A/N: I have good news. I have officially finished this story. It is all typed up and ready to go on my computer. It is a total of 21 chapters. I'm assuming I'll post about three chapters a week, maybe more toward the end. I didn't wait very long to post this chapter so I didn't get as many reviews, but I wanted to get another chapter up so that I could let you guys know that this story is complete! I'll start on my new story soon, but at the same time I've been working on Unexplainable Love. Anyway, happy reading and here are the shout outs:
emmalee05- Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you like it. It's always good to have a little romance.
SuzieQ8487- Your reviews always make me laugh! I'm glad you liked it so much. And I'm not going to lie, the point kinda is to make you cry (tehehe). Oh, and don't worry. A review can never be too long!
luvthemorgans- I'm glad you liked it, and thanks as always for the writing skills complements. I can't exactly tell you how long the trial is because it would give away some vital information, but keep reading and soon you'll understand why.
Ana- I totally love the idea of Jason in a suit too. It is awfully yummy. Anyway, I'm glad you liked that line, that seemed to be everyone's favorite. Thanks for the review and I'm glad you like the story.
middiegurl08- Thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked the story. Here's your promised drama!
tydavislover- Thanks so much for another review! I'm glad you're enjoying my story so much, keep reading and reviewing!
Chapter 7- The Trial
Getting into the court room proved a challenge itself. It was a high profile case, and reporters were buzzing outside, all desperate to get a word in edgewise with Courtney. Sonny and Carly plowed right in with Max, getting Courtney a clear path. When she made it in, she looked around at who showed up. Monica and Emily were there, as was Skye. Allen and Edward had also attended, but Courtney wasn't sure whose side those two were on. Liz was there to support Emily, and Lucky and Nikolas were there as well. Luke even showed up. Sam and Jax had come as well. There was also a whole bunch of Mexican-looking people surrounding one beautiful girl. Courtney immediately knew that this was Carmen Pareña. She glared at the girl before taking her seat with Carly and Sonny.
Jason was soon led in, handcuffed of course. He sat down and twisted his head around to see her. She was right behind him, so she was able to give him a quick kiss.
"I love you, no matter what" she said, resting her forehead on his.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Franklin" said the bailiff.
The judge walked in and took her place, and the trial began.
The first witness was Carmen.
"Ms. Pareña, explain in your own words what happened the night of your alleged rape" started Durant.
"I was walking to my car, after picking up some groceries, and two men grabbed me from behind" she said.
Courtney noted that she was dressed to the part. A high necked sweater, a long skirt. And she just so happened to have a tissue on hand to dab at her eyes.
"Did you see the men's faces?" Durant asked.
"No, they were wearing ski masks"
"Then what happened"
"Well, they had guns, so I was too afraid to fight back. They dragged me into a car and tied my hands behind my back. They gagged me and put a blindfold on me"
"Then what?"
"They brought me into some dark, dark room. I had no idea where I was. And one of the men left, so it was just me alone with the other. And he took his off his ski mask, and I was able to see who it was"
"Do you recognize that man now?" asked Durant.
"Yes- he's sitting right there" she said, throwing an accusing finger at Jason.
"Objection your honor!" cried Justus.
"On what grounds?" asked Judge Franklin.
"On the grounds that Mr. Ward didn't like what was being said" said Durant.
"Overruled" said the judge, throwing a smile at Durant.
"He has her in his pocket" whispered a distraught Courtney to Sonny.
"It'll be ok" he reassured her, taking her hand in his.
"Now Ms. Pareña, what happened after Mr. Morgan took off his ski mask?"
"I asked him where I was, and why he had taken me, but he refused to answer me. I was getting desperate, and then he came at me, to tie me up. I kneed him in the eye and I scratched at his face, and he backed away for a second. But then…" she said, breaking down into tears.
"Those are so fake" whispered Carly to Courtney.
"I know" she whispered back with a roll of her eyes at the girl.
"Keep going Carmen" said Durant in a fake sympathetic voice.
"Then, he tried to kiss me. I tried to get him off of me, but I was too weak. He started ripping off my clothes, and then he ripped off his. And he forced himself on me. I scratched at his back, and I tried to get him off of me, but he wouldn't"
"Did Jason Morgan rape you?" Durant asked.
"Yes!" cried Carmen before bursting into a new fit of tears.
"The prosecution rests, but asks to reserve the right to recall the witness" said Durant, sitting down, but not before throwing a victorious look at Jason.
"Granted. Mr. Ward, give the victim a moment to collect herself, and then you may begin the cross-examination process" said Judge Franklin.
"Ms. Pareña, you said that you were led to a dark, dark room, correct?"
"Yes, that's right"
"So when the man removed his ski mask, how were you able to see that it was Mr. Morgan?" Justus asked her.
"I mean, there was some light, but not much. Just enough for me to see his face"
"And how did you know that Mr. Morgan was going to tie you up if he didn't say anything?" questioned Justus.
"I could see the rope, I made an educated guess"
"You were able to see the rope in his hands with the little light that was in the room"
"Yes, I was" she answered.
"Yet you weren't able to see where you were. You don't remember any of your surroundings?"
"I was slightly preoccupied by the man coming at me instead. A survey of the room wasn't my first priority."
"Yet you asked him where you were. And you still didn't have time to look around and try to find out for yourself?"
"Objection your honor. Leading the witness" said Durant.
"Overruled" said the judge, interested in where Justus was going with this.
"Look, if you had someone coming at you, telling you to take off your clothes, you wouldn't be so interested in your surroundings, you'd be scared, and forgetful" snapped Carmen
"Kind of like you are now?" asked Justus
"Excuse me?"
"You seem to be forgetful Ms. Pareña. See, moments ago, you told Mr. Durant that he was coming at you to tie you up, and it wasn't until you fought back that he started tearing at your clothes. You're contradicting yourself Ms. Pareña"
"Look, I'm just… I uh…"
"The defense rests" said Justus, sitting down.
"The prosecution would like to re-question the witness" said Durant, standing up.
"Sustained" said the judge.
"Ms. Pareña, this must be a terrible ordeal for you. Do you admit to being a little confused about what exactly happened?" he asked.
"Yes, I do" she said.
"But you do remember Mr. Morgan, coming at you, and then forcing you to have sex with him, despite the fact that you said no"
"Yes" she said, breaking out into tears again.
"Great, she's turning on the waterworks again" whispered Carly.
"The prosecution rests" said Durant, sitting down.
The next witness called up was Carly. She defended Jason, of course. She tried to brush off Durant's questions about the business, but he had the upper hand. He managed to make her snap at him, throwing off her whole testimony.
"Carly, for the last time, does Jason carry a gun?" questioned Durant
"Mrs. Corinthos, answer the question" warned Judge Franklin
"Yes" she said quietly
"And for what reason"
"It's registered"
"Not my question. Why does Jason carry a gun?"
"Same reason anybody does- for protection"
"Have you ever seen Mr. Morgan use it?"
"Yes"
"And was it for protection?"
"Yes"
"From whom, his enemies, rival mob hit men?"
"Objection your honor, leading the witness" said Justus
"Overruled" she said
"Your honor! There is no proof that Mr. Morgan is in the mob, let alone is a hit man"
"Mr. Ward, I suggest you sit down and stop making a racket in my court room immediately"
"Yes your honor" he said, defeatedly sitting down.
"Carly, I will ask you again, has Mr. Morgan had to protect himself from rival mob families. People he views as threats"
"I don't know about the mob, but yes, he has pulled out the gun on people he feels are threats"
"So you would say he is a violent man?"
"No! I, just…" she said, her eyes wide with fear that she was just hurting Jason's case.
The rest of the testimony was the same, and not even Justus was able to undo it.
Sonny also testified, along with Emily, and they had the same situation. By the end of their testimonies, Durant had the jury eating out of the palm of his hand. Finally, it was Courtney's turn. She swore to tell the truth, and that sat down in the witness stand.
Her eyes met with Jason's, and she was able to tell him that she loved him with just her eyes.
"Mrs. Morgan, where was your husband the night of the alleged rape"
"Working" she answered.
"Ah yes, at the coffee business"
"Yes, that's right" she answered.
"And what time did Mr. Morgan come home"
"I'm not sure; I spent the night at my brother's"
"How convenient" said Durant. "Mrs. Morgan, do you think of your husband as a dangerous man?"
"No" she answered.
"Does he have a temper? Does he get angry and yell at you? Throw things, break things?"
"Everyone has a temper. We all have breaking points. But he never gets violent, no matter how angry he gets"
"So, at your canceled wedding to Jasper Jax, when he punched the would-be-groom, that was what… nonviolent?"
"He punched Jax because Jax grabbed me. He only hit him to protect me"
"And that new bruise on Mr. Jax's face, how did that get there"
"I hit him, when he trapped me in an elevator. It's not going to work Durant, Jason didn't do that. He was being held in prison. Jax was slapped yesterday"
"Mrs. Morgan, I didn't ask you if Jason did it. But you seemed so ready to give up the information and defend him"
"Objection your honor" cried Justus
"Overruled"
"Courtney, has Jason ever punched or attacked other people in front of you"
"Only if they tried to hurt me or someone else he loves"
"But he has gotten violent?"
"Yes" she answered softly.
"Mrs. Morgan, Jason is much more than a coffee importer. And his business has cost you in the past, hasn't it?"
"I don't understand the question Mr. Durant. My husband is a coffee importer, nothing else"
Durant chuckled. "Courtney, in 2003, you were kidnapped, were you not? You were held against your will on a yacht. And you were pregnant with Mr. Morgan's baby, weren't you? What happened to that baby Courtney? Can we see him or her?" asked Durant with a sickly smile.
Jason jumped up so fast that his chair fell over and yelled for Durant to shut up. Courtney looked like she was about to cry or pass out.
"Jason, sit down" hissed Justus, picking up Jason's chair.
"Objection your honor. Relevance?" asked Justus
"Mr. Durant, get to the point"
"The point is, what happened to that baby? You lost it, didn't you Courtney. Because of mistakes made, you never got to see your daughter. She's gone now. And why? Because of your husband's business. And did he even care? No! Jason just thought she was another business casualty, just as Carmen Pareña was. You lost your baby Mrs. Morgan because of what your husband does. Because you chose to be with a man like that"
"Enough! I will not let you badger my wife like this! Our baby has nothing to do with this, and I will not let you hurt Courtney!" Jason shouted, jumping up again.
"Order in the court! Sit down Mr. Morgan, or you will be removed from my court room" scolded the judge.
"Temper, temper Jason" teased Durant.
"I didn't lose that baby because of Jason! I lost it because of my own stupid mistakes!" shouted Courtney.
"Of course you did. Your own stupid mistakes as a result of Mr. Morgan's lifestyle and his lack of caring about other people in the world and their feelings. Just like he didn't care about Ms. Pareña's feelings as he was stealing her innocence. As he raped her!" bellowed Durant.
"Objection your honor!" shouted Justus, jumping up as well.
"Mr. Ward, the next time either you or your client feels it necessary to have an inappropriate outburst in my court, I will hold you both in contempt" said the judge, her eyes flaring.
"Sorry your honor" said Justus sitting down.
"Overruled" said the judge.
"Don't worry your honor, the prosecution rests. I think Mrs. Morgan helped us greatly to prove our point" he said, sitting down again with a smirk.
Justus did the cross-examination, but nothing he said could undue the scaring effects of Jason's two outbursts, along with his own. Durant had proven his point- Jason had a temper. And in the process, he had hurt Courtney. Her impassioned testimony about the goodness inside of Jason was half-hearted, and it was obvious to a jury that it was planned and unconvincing.
The trial ended for the day, and everyone went home, feeling very downtrodden. Everyone except Jason. He didn't go home. He went back to a lonely jail cell, left to think about Courtney and their baby, and the pain she was going through without him there to hold her.
A/N: I know that it was a low blow to bring the baby into the picture, but I figured Durant would in fact stoop that low. Remember to keep reviewing! And BTW, we are 1/3 of the way there. 14 more chapters left, and the drama is just starting!