A/N: The answer to my question in the last chapter is this chapter!

The guards stood on each side of the one-way mirror when David Pharatt stepped inside the interview room for the third time in three weeks. One look at the crowd gathered at the table appeased the prisoner. If everything went well, in a week, he would finally be out of the hell hole he had been sent to for a murder he hadn't even commit. After years of pent up frustration, he had finally found someone who could corroborate his story. Someone had finally listened to him and hadn't treated him like a crazy person, despite what his physical appearance might have told them. Never in his life had he wanted to hurt his daughter. She had been his reason for living after his wife had passed away, the true and only love of his life.

Sitting down at the table, Pharatt examined the faces in front of him. He immediately recognized the Booths, the first people who had believed in his story, no questions asked. Dr. Massey sat directly across from him, Jason Triggs at his side. The only unfamiliar face belonged to a blond woman, who he quickly found out was named Rebecca James and would also be defending him.

"Don't worry, Mr. Pharatt. Rebecca James is the best lawyer in town. She has never lost an appeal. She's here to help you." Jason Triggs told him before throwing the woman a prefabricated charm smile.

Rebecca playfully rolled her eyes, smile tugging at her lips, before turning to the prisoner.

"I'm guessing you know why we are all here today."

Pharatt nodded. The sound of her voice reminded him of his own wife.

"I must warn you, Mr. Pharatt. Reversing the jury's decision at this point might prove to be difficult."

Pharatt frowned.

"Why? I was told there was no way we could lose. Dr. Massey evaluated me and said I was still scared of being underground. Dr. Booth found evidences that Melanie was tripped down the stairs and then strangled. It couldn't have been me."

"I understand all of that. The problem is that you were sentenced to jail in 1994. That was twenty-four years ago. The jury and the judge will want to know why you have waited all these years before getting help into getting an appeal."

"But I'm innocent!" Pharatt replied, desperately. "I didn't kill my daughter."

"We know that." Booth said.

Pharatt turned to him.

"My lawyers never mentioned the possibility of an appeal. They told me to take whatever the jury had given me then ask for parole at the two thirds of my sentence."

"We're very sorry to hear that your lawyers didn't advise you properly." Booth went on. "But we're here today to plan our attack, to make sure that you get set free without having to report to a parole officer every day for the next couple of years."

Pharatt took a deep breath then slowly released it.

"There is no way I am humiliating myself by going to court only to be told I am staying here for the next eight years."

Rebecca nodded.

"You got thirty years for the murder of your daughter. It's already been twenty-two. If we lose, you can always request a meeting with the parole board."

Pharatt sighed.

"Fine."

Rebecca turned to the others.

"Our best card to play is the fact that it took two years for the police to arrest him. His daughter was killed in 1992 yet he was only arrested in 1994."

Then, turning to Pharatt, she asked:

"Under which evidence were you arrested then sent to prison?"

Pharatt remain silent for a few seconds as he thought back.

"I had no valuable alibi. I was in the house when Mel fell down the stairs. She and I lived alone. Her mother died the same way and I had been a suspect. It was later proved that it was an accident but when Mel died in a similar way, the police found it odd. They suspected me immediately."

"Reasonable doubt. You were sentenced to thirty years in prison even though there was a large reasonable doubt about your innocence. Someone in the system didn't do their job properly. That can be our main attack."

"Plan A." Triggs added.

The others around the table agreed. And as the professionals began to discuss their strategy, Pharatt lost himself in thoughts of a possible free life. Finally, after years of misery, he would be able to see the sun, to feel the rain pouring down on him, to breathe fresh air, to see the world living around him.

Nervousness suddenly kicked in and Pharatt found himself wondering, for the first time in years, if being free was really what he wanted.

"Sorry I'm late." Temperance said, panting, as she sat down at the table. "I got caught up at a meeting."

Angela simply shrugged.

"How did it go?" She asked, bringing her elbows on the table and linking her fingers together.

"Very well, I'd say. Booth thinks Pharatt has a good chance of being set free. I mean, it would be fun for him. He spent twenty-two years in prison for a crime he didn't even commit. And... Angela, are you listening to me?"

Angela looked up, confused.

"What?"

"I asked you if you were listening to me."

"Sorry, Sweetie. I just got distracted." Angela replied as she began playing with her engagement ring. "So Booth thinks Pharatt has a chance of being set free?"

Temperance nodded as a young woman walked up to their table. The waitress took their order and left.

"How is Kyle doing?" Temperance asked after their food had arrived.

"His condition is stable." Angela replied. "Nothing has changed in the last week, except he's gained a bit of weight. But he's still not breathing on his own but the doctors are confident that he soon will be."

"Did they say how long they are keeping him?"

"Probably eight more weeks, maybe less if he progresses quicker. I went to see him this morning. I think he recognizes me."

Temperance chuckled.

"I hardly doubt it. His brain isn't developed enough for him to be able to recognize you."

"Oh well. I still think he knows who I am. He surely knows who Jack is. He even smiled at him."

"It was a reflex. Your son is not even a month old and he was born prematurely. So really, when you think about, he's minus two months old."

Angela shook her head.

"You know Temperance, a couple of weeks ago, you would have bummed me out with your harsh realism. But today, nothing. I don't even feel a bit depressed. I'm too happy!"

"Thing are okay with Jack I'm guessing."

Angela squealed, making Temperance wince.

"Yes!" The artist replied, as she fell back against her chair. "We talked and made up. He told me why he did what he did and I forgave him."

"That quickly?" Temperance asked, surprised. "Do you remember how mad you were at him after he left?"

"Yeah well, things changed. Besides, you forgave Booth quickly too after you found out he was gambling again."

"He was sick, he was practically dying. It wasn't the same thing."

Angela wiped a strand of hair out of her face and was going to reply when Temperance frowned. A smile tugged at her lips as her friend's eyes grew round in surprise.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"That!" Temperance replied, grabbing her friend's hand. "This thing on your finger."

"Oh that?" Angela said, innocently, pulling her hand away. "It's just a ring."

Temperance sighed, exasperatedly.

"Angela, that's not just a ring. That's an engagement ring." She said, matter-of-factly.

The smile on Angela's face stretched fully from ear-to-ear.

"When?"

"Just before he left."

"And you said yes?"

"Well I'm wearing the ring, aren't I?"

"I can't believe it."

Angela giggled

"I've been trying to show it to you for the past hour and you didn't even notice. I'm so happy Temperance. Forgiving Jack is the best decision I have ever taken in my entire life."

Temperance smiled.

"I used to feel like I was sinking into depression. I felt like I was falling into a bottomless, black hole and I didn't think I would ever feel better. But now..."

Temperance's eyes widened and she felt her heart skip a beat. Angela's words became a blur as her friend's last words began to sink in. Suddenly, she knew. She knew what she had missed.

In an instant, her hand plunged into her pocket. Grabbing her cellphone, she dialed her husband's number.

"What are you doing?" Angela asked, confused.

Temperance looked up, an excited smile plastered on her face.

"Calling Booth."

"Why?"

"Because you have just given me an answer to my question."

Weird. My chapters seem to get shorter and shorter each time! I'll work on that, promise!