Disclaimer: I am not Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahue or Carol Mendelsohn. All the characters of CSI: NY are not mine…I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. I promise that I will put them back, exactly the way I found them when I'm done….Oh, Cory Reid is mine and I will take credit for anything she does. :)

A/N: Hope y'all liked the closing arguments! I had fun with them. :D Here is the end of the trial! As always, please, please, please R&R! My muse loves the attention!

Chapter 48.

Verdict

Cory walked out of the courtroom, conflicting emotions battering her from different angles. She was extremely pleased with O'Reilly's closing remarks; however she was concerned that the defense might have drummed up enough sympathy for Ortiz in her closing remarks. She sighed. "Damn. Why do I have to wait two days for the jury to begin to deliberate? That just sucks. Now my weekend is going to be ruined. I hope Nicole has some plans to keep me occupied."

She walked to her car, exhausted from staying up so late the previous evening. She decided to stop at Chipotle on her way home, so that she didn't have to cook. After she got home and ate, she decided to just go to bed, her exhaustion overtaking her.

(The next day)

When Cory awoke the next morning, she was shocked to see that it was 9 am. "Did I really sleep for more than twelve hours? Wow."

She had just gotten out of the bathroom when her phone rang. "Hello?"

"Get your butt out of bed. We're going riding today."

"Hi to you to, Nic! I'll be ready in about fifteen minutes."

"Then come and let me in. I've been standing out here for twenty minutes, waiting for you to hear the doorbell."

"Sorry, sweetie. I was in the shower. Why didn't you just let yourself in? You have a key."

"I didn't want to intrude."

"Whatever…" Cory opened the front door and hung up her phone. "Like you could ever intrude!"

Nicole looked at Cory carefully. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

Cory nodded her head. "Yup, about thirteen hours worth. I guess I've been burning the candle at both ends, lately. Going out Thursday didn't help."

Nicole smiled. "It may not have helped, but it got your mind off of things. That's what's in the plan for this whole weekend. I'm spending it here by the way. Henry said that he could take care of the kids so that I can spend some quality time with you before you move."

Cory looked confused. "Before I what?"

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Hon? I know that you are not stupid, but if you don't go to New York and be with Danny, you'll regret it. Carpe Diem. But enough about that now. Go get dressed and I'll pack up a picnic lunch, so we can spend all day with the horses."

Cory thought better than to argue with Nicole, so she just did as she said.

(Monday morning)

Cory and Nicole sat in her house, biting their nails while the jury deliberated. Cory knew that deliberations could take days, but somehow in this case, she was not so sure. She mindlessly played darts with Nicole in her game room, while waiting for the phone to ring.

She did not have to wait long. At a little after ten o'clock, her cell phone rang. "Reid? Okay. I'll be right there." She hung up the phone and turned to Nicole. "The jury's back."

The drive to the courthouse was silent, each woman lost in her own thoughts. Cory quickly parked and both of them walked into the courtroom a little before eleven. Cory walked up to O'Reilly and looked at him. "Is this good or bad that the jury only took an hour to deliberate?"

O'Reilly looked at her. "I like to think that it is a good thing."

Cory was stopped from replying as Judge Owens walked into the courtroom. After order was called, the jury filed in. Judge Owens looked at them solemnly. "Madame Foreman. Has the jury reached a decision?"

A young woman stood up. "Yes, we have Your Honor." She handed a piece of paper to the bailiff, who handed it to the judge.

Judge Owens looked at the defense. "Will the defendant please rise?" He turned back to the jury as Ortiz stood up. "Madame Foreman, what say you?"

"We the jury find the defendant, Carlos Ortiz, guilty of murder in the first degree of James Hogan, Michael Hogan and Armando De La Cruz."

On the prosecutions side of the courtroom, sighs of relief and sobs of joy where heard. It was different story on the defense. Ortiz through a hateful glare at the jury. "You are wrong and this decision will haunt the rest of your very short lives!"

Judge Owens banged his gavel down. "Ms. Marquez, control your client or he will be removed from the courtroom immediately!" Judge Owens looked at the jury. "Have you also decided on the punishment?"

The forewoman nodded. "Yes, sir. We sentence the defendant to death by lethal injection."

Cory couldn't help herself as the tears began to flow down her face with the relief she felt. She felt Nicole put her arm around her and hand her a handkerchief. She sat there, not hearing anything else until Judge Owens said, "Court dismissed."

Nicole led her out of the courthouse where she and the entire prosecution team were surrounded by the press.

"Mr. O'Reilly! How do you feel about the verdict?"

O'Reilly grimaced. "The verdict was just. No further comments." Cory watched astounded as he pushed his way through the press without answering another question. She wasn't as lucky as the press turned back to her.

"Agent Reid! How do you feel?"

Cory fought the urge to roll her eyes. "I'm pleased with the outcome. Justice was served. This decision is a relief to the families of all the victims."

One reporter, from the NBC affiliate Channel 5 pushed closer to the front. "Do you plan on being at the execution?"

Cory drew a breath while she thought about her answer. "No. Carlos Ortiz has tried to control my life for the last six years. I will give him no more thought. If you'll excuse me, I have some phone calls to make."

Cory pushed her way to her car, with Nicole right behind her. The first thing that she did when she got to the car was call Matthew and Marlene to let them know of the verdict.

After she hung up with Marlene, shaking she dialed another number. Nicole looked at her. "Who are you calling?"

Cory held up her hand. "Hey, Messer. It's Cory. I was just calling to let you know that the jury came back and they found Ortiz guilty on all three murders and gave him the death penalty. I guess since you didn't answer, you're probably at a scene. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

Nicole looked at Cory, who looked a little hurt by the fact that Danny did not pick up. "He's probably working. He'll call ya back. Why don't we go get some lunch?"

Cory nodded her head.

(Meanwhile, in New York)

Danny was drunk. It was his day off and he was drunk at ten o'clock in the morning. He couldn't help it. He felt so lost without having Cory near him. He'd been this way since he had left Texas almost a month ago. Flack and Stella had given up hope on him and were just avoiding him. Even the lab techs noticed that something was wrong.

Mac had let it go since it was not affecting his work, just yet. Mac was still concerned enough that he sent Lindsay over to check on him.

Danny grimaced as he heard a loud knock on his door. Swaying he got up and barely made it to the door to open it. "Whadda ya want?"

Lindsay wrinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol rolled off of Danny. "Damn. This is worse than when Louie was in the hospital." She pushed Danny out of the way as she walked in. "Danny. We're worried about you. You've changed. You no longer laugh, make jokes. It's like you are just a robot who does his job. Nothing more. What's going on?"

Danny felt his temper break. "Whadda ya care, Montana? You've got Flack. What the hell do I have?"

Lindsay understood what he was going through, but she was fed up with his attitude. "Danny? Come off it! If you honestly can't live without Cory, then move to Dallas. I'm sure they could use a good CSI. Or convince her to move here! Don't just stay in your apartment, drinking your life away because you are depressed that the woman you love isn't here. If you don't like something, you have the ability to change it! Don't piss your life away saying 'Oh poor me.' Do you think that is what Cory would want for you?"

Danny looked at Lindsay in shock. She had been the one who was most sympathetic when it came to his situation. He thought about it. "Damn. She's right. I don't like not being with Cory. If it takes moving to Dallas, I'd be willing to do it. I think that I'd better think about this some more." He shook his head. "You're right, Montana. I always knew that I could count on you to knock some sense into me. I think I'm gonna go take a shower and try to sober up."

When Danny got out of the shower, Lindsay was gone. He picked up his phone and saw that he had a missed call from Cory. He listened to the message and was savagely glad when he heard that Ortiz was being put to death. He called her back, but just got her voicemail. He didn't leave a message. He picked up his keys and went to the lab, to see if it was possible for him to transfer to Dallas.

(The next weekend)

Nicole was fed up. She was tired of watching Cory mope around like a girl who had lost her dog. Finally on Saturday, she decided to have a talk with her.

She let herself into Cory's house, when she didn't open the door. She found Cory, lying in bed and listening to sappy love songs.

"Okay. That's it. Get up and get dressed right now!"

Cory looked at her in confusion. "What?"

Nicole got her "mom" look on her face. "You heard me! Get up and get dressed right now."

"Why? What's the point?"

Nicole drew in a calming breath. "I'm tired of your attitude, Cor. It's got to stop." She withdrew an envelope from her purse. "Here's a round trip ticket to New York for next weekend. I've contacted a friend of mine in real estate up there and he's looking for a place for you to live. I also searched online for some possible places for you to board Sampson and Delilah. If you don't go, so help me God I am going to hog-tie you and put you on the plane myself!"

"But..."

"No buts! You belong in New York with Danny. Don't worry about the house. I'll sell it for you, since that's my job. Or if you want to keep it as a vacation home, we can do that as well. I'll help you pack. I don't care what it takes. You are moving to New York. That is my final answer!"

Cory stared at Nicole as what she was saying reverberated in her brain. She knew she was right. "Damn it, Nicole! What did I do to deserve a good friend like you?"

Nicole laughed, relieved that she had gotten through to her. "You stopped Tommy Jones from pulling my hair in the fourth grade. Listen, I know that this will be hard and scary, but it's the right thing to do."

Cory got out of bed. "I think I'll go take a shower and then look over everything that you brought me." She walked into the bathroom.

When Nicole heard the shower start, she grabbed Cory's cell phone and scrolled down to a number. She hit dial on one number and prayed that the phone would be answered.

"Hey, Cory! What's going on?"

"Hi, Lindsay. This is Nicole, Cory's best friend. I need to talk to you."

Lindsay sounded confused. "Okay. What happened to Cory?"

Nicole rushed to assure her. "Nothing. I just convinced her to move to New York, but I want to keep this a secret from Danny. I was hoping that you could help."

"Shit. She's moving here? Danny just put in for a transfer to Dallas! I'll make sure that Mac loses the paperwork. It's about damn time they came to their senses! Danny has been unbearable to work with!"

"Cory has been, too. Listen, I'll let her know and tell her about Danny being willing to move here. I think it will make her happy. I'll tell her to call you when she is in the city."

"Thanks, Nicole. I'll make sure that Danny doesn't go anywhere. Do you know when she'll be up here?"

"I'm not exactly for sure, but I would say by Christmas. Listen, Cory's getting out of the shower now, so I'd better let you go. Thanks for your help."

"No prob. If you are ever in New York, we must have coffee."

Nicole hung up the phone, with a smile on her face.

A/N: So what did everyone think of the resolution? Let me know...Just hit the little button in the corner and submit a review!

the little corinthian- Glad you hate Marquez. For some reason I have more fun writing characters that people hate...Wonder what Freud would say about that? Of course the jury was going to vote guilty! Way there any other way to vote? Here's the next chapter!

chili-peppers- Glad I tugged on your heart strings for a bit! Nicole always knows what it takes to get Cory back into a good mood. Kicking ass in pool is just one way! Chapter 1 of the D/L story (Inflaming the Sense) is up! So hope you like it!

pnkrckprncss- Let's see...You read any other stories that I've written? Seriously, I have another story that is in progress and I do plan on writing a sequel to this. I'll try to keep it up for you! You are always welcome to party in the gutter with me and my peeps! To answer your question...You find out in this chapter about her decision...What did you think:D