"Ms Willows," Jennifer said, getting up, "could you tell us about the events leading up to the attack?"
Catherine leant forward to speak into the microphone. "I drove to the crime scene, where I met Officer Graves. He was the officer escorting me at the scene."
"Then what happened?"
"Officer Graves pointed me in the direction of the scene. He showed me towards a tree and I looked down to see what he was talking about."
"There was nothing there?"
"No."
"What happened when you looked down?"
"Something hit me on the back of the head. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground, on my back. Dale Graves was holding a gun to my head, my gun. He told me not to scream or I'd regret it. "
"Where was Officer Graves?"
"He was over by the fence. He just stood there, watching."
"What was he watching, Ms Willows?"
"His brother…was tying my wrists together."
"His brother…"
"Dale Graves."
"Tell us what happened next, Ms Willows."
"I tried to get away, but he was hitting me, telling me that he knew I wanted it and I had to stay still. Then he made me get up again. He pushed me against the tree and he put his knee between my legs." Catherine took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto Gil's.
Gil smiled back at her, encouraging her in his eyes.
"Then what happened?"
"He started grabbing at my breasts through my shirt. He pulled it off and tried to undo my bra. He couldn't get it off, so he pulled it down my middle and started grabbing hitting me. He tried to kiss me and I turned my head at the last minute. He hit me across the breasts with the gun and then held it to my head, telling me to cooperate."
Catherine's eyes widened slightly as she saw Sam Braun and a couple of his minders enter the room, sitting quietly in the back. She blinked for a moment and then returned her focus to Gil. He was her rock.
"What happened next, Ms Willows?"
"He kissed me again and was pinching and squeezing my breasts. I told him to stop and that it hurt, but he wasn't listening. He put his knee between my legs and starting pushing. He pulled one of my hands under his and made me undo his pants." She took a deep breath, realizing she was on the home stretch. "He pushed me to the ground, and pulled my pants down. He cut my underwear with a knife." Catherine's voice was starting to waver a little. "He made me put a condom on him and then…then he pushed inside me. When he finished he…he pulled out and left."
"Where was Officer Graves during this time?"
"He was there. Just watching."
After Jennifer had finished, Stan's lawyer stood up. "Ms Willows, at any time did Officer Graves touch you inappropriately?"
"No," Catherine replied.
"Did he ever egg his brother on? Encourage him?"
"No."
"No further questions."
Dale's lawyer stood up. "Ms Willows, have you noted the inaccuracies in your original statement, and your testimony here?"
Catherine looked confused. "No."
"In your statement, you were already on the ground looking for evidence. But today, you told the court that you looked down."
Catherine arched an eyebrow. "That's being on the ground, looking down."
"Of course it is. Why did Dale Graves bind your wrists with duct tape BEFORE he took off your shirt?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask him." Catherine felt like she was rapidly losing control.
Then her eyes locked onto Dale's.
He was smirking, looking amused by the situation. He had enjoyed it. What had happened then, he had enjoyed it.
And Catherine started to feel sick.
"Ms. Willows, Mr Graves used a condom, correct?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes."
"Do you like rough sex, Ms Willows?"
"OBJECTION!" Jennifer cried, jumping up.
Catherine started to close her eyes, trying to drown everything out. But all she could see was him, pushing into her, hurting her, being inside her.
"STOP!" she cried out.
The courtroom was silent.
"He pushed inside me, he ripped inside me and hurt. It hurt so much I couldn't breathe. It made me sick. I wanted to be sick. Everything hurt. I was in so much pain and he was pushing harder and harder! He raped me!"
And then Catherine Willows burst into tears.
Gil had never felt the phrase "one step forward, two steps back" more acutely than he did at that very moment. He held Catherine in his arms, felt her body trembling.
"Shh, sweetheart. He's not here. He can't hurt you."
"It still hurts."
"I know it does. I know it does."
"I want to go home."
Gil kissed the top of her head. "I'll talk to Jennifer, I promise. It's going to be okay."
Catherine's arms wrapped around him, trying to get closer to him. "Make it all go away."
Gil's heart broke at her words, wishing he COULD take it all away from her. He looked up as Jennifer walked in. Catherine didn't even move.
"Judge Kincaid adjourned for the day. She's scheduled the next day for Friday. That gives you two days." Jennifer glanced at Catherine. "Neither side wants to ask Catherine anymore questions."
Gil nodded. "So I can take her home now?"
"Absolutely. Call me if you don't want to come in Friday."
Gil smiled slightly. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
After Jennifer left the two of them alone, Gil whispered in Catherine's ear. "Want me to take you home now, sweetheart?"
"Please," she whispered back.
Lindsey watched as Gil came back downstairs after he had tucked Catherine into bed. "Today was bad, wasn't it?"
Gil rubbed his hand over his face and sat down beside her. "It was hard for her, Linds. Having to relive it all, with all those people in there. It was a lot different from when she gave me her statement."
"It was harder."
Gil nodded. "A lot harder. And not pleasant. And towards the end of her testimony, when the opposing counsel was talking to her, she looked at Dale Graves. That didn't help."
Lindsey balled her hands into fists. "I wish I could kick his ass!"
Gil smiled tiredly at her. "Me too, Lindsey. But it wouldn't help your mom, any."
"Yeah. That sucks."
Gil agreed. "It does suck."
"What can we do to help her?"
"Just take care of her, Linds. Your mom is going to get through this."
Lindsey looked up at him. "Promise?"
"I promise."
TBC