A/N: I am SO sorry this took so long. I had some trouble writing this chapter. I hope I did it okay. It's a sensitive subject and I didn't have alot of background nitty gritty court info to use. Though, Sara (brookefan329) over at OTH911 was able to help me in some of the 411 when it comes to the testifying thing and all that jazz. She gave me the basics and the rest I went out on a limb.

So somewhere in the midst of moving and dealing with a psychotic roommate I present you with the latest installment. I am at my new place now (thank god) with my dad and we're slowly unpacking all of our crap. I hate moving. Hate it. But I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I have the next few already written so now it's just a fingers crossed that I can continue to hold a steady internet connection to post.

I hope I haven't lost many readers during my hiatus. Again I'm sorry this took so long. Seeing as I'm on the edge of losing my connection (until I get a proper net connection I will constantly be on the edge...) I only have time left to say a major THANK YOU to all who have replied. It means so much that you are enjoying my writing.

Please remember to read and reply!

Much Love

-Debbie

"You ready?" Holly asked as she, Haley and Nathan sat outside the court house in the car.

"I can't do this."

"Haley, you can. By giving your statement you can make sure Billy never gets the chance to hurt anyone else and feel the consequence for what he did to you."

"Did you testify?"

"Yea, and I locked myself in my bathroom. My brother broke down the door to get me out. So, you're doing better than me right now." Holly laughed lightly.

"I can do this." Haley chanted.

"You can do this." Holly repeated and looked to Nathan who felt helpless as his wife sat in fear.

The three walked down the halls of the court, past police officers, lawyers, and other court personnel, also passing other people who were at the court for their own trial. Finally they arrived to the room Case 518 would be taking place, the people vs. Mr. Billy Hendersen.

The cavalry seemed to be waiting outside the double oak doors, waiting for Haley to arrive. Brooke, Lucas and Peyton were sitting on the floor talking amongst themselves while Karen stayed by Keith, and Dan belittled Billy's parents

"Hey roomie, you ready to do this?" Brooke asked as she stood and greeted Haley, pulling her into a hug.

"As ready as I can be." Haley answered, moving back to Holly's side after Brooke released her from the hug.

"You'll do great." Lucas offered his support while throwing Nathan a confused look at Haley's distance to everyone, save Holly.

Haley offered Lucas a tight smile before tugging Holly to the side, close enough so she was still with the group but far enough that she could whisper with Holly without everyone else hearing.

Lucas and Nathan had started talking about something or the other while Peyton and Brooke continued their own conversation. Glancing around the room Haley turned to Holly, her voice quiet. "Everyone is here."

"I know. You have so much support Haley. They all love you so much." Holly told her, not hearing the desperation in Haley's voice.

"No, this is bad. I don't want them here. Especially Nathan. And Dan...and Karen, Keith, Lucas. I just. I could deal with having Peyton and Brooke, and you obviously. But, I just..."

"Don't want them to hear what happened. The details of it."

"Exactly. And plus, it's like after they know, like really know, it's all real again."

"Well, do you want me to say something?" Holly offered, speaking more hushed as the group settled, Nathan turning to find Haley.

"Like what. Thanks for coming but you're all going to have to stay out here. In all honesty, Haley doesn't want you in the court room?" Haley suggested sarcastically.

"Whatever you want." Holly smiled sympathetically.

"You okay?" Nathan asked, reaching to lace his hand with Haley's.

"Yep." Haley offered, her voice giving away how she was really feeling.

"Nice try Haley." Peyton laughed. "You'll be okay."

"Yea, and we're all here for you." Brooke finished.

"Thanks guys." Haley forced a smile, that's what she was afraid of.

The group was let into the court room a few minutes after Haley's arrival. Taking up the first row Haley sat between Holly and Nathan right by the aisle. As time went by more people arrived in the room, soon followed by the jury, lawyers and then Billy. The entrance of Billy cause Haley to stiffen and if possible become more tense then she already was. Finally the arrival of the judge was announced as the room stood and the trial proceeded.

"Mrs. Scott, you could please tell the court what happened that night." Billy's lawyer requested as the court room became deafly silent. Haley shifted in her seat at the witness stand. She had pledged to 'tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth' and had no intentions of doing otherwise. It was telling the truth that was making her panic, making her sweat.

"I was with my friends at Pickerington High, we were cheerleaders for the Raven's. We were in the hallway when he passed us and said that he uh, 'felt like raven'." Haley started, already feeling guilty, nauseous and dirty. "We laughed it off before going to change for the game. Towards the end of the game I had to go to the bathroom so I told Brooke I was going."

"I'm sorry and who is Brooke?" The lawyer asked, interrupting Haley who was already having a hard time.

"Her. She's my roommate and captain of the squad." Haley told him in a small voice, shyly pointing to Brooke who sat proudly between Lucas and Peyton.

"Alright. Continue."

"Um, I didn't know where the bathrooms were so I was wandering the halls trying to find it. He told me he would show me where they were. I just needed a bathroom." Haley stressed as she let her tears finally fall.

Her support group of family and friends watched and listened in horror, this being the first time any of them had heard Haley speak of what had happened in detail.

"Son of a bitch." Nathan muttered angrily towards Billy while Haley paused to recollect herself.

"Nathan." Holly warned. She knew it must be hard for him to hear what happened and to see Haley hurt and crying with nothing he could do, but she also knew he had a temper and he needed to keep control through out the trial.

"Sorry." Haley's voice cracked through the microphone, ready to continue. "I told him I remembered where the bathroom's were and I didn't need his help anymore but he, he said that I was lying and that he made me nervous and that, and that he, he liked it. That's when he pushed me into an empty classroom." Haley stumbled through her words, showing more strength then when she had first started, but still she paused a moment before continuing. "I asked him what he was doing and he said something about it not being fair that we cheerleaders get to come into the gym and do our thing and then we go home with our team. He cornered me when I tried to back away and said that it was time he got a taste of a Raven…"

"Mrs. Scott?" The judge spoke after a long silence from Haley. He knew what must be coming next, the actual rape. He didn't agree with making these girls repeat and relive the event, but it wasn't up to him.

"Um, then he, he groped me while pulling me to his body and he kissed me. I screamed for help and tried to push him off but I couldn't, he was stronger than me." Haley paused, keeping her eyes averted to her hands which were clamped in her lap. "He started to suck on my neck and held me still with his body and arm while the he used his hand to pull down my underwear. I kept yelling but there was no one in the halls, we were the only ones not in the gym." Tears were again falling freely, she knew what she had to explain next. Swallowing hard she continued. "He lifted me on the desk then pushed me on my back. I, I tried kicking him and cried for him to stop but he, he just moved my legs and then held me down with one arm."

The girls of Haley's line of support were in tears, the guys close to, as every word Haley spoke sliced through their heart. This wasn't fair.

"Then he, then he entered me" Haley whispered, barely audible and the judge shot a look to Billy's lawyer, daring him to ask her to repeat that. "He just kept going even though I was sobbing and in pain, he moaned something and grabbed my chest and told me not to fight it. Then he came and grabbed my chest again. He, he said something…but I, I don't remember what he said. But then he pushed me off the desk and left." Haley finished, allowing a sob to escape, quickly bringing her hands to cover her face as she broke down in hysterics.

Everyone sat and watched in tears. Lucas gripped Nathan's shoulder as Holly held his hand. Everyone sat in a chain of linked hands and white knuckles, even Dan was beside himself with anger present in his eyes.

Finally unable to sit in the pew Nathan got up and tried to go to Haley, guards stopping him and the judge calling a recess to which Haley was left sobbing in the witness stand, an officer having to lead her down the steps and to her family.

Nathan immediately embraced her as she continued to cry, the rest of the court room watching in sympathy. Slowly Haley's sobs quieted to a steady cry, muffled by Nathan's chest.

Breaking apart the couple Haley's lawyer told the group that Haley was free to go home. That her statement was strong and detailed enough, the rest could be taken care of without her presence.

"You ready to go home?" Nathan asked Haley quietly, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"Yea." Haley sniffled, removing herself from his embrace while wiping her face with her hands.

"You did great Haley." Holly assured as she linked arms with the distraught girl who in turn rested her head on Holly's shoulder.

"What do you feel like doing?" Brooke asked carefully, Nathan, Lucas and Peyton standing by.

"Um, actually. I was thinking of going over to Holly's." Haley answered, averting her eyes as she lifted her head from Holly's shoulder.

"Oh, okay."

"I'm sorry. Just, she's been here you know." Haley sighed, still using the back of her hand to wipe away the still flowing tears.

"No, of course. Do what you gotta do." Peyton assured as no one else seemed to have a voice.

"Thank you." Haley answered shyly, aware of the hurt she had just caused everyone, this was exactly why her only confidant right now was Holly.

"We'll see you guys later." Holly offered. No one said anything, just slightly nodded their heads in response.

"Karen could you, could you give us a ride to Holly's?" Haley asked tiredly after her and Holly silently left the group.