Here is another chapter. I figured since I had some free time on my hands I would write as many chapters as I can before I start to become super busy again. Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the story.

I woke up the next morning and I wasn't sure how I felt. I was going to testify in the Smith case but I wasn't nervous about the case I was nervous about what might come up today. I knew that if and when Casey was blindsided in court today that it was going to be my fault. I got up and started getting ready. I grabbed my tie and started to fumble when I heard a knock on the door. I made my way over and I saw Casey making her way into the apartment. She smiled when she saw me.

"Just left some case stuff here. Are you ready?"

I nodded

"Yeah I just have to tie my tie and I'll be ready to head down to the courthouse."

She put the case files down and walked over to me. I gave a small smile as she began to tie my tie for me. When she was done she gave me a quick kiss.

"You clean up very nicely detective. I'll see you at the court house. Don't be late."

I nodded and smiled at her before she made her way out. Once the door closed I let out a sigh and my smile dropped. Today was going to suck. I went back into the room to get my jacket and then gathered my stuff before heading out the door.

I made my way down to the courthouse and sat outside of the courtroom during the testimonies. At this point I would be pacing at this point if I wasn't on crutches. This was the one time that I wasn't going to be able to lie or get around my past. As I was sitting there Robert walked up and sat next to me. I looked over at him.

"What are you doing here?"

He sighed and scoffed.

"I came to support ya and to make sure you were alright."

I rolled my eyes.

"It's good to see that you finally care about my well-being. I appreciate what you did for me but like I told you in the truck, I'm not ready for you to be a part of my life but yet you keep showing up. Look I don't know how to feel about you. just give me some time."

He sighed and nodded.

"I understand but I'm still going in there for ya. I want to make things right between you and I no matter how long it takes."

I nodded and before I could respond I heard my name being called.

"Detective Matthew Shepherd."

I stood up and made my way into the courtroom. I looked back and Robert nodded at me. I caught the door and nodded back before making my way in.

I took a deep breath as I made my way to the witness stand. I was mentally beginning to doubt all of my decisions up to this point but I knew there was no point. I was sworn in and then the questioning began with the prosecution. Casey stood up and made her way over to the area in front of the stand.

"Detective Shepherd, what was your involvement in the case?"

I cleared my throat and began to answer the question.

"I became involved in the case when my lieutenant brought the case to my attention."

"Can you explain what happened after that?"

"Well first I got details about the case and once I had the details I went and talked to the defendant who I thought at the time was Marcus Smith."

"What did you later find out?"

"We later found out that the defendant was actually Kyle McClain and that he had a history of violence. It also came to our attention that he was abusing his wife."

"And how did you obtain this information detective?"

"I obtained the information by speaking to one of his neighbors."

"Which neighbor would that be?"

"The neighbor was Maybelle Thomas and I obtained information about the defendant from Maybelle Thomas."

"Detective, were you apart of the arresting party?"

"I was not a part of the arresting party because I was held captive by the defendant for two days and then I was in the hospital being treated for injuries that I obtained during that two-day period. I wasn't even aware that the two victims were killed until I was in the hospital."

"So if you weren't apart of the murder case then what case were apart of?"

"I was a part of the case that was investigating the attack on his wife Karen Smith."

"While investigating that case what did you find?"

"I found that the defendant was abusing his wife as well as his child. He was also the main suspect in his wife's rape case."

"Thank you detective, nothing further your honor."

With that Casey sat down and the defense attorney, Nikki Staines began to her questioning.

"Detective, did you harass my client's wife into saying that he attacked her?"

"I didn't harass her…. I just went to try and talked to her but left when she got upset. I wouldn't call doing my job harassment."

"Would you say you had a vendetta out against my client because you thought he was abusing his family"

"No, of course not. I followed leads as I got them. I never had a vendetta against Mr. McClain."

"Would you say that you get emotionally or personally involved in a case?"

"I use emotion to connect to a victim and to sympathize with the victim but I wouldn't let my personal feeling influence how I investigate a case."

She nodded and gave a smug grin.

"Huh, I see…redirect your honor?"

We all looked over at judge Moredock. He nodded.

"Proceed counselor."

"Thank you. Detective, you grew up in Texas right?"

Casey spoke up.

"Objection your honor, what does this have to do with the case at hand?"

"It has to do with how Detective Shepherd handles certain cases. The detective opened the door when he said he doesn't get personally and emotionally involved in cases and my line of questioning will prove otherwise. I promise that it will tie back."

He nodded.

"I'll allow it but please get to your point counselor. Detective please answer the question."

I nodded.

"I did, I grew up in a small town in Texas."

"Detective, would you say that you had a normal childhood?"

"I would say it was a pretty normal childhood."

"Really, because I have an obituary here from 1984 for a Jennifer Shepherd who died and left behind a 7-year-old boy. Is there any relation between you and the decease?"

I hesitated but didn't say anything.

"Detective, is there any relation between you and the deceased mentioned in the obituary?"

I looked up at her and answered.

"Yes there is."

Staines stood in front of me.

"And what is it?"

"She…uh…"

"What is your relation to her?"

"She's my biological mother."

"Detective, do you know what happened to the deceased?"

"Yes I do."

"Please explain detective and then please explain what happened afterwards."

I sighed and then my gaze met Casey's who seemed to be intent on listening and not even objecting. She was finally going to get the answer that she's been pushing for. My gaze didn't leave hers until I was done explaining.

"My biological father was abusive and beat her to death after he beat me within an inch of my life after I tried to defend her…"

My voice began to crack a little.

"Afterwards I was put into the foster system before being adopted by my adoptive parents. My biological father was sentenced to twenty-seven years and I had as normal of a childhood that I could have after that."

My gaze went from Casey's to Staines, as she moved back towards where she was sitting, and then looking down at my hands that were fidgeting in my lap. I heard Staines speak again.

"So you're saying after all you went through; you didn't feel strongly about making sure my client paid for what you thought he did?"

I looked up at her but it wasn't with the determination I had earlier. It was now a sad look in my eyes. My voice was still a little shaky. I hadn't had to talk about what happened to me for a while and I still hadn't dealt with all of my feelings about the events that took place in my childhood.

"I was doing my job. I followed the evidence. It doesn't matter how I feel or what I've been through, I did my job."

"Really detective, because it seems that you did have a vendetta and you harassed my client and his family. You let your emotions take over and you bullied Mr. McClain's wife into saying what you wanted to hear but it didn't work because she is only here to support her husband."

This time Casey spoke up.

"Objection your honor."

Before Judge Moredock could say anything Staines spoke up.

"Withdrawn, Nothing further."

Judge Moredock dismissed me and I made my way out of the courtroom. Olivia gave me a sad smile and Robert stood up to help me out. I waited outside the courtroom until the end of the session and then tried to talk to Casey. I stood up and made my way over. She looked at me but I could tell she was upset.

"Casey…I'm sorry."

She just shook her head and walked away.

"Just don't."

I stood there but then I moved over to the bench until I had to go home. When I got home I tried to call but she didn't pick up I left a voicemail but nothing that I said was going to fix what I did. I let out a sigh and just sat on the couch. I spent the night staring at the wall.

Thanks for reading. I've been thinking about making this a series but not sure yet. All I know is that our story will be coming to a close soon. I still have some stuff to wrap up. Let me know what you think about my original character and things you'd like him to improve and work on if this did become an ongoing series. Thanks.