She felt sadness, loneliness, and anger at the same time. She tried to explain to Kevin and herself what she'd just called her beloved late husband. "He couldn't see how vulnerable we were. He just plundered forward. What the fuck was wrong with him? We should have called AAA! We should have fucking called AAA and not have tried to change the flat ourselves. It's almost like he raped me..." It seemed as though Marie was going to say more but her voice trailed off.

Kevin asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well," said Marie, still crying but not as hard as she had been, "Once he set things in motion, things were leading up to my rape and I had no choice. I had no chance of stopping the train once he pulled it out of the station. He put me in that situation. Trent put me there. It wasn't me, it wasn't Frank. It wasn't the motherfuckers who raped me. It was Trent. Trent put me in that situation. There were so many other things we could have done but we did what he wanted, the dumb son of a bitch! That stupid dick could have been my first time if he would have shown a modicum of patience. Instead, my first time was six motherfuckers trying to fill every fucking hole I have. Why? Why couldn't I stop him?"

"You had no idea what would happen," said Kevin, "He had no idea."

"Maybe not, but he should have seen he was putting us in danger. He should have understood the consequences of impatience. And those mother... those motherfuckers thought they owned me. They thought they owned me because they popped my fucking cherry. Just like Trent thought he owned me because he was going to pop it. He put me there. He put me on that fucking street to be raped because he thought he owned me. I was stripped and fucking raped because that miserable dick thought I was his to order around. They raped me. They fucking raped me. They completely raped me. Holly and Jenn raped me..."

"Why do you say that Holly and Jenn raped you?" asked Kevin.

"I wasn't ready," said Marie. "I was so vulnerable and they took me. It was softer and safer and nicer than being raped at knifepoint on the street, but they fucking raped me. They threw me into this world of sex that I still didn't know about. I had sex once before they got to me. It was forced sex with six fucking partners but I was only one sexual experience removed from my virginity and they had me in a Sapphic three-way. What the fuck is that? Why couldn't I fucking stop them? Why couldn't I scratch their eyes out or tell them to keep their goddamn hands to themselves? They fucking raped me. My sister and my lawyer and they fucking raped me. Raped by a lawyer. Now she's a judge and I voted for her. My sister. My sister. I slept with my fucking sister. I fucked my sister's fiancé. I was ten feet from my sister and I fucked her fiancé. I don't even know if that was my choice. I just don't know if I would have chosen to have sex with any of the people I've fucked. I don't know. I think they all raped me. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know why I let them fuck me. It was so exciting and it felt good. I've cum so many times in so many ways. Oh, my God. I've become a slut. I just can't believe that none of this would be a part of my life if Trent had called AAA. Maybe it was me. I could have called. I could have taken his phone and called AAA. If we had called, everything would be different."

Kevin asked, "How would everything be different?"

"How?" asked Marie with incredulity. "I wouldn't be the Merry Widow! I'd be married. I wouldn't get fucked by my lawyer and my sister at the will reading. I would have lost my virginity to my husband and not a pack of animals. I wouldn't have slept with those college students or my co-workers. Dharmesh wouldn't hit on me because I'd have a ring on my left hand. I never would have dated him. I wouldn't be living with two horny lesbians. I wouldn't have had to have an abortion!"

Marie was silent after she released that final outburst. She had never mentioned the abortion to anyone.

"You had an abortion?"

"Yes, I had a fucking abortion!" shouted Marie. "I was raped! I wasn't going to keep that child; let it grow in me. I thought about putting it up for adoption, but that would mean I'd have to give birth to it. Those fucking motherfuckers knocked me up and I did not want to give birth to their spawn. I went to an abortion clinic in Nassau County and I had them take that horrible thing out of my body. I wanted to have kids. With Trent. I wanted to have at least two; maybe three. I had looked forward to having children and they fucking took that away from me, too!"

"You can't still have children?" asked Kevin.

"How could I enjoy them now? I've already killed one," said Marie, still softly sobbing. "I freaked out about having the baby of one of those six monsters and I ran to the abortion clinic. Then I threw myself at those Human Sexuality and Psychology students Jenn was bringing home."

Kevin asked, "Do you feel those students raped you, too?"

"What? No. No, I don't think so," said Marie. "I wasn't myself, I know. I would never have that much sex with so many people if Trent were alive, even if he turned out to be a swinger. That being said, I chose it. I told Jenn what type of person or persons I wanted next and she got them for me. No, the students had sex with me but they didn't rape me. I was in control."

Kevin asked, "Do you feel any time when you have sex, when you are not in control, that it's rape?"

"No," relied Marie. "I think you can have consensual uncontrolled sex. If you trust your partner or partners, you can."

"So how do you define rape?"

"Rape is sex without consent," Marie responded.

"You didn't consent to Jenn and Holly?" asked Kevin.

"How could I?" asked Marie. "I didn't really know what sex was. All I knew were cocks shoving into me. The only difference between my first sexual experience and my second was cocks became fingers, tongues and clits."

"Marie," Kevin said, "we're running out of time and you've opened up several points we need to discuss in detail. Meeting once a month is not going to cut it any longer. Are you available to meet at this time every Monday and Thursday?"

Marie thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I should be able to do that."

"Very good," he said. "I would also like you to consider becoming the co-facilitator for a support group that meets in the basement of the Methodist Church on Wellwood Avenue. They meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month."

Before she left, Marie made an important decision. She told it to Kevin. Kevin, for his part, said that the choice was hers to make but he could see the logic behind the decision.

After her counseling session, Marie drove back to the hospital. She did not go to the Med/Surg Unit. She went instead to see the DON.

Carol was still relatively new to the Director of Nursing job. She had been acting DON for third shift for years, but had only been in the big position for a few months. She eagerly ushered Marie into the office when the raven haired beauty knocked on the door. Marie looked around the office as she took the seat Carol indicated with a gesture. The office looked incomplete. There were things hanging on the walls and there was furniture, but the impression Marie got was that this project was not finished. Marie noted the leather chairs and the oak desk. The things that were in the office were meant to impress.

"Hello, Marie," said Carol. "How's Chloe doing? Is your family comfortable in her room on Med/Surg?"

"I think she's going to be fine," replied Marie. "My family is ok, but that's not why I'm here."

"Ok," said Carol. "Well, don't make me guess..." Carol shifted her weight. She was a large nurse who never ran for a code in her life. She was very good, however, at making decisions on the fly and making friends with important people.

"I need to leave the hospital," said Marie. "I can't unload my emotional baggage while I'm working here."

"Thank God you finally realize that!"

"Um, what?" asked Marie.

"Honey, I was on call on your wedding night," said Carol. "I was right here and instead of crying and letting yourself heal, you asked for a rape test. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Marie got defensive and said, "I was just..."

"You were putting on a brave face for your sister and the nurses here who look up to you," said Carol. "I know. The problem is, you had the brave mask on so long, you forgot you could take it off. Marie, for the love of God, I set you up in a treatment room we can close the door to so you could cry and what do you do? You order your rape test. Stop being brave and let yourself be a human being. Give me a second, here. I need to check something on the computer. Dum dee dum dee da, dum dee dum dee doo. Ah, here we go. You're scheduled to work this weekend and you have eleven personal days left. This is perfect."

"What's perfect?" asked Marie.

"You're going to take this pen and this sheet of paper," Carol said as she handed the objects to Marie, "and you are going to put your two weeks notice in writing. You are going to work tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday and then stop coming in. Your last official day will be two weeks from tomorrow, but I'm going to allow you to use up your personal days. Sunday will be your last actual day."

"Can you do that?" asked Marie.

Carol answered her question with a question. "Who am I?"

"You're the DON," Marie answered.

Carol replied, "You're damn right, I am! You give me a nice written two weeks notice, work three more days and you start doing things for yourself and stop worrying about other people for a little while. You got me?"

"I think so," said Marie tentatively.

"I don't want you to think so, I want you to get me. You got me?"

Marie said, "I got you."

"Good," said Carol. "Write out your notice."

"Why are you doing this for me?" asked Marie.

Carol responded, "I have a lot of reasons to do this. One, you're a damned good nurse who needs some time for herself. Two, I actually owe you one. You won't know this, but a while back one of the second year residents, Dr. Patel, complained to the Chief of Medicine that the nurses were being very professional to him but none of them would go out with him. The Chief of Medicine came to me to tell me what a great job I'm doing with my nurses. It got me a dinner with the President and CEO. I found out you were the ringleader on that one. So, this is a thank you. Three, and this is none of your business, but when I was nineteen I was raped during a blind date. I'm giving you my card before you walk out that door. If you ever need anyone to talk to, my cell number is on there. Oh, and I'm going to treat this like you're joining the military."

"Um," said Marie, "you're going to what?"

"Don't you know this?" asked Carol. "If you quit a job to join the military, after you've served your country, if you apply for work with the same employer they are required by Federal law to rehire you at the position and pay rate you would have had if you never quit. As far as I'm concerned, you're in the Air Force. You take as long as you need to get your shit together. If you stay away long enough, maybe I'll hire you back as my ADON. Anyway, do you have your two weeks notice all written out?"

"Yes."

"Let me see," said Carol. Marie handed back the sheet of paper and Carol hummed quietly as she read it. Finally, Carol said, "Good, very good. This is exactly what I needed. Ok, kid. Three more days of work and then you can do what you need to do for yourself. Did you want me to bring in a cake on Sunday at the end of your shift?"

"No," said Marie. "Thank you. I think I want to keep this quiet."

"Suit yourself," said Carol. "All right, get out of my office. I'm very busy and important."

"Thanks, Carol."

"Thank you! Take care of yourself out there, Marie." Carol said.

Marie did not go directly up to Chloe's room. She went out to the parking lot and made a few phone calls. Marie was planning out her life and it took several phone calls to arrange everything the way she needed it. When Marie finished her business, she went up to Chloe's room. Chloe and Jenn were the only people left in the room.

"Hey, Ree," said Chloe. "How was therapy this month?"

"It was one hell of a session," Marie said. "A lot of things came out; mostly my tears. I came to a lot of conclusions. Some of them may actually be true. I need some time to think about everything. I quit my job."

"You did what?" asked Jenn.

"Well, it's not like we need the money," said Marie. There was some anger in her voice; Chloe heard it.

"Are you ok, Ree?" she asked.

Marie replied calmly, "I'm not sure. I have a lot to think about. I spoke to Carol. I'm working the next three days and then I'm quitting. I'm moving into Tarabella for a little while. I just need some space. I have some staff, there, to attend to me and the house. I made some arrangements at home. The contractors will be done Saturday; Tuesday at the latest, so we'll say Tuesday. You should be discharged in a week or so after the pins and the casts are done and everything looks ok. I arranged to have a Physical Therapist live at the house for one month once you get back there. She's going to get you up and walking before you know it. I'll come back home when I can. I just can't be there right now."
"Why not?" asked Jenn.

"Because when I was talking during my therapy session, I blurted out that I felt you and Holly raped me. We didn't have enough time in the session to address it properly, so I'm still chewing on that thought," replied Marie calmly.

Jenn asked, "You think I fucking raped you?"

Marie replied, "At least subconsciously I seem to."

Chloe chimed in, "Right, and we need to respect the validity of that. So, Ree, how much distance will you need from us? Can we call your cell while you're in the Hamptons?"

Marie thought about this. She didn't want to be rude. She really didn't. She loved both of these women with all of her heart. There was that small part of her, however, that felt Jenn and Holly had raped her in Holly's office and she needed to give that its due respect. Marie weighed everything over in her head. She could feel the pain she was no longer shunting. It was threatening to make her burst out in tears. If it started, she wouldn't reign them in. She would let herself cry. She knew, deep down, that she needed to. That's what the move to Tarabella was all about. She was going to surrender to her pain and face it in a foreign, albeit comfortable, environment.

She had been to the huge property in Bridgehampton. It was not a beach house as it had been described in Trent's will. It was a mansion that sat on a private beach. It had an Olympic size pool and multiple hot tubs. It was a very soothing place to go to face her pain.

"No," said Marie finally. "I'll check in, but don't call me unless I go more than three days without calling you."

That seemed fair to Chloe. Later in the evening Chloe would convince Jenn that it was fair. At that particular moment, Jenn was hurt. She never thought she and Holly had forced themselves on Ree. Really, Jenn thought, she had followed the lead of the two naked women she discovered in the lawyer's office.. Her status as a rapist, therefore, really depended on what Holly did. Jenn was getting angry. She didn't want to be angry at her sister. Her sister was finally opening up to hard emotions. Jenn gave Chloe's hand a squeeze. Chloe looked over and gave Jenn exactly what she needed: a smile that made Jenn melt.



Marie went home to pack. She would leave enough things unpacked to go to work for three days. Other than that, it was getting loaded in her car. She had no idea how long she'd be at Tarabella and would rather bring too much than not enough. Marie was hesitant about making such a radical change to her life. She could certainly afford to do this. The most convincing argument she gave to herself was that this felt right. It was time to tear down old walls and build up a new life. Marie packed her luggage and left it by her bedroom door. She would be ready to load her car up after work on Sunday. Her journey was a weekend away.

Friday morning in the ED was always dicey. There was that ominous "Sword of Damocles" feeling that all hell would break loose after the morning nurses got report from the night nurses. This was true of any shift change, but Friday morning seemed to be the shift hard-wired to have shit hit the fan. The report Marie got seemed light. Erin, the night nurse giving her report, seemed very anxious to leave. It was almost as though she knew the shit was inches from the fan and wanted to get out before the splatter. The report was signed, the med cart was counted and Erin practically left skid marks on her way out of the ED.

Marie should have known. The door had barely closed behind Erin when an ambulance came in. Marie stepped up and led the paramedics to treatment room seven. The girl on the stretcher looked like a middle school student. As it turns out, she was celebrating her twenty-first birthday. Marie helped transfer her onto the stretcher in the treatment room, got a clean gown, and began her assessment of the new patient. Pupil response and breathing pattern suggested drug use rather than the expected alcohol poisoning that usually accompany newly minted twenty-one year olds in the Emergency Department. Marie called the charge nurse and, after a consultation with the resident on duty, got permission to run a tox screen. The results, when they finally came in were shocking. The girl, her name would later turn out to be Traci, had almost lethal amounts of MDMA or Molly cut with Ketamine in her system. After a quick consult, and once Traci was stabilized and able to give informed consent, Marie started the rape test. Evidence of rape was fairly obvious. Marie excused herself and went to the bathroom for a long cry. She cleaned herself up and was professional for the rest of the time she needed to spend with Traci.

Traci almost died several times. The combination of Molly and Ketamine was not the most human-friendly cocktail a person could imbibe; especially mixed with the vodka and cranberry juice it was slipped into. Marie was not going to let Traci die on her. There was one point where Marie had to fetch the AED. She and Kristina performed CPR on Traci and Marie hooked up the AED. She administered a shock and they got Traci back. Traci floated in and out of consciousness for several hours. When she was unconscious, Traci's sats would go down.

Traci was taking up so much of Marie's time, Marie was relying on reports from the ED Techs to keep up with her other patients. The Techs would remind Marie who needed meds, who was going to a diagnostic test and things of that nature. Marie was always good to the Techs, so they rarely complained when she asked more of them than usual. Besides, when she focused on one patient she did the Tech's job for that patient, too, such as bed baths.

Marie washed Traci thoroughly while the young woman slept. She washed Traci's hair to discover bleach blonde hair with black streaks. The makeup was washed off to reveal an angelic face. Washing further, Marie found an incredible body. Large, gravity defying tits, a defined core and shapely legs. Traci was an amazing beauty. Marie took a good look, let out a fairly loud sigh, put the clean gown on Traci and checked her vitals again. Concentrating on this young woman, Marie forgot the shivers that had gone down her spine when she first suspected Traci was raped.

Rape was no longer a trigger word for Marie. There was a time she would almost automatically flashback to her wedding night upon hearing the word; even just thinking it. This was no longer the case. At least it was not the case in this particular instant. Marie was focused on keeping this woman alive and out of danger. It was touch and go for a long time. When Traci went downhill, she did so quickly, and it took a long time to get her back. One of the advantages of having someone you needed to focus on was that time often went by very quickly. Before Marie knew it, it was seven at night and the evening shift nurse was there for report. Marie stayed until eight, giving report and helping to keep Traci stable. Marie seriously doubted she would see Traci alive. She said a little prayer before leaving.



Marie went upstairs to the Med/Surg unit to check on Chloe. She chatted briefly with Chloe's night nurse, who'd just gotten report on Chloe. Chloe was stable and seemed to be in good spirits. She had complained of pain more than once and they were establishing her tolerance level for meds.

Marie knocked on the door before entering, as was her habit. Chloe's smile beamed at Marie. Jenn was obviously happy to see Marie but was a bit guarded, most likely still stinging from being accused of rape. Marie looked and felt absolutely exhausted. Chloe spotted it instantly, of course.



"Gee, Ree," said Chloe, "no offense, but you look as though you've been to hell and back."

"It feels like it," admitted Marie. "Busy shift. How was your day?"

"My day?" asked Chloe. "I've been wheeled to X-Ray and Ultrasound. I've been poked and prodded and otherwise I've been watching cartoons with J. Thank you for asking."

"Are you two going to be ok here?" asked Marie, ignoring Chloe's sarcasm. "Do you need anything from home?"

Chloe and Jenn looked at each other for a few seconds. Neither one said a word. Eventually, Jenn looked up and said, "We don't need anything from home, but would you be able to work it out so that I can stay here until Chloe is discharged?"

"Sure, no problem," said Marie. "I was already thinking about doing that when I realized how long her stay would be. Is there anything else?"

"Are you ok?" Chloe asked.

"I'm still repressing my emotions," said Marie. "Once I get through the weekend, I'll be at Tarabella and just release everything I've kept locked in. I'll be fine."

At 8:30, there was a general announcement over the speakers warning that visiting hours were now over. This really didn't apply to the occupants of Chloe's room. Jenn was a paid guest and Marie was staff. Marie decided to go anyway. She gave Chloe and Jenn each a peck on the cheek and left.

===============================================

Lights were turning off in the hallways and the door to Chloe's room was closed by a nurse. Jenn kissed Chloe tenderly. After a very nice makeout session, Jenn carefully went down on Chloe. It never took much to get Chloe aroused and this was no exception. Jenn had her soaking wet within seconds. Jenn did not want to disturb Chloe's catheter and so she concentrated on the clit. Chloe tried to stop herself from moaning and failed miserably.

"J," Chloe whispered, "what if a nurse catches us?"

Jenn replied, "We'll ask her to join us. Duh. We're paid up here. It's not like they can kick us out..."

Jenn returned to her loving ministrations and soon had Chloe cumming hard. It was probably frowned upon, but Jenn was out of fucks to give about hospital policy regarding conjugal visits. Each rule was more Puritanical than the rule before it She loved Chloe and wanted Chloe to be comfortable here. Chloe's moans and loud orgasms indicated she was very comfortable already and Jenn hadn't warmed up yet.

===============================================

When she arrived home, Marie raided the refrigerator. She had spent so much time with Traci, she'd barely had time for lunch. Marie heated up some leftovers in the microwave and ate in silence. Marie was feeling an emotion she couldn't quite identify. It wasn't exhaustion, although she was feeling that as well. She decided to call it an early night and went upstairs to her room. Marie went to the en suite bathroom and washed up for bed. She stripped herself absentmindedly and slid under the covers. Marie settled into the bed and soon began weeping. She had no clue as to why she was crying and she didn't try to stop herself. She sat up in the bed as she cried. Her upper body heaved with her tears and heavy breathing. Her nipples rubbed against the sheets. The pleasurable sensation did not retard her crying.

Marie was no longer aware of her surroundings. She was lost in her tears. She thought of Trent. She felt the guilt of not joining him. She felt the anger that it was his own fault he was dead and she was raped. She felt loss and sadness. She felt a hand on her left shoulder. Marie lifted her eyes to see Frank standing there, naked, with a worried look in his eyes.





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Thank you for reading. Please leave me some polite constructive criticism. I will be taking my time with Chapter 8, but it is coming.