"Looks like every thing's all set up now." Tyler said, brushing his hair back and looking over at Victoria and Adam, smiling a little at their position-her back to his belly, with his arms around her waist and her own draped lightly on top of them. As odd as it may sound, he loved seeing her happy-Even if they hadn't known each other for long. "Thanks again for helping us,Ty." Victoria said, smiling before she nodded at the now-stocked fridge. "Feel free to have a drink, if you'd like."
"Nah,I'm gonna take off. I need to get cleaned up for my date with Jane tonight. I wanna look nice for her~"
"*I know the feeling." Adam clicked, gently squeezing Victoria, and causing her to laugh.
"Have fun on your date, Ty...maybe you could bring her 'round sometime this week to hang out?" "Sounds great! She really seemed to get along well with you guys the last time we hung out."
_
The next year was a blur of work, hanging out with friends, family, and Liberation Front meetings. Even so, Victoria enjoyed everyday, finding ways to make work more bearable-though it was getting hard, seeing as they had begun treating the poleepkwa in a much harsher way now that they had all been moved to District Ten. It was as though they thought a new district gave them permission to be cruel, lashing out over the simplest things. Even so, she found little ways to slip through, tiny acts of kindness that went undetected.
She wanted to do more-but couldn't risk it just yet.
_
"So...They've finally set a date,then." Victoria murmured, reading over the Court-appointed letter that had arrived in the mail the day before. Scanning the letter, she verified the dates of the trials, and which days she was supposed to be there. Jotting them down in her phone's calender, she didn't notice Carter sit down next to her until he poked her,causing her to jump slightly.
"*What's wrong,V?" He asked, looking at her curiously.
"*Nothing...sort of. Just found out when Jack's trial has been scheduled for is all." She replied, holding up the letter to show him.
Even though she had seen it with her own eyes, it still surprised her how much Carter had grown since she met him. Even though he was only seven now, he was already almost as tall as her. He had explained this when she pointed out he seemed much older physically then he really was by saying that poleepkwa often grew faster then humans. After a little while, she got used to it-half liking not having to look down at him when they talked.
"*It seems to have taken them a long time...is that normal?"
"*Fairly...trials often take a while to get to court, and even then it could be months before he's sentenced."
Carter frowned a little, then smiled. "*But he will get some kind of punishment,right?"
"*I'm positive he will."
_
"*I wish I could go with you tomorrow." Adam mused sadly as he braided Victoria's hair, gently tracing along her neck and shoulders as he did so.
"*I wish you could,too...but even if you could, Jack might try something...I can't risk that..." She replied sadly, shivering lightly at his touch against her skin.
He still had the same effect on her as he did when they first started dating-touches would send pleasant shivers down her spine, Hugs felt safe, kisses were amazing...even after they had become more intimate with their relationship, the effect remained the same.
"*That's true...It would be very bad if he attacked someone in the courtroom."
"*Mmmm...though he'd probably get more jail time for it."
"*He deserves more then getting off free with just jail time." Adam said softly, something he had discussed with her a few times since they moved in together. He had said jail time wouldn't be harsh enough, that after everything he did he deserved death. He had seemed ashamed of admitting how he felt about this, and seemed relieved when she didn't say something about it being too harsh.
"*I know love...but they're not going to do that."
"*I know..."
_
Looking around the courtroom, Victoria felt a spike of nervousness when she saw her now ex-stepmom sitting in the courtroom, on Jacks's side. The feeling passed,though, when she looked behind her and saw her dad, Tyler, and Jane sitting in one of the benches, there to support her.
"All Rise for the Honorable Judge Hewlett."
No turning back now.
_
Once she was sworn in, Jack's Lawyer, a sleezy low-rate one that he probably picked up from a newspaper ad, peppered her with questions, claiming the 'abuse' was only due to her appetite for rough sex and wild, and dangerous, outings. Feeling her cheeks flush a little, she answered each question with complete honesty, pointing out the fact that people had seen him abuse her in public, that she had gone to the police after attempts on her life only to be waved away as 'some girl getting revenge on an ex', and the photographs and journal she had submitted, and had approved by the judge, documenting in detail ever incident.
Everything seemed to be going well for her-until...
"You say he raped you, yet you didn't go to the police. Questioning done before the trial on this event, you admitted to being drunk when it happened. So why didn't you report it? And why are you bring it out, when it's now been five years since that happened?"
She could hear the mummers of the jury, all wondering the same thing, or giving reasons why she did or didn't do this or that.
Once the judge called them back to order, he turned to her.
"Mrs. Creek, please answer Mr. Packard's questions."
Swallowing hard, she kept her voice steady as she answered, fighting inner panic as she did so.
"I didn't report it because of how many rape reports get ignored by the police. That, and the fact they did nothing when I went there due to an attempt on my life, it seemed it would be a waste of time. And yes, I had been drinking that night, but I was not drunk. I was buzzed, nothing more. I remember saying 'No' and him ignoring it, no matter what I said. And as for the time thing-This case has been waiting to go to trial for over a year. I brought it in, along with all other acts of abuse, at the suggestion of my lawyer."
"You say 'no matter what you did'. Why didn't you fight back? Scratch,kick,punch...that sort of thing?" Here grinned, showing yellow-stained teeth. "Girl your size could easily fight back,one would think."
"I didn't fight back because I was much weaker then. I've been working out more lately, hence why I seem strong, but I was a weak fifteen year old when he raped me. I couldn't fight back, and even if I could, I know from his abuse that fighting back in anyway causes only more pain."
"...No More Questions."
After being cross-examined, and her dad and stepmom spoke, the jury left to come up with a verdict.
_
"'m so nervous...God,I wish Adam was here..." Victoria mumbled softly, sitting on a bench with her head in her hands, while Tyler sat next to her lightly rubbing her back.
"I know you do,V...but think of it this way! You'll be able to see him once we go home, and be able to tell him how the trial went."
"True..."She replied, faintly smiling before her eyes were drawn to where her dad and stepmom were arguing again.
"Seems she really liked Jack..."Tyler mumbled softly.
Before Victoria could reply, or Jane could comment like she seemed to be about to do, the bailiff came out into the corridor. "The Jery's reached a verdict. Please come back in."
"...This is it." Victoria said, taking a deep breath before she stood, and walked into the court room, her friends and family following close behind.