leader- yeah, I know the characters are getting a little OOC- sorry. That's because I inserted almost every fight scene after I wrote the chapter and, a couple times, I just changed out characters- for example, the interrogation scene was originally written for Elliot and Olivia. I just changed the names but otherwise, it's the same.

Also, I'm not gonna do much about the trial (yeah, just because he's pleading guilty to Casey's rape doesn't say anything about Allison Crawford!), just Casey's testimony and the verdict. Maybe some other details, but otherwise it would go on forever. And I plan to end this shortly after the verdict, so this one is coming to a close. About two, three more chapters. I might do a sequel, if people ask. Tell me what you think.

Chapter 9

"You sure you want to this?"

For what must have been the thousandth time that day, Casey looked up at Olivia, rolling her eyes and nodding. "Yes, I am, Detective. Allison Crawford is a waitress with a criminal record. I'm a lawyer without a rap sheet. Both of our testimonies, coupled with the fact that we're practically twins, should be enough to convince a jury."

Olivia sighed and led the stubborn ADA to the elevator, shaking her head. Despite the fact that he'd already pled guilty to Casey's rape, she was going to testify, to show previous history for his M.O. She and the rest of SVU didn't want to admit it, but Casey was right- Crawford's testimony alone probably wouldn't be enough. But none of that meant that they felt any better about seeing Casey relive her humiliation in open court, up on the witness stand all alone, her entire life exposed for the defense attorney to poke and rip shreds into.

Casey swung into the elevator on her crutches, punching the button for the ground floor and groaned, resigned to wait. She couldn't get away from Olivia now. Sure enough, as soon as the doors closed, the detective looked at her and asked softly, "Casey, why are you doing this? I know you don't want to."

"You're damn right I don't want to! But I don't have a choice! It's my fault that Crawford was raped! If I had spoken up, this never would have happened. If I don't testify, he might be found innocent and rape again. I'm doing this, Olivia. If you want to try and stop me, go right ahead. But if you think I'm going to give up just because you tell me to, you've got another thing coming."

Casey was limping to Abbie's office for witness prep when someone called out to her, followed by the sounds of someone in high heels running. If this is some stupid secretary coming to give me some stupid form I forgot to sign, she is dead. She turned around, only to find Elizabeth Donnelly hurrying along the hall towards her. "Judge Donnelly!" she exclaimed in surprise. "What can I do for you?"

"Don't give me any of that, Casey. I'm not on the job, it's Liz," she panted, and by the look in her eyes... Damn it. She knew. "Casey, I... I just wanted to talk to you before the trial, so we don't violate ex parte."

Casey remained blank for a moment, then gasped, furious. "What the hell- Liz, you're the judge on the case? But you can't be! I mean, you're my friend, wouldn't you have to recluse yourself?"

"I'm sorry, Casey, but I can't recluse myself just on your say so. And the defense already tried to get me thrown off, but since most judges in the city know you, the Bar decided to let me take it on. I know you don't want me to, but even if I weren't the judge, I would still be at the trial. But I wanted to tell you that just because I'm your friend, I can't protect you from the defense. You know I wish I could, but I can't. And you're probably gonna want to kill me for sustaining the defense's objections or overruling the prosecution's, and you'll have every right to be mad, but just know that I'm sorry and I really am on your side. And I'll probably apologize after the trial, too."

Casey was not happy about this at all. As if it wasn't enough to have SVU listen to her testimony, Liz, her friend for seven years, ever since she graduated law school, would too. She didn't want any of them to hear how weak she had been, the horrible things Garcia had done, how she had failed to stop him... "Yeah, thanks, Liz. Real nice. I'll try to remember that when you start quoting the sixth amendment to me or giving the defense license to do whatever they want. Anything else you want to tell me? You're Garcia's sister, or maybe you're paying the bill his defense attorney as well? Oh, and let's not forget how you're gonna blame me for showing up outside that club Saturday night if this case gets acquitted, yeah, you're a real good friend, Liz," she hissed, slamming the door to Abbie's office, her voice cold as ice.

Abbie glanced up from her desk, smiling slightly when she saw who it was. "That was nice. Judge Donnelly might be the one killing you in a minute, if I know her at all. How's your leg?"

"Fine, and I don't need to hear I just acted like a child. I know... I'm sorry, Abbie. I am being such an ass."

Abbie laughed, shaking her head and gesturing for to sit down. "Hey, whatever, so long as you don't kill me I'm fine with it. Now, down to business. Defense attorney's Trevor Langan; you know him?"

With a groan at the mention of her rival, Casey tied her hair back out of her eyes and nodded. This was going to be a long day.

Allison Crawford headed shakily back to her seat and Elliot and Olivia exchanged worried glances. They both knew the details of this case backwards and forwards, and that included the order for the witnesses. Right after Crawford was the prosecution's last witness- Casey.

Olivia smiled slightly in spite of herself, remembering the mess this morning had been. Casey had been trying to find an outfit she could wear with the cast without mutilating any of her expensive clothes, and had ended up settling on a knee-length black dress and one black leather boot- high heels were the most court-appropriate, but walking with one high heel would have been a disaster. Casey had been laughing as she threw skirt after skirt at Olivia, proclaiming that they wouldn't work, and it had been beyond good to see the ADA laugh again, despite the circumstances. She knew Casey was only pretending to be happy, and under the surface, she was terrified, but at least she was able to hold herself together. Olivia had no idea what kind of shape she'd been in after the trial, but the night before had been hell. Casey's nightmares had been the worst yet, and though she had not remembered them, the pain medication she was taking for her gunshot wound was keeping her asleep for almost a full eight hours at night, so she had resorted to drastic measures to stop herself from remembering. Now she would sleep in purposefully painful positions, like tying her arm to the headrest then twisting so it hurt, or leaning her wounded leg up against her softball bat so it pressing against the gunshot wound so hard not even the cast could stop the pain. This seemed to help, because she didn't remember anything, but still...

"The People call Casey Novak to the stand." Heads turned to the back of the courtroom, all waiting for the tall redhead to make her appearance. It only took a second.

Casey limped into the courtroom, still on crutches, her pale face absolutely blank. The room was silent as she made her way to the front of the courtroom, where she was sworn in, Garcia leering at her the whole time. Olivia was shaking slightly from the effort of not running to protect her. Elliot put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her, but it was to no avail. She wanted to shoot him, right where his heart would be, if he had one- the only problem was, it wouldn't be enough. It would never be enough for what she went through.

"Ms. Novak, please describe your relationship with the defendant, Danny Garcia."

Casey took a deep breath, meeting Abbie's eyes before clearing her throat and saying loudly, "I'm his ex-girlfriend."

Abbie nodded as she walked forward, the picture of the perfect prosecutor. Casey still found herself critiquing her performance, finding little things wrong with it, here and there- stop it, Casey, everyone has their style. You're just nitpicking. Just let her do her job. "And how long ago was this?"

"About three months. We had only dated for around two weeks when I ended it."

"Was there another man? Was he cheating on you?"

Casey shook her head, perfectly at ease telling this part. No humiliation or failure. Just an average break-up. "No, I just felt that it'd be better if we remained just friends- I just didn't like him that way anymore." God I sound just like a teenage girl.

Now for the hard part. Abbie walked so she stood in the middle of Casey's line of vision, so she couldn't see Garcia- she must have been at SVU long enough to pick up that habit. "What happened next, Ms. Novak?"

"Well, I broke up with him at a bar... I hadn't had anything to drink, and Garcia stormed out, so I just biked home to my apartment. The door was still locked, so I didn't think… But when I went inside... Garcia was waiting for me. He was... really angry, and he... he said we were meant to be together. That I was his and he was mine. He said he'd show me. When he threw me to the ground, I realized what he meant and tried to run, but he stopped me and told me stop fighting back. I could see a clock, so I know it was at least five minutes before he... took my skirt off." Casey's voice grew softer as she stared at her hands, so ashamed she couldn't stand to see the crowd's faces, their accusing eyes...

"Then he took off my shirt, and he... raped me. I don't know how many times, but... it took 34 minutes for him to stop. But... when he was done... well, he wasn't. I thought he was just going to leave, but... he had a knife, and... he cut his name into my skin. He cut D.G., right into my leg. Then he told me to call him when I was ready, and he just... left."

Abbie nodded sympathetically, murmuring, "Thank you." Then, louder, "No further questions."

She went back to her seat, and Casey knew that now was going to be the hard part. Now she had to face the defense's cruel, prying questions, go through every aspect of that night as he put it on a microscope, searching for any tiny discrepancies he might use to get his client acquitted. "That was a very illuminating tale, Ms. Novak. Was any of it true?"

Casey glared at Langan, crossing her arms and answering coolly, "Excuse me?"

"I asked if any of it was true. Do you have a hearing problem?"

Suppressing the growl rising in her throat, she nodded, trying to keep her voice civil. "Yes, Langan, all of it was true. Are you going to call specific parts of it into question or just browbeat me?"

"I'll be asking the questions, Ms. Novak. Well, you stated that he raped and cut you, is that correct?" Where is he going with this? I have the scars and the rape kit, what else does he want? She nodded, and he continued. "Then why didn't you get a rape kit until the doctor's gave one to you without your consent? Why, in fact, did you not go to the hospital? Why did a neighbor have to find you passed out just inside your door?"

"Because," she said, her voice growing colder and colder every second. "I didn't have the time to. I was cleaning up my living room and was going to lock my door when I passed out." Not true at all, but hey, he can't prove my reasons for not going to the hospital.

"So you were going to report it, then? Well, when SVU detectives interviewed you at the hospital, you both lied about your name and said that nothing happened, then refused to release the results of the rape kit. If you were going to report it, then why did you lie?"

Shit. "Um... the doctors said I had a concussion, so I wasn't thinking logically."

Langan smirked and shook his head. "Well, you haven't had a concussion for the past three months, now have you? Why didn't you report it once the concussion wore off?"

Double shit. "I don't quite see how my feelings at the time are relevant to this trial now, Langan."

Elizabeth glared at her, but her gaze softened as she said, "Answer the question, Ms. Novak, you can't object."

Casey sighed unhappily. "Sorry, Your Honor. In answer to your question, Langan, I didn't want to press charges or get revenge, I just wanted to put it all behind me. A trial would have lasted weeks, maybe even months."

"And yet here we are, at a trial. What changed your mind?"

"Because he raped Allison-"

"Allegedly, Ms. Novak."

"Fine, he allegedly raped Allison Crawford! Once I found that out, I knew I had to say something to stop him in case he did it again!" There, you happy now, Langan? she added in her head. My choice of words good enough for you?

"Thank you, Ms. Novak- that wasn't so hard, was it?" She just glared at him, waiting for the torture to continue. "Now, if you were so concerned about justice, why did you confront my client outside a club on 56th avenue Saturday night?"

Well, this sucked. Casey wasn't sure why exactly she had even done that at all. "I... I was- I just wanted to see him. I wanted to be the one to tell him that he wasn't getting away with it, that- wait a minute! Garcia's not even on trial for the assault charge! What does that have to do with anything?"

Langan smiled slightly, and she could almost hear him think, I got her. "Ms. Novak, if my client truly did rape you like you said, wouldn't you be scared of him? Wouldn't you have tried to avoid him at all costs? Isn't it true, Ms. Novak-"

"Objection, Your Honor, leading!"

"I'll rephrase- Ms. Novak, were you scared of my client after he allegedly raped you?"

Casey swallowed back her anger at being shown to be weak- again- and nodded. "Yes, I was- but I was more angry than scared when I went to that club, I wanted to tell him I knew what he'd done! I wanted to-"

"Right, angry- you didn't even know Allison Crawford! The only true thing you've told us today is the fact that my client came to you saying you could call him when you were ready! That's what you were going to do on Saturday, but he made you angry so you threatened him, and he only shot you in self-defense! No further questions," he sneered righteously, sauntering back to his chair before Casey could even blink.

"The jury will disregard the defense's last statement, as Mr. Langan has no evidence for it. Watch it, Mr. Langan, or I'll hold you in contempt. Ms. Novak, you may step down now." Casey stared in shock, realizing she might have just ruined their chances at a conviction, then got unsteadily to her feet and rushed out of the courtroom as fast as the crutches could allow.

Coming up next: Olivia comforts Casey and the verdict. Feedback please.