Both Nick and AJ’s heads shot up to the doorway.
A young woman doctor stood there. A white lab coat hung open, revealing blue scrubs, and she had a stethoscope hanging around her neck. In her hand she had a clipboard.
Immediately Nick stood up, AJ following. He smoothed a hand through his hair. “Yeah?”
The doctor entered the room, a grim expression on her face. “My name is Dr. Niln.” She held out a hand first to Nick, and then to AJ. Both gentlemen shook it.
“H…how is she?” Nick questioned, his eyes scanning the doctor’s face.
Dr. Niln sighed. She was a pretty woman. With long blonde hair, pulled back away from her face, and sparkling blue eyes. Her cheekbones were high, and she was petite. Probably only standing around 5’4 or so. “She’s in shock right now. She went through a traumatic experience.” She tapped her clipboard against her leg. “Please gentleman, have a seat.” She motioned to their chairs.
Slowly they sank back down. AJ nervously rubbed his jeans with his thumb and forefinger. Nick tapped his foot. “Was she? Was she? You know?” Nick wondered, not being able to get the complete question out.
Dr. Niln cleared her throat as she sat down in a chair across from them. “Technically we’re only allowed to disclose this information to family members.”
“Celeste doesn’t have any family around here.” Nick sputtered out. Her closest relatives are in Northern Georgia.” His brow creased.
The doctor sighed. “I spoke to her about that. She doesn’t want us to call them.” Dr. Niln glanced down at the clipboard that now rested in her lap. Then she looked back at them. “Which is why she gave me permission to let you know.”
Nick nodded and glanced at AJ, then back to the doctor.
Dr. Niln situated herself in her chair. “Mr. Carter, Celeste was raped.”
Nick closed his eyes and took in a breath. “Is she going to be okay?” He questioned, once he reopened them.
Dr. Niln shrugged. “That depends on what happens now.” She tapped her pen on the clipboard. “Rape can affect women differently. Some are able to move past it, while others struggle for years. It all depends on if they get counseling, what their family and friends are doing to help them, and other factors like that. For the majority of them, it’s a long difficult process.”
Nick nodded while Dr. Niln continued to talk. But her words weren’t registering. Instead, the vision of Celeste, lying curled up in the bed, naked as the day she came into the World, filtered into his head. Who would do that to her? And why AJ’s room? Where had he been? Had it been AJ? Even if it wasn’t…it was his damn house!
With a roar, Nick turned and grabbed AJ by the collar, pulling him from the chair and slamming him up against the wall. “Who the fuck did that to her AJ? Huh? Was it you? Did you lure her to your room and she denied you….so you raped her?” He pulled him back and slammed him into the wall again.
AJ stared wide-eyed at Nick. “Nick…no…I…uh….ouch!” His head smacked back against the concrete wall. “Let me go!” He struggled against the bigger man.
Immediately, Dr. Niln was at Nick’s side. “Nick, let him go.” Her voice was calm, yet demanding. “This isn’t going to help Celeste any. If you don’t let go of him, I’m going to have to call security and have you escorted off the premises.”
Nick looked over at Dr. Niln, and slowly he released AJ. “Sorry man.” He patted AJ on the chest and backed away from him. Then he sank back down into his chair.
AJ tugged on his shirt, adjusting it. “It’s okay Frack.” He sank down next to him. “But it wasn’t me, man. You know I wouldn’t do something like that.”
Nick nodded. “Yeah, I know.” He stared at his hands, which were clasped, and propped, on his knees.
AJ shook his head. “We did go to my room, but that was only because some idiot ran into us, spilling beer, and I was going to let her borrow one of my shirts.” He looked desperately at the younger man. “Then she went into my bathroom to change, and I went into the closet to put my other shirts away. A little later I heard the door opening and closing, and I thought it was her. I came out and left.” He shrugged.
Nick’s blue eyes met the Doctor’s. “Did she say anything about what happened?”
Dr. Niln shook her head as she sat back down in her seat. “She’s not up to talking much. Like I said earlier, she’s suffering from shock.”
“Can I see her?”
The doctor’s lips pursed. She stared hard at Nick. Finally she shook her head. “Alright but just you, and just for a few moments. She needs her rest.”
Nick nodded. “Okay.”
The doctor stood up. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be back.” Nick informed AJ as he stood up and followed the doctor out of the waiting room.