Title: Violated
Author: Jessica
Violated: I hope you guys like this
one. It is pretty deep and sad. Not funny at all. So you’ve been warned.
Nick is a lawyer and Jessica and him are married and living in
Disclaimer: I don=t own the
characters within. I borrow them so don’t sue me. All comments (please
please please) go to [email protected]
Lachey Apartment
Jessica Lachey lay in the floor of
her apartment shivering and whimpering. It was over. He had finally left. She
didn’t=t move from her fetal position on the floor. >Nick will be home
soon. Please God make Nick be home soon= she prayed. She lay amongst her own
blood and torn shreds of clothing. >I can=t wait I need Nick= she thought.
She painfully pulled herself up from her position on the floor and crawled to
the phone. She pulled it off the table onto the floor. She clumsily put the
phone to her ear and dialed the number of his cell phone. After several rings
Nick answered.ANick Lachey,@ he said. She couldn’t=t speak.AHello?@ he
said. He heard whimpers over the phone.AJessica?@ he asked.
ANick,@ she said.
ABaby what=s wrong?@ he said.
AI=m hurt. A man hurt me in our
apartment,@ she said
AOh God baby hold on I=m on my
way,@ he said grabbing his keys forgetting everything else. AI=ll stay on the
phone with you ok?@ he said running out of the building.
AOkay,@ she agreed. He hailed the
first cab he saw. He gave the driver the address and told him to hurry.
ABaby are you there?@ he asked.
AUmm hmm,@ she whimpered.
AI=m on my way just hang on,@ he
said. Jessica grabbed the blanket off the couch and wrapped herself in it
laying on the floor. She held the phone to her ear.
AYes,@ she said. Nick had no idea
what had happened. Had they been robbed and she walked in? Was it premeditated
for her? Was she raped? Is going to be okay? He thought. Nick couldn’t=t
think of anything to say. Finally the cab pulled to a halt in front of their
building. The driver had made excellent time. He opened his wallet and threw a
few twenties at the driver. He exited and ran into the building. He ran into
the elevator and nervously waited to arrive at their floor.ABaby I=m in the
elevator,@ he said. She didn’t=t say anything. When the door opened Nick
ran out to the apartment. He tried the handle and the door was unlocked. He
opened it and ran inside and froze at what he saw. Blood covered the carpet
along with an overturned coffee table, broken vase, scattered books, and broken
glass. Jessica laid on the floor covered in a blanket but her white long legs
were exposed and bloody. She looked up at him and began to sob.
ABaby,@ she said and held her arms
out to him. Nick knelt down and hugged her as she laid her head on his
shoulder. The blanket fell from her shoulders and he saw her lack of clothing.
AGod no,@ he thought. He held her
as she sobbed into his shoulder. He put his hand on the back of her head.AShh
shh baby it=s okay I=m here,@ he whispered. She did not quiet.
ANick,@ she repeated breaking down
even more.
AYes I=m here You=re safe,@ he
said. He looked at her bare shoulders and saw tiny cuts and bruising on her
shoulders. He pulled her back and held her face. She clutched the blanket
around her.ABaby what happened?@ he asked. Her face crumpled. AIt=s okay just
tell me.@
AA man... he was in here when I
came in,@ she said.
AWho was it? Do you know?@ he asked
gently. She nodded.ATell me,@ he said. AIt=s okay tell me.@
ACameron Keller,@ she said softly.
Nick=s heart dropped. Keller was an alleged rapist who Nick got acquitted a few
months ago.
AAre you sure?@ Nick said.
AYes I=m sure,@ she said. ABaby he
raped me,@ she said beginning to be hysterical again.
AOh God,@ he said and hugged her to
him. She sobbed into his shoulder. AShhh shhh.@ He held her for while until her
tears slowed. AJess we need to get you to the hospital,@ he said. She shook her
head.
APlease no Nick. Please,@ she
pleaded looking at him frantically.
ASweetie. You need to,@ he said. AI
won=t leave you I promise.@ Nick grabbed the phone and dialed 911 with Jessica
still in his arms. He gave them the necessary information and then hung up the
phone. ABaby we need to get you in some clothes,@ he said. AHold onto me.@ He
lifted her up and carried her into the bedroom. He sat her on the bed and she
clutched the blanket around her. He got a sweat suit out of the closet and
helped her put it on. Bruises and cuts were evident all over her body. He then
carried her to the living room and sat on the couch holding her in his lap. She
laid her head on his shoulder and tried to be as close to him as she could he
made her feel safe. He held her tightly and whispered to her. The ambulance
arrived with a loud knock on the door.AParamedics!@ Jessica jumped at the
sound.
AShh it=s okay,@ he said to her.
The paramedics opened the door and Nick stood holding Jessica. They rolled a
gurney into the room. Nick gently tried to place Jessica on it.AC=mon baby let
go,@ he said but she refused to release him and she began to cry again.
ADon=t let me go,@ she whimpered.
ASweetie I=ll be right beside you.
It=s okay let go,@ he said and she did and laid back on the gurney. He held her
hand. The paramedics covered her with a blanket and strapped to the gurney. She
looked terrified and Nick remained next to her. Nick jumped into the back of
the ambulance and sat next to her. His conscience ate away at him >you freed
him. It=s your fault he did this to her.=
AMr. Lachey?@ one of the EMTs said.
He looked at him.ADo you know her blood type?@ he asked.
AYeah .... um... O positive,@ he said.
Nick looked down at Jessica who would not speak to any number of questions she
was asked. Tears continued to run down her face. He touched her shoulder and
she looked at him. ALove you,@ he mouthed to her. She did not speak while they
were in the ambulance and finally when they arrived at the hospital. Nick ran
next to the gurney. The nurses wheeled her into a room and one stopped Nick.
AYou can wait in the waiting room,@
she said. Jessica looked and saw that Nick was not there and she began to cry
louder. He saw her reaching for him as the nurses removed her clothes and
examined her.
APlease please can he stay with
me?@ Jessica tearfully asked one the nurses. She nodded and stroked Jessica=s
hair.
AIt=s ok,@ she said and then she
went to the door. ALet him in. She=s a rape victim.@ Nick pushed past the nurse
and went to her bedside. ASir you will have to let us work.@ Nick nodded
reassuringly at Jessica and said,
AIt=s okay baby I=m right here.@
Jessica=s tears slowed. Only two nurses and a doctor remained in the room.
AI need a rape kit,@ the doctor
said. The nurses helped Jessica put on a gown and placed her clothes in a bag.
Nick stared and finally realized he may need to call someone. He dialed Cacee=s
number.
AHello?@ she answered.
ACacee?@ he asked.
ANick? What is it?@ she said
sensing the concern in his voice.
AIt=s Jessica. Cacee she was
attacked in our apartment.@ Nick said.
ANo Nick,@ she said.
ACacee he raped her,@ he said.
Cacee gasped and tears began to form in her eyes.
AHe? Did you know him?@ she asked.
AHe was a client of mine. Cameron
Keller,@ Nick said.
AI=m coming,@ she said.
AWell actually Cacee this is going
to take a while. Can I bring her to your place?@ Nick asked.
AOf course,@ she said.
AWill you call Drew and Lea and
have them bring my car here and tell Lea to get Jessica some clothes to change
into?@ Nick asked.
AI’ll call them right now.@
AWell I’ll call you when I
know what is going to happen here,@ Nick said.
AOk tell her I love her,@ Cacee
said.
AI will. Thank you Cacee.”
Jessica lay on the table and a few cuts had been bandaged but most of her
injuries were bruises. The nurses were waiting on the doctor to begin his exam.
Nick walked over to her and took her hand. She looked up at him. He leaned down
and kissed her forehead.
AI called Cacee. She said to tell
you she loves you,@ he said. Jessica nodded.
AMrs. Lachey?@ the doctor said. AI
have to do a pelvic exam.@ Jessica=s stomach dropped. Nick noticed her fear.
AIs it really necessary?@ Nick
asked.
AI will be as fast as possible,@ he
said. He began the exam and Jessica clenched her eyes shut and Nick stroked her
hair and whispered to her the entire time.AIt=s almost over,@ he said softly.
Tears slid from beneath her clenched eyes. He wiped them away and kissed her
head. Being a lawyer he knew how important this information would be but it
still seemed like a violation of her body to him. Jessica whimpered.
AJust relax,@ the doctor said
soothingly. Nick stroked her cheek as she clutched his hand. She opened her
eyes and his heart broke at the sight before him.
AIt=s almost over,@ he promised
again. The doctor finished and got all the information the police needed. They
put Jessica=s legs down and she opened her eyes. Nick stroked her face. One of
the nurses approached Nick.
AA police man would like to speak
to you,@ she said. Nick looked at Jessica and kissed her hand.
ABe right back,@ he promised. She
nodded. Nick walked out and Mike stood outside the door.
ANick I=m so sorry,@ he said to a
teary Nick.
AI know,@ Nick said through tear
filled eyes.
AI’ve been able to delay her
questioning until the morning. Cacee said you knew who it was?@ he said.
AI do Cameron Keller,@ Nick said.
AA former client of mine.@ Mike wrote it down.
ADo you still have information on
him?@ Mike asked.
AI have his file at the office,@
Nick said.
AIs there anyway I can get it?@
Mike asked.AI’ll call Lea and have her bring it to the station,@ Nick
said.
AI’ll be by in the morning to
question her. Will you be at Cacee=s?@ he asked. Nick nodded looking back into
the room where Jessica laid.AAlright well take care man,@ Mike said. Nick
nodded tears filling his eyes again. Lea and Drew entered.
ANick,@ Lea said carrying a bag.
Nick hugged them both.
AHow is she?@ Drew asked.
ABad. She=s having a hard time,@
Nick said. He took the bag from Lea. AThank you guys so much.@ Drew handed him
his keys.
ADo you need anything?@ Lea asked.
AWell can you get the Cameron
Keller file and take it to Mike?@ Nick asked. Lea nodded.
AWhy?@ Lea asked.
AHe did this.@ Both of them looked
shocked. Drew felt for Nick and touched his arm.
AI=m sorry Nick,@ Drew said.
AI=m sorry It=s my fault,@ Nick
said. Lea and Drew looked at each other.
AListen Nick I’ll be by
Cacee=s tomorrow. Jessica probably doesn’t need visitors right now,@ Lea
said. Drew could see Jessica through the glass doors. She was crying. Nick
nodded.
AThanks,@ he said. Drew patted his
back. Lea hugged him.
ACall me if you need anything,@ she
said. They left and Nick looked back at Jessica as she stared at the ceiling
miserably. She was crying again and a nurse was stroking her hair back from her
forehead. The doctor approached Nick.
AMr. Lachey?@ he said. Nick nodded.
AYour wife=s injuries are mostly external and not life threatening. I am
releasing her because I feel her emotional health is more important and she
would cope better away from the hospital. I understand this happened in your
home, do you have somewhere to take her?@ Nick nodded.
AYes I do,@ he said.
AHere is a prescription for the
pain. We gave her the morning after pill to prevent pregnancy,@ he said. Nick
nodded.
AThank you,@ Nick said.
“I’ll be back with her
discharge papers.@ Nick walked back into Jessica=s room and looked down at her.
AHey baby,@ he said.
AHey.@
AWe are going to go to
Cacee’s ok?@ he said softly. She nodded. AMr. Lachey you might want to
help her get dressed,@ a nurse said. He nodded and helped Jessica sit up. He
looked into her pitiful face and kissed her face.
ANicky,@ she said and held her arms
out to him.
AOh baby,@ he said and hugged her.
She cried into his shoulder. He held her for a few minutes.
AJess c=mon let=s get you dressed
and then we can go.@ She leaned back and wiped her eyes. He helped her get
dressed and the doctor brought the discharge papers. Nick signed them and the
doctor gave him some last minutes instructions slipping him the number of a
rape support group. Nick thanked him. Nick turned to Jessica.
ABaby will you carry me?@ she asked
softly. He nodded.
AOf course,@ he said and gently
picked her up. He carried her out of the hospital and to the car. He opened the
door and laid her in the front seat buckling her seatbelt. He got in his side
and held her hand as they drove to Cacee=s.
End part 1
Violated 2
Disclaimer in part 1
Cacee=s Apartment 1:45 am
Nick held Jessica=s arm as they
approached Cacee=s door.
AAre you okay?@ he asked gently.
AI=m okay,@ she said sadly. Cacee
opened the door as they approached it. She looked at Jessica.
AJess,@ she said and hugged her
gently. Jessica hugged her back and Cacee pulled back and wrapped an arm around
her shoulders pulling her into the apartment. Nick followed. ADo you want to
eat something?@ Cacee asked. Jessica wordlessly shook her head.
AI want to take a shower,@ she said
softly.
AOk,@ Cacee said.
AWill you help me?@ Jessica asked
Cacee. Cacee nodded.
ASure,@ Cacee said. Nick looked at
Jessica.
ASweetie I=m going to go to the
apartment and get some of your things okay?@ he said. Jessica looked
apprehensive. AI=ll only be gone for a few minutes I promise.@ She nodded. He
kissed her head.
AC=mon sweetie,@ Cacee said and
wrapped her arm around Jessica=s shoulders. Jessica turned and Cacee led her
down the hallway. Nick left to go back to his apartment. Cacee walked with
Jessica into her bathroom. Jessica sat down in a chair and Cacee went to run
water in the large tub. Jessica stood and looked in the mirror. Her face was
pale. Her forehead harbored a large cut covered with a bandage. A blue bruise
covered her cheekbone. Her right eye was bruised underneath. Her lip was split.
She wanted to cry but she repressed her tears. Cacee looked at her and her
heart ached for her best friend. Cacee walked up behind her.
AJess? Will you be okay?@ she
asked. Jessica turned and nodded.
AYeah,@ she said.
AOkay I’ll be in the bedroom
if you need me,@ Cacee said and walked out of the bathroom leaving the door
cracked. Jessica took off her shirt and her pants. She got into the bathtub and
drew her knees to her chest. Cacee walked into her bedroom with tears in her
eyes. She went to her dresser and got out a pair of her pajamas for Jessica to
wear. The phone rang.
AHello,@ Cacee answered.
ACacee? It=s Lea.@
AHey.@AHow is she?@
AI don=t know she=s not saying
much. She=s in the shower right now.@
AWhat about Nick?@
AHe=s a wreck.@
ADo you know that it is his old
client that did it?@
ANo!@
AMike didn’t tell you?@
ANo he=s been out working I haven=t
talked to him.@
ANick called me and I had to give
Mike Cameron Keller=s file.@
APoor Nick.@
AYeah well I=m going to let you get
back to her but I’ll call you tomorrow.@
AOkay bye.@Cacee took the pajamas
and gently knocked on the bathroom door. Jessica looked up as Cacee entered.
AJess I have some pajamas for you,@ she said. Jessica had washed her hair and
vigorously scrubbed her skin.
AThanks,@ Jessica said. Cacee
turned and left Jessica to dress herself. Jessica stepped out of the tub and
grabbed a towel. She quickly pulled the pajamas on not wanting to look at her
body. She was so sore when she moved. ACacee,@ she called. Cacee entered the
room. ACan you dry my hair?@ Jessica said in a pitiful voice. AI=m too
sore.”
AOf course,@ Cacee said. Cacee
pulled the chair out of the vanity and Jessica sat down. Cacee plugged in her
hair dryer and brushed out Jessica=s hair. Jessica diverted her eyes from the
mirror. Cacee dried Jessica=s hair and then unplugged the hair dryer.
ACacee?@ Jessica asked. Cacee
looked at her.ADo you know who did this to me?@ Jessica asked beginning to cry.
AYes,@ Cacee said looking down.
ANick got him acquitted,@ Jessica
said. Cacee knelt down next to Jessica.
AI know,@ Cacee said.
AI wonder how many people
he’s got acquitted that have committed a crime again. He could be at
fault for something like this happening to someone else,@ Jessica said crying.
AJess think of all the innocent
people that he kept out of jail,@ Cacee said.
AI don=t know anymore,@ Jessica
said. Cacee hugged her and Jessica laid against her shoulder crying.
Lachey Apartment
Nick entered his apartment. He
opened the door and saw where evidence had been taken but the room remained in
disarray. He walked past it into the bedroom. He went into the closet and got
out a bag. He put it on the bed and began to gather some of Jessica’s and
his own clothes. He grabbed their toiletries form the bathroom and placed them
in the bag also. He made a mental note to get Jessica=s pain killer
prescriptions filled along with a sleeping pill. He grabbed the bag and turned
off the light. He walked down the long hallway and looked at the apartment and
the horrible memories it would bear for Jessica now. >How could she ever
come back here again?= Nick began to contemplate getting a new apartment. He
walked into the living room. He looked at the floor. He saw strips of Jessica=s
clothing in the floor mixed with her blood. He knelt down and picked up her
ripped shirt on the floor. It was blue, her favorite color. He looked at it and
blood covered the front and it was ripped down the front. He held it to his
face and tears ran down his cheeks. He sat on the floor and held the torn shirt
to his face smelling her perfume. Then he asked,
AWhat have I done?@
Cacee=s Apartment
Nick opened the door and did not
see Cacee or Jessica. He shut the door and locked it behind him. He walked to
the guest bedroom and looked inside. The room was dim but a lamp remained on.
Jessica lay on her back asleep in the bed. Cacee lay next to her on top of the
blankets asleep. Nick gently put the bag down and walked over to the bed. He
decided not to wake Cacee so he got a blanket off of a chair and laid it across
her. He walked over to Jessica and stroked her hair softly looking at her
beaten face. She wrinkled her face.
ABaby?@ she whispered.
AShhh shhh baby it=s okay, go back
to sleep,@ he said and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes. He
straightened the blankets over her and touched her face softly. He changed into
pajama pants and a shirt. Then he settled down in a chair with a foot stool in
the corner of the room. He quickly fell asleep. Nick and Cacee were startled
awake by a scream from Jessica. She sat straight up in bed and screamed,
ANo!@ Nick jumped out of the chair
and ran to her. He sat in front of her and hugged her. She began to cry. He
held her against him and she buried her face in his throat.
AShhh Jess it was just a bad
dream,@ he whispered. Cacee looked at him. She rubbed Jessica=s back as Nick
held her.
ANicky,@ she whimpered against him.
AShhh it=s okay,@ he said. He began
to rock her back and forth. Cacee got up and decided to leave them alone.
AHe hurt me Nicky,@ she said.
AI know he did,@ he said. AHe=s
gone now I’ve got you. No one can hurt you.@ She continued to cry into
his neck. He rocked her for a long time as she whimpered against his neck.
AShhh,@ he said against her cheek. She let out ragged breaths. Finally he felt
her relax against him and she fell asleep. He pulled her back and laid her in
the bed. He pulled the blankets back over her and leaned down and kissed her
forehead. She sighed in her sleep. He stood and went to the kitchen. Cacee sat
at the table with a cup of coffee. Nick looked at the clock. 9:15.
AHelp yourself,@ Cacee said
referring to the coffee. He got himself a cup and sat down with her. AShe
asleep?@ Cacee asked.
AYes finally,@ Nick said. AShe
breaks my heart.@
AI know,@ Cacee said. The phone
rang.AHello,@ Cacee said into the receiver.
AHey sweetie,@ Mike said.
AHey,@ she said.
AAre they there?@
AYes.”
“How=s Jessica?@
AShe=s asleep right now but she=s
having a hard time.@
AIs Nick there?@
AHe=s right here.@
ACan I speak to him.@
ASure.@ Nick took the phone from
her.
AHello.@
ANick, how you holding up?@
AI=m okay.@
AListen I want you to know that we
found Keller.@
AGreat Mike.@
AYeah but he=s denying it.@
AWhat?@
AHe swears he wasn’t in LA at
the time. Is Jessica sure?@
AShe said it was him. I can try to
talk to her later when she wakes up.@
AOk well the test results
aren’t back yet and they should offer some proof. Don=t worry about
anything just take care of her.@
AAlright.@
ADo you need anything?@
ANo not right now.@AOkay well I=ll
be by later.@
AThanks Mike.@
AYou=re welcome Nick.@
AThey found him,@ Nick said.
AThat=s good,@ Cacee said.
AYeah but he=s denying it,@ Nick
said.
AThese tests should be back soon
though and they will prove that it was him.@
AI think it would be best if we
didn’t discuss him with Jessica. She is going to want to get involved but
that isn’t good for her,@ Cacee said.
AI agree,@ Nick said. They heard a
noise and Jessica entered the kitchen. Nick stood and held her arm as she
slowly walked to the table.AAre you okay?@ he asked.
AI=m okay,@ she said.
ADo you want something to eat?@
Cacee asked. Jessica shook her head. AJess you need to try,@ he said.
AI can=t,@ she said sadly so he let
it drop.
ADo you want to call your parents?@
Cacee asked placing a hand on Jessica=s arm.
ANo please Not right now. We can
tell them later but not now,@ Jessica pleaded.
AOk we won=t,@ Nick said.
ADo you have that prescription for
pain the doctor gave you?@ Jessica asked.
AYes do you need one?@ Nick asked.
She nodded. Nick went to the kitchen and got a glass of water and a pain pill.
He took them back to the table and sat them in front of her. She took the pill
and he stroked her hair.
AWell I=m going to bed,@ Cacee said
and stood. She held Jessica=s hand. AIf you need me I’ll be in my
bedroom,@ Cacee said. Jessica nodded. Cacee left. Nick looked down at Jessica.
ABaby,@ he said kneeling down
beside her. AI=m sorry.@
AFor what?@ she said.
AThis is my fault...@ he began.
ANo Nick it=s not please don=t
think that,@ she said.
ABut I got him acquitted,@ Nick
said.
ABaby please Don=t blame yourself.
please,@ she said as tears filled her eyes. Nick kissed her head and hugged her
tightly. She laid her head on his shoulder. He wordlessly picked her up and
carried her to the bedroom. The room was dim except for the lamp on the bed
stand. Nick looked at the bed and then walked over to the chair he had slept in
last night. He sat with her in his lap. She lay against his shoulder with her
legs dangling over the side of the chair. He held her like a child. She dozed
off against his shoulder. He looked down at her and tears filled his eyes. He
held her tightly as he drifted off to sleep.11:15 am Cacee stood in the doorway
of the guest bedroom leaning against the doorway. She watched as Nick slept
still clutching Jessica in his arms in the chair. She had already showered and
dressed. A knock came to the door. She turned and went to the front door. Drew
and Lea stood in the doorway.
AHey,@ she said. They both smiled
sadly. She had called them to be here while Mike questioned Jessica he was
coming sometime this morning.
AWhere are they?@ Drew asked.
AGuest bedroom,@ Cacee said and
they followed her to the doorway. Nick had awaken but was still cradling
Jessica. Lea and Drew walked to the doorway. Nick smiled. They both looked sad
and quietly entered the room. They saw Jessica=s beaten face as she slept against
Nick. Lea=s eyes filled with tears. Cacee walked up.
ANick you may want to wake her.
Mike has to come to question her soon.@ Nick nodded.
AHe=s coming now?@ Nick said
already aware that Jessica would be questioned this morning. Cacee nodded.
AWe’ll let you help her get
dressed,@ Lea said and they all left. Nick leaned down and put his mouth to
Jessica=s ear.
AJess? Baby? Wake up,@ he said
softly. She stirred and opened her eyes. AHey.@
AHey,@ she whispered. Her body
ached as she tried to pull herself up more. She tucked her head against Nick=s
neck. He kissed her forehead.
AWe have to get dressed. Mike is
coming to question you,@ he said holding her. She nodded dreading having to
speak about her rape. Nick helped her get dressed and took her to the living
room. Lea and Drew stood when he entered with her. They both smiled at her and
she smiled back. Nick held her arm and his other arm was around her back. Cacee
walked up and looked at Jessica.
AMorning,@ she said hugging her.
AMorning,@ Jessica said.
AI=m going to jump in the shower,@
Nick said and released Jessica to Cacee. Cacee helped her walk. Lea approached
Jessica.
AHey sweetie,@ she said hugging
her. Jessica hugged her back. AHow are you?@
AI=m okay,@ Jessica said. Then Drew
looked at her somewhat afraid to hug her.
AJess,@ he said and gently hugged
her and pulled back. ADo you need anything?@ he asked. She shook her head.
Cacee helped her sit down in a chair.
ADo you want anything Jess?@ she
asked. Jessica shook her head. Cacee kissed her head. Lea and Drew found
themselves at a loss for words. Thankfully Mike entered as Nick entered the
living room after his shower. Nick went to Jessica and held her hand. Jessica
dreaded having to divulge the story of her rape.
End part 2
Violated 3
Disclaimer in part 1
Cacee=s Apartment
Jessica sat in a chair in the
living room wearing jeans and a sweater. Mike sat on the couch on his cell
phone. Cacee lingered in the kitchen. Drew and Lea sat on another couch. They
had collectively combined forces to put Jessica=s rapist behind bars. AJessica
I need you to tell me exactly what happened?@ Mike said. Mike was able to delay
Jessica=s questioning until now. Nick knelt next to her chair and held her
hand. She slowly began the story telling every detail. When she got to the
details of the rape Drew lowered his head anger burning inside him. Lea’s
heart broke for Jessica. Nick held her hand tightly and had to force himself to
listen. He wanted to hug her and hold her and make it all go away but he knew
that she needed to talk about it. Jessica finished the story.AThank you so much
Jessica,@ Mike said. He stood and kissed her cheek as she looked down not
wanting to face anyone. He walked over to Cacee. Nick hugged Jessica and she
laid her head on his shoulder. He held her for a while. He pulled back.
AAre you sleepy?@ he asked. She
nodded. AOk.@ He stood and Drew and Lea had decided to leave to let Jessica
rest. Drew walked up to him.
AWell we are going to go and let
you guys get some rest,@ Drew said. He looked down at Jessica and he gently
hugged her. He looked at her. ATake care,@ he said and she nodded. He kissed
her forehead. Nick hugged Lea.
ABye sweetie,@ Lea said and hugged
Jessica.
AThank you for coming,@ Jessica
said.
ASure let me know if you need
anything,@ Lea said. Jessica nodded. Se looked at Nick.ATake care of her,@ she
said. He nodded.
AI will.@ Mike kissed Cacee bye and
shook Nick=s hand.
AI’ll see you guys later,@ he
said and left. Nick looked down at Jessica.
ADo you want to go lay down?@ he
asked. She nodded.
AShe has to eat first,@ Cacee said.
Jessica looked at Nick.
AShe=s right sweetie just try to
hold something down,@ he said helping her out of the chair. Jessica sighed and
decided not to engage them in an argument. Nick held her up as they walked to
the kitchen and sat at the table. Cacee had made her some toast figuring it was
light enough for her to hold it down. Cacee sat the plate in front of her.
AWhat do you want to drink?@ Cacee
asked placing a hand on Jessica=s back.
AWater is fine,@ Jessica said. Nick
looked at Jessica.
AJust try to eat a little toast and
then we’ll go lay down,@ Nick said. She nodded. She gently and painfully
tore a piece of the toast off and ate it. Her every action appeared to be
painful. Nick and Cacee watched as she ate one piece of toast. Nick then looked
at her.AOk sweetie we can go lay down,@ he said standing. She tried to push
herself up but every bone in her body ached. She looked at Nick.
AWill you carry me?@ she asked in
too much pain to walk. He looked at her.
AOf course,@ he said and gently
slid his arm behind her back and under her legs. She wrapped her arms around
his neck and he lifted her up. She laid her head on his shoulder and he carried
her to the guest bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed.
ACan we put my pajamas on?@ she
asked not wanting to sleep in her clothes. He nodded and retrieved her pajamas
from the bag. He gently lifted her body up and slid her sweater off of her. He
saw the new bruises on her chest, stomach and arms. She laid back down and he
unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off of her battered legs. Gently, he slid
her pajama pants on. Then he sat next to her and lifted her upper body up and
slid her arms into her shirt and buttoned it for her. She slowly laid back down
and Nick covered her with the blankets. He then laid next to her kicking off
his shoes. Mike entered a room and looked at Jessica’s rapist, Cameron
Keller. The man in his early thirties looked back at Mike coldly. Mike threw
down the file on the table in front of him.
AI=m just wondering..... did you
really think you were going to get away with this?@ Mike asked sarcastically.
AWell since I didn’t do it I
guess not,@ Keller replied.
AWrong answer... DNA results are
back and it matches yours. What a surprise?@ Mike said sitting in front of him.
AI want my lawyer,@ Keller replied.
AThe court will appoint one.”
“No I want my previous
lawyer... Nick Lachey.@ Mike looked at him.
AYou sick bastard. You raped his
wife!@ Mike exclaimed. AAnd considering his current state of mind it would
probably be in your best interest not to be in a room alone with him....@Cacee
tested the water in the bathtub for Jessica. She had taken a brief nap and requested
another shower. She had never seen anything as pitiful as her best friend. She
was battered and bruised and scared. Cacee helped Jessica undress and then
helped her slide into the bathtub. She was much sorer today than she had been
last night.
ADo you need anything?@ Cacee asked
about to leave Jessica alone.
ACould you stay in here?.... I
um... don=t want to be alone.@ Jessica confessed.
AOkay sure,@ Cacee said. Jessica
drew her knees to her chest and clenched her arms around her legs.
AWhere=s Nick?@ Jessica asked.
AHe=s still asleep I think,@ Cacee
said. Nick stood over his wife as Keller stood after hurting her. He could hear
Jessica crying and calling his name. Keller faced him and smiled.
AThanks Nick, for freeing me,@ he
spoke and then Nick looked back down at Jessica and she looked at him.
AIt=s your fault.... your fault,@
she repeated. Nick woke and sat up in bed sweating. He looked around
frantically and tried to calm himself. Jessica didn’t need anymore stress
he told himself. She was sad enough as it was. Cacee then entered and went to
get Jessica some clothes to put on. She stopped and looked at him.
ANick are you okay?@ she asked
walking towards him. He nodded.
AI=m fine,@ he mumbled tearfully.
She sat down next to him and looked into his eyes.
ACacee it=s my fault,@ he said.
Cacee touched his face.
ANo Nick,@ she said and hugged him.
He laid his head on her shoulder and cried.
AI=m the reason this happened.@
End part 3
XXX
Disclaimer in part 1
XXX
Cacee Cobb's Apartment
8:15 pm
Nick looked down at Jessica finally
sleeping after much coaxing. This had
more effect on her than he
thought. She always seemed invincible
and
strong. Now she could not sleep without him holding
her, she was afraid of
the dark, she would barely eat, and
she could not be alone. She had cried
again and he held her for a while
rocking her until she finally went to
sleep on his shoulder. He leaned down and kissed her forehead
gently.
Then he stood and walked out of the
room and out of habit, forgetting
Jessica's fear, he switched off the
light. He left the door cracked and
went to the living room. Cacee had
gone to see Mike. He turned on the
television and found CNN. He watched for a while and his own unexpected
exhaustion took over and he fell
asleep.
8:50 pm
Nick was jerked awake by a scream
from the bedroom.
"Nick!" Jessica
screamed. He jumped up and ran to the
bedroom. He threw opened the door
and turned on the light. Jessica laid in bed crying. "Baby it's
dark!" she screamed. He sat down
next to her and lifted her up to him wrapping one arm around her back and the
other in her hair.
"Shh," he quieted.
"It was dark Nick," she
cried against his chest.
"I'm so sorry it's my
fault," he said against her head.
"I forgot." She
cried hysterically against his
chest. He held her to his chest.
"Nick I don't want to be
scared," she said as he leaned down to hear her.
"I know sweetie," he said
gently. "I know." He felt so helpless not
knowing how to calm her fears. He had not been able to help her and he
allowed it to happen in their home.
"I'm even afraid of the
dark," she cried abrading herself for her
weakness.
"Jessica sweetie look at
me," he said pulling her back and holding her face.
"It's okay to be scared. You were hurt badly and you can be afraid,"
he
said. Her face crumpled again and he pulled her
back to his chest. He
rocked her while she continued to
cry. She quieted finally. "Come on I'll
stay with you. You need to
sleep."
He moved and laid down in the bed
beside her. He pulled her down to him.
She laid her head on his chest and
he tightly wrapped his arms around her.
Her breaths were ragged and she
still trembled. "It's okay just
rest."
8:30 am
Cacee stood in her kitchen drinking
her last bit of coffee before heading
the office. Nick entered already
dressed. Jessica had a doctor's
appointment this morning. The phone rang and Cacee answered it.
"Nick it's Mike," Cacee
said holding out the phone to Nick. Cacee went to
the bedroom to check on Jessica.
"Hi," Nick said.
"Nick ... Keller
confessed," Mike said.
"What?" Nick said.
"Yes he confessed," Mike
said. "He's going to go to jail for
a long time."
UCLA Memorial Hospital
10:00
Jessica sat on the cold examining
table dressed in a hospital gown. She
was freezing cold. Nick sat in a chair next to her with his hand
on her
knee. The doctor entered holding Jessica's chart.
"Hi Jessica," he said
after shaking Nick's hand.
"How are you feeling?" he
asked softly. Jessica shrugged.
"I'm okay," she said.
"How's the soreness?" he
asked holding her arms examining her bruises.
"Better," she said. He nodded.
"Lay back," he instructed
and Nick helped her lie down. Her cracked ribs
made laying down painful. Nick stood next to her and she slid her hand
into his. The doctor looked at her stomach which was
still bruised. He
felt around and Jessica gasped a
few times. "You seem to be healing
okay.
Have you had any kind of pain out of the ordinary?" Jessica shook her
head. The doctor looked at her bruised forehead and
minor cuts on her
face. Jessica sat back up.
"How about emotionally
Jessica?" the doctor said sitting on a stool in
front of her. Nick held her hand. Jessica looked down.
"I've had trouble sleeping...
nightmares," she confessed.
"That's to be expected. I can prescribe something," he said.
"I have good news. Your
initial HIV test was negative but I want to see you
again in two weeks." Jessica nodded. "Take care," he said patting her on
her leg. Nick helped Jessica get dressed and got
prescriptions from the
nurse. He put his arm tightly around her as they
walked to the car and he
helped her in.
LA Police Department
Cacee stood on the other side of
the window watching Mike speak to her best
friend's rapist. Keller had confessed but he confessed to a
whole lot more
than rape. Apparently he had
stalked Nick and Jessica for months waiting
for some chance to attack. He despised Nick and wanted to see him
suffer.
"I don't understand. He got you acquitted. Why do you hate him?" Mike
asked Keller.
"Because he has it so
easy. He is a rich lawyer with a
beautiful wife, an expensive home. He
has everything and he doesn't know true pain," Keller
explained. "He looked down on me and treated me
like some piece of trash
and I wanted to show him that he
was no better than I was." Mike
sighed
and looked down.
"The reason he treated you
like trash is because that's what you are.
He
just called it like he saw
it!" Mike said infuriated. He
turned to leave
them room.
"How's Cacee?" Keller
called staring at Mike pride fully. Mike turned.
"What?"
"Your girlfriend... Cacee
Cobb. She's Jessica's best friend
right?" he
said deceptively. Mike became infuriated.
"Long curly light brown hair,
beautiful eyes, great legs. She's quite
a tiny thing
isn't she?" he asked. Mike lunged towards him slamming him up
against a
wall. A police officer tried to hold him back. Cacee watched as Mike
defended her.
"Listen here you prick. If you ever say another word about Cacee, or
Jessica or anyone else I'm even an
acquaintance with I'll make sure you
never see the light of day
again!" Mike said holding him up against the
wall. "Got it?"
"Don't worry bony chicks are
my thing," Keller said. Two officers pulled
Mike back and he stormed out of the
room. Cacee watched as Keller was
taken out and shuddered thinking
about what had just happened.
7:30 pm
Jessica and Cacee sat at the dining
room table eating dinner as Nick
entered. He had gone back to their
apartment to get some more clothes and
check the mail. He entered with an armful of mail and sat
down after
kissing Jessica on the cheek. He smiled after seeing that she had actually
eaten something. He flipped through bills and junk mail until
he found a
brown envelope with Nick and
Jessica written on it. Jessica and Cacee
continued to eat and talk. He opened the envelope and pulled out a stack
of pictures. He flipped through them and saw pictures of
he and Jessica on
the street, in their home,
laughing, crying, fighting, eating, sleeping.
The final picture was a picture of
Jessica and her face was circled with
‘that which you hold
dear’ written along the bottom of the picture. He
stuffed it back in the envelope and
Jessica looked at him curiously.
"What is that?" she
asked.
"Nothing," Nick stated
quickly and put the envelope under a pile of mail.
Cacee looked at him knowing that
envelope was definitely not nothing.
End part 4
Violated 5
XXX
Disclaimer in part one
XXX
9:30 am
Jessica sat up in the bed next to
Nick. They were watching television
when a sudden knock came to the
door. Jessica jumped and screeched.
"It's okay," Nick said as
he touched her arm before he got up to go see
who it was. Cacee had opened the door and in walked
Jessica's parents.
Cacee looked wide eyed at
Nick. Tina walked straight past Nick and
looked in the bedroom and saw her
daughter. Tears came to her eyes and she
went to Jessica.
"Mom," Jessica said. Tina sat on the edge of the bed and hugged
her
daughter tightly. Joe turned and faced Nick.
"What the hell do you mean by
not telling me what happened to my
daughter?!" he yelled.
"I...uh... Jessica," he
said before being interrupted.
"That's my little girl and you
cannot keep her from us," he said and Cacee
could see Nick was about to become
enraged.
"Mr. Simpson," Cacee
interrupted. "Jessica asked that we
not tell anyone.
Many rape victims go through a
period of being ashamed and Jessica has.
She was simply ashamed of what
happened to her," Cacee said and Joe's face
softened and he turned and walked
to the bedroom where Tina still hugged
her daughter. Jessica did not cry because she did not want
to make the
situation anymore emotional. Joe walked over to the other side of the bed
and sat down.
"My little girl," he said
as he hugged her tightly. She laid her
head on
his shoulder.
"Hi Daddy," she
said. He kissed her head.
"Hi baby," he said as she
sat back against the pillows with one of her
parents holding each of her hands.
"Why don't you come home with
mom and daddy?" her mother asked treating her
daughter like she was a child.
"I'm fine here. Cacee and Nick have been taking good care of
me," she
said holding her hand out to Nick
who took it. Tina looked at Cacee and
smiled.
"Do you need anything?"
Joe asked. Jessica shook her head.
"I'm okay," Jessica
said. Tina looked at the bruise on her
daughter's
face.
Jessica resembled Tina. They were the same height, thin, and brown
eyed.
Tina had brownish hair cut
short. Joe on the other hand was taller
and
muscular with blonde hair and brown
eyes. Tina gazed at her
daughter.
"My baby," Tina said
immediately going into her overprotective mode.
"Well you're obviously exhausted," Tina said. Jessica nodded.
"I'm a little tired," she
said.
"She's not been sleeping
well," Nick offered.
"Why don't you lay down and
get some sleep?" Tina asked. Jessica nodded and Nick helped her lay down
and then he touched her hair sweetly and she looked up at him. Cacee turned off the television and walked to
the doorway. Tina laid down next to her
daughter and put her arm over her daughter's stomach holding her.
Joe sat in the chair and watched
them. Nick turned and walked out
shutting the door softly. Cacee looked at him.
"Did you call them?" she
asked.
"No. I'm guessing they heard it somehow," he
said. The phone rang.
"Hello," Cacee said.
"Hey it's Drew," he said.
"Hey Drew," she said.
"Warning Jessica's parents
just called here to find out where she was and
Justin told them," he
explained.
"Too late they're already
here," she said.
"Oh," Drew said.
"Are we still on for lunch?" he asked. the firm was
coming to have lunch with Jessica
in an effort to cheer her up.
"Yeah," Cacee said. Nick made coffee in the kitchen. She hung up and
explained what had happened to
Nick. He laughed. They sipped coffee and
then Nick heard a cry from the
bedroom and some noises. He went to the
door and opened it with Cacee
behind him. Jessica had a nightmare and
was
sitting up in the bed shaking. Her mother sat next to her trying to calm
her daughter by rubbing her back.
"Where's Nick?" she asked
frantically.
"It's okay sweetheart,"
Joe offered and Jessica looked at him.
"Nicholas, I want Nick,"
she asked. Nick walked towards them.
"Let me see her," he said
and Joe moved allowing Nick to sit down.
Nick
looked into her tear filled
eyes. "I'm right here," he
said holding her
face in his hands.
"It's okay." She leaned forward and he hugged her. She buried her face in
his neck and cried softly. He rocked her back and forth kissing her
cheek
and stroking her hair. Tina watched as Nick held her daughter. Deep down
she resented that Jessica wanted
Nick and not her own mother. Jessica had
been her eldest daughter and she
had dedicated most of her life to her.
Tina
rubbed her daughter's leg and
watched her husband as he fought back tears.
Jessica had always been a `daddy's
girl' and he absolutely adored her.
Nick kissed Jessica's cheek.
"Shhh it's okay," he
whispered. Jessica eventually fell silent and he knew
she had fallen back asleep. He gently put his hand on the back of her
head
and laid her down in the bed. Jessica moaned and rolled onto her side.
Nick touched her hair and looked
down at her. Both Nick and Tina went to
pull the blankets back over her.
"She gets....." Tina
began.
"Cold when she sleeps. I know," he said softly finishing her
sentence as
he pulled the blankets over his
wife's arms. He gently kissed her head.
Tina couldn't help but smile. Jessica really had a good husband.
1:30 pm
The doorbell rang and Helen
answered it. Drew, Justin, Lea, Jeff,
and Cooper stood in the
doorway. They all smiled.
"Hi guys," Cacee said
kissing Drew’s cheek and hugging everyone else as
they entered. They placed lunch on the dining room table
and Cooper
looked at Cacee.
"Where's Jess?" she asked. She had not seen Jessica since her attack.
Nick walked into the room and said
hello.
"Jessica’s almost
ready. She's been asleep," he
said. Cooper walked
towards the bedroom wanting to see
her friend. She peeked around the
corner and Jessica looked at her
and smiled.
"Coop," she said and
Copper walked to her and hugged her.
"Jess," she said hugging
her friend. "I love you," she
said.
Jessica smiled. "Thank
you. I missed you," she said.
Mike paced his office. Keller's family had hired an amazing defense
attorney from New York. The man was famous for being a profound
lawyer.
They were planning on pleading Temporary
Insanity. Keller's sentence
could be reduced to treatment and
he would be on the street in a matter of
weeks. He had not shared any of this information
with Cacee or Nick. How
could he? Jessica was still in so much danger.
Nick shut the door after their
friends had left. Lunch had been a
wonderful idea. Jessica had actually started to act somewhat
like herself.
She sat in the living room and he
walked over to her and sat down next to
her.
"Nick what are we going to do
about the apartment?" she asked. He
looked
down at her.
"I don't know Jess," he
said honestly.
"I don't think I can go back
there," she said softly. He squeezed her to him.
"Then you don't have to,"
he said. He lifted her
into his lap. "Listen.
I don't want you to worry about anything.
Alright? I'm going to take care of
everything." She nodded and he hugged
her to him. She laid against his shoulder and closed her
eyes knowing Nick would take care of her.
Keller's Holding Cell
Keller laid on his bed staring at
the ceiling. His overprotective parents
had vowed to find the best defense
attorney and indeed they had. Within
hours his counsel had developed a
strong defense. He was confident that he
would be free soon and then Jessica
would pay a price. He pondered ways to
seek revenge on Nick and his wife.
An evil smile crept across his face as
he thought of his plans.
End of part 5.
Violated 6
XXX
disclaimer in part 1
XXX
A knock came to Cacee’s
door. She looked up from her laptop and
walked to
the door. She opened the door and
smiled as Mike entered. He kissed her
and took his coat off.
"What's wrong?" she
asked. He shook his head as he sat down
on her couch.
"Tell me," she said
sitting next to him. He sighed and Nick
entered.
"Hi," Nick said.
"How are you?" Mike shrugged.
"What's wrong?" Nick
asked sensing Mike's mood also.
"What do you people have radar
or something?' Mike asked.
"Yes now spill it," Cacee
said.
"Where's Jess?" he asked.
"Asleep," Nick said.
"You sure?" Mike asked.
"I just left her," Nick
answered. Mike leaned forward and rubbed
his
face.
"As you know Cameron Keller is
from a wealthy family in Richmond, Virginia.
His parents have hired Ashton Blake
to be his defense attorney," he said.
Nick sat back and sighed.
"Wait who's Ashton
Blake?" Cacee asked.
"He's the best defense
attorney in New York," Nick informed her.
"He has put together a defense
pleading temporary insanity," Mike said.
"He has pretty convincing
evidence." Nick stood and looked
out the
window.
"So he's going to walk,"
Nick said. Cacee shook her head.
"No we have a strong
prosecution," Cacee said. "We
have hard evidence."
"But they aren't saying he
didn't do it they are saying he was insane,"
Nick said. "That is what I
pleaded when I got him acquitted."
"Bad thing is he has a
vendetta against you Nick and he plans on making
Jessica pay for it," Mike said.
"Why Jessica? Why doesn't he come after me?"
"Because apparently when you
instructed him to plead temporary insanity his
fiancé left him," Mike said.
"That's right he wanted to
plead NG and I said no," Nick said.
"So he's going after
Jessica."
Jessica stood in the hallway
listening to the conversation. Tears
slipped
down her cheeks. She walked into the room and everyone turned
and looked
at her. They all froze. The last thing they wanted to happen was for
Jessica to know how much danger she
was in. Nick walked towards her to
hold her but she put her hands up.
"No there's nothing you can do
Nick," she said tearfully.
"He's not going to stop until
he kills me." Cacee stood.
"Jess," she said softly.
"He's not going to leave us
alone," she said.
"Jessica we won't let him near
you," Mike promised.
"How will you stop him? Somewhere down the line I'll be alone and
vulnerable and that's when he'll do
it."
"Sweetie I'm not going to le
him touch you every again," Nick said
reaching out to take her hand. "You're safe."
"No," she said shaking
her head.
"I'm not. I'm not safe.
No one can protect me," she said sobbing. Cacee
took her by her shoulders and
Jessica slid to the floor as Cacee hugged her
tightly.
"It's okay Jess," she
said as she hugged her best friend.
Nick knelt down behind his wife and
rubbed her back. Mike watched and
rubbed his face. Cacee hugged her best friend until she
stopped crying.
She turned to Nick and he looked at
her.
"I'm so tired," she said
sadly. "I'm just so
tired." She laid her head
against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Then rest," he whispered
while she closed her eyes and laid against him.
He slid his arms under her and
lifted her up. Cacee kissed Jessica's
head
and Mike rubbed her back.
"Goodnight sweetie," Mike
said to her. Nick carried her to the bedroom.
"So tired," she mumbled.
"It's okay sweetheart. Just rest.
I've got you. No one can hurt
you," he
promised sitting down in a chair
with her nestled in his arms. He kissed
her forehead as he draped a blanket
over her. She dosed against his chest.
"Don't leave me," she
mumbled softly half asleep.
"Okay Baby I won't,"
he promised. Still in the living room,
Mike looked at Cacee and hugged
her. He could only imagine being Nick's
situation.
"Mike promise me something,'
she said against his chest.
"Anything," he said.
"That's my best friend. I don't know what I'd do if I lost
her..."
"I promise," he said
knowing her heart. "Nothing will
happen to Jessica."
Richard Bay sat at his desk and
opened a new file. He cringed at the
sight
of the name on the file. Camron
Keller. He flipped through and found
pictures taken of Jessica
documenting her bruises, cuts, and scrapes.
He
had always had a great respect for
her. Now he sat staring
at pictures of her battered arms
and legs, her bruised face, back , and
stomach. An intern entered to bring him some coffee as
the boy turned to
leave Richard stopped him.
"Wesley find out who the
defense counsel is on the Keller trial," he said. The young man turned.
"The Lacheyrape case?'
"Yes," Richard
answered.
"Haven't you heard? Keller has
hired Ashton Blake, the best defense attorney in New York." Richard tried to hide his shock as the boy
left. He picked up the phone and dialed Cacee's office.
"Cacee is the best
attorney. She makes Nick look like an
idiot," Richard
said rubbing his head. Cacee sat in front of him.
"I would be glad to handle the
case," Cacee said.
"She's your best friend. You are to emotionally involved," he
said
exasperated.
Cacee sighed as Richard slumped
down in his chair. "Richard, you are a good
attorney. You can do this. You have cold hard evidence on your
side," she
argued.
"But he's arguing temp
insanity and he has a good case from what Mike
said," Richard said. "And if I loose.... I put Jessica's rapist back out
on the street."
One week later
Nick took an armful of Jessica's
clothes out of the closet and placed them
in a box on the floor. She was
staying with her mother today.
"Nick we need more
boxes," Lea said entering the bedroom where he and
Cacee were boxing his and Jessica's
things.
"Over there by the door,"
he said. Lea smiled and gathered a few
boxes
and took them back to the kitchen
where she and Drew were packing the
kitchen. Nick had found them an
amazing apartment across town. It was
very large and would leave them
room for children. Jessica was oblivious
to his plans. He wanted to surprise her. Justin, Jeff, and
Cooper were
busy in the living room. Nick helped Cacee tape up a box and he
carried
it to the foyer which was already
lined with boxes.
"I'm thirsty. Nick do you want something?" she asked
wiping her forehead.
"Yeah water would be
great," he said as Cacee went to the kitchen. She
handed Nick the water and they went
a sat on the couch taking a break.
Lea and Cooper giggled in the
corner hovering over a book. Nick walked
over to them. "What are you
looking at?" he asked fearing some serious
embarrassment.
Cooper slammed the book shut.
"Nothing," she said.
"Cooper!" he
exclaimed. Cacee grabbed the book and
stood. Nick saw that
it was his high school yearbook.
"Does Jessica know you looked
like this in high school?" she asked showing
the picture to Jeff who burst out
in laughter.
"We all looked like that in
the eighties," Nick said reaching for the
book that Justin was now laughing
over.
"I didn't," Jeff said
still laughing.
"Alright alright," Nick
said grabbing the book. Everyone laughed
and went
back to their jobs. They all couldn't wait to surprise Jessica.
One day before trial....
Nick knocked on the door of Richard
Bay's office.
"Come in," Richard said
still looking down at his computer. Nick smiled.
"Nick... what are you doing
here?"
"Just wanted to see how
everything is going?" Nick said.
Richard shrugged. "Well. Everything is going well," Richard said.
"I'm a
little anxious though."
"I understand," Nick
said. "Richard I know you know how
important this
is.
I don't mean to put any more pressure on you but Keller plans to come
after Jessica again if he is
released."
"Nick I know the
situation. I'll do everything in my
power to make sure
he never sees the street
again," Richard said. Nick nodded.
"Thank you," Nick said
and he stood and shook Richard's hand.
"I'll see you and Jessica in
the morning," Richard said. "Tell her to get a
good night's rest."
"I'll try," Nick said and
turned to leave.
Lea placed a vase of flowers on the
big round dining table in Nick and
Jessica's apartment. Jeff and
Cooper finished dinner while Justin and
Drew were busy throwing away the
rest of the moving boxes. Cacee and
Nick were bringing Jessica to their
new apartment. Jessica sat in the
passenger seat of Nick's car
blindfolded.
"I didn't know Lea and Drew
got a new apartment," Jessica said.
Nick and Cacee had told her that
Lea and Drew wanted them to have dinner with
them at their new apartment.
"Yeah they said theirs was
just too small," Cacee said from the back seat.
Nick pulled up to the expensive
apartment building.
"Did Lea get a raise?"
Mike asked. Cacee quickly hit him in the
chest. He groaned.
Jessica shrugged and Nick got out of the car and put
his arm around Jessica as they
entered the building. Cacee and Mike
followed. They took the elevator to the eighth floor.
"This place is nice,"
Jessica commented.
"Yeah Jess you guys should
look at an apartment here," Cacee said.
"Nick's too cheap,"
Jessica scoffed. Nick kissed the side of
her head.
Once they reached the apartment
Nick knocked and then opened the door.
"Lea," he called. They entered the apartment and everyone
jumped out.
"Surprise!" they
called. Jessica jumped and smiled. She looked around and
recognized all of her furniture and
she began to understand. Nick leaned
down and whispered, "Welcome
home." She looked up at him and
smiled.
"Baby," she said and
hugged him. "Love you so
much." He kissed her.
"You deserve this," he
said.
"Come on let me show
you," Cacee said taking Jessica's hand and showing her
the apartment. It had four bedrooms, a study, four
bathrooms, a large
kitchen and dining room, a
beautiful living room with huge windows.
She
entered the bedroom and saw all of
her furniture.
"The closet is huge," Lea
said. Jessica walked over to the closet
and
saw her clothes already inside.
"You guys are so
wonderful," she said looking at them. Cacee hugged her.
"We love you," Cacee
said.
"I love you guys too."
Later that night
Everyone had gone home leaving Nick
and Jessica in their new apartment.
She stood in the living room
looking out the large windows at the city.
Nick walked up behind her and
wrapped his arms around her. She sighed
and
relaxed against him.
"Thank you Baby," she
said softly.
"You're welcome baby," he
said. She turned around.
"Not just the apartment. But everything..." she began. He put his finger
to her lips.
"I love you and you do not
have to thank me for anything," he said.
"I love you," she said
and hugged him. He hugged her back.
"I love you," he
said. He kissed her lips gently. She kissed him back.
They continued to kiss until
Jessica quickly pushed him away. Nick
looked
at her oddly.
"Jess," he said taking
her hand as she looked down at the floor.
"I can't... I'm sorry... not
yet," she mumbled.
"Look at me," he said
still holding her hand. She looked up.
"You don't have to do anything
until you are ready. Okay?"
She nodded. "I'm sorry..." she said.
"Sweetie you don't have to
apologize," he said and he hugged her.
She
buried her face in his chest. He held her tightly and them took her to the
bedroom. Half and hour later, Jessica laid in the bed
as Nick wrapped his
arms around her. He left the lamp on knowing Jessica was
still not
comfortable with the dark. He kissed her neck and hugged her
tightly. She
buried her face in his shoulder and
tried to sleep but her mind was racing
with the thoughts of having to face
her rapist tomorrow. Nick knew it was
bothering her. She had panicked when he had mentioned
testifying to her.
He had tried to calm her but she
knew the danger she was in. He had
promised to be next to her the
whole time. Even now holding her, he knew
she was thinking about it.
"Baby everything is going to
be okay," he whispered. She looked
up at
him with tear filled eyes and his
heart broke. "I'm so sorry
baby," he
said beginning to cry himself. Jessica was confused.
"Nick why are you sorry?"
she said as he sat up. She sat up and
put her
hands on his back and arm.
"I got him acquitted,"
Nick said crying. Jessica put her arms
around his
neck and pressed her face to the
back of his neck.
"This isn't your fault
baby. Please this isn't your
fault," she said.
She moved and sat in front of
him. She put her hands around his
face. He
looked up at her.
"I never once blamed
you," she confessed. He nodded and
kissed her hand.
"I know," he said and she
made him lay down. She laid down and
placed her
head on his chest. He wrapped his
arms around her tightly and she kissed
his cheek.
"You're my life," she
whispered. He kissed her face.
They both fell asleep slowly
clinging to each other through the night.
End part 6
Violated 7
XXX
Disclaimer in part one
XXX
Cincinnati County District
Attorney’s Office
Richard sat at his desk where he
had been since early that morning. Cacee
softly knocked on the door and
entered. She smiled at him as he looked
up.
“Hi,” She said sitting
down holding her coat in her lap. He
looked up.
“Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be. There is just so much riding on this
case,” He said
sitting back.
“Richard there is so much
riding on our every case. Just remember
that
this is no different from the other
convictions you have gotten,” She said.
“But it is different. This is so personal,” Richard
said. “I know this
victim.”
Nick held Jessica’s hand as
they entered the courthouse. She
clutched his
hand tightly. Cacee and Mike followed her closely along
with Drew and
Lea. Press crowded around them and Nick pushed
through as Jessica
held his arm closely.
Outside the courtroom Justin stood
waiting. He smiled as they approached.
“Good morning,” He
said. Nick nodded.
“Justin,” He said. Jessica looked at him and he hugged her.
“Everything is going to be
fine,” He said hugging her. She
pulled back and
nodded.
“I know,” She said.
Seated in the courtroom, Jessica
held Nick’s hand tightly. She was
somewhat bothered by the fact that
she was so obviously the victim. Her
face was still bruised.
Then, Keller was escorted into the
room. He was handcuffed and being
escorted by police officers but he
looked her in the eyes as he walked
across the courtroom. He smiled at her. Jessica looked at Nick and he
looked back at her. Then he kissed her forehead.
Nick looked up in the galleries and
looked at the faces of the people. He
recognized one man who sat in the
back. He was the father of one of
Keller’s victims. Nick remembered the man.
“Baby?” Jessica
said. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” He said
turning his attention back to her.
“All rise!”
3 days later
The trial went on and on. Jessica had testified. Nick was so proud of
her. She was strong and sure in her answers. She seemed just as strong as
she always had to her colleagues. Nick would never tell that she had
cried herself to sleep in his arms
that night. The emotional strain was
tearing her down. She wasn’t sleeping well as hard as he
tried to assure
her of her safety. She was loosing weight and it was beginning to
show.
“Defense Rests.”
“Prosecution Rests your
honor.”
The jury filed out and went to
their room to decide. Jessica looked
nervously at Nick and he squeezed
her hand. Nick looked up at the
galleries again and noticed the
same man sitting in the galleries looking
at him.
4 hours later
The jury filed back in as Nick and
Jessica sat nervously. Richard sat
trying to look as stern as he
could. Cacee looked back at Jessica and
smiled.
The verdict was up in the air. Richard had not proved Keller’s guilt
beyond reasonable doubt.
“Jury, have you reached a
unanimous verdict?”
“We have.”
“What say you?”
“On the count of rape we find
the defendant .... Not guilty.” Jessica felt
like all the air had been sucked
out of the room. She grabbed
Nick’s arm
as he dropped his head. Justin touched Jessica’s shoulder. Tears welled up
in Jessica’s eyes. Richard stood up.
“Prosecution asks for a
restraining order against the defendant.”
“All other claims will be
dealt with at a later date,” the judge replied.
Keller smiled and hugged his
attorney. He looked at Jessica and
smiled.
Then a gunshot rang in the
air. Nick grabbed Jessica and put his
arms
around her pushing her to the
floor. She gripped him fiercely. He hovered
over her and he looked up to see
Keller laying on the floor. Jessica
looked up at him fearfully. He still has his arms around her and he
looked
up at saw the man standing in the
galleries holding a smoking gun. He had
killed Keller. Officers apprehended
him as people tended to Keller.
Jessica looked up at Nick.
“It’s over
sweetheart. It’s over.”
The End