Disclaimer: Rent was created by Jonathan Larson. Someone else now has the rights to it; I'm not sure who, but not me. I'm only having a bit of fun. Please don't sue me... pretty please?

Roger nibbled on his thumbnail. This was more than a little uncomfortable. He didn't want to do this. Well, he did, but he didn't want to... well... he wanted Robert put away, he just wished he could do it without having to see him again. "Mark?" he whispered.

"I'm here," Mark replied. "I'll be sitting in the front row. If you get nervous, just look at me, OK?" He rubbed Roger's back to soothe him. "You'll do fine. Just tell the truth and know that I'm here for you, no matter what." He reached over and straightened Roger's tie. Roger looked terrified, and Mark couldn't help but feel nervous himself.

Roger shifted closer and rested against Mark, trying to just focus on breathing. Mark was right. Of course he was. All Roger needed to do was tell the truth, but somehow he couldn't remember. Mark said it wasn't his fault, so it wasn't. Right? But Roger knew he could be annoying. He had trouble listening, had trouble obeying. He shook his head. "I-it'll be okay," he said, trying to convince himself.

Mark gave him one last hug. "You'll do fine." He looked at his watch. "The bailiff will probably be here in a minute. I have someone saving a seat for me up front. Should I go now or do you want me to stay until they get you?"

"I'll be okay," Roger replied quickly. Things would go considerably worse, Roger knew, if he couldn't at least look to Mark. He hugged him one last time.

Mark returned the hug and then quickly made his way into the courtroom. The district attorney had informed the judge that he would be entering late, but it was still an awkward entrance. He quietly slipped into his seat at the end of the first row, right behind the DA. He did not have to wait long. A moment later, Roger's name was called and he was led into the courtroom.

Roger shuddered. He hunched his shoulders as though perhaps he could make himself invisible. He was careful to watch the floor. Maybe if he didn't see Robert, Robert wouldn't see him. Roger swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and sat.

Mark glanced over to his former X-ray technician. The man was glowering at Roger with a look of hatred that could have melted steel. Mark shivered and turned his attention towards the lawyer who had risen to question Roger. She asked him to state his name for the record then started in on the harder questions.

"When did you first meet the accused?"

Roger opened his mouth and couldn't speak. He tried again, taking a deep breath. "A... about..." He closed his eyes. I'm in Mark's bedroom. Roger rubbed his arm, pretending he felt Mark holding him. "It was about three years ago."

She continued to ask questions about where they met and the early part of the relationship. Mark was proud of Roger. His voice was quiet, but steady and he had answered all the questions with little hesitation. Then the questioning took a different line.

"When did your relationship become sexual?"

Roger rubbed his arm. Mark wouldn't ask that. "My fourteenth birthday," Roger murmured. "It was s'posed to be a birthday present and..." He wasn't sure if he should continue. He had been lectured by the district attorney and knew he wasn't supposed to volunteer too much information, but there were questions that wouldn't be asked and things he wanted put into evidence. He glanced at Robert, then quickly looked down. "It hurt a lot," he whispered.

The DA nodded. "At this time I would like to remind the jury that the age of consent in this state is sixteen. Roger, how much time passed between your fourteenth birthday and the time when you left home?"

"I left home that day," Roger supplied. He assumed this meant he had been out of line supplying extra information for the previous question, so he left it at the fact. If they wanted to know why, he would supply an answer. Roger didn't want to do anything that would make them disqualify his testimony.

"And you moved in with the accused?" At Roger's nod, she continued, "After you moved in with him, did you attempt to make contact with your family again?"

Roger shook his head. "I... my dad was... he was really mad at me for being a f—being gay." He glanced at Mark, and began to panic. He'd almost said the word he wasn't supposed to say. It didn't count, right? He could still stay with Mark? "And Robert didn't want me calling them."

"Did you have any contact with people other than Robert from the time you moved in with him?"

"S-sometimes he had friends over. Or I had to go to the hospital," Roger explained. "I... had accidents."

"What kind of accidents?" They had rehearsed this. Mark remembered how uncomfortable Roger had been when trying to describe his injuries. He continued to look at Roger sending feelings of warmth and encouragement his way.

Roger rubbed his arm. "Well... o-once I fell asleep and I burned dinner. I didn't mean to but, I messed up and... and he had to... just make sure it didn't happen again," he replied, shifting uncomfortably.

"What did Robert do?" the lawyer encouraged. Mark's eyes never left Roger.

"M... he... he... he tied me to the radiator and put it on so I would learn not to... so I would learn," Roger concluded.

"Were you injured as the result of this 'punishment'?"

Roger looked down and nodded. "I got burned."

"Were there other instances where you were injured as the result of punishments?"

He nodded once more. "I got cut sometimes. Or I got sick... sometimes I had to stay on the porch for a few days. So I wouldn't get hurt."

Mark winced. He wished he could have protected Roger from all of those injuries. In the days that Roger was recovering from his cold, he had tried to help Roger see that he didn't deserve those punishments. He had brought it up with the lawyer. She wished to bring up the reasons for the punishments herself, so the jury would immediately see how unfair they were. If Roger insisted that he was deserving, she'd call attention to the psychological effects of his time with Robert. He braced himself for the next question.

"What kinds of actions resulted in punishments?"

"Well... I... if I was bad," Roger answered. That made sense, didn't it? He was bad, so he was punished. "I didn't do the dishes one time. O-or one time I called Mark and I told him what was going on. And at first I talked back to him. But I learned."

"To clarify, you were punished for not doing your chores, talking back and contacting other people. Are there other actions that you were punished for?"

"W-well..." Roger took a deep breath. This one was embarrassing. This was the one time he hadn't been sure, and the one thing he hadn't told Mark. "One time he wanted me to show how loyal I was to him and I wouldn't do it."

"How did he ask you to prove his loyalty?"

"I... I was supposed to do something for his friend."

"We need you to be more specific. What were you supposed to do for his friend?"

"I... I was supposed to suck on his..." Roger said quickly, then blushed brightly and didn't know what to say.

Mark was aghast. This showed another level of Robert's depravity. He couldn't imagine being asked to be so intimate with a stranger.

"You were expected to perform oral sex?" the lawyer clarified. "What was your punishment for refusing?"

Roger was trembling. He couldn't do this. He couldn't... "He hit me with his belt and put me outside," he whispered. He chewed his thumbnail.

The DA realized that Roger needed to calm down a bit and requested a fifteen minute recess. As soon as the judge granted it, Mark stepped forward to comfort Roger. "You're doing great," Mark said while taking Roger into his arms.

Roger wrapped an arm around Mark's waist and pressed himself against Mark. "C-can we go home now?" he asked. "Please? I-I was good, right, Mark?"

"I'm sorry, Roger, but we can't go yet. You're not finished testifying. You're doing so well, though. I'm very proud of you." He hugged Roger tighter and started to rub his back, concentrating on comforting him through touch.

Roger tightened his hug. He nodded. "Okay." Really, Roger had known he wasn't finished. He had to ask, though. "Mark, are you angry that I didn't tell you before about... about everything?"

"No, I'm not angry at you. I'm proud that you were able to tell the court about it, though. I'm mad at Robert for asking you to do that. He had no right." Mark continued to hold Roger. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Roger nodded. He was beginning to learn that Mark wouldn't judge him for anything in his past, and it was fantastically liberating. "Can we make a plan for tonight? I just wanted to have something I could think about while I'm answering their questions."

Mark smiled. "Of course. What do you want to do tonight?"

"Anything. Something nice. We could... rent a movie, or order a pizza, or go to the library?"

"Let's rent a couple of movies, order pizza and make popcorn. We'll spend the evening cuddling on the couch while stuffing our faces."

Roger smiled. "Really?" he asked. "That sounds really fun."

"We can pick up the movies on the way home, and if there's anything you want, we'll get that too."

"Thank you, Mark." Roger glances at the clock. A moment later, they were called back into court.

Mark took his seat at the front of the spectator seats and offered Roger a smile of support. He knew his ordeal was far from over but hoped Roger would be strong and not let the questions get to him. The District Attorney made her way back to the witness stand.

"Now, Roger, what was the worst punishment you received?"

Roger thought for a moment. "Sometimes I had to be locked outside. I would get very hungry and very cold. And I didn't like being tied to the radiator. Sometimes I had to go to the hospital."

"How many times did you have to go to the hospital and for what reasons?"

"I don't remember how many times. Maybe five? Sometimes bones broke. Once he cut my arm before putting me outside. I-I deserved it, though! I'd been bad. I broke a plate in the kitchen. The cut got infected, so we went to the hospital."

"During your stay with the accused, what were his expectations of you? Did he have any rules you were to follow?"

Roger nodded. "But I was very good. I kept his house clean and had dinner waiting when he got home. And I did all the bedroom things! Just... not with other people."

"Were 'bedroom things' part of the rules he had for you?"

"Yes. T-that's how you're a good boyfriend. That's what he told me. If you say no you don't love him."

Mark felt sick at that revelation. Looking around, he could tell he wasn't the only person who felt that way.

"Were you ever asked to perform sexual acts against your will?"

"Well... I... I don't understand," Roger said. "I'm sorry. If it made him happy then I would do it."

"Did he ever ask you to do these things when you were not ready to or you weren't in the mood to?"

"Yes-- of course-- I mean... it... hurt sometimes, but it made him happy, so I didn't mind."

Mark wished the DA would stop asking questions about Roger's sex life. It wasn't necessary to go into every detail. He could tell Roger was shaken. However, he knew that there were questions that needed to be answered.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I now submit to you the following medical records for Roger Davis, a.k.a. Joshua Feinburg. Let the record reflect this as exhibit 38-b. Roger, according to these records, you went to see Dr. Mark Cohen about a fractured arm earlier this year. How did you sustain this injury?"

Roger lowered his eyes. "I was bad," he replied softly. He preferred not to think about it. He didn't like realizing that he was that person.

"What were you punished for?" asked the DA. Mark held his breath. It had taken a lot for Roger to admit to him what had happened. He captured Roger's gaze and then nodded, letting him know that it was okay to continue.

Roger swallowed. "I... was..." He looked at Mark, then quickly looked away. "I was touching myself," he said, feeling that he had blown any possible chance at seeming innocent.

Unfortunately, the questions didn't stop there. "Roger, did you have to follow specific rules regarding sexual activity?"

"Um... y-yes... I wasn't supposed to have... orgasms... when he wasn't there and, also, I wasn't supposed to t-touch myself or think about other guys, ever. Because that would be cheating," Roger explained.

"How did he enforce these rules?" The lawyer kept her voice free from emotion. In their briefing she had explained to Roger that she wanted the jury to know the full extent of the control Robert had over him.

Roger bit his lip. "If I broke them, he punished me. And he had this, um... this..." Roger shook his head. He looked at the jury, then at the attorney for the first time since the start of the trial. "Please don't make me do this."

The District Attorney immediately motioned for another recess. Luckily, the judge realized that the witness was distressed and called for a half-hour break. Mark hurriedly crossed the floor to the witness stand and guided Roger down, taking him into his arms. "Do you have to continue?" he asked, knowing full well that the answer would be yes. He wanted to try, though, for Roger's sake.

Roger held Mark. "Please don't make me do this," he whispered to no one in particular. "Mark, wasn't that enough? Everything else? I mean that makes sense, right?"

"You're doing fine, Roger. It makes sense, but remember, the more you can tell them, the more charges will stick. The jury needs to know what went on with him so Robert will get what he deserves. I know it's hard for you, but you're doing great. Just think about our plans tonight if you get overwhelmed. I'll protect you. There's nothing you can say that will make me leave you."

Roger looked to Mark and nodded. "I don't want them to think I'm disgusting," he said, indicating the now-empty jury box. "If they think that he'll never get in trouble for anything."

"They think you're a teenage boy," said Mark simply. He had actually slipped away from the office during jury selection, so he knew at least two jurors had teenage sons at home and knew all of what being a teenager entailed. "I don't think you have to worry about the jury."

Roger smiled at Mark as best he could. "After today... after today I don't have to do this again, right?" he asked. "It's over?"

Mark returned the smile. "Yes, it's over. And hopefully, you won't have to worry about Robert for a very long time."

Roger nodded. He swallowed. "Okay. I'm sorry I keep doing this, Mark. That I keep stopping the trial."

Mark wrapped Roger in a hug. "You're only human, Roger. This is hard. You're doing well, all things considered. You have the right to get upset."

Roger gave Mark his best smile. "I love you, Mark."

"I love you, too, Roger." Mark held him for a few minutes, until other people started entering the courtroom at the end of the recess. Mark went back to his seat and watched Roger climb back onto the witness stand.

After the court was called to order, the DA took her place in front of Roger again. "Roger, before we took a recess, you mentioned you were punished for breaking rules regarding bedroom practices. How else did the accused enforce these rules?"

Roger took a deep breath, quickly composed his speech mentally, and blurted the words with as much speed as possible without losing clarity: "He had this thing that I wore that was kind of like a harness so that it pinched my, um, testicles any time I got an erection."

Again a murmur went through the crowd. Mark could see several men wince at the thought of being pinched in that particular spot. He waited for the next question.

"Has this device had any lasting effects on you?"

"I don't know," Roger admitted. "I can't... it doesn't get hard anymore."

Much to Mark's relief, the attorney seemed satisfied with that. She went on to discuss Roger's daily routines and to question him about the times when Robert's temper got the better of him and he spent time on the porch. Finally, she asked about Roger's last days with Robert.

"Roger, can you describe the days leading to your departure from the accused's home, please."

Roger nodded. He took a deep breath. "After I went to see Mark, I still had a burn and things. I called him when I hurt. Usually it's not something I would complain about, but Mark was so nice... so I called him. Robert got mad. He punished me. Then he put me on the porch. I climbed out and... I looked Mark up. And I went to see him."

"What kind of punishment did Robert give that time?"

"I didn't go back," Roger said. "I stayed with Mark."

The district attorney looked over her notes and nodded. "I have no further questions, but reserve the right to recall the witness should clarification be needed." When the judge accepted this, Mark was relieved. Roger only had to be cross-examined now.

Roger swallowed nervously. Now he had to answer to Robert's lawyer. And he might have to come back.

Robert's lawyer was one of those overpriced attorneys from a firm with a dozen partners in the name who charged by the minute, not the hour. He wore a tailored suit, expensive shoes and had an air of importance about him. What he lacked was trial experience. He was a new associate at his firm and therefore was the cheapest among his overpriced brethren. This was his first case that actually reached trial. However, the witness did not know that.

He marched up to the stand and tried to look intimidating. Apparently, it worked as Roger was trembling in his seat. "Mr. Davis. Is it not true that you are the one who initiated the relationship with my client?"

"W-well... I talked to him," Roger admitted. "That first day, at the ice cream shop, I talked to him first. But he was the one who kissed me. And he was the one who... who said... that it would be better if I let him finish, or, that if I loved him, I wouldn't beg him to stop."

"You never objected to any of my client's actions. Nor did you express displeasure or being uncomfortable."

Roger was quiet for a long moment, then he said, "You didn't ask a question."

The young attorney blushed. Oops. He hadn't asked a question. He wouldn't make that mistake again. "Did you ever complain about your treatment to my client?"

Roger nodded. "I told him it hurt. I begged him to stop... in the beginning. But he punished me. I stopped."

Another mistake. He hadn't realized what Roger's answer would be. He tried again. "Mr. Davis. My client graciously provided you with shelter and food. What did he ask of you in return?"

"I was... available to him. All the time. No matter what. I left school. I cooked for him and cleaned for him and I was there any time he wanted me and the least he could've done was love me," Roger said, feeling his throat go raw. He covered his face with his hands. "Oh my god..." Why hadn't he realized this before? "He didn't love me. He just used me! He used me... and he said he loved me, but that's nothing like love..."

Mark wanted to run and take Roger into his arms. He seemed so forlorn and miserable. His heart ached for the young man who had been through so much.

The defense attorney blanched. This was not going well. His intention was to show that Roger had wanted the contact and enjoyed Robert's control. It was all backfiring though. He whispered to his client his advice. "I'd advise we let Roger leave. He's being unpredictable. Already he's gained the jury's sympathy and you never know what could come up with further testimony."

Roger was crying. It wasn't his usual sort of crying, the all-out sobbing and wailing, just tears and snot, but he held back. He could do this. He had to do this. Robert was a bastard and a menace and he deserved to be put away.

Robert could tell things were not going well for him and decided to heed his lawyer's advice to control the damage. He nodded his agreement and his attorney stood. "No further questions, your honor." The judge told Roger that he could go, and Mark quickly met him outside of the courtroom.

The moment he saw Mark, Roger smiled. He was still sobbing. He held Mark tightly, wanting to tell him that Robert was a bad person. "Mark, he's horrible. He's a bad person. He really is," Roger said.

"I know, Roger. You never deserved that. I'm so sorry." He held onto Roger and comforted him as best he could. "You don't have to worry about him much longer."

"No... no, Mark, listen: Robert was bad," Roger said, smiling. He wiped his eyes. "It was his fault. He's a bad person, I'm not."

Mark returned the smile and realized that Roger had a breakthrough. "No, you definitely are not a bad person. I'm so proud of you for realizing that. We've got a lot to celebrate tonight!"

Roger hugged him again. "Let's go home now," he whispered. "Let's just go home and... and eat pizza, and do this all night."

"You don't want to stay for the verdict?" When Roger shook his head, Mark smiled. "Didn't think so. I'll leave a message for the DA to call us when it's over. Let's go rent those movies."

Roger smiled back. He wrapped an arm around Mark's waist. "Mark... I love you," Roger said. "But you know what else is true? You love me."

Mark cuddled back. "Yes, I do love you. With all my heart."

the end!