Chapter Five

Take it easy

She's just a woman

Never Again

Been there before but not like this

Seen it before

But not like this.

Never before have I seen it this bad.

Never Again - Nickleback

Speedle

The courtroom was full, jam packed with people, the atmosphere stifling. I took a deep breath gripping Eva's hand tightly as we took a step forward. I squinted as a flash bulb went off to my left. The media was all over this. A CSI nearly raped by a politician's son was big news. We stepped over the threshold and into the actual room, heads turning in our general direction. Looking ahead I could see the vibrant red hair of Horatio beckoning me forward, next to him Eric Delko, stood up waving me over to the seats behind the bench. I turned to Eva as we stepped forward. I put my hand on the small of her back and lead her over the last remaining steps forward to the bench. The judge and jury were already seated. As we took another step forward the door beside the judge opened. I felt Eva's grip on my hand tighten. I raised my head to see Blake Marriott clad in chains and an orange jumpsuit enter the court room. A knot of unease filled me, I turned to Eva. Her eyes were on Marriott as he was pulled into the court room, fresh bruises littered the side of his face. I felt a smug smile curve across my lips. The bastard deserved it.

I paused in front of the bench as Horatio moved over to reveal some spaces in the seat. He patted them indicating for us to take our seats. I stepped forward pulling Eva with me. She slid into the seat easily. Her hand going unconsciously to her stomach. She was thinking of our baby. I was already running through the list of names in my head. Over the last few days I'd read a stream of baby books in attempt to be prepared for what lay ahead with Eva's pregnancy.

The doors behind us closed with a loud shudder, at the same time Blake Marriott looked up, his gaze wandering all over the crowd. I gave Eva's hand a small squeeze. Court had just begun.

The evidence was clear, I'd heard the jury's audible gasps as the video of Blake and Eva was shown to them. My eyes found Marriott; his eyes were on the screen the whole time, his lips curling into a sneer. He was enjoying it.

When it was Marriott's turn to take the stand I felt myself feel physically sick at the sound of his words. His defence.

"Rape fantasy. She wanted me to do it. It was her fantasy, she told me no matter how much she struggled it was part of the game. We even decided to film it for kicks." He pointed at the screen.

"Everything on that screen is fake. She set it up I guess she knew that her colleagues would be looking for her and that's when she lashed out at me." The excuse sounded lame to my ears I hoped it was the same for the jury.

I felt Eva's whole body clench, her grip on my hand tightened, her nails digging in. I knew further down the row that Eric and Horatio were biting back their own anger. Rage was rattling its way through me. I had to stay calm, no matter what lies he told, he would not get to me, I had to stay strong for her.

"Next the defence brings Calleigh Duquesne to the stand." I watched with vague interest as Calleigh recited her version of events.

"In you opinion could Miss Black of orchestrated a crime scene without you being aware of it." Calleigh's head was already shaking.

"She could not of, all the evidence points to Blake Marriott you honour, from his blood on the floor of the room he attacked her in to the video footage we saw today. Miss Black was also in the company of other members of the Crime Lab all day." Calleigh told the court room.

"Isn't that strange Miss Duquesne, how the whole Crime Lab seems to be able to vouch for the movements of Miss Black?" The defence lawyer asked pointedly.

"Considering she works there your honour I don't." Calleigh said with a bright smile. After a few more questions the defence thanked Calleigh and asked her to leave the stand. It was the jury's decision now.

"How are you doing?" Horatio asked Eva. My hand was still glued to hers, I was not letting go of her, not even for two seconds.

"I can not believe he's claiming that that was consensual." She said shaking her head. Her voice was tight, yet she was restraining her temper.

"The evidence is against him Eva; you've got nothing to worry about." Horatio told her. Eva took a deep breath to ground herself.

"I've got to run the bathroom; I'll catch you in a minute." Delko said, patting my shoulder. I nodded, my gaze going to the people around us. I was on the alert for anything that could happen. I could tell Horatio was too. Eva's hand went to her stomach as she rubbed it slowly, her gaze going to the growing crowd.

"I take it a congratulations are in order?" Horatio's voice interrupted my scan of the courtroom corridor. His sunglasses were in his hands as he toyed with the leg. His eyes were now pointedly on Eva's hand. I froze for a second. Was he talking about the ring or the baby?

"All in good time." I heard myself reply wearily. Horatio smiled, slipping his sunglasses.

"I taught you well Speed." He grinned. I bowed my head with a small smile.

"You did." I replied, the rest of my answer was swallowed by the sound of us being called back into the court room.

Delko slipped back into the room just in the nick of time. Seated I felt a familiar shiver run through me. This was it. If Marriott didn't get a jail sentence, he wasn't going to survive the week as a free man. I knew that wasn't just my speculation. I know Delko had been itching to get at him since the first time the bastard had laid a hand on Eva.

"Mr Foreman, have you come to a decision yet?" The judge asked the jury. For a brief second my eyes strayed to Marriott, and the smugness of him. I wanted to hurt him; I'd never wanted to hurt someone so badly. All the pain of searching for her frantically engrossed me. From the moment she'd disappeared I'd known it was him. All the fears, all the nightmares she had was because of this man, the one person who had caused the mess we'd been though was smiling like he had a free pass. I felt my fist clench, as the familiar feeling of helplessness filled me. All the time in my brain the words "The evidence tells the story." was echoing through my head. The jury couldn't deny what was right in their faces. I bitterly hoped that the jury would make the right decision today.

The foreman was on his feet, his eyes on the judge. I took an intake of breath; I could feel Eva shaking next to me. She wanted this so badly. She'd been disappointed before by the justice system.

"Yes your honour, a decision has been made." The foreman only had eyes for the judge.

"Will the defendant please rise?" Marriott was on his feet in seconds. His hands in front of him, the grin on his face, I hoped to God he was convicted. I had never been a religious man, but if God granted me this one wish I would believe truly I would, I would get married in a church, I would christen our first child, I would do anything so that this bastard got imprisonment.

"We find the defendant Blake Marriot…" the foreman hesitated. The whole court room hung on his words, waiting for him to finish.

"Guilty." Suddenly I don't know how it happened; we were all on our feet. Eva's arms were wrapped around my neck; I inhaled the deep jasmine scent of her, feeling her relax in my arms.

"We did it." I told her, burying my face in her hair, I pulled away gently realising that she was crying. The whole courtroom was in chaos. I felt Horatio patting my back with a huge grin on his face. Delko had moved around him, his arms were around Eva, the smile on her face was brilliant. She looked amazed. I'd never been so glad to see a trial over before.

An animalistic screech cut through the court room, forcing everyone's attention in its direction. That's when I saw it. Marriott was two feet away from us, in front of him several bailiffs were attempting to restrain him. I saw the blind fury in his eyes, as he lunged screaming at the bench.

"I'll get you bitch, your fucking mine. I'll fucking kill you." Eva pushed past Delko who had moved in front of her to defend her from Marriott's attack.

"You really think so? With your odds I think you'll be dead long before I will." She spat back. Marriott moved towards her again, I saw the bailiff's arm slip at the sudden force exerted. Before I even realised it, my fist was pulsating with pain, and Marriott was falling backwards stunned, blood erupting from his nose.

"You fucking deserved that." I shouted, trying to shake the pain from my hand. In a moment I watched as Marriott was set upon by a vast amount of people in uniforms.

I turned to see Calleigh approaching from the rear of the court house.

"Nice punch." She remarked with a small smile. "I don't think I've ever seen someone who deserved it more." She moved to Eva as Delko moved aside to let her pass.

"Congratulations, you did it Eva, I'm so proud of you." Calleigh's words were honest and I could tell they really touched Eva.

"I need to ring Alexx, tell her and Ryan the good news." Calleigh said excusing herself from the court room. I grabbed Eva's hand and started to guide her out of the court room, following Horatio's red hair, Delko trailing behind Eva. I think she knew that it was an orchestrated manoeuvre to make sure their was nothing nasty waiting outside for her, but she didn't say anything, she let us take care of her for a few minutes while she settled into the news that she was finally free from the hold that Marriott had once held on her.

As we erupted out into the sun I took the sunglasses from my pocket and slipped them over my eyes, as a series of flash's lit the area, a bunch of reporters thrusting microphones in our direction begging for a comment. By the time we reached the Hummer and climbed into it, I found that Eva was now weeping tears of joy, repeating the words.

"It's finally over."