As the guards led him down the empty, intermingling halls to the correct courtroom, he tried to breathe through the pressing panic that he felt, as the guards undid his restraints and led him into the courtroom, and over to the defense table where Dawn was already seated.

"Hey," he whispered, as he looked over at her.

"Hi," Dawn said, looking over at him. "Are you okay?"

"Can I answer that after today?"

She didn't comment, merely laughed once, as she got her notes ready for presentation. "This guy I have coming onto the stand today, he should be able to seal the final nail in the coffin."

"And wipe out that dick's case?"

The prosecution's main theory that Dean had gotten the marks from him, had been obliterated when a pediatrician had taken the stand, and had informed the court that it would have been impossible for Dean to have gotten the marks from a human from being grabbed or punched, and that Dean's story that he had fallen and slipped on the cement would have been entirely plausible.

Caleb hoped that whatever this final witness said, it would be enough to override the prosecution's case and grant doubt in the jury's minds, and therefore be enough to acquit him based off of reasonable doubt. It was a long-shot, especially with how his luck had worked out for him lately, but it was the only hope he had of this thing ending peacefully, and allow him to enjoy a permanent reunion with the kids.

"Hopefully," she said, giving him a wry look. "You can never be sure, especially with the prosecution's cross-exam, but we're throwing everything out there that makes sense, and hopefully it will be enough to tarnish Mark Williamson's credibility."

"I hope," Caleb said, as the judge entered, and they stood. "You really think we can go out with a bang?" he asked, as they sat back down.

"If everything goes according to plan."

While the judge rattled off some minor formalities associated with that day's hearing, Caleb tried to relax and tried not to look at the jury, who would be scrutinizing his every move, his every action.

"I received note that the defense plans to rest today?" the judge asked, looking over at Dawn for verbal confirmation.

"Yes, Your Honor," Dawn said, standing up.

"And will your client be testifying?" the judge asked.

"No," Dawn said.

"Alright," the judge said, before addressing Caleb. "Just to be clear, it is your decision not to testify, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir," Caleb said, standing up to address the judge, before sitting back down.

"Does the defense plan on calling any final witnesses?"

"Yes," Dawn said.

"Who may that be?"

"Your Honor," Dawn said, standing up. "The defense calls Alan Pelletier to the stand."

The child psychologist that she had told Caleb about. Caleb watched as the man made his way up to the front of the room, get sworn in by the bailiff, and then proceeded to make his way toward the witness box to begin his long morning of testimony.

"Please state your name for the record," Dawn said, beginning her final direct-exam of the trial.

"Alan Pelletier."

"Can you please name your occupation for the jury?"

"Yes," he said, leaning foreword, closer to the mic. "I am a child psychologist."

"Where is your place of occupation?"

"Steele County Child and Family Counseling Services."

"Alright," Dawn said, "what kind of degree and experience do you have?"

"I have a Masters degree, and I have been working in my current field for fifteen years."

Dawn nodded, as she focused intently on her final witness. "Do you have experience working with children who have been involved in traumatic circumstances?"

"I do."

"Are you able to correctly deduce whether a child has been abused or not?"

"It's not always an exact science," he explained carefully, "but I can get an idea based off their body language, their responses, and the amount of eye contact they make with me."

"Eye contact can mean what?"

"It can mean a lot of things," he explained patiently. "It can mean they're lying, telling the truth or hiding some facts."

"And you can tell based off a variety of different physical, as well as emotional responses, that a child has been abused or not?"

"Again, it's never exact. But those things can tell part of the story."

"Okay," Dawn said, "you interviewed Sam and Dean Winchester yesterday, correct?"

"I did."

As part of building the final aspects of her case, she cleared it with Bobby to have the psychologist come in and talk with both of the boys, and get an understanding of what they were thinking, of what their thoughts were about Caleb, and if they showcased any of signs of abuse or neglect that most experts had come to recognize.

"What were your general impressions? Did they seem to be happy, normal, well-adjusted kids?"

"They did."

With that, Caleb released the breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in. It was a major win for them, especially with the knowledge that the jury was taking all of this in as they listened to the witness on the stand.

"When they spoke about the defendant, was it with fear? Or was it in a loving sort of a way?"

"Definitely very positive and very, yes, loving."

Dawn nodded. "Alright. Did they look like to you that they had been abused in any way?"

"No."

"No further questions."


After court ended for the day, Caleb followed the same pattern he had adopted since being allowed to call the boys. Once he was clear to use the phone, he took full advantage of that privilege, as he placed the same call to the boys that he did every single night of the world. It was something they both looked foreword to, especially after a long, trying day.

Hi, Sam said, his small voice coming through the line, after Caleb had talked to Dean. He could tell something was bothering the usually bubbly and energetic kid.

"Hey, buddy," Caleb said, "how are you doing?"

Alright. Bobby said that we couldn't go back to school yet.

Caleb could tell that Sam was disappointed about it. The kid lived for that academic setting, and being able to play soccer and see his friends, but he understood why Bobby was vetoing that idea at the moment. It was still too precarious with the school, and especially the higher powers in that building that had created their nightmare.

"I'm sorry, dude," Caleb said, as he leaned against the wall. "Is Bobby letting you see some of your friends, though?"

Yeah, last night we actually had a sleepover over here.

Caleb smiled at the enthusiasm in Sam's voice. "Really? I'm glad."

It was a lot of fun. It would have been nicer if you had been there, Sam added after a second.

Caleb nodded. "I want to be there. You know that, Sammy."

I know. I haven't seen you in, like, two months, and Dean got to see you but I haven't.

"Right now, it's still too weird," Caleb said, trying to reason with him. "The case is over. Closing arguments are tomorrow. Hopefully, fingers crossed, the jury will choose to acquit me, and I'll be able to come home."

There wasn't anything he wanted more than to be able to come home and be a part of their lives again. If there was one aspect of being incarcerated that was the hardest, it was being separated from the two people that meant the most to him in the world.

I know, Sam said, Bobby said that your attorney put on a good case?

"She did. With any luck, the jury will choose to buy that instead of the lie."

We miss you around here.

"Well, I miss you guys, too."

Am I still your buddy?

"Absolutely, you both are."

I love you.

"I love you too, Sammy."