The next day, in court, Joe spoke to the judge. "Your Honor, new evidence has come to light that I believe would have a positive effect on the outcome of the trial for my client."
"Objection!" The ADA practically shouted it.
"Objection overruled." The judge looked at Joe. "Continue."
"Your Honor, I am prepared to disclose any and all of this evidence to yourself and the ADA."
"Approach," the judge told them both.
Joe approached the bench, carrying an armload of papers. The judge scanned through some of them, and then ordered a recess until the following week. He ordered Joe and the ADA into his chambers.
Immediately upon entering the chambers he lit into Joe. "What the hell are you trying to pull, Counselor?" He was not a bit happy.
"Your Honor, this evidence just came to light—" Joe started.
"This is bullshit!" Williams interrupted.
"Be quiet! I want to hear this. Go on, Counselor."
"Your Honor, the other morning we were expecting a visit from the assistant Chief of Detectives, Mark Connelly who had informed us he had information that would help in Detective Goren's case. When he arrived, his son pushed his way into Detective Goren's apartment, virtually taking both Detective Goren and myself hostage. The younger Connelly did not want this evidence disclosed, and had made the decision to kill Goren. After shooting and, by pure chance, missing Goren's head with the bullet, he and Goren scuffled over the gun. When it appeared that the younger Connelly had the edge, the elder Connelly shot, and killed his own son. It was then that Connelly admitted all that had happened, and gave us the proof. It clearly proves the innocence of Detective Goren."
As Joe was talking the judge was looking through the papers, pictures, and documents. He looked up at Joe. "I'm, uh, a little taken aback by all this. I will have to go through this, have my clerk do a little research, and I will get back to you. But I have to say, if all this proves to be true, it will be looking very good for your client. And if it's bullshit, you will find yourself in contempt, and your client's bail will be revoked."
"I assure you, Judge—" Joe started, and was again interrupted by Williams.
"Judge!" Williams started. "It's too late! He should have presented this before the trial started!"
"It just came up!" Joe said heatedly.
"Counselors! That's enough! I will get back to you both. You are excused."
Joe exhaled deeply. Thank God! Joe was pretty excited. Williams was angry, upset and a little scared that the case he'd been working on for the last couple of months was starting to look like it was going down the tubes.
Same day, home of Captain Jimmy DeakinsBobby wandered about the house aimlessly. Every night for him had been the same. The nightmares never let up. If it wasn't Jake shooting him in the head or gut, it was McFadden tying him and suffocating him. Throw in a few scenes with Dad beating him and Mom locking him in a closet…and you the recipe for the perfect night's sleep. Or rather, lack of sleep.
Bobby was looking and acting like a zombie. He was operating strictly on autopilot. Thank God he was off work because, quite frankly, he'd be a sitting duck in a confrontation with a perp.
Later that day Deakins sat him down for a talk.
"Bobby, have you considered seeing someone?"
Bobby looked at him. "You mean a shrink?"
"Yes."
"I know I need something. I—I can't go on much longer like this. The nightmares—they're getting worse, y'know? And I hardly sleep as it is. It seems the minute I even lay my head down they start. And, and when I'm awake, I keep seeing them…"
Deakins frowned. "Seeing who?""McFadden, Luke, all of them, even Jake. And he's dead! He is dead, right?"
"Yes, Bobby, he's dead. Mark Connelly killed him, remember?" Now Deakins was starting to worry.
"Yeah…okay… I remember. But if he's dead, why does he seem so real?" he whispered. Bobby's dark eyes were filled with fear.
"I—I don't know, Bobby. It's all the trauma you've had lately, that's the only thing I can figure. The mind…"
Bobby was visibly upset. "Captain, it's not like it's the first time I've been in a hostage situation, or had my life threatened. I've—"
"Bobby, this was different. You know that. Your life was threatened every single day in that prison. That weighs very heavily on the mind. I'm asking you to do this as a favor to me, Bobby. I want you to see a therapist. I know someone who's very good."
"Captain—"
"Dammit, Bobby! You're my best detective, Goren, and I'm not about to lose you! You know damn well that before you can come back to work you'd have to see the department shrink anyway. It wouldn't hurt to get an early start. Frankly, I'm surprised you're fighting me on this, you of all people should know the importance of counseling."
"I'm not fighting you…I've just got a lot going on…If I get convicted, I'm really not going to need a therapist. More like a rape counselor, and then a mortician."
"Bobby—"
"I already told you, once I know I'm going to survive all this, then I'll look into taking care of myself." Bobby got up and started to walk away.
"Goren! Sit back down!"
Bobby turned and looked at Deakins, but didn't move.
"God dammit, Bobby! Sit your ass back down! And that's an order!"
Bobby stared at Deakins for a second longer, then slumped back onto the couch.
"Captain, you don't have to lecture me on the virtues of counseling." He ran his hands through his hair. "Believe me, I know. I've had more than my share of it, from the stuff with my mother and my own shit…"
"I believe you. So what's the problem?"
"I don't know. I'm… just not ready…"
"Ready?"
"To open myself up like that again. It's… tough. It brings it all up to the front again. It makes it all seem like it's happening all over again. It's too…real. And I'm just not ready. I can not do it. Not yet."
Deakins went and stood by Bobby, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Not only can you do it, Bobby, you have to do it.
In order for things to return to the way they were, you have to get yourself better. And if that entails counseling, then that's what you have to do. It's the only way."
Bobby looked up at him with obvious pain in his dark brown eyes.
Deakins squeezed his shoulder. "Just remember Bobby, you've got a great support network out here. Alex, Joe, Lewis, me. Hell, you've even got Logan."
That finally got a smile out of him. "I know you're right…" The ringing of the phone interrupted them. "Your phone…"
"It's alright. Angie will get it. So how about it? I can get you set up today."
"Let me think about…no, dammit! Alright, Captain, go ahead. Set me up."
A big grin spread over Deakins' face. "This is the right thing, Bobby."
Bobby nodded, he knew it was, but that didn't make it any easier. It still put the fear of god in him.
Angie entered the room, holding the phone. "Bobby, it's for you."
Bobby got up and took the phone. "Thank you," he told her politely. "Goren," into the phone.
"Bobby? It's Joe."
"Yeah, what's up, Joe? What happened with the judge?"
"Bobby, he took the papers and is looking into it. Even he says that if it checks out—and we know it will—it's looking good for you. Real good."
For the second time in as many days, Bobby thanked God. Maybe this would all work out after all. And maybe, if he did that counseling shit, things would come together for him, and he could finally get on with his life.
"Thank you, Joe, let me know what develops.""I will, Bobby. Talk to you later." Bobby hung up the phone. He looked at Deakins and Angie. "That was Joe," he said needlessly. "Captain, he said the judge was willing to look over the evidence. He says it's really looking good. Jesus, Captain…"
Tears welled up in Bobby's dark eyes. Angie went over and hugged him. Deakins squeezed his shoulder again.
"I told you it was going to work out, Bobby. You're going to be alright, just hang in there a little longer."
tbc