Chapter 25

The week of the trial seemed to drag on for a month. The girls missed a great deal of school. They each had to testify on a separate day and they promised they would be there for each other. Also, it was hard for them to focus when they did go to school. Their minds were on the case and the soon to come verdict of the trial. But eventually the days passed, all three testified, and all other evidence was presented to the jury.

The three medical reports were used as evidence. Also, the DNA tests were presented which Attorney Kevin Meyers believed to be the greatest evidence against the defendant. The identical MO for all three cases, and the three testimonies helped confirm all the evidence. Even Luke and the other people involved in the discovery of both Monica and Rachel were brought in to testify helping to seel the case.

However, regardless of the hard cold evidence, the three girls were still anxious. It had been over five months for Rory, and she had almost given up faith on the idea of catching the man who had changed her life forever. Now that it was so close, the whole thing seemed surreal. There was nothing in her life that could make her feel better than to put the man who hurt her in a way that could never heal in prison. So despite the fact that it appeared to be a slam-dunk, she still waited nervously to hear it from the jury.

The day finally came and Rory, Monica, and Rachel sat together, holding each others hands. Everyone was there. Rachel and Monica's parents were there with a whole group of extended family members. Rory's grandparents, Richard and Emily, sat with Lorelai. Luke and Tristan accompanied Lorelai, and even Rory's best friend Lane Kim to hear the verdict. They all wanted to be there to support Rory.

Rory looked around the courtroom as she waited for the jury to enter. Her eyes fell upon something on the opposite of the room. Her stomach dropped as she realized what she was looking at. It was the defendant. He was handcuffed and surrounded by armed officers. Despite her initial instinct to look away, Rory focused in on his face. It showed no expression. It had no look of anger or fear or anything. He merely looked forward. Rory wondered what went trough the mind of such a man.

"No, I don't want to know," she whispered to herself.

"Huh?" Monica asked as she turned in response to Rory's words.

"Oh, um, nothing." She said as she looked at her friend.

"Order," the judge had entered and banged the gavel to begin. Those who were standing quickly sat, and the room fell silent.

"Has the jury come to a decision?"

"Yes we have, your honor." Rory took a deep breath. "We the jury, on the count of rape of Lorelai Gilmore find the defendant guilty."

Rory exhaled. It was as if something had been lifted from her shoulders. Rory looked to her family and could tell they too had experienced the same feeling.

"On the second count of rape…" the jury read out the next two counts of rape. "Guilty… guilty."

The three girls left the courthouse hugging each other the whole way.

"I can't believe this!" Rachel exclaimed"

I know!" Monica chimed in.

Tears were pouring down Rory's face. "I don't know why I'm crying." Rory said.

"Because this is our day of independence. We're free. He has no power over us anymore." Rachel said as she hugged Rory once more.

"Yeah, its our independence day." Monica said.

"Mind if I interrupt?" Lorelai said as she rapped her arms around Rory.

"Honey, how are you doing?"

"I can't even begin to describe how I feel."

"I have know idea how it fells for you girls. Its much more personal, but from a mom's viewpoint, I'm definitely feeling some indescribable emotions too."

When does he find out his sentence?" Rachel asked as the whole group assembled.

"In a couple of weeks." Monica's day explained.

"It better be for a long, long, long time." Luke said.

""How about I treat everyone to lunch," Richard said to the group.

"Sounds good," the girls said.

A/N:

I know this was really quick, but I had to get it out there. I'll be gone until Thursday, so any new developments won't be until after that. Thanks for the awesome reviews. This story is coming slowly to an end. I can't see it going over thirty chapters. Thanks for all the reviews for this story. I greatly appreciate it.