A/N: Thank you thank you thank you for the reviews :)

Sorry this is shorter, and not proof read and also I didn't update last night.

Just some person stuff I am dealing with.

Hopefully I can update tomorrow, but otherwise next week :)

Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Twenty-Six

Erin POV

The car ride home is torture, Jay's anger still radiating off him, he hasn't said a word to me since lunch.

My phone dings when we stop at a red light, I glance down to see Jen's text.

Met mouse today. Interesting guy.

And?

I shoot back a quick reply, knowing what Jen is like getting to the point.

Asked where you got all that information from. Didn't say a word. Up to you if you tell Jay.

Jen's text and heavy silence cause my mind to wander to the night things changed for the case, and for my relationship with Jay.

Flashback

"What are you doing here?" My eyes narrow at the man at my door, not having the patience for whatever this is.

"Is Jay here?"

"No, thankfully. You shouldn't be here either." I cross my arms over my chest.

"I saw your press interview."

"Great." I move to shut the door in his face.

"I know who killed Allie." His voice is pleading and desperate as I stare shocked at the closed door. I rip it back open, eyeing him before stepping back and allowing him inside.

"I'm listening."

"Look you have to understand the position I'm in, he's family. I… I didn't know what to do. I knew if you stayed on the case you'd present alternate suspects and I thought… the things I said in the media would discredit it before…" I watch as Pat Halstead looks down at his feet in what appears to be shame.

"Then why did you hire me?" I cut into his rambling.

"I was hoping you could stop this in it's tracks… when you couldn't I panicked."

"So you're telling me it was Will." I raise an eyebrow trying to evaluate his features.

"Yes." He whispers in surprise that I don't need him to say it.

"You do realize Jay is also your son?" The anger in my voice cannot be controlled.

He drops his head in shame, tears flowing down his cheeks as he hunches over. His shoulders are shaking and it takes a beat for me to realize he's sobbing.

"Um, here have a seat." I utter awkwardly.

"How did you know?" He finally whispers ashamed.

"I figured it had to be one of you." I shrug at him leaning back in my chair and assessing him.

"Why?"

"The Y chromosome is passed from father to son. Fathers, sons, brothers can have DNA that's practically identical." His surprise annoys me briefly.

"Does Jay know?"

"Of course not." I scoff.

"Why?"

"Because I know he wouldn't allow me to pursue that line of enquiry. So I don't ask, I don't tell." He watches me silently for a moment.

"They were having an affair you know."

"I knew she was having an affair with someone… suspected it was him. Or you." His chuckle is bitter.

"She was the same age as my son."

"That doesn't mean anything. You and I both know that." I hold his gaze, not backing down.

"I can get you text exchanges from them." My eyebrows rise in surprise.

"How?"

"I owned their phones, there's a lot I can get you." I regard Pat for a moment before nodding, and diving into what else he can get his hands on.

Before sending him on his way I can't help but warn him.

"Jay isn't to know anything about this."

"He's going to find out you know."

"I know, but our best bet is if Will's blindsided on the stand."

"Okay, I can do that."

"One more thing."

"What is it?"

"I just have to know. Why did it take you so long to come forward? You've been protecting a murderer." I can't control the disgust in my voice.

"Will's a good man."

"Debatable." I interject with a raise eyebrow.

"He's an upstanding member of his community."

"So was Jay before you allowed his name to be dragged through the Chicago press attached to a murder. Those who serve their country tend to have very good reputations. For good reason." There's a part of me who knows he hasn't finished defending his immoral actions.

"Will's a Doctor. He did something real with his life."

"Translation, he did something you approved of."

"You don't have to agree with my decision."

"I don't."

"Okay, let's have it." I drop my bag and keys on the dining room counter before leaning back onto the kitchen counter.

"I don't even know what to say to you right now." He huffs out at me.

"Now I'm sure that's not true." I scoff at him, waiting for him to get the fight over with.

"I can't believe you, you honestly can't see why I would be angry?"

"Of course I can. I knew you were going to be angry." I consent, feeling dread in my stomach.

"Then why did you do it?"

"To save your life. I'm not going to keep explaining that - is it going to sink into your head at some point. Just because I knew you'd be angry, doesn't mean I think you should be." He lets out a bitter laugh at my words.

"You're unbelievable."

"The jury believed me." I fire back before I can catch my tongue.

"That's low Erin."

"Jay, I'm sorr-"

"I can't. I gotta go."

"Go where? Jay!"

"Not so nice when someone storms off is it?" He throws in my face from the other night.

"Jay." I whisper as he turns his back on me, I jump at the sound of the front door slamming.

I wake startled to the sound of the front door closing; my eyes are blurry as I read the time.

4:08

The last time I saw the clock it was 2.30 in the morning, I groan trying to make myself more alert and waiting with baited breath for Jay to join me.

4:15

Tears roll down my cheeks, I throw the covers off and wipe my tears before making my way through the apartment and to the spare room.

I knock quietly; ignoring the plea to go away and pushing the door open to see Jay riffling through the dresser.

"Where were you?" I whisper brokenly.

"Out." He shrugs, not looking my way.

"Jay, please talk to me. I love you. Don't shut me out." I beg him desperately.

He scoffs and shakes his head.

"I'm sorry okay?!" My voice is exasperated, willing him to believe me.

"No you're not."

"I am sorry you feel betrayed, I'm sorry you're mad. I'm sorry that you're hurting… I'm sorry that all I want to do is have you hold me and I can't have that." My voice breaks, tears falling down my cheeks.

He looks pained as he takes in my distress before he turns away ignoring me again.

"Just answer me something." My voice is firmer as I take deep breaths.

He grunts which I take as consent to ask.

"Are you angry at me for accusing Will? Or because you don't want to admit I'm right?"

"You're not right, and for the record. I'm angry at you for lying to me. You betrayed me."

"You fucked up on the stand Jay. I was hoping I wouldn't have to push so hard on the stand, shed enough reasonable doubt. But now? Well you fucked up, so it is what it is." The words are harsh, my hurt turning to anger.

"You don't have proof he killed her."

"You don't have proof he didn't! The prosecution don't have proof you did it, and yet here we are. That DNA is damn close match to yours." I'm imploring him to see the truth, to see reason.

"That DNA could just as easily been mine." He fires back determinedly.

"Oh come off it Jay." I blow out a frustrated breath, before continuing.

"I don't need evidence. I ask questions. I raise doubt. That's my job."

"Yeah, I'm getting that."

"You know what your job was?"

"What?"

"Work the case. Remember? I feel like I'm the only one trying to solve this. Don't you want justice for Allie?" The accusation is low and I know that.

"Of course I do, don't accuse me of wanting her killer to go free."

"Then why haven't you made an progress? Is it because maybe subconsciously you're scared of who'll you'll find as guilty?"

"Will didn't do this." He defends angrily.

"Then prove who did it."

"You're unbelievable."

"Jay, it's late I don't want to fight. Please. Can we just go to bed?"

"You know where your bed is, I've got mine right here." His words hurt and he knows it.

"Jay."

"Leave Erin." Our stares hold for a few minutes before I can't take the way he's looking at me any longer, I turn and close his door behind me before crawling into my bed for a restless nights sleep.

I'm starting on my second coffee of the morning when Jay finally appears in the living area.

"So, Allie was cheating on me?" I can't pick his tone so I answer cautiously.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"And that's how you thought I deserved to know?" I jump at the lethal tone of his voice.

"No of course not, but… you would have gone and confronted Will. I couldn't have that, I needed him to be blindsided on the stand. I couldn't risk him being prepared for it." I shrug, blinking back tears.

"You should have told me."

"I couldn't risk it. Between you tipping your brother off, and you also wouldn't have wanted me pursue this line of questioning."

"So women are just liars?" I glare at that.

"Wow. I know you're hurt but how about you direct the anger at someone who deserves it."

"You don't think you betrayed me?" His question sets me off.

"I think I did my fucking job. To save your god damn life. Yet you're standing here defending your brother. Who is a liar, and slept with your girlfriend, and didn't offer you any support during all this… your brother you've known your whole life." I'm crying, my voice moving from shouts to a heartbroken whisper.

"But me? I've done nothing but change my whole life to revolve around you."

"Well I'm sorry to ruin your life that way."

"I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth." I plead as I wipe my tears.

"Well, you haven't exactly been telling me anything."

"Don't be bitter, it's not attractive." I spit out reaching to clear away the table.

"Well, good news, you don't have to centre your life around me anymore."

"Jay… don't say something you don't mean." I freeze, turning to assess him.

"I do mean it."

"You'll regret it."

"Maybe, but you won't be around to see it." His words are a punch in the gut, clutching my heart in it's grip.

"Yeah, well. I love you. Despite the way you're treating me, so I'm not going to leave you to deal with this mess. You're stuck with me. As your lawyer anyway."

A/N: Hopefully I will find time tomorrow night after work.

Please review, I am loving reading them.

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