The morning of the trial came, and Donna helped NT and the others get everyone there.

With the number of people coming, this took quite a while...so it wasn't until shortly before the proceedings were due to start that Ameh came over to her. "Donna...there's someone who wants to see you," she said.

Donna sighed--she'd been expecting this--and followed.

Ameh led Donna to one of the small waiting rooms. "Pippi said she's in there. We thought you two should get a little chance to talk before things get started."

Donna looked down at the floor. "I want to. But...God what am I going to say? what's *she* going to think when..."

"Never mind that. You have each other and that's all that counts and that's gonna overshadow everything else. You're still her little girl and nothing but nothing's gonna change that."

Donna shook her head. "I wish I could be that sure." she sighed. Well, it was over, time to die. She took another deep breath, nodded, and Ameh opened the door.

"Go on, that's your mom in there, not Christine Benson." Ameh urged.

Donna opened the door and froze as she saw the woman inside. The woman who looked up as the door opened.

For a moment, Donna and Kendra could only stare at each other, words having temporarily failed them. There were tears starting down both faces.

"Donna..." Kendra finally managed, then took a step towards her daughter, arms outstretched.

Donna, meanwhile, was wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. But it remained stubbornly solid beneath her. "Mom..." she sobbed, yearning for her mother's hug but at the same time not feeling she deserved it. "Mom...I..."

"Donna..." Kendra sobbed, and pulled Donna against her. The next few minutes both simply held each other, both were crying too hard to talk.

"Oh damn these blasted allergies." Ameh sniffled and took a tissue from her purse. "Meet you back in the court room." And Ameh left them alone together.

A short while later...

Court got underway, and Donna took a seat among the spectators next to her mother.

The first part of the proceedings covered Nathan's early life and how his parents and then his brother had died. Donna felt even sicker than she already did. She'd known some of this--such as how his mother had died--but not that he'd been behind it all. Though knowing him as she did, it didn't come as a surprise.

More medical testimony followed, from a doctor who had known the one who'd been treating Tompkins' brother in the months before his death.

Then there was a break for lunch, and after court resumed, Ameh Chase was called to testify.

As that began, Donna found herself crying...damn it, so much of this, what Christine Benson had done to Ameh, was exactly what she'd done to Donna herself. She wanted to go over there and give Ameh the biggest hug--either that, or tear Christine to pieces. It was only her mother's hand on her shoulder that kept her where she was.

When Ameh finally finished, the next called to testify was a surprise: Christine's daughter, Melanie, and her testimony was just as hard for Donna to sit through as Ameh's had been.

Afterward, court was dismissed, and Donna watched Ameh storm out of the room in tears. She decided to go after her, eventually catching up to Ameh on the back sundeck of the hotel.

As Donna approached Ameh, she held out her hands. "I know it wasn't easy for you to get up there and talk about what happened--but I'm glad you did. It's actually going to help when...when I have to do that, which'll probably be, if not tomorrow, then the next day, depending on when Capri wants to cover that."

Donna took a deep breath. After the way Ameh'd reacted to Melanie's testimony, she knew this wouldn't be taken well...but damn it, she had to try. "I have to tell you something though...Melanie Benson wasn't lying. I could tell if she was...I know it's hard to believe, and if I hadn't sensed her emotions myself, I wouldn't have believed her either."

Ameh sighed and sat back in the chair. "I guess you and I are kind of in the same boat as far as Christine and what she did, and part of me wants you to be wrong about Melanie, because I just don't know how to deal with seeing her again along with the other two. I feel like I'm in some really bad time-travel B-movie or something and I keep looking for the door off the set. I know she really looked upset up there, but you know how good a faker Christine is - I just thought she was doing the same thing. But now with both you and Pippi saying otherwise, I'm really starting to second-guess myself. And I don't like doing that. My whole life has been second-guessing myself in situation after situation. You know, at first when I heard the crying just before Capri called her up there, I thought that was either you or NT. Well, I know I've done some stupid things that I'm sorry for too, or that I regretted as soon as I did them, but never anything like the stuff Christine did. I'll sure try to remember that when thinking of Melanie now, and if she really is sorry, I guess that's a relief. I just never thought she could be. Now, how the heck am I gonna face Pippi, or Capri (whoosh) or what can I say to Melanie now? If I tell her I believe her, or apologize for being so mean to her, she might take advantage and turn back to the way she was, or gloat or something."

Donna shrugged. "It's hard to say what Melanie Benson would do, because I don't know her--I never even knew Christine *had* a daughter before today, Christine never mentioned her to me. But going by what I felt from her, I don't think she'd gloat or anything like that. She was too utterly miserable about it all."

She paused, trying to think how to put what she wanted to say next. "I don't really know what to say about Pippi or Capri either--I'm still very nervous about Capri, you know. She looks so...fierce...all the time." She took a deep breath. "Maybe you...if I'm being out of line, here, I'm sorry, but...maybe you and Melanie need to talk some more, and Pippi too? And if you want me there--I don't know how much help I can be, but I'll try."

"Wow, so Christine never mentioned Mel to you, then it sounds like Mel really wasn't kidding about having nothing to do with her mother. Trust Christine to louse up a relationship like that." Ameh replied. " I'm glad you told me all this and I'll just need some time to chill out before I can talk to either Mel or Pippi about this. I really pissed Pippi off this afternoon. But I think I just need to be alone for a while. If you need me though, I'll be in my room, number 17." With that, Ameh hugged Donna and then left.

Donna still didn't feel like going back to her room. She knew if she did, she'd have to face her mother, and she just wasn't up to doing that.

So she remained where she was, looking out at the view, watching as the sun sank lower, then finally set, and then the stars came out.

It was some while after that that she heard footsteps on the deck. She turned, thinking it was Ameh coming back--then stifled a gasp as she realized who it was.

Not Ameh, but someone else.

Reverend Benjamin Myles.

"Child," he started to say, but she cut him off.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" she cried, fighting the tears that threatened to well up. "For everything."

"I know--Donna, isn't it?" he replied. "I know you did not act of your own choice that night, that he forced you. And he shall face the retribution of the LORD for that and all his other sins as well."

Donna nodded. "He's got to--he's just got to."

Myles nodded, then went on. "But there's something else. Donna...have you not thought why it was Tompkins sought to force you to serve him?"

"I know why," she said bitterly. "Because I've got...well, magic."

"That is exactly it. And you know what the Bible says about that, do you not?" he continued.

Donna's face paled. She did remember reading about witches in the Bible, but Reverend Myles couldn't mean *that* could he?

"Come, sit here, with me," he continued, taking her hand and steering her to a bench at the side of the balcony. "I know you yourself are not lost to evil, child, or you would not be here seeking to bring justice to Tompkins and his cohorts. But this power that is in you--that is another matter."

Donna's eyes widened. "It's just...something I was b-born with. I'm told it...it ran in my f-father's family." she replied.

"Perhaps so, but that does not change its ultimate source. Do you not see, that this is what drew Tompkins to you? To truly reject evil, child, you must reject this power also. For it is of Satan, it is of the Devil, and will only lead you to damnation."

Donna shook her head. "But I can--I can use it to help--not hurt! I don't want to hurt anybody!" she cried.

"I know. And that is why we must pray. LORD GOD, help this child to reject the temptation that Satan has placed within her. To see that only in YOU can there be salvation." He took a deep breath and his grip on Donna's hands tightened slightly. "Satan I abjure you in the name of our LORD come out of this child, come OUT in the name of GOD!"

Donna burst into tears.

"LORD GOD take the Devil from her, take this curse and help her to know that in YOU and YOU alone is the TRUE PATH to righteousness." Myles continued.

Donna could only look into those dark eyes and cry. She hadn't wanted to believe her magic could be bad--but he was right, it had been what Tompkins wanted her for. And he'd made her use it to hurt people...but then there'd been other things, like helping find NT that day, or getting everyone away from Tompkins.

As Myles went on and on she became more confused, more torn between two sides and that in turn only made her cry harder.

Suddenly Donna heard another familiar voice.

"Mr. Myles, that's enough! Can't you see yer scarin the poor girl ta death! look at 'er for Pete's sake! She's in tears! An' I overheard ya on the way out 'ere. ya didn't 'elp yer own family with yer brand o' prayin, an' y'ain't 'elpin this child now either."

Oh God, Donna thought. Capri Monroe. Of all people who could've walked into this. She barely registered Myles' retort to Capri.

"But this power she has, it didn't come from GOD!"

"An' jus' 'ow d'ya know that?" Capri demanded, scowling at the man. "Did God actually *come down* and *tell* you in plain English* that this wasn't from him?"

Benjamin had to shake his head.

"An' what about the physically afflicted, the sick, I s'pose ya think they came from the devil as well!"

Mr. Myles stood there.

"The only time an affliction er sickness's from the devil is when somebody human, workin fer the devil, causes 'em. What about the 10 year old who's learnin at college level? 'e's got a special gift that can't be explained. It ain't natural fer a 10 year old ta know *that much*. Is that of the devil? No! It's somethin in 'is makeup that 'e was born with, that 'e didn't ask for!"

Donna couldn't stop crying, but even through her tears she could see Myles staring openmouthed at Capri as she ranted on.

"Same with Donna an anybody 'ere with so called 'magic' er 'power' fer lack of a better term. We only call it 'magic' er 'power' 'cause we ain't found another term fer it, an' it's in the physical makeup, it ain't witchcraft, er of the devil. Look at other creatures that can change color, or chemicals that change form. Witchcraft? Of the devil? No. It's all part o' nature Well, this ain't no different. It's a human capability what jus' can't be explained er termed right, nothin more. What Tompkins does, if *that* ain't of the devil, I dunno what is. Look, I know yer tryin, yer jus' not goin 'bout it right, an' ya gotta start lookin at the reactions ya generate. God didn't put ya on this earth ta make people scared an' sad, an' frankly tha's all I've seen ya do. I know tha's not what ya want, but it's what's 'appenin."

Capri pulled herself together, continued in a calmer but no less firm and determined tone. "Now...Yer 'ere as a witness at a trial, an' tha's all. I suggest ya keep yer mind on the events i'll be questionin ya about. An' I don't wanna find out ya been upsettin anybody else, no matter 'ow good intentioned yer tryin ta be. This trial's tense enough without that." Her voice was no longer raised, but quite gentle. however there was a firmness to it that warned it would be best not to push one's luck with her.

Myles looked like he'd been about to say something more, but didn't. He shook his head and left.

Then Capri turned to Donna and put her strong arms around her.

Donna had frozen in the mean time, and now she was just about to duck quickly back inside since Capri's attention had apparently been on the Reverend. But before she could, Capri had lowered her tone and was now holding her.

"I'm sorry 'bout this,, look, try not ta let 'im get t'ya. I don't think 'e understands anythin beyond 'is 0ld Testament world, yet." She sighed.

Donna couldn't help the sob that escaped her.

"'ere now, 's gonna be alright, shhhh, shhhhh." Capri gave Donna a tissue and did her best to dry her tears. She held her firmly but gently, patting her on the back and rocking gently with her, the same way she had done for Shirlee and NT so many times before.

Donna didn't know how long she sat there, crying, before she could pull herself together enough to talk.

"C-Capri...please. I'm...all right." she tried to not let her voice shake, though she knew she was failing miserably. "I...I just want to...to get back inside, okay?"