My thanks to Cheryl, Phx, Phx ('cause you commented at the same time I was uploading the last chapter so you got missed! So now you get TWO thank you's! :D), Alicia, MissMe113, Miss Fenway, TraSan, Polaris 05, pally and Helen! You guys are great! Thank you for making me smile! :D See? That's me smiling… ;-)

Innocent

Chapter 21

Joe stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His eyes were bloodshot; the normal brilliant blue color seemed dull and lifeless. The dark circles under his eyes, combined with his pale skin, made him feel as if he were looking at a stranger.

He reached up to straighten his tie and saw Vanessa's reflection as she came to stand behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Hi, handsome," she said, smiling as their eyes locked in the mirror.

Joe knew they were a striking couple. People often gave them a second and third look when they were out in public together, sometimes blatantly staring at them. He wondered what people thought now, when they saw the matching haunted looks in their eyes and felt the undercurrent of fear when strangers got too close.

Vanessa hugged him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Are you about ready?"

"Mm-hmm," he nodded. Turning around in her arms, he kissed her. "I love you, Van," he whispered, holding her tightly.

The night before, when she lay sleeping in his arms, he wondered how many more nights he would get to hold her as she drifted off to sleep. He wondered if he would spend the next sixty years watching her fall asleep every night or if there were only a limited amount left. Maybe it was only because Andrew hadn't started presenting his defense yet, but he was quickly losing hope. Each day he sat and listened to the prosecution call witness after witness to the stand. That testimony along with the evidence they had compiled against him made Joe feel as if he were being crushed.

Today he would listen while Con Riley, Ezra Collig and a few other high-ranking officers testified against him. And tomorrow…tomorrow was a day he was eagerly looking forward to and dreading at the same time. He was looking forward to it because Frank would be home from Phoenix. He was dreading it because Frank was coming home to testify… against him.

Joe knew he wouldn't have much time with his brother. As soon as Frank finished testifying, he would have to catch a plane to Los Angeles. Frank hated flying in and out so quickly without getting a chance to really sit down and talk to Joe; make sure he was holding up all right. But Frank was the final witness Dennis Seevers planned to call. Once Frank had been questioned and cross-examined the prosecution would rest their case. The very next day, Andrew would begin presenting Joe's defense; and it wasn't going to take more than a few days.

Joe was well aware that Frank was feeling a huge amount of pressure. Up to this point, he had found nothing but dead ends. However, between Frank's relentless determination to follow up on all those dead ends no matter where they led him, and Phil's computer wizardry, they were finally able to track down Angela Taylor who was now living in Los Angeles. The police had informed her of her son's death and the circumstances surrounding it. Surprisingly, she still agreed to meet with Frank and speak to him about her son. Still, that didn't guarantee Frank would come home from L.A. with any evidence to prove Joe was innocent.

At this moment, Joe didn't even care about that. More than anything he needed to see his brother, spend time with him, just be with him. Somehow, when he could look Frank in the eye as Frank told him the evidence was out there and he would find it, all of Joe's fears could be kept at bay a little longer.

Returning his attention to the present, Joe finally released Vanessa. He stared at her, running his fingers through her hair. No longer quite so sure they could plan a future together, Joe felt like he wanted to memorize everything about her.

Reaching out, Vanessa touched his cheek. "Ready? If we don't leave now, we'll be late."

"Let's go then."

oooOOOooo

Joe looked at the clock on the wall of the courtroom. Thank God this day was almost over. Ezra Collig was now on the witness stand, and had just finished recounting the events of the shooting. Andrew was in the process of his cross-examination and Joe was just about ready to jump out of his seat and run. He was nervous and anxious and had suddenly had a feeling he needed to get out of the courtroom now. Out of nowhere he could hear his Aunt Gertrude's voice in his head. She had a favorite saying she saved for whenever Joe was fidgeting at the dinner table.

"Your skin is too tight," she would announce whenever Joe just couldn't sit still for one more second. He smiled thinking of her, for that was exactly how he felt right now. She had desperately wanted to be here for the trial but had broken her hip while visiting a friend in Florida for the winter. Her doctor said she would not be able to travel for at least another month.

Joe tried to re-focus on what Andrew was saying. Chief Collig could have a very intimidating presence and Joe was sure the jury was hanging on his every word. Joe knew the Chief was fond of him, but Collig also thought Joe could be a 'loose cannon' at times and he probably believed Joe really did murder Chris Taylor.

"So you heard the gunshot, correct?" Andrew asked.

"Yes," Collig answered.

"And did you see who pulled the trigger?"

"No. Not clearly."

"Not clearly? Either you did or you didn't."

"Joe had the gun in his hands. Taylor was raising his hands as Joe had ordered him to do when it went off."

"But did you clearly see Chris Taylor's hands - either in the air or on top of his head - at the exact moment the gun was fired?"

Collig sat and thought carefully before answering. "No."

"Did you see Joe Hardy's hands clearly when the gun was fired?"

"No."

"Did you see the gun itself at the moment it was fired?"

"No."

"So you really have no idea who fired the gun, do you?"

Once again, Collig thought carefully before answering. "No."

"It could just as easily have happened exactly the way my client has stated. True?"

"Yes. It could have."

"No further questions, Your Honor," Andrew said as he walked back and took a seat next to Joe.

Joe looked at him in awe. "I've never seen anybody get Chief Collig to admit he might be wrong about something!" Joe said with admiration. "He's gonna be pissed!"

Andrew smiled at him. "He can be as pissed as he wants as long as the jury believes there is a possibility that everything happened the way you said it did. If the chief of police admits it's possible, they have no choice but to have a reasonable doubt."

Joe and Andrew stood, as did everyone else in the courtroom, while Judge O'Donnell declared the proceedings finished for the day and returned to his chambers.

"Can I go now?" Joe asked impatiently. He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be outside this room.

"Sure. I'll see you tomorrow," Andrew replied. "Just make sure you get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is going to be the worst day yet," he reminded Joe.

Joe nodded as he made his way towards the back of the room. Vanessa greeted him with hug, a kiss and a concerned look.

"Are you all right? I thought you were going to jump out of your skin those last few minutes."

"Me too," Callie agreed.

"So did I," his father chimed in. "What's going on?"

"I don't know. Nerves I guess. I just feel like I need to get out of here," Joe replied to the anxious looks he was getting from his family.

"Well, there's nothing keeping us here," Laura said. "Let's go."

The five of them made their way out of the courtroom and, as had become habit to avoid the media, turned and headed for the back entrance.

"Aren't you even going to say hi? What a brat."

Joe stopped, frozen in place. At first he was afraid he was now having auditory hallucinations on top of everything else until he heard that familiar chuckle so often used at his expense. Whirling around, he saw Frank standing in the hall, an overnight bag at his feet.

"Frank!" Joe threw himself at his older brother, hugging him fiercely. "When did you get here?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"I don't believe it," Callie muttered with a smile. She looked at Vanessa knowingly.

"Just about the time Joe started to go ballistic. What a surprise," Vanessa laughed.

"Uh, excuse me," Callie said tapping Joe on the arm. "Can I give my husband a hug? It's been a few days since I've seen him too."

Joe stepped aside giving Callie a playful, dirty look. As Callie and Frank greeted each other, Vanessa pulled Joe aside.

"Why don't you and Frank go out and grab some dinner; spend some time together. I know you haven't seen much of him since the trial started. I think it'll be good for you," she squeezed his hand.

"What about you?" Joe asked, concerned.

"I'll go home with Callie. You can pick me up when you drop Frank off."

"But…"

"No, buts. You need to spend some time with your brother… just being brothers."

Joe looked at her, amazed, then leaned in for a kiss. "Thanks, Babe. You're the best."

"I know," she grinned. "But you deserve the best."

As Callie and Frank rejoined the little group, Vanessa related her suggestion, which Callie enthusiastically seconded. As much as she had missed Frank and wanted to be with him, she knew Joe needed him more than she did right now.

After Frank greeted his parents and spent a few minutes catching his father up on what he'd learned in Phoenix, he found himself sitting in the passenger seat of Joe's car.

"Okay, where are we going, little brother?"

Joe turned and looked at Frank as a slow smile spread across his face. Frank saw the look in Joe's eye and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Mr. Pizza!" they chorused and laughed out loud.