A/N: I know some of you probably thought I had forgotten about this story but I promise you I haven't. I have currently been assigned as a trainer at my job and now have what I call a shadow (officer) following me which makes it difficult to write. Not to mention it was time to bring up the court scene and I have a difficult time with those scenes having been able to avoid most of my court cases thanks to plea deals.

Olivia sat back in her chair and watched Alex pace the room. Over the weekend, after the blow up on Friday evening, Alex spent her days going through case files and Olivia spent her nights holding Alex as she had nightmare after nightmare. Each seemingly worse than the last one and lasting longer each time.

"Honey if you keep that up you are going to pace a hole in the carpet."

"Tell me how are you so calm?" Alex asked as she stopped pacing long enough to look at Olivia.

"I've been on this side of the court room scene my entire career." Olivia responded as she shrugged her shoulders "I'm use to it."

"I meant with what is going on. What is about to happen? How Jess is about to torment us even more?"

"Alex" Olivia said as she stood and walked to Alex "She can only torment her for as long as you allow her too. By walking in that courtroom and testifying to everything you take the control and the ability to torment you out of her hands. Now it is you who controls her and has the ability to torment her."

"It's so hard." Alex sighed as she wrapped her arms around Olivia and laid her head on her shoulder "I want to just turn and run."

"You can't and I won't allow it." Olivia whispered as she pulled back enough so she could look Alex in the eyes "But know I am right here to lean on, no matter what."

Alex nodded as she closed her eyes in an attempt to calm herself and if possible absorb some of Olivia's endless amount of strength. When she thought she finally had all she could steal from Olivia she slowly opened her eyes and smiled when she found herself staring into Olivia's warm chocolate brown eyes.

"Ms. Cabot they are ready for you." The guard said opening the door and unknowingly interrupting a moment between the two ladies.

"Yes sir." Alex said swallowing hard and turning to head to the court room. She was about half way to the door when she stopped and turned to face Olivia "Will you please come with me and sit in the courtroom.'

"Are you sure that's what you want?' Olivia asked needing to know she was one hundred percent positive.

"I need you there. I have to have you there."

Olivia smiled as she met Alex and took her hand in hers "Come on I think it's time to show her she doesn't control you anymore."

Alex slowly walked into the courtroom and glanced around, thankfully to Abbie's pull and the nature of the case she had managed to get a closed courtroom. There was also a gag order in effect as well which she suspected was Olivia's doing to try and protect her even more. Even though she was grateful for the gag order in a way she was upset. She wanted other women who had suffered through what she had to know they weren't alone.

With one last squeeze of Olivia's hand Alex finally released it as she walked the short distance to the witness booth. Taking another deep breath hoping to calm not only her beating heart but her nerves upon what was about to occur. As she took the oath the court officer was administering she caught a glimpse of Jessica sneering at her and struggled to keep her composure. Upon completion of the oath and being allowed to sit she finally met Jess's eyes and held them for what seemed like an eternity till Jess finally gave in and looked away. Smiling to herself she turned and gave a slight nod to Abbie that she was ready to start.

"Ma'am can you state your full name for the record." Abbie said.

"Alexandra Cabot."

"For the record can you please tell us what you do for a living?"

"I am an Assistant District Attorney for the city of New York assigned to the Special Victims Unit of the 16."

"Thank you." Abbie said as she moved closer "Do you know the defendant, Jessica Johnson?"

"I do."

"Can you please tell the court how do you know her?"

"I was in a relationship with her."

"So you and the defendant dated?"

"Objection your honor." Jess's attorney shouted as he jumped to his feet "Ms. Cabot has already answered that question."

"Your honor I am only trying to be specific about the type of relationship she had with the defendant." Abbie said "There are several different forms of relationship. I have a working relationship with Ms. Cabot I would just like to be specific."

"Overruled." The judge said as she turned to face Alex "Please answer the question Ms. Cabot."

"Yes we did date." Alex answered looking each of the jurors in the eyes as she did so.

"Please tell the court how did you and the defendant met?"

"I was at a lesbian bar with some friends and we began to talk."

"Did you two leave the bar together?"

"No ma'am but we did exchange numbers."

"How long was it before you were in contact with the defendant again?"

"About a week after we met at the club she had called me and we met for coffee."

"From there you two began dating?"

"Yes we did."

"Was she abusive from the start?"

"No" Alex almost whispered as she felt a cold shiver going through her body at the coldness she saw in Jess's eyes

"When did the abuse start?" Abbie asked as she positioned herself between Alex and Jess so Alex didn't have to see her at the moment.

"About seven months after we started dating." Alex answered as she snapped out of her zone and met Abbie's eyes.

"Ms. Cabot" Abbie said as she reached out and laid a hand on Alex's "I know this is extremely difficult for you but could you please describe the first attack for us?"

"Jess had apparently showed up at my job to surprise me and saw me with another co-worker. She had misinterpreted what she saw between myself and the co-worker. When I came home I thought she was there to surprise me like she had done several times before but instead smacked me as soon as I walked up to her. I kicked her out told her to never come back but later that night she came back crying and begging for forgiveness."

"You allowed her to return did you not?"

"I did."

"Can you please tell the court why?"

"She had stated that she had seen me with my co-worker and the longer she thought about it the madder she got. By the time I made it home from work she was furious and all she saw was me and him together. She swore to me that she would never lay a hand on me again."

"She did though didn't she?" Abbie asked as she walked back toward her table.

"Yes."

"When did the abuse start up again?"

"About seven months later."

"Will you please tell the court what happened on that occasion?"

Alex looked around the courtroom and took in every face that was there. She took a deep breath to start the story she never wanted to repeat when she locked eyes with Jess. Tears sprang to her eyes when she motioned with her hand that she would kill her and Olivia.

"Ms. Cabot." Abbie said noticing the change in Alex. "Alex?"

"Yes." Alex said snapping out of daze.

"Could you please tell the court what happened on that occasion?" Abbie repeated.

"Yes I uhh. I had to work late one night and didn't call her. As soon as I came through the door she knocked me into the wall. Said she should have known a slut like me would conveniently have to work late. Wanted to know if he was as good as her? When I stood up I told her to leave and never come back. She pushed me against the wall and choked me till I passed out."

"What happened when you came too?"

"I was naked and tied to the bed. Jess was standing to the side naked and wearing a strap on. She told me she was going to show me what I was missing. Make me hate men. She then crawled on top of me and forced herself into me.

"Was this the first time she sexually assaulted you?"

"Yes."

"How long did the assault go on?'

"Objection your honor how would the victim know the exact amount of time an attack happened."

"Because that is something a victim never forgets" Alex growled back.

"Ms. Cabot you are not an attorney in my court room so please keep your comments to yourself."

"Yes ma'am my apologies."

"I will rephrase the question." Abbie said before the judge could rule "Could you please tell me how long the attack seemed to go on?"

"Objection your honor each person's concept of time is different."

"I will agree with you sub stained." The judge said reluctantly "Move on counselor."

"Did she sexually assault you just one time that night?"

"No."

"So it was repeated assaults?"

"Yes."

"When did she stop that night?"

"It wasn't until the next morning when she had to leave for work."

"Did you seek medical attention?"

"I did not." Alex said looking away.

"Why was that?"

"I was afraid of what people would think if they found out."

"Objection your honor she never received medical attention therefore the accusation of rape cannot be substantiated. For all we know she is crying wolf trying to get attention."

"I was raped." Alex shot back "I was raped almost daily by your client and when I wasn't being raped I was her punching bag. So don't you dare sit there and tell me I am making it up. I have the medical records and emotional scars to prove it."

"Overruled." The judge said as she turned to face Abbie "counselor control your client."

"Yes ma'am" Abbie said glaring at Alex "Could we have a brief recess your honor maybe ten minutes."

"Does defense have any objections to a recess?"

"No your honor we do not."

"Very well court will reconvene in ten minutes at which time your client needs to be in control of her outbursts, understood."

"Yes your honor." Abbie said as the judge stood and walked out of the courtroom.