A/N: Thank you for all the support for this story, it's wrapping up! :)
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Five
Erin POV
"So, uh do you want a drink?"
"Jay, did you hear me? They found the murder weapon." My voice has a sense of urgency as I follow him into the cramped kitchen, trying to pull his attention from getting me a drink.
"I heard."
"They pulled the plea. Why Jay?"
"I don't know; you're the lawyer. Isn't that what my father is paying you to figure out?" The sarcastic bite in his tone is jarring, so different to his usual temperament.
"You tell me. What's on that murder weapon? Why are they so sure?" His blue eyes flicker in hurt and betrayal, causing me to shift awkwardly on my feet.
"I didn't do this Erin." I clear my throat, not wishing to once be drawn into this debate.
"Yeah, I'll take that drink." I turn and walk towards the living area.
"What does this mean?"
"It means we're going to trial."
"Be straight with me, what am I looking at?"
"Jay, you're looking at a murder trial with a murder weapon and a witness swearing you admitted to the crime. A witness I haven't been able to discredit in anyway yet."
"That bad huh?" There's a fleck of humor to his tone, tugging at the corners of my lips.
"Unless…"
"What?"
"I get the murder weapon tossed."
"How would you do that?"
"It broke the chain of custody…" I stare down at the glass in my hand, mind working a million steps ahead.
"Hey, don't feel so pressured. It's just my life in your very capable hands." The familiar spark is back in his blue eyes.
"Oh, no pressure at all." I joke back, loving the way he can lighten my mood with just a few words.
"I'm in for more grueling days like today aren't I?"
"Worse."
"Fantastic." His eyes move to focus behind me; I turn slowly to see news coverage on his case.
"Stop. Why do you insist on torturing yourself?"
"I shouldn't have let her go off alone that night. She didn't deserve that."
"Neither do you. You lost someone you love that night, and now this is just…"
"A nightmare."
"Yeah." I move to turn the TV off when Jay's hand stops mine.
"What?" My eyes catch sight of his father on the TV screen, thumb already turning the volume up.
"Do you still stand by your sons innocence?" My heart is in my stomach as I wait for his answer.
"It comes with great sorrow to stand before you all, and say that I was wrong. I can't apologize enough to Miss Johnson's family… I'll be withdrawing funds for his legal team. I want there to be justice… whatever the cost." I blink in shock at the TV, unable to process the emotions playing inside me.
"Damn it." The shattering of glass snaps my attention to a distressed Jay, my eyes watch the liquid drip down the wall.
My chest is rising and falling rapidly as I look to the blood in his hands.
"Jay." I whisper as I close the distance between us, cradling his hand between us.
"I'm fine." He pulls away and walks towards his bedroom.
"Jay." I call out softly as I follow slowly, finding him in his bathroom.
His white shirt is on the floor, red blood a stark contrast.
"Oh my god." My eyes gloss over with tears, unable to move from the angry scars tearing up his muscled back.
I'm slow as I close the distance between us, worried I'll break the moment and he'll retreat.
"Who?" My fingers are soft on his shoulder, raking over his back and feeling him tense before me.
"Did your father do that?"
"No." Jay turns slowly, our bodies pressed together and our noses brushing.
"But he did hit you."
"He did." Anger bubbles in my chest, hate in my veins.
"Military?" I question again, feeling the tension between us.
His blue eyes are conflicted as he stares deep into my gaze; before finally he nods once.
"I'm so sorry."
"I told you I could handle my time in jail." He shrugs softly.
"But you shouldn't have had to. I couldn't watch it anymore." I blink away some tears, swallowing heavily.
"Why?"
"I'm not ready to admit it. Please don't make me…" Tears slip down my cheeks, his hands come up to cup my cheeks and brush the salty tears away.
"Why aren't you leaving? My father fired you."
"I'm not going anywhere." My tone is fierce, eyes only confirming my position.
"Promise?"
"Promise. We're in this together."
"So we got fired."
"We did." I don't look up from my laptop at Hank's gravely voice.
"Loser case anyway."
"I'm not dropping it." I roll my neck, losing the tension before focusing back on my arguments for court today.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm taking it pro bono."
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
"No." I finally look up, staring Hank down and not giving an inch.
"What are you doing here?" My blood runs cold at the voice of Jay's father.
"Supporting your son. You?"
"I fired you. You're services are no longer required."
"You're right. You did… so now I don't answer to you. This is my case, and by the time I'm done with the prosecution they'll be dropping it."
"Why do you care?"
"Why don't you? He's your goddamn son! You couldn't be fucked to turn up and support him at all during the last few months… until now? What? Some publicity stunt for your reputation? Can't have people thinking the good doctor is defending an alleged murderer."
"You don't know me."
"Thank god for that." My eyes run over him in disgust.
"You're making a mistake."
"Wouldn't be my first."
"How you doing today?" I whisper to Jay, taking his hand briefly.
"Honestly, not great." My eyes take in his bandaged hand, remembering the silence full of emotions last night as I cleaned and dressed his wound.
"I've got you."
"What would I do without you?"
"Well obviously your life would be over." I send him a wink, enjoying the smile reaching his eyes.
"Your honor, the fact that they found this weapon doesn't change the fact they lost it at some point in the last twelve years. It's clearly broken the chain of custody and I move to have it thrown out and struck from the record."
"Your honor, we have located DNA on the weapon that doesn't belong to the victim." The prosecution jumps in, scrambling to keep it in play.
"Bringing me right back to chain of custody, you can't prove it hasn't been tainted." I argue back.
"We have made significant advancements in forensics since the murder. It's how we discovered the new evidence."
"After misplacing a key piece of evidence, and then having it magically appearing right before trial." I bite out, sending the prosecution a hard stare.
"Miss Lindsay."
"Apologies your honor, just pointing out the suspicious timing."
"Nevertheless, Miss Lindsay is correct. Chain of custody has been broken, I'm afraid whatever has been found must be struck from the record." I feel a small smile on my face, feeling the case is finally going out way.
"Take my DNA." We all gasp in shock at Jay's voice, as he stands up tall beside me.
"Jay, you don't talk. I do. Sit down, I have this." My eyes are panicked as I hiss out my objections.
"In fact, you don't even need to take my blood. The military has it. But to avoid any concerns or doubts, take a new sample and run it. It won't match." The confidence is obvious, my mouth dropped open.
"Your honor, a quick recess." My voice is in near hysterics as I try to calm down and gather my thoughts.
A/N: I know it's short, sorry! But it's almost 1 am and I'm really tired. Figured something is better than nothing? Otherwise it was just going to sit here another week lol
Please leave a review and let me know what you think? :)