On Monday morning Helen sat in her office and tried to concentrate on the case in front of her. But after reading it five times, she still didn't remember any of the details of the case. Her mind was elsewhere, specifically in Chicago with Mike.

She'd wanted to tell him Saturday night and the night before. She'd needed for him to know that they were going to have a baby. But she also knew that the timing wasn't right. She wanted to tell him to his face, to look in his eyes. And hopefully to see her own joy and excitement reflected there. So she held off telling him.

Helen heard her door open and close and looked up to see Bobby standing just inside her office. She stood up with a sigh and tried to look firm.

"I told you Bobby, I won't go any lower. Your client..." Helen trailed off with a confused look on her face. "I didn't offer you a plea, did I?"

Bobby shook his head, a tiny amused smile dancing on his lips. "No Helen, you didn't."

"And I'm not trying a case against you."

Again Bobby shook his head. "No, you're not."

Helen sighed. "Sorry. I've had other things on my mind." Her brow furrowed then and she asked, "If you're not here about a case, what are you doing?"

"Lindsay has the Byrd trial today, I'm here for moral support."

Helen leaned a hip against her desk and crossed her arms over her chest. "How's she doing?"

"It's messy. It's hard on her, but she's doing great."

"Maybe I'll stop by and see her."

"She'll appreciate that."

Growing suspicious, Helen asked, "Bobby, if you're here to watch your wife, why are you in my office instead of the courtroom?"

Bobby smiled then. "Lindsay told me." He walked forward and gently enfolded Helen in a hug, which she happily accepted. "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Helen smiled back and pulled away.

"How far along?"

"Ten weeks. I'm due around December 17th."

"What'd Mike say?"

Helen looked at the ground, unable to meet the eyes of the man who'd become like a brother to her.

"What?!" Bobby exclaimed, correctly interpreting her silence. "Why not?"

"Think about it Bobby," Helen snapped defensively. "Do you really think I want to tell the father of my child that I'm pregnant when he's 1,000 miles away? I want to see his face, his reaction. I don't think it's that unreasonable."

Contrite, Bobby looked at the ground and shifted from side to side. "I'm sorry. I should have thought of that. I just know that if it were Lindsay and I, I'd want to know right away, as soon as she did."

"I'm going to tell him. I'm just waiting until he's home. So for now you and Lindsay are the only people who know. And I'd appreciate it if you don't tell anyone."

"I won't. I understand you wanting to keep it a secret for a little while. But I'd recommend not talking about it in our office. I think Lucy's bugged the place."

Helen laughed. Bobby gave her another congratulatory hug before hurrying downstairs to see his wife. Helen joined him an hour later when she'd finally managed to work out a decent plea on the burglary/assault case she was prosecuting the next day.

In Judge Hiller's courtroom, Lindsay was furiously taking notes as the prosecution, represented by Alan Lowe, questioned the wife of Amanda Byrd's attacker.

"Mrs. Gladstone, do you believe that your husband committed the crime that the defendant is accusing him of?"

"Never! My husband would never cheat on me, he would never do something that repulsive."

"What do you know of the defendant?"

"She'd sat for us a few times. The kids liked her. But I know my husband didn't rape her."

"How do you know this?"

"Because Jeff was a wonderful man. He didn't have it in him to hurt anyone."

"Then how do you think Ms. Byrd came to be pregnant?"

"She seduced him" Tears filled Mrs. Gladstone's eyes and spilled over. "I think she seduced him, then to keep me from finding out, she killed him."

Mrs. Gladstone's testimony was interrupted however by Amanda bursting into tears at the accusations. Judge Hiller, annoyed by the disturbance in her court room called a 20 minute recess for both Mrs. Gladstone and Amanda to regain control.

Lindsay turned to Amanda and gently took her hand. "I know it's hard to hear this Mandy. And we're going to go to another room that's private, okay?" Amanda nodded and Lindsay continued softly. "But before we go out in the hall where there will be press, I need you to calm down. Can you do this for me?"

Amanda nodded again and took deep breaths, trying to calm down. It took a few minutes, but she managed to reduce her tears to occasional hiccups. Lindsay and Rebecca stood, flanking Amanda, and the three left the courtroom, Bobby and Helen trailing behind. They were immediately bombarded with camera flashes and microphones from the press, reporters yelling questions.

"Miss Byrd, did you seduce Mr. Gladstone?"

"Have you had the abortion?"

"How do you plan to discredit Mrs. Gladstone, Ms. Dole?"

"What are you planning to do about the finger prints on the knife?"

"Miss Byrd, what was going through your head when you stabbed Mr. Gladstone?"

"NO COMMENT!" All four lawyers yelled as they arrived at the waiting room door and ushered Amanda quickly through it.

Bobby shut the door and leaned against it while Lindsay sat across from Amanda. "Mandy, I need you to do something for me, okay? I need you to stay calm and try not to get upset while Mrs. Gladstone is testifying. If the jury sees you get upset and start to cry while she's up there, they're going to think that what she's saying is true."

"But it's not!" Amanda sobbed. "I didn't do that to him. He hurt me!"

"I know." Rebecca rubbed Amanda's back gently. "We'll get her on cross examination."

Bobby laid a hand on his wife's shoulder and he could feel the tension despite her calm appearance. He massaged gently and Lindsay looked up at him, smiling a little. Even though she was upset at the direction the questioning was taking, she was glad that Bobby was there. It was then that she noticed Helen standing against the door, watching. Lindsay stood up and walked over to her.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Lindsay asked.

"Bobby said it was an exciting trial. I thought I'd come by and see how you're doing."

Lindsay sighed. "You tell me."

Helen shrugged, thankful that she'd gotten out of this case. "The wife could do damage."

"I found out that three years ago they separated. He had an affair with the au pair. I'm thinking that can go to pattern, discredit the wife."

Helen nodded and lowered her voice. "You told Bobby." At Lindsay's quirked brow, Helen continued. "He came up to congratulate me."

"He's the only one I told."

"I know."

"You doing okay?"

"As okay as can be expected."

"Does Mike know?"

"Not yet. I'll tell him when he gets home."

Lindsay nodded and squeezed her friend's arm. "You know we're here if you ever need us."

Helen nodded. "It's almost time. Go talk to your client." Helen didn't want to get into details, she'd been feeling weepy the past few days. Lindsay walked back to Amanda and spoke quietly, explaining what she was going to use to cross the wife and once again stressing the importance of not getting emotional during the testimony of other witnesses. The bailiff knocked on the door and opened it.

"They're ready," he informed the lawyers.

"We'll be right out," Bobby told him. Rebecca led Amanda out the door and Helen followed. She wanted to keep an eye on Lindsay, knowing that the case was hard on her. Lindsay headed to the door, but Bobby stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"You okay?"

Lindsay nodded, but her eyes belied her fear and worry for her young client.

Bobby hated to make the suggestion, but he had to try. "Maybe you should let Rebecca take over. You could stay on as second chair, but the stress..."

"I'm fine Bobby." Lindsay reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I promise I'll let you know the second it becomes too much."

Bobby sighed, knowing that she likely wouldn't and made a mental note to talk to Rebecca about unofficially taking over more of the case.

Lindsay cross examined Mrs. Gladstone and got her to admit that her husband had had affairs before, and that he had had an affair with the au pair three years before. Mrs. Gladstone was the prosecution's last witness for the murder case. Mr. Gladstone's mother took the stand next since at the beginning of the trial Judge Hiller had agreed to hear both trials at once for the sake of time.

"Mrs. Gladstone, the deceased was your only child, correct?" Alan Lowe asked, his voice ripe with sympathy.

"Yes."

"And what is it you're asking the court to do?"

"That girl there," Marie Gladstone pointed at Amanda. "She's pregnant with my grandchild. That baby is the last piece of my son, it's my blood. I think my husband and I should be allowed to know that baby and raise it." Marie's eyes filled with tears. "She's defiling the memory of my son, claiming that he raped her."

"Objection!" Lindsay interrupted.

"Over ruled. You may continue, Mrs. Gladstone."

"That girl killed my son. She seduced him, then killed him."

"OBJECTION!" Lindsay and Rebecca were both on their feet.

"Sustained. The jury will disregard the last statements."

"The least she can do for taking our son from us is give us our grandchild."

"Thank you. The prosecution rests." Lowe sat down and shot the defense a smug look.

Lindsay stood up slowly and buttoned her coat over her dress. "Mrs. Gladstone. You are aware of the charge that your son raped Amanda Byrd, correct?"

"It's ridiculous. My son would never do that."

"But you are aware of the charge."

"Yes."

"And if a woman is raped and a pregnancy results, do you think that it is right to force her to have the baby?"

"I think that the family has a right to have the baby."

"But a fourteen year old girl is violently raped. Have you considered the emotional distress that prolonging this pregnancy would put my client under?"

"It's a baby!"

"Have you considered the effect of that stress on the fetus?" Marie stared at Lindsay, she obviously hadn't. "Are you aware that legally Amanda Byrd is entitled to an abortion?"

"Aren't I entitled to know my grandchild? I have rights as a grandparent, I know it!"

"Rights which don't take effect until after the fetus is born. You have how many other grandchildren?"

"Three."

"All from Mr. Gladstone's marriage to his wife."

"Yes."

"And do you think that having a fourth grandchild, whom you would be raising totally by yourself and is the product of a violent crime, is really that important?"

"Ms. Dole, you're pregnant, could you really choose which of your children has a right to live and which doesn't?"

All color rushed from Lindsay's face as she rested a hand instinctively on her stomach and spun to Judge Hiller. "Move to strike, nonresponsive."

"I think she did respond Ms. Dole. Continue."

Lindsay took a deep breath and continued. "I am not asking a 14-year-old girl who was raped to keep the product of that crime. Mrs. Gladstone, Amanda Byrd has rights under Roe versus Wade. And you do not."

Lindsay turned and took her seat. Judge Hiller cleared her throat. "Mr. Lowe, your next witness?"

"The prosecution rests Your Honor."

"Closing arguments tomorrow at 10. Court adjourned."

Rebecca explained what would happen the next day to Amanda and her parents while Lindsay spoke to Bobby and Helen. "Well?"

"The grandmother has no real case, the only reason Lowe's pushing is that he wants to get the conviction on murder 2." Helen said.

"What?"

Helen shrugged. "What can I say, he doesn't like you guys. I know he doesn't expect to get murder 1, he's hoping that the jury will give him murder 2. I have a good feeling though on murder 1."

"Helen, you do realize that you're helping us, don't you?"

"I feel bad for her. After what she's been through, I don't think she should be prosecuted at all, but the wife is pushing for it."

Bobby slid an arm around Lindsay's back. "I think you'll be fine on murder1 and 2. I don't think you have anything to worry about with the abortion. I'm surprised Judge Hiller hasn't kicked it."

Lindsay smiled. "Thanks. Look, I have to finish my closing, I'll talk to you later Helen."

"Good luck. I have an assault and battery tomorrow morning, but I'll see if I can make it for your closing." Helen smiled, said goodbye to Amanda and Rebecca, and headed back upstairs.

Back at the office, Bobby had pulled Rebecca into his office. "I think you should do the closing."

"Bobby, why? Lindsay's done all the cross, all the questioning. It would seem strange to the jury for me to suddenly stand up and give the closing."

"I think it would be fine. A fresh voice, a fresh view. It could be very effective."

Far from convinced, Rebecca leaned on Bobby's desk and crossed her arms. "Why don't you tell me what's really going on."

Bobby rolled his eyes. There were two people he couldn't keep a secret from. One was his wife. The other was the woman standing before him. "I'm worried about Lindsay. This case, it's hard on her. Especially now. I'd feel much better if she took it a little easier."

"Does she know you're asking me to do this?"

Bobby looked at the ground then back at his friend. "I'm senior partner Rebecca. Do I need to check with her before making a decision about how a case will be tried?"

"If you were making this decision as senior partner, then no. But you're not, you're making it as Bobby Donnell, Lindsay's husband."

"Can you blame me for that Bec? Saturday night she stayed up until after two working on questions and the closing. She's worried sick about Amanda and the case. All this stress isn't good for her or the babies."

Rebecca sighed. Bobby looked so worried about Lindsay that she really couldn't turn him down. "Fine. But if she suspects something, I'm sending her in to talk to you."

"Be subtle about it and she won't."

Rebecca sighed, not completely happy with this, and left Bobby's office to try to talk to Lindsay. She found Lindsay in the conference room working on her laptop computer and shut the door behind her, fairly certain this would be a little loud.

"Hey Lindsay. How's it coming?"

Lindsay glanced up distractedly and sighed. "I think it's coming pretty well. I'm not overly worried about abortion, I know that she's entitled to have it and grandparents' rights don't take effect until birth. I'm not sure about the murder though. I'll be fine."

"Look, I was thinking...why don't I do the closing?"

Lindsay's head snapped around. "Why?"

"Well, I haven't done much with this case, and I can give the jury a fresh opinion." Rebecca tried, knowing the excuse sounded weak.

Lindsay raised a brow. "The jury's seen me for the entire trial, they trust me. If you think they need a new opinion, you're more than welcome to help me."

"I really think that I should do it."

"Again, why?" When Rebecca just stared at her, Lindsay began to put the pieces together. "Bobby put you up to this, didn't he?"

"Um...no."

Lindsay stood up and stormed out of the conference room. She slammed the door to her husband's office open, then closed. "Do you have something to say to me," she snapped, face flushed and eyes dancing with fury.

Bobby looked at her guiltily. "Hello?"

"Don't you hello me Robert Donnell! Did you tell Rebecca to do the closing?"

"I suggested that she might be able to offer the jury a fresh perspective-"

"Do you think I'm stupid? That is the dumbest most contrived excuse I've ever heard!"

"Lindsay, calm down," Bobby stood and walked over to her, reaching a hand out to comfort her.

Lindsay smacked his hand away. "Don't touch me. How could you go behind my back like that? Don't you have any respect for what I'm trying to do with this case? Do you think I've done something wrong, made some mistake with one of the witnesses?"

"No. No, God Linds, you've been great with all the witnesses."

"Then what is it?!"

"This! Can't you see how upset this case is making you?"

"I hate to tell you, but this, my anger right now, is all caused by you."

"Lindsay, my decision that Rebecca should close has nothing to do with how you've tried this case."

"Then what?"

"I decided this as your husband. I hate that you have bags under your eyes and you're tossing and turning at nights." Lindsay sighed, still aggravated, but touched by his concern. Bobby gently stroked her cheek. "Lindsay I saw your face today when the mother talked about you being pregnant. Christ, you were white as a ghost! It scared me, Linds."

Lindsay sat on the couch and looked up at her husband. "I'll be fine Bobby. It's almost over. If it's too much, I promise to let Bec take over. But for now, I need to work on my closing."

Bobby sat on the arm of the couch and stroked a hand lovingly over her hair. "I'm just worried about you."

Lindsay leaned her head gently against his leg. "I know. And I love you for it. But you have to think like a lawyer here, not like a worried husband and daddy. If you're going to try to be over protective until I give birth, I'll go insane."

"Okay, I give up. Be careful, Lindsay. I'm still having Rebecca keep an eye on you."

Knowing she wouldn't get better, Lindsay nodded and stood up. "I'll be in the conference room."

Lindsay didn't emerge until 7:30 that evening with her fifth draft of the closing saved on a disk. Bobby was still there, waiting for her. Ever since her attack five years before, he refused to let her stay at the office alone. She poked her head into his office and smiled.

"You ready?"

"Yep." Bobby stood and put the brief he'd been working on in his briefcase. "I was waiting for you."

"I know." Lindsay walked up to him and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."

"Closing going good?"

"I think so. Can I run it by you tonight?"

"Of course." Bobby was cut off by his cell phone ringing. "Hello?"

"Bobby, it's Ellenor. Is Helen with you?"

"No, Ellenor, she's not here."

"She said she'd be home by 5:45 and it's 7:30. We have an understanding that we call if we'll be late, for safety's sake. I've tried her office, her cell phone, and her pager. She hasn't answered any of them. Does Lindsay know where she is?"

"I'll ask." He placed a hand over the mouth piece. "Linds, have you seen Helen?"

"Not since this morning."

"Sorry Ellenor. Lindsay hasn't seen her."

"Well if you hear anything, could you give me a call? She's been acting weird the last few days and I'm worried."

"Yeah, I'll let you know." Bobby placed the receiver back with a worried look. Lindsay walked up to her husband and laid a hand on his chest.

"Bobby, what's wrong?"

"Helen's missing."