Chapter 11

A couple of weeks later Joanne sat in her office working hard on her case for Maureen. It was the night before the big day, and she wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She found out through one of her coworkers that Mr. Johnson had found a lawyer, one who was top of his firm. But that didn't discourage Joanne at all, after all she was doing this for the love of her life, and nothing would get in her way if it involved Maureen's safety.

Joanne arrived home late that night, heading straight for the living room where she found Maureen, Collins and Angel watching a movie together.

"Pookie." Maureen smiled brightly. "You're home."

Joanne walked over placing a small kiss on Maureen's lips, before taking a seat on the armrest next to her girlfriend. "Hey." Her eyes then shifted towards her two friends. "Hey guys."

"Hi Joanne, how was work?" Angel asked.

"Long." Joanne said while she stretched her back and neck out, her body jolting a little when she felt Maureen's dainty hand massaging her knotted back. Joanne smiled and ran her hand through her girlfriend's hair, noticing Maureen was a little spaced out.

"How's the case?" Collins eagerly asked. "Are you ready for tomorrow? Are you going to be able to put him behind bars right?"

Joanne sighed. "It's good. I just hope we have enough proof so that it turns out he's guilty. I mean we do have three people going up on the stand for us…four counting Maureen, but you never know what the other side is going to pull…" her eyes then focused on Maureen who was in her own little world, playing with the ends of her hair, her eyes glued to the TV. "And you never know how the victim is going to act…"

"So who's on our side?" Angel asked.

Joanne let out a breath before answering. "Her grandmother, her uncle, and Benny…"

"That's good." Collins said. "Plus the pictures of her injuries from the night he attacked her…" He trailed as he watched Joanne's face fall. "That should be enough…right?"

Joanne shrugged. "It should be…but…I still can't help but wonder why her mother never called me back. Even after I talked to her, and told her he was trying to do those things to her again, she still doesn't make the effort to be there for her daughter."

"It's okay Joanne." Angel kindly said. "As long as you're there, and she has all of us too."

"I know…" Joanne said once more focusing her attention on Maureen. "But it's her own mother…"

Later that night after Collins and Angel left, Maureen and Joanne got ready for bed. Maureen was the first one ready, and was lying under the covers, her eyes watching as Joanne emerged from the bathroom.

Joanne felt a pair of eyes on her, so she turned to face them giving Maureen a smile. "You ready for tomorrow?"

Maureen shrugged. "I'm a little nervous…"

"You'll do fine." Joanne said while climbing into bed next to her. "Just think of it as one of your protest, and picture the jury as if they are people from the East Village."

Maureen watched her fingers play with her hair, avoiding eye contact with Joanne. "It's not that I'm nervous about. I'm scared to see him again…"

"Oh baby…" Joanne said while wrapping an arm around Maureen. "He wont be able to hurt you…there will be police there, and I'll be there, and Collins…and Roger."

"I know…but seeing him there, and being in the same room as him, it will give me flashbacks…I don't think I'll be able to get through it Joanne." Maureen sniffled, and then huffed while furiously whipping away the stray tears. "Here I go fucking crying again!"

"Don't worry about." Joanne replied, and pulled Maureen closer. "We're all going to be there, you have support with you, you can do this Maureen."

Maureen nodded, her arms tightly wrapping around Joanne. "Is my mom coming?"

Joanne's heart melted at the question. "Um…she hasn't called me back yet…"

"No surprise there." Maureen bitterly replied, and then looked up towards the lawyer. "You really think I can do this though?"

"I don't think…I know you can do this." Joanne replied, and gave Maureen a quick kiss.

Before Joanne could pull away, Maureen's hands tangled in her hair holding her in place so she could deepen the kiss. Joanne greatly accepted. Her hand then unconsciously traveled up Maureen's shirt, causing Maureen to jump away.

"I can't!" Maureen said with fret, her body slightly shaking. "Sorry…"

"It's okay…" Joanne said. "It was my fault, you've been through a lot, I shouldn't have gone further."

"It's not your fault; you're just trying to be a good girlfriend." Maureen said. "I can't even be a good girlfriend back…all you do is devote your time to me, and I can't even repay you!"

"Maureen…I don't need you to pay me back with sex, all I need to know is that you're safe." Joanne stated, and ran the back of her fingers down her cheek. "I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to you…"

Maureen smiled before lunging into Joanne's arms, her crying face hiding on Joanne's chest. "Hold me?"

"I wouldn't dream of letting go." Joanne said, and held Maureen tighter.

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I know the last two chapters have been slow...but don't worry, the next chapter is going to be the trial.

Also, I don't know why, but in the last chapter I put that it was chapter 20...when really it was only chapter 10...so excuse the typo...i was kind of out of it...