Chapter 24

It was now April and Andy was 6 months pregnant with twin girls. Her and Sam were ecstatic. They had planned out the nursery and had started a registry to keep track of what they want. Sam and Andy announced the very next day that it was two girls. Tracie was still planning her own wedding but decided to plan a baby shower for Andy for the beginning of June. Sam and Andy had a mini vacation planned over Memorial Day at Oliver's Cabin with Tracie and Jerry and Oliver and Celery.

Andy had been dreading April. This month was when Marlo's trial was to take place. The court system had taken so long for it to get through the process and start the trial. Marlo was pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Andy had been called to testify about the incidents that happened. Andy wanted it all to be over with she did not want to have to face Marlo or give a victim impact statement in open court about what happened. Sam had taken off work to go with Andy.

The day came, and Andy was getting ready for the day. Andy had grown quite a bit and could no longer see her feet and had to have Sam help put on her shoes. Her feet were swollen but she wore a low pair of heels since she was going to court and had to dress in something over than slides.

"I wish we didn't have to do this" Andy said, "They have all of our statements and plenty of evidence".

"They need us to testify to help everything stick and to make sure she gets sent away for the rest of her life" Sam replied.

They got into the truck and Sam drove them to the courthouse. When they got parked Sam could tell that Andy was nervous about going in.

"This will be over soon, and we will spend the rest of the afternoon getting paint and supplies for the girls' room" Sam said.

"Thank you, babe, for always being here. I love you" Andy said as she got out of the truck. They could stay together in a private room until it was time for Andy to testify and they both would be allowed in the courtroom. They had been waiting for an hour. Andy was uncomfortable and kept getting up to walk around. Being this big made everything uncomfortable and she knew it was only going to get worse as her pregnancy progressed. She was pacing in the room, she knew it was getting closer to the time to go testify. Sam was watching her intensely, knowing she was upset but knew that there wasn't much that he could do to comfort her. He got up and walked towards her wanting to just hug her. Andy stopped pacing quickly, had a weird look on her face and her hand went directly to her stomach.

"Andy, what's wrong?" Sam asked as he placed his hands on her arms.

"Sam, I think one of them just kicked." Andy replied as she moved her hand around. "Yep, that's what that is. Feel this". She said as she grabbed his hand and put it on her belly. He felt the baby moved and just grinned. He hugged Andy and kissed her forehead. At this time the door opened, and a bailiff came in.

"Mrs. Swarek, they are ready for you now" He said.

"Thank you" Andy replied and followed him to the courtroom with Sam in tow. Andy walked between the prosecutor and defense attorney, she could feel Marlo glaring at her to the witness stand and Sam sat in the 2nd row behind the prosecutor.

Andy testified without any issues. Sam caught her a few times, moving her hand to her belly and her face lighting up. He hated that this moment happened here and now. Sam had watched Marlo during the testimony and could tell she was getting agitated. Marlo had been allowed out of her handcuffs and leg restraints because of her attorney who advocated for that. They had additional bailiffs in the room just in case, but she had not shown any signs of aggression when she had returned to jail.

Andy testified to the best of her ability. She had watched Marlo and could see Marlo tensing and getting pissed off by what Andy was saying. Andy was allowed to step off the stand and leave on stand-by. She had to be available if she was recalled as a witness. Andy stepped down and went back to exit the court room. As she walked between the two tables she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and Marlo was lunging at her. Andy didn't have a whole lot of time to react but threw a punch as hard as she could and made contact. Next Andy knew was Marlo was on the ground and Sam had a hold of her.

"Are you okay?" Sam was asking as he was moving her away from the commotion.

"I'm fine" Andy said just looking confused.

The bailiffs had cuffed Marlo and pulled her off the ground showing her face was bloodied. Andy had hit her hard enough to bust her nose and was bleeding all over.

"ORDER IN THE COURT" the judge yelled "Please escort the defendant back to her cell. We are done for the day".

Sam exited the courtroom holding onto Andy. The prosecutor followed them out to explain that they should not be needed but if they were that they would have Marlo in full restraints. Sam was pissed and made it very well known that she should have been in them from the start due to her history.

"Sam, I am fine" Andy stated "I promise, it happened and that's that. We are done. Let's just go run our errands and go home after I pee really quick".

"Fine" Sam said. Andy could tell that he was very pissed off.

Andy went into the lady's bathroom and was super glad she had a dress on. She had to use her left hand to pull down her underwear because her right hand hurt too bad. Andy looked down at her hand and realized that it was red, and it hurt up to her elbow. She must have hit Marlo hard enough to hurt herself. Andy decided that she wouldn't say anything to Sam knowing he would overreact. He was already on edge.

They drove to the hardware store to pick up the paint and supplies. Andy's hand was throbbing at this point and she saw that the redness wasn't going away. She had been able to hide it from Sam in the truck. They went inside the store and Andy was helping pick out the color swatches to have them mix the paint.

Andy winced and mouthed 'OW' when she tried to pick a pack of brushes up with her right hand. She had really hoped that Sam hadn't seen it.

"Andy is your hand hurt?" Sam said watching her.

"I am fine" Andy said. Before she could turn he grabbed her hand making her shout. He looked at it and flipped it over to see her palm.

"Really, it is red, swollen and looks like you are already getting a bruise. Jesus Andy your hand could be broken, and you are just going to ignore it." Sam said getting really frustrated.

"I am fine" Andy said.

"You are not" Sam said, "We are going to the ER now to have it x-rayed." Sam was putting back what they had picked out and led her out the door.

They arrived at the ER, checked in, explained the situation and waited to be called back.

"Sam, it's probably nothing. Just a little sore is all" Andy said.

Sam just stared at her and didn't respond.

"Mrs. Andy McNally" a nurse shouted into the waiting room. Andy and Sam got up and went to her following her into an exam room. They went through the whole situation. They sent Andy for an x-ray of her hand showing that nothing was broken. She had most likely sprained her wrist. She was put in a brace to wear for the next few weeks until it felt better. Sam insisted for them to check on the twins since it was a physical altercation, but everything was fine. They finished the paperwork and left the hospital.

"I told you I was fine" Andy said when they got back in the truck.

"Stop being so stubborn." Sam replied as he drove them home.

Andy was disappointed that they still hadn't gotten the stuff to work on the nursery. She was getting anxious and ready to have things in order. They were heading out to the Penny later to meet up with friends and grab some food, so Andy and Sam changed into more comfortable clothes.

"You sure you still want to go" Sam asked, "They will understand if we stay in tonight".

"No" Andy replied "I am going to spend time with my friends and eat some good food and Marlo is not going to ruin that"

Andy and Sam went to the Penny for their dinner. Sam held the door open for Andy. She walked in and headed straight to where Tracie was sitting with Jerry.

"What the hell happened to your hand Andy? How was the hearing? We heard there was a disruption at the courthouse today." Tracy asked as she hugged Andy.

"That disruption was Marlo lunging towards Andy and Andy breaking her nose in open court. We had to go the ER later when I realized that her hand was hurting. She tried hiding it from me" Sam said before Andy could reply.

"Good Job, Andy" Jerry said, "Marlo deserved that and much more".

Tracie just laughed. Andy could see that Sam didn't get the reaction he wanted from his friends. Everybody was telling Andy congratulations for hitting Marlo and hurting herself in the process.

They had dinner. Tracie and Andy sat and worked on wedding planning things. Sam and Jerry were mingling with others at the bar drinking. Around 9PM, Andy got up from the table and found Sam.

"Hey, I am ready to go home" Andy said, "you stay with Jerry and Tracie and I will drive myself home".

"No, we can leave" Sam said.

"Sam, you are having a blast hanging out with your friends. Stay and have a good time. I will be perfectly fine. I will let you know when I am home in the house and you can check on me if you are worried" Andy said.

"Are you sure?" Sam replied.

"Yes, Sam. I am a big girl and can take care of myself, even though I like you caring for me" Andy said and winked. She grabbed his keys and headed home. She could not wait to change into her shorts and baggy t-shirt and lay down.

Sam worried about her the rest of the night, but he has some planning to work out with Jerry and this was the perfect time for this.