Thanks for the reviews and favourites for the last chapter, and apologies for getting the holy communion thing wrong. If anyone can tell me what babies get instead of holy communion I'll be happy to amend it. Catholicism is not my strong point!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's the start of the final arc and probably what some of you have been waiting for...
"Before you go into the court room to testify I want you to try and picture what happened the night you were raped. I want you to picture yourself dancing in the living room, what it felt like when the drink was spilt on you, how you felt when you were heading towards the bedroom, what the bedroom looked like, and then everything that happened in the bedroom" Detective Erica Johnson coached.
"Ok" Alison McCord agreed, already feeling sick at the thought at having to picture what had happened that night. She couldn't believe the trial was due to start in 3 weeks and she was in New York, in the courtroom where her case would be tried, prepping to appear in court to give testimony. She was currently sat in the witness chair as ADA Scott White and Detective Erica Johnson explained how she should give her testimony.
It was daunting.
"Once you're in the courtroom, the first thing you will be asked to do after being sworn in is to identify your attacker, but once that's done you won't have to look at him again" ADA Scott White continued. "I'll be questioning you first and it's important that you always tell the truth. Just explain accurately what you can recall and what you know. If you can't remember, just say 'I don't know', it's better to say that then to try and guess."
Alison simply nodded before the ADA continued speaking.
"Make sure you listen to the questions carefully and take as much time as you need to answer. If you do not understand the question, you can ask for it to be rephrased or repeated. It is important that you speak clearly and address your answers to the judge or jury when you reply. Remember to always be polite, firm, and clear in your answers, even if the questions are hostile. Answer each question one at a time and only answer the question you have been asked, if the question only requires a 'yes' or 'no' answer, then just answer with the one word and don't expand on it. However, you can't answer with a one word answer if you are asked a long series of questions"
"What do you mean?" Alison asked timidly, already starting to feel overwhelmed at all the things she had to remember to do when she was testifying.
"Well, if I were to ask something along the lines of: 'On the night of the party did you have any plans to seduce Giovanni Rossi to sleep with you? Did you purposefully arrange for your colleague to spill a drink on you so you could coerce Giovanni Rossi into his bedroom with the sole idea of having sex with him? Did you tell Giovanni Rossi that night that you wanted to lose your virginity to him or to be handcuffed to the bedpost?'"
"No!" Alison exclaimed in horror.
"To which question are you answering?" ADA White pressed.
"All of them!" Alison replied quickly.
"But the judge and jury doesn't know that" ADA White replied gently.
"You would need to expand on your 'No' to explain the situation" Detective Erica Johnson stated. "Explain why you said 'No'".
Alison nodded thoughtfully before replying. "So I could say something along the lines of 'No, I went to Giovanni Rossi's apartment to attend a party that he was throwing to celebrate finishing the designs for his fashion show. I was dancing in his living room and a colleague spilt their drink on me by accident. Giovanni must have..."
"You can't use 'must have' as that's speculation" ADA White interrupted.
Alison paused to think how to re-phrase her answer. "After the drink was spilled Giovanni Rossi approached me and asked if I would like to borrow a shirt, to which I accepted. I followed him into his bedroom where he attacked me. I did not ask to be handcuffed to the bed and I did not discuss losing my virginity to him. He raped me."
"That's perfect" Erica encouraged with a smile.
Alison let out a deep breath. The thought of having to watch everything she said and answer all questions like she just had was draining. She didn't know if she could do it.
"It's ok, Alison. We'll practice a lot over the next few weeks" Erica encouraged with a soft smile.
"And we can do the rest of the prep over video link?" Alison asked nervously, not entirely reassured by Erica's confidence in her.
She was only in New York for the day as she couldn't afford to lose any more time away from school. Her college had been extremely supportive of her situation and was allowing her to take as much time off as she needed when the trial began, but she was determined to get as far ahead as she could with her schoolwork before the trial started. Plus, she had Lola to think about. Her mum had originally been scheduled to be with her today in New York so she could watch Lola whilst she was doing court preparation, but she had been unexpectedly called to Syria to deal with a looming civil war. Her dad was at a "conference" and couldn't be with her either. Thankfully Miss Janie had agreed to work overtime and watch Lola all day until Stevie came home from work, but she couldn't keep expecting Miss Janie to do that and she couldn't bring Lola to New York with her. Even though Lola was only a baby she didn't want her daughter in the room when she was talking about how she was conceived.
"Yes, we've made some good progress today" Erica assured.
"I agree. Just remember that if an objection is made by one of the attorneys, or the judge interrupts, then you need to stop talking immediately. The judge will tell you when you can finish your answer and you can always ask for the question to be repeated if you forget it" ADA White advised.
"Also, don't talk about your case around the courtroom. If one of the jurors or witnesses overhears it could result in a mistrial" Erica stated seriously.
"In the courtroom you may be asked if you have discussed the case with anyone" ADA White continued.
Panic washed over Alison. Was she not supposed to have spoken to anyone? Had she already jeopardised her case?
"It's ok if you have" he continued gently at the stricken look on his client's face "you just need to be honest with the judge about who you have discussed it with. It is not a bad thing that you have supportive friends and family that have been helping you through this difficult time, you won't be judged for speaking to people".
"Ok" Alison agreed uneasily, all the while thinking what on earth had she got herself into?
Alison McCord sat nervously outside the courtroom, her parents by her side. She could not believe the day had arrived and she was about to testify against Giovanni Rossi. She had never been so nervous in her entire life, her palms were sweaty, her heart beat frantically in her chest, and butterflies fluttered dangerously in her stomach. She felt her stomach flip hazardously and she knew she could not keep the miniscule amount of breakfast she had eaten down any longer.
"I'm going to be sick!" she announced before she ran off towards the Ladies Room and emptied the contents of her stomach.
"Ali?" Elizabeth McCord called as she followed her daughter into the Ladies Room and started pushing on the doors on the toilet stalls in an effort to find her daughter.
Elizabeth was extremely worried about her youngest daughter. She had been under so much strain over the past few weeks as she prepped for court and she feared whether her daughter would actually be able to go through with her testimony. She still felt so incredibly guilty that she hadn't been here the last time Alison was in New York. She had a vague understanding of what her daughter was about to go through, but she hadn't been there with ADA White or Detective Johnson as they talked Alison through what would happen in the courtroom and she felt terrible about it. She'd been forced to put duty before her family the last time Alison was in New York, as had Henry, and she hated it. She had let her daughter down. She'd spoken to Alison as soon as she had finished with ADA White and Detective Johnson and she could tell how overwhelmed her daughter had been, but she had been in Syria trying to stop a war. She'd done everything she could since to try and make it up to her daughter but it hadn't lessened the raging guilt she still felt for not being there for her daughter.
As she pushed open the final door she saw her daughter crouched precariously next to the toilet.
"Oh Noodle!" she exclaimed with concern as she crouched in front of Alison and smoothed back her hair from her clammy forehead.
"I don't think I can do this!" Alison exclaimed in dismay.
Elizabeth's heart broke at the fear she saw in her daughter's eyes. It was obvious how petrified Alison was.
"Alison, you've come so far and your dad and I are so proud of you. This is the final bit. All you have to do is go in there and answer the questions ADA White and William Schulman ask you and you're free" Elizabeth comforted.
"But what if Mr Schulman is mean to me? What if the jury don't believe me?" Alison whispered.
"If Mr Schulman is mean to you then ADA White and the judge will stop him. And if the jury don't believe you, then so be it. All you have to do is tell the truth. We believe you and we know what you've been through and how hard you've worked to overcome everything you've endured. Me, your dad, Stevie, Jason, and Lola...we'll all still be here for you and love you whatever the jury decides"
"Really?" Alison asked in an unsure tone. She was so nervous and overwhelmed by what she was about to go through that she couldn't think straight.
"Yes. You are loved and cherished, never forget that, Noodle" Elizabeth replied in a serious tone as she pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's forehead.
"There's just so much to remember!" Alison exclaimed in distress "Only answer the question... always look at the jury or the judge... be polite, yet clear in my answers... don't expand on what I've said unless asked... What if I mess up?"
Elizabeth looked into the scared, imploring eyes of her daughter an idea popped into her head. She reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace she had worn every day since her husband had gone to fight in Desert Storm.
"You see this?" she asked as she held the enamel heart pendant in her hand.
Alison nodded. "It's the necklace dad gave you just before he went off the Desert Storm. He wears the 'Protect Me' one you gave him"
"That's right. I was so scared that I wouldn't see your dad again and I wanted to do anything I could to make sure he came back to me, so when I saw the 'Protect Me' pendant I just had to buy it for him" Elizabeth started with sad nostalgia.
"And unbeknownst to you, dad had brought you the matching heart charm" Alison finished softly.
Elizabeth smiled lovingly at her daughter "Yes, so that I would always have a piece of his heart with me. I guess that you've heard the story before, huh?"
"Just a few" Alison replied with a warm smile, she'd loved that story so much when she was a kid. She had such fond memories of playing with those pendants when she was a child, whenever she was ill or upset her parents would always tell her the story of how on their last night together before her dad was deployed he had made dinner for her mum and presented her with the present, and how her mum had cried when she had presented him with the matching gift. Those pendant symbolised security and love to her, as if her parents were somehow always tied together with those pendants.
"I want you to have it" Elizabeth replied seriously.
Alison's eyes opened wide. "I...I can't take your necklace!"
"I want you to have it, and when you're in that court room and you're scared you think of this pendant. You think of just how much your dad and I love you and how we are always going to love you and be here for you. You think of all the good time we've had as a family and how many good times there are still to come. You think of Lola rolling over for the first time, of Lola saying her first word, and all of Lola's other firsts that are still to come. You can do this, Noodle" Elizabeth replied determinedly as she placed the necklace around her daughter's neck.
Alison looked down at the pendant around her neck. She knew it was probably psychological, but with the pendant there her confidence felt boosted, as if some of her mother's belief had transferred with the pendant. She fingered it delicately and felt the same comfort she had experienced as a child wash over her. Instantly she felt calmer.
"Looks good on you, Noodle" Elizabeth whispered emotionally to her daughter. She felt slightly bereft without the weight against her chest having worn the necklace for over 25 years, but she did not regret her decision to give it to Alison. It was time and it was necessary for her to part with the necklace.
"Thank you" Alison whispered gratefully to her mother, suddenly feeling a lot more focused and sure of herself.
"Now come on" Elizabeth stated as she rose to her feet and held out her hand for her daughter to take "Let's go kick some butt in that courtroom and show him just how strong and tough you are. With your Adams and McCord genes you've got nothing to worry about" Elizabeth encouraged with a smile as she threw her arm around her daughter and pulled her close.
"Thanks" Alison replied gratefully as she cuddled herself into her mother.
"There you are!" Henry exclaimed in a worried tone. "Are you ok?"
"Yes" Alison replied with a small smile. "Nerves just go the better of me, but I'm feeling better now"
"I'm glad" Henry replied with a small smile, relief evident in his tone. He placed his arm around his daughter's other shoulder and together the threesome walked back towards the courtroom. Just as they were about to sit down, the Court Officer appeared.
"Alison McCord?"
"Yes" Alison squeaked, the butterflies once again appearing her stomach.
"You've been called" the Court Officer replied.
Alison turned to her parents "Here goes nothing" she stated nervously.
"You're going to do great, Noodle" Henry assured his daughter as he hugged her tightly. "I'm so proud of you and I love you so much"
"Just tell the truth, we love you no matter what happens" Elizabeth reassured as she hugged her daughter one last time.
Henry and Elizabeth watched as their daughter headed towards the courtroom doors.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Elizabeth asked her husband nervously. Henry had insisted on being in the courtroom today to support his daughter which meant she'd had to fill Henry in on the specifics of what had happened to Alison over the past few weeks. Henry had been filled with rage and had been working out a lot, but he was determined to be here today to support his daughter.
"Yes" Henry replied simply. He had let his daughter down by not being here the last time she was in the courtroom, he was not going to let her do this alone today. Come what may he would be there to support his daughter. Elizabeth had told him exactly what had happened to Alison when he had attacked her and he wanted to see his daughter's rapist in the flesh. He wanted to show him that he had not got the better of their family and that Alison was loved and cherished despite what he had told her.
"What happened to your necklace?" he asked as they waited a few moments for Alison to make her way into the courtroom. He had noticed as soon as his wife and daughter exited the bathroom that Alison was wearing it.
Elizabeth turned and smiled sadly at her husband "Alison needs it more than I do" she replied as a tear appeared in the corner of her eye, the enormity of the moment finally getting to her.
Understanding washed over Henry and he grabbed his wife's hand and squeezed it comfortingly as he tenderly wiped the tear from her eye.
"Come on" he replied as he pressed a reverent kiss to his wife cheek and gently tugged her hand to lead her into the courtroom.
Alison walked towards the court officer and through the door to the courtroom, her heart hammering in her chest. The courtroom was much more intimidating that she remembered and she was glad that the judge had ordered a closed courtroom so there was only a handful of people in it. She was halfway down the aisle before he turned to face her, a sneer on his face. She thought she was prepared for this moment but it was much worse than she had imagined. Seeing him again in the flesh was terrifying and she flashed back to that night as fear coursed through her veins. She froze on the spot as images from that night flooded through her mind; once again she felt his skin on hers, him inside her...
"Miss McCord?"
The sound of the judge's voice broke her from her flashback and she had to remind herself she was in a courtroom filled with court marshals. He couldn't hurt her in here. She heard the courtroom door shut behind her and she turned to see her parents, together with her mum's DS agents, as they came into the room.
She remembered the pendant around her neck and she clutched it like a lifeline as she remembered what her mother had just said to her. All she had to do was tell the truth. No matter what happened her family would always love her and be there to protect her. Gathering all her courage she made her way to the witness booth on shaky legs, she could practically feel the jury gawking at her with each step she took as they realised who she was and who her mother was.
The court officer held out the Bible on which she placed her hand:
"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do" Alison confirmed.
"You may sit" the judge affirmed and she took her place in the witness stand as she tried to ignore the other people in the room who were staring at her with shock, awe, and interest.
ADA White got up from his desk and moved to stand in front of Alison McCord.
"Good morning, Miss McCord"
"Good morning" Alison replied politely.
"Now, I want to start by asking you one simple question: do you see the person who committed the crimes of Venereal Disease; person knowing himself to be infected, Criminal Battery, and First Degree Rape in this room?" ADA White asked in a business tone.
"Yes" Alison replied in a shaky voice, immediately berating herself internally. She was supposed to be projecting a strong, confident, image!
"Could you point to that person?" ADA White asked kindly.
Alison saw her parents and saw the loving, supportive, encouraging look they were giving her. She took a deep breath and turned to stare at him defiantly. He had got the better of her once, he would not do it again. She cleared her throat before replying.
"Yes, that's him" she replied in a clear, calm, voice as she pointed in the direction of him "Giovanni Rossi committed those crimes against me..."
Ok, so there's not a lot about rape trial testimony on the internet as I believe rapes are generally tried in a closed courtroom. I've found some guides for rape victims on how to prepare for court and I used them for a guide for Alison's preparation, I hope it is at least semi-accurate as I had to use a lot of artistic licence.
Let me know now what you think.
