A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! This chapter is very long but also it's finally the trial lol two chapters later :P Anyway, enjoy this next chapter.

After that, Gabriella remained shut down but what worried Troy most of all was that she didn't speak a word the rest of the day. If she wasn't speaking how would she testify?

When he got home that night he called out for his mom who came running in.

"Mom, Gabriella saw Maria at the park and now she isn't speaking." Troy told her.

Lucille knelt down by Troy, who had Gabriella on his lap, "Gabriella, Honey, I need you to talk to me. Tell me what's going on in your head right now. Are you scared, shocked, angry, hurt, anything. You've got to talk to us so we know how to help you."

Gabriella ignored her and turned her head away from her, burring it in Troy's shoulder.

Lucille sighed.

"Can we postpone the trial?" Troy asked.

"I don't know, I can try but I honestly doubt it. We need to try and get her to speak."

"How?"

"Say anything you can think of, even if it sounds stupid just say it. I've got a few phones call to make now."

Lucille rushed off. Troy sighed and looked back to Gabriella. She had her face buried in his shoulder so he couldn't even tell if she was awake or not.

"Baby, are you awake?"

Again there was no response.

"You don't have to speak to me but can you at least nod so I know you're awake?"

Gabriella nodded softly.

I'm glad, I have a very important question for you. It's so important that I need the answer right away. My questions is….what color is the sky?"

Gabriella didn't even look up at him. She continued to keep her face buried and not respond. Troy sighed. "Come on, Baby, Please, I just want to help you. Please can you tell me how I can do that?"

Gabriella looked up at him. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water but no words came out. She looked down and shook her head.

"It's ok, you're trying." Troy soothed as he rubbed her back. "Let's try something really easy. What's your name?"

Gabriella opened her mouth again but still nothing came out.

"What's my name?"

"T-T-T-Toy…"

Troy chuckled. "Close enough."

He kissed her head softly. Lucille came out from the kitchen.

"Well I've got good news and bad news. What do you want first?"

"Bad news." Troy sighed.

"I can't move the trial date. It's happening tomorrow."

"So what's the good news?"

"I spoke to a doctor, the way Gabriella is acting is perfectly normal. It's all part of shock. The doctor told me that it's very possible that Gabriella really does want to speak to us but she just physically can't. Her voice is just gone. But, the good news is that the doctor said this shouldn't last more than a few hours, at the longest and few days."

"Days?"

"At the longest, but she said there was no physical harm done to her so it should only last a few hours."

Troy sighed. "She wants to talk, I can tell. Is there any way we can communicate with her?"

"I don't know, maybe, if we got her a pad and pen do you think she'd write?"

Gabriella nodded her head and looked to Lucille and nodded again.

Lucille smiled. "OK, hold on."

She left the room for a minute and came back with a pad and pen. She handed them to Gabriella. She took the pen and slowly started to write something. What do you want me to write?

"All we want to know is what you're thinking right now. What you feeling towards seeing your mother again. It can be one word or a million words, just describe to us what you're feeling."

Gabriella started to write again. When she was finished she bowed her head. Writing it, then reading it, just made it all the more real. Scared, Maria is right what she told me is true.

"What did she tell you?"

"She said that even if Peter went to jail and we got justice for ourselves it wouldn't matter because the person who hurt Carlos is still free and walking around."

Lucille sighed. "That's the last thing Gabriella needed to hear right before the trial."

Troy and Lucille wanted to tell Gabriella that it was a lie that Maria was wrong but they couldn't. She was right, no matter what happen to Peter, Maria was still free and walking around, while her father lay in a coma at the hospital. There is no justice in that.

"What do we do?" Troy asked.

Lucille sighed. "We need to find a way to prove Maria did this."

"What good will that do? Troy asked. "It's only going to make her run and hide better."

Lucille sighed. "If we have proof she is guilty of something I can convict her and make a case against her.

Gabriella quickly started to write something on her pad. No, no trial, Lucille, please, please, no trial!

"Honey its ok, it's ok. There will be no trial I promise. But I do promise you that we will get justice for your father no matter how long it takes. I won't rest until we do."

Gabriella just nodded. They'd get justice and he'd still be in a coma, so really, until he woke up, there was no real justice.

"Why don't we go visit your father?" Troy suggested. "He normally gives you strength when you need it to the most."

Gabriella shook her head frantically.

Troy sighed. She hadn't been to the hospital to see her father since she learned about the attack and Troy knew it was because she was scared. But Troy also had a funny feeling Carlos needed Gabriella if he was ever going to wake up.

Lucille sighed too. Things had gone from bad to worse. She just hoped Gabriella got her speech back by tomorrow otherwise things were going to get even worse. "Are you still worried about the trial tomorrow, Gabriella?"

Gabriella nodded.

"What scares you?"

Seeing Peter again, having to tell a bunch of strangers what he did to me, not having Troy close to me when I get scared and

"And what, Angel?" Troy asked her gently. "You can tell us anything. Maybe we can help you if you tell us."

I'm scared because I know…I know my dad won't be there.

Lucille sighed. She had good feeling this was part of it. Last year when Gabriella had to testify against her mother, and she needed comfort she went right to her father and with just a simple hug he gave her the strength to continue and stand up to her mother.

I'm tired, I'm going to bed.

Gabriella got up and walked into the bedroom. Troy sighed. "Mom, what are we going to do? Carlos has always been the one to give Gabriella that extra strength when she needed it. Even when he was in jail, he helped her with the bullies at school, then at the trial last year, She doesn't want to do this if Carlos can't be there with her."

"She doesn't have a choice, Troy; hopefully tomorrow she'll be more willing to speak and ready to tell everyone what happen."

Troy just nodded and sighed once more. "Why do I have to sit in the audience? Why can't I be up front with you and her, it might make Gabriella more comfortable."

Lucille nodded. "I'm going to make some calls and see if I can make that happen. You're right, it would help Gabriella."

Lucille got up and left the room. Troy really hoped things got better by tomorrow, but deep down he had a funny feeling they wouldn't.

The next day was the big day and nobody was looking forward to it. Troy had to practically carry Gabriella into the court house. She refused to go and refused to be there. But the good news was that she was talking again

Gabriella and Troy walked to the court house. Gabriella had her arms wrapped around Troy's waist and was hiding her face in his side. He had his arms wrapped just as tightly around her The closer she got to the room the further she tried to pull away, but Troy but he was holding her at his side.

"It's ok, it's ok, I'm right here, and it's ok." he said. He knew there was nothing stopping her from going back into her silent state. Troy felt Gabriella start shacking against him. He knew if she got too scared she wouldn't talk again He picked her up and carried her into the room.

He gently sat her down in her chair and sat next to her. He had been allowed to sit with her so he sat down next to her and instantly buried her face in his shoulder. She knew the second she looked up she would see Peter and if that happen she'd lose all confidence in herself.

Troy rubbed her back. "Shhh, shhh, I'm here, Angel. I'm right here." He cooed in her ear. "Peter isn't in here. It's ok if you want to look up."

Gabriella looked up and looked around. She sighed in relief. It was just her and Troy. She looked to Troy and whimpered "I'm so scared. I don't want to see Peter."

"You won't, my mom will be sitting on the other side blocking your view and just look ahead or at me."

"What about when he comes to testify?"

"Just look at me or the table. Don't look at him."

Lucille came in and walked over to them. "They're bringing Peter in now."

Gabriella whimpered and hid her face again.

Peter walked in with a cop and in handcuffs. "Hey, there is my favorite girl. I missed you so much. Don't you worry, Baby. I'll be out of here soon and we can continue on with our life."

Gabriella whimpered and buried her face dipper clinging to Troy's arm. Troy wrapped his other arm around her protectively and glared.

"Don't let him get to you, if you lash out you'll be removed from the court room and Gabriella needs you more than ever." Lucille said. "You've got to do your best to ignore him."

Troy nodded softly and kissed Gabriella on the head as he rubbed her back.

The door opened and someone walked in.

"Oh look, it's my second favorite girl in the entire world." Peter smirked.

Lucille and Troy turned their head to see Kenny and Heather. Heather had their back to them, buried deep in Kenny's arm, looking as if she was trying to run away but Kenny was stopping her.

"Shut up you sick freak!" Kenny growled.

Lucille got up and went over to them.

Peter was released and sat down in his chair. He looked to Gabriella and smirked. Troy glared on him. Lucille came back over and sat down. "I just told Kenny the same thing I told you. You both need to keep your cool through this entire trial. One outburst you'll both be forced out"

Troy nodded and looked to Gabriella. She was important, not Peter.

Finally the trial started. They spoke with a few friends of Peter, his parents, and teachers. They called Heather's name and she whimpered as she went up to the stand.

Lucille went over to question her first.

"Ms. Johnson, will you please tell this court out Peter Anderson? Is he your boyfriend?"

"No, Peter isn't my boyfriend. He never was. I've had the same boyfriend since I was 13. Peter was a guy who loved me and could never take no for an answer."

"Did you ever at any point, even if only for a short while, like Peter?"

"Romantically, you mean?"

"Or as just a friend."

"I never liked him romantically. I never really liked him as a friend either. He was always bullying other girls in school and starting rumors. So I never really liked him as a friend either."

"Bullying and starting rumors, were any of those directed at you?'

"The bullying was, yes, but he never started a rumor about me."

"In what ways were you bullied?"

"Physically, mentally, and…well sexually."

"Sexually, you mean Peter touched your private spots?"

Heather nodded and her voice grew softer. "Yes."

"I'm very sorry to hear that. In any of those attack were you raped?"

"No, my boyfriend Kenny always came to save me before it got that far."

"What about physically, what kind of things would he do?"

"Hit, kick, punch, bite…"

"Bite? Like with his teeth?"

"Yes, and sometimes he'd use objects, like baseball bats, or hammers."

"That sounds terrible. Mentally, what would he say to you?"

"I was fat, and I was ugly, nobody would ever love me. Things like that."

"I see and did you ever tell him to stop or tell someone about this?"

Heather shook her head. "No, I was too scared."

"Of what?"

"Peter threatened the life of not only myself but my family and Kenny as well."

"No further questions."

Lucille went and sit down. Peter's lawyer got up and went over to her.

"Ms. Johnson, you may not have been attracted to my client but you asked for him to touch you and make you feel good, isn't that right?"

"No, I'd never ask that. The only person I'd allow to touch me is my boyfriend Kenny."

"So you've been touched before, Peter?"

Heather nodded. "Yes, but I wanted it with Kenny. I never wanted it with, Peter."

"Are you sure you didn't want it, even just a little tiny bit."

"No, I never wanted it, even for a minute."

"Are you sure?"

Objection asked and answered." Lucille said.

"Move on, or sit down." The judge said.

"Of course your honor. Ms. Johnson, please tell me about the day Peter sexually assaulted you."

"I was at school…getting my books from my locker. He came up behind me and spun me around and pinned me to the locker. "I told him to get off me and go away. He didn't listen. He told me not to tell anyone or he'd kill my entire family while I watched. Then he started touching me while I screamed and cried. Kenny came over and rescued me."

"Did you tell, Kenny?"

"No, but he isn't blind he saw what was happening, and he told the Principal. He was expelled from school and transferred somewhere else."

"No further questions."

Heather let out a sigh of relief. She went back over to her chair and shared a hug with Kenny.

"Do you want to leave?" he whispered to her.

"No, I want to stay for Gabriella." She answered back.

He nodded and kissed her cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you too."

A few friend and family members of Heather went up to speak after her and the principal of West High as well.

After that it was Gabriella's turn. She and Lucille went up and Lucille started her questioning.

"Now. Miss. Montez, I understand you are scared and it is ok. I am going to ask you a few questions you just take your time answering them and tell me as much as you can." Lucille said.

Gabriella nodded.

"Miss. Montez, please tell who Peter Anderson is to you? You used to date is that correct?" Lucille said.

Gabriella said nothing. She looked at the floor as tears fell from her eyes.

"Miss. Montez I understand this is hard and scary but you really need to answer my question. Just take a deep breath and do the best you can. There are no wrong answers." Lucille said.

Gabriella shook her head.

Lucille sighed. "Your honor, one second." She held up her pointer finger. She went over to Troy and whispered something to him.

He got up and went over to Gabriella. He hugged and kissed her head. "You can do this, Baby. Just look at me, right at me." he cooed.

She shook her head.

"Come on, baby, please" Troy begged. "I know you're scared but it's ok. Just tell the truth. Just keep your eyes on me, Angel. Don't think about Maria, or Peter or anyone else, just talk to me. It's just you and me, nobody else, all right?"

She nodded and he went back to his seat.

"He um…he used to be my boyfriend, but we broke up." Gabriella started softly and shyly. She looked at Troy. He sent her a small wink and she settled down.

"What caused you to break up?"

"He had wanted to have sex with me and I wasn't ready so he broke up with me. The next day at school I found out he had started a rumor that I had spelt with all the guys on the basketball team and that's why he broke up with me."

"I see…what happen after that?"

"The entire basketball ball team, teamed up on me and…and they all beat me...to a bloody pulp."

"Was Peter a part of this?"

"Yes, he was the leader, he told the others what to do."

"After that you transferred to East High, is that correct?"

"Yes, I didn't see Peter at all after that."

"Then when did you see him again?"

"After he hurt Heather, he was transferred to East High. Peter and I were put in the same class and were paired for marriage project. Peter took things too literally and believed I was really his wife."

"What's wrong with that?'

"Well, he didn't treat me right. He acted like I was his slave and spoke to me as such, always bossing me around."

"Was he abusive too?"

"Yes, physically, mentally, and sexually."

"Ok, Miss Montez, last question. It is not easy but must be answered. "What happen the night you were sexually assaulted?"

Gabriella went deathly white again. She started shaking. "N-no, I…I can't."

"I know it's upsetting, but we need to know, what happen that night."

"He…he came in through my balcony doors. He started talking about how angry he was because I cheated on him."

"But, you weren't his girlfriend nor wife, how could you cheat?"

Gabriella shook her head. "I didn't cheat. He had caught me in the middle of a tickle fight with my boyfriend Troy so he believed he was cheated on. He said the only way he'd forgive me was if I slept with him. I said no but he…he wouldn't give up. He backed me up until I fell onto to the bed then…then from there…from there he… HE KISSED ME AND TOUCHED ME IN PLACES NO ONE SHOULD TOUCH! HE KISSED PLACES NO ONE SHOULD KISS! HE…HE…HE…HE…HE" Gabriella started crying and hyperventilating. She couldn't breathe. She just gasped for air as she cried.

"SOMEONE GET A DOCTOR, SHE ISN'T BREATHING!" The judge yelled.

"NO!" Troy yelled. He knew a doctor would only upset her more.

He ran over to Gabriella and pulled her into his arms. He went under her shirt and scratched her back and said "Shhh breathe, Baby its ok. Shhh I'm here Shhh, I'm right here shhh." He softly started to sing to her.

She instantly calmed down. Her breathing went back to normal.

"Your honor can we stop this please?" Lucille asked. "She is in no shape to continue."

"I'm sorry, but she needs to finish" the Judge said

"Well, I have no further questions."

"Oh, I have plenty." Peter's lawyer said.

"NO!" Gabriella screamed as she started to cry again. "NO! I CAN'T! I CANT! I NEED HIM! I NEED HIM!"

"Shhh, shhh, Angel, shhh, need who?"

"My daddy! Please!" she begged through her tears.

"Oh my, Sweet Precious Angel," Troy cooed. "He is here, he is here, he's right here." Troy told her putting his hand over her racing heart. "He's right here and he's so proud of how strong you're being. You've got to keep being strong, Maria was wrong; if you put him in jail you'll be getting Justice for your father because you'd be getting justice for yourself. Trust me, that's the only justice he'd care about. He'd want to see Peter pay just as much as any of us. You can do this, you're strong."

"Promise?"

"I promise,"

Gabriella inhaled and ex-haled a shaky breath and nodded. "Ok, I'll finish."

"That's my girl."

Troy kissed her head forehead. He got up and went back to his seat.

Peter's lawyer went over to Gabriella. "I only have one question for you. If you loved Peter, and you really cared about him, why not sleep with him?"

Gabriella shrugged. "If he really loved me and cared for me he would have waited for me to be ready. I had the sex talk with my parents when I was 13, I know the risks of having sex too soon and I was not mentally or physically ready. My parents always taught me to say no and I was strong enough to say no. I'm not ashamed of that."

"You don't feel guilty for not pleasing your man?"

"Nope. There are other ways to please a man other than sex."

"Um…what about when you were paired with him, it didn't bring back old feelings?"

"Oh no, it did, but not feelings of love, feelings of fear, of discomfort, of not wanting to be alone. Those are the only feelings the project brought back. I do not like Peter, he's betrayed my trust and he'll never get back. If he gets off free he will continue to torment me, Heather, and any other teen girl he crosses paths with."

"Um…n-no further questions."

"You may step down."

Gabriella climbed down and looked at Peter and smiled. Suddenly…he wasn't so scary.

She sat back down next to Troy and smiled. He hugged her and kissed her forehead. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered. "So is your father."

She nodded. "I did it for him."

Troy kissed her once more and pulled away.

A few more people went up to talk, Peter included and finally the jury left to make up their minds.

After a couple minutes they returned.

"We jury found Peter Anderson guilty of physical, mental, and sexual assault on two women."

"Peter Anderson, I hereby sentence you two ten years in prison."

Everyone sighed in relief and cheered happily as Peter was taken away. There were hugs all around and everyone was happy again.

Troy looked to Gabriella and frowned. "What's the matter? You don't look happy."

"I am," she said softly. "I'm very happy Peter is going to jail it's just…"

"You wish your father was here?"

Gabriella nodded. Troy pulled her into a hug. She had faced one fear of Peter, now she had to face her other fear of going to see her father. It may be the only way to save his life…but could she do it?

A/N whew that was such a long chapter, but Peter finally got what he deserved so I'm sure you're all happy. But the story isn't over yet. Maria is still on the run and Carlos is still in the hospital so any thoughts on what will happen to them? Is Maria ever going to be caught? Will Carlos live? Leave me your thoughts in a review.

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