Author: Liz
E-mail: [email protected]
Rating: PG-13
Category: J/H
Summary: Jake is raped one night and later finds out she is pregnant. But is the baby Hamilton�s child�or the person who raped her?
Disclaimer: Thanks to my Frannie Bee for help with ideas and the baby names and Maggie for help with Jake�s middle name
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Hamilton sat down on the cold bench behind Jake and Jake turned to him. He smiled. She smiled back.
�Mom�s watching the babies.�
Jake nodded. �He�s right there.�
�Don�t look at him, baby, don�t give him the satisfaction.�
Jake nodded and turned back. Hamilton looked at the man accused of harming his beautiful girl. He was smirking at him. Hamilton gave him a cold stare before looking away. Scout rubbed his shoulder. Hamilton looked over and saw Scout with Bella and Will beside him.
�Where�s Sarita?�
�In the back. Don�t look at her, she doesn�t want attention drawn to herself.�
�Okay.� He sighed and waited.
A few moments later, they were asked to rise and the judge came in. Hamilton sighed and they were asked to be seated.
During opening statements, the prosecutor brought up Jake cross dressing and the attention brought to herself. Jake had to look over at her friends. Scout and Will gave her smiles. She shrugged. Then her lawyer was going to bring up the pain she suffered and what she had to deal with. Jake didn�t want to go through with this.
�The defense calls Bella Banks to the stand.�
Bella sighed and got up. She walked up to the stand and was sworn in.
�State your name and occupation.�
�Um�Bella Banks and I work at my father�s gas station.�
�Miss. Banks, how long have you known Jacqueline Pratt?�
�Since I was fifteen, so about four and a half years.�
�What was she like when you met her?�
Bella sighed. �Rebellious, fun, really sweet. She was a great person.�
�How did you meet her?�
�I was sitting in a restaurant with my friends Will and Scout and Jake and her boyfriend came in and sat next to us.�
�Now, forward four years. Before she was raped, when did you last see her?�
�The gas station. She had gone into Friendly�s and she came by to ask me to let Scout take the bike home when he got off work because she wanted to walk. I said okay and she left. I didn�t hear from her till the next morning.�
�Bella, when you saw Jacqueline�s entire body, when was it and what were the injuries you saw?�
�Um�probably after she took a shower at my house. She came into my room in her bra and underwear. She had a horrible black bruises over her stomach, her arms, her chest, her legs. Her head, she had a gash through the hairline. She um, she had cuts and scratches on her fingers and face. She looked horrible. I couldn�t believe it could happen to her.�
�Now, when you got the call, how did she sound?�
�Scared, confused, urgent. She really needed a girl near her but when I came near her, she kind of shied away.�
�No further questions.�
The prosecutor stepped up. �Miss. Banks, what was �Jake� wearing when you met her?�
Bella looked into Jake�s eyes. Jake sighed. Bella licked her lips. �A t-shirt with a long sleeved shirt underneath, jeans and tennis shoes.� He looked at her expectantly. �And a corset.�
�Now Jake acted like a boy for four years, is that correct?�
�Yes, she did to get her mother�s attention.�
�Really? No other reason? Her desire for more attention? Maybe a new identity.�
�Objection, pure speculation.�
�Sustained.�
The prosecutor sighed. �I have no further questions.�
Bella looked at him then Jake. Jake and Bella shared a questioning look. Bella stepped down when allowed.
�I can�t do this.� Scout sighed to himself. He had to be called next.
�Hamilton Fleming.�
Hamilton got up and went up to the chair. He was sworn in and he stepped down.
�Hamilton, what is your relation to the defense?�
�I�m her fianc�e and father of her child.�
�Ah. How old is your daughter?�
�Three months.�
�Mr. Fleming, when you saw your Jacqueline, what was your first thought?�
�I thought someone hurt her and that she had been beat up. But, I didn�t expect this.�
�But it happened.�
�Yes, it did. I wish it never did.�
�We all do, Hamilton. Now, when Jacqueline started remembering details of the rape, how did she remember and how did she react?�
�Well, the first thing she remembered was a screwdriver. She ran off and we all followed her. She had run to the spot and started crying. Scout found the tool that was used a moment later. But lately, she�s been getting better. She just kind of stares off into space then writes down what she remembered. �
�Hamilton, do you think Jake just said this to get attention?�
�No. She was hurt so badly. I don�t think she�d ever do that.�
�No further questions.�
~*~*
A week later, Jake tapped her fingers gently and listened to the closing statements. When she had to testify, she shakily pointed to him then looked away, willing the tears away. She mentioned all that she could remember. Now, the verdict was in. Sarita still came to the trial but she dressed differently. Once, she dressed up as a guy. Jake and Bella teased her for two days.
�What�s your verdict?� The judge asked.
�We find the defendant guilty of sexual assault and battery.�
Jake let out the breath she had been holding and Hamilton, Bella, Scout and Will cheered. Jake looked at them and then smiled. Hamilton looked at her with love in his eyes.
Pretty soon they all went home and celebrated. Then it was time for Sarita�s trial. This time, Jake hid herself. The prosecutor used the fact that Sarita had been flirting with him and that she was a whore. Will just sighed. That was not true at all.
Even though the fact that Sarita had been pregnant with the baby, there seemed to be problems with the trial.
One day, Sarita went home and sighed.
�I don�t believe this. Their saying I wanted it.�
�It�s okay, baby.�
�It�s not like I can remember anything else.�
Jake looked up from holding Brett. �It�ll be fine, Rita, I know it.�
�Yeah.�
The baby whimpered. Jake shushed him and kissed his head. She rubbed it then noticed the birthmark. She fingered it softly and she looked up. She suddenly got flashes.
Him bending his head�a mark on his head running from the hairline. She looked back at the baby then at Sarita.
�Was his head shaved?�
Sarita looked at her questiongly.
�Was his head shaved when he raped you?�
Sarita looked at her, surprised. Will, Scout, Bella and Hamilton looked at her.
�Um�a little, not too much.�
�Did you notice a birthmark?�
�Not really?�
�The baby has a birthmark on his head. I remember seeing a birthmark on his head. He has to shave his head, he has a birthmark on it.�
Sarita looked into her eyes. She was serious. She shut her eyes going back to that night. She remembered waking up. She remembered him running a hand through his sweaty hair. A slight mark could be seen. She shot her eyes open.
�Will, call my lawyer.� He did just that.
The next day, Sarita sat across from her lawyer as he talked to the judge.
�You have proof that the baby has this birthmark?�
Will walked in holding the three month old. He examined the marking on his head.
�Yep, it�s real. All right. Thank you.� He hung up. �The judge will have the man�s head shaved.�
Sarita sighed. �I�m sorry about all of this. We just didn�t remember.�
�No, it�s all right. Don�t worry, this will prove everything. We just need a picture of the baby�s birthmark.�
�I don�t want that monster seeing my baby.� Sarita said indignantly.
�Don�t worry. We�ll only see the top of his head. I promise.�
�Take the picture with a Polaroid first.�
�All right.� He took a picture of the baby and Sarita and Will looked. All you saw was the top of his forehead and the slight top of his head.
�Good.�
�You are one tough woman, Sarita.�
�People always tell me that.�
He smiled and shook his head.
A few days later, the guilty verdict came in. They all celebrated that night.
The next day, Jake walked up to Bella at the gas station. �It�s over.�
Bella smiled. �Told you it�d be over.�
�Bella?�
�Hmm?�
�Would you be my maid of honor?� Jake pouted.
Bella smiled. �I�d love to. Why didn�t you ask me before?�
�I�ve been too busy with everything. I�m sorry.�
�Don�t worry. I�ll stand beside you as you marry the most gorgeous man alive.�
�Not more gorgeous than me right?� Scout asked.
�So modest.� Bella said with a laugh.
Jake smiled. She sighed and looked at them. �Guys? I just wanted to say thanks. For being with me through everything.�
�We�d help you in a heartbeat. You�re our best friend, Jake. You�re everything to us.� Bella hugged her tightly and Jake cried softly. Bella stroked her back and Scout smiled.
That night, Jake sat on the couch, holding her daughter and staring at her sleeping face. Hamilton walked downstairs.
�Hey.�
Jake looked at him. �Hey.�
Hamilton sat beside her and stroked the baby�s head. �You all right?�
�I will be.�
Kate walked out of the kitchen. �Jacqueline, your mom�s on the phone.�
Jake looked at her and smiled. �Hamilton, take her.� She handed the baby to Hamilton and went into the kitchen to take the call.
Kate smiled at her and sat down next to her son and granddaughter. �You�ve been wonderful with her, Hamilton.�
Hamilton smiled. �Protecting the woman I love.�
Kate smiled. �Hey, quit hogging that baby.�
Hamilton laughed and carefully handed her the sleeping child. Ayesha whimpered but Kate shushed her quietly.
~*~*~*
A couple of weeks later, Jake, Sarita, and Bella were sitting outside the gas station. Jake was teasing Ayesha with toy keys and Sarita was burping Brett. Bella sat beside them reading a magazine. Scout and Will were working while Hamilton was depositing his paycheck from working as a tutor for Rawley Boys so he could give Jake some money for child support. The girls heard a car drive up and Bella was the first to look. She noticed the girl in the backseat looked familiar.
�Rita.� She said.
Sarita and Jake looked at her and then the car. Sarita stopped mid pat. Her eyes narrowed.
�My parents.�
Jake licked her lips and didn�t notice as Ayesha looked at the keys she was still holding. Bella stood up and set the magazine down.
�I have a feeling their not here for gas.� She said.
�No.� Sarita sighed as they got out of the car.
�Hey sis.� Rebecca went up and hugged her. �Oh honey, he�s beautiful.�
Sarita smiled. �Thanks sis. What are they doing here?� She whispered.
Rebecca sighed. �They practically begged the police to tell them where you were. They want to apologize.�
Sarita sighed and looked at Bella. Bella took the hint.
�Jake uh, why don�t we go get something to eat at Friendly�s?�
�Oh! Of course.� Jake picked up the baby bag.
�You want me to take him?� Bella asked Sarita.
�I�ll take him. I�ll go with you.�
�Are you sure, Becca?� Sarita handed the baby to her.
�I got him. Don�t worry.� Rebecca smiled at her.
Sarita smiled back. �You get to meet Will.�
Rebecca smiled.
Bella cleared her throat. �Come on. You�ll love him.� She led Rebecca and Jake to Friendly�s. When they got to the door, she looked back before walking in.
Sarita looked from them and over to her parents.
�Um�do you guys want something to eat? Drink?�
�Iced tea would be nice.� Her mother said.
�Okay. Coming right up.� Sarita bit her lip and went inside the house. She sighed and put a hand to her mouth. She wiped away the tears and went into the kitchen.
~*~*~*
Will handed the sundae to Sean and wished him luck on his game. Sean left but not before saying hi to the girls. Will smiled but frowned, noticing Sarita wasn�t with them.
�Hey Will. This is Rebecca, Sarita�s sister.�
�Nice to meet you, Rebecca.� He shook her hand.
�You too. Thank you for taking care of her and Brett.�
�I love them both. There is no need to thank me for that.�
She smiled.
�Where is Sarita?�
�Talking to our parents.�
�Oh.� He looked at Jake and Bella. They shrugged.
�So, tell me everything that has been going on in my baby sister�s life.�
Will, Bella and Jake opened their mouths, closed them, frowned, and then smiled.
�Where do we begin?�
�The birth of this cutie.�
�Well, it started out like this�� Will began as Scout walked over. Bella shushed him before he could ask.