Chapter 3
Jessica took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car and stared at the courthouse. The steps made it seem like it was miles away. Jeff took her hand as they walked through the parking lot towards the building. It wasn't long before they were spotted by reporters and surrounded by cameras. Several of them barraged them with questions but Jeff and Matt shielded Jessica as they pushed her through the crowd.
"Move out of the way." A voice penetrated the group. Jeff was grateful to see Agent Miller approaching them. "Let them through."
"Thanks," Matt said after they had gotten into the courthouse.
"No problem and I am sorry about that. I should have had someone looking out for you guys. I'm just glad I was out there at the right time."
"No kidding." Matt said. He looked over to Jeff and Jessica. The push of the crowd had obviously freaked Jessica out and now Jeff was trying to calm her down. "Is there a place they can go that's a little more private?" He gestured to the large crowd that was obviously watching them. Miller nodded and led them all to a small room.
"You should be good here. No interruptions. I'll be back in a few minutes. I just want to let the prosecutor know you're here. He wanted to speak with you." Miller left the room.
"Do you guys need anything?" Matt asked.
"Some courage maybe?" Jessica responded with a weak smile.
"Well, I was thinking more along the lines of something to eat or drink. As far as courage goes, you have it in spades."
"We'll see." She ran her fingers through her hair.
"Man, how long do you think we have to wait in here?" Jeff asked. "I think the waiting is what makes it worse."
"Speak for yourself. I'd be happy to stay in here all day."
"Sorry babe but it's going to be okay." He squeezed her hand. "I'm won't let go. I promise."
"Do you think they'll let you hold my hand on the witness stand?" She asked trying to crack a joke.
"Sure, they'll even let you sit on my lap." He smiled. Then his face grew serious. "Just look at me the whole time. I'll get you through it." She leaned into him, sighing. They sat in silence for a few minutes till there was a knock on the door. Matt opened the door a little to see who it was then allowed the door to open fully. They all stared as Vince McMahon walked into the room.
Just a few months ago, the sight of him or any of the McMahon's would make her smile. They were the family that had always been there for her. They welcomed her into their lives and treated her like one of their own, but that was before. Now she was the one trying to put their son, the real child away for a very long time. Since she left the hospital she had only spoken to Vince once and that was when she first got down. He called to make sure her nurse was doing her job and then he quickly got off the phone. Even now, the Vince in front of her seemed cold, distant, not the father figure she had known for almost her whole life. She squeezed Jeff hand even tighter.
"What are you doing here?" Jeff demanded.
"I wanted to see how Jessica is doing." Vince told him.
"Why? It's not like you've bothered to call and find out."
"Jeff, it's okay." Jessica stopped him. She stood up and walked toward to Vince. "I'm all right I guess, or at least I'm trying to be."
"She will be." Matt said from behind her. It grew quiet as everyone stared at one another.
"So is that it?" Jeff asked breaking the silence.
"No, it's not. You see, I had this all planned out for today. I'd come back here and make some emotional plea and everything would be okay but I didn't count on me actually fighting my nerves."
"I know the feeling." Jessica told him.
"I should have called to see how you were doing. I wanted to. I even picked up the phone a few times but I couldn't go through with it. After that night, I didn't know what to say. I mean what Shane did to you…"
"Please don't." Jessica interrupted him and Vince looked at her quizzically. "It's just, what Shane did, all of it, was his own actions. I don't hold anyone else responsible, especially not you."
"You looked to me like a father and I shut you out. Your whole life you had to deal with people abandoning you and when it really mattered, I went and did the same thing. I'm sorry." Vince looked to the ground. She could tell how hard this was for him. Vincent Kennedy McMahon never apologizes. Just the idea that he would, gave her hope that maybe she hadn't lost the only family she knew. She walked over to him and gave him a hug. The tension in his body relaxed as he hugged her back.
"It's okay." She told him when they let each other go. "Just don't do it again."
"I won't, I promise." He told her then looked at her solemnly. "How are you really?"
"Honestly? I'm scared. I thought I knew what today would be like too but now that it's actually here, I'm just hoping to make it through the day without losing it."
"You can do it and I'm going to help."
"Thank you." She said to him.
"You'll see. I'm going to make it better, I promise." He gave her another hug and then looked to both Matt and Jeff. "Thank you for taking care of her when I was too stupid to."
"It's no problem." Matt said ignoring the scowl on his brother's face. He knew how important it was to Jess to have the McMahon's in her life. Just looking out her now he could see that she was already happier. He just hoped Vince meant what he said.
"I have something to take care of." Vince told them before turning back to Jessica. "But I'll be back as soon as I can. You just stay strong."
"I'll try." She told him before he left the room. She turned back to the boys and frowned when she saw Jeff's face. "Jeff,"
"I know and I'm sorry. I know how much it would mean for you to have Vince back. I get it. It's just I can't get over what he did."
"Who's always reminding me we have to let go and move on?" She asked him.
"I am."
"Then why can't we start over with Vince?"
"He was willing to sacrifice you to save Shane." Jeff reminded her.
"Vince wasn't going to sacrifice me. He didn't realize what Shane was capable of. He was just trying to avoid all this, or even worse."
"Yea, well you got shot because of it. You almost died."
"I know that but you saved me." She pulled him up to her. "I'm just asking you to give him a chance, for me." Jeff tried to look away but Jessica wouldn't let him. She leaned in and kissed him.
"Come on, give in." Matt said from behind them. "You know you can't say no to her. Accept it."
"Fine." Jeff said eventually. "But I'm keeping my eyes open."
"I wouldn't expect anything else." She told him. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. An officer entered the room.
"They're ready to get started." He told them.
"Wait, no one even came in to see us. I haven't met the prosecutor yet. I don't know what we're supposed to do or what's even going to happen today." Jessica questioned him.
"I was just told to come and escort you all to the courtroom. If you can follow me please," The officer stepped outside of the room.
"Something's not right." She looked at Jeff. "Miller said the prosecutor wanted to talk with us. Why would he pull us into court unprepared?"
"I don't know but I'm sure it will be okay. Don't worry." He tried to reassure her before taking her hand to lead her out of the room. He could tell by the look on her face that she thought something was up and so did he. As they walked towards the courtroom Jeff caught Miller's gaze. There was something about the look of concern on Miller's face that bothered him. He wanted to question him but Jeff realized they had another problem. They were standing at the open door of the courtroom and Jessica wouldn't budge. She froze in fear as her eyes locked on Shane.
