Olivia took a deep breath to compose herself before going into the bedroom. Alex was trembling beneath the covers, tears streaking down her cheeks like large, wet pearls, and Olivia knew that all of the progress they had made had just been undone.

She lay down on the bed beside her girlfriend and pulled Alex into her arms, gently kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry, honey, but they're going to subpoena you. I'm going to try everything I can to get it quashed, but you might have to testify on Monday."

Alex flinched when she felt Olivia's arms wrap around her and vigorously shook her head.

"I'm going to try to make sure that doesn't happen, but there may not be anything that I can do. But Alex, if you do testify, the men who hurt you will go to jail for the rest of their lives and you'll never have to worry about them ever again."

Alex buried her head in Olivia's chest as she cried, still shaking her head.

Olivia gently stroked Alex's hair, trying to remain calm, but she was starting to worry. "Alex, honey, can you say something to me?"

Alex didn't answer, continuing to sob in Olivia's arms.

Olivia sighed. "Okay, baby. It's okay. You'll talk when you're ready." She held Alex close as her mind raced, trying to figure out how best to quash this subpoena before it destroyed the woman she loved.

Olivia tried everything she could think of to get the subpoena quashed. She even went to Liz, and then to Arthur Branch. But in the end, it was all for nothing. They had no jurisdiction, and the subpoena stuck.

Alex hadn't said a word in nearly a week by now, and when Mr. Sorenson dropped by to prep Alex, Olivia wouldn't let him into the house. "She hasn't said a word since you came," she hissed, the accusation evident in her eyes. "Now get out or I'll arrest you for trespassing."

Alex had stopped eating and began to shake uncontrollably whenever Olivia mentioned the trial. She'd tried to help Alex prepare, but the ADA was having none of it, and Olivia didn't have the heart to push her.

She woke up every night crying and all Olivia could do was hold her and assure her that she loved her, promising that she was here and she would never leave. But still, she wasn't quite sure if Alex believed her.

On Monday, Olivia woke up to find Alex heaving in the washroom, sobbing as she emptied her stomach into the toilet. She threw off the covers and ran to her girlfriend, taking Alex into her arms and gently stroking her hair. "It's okay, baby," she whispered, holding Alex tightly. "We're going to get through this."

Alex shook her head, trembling so hard that she nearly slipped from Olivia's grasp. It's not okay, she didn't say, but Olivia heard the words anyway.

Olivia kissed her cheek. "We need to leave in half an hour, honey. What do you want for breakfast?"

Alex shook her head, leaning toward Olivia.

"You have to have something."

Alex got up and went into the bedroom, quickly changing into the clothes Olivia had laid out for her. Olivia started to follow, but stopped when she saw the look in Alex's eyes. Instead, she started some pancakes for Alex. Maybe she'd eat them and maybe she wouldn't, but the thought was there.

As expected, Alex didn't have a single bite, and Olivia practically had to drag her out of the house. It was breaking her heart to have to do this, but she knew that she didn't want Alex locked up for contempt.

There was a media circus outside the court and Olivia flashed her badge at the reporters who went wild when they saw Alex, calling out questions and overwhelming her girlfriend. "NYPD," she said, keeping her hands on Alex's shoulders to steady her. "Move."

The throng of reporters parted, but they continued to snap photos of Alex, who glanced around in confusion like a deer in headlights as Olivia led her inside.

Alex wasn't allowed in the courtroom, and although Olivia wanted to watch the beginning of the trial, she didn't want to leave Alex alone. She sat on a bench outside the courtroom, pulling the ADA down beside her and wrapping her arms around her. "I love you, baby," she whispered. "You can do this."

Of course Alex couldn't do this. She hadn't said a word in over a week and Olivia knew this would traumatize her even more, seeing the monster who had hurt her sitting just a few feet away. But she needed to reassure Alex anyway.

Finally, a bailiff called her name, and Alex started to tremble even more than she had been before. Olivia helped her to her feet, but when she stepped back, Alex's knees buckled and she nearly fell. "She can't do this," Olivia told the bailiff.

The man shrugged. "I'm sorry."

"Please, may I come with her?"

"You can sit in the gallery."

"She needs me!"

"I'm sorry," he repeated, taking Alex's arm and leading her into the courtroom.

Olivia watched helplessly as her panicking girlfriend was half-dragged inside to face her worst nightmare.

Review if you want to know what happens next!