Part 16

Caitlin watched as the other women left after the meeting. She felt better knowing that she wasn't the only one going through this. That it was possible to move on. She was lost in thought and didn't notice that Joan Allen had pulled up a chair across from her.

"Caitlin, it really does get better." Said Joan softly.

"You sound like you are speaking from experience."

"I am. I was in college when I was raped. Barry doesn't know. Jay, Henry and Nora do. It was a boy on the football team. I was a freshman and a bit lost. It was my first time away from home for more than a couple days. I was studying at the library one night and he came over to me. I knew who he was. While I didn't follow sports very much, everyone pretty much knew who the starting quarterback was. We talked for a little bit. He offered to give me a ride back to my dorm. I didn't see any harm in it. You know they say hindsight is 20/20. Oh he took me back to my dorm. But before we reached it he forced me into the back of his van and raped me. Nora was my roommate, she is the one that got me to report it. It started a chain reaction. A dozen other young women came forward after that. It turned out he had been doing what he done to me almost since he arrived on campus two years earlier. People found out who I was and I was the least popular student on campus. He went to prison, on multiple counts of rape. I met Jay a couple weeks after it happened. I didn't trust him."

"Jay, like every member of the Allen family I met is the kindest person I have ever met."

"That is true. But you must remember that my trust was broken at that point, much like yours has been."

"I still trust Barry."

"You have also known my nephew for a very long time."

"True."

"Now Jay, knew who I was and what happened. He understood that I couldn't trust him. Now back then there were many sexual assaults happening on college campuses across the country. In 1976 a non-profit organization was founded called Take back the night. It's goal is to end sexual violence world wide. Jay only had come up to me to give me a flyer. He and a group of his friends including Henry were organizing a Take back the night rally on campus. I ended up going. Very slowly I started to get to know Jay. You know the rest."

"You fell in love with him."

"Though I get the feeling that you have already found the man who will always love you no matter what. Caitlin, talk about what you are feeling with Barry."

"I'm scared. Not that he will reject me. That I will never be able to be with him fully."

"Honey, you trust Barry right?"

Caitlin just nodded. Joan smiled and took the younger woman's hand.

"Then trust that Barry will take whatever you are able to give him when you can. He has been by your side since he learned what happened to you right?"

"Yes and been a complete gentleman the whole time."

"Caitlin, Barry would never be anything but a gentleman with you."

"I know. Thanks for talking with me Joan. I should go. Barry is waiting for me."

Caitlin got up and walked out to find Barry waiting for her.

"Iris texted me. She is going to bring take out from that Mexican restaurant you like. So we should head back to your place." Said Barry

"Ok. Barry we will have to talk at some point. I heard what you said last night. When you covered me with a blanket."

"Cait, I will not take it back. I understand if you don't feel the same way."

"We will talk later ok Bare?"

Barry nodded and the two of them headed home.

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He was only known to most other prisoners of Iron Heights as Big Sir. He was currently serving time for robbery and assault. He had done a number of things bad and deserved to pay for his crimes. But there was one line he had never and never would cross. You don't hurt kids or women. Not by beating on them or raping them. So when the guards said something about the guy that was brought in waiting trial for not only beating but raping a young woman it got his attention. He signaled two of the prisoners that he played cards with they followed him. They found Hunter Zolomon in his cell. The two men that had followed Big Sir grabbed Zolomon and held him.

"I hear you like beating on ladies. That you like to take something that you got no right to." Said Big Sir

"What's it to you? Bitches need to learn that men are the ones in charge. That they got to do what we say." Said Zolomon

"You are an idiot."

Big Sir punched Hunter hard in the stomach. Then in the face. The beating went on for nearly ten minutes before the guards stopped it. Hunter was taken to be treated in the infirmary while Big Sir was sent to solitary confinement for the next two days. That was not the only time that Hunter faced prison justice. The worst was when two convicted murderers stabbed him in the prison yard.

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Caitlin was just coming out of her bedroom after changing into sweats and a t-shirt when there was a knock on the door. Barry opened it letting Iris in. The three of them sat down to eat together.

"How are you doing Caitlin?" asked Iris

"Been better. But I am getting there." Said Caitlin

"You know all of us are here for you." Said Iris

"I know. Thank you."

Iris looked at Barry noticing how he was watching Caitlin. She knew how much both cared for each other. But neither was going to admit it. Besides right now Caitlin had been broken. It was easy to fix someone who was just physically broken. But emotionally and mentally broken like Caitlin is, was a different story all together. The only thing that was going to put the pieces back together was time, and even then Caitlin was never going to be the same. She was going to have cracks that will never fully heal.