6 months later at the Vecchio's household
"Ray, how's Ben doing?"
"He's fine" Vecchio replies
"And Ray"
"As well as can be expected, I guess. I mean those guys worked him over pretty good. Do you know he still can't walk" he replies
"Really"
"Which you'd know if you visited them"
"I didn't want to impose" she says
"What are you talking about you're a friend they'd love to see you"
"I really don't..."
"I'm sure Benny has forgotten what you did" Vecchio cuts her off
Francesca looks at him
"Yea, he told me, what were you..."
"You don't have to say it, ok" she replies
"Why do you do this to yourself? Go for the guys you can't have...Frannie the guy is gay for goodness sake. I mean not only are you the wrong person you're the wrong species."
"I got it, do you think I can just turn it on and off"
"(Sighs) I know everyone says it but the right guy is around the corner, I promise you"
Francesca burst into tears
Vecchio puts a comforting arm around her shoulder
"Ray, I did something stupid"
"How stupid?" he asks
Francesca looks at him"
"Whatever it is..."
"I know who beat up, Ray" she cuts him off
"That's great, let's get to the station now"
Vecchio gets up
"What? You have something better to do than put the punks who did this in jail"
"See when Ben rejected me, I was mad"
"And?" Vecchio asks
"I called up some of Denny's mates..."
"Please, no"
"They were only supposed to..."
"Please tell me you didn't"
A tear drops from her eye
"I can't"
"This is a joke"
Francesca shakes her head
"Ray, please talk to me"
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING" he shouts "don't even answer that because I already know what you were thinking, you weren't"
"I made a mistake"
"Oh, you've crossed over the mistake line"
"So what do I do?"
"First thing you're going to do is tell him"
"Ben?" she asks
"Ray"
"No way, he'll hate me"
"You should have thought of that. its best it comes from you"
2 days later there's a knock on the door of Ben's apartment
Ray presses the intercom
"Hello"
"It's Francesca, can I come up"
"er...Ben's not here" He tells her
"It's actually you I came to see"
"Francesca, I 'm not really..."
"Please, it's urgent"
Ray buzzes her up
When she reaches the apartment he moves aside and lets her in
"You want a drink?" he asks
"No thanks"
"Francesca, you can sit down you know"
She sits on the green sofa facing the TV
"So what's so urgent?" Ray asks
"I don't know how I'm going to tell you this"
"Tell me what?"
After a small silence Francesca closes her eyes and then opens them again quickly
"I know who attacked you"
"You know, how?" Ray asks
"I know because...I hired them"
"This is a joke, right"
"Ray, try to understand..."
"You realise that I can't walk" Ray says
"I never ...it was never meant to go this far"
"How far was it suppose to go then"
"Ray...
"Just get out" Ray cuts her off
"What?"
"I need you to go"
"Ray, please"
"I SAID GET OUT" he shouts
2 weeks later Ray and Fraser are in the apartment
"Btw, I got a phone today from Welsh asking if I was going to attend Francesca's hearing"
"Right" Fraser replies
"I mean she will be charged no matter what"
"I take it from your face that you've made up your mind"
"I have" Ray replies
"Well she'll be grateful"
"I won't be saying anything to the judge, I don't want anything to distract from her going to jail. And I hope they throw away the key"
"Ray"
"Ben, have you forgotten what she did. I'm in this thing because of her" Ray says
Fraser opens his mouth to speak
"I'm not going to change my mind, and you shouldn't ask me to"
"Ray, she could go to prison"
"And?" Ray asks
"She won't survive that"
"She should have thought of that, before" Ray replies
"We've already got the guys who did it. Is it necessary to make her suffer?"
"Necessary?" Ray replies
"Ray, I know you're mad"
"Mad doesn't even beginning to cover it. This is all her fault. Those guys didn't know me from Adam"
"Ray, she made one mistake"
"Which one that or when she kept coming round to steal you away from me. Or maybe when she tried to kiss you"
"You remember that?" Fraser asks
"Yea"
"Nothing happened"
"I know" Ray replies
Silence
"Ray..."
"I can't talk about it anymore I'm exhausted"
Ray turns his wheel chair towards the bedroom
The next morning
"Aren't you going to get dressed?"
"I have the day off" Fraser replies
"Just because I'm not going doesn't mean you can't"
"You sure?"
"She should have her friends around her" Ray replies
"I don't have to"
"Go" Ray replies
5 hours later
Fraser walks into the courtroom and sits next to Vecchio.
Francesca sees him and smiles but her smile drops when she realises Ray is not with him.
"No Ray then?"
"He decided not to come. He's statement could have really helped Francesca"
"Hey let me worry about, Francesca. You worry about your boyfriend" replies Vecchio
"Well I was hoping that would change last night"
Vecchio looks at him
"You were going to ask him to marry you?" asks Vecchio
The judge walks in and everyone stands
"Be seated" The judge tells them
While Francesca's lawyer is talking a man walks over to him and whispers in his ear
"You're honour we have someone who would like to say something"
"Another witness?" the Judge asks
"No, sir better"
"Better than a witness"
"Yes, sir" the Lawyer replies
"Alright, send them in"
Ray wheels himself into the courtroom
"State your name for the court, please"
"Ray Kowalski, sir" replies Ray
"The victim?" the Judge asks
Ray nods
"That is better than a witness...You wanted to say something, go ahead"
Silence
"Do you need some water?" asks the Judge
Ray shakes his head
He takes a deep breath
"I'm not going to lie to you, your honour when I first heard it was her I was mad and I almost didn't come today but that would have been wrong. She was a good friend of mine I hope that one day I can call her that again.(Sighs) I'm not saying do nothing, she committed a crime she should be punished. I'm just saying go easy, she made one mistake. And granted this mistake ending in someone almost losing their lives, me...I truly believe that she is sorry and that if she could go back change it she would in a heartbeat...That's it, that's all I have to say"
"Thank you Mr Kowalski" The Judge says
Ray wheels himself out of the court room, Fraser follows him out
"Ray...thank you"
"I didn't do it for you" Ray replies
"I know, thank you anyway"
"I remembered what our relationship was like, you know before you and me. She was like my sister, I just couldn't do it. I hate her for what she did to me but I just couldn't let her go to prison. Of course she still might"
"I think the Judge will be lenient" Fraser replies
"Can we go before they come out, I don't really want to see her"
"Of course"
Outside
"I'm so proud of you"
"I didn't really do anything" Ray replies
"It took guts to do what you did. I mean you could have so easily stayed at home and I honestly wouldn't have blamed you"
"Believe me my whole body was telling me to stay at home"
Fraser looks in Ray's eyes
"What?" Ray asks
"I'm so lucky to have you"
"Nah, I'm the lucky one"
Fraser drops to both his knees
"What are you doing? get up"
"I thought I'd lost you but, God brought you back to me"
"Oh my..."
Fraser brings out a small green box
"I need to do this probably"
Fraser lifts one leg so he is on one knee
"Oh my..."
"Would you perhaps do me the honour of becoming my..."
Ray cuts him off with a kiss
"Is that a yes?"
"I love you"
"I love you more" replies Fraser
"Not possible"
THE END
