Only a couple more chapters to go with this one. It's been a few years but I'm determined to complete it.
Melody and Dee belong to me. Everybody else belongs to themselves.
Taking a deep breath as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, Dee Carter smoothed down her charcoal blazer and attempted to compose herself just minutes before entering the courtroom to testify against her attacker. The enormity of what she was about to do had hit her like a tonne of bricks and the Texas native had been forced to make a dash to the bathroom in order to throw up. As she exited the bathroom of the courthouse and rejoined her aunt Dixie on the green chairs that lined the wall to the left.
Beside her aunt was her lawyer, Mr. Curtis, as well as the detective in charge of her case, Detective Brenner.
A court usher appeared in front of the trio, and with a nod of the head from Detective Brenner, they all stood to enter the courtroom. Her aunt Dixie, lawyer Mr. Curtis, and Detective Brenner took their seats while the court usher, a middle aged man with a moustache and thick rimmed spectacles, led Dee to the witness box.
The court usher addressed the courtroom.
"All rise for the Honorable Judge Diane Solomon."
For some reason Dee had been expecting a male judge, so she was surprised to see the woman that emerged from a doorway to the side of the witness box. Judge Solomon looked to be in her mid to late 40s and sported black robes. Her deep brown eyes were peeking out from behind a pair of red-framed spectacles, the shade of which matched both her lipstick and the nail polish that she wore. She shuffled some papers in front of her and turned her attention to the younger woman in the witness box.
"Please state your name for the court."
"Delia-Anne Carter."
The court clerk approached Dee with a slightly tattered Bible and placed her hand on top of it.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" he asked her.
"I do." the young Texan replied.
"Ms. Carter, you positively identified Martin Holden as your attacker. Can you confirm for the court that this is the man whom you identified from the police line-up?" Judge Solomon gestured across the courtroom.
The majority of the courtroom to cast their eyes in the direction of the man sitting silently at a desk beside his lawyer. Dee followed their lead. Her green eyes grew wide and the bile rose in her throat as she took in the sight of her attacker only yards away from where she stood.
"Yes, that's him."
Meanwhile at the Impact tapings, Melody was about to defend her Knockouts title against the number one contender, Angelina Love. The North Carolina native finished taping her wrists and prepared to exit the locker room, finding her path blocked by her husband, who was leaning casually against the door frame in his street clothes, having already wrestled earlier on.
"You know it's creepy when you spy on me like that, right?" the blonde raised a brow.
"I can't help it," Patrick shrugged, "You're too beautiful."
"That's a lame excuse, but I'll accept it." she replied, kissing him on the lips before grabbing her Knockouts title belt from the bench beside her.
"Good luck out there." the Detroit native called out as his wife headed towards the curtain.
"Hey, what's up?" Josh asked his tag team partner as he walked past.
"Just trying to get used to the fact that I'm married now." Patrick shrugged, eyeing the band on his finger.
"It's been like a month and a half. How are you not used to it yet?"
"And how long have you been married, Josh?"
"Chill out, I'm kidding," his fellow Detroit native replied, "None of us ever saw you settling down."
"Well, I'm full of surprises," Patrick winked, "Anyway, how are things with you and Jamie?"
"We broke up a couple of weeks ago." the older Gun shrugged.
"Man, I'm sorry, I had no idea..."
"It's all good. We're just different people."
"Changing the subject, have you heard anything from Texas?" Patrick enquired.
"Not since Dee text me this morning to say that she and Dixie were setting off to the courthouse."
"Let's hope that justice prevails."
"Agreed." Josh nodded.
Dee was well aware that her attacker's lawyer would attempt to tear her story apart, so when Mr. Klein had approached the witness box to question her she had felt her anxiety spike.
"Ms. Carter, I'm sure the court would like to know why it took you seven years to report your attack."
"I was afraid and ashamed," Dee replied, "I wanted to pretend that it never happened."
"But would you agree, Ms. Carter, that seven years is more than enough time to fabricate a false rape claim?"
"It's not fabricated, it's true!" Dee exclaimed.
"Yes or no, Ms. Carter." Mr. Klein pressed her for an answer.
"Yes, it would be enough time." she replied.
"I understand that you are currently pregnant. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's correct." Dee nodded, running a hand over the bump that was beginning to protrude from her abdomen.
"And is the father of the child a married man?" Mr. Klein raised a brow.
"Your Honor, I object to this line of questioning!" Mr. Curtis exclaimed.
"Sustained. Mr. Klein may continue his questioning."
"It's not like that." Dee replied after the question was relayed to her.
"Answer the question, Ms. Carter." Judge Solomon urged.
"Yes, that is correct."
"It has also come to the attention of the court, Ms. Carter, that you have been somewhat reckless in the past few years," Mr. Klein referred to a sheet of paper in his hand, "You have been known to abuse both alcohol and drugs. There is also a warning on your police record for antisocial behaviour, as well as one for criminal damage to a vehicle."
Dee sighed and nodded, taking a sip from a glass of water beside her.
"You did so well in there, Dee." Mr. Curtis assured his client as soon as Judge Solomon called for a recess.
"I'm not so sure." the young Texan shrugged.
"Klein and his team will keep trying to break you, but it's the jury that will decide the verdict." Mr. Curtis reminded his client.
"Okay, I'll try."
"Stay strong. We still have all of our evidence against your attacker." Detective Brenner reminded her.
"Including DNA evidence." the lawyer added.
"This is harder than I thought." Dee sighed.
"You can do this." Dixie told her niece as she enveloped her in a hug.
Back at the Impact tapings, Melody had just emerged from the women's locker room, having had a successful Knockouts title defence earlier on. Freshly showered and dressed, the blonde realised that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, so she headed towards the catering area in hopes of finding something to satisfy her hunger. She immediately spotted her husband and his tag team partner sitting in the corner, apparently deep in discussion, which they ceased the moment they saw her approach them.
"Hey, what's up with you two?"
"Not much." Josh shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Just talking strategy for next week's match against Beer Money." Patrick told his wife.
"Gotta work hard for those Tag Team titles!" the older Gun added with a smile.
"You two are acting weird, and believe me, I know what weird looks like." Melody folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her hazel eyes at the duo.
"It's not weird. It's completely innocent." Patrick assured her.
"But it is a secret." Josh added.
"And you can't tell me?" the North Carolina native frowned.
"That would spoil the surprise," the younger Gun shrugged, "Just trust me on this."
"Wow, six weeks in and there are already secrets in our marriage."
"Trust me." Patrick took her hand and held it in his own.
"Fine, but this better be a good surprise." Melody sighed, excusing herself from the table to grab a much needed snack.
The Guns both remained silent until the Knockout was out of earshot.
"You sure that buying a house without telling your wife was a good idea?" Josh raised a brow.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time..." Patrick groaned, cradling his head in his hands.
How do you think Melody will react? And will the court case go in Dee's favour? Review!