Chapter 19 - Jesse
Jesse's POV
I open the fridge grabbing the remaining ingredients to make the pancake batter. I hope Chase feels like eating today! It's been two weeks since he told me what happened and he still doesn't have much of an appetite and it's showing. He was always lean but was well built with a six pack, now he has lost all his muscle mass and is starting to look a bit like a pale, dark haired scarecrow.
I talk to Mason and Justin while I make breakfast to give them an update on Chase. We usually speak at least once a week but they started calling more frequently since Chase told them about what happened with Mike.
As I'm taking the last pancake out of the pan I hear the doorbell ring. I quickly put a cover over the pancakes before going to open the door.
"Good morning Officer Williams, Officer Dukes! What brings you here this morning? Come in." I move aside so that they can enter. "I just finished making breakfast, would you like some?"
"No thank you, Jesse, and you can call me Nora instead of Officer Williams if you'd like. Kurt here might be more of a stickler," Nora replies, smiling brightly at me.
She's maybe just a few years older than Chase and I and is still a bit new to the police force. Kurt on the other hand is older, maybe in his mid forties and a lot more experienced.
Kurt reluctantly grunts a reply that I assume means I can also address him by his first name. He's standoffish and likes to get straight to the point; despite that when he's talking to Chase he exudes such a calming aura and he genuinely seems like he wants to help.
"I'll go get Chase so you can chat," I say, turning around to go wake up Chase. "Oh, hey sleepyhead!" I greet Chase as he enters the living room rubbing his eyes.
"Hey Jesse, Good morning officers," Chase greets them shyly.
"Good morning Chase! We're not actually here to talk to Chase but to you Jesse. Since you are the first person Chase's told about the incident, we would like to take your testimony as well." Nora replies.
"Technically Jesse is the first person I gave a full account of the incident to but he wasn't exactly the first person to know. It was the doctor at the hospital. I had to tell her because I didn't want her to tell my family." Chase lowers his head and voice at the last line as a guilty look spreads across his face.
I walk over to him and put my arm over his shoulder guiding him to a seat on the couch opposite the officers. He peeks at me from the corner of his eyes and I flash him an 'it's ok' smile which seems to relax him a little.
"Hmmm then, do you think there's a chance they did a sexual assault forensics exam? That'll help our case." Kurt asks, looking deep in thought.
"But doesn't he have to agree to have one?" Nora implores.
"Usually yes, but if he was in and out of consciousness and they aren't able to ask, it's up to the discretion of the examiner if to conduct one or not. Chase do you-" Kurt starts to respond.
The doorbell rings again and I leave the room to answer it. I am greeted by Samantha and Dean at the door. "Hi Jesse, I know it's a bit early but is Chase up?" Dean asks.
"Yeah he is, the officers in charge of the case are here as well. Do y'all want some pancakes?" I inquire leading them to the living room where the officers and Chase are seated.
"No thanks Jesse," Samantha replies.
"Wow, no one wants my pancakes!" I comment, dramatically holding my chest at the 'pain'.
"I'll have pancakes!" Chase yells excitedly then ducks his head in embarrassment. The officers and lawyers smile and I chuckle.
I grab the pancakes from the kitchen and place them in front of Chase and I.
"Jesse, I was telling the officers that I think they did do a bunch of tests on me because I know the doctor completed the STD prevention treatment but I'm not sure about anything else." Chase says before stuffing a whole nutella covered pancake in his mouth. He sighs contentedly, a faint smile on his lips. Chase really loves pancakes and nutella! Well anything chocolatey.
I smile, glad to see that his appetite is returning. I made pancakes, his first day home from the hospital and a week ago but both times he barely ate half a pancake. Now he's stuffing his second pancake in his mouth. My smile widens and I try to poke his pancake filled cheek but he bites my finger.
"Eww! Gross! You got pancake on my finger!" Chase sticks out his tongue at me and I just shake my head and smile. "Anyway, we should go find this doctor to see if the exam was done. Was it Dr. Sandra O'Brien? Your main doctor at the hospital that you told?" Chase nods, munching on his third pancake.
"Chase we have some ima-" Samantha starts before Dean cuts her off.
"We can come back later."
Chase sighs and puts down his pancakes. "What is it you wanted to ask?" Samantha glances at Dean with a raised eyebrow. "Just tell me," he whispers, his happy mood from eating the pancakes instantly deflated. Dean sighs defeatedly. I guess he was trying not to put a damper on Chase's mood even if only for a little while.
"We just wanted to confirm if any of these persons participated in the assault," Samantha says as Dean opens a laptop in front of Chase.
"I'm going to show you a number of photos and you can help me identify the men who assaulted you," Dean says in a soothing voice.
Chase sucks in a shaky breath but nods. Dean starts slowly switching pictures and then Chase's face pales and his breathing becomes unstead. "It's ok, baby bro. You're safe now. You have to point out the ones who hurt you so everyone can help. It's ok." He grits his teeth as tears begin to well up in his eyes.
"That's one of them." Chase's voice is barely above a whisper. By the time Chase has identified the third guy, he is rubbing his eyes profusely to stop his tears from spilling.
"Can I go?" Chase asks; his voice sounding desperate. Kurt confirms that Chase can leave and I see the first tears fall before he rushes out of the room.
I consider following him but I couldn't really leave our guests. Instead I take out my phone and send him a quick text.
Me: The brief tale of a nutella pancake - I am the tastiest pancake in the world and just minutes ago I was happily eaten by the most beautiful boy in the world. I was excited to visit the amusement park in his stomach but unfortunately some people upset him and I was forced to leave without visiting the amusement park in his stomach. I hope that beautiful boy will let other pancakes visit the amusement park in his stomach, I'm sure it'll be a treat!
Sometimes we can be a bit childish so I'm hoping this might lift his mood a little.
"I'm really sorry," Samantha says just after I send the text. "But we did really need to know so we can start building our case."
I nod. Of course I understand! It was just unfortunate that the morning Chase was getting his appetite back was the morning they needed upsetting information from him.
"Did y'all arrest Mike yet?" Just the thought of that prick has my blood boiling but I've been trying to suppress my rage for Chase's sake.
Kurt shakes his head. "Not as yet, we need to build a better case before we arrest him and his friends. So far we only have CCTV of Chase entering Mike's building and leaving in a worse state than when he arrived. Now that we've identified the other 3 we'll check the CCTV for them as well.
"We'll still need to take your statement Jesse, come down to the station this evening. Can you check with the hospital about the exam as soon as possible and have them contact me if they did it?"
"Yes, we'll go in the afternoon if Chase is feeling up to it." Kurt nods in response.
After bidding the officers and lawyers goodbye, I knock on Chase's door. "Hey, we have to check with the hospital and I should thank your doctor for administering the STD prevention treatment. I know you have your appointment with the new therapist this afternoon, so if it's too much we can do it tomorrow?"
Chase sighs and shifts his gaze from my face back to the ceiling. He lets out another sigh before he agrees. I smile gently at him. I can't help but admire him. He must still be going through hell but he's being so incredibly brave. I really am so proud of him.
Thanks to DeusBajaj who reminded me that I should include some updates on the trial!
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