Hey everyone,

I know that this is really late. I have no excuse other than an empty mind. i used a bit of creative license in this so if some parts don't seem real, I'm sorry there is only so many ways i can bend the world to my will. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the computer I write with.

Miranda Rights and April Fights- Chapter Five

For once in my life I actually wouldn't mind getting kidnapped.

Hell, I wouldn't even mind getting shot.

Anything, anything, would be better than this.

Five days prior

"What now Ranger?"

He sat across from me in his office back at Rangeman. I was released from the interrogation room close to an hour ago, but the look on Ranger's face suggested that this was far from over.

"We go to court." Damn, why couldn't this thing just go away.

"Morelli won't drop the charges." I glared at him- this knowing what the a person is thinking sucks when it's one sided.

"Sorry Babe, but you face is an open book."

"Well I think it is only right that since I can't read you, you can't read me. So stop that freaky...voodoo...psychic thing you do." His eyebrow raised at the voodoo comment, but he remained silent.

"Come on Ranger, be fair"

"What ever made you think that I play fair?"

"You're a nice guy."

"What ever made you think I'm a nice guy?"

I remained silent. I could have recited an endless list as to why he was a nice guy, but the idea of being vulnerable before Ranger (or at least more vulnerable than he has ever seen me) held no appeal. I was tired of men making me feel weak and insecure. It was hard going from steel walls around one man and a bare heart with another.

I'm beginning to break and I don't know how much longer I will last.

I looked up to meet Ranger's eyes and I couldn't hold back the idea that he knew everything I thought.

Nor the slight fear of knowing that he will always be able to do that.

"When do we go to court?" Yup, that's me- Queen of Denial, a problem can be standing right in front of my face and I can still completely ignore it.

Denial is a woman best friend. Right after the romance novels and before the alcohol.

"By the end of the week."

'So soon. Don't these things usually take weeks or longer."

"In most cases we would get a little more time, however this is a little different."

"How so? This isn't the first 'assault against an officer'. I know that cause I get my rent from the assaulters. Isn't there like, I don't know, a mandatory grace period to prepare for the case?" If we have only five days till we go to court there is no way we are going to win this trial.

"There are several reasons Babe. One- there is nothing else going on. Surprisingly everyone is behaving now, so we don't have to wait until after any cases. Two, because things are running slow I think they may have sped this up a bit to get a bit of entertainment." Damn, I can't get out of the spotlight for one minute can I?

"Three- there really isn't much preparation needed for this. No background information had to be looked up since both parties are well known. Also, the only people who really knew what happened is you and Morelli. That leaves us with no witnesses to find, no substantial amount of evidence to collect, and the only testimonies to prepare for are yours and the cops. In reality this isn't really a strong case- the entire thing will be decided upon hearsay."

"If that's the case then why don't they drop it?"

"While it may not seen like exact protocol, apparently it is enough for the burg."

I just tipped my head back and sighed. No matter how hard I tried, how much I prayed, or even just how unfair it is I just can't seem to win. Ever.

"I'm in so much trouble."

"Don't worry Babe. It's not as bad as you think it is."

"Not bad. Not bad. I punched a cop and I'm about to go to jail for it. There is no denying it, even for me. The proof, my guilt, is all over Joe's face. Everyone can see it. I'm guilty Carlos. Okay, I'm guilty."

I was tired, so very tired, and it wasn't from lack of sleep.

I was tired of having everyone know what happens in my life. I was tired of always falling short in everything I did. I was tired of working my ass off to make ends meet and still struggle. I was tired of being told every single second about every thing I did wrong. I was tired of never being the daughter or sister my family could be proud of.

I was tired of life

"Babe."

"Hm?" I kept my eyes closed

"Do you trust me?"

"You know I do." No hesitation

"Then trust me on this Babe. Can you trust me on this?"

"Yes"

The only thing keeping me in the court room is the man sitting next to me.

It is the day of the trial and I have to keep reminding myself to breathe.

The past several days flew by in a craze of anxiety and boston cremes (Lula's version of release therapy)

In my opinion we rarely worked on the case, but in Ranger's opinion everything that needed to be done was done in the prior days.

Day one: Sit in office

Day two: Eat Lunch with Merry Men

Day three: Look for skips

Day four: Binge on ice cream and Ghosts Busters

Day five: Go to court

Oh yeah Ranger's right we are so prepared. Looking back at it now I can see clearly now our success at the end of all of this.

Stop it Steph. You promised Ranger that you would trust him.

I trust him. I trust him. I trust him. I lo-

"Cupcake" He who shall be named interrupted my thought process (whether or not I'm thankful for that is still under debate)

"Morelli, may I remind you that we are in court and you are not allowed to talk or in any way confront my client."

"Manoso, may I remind you that this doesn't involve you and to mind you own damn business."

"May I remind you that whenever Stephanie is involved it is my business."

"May I remind you-"

"May I remind both of you that this pissing contest is getting damn old. If neither of you just shut the hell up I will shove my stiletto covered foot-"

"Babe."

I turned my head to see my lawyer with that insufferable smirk on his face.

"What?"

"May I remind you that you are currently in court under the charges of assaulting an officer and it would be a good idea to not insult anyone while there are witnesses."

Damn he was right.

"Wow Steph. I never knew you could heel so nicely. You make a great bitch."

"Go to hell."

I got ready to follow up that statement with a gesture when the bailiff walked in.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Marino"

Oh no.

I know that this doesn't excuse me, but I apologize for the long delay. Every time I started writing I couldn't continue. This is what I was finally able to come up with and this is the best that I was able to do. That said I ask for no flames. I am no Austen or Shakespeare, I know that there is room for improvement and I am working on it. I post my story so that I can improve and the most welcomed reviews are the constructive ones. i thank all and any who have read my story- especially those who still waited even after all this time. I will try my best to update on this and my other story.

On another note- in this and following chapters what happens in court may at times be unrealistic. Here I am using my artistic license and I ask you to bare with me. I myself do not know much about law or how the court works (I still have to learn that in school) so I am trying to write it in the best way that i can- where it fits in with the story but still has its hold on reality. Another thing is that from what we have taken from the books about Stephanie's life close to impossible things have happened, so maybe the same can be said in the court (and it's the burg- where everyone knows each other so there is a less formal setting to it)

Thanks again for everything,

Agony Born From Bliss