It was now the end of April, the trial was on the 29th which was two days away and Adam was out on bail. Tessa was taking online classes through her school and was staying in Chicago with Emery. She recently found out that she was having a little girl which made Emery excited. The girls went to every court date with Erin and although Emery worried about her friend having to testify she knew Tessa could handle it.

"Girls can you come in here please?" Erin yelled from the kitchen.

The girls came into the kitchen and Emery became instantly excited.

"Olivia what are you doing here?" She asks giving her a hug.

"I came to help prepare Tessa for the trial. Your mom called me when she first found out about all of this. I've been giving her some advice."

"Tessa meet Sergeant Olivia Benson, she is in the SVU unit in New York. She's dealt with victims for many years she can help you."

Tessa shakes Olivia's hand and then they walked to the table and sat down.

"Ok I'm heading to work."

"Mom can I come with you I think they need some time alone."

"Sure thing come on.

Erin and Emery spent most of the day at the precinct doing paper work and then headed home. When they got there Emery was surprised to see a real smile across her best friends face. Erin pulls Olivia into the kitchen and they talk while the two girls go upstairs.

"What did you say to her I haven't seen her smile like that since her dad came home."

"I got her to realize that none of it was her fault. That there are options if she doesn't want to keep the baby but if she does she has a great support system. She is ready for the trial I told her the things that his lawyer is probably going to pull and then went over how to stay calm."

"I can't thank you enough."

"It's no problem at all."

The next two days flew by. The trial started at one that day so they all piled in the car and left for Henry around nine that morning. They hung out at Tessa's house until it was time to head to the courthouse in Lacon.

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

The opening arguments Were intense from both sides. Emery and Tessa both had tears in there eyes and were squeezing each others hands tightly. Erin had her arm around her daughter and Laura was holding on to hers tightly. They started calling people to the stand, character witnesses for Adam, witnesses, and then the investigators. Emery was finally put on the stand and was more nervous then she ever thought she would be.

"Miss. Lindsay, please explain to the courtroom your process in assisting in this investigation?"

"My grandfather and his whole intelligence team helped me. I just got online and looked for all the videos and photos I could. I also analyzed all the reports and compiled it so my grandfather and Chief Maurer could review my findings. While investigating I took myself out of the equation. I was very objective. I wasn't a friend when I looked into the case, I was being the detective I want to become. "

" Thank you."

Then it was the defense's turn.

"Is it true you both were drinking at the party?"

"Yes, we were but..."

"Is it true your family has drug abuse problems?" She says cutting her off.

"My mother use too."

"So is it safe to say you are following in your mothers footsteps."

"Objection. Speculation." The prosecutor says.

"Sustained."

"You are still currently enrolled in the police academy correct?"

"Yes, I graduate in June."

"So you are not a detective?"

"No I am not."

"Then why did you grandfather let you investigate a case that was out of his jurisdiction?"

"He knew I would find what was needed to make a case."

"But how do we know that this information is real?"

"Our computer analyst made sure that nothing in the photos or videos were tampered with. They are all authentic."

"But that police squad is family to you how do we know the report isn't fabricated."

"Tessa is my best friend and Adam was our best friend when we were little I wouldn't not do anything to jeprodize Tessa's case against him when I know the both of them. I don't want to be here doing this and neither does she but he did something wrong and deserves to pay for what he did."

"I have nothing else for this witness."

After Emery it was the doctor who told them all about how bad the scarring was. Also that in her medical opinion there was no doubt that the girl was raped at the time period she said. She wasn't on the stand very long at all. The last to testify was Tessa. Emery cringed at every question the defense asked. She wanted to scream at him for the way he was treating Tessa but Erin had a hold of her whispering in her ear ever so often.

"Did you purposely get pregnant?"

"No he forced himself on me and now here we are. I had a life. I was in school. I don't even want to have this baby but it's happening and it isn't her fault. It's his."

"But the two of you are dating correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you ever tell him no?"

"I was unconscious."

"Did you ask your friend and her family to look into the case?"

"No but they are like my family so..."

"Why didn't you tell anyone after it happened?"

"I told Emery..."

"Sorry, let me rephrase. Why didn't you tell someone such as a cop or doctor?"

"Because I was scared. I knew how well known his family was and didn't think anyone would take me seriously."

"But you didn't seek medical attention either?"

"No, we went to the drug store and got the morning after pill but it didn't work."

"You're having a girl, correct?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to let her around her father?"

Tessa sat on the stand trying so hard to hold it together. Emery hadn't even thought what would happen if Adam wasn't convicted.

"Liv, what is he talking about?"

"Sadly in some states rapists still have rights to their children. He can take her to court for custody."

Emery's jaw dropped and she couldn't believe that this was happening.

"No. He raped me, he will not be anywhere near her."

"No further questions."

They all sat through the closing arguments and then the jury left the room. Everyone was upset and emotions were high it was already about five. The judge allowed everyone to go home for the night and then it was just playing the waiting game. Tessa went home with her mom. The rest of them stayed at the house Dylan left for Emery. The only furniture that they moved out was from Emery's room. The guest room still had a bed and they had an air mattress from camping.

"I'll take the couch." Liv says.

"Mom, dad you two can have the guest room I'll sleep on the air mattress out here."

"Ok what do you guys say about dinner?"

"I'm not that hungry."

"You have to eat something sweetie. How about some chicken strips from the diner."

"Ok."

After everyone else decided what they wanted Erin called and ordered it. Emery went with her mother to the store and to get the food. She had never felt so much unlike herself. People were staring at her it's no wonder Tessa came to Chicago to stay. In small towns word travels fast and everyone also knows that they are best friends. Most of these people have a family member or them their selves work for Adam's dad.

"Mom can we go please."

"Let me grab one last thing and then we will go."

They hurried through the checkout lane and back to the car. They went to pick up the food and Emery didn't even get out of the car. When they got home she ran inside grabbed her air mattress and headed up the stairs to her old room. Erin came in shortly after with all the bags.

"What happened?"

"Its a small town things get around quickly. Everyone knows Tessa and Emery are best friends but a lot of those people work for Adam's dad. They just stared at her with a look that's hard to describe. She also is worried about Tess having to deal with it because it actually happened to her."

They all three just looked at each other trying to figure out who was going to go talk to her.

"I'll go talk to her." Olivia says.

She headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. There was no answer so she knocked again.

"Emery can I come in."

"Yeah."

"What's going on hun?"

"I heard mom telling you. It's hard you know, we were some of the most successful students in high school. Everyone in town loved us, we volunteered. We were perfect citizens. Now I come back and see how all these people look at me and then I imagine how they look at Tessa. It hurts to see that."

"I've been doing this for a really long time. Never have I done a case in a small town but it's kind of the same when it happens in a business or a school. People don't understand it or don't want to talk about it. You and Tessa are very strong young women and I believe in all your capabilities. This guy is looking at a maximum of twenty years hopefully that's enough time for Tessa to heal."

They sat in silence for awhile just so Emery could process everything.

That night they ate and then all got ready for bed. Emery was so ready to hear the sentencing in the morning. They got to the courthouse at ten that morning they sat around for about two hours and then it was time for lunch. The girls were panicked because they were very worried at about how long the jury was taking. They hardly said anything to anyone at lunch and they didn't eat. Finally at three thirty the verdict was back, the nail biting suspense was finally over.

"In the case of the state Vs Adam Baker on the count of first degree rape we find the defendant guilt." the jury member says. "Everyone is overcome with joy as soon as the read the verdict. "Sentencing will be held at another time. court is adjourned." the judge says. The girls were so happy that he was getting what he finally deserved. The smug look on his face quickly changed as soon as he heard those words come out of the judges mouth. Everyone slept like babies that night, the girls finally had one less thing to worry about but there was still a lot to do especially with a new baby on the way.