Author's note: This next one is kinda long, but there is a reason for that. I'd like to give a big shout-out to my tech teacher, Potts, for letting me use his name in this chapter. Dude, you seriously rock!

"This court will come to order. Honorable Judge Arthur Potts presiding." The judge was young, in his twenties and maybe a year older than Roger. "All parties present? I understand this is a civil assault dispute. Prosecution Roger Davis, attorney Joanne Jefferson?"

"Present, your Honor."

"Defense Allison Grey, attorney Abraham Farrelburg?"

"Your honor, we move to dismiss Mr. Davis' claims."

"You'll have your chance to speak. Ms. Jefferson, present your case."

"Yes your Honor." Joanne glanced at Roger, then began. "At precisely seven am on December 26, 1991, my client received a visit from his mother. He has never gotten along with his mother previously, and this was no different. Three days later, and December 29, Roger received a phone call telling him to come to the Performance Space, where Maureen Johnson stages her protests. This was approximately ten am. Upon arrival…"

"Objection, your Honor. Relevance?"

"Overruled." Judge Potts looked at Joanne. "Continue."

"Yes, your Honor. Upon arrival, my client found only his mother waiting. He was then knocked out, kidnapped, and taken to Ms. Grey's house, where he was illegally detained for four days. He was beaten, starved, and denied medication he severely needed."

"Medication?"

"Yes, your Honor." Roger nodded. "Joanne and I would like it entered into the record that I am HIV positive, and have been aware of being so for five years."

"Entered. Mr. Farrelburg, your rebuttal?"

"Your Honor, while Ms. Grey does not deny her involvement in Mr. Davis' imprisonment, his claims of assault are simply absurd. He was not starved-he refused to eat-and no one ever laid a finger on him. As for this 'medication,' she was never informed of Mr. Davis' unfortunate condition, which, is, may I add, his own fault."

Judge Potts nodded. "Ms. Jefferson, call your witness."

"Your Honor, I'd like to call Roger Davis to the stand."

Roger stood, heading for the seat next the judge. Speaking the oath, he looked at Joanne. She smiled encouragingly. "Mr. Davis, in your own words, please describe your ordeal."

"Well, I don't remember much. I was pretty out of it. But I do remember that Allison Grey never personally laid a hand on me. She instructed the servants guarding me to beat me."

"And how did you escape?"

"On the fourth day, Ms. Grey instructed that I be moved to a different, 'more comfortable' room. Inside the room there was a phone. I was informed that it was for emergencies, should I need Ms. Grey to bring me anything. I was also told that the number for my apartment had been disconnected from this particular phone. I used the phone to contact Maureen Johnson. She had Benjamin Coffin, Ms. Grey's husband of the time, call me back. He helped me plan my escape. After I spoke with him, my memory is a bit fuzzy. You'd have to ask Benny for the details."

"Your Honor, I have no further questions for Mr. Davis."

"Very well. Mr. Farrelburg, please cross."

"Yes, your Honor. Mr. Davis, you mentioned that Ms. Grey was 'denying' you medication for HIV/AIDS. Please elaborate for the courts how you cam to be diagnosed with such a disease."

"What does it have to do with the trial?"

"Mr. Davis, please answer the question." Judge Potts looked thoughtful. "However, it will be stricken from the records."

"Yes, your Honor. When I was younger, I did drugs. Heroin, mostly, but a bit of hash here and there. April-my girlfriend of the time-got herself tested, and she was positive. Obviously…"

"Describe your relationship with your mother growing up?"

"Not good. We didn't get along."

"Mr. Davis, you have a family, right?"

"Yes, my fiancée and our daughter."

"And you owe Ms. Grey rent money? Forty-two thousand dollars, I believe?"

"Half true. My roommates and I owe Benjamin Coffin fourteen thousand in rent, but we don't owe Ms. Grey a penny."

"Yet she claims you do. You have no job. How do you plan to pay the money you owe?"

"I'm working on that."

"Is it true that you once offered to pay Ms. Grey in…shall we say, 'favors'?"

"No! Even had that thought ever crossed my mind, I'd have to have been drunk to offer."

"Are you sure this 'ordeal' you claim to have been through happened, Mr. Davis?"

"Considering that I have the doctor's reports and scars to prove it, yes."

"No further questions, your Honor."

"Very well." Judge Potts looked at Roger. "Mr. Davis, you may step down. Ms. Jefferson, call your next witness."

"Yes, your Honor. I'd like to call Mark Cohen to the stand."

Mark took Roger's place next to the judge. He muttered the oath. Joanne smiled at him. "Mr. Cohen, how long have you known Roger?"

"Years. Our entire life."

"And can you describe his relationship with Charlene Davis?"

"Strained at best."
"Why do you think that was?"

"Couldn't tell you."

"What would you say Charlene Davis' motivation for kidnapping her son might have been?"

"Spite, anger, money…possibly even revenge."

"Revenge?"

"Yes, on Jeremiah Davis, Roger's father."

"Thank you, Mark. Your Honor, I'd like to call another witness, and recall Mr. Cohen at a later time."

"I'll allow it. Mr. Cohen, please sit down."

Joanne nodded. "Thank you, your Honor. I'd like to call Firefly Davis to the stand."

Firefly took the stand. Joanne nodded. "Firefly, you are Roger's sister?"

"Correct."

"And how long have you known Roger?"

"A year today."

"Why do you think Charlene Davis would have wanted revenge on Jeremiah Davis?"

"Because of me. Jeremiah Davis took me from my mother when I was a baby. I was told that she died."

"And did you ever have the chance to meet Charlene Davis?"

"No, she really did die before I had that chance."

Joanne nodded, turning back to Roger. "Do you care if Farrelburg crosses?"

"If I did, would she be on the stand at all?"

"Okay." Joanne turned back to Judge Potts. "No further questions."

Farrelburg stood. "Your Honor, Ms. Grey has requested that we ask Mr. Davis' permission to cross his sister, as she has just recently turned eighteen?"

"Be my guest." Roger nodded. "She wouldn't be up there if I cared if you cross-examine."

"Thank you. So, Miss Davis, I gather that you did not know Roger at the time this incident was said to have occurred?"

"No, I didn't. But I believe him."

"Yes. How did you meet Roger?"

"Through Mark. He and I have been dating for a little over a year."
"And you were seventeen when you met Mark and Roger?"

"Objection." Joanne stood up. "Mr. Farrelburg is implying a claim of statutory, which has no place in this trial and no grounds to stand on."

"Sustained."

"No further questions." Farrelburg sat down.

"Step down, Miss Davis. Ms. Jefferson, please…Are you alright, Mr. Davis?"

Everyone glanced at Roger. Firefly frowned. "Rog? You look kinda shaky."

"I'll be fine. I probably need to eat."

"Alright. This court is in recess. It is just now twelve-thirty. This court will reconvene at two-thirty sharp. Court dismissed."

Mimi placed her arm around Roger. "Did you take your pill?"

"Not yet, I'll take it with lunch."

"Okay." Mimi smiled. "What're you hungry for?"

"How about…" Roger thought a moment. "Cajun food?"

Joanne smiled. "Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory? I'll pay."

"Sounds good."

On his way back to the courthouse, Benny was forced to pull the Range Rover off to the side. An ambulance blocked the road, and paramedics stood at the courthouse door. He clambered out of the car, looking for his friends. He spotted Mimi, Mark, Firefly, and Maureen off to the side. Firefly was holding Mark tightly, and Mimi had her fist in her mouth. She glanced up, spotting Benny and rushing to his side. He wrapped her in a hug. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him, and he could see that her face was streaked with tears. "It's awful, Benny."

"What happened?"

Maureen looked over at him. "It's Roger, Benny. He just…he collapsed again."

Benny's jaw dropped. "What?"

Maureen nodded. "I think…" She broke off.

The paramedic looked over at Mimi. "I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Marquez. He's too far gone now. The best anyone can do is make sure he's comfortable."

Mimi looked down, and Benny nodded. "We'd like to take him home, then. He can be with his family when it happens."

"Of course."

Benny and Maureen loaded Roger into the backseat of the Range Rover. Maureen smiled softly. "Well, at least now Angel can have some company."