A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS A CONTINUATION OF THE LAST. I DON'T THINK I HANDLED THIS SUBJECT PROPERLY IN THE LAST STORY, SO I'M REVISING IT. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL EDUCATION(UNLESS YOU COUNT WATCHING LAW AND ORDER), SO PLEASE FORGIVE ANY ERRORS. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW, AND AS ALWAYS, ENJOY! I DON'T OWN THEM….NEVER HAVE…..NEVER WILL.

CHAPTER 30: BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER

"What the hell? How can they do this?", Cal shouted, looking over Jordan's shoulder to read the summons."This is just wrong.", he added, shaking his head. "Calvin, calm down. There must be some kind of mistake.", Colleen offered. "Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest?", Dolly offered. "That's right Luv, they can't expect you to testify for the man who shot.….um…for the brother.", Nigel stammered as he walked over to Jordan."I was only at the crime scene, then taken off the case. How can I testify on a case I didn't even work on?", Jordan asked, looking at the group that now surrounded her. " I bet if you call Renee Walcott tomorrow, this can all be cleared up. Colleen's probably right, this is all just a big misunderstanding.", Nigel stated, putting his arm around Jordan.

"It's not some misunderstanding or mistake.", Woody stated from his place at the table. The group had actually forgot he was still sitting there alone, while they were busy trying to comfort Jordan. They all turned around to look at him. "Why are they doing this, Woody?", Jordan asked, breaking away from the others and taking a seat next to her husband. "I guess it all started after I was.…shot. The D.A. tried to get Tommy to finger Wayne as the mastermind, but he claimed he couldn't remember anything that happened.….not a thing. The state sent him to a bunch of psychologists and psychiatrists but no one ever got anything out of him. So they could only charge Wayne for shooting me and being an accessory to the three murders. They ended up charging Tommy as a minor, he'll be released at age twenty-one. The families appealed and were granted another trial due to some new evidence.", Woody explained quietly, still looking down at the table.

Dolly, Nigel and Colleen took their seats back at the table, waiting for Woody to continue. "The defense wants me to testify on Tommy's behalf, they want the original sentencing to be upheld. I was the only one he told what really happened.", Woody added. "What did happen?", Dolly asked cautiously. "Wayne forced him to shoot, he beat him. He told Tommy if he didn't do it, he would kill him. He was just a scared kid.", Woody said sadly. "Don't tell me you feel sorry for this punk, Woods. His brother shot you for Gods sake. Let him rot.", Cal yelled whilepacing the room. "I can't do that Calvin. I have an obligation to my job, to tell the truth.", Woody replied, looking up at his brother. "You don't owe him anything, not after…….", Cal's voice trailed off, he leaned against the wall, took a deep breath then closed his eyes.

"Wait, what does any of this have to do with the son of a bitch who shot you?", Cal asked, his eyes now wide open and his voice seething with hatred. "Apparently Wayne has this 'new' evidence, the state has agreed to give him a break in his sentence if he cooperates. With his testimony they'd be able to charge Tommy as an adult.", Woody added under his breath. "You have to be kidding me, what do you mean a break in his sentence?", Cal shouted. "Shh, Calvin the babies.", Colleen whispered. "The state agreed to reduce his sentence by ten years and move up his parole date from 25 to 15 years.", Woody tensely explained. "Woods this is crazy. If they cut his sentence.…he only got ten years for shooting you, that would be like ...like it never happened. They can't do this to you.", Cal screamed, running his hands through his hair, his pacing becoming faster. By now all three women were in tears. "I need to get out of here.", Cal stammered, as he raced to the door. "Calvin wait.", Woody called from the kitchen, rushing to catch up with his brother, only to see the door slam shut once he got to the living room. For a fleeting moment, Woody thought about going after him, but figured Cal took the stairs as a faster route outside, and by the time Woody got downstairs, Cal would be long gone.

The slamming of the door woke both Colin and Millie who were nestled in the pack'n'play together. Dolly and Nigel went over to pick up the crying babies. Jordan followed Colleen who walked over to Woody, he was just sitting in the middle of the room, staring at the door. Colleen put her hand on Woody's shoulder, which startled him a bit. "He'll be fine Woody. He just needs some time to cool down.", Colleen stated, giving his arm a little squeeze. Woody nodded. "I think we should be going, in case Cal comes home. Thanks so much for dinner.", Colleen whispered, giving Jordan an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Col, I didn't mean for this to happen . I didn't want him to find out.", Woody said quietly. "I know Woody. This is not your fault. Calvin's just upset. Everything will be fine.", Colleen replied giving Woody and Jordan a hug goodbye.

"We'll walk Colleen out to the car.", Nigel offered, picking up Colin in his car seat and nodding to Dolly who was holding Millie. Jordan nodded back, then turned and sat to face Woody. "Why didn't you tell me about this yesterday?", she asked, taking hold of his hands. Woody shrugged, "I didn't want to upset you.", he replied. They moved to the couch where they sat and held each other for a while. Nigel and Dolly soon returned with Millie, Nigel handed the hungry baby to her mother. "We'll talk tomorrow, Luv.", Nigel said, giving Jordan a peck on the cheek. Woody could tell Dolly had been crying as she bent down to hug him. He squeezed her tight before letting go and giving her a small smile. Once the pair had left, Jordan settled back next to Woody, he held her close as Millie contently nursed. They sat there is silence wondering what the next few days would bring.

The weekend was filled with preparations for the trial on Monday. Jordan was excused from testifying because of a conflict of interest, but Woody, Bug and Sidney would still have to tesify. Monday morning was rainy and miserable, the parties arrived early to meet with Renee Walcott. Jordan, Max, Colleen and Dolly were all there to support Woody, Lily stayed home with the babies and Cal never showed. The group entered the courtroom, they found seats on the left side. Wayne Riggs glanced back at them from his seat in the front and quickly turned away. Tommy was brought in by the bailiff, he walked in confidently and was escorted to his seat. Woody noticed how much he had grown up, he was taller, clean-cut and properly dressed.

Bug was first to testify followed by Sidney and then Woody. His name was called, Jordan turned to him and gave his hand a quick squeeze. She helped him up and watched as he slowly made his way to the front. The bailiff helped him onto the stand and into his seat. Once he was sworn in, the questioning began,Woody sat straight and tall, giving his testimony in full. He closely watched the two brothers from his seat on the stand. Wayne, for whatever reason, be it guilt or arrogance, most likely arrogance; never once met Woody's gaze. Tommy was next, insisting he couldn't remember anything pertaining to thosetwo days, or the conversation he had with Woody, at the hospital. He never once accused his brother of anything, instead, he sat there, his shoulders hunched, head down, voice shakey; looking very much like the scared kid he was two years before.

After the defense rested, the court was excused for lunch. Lunch was awkward at best, Dolly tried to keep conversation light and went on about the antics of her kindergarten class. Lily stoped by the diner so the babies could spend some time with their parents and be fed.Woody wasn't hungry, he sat thinking about his testimony. This was the first time he had talked about the days leading up to his shooting, and the shooting itself, to someone other than Dr. Stiles. Whenever he tried to talk to Jordan about it, she always changed the subject, as did everyone else, the subject was strictly taboo.

The trial proceeded with testimony from the families of the slain officers and Wayne Riggs. He sat on the stand, dressed in his orange prison jumpsuit, emitting a sickening air of cockiness. He proceeded to 'explain' how this was all Tommy's idea, he was out for vengence for what happened to their father, Wayne stated, all he was guilty for was driving the car. The defense attorney cross-examined Wayne next. "Mr. Riggs, if this was all your brothers idea, then why at 21 years old, did you go along with it?", Mr. Perkins asked. "He was the one with the gun.", Wayne chuckled. "You had an arsenal of weapons, what made you afraid of a 13 year old boy?", the attorney prodded. "Like I said, he wanted to do this, he would'a found a way without me.", he answered smugly. Tommy became increasingly agitated during the testimony, he kept whispering into the other attorney's ear. "If you wanted no part in this then why didn't you turn your brother in? Why did you let this continue? Why did you, point blank, shoot an unarmed detective?", Mr. Perkins questioned. Wayne looked in Woody's direction and broke out into a satisfactory grin.

Tommy noticed this and looked back at Woody, then straight at his brother. He sat there for the remainder of the testimony, forced to listen to the lies spewing from his brothers mouth. When Wayne starting bad-mouthing their father, Tommy snapped. "You said I had to do this for Dad. You were supposed to protect me. You said nothing would happen to me because I was a kid. You promised.", Tommy shouted as he jumped from his seat. Court was recessed as the parties were taken into chambers, where Tommy told the judge the truth. The trial was dismissed and the original sentence upheld. Wayne would be taken back to prison and new charges would be filed.

As the exhausted Hoyt's left the courthouse, Woody noticed Tommy sitting on a bench, waiting for a ride back to the juvenile facility he was sentenced to. Jordan helped Woody to the bench, breifly looked at Tommy, left with Max, to get the car. "Hey.", Woody greeted. "Hey.", Tommy mumbled, looking down. "I'm a bad person, I should be in prison.", Tommy blurted. "You're not a bad person Tommy, you were a young kid who was forced to do something very bad... You should be proud of yourself, for what you did today. It was the right thing to do.", Woody said. Tommy looked at Woody and gave him a small smile. "So your name is really Woodrow?", he asked lightly. Woody nodded. "That kinda sucks.", Tommy stated quietly. Woody let out a chuckle.

Jordan returned with Woody's chair while Max waited in the car. Tommy watched Jordan help her husband into his chair then take his crutches. "Good luck Tommy.", Woody said as he prepared to leave. They had just made their way to the ramp when Tommy called out, "Hey Detective.". Woody turned to face him. "I'm sorry my brother hurt you.", Tommy called out, sympathetically. "Thanks.", Woody said, surprised by the gesture. Tommy nodded, gave another small smile and waived goodbye.