"Unless the prosecution has anything further he'd like to add," said the judge, looking at Proctor.
Proctor simply shook his head no.
"In that case," said the judge, "it is the finding of this court that the wish made by Ellen Gordon that her father was dead to be invalid. While the child in question may have made the wish, it is quite evident that the Vengeance Demon who granted the wish was a bit over zealous in granting that wish. Therefore, the wish is negated and the defendant will be allowed to return to his life, such as it was. Court is adjourned."
"What does that mean?" Dan asked.
"Tell me," said Cole. "What is the last thing you remember before you came here?"
"I was driving home from work," said Dan. "I suddenly lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. Apparently I was burned alive."
"Well," said Cole, "we won. Which means that when you return to the mortal realm you'll be placed back in your car just a few moments before the accident. The Vengeance Demon probably caused you to loose control of your car, causing the accident. That won't happen this time. Things will progress as they normally would have."
"We won?" Dan questioned, hardly believing what he was hearing.
"That's right," said Cole. "You'll be able to go home to your family as if none of this ever happened."
"Thank you," said Dan, aggressively shaking Coles' hand. "Thank you so much. I don't know how I'll ever repay you for this. I'll never forget this."
He turned to Piper.
"It was good seeing you again," he said. He looked at Phoebe and Leo. "All of you. Thanks for everything. I guess now I can understand some of the weird things that used to happen when we were together."
"Yeah, well we couldn't tell you," said Piper. "It's against the rules. I'm just glad you're happy, Dan. And you have an adorable little girl. You're a very lucky man."
"I know," said Dan. "So, what do I do now?"
"Nothing," said Cole. "You should be returned to the mortal realm just about..."
Before Cole could finish his sentence, Dan suddenly vanished from the courtroom.
"Now," Cole finished as they all watched Dan disappear.
"Well, looks like we owe you one," Piper said to Cole.
"What I don't understand," Phoebe said, "is how you knew this was going on in the first place."
"I'm still an attorney in the underworld," said Cole. "As I explained to the judge, my credentials are still intact. And like all attorneys in the underworld, I get a docket of the cases being tried each day. When I saw your names as attorneys for the defense I knew you were in over your heads. So I decided it was best if I stepped in for you."
"Good call," said Leo. "Until you did we were loosing badly."
"That's because you have no legal training," said Cole. "That's what I meant when I said you were incompetent in the judges' chambers. It doesn't mean you stupid or anything. It simply means you don't have the necessary training or experience to try a case."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that part out," said Piper.
"So, what do we do now?" Paige asked.
"You go home," said Cole. "Just like Dan. You go on with your lives as if none of this ever happened."
"Until the next time we're called to defend someone," said Piper, disgust in her voice.
"That won't happen," said Cole. "It's now a matter of public record that you aren't certified to practice law in the underworld. A judge can't appoint you again until, and unless, you request certification. Which I'm betting it not likely to happen any time soon."
"Good," said Phoebe. "Maybe we should call Dan when we get home. He might have some questions about all this."
"No, he won't," said Cole. "Unlike you, he's mortal. He won't be allowed to remember anything that happened here. Any memory of this will be wiped from his mind when he returns to the mortal realm. Part of the protecting magic thing."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Piper.
"Well this is a new one even for us," said Phoebe.
"What is, honey?" Paige asked.
"Belthazor, Attorney at Law," said Phoebe. "Protecting the rights of an innocent. Who would have thought?"
"Yeah, well not the best reputation for an attorney down here," said Cole. "But then, an attorney's job is to zealously defend his client no matter who that client may be."
"Well, despite whatever else you may or may not be," said Leo, "you proved you're a very good attorney. Changing the mind of the judge about a mortal isn't easy."
"Not the first time I've done it," said Cole. "Well, I really should be getting back to work. I still have a mortal law practice."
"Funny," said Paige as Cole shimmered out of the courtroom, "he didn't say anything about getting back together again. You think he's given up on that idea?"
"I don't know," said Phoebe. "But I'm beginning to wonder if maybe he really has changed."
The End
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