Ok, thanks for the good reviews and i'm sorry for any incorrect legal things, In my defence i'm English so don't really know how the american legal system really works, and when I studied intro to law I only got as far as basicemployment and the sale of goods act.

Just to let you know this is the 2nd to last chapter and i'm sorry for the lack of detail - I always struggle to end stories and essays - which i am doing a lot of at the moment. Anyways read on and enjoy:

Chapter 10 – Face the past and move on

"Thank you, for everything." Mrs Reeves said to Casey, Olivia and Elliot outside the courthouse.

"Della was the reason we got the result, I've every confidence that she'll bounce back from it." Elliot replied.

"If she turns out anything like Amy then I know she'll be fine." Mrs Reeves added, immediately their eyes darted to where Amy was stood talking to Della.

- - -

"You said everything would be ok, you were right, I feel a lot better now." Della told Amy.

"I told you that you were brave, now remember if you ever want to talk just call the centre and leave me a message. I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can." Amy replied.

"Can I ask you a question?" Della asked nervously.

"As long as you don't ask me if I'm ok I'll answer."

"Will I be able to, you know, go out on dates with boys and all that sort of stuff? Did you? Do you you know?" Della asked blushing slightly.

"It takes time; people are ready at different times. It took me a long time to agree to go out on a date with a guy. But I don't know if it was to do with me or what happened. But what I do know is; only you know when you're ready. And when you find that right guy everything will fall into place, you'll both be able to accept what happened to you and it won't make a difference to either of you."

"Really?" Della asked hopefully.

"Yes, that I know for a fact, and don't be afraid to talk to your family, I get the feeling they're like mine, they'll always be there for you, even when you don't want them to be. You'll be fine Della, you'll be able to walk around you neighbourhood without worrying about him being there, you'll be able to move on and live a fantastic life, doing the things you want because you've just done the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. Now go on, go and celebrate with your family, remember where I am when you need me." Amy said.

"Thank you Amy." Della added giving Amy a huge hug.

"Thank you for being so brave. Take care." Amy said leaving.

- - -

Apartment of ADA Casey Novak

"Novak?" Casey answered her phone hoping it would be Amy; she'd been trying to reach her all day, she'd left the courthouse without saying a word.

"Hey it's Olivia, just wondering if you'd heard from Amy yet?"

"No, I'm worried, I'm tempted to call my parents but I don't have a clue what to say, they'd worry if I phoned up asking for Amy. Her roommates haven't seen or heard from her either, I've never known her like this, I mean she looked terrible today. What was she like when the verdict got read out?"

"She was motionless, I don't even think she was breathing, when Elliot found her he said she was just sat staring into face, then she said that she'd had enough, that she was done with everything. Look if none of us has heard from her by the morning then I suggest getting your family involved, maybe she went to stay with one of them, is she close to anyone?"

"I'd say I was the one she was closest with but we're not exactly tight as you've probably noticed, there's always Cody but he's away at the moment, I don't know, what if she's gone and done something stupid?" Casey held back a sob.

"Casey she'll be fine, I'll call you if I hear anything." Olivia hung up and moments later there was a soft knock on the door. Casey wiped her eyes on her sleeve and opened it to find Amy leaning against the wall; she appeared to be drunk but Casey couldn't smell any alcohol on her breath.

- - -

Casey showed her sister into the living room, she debated with herself over whether or not to make a pot of coffee, instead she decided to sit and wait for Amy to make the first move.

"You've been crying?" Amy eventually asked looking at the smudged mascara on Casey's face.

"I've been a bit worried; you've been unreachable, and there's the fact that you told Elliot you'd had enough. I can't figure you out anymore Amy, these last few weeks you've been different, you say it's nothing to do with the case well then what is it?" Casey replied not really caring what Amy would say in response, all Casey knew was that Amy needed help, and that she'd turned up at her door. But Amy didn't say anything, all she did was cry, she cried like Casey had never heard, all Casey could do was pull her younger sister into a huge hug and she just held her gently rocking her until the tears slowed.

"Why couldn't it be me?" Amy asked wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"What couldn't be you?" Casey asked gently.

"He's still out there, I see him everywhere; when I'm asleep, when I'm awake, why?" Amy replied crying again, Casey didn't have to ask what Amy was referring to and she wished with all her heart that she could make things better for her sister but she knew that it simply wasn't possible.

"I knew I shouldn't have gotten you involved with the case, I'm so sorry Amy, I never meant for you to get upset." Casey held back a cry.

"I can still smell him, I should have waited, but I didn't and now I'm having to deal with it everyday. I though by becoming a councillor and helping Della it'd make things easier but it hasn't. I wish it would just go away, I wish I could walk down the street without worrying that he'll jump out at me again, it's just not fair." Amy placed her head on Casey's shoulder and began to cry again.

"You did nothing wrong Amy, it wasn't your fault. I thought you knew that, you couldn't have done anything to change what happened. I wish it could have been your attacker sent to jail today but Amy you're safe." Casey said stroking Amy's hair.

"I'm sorry Case." Amy cried, Amy hadn't called her by that name since before she was raped, up until 13 years ago Amy always shortened her sister's name, she was the only person to ever do it more than once, it was a name she hated but at that point she didn't mind Amy calling her by it.

"I'm sorry too honey, I really am. But I'm here for you no matter what, forever."

- - -

"I should have said no when you asked me to help, I knew it would be a bad idea but in a weird way I thought I could prove to you that everything was ok, all I've done is prove the complete opposite." Amy said half an hour later, the sisters were now sat drinking tea, Amy had stopped crying but she constantly looked on the verge of tears.

"You showed everyone just how strong you really are, I doubt I would have been able to do what you did. I found it hard just prosecuting the case, dredging up my memories and feelings was hard, but in the back of my mind I guess I was thinking that if you could do it so could I. You know when I was making my closing I thought of you and what it would have felt like to know that it was your rapist that was being sent to jail."

"So did I, I even held my breath, I don't know what I would have done if the verdict had come back not guilty."

"Me neither, but I think, I know you would have said and done the right things, you've always been able to put people at ease, and do the right thing even when I bet it's the last thing you want to do."

"And then there are the times when my emotions and anger get the better of me and land me in trouble and on gardening leave. I never get why they call it that, I mean I don't even have a garden, we've got a plastic plant because we kept on forgetting to water the real ones."

"Humour, you always try and be funny when something's up, why can't you just talk to me?" Casey asked standing up and beginning to pace the room.

"I thought that's what we were doing Case, it's not easy for me to be here."

"Then why come? Was it because Cody is away? I know how close you two are."

"No, I can't talk to Cody about this, but then my rape's never been an issue for him, he always sees me as his baby sister that can beat him up and goes to the football games with him. It's harder to talk to you because you see what I went through constantly through your work at Special Victims; it's harder because you were the one who found me. You were the first one up that morning I drank myself silly, the look in your eyes frightened me, you were so scared and I didn't know what to do. I thought that by getting myself back on track it'd make you forget what I was like, you never looked at me the same way after that day, and it got worse when you started at special victims." Amy said with a huge sigh.

"So are you saying you being in a mess is my fault?" Casey asked sitting down next to her sister.

"No, it's my fault; I should have talked it out instead of letting my past control what I am, I know I talked to people but I was like I was with Dr Huang, I was evasive, irritable, obnoxious if you like. If I'm honest I'm constantly scared of getting hurt, it's why it took so long for me to sleep with Jack, it's what stops me from letting guys get close, it's why I punched that pimp without thinking. And it's what's going to cost me my career."

"The review board gave you their answer the other day; it's why you acted funny." Casey stated she wasn't asking.

"I'm being transferred out of Vice, a change and anger management classes along with a probationary period of six months. With my record I'll be fired if I mess up again, I don't know what I'll do if I loose my job, a cop is all I know, I'm not a college graduate like you and the others; I don't know what I'll do."

"Where are you being transferred?" Casey asked.

"They're looking for areas suited to my skills, it could be anywhere, I just hope it's not traffic in uniform, five years was enough, I was the most hated cop in New York City."

"You'll be fine, the probationary period will be a breeze and the anger management, I hate to say it but I think it will do you good." Casey added moving away from Amy slightly with a smile.

"I know, Jack thought it was hilarious when I told him, but he always looks on the funny side whenever I get into trouble, he's always there for me when I need him. Always so understanding, he always has been."

"I know, I'm just glad that you have someone to go to, he's a good guy, and if he's the guy you feel safe with…"

"I didn't sleep with him when we were going out, I couldn't bring myself to do it, we came close but I kept on pushing him away, then he went away and we fell into the friends zone, like Leo and I. Only I never slept with Leo. But Jack, he's my rock, and it was right, I was terrified and I didn't know what I was doing but he was brilliant. He never expected anything, he never does, he's had the chance to go out with many women over the last few years but that night he stayed with me." Amy said hugging a cushion and looking her sister in the eye.

'Remind me to tell Jack just how thankful I am for him looking after her' Casey thought.

"Casey, do you know how long it took me to sleep with Jack after my rape?" Amy asked suddenly. Casey wasn't sure how to respond, she knew it was more than a few years.

"No." Casey replied watching Amy relax a little.

"The day Elliot came to the apartment to speak to me, the day I was wearing a towel and Jack was half undressed. It took me 13 years, and I was pretending to Della that it would take barely any time to begin to have a normal life again. And even now I'm not fine."

"You are, everyone takes different lengths of time. Hell I know for a fact that out beloved older sister didn't sleep with anyone until she got married at the age of 27, there's nothing wrong with you, you've had a lot to deal with but you've still made it."

"You've done a complete u turn from the other week you know that?" Amy asked with a slight laugh.

"Well I've had a chance to speak to you properly since then, I'm here for you no matter what Amy, I always will be." Casey replied giving her sister a hug.