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Breaking Point?

Matt sat in the police romm waiting patiently for his name to be called. He was not looking forward to facing Morris in the court room but knew he had to. He rested his head back against the grey wall as he wondered exactly how Alesha was coping with giving evidence. He hoped Bea McCardle wasn't living up to her reputation.

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James watched as his friend took the oath. Once again he was reminded exactly how young his friend was. He had always known Alesha was tougher than she looked. Everything that had happened with Merrik was testament to exactly how strong she really was. He could see how nervous she was as Bea approached the stand.

"Miss Philips, can you tell the Court how you came to be aware of my client?" Bea started.

"At the time I was the Junior Crown Prosecutor at his trial" Alesha tried not to look at the man that had put Matt in Intensive Care.

"You feel he was guilty of the original charges?" Bea's soft Irish accent made the question seem alot more innocent than it really was. Alesha stared at her for a moment before answering.

"No" Alesha heard the gasps around the court. James and George glanced at each other, unsure what Alesha was going to say next. The young woman stared at Bea as Bea widened her eyes in surprise.

"I think you better elaborate on that answer"

"I do not believe Jimmy Morris is guilty of the crimes he was originally found guilty for. I know he is. Like he is guilty now. He shot Matt Devlin, he terrorised Chloe Franklin and he got his mate's girlfriend to send me a sympathy card. I know he is guilty." Alesha glared at the shorter Irish woman as Bea nodded once.

"That, don't you agree if for the Jury to decide" Bea smiled slightly as James cleared his throat. He could see Alesha shaking slightly as he got to his feet.

"OBJECTION!" He yelled as Bea merely rolled her eyes. "Counsel is goading the witness"

"Sustained" The Judge was beginning to get annoyed with the tit for tat power games between the two divorcees. "Ms McCardle, you are to temperate your questions to what is actually relevant"

"Yes your honor" Bea glanced at Alesha glanced across at George relieved that he was the one that was going to be questionning her. He got to his feet and walked towards the witness box as Alesha seemed to visibly calm herself.

"Now" he smiled slightly "Tell me Alesha. Do you have any reason to believe that the man accused may not have committed the crimes? Did you not take a phone call telling you that Matthew Devlin was injured?"

"Yes I did"

"Can you elaborate on that? Where were you?"

"I was in work. I was at my office. I work for the Crown Prosecution Service as a Junior Prosecutor" Alesha answered.

"Indeed" George was warming to his theme "And that phone call led you to believe one friend was hurt and the other dead?"

"It suggested as much. I only found out what happened when DI Natalie Chandler called the office. She told us that Matt was in hospital and that Chloe and Ronnie were unhurt but upset" Alesha braved a glance at the defendant who just smirked. She wanted to cry but the pure anger she felt at seeing Morris in the same room as her made her want to scream.

"I have a record of the 999 call made by Chloe Franklin. The hostage that was terrified by Jimmy Morris. Just 20 years old. Members of the journey you heard her statement earlier. It was that phone call that saved the young policeman's life" George stated.

"Yes" Alesha answered.

"I have no further questions for Ms Philips. However, due to the nature of the call I am about to play I would like her to leave the room, as I would like Kate Devlin to leave the public gallery" He stared at the Judge who nodded.

"Miss Devlin, please leave the room. You too Ms Phillips. Thank you for your statement and testonomy" She smiled kindly as both women left the court.

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Natalie walked along the corridor in search of a decent coffee machine. She really wanted the case to be over. She wanted to be back in her own office, going through tedious paper work. Anything was better than waiting for the Jury to retire. If anyone asked all she was doing was looking for coffee, in reality she was looking to see if Alesha and Matt had been called in to the witness box. She was worried about the young couple before the court case started. Now, after seeing Ronnie and Angie in the canteen after leaving the court she was even more concerned. Frowning she saw the young Crown Prosecutor lean against the wall opposite the court.

"Alesha?" She tilted her head slightly to look at the younger woman.

"They sent me and Kate out" Alesha sighed

"Oh? Where is Kate?"

"She went to the loo. She's not dealing with this very well. Matt is her brother" Alesha sighed.

"Well, no" Natalie sighed "I don't suppose she is. You? How are you dealing with it?"

Alesha sighed as she fought the tears that were threatening to fall. Natalie pulled her in to a hug as the tears that had been threatening finally fell. "Oh luv" Natalie sighed.

"I could have lost him" She pulled back as Natalie nodded.

"Yeah I know" Natalie sighed "Tough boy our Matt. He's fine, he'll be fine. C'mon" She led Alesha back to the canteen, all hope of semi decent coffee forgotten as they saw Ronnie leave the gents and walk towards them.

"Eh? What's this for?" He smiled slightly as Alesha scrubbed the last of the tears away from her cheeks.

"Being silly" Alesha sighed.

"No luv, it aint silly at all. Our Matty boy on the stand now?" He ushered both women in to the canteen.

"Yeah I think he's next"

"Good. Now get some coffee and food inside you. Can't 'av you fainting off on us" He sighed as Natalie walked towards the counter leaving him with Alesha for a moment.

"He'll be ok"

"Yea. Yes of course he will. And Morris is going down for a very long time. And this time the little scumbag is staying where 'e is put" Alesha raised her eyebrows. She had hardly ever heard Ronnie snap. "No luv, I aint 'aving it. I put a case together and someone goes to prison I expect them to bloody well stay there for the duration of their sentance. Escaping, as much as anything it's a bloody cheek thats what it is" He watched as Alesha rolled her eyes.

"Yes Ron"

"Yes well. He aint going to be in a position to book a summer holiday for the next few years. It's our Matt I'm worried about"

"You just said he's going to be fine" Alesha frowned.

"Yeah" Ronnie sighed as he pushed his glasses further up his nose "An' he is. We're just going to 'ave to keep an eye on 'im thats all"

"Well I'm not going anywhere" Alesha smiled as Ronnie nodded.

"Good girl. Neither am I"

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A/N More soon! Will Matt be ok?