Here is the next chapter, only one more to go. Please read and review! Amber

Chapter 29

The sentencing of Juan Garcia had been delayed for six months due to his attorney filing appeals and motions, but today was the day. Brooke was getting dressed in a light green suit with a cream shell. It was June and she was eager to get this out of the way. Her mother came through the door. She looked stunning in a navy blue suit with a light blue shell. She knew that her father was going to meet them at the courthouse. He would be giving an impact statement along with her. She took her mother's hand. "Are you ready to go mom?"

Callie smiled. "Almost. I." She paled. "Oh dear hold on." She hurried to the bathroom.

Brooke could hear her mother get violently ill. She went and held her mother's hair. "Mom are you alright?"

When the sickness passed Callie rinsed her mouth. "I'm fine sweetie, it's just nerves I'm sure."

Brooke wasn't convinced. "Mom, you got sick this morning too. I heard it. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'll be fine. I'll just have George drive us in the limo if you are that worried."

Brooke rolled her eyes. Her mother was stubborn to a fault. They got in the limo and road once again to the courthouse. They ran into Frank on the steps. Frank hurried over to them. "Hello darling." He kissed his wife.

Brooke said. "Daddy mommy should have stayed home. She was sick this morning and again a few minutes ago."

Frank rubbed her arms. "Honey are you alright?"

"I'm fine Frank. We have to get inside."

Joe came up. "Hey guys."

Brooke said. "Uncle Joe will you check mom. She's not feeling well."

Callie scowled. "Oh for heaven's sake. It is just nerves guys. We have to get inside. Your grandparents are waiting."

They went into the courtroom. Fenton gestured to the bench. "I was starting to worry."

Joe clapped him on the back. "We're here dad."

Fenton Hardy was looking at Frank who was looking worriedly at Callie. Callie was rummaging through her purse. She pulled out some lipstick and applied it. She put it back and squeezed Frank's hand. Then she kissed his cheek. "I'm fine."

Joe who was sitting next to his mother said. "We'll see after this sentencing hearing."

Callie did not want to have a disagreement with her family in open court but she was getting dangerously close.

"All rise."

They all stood up. All conversation came to a screeching halt. The bailiff said. "The honorable Marshal Douglas presiding."

The judge sat. "Please be seated. Bring in the offender."

Brooke sucked in her breath when she saw Juan Garcia in orange prison garb, handcuffed, and shackled. Her eyes filled with tears. She curled into her father. Frank put a protective arm around her shoulders. "He can't hurt you pumpkin."

"Mr. Drew this is the second day of impact statements. I understand that you have more to present today."

"I do your honor six more."

Brooke watched as Robin and her father stood up and went to the front. They both spoke for about a minute each. Then the judge spoke directly to Robin. Next was one of the older girls in the plane with her and they're mother. She spoke as well, her voice trembled a bit but she said what she wanted to say. Brooke's mouth started getting dry. She pulled a small bottle of water from her purse and took a quick sip. Her father saw her. He squeezed her hand. They knew they were coming up soon.

Carson Drew called. "I call Brooke Hardy and her father Frank Hardy. Mr. Hardy will speak first."

Frank pulled out his tablet. "Thank you Mr. Drew. Thank you your honor for allowing me to speak. I offer two different perspectives, one as an FBI agent, but my most important role today is that of father. The events that unfolded on April twentieth of 2034 still haunt me today. My child was kidnapped during a school field trip and taken all the way to Mission Texas where the offender lived. For eight whole hours I didn't know where she was. It was the most terrifying moment of my life until I opened a door of the offenders compound and found a grown man raping my daughter. This was all planned and executed by Juan Garcia without him the brothel of young teenagers wouldn't exist. He not only planned the sex trafficking ring, her personally groomed each child by raping them himself. We found 24 girls from the DC area, and more from other areas of the country. We found bones of children in unmarked graves on the property. This man is deplorable, disgusting, and doesn't have any remorse. Give him the maximum penalty. Anything less doesn't give the girls justice. Thank you your honor."

Brooke went up to the microphone. "Your honor, thank you for letting me speak. I cannot put into words the horror that I suffered. I can't imagine what the other girls in the compound suffered. They were all there longer and forced to have sex daily with various clients some were forced to give birth and then back into the sex pool. I only had two clients. That's a small number in comparison to the other girls. But we all have one thing in common: we were forced to give up our innocence."

"There was no hope in that compound, until the day I arrived. The girls didn't know but we were all about to be freed. When I was able to engage my panic button I said out loud. Take that Juan. Because I knew my father and grandfather were going to come rescue us. That knowledge kept me from going into despair. When I was raped it hurt. It was physically painful and mentally heartbreaking. My life changed in an instant after that first penetration. I've been battling with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I tried to end my life nearly nine months ago because the despair I was feeling was so great. Thankfully, I didn't succeed and the hospitalization helped put me on the path to recovery. I can stand here and say that I'm a survivor."

"Your honor this man is a monster . He doesn't deserve to breathe free air after today. What he deserves is to be locked in a cage for the rest of his life. That's the only way I'll feel safe. Knowing that he and the rest of his organization are behind bars. I want to say to the other survivors. If you feel overwhelmed and depressed to seek professional help. There is no shame in that. The only one who should be ashamed is Juan Garcia and the men who raped us. We survived and I will not give Juan Garcia a win by taking my own life. By not living my life to the fullest. I'm going to live a happy life because that is what I deserve. That is what we the survivors deserve. We deserve to live a life of happiness not fear. Juan Garcia must die in prison. Thank you."

Marshal Douglas leaned forward. "Miss Hardy, you are indeed a survivor. Your words were poignant and poised. But I want to say one thing two you. Don't negate what happened to you because some of the other girls had more clients. Your suffering is just as tragic as there's. You are absolutely right this man is a monster. I'm glad that you are choosing to live a happy life. Your recovery will continue for the rest of your life. There is a song I love. It's older but it's called Don't Worry Be Happy. I want that to be your motto in life. I want that to be all the survivors motto in life. God Bless you. Mr. Hardy is your father in the courtroom?"

Frank turned and pointed. Fenton Hardy stood up. The judge said. "Your actions saved the lives of all these girls. Your foresight and your instincts were vital to this case. Your rescue gave these girls hope again, they can live again because of you, your father, and your daughter Frank."

Frank swallowed. "Thank you."

Fenton nodded to the judge. That is when Robin stood up and started clapping. The rest of the courtroom followed suit. Frank waved his hand in a thank you gesture. Those in reach of Fenton shook his hand. The judge even clapped. Then he banged his gavel. The courtroom fell silent.

"Does the offender wish to speak or give a statement."

Juan Garcia stood up. "I have only one thing to say. He wheeled around and glared at Brooke, you will pay for what you've done! You sniveling brat. You and your family better keep looking behind you. I will have revenge."

Frank put his daughter behind him. Fenton in turn stood in front of Frank. He said. "You're finished Garcia, you can't hurt us now. Take your empty threats to prison with you."

The judge banged his gavel. "The offender will remain standing as I render his sentence. Juan Garcia for the 60 charges of kidnapping you will serve a 40 year sentence without the possibility of parole. Those sentences will be served consecutively. For the 17 counts of rape you will serve 15 years each those sentences will be consecutive. For the 60 counts of false imprisonment you will serve 10 years for each count served consecutively. That is the order of this court. Take the offender away."

The courtroom burst into applause again as Juan Garcia was taken out of the courtroom. The bailiff said. "All rise."

They all stood up. Brooke started sobbing. Frank held her tight as Callie stroked her hair. Frank said. "It's over now."

Brooke pulled back grinning. "It is. Can I go to school?"

Frank said. "You sure can. Your grandparents will take you."

Frank had texted George to head back to the house. Frank put an arm around his wife. "Let's take you to be looked at."

Callie bristled. "Frank I'm fine. It was just nerves."

Joe said. "Let me be the judge of that. I'm the doctor, remember."

Callie grumbled the whole way to the ER. Frank ignored it. They got out. Callie signed herself in. Then she called Vanessa. "Our husbands are being worry warts. I got sick this afternoon and this morning and Brooke told them. So we're at VHC. See you in a few more hours."

Frank raised an eyebrow. "Really darling?"

The triage nurse called her name. "Callie Hardy?"

Callie got up. She told the triage nurse what happened. He took her vitals and took her to observation 7. Callie was glad that the room had a door. Another nurse came in. "Mrs. Hardy I'm Jake, I'll be your nurse. Can you put on this gown. I'm going to start an IV because of your vomiting. Callie took the blue gown. Jake stepped out. Callie put on the gown leaving her bra and underwear on. She sat down on the bed. "We should be home. Ford needs us."

"Vanessa's got him. My parents are probably there by now too. It will be okay."

A knock was heard and Joe stepped in. He had his stethoscope around his neck and his new Doctors coat that Callie had given him with his name on it. "Let me take a listen."

Joe listened to Callie's heart and lungs, he helped her lie down and listened to her belly. Then he pressed on the four quadrants. "Any pain or tenderness?"

"No, just nauseated."

"So you do feel nauseous."

Callie slumped her shoulders. "Yes for the last four days. But it was because of the hearing."

"How many times have you thrown up?" Joe asked.

Callie scowling mumbled. "Sixteen times."

Frank cursed. "Christ Callie!"

"Don't lecture me Franklin Davis Hardy."

Joe said. "I'm going to order blood work and give you some fluids and something for nausea. Do you feel dizzy?" Joe was checking her ears.

"Maybe a little but that's because I'm hungry."

Jake came back with a caddy. He pulled out a twenty gage IV. "Let me take a look. Man you're dehydrated. Guess you really need these fluids."

Frank narrowed his eyes. Callie swallowed. "Yes some fluids wouldn't hurt."

Jake put a tourniquet on her left arm. He found a vein and expertly inserted the IV. Then he started her fluids. "Let me see what Dr. Hardy had ordered."

Callie was feeling really sick, she felt weak and her chest was hurting. "I'm going to throw up."

Jake handed her a emesis bag just in time. Callie threw up bile this time. Her stomach was empty. "Ugh. Jake, my chest hurts and I feel weak."

"Dr. Hardy will be in in a moment." He attached leads for a heart monitor to her chest, applied a blood pressure cuff, put her on oxygen, and placed a pulse ox on her earlobe.

Frank rubbed her back. "Are you still mad I brought you?"

"No. I just wanted to get back to Ford. The girls have to be home by now."

Jake came back in. "Any allergies to medications?"

Callie shook her head. "No."

"This is Zofran it's for nausea. Dr. Hardy is checking your electrolytes and other things. Lay back and relax. You'll know something soon."

Frank's phone rang. "Hi Brooke. We're at the ER. Your mom is getting fluids. They're doing blood work. Use the coffee can money and order pizza."

Callie gagged. Just the thought of pizza. Yuck! Callie saw that the fluids were done. Joe came in. "Well the mystery is solved."

Callie raised an eyebrow. "What's your diagnosis?

Joe said. "You're pregnant about eight weeks.."