Mindy's POV
I couldn't sleep that night,I kept on wondering why Nia didn't tell me about what was going on. After everything I figured she'd at least share a couple of her own problems with me as well.
I didn't think that she could silently bear her problems.
What did that man want? And I know Nia if it's important to her then she won't let go of it.
Anyways I'd get my answers soon enough,as I was already at her house.
I didn't have a session but I wanted to help a friend.
"Wait outside,and don't go anywhere else"I informed the replacement.
"Yes ma'am"he said,I nodded and left to go see Nia.
I rang the doorbell but there was no response,which was odd. I knocked a bit but still no reply. I was about to call but her phone was with me.
I resorted to throwing stones at her window,but no response.
I turned to leave,but I thought I heard a noise in her shed.
I alerted the driver,maybe a thief broke in and was keeping her and Brian hostage.
We slowly made our way to the shed,then the driver opened the door,but saw the place empty. He went in to explore but got a frying pan to the head.
It was Nia,as comic as the scene was,she was shivering,she looked deprived of sleep.
I should have taken note of all these paranoia signs.
I walked past the driver and held unto Nia,trying to calm her down.
"Please calm down...shh...am here now everything is okay" I said and she held me tight.
"Sorry bout your head"I said to the driver while we walked past him to the house.
Inside she was calmer,and less tensed
I sat her down and held her hand to relax her muscles,I tried to make eye contact to let her feel secure.
"What is going on with you?"I knew it had something to do with the threat she was receiving.
Her breathing was restored,and she stopped looking around the house in fear.
"Where's Brian?"I asked,"out"she said,and arranged her hair.
"On Sunday?"I inquired further because Nia was fond of staying in on Sundays with her son.
"Yeah, he's with his friends,they went to catch a movie"now she was trying to cover up her fear.
"Nia let's cut the crap talk,what's going on with you"I said.
She looked at me,she knew she couldn't lie to me anylonger, she's been caught.
"Mindy,look okay,I didn't want it to get to this,I really didn't,he found me.i thought I had escaped him for good but i..i just can't. Mindy he's going to end me"she said.
"Whose going to end you? Tell me exactly who this person is"I pushed further.
She took in deep breaths and opened a drawer,then brought out a crummy photo.
It was her and a man,tall, lanky with hazel eyes.
"Who is this?"I asked,she cried a bit then finally spoke up.
"Brian's father"she said choked in tears,and I for a moment didn't know what to say.
"I don't understand,I thought you said your husband died years ago,how can he still be alive?"I asked.
She kept the picture back and sat down facing me,ready to tell me but my phone rang.
"Forget it,tell me what's going on"I urged her,
"No,answer it,it could be important"she said trying to get out of telling me.
"It isn't trust me"I said,but she was always so persistent.
I picked it up,it was the hospital,the woman I brought in had woken up,but I had to come over.
"Go,I'll be here waiting for you"she said,I didn't want to go,but I didn't want to cause any suspicion,and let Hillman believe those lies he told himself.
"Fine,but you have to take care if yourself,that's an order"
She stared at the walls lost in though,then I remembered her phone and dropped it on the table.
"You might need this back"I said,she didn't even looked like she cared a fuck.
I hugged her,then got in my car,the driver,head hurt him badly,so I let him have the day off,I'd drive myself.
The hospital
I met doctor Ian,the specialist,who was on the woman's case.
"Madam Bowen,we discovered a massive amount of Ambien in her system. And am afraid to break the news but due to the large amount of this pill the patient has suffered respiratory depression,and a loss of memory"
"What?Wait I thought Ambien was a sleeping pill,I've used it before"I defended.
"Well it is it's in primary form,but when mixed with alcohol it's effect is dangerous,and the doses are unbelievable"he went on. He certainly kept a straight face.
"I suspect that the guys I found her with must have drugged her,but all from one day?"I asked.
"We're suspecting,the patient has been abusing the drug for a long span of time,in order to have reached the state it's in".
"But you can help her right?"I asked, he looked a bit downcast.
"I've placed the order for the antidote it will arrive,and I've called in a physician to step in. We are prepping to pump the stomach to remove as much Ambien as possible.
But she'll need our dual diagnosis addiction treatment once her vitals are stabilized."
"Doc is the dual.. treatment stuff necessary?" I asked.
"Well if she's getting an addiction treatment without dual diagnosis component,then she'll only temporarily bandage the larger mental health issues at play,and a relapse will most likely occur"he said.
"What about her memory?"I asked,
"That is a long term effect,but in some rare cases the patient has slim chances of quick recovery,but it's all a matter of the patient's willpower to recover"
"Madam Bowen,your the only person we can tie to the patient,we need you to be around during all her treatment,while the police try and find her family"the doctor said.
"Alright,but I won't promise that I'll be able to come through at all times,I have a business to run and a family,but I will try"I said,now she was a responsibility.
"Did captain Hillman drop by?"I asked a nurse,"yes madam I think that he said he found her driver's license,yes the patient's name is Thea. He said they would locate her family in a matter of days,that her abuser would be put behind bars,and....he even mentioned a court case..."I only asked one question.
I wondered how Nia was,she really needed me now,but this woman needed my attention as well.
"Madam she's awake now,the stomach sucktion won't happen till half an hour"the nurse said.
I went into her hospital room,she was looking irritated at the food she was going to eat.
"Not a fan of hospital food am guessing"I said, startling her
"No,what is this?"she asked disgusted,"the taste will grow on you"I said I have been in and out of hospitals,I should know.
"Um..I don't know what the fuck am doing here and the shitty nurse talks too much,and...for fucks sake could someone tell me who I am!"she blurted out.
"Ok..so you're sick,yeah I'll have the nurse changed,and you're Thea that good enough for you?"
"Well....thanks...but do you know me because I can't seem to know what am doing?what's wrong with me?"she asked.
"Listen Thea,it's not my place to say anything,but I know that the doctors are doing their very best to help you get back to normal"
I couldn't tell her she was almost raped and had lost her memory, although I suspect she figured that out herself.
I stayed a bit and we talked a lot,till she was injected with a sedative.
"Um..Mindy,can I ask you for a favor,and please say yes"
"What is it?"I asked,
"Could I spend the night at your house,I don't know why but I feel like I can't handle sleeping alone"she said.
This was going too far,I barely knew her,but a part of me said go for it.
"Well..I'll check in with the hospital if you can stay till they locate your family"I said and her face lit up.
"Thank you"she said,I don't know if it was because of the sedative or If she actually meant it.
I left to go sort it out with the doctor,and move all she needed for her breathing to my house.
Melendez POV
I got up from my hospital bed,and drove down to the club,the bartender was my whistle blower on Thea.
It was getting a little rowdy and I took him outside to talk.
"What do you mean by Thea is Missing...how can she be missing?"I asked furious.
"I saw her come in early,she asked a shot of whiskey to start her off. Then some guys came up to her,and they went to a private room,not long after,I saw Thea leave with them,I asked,but it was like she wasn't herself. I called you but you weren't answering"
I punched the wall frustrated,how could this have happened,I wished I hadn't been so stubborn and let her go to Grey's party.
I called all of her friends but they didn't pick,they were all probably having hangovers by now.
I drove down to the police station to file a complaint,but the captain was out.
I needed the captain on this one,he could help bring her home.
I had already filled the complaint but I had to wait 24 hours before any action could take place. I would not be taking no for an answer.
Shortly he arrived and I stopped him before he could enter his office.
"Sir...I need your help my sister was kidnapped, and I need you to help me find her"I said desperately.
"Have you filed a complaint?"he asked,"yes"I said.
"Then let the legal process happen she will be found"he said not assuring me yet.
"Captain...she's young and foolish anything can happen to her as we speak,please help"I pleaded.
"Listen I can't rush the legal procedures,go home and wait you will be called if there's a new development"
"Sir... Thea needs..."I don't know exactly what I said that made him gain interest but am glad I said it.
"Thea?please can I see a photo of her?"he requested,and I whipped out my phone to show him her photo.
He was shocked,but I couldn't pin point why exactly.
"Sir...I believe I know where to find your sister"he said and I was relieved.
We got in my car and he led me to the hospital I was admitted in yesterday.
I wondered if Thea was actually here or not.
We went in,past my hospital room my heart was racing.
What happened to her?was I too late to save my sister?if anything happened to her I would never be able to forgive myself.
"Captain.."I wanted to say something but he stopped a doctor.
"Doc,where is the patient who was admitted her yesterday?"he asked.
"She checked out"he informed him.
"Checked out?"I asked,what could that possibly mean.
"The woman that brought her in,took her, anything wrong?"he asked.
"This is her brother and he's looking for her"the captain said.
"Why didn't I think of it sooner?she was taken,by her so that she can cover up her tracks,we have to rescue your sister"he told me.
I did not fully understand what was going on but as long as I could have Thea home,I'd do anything he wanted.
We got in my car,and he asked his lieutenant to get an arrest warrant ready,he got an address from the hospital.
"This is where your sister is"he said,and with just that confirmation I was ready to go in, save my sister,and probably seek revenge on the bastard behind her kidnapping.