Wars Will Rage (SVU Fanfic)

7

"Hey, it's okay," Nicole told her, taking a seat next to Laura.

"I...I just...I can't sleep anymore. I'm afraid of pretty much any man that even is in sight. It's...it's so unfair!"

"Use those thoughts. The doctor is going to help you sort through them. Things will make more sense once you talk it out."

Laura almost laughed. "Everyone has been telling me that. I need to talk to someone. I need to calm down. Think about what happened. I didn't think it was true. Now it seems more believable."

"Probably because someone around your age is saying it," Nicole pointed out. "What they're saying is true, but...it's...still different."

It was at this time Olivia had sent the 'I'm here' message to Nicole. Nicole quickly swapped numbers with Laura and told her good luck before departing.

When she got in the car, Olivia asked, "How was it?"

"I got to see what I looked like when I jest started coming here."

"What do you mean?"

"There was a girl and her mom in there. She kept saying, 'I don't get why you're making me do this' and all that."

Olivia smirked. "See?"

"I'm not denying it."

Olivia soon dropped her daughter off at home. Nicole walked up and let herself in, then immediately started on her homework. About an hour later, she was finishing up a PowerPoint for her presentation in English. It was over some book she barely read, but read just enough so she could pretend she read the entire thing.

Oh well, she thought.

Just then, her phone dinged, revealing Laura's name.

"Hey I just got out. I think this might actually help me. Thank you" the message read.

Nicole texted back: "You're welcome. And yeah, it does help. If you ever wanna talk about anything, I'll listen too. We can hang out or just through text. What school do you go to, by the way?"

"Ottawa Central. I'm a sophomore. You?"

"Sophomore at Mountain Elk. I actually transferred from Ottawa."

"Why?"

Nicole was unsure of if she should tell Laura or not. They just met! But Laura already knew Nicole was in therapy for PTSD and other things. Nicole knew Laura was in therapy for rape. There weren't many secrets, were there? "Um, I got involved with the wrong crowd. Things got bad so my mom transferred me."

"Wait, were you the new girl who hung out with Mikey and Kat and all them?!?"

"...yeah. I'm not proud of it either." Nicole admitted through her text.

"I remember you. You were in one of my classes. And then you weren't all of a sudden. I was actually afraid of you, lol."

"Lol why? Cuz I hung out with Kat?"

"Yeah! She's a bitch."

"True."

The girls continued to text for awhile. Both went about their business but still held a steady conversation. Nicole got dinner ready for everyone and Laura finished up her homework.

By the time the day was over, each girl had gained a friend.

~•~

"H-He...lifted up my skirt. I told him not to," Laura said quietly, ashamed. Her head was bowed slightly as she told her story. She was comfortable talking to Casey, but not all these people.

Talking to me will be easy, Casey's words echoed in her head. It's the jury and cross examination you have to worry about.

Well if this was sooo easy, what will the cross exam feel like?! she thought.

Her palms began to sweat as she looked over to the defense. Casey saw this and stood in front of them. "What happened next, Laura?"

Not being able to see them calmed Laura down a little. "He got to my underwear and pulled them down with my skirt. I told him to leave me alone. He wouldn't listen. He told me I was pretty. He told me I would grow up to be beautiful. I pushed him away but he pushed me back. Harder. Then he hit me and pushed me on the bed. He punched me and said I didn't get to push him. Then he undid his pants and raped me."

She felt a tear roll down her cheek.

"Thank you, Laura," Casey said gently with a small smile.

Casey walked back to sit down and the defense attorney stood up. Laura was nervous all over again.

"So, Laura. My client calls you beautiful. Says you're pretty. And you push him? You initiated the violence..."

Casey watched Laura, praying she answered the way they practiced. But the nerves were practically visible around her.

"He lifted up my skirt. I told him not to. He didn't listen."

"So...pushing him is the correct way to deal with this?"

"He lifted my skirt and then pulled it down with my underwear. I told him not to touch me. More than once. He didn't listen."

Casey let a breath out.

~•~

"It was horrible. Did you ever have to testify?"

Nicole read the text and juggled the phone in her hands. "I had to. Against my dad. But I freaked out on the stands. I was considered unfit to testify. But it helped in my case because I seemed traumatized over what happened."

Nicole didn't get a text back, nor did she expect one. How do you reply to a text like that? You don't, she decided. And made a mental note to text Laura later.

She just hoped her friend was okay. And that her rapist gets put away.

•••

Sorry it took me so long to update! I've been CRAZY busy. I have to get 3 volunteer gigs as well as work and school and just...BLAH!

But anyways I hope you like!

What do you guys want to happen next? I'm trying to get to the big part of the plot, which I won't reveal!!!! Buuuut I have NO idea how to get there. Ugh. I'm trying.

See you guys in the next chapter!