Savior

Chapter 95

-xx-

Cate paced the small bit of open space she had in the hallway of the court room. Derek sat next to her on the bench, trying his best to take her mind off of the situation at hand.

She had asked the lawyers if she could stay in the hallway until they needed her, and they obliged. One even said he was going to suggest it.

Her ponytail swung behind her with every turn she would take as she started back on her route. Her short kitten heels echoed through the hallway with every step she took.

Cate knew her father and brothers were in the courtroom. Her mother and sister were currently in the bathroom, but were by her side as she stepped in to the courthouse that morning. Her mother was not going to step foot in to the courtroom until Cate did. Jackie was in and out for most of the morning.

"Catie," Derek said softly, trying to break her pattern. She barely looked in his direction. "Hey," he tried once more.

He watched as she counted the long breaths she took. She ran her hands over the front of her pencil skirt once more, trying her best to keep calm. Long, steady breaths, she mused to herself.

"Cate," Derek said just a bit more sternly than before. Her eyes flashed towards him when she heard her name.

It wasn't until she turned to start back in the opposite direction that she slowed her pace. Derek stood and took a stance in front of his fiancée. He placed a hand to her hip and one to her chin to tilt her head up to look at him.

"You don't have to do this," he reminded her. "The evidence is strong enough."

She swallowed the growing lump in her throat. "I know," she answered meekly. "But I'm nailing this case shut."

The justification in her voice caught him off guard, but also filled him with a sense of pride. Her strength was evident as she held herself together in front of him. He knew she was so close to breaking down, but whenever she would feel the emotion begin to take over she would jut out her chin and lift her head. Her shoulders would relax back and she would continue her pace in the hallway.

"Hey," he muttered softly. "I will be with you the entire time."

She nodded. "I know," she repeated. Her hands clasp in front of her as she played with the diamond ring adorning her left hand.

Those vibrant blue eyes bore through him. Derek ran his hands over her arms as she tugged on the bottom of her blazer to straighten it out. "What do you need me to do?"

Her lips curled in to a small smile; he was so out of his element. Derek was usually the strong one, and in situations like this he was the voice in the courtroom. He would deliver his testimony on behalf of the FBI and the BAU, but Hotch informed him that he could not take the stand.

"You're doing everything I need," she said, silently pointing out that she just needed his presence. It was enough to keep her nerves down. "I just want to get this over with."

"Soon enough, baby," Derek said cautiously. "It shouldn't be too much longer."

She pursed her lips as she rested her forehead against Derek's chest. He wrapped his arms around the petite brunette and pulled her as close to him as possible.

"Miss Johnson," the two turned towards the voice in the doorway. Cate looked down the hall and could see her mother and sister rushing around the other people in the hallway.

-xx-

Cate sat on the marble bench outside of the courthouse and forced herself to take deep breaths. She was crouched over with her head almost between her knees as she tried her best to not break down right there.

Derek sat next to her rubbing her back. He was not pushing her and let her take all the time she needed.

Cate tried her best to force her eyes away from the photos of her after her attack but it was harder with every second she sat in the seat. Her fingers repeatedly snapped the hair elastic around her wrist as she could feel the gaze coming from Jade as the woman sat across from her.

Her lips were dry. Her hands were shaking and sweating. She was overheating in the blazer.

Every once in a while, she would catch the smirk crossing Jade's lips, but she would look past the blonde to her mother and brother sitting behind her. Her husband sat next to them; he spent most of the time with his head in his hands and bowed down.

"You were friends with Jade Jenkins previously?"

Cate's eyes shot up towards her lawyer. "That's correct," she answered. "I previously dated Mrs. Jenkins' older brother, and we developed a friendship over that time."

"And how were things when that relationship ended?"

Cate pursed her lips. "I cut off all contact with the Hanson family," she replied. "I was going through some things physically, and the added stress of ending that relationship and the reaction from his family was not helping my recovery."

Cate locked eyes with Derek across the courtroom; he nodded and offered her a small smile. "When did you get back in contact with Mrs. Jenkins?"

"Almost two months ago," she answered as she licked her lips. "I was out to lunch and working on my computer. Jade stopped by my table to say hello."

She had to constantly remind herself to keep her eyes on her lawyer and not on the blonde sitting smugly behind the table. "And what happened after that?"

"Jade said she wanted to meet up," Cate said with a roll of her eyes. "I honestly missed that friendship so much that I did not think twice and I gave her my card. I didn't expect her to actually text me."

"So you two met up?"

Cate nodded. "That's right," she began. "We met for drinks at her uncle's bar. It was where we used to go all the time."

"Can you tell us what happened that night?"

Cate felt her heart sink at the question. She was going to have to go over what happened that night.

Her breath caught in her throat as she snapped away at the hair elastic once more.

Her jacket had been shed the second she stormed out of the courtroom. She did not give up her stride until she made it outside and the fresh air hit her in the face.

The sobs coming out of her mother in court almost sent her over the edge, but she remembered to relax her shoulders and take a deep breath. Recounting that night was as tough as she expected but doing so in front of her family took the wind out of her sails.

The looks on the faces of her mother and sister caused her to stop her in her tracks a few times.

As soon as she was able to step down, she made sure to walk past Jade with her head held high. She stepped through the gate where Derek stood waiting for her. He had to keep up with her as she bee-lined out of the courtroom. Even the staircase was no challenge for how quickly she wanted to get out of the building.

"I want to go home," she squeaked out as she turned towards Derek.

There was no hesitation; he stood from his seat and extended his hand to help her stand. She released a deep breath as she stood firmly on her own two feet.

With one last glance back at the courthouse, she started to descend the staircase.

-xx-