As it turned out, Jack's idea of a surprise was having Daniel and Teal'c play 'baby sitters' while Caroline and Ferretti left to drive back to Colorado with a brand new baby in tow. Not to mention the wonderful Italian restaurant he took Sam to before going and watching a very elite ballet. All in all, it was the perfect way for the two of them to grow closer in love before the hearing the next day.
The sentencing hearing came all too soon and all too late for Esther and her family. She sat in her wheel chair, having compromised with her Dad so she would be sitting in it until she went up to testify for the jury. Her long hair was brushed, braided and coiled into a bun on the back of her head (the handiwork of Caroline who was a hair-stylist), and her dress was a red, cotton summer dress that went down to her knees and had buttons down one side for easy dressing.
Abby was wearing a similar dress but in light blue instead of red. Abby and JJ paced nervously as they waited for the doors to open and the hearing to begin. Neither of them really wanted to be there, especially JJ as he could feel all of Esther's reservations – not to mention their parents' reservations as well. But at the same time, both of them needed to be there. Esther had been right when she said that they had to close this chapter of their lives before they could open a new one as a whole family.
The lawyer presenting the state's case against Pete Shanahan came out and motioned to Sam and Jack that it was time to start. JJ wheeled in his sister into the courtroom behind his parents and Abby. Inside the courtroom was filled with personnel from the SGC, the Pentagon, and JJ was almost positive he saw the President himself sitting in one of the rows. Esther was wheeled to the front of the isles in the back, awaiting her turn to speak.
When the lawyer finally said that Esther O'Neill wanted to share her story with the jury, Esther was more than ready. With her speech in one hand, using the other to support herself, she slowly made her way to the podium she would be speaking from.
She looked at the twelve members of the jury, then at Pete; turning back to her father she found the strength she needed. Esther turned to the judge and started talking, not once looking down at her notes:
"My first memory is of being pushed down a flight of stairs by Pete Shanahan. I never found out the reason – but I know that I was two years old. I was three when my mother was finally able to get me and my brother and sister out of that house – and two states away from Pete. That didn't last for very long.
"I was first kidnapped by Pete when I was eight and still going to public school. I've never been able to dispel the nightmares he's caused me to suffer.
"When I was twelve, he kidnapped me on my birthday and when I was finally found he had vanished – and I had a concussion, two broken ribs and numerous other wounds. When I was thirteen he kidnapped me and when I was finally returned to my home after being raped beyond believe and endurance, I found out I was pregnant. The child, Destiny Hope O'Neill, died four days after being born prematurely on my fourteenth birthday – right after Pete Shanahan kidnapped me and tortured me for two days. And now, just a few weeks ago, he tried to do it again.
"Look at the scars on my body to see what he did to my flesh. Look at the tombstone of my daughter to see what he did to my soul. He is less than an animal because no animal would do this to anyone.
"He is a Goa'uld and should be treated as one."
Esther turned to walk back to her wheelchair, but stumbled. Jack was instantly there to catch her. The gash on her back was covered in thick, white bandages that were very visible to the jury – along with the numerous other scars Pete had given her over the years. As Jack carefully sat her back in her seat, he could see unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
As the jury left for deliberations a short time later, Henry Hayes came toward the small family to check on how they were.
"How are you doing, Esther?" he asked gently as he stood before her in the small circle of family and honorary family (Teal'c; Daniel; Daniel's wife, Sarah; and Janet).
Esther gave him a half smirk and turned her head to JJ. Her brother nodded and answered Henry for her. "She's pretty high strung right now, sir. It was just difficult for her to actually admit to a lot of that happening."
Henry was confused, "First of all, why are you answering for her? Secondly, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I'm telepathic, sir, and I share a mental connection with my sisters – she doesn't really feel up to talking any more until the sentence is brought back. And it's hard for her to admit to a lot of that happening because we spent so much time trying to help her get over it that it's bringing up a lot of old memories that are best left to die."
"Ah. Oh, look the jury's back."
The judge called the court to order once more. She turned to the jury and asked, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
The spokesman replied, "We have, your honor."
"Read it."
"We the jury sentence the defendant to death – by the hands of Ba'al, the Asgard or any other means found satisfactory to the victims and President Hayes."
Ba'al grinned sardonically at the man held prisoner before him.
"Wh-what are you going to do to me?" the prisoner asked desperately.
Ba'al's grin only grew; even though his treatment of this man was 'helping' the Tauri, after their help with the Replicators, he felt it was the least he could do to torture a rapist for them…after all, he'd like to think that they'd do the same for him. The Goa'uld inside of him said, "We were thinking castration…by acid." Ba'al seemed to contemplate something for a minute before adding, "But then we decided to let you have a taste of your own medicine…of course, with the power of the sarcophagus, we can do all this and more. Watching you die thousands of times before letting the pain end."
A/N: So? What do you think? It's okay to yell at me for what I gave him as punishment. Oh, and tell me if you think the testimony was good or not. I really want to know.