Ok- I don't anything...blah blah blah. General disclaimer...

I also just wanted to say that I haven't forgotten my Turned Trilogy- so if anyone is still interested in that i am planning on finishing it up. I have been toying with whether to start posting this story or not for a while. I'm a few chapters into it so i decided to go for it even though I have been uninspired lately. I was hoping that posting and reviews would also help to revamp (haha) my muse a bit. So thanks for any help you can give me with reviews and sorry about being such a spuffy slacker!

Yesterday:

"Ms. O'Shea, please tell the court what your relationship is to Mr. O'Grady?" The prosecuting attorney asked the nervous young brunette on the stand. She cleared her throat and looked at the man that she had fallen in love with. Or so she thought. She swallowed hard.

"He's my ex-fiancé." She answered flatly. For a moment she thought she saw hurt flash in his eyes when she said ex, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't be swayed by his sorrowful look. Picturing that horrible night, she felt her conviction grow that this was the right thing to do came back.

"And could please tell us the events that you witnessed on the night of the 13th?"

"Objection! Leading the witness." Mr. Trick the hot shot defense attorney called out.

"I'll allow it." Judge Wood said and glared at Trick until he sat down, further objections dying on his lips.

"Ms. O'Shea." The prosecutor called getting her attention. She swallowed again and nodded her head.

"Well, I got home early from work and I went to see Angel, I mean Liam at his work. I've only been there once before and I met him out front so I was curious to see what his office looked like." There was a snort from the courtroom and Elizabeth turned to glare at the offender. Mrs. O'Grady. Liam's mom had never really liked her all that much and now that she was the one turning her baby boy in, her dislike had progressed to seething hatred. "Well, I went up to his office and I went to knock on the door and I heard voices. So I turned back, but then I heard my name and I stopped. So I assumed it wasn't business and went to open the door…" She turned to glare at the man she thought held the answers to her future. "Angel was talking to someone about some business. I saw him put his arm around him and I gasped. They turned to look at me and I ran out."

"Why did you run away Ms. O'Shea?" The prosecutor had a hard time from keeping a satisfied smile off of his face. "Why not stay and find out what business they were discussing?"

"I was upset."

"Why were you upset?" He pressed and Elizabeth looked up and fixed Angel with an icy glare.

"Because the man that my ex-fiancé was talking to and doing business with was the man that murdered my sister right in front of me." A buzzing noise went up throughout the courtroom as the audience took in this turn of events. But Elizabeth didn't pay them any mind. Her eyes were locked on Angel, whose face had gone suddenly pale and he clenched the arms of the chair he was sitting in until his knuckles turned white.

"Silence! Silence in my court!" Judge Wood called out, rapping his gavel several times to dull the noise. But it was no good.

"I didn't know Elizabeth! You have to believe me!" Angel called out once the initial shock wore down. "I would never have hurt you or Dawn." Elizabeth merely turned her head to the side as more tears rolled down her face.

"Silence Mr. O'Grady or I'll hold you in contempt of court!" Judge Wood called and Mr. Trick pulled his client back down to his seat. "Continue Mr. Prosecutor."

"What did you do next Ms. O'Shea?"

"I went to the police." Elizabeth didn't look at Angel. If she did she knew she would never be able to do this.

"Why?"

"I wanted them to arrest the man who murdered my sister."

"Did you believe that Mr. O'Grady had done anything wrong?"

"Not at the time I first went to the police." She replied honestly.

"And once there what did you learn?"

"That they were investigating Liam for any number of criminal activities. They asked me to help find some information on him."

"What did you reply?"

"I refused." She said quietly and looked down briefly at her lap. "Then I went home and all I could see was Angel standing there with the man who murdered Dawnie, smiling and laughing together and I went back to the police the next week."

As the prosecutor went over the astounding evidence that Elizabeth had managed to gather that linked Angel to drug dealing, murders, and even a few bombings, Elizabeth herself felt separate from the proceedings. She could only look ahead with a gaze of passive indifference and answer the prosecutor's questions in an even, emotionless voice. As she finished and waited to be cross-examined she met the eyes of her best friend, Darla Johnson. Elizabeth was glad that despite telling her not to come, she had come to support her. They would at least get to say good-bye.

Angel watched Elizabeth on the stand as though she were in a trance. He knew what he had to do and he pulled his attorney back down before he could begin to cross-examine her.

"Leave her alone. Don't ask any questions." Angel said sharply. Mr. Trick looked at him in surprise.

"What? I thought you said you wanted to bury the bitch for turning her back on you?" Trick hissed at his client. Angel's hand clamped down painfully on his arm.

"No. Leave. Her. Alone." Angel's eyes narrowed dangerously at the other man and Trick bit back a whimper of fear. Liam O'Grady was one of the most dangerous men in town and there was no way he was going to cross him.

"Alright fine. But you do realize this means you'll definitely get jail time."

"Whatever." He replied and slouched back in his seat. He looked at Elizabeth sadly. He never realized that behind what he did were people that got hurt. He let them get hurt. And now, because of his callousness the one person he truly loved, had an unselfish and undying love for had been hurt and no longer loved him. What did he care if he went to jail? He was already in hell.

"The defense has no questions." Mr. Trick said sullenly and the judge looked at them in surprise.

"No questions?" Wood asked and Elizabeth looked at Liam in surprise. He couldn't meet her gaze and she felt a pang in her heart. She was no longer in love with him, but to see someone she had been so close too for so long looking so dejected…she still cared about him. Trick hesitated and Liam prodded him.

"No your honor." Trick sighed. Elizabeth's eyes met Liam's and a silent understanding passed between them. She nodded in thanks and his mouth tilted up in a small smile.

"WHAT!" A loud yell from the court shattered their moment and Elizabeth was pulled back to the present. "You tear that little tramp apart!" Mrs. O'Grady yelled furious that Liam had apparently forgiven his ex.

"Order! Order in the court!" Judge Wood shouted appalled by this tacky blonde woman's outburst. She jumped up and pushed Mr. Trick from behind.

"Get up there and make her suffer!" Glory O'Grady yelled. "Make her pay! I had to reschedule my manicure for this!" Mr. Trick stumbled forward and looked between Liam and Glory hesitantly. Sure he was afraid of what Liam might do, but his mother was even meaner…and quite a bit crazy to boot. He was saved though by the judge.

"Bailiff! Subdue Mrs.O'Grady! I will not stand for such outbursts in my court!" The bailiff moved towards her and Glory struck out violently and the bailiff clutched his nose in pain. Judge Wood began to turn red. "THAT'S IT! YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER! HOLD HER IN CONTEMPT OF COURT!" Wood shouted in sensed.

The two remaining bailiffs looked at the crazy blonde woman hesitantly before moving forward together and managing to subdue the well-dressed psycho amongst her frantic fighting. Once she was removed from the court there was a moment of silence before Judge Wood cleared his throat.

"Are you sure you have no questions for this witness Mr. Trick?"

"No questions." Trick replied sulkily.

"Very well Ms. O'Shea, you may step down." Elizabeth got to her feet rather shakily and met the agent assigned to protect her at the door. Darla quickly got up and followed them out, vaguely hearing the prosecution rest its case.

"Elizabeth, wait!" Darla yelled as she watched the agent at her best friend's side begin to escort her out of the courthouse. Elizabeth turned around and smiled sadly at her friend.

"Darla, I'm glad you came." They stood awkwardly for a moment before bursting into tears and hugging each other fiercely. "I'll miss you Dar!" Elizabeth cried and the two women gave into their grief.

"Do you really have to go?" Darla asked once their tears subsided. "I mean, you saw Angel. I don't think that he's going to send someone after you."

"No." Elizabeth agreed. "I don't think he will." She paused. "I'm glad that he seemed to forgive me." Elizabeth sighed wondering if she would ever be able to forgive herself and escape all the guilt that had plagued her since she saw Angel and that man together.

"Yeah. So you can stay. I mean, you're like a sister to me, Lizzie." Darla implored holding onto her childhood friend's arm frantically.

"No. I wish I could, but you saw Glory." They both shuddered and fresh tears welled up in Darla's eyes. "At least now, we get to say good-bye." Elizabeth said and they hugged again. The agent cleared his throat. "Oh right. Darla this is agent Finn. He's going to be taking me to the airport." Darla nodded absently at the man and stepped away from her best friend, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You take care Liz. I don't know what I'll do without you." Elizabeth grabbed Darla's hand tightly and put her ring in it.

"You take care too. And give this back to Angel when you get a chance. Tell him…tell him not to worry about me." Darla nodded, unable to speak with the emotions that were overwhelming her. "And, you take care of him too." Darla looked up sharply going slightly pale.

"You know?" She whispered.

"That you're in love with him?" Elizabeth asked. Officer Finn shifted awkwardly on his feet wishing that he didn't have to hear this conversation. "Yeah. I know."

"When did you..." She trailed off embarrassed.

"After we got engaged. Angel told me about your confession to him. I don't know how you feel now," Darla looked down at her feet.

"I still love him Lizzie. Even after all that he did and all that happened between the three of us. I don't know what's wrong with me but I still love him."

"Not that you need it, but you have my blessing." Darla looked up surprised. "I know you wouldn't do anything out of respect for me, but I want you to be happy and maybe it should have been the two of you all along."

"But, that's not possible. He's still in love with you and why would you want me to go after the man you're in love with?"

"I'm not in love with him any more. I don't know if I ever was. At least not the way you are. I mean, I still care for him and well-"

"We really have to go Ms. O'Shea." Officer Finn interrupted and the two best friends hugged once more.

"Take care Lizzie." Darla said again as they broke apart.

"You too Dar. And don't forget to grab your happiness while you can." Darla nodded and watched as her best friend walked out of the courthouse and effectively out of her life forever. She clenched the ring in her hand tightly and the claddaugh ring pierced her palm dripping her blood in the foyer. But she didn't notice. There was too much other pain to notice that her hand was bleeding.