Nicole Wallace looked around the courtroom, expecting to see Bobby in the gallery. It was after eleven and the last recess the judge called was almost over; it was time for the continuation of her case.Yet there was no sign of him anywhere. Then she spotted that partner of his, and his friend Mike...but she couldn't find him. Bobby Goren wasn't a man who was easy to miss. No, he wasn't there. That made her more than just a little angry.

Logan laughed softly and leaned toward Eames. "Guess who just noticed that Bobby's not here and we are."

Eames shifted her eyes toward the front of the courtroom where Wallace was talking angrily with Shaeffer. She smiled. "Good. He told her he was through with her, and now she knows he meant it."

"I'm glad he didn't come."

"So am I." She rested a hand on his arm. "But I do appreciate that you are here, Mike."

"Bobby and I both agreed you didn't need to be here alone."

"What'd you do? Flip a coin and you lost?"

"Hell, no. I was anxious to be here. And he was just as anxious not to be. It'll give me great satisfaction to hear that guilty verdict."

"Do you really think they'll convict?"

"After Maggie's testimony? They'd convict the Pope after hearing her."

Eames smiled. Her little girl had been very persuasive. From the front of the courtroom, the bailiff called the court to order and then called the case of the People v. Nicole Wallace. Burrows looked at Carver. "Mr. Carver, I believe you were cross-examining the defendant the last time we were in session."

"I have no more questions, your honor. The defendant more than adequately proved my point."

Wallace glared at him, but he didn't even glance at her. Burrows turned to Shaeffer. "Mr. Shaeffer? You may re-direct or call your next witness."

"Your honor, I have nothing more. I rest my case."

Anything more he did would only serve to make things worse for his client. After her escape attempt led to another murder they would indict her for and considering Maggie's entire testimony, there was nothing more he could do for her. Granted he was her attorney, but he knew she was guilty. She had more than incriminated herself and there was no way he could dig her out. She had been trying to get him to recall Goren, but he saw no point in putting the detective back on the stand. He had no idea why she wanted him there. The only thing left for him was to whip up a killer closing argument and pray the jury bought it. He'd been working on it since her escape attempt because he knew it was his last chance to spare her from the death penalty if they convicted her on the two murders.

"Very well, then. Mr. Carver, are you prepared to deliver your closing arguments?"

"Yes, your honor."

"Then proceed."

Carver stepped away from the table and began addressing the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I ask you to consider your verdict very carefully. You heard testimony from New York City police detectives about the defendant's actions back in October. How she kidnapped two young children and gravely injured their grandfather, himself a decorated police officer. How she was fulfilling a vendetta against the children's parents and sought to punish them by taking their children. How she shot three of those detectives, nearly taking the life of the children's father and blaming her actions on his four-year-old daughter. You also hear the testimony of Maggie, that four-year-old daughter who was injured by the defendant in a fit of rage. A child who had the courage to call 911 in an attempt to find her father rather than run off and leave her brother in the clutches of a woman she feared would hurt him. A child who cared for and protected her little brother, ultimately escaping by disregarding the defendant's threats and hiding until they were rescued by one of the detectives she later injured. This child was deeply traumatized by her father's grave injuries, taking the blame on herself because she did disregard the defendant's threats. She saw an innocent man who had tried to help her shot in cold blood by the defendant. The defendant has proven that she has no regard for the law or its guardians, no regard for people. She is a danger to society at large, and to the detectives and their children in particular. Bear your duty well, ladies and gentlemen, and do the right thing."

Shaeffer stood as Carver sat down. Leave it to the prosecutor to play up his trump card. He walked toward the jury box and began to talk. "My client is a victim of circumstance, the only victim in an elaborate scheme to discredit and incarcerate her. This scheme was perpetrated by the two detectives whose children were found in her custody. What type of people can they possibly be, using their children as pawns to take down a perceived adversary! And then coaching their daughter to participate in this scheme...will they stop at nothing to seek revenge upon my client? Revenge...a dish best served cold, and so they waited until she least expected them to strike and set her up to take the fall for this crime. Don't be fooled by the prosecution's game. My client is an innocent victim, and acquittal is the only correct and reasonable verdict."

Logan leaned toward Eames. "Can you believe that guy? You think she really has him snowed that bad?"

"I don't know. If he fell for her seductive act, she could convince him of anything. He's a spineless slug, so maybe."

Burrows charged the jury with their duty and sent them into the jury room to deliberate. The gallery cleared for the most part as people left to stretch their legs or head down to the cafeteria. No one expected a long deliberation. Eames stood up and motioned toward Logan. "Let's get something to eat, Mike. I want to call to Bobby."

As they left their seats, a cold, emotionless voice reached their ears. "Stepping out on him already, detective? And with his best friend? For shame."

Eames turned to face Wallace. "Why do you care, Nicole? What does it matter to you what happens between my husband and me? And he is my husband. You never had a chance with him, regardless of whatever your warped mind has led you to believe."

"Where is he today?"

Logan touched Eames' arm and answered, "He told you he was done with you. Didn't you believe him? I came instead, so he wouldn't have to. Sorry to disappoint you, Nicole. Bobby wants nothing more to do with you. You've struck your last blows with him. The game is over...game, set, match. He won. Deal with it. Come on, Alex."

He rested his hand against her back and they left the courtroom. Wallace filed the gesture away for future reference. She wondered if Bobby knew how friendly his best friend and his wife seemed to be.

In the corridor, Eames looked up at him. "Nice touch, Mike."

"I want her to know you are well-looked-after. She can't touch you, Alex, and by extension, she can't touch him. Come on. I'll treat."

----------------------------------------------

The jury deliberated for less than six hours. The foreman of the jury handed the paper to the bailiff, who passed it to Burrows. The judge's expression did not change. He looked toward the jury box. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"

"We have, your honor."

"How find you?"

"On the two counts of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant not guilty. On the three counts of attempted murder, we find the defendant guilty. On the two counts of kidnapping, we find the defendant guilty. On the six counts of aggravated assault, we find the defendant guilty. On the single count of aggravated assault causing grievous bodily injury, we find the defendant guilty. On the four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, we find the defendant guilty. On the two counts of child endangerment, we find the defendant guilty. On the single count of child abuse causing bodily injury, we find the defendant guilty. On the three counts of assaulting a police officer, we find the defendant guilty."

"Thank you for your service. The jury is excused and this court is adjourned. We will reconvene next week for sentencing."

Eames leaned her head against Logan's arm. "Thank God," she whispered.

He let his hand caress her cheek. "It's over. Burrows will give her the maximum. The best thing you guys could have done was let Maggie testify."

Slowly, she sat up, not realizing how tense she had been. As they stood to leave, Carver approached them. "Well done, Mr. Carver," Logan said, extending his hand to the prosecutor.

The ADA accepted his hand. "I couldn't have done it without Maggie. She was the determining factor for the jury. The guilty verdicts were quickly and easily reached. The rest of the time they spent deliberating the murder charges, but ultimately, they couldn't make a case without reasonable doubt on the evidence we had."

"We expected that, though," Eames said.

Carver rested his hand on her upper arm. "Tell your partner thank you. I realize Maggie's testimony was most difficult for him, and I am very grateful for his cooperation. I know his first inclination was to take the child and leave. I would have deeply regretted having to act on that. He did the right thing."

"I know he did."

Carver smiled. "You had a hand in that, didn't you?"

"Let's just say he isn't always rational where his little girl is concerned."

"Few of us are, detective," he smiled. "I'll let you know when the sentencing is scheduled."

"Thank you."

Logan leaned toward her. "Let's get the hell out of here."

----------------------------------------------------

Eames stopped when they stepped away from the elevators toward the squadroom. It was late and most of their colleagues had gone home. Her partner sat at his desk, head resting on folded arms. Across from him sat Barek, playing solitaire. She got up when she saw them and walked over to them. "Hey, guys. How'd it go?"

"They found her guilty on every count except the two murders," Logan informed her. "But that's okay. Carver can get her for that guy she killed in the courthouse if he chooses to indict her on that one."

Eames nodded her head toward Goren. "Is he okay?"

"Sure. We were playing cards for awhile. He's been sleeping for the last hour and a half, maybe. He was exhausted."

"He had a hard night. Wallace took a lot out of him, and then he didn't sleep at all. He spent the night pacing and checking on the kids."

Barek nodded. "I figured it was something like that. I just let him sleep. Ferguson wanted to mess with him, but I threatened to kick his Irish ass back to the Emerald Isle and he changed his mind."

Eames smiled. "Thanks for watching out for him. I'll take him home now and make sure he gets some sleep."

She said good night after kissing Logan's cheek again and thanking him for staying with her at the courthouse. Then she walked up behind her husband and rubbed her hands up his back to his shoulders. "Hey, Goren," she whispered into his ear. "Time to get up."

He started a little, raising his head and looking around, bewildered. She rested her chin on his shoulder and whispered, "Ready to go home?"

He turned his head toward her. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked out of it. "Come on, Bobby. You need some sleep."

Without a word, he got to his feet, staggering slightly, but he caught himself and rubbed his face. Taking a deep breath, he looked at her. "Alex?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Uh, I know that...um, how'd it go?"

"Good. We pissed her off and she got convicted on all counts except the two murders."

He walked beside her to the elevators. "How'd you piss her off?"

She watched him tap the down button and lean his shoulder against the wall. She'd always loved his just-woken-up expression and level of dishevelment. "Just by being there. Oh, and she also thinks Mike's sweet on me, so if she ever tries throwing that in your face, you'll know where it came from."

"Why would she think that?"

"You know Nicole. You can't touch someone or smile at them without being after them. Mike was just being...protective. And Nicole was being, well, Nicole."

"Got it." The elevator doors opened and they stepped in. One of the secretaries from the floor above them was on her way home as well. She smiled at the two detectives, her eyes lingering on Bobby. "Long day?"

Goren nodded as Eames replied, "Very. You're here late."

"Last minute paperwork." Eames nodded sympathetically. "How have you been, Bobby?"

"Fine, Carol. You?"

"Good. How are the kids?"

A weary smile touched his lips. "They're fine."

"I heard your little girl did an amazing job in court last month."

His smile became warm. "Yeah, she did."

Carol smiled as well. Her eyes shifted to Eames. "You are very lucky, Alex."

Eames laid a hand on her husband's arm. "I know."

He rested his head back against the wall. Let them talk about him; he was too damn tired to care. He didn't notice when the elevator doors opened. Eames gently pulled him away from the wall and he opened his eyes. Heading out into the parking garage, Eames waved over her shoulder. "Good night, Carol."

"Good night, guys."

She got him to the car and he slid into the passenger seat. By the time she had started the car and backed out of the parking space, he was sleeping again.