Well, here's where the plot really starts cooking. Something I forgot to mention before, there are some crossovers in here. I'm sure some of you noticed Dr. Huxtable's brief appearance (from the Cosby Show) in chapter 1. The main story is definitely around Janet and Jack, but I've thrown in some other characters from T.V. You probably won't know all of them because they're not all from sitcoms or Nick @ Nite, but whatever. For the most part they're subtle characters. Enjoy!

Legal: I do not own the rights to Three's Company or its characters, thanks.

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Chapter 2: The Hearing

Janet and Terri stayed in the hospital for nearly an hour before they realized they were still there. They could hear a creepy sort of howling coming from somewhere in the hospital and knew it was Jack. Janet was just starting to tell herself that she was having some strange dream when a squad of policemen entered the building. One receptionist stood and said, "He's in room 6. The doctors said to use force if you must."

The cop in the lead gave one nod and motioned for the others to follow him as he went down the hallway. Janet stood. "Terri, room 6 is Jack's room."

Terri stood as well. "Oh. Of course it is. I don't know why I didn't remember that..."

They stood there and listened to the shouts and cries coming from room 6. Then they heard the sound of a tranquilizer gun going off. Terri grabbed Janet's arm. All was quiet. In a few minutes the policemen came back out. Two cops were carrying the unconscience Jack, who was heavily cuffed and chained. Janet ran over to the one in charge. "Excuse me, you can't just lock him away! Can't you see that he's sick? He needs help!"

"I'm sorry, lady. I'm just doing my job. This man is dangerous and he needs to be put somewhere where he can't harm anyone."

They started for the door. Janet tried to think of something. "But-but he never used to be like that. Isn't there something you can--"

"Lady," the cop held up his hand, "I can't do anything. I'm just following orders. If you have a problem you can take it up in court."

They left. Janet crossed her arms over her chest determinedly. "I intend to."

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It was a couple of months later that Janet walked into the courthouse for the hearing she had scheduled. She wore a black dress suit with matching high heels. Her dark hair was nicely combed and she held herself with confidence, though she really had little. Terri wanted to come, but she had to work. Janet had taken the day off.

When the formalities were done with the judge called Janet to the bench. Janet cleared her throat. "Your honor," she started shakily, "just a couple of months ago Jack Tripper was a normal human being. He was a chef and the owner of a wonderful restaurant called Jack's Bistro. He was funny and caring and full of mischief. Not to mention a real klutz. And he's been my dear friend for seven years. But something happened to him and now everyone wants to lock him away. But you have to understand, your honor, that Jack is my friend and I can't let that happen. I would do anything to stop them from locking him up. He's a human being and he doesn't deserve to be locked up like some animal." Her voice grew more confident as she went on and when she had ended she was satisfied with her speech.

But someone in the room wasn't. The opposing lawyer stood. "Objection, your honor."

Janet turned around to get a good look at him. He was a wrinkled man with glasses and white hair. With his one brown eye and one bright green eye he looked to Janet like the perfect mad scientist. If only he had been wearing a labcoat instead of that ugly brown suit!

The judge motioned for the man to continue. "Your honor, Miss. Wood said Mr. Tripper does not deserve to be locked up like some animal when, in fact, an animal is exactly what he is and exactly how he acts. If there was a lunatic rampaging our streets would you let him run free and insane just because he *used* to be a cook or a nice guy?"

He sat back down. The judge nodded. "Point well taken, Dr. Elias. Do you have anything to say to that, Miss. Wood?"

Janet cleared her head and hoped she said the right thing. "Your honor, I fully understand what Dr. Elias is saying. I certainly would be upset if the governing officers of Santa Monica let a lunatic loose on the streets. But Jack is not a lunatic."

"Prove it," Elias said, standing and looking at Janet intensly.

"Sit down, Dr." Said the judge. He looked at Janet. "Could you prove it, Miss. Wood?"

Janet tried to appear very confident as she replied. "Yes, your honor, I could."

"How is that?" The judge inquired.

Janet felt sweat lining her brow. She really had no idea. Luckily her lawyer was very clever. She stood up suddenly. "Your honor, may I?"

The judge nodded. "Proceed, Miss. Dunham."

Dunham stood and continued. "I propose that with the proper security arranged by the city my client could train Mr. Tripper in the ways of human-kind. She should then proceed to bring him to the charity ball in December and if the mayor and city council, along with yourself, believe he is civilized he will be allowed to live as a free citizen. However, if you do not believe him to be civilized he will be locked away for good and we will not question your authority over the matter."

The judge seemed to be contemplating Dunham's proposition. Elias' hand shot into the air like he was an ecstatic first-grader. The judge nodded to him and he stood. "Your honor, I'm not sure that Miss. Wood would be safe with Mr. Tripper--even with the most accurate security measures that we could take. It seems to me that she should prove she can take care of herself when alone with him. Just in case." He sneered.

Janet scowled. She really was beginning to not like Dr. Elias.

He turned around and nodded to one of the security guards. He left the room and soon came back with another. They were pushing in a large, round, plastic cage. Jack was inside of it. Janet felt tears form in her eyes at the site of him. He was wearing the same outfit he had been wearing that day so long ago when he had said, "See ya later, Janet!" and left for work, only it was torn and tattered. His hair was greasy and matted and it was slightly longer than it had been before. He was covered in dirt and dry blood and his still perfectly blue eyes were open wide with fright.

The men stopped the cage before the judge's desk. Elias spoke. "Your honor, perhaps we should lock Miss. Wood in there and see how she handles Mr. Tripper's wild nature," he said with an evil glint in his eye.

Though fear filled Janet she piped up, "I'll do it, your honor."

The judge nodded slowly. "All right, but I want security guards ready to get her out of there if he attacks."

One of the guards opened the barely visible door and Janet stepped gingerly inside. The door was shut behind her and she heard the click that promised that she was locked inside with Jack. He bared his teeth and made a low growling noise, getting into a pouncing position. Janet could feel her heart pounding through her entire body. Her head swam and she tried to make herself think. *Okay, Janet, you need to show him that you're not a threat to him. How? How...by...by lowering yourself, yes!* She very slowly knelt down. Jack's gaze never left her. Hers never left him. *Good. That was easy now, wasn't it? Okay. Now speak softly to him.* "Jack? Do you remember me?" She pointed to herself. "Janet. Remember? We've been roommate for the last seven years. First it was me, you and Chrissy. Then it was me, you and Cindy. Now it's me, you and Terri. Do you remember? And Mr. Furley thinks you're gay and you have a sleazy friend named Larry, but we love him anyway. You cook at Jack's Bistro, your restaurant; your dream."

Jack's muscles relaxed slightly, but he kept his eyes focused on her. She reached out her hand and he tensed up again and started growling. She quickly drew her hand back. *You're losing him, Janet. Do something quick!* She breathed in deeply and began to sing whatever song came into her head. Jack just stared at her at first. Then he cocked his head. Before Janet knew it he had crept over to her so that he was right in front of her. He was transfixed by her singing! She turned her singing into humming and he still stayed. She reached out and brushed some hair out of his face. He tensed up, but only for a moment. Janet continued humming and he reached up and touched her face with curiousity. She smiled.

Just then the door opened and one of the guards pulled Janet out. He had just shut the door when Jack suddenly lunged himself at it and began biting and clawing furiously. The other guard just barely got the door locked. Elias bounced up off of his chair and pointed. "See, I told you he was dangerous!"

Dunham bounced up as well. "He was only upset because he was enjoying Janet's singing!" She exclaimed, her face matching her red hair.

Before Elias could make some smart reply the inhabitants of the room noticed the judge banging on the bench. "Order in the court!" He exclaimed once. When everyone was seated and quiet he continued. "I believe that Mr. Tripper is trainable, Dr. Elias. I will grant Miss. Wood the supplies and proper help to manage him and we shall proceed with Miss. Dunham's plan. Court is adjourned."

Janet couldn't help herself. She leaped in the air with a squeel and hugged her lawyer. "Oh, thank you, Miss. Dunham, thank you!"

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Well? You likey? I hope so. I really have no idea how a court scene works so I just kind of went for it. I hope I'm accurate for the most part! ^.^