"Good. I'm glad your all here already."  You heard Mark say as he walked up to everyone with a slight smile.

He was wearing his usual black suit and tie as he walked up carrying his briefcase.  Directly behind him were the other two members of his team. Who were also dressed in black as they all approached.  He started to greet everyone as usual when he paused for a moment and looked at Tracy.  Then he glanced at her hand and smiled.

"It seems that some congratulations are in order."  Mark said as he smiled at Tracy.

Tracy looked at him in surprise.  "Pardon?"

"The ring on your hand."  Mark said as he gestured to her left hand.  "I know that I didn't see that there yesterday.  Congratulations."

Tracy shyly dropped her gaze as she push her hair behind her ear.  "Thank you."

Mark then turned to Paul.  "And I assume that it was you who swept this beauty away?"

"You would be correct."  Paul said with a smile.  "But you can save the silver tongue for the courtroom.  We're going to need it today."

Mark smiled back at Paul.  "Not to worry.  My team and I have a solid case with that recorded testimony of hers.  So even if she unable to speak, she can confirm everything with a nod."

"Good.  Then let's hope that the defense attorney doesn't start in on her like she did with me."  Paul said with a worried tone.

"Indeed." Mark replied.  "But we're prepared for that as well."

"I hope so."  Paul said as he felt Tracy tighten up her grip on his hand.

"Now then."  Mark said before he turned to you.  "Are you ready young lady?" 

Suddenly you didn't feel so well.  The butterflies from earlier were back and were playing havoc with your breakfast.  You nervously looked at Mark.  He gave you a smile and a nod.

"Don't worry.  I'll be the one asking the questions.  Okay?"  Mark asked in a smooth tone.

You nodded back at him.  He smiled back then turned towards the courtroom doors.

"We'll meet you in there then."  Mark said as the rest of his team walked past and gave their usual greetings.

Your could feel your stomach starting to flip as everyone started to walk away as they followed him.  You tried to keep it down by swallowing a few times.  But it seemed to get worse as you started walking towards the doors.  Which was disheartening to you, especially since you had everyone with you.

And that was when you saw Keith come strolling up with his lawyers.  He looked at you and curled up one corner of his mouth as he hungrily eyed you up and down.  Instantly you felt a shiver run through you as a chill ran from your head all the way to your toes.  And immediately you felt your breakfast in your mouth.  You quickly turned and ran for the bathroom as all you heard was shouting and a scuffle from behind you as the bathroom door closed.

"STOP!" Paul shouted at Chris as he pulled him off of Keith who was now sprawled out on the floor.

Keith pushed himself up and and ran his thumb across his now split lip.  "That's three times you've hit me now because of her."

"We can make it four."  Chris said back as he fought to get out of Paul's grip.

"Chris!"  Paul said with a firm tone and a firmer grip as he pulled him back more.  "This isn't helping."

Keith slowly got back up as he kept his eyes on Chris the whole time.  "Perhaps you and that bitch deserve each other after all.  You both seem to love to fight back.  But perhaps you might put up a better fight then she did.  Of course she did feel pretty good without her clothes covering her up."

Suddenly Chris was pushed back towards Ignis as Paul flew at Keith and laid him out again with one hit.  But Paul was quickly pulled off of him by Korn and Bob who had just walked in to see Paul striking Keith in the face with his fist.  Keith's lawyers quickly picked him up and they headed away from the courtroom as the security team started to show up.  Bob and Korn held Paul firmly as he fought against them as he tried to go after Keith again.

"Enough!"  Korn said in a firm tone to Paul.  "I understand why your upset.  But acting out will only lead to more issues.  And you know that.  And besides, you acting just as reckless as they are."

"Paul!  Stop!  Please."  Tracy said as she got in front of him and made him look at her.  "Calm down.  Okay?"

Paul stood back up and shook them off of him as he turned away.  "Tst.  Fine."

Korn and Tracy watched Paul walk a short distance away as he tried to calm down.  Suddenly security came running up to him and grabbed him by the arm.  They all flinched when they saw he turned around with his fist up like he was going to hit the security guard.  But he quickly stopped himself when he saw who it was.  But apparently it had been enough for the guard to tightened up his grip on his arm and start to walk him away.

"Shit."  Korn said as they watched the guard walk Paul away.  "Looks like he won't be making this hearing."

Tracy felt her heart crack as she watched them walk away.  This was the last thing that any of you needed.  She dropped her gaze as they headed down the hallway.

"Where are they taking him?"  Ignis asked as he stood there in shock as he tried to figure out what had just happened.

"They'll both be taken to what they call the cool down cell." Korn explain.  "And more than likely it's going to cost me a pretty gil to get them back out."

Korn then turned to Tracy.  "Would you mind taking care of (y/n)?"

Tracy looked up at him and nodded.  "Of course."

"And what about you?"  Bob asked as he looked at Korn who was starting to follow Paul.

"I'm going to go and try to bail him out."  Korn said back over his shoulder.  "We can't very well have his daughter do this without him now can we?"

"Well I just he can get them out before she has to take the stand."  Bob said as he watched them walk away.

After a few moments of having your entire breakfast, and probable popcorn from the night before come back up. You slowly stood back up and flushed the toilet.  Then you slowly exited the stall.  That was when the hallway door opened up.

"(Y/n)?"  You heard Tracy ask as she walked into the bathroom.

"Yeah."  You quietly said as you walked over to the sink so that you could try to clean yourself back up again without messing up your makeup too much.

"Oh.  There you are."  She said as she walked up to the sink where you were starting to clean yourself up.  "Are you okay?"

"Well if you consider having your entire breakfast go down the toilet a good thing, then I'm great."  You tried to joke before you rinsed your mouth out.

"I'm just glad it wasn't any worse then that."  You continue as you wiped your mouth with a paper towel. "I mean, its not like anyone got hurt or in trouble over that."

"Well, not quite." Tracy nervously began.

You slowly looked over at her in shock. "What do you mean not quite?  What happened?"

"Well, you see...." Tracy started to say when the door suddenly opened up again.

"Can we have just one moment without something happening around here?" You heard Camelia ask as she walked into the room and straight up to you and Tracy.

"Madam Secretary?" Tracy said in surprise.

"Stop right there with the pleasantries." Camelia said in a firm tone.

Tracy looked a bit stunned. "I'm didn't..."

"And I don't want to hear any excuses." Camelia said as she looked away as she lifted her hand up a Tracy.

Tracy slowly dropped her head.  She knew the Camelia would be upset about what had happened.  But what was she to do, but to apologize for not stopping it sooner.

"I'm sorry."

Camelia then dropped her hand and looked back at Tracy. "I don't want any apologies from you either. You had nothing to do with his reactions. He's a grown man and he really should learn how to behave like one.  For pete sake he should know what he actions were going to start.  He set them up after all."

"Yes ma'am."  Tracy softly replied.

"Although, I do have to admit that I wanted to do the same thing myself." Camelia said with a smile.

"Who did what?" You asked as you gave them both a confused look. "I'm confused."

"Well, apparently that young man that you have spending time with, lunged at the defendant and struck him after you went running."  Camelia said in plain voice.

"He did?" You asked in shock as you stared at her.

"Unfortunately yes." Tracy added. "Your dad jumped in and pulled him off. But Keith said a rather rude comment.  And....well...."

"Don't tell me..." You said as you felt your heart start to pound.

Tracy dropped her gaze as she slowly nodded her head.

Camelia slightly looked down before looking back at you. "Mr. Scientia is trying to get them out of the holding cell as we speak."

"Wait... are you shitting me?" You asked in shock.

"Hey, language." Tracy said with a slightly firm voice.

"No. It's alright." Camelia said to you. "It's understandable to be upset at this moment. But only this time.  I don't want to hear it repeated.  Got it young lady?"

"Yes ma'am." You replied as you dropped your head.  It's a good thing you can't hear my thoughts right now then.

"Well let's get back to the courtroom." Camelia said in her firm tone again.  "What's done is done. And there's nothing we can do about it now.  Except wait for Mr. Scientia to bail them out. And we can do that in the courtroom."

"Come on. I'll sit by you while we wait." Tracy said as she started to rub your back.

"Do you think they'll be back before I have to take the stand?" You asked as you started to walk out with them.

"We can hope."  Tracy said with a slight smile.

"Damnit!" Chris shouted as he slammed his fists against the cell door as he stood there and took out his frustration on the door. "We should be in there with her."

"You should have thought about that before you struck him like that." Paul said as he sat relaxed on the bed and watched.

Chris quickly turned around and glared at him. "And what about you? I'm not the only one here you know."

Paul slightly shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't want you to get lonely."

"Don't give me that bullshit."  Chris spat back at him as watched Paul sitting there with one leg propped up with his arm resting on it.

"Who says it's bullshit?"  Paul asked with a slight smile before he rested his head against the wall.  "Plus I wanted to ask you a few questions myself. You know, outside of the courtroom."

"Ahh.  There it is."  Chris said as he rolled his eyes as he looked away from Paul.  "Your all alike.  All you ever want to do is trap me in some corner and run me through the ringer."

"Who said that I was going to run you through the ringer?"  Paul asked as he watched him.

Chris slightly looked back at him.  "Because your all alike."

"I don't know who you are lumping me up with, but I can assure you that I'm not like everyone else." Paul said as he watched Chris carefully as he sat there.  "And like you just pointed out, I'm locked up just like you.  But then again, being in a cell isn't exactly new to me.  Of course this one is a lot more comfortable then the last one"

Chris slowly turned around and looked at him. He couldn't help but notice that Paul did seem to be quite comfortable in the cell. Perhaps Ignis had told him the truth about him being held hostage in one by the Nif.  This one certainly didn't seem to bother him.

"So can we talk?" Paul asked him in his relaxed tone as he watched Chris. "Or would you rather stand there being pissed off? I'm cool either way. I just figured that a private chat might be more productive."

"Can I ask you questions in return?" Chris asked as he started to relax as he leaned up against the wall and looked at the floor.

"That's usually how a conversation works." Paul replied with a smile.

Chris looked at him with a disapproving look. "Really?"

Paul dropped his head as he sat up and put his legs over the side of the bed. "Apparently I seem to be the only one who is really relaxed here. But I suppose that is to be expected when you have been through what you have."

Chris felt his heart rate start to increase. "What do you mean?"

Paul gripped the side of the bed with both hands as he braced himself.  "I know that you had lost both of your parents during the Niflheim mission for Insomnia."

Chris felt his heart jump. He knew? But how? "How did you find out?"

"There wasn't a member on that team that I didn't know." Paul quietly replied as he looked at floor . "And there hasn't been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about them and the families that they left behind."

"And I swear, if had known that then, what I know now.  I never would have taken that many people.  And I would have been more selective as to who I took with me." Paul said in a deep voice as he tightened up his grip on the bed.

"Fine thing to say now." Chris said as he crossed his arms and ankles as he gave Paul a firm look. "It's not like it can change anything."

"I know." Paul replied. "Nothing can bring them back. Just like there isn't anything that I can say that will make it easier to deal with."

"Except perhaps," he started as he slowly looked up at him, "I'm sorry for the loss of your parents, Jamie and Randy.  They were really good people.  And truly gifted individuals when it came to intelligence."

Chris felt his heart shake at hearing his parents names.  He did know them.

"And more recently."  Paul continued as he gave Chris a sorrowful look.  "I'm truly sorry for the loss of your fiancé, Erica."

Chris felt his heart skip at hearing her name. "How did you find out about her? No one knew about her."

"Tracy told me." Paul said with a serious tone as he slightly dropped his eyes.  "She had been the person who had to contact all of the families of those who had died that day. And when she talked to her family, they had mentioned that you were in town that week and how you had proposed to her the night before."

Chris closed his eyes as he tried to stay in control of his emotions, as they came flooding back from that day. That day he had just left her after joining her for lunch.  He had been walking back to his car that was outside the barriers when Ifrit attacked downtown. He had heard that she was still walked down main street when Ifrit appeared.  And that he had incinerated everyone in front of him, her included, with a quick sweep of his hand.

"She unfortunately had gotten caught up in the beginning of his attack." Paul said as he dropped his head again.

"And where were you when this all happened? Mr. Hero?" Chris said in a low growl. "Everyone saw you flying around from store to store as the news showed you all over the TV."

"After Ifrit appeared? Unconscious for a spell after being thrown onto a car." Paul replied as he could once again feel the pain in his back and ear. "Then I was everywhere I could be as we tried to save everyone that we came across."

"But I heard that you got hurt during it though." Chris asked as he watched Paul.  "You look fine to me. And you didn't seem to have any issues during class."

"Well it's hard to show a broken femur and burns on my back and in my ear after all this time now isn't it?" Paul said as he looked up at Chris.

"How did you break your femur?"  Chris asked as he stared at Paul.

"Would you believe me if I told you that an old friend threw me through a storefront window, from across the street, and right into a support beam?" Paul asked as he half smiled at Chris.

"Now I know your lying to me." Chris said with a cross look.

"I wish I was." Paul said as he dropped his gaze as he remembered that moment.  "His strength was like something out of a nightmare. And the way he threw me.  It was like he was someone else entirely, almost inhuman. He just picked me up and pitched me like a baseball."

Chris said nothing as he looked at Paul. He had heard a lot of weird rumors about some guy with incredible strength, wandering around downtown at the time, killing people. But until that moment he thought that they were all high on something. But Paul's face wasn't joking anymore as he sat there staring at the ground.

"Your not kidding. Are you?" Chris quietly asked as he stared at Paul.

"I wish I was." Paul said more to himself before he looked up at him. "I really wish I was."

Chris dropped his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's fine." Paul quietly replied as he sat up again. "There are a lot of people who still don't know exactly what happened that day. And that includes me."

Chris dropped his head more.

"Now that I've answered your questions." Paul said as he shifted on the bed so that he was comfortably against the wall again. "Would you mind answering a few of my questions?"

"After that, I almost have to."  Chris said as he slouched up against the wall.  "So ask away."

"Thank you."  Paul said with a slight smile before he got really serious again.  "Because I want you to tell me everything that happened between you and my daughter while we were onboard."

"Why do you want to know that?"  Chris asked as he tried not to look at him.  

"Because nobody acts like that over some girl that they just met, unless they have feelings for her."  Paul said in a blunt tone and watched as Chris suddenly got very uncomfortable.  "And I want to know why you do."

"Why does it matter."  Chris said as he looked away.  "It's not like I could actually date her or anything.  We're too different.  And besides, she's practically a kid compared to me."

"Your not as different as you think.  And things can change as we grow up."  Paul said as he watched him.  "Take her mother and I.  We were seven years apart.  But you couldn't tell by how much we loved each other when we first met."

"Then what happened?"  Chris asked as he looked back up at Paul.  "You know, between you and your wife?"

"What makes you think something happened?"  Paul asked as he looked at Chris with a curious look.  "Aside from the obvious."

"Well, you said when you first met, you loved her.  Did something happen to make you stop loving her?"  Chris asked as he gave him a curious look.

"On the contrary. I've never stopped loving her."  Paul said before he dropped his gaze again as he leaned forward.  "And yet, I think somewhere through the years, I think she fell out of love with me.  Especially after we lost our son."

Both men fell silent for a moment before Paul sat back up again after a deep breath.  "But that doesn't matter right now.  What does matter is your feelings for my daughter."

Chris quickly looked back out the door. "Tst. That's simple.  I don't have any for her."

"I don't think that's true."  Your dad said as he watched Chris.  "But perhaps you'll see as we talk."

"All rise."  The bailiff said as he introduced the judge that had been presiding over the case the entire time as she entered the room.

The judge walked in and took her seat without looking at anyone at first until she was settled.  Then she had everyone take their seats.  Then for the next half hour or so, the lawyers for each side, stood up and gave their opening arguments and introductions, as you well, for their clients.  But you weren't really paying attention to that as you kept thinking about your dad and Chris.

You just couldn't seem to get them out of your head.  What the hell did he say that set off both of them?

"Miss (y/n)?"  You suddenly heard Mark's voice say from in front of you.  "Are you ready?"

You quickly looked up and realized that everyone was watching you as you sat there on the bench your chair.  Apparently they had been trying to get your attention for a while.  But you hadn't heard anything since you were so lost in your head.  And it was obvious that the defense attorney was thrilled with this as she smirked at you.

What the hell is that look for?  You thought as you gave her a confused look.  And why does she seemed so pleased with something?

"(y/n)?"  You heard Mark asked again which made you look at him.  "Are you ready?  It's time for you to take the stand."

"Yeah."  You absently said as you started to get up.

Then you suddenly realized you still hadn't seen your dad or Chris come back in yet.  You quickly started to look around.  But they were no where in sight.  It appeared that Korn was still trying to get them out. You dropped your head as you stood there for a moment.

Suddenly you felt someone grab both of your hands which made you looked at them.  And that was when you realized that both Tracy and Ignis had been sitting beside you the whole time.  Tracy gave you an encouraging smile.  While Ignis gave you a kiss on the hand as he gave you a loving smile.

Their smiles were enough to make you smile as you realized that you weren't doing this by yourself.  And that even if Chris and your dad weren't there.  You still had Tracy and Ignis who would support you no matter what happened.  Which gave you the courage to give them a slight smile before you walked away from them and headed for the stand.  

After they swore you in, Mark started off by asking you a some basic questions.  Like what's your full name and where did you live.  Which of course were easy and you were able to answer without batting an eye.  But Mark had already told you that he would start off with these to help you feel more comfortable on the stand before getting into the main questions.  Which you were grateful for since it seemed to be working since you weren't really nervous with any of it so far.

Then as he got ready to continue, you heard the courtroom door open up.  You quickly looked at the door and saw Korn, Chris, and finally your dad come walking through the door.  You caught your breath as Chris looked at you and smiled.  Then you smiled back at him as he walked in took a seat beside Henry who was near the front of the courtroom.

"There you are."  Henry quietly said to him.  "Where the hell have you been?"

Chris slightly laughed as he got comfortable.  "You could say that I was finally getting a few questions answered."

Chris then looked at you and smiled again at you.  "And perhaps clearing up a few other things as well."

Henry slight raise an eyebrow.  "Really?  Where you finally able to get what you wanted?"

Chris looked over at him and gave him a smile.  "Yeah. Yeah I did."

"Good."  Henry said with a smile back at him. "That's really good."

You felt your strength increase as you saw Chris and Henry talking.  You weren't sure what they were talking about.  But Chris seemed to be a bit more relaxed.  Like a huge burden had been lifted from him as he looked back at you with his true smile and nodded at you.  You couldn't help but to smile in return as you felt your own strength increase as you nodded back.

"So Ms. (l/n), what school are you currently attending?"  You heard Mark ask as he was trying to get you back on track.

You looked back at Mark and started to relax.  "I go to Capital High School."

"What grade are you in?"

"10th grade."

"Do you do any sports for the school or are  you in any clubs?"

"I'm in choir and I'm on the swim team."

"Would you consider yourself a good student?"

"I don't get in trouble if that's what you mean.  So yeah.  I guess you could call me a good student."

"Are your grades good?"

"They have to be if I want to attend college next year."

"I suppose they do."  Mark said with a smile.

"Do you work as well?"

"I do.  I work at one of the local cafes as waitress and prep cook."

"Then I'm sure that everyone is a bit curious as to how an average high school student ended up on a ship in the middle of the ocean?"

You swallowed as you felt your heart rate start to slowly increase.  "It's part of my training."

"And what training would that be?"

"I'm in training and currently serving as a retainer to Prince Noctis of Insomnia."

"Really? Then how is it that you ended up on the other side of the world from his highness?"

"We were asked by King Regis himself, to safely escort Ms. Lady Lunafreya back to Tenebrae."

"So you were on her security detail?"

"Yes."

"Just you and your dad?"

"Not at first. But yes."

"Who else was with you?"

"Ms. Sullivan was with us as well."

"But then she was told to stay here."

"Yes."

"Can you tell me a little bit about the trip?"

"Sure." You replied.

Then you gave a brief explanation of the meet and greets with each department. And about the time spent in the lab with Luna.  And the many hours in the kitchen as you helped cook for not only the officers, but also for the rest of the crew during the storm.   And so far so good.  You seemed to be doing fine with talking about it all.  Until he brought up the meet and greet with the Navigation department.

"How would you describe the interaction with the defendant during that session?"

Suddenly you were back in the compartment on the ship with the entire Navigation department looking back at you. You looked up and saw Keith looking back at you with a smirk. Immediately your heart started to race again. You took a deep breath as you tried to calm back down again so that you could talk.

But that was when you heard someone clear their throat from the defendant's table. You glanced over and saw Keith give you a slight smirk before he put his hands in front of his face. It was obvious that he was remembering that day as well as he stared at you. You could feel yourself starting to panic as his eyes seemed to be burrowing straight into you with hateful glee.

You tightly grabbed your hands together and started to rub them together as you felt your entire body start to tense up again.  You could feel yourself starting to freak out as he smirked at you behind his hands.  But right as you were about to make a break for the door, Mark moved right in front of you. His body broke the line of sight between the two of you as if he had just shatter a window pane. You blinked as you slowly sat back and slowly gasped for breath as you snapped back to the present.

"Look at me."  Mark said in a low voice.  

You quickly looked at him as you gasped for breath as you tried to calm back down.

"Don't look at him.  Okay?"  Mark said as he stood right in front of you and watched you carefully.  "That's what he wants.  It's what they want.  Their trying to get you to panic.  If you panic then you can't talk and tell the truth.  Don't give them that opportunity to take advantage of you like that.  Got it?"

You nodded your head as you looked down for a moment as you pressed you lips together as you tried to steady your breathing.  Then you looked back at him with a determined look. You were going to do this. You had to. He wasn't going to win this. Not now. Not ever.

"Good girl."  He said in a quieter tone before he raised his voice again.  "I'll ask again.  Can tell me describe the interaction with the defendant during that session?"

******Author Note******
I know, I know, CLIFFHANGER! But not to worry. I am working on it right now. I don't like leaving everyone hanging like that. (Well maybe a little. 😉) But it won't be for long.

And this next chapter will be for all of us who are victims of sexual abuse. Or more correctly, survivors of unwanted and unwarranted sex.  Do no one deserves to be treated like that. I don't care how old or young you are, or even your gender. 

Even your relationship to person doesn't matter. No means no. Even if that person never said it because they were passed out. Or too young and scared to say no.  Because unless you both want it and both agree to it. It's unwanted and never should happen.

But as memories of that day play in your mind like a movie.  Everything seems to disappear. No lawyers or judges. Or even Ignis for that matter.  Except for the support you could feel from him. Well that was until the defense attorney stood up.

Well your resolve a determination be enough to pull through? We shall see.

Thanks for reading.  :)
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