THE TRIAL.

A/n disclaimer

A/n 2 without beautifulbabeforever and Ms. D this chapter wouldn't have been readable (to certain reviewers anyway)

The day had finally come. The Day of Judgment for Joe Morelli and the vindication of Stephanie Plum.

Dread had filled her heart and soul, having to face that man once again. Her nightmares still happened even more now that this day was upon her. Being friends with Carlos and the others made her feel worthwhile, knowing she was helping him just by doing the computer work she loved kept her sane and grounded. Ella and Angie (now Plum) helped her as well, feeling secure in being a woman. Nevermore a teenager once Joe defiled her in the worst way possible. She couldn't believe both her sister and her daddy were married, both to Morelli's, It had been her mom's dream to have a Morelli in the family, bet she never thought her dad would be married to the woman she envied her whole life, Angie.

Stephanie still didn't talk much to Valerie, hardly at all as a matter of fact, for years Valerie made Stephanie feel inferior to her, in her looks, her dress, just her holier than thou attitude. It didn't matter to her that Valerie was trying to make up for that now. She reminded Stephanie way to much of their mother to ever get over that fact. The only thing the sisters had in common now was their parentage and nothing else.

Knowing that Valerie never knew where she lived was a blessing to her. Never seeing her on their doorstep was something she never took for granted.

Edna and Stephanie's relationship was the closest thing to a mother/daughter that could happen, even though they were a generation apart. Stephanie didn't know what she would ever do without her grandmother's love and support in her life. She had always been there to deflect Helen's anger and hatred of her onto something else and for that Stephanie would always be grateful.

She pulled on her new clothes Ella had purchased for her. The pencil skirt that came below her knees, the shirt and jacket that matched made Stephanie feel like a princess. Her hair was in a French braid done by Angie, helped Stephanie's nerves calm down. Also knowing Carlos and her other friends would be in the courtroom also helped her relax enough not to be so stressed to the point of becoming ill.

Melissa had helped her find a focal point in the courtroom and that would be keeping her eyes on Carlos Manoso. The whole time she was on the stand, never even giving Joe Morelli a glance, or the satisfaction of knowing how much he revolted her.

Melissa had become a huge part of Stephanie's life, her hero in fact. Just knowing that she had gone thru the same thing almost as her and was going to bat for her in the courtroom helped her immensely. Knowing she could call her day or night and had done so already, had her feeling protected and secure in the knowledge this was one nightmare that was almost over with.

It was time to get on with her life, whatever that was. She knew her mother was in the mental hospital and confined there for at least a couple of months made her breathe even easier, hearing that Helen had become so irrational to the point of being confined all due to the fact she knew Frank had married his long time love, Angie.

For some reason, she had trusted Carlos just as much as her daddy. There was an inner calmness around him, a sense of purpose in his life and he seemed devoted to caring for her soul as much as protecting her from the reporters that tried to follow her when she left the law offices that Melissa had temporarily set up camp in.

It seemed like such a short time for her to think of him as her best friend as well as her protector, but she knew he would always play an important role in her life, even as just someone she could always talk to about anything and everything.

Frank saw the sparkle coming back into his daughters eyes, and knew it was because of these men that had become her friends and protectors. Bringing them to Trenton and now starting up 'RANGEMAN' helped in so many ways. Having them live nearby in Frank's houses he had bought near them also helped, when they weren't working at the office, one of them was always around just to hang out with her and her family.

Ranger bought the land that Frank had for sale, wanting to build his own house. He had his sights set on Stephanie and him eventually living there together, no matter how long it took for that to happen. The guys decided to only focus on home and business security, even when approached by bonds companies to work for them, they declined in that area and the employees they hired came straight from the military and only those known by Frank, Joe Juniak and the Rangeman crew were hired. Each had a specialty while in the military and all had wanted to give back to the community that embraced them as protectors.

Hearing what Terri Grizzoli was willing to talk about on the stand in front of others of his obsession with her for years was something she was grateful for. If she had only known about it then, she could have asked her daddy to let her change schools, maybe even become home schooled, just not around Helen that was for sure.

If only. There were a lot of if only's in her life she knew. But now was the time to pull out her inner strength and get thru this day.

Her day of reckoning. Facing down her tormentor, her rapist, Joe Morelli.

Taking a final look in the mirror, Stephanie liked what she saw back staring her in the face was a woman, a woman determined to get through this day with her pride and self-respect intact, all the while telling the courtroom of her most humiliating day ever to occur in her life.

Going downstairs into the morning room of her new home, she saw those that meant the most to her in her life. Her grandma. Her daddy along with his new wife, and her new friends as well. Carlos, Tank, Lester and Bobby. All eyes were on her as she entered the room, mostly full of pride and concern about her mental health today. Seeing her other mother figure Ella there, helped center her the most. Stephanie needed nothing more than seeing Ella's open arms and walked straight into her hug, she took a deep breath, smelling Ella's perfume to keep her centered for this day. Softly in her ear she told her 'Ella, you are the best person I know, the one I can always turn to, the one that has given me support ever since I met you, I just don't have words to say to tell you how much you mean to me.' Ella just rubbed her back softly hearing Stephanie tell her thank you, 'no words are ever needed my dear, just know you are my daughter of my heart and you can do anything you set your mind to.'

Stepping out of Ella's embrace, she saw everyone still looking at her, but now smiles were on their faces, knowing she would be all right today.

Joe Juniak stepped into the room, and walked over to Stephanie and Ella, asking 'how's my two best girls? Ready to get this day started after breakfast?'

Everyone laughed as they knew just how much Stephanie needed her favorite breakfast of almond cereal with bananas on them, just to get motivated to get one foot in front of the other. She had been learning self-defense from the guys and had already made a lot of dietary changes to her life to help build her muscle, losing the entire baby fat that teenagers still had, she was more confident and looked it as well.

Carlos and his men stood up, coming over to give Stephanie hugs before leaving for the police station to get Morelli in one piece to the courthouse. She let each of them say something in her ear, and repeating something back just as soft to each of them, that had become her other family.

Leaving Carlos for last, she heard in her ear,' remember what we talked about, keep your eyes on me the whole time, and know how proud I am for reclaiming your life today. You can do anything you put your mind to, don't forget that and know I will be waiting at the end of the day for us to have our talk, the talk I have wanted to have with you ever since I saw your photograph.' She nodded when she heard his words of support and relaxed into his embrace, soaking up his strength he seemed to be willing into her body.

Across town, Morelli had a sense of jubilation knowing in a while he would see his freedom given back to him. There would be no trial as no one would show up to be in the courtroom to say anything bad about him, a Morelli Man.

When he found out about his mother and Frank Plum being married, he tried to tear his cell apart. Everything being bolted down did nothing but enrage him even more. To think Stephanie was now his stepsister, just made him treasure her even more. Since they weren't related by blood, he could still marry her, as a matter of fact if he did see her today, he would insist on getting a marriage license right then and there. Morelli was still delusional in that way of thinking, something that would stop him in his tracks as he saw the escorts waiting for him, shackles and handcuffs in their hands.

Meeting the eyes of the Cuban man from his nightmares, he never looked away, if anything Joe just sneered and said 'this is the last time we will ever see each other again, tell Stephanie I am coming for her after all this over.'

The growl coming from the four men, had Joe take a step back, hitting his back against the hard body of Tank, much like what had happened the last time they saw each other in the courtroom.

Eddie stepped out in the hallway as Joe was escorted out of the cell block telling him 'Joe, it just came down, you are getting roommates so be prepared when you come back, I think there are at least two for sure. Hope you can handle them, they are gang bangers looking for a little action if you know what I mean', then Eddie left Joe to ponder that statement as he shuffled down the steps to the waiting car as much as his legs would move due to his leg restraints.

As Joe's car was carrying him to the courthouse, inside the courthouse Melissa was getting her files in order. Once again triple checking her questions she had for the witnesses. She was hoping by having Terri go first and laying the groundwork for Joe's obsession with Stephanie early on that Stephanie will be comfortable enough to tell it all, from the molestation in Joe's daddy's garage to the rape that happened just a short time ago in her life.

The metal detectors had already been set up as well as the hand held body scanners for the press. Since it was a closed courtroom the only folks allowed into the courtroom were immediate family members and members of the press from New York City, including Trenton and some newspapers from Philadelphia. No cameras or recorders were allowed. They had to write it all down by hand.

Melissa and Judge Sharpton had gone over the ground rules for the trial along with Morelli's attorney, Vinnie Plum. He damn near agreed with anything they asked for, knowing this was a losing case from the beginning. Once he heard his cousin had been violated and was getting the case assigned to him, Vinnie decided to put up the minimal defense and have not one question for the witnesses presented today. He may have to be the attorney of record, that didn't mean he had to follow his client's instructions at all.

Melissa also had a folder for just the questions she had for Mr. Morelli. From the days and months he had told Terri Grizzoli about Stephanie Plum, to the fingerprints found on the spray can of paint he used to tell some of Trenton's men's room all about his cupcake. She relished the thought of his cross examination, he would be called first to the stand she figured to spew his lies, then she would rip him to shreds by using Terri and Stephanie to refute anything he said and then calling him to reexamine their testimony.

In talking with Lester over the past weeks, Melissa had almost decided to pull up stakes from New York City and move to Trenton, she figured she could always find a job in this town, which was sorely lacking a prosecutor of her caliber to begin with. Judge Sharpton also had talked about relocating here as well, as a matter of fact there were openings on the bench as well as the district attorney's office, and both he and Melissa would have to look into that for their own career moves as well.

'State calls Joseph Morelli to the stand.' Were the first words out of Melissa's mouth.

Joe couldn't believe what he was seeing, his mother and Frank Plum sitting together, behind the prosecution table, as well as Stephanie Plum and Terri Grizzoli. Scattered around the courtroom were the men of Rangeman as well as the local police including Eddie Garzarra and Joe Juniak. This was his day all right, what started out to be a good day suddenly wasn't after all. He bent down to talk to his attorney," I want to change my plea to guilty after all.' Vinnie looked at him and said 'sorry Joe, you had your chance in the beginning when you were arrested in California, according to your military attorney there, you refused to do so and now, it's off the table. There is no plea deal offer, you have to get up there and tell the truth once and for all. The question is Joe, are you man enough to admit what you did?'

"At least try, damnit' Joe snarled at Vinnie. I have a right here; I need to try to get out of this trial. I want to change my plea after all.'

Vinnie stood and said 'defense needs a recess in judge's chambers'. Both Melissa and Judge Sharpton looked at each other, trying to assess what was getting ready to happen.

Both Melissa and Vinnie followed Judge Sharpton into his chambers, closing the door behind them; the Judge pinned Vinnie with a look and said' explain the need here for a recess before your client is testifying please'.

Vinnie said, 'my client wishes to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.'

Melissa said' I need to confer with the victim first, if it's not acceptable then the trial continues on.'

Walking back into the courtroom, everyone could feel the tension rising. Angie thought,' what now Joseph?'

Frank thought' please let me kill him now'

Stephanie thought' Jesus Christ let this show begin and I can get on with my life here'

Terri Grizzoli thought 'payback time Joe, its time you paid your dues'

Melissa brought Stephanie to the judge's chambers along with her daddy and Angie as well. She needed them to hear whatever Melissa had to say, to help keep her inner strength up for she was sure it was bad news all the way around.

Melissa sat down with Stephanie on the judge's couch, Vinnie having excused himself to sit with Joe at the defense table, while the Judge watched behind his desk the workings of Melissa's magic; helping another young girl overcome the trauma that had happened in her lifetime.

Taking Stephanie's hand in hers, Melissa began to talk softly and slowly so Stephanie would hear it all, 'Joe wants to plead guilty Stephanie, that means he would go away to prison for a long time. I am sure if we had the trial, his sentence might be longer still but he is willing to plead guilty now. What do you think about this?'

Stephanie said in a firm voice "I want him to go to trial, to hell with him getting what he wants, he took away part of me that night, I want him to suffer more than he could ever imagine." She didn't even look at her daddy but at Angie instead and asked her "what do you think I should do? This is your son after all, what would you like to happen here? I will listen to whatever you want to happen and will give your answer some thought as well.'

Angie looked at her new stepdaughter and couldn't have loved her more at that very moment, when she asked her what SHE ANGIE PLUM WANTS DONE. SHE WAS FORCED TO MARRY HER RAPIST, UNLIKE STEPHANIE WHO IS GIVING HER A SAY IN HER SONS PUNISHMENT.

Angie smiled at Stephanie and said, "I think you know my answer, it's the same as yours Stephanie, make Joseph pay. He deserves it, he was raised just the same as Anthony, and he knows right from wrong"

Frank Plum couldn't be prouder of his new wife and his daughter, deciding together; them both the victims of a heinous crime, and both came out stronger because of it.

Judge Sharpton had his clerk call Vinnie back into his chambers, and told him
'get your client ready to take the stand, no plea deal'.

Vinnie damn near fainted at the news, having to go back and tell Joe Morelli his plea deal was not accepted. It was not going to be pretty at all.