Open Case File [COMPLETED]

Aftermath (Part 4)

Donovan clutched his head, fighting the crushing pain of inadequacy.

"I don't know what to do," he said, clenching his fist against his weakness.

"She's still not talking?"

Donovan shook his head. Even without seeing it, his mother knew the answer in his silence.

"How did trying to get her to open up go?" his mother asked.

"She used physical connection to avoid the subject."

His mother hummed in thought on the other end of the line.

"More than getting her to talk about it, you need to get her to remember who she is. What happened to her was more than kidnapping and abuse, it was the complete destruction of Carter's world and way of life."

Donovan said nothing, letting his mother talk, absorbing the words.

"All of her life Carter has been in control, there hasn't been a problem or situation she couldn't talk or fight her way out. Three weeks ago she was faced with mortality as well as helplessness. She doesn't know how to move forward because she can't remember who she was before. You need to take her somewhere, do something that reminds her, that despite the setback, she is still a strong, capable woman."

His mother sighed, a sound that was heavy with years of experience and pain overseeing the struggle of others.

"She's so determined and headstrong we sometimes forget she is still young. At twenty-four I was only just realizing who I was. You need to help her remember. Only then will she be able to face what happened."

Donovan felt a spark of something like hope.

"Thank you," he said, rising.

"Of course, call if nothing changes or you need to simply talk."

"I will."

After goodbye, Donovan walked back to the apartment. He grabbed clothes from the closet and moved to the bed. Carter was still tucked beneath the blankets. Tugging them aside, he knelt down.

"Carter," he said.

She blinked and looked at him. For a second he thought he saw a flash of clarity but it quickly faded.

"We're going to go somewhere, okay."

She gave no response. Pulling back the blankets, he aided her in sitting up. As he helped dress her, he tried again not to focus on the bruises that covered her side, or the way her body was thinner, her ribs too distinct.

As he bent down to tie her shoes, he felt her fingers running through his hair. He looked up and her gaze met his for a brief moment. His Carter was still there and he was going to help her come back.

Standing, he dragged his hand through her hair, pulling it back into a ponytail. He was tying it back when he felt her grip the front of his shirt. The small gesture nearly tore his heart in two. She still needed him and he was going to do whatever it took to help her.

In the car, she barely seemed to register anything around them, but some part of her was stirred by the flashing scenery. Donovan's attention darted between the road and her, taking in every shift.

As they turned into the gun range parking lot, he saw her lift her head. At the counter, he bought five clips. The concrete building was silent, the pair the only visitors. Donovan loaded the gun and placed it in Carter's hand, closing her fingers around the hard metal.

"Look at me," he said, cupping her face. "You are not weak. You are fierce, determined, stubborn, and strong. You need to fight this, cause I'm not strong enough. I need you."

Carter stared at him and he could see as the words wormed their way past the barrier in her mind. Nodding, he turned her towards the target sheet.

"Now shoot the men who did this to you," he said. "Show them that they can never hurt you again."

With Donovan guiding her arms, Carter aimed the gun at the silhouette. For a second, she did nothing, the gun wavering.

"Fire, Carter," Donovan commanded.

She pulled the trigger and the walls rang with the crack of the bullet. The shot went wide but the second was closer and the third even closer. As she fired shot after shot, Donovan stepped back. When one clip emptied, Carter released it, loaded another and fired again.

It was on the third clip that she started screaming. The cry was ripped from her throat like it had been trapped there forever, choking her day after day. The fourth clip came and went with the same release of pain, the sounds colliding and ricocheting around the space. By the final clip, every bullet hit the mark and her voice was raw.

Shaking, she lowered the gun and turned around to Donovan. Tears were racing down her face. He pulled her into his arms and she hid her face in his chest, her weak arms clinging to him like she would drown without him.

When the tears stopped, she raised her head. Though red, her eyes were clear. Even with the sorrow that was still prevalent there, Donovan knew His Carter was back.

"Let's go home," she said. "I'm ready to talk."

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So...hi.

Kinda depressing, right?

Look! I'm sorry, I warned you, it's not like I said 'oh this is just a fun breezy chapter go ahead and read and feel happy!' I told you it was emotionally scarring.

Okay, even though it was sad and all that, what did you think?

I liked writing this because it was so interesting to take a strong character like Carter and break her. Wow, I sound like a vicious, evil person. But come on, doesn't this make it more interesting to you too?

I mean Carter is human, she's not some superwoman who can do it all. I like knowing that she's vulnerable and has rough times. Okay, so her rough times come after being kidnapped and beaten to a plump but still it did effect her instead of her being able to bounce back.

I don't know if you liked this, it was intense. Either way thanks for reading! ❤️

Also continuing on the topic of diversity from the previous chapter, I'm happy to announce 🎺🎺 Maggie is officially Hispanic! And Maddy is Asian!

I updated the cast list in A Secret Service so go check it out and let me know what you think for who I picked!

I love knowing I can count on you for feedback! Thanks for being wonderful! ☺️

I would tell you to vote, comment, follow but this was so sad and not at all cheering that I'm not sure I deserve it.