A/N: Thanks to all for your patience. Holidays are a real killer to keeping up with the writing, but anyhow here's most probably what is the second last chapter to the story. Thanks everyone who's been reading and reviewing, and sorry to have kept you waiting – 2 months was it? But yes... enjoy.

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"Your Honor, my client would like to plead not guilty by reason of insanity."

"Oh, come on!" Danny yelled in unison with the various voices that arose in indignation.

The judge rapped his gavel sharply, a look of annoyance crossing his features. Lindsay pulled on Danny's sleeve and he sat back down grudgingly.

"That's bull."

"Shut up Danny, or you'll get us both thrown out," Lindsay whispered.

"Hey, just because their plea bargain went nowhere-"

The final slam of the gavel hushed the court room.

"You may proceed."

As the defense lawyer waxed his case, Danny looked around the room; eyes lighting upon familiar faces of the victims' parents, noting the despair and anger intermingled on their faces. His lips drew into a thin line.

Lindsay had to jab him in the ribs when the prosecution called out his name a second time.

"Daniel Messer, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do."

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"Detective Flack, you were present at Saul's interrogation by Detective Taylor."

"I was."

"And you heard him confess to the murder of the girls?"

"Not in those exact words, no."

"But he did allude to them?"

"Objection, Your Honor, she's leading the witness."

"I'll rephrase." Blue eyes flashed behind glasses. "Detective, what did Saul say that convinced you of his crime?"

"He said he 'saved' them. That by taking their lives, he was in fact saving them."

"Did he say what from?"

"From the world, from their parents," sharp cries were heard from all around, but Flack continued over the noise, "from being contaminated.."

The judge called for the removal of one Mrs. Mendez and struck his gavel twice to settle the rest of the room.

"Civil behaviour is expected at all times in this court room, ladies and gentlemen. I'll not tolerate anything other. Counselor?"

"Nothing further, Your Honor."

"You may step down from the stand, Detective."

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"Detective Taylor, I understand that the search and seizure of items in my client's house was done prior to obtaining a proper search warrant for the premises."

"We had reason to believe that Saul would attempt to destroy any evidence if he knew he was a suspect in our case."

"But the circumstances were hardly exigent. If I understand correctly from your officers' testimonies, it was mere coincidence that led you to suspect my client, not concrete evidence. On that, you conducted the search and only then did you obtain sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant."

"We had obtained voluntary consent from the landlord to search the apartment."

"But as my client was paying rent at the time, he would be the rightful owner of the property. And he did not give consent for the search."

Mac's glare hardened as the defense lawyer turned to the judge.

"Your Honor, I request that the exclusionary rule be applied to all evidence obtained from my client's residence."

The judge took the longest minute to come to a decision.

"The landlord is the rightful owner. If his consent was voluntary, the evidence stands."

A low rumble went through the crowd. As the defense lawyer took his seat, the prosecutor rose from her seat and passed Mac a slip of paper.

"Detective Taylor, can you tell me what this is?"

"DNA results. From the blood we found in Saul's car and on his wetsuit."

"And what does it show?"

"That the blood is Angela Winston's."

She nodded. "That'll be all, Your Honor."

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Lindsay leaned back against the marble wall, and breathed out a sigh. When she opened her eyes, the two boys were walking back towards her awkwardly balancing drinks and jumbo dogs.

"I don't know how you eat this stuff," she half-grumbled as she took one of the five paper-wrapped hotdogs.

"You're a strange one, Linds, 's all," Danny grinned as he deftly unwrapped his. "An all-American girl like you preferring Chinese takeout to hotdog stands."

"Well, there's nothing great about getting the tail-end of the day's supply, that much I can say." She motioned to the man closing up his stall with her still-wrapped 'dog.

As they continued their banter, Flack stepped slightly away and regarded the Roman columns as he bit into the bread. And stopped when he spotted the Goldbergs exiting the main doors.

"Danny."

Danny looked up; saw the Forbes right behind them. "They've postponed the verdict?"

Mac came through the doors next, head bowed as he conversed with Cragen, both their expressions holding the tiniest touch of anxiety.

"The jury needs more time," was Mac's simple explanation.

"Hell, they can't be that dense," Danny breathed, sotto voce. Cragen raised an eyebrow at him nevertheless, and he quickly looked away and took a drink.

"Go on home, people. Trial resumes tomorrow at nine. There's nothing more for us to do here." Cragen lifted his head, nodded at his two detectives who were on the pavement by their car. The taller man waved back, then slid into the passenger seat as his partner started the engine.

"Captain." They each shook his hand firmly. As they parted ways, Flack extended a hand across the group and passed a hotdog to Mac.

"We thought we'd get you something."

"Thanks." Mac's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Need a lift home?"

"I'm alright, Don. Think I'll walk tonight."

"Damn cold, tonight." Danny flung the wrapper into a bin and rubbed his hands together. "I wouldn't walk if someone offered to drive."

Mac merely smiled again.

"So, see you tomorrow?" Lindsay asked when they reached Flack's car.

"Tomorrow at nine."

"Bye, Mac."

They watched his retreating figure disappear round the corner.

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Adam stood, stretching sore muscles, and huffed a little when he saw Stella enter the lab.

"Tell me it's over." His lower lip stuck out exaggeratedly.

She laughed and sat down across from him.

"It's over."

"Oh thank the Maker." He collapsed onto his seat and elicited another chuckle from the detective.

"The hearing is in a week's time. Hawkes wants to head down to the bar; we were wondering if you were interested to join us for a drink."

"I'm pretty much done here," Adam shut off his computer and grabbed the files off the table. "I'll meet you there after I've dropped these off at Mac's office."

Stella shook her head and smiled as the young lab tech rushed out, forgetting to turn off the lights. She took a quick walk around, checked all the rooms, then headed downstairs where Hawkes was waiting at the main entrance.

"Drinks on me?"

She nodded appreciatively. "If you're feeling a generous soul tonight."

"You know me; always am, always will be."

"Hey," Adam came up from behind them, struggling to get his coat on, "you guys heard from Mac and the rest yet?"

"They should be done by now," Hawkes added as they started down the street.

Stella pulled out her cell phone. Speed dialed '1', and over the line came a female voice telling her that the mobile number was not in use; please try again later.

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As always, reviews and constructive criticism are most welcome.