Just to let you all know, I wanted to get you something soon, so you get this horribly short little introductory piece. The frame-quote given here will not be re-given until several chapters after this. Please be patient, these are the most difficult chapters to write, and I'm almost positive that some (if not most) of you will find this pointless and such, but please bear with me; it will be worth it!
Chapter Eleven: Trial and Error
We, the jury, find the defendant…
-One year, three months, two weeks, and five days later-
"All rise, the Honorable Judge Kent is presiding."
A short yet graceful woman in a long black robe swept into the courtroom and up to her seat at the front of the room. "Sit," she commanded.
A murmur swept over the attendees as they took their seats. Along the same wall as the judge, there was a court-scribe that was furiously typing notes. Off to the left wall was the juror's box, full of impatient, bored, and thoroughly annoyed citizens of the community that had been called to what was a perfect example of what jurors were afraid of.
Facing the judge were two mahogany tables. At one, there was a man who was clearly uncomfortable with the situation and kept looking apprehensively at the other table where four lawyers were leaning in and whispering to each other. Three of the prosecution lawyers were women; they each had swept their hair into low, tight buns; the fourth was a man with a nearly bald head and a slightly crooked nose. There was one lawyer for Abby, one for Ziva, and one for Jenny; the tallest woman was from the legal department at NCIS and was working on the behalf of all three women.
The pews in the room were filled with familiar faces: friends, family, and coworkers of the involved parties that had all came to show their support. The row closest to the prosecution lawyers was empty; it would be filled later in the trial.
Finally, at the very back was a mish-mash of television crews and cameras, and journalists scribbling frantically on their notepads.
The trial finally got underway. Ian Dodge was escorted in through a side door by two armed guards, one that led him by his heavy shackles, and the other gripping his elbow tightly. He was taken to the extra chair at the table where his court-appointed lawyer sat. His facial expression was that of indifference and disappointment; one that the television crews had all been sure to get shots of to use in their coverage of the very high-profile case.
Slowly, all of the legal precautions and such leaked into the minds of the attendees; it was painful for many of them to sit through it. The six people who would not be bored by any of the occurrences were also the six that were being kept in separate rooms off a hall behind the courtroom.
They had to be kept away from each other for the integrity of the case; their lawyers were not taking any chances when it came to the possibility of this dangerous sadist's release back into society.
It took a very long time until anything of interest to the television cameras, journalists, or NCIS agents, happened.
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Up Next Testimony Pt.1- Jenny Shepard
Kisses!
P.S. To help you all make it through this part of the story, I wrote you a little McAbby drabble called Guilty Pleasure; check it out!