Stef's POV

It's been an hour waiting in this recliner for Riley to wake up. Lena is fast asleep on the recliner on the other side of Riley's bed. I'm starting to worry that she hasn't woken up yet. A few moments later I heard a small noise. I look up and see that Riley's waking up so I woke up Lena. Riley's eyes pop open and she immediately starts panicking. I touch her shoulder to let her know I'm here and she flinches away. I look at her and say "Riley it's me Stef and Lena's here." Lena grabs her hand. I grab Riley's other hand and say "It's us love, your safe I promise." Riley calms down some and looks back and forth between Lena and me and starts to cry while saying "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." Lena warps Riley in her arms and says, "None of this is your fault, and you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for." Riley replies, "But I yelled at you and lied to you about what was happening, if I had told you the truth none of this would have happened." Riley continues to cry. I look at this sweet girl and say, "Sweetheart none of that matters, what is important is that you understand is none of this is your fault. You hear me none of this is your fault. You did not do anything to deserve this and most importantly you did not ask for this." I gently pull her into my arms and she starts to calm down.

Lena then asks Riley, "Sweetheart, I know this may be hard but we need to know what happened earlier?" Riley looks at me and I say, "I only know part of what happened and would really like to hear the rest. But sweetie it is time to tell Lena what you told me." Lena added, "No matter what it is, I promise it will be okay."

Lena's POV

I'm scared to know what happened to this poor girl, but I need to know. Riley "When I got home my foster dad was drunk and angry. The first thing he said to me was how I was a stupid ungrateful worthless little bitch who couldn't do anything right. Then he uh charged at me. He grabbed me by my ponytail and threw me to the ground. I still had my backpack on so he used the straps of it to choke me. I couldn't breathe so I kicked him and he stopped. That's when he started hitting and kicking me over and over and over again." She started to cry so I squeezed her hand and wiped her tears. Riley continued, "Eventually he put his hands around my neck and he squeezed so hard I thought I was going to die. But he eventually let go and just had me pinned down. He told me that he told me not to say anything, but I did so now he was going to have to teach me a lesson. I told him I didn't say anything and even when asked I denied. He then told me that I was terrible liar and for that he still was going to have to teach me a lesson. I looked for somewhere to run but he would have been able to block both the front and back door. So I kicked him and ran as fast as I could up to my room. I tried to block the door but he was so much stronger so he was able to push is way in. He threw me onto the bed and pinned me down. He start punching me again and then he uh he um started to unbutton my pppants. I tired to fight harder to get away and I was screaming No please No. But he told me he was going to teach me a lesson I would never forget. It was like no matter how hard I fought he was just so much stronger but I kept fighting. But within a few moments I felt him inside of me. Hhhheee rrr.. raped me (she cried as she spoke). I screamed no and I fought. It felt like forever. That's when my foster mom came home she called him a bastard for raping me and that's when he went after her. It hurt so bad it hurt so so so bad." Riley was bawling and Stef and I had our arms around her. I can't believe this child was not only beaten but she was raped. It took everything in me not to cry. Stef and I told her it was going to be okay and that we were going to get her through this. Riley had just calmed down when the doctor came in. The doctor did a quick exam and everything looked good and Riley seemed to be doing well physically all things considering. That is when the doctor looked at us and said "I know this is hard Riley and you've been through so much tonight, but because you were sexually assaulted it's very important that we do a vaginal exam and a rape kit even thought your assailant is dead so that way the police have all the evidence they need okay?" Riley started to have a panic attack. Stef looked at her and said "No one is going to hurt you but she's right this is very important to make sure you have no injuries down there. Lena and I can stay with you during it or one of us can stay, or neither of us it's up to you." Riley thought for a minute "Okay I'll do it but Lena if you don't mind can just Stef stay. I don't want either of you to see this but I need one of you to get through it and I would like that to be Stef. I'm sorry" I say, "I don't mind at all and it's okay Riley you have nothing to be sorry for." With that I head to the lobby where I see Bill. I plan on using this time to find out more from Bill about Riley.

Riley's POV

The rape kit starts. I first had to undress and stand there naked. I'm really weak so they give me a walker to help me stay standing. I feel so uncomfortable. They take pictures of my body head to toe and they make sure to take multiple pictures of my injuries. I put the hospital gown on and lay back down on the bed. I grab Stef's hand, I can tell she's trying not to cry. Then the nurse starts to swab every single one of my bruises and cuts. Afterwards she uses a comb to comb my hair. Then the nurse swabs my lips and inside my mouth. At this point I just wish it was over but they continue. They clip my fingernails. Then I see a needle I start to panic but Stef squeezes my hand and tells me they are just taking blood it will be okay. I hate hate needles. I start to cry I'm so scared. Stef then sits behind me and I lay back onto her. I squeeze her hand so hard as they take my blood. Then they ask me if I'm ready for the internal exam. I barely get the words out but I say yes. I start to cry more. Stef is wiping my tears and I see a few of hers. The doctor inserts the speculum. It hurts so bad I squeeze Stef's hand so hard as I continue to cry. I felt them do several swabs. Then she started the vaginal exam to check for injuries and she did an ultrasound. I just closed my eyes and cried the entire time. Finally, several hours later it was over. I'm exhausted. The doctor leaves and I ask Stef if I can go to sleep now and she says of course. And with that I attempt to fall asleep.

Stef's POV

Lena enters Riley's room and asks how it went. I wrap her in my arms and start to cry. "It was awful Lena awful, she was scared and in pain and uncomfortable. I'm so thankful we never had to do it with Callie. I felt so helpless like I wanted to make this pain go away but I knew there was nothing I could do." Lena "Oh sweetheart it's over now we will get her through this. Bill came back I have her file. It didn't feel right opening it without you." As we look through her file in the 10 years she has been in foster care Riley has been in 18 different homes and 15 different schools. That means this girl for the most part never stayed longer then 6 months with the exception of two homes. Those two homes she stayed at both for a year and a half. One of them was a family who was in the process of adopting Riley and Brynn, when the day before the adoption and Riley's birthday, a drunk driver killed both Brynn and the foster parents. I look at the dates and realize Riley's birthday is April 15th, which is the day after mine. That mean's Brynn died on my birthday. The other home she stayed so long in was a group home. A group home? This poor girl was in a group home, all of our other kids have said those are the worst homes. Lena looked up the home and as it turns out it was for kids who have dealt with serious trauma and have PTSD and other disorders as a result of the trauma. The home was meant to teach them coping skills and a safe place to heal. Riley was placed in that home after the home where I met her. Between Brynn and Josh's deaths Riley was suffering from severe panic attacks and was having nightmares. She had PTSD and what they call selective mutism. Basically Riley had an anxiety disorder where she wouldn't talk. Riley according to her file was also severely allergic to all nuts and nut oils and has an epipen. Riley also has severe asthma. The last thing I read in her file surprises me Riley has a learning disorder she has ADHD and she has dyslexia. Lena said that she's probably had to work very hard to be able to do as well as she does in school while struggling to read. Lena also said that's why she probably reads so much, it's so that way it becomes easier for her. Lena says she doesn't understand why Riley doesn't have an IEP (an individualized education plan) and how this wasn't in her school records. Lena says we will need to get her an IEP. I wonder if she was abused in any of these 18 homes that we don't know about but I can't seem to find anything in her file. I look over at Lena and she's fast asleep. I wish I could do the same but my brain just won't shut off. I decide to try and fall asleep.

A week later

Stef's POV

Riley is doing well physically, however mentally she's struggling. Lena and I have already seen signs of PTSD. Riley's been having frequent panic attacks and nightmares, but at least she is still talking. Today she is finally being discharged. The kids are excited for her to come home after all they haven't seen her since the day of the attack. Riley asked for them not to come visit her in the hospital she didn't want them to see her while she still "looked bad." I know Riley is nervous about seeing them but at the same time excited to leave the hospital. We have to come back and see Dr. Robbins in two weeks for a follow up for her brain and spleen removal. Riley is mad because it looks like between her shoulder, wrist, and having no spleen she will miss the first half of soccer season. That girl is so stubborn if she had the choice she would be going to practice tomorrow.

We get Riley out to the car and on the ride home Lena and I decided to ask Riley some difficult questions but we need to know. Lena "Riley while we are on our way home Stef and I would like to ask you some questions. They will be yes or no and depending on your answer we might ask you to explain but if at anytime you don't want to talk about it you just say so and we will move on okay?" Riley nods her head.

Lena "Do you have any allergies? (we know the answer but we wanted to start easy)"

Riley "Yes to all nuts and nut oils, penicillin, and seasonal allergies."

Me "Do you hate any foods?"

Riley "Yes saltine crackers and hot dogs." Lena "Why?"

Riley "I don't want to talk about it."

Me "Do you ever have nightmares?"

Riley nods her head yes. Lena "How often? Riley "At least twice a week." Stef "Do you struggle with school?" Riley "Yes it's really hard." Lena "How well do you read?" Riley "Not very well." Me "Least favorite subject?" Riley "History or English."

Me "Is there any abuse that you've experienced that Lena and I don't know about?" Riley "Yes but I don't want to talk about it anymore." It kills me to know that she's been abused even more.

Lena "Do you feel wanted Riley?" Riley "Not Really." Me "We want you love. Do you feel guilty about anything?" Riley "Yes" Lena "Do you blame yourself for things that have happened to you?" Riley "Yes but I don't want to talk about it."

Lena "Do you feel safe?" Riley "With you guys yes." Lena "What are you scared of?"

Riley "Being hurt"

Me "Have you ever wanted to end your life?" Riley "Yes once a while ago." Lena "have you ever self harmed?" Riley "I used to but haven't done it in a very long time. Are we almost done?" Lena replied "Yes we are done. Thank you I know that had to be uncomfortable and a little difficult but we need to know so we could help you." I add "Riley please if you ever feel like you want to end your life or self harm please please come to myself or Lena. Promise me you will do that?" Riley "Yes I promise." With that we pull into the driveway.

Author's Note: I hoped you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you think in the comments! As always thanks for reading!