A/N: I love it when a plan, errr, outline comes together. Tissue alert.
Chapter 4
It was just after lunch on the Friday before the start of the trial. "Hi Caleigh. It's Erin. Are the kids napping so you can talk?"
"Trevor is still having a deep convo with himself. I just sent Lexie upstairs to put a stop to that," Caleigh smiled. "So yes, I can talk."
"I just wanted to fill you in on how my second chair, LaTeesha Jackson, and me see the trial proceeding so you can make some plans with the kids."
"I appreciate that Erin."
"Day one is getting a jury seated. That's always a pain in the butt. I won't go into the problems."
Caleigh smiled. "I had jury duty one day last winter. I sat through most of the day until the last juror was picked. Two numbers before me. I get it."
"Yes, you do," Erin said. "Day two will be opening arguments and we start presenting our case. Day three will be Stephanie on the stand. With Galvez's cross-examination, we expect Stephanie to be on the stand until lunchtime Thursday. You and Pete will be after that break."
"My God Erin. Stephanie will go through that much?"
"Yes, she will Caleigh. And she'll get through it. You're part of that."
"How?" Caleigh asked.
"Caleigh, you got Delaney put in jail."
"No Erin," Caleigh interrupted. "The idiot did that all by himself."
"True. That said Caleigh, look at the pressure that took off you. Imagine how Stephanie feels."
Caleigh shook her head. "I never thought of that. All I was worried about was my kids."
"Stephanie would like to meet you after you testify."
"Erin, I would love to do that. Strength in numbers. That's sorta been the motto around here since this all started. Zach, Pete and Lisa. Zach's dad."
"Caleigh, I have to ask. We all know Delaney is a serial rapist. Your father-in-law's team hasn't been near this, which Alex and I highly appreciate."
"My father-in-law was a federal prosecutor before he joined the FBI. He called it after Alex and I told him what was going on. Galvez would use the BAU and profiling to confuse the jurors. The team has helped. In the background. They're helping me. I'm sure Alex told you about our first meeting."
Erin smiled. "You mean you having a picture of him on your cell?"
"Compliments of Aaron's technical analyst. That phone call to check on Alex took exactly three minutes." Caleigh grinned. "Oh, there's one more. I'm sending you a picture via text."
Caleigh waited for Erin to see the picture. "Is that….?" She could hear Erin softly laughing.
"Yes, that's Trevor in his junior tool belt ready to help Uncle Dave and Derek put in the new screen door that Phil broke. Uncle Dave and Dee, as Trevor calls Derek, are part of the BAU team."
"That's precious," Erin smiled. "Caleigh, thank your father-in-law for me. He's right about the case."
"Erin, convict the bastard. That will be good enough for Aaron and his team. That's one less they have to worry about."
"Got it Caleigh," Erin said. "Caleigh, Alex, LaTeesha or myself will keep you in the loop once all of this starts Monday. Daily."
"I appreciate that Erin. Good luck to you and your team."
-00CM00-
On Monday morning, the twentieth of March, the trial of Fairfax County Virginia versus Phillip Michael Delaney began. The case went pretty much as Erin and LaTeesha had predicted.
Stephanie went through nearly six hours of cross-examination from Maria Galvez. It was excruciatingly difficult. Stephanie, with Erin using multiple objections to back her, never wavered.
Erin was eating her lunch at her desk during the Thursday lunch break of the trial. Alex escorted Caleigh and Pete into the office. Caleigh was dressed in a smart business suit with slacks that matched Erin's style. Pete was in a suit as well, his tie still undone and his dress shirt open at the collar.
Erin waved the two of them into the two chairs in front of her desk. Caleigh sat down in the left one with her back to the office hallway windows. Pete shook his head. "I'll stand."
Erin looked at him. "You nervous?" she asked, taking another bite of her lunch.
"Hell no. Just anxious. I want this bastard," Pete snarled. "Put me in coach. I'm ready to play."
Caleigh rolled her eyes. "Baseball players. Welcome to Lisa's and my world."
Erin smiled. "I take it you four are close."
"Lisa and Caleigh are first cousins. Caleigh was the maid of honor at Lisa's and my wedding. Cob was my best man."
"They reciprocated sixteen months later," Caleigh smiled.
The four of them made small talk in the office while Erin finished her lunch. As she tossed the to-go container into her trash bin, Pete noticed someone through the office windows walking towards the office wearing a suit.
Pete smiled at Zach, standing in the doorway, his dress shirt and tie exactly like Pete's. "You lost Cob?" Pete asked with his big smile.
"I was told this was the coat check room," Zach snarked back. Erin and Alex smiled at each other as Caleigh jumped out of her chair and went to Zach. Zach pulled Caleigh into a deep hug.
Zach tightly held Caleigh. "You are not going through this without me here." He kissed the side of her head. "I'll say it again. I'm so proud of you."
"I was just so scared with the kids involved."
"Cal, dad was right. At their age, all that was a blip they've already forgotten." He pushed back Caleigh to look her in the eyes. "But when the day comes when we have to sit down with Taylor and explain the birds and bees to her, I'm going to proudly tell our daughter about what her mom did. Trevor as well when we have his chat."
"I love you," Caleigh said, wiping away a tear.
Zach kissed her. "I love you too." He wiped away another tear and smiled. "Babe, you can't kick the bastard's ass with your make-up looking like hell," he smiled.
"I know," Caleigh said, accepting the tissue Alex offered. She thought for second. "What about missing practice?"
Zach shook his head. "When this all started, I was shook. And distracted. Which Doggie immediately noticed the next day at practice. Two hours later, I'm in the principal's office." Zach looked at Pete. "You translate for the two of them," he gestured at Erin and Alex, picking up Caleigh's purse off the floor. "I'm gonna head down the hall with my wife. She's gonna fix her make-up. I'm gonna pee. Again." Zach got Caleigh out of the office.
Pete looked at Erin and Alex. "When Cob gets anxious, he pees," he smiled.
"And the translation?" Erin asked.
Pete grinned. "Doggie is Maddog, aka Greg Maddux. Who's in the baseball Hall of Fame. He was Cob's baseball idol when he was growing up. Cob wore number thirty-one, Doggie's number, through his days playing baseball until he graduated from college. When he was drafted by the Braves that became a problem. The Braves retired Maddux's number. So, Zach went with sixty-two. Double the number," Pete smiled. He looked at Erin and Alex. "Maddux is now the Braves' pitching coach. To say Zach and Greg are close is an understatement. Hell, Greg noticing Zach was off should tell you everything."
"I get it," Alex smiled.
"So do I," Erin added. "What's the principal's office?"
Pete smiled. "Brian Snitker's office."
"He's the manager of the Braves' team," Alex said, looking at Erin. "The team that keeps breaking my Queens' home team heart."
Pete looked at Alex. "Dude, being a Mets fan is hopeless. Not with Cob in Atlanta. He eats rivals up and loves doing it. He'll put the team on his back."
Alex shook his head. "I've seen it."
Caleigh and Zach came back into the office. Pete shook his head at Zach. "God damnit Cob. You're too damn nice."
"Stan?"
"Cob did you not get another big ass ring about a year ago? I'd be sporting that to rub Delaney's shit in it."
Zach reached into his right front suit pant pocket and pulled out his latest World Series ring. "You mean this one?" Zach smiled at Pete.
Pete grinned. "Damn Cob. There's hope for you yet son."
Zach looked at Caleigh and then Erin. "You should know the Braves had to put out a statement why I'm missing." He pulled out his cell and showed Caleigh the statement.
Caleigh read it. "I'll thank Alex when I'm back there," she smiled. Zach hugged her again.
Erin looked at her watch. She looked around the room. "It's just about time."
Caleigh, still in Zach's arms, looked at him. "Say it," she smiled.
"Let's get this done." Zach and Pete buttoned their dress shirt collars and got their ties set. Zach straightened Pete's. "You're good to go hun," Zach snarked, slapping Pete's large biceps.
"You look marvelous dear with the bling," Pete snarked back.
Zach Hotchner has been excused from practice until two pm tomorrow. His wife Caleigh is testifying in a major trial in Fairfax County, Virginia. We support Zach being there for his wife.
More importantly, the Braves organization salutes Caleigh's courage and commitment to testify at this trial. We are extremely proud of our Braves' family member.
-00CM00-
When the three of them walked into the courtroom, Zach noticed Ashley Seaver sitting in the back row. He didn't make eye contact. Damn you're good dad he smiled to himself as he sat down between Caleigh and Pete.
A deputy escorted a handcuffed Delaney to the defense table. The deputy took off the handcuffs and made Delaney sit down. The deputy moved off to stand just a few feet away from the defense table.
Once sitting, Delaney reached up to scratch his head with his left hand. While doing so, he gave a one-finger salute towards Caleigh, Zach and Pete. Pete leaned over to Zach. "Was that for you or me?" he whispered.
"All you Big Dog," Zach whispered back. "I wasn't around back then." Caleigh elbowed Zach, shaking her head.
Just then, a bailiff who was in the back of the gallery, quickly walked by Pete and went into the back chambers of the court. He came back out a few minutes later. Another bailiff came out. "All rise," he announced.
His Honor John Novak came out. That was unprecedented without the jury present. "Be seated," he said as he sat down. "It has come to my attention Mr. Delaney," Novak said, looking directly at him, "that you gave an obscene gesture to someone sitting in the gallery. I will not tolerate that in my courtroom. You do it again, and you will be spending the rest of this trial in hand and leg restraints." He looked at Galvez. "I don't care how prejudicial it will look for your client." He glared at Delaney. "Do I make myself clear?"
LaTeesha looked at Zach and Pete. They both quietly nodded their heads. She whispered in Erin's ear.
Galvez rose from her chair. "Your Honor…"
"Sit down Counselor. Your client disrespected this court. I will not allow that."
Galvez leaned over and whispered into Delaney's ear. He stood up. "Your Honor, I apologize to you and the court."
Novak stared at Delaney for nearly thirty seconds. "Sit down Mr. Delaney. You know my terms for your behavior from now on. Bailiff, please send in the jury."
Once the jury was seated, Erin Reardon rose from her chair. "The people call Caleigh Greystone Hotchner to the stand." Pete stepped into the aisle to let Caleigh out. Zach did the same and gave her hand a squeeze, looking her in the eye. Caleigh nodded back at him.
After she was sworn in, Caleigh told her story. Forthrightly, with no emotion, just courage. Zach's heart filled with pride. And heartache for what she went through. Erin only asked two questions for clarification. It took less than twenty minutes.
"Thank you Caleigh," Erin said. She looked at Galvez. "Your witness."
Galvez rose out of her chair as Erin sat down. "Mrs. Hotchner, who is your father-in-law?"
Erin sprung out of her chair. "Objection Your Honor. Relevance. May we please approach?" Novak waved the two attorneys to the bench and covered the microphone with his hand.
"Your Honor," Galvez said, "the witness' father-in-law is the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's BAU."
"Which has absolutely no bearing on this trial Your Honor," Erin argued. "There has been no mention of a profile from the investigators. Nor have they contacted the BAU about this case."
Novak looked at Galvez. "Counselor, you are on thin ice after the stunt your client just pulled. Don't push my buttons. Both of you step back."
Novak removed his hand from the microphone. "Objection sustained. Next question Counselor."
"I have no further questions for the witness, Your Honor," Galvez said. Caleigh was on the stand for less than thirty minutes.
"You're excused Mrs. Hotchner," Novak said. Caleigh made her way back to her seat. Pete patted her arm as she went by him. Zach got her seated and squeezed her hand again. "I'm proud of you," he whispered.
Your Honor," Erin said, "the prosecution calls Peter Stanlovsky, Jr. to the stand."
Pete stood up and walked to the witness box. He took the oath and gave his testimony. "One question Mr. Stanlovsky," Erin said. "Why did you move to the back patio where you were able to hear Caleigh's cries for help?"
"Some idiot at the party lit up a cigar in the house. I'm asthmatic. I needed fresh air."
Erin looked at Galvez. "Your witness."
Galvez looked at Pete. "You have no regrets about your actions that night, do you?"
Erin rose from her chair. "Objection Your Honor. Argumentative."
"Sustained," Novak said.
"I'll re-phrase," Galvez said. "Mr. Stanlovsky, do you have any regrets about what happened that night?"
Pete looked at her. "Yes. One." Galvez looked at him. "I regret that the cameras in cellphones back then were not like they are now." That sent a soft ripple of laughter through the courtroom.
"Your Honor, I ask that the witness' last response be stricken from the record."
Novak shook his head at Galvez. "You asked the question Counselor."
"No further questions Your Honor," Galvez said, sitting down.
Novak looked at Pete. "Mr. Stanlovsky, the next time you're in a courtroom, please do better."
"My apologies Your Honor," Pete sincerely said. "But I took an oath, with my hand on the Bible, to tell the truth. I did."
"Duly noted Mr. Stanlovsky," Novak said. "You're excused."
"Thank you, Your Honor." Pete returned to his seat with Zach giving him the look that they shared on a baseball diamond for six years. We got this.
Erin stood up. "Your Honor, the people rest."
Galvez stood up. "Your Honor, I make a motion to recess this trial until tomorrow morning so the defense can present their case without interruption."
Novak looked at Reardon. Erin stood up. "No objections, Your Honor."
Novak looked over the courtroom. "We are adjourned until nine tomorrow morning."
"All rise," the bailiff said as Novak got out of his chair and left the bench. The jury left.
Zach put his arm around Caleigh as the deputy put Delaney back in handcuffs. "I'm proud of you babe," he said, kissing her temple. "I love you."
"I'm proud to have backed Stephanie," Caleigh said as they both stood up. "I love you," she said, kissing Zach.
"You did a damn good job Cal," Pete smiled, waving them into the aisle of the gallery. "Lisa and I are proud of you as well."
Caleigh rubbed Pete's chin. "I sorta love you too."
"You better," Pete grinned. Zach shook his head at Pete.
Walking out of the courtroom, Zach winked at Ashley.
Hotch – Delaney flipped off Pete and Zach after coming into courtroom. A bailiff reported it. Delaney is in hot water with the Judge. Galvez knows that. Caleigh's and Pete's testimony sunk Delaney's ship. Defense called for an early recess until tomorrow. My thought: how to scramble to cover their assets.
The group made their way to the elevators to get to Erin's office. Zach and Pete pulled their ties open and unbuttoned their dress shirts in the elevator. As they got closer, Erin stopped and looked at them. "Umm guys…" Alex was in Erin's office with a blonde-haired woman. It was obvious she was watching the trial on the closed circuit court TV system.
"I need to whiz," Pete said.
Zach pulled Caleigh close to him. "Strength in numbers babe. You followed her courage. Tell her that."
"Yes, I did and I will," Caleigh said, looking at Zach.
"I love you," Zach said, kissing Caleigh's forehead. "Babe," he smiled.
"You need to whiz as well," Caleigh smiled back.
"Strength in numbers," Zach grinned at her. "We both know Pete. He needs help."
"Screw you Cob," Pete growled.
"I love you," Caleigh smiled at Zach.
Caleigh walked into the office. Alone. Alex looked at her and touched Stephanie's shoulder. She got up out of her chair. "Stephanie Wolford, this is Caleigh Hotchner," Alex introduced.
"Hello," Caleigh said. Alex quietly left the office.
Stephanie walked to Caleigh, shaking her head, with tears in her eyes. Caleigh pulled her into a deep hug. "Stephanie, you are Bruce Springsteen. I'm just a back-up singer in the E-Street Band." Caleigh held Stephanie tighter. "I followed your courage."
Stephanie pulled out of the hug and looked Caleigh in the eye. "Erin and Alex told me. Strength in numbers." She shook her head. "But my God, your kids got involved in this."
Caleigh shook her head. "The two oldest are pre-schoolers. The youngest is a twenty-month old. They've already forgotten about what happened. Grandpa was there to take care of it with his fellow police officers," Caleigh smiled at Stephanie. "They're good."
Stephanie looked at Caleigh. "Thank you."
Caleigh smiled. "Thank you."
Stephanie grinned, pointing to the group outside of Erin's office. "So do I get to meet the rest of the E-Street Band?"
Caleigh smiled. "Yes you do," she said, waving Zach into Erin's office. "This is my husband Zach."
"Hi Stephanie," Zach said. "It's an honor to meet you. Damn, you are tough." He shook his head. "I'm very proud that Caleigh could back you. Delaney belongs in a cell."
"Thank you Zach," Stephanie smiled. She looked at him. "I'm not broken."
Zach grinned. "So I'm good to give you a hug?" Stephanie nodded with a smile. Zach pulled Stephanie into his arms. The rest came into the office.
After all the introductions, Erin looked at Zach and Pete. "Delaney really flipped you off?"
"Not me," Zach said. He pointed at Pete. "The big dummy. I wasn't in the picture then."
"God damn," Pete said. "I would have loved to have that picture. That ass rolling around on the ground with his penis waving around." Everyone laughed.
Zach looked at Erin "Galvez walked into that question to Stan."
"Yes she did," Erin said. "I'm waiting on the text from her to meet for drinks to discuss the case."
Zach looked at her. "Stephanie and Caleigh put everything on the line. You better not back down."
Erin smiled. "I'm very confident in the case we presented. I promise you Zach, I won't back down. I want Delaney in an eight by ten cell as bad as you do. For a minimum of forty years."
"For all of us," Caleigh said, with her arm around Stephanie's waist.
Stephanie smiled at Caleigh. "Strength in numbers."
Pete looked at Alex and then at Zach. "Cob, I'm sorry."
"Stan?"
"I fully support all this good vibe of sending that bastard to a cell. But Cob. Look around man." He beaded an eye at Alex. "Ask."
"Damn Pete. You are direct," Alex smiled. Zach looked at him. Alex looked at Stephanie. "I'm sorry. But this is real."
"What Alex?" Stephanie asked.
Alex pointed at Zach. "The dude is wearing a World Series ring."
Stephanie smiled. "I get the first picture of it."
"I need one too," Erin said. "My grandfather, dad and brothers will flip out."
Caleigh smiled. "Would one of those brothers happen to be Officer Reardon?" Zach looked at Caleigh. "He's the one that helped Jack."
Erin smiled. "That would be James."
XXX
A/N: Any Blue Bloods fans catching on to some names?