TRIGGER WARNING: Events that happen in this chapter are going to get violent and may have trigger warnings based on a lot of recent bad things in the news. Gun violence, murder, and suicidal tendencies are all present in this chapter. If you are concerned about any of those you should skip this chapter. Thanks!

Max exhaled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She wasn't quite dressed up like she had been for Chloe's funeral, but this is the closest to fancy dress she had been in almost a month. She looked at the black jeans, the crimson blouse, and the black cashmere she wore (curtesy Victoria of course). She looked at Victoria's face in her mirror and Victoria nodded her approval.

She smiled and turned around. Victoria was glamorous as usual, even though she seemed overly nervous. It made total sense though, given that someone she had long considered a friend was to appear in court today. It had been longer than the usual three days at the request of Nathan's defense team. He was getting treatment.

Max's phone chimed that it was time for them to get going. It still felt strange to Max that she occasionally had to be the strong one, but here was another one of those times. She grabbed Victoria's hand, their matching bracelets briefly touching as the two ladies made their way out of the Prescott Dorm.

The car ride to the courthouse was uneventful. Victoria remained looking nervous the entire time.

"It will be okay Victoria. Nathan had a lot of stuff working against him to make him so susceptible to someone like Jefferson. Hopefully the court will do the right thing," Max told her trying to cheer up her blonde friend.

"What is the right thing Max?"

Max sighed. Victoria had a point there. There wasn't a great answer, but there was only one that could come to Max's head that made any sense.

"That the courts enable him to get the help he needs instead of just throwing the book at him."

Victoria nodded. "You're right. I mean I know he did bad things, but I still consider him a friend. Perhaps if he is given the proper treatment then there is a chance of something positive still happening from this whole damn situation."

Max could only nod. There wasn't a whole lot she could see positive, since the situation still involved the death of Chloe.

Getting out of the car the ladies straightened themselves up. Max looked around and was surprised that she saw a very familiar RV. Why would Frank show up for Nathan's hearing? She thought about going over to the RV but then she realized that in this reality she had never met Frank. That might be awkward to meet under this circumstance.

The two walked into the courthouse hand in hand, mainly because Max knew that Victoria needed the support. It still surprised Max that for how strong Victoria had always seemed before, that she could be just as fragile as everyone else. Max really appreciated how human Victoria was when she wasn't wearing the armor of bitchiness.

They found seats a few rows behind where Nathan would eventually be seated and just waited. The gallery wasn't filling fast because it wasn't the biggest case in recent history. They missed Jefferson's arraignment, but he was held without bond, and his case was only getting bigger. Last Max had heard since he had victims in multiple states, and many victims at that, it might eventually become a Federal case instead of just a state case.

Just before ten, Nathan was brought in manacled, but not in the traditional orange jumpsuit. They had allowed him to change into a normal wardrobe even though both his feet and hands were cuffed. Nathan saw Victoria and cracked a slight smile. Max took note that it was a smile and not a smirk, Nathan looked genuinely happy to see Victoria. Max had caught his eye and he quickly turned away. Was that guilt I just saw?

Everyone rose when the judge came in, then sat down. The legal stuff was boring for Max. She kept holding Victoria's hand as the judge had read out a litany of charges against Nathan, including multiple counts of murder, kidnap, abduction, conspiracy and sexual assault. The whole list made Max shiver.

"How does the defendant plead?"

Nathan and his team of fancy lawyers stood up. "Not guilty by reason of insanity."

The judge nodded to that. "I presume there's history to back that up?"

The lawyer nodded and the judge looked over to the prosecution.

"Any objections?"

The prosecutor stood up and Max was surprised that the woman seemed rather young to be doing the job of prosecuting someone like Nathan.

"The people do not object your honor. Mister Prescott has a history of mental illness that hasn't been adequately treated. While the people do not find it as an excuse, confinement to a mental health facility will be an acceptable solution."

Another nod from the judge. "Is there anyone connected to the victims who might have grounds to object counselor?"

Max looked around. She knew that David and Joyce weren't going to come today, knowing what the outcome would be. As much as they were mad that Nathan had killed Chloe, they felt it was Sean Prescott and Mark Jefferson who enabled it. They were willing to let Nathan slide if the bigger fish got fried, even though for now that would only be Jefferson.

The prosecutor nodded. "Maxine Caulfield is present your honor."

Max looked a little stunned that her name was called out. Soon the judge said, "If Miss Caulfield is here and would like to say anything, now is your chance."

Victoria turned and was almost staring at Max, boring into her. Not letting go of Victoria's hand, she stood up. When the judge nodded she spoke.

"While I am devastated about losing my best friend due to Nathan Prescott's actions, I am well aware of the mistreatment and abuse he suffered at the hand of others. Nathan needs help, and if that can be provided it should be."

She sat back down when she was finished. Victoria was smiling at her but she also noticed that Nathan was looking at her, almost curious as to her motivation. Only Victoria and Kate even knew about how messed up things had gotten for Nathan, but neither of them knew that Max still had Nathan's voicemail to her on the night before the storm, when he tried to warn her and apologize. That was a powerful motivator.

"Will the prosecution and Defense both stand?" The judge said and they did.

"I object," was shouted from the back of the courtroom. There were gasps from the few that were present. It was Frank, and he looked pissed. The only time that Max had seen Frank like that was in the aborted timeline when he attacked Max and Chloe at the beach, and in the diner when she spilled his beans.

The judge banged his gavel. "Order. And who might you be?"

"My name is Frank Bowers, and I was dating Rachel Amber when he drugged and murdered her."

More gasping and more banging of the gavel. The judge wasn't happy but he nodded. "Proceed Mister Bowers."

Frank walked forward up the aisle. "That kid is sick alright. Sick that he was getting off on dosing girls and taking intimate photos of them. He doesn't deserve a rubber room, he deserves a concrete slab."

Bang, bang, bang went the gavel. "Thank you, but that's quite enough Mister Bowers."

Frank shook his head. "No, it's not."

Frank pulled out a gun and aimed it at Nathan. *bang*

There was screaming and running in the courtroom as the shot rang out and Nathan fell where he stood, blood staining through the suit he was wearing. Victoria started crying and several bailiffs pulled out their own weapons and were aiming at Frank.

"The worst part is that she still doesn't have justice. There were three people responsible for her death." This was said very calmly. When he started his next sentence his voice broke and tears were streaming from his eyes. "Jefferson will get his, but the last one, the supplier of the drugs deserves justice as well."

Frank put the gun up to his own head.

As another shot rang out from Frank's gun, Max raised her hand, and everything started to rewind.

If you feel things are bad enough to have to resort to violence for any reason, please seek proper help! If this game has taught us nothing it's that ignoring mental health issues has disastrous consequences for more than just the person suffering from said issues.

Also, thanks to all the fans that have pushed this story over 20k reads. You all rock!