Quickly, the two boys and Robin darted under the kitchen table. The three of them held their hands behind their necks. The noise was deafening and shaking felt so violent and seemed to last an eternity, but finally after 5 minutes, it gradually stopped. Tentatively, the trio got out from under the table.

As the boys ran around making sure everything was okay, Robin's cell rang; it was Don.

"How are you guys?" he asked worriedly. He wished with every fiber of his being that he could be home to make sure his family was okay.

"We're fine. How about you? Are you guys okay?"

"We're fine. Could you please put Doug on the phone?" Don requested.

Robin passed the phone to Doug, who had just run up with Aaron behind him.

"Hey Buddy. You okay?" Don asked, letting out a breath he did realize he was holding in.

"Yeah, it was kinda scary, but we're okay dad."

"I'm glad, just be careful okay? There could be aftershocks."

"Okay, I will."

"I gotta go, but I'll be home as soon as I can to take you home"

"Okay."

Bri frantically called as well, and was assured when Doug answered the land line.

"You alright honey?"

"Yeah mom. we got under the table like they taught us at school. Robin made sure we were okay."

"Oh thank God! Okay, I'm leaving now and I'll be over there in a few minuted to pick you up."

"But Mom I'm here till six. Dad is going to bring me and Aaron home," Doug protested.

"I'll feel better if you are with me, sweetie," Bri replied, keys jangling as she left the house.

"Come on mom! I'm not a little baby! I'll be fine!"

"You'll see your dad again soon enough. I'll be there in a few minutes; make sure you're ready to go."

89798798798

Don, while at a crime scene, got a call from his lawyer.

"I finally got the custody evaluator's report!" she told him.

"What's it say?" Don wanted to get to the point.

"Essentially, that Doug would be fine in either environment."

"Great!"

"There's still a ways to go," Diana warned. "But this is a start."

"When can I see the report?" Don asked.

"You can come by my office anytime to pick it up."

"Thanks" Don said his goodbyes and hung up.

Then, he called Robin, to tell her the good news. "The Custody evaluator said Doug would be fine in either home! We've got a chance!"

"That's wonderful." Robin smiled.

"I gotta go, but we'll celebrate later" Don promised, and said goodbye.

098098009

Doug played his used electric guitar in front of Alan, Charlie, Amita, Robin and Don at the Craftsman living room. Everyone clapped afterward.

"You've progressed," Alan said "You know, your grandmother Margaret had musical talent too. She played piano."

"Really?" Doug asked.

"Yeah."

"I like the guitar better." Doug said. "I'm gonna have a band with Aaron."

"What does he play?" Alan asked.

"Guitar. We need a drummer. No one in my class plays one"

"You could see if anyone in the school plays it," Don suggested.

"I guess..."Doug shrugged.

"Why don't you play another song?" Alan suggested. Charlie groaned inwardly.

"Okay." Doug did so.

9879879798

During next court session, the two lawyers called on witnesses. At one point, Alan was on the stand, being cross examined.

"Is it true that, you brought a digital camera to the games?" Michela asked.

"Of course. Doug's my grandson. I want to have pictures of his doing something he loves," Alan replied.

In between sessions, Diana called Don on the phone.

"I think we should use our Ace," she advised.

"Is she still with him?" Don asked.

"According the the PI, they haven't been out together since the incident. The news media reports say that he's gone to anger management therapy. Keep in mind they could be deciding to lie low in order not to damage her case."

"Go for it" Don decided.

Finally, for Diana, Bri was on the stand. After being questioned by her own lawyer, it was Diana's turn.

"Are you dating anyone?" she asked Bri.

"Objection!" Michela stood up.

"Counsel what relevance does this have?" The judge asked Diana.

"It'll be apparent very soon, Your Honor," Diana replied.

"Overruled" the judge reluctantly said to Michela's consternation. "Answer the question"

"I was, but we broke it off."

"Why was that?"

"Because of a lapse in judgment on his part."

"What kind of lapse in judgment?"

"He punched someone in the face," Bri said in almost a whisper.

"You dated someone with anger issues?"

"I didn't know he had them"

"You dated someone for a while, and couldn't tell if he has anger issues?"

"He hid them well." Bri said lamely.

Soon, Bri's it as Bri's lawyer's turn, and he tried to spin the incident.

"Did you have any indication of your boyfriend's anger issues?"

"No. He always treated me with respect."

"Did you ever introduce him to Doug?"

"No"

After a few more questions, Bri was allowed to go back to her seat. Soon, it was Don's turn. After Diana asked a few questions, Michela started her cross examination.

"Don, how many of Doug's little league games have you attended?"

"I honestly don't know," Don admitted.

"Try 8 in the past season" she said, a little too snooty.

"Objection!" Diana stood up. "My client's job prevents him from attending every game."

"Sustained." the judge said.

"Did you attend the last back to school night?"

"I talked with his teacher." Don answered.

"Answer the question."

"No" Don admitted.

"Why?"

"I got called to a crime scene, but my wife went for me."

More questions went along the same vein, and then it got trickier.

"Were you ordered to take psychiatric counseling by the FBI?" Michaela asked.

"It was a routine thing" Don tried to shrug it off. "I had just gotten off a hard case."

"What was so hard about the case?" Michaela persisted.

"I was forced to shoot someone" Don lied, as he had killed Hoyle.

"Was it your first time?"

"No, but it's never easy." Don replied.

"How many guns do you have?" Michaela asked.

"Three," Don answered.

"Where do you keep them?"

"Two are locked up, and the third is on my dresser," Don said. "I've talked to Doug about not touching my gun under any circumstances. He's not even allowed to go into my room when I'm not there."

Finally after all the witnesses were questioned by both sides, the judge came to a decision.

"This child, unlike many I seen go through my court, has more than enough people who love him. Both parents seem able to provide a good, stable home environment. Agent Eppes has an irregular schedule, due to his line of work. However, he has a good support system that includes, his wife, brother, and father. He's making great strides in balancing his work and son. Missing the occasional event does not a bad parent make. I will grant joint custody with two consecutive weeks per parent, and equal say in every aspect of the child's life. Court is dismissed." she banged her gavel.

Robin hugged Don, and grinning, he in turn thanked Diana.

"It's all in a days work," she said.

On the other side, Bri put her face in her hands.

TBC