Chuck and Audrey walked across the street from the Academy to Rudder's, the bar that catered to the Academy Cadets of drinking age. They scanned the small room, finding Anthony and Ricardo in a large group of people, already a few drinks in, and their revelry drowning out the rest of the bar noise as Chuck and Audrey came close.

"I knew you'd come!" Anthony said smugly, putting an arm around Audrey's shoulders.

"Just for a little while." She warned him.

"I'll take what I can get." He said mischievously. "Come on, I got you a drink."

Audrey rolled her eyes at Chuck, showing him she didn't really buy into Anthony's game. "Of course you did." She said, following him to one of the tables. Chuck turned his attention to the rest of the group, spotting a few friends sitting with Christine, and walked over to join them, reminding himself to keep control and that drinking too much tonight would just lead to a punishing day tomorrow.

Audrey didn't seem to believe the same, as Chuck watched her get louder and goofier, much to his disgust. She'd tied one on a few times, and Chuck had definitely done the same, but never when they promised themselves to keep alert. It looked like Anthony's attention had made her drop her reserves a little too much. Chuck was glad she was having a good time, but he wasn't going to feel sorry for her when she was miserable the next day.

Christine nuzzled up to him, kissing his neck lightly. She wasn't going to train the next day and she had definitely been enjoying herself. "I need to get to bed." He whispered in her ear.

"All by yourself?" She asked him.

"Well, it would be nice to have some company." He admitted. "Let me go find Audrey's drunk ass."

"She's having fun, don't make her leave!" Christine chastised him lightly. She grabbed Anthony's arm. "Where's Audrey?" She asked him.

"Uh the bathroom, I think." He told them.

"We're gonna head back, will you make sure she makes it home? Brother Bear wants to make her leave." Christine told him.

"Yeah, of course!" Anthony said, clapping Chuck on the back. "Have a good time; I'll make sure she makes it back."

"I should tell her I'm leaving at least." He said, glancing around the bar.

"She's fine!" Christine insisted, before nibbling his ear lobe. "Let's go, before I get jealous."

Chuck nodded, putting an arm around Christine and waving to his classmates as the made the walk back to the base.

Chuck could barely pull himself out of bed when his alarm went off; cursing how late he'd stayed up with Christine, who was still lying in his bed, barely moving when the alarm sounded. He dressed quickly, and gave her a quick kiss, letting her know to lock the door when she left, and Chuck went across the hall, knocking on Audrey's door lightly. He heard movement, but no one came to the door. "Audrey?" He said softly, not wanting to wake the entire hall. "You ready?"

Audrey's door opened slightly, and he backed away from what he saw. Audrey looked like hell, her eyes puffy, hair in a wadded tangle on the back of her head, her eyes were unfocused, as if she was still drunk, and she gave him a pitiful expression. "Jesus Christ you look like hell." He told her, not sparing any sympathy, you play; you pay. That's what his father had always told him.

"I don't think I can…" Audrey began, before Chuck cut her off.

"Don't give me that shit, we've only got a couple months before placements and we have to work our asses off. You know that." Chuck reminded her.

Audrey blinked at him, clearly not expecting that reaction. "You're right." She said hoarsely. "We have to focus on what's important." She drew a shaky breath. "Give me a few minutes; I'll meet you in the sim room in 15?" She asked him.

Chuck nodded, stalking to the sim room, making a detour to get some breakfast for himself, and a large coffee for her. He'd just finished eating when she walked in the room, still looking like crap, but she had showered and was up and moving. He handed her the now lukewarm coffee and she took a gulp, before looking at it like it would make her sick.

"Ready to get started?" He asked her impatiently, they were already starting late, and he had a feeling these next few hours would go like shit, until she became more human.

She nodded, pulling her hair up into a quick bun, and grabbing the sim gear off the wall. They both suited up and Chuck set up the simulation, starting with a Cat I for a warm-up. The drift began tugging at his brain, and he sighed, more content in the drift than anywhere else. Suddenly he was yanked from the familiar memories filling his vision, and an image of Anthony and Audrey walking to her dorm room door filled the space. The memory wasn't sharp; it was more like he was viewing it through murky pond water. Anthony and Audrey started kissing, and Chuck made a disgusted noise. "Snap out of it, Audrey." He ordered.

The memory darkened almost to black, and Chuck hoped she was almost pulled out, when it came back into focus for a moment, Anthony on top of Audrey on her bed. "I don't want to see this shit." Chuck said sharply, and the drift disappeared entirely as Audrey let go of the RABIT and the bridge between them shattered. "Jesus Christ." Chuck muttered removing his helmet. He was surprised to see Audrey on her knees her hands on the ground as she sobbed.

He got on his knees next to her, pulling her helmet off. "It's not that big a deal, so you chased the rabbit, shit happens sometimes." He watched her face but she didn't seem to register his assurance. "Are you upset I saw you hooking up with Pisano? It's fine, I might be scarred for life, but it's not the end of the world."

"I didn't hook up with him." She said through gulps of air.

"What?" He said, giving her a disbelieving look.

"I told him to leave, that I didn't feel good and he should go, and he wouldn't leave and he…" Audrey dissolved in a fit of sobs.

"He what?"

"You saw what happened Chuck!" She insisted, her eyes blazing.

"I saw you two hooking up… briefly, thank God. But Audrey, you were wasted last night. I get you're embarrassed, but just because you regret the choice…"

"I said no!" She insisted. "I didn't want to… I tried to push him away!"

"Are you sure?" He said, sitting next to her. His brain started to feel fuzzy as a rage filled him, looking at his best friend falling apart

"Yes." She whispered. Chuck's mouth set in a grim line, and he kissed the top of her head.

"I'll be right back." He assured her. "Why don't you go lay down a while?"

"Where are you going?" She asked him, looking up at him as he exited the room quickly.

"I'll be right back." He insisted, determination set on his face.

Chuck pounded on Anthony's door loudly, not caring who he woke up anymore. Anthony answered the door sleepily, clad only in a pair of boxers. He scratched his chest and stared at Chuck through groggy vision. "What's up?" He asked. Chuck pushed Anthony back into his room, kicking the door closed behind him. Tony hit his dresser, stumbling from the impact.

Chuck punched him in the right eye, and went for another shot, when Tony grabbed his arms. "What the fuck are you doing?!" Tony screamed, knocking Chuck away from him.

"You think you can rape Audrey and get away with you? You cocky mother fucker!" Chuck lunged at him again, and Tony ducked down, grabbing Chuck around the middle and pushing him into the wall.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Anthony asked him in confusion. "I did what to Audrey?"

Chuck stared at Anthony, gritting his teeth. "You raped her." He repeated, spitting the words like bullets.

"I…what?" Anthony looked astonished at the accusation. "I wouldn't do that. Chuck you've known me four years man, you're my friend. Audrey's my friend! I'd never…" he said, looking disgusted at the thought.

"She said that last night…" Chuck began, but finding it difficult to maintain his rage when Anthony looked so genuinely upset.

"Last night?" Tony said. He shook his head as he pulled a pair of sweatpants on. "Last night… we hooked up. I mean, yeah we were drunk, but shit man, I didn't do anything she didn't want to do."

"In the sim…" Chuck said, more to himself than to Tony.

"Did you see something in the drift? Was she upset?" Anthony asked anxiously. "Shit I'm sorry if she regrets it…"

"I saw you two hooking up." Chuck muttered.

"Was she pushing me away or yelling or anything?" Anthony prompted.

"No." Chuck admitted. "She was so upset though… she said…"

"Look, I get if she's embarrassed. She's got a reputation to uphold, she doesn't want people thinking she's an easy hook up, and I wasn't planning on spreading anything around… but rape man? Do you really think I would do something like that to Audrey? Shit, to anyone?" Tony asked him, pleading in his eyes.

"She was so sure." Chuck said his brain a jumbled mess as he tried to make sense of it. He didn't think Anthony would do anything like what Audrey was saying, but he also didn't think Audrey would lie.

"She had a lot to drink last night, maybe she doesn't really remember? Maybe, I dunno maybe she's ashamed…" Anthony said, answering Chuck's unspoken question. "Brother, I get that you want to protect her, she's like your sister, but something like this… it would ruin my life. I have trained for as long as I can remember for this. I wouldn't throw it all away. I've dated a lot of women… a lot. I don't need to force anyone…" Anthony looked like he may start crying at any moment, thinking of his career being flushed away. He looked exactly like Chuck thought he would look in his position. "You have to help me man…" Anthony pleaded. "Please talk to her, maybe after she gets a clear head she'll realize she was mistaken. Please."

Chuck took a breath, his emotions so conflicted and raw he didn't know what to believe anymore. "I'll talk to her." He said finally.

Anthony looked visibly relieved. "Thanks man… just… thank you." He said, giving Chuck a slap on the back.

Chuck went for a run before he went to Audrey's room, giving himself time to think it over. He finally realized that he wasn't going to make up his mind running around the track. He went to Audrey's room, knocking lightly, letting himself in. Audrey was sitting up in her bed, the cover pulled around her, and her back against the headboard. She looked up at him, her gaze following him as he sat down on the bed across from her.

"Where did you go?" She asked him quietly, her eyes searching his face.

"To Anthony's room." He said, his tone matching hers. "I… I talked to him."

She stared at him, but didn't say anything. "Audrey…" He continued, looking away from her. "Are you sure…"

"You don't believe me?" She asked him, the hurt in her voice cutting through him like a knife.

"Do you remember what happened? Really remember?" He asked her.

"I know what happened!" She insisted, sitting up straighter. "Chuck, why don't you believe me?"

"I believe that you believe that's what happened." He told her quickly, "but Audrey, why would he do something like that?"

"I don't know!" She said her anger surpassing the hurt now.

"You were really drunk Drey…"

"I didn't have that much to drink!" She insisted.

"Jesus, I saw you at the bar, you were drunk!" Chuck said, standing up to pace the room.

"I promise I didn't drink that much! Maybe there was something in my drink…" She said, her eyes pleading.

"Listen to yourself Audrey!" Chuck said abruptly. "You sound crazy!" He told her. "Everyone saw you at the bar, everyone saw you drunk, not drugged, drunk." He insisted. Audrey's eyes widened as if she'd been slapped. He stopped his pace and moved towards her, putting a hand on hers. "There's nothing wrong with letting loose and having fun. No one will think less of you because of that. But what you're saying, it will ruin Anthony's life, his career, everything he's worked for. Why would he risk all of that?" He sighed when she yanked her hand from his. "Please, just let this go."

"Let this go?" She repeated. "I can't just let this go. Chuck, I don't give a shit about his career!" She inhaled, waiting for his response.

"What are you going to do?" He asked her as she stood up and made her way to the door.

"I'm going to the Commandant." She said over her shoulder.

"You're making a mistake Audrey! This could ruin your career, we're so close!" Chuck said, following her out the door, but his words fell on deaf ears, and he resigned himself to following her to the Commandant's office.

Hours later, Chuck sat in the Commandant's office alone, facing the Commandant and the Commanding Officer of their class, Stacker Pentecost.

"Now Hansen," Commandant Richardson began, looking slightly disheveled, having been called in on a Saturday to handle this. "Before we begin, I need you to understand severity of these accusations. This isn't just something that could potentially remove Cadet Pisano from the program, ruining his career in the PPDC. This could put a black mark across the Academy, the Program, and the mission." The Commandant stared at Chuck, who nodded in understanding. "I need you to think long and hard about where your loyalties lie. I know you and Ranger Vaughn have a long history together, but an accusation like this…" Richardson took a breath. "If you fall on the wrong side, it could ruin your career too, you understand?"

Pentecost gave the Commandant a disapproving look, but Richardson did not ask his opinion, and Stacker did not volunteer it. "I understand." Chuck told him, the severity of the veiled threat weighing on him. He knew that if he backed Audrey, he and Audrey both could face a serious shit storm, and if Audrey was determined to go down, he didn't want to go down with her. The Commandant motioned to the door, and Stacker Pentecost exited the room. Anthony and Ricardo came in to stand in a corner of the large office, Anthony looking at Chuck with pleading eyes. Stacker reentered the room with Audrey and the stood to the other side of the office, waiting expectantly. Chuck didn't meet Audrey's gaze, and she shook her head, disappointment on her face.

"Now Cadet Hansen, do you have any evidence to support Cadet Vaughn's allegations?" Commandant Richardson began, after telling the others they were to remain silent during Chuck's testimony. They all knew the drill, as they'd gone through it for all the other testimonies.

"No." Chuck admitted.

"Did you see anything while in the drift with Cadet Vaughn to support this charge?"

"No." Chuck said, a little more quietly.

"Now son," The Commandant said, leaning forward and looking at him earnestly. "Do you believe that Cadet Pisano raped Cadet Vaughn?"

"I think she believes it." Chuck said.

"That's not what I asked." Richardson reminded him. "I asked if you believe it."

Chuck sighed; looking over his shoulder at Audrey, hoping his eyes conveyed how sorry he was. "No."

Audrey opened her mouth, but stopped herself from speaking when Stacker placed a hand on her shoulder. She bit her lip, looking at the carpet beneath her feet.

"Cadet Reiz, do you believe Cadet Pisano raped Cadet Vaughn?" The Commandant asked Ricardo, even though the question had been asked before. Chuck resisted the urge to scoff at the question. Not only did Reiz think the sun shined out of Anthony's ass, they were cousins. At this point the Commandant just wanted to drive his point home.

"No sir!" Ricardo responded confidently. Anthony gave his cousin a small smile.

The Commandant nodded, satisfied. "Now Vaughn." He said gently, he waited until Audrey looked up to meet his gaze. "You have two options as far as I can see it. You can pursue this, we can call in the local police, they can take the statements from everyone here, which all say it didn't happen, they can look for evidence, that you admitted you don't have, and they can look for signs of struggle, bruises things like that, of which you have none." He sighed. "If the police find Cadet Pisano guilty, he will be removed from the program immediately. However, if you are found to be… mistaken," he said carefully, "you will be removed from the program for making a false allegation and bringing the program under a poor light."

Audrey took a breath, holding back tears. "Or?" She asked him, her voice cracking under the realization of what was happening.

"Or, you can drop the charge. Everyone here can sign a statement agreeing this didn't happen, and agreeing it will never be brought up again. Everyone can stay here, everyone can graduate, and this will not be spoken about again." He told her. "Whichever you would prefer."

Audrey looked up at Stacker, who still had a hand on her shoulder, he nodded as she looked to him for guidance, he knew what was happening as well as she did, and how it would end. The Commandant wanted this to be kept quiet, and to go away. "I'll drop the charge." She said finally.

"And even though no one was supposed to talk about it, it got out, and pretty much everyone took Anthony's side." Chuck finished, his head in his hands. He looked up. "Audrey became the crazy bitch, and Anthony became the poor guy who was nice enough to not demand she get kicked out for what she'd said."

The room was silent as everyone absorbed Chuck's story. Raleigh's nostrils flared in anger as he spoke. "And now that we know what really happened, what are we going to do?"

"We do nothing." Audrey said from the doorway. She had been leaning against the door frame, Sasha and Aleksis behind her. Raleigh had been so focused, he hadn't noticed her walk in. "Nothing's changed, except Chuck's opinion." She reminded them. "He's not going to admit anything, and if we drag up this shit from 5 years ago when we're trying to fight off the Apocolypse…" She shook her head. "If it was a black mark on the program then, it's a media shit storm now."

"We can't just do nothing." Herc demanded, looking at the Marshall for support.

"I knew what I was getting into when I came here, Herc." Audrey told him. "I could have passed it up, but I didn't. If I can be here, and work around him, so can you." She said, looking up from Herc into Raleigh's eyes. "Moving a Jaeger, or a pilot out of the Shatterdome now would be a mistake."

"She's right." Pentecost agreed, though it pained him to do so. "We must move past this, and move forward with the mission. We are already bringing two more Jaegers in; to move one out now would raise suspicion. "

Audrey nodded, and left the doorway clearly not feeling that she needed to be there any longer. The Marshall motioned for the men in the room to stay. "This is not negotiable." He told them seriously, leveling his gaze to each in turn. "I will have order in this dome. I don't care if you don't speak to Pisano, look at him, whatever. You will work with him when necessary, and you will behave like Rangers."

"So he gets away with it again?" Chuck asked angrily.

"After this is over, this will be reevaluated." The Marshall promised him, "but not now. I am going to speak with Pisano and make sure he understands. Everyone take the day off, stay the hell away from each other, and cool down. Tomorrow is business as usual."