The trial was not going well. The past few days were focused on the testimonies of Ray, Maya, and Libby. Libby's testimony was especially important for the plaintiff, but Morgen's lawyer tore her to shreds and reduced her to a blubbering mess on the stand.

Kai was the first of the ninja to take the stand- and on his birthday no less. He gave a clear explanation for what happened to Cole, but Morgen's lawyer was prepared. He poked holes in Kai's story left and right until even Kai wasn't sure what he was saying anymore. Zane, Jay, and Nya all had similar experiences on the stand. Lloyd faired the best out of the group, but Morgen's lawyer made him admit he and the ninja were not the police and they had no legal right to capture Morgen.

The weekend provided a much needed break. No one really felt like doing much of anything. Nikki went over to Cole's house after lunch and found him sitting in his backyard, leaning against the house.

"Hey," Nikki said as she sat down next to him.

"Hi." Cole tried to smile, but even the sight of Nikki couldn't cheer him up.

"I think your dad hates me."

"Why? What did he do?"

"He just kind of glared at me as I walked through the house. Your grandfather told me you were out here, but I think your dad wanted me to leave."

"Oh. Dad doesn't hate you. He's just tense because of everything going on right now. He really does like you. He wants to take us out to dinner one night after this is all over."

"Really?" Nikki asked as she sat down on the ground next to him.

"Yes. Things should go back to normal once this is over."

Nikki leaned against Cole. He put his arm around her. As much as she hated physical touch, she knew he needed a hug. They sat in silence for a while. She knew he was thinking about the trial. The sympathetic angle concocted by Morgen's lawyer seemed to be working on the jury, and it would take a miracle to convict Morgen. She wished she knew what to say so make him feel better.

"This is never going to end," Cole mumbled after a while.

"Yes, it will. The trial can't go on forever. And most people have testified, right?"

"Yeah, but I haven't. I don't know if I can. Libby was her prisoner for eighteen years, and her lawyer ate her up. What's he going to do to me? I was in a coma for three months because of her, and he's going to try and convince the jury she didn't mean to put me in a coma. Which I guess is technically true, since she meant to kill me."

"Then tell them that."

"There's no evidence she actually tried to kill me. Dad's account of what happened when I was a baby isn't relevant anymore. Too much time has passed, there were no witnesses. I think they think he's making the whole thing up. I bet her lawyer will convince the jury he's making it up. And my friends, well you heard what the lawyer called them."

Some movement out of the corner of her eye caught Nikki's attention.

"Cole?" Nikki tensed up.

"And Morgen's not going to testify at all, because she might incriminate herself. Heaven forbid she admits what she did to me. No, she's going to walk free. I can see it now."

"Cole?"

"Huh?"

"… That rock is moving by itself." Nikki pointed to a rock. Cole looked at it, but it wasn't moving at all. He put his hand out and tried to will it to move, but it refused to budge.

"Are you sure you saw it moving?" Cole asked.

"Yes! It was freaky!"

Cole tried again, but it still refused to move. He sighed and looked at her.

"I swear it was moving by itself!"

"Okay," Cole whispered,

"I know what I saw! I'm not crazy!"

"I never said you were."

Nikki looked away and wiped away some tears. Cole put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry. It's just… You know how I'm adopted?" Nikki asked, hugging her knees.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I lived with my birth parents for way longer than I should've because they convinced people I was making everything up. They said I was a little kid with an overactive imagination and I didn't know what I was talking about. To this day, whenever I see them, they try and convince me that I had it all wrong. I know I'm not crazy, but they sure make me feel it sometimes. I mean, no sane person is scared to death of being trapped in a room with one or both of their parents."

"No," Cole agreed.

"It's like you said, they don't deserve my attention and I shouldn't give it to them."

"When did I say that?"

"Before group therapy with Dr. Mesda. But you're right. My parents don't deserve my attention and Morgen doesn't deserve your attention."

"It's hard to ignore her and what she did to me. Every time I see her, I just want to… ugh!" Cole slammed his fist on the ground. A nearby pebble flipped over. Cole raised an eyebrow and looked at Nikki.

"Told you rocks were moving on their own."