Chapter 34
Elena woke up more nerve racked then she had ever been the next morning. The butterflies in her stomach and racing heart started churning in her gut and she raced for the bathroom. Damon was right behind her she hadn't even heard him get up until she felt him behind her pulling her hair back. She didn't get embarrassed about him seeing her throw up anymore, she was really touched at how he was willing to endure it just to take care of her. He rubbed her back and whispered some soothing words.
"Ugh." She sat down on the bathroom floor and rested her chin on her knees. "This was starting to get better."
He handed her a water bottle. "All that pizza last night toppled with your nerves was a bad combination."
"How do I stop being scared?" She asked him with a desperate look. "My heart just won't stop racing."
He kneeled beside her and pulled into his arms. "Why don't you let me be brave for you today and you can just be scared. Just remember that no matter what happens no
matter what you say he can't ever hurt you. Not ever again, he can't touch you. "
"That does help." She said quietly. "I know I can do this. I have to do this."
"I know you can too just keep telling yourself that." She nodded and gently scooped her off him and got up to start a warm bath for her while she brushed her teeth.
"Go on; tell yourself how strong and brave you are. Tell yourself you have nothing to fear." He prodded.
"I'm not going to actually talk to myself." She laughed shaking her head.
"I'm serious Elena." He said. "I can tell you a thousand times, but you have to believe it yourself when you say things out loud it reinforces them."
"Okay." She rolled her eyes a little but got up and faced the mirror.
"He can't hurt you anymore. It's your turn now. You can do this." She told herself in the mirror with a determined look. "You're stronger now don't let him take that away from you."
"See it helps doesn't it? Add in some stuff about how hot you are and you're golden." He smirked coming up behind her. She giggled feeling a little more relaxed already. She lifted her arms and let him take off her tee shirt well his shirt anyhow. He took her arm and led her over to the big claw foot tub. She tiptoed up and kissed him.
"I love you." She smiled as she pulled back slowly.
"I love you angel, and you're going to be fine. Just trust in yourself." He assured her.
He knelt down and kissed her belly before leaving her to her warm bath. It soothed her nerves and her stomach enough that she was hungry by the time she finished.
She dressed in a nice pair of black dressy pants they were a little loose fitted and comfortable she paired it with a light pink blouse. She straightened her hair and wore it in a simple low ponytail and didn't even bother with makeup. It was far too humid outside to even try it. Damon liked her better without it anyway.
The table was already full of people when she got downstairs. Damon was making eggs and pancakes and Bonnie, Jenna, Rick, Stefan, and Jeremy were all sitting around the table starting to eat.
"How you doing, kiddo?" Rick asked as she sat down.
"I'm hanging in there." She said slowly. "I just can't wait for this to be over."
"I know honey." Jenna reached across the table and squeezed her hand, "Soon."
"Just remember he's finally going to pay for all the things he did." Bonnie said squeezing her shoulder.
"Rick are you coming?' She asked noticing his sweats and ratty tee. Everyone else was dressed up. Bonnie was wearing a ling navy blue dress. Jenna had on grey capris with heels and fitted gray short sleeved blazer. They both also had their hair pulled back. Bonnie's in a loose bun and Jenna's in a tight braid. Jeremy had a pair of tan kaki's on with a polo tee shirt which was dressed up for him.
Both Stefan and Damon had black slacks on Stefan had a dressy white shirt with a black tie and Damon had a maroon button up shirt on he was also wearing a black tie. He had his black hair combed back. They seemed so powerful both Salvatore brothers together dressed like that she imagined how intimidating they must have been at the office.
"I can't I'm not a witness. They aren't allowing the public in." Rick said.
"How does Stefan get to be there then?" She asked.
"He's an immediate family member of one of Craig's intended victims." Jenna explained. "Immediate family, the police department and anyone on the witness list is allowed inside. They just didn't want all the media and everything."
"Oh." Elena frowned glancing at Rick. "Then why are you up so early?"
"To eat with you." He smirked. "What are we having today?"
Damon turned around and waited for her answer, she felt that familiar warm feeling come over her. She loved it when he cooked for her.
"Nothing too crazy today poached eggs and toast. I need to keep my stomach nice and calm." She said.
"Got it." Damon turned around and started working on her breakfast.
"I think I'll stick with pancakes today then." Rick smiled.
"Thanks though." She nodded at him in appreciation of his support getting up before noon was huge. Even Jenna was giving him soft smiles she loved it when Rick was sweet.
"Yeah no problem, you're going to be fine kid. I'll be waiting with some peanut butter and ice cream when you get back." He promised.
"Deal," She smiled.
Elena's heart was still racing when she walked into the courtroom. Meredith was at her side quickly she was dressed in a high waisted black pencil skirt with a tucked in gray tweed shirt and a black blazer. Her hair was back in a tight bun and she simple back heels on.
"Okay now just relax, don't let anything Craig says get to you. They will try to throw us off they will say things are untrue. You just stay calm and patient. Logan Fell is a good defense attorney, but I know him I know his style. He gets his version out right away and then cements it in the rest of the time. He will call Craig early to try to place doubt in the jury's minds right away. And try to prevent me from questioning him. This suits us just fine because I sprinkle my doubts in and then pull my star witness out in the end. That being said, you might not even testify today. But you're on trial his whole time the jury is going to be watching you." Meredith warned her.
"That's so unfair she's the victim." Bonnie spat out.
"I know but they are going to try to make her seem like an unreliable witness, they will do anything they can to do that. I am on it and ready to stop it though. They are going with the temporary insanity defense. That he found out she had another man and went crazy." Meredith sighed. "I figured they would."
"It's just like it always was." Elena said.
Meredith gave her a questioning look.
"Every time Craig hurt me, he always blamed me for it. He told me I drove him to it. I made him hurt me. Now he's got the whole legal system backing that up." Elena said.
Meredith eyes shot wide open. "Elena you just won our case."
"What?"
"No matter what happens in there you just gave me a closing argument that seals his fate." She said leaning close. Her dark eyes were so determined Elena had to believe her.
Elena sat down next to Damon with Jenna on the other side of her. Stefan was sitting next to Damon and Bonnie and Jeremy were in the row just behind them. There were several police officers sitting around and a few other people Elena didn't recognize. She wanted to squeeze Damon's hand, but she was afraid the jury would take it the wrong way, so she sat still and waited.
When they brought Craig in, she stilled. His black eyes seemed to bore right into her. He looked angrier than she had ever seen him. She shuddered in fear and her chest tightened, she felt dizzy. It was like he was taking all her newfound power away as easily as vampire could drain someone of their life force. Damon stiffened beside her struggling obviously not to hold her.
"It's okay angel." Damon whispered. "He can't hurt you anymore."
The jury came in next and then the judge came in and everyone stood. It all seemed so real all the sudden she but her lip trying to stay as calm as she could. It helped knowing she might not even be called today. The more time she had to prepare the better.
"The state of Virginia versus Craig Morgan. Mr. Morgan is being charged with the conspiracy of a kidnapping, and three counts of attempted murder. How does the defendant plead?" The judge's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she looked up.
"Not guilty." Logan Fell said in a loud voice he was a thin and kind of shifty looking guy in a back suit. He had sandy blonde hair cut short and grey sinister looking eyes. She immediately didn't like him.
The crowd sort of gasped a little. The judge hushed everyone.
"Let's get started with opening statements." The judge said. "Mr. Fell?"
Logan cleared his throat and stood in front of the room.
"I know many of you seem surprised my client would plead not guilty. I am here to prove that he is not guilty of the crimes he is being accused of. My client is an upstanding citizen, a trusted police officer, and a pillar of his community. He's devastated by his actions, I assure you, but he is not guilty of consciously committing them. Losing his wife drove Mr. Morgan into a deep depression for years. Then he was manipulated and lured here only to find her in another man's arms. My client was not in control of his actions that night. He doesn't remember what happened nor does he have any idea of what he actually would have done that night. He was legally insane and cannot be held liable for his actions." Logan said with a smug look on his face.
Elena just did as Meredith said and faced ahead trying to keep herself calm and not react too much.
"If I'm undertaking. Mr. Fell's point here is that Mr. Morgan is not denying having his then wife Elena Gilbert kidnapped, nor is he denying holding a gun on three people and threatening to kill them all. He's claiming he wasn't in control of his actions, but I intend to prove that is just not true. This was not an act of blind rage, it was an intended and planned crime against his wife Elena Gilbert that got complicated. Craig Morgan may be a police officer but that does not excuse him from him crimes. The defendant has had a history of violent behavior towards his wife that escalated to the point of her leaving in fear for her life. Rightfully so." She gestured at where they were and looked at the jury again giving them a hard look. "He is a dangerous man that belongs in prison not out on the streets abusing his badge."
"Miss Sulez, would you like to call your first witness?" The judge asked.
Meredith nodded. "The state calls Andie Starr."
Andie looked terrible her face was puffy and her hair was back in a ponytail. Elena had never seen her without makeup. She was in a gray prison outfit and Elena felt bad for her. Andie gave her a weak smile before she swore in and Elena gulped back a lump in her throat, she was glad Andie only got a few years but she felt bad she had to go to prison at all.
"Miss Starr, could you please state to the court how you know the defendant?" Meredith asked.
"I looked him up and called him." Andie said.
"Why did you do that" Meredith asked.
"I was trying to find something on Elena, because I was jealous of her." Andie admitted with a sigh. "I found Craig's number and I called him and told him she was with another guy."
"What was his reaction?"
"He got all concerned acting; he asked if I cared about this guy and when I said I did he told me she would wreck him if I didn't help him." Andie said.
"Help him do what?"
"Take her." Andie said. "He just wanted me to grab her and make sure she didn't get away then he said he would take it from there."
"Did he tell you what he planned to do with her?" Meredith asked.
"He always said he would take care of her." Andie said. "I thought he meant bring her home and get her head back on straight or something. I didn't realize he was lying until it was too late."
"Objection, she's giving her own opinion on what she thought he was going to do." Logan stood up.
"Just answer the question Miss Starr." The judge said.
"He wasn't clear." She said.
"How long were you talking with Craig over the phone before this plan was put in motion?" Meredith asked.
"Two weeks." Andie said.
"Two weeks?" Meredith said looking at the jury.
"During these two weeks of talking at what point did you tell Mr. Morgan about Elena being with someone else?" Meredith asked.
"The first time I ever talked to him." Andie said.
"So, he didn't find her in his arms, he already knew?" Meredith questioned.
"Yes the whole time." Andie said.
"Did you ever get the impression that he was crazy or not thinking clearly?' Meredith asked.
"Objection!" Logan said.
"I'm asking if she had an idea of his mental state before he committed the alleged crime." Meredith frowned.
"I'll allow it." The judge said.
"He was very calm, he talked me down when I freaked out and wanted to back out. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing." Andie said.
"So according to your police statement, you took Elena from work and tied her up correct" Meredith asked.
"Yes." Andie said.
"What happened after you got her there?"
"I started having second thoughts. I called Craig," Andie said.
"What did he tell you?"
"He said if I back out now, he'll just leave, call the police, and I'll go to jail for kidnapping. " Andie said. "Then he just hung up."
"What did you do after that?"
"I heard a noise in the kitchen Elena was trying to use the house phone and we struggled with it." Andie said. "She ran away from me and then Craig knocked at the door."
"What was Elena's reaction when she saw him?" Meredith asked.
"She froze and went white, she looked really scared." Andie's eyes teared up.
"Craig asked me to leave and I did for a second but the I heard a crash. I came out and he about to hit her and I begged him not to. He called me a waste of a woman and threatened to kill me. I called him some choice words of my own and he knocked me out." Andie said.
"How long were you out?"
"I'm not really sure but when I woke up, he was waving a gun around and threating to kill Damon and then all of us." Andie said. "He pointed it at me and cocked it and I freaked. The room went black for a second. The next thing I remember is Damon and Craig struggling for the gun. Elena managed to knock Craig out and the police finally showed up."
"Thank you Miss Starr I have no father questions." Meredith asked.
"Miss Starr." Logan smirked and sauntered up to the stand.
"Did you or did you not look Craig up on your own accord and call him?" Logan asked.
"Well yeah at first but..." She started.
"It was a yes or no question, Miss Starr." He said.
"Yes." She glared.
"Did you want to hurt Elena?" He asked.
"No." Andie exclaimed.
"Really? So you weren't jealous of her boyfriend as you clamed?"
"Yes,"
"Yes what?"
"I was jealous and I'm not proud of looking up information about Elena. But I didn't do it to hurt her." Andie said. "Not like this."
"When you called Mr. Morgan, you were jealous. Were you looking to get revenge on Mr. Morgan's wife?"
"No." Andie said.
"Then why did you call him?" Logan asked.
"I wanted to confirm she really was married before I told Damon." Andie said.
"Then once you confirmed why not go to him then?" Logan asked.
"I don't know." Andie said. "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. I wasn't myself."
"Were you having some kind of breakdown?" Logan asked.
"No, I don't know." She flushed red.
"Objection he's badgering the witness." Meredith said in a bored tone.
Elena understood she didn't have any sympathy for Andie in all this but come on. It was about time she said something. Andie was being made to look crazy on the stand. Was Logan going to do this to her?
"Be careful council." The judge warned him.
"If you were thinking so unclearly at the time how can you be certain you remember everything so clearly now?" Logan questioned.
"I'm not lying it's all true. I was talking to him for weeks, he made me do this." Andie sputtered out.
"I think it's clear this witness isn't credible." Logan smirked at the jury. "No further questions."
Elena bit her lip that didn't seem to go so well but it was just getting started.
"The defense calls Craig Morgan." Logan said earning a gasp from the room and Elena was sure an internal eye roll from Meredith. She was glad Craig was going right away too; she knew his words would make her angrier which would fuel her and help her be confident about testifying. Her mouth went dry when Craig took the stand. He appeared to be attempting to look remorseful. She saw right through it, but she worried the jury wouldn't.
"Mr. Morgan, let's cut right to the chase do you remember any of the events that took place on May 24th 2011?"
"No I do not, the only thing I recall is waking up in a police car." Craig said frowning.
"At what point did you blackout?"
"When Andie called me and told me she had found my wife with another man. It blindsided me. I thought Elena was waiting for me to come get her. I blacked out at that point early in the evening." Craig said.
"So Miss Starr did not tell you our wife was seeing someone until you came into town?" Logan asked.
"Yes." Craig said.
"Did you ask Miss Starr to kidnap your wife?"
"No I did not." Craig said.
"What brought you to this town then?"
"Miss Starr told me my wife got herself in some trouble with the law. I came to help her. I understood she was excepting me." Craig said. "I admit I was depressed when she left me. When Andie told me she needed me, I was ecstatic."
"How long ago did your wife leave?" Logan asked.
"Three years ago." Craig said.
"Did you ever look for her or go after her?"
"No.' Craig said.
Elena had to bite her tongue form jumping up and yelling liar.
"Why is that?" Logan asked.
"I wanted to let her find herself. I believed she would come back to me someday." He was looking over at her with that sick fake worried expression. She clenched her stomach close to vomiting she hoped for a recess and soon.
"Did you come to Fells Church intending to harm your wife?"
"No." Craig said.
"Have you ever physically harmed your wife?"
"No never." Craig said his eyes boring into her. She hated him more than ever.
"What was your reaction when you were told what happened?"
"I couldn't believe it. I was stunned it wasn't me, that man is not me. I am one of the best police officers there are. I would never threaten lives like that. It wasn't me." He put his head in his hands and moaned, as if he was so troubled that he could have done this.
"No further questions your honor, but I reserve the right to recall." Logan said patting Craig's arm.
"Meredith do you wish to cross-examine the witness?"
"No but I reverse the right to recall him later and also remind him that perjury is a crime." Meredith said crisply.
"Miss Sulez." The judge gave her a look. "Leave the reminding to me and call your next witness."
"The state calls Damon Salvatore." Meredith said.
Elena's heart picked up watching him walk up to the stand. He looked really nervous. Jenna squeezed her hand.
"He'll be fine." Stefan whispered.
"Mr. Salvatore can you please state to the courts how you know Craig Morgan?"
"I met him when he was threatening Elena and Andie, in Andie's house. I had only heard of him before that." Damon said.
"Who told you about him?"
"'Elena." Damon said.
"Mr. Morgan's former wife, Elena Gilbert." Meredith confirmed.
"Yes." Damon said.
"What did Elena tell you about her former husband?" Meredith asked.
"He hurt her several times in their marriage, it got progressively worse each time." Damon took a breath, he seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Craig his muscles were tense. "To the point where she fled in fear for her life."
"When you found out Elena had been taken you immediately suspected Craig." Meredith asked. "Why is that?"
"Elena knew he was looking for her, he was always looking for her. I hired a private investigator to watch him and let us know if he came to Virginia so I could hide her." Damon said.
"Did your private investigator contact you when Elena disappeared?" Meredith asked.
"At the same time." Damon confirmed.
"Almost as if it was planned out for him to leave and Elena to be gone at the same time?" Meredith questioned.
"Craig admitted he duped our PI to throw me off."
"To throw you off, as if he already knew about you." Meredith murmured.
"Objection." Logan stood up.
"Keep your thoughts in your own head Miss Sulez." The judge said.
"How well do you know Andie Starr?" Meredith asked.
"Fairly well, we were friends." Damon said.
"Would you consider her capable of planning a kidnapping this elaborate all by herself?" Meredith asked.
"No, no way." Damon said.
"Objection." Logan said.
"I'll allow it." The judge cut him off.
"When you arrived at the house what was Craig's state of mind?"
"He was hovering over Elena and telling her he'd never let her go. She was frightened and shaking. I pulled him away from her. His eyes weren't crazy or manic but angry and pissed off. He started in on how it was none of my business, classic abusive pig, type of thing to say." Damon glared at Craig then.
"Objection." Logan was up again, Elena figured that was how he stayed so skinny.
"Just answer the question Mr. Salvatore." The judge said.
"He seemed angry and abusive, but he seemed to be in complete control of his mental capacities." Damon said.
"Can you describe what happened?"
"I hit Craig when he told me to stay out of it and then we fought. He pulled out his gun and threatened to kill me. Elena jumped in front of me. I got her away from him and that's when he started saying no one was leaving this place alive tonight." Damon said.
"He then pointed the gun at Andie?"
"Yes and I jumped him and we wrestled for it. Elena knocked him out." Damon finished.
"I have no further questions now, but I reverse the right to recall." Meredith said.
"Mr. Fell would you like to cross examine."
"Yes." Logan walked up to the stand.
"Mr. Salvatore what is your relationship with the defendant's ex-wife?"
"We are in a committed relationship." Damon said.
"Were you romantically involved before Elena divorced her husband?"
"Yes." Damon said.
"Did you know she was married?"
"Yes, estranged though for three years." Damon said.
"Were you already involved with her when she told you she was married?" Logan questioned.
"Objection relevance?" Meredith rolled her eyes.
"I'm establishing a character profile of the defendant's ex-wife." Logan defended.
"Not relevant considering she is not the one on trial." Meredith stood firm.
"Redirect your questions Mr. Fell." The judge ruled.
"Did Elena at any time show you any proof or did you see any physical evidence of abuse?" Logan asked.
"Three years later? No, but emotionally yes. I witnessed how it affected her how it continues to affect her." He shot back. Elena wiped back a tear no one understood the emotional affect more than him.
"Just answer the question Mr. Salvatore." Logan said.
"I did not physically but emotionally and you're helping him, you're helping him continue to hurt her." Damon spat out; the jury gasped a little. Elena gave him a look begging him to calm down.
"Mr. Salvatore please answer the question with a yes or no answer and do not make any comments directed at the defending attorney or anyone else in this courtroom again." The judge said.
"Yes, your honor." Damon looked really worried, she clenched Jenna's hand.
"I'll rephrase." Logan said. "Mr. Salvatore did you ever see any proof that Miss Gilbert was abused by her former husband?"
"No." Damon answered Logan's question looking so defeated, she gave him a small smile trying to tell him it was okay.
"Do you love Elena Gilbert?" Logan asked,
"Yes" Damon said looing confused. "I don't see why that…
"Objection your honor! Relevance again…" Meredith said. "Mr. Fell is all over the map what is his point?"
"Mr. Fell, organize your line of questioning or finish this up." The judge said.
"Sometimes a man in love will believe anything a woman tells him." Logan said looking at the jury. Elena gasped; she knew Meredith warned her but my god. Damon's nostrils were flaring, and she knew he was pissed.
"Objection!" Meredith practically screamed.
"Sustained, jury strike Mr. Fell's last comment from the records." The judge ruled.
The judge decided to call it a day after Damon, and Elena breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't have to testify. She walked out her legs slightly shaky.
She felt for Damon who looked so worried when he rushed over to her, "You did great babe you did." She promised him.
"Logan's a fucking tool." He muttered angrily.
"I know." She said stroking his back. Everyone else came and met up with them until Meredith joined them.
"Good job Damon." Meredith said. "You handled him well."
"I screwed up though and the judge said something." He said looking worried.
"No that's okay the jury heard you. They also heard you when you said it continues to affect her emotionally." Meredith said.
"So you're saying he helped." Elena smiled up at him.
"Yes please Elena, don't make me say it twice." Meredith muttered and Stefan chuckled little.
"What was with Logan when he stared questioning Damon?" Jeremy asked. "I never liked that guy by the way."
"I deterred his line of questioning. He was going to try to discredit Elena before she even took the stand. He went about it the wrong way and then he didn't know what to do. So, he tried to discredit Damon. But Damon just painted a picture of how Craig was that night for the jury. Logan did not discredit any of that." Meredith laughed a little.
"Does that mean so far we are good?" Elena asked.
"Not yet and Logan's going to pull out his doctors next, I'm sure, proving Craig was out of his mind. But we planted the doubt now and when you tell your story we're going to get him." Meredith said.
"I never hated him more than now. How dare he try and use the system he works for to get out of this." Elena said. "The way he lied so bluntly not a hint of remorse."
"He isn't going to get away with it for much longer." Jenna said firmly.
"Here, here." Bonnie agreed.
"So what now?" Damon asked.
"We go home get some sleep and come back tomorrow." Meredith nodded at them and spun off.
Elena noticed Stefan's eyes lingered a little too long for an engaged guy. She made a mental note to talk to Damon about it.
Caroline and Vicky were waiting for them at the boarding house and they had a bunch of takeout food ready. Elena greedily filled a plate and sat down listening to the others recount the day for the girls and Rick. After a while she didn't want to hear it anymore. She got up and walked. She found herself drifting over to the library and sitting down by the window out looking the rose garden.
Craig's lies were so obvious, but what if the jury didn't see it that way? What if they sided with him? Meredith said it's up to her. It's her testimony that will nail him. What if she screws up? What if Logan makes her look like Andie did? Why did it have to be up to her?
"Stop Elena." She said out loud, she got up and walked towards the big desk.
She tried to do what the doctor said and just forget for a while about everything else. She took out the little boots she stuffed in the desk drawer and sat down, she pictured her baby and Damon.
They were lying in bed holding a tiny beautiful little blue eyed baby, soon the images drifted to new images, from a baby to a little toddler, from her and Damon standing by a crib, to them buying a tiny bed, and then to birthdays and holidays, and then more kids. Boat rides and family vacations. She was smiling as her mind drifted the rest of the world forgotten.