There were a lot of mixed reviews about the last chapter, which I was kind of surprised by, but it helps me to grow as a writer, so thank you all for your comments. Okay onto this chapter. Courtroom scenes are not my forte, but here's my attempt at it, however badly I may fail.
Chapter 13—Swear
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" he asked, her hand on the Bible he was holding.
"I do," she responded, looking straight ahead while she was sworn in.
"You may proceed," the judge motioned to Brennan's favorite prosecutor, Caroline Julian, who approached her, standing off to the side of the stand, facing the jury.
"Dr. Brennan," she began, "would you please explain to the jury exactly what it is you do?"
"I am a forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute. When a set of remains is too decomposed or otherwise compromised to identify it in conventional ways, the case is sent to me to identify. I work with my partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth of the FBI to identify the victim and find the truth behind their death," she stopped, waiting for the next question.
The next few hours passed as a pretty standard trial, the only part that was slightly out of the ordinary was the defense requesting the option of recalling Dr. Brennan at a later time, which the judge granted.
Knowing she would probably be recalled, she wasn't surprised when they called her after Booth gave his testimony. This case had been rough on Booth, and knew the defense would question her about Booth's involvement on the case. Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, she approached the stand once again.
No matter how long she had given herself to prepare herself, she still would have been caught off-guard by the defense attorney's first question. "Would you please explain your relationship to Agent Booth?"
Slightly stunned, Brennan was relieved when Caroline jumped in to save her from answering, "I object! That line of questioning has no basis for this case."
The judge looked down, observing the two lawyers who were shooting daggers at each other. "I have to agree with Ms. Julian, counselor. What basis do you have to open this line of questioning?"
"Please, Your Honor, I do have a point to my question. If you would just allow me to proceed…" he had trailed off, trying to show subordinancy.
"Alright, counselor," the judge motioned to the defense attorney, "make your point and move on."
"Dr. Brennan," he began again, slightly rephrasing his question, "would you say your relationship with Agent Booth goes beyond the professional?"
Even after having time to compose her answer, she wasn't sure where the line of questioning was going, and that made her slightly unsure of her answers. "Agent Booth and I are partners, as well as friends, which allows us to work well together."
"Dr. Brennan," the attorney began again, looking directly at her this time, "are you and Agent Booth involved romantically?"
"I object!" Caroline jumped up, enraged at seeing where the line of questioning was going and refusing to let Brennan's objectivity be questioned.
"Sit down Ms. Julian," the judge said, turning his attention towards Brennan, "Dr. Brennan, please answer the question."
Stunned the judge was allowing the question, she looked toward Caroline for help, catching Booth's gaze who was right behind her. Caroline just gave her a tight smile, motioning for her to proceed. "Agent Booth and I are not involved beyond our friendship, and I am offended you would allude to it," Brennan finally answered, understanding where the line of questioning was going.
"Is it not true that you are regularly seen out alone with Agent Booth?"
"It is not uncommon to go out with coworkers after a long day, counselor. We are quite frequently joined by my colleagues as well," she responded, trying to turn the question back on him.
He obviously was not expecting it, which worked in Brennan's favor. He quickly changed his line of questioning to give him time to think. "Agent Booth has been convinced of the defendant's guilt for a number of years, has he not, Dr. Brennan?"
"I object!" Caroline jumped in once again, irate over the free reign the judge was allowing the defense attorney.
"Sustained," the judge declared. "Counselors please approach the bench," he paused, giving them time to walk forward. "Counselor, you cannot ask a witness to divulge the thoughts of another witness. You must ask the witness in question, which you can no longer do since you already cross-examined him," the judge explained, looking down at the defense attorney who was trying to act ignorant.
"I apologize, Your Honor, it won't happen again," he responded, nodding his head in assurance.
"Dismissed. Now let's continue with the trial please," he finished, sending the attorneys back to their seats with a wave of his hand.
"Dr. Brennan," the attorney started again, "have you ever altered your findings to help Agent Booth arrest a suspect he already believed to be guilty?"
"Objection!" Caroline yelled once again, "He is questioning the objectivity of my technical witness!"
"Sustained. Mr. Jones' last question will be stricken from the record," the judged informed the court reporter and the members of the jury. "Counselor, you are on thin ice," the judge shot a glare at the defense attorney, wondering whether or not to let him proceed.
Looking up at the judge, the attorney nodded in acknowledgement. "The defense rests," he said, walking back to his seat.
Brennan paced out in the hall, her anger seething. She couldn't believe what the defense lawyer had insinuated with his questioning. He had questioned her ethics, as well as her professional objectivity, and it took all her self control not to hit him as hard as she could.
What she didn't realize was Booth was doing the same thing where he sat, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He was angry that the attorney had suggested he had arrested the suspect just because he had a personal grudge against the man, but he was even more infuriated at what he had suggested about Brennan.
Finally the jury reached their verdict and the pair was called back into the courtroom. They sat silently next to each other in the gallery with their fingers entwined, the simple touch calming their rage as well as their nerves.
"We, the jury, find the defendant… guilty," the foreman read, handing their verdict back to the bailiff as Brennan and Booth let out a tense breath.
Letting go of the other's hand, they left quickly, intent on getting as far away from the courtroom as they possibly could.
