"I woke up, and I saw him standing over me."

Billy was on the witness stand testifying for the prosecution. Alex Kelbert was questioning him.

"And what was the defendant doing?" Alex asked.

"He had his penis out and was attempting to put — " Billy said, hesitating.

"It's okay," Alex said soothingly. "What happened next?"

Billy glanced in the audience and saw Charlie, Sam and Patrick looking at him. He and Charlie locked eyes for a moment before he answered.

"I jumped up from the couch and asked him what the hell he was doing," Billy said.

"And what did your attacker say?"

"That he was trying to have a good time with me since I looked lonely."

"What did you do next, Billy?" asked Alex.

"I got off the couch and tried to walk away from him. He started chasing after me, so I started running. Nobody else was in the living room with us. I tripped over something and that's when he pulled a knife and threatened to cut my neck."

"How did you get away?"

"I almost didn't. But two guys who overheard what happened burst into the room and managed to push him off me. The police were called and I went to the hospital to get treated for my sprained ankle from when I fell."

"Billy," Alex said. "Do you see the man who attacked you that evening in this courtroom today?"

"Yes, that is him," Billy replied, pointing at Jack Calvert, who was seated at the defendant's table.

"Let the record reflect that the witness has identified the defendant, Jack Calvert, as his attacker," Alex said. "Thank you, Billy. No further questions."

Alex returned to his spot at the prosecution table, next to Cindy, who grinned at him and gave him a pat on the shoulder. Cindy then glanced at Billy and nodded at him while Robert Powers, Calvert's attorney, approached the stand.

"I'm truly sorry about what you had to ordeal, Mr. Martin," Powers said. "I'm sure everyone here is moved by your testimony."

"Is there a question here?" Alex interjected.

"Yes, let's keep things moving, Mr. Powers," said the judge.

Powers nodded before facing Billy. "Mr. Martin, how much alcohol did you consume that evening?"

"None."

"And are you aware that my client was in fact intoxicated when you claim he attempted to engage you in sex?"

"Objection!" Alex called, standing up. "Relevance?"

"Goes to my client's state-of-mind at the time of the incident, Your Honor."

"Be that as it may, Mr. Powers, Mr. Martin is not a psychiatrist and cannot testify to your client's state-of-mind during the attack. Objection sustained. Move on, Counselor."

Powers nodded, looking somewhat defeated.

"Who invited you to the party, Mr. Martin?"

"My brother did," Billy said in a small voice. "He couldn't find anyone to watch me, so he brought me along."

"Even though he knew there would be alcohol at the party?"

"Objection!" called Alex.

"Sustained," the judge said in a bored voice.

"I ask because alcohol was clearly a factor in my client's actions during that night. So, Mr. Martin, you went to this party knowing alcohol would be served there?"

"Yes, I did. I had no intention of consuming any alcohol that night."

"Of course not, that would be poor judgment," Powers said quickly before continuing on. "Mr. Martin, had you ever met my client before the night in question?"

"No."

"Then why, in your opinion, do you think my client suddenly decided to engage in a sexual act for you?"

"That wasn't a sexual act," Billy said as Alex called for an objection. "That was rape."

"Your Honor…" Powers said.

"That's enough," the judge shouted. "The jury will disregard Mr. Powers's question and Mr. Martin's answer. And I'll warn you, Mr. Powers, one more question like that, and I will not hesitate to find you in contempt of court."

"Yes, Your Honor. No further questions," Powers said before returning to his seat.

"You may step down, Mr. Martin," the judge said. "We'll take a ten-minute recess," she added, banging her gavel before stepping down from the bench.

Billy walked to where his friends were waiting. He and Charlie embraced each other in a warm hug that lasted for about a minute.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked.

"I don't know," replied Billy. "That was hard."

Sam nodded in understanding. "But you made it through."

Billy sighed and nodded. "Thank you all for coming."

"Of course," Sam said.

"You're not alone in this," added Patrick.

At that moment, Billy noticed Callie approaching them.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

"I'm okay, Callie. Thanks."

"He did great," said Alex, who had approached them from behind. "With your testimony, Billy, we have a good chance of winning this case."


A few days later, Billy sat with his friends while listening to Jack Calvert testify. It was the last day of testimony in the trial before closing arguments would be given and the jury would begin deliberating. While Calvert was testifying, Alex brought up several objections to statements made about Billy, and nearly all of them were granted in his favor. When Powers was done questioning Calvert, Alex quickly stood up to begin his cross-examination.

"Mr. Calvert, we've heard from the victim, Billy Martin, who testified that he had never met you before the evening in question, is that right?" Alex asked as he walked up to the witness stand.

"That's right."

"Did you talk with him at all before you sexually assaulted him?"

"Objection!" called Powers.

"Sustained," the judge said. "Jury will disregard the end of prosecution's statement regarding the assault. However, the witness will answer the question regarding contact with Mr. Martin."

"No, I hadn't talked with him at all."

"Then why did you stand over his sleeping body and attempt to have him engage you in oral sex?" Alex asked.

"Objection!" Powers yelled again.

"Overruled," the judge said quickly. "The defendant will answer."

"I don't know," Calvert whispered.

"Could it be that you were attracted to the victim? Did you think a sleeping person wouldn't resist your advances so easily?"

"Sir, I don't need that from you."

"Really?" Alex said in a sarcastic tone. "Then why don't you answer the question, Mr. Calvert? Were you attracted to Billy Martin?"

Calvert hesitated before responding. "No, I wasn't."

"Then please tell us why you attempted to have him perform oral sex on you while he was sleeping."

When Calvert didn't respond, Alex nodded. "I see. You just had an urge and needed to release it."

"Objection!" Powers said.

"Withdrawn," said Alex quickly. "How long did you plan for this to happen, Mr. Calvert?"

"I don't recall doing so."

"A spur of the moment kind of thing?" Alex prompted.

"You could say that."

"Mr. Calvert, how much alcohol did you consume that evening?"

"I don't know."

"Enough to have nearly twice the legal limit in your blood alcohol test shortly after the attack," Alex said. "I'm guessing you weren't thinking straight?"

"I suppose not," said Calvert dryly.

"And yet, consuming alcohol has never been a good excuse for doing something wrong has it? Especially in the crime of rape, am I right?"

"Mr. Kelbert…" the judge said in a mildly threatening tone.

"Withdrawn," Alex said quickly. "Nothing further."

Alex returned to the prosecution table, where he and Cindy exchanged a nod. A few moments later, the judge spoke. She called for closing arguments to begin. Alex went first before Powers stood up and spoke. When they were finished, the jury was seen out of the room, and a recess was called until the jury came back with its verdict.

Billy stood up and waited for Alex and Cindy to approach him. Charlie, Sam and Patrick stood next to him.

"What happens now?" Billy asked when Alex and Cindy approached them.

"The jury will spend some time deliberating and come up with their verdict," Cindy explained. "Once they are done, everyone will be called back in and they will read it."

"What do you think my chances are?"

"After that?" Alex said. "He doesn't stand much of a chance of getting off. The jury heard from you about what happened and they heard from him. He may have been drunk, but everyone knows that nothing excuses what he did to you."

Billy nodded, while Charlie put an arm around him.

"You sure you're okay?" Charlie whispered into his ear.

"I'll be better when this is all over," Billy replied.