Cat POV

I sat in the public gallery holding my mother's hand, watching the court case unfold before my eyes. I gave my evidence to the police after I had visited Robbie that fateful night and today was Brad's judgement day.

It had been two weeks since Robbie's accident.

I was forever faithful to Robbie, never-failing to visit him. He needed to know that I wasn't going to leave him. I had become so accustomed to the hospital that I was on first name terms with most of the staff. I would read to him and talk to him about my day; they say that people who are in a comatose state can hear what you say.

But I'm not so sure; if Robbie could hear how desperately everyone wanted him to wake up, he would instantly open his eyes.

When I visit him I like to turn up the television in the room when the news came on about our ordeal. As usual I was hounded by the paparazzi but I ignored them, they understood that I did not want to speak about it, not at the moment anyway. They showed photos of me leaving the hospital that night and every day after it. They were nothing but sympathetic towards Robbie and I.

I would log on to my official website and read the comments left for Robbie. I read them out to him; they were all so kind and compassionate. In everyone's eyes Robbie was nothing but a hero.

My mother had returned as soon as the police contacted her. She had only landed in Paris when she got the news and she instantly demanded that the jet was refueled. She cancelled her fashion show, ignoring the uproar that this caused. She stated that she could do what she wanted; she is the boss after all.

I stayed with the Shapiro's for two nights; it was comforting to be around those who knew exactly what you were going through. I warmed to Max instantly after I got over his striking resemblance to Robbie; I released there was so much of Robbie in him and that was a positive thing. He had obviously been teaching him ventriloquism and he was good for a five year old.

Max was unlike any other five-year old that I had met before. He had such a positive outlook on life and wisdom beyond his age.

When I was telling Jane my fears that Robbie would never wake up or if he did he would have permanent damage and he wouldn't be my Robbie anymore. Max overheard us, plonked himself beside me on the sofa and placed his hand on top of mine. He ordered me to stop acting like a child.

I spluttered at the irony.

I asked him how he could be so calm and he simply said, "Robbie is going to find his way back to us." Then he tottered off to play with Rex, calling back to us that he wanted to perfect Rex's voice for Robbie waking up.

Jade, Beck and André visited Robbie too; they told them all the gossip that was going around school at the moment. There was such a change in Jade, that night she could barely stand to be in the same room as Robbie but now she sat with him, holding his hand. She stilled liked to tease him, I knew some things would never change. Every day she urged him to wake up before their final showcase so they could all graduate together, stating that she couldn't graduate without her best friend. She was still spiteful, full of self-loathing because she never told him.

But he knew.

My mother and I had returned to the house, but only to retrieve our clothes, she had promised that she would buy us somewhere else to live, until then we were living out of our suitcases at a hotel. She ripped the police tape off the front door and entered the house. She rushed up the staircase to start packing up my stuff and ordered me to go into my studio and get my recordings. Ignore her requests I peered around the wall at the looming corridor ahead. Plucking up the courage I went over to the arch that led into the kitchen. I needed to do this for myself, I had to look.

The window was still broken so the room was freezing and unwelcoming, the glass was still covered the floor and crunched under my shoes as I stepped on it. I felt my throat thicken as I looked behind the island, it was still there.

Robbie's blood was not as I remembered it: shinning red and warm, but dry and old. It has permanently stained the tiles. I could see my red hand print that I had left on the floor after the paramedics took Robbie away. It all came flooding back into my mind at once; the noise the knife made as it was shoved into Robbie, the gulping and groaning noise he made as he fell, the putrid, coppery smell of his blood, Jade's scream...

I could feel my breath beginning to quicken and I couldn't get it to slow down. This was an awful idea. I screeched for my mom and she came thundering down the stairs. She pulled me out of the kitchen shielding my eyes, scolding me for not telling her that I wasn't ready to come back here. She made me sit outside at the bottom of the garden at the gazebos while she finished packing for me. I let the breeze cool down my boiling skin. I gazed up at the house and saw the golf cart, I smiled at the memory of Robbie and I dressed up as lunatics running down the grass hand in hand before borrowing the cart and escaping.

When she had stuffed everything she could into the back of my Range Rover. Handing me my purple giraffe, I cradled it as she drove down the drive. We didn't look back.

I was watching Brad intently as he pleaded guilty to the stabbing of Robert Shapiro. He had also pleaded guilty to breaking into my house and assault. I listened while they showed the evidence; photographs of the kitchen. They didn't surprise me; I had seen it in person so I was ready for these photos. They showed the knife to the judge and jury along with medical notes showing Brad's DNA on the knife.

Then I was called up as a witness, I already knew this was going to happen and I had rehearsed what I was going to say with my lawyer. Ignoring the members of the press I strode up to the witness stand. Taking a seat, I smoothed down my skirt and waited for my first question.

Brad's lawyer approached me, "So you are Ms. Caterina Valentine, girlfriend of Robert Shapiro and owner of the house where the stabbing took place." He asked.

I replied, "Yes, you are correct" My lawyer had informed me to keep my answers as short as possible.

He continued, "We have a statement that you gave the police, saying that Mr. Holly told you that he intended to hurt Mr. Shapiro."

"Yes that is true" I had absolutely no clue where he was going with this.

"So he told you that he was going to stab Mr. Shapiro?"

I faltered and glanced at the jury, "Well no, but that doesn't change the fact that he did it."

"Did Mr. Holly tell you about the psychological issues he has been battling with since an early age?"

I nodded, "Yes he showed me the tablets that he takes."

The defendant walked over to the evidence table and picked up the small orange bottle of tablets, "Yes these. Brad had stopped taking them. He was on antipsychotics which are used for people who have anger issues. Your honor we must take into account that had Brad not have stopped taking his medication this would not have occurred."

"Please." I interjected. I waited to be told that I was speaking out of terms, when no one said anything I continued, "I don't believe that Brad should be sent to juvenile detention."

This caused mutters and gasps of surprise, the press where scribbling frantically.

"I am not condemning what he did. Robbie is in a coma and we do not know if he will ever wake up and I definitely will never forgive Brad for his actions. However that said, Brad is mentally unstable, he is a danger to society. That is why I believe he should be sent to an institution where he will receive help."

My eyes bore into Brad's as I said this; I wanted him to know that while I was sympathetic for his troubles he meant nothing to me. I was asked more questions about what had happened and then asked to step down.

Jade was then called to the stand for her version of what had happened, we heard a recording of Jade calling the police; informing them that she just received a distress call from Robbie. She then recalled how she rushed over to the house and saw Robbie and Brad fighting in the kitchen. How Robbie saw me fall and rushed to help me only to be stabbed by Brad. We then heard the recording of Jade ringing for the ambulance, we could all hear the panic and distress in her voice and my heartbroken sobs in the background. No more questions were asked and we were both dismissed from the courtroom.

There was a recess while the jury made their verdict, we all knew what the outcome was there was no denying that Brad was guilty. Brad was asked to stand for his verdict, shaking he stood up he peered at his mother who was sitting behind him silently weeping. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her; I would never wish the pain of having a son like Brad.

Guilty.

The word echoed around the room and the gavel slammed down, sealing Brad's fate. He was expecting it but it didn't stop him from welling up. The jury agreed with me and sentenced Brad to two years in the Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Institution, then after that he would have to complete another three years in prison because he would be over 18.

Before they took him away Brad turned around to us as they handcuffed him and said, "Tell Robbie I'm sorry."

Jade shouted abuse at him, disgusted that he even had the nerve to stay his name. She was silenced by the judge, I watched as Brad was lead to the door at the back of the court and disappeared. On top of his sentence, he had to live with the guilt of stabbing Robbie. That was the worst punishment of all.

Leaving the courthouse I was greeted with cameras and microphones being shoved in my face, I stopped to discuss the verdict with them.

"Ms. Valentine are you happy with the decision?" One asked me.

"Yes of course I am." I quickly replied, "Now Robbie, Jade and I all have closure. I'm sorry but that is all I want to say on the issue."

Grabbing Jade's hand we went over to the car that my mother had pulled around for us and we drove to the hospital. Arriving I greeted the nurses at the front desk and we strode down the familiar corridor to Robbie's room. It was becoming expensive to keep him in this room, but I insisted that I would pay for the expenses. I have more than enough money and I would do anything to keep Robbie with me.

Max and Jane where already with Robbie when we entered the room, Max ran over to me and jumped into my arms I carried him over to the seat and sat with him.

Kissing Robbie's forehead I asked, "Has there been any change?"

Max shook his head, "No, we all watched the news coverage of Brad's court case, Robbie was glad when he was taken away."

"Yeah I was too." Jade added.

Max laughed at her and begged us to watch his new skit that he made up with Rex. We couldn't deny him anything especially when he used the Robbie card; he loves Rex. We laughed and clapped when we felt appropriate and Max beamed with pride. It would be a crime if he didn't get into Hollywood Arts when he was older.

We sat with Robbie until visiting hours ended, laughing and joking. For a moment everything seemed like old times until Dr. Shapiro entered. As each day passed he seemed tensor.

"If he doesn't show any improvement in the next few days I'm afraid his condition may be more critical than we first thought." He muttered as he moved Robbie in the bed and replaced his catheter drainage bag.

"Hear that Robbie" Max shouted into his ear, "Dad says you have to wake up soon."

Dr. Shapiro rebuked Max for shouting in his ear and curled into me, embarrassed. He sighed regretfully and crouched beside Max, "I'm sorry pal, I just really want your brother to wake up."

We heard him mutter "I do too" but it was muffled because he was talking into my jumper. Giving him a reassuring smile and a hug Max left with his mother and father. Jade told Robbie she would try and visit him after school tomorrow.

She turned to me,"I'll wait for you"

She understood that I wanted a moment alone with Robbie. When she left I began to talk to him.

"I wrote a song about you." I told him, "I had it finished before this happened, I'm going to release it soon and play it to you until you wake up. I have to go now, visiting hours are over."

Leaning over I gave him one last kiss on his forehead.

"I love you" I whispered into his ear.

Picking up my bag I met Jade outside and we both went to get a taxi home.

If only we had a left a minute later we wouldn't have missed it:

The small quiver of his right hand.

Oh please! I couldn't kill him off, that would be tragic!

Hurray for Brad being convicted I can safely say that this is him out of the story. :)

Everytime I say that I think this story is almost complete I find that I'm wrong

As always comment saying what you liked about the chapter and what you would like to see happen!

(please, please do! I love reading them!)

Love R (yes I have divulged an inital of my name) :P

xxx