Justin laid his head on Brian's lap as the brunet slowly caressed the blond's soft hair. "I always DID like playing with your hair, you know," he whispered soothingly.
His partner smiled, looking up at him. "I know," Justin said simply. "Why do you think I grew it out again? You're not the ONLY one that enjoys it." Reaching up, he stroked the back of his hand against the other's face, producing a tender smile from Brian in return.
Justin sighed. "Relax, Sunshine," his partner admonished him gently. "Everything's going to work out, you'll see."
"You don't know how fucking much I want to believe that, Brian," he murmured. Restless, he started to sit up, but was gently pushed back down. "Hey, did I say you could get up?" his partner growled teasingly. "What happened to working out our stress together?" he reminded him.
Nevertheless, Justin persisted as Brian reluctantly let him up to sit next to him on the couch; he still couldn't resist, however, in placing his arm automatically around the blond's shoulders, as his partner curled his head into the brunet's chest. "I know," Justin said at last. "I just can't get my nerves straightened out. I am SO anxious to get this over with. What is taking that jury so LONG?" he cried.
"Shh," Brian whispered, kissing the top of the blond's head. "It's only been a few hours. There's a lot of information for them to sort through. I want an answer as badly as you do, but you don't want to rush them through it. Let them think it through. When they do, they can't help but come back with the only answer they can – that the son of a bitch is a conniving, deceitful and arrogant prick who deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his natural life!" his exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch and his arm protectively squeezing around his partner's shoulder firmly.
"Justin?" Brian whispered softly, tentatively after a few moments of thought. As his partner looked up at him questioningly, Brian continued, "What do you say that when this is all over with, you and I go away for a little while? Just the two of us?"
Justin straightened up in his place on the couch to get a better look at the man he loved. "Really? Do you mean it?" he asked hopefully.
Brian smiled. "Of course, I mean it, you twat!" The smile he received in return was worth just asking the question, Brian decided, because he hadn't seen that type of smile in a LONG time.
"Where?" Justin asked, curious now.
"Wherever you want to go, Sunshine. You pick the place," Brian decided instantly. "As long as we're together, I don't CARE where it is. Although – warmer would be nice right now. It's still kind of chilly in the Pitts right now."
"Well, I don't really care either, Brian. I'm happy as long as you're with me." Justin was quiet for a few seconds before commenting, "You know, we've never really gone anywhere together just for a vacation. It seems like whenever we try, something always gets in the way. Do you think we could actually pull it off THIS time?"
"I'll make SURE we pull it off this time, Sunshine," Brian assured him. "You just give some thought as to where you want to go, and as soon as all this is over, we'll be on our way, okay?" He looked expectantly at Justin for his response, his eyebrows characteristically raised while he waited.
He didn't have to wait for very long. "Okay," Justin agreed after a short pause, eyes shining and a small smile again on his lips as he reached up to place a tender kiss on his partner's mouth.
"Mmmm," Brian murmured. "I KNEW you could think of a good way to work out our stress," he whispered against the blond's lips as he softly chuckled. Brian was just about to pull his partner down for a more thorough workout on the couch when the sound of his nearby cell phone startled both of them from their pleasurable pursuit.
Justin looked at Brian with wide eyes as the brunet answered. "Yeah," Brian greeted the caller. Justin looked at him anxiously as he overheard part of the conversation. "Okay, we'll be there," Brian answered after a few seconds before he flipped the phone shut.
Turning to his partner, Brian let out a breath as he confirmed, "Yeah, that was Greg." There was a pregnant pause before he nodded and answered Justin's unspoken question. "The jury's reached a verdict."
Greg was waiting for the two of them just outside the side door of the courtroom. Nodding to them as they hurried up to him, he anticipated their question. "Before you ask me, no, I can't tell you if this means the verdict is a good one or a bad one. I've had too many occasions where I thought the jury coming back relatively early meant they decided the guy was guilty, only to find out it was completely the opposite. I've learned never to try and second guess what the jury is thinking, I'm afraid. All we can do is hope for the best," he counseled them.
"Are they ready to announce the verdict right away?" Justin asked anxiously.
"Well, it should be relatively soon. The jury has definitely rendered a verdict in the case, but obviously we have to wait until all the parties are present. The Judge is on his way in and Sinclair just had Prescott picked up from the county jail to be escorted here. As soon as everyone is present, they'll call the trial back into session for the reading of the verdict," he instructed them. "Why don't you two go get a seat? I know you don't want to miss what happens after all this. I'll go ahead and take my place at the prosecutor's table." Turning to leave them, he added softly, "Good luck, Justin."
"You too, Greg," he responded shakily. Now that the trial was almost over and the jury FINALLY had a verdict, his stomach was tied up in knots, he didn't know more from dread or hope. It all depended upon who and what the jury had believed. Were he and Brian finally going to get their lives back in order, or will they once again be thrown into chaos? Their fate was literally in hands of those twelve men and women inside that room.
"Hey," Brian whispered. "Stay with me. It's going to be okay," he once again reassured his partner, trying to place as much conviction in his voice as possible. He did not want the man he loved to know that inside he was just as nervous as HE was. Brian was determined to be the support that Justin so desperately needed right now, when everything was tied up into this one moment in time. "Let's go find a seat before word gets out to everyone and it gets too crowded," he suggested. Justin nodded as they opened the door to enter.
Brian had called Jennifer and the rest of their "family" from his phone while they were driving to the courthouse; he wasn't too surprised, therefore, to notice that they were already there, sitting together in the middle of the room. Deciding they could use the extra support, the two of them made their way toward their group of supporters.
"Hey, Baby," Em greeted the blond, giving him a friendly hug and a slight smile. "We're all here for you," he assured both of them, as the others nodded in agreement.
"Hi, Sweetheart, Brian," Jennifer greeted the two men, giving her son a hug and kiss before reaching over to embrace the older man as well. "Are you okay?" she asked Justin.
Justin let out a shaky breath and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "It all depends on what the jury decided," he answered truthfully. Brian placed his hands on Justin's shoulders from behind as Deb, also, reached over to place a kiss on both of her two surrogate "sons" to lend her support to them. "They'll do the right thing, Kiddo," she vowed firmly to Justin. "They HAVE to. It's time something comes out fucking RIGHT around here for a change," she growled.
"I hope you're right, Deb," Justin responded, feeling Brian's hands give his shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
The two men did not notice that Sinclair and Prescott had finally arrived until they suddenly heard the bailiff announce, "Hear ye, hear ye, this court is now in session, the Honorable Judge George Mason now presiding! Everyone please stand," the group was instructed. Justin and Brian turned, for the first time observing that both attorneys were standing at their respective tables, Prescott once again at his attorney's side as the judge entered the courtroom.
As everyone was told to be seated, the crowd became quiet as the jury slowly was ushered into the juror's box. Despite the intense scrutiny being placed on each jury member, try as he might, Justin couldn't tell what type of decision the jury had made; each man and woman seemed to keep their eyes averted from both attorneys.
As the jury was finally seated, the judge turned toward them before inquiring, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
A middle-aged man who had been designated previously as the foreman of the jury rose briefly to confirm, "We have, Your Honor," as he placed a piece of white paper into the bailiff's outstretched hand.
The bailiff in turn handed the official document to the judge, who briefly studied it to make sure everything was in order. Nodding in satisfaction that it was, he intoned, "I would caution everyone in the courtroom that I will NOT tolerate any outbursts during the announcement of the decision," he sternly admonished all the spectators. "Will the defendant please rise while the clerk reads the verdict?"
Justin held his breath and licked his lips nervously while Prescott and his attorney rose to stand together; a hush fell across the room. Just before the clerk began to speak, Brian reached over to grab Justin's hand, who returned the gesture in a near-death grip.
After what seemed like forever, the clerk finally began to speak: "In the matter of count one of the indictment, wiretapping, we the jury find the defendant, Lane Prescott, not guilty," she announced.
A groan of disbelief escaped Justin's throat and he clamped his other hand over his mouth as he heard the not guilty verdict and watched as Lane smiled smugly at his attorney. I think I'm going to be sick. What he was dreading appeared to be happening before his very eyes.
Brian's eyes never left his partner, and his hand remained firmly in the other's grip as the clerk read the next verdict: "In the matter of count two of the indictment, fraud, we the jury find the defendant, Lane Prescott, not guilty."
Justin shut his eyes in horror. This can't be happening. The tears threatened to fall from his eyes as he sat stunned at the jury's decision. As he finally opened them, he watched as Lane again smiled triumphantly at Sinclair.
"Don't give up yet," Brian encouraged his partner, as the clerk prepared to announce the next decision.
"In the matter of count three of the indictment, assault with intent of bodily harm, we the jury find the defendant, Lane Prescott, guilty."
Justin's head shot up as the last decision was announced; did she just say guilty? He wondered briefly if he heard her correctly, but knew he had when he saw Lane's mouth fall open and his sudden crestfallen, shocked face in opposition to the deliriously elated face of his partner.
"Yes!" was all Debbie whispered, as she grasped Jennifer's hand in relief and hugged her friend.
The clerk then began to read the fourth and final verdict: "In the matter of count four of the indictment, kidnapping, we the jury find the defendant, Lane Prescott, guilty."
Despite the judge's earlier warning, at the announcement of the last and most critical decision, the room erupted into a collective sound of excitement as well as shock; several spectators rushed out of the room, no doubt intent on delivering the news of the verdicts to their co-workers in the press immediately.
Justin's tears were now flowing freely, but this time from utter relief that the man who had tormented him for the past several months would not be leaving his cell for a long, long time. His shoulders slumped in exhaustion as he looked over at Brian, whose weary but relieved face echoed his own. The brunet smiled, reaching over to gently wipe the tears from the blond's face and bestowing a gentle kiss on his lips. "Looks like Prescott better get used to orange and white stripes from now on, Sunshine," he murmured softly, happiness and vindication evident on his handsome face as he nudged the blond's nose with his own and kissed him once again, this time for a longer period.
As both men finally broke apart, they noticed Prescott's previous look of triumph had been quickly replaced by disbelief; disbelief that all his money and prestige couldn't buy him what he would need most of all – his freedom. As Sinclair assured the man that he would file an appeal, it did nothing to alleviate the dread that Prescott felt, now that he knew he would not be walking out of the courtroom a free man. Shaking his head, still stunned, he finally slumped back down into his seat while the judge tried in vain to get the courtroom back into some semblance of order.
"Order! Order!" he cried authoritatively, furiously rapping his gavel several times before the crowd finally quieted down. "May I remind everyone here that this courtroom is STILL in session? Mr. Sinclair?" he addressed the attorney who was indicating he had a question.
"Yes, Your Honor. I would like the jury to be individually polled as to their verdict on counts three and four," Sinclair requested.
"As you wish, Mr. Sinclair." Turning toward the jury, the judge individually addressed each juror, asking each person if the announced verdict was their true and actual verdict. Each man and woman in turn answered "guilty," verifying the verdict was rendered appropriately and erasing yet another avenue Prescott might have had to escape his fate.
"Very well, Mr. Sinclair. Your client will be notified shortly as to the date and time for the sentencing phase of the trial," Judge Mason advised the attorney. Turning to the jury, he added, "I want to thank each member of the jury for their perseverance and diligence during this long and arduous process. It will be your decision as to whether or not you wish to speak with the media. Your obligation is now over and you are dismissed."
As the jury shuffled out for the last time, the bailiff announced, "This trial is now in recess," and the judge exited the courtroom. As most of the spectators slowly walked out as well, Justin couldn't help glancing up one last time at his tormentor, formerly an elegant and seemingly considerate man now reduced to a devious and broken individual delegated to spend quite possibly the rest of his life in prison for his inability to stop what became an unstoppable obsession for him. If it hadn't been for everything he had gone through, Justin could have almost felt pity for the man. But he could never forgive him for the torment he had put him through. And he also knew he would have never gotten through the entire ordeal with the man who now stood closely beside him, and had stood steadfastly there through thick and thin over the last several months. Overwhelmed with emotion, Justin suddenly reached over and almost violently embraced his partner, the slender arms wrapping themselves tightly around the taller man's back. He sniffled slightly as Brian pulled away from him just a little so he could look him in the eyes. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked him gently, concerned at the unreadable expression in the blue eyes staring back.
The brunet was heartened to see the tender smile that appeared on his lover's face as he nodded his head and confirmed in an emotion-choked voice, "I haven't felt this good in a long time. And I've never been more in love with you than I am right now."
"Ditto," Brian replied simply. "Let's go home, Sunshine," he said, smiling. "We've got a trip to plan," he reminded him.
Politely excusing themselves after allowing a few minutes of congratulatory hugs and kisses from their band of supporters, the two noticed with satisfaction that Prescott had been led away in handcuffs before they walked arm in arm out the side door. This time, though, they knew they didn't need to look back.
TBC in the epilogue