Lifting the clothes gently off the prone and cold form she drew in a deep breath when she saw the bruises all over Emma's legs, arms and chest. Magnus had been up and out of the bed as soon as she knew that something was wrong. She didn't care if she was still recovering or if she was supposed to be lying down; she needed to be here. She pushed everyone out of the room at the first sign of the bruises. They had just been standing there in shock, their eyes glued to the unmoving body and a quiet stillness in the air was resounding and unbreakable. Will, however, had insisted on staying although he sat in the corner on a stool and only helped when he thought she needed it.

The clothes were stripped off and her body was covered in a thin blanket to preserve her dignity, or what was left of it. Helen was reticently quiet as she set about her work and moved to the sonogram machine. She needed to check for any damage; she needed to find out what happened. Will was watching her closely as she pulled the blanket down and set up the machine. Her hands were shaking. Will stood and moved over pressing his hands against hers and holding on tightly while her face was turned down and her eyes glued on his shirt buttons.

"Helen you don't have to do this… we can find—"

"No. I'm doing this." Her eyes locked on his and she stared at him until she was sure he wouldn't object again.

Brushing a hand through her hair he pressed her face into his shoulder and lips against her head. "Alright, but we'll take this slow, ok?" He felt her nod. The air rushed into her lungs and she drew a breath and turned back to the still quiet body. She was staring at the ultrasound screen when she heard the soft moaning off to her side. Turning quickly Helen pressed a gloved hand to Emma's cheek.

"Hey there…"

The woman turned her face into the warmth and kept her eyes closed as she swallowed. "What happened?"

Helen turned to Will and silently issued him an order to leave the room. She watched his objection cross his features, but she was determined and he left nonetheless. She was sure that he would be watching on the security cameras. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Emma's body shifted lightly as she became restless, but she winced when her legs moved. "Helen…" Her eyes were closed tightly and she turned her lips into the palm on her face. The brunette watched as Emma's chest began to rise and fall heavily and irregularly and she felt the warm salty drops on her skin. The sob that broke the silence tore through Helen and she moved to wrap her arms around the young woman. "The baby?" Emma's face was buried in Helen's neck, her chest clashing against Helen's with each ragged breath she took.

"I'm so sorry—"

Emma cut her off, her head shaking side to side as she tried to refute Helen's statement. "I didn't—I didn't—" She couldn't complete the sentence because of the lack of air in her chest. She was gasping and Helen was rubbing her back in gentle circles trying to calm her.

"Shhh… calm down." Emma was almost fully in Helen's lap, her body curled as tightly into the other woman as possible. "I need you to take deep breaths." Emma nodded and tried to do as she was told. Minutes passed before her breathing was back to normal and the tears were slowing on her cheeks. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was at the bar, after… after I left here." She closed her eyes remembering exactly what had happened at the bar. The heat of the moment, the sticky floor as it rubbed against her knees while she was kneeling, the coarse green surface of the pool table as her body was rubbed back and forth with the motion of his sliding in and out of her, the irresistible need for physical release.

"What happened at the bar?" Helen interrupted her thoughts. She wasn't going to get out of it even if she wanted. When Helen received only silence as an answer she pressed lips quickly to Emma's temple and shifted her back down onto the mattress. Emma was visibly shaking and all Helen wanted to do was wrap her tightly once again in her arms, but she needed answers. "Emma, what happened at the bar?"

"N—nothing…" She wiped haphazardly at her eyes until her cheeks were only damp and red. She held the blanket tightly to her chest covering her nakedness. "I didn't…" Again she started only to once more stop without continuing.

"You didn't what?"

"I didn't do this to myself. You have to believe me."

Helen bit her lip and moved back to the sonogram machine to clean the equipment and busy herself. The silence was growing and Emma could feel her heart start to pound. Unfortunately, Magnus could also hear it as she was hooked up to a machine that echoed each clench and release of the muscle. The sharp look she received did nothing to calm her racing heart as it was intended. "That will be rather difficult to do under the circumstances." Helen's voice was soft but still strong. She knew what she was saying would have its desired impact on the woman.

"What does that mean?"

"You were arrested for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. You were at a bar and wasted while being pregnant. Will found you on the roof with a coat hanger. You made it abundantly clear from the start that you didn't want this child and that you have very little regard for your own safety and welfare. What do you expect me to think?"

"I had hoped you would trust me."

Helen scoffed and tossed her gloves angrily into the biohazard bin before turning back to Emma with a sense of very tightly controlled violence. "The sex, Emma, was it voluntary or forced?"

The question threw her off-guard, just as it was intended to do. "What?" Emma was biting the inside of her cheek until she could taste the iron tang of blood on her tongue. Her eyes didn't leave Helen's face as she judged what was about to happen and what move she should make next.

"You had sex. Presumably with someone at the bar or very nearby that you picked up." The sneer in the words was evident. "I can't tell from the bruising and the damage to your body. Was it consensual or was it rape?"

Emma's mouth opened quickly before closing. She had no idea how to answer the question, but she did know she had one of two options. One way she could lie and be spared the personal lecture and distrust from Magnus and spare Helen from being hurt herself. The other way she could tell the truth and be out with it all, she wouldn't have to remember the lie; she wouldn't have to worry about it. And it wasn't as if they were in a relationship at all and she had just asked for her trust. Thinking quickly, there was no other option; she needed to give in order to expect to be given to. "It was consensual."

"Where you drunk?"

"Yes."

There was no answer from Helen. Emma remained seated on the bed with her eyes looking for any sign of change. Helen moved the sonogram away after a few minutes of contemplation and brought over another tray filled with instruments. Helen arranged everything and started to move the blanket by Emma's feet. "I need you to lay back and bring your feet up and your bottom closer to me."

"Helen?"

There was a slight standoff with only their eyes as weapons before Emma gave in and leaned completely back onto the bed. Once she was in position, Helen answered her query. "I need to clean everything and check on possible damage. I wasn't able to do that before you woke. I also need to take some samples to test for infections."

"Infections?"

"Yes, Emma. You had sex with a stranger and did not use protection. So I will be testing for infections. Not to mention, a retest from what happened in Croatia would be beneficial." Helen ignored Emma and slid her newly gloved hand down the bare leg. "This might hurt a little, but mostly you will feel pressure. I need you to relax."

It didn't take long, but by the time Helen was done Emma had jumped multiple times from the gloved hand running over her skin. It wasn't that she was scared that Helen would do anything. It was just that she couldn't control it. The entire room remained smothered in quiet ambiguity. Helen irrigated a small laceration and then popped her head up to look at Emma. "There's some tearing. I need to stitch it up." Emma nodded. "The needle with lidocaine will hurt."

"Then do it fast."

"The less you move—"

"I know." Emma glared down at the doctor before the last procedure began. As soon as she was finished with everything Helen pulled the blanket down over Emma's body and let her rest.

Cleaning equipment and her hands she turned back around. "You had tearing from sex, but I was able to close it with only three stitches. You'll have very minimal scarring."

"Helen—"

She continued without stopping at the interruption. "There is no damage from the miscarriage and Will was able to save the fetus so I'll study it and your blood tests to see if it there is a genetic reason as to why you weren't able to carry to term."

"Helen…?" Emma stopped for a moment when she had the brunette's full attention. "Talk to me." It was a quiet plea that had Helen on edge.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Anything. Please, just don't cut me out like this."

Helen drew in a deep breath and turned to pull out scrubs from a drawer. She handed them to Emma. "I don't know what to say, but I do know that we cannot continue in this fashion." Emma nodded. "You can't keep doing this to us. It's worrying… to all of us." Once again, Emma nodded. "Do you understand what it means to be a part of this?"

"I think I'm starting to."

"Do you understand what it means to be with me?"

Emma's eyes slowly made their way to Helen's face. "That I can't figure out. You are just as confusing as I may seem to you."

"Emma…" Helen shook her head and started for the door. "I want you to stay here for a few days."

"Helen…" The plea was obvious and the brunette ignored it.

"I can't. Not now." She left the room and made for her office. Emma fisted the clothes and sat for a few moments before starting to dress. She was sure that Will would show up soon, maybe there was nothing to the jealousy that she felt from him, but at the same time she was absolutely positive that she wasn't off in the way that she read them.