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Final Statement

Ronnie looked around the packed courtroom. He knew James had called Alesha but there was no sign of her or Matt. He glanced across to Kate and shrugged. The tall brunette looked a little annoyed that her brother wasn't in the court room as the various police officers and members of the public began settling down. The jurors quietly made their way in to the room and took their seats. Ronnie frowned as he realised the head Juror was not much older than his Sarah. Sighing he began to wonder what would happen. Had their testomonies been enough to make sure Morris went back to prison for a long time? There was nothing to be done now, all he could do was hope. He smiled slightly as Angie and Natalie joined him and sat down.

"Ok Ma'am?" He looked at Natalie who just nodded.

"Where's Matt?" Angie looked around as the court began to settle. She rolled her eyes as she saw Alesha and Matt slip in to the court just as the court officer ordered everyone to stand. Matt shrugged his shoulders as James turned and caught Alesha's eye. Both glanced at Bea who was looking just a little too smug for Alesha'a liking. It was then Matt began to feel nervous, he closed his eyes for a moment as Alesha squeezed his hand.

"You ok?"

"In the next ten minutes I will be" He whispered.

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Alesha bit her bottom lip as the Judge summed up the case so far. Morris smirked at them in the dock. She really wanted to jump from where she was sat and hit the man smirking at her. She hated what he had done to her and Matt. She hated how he had terrified them all. She heard Ronnie mutter next to her as the foreman of the Jury was instructed to stand. All eyes fell on the petite blonde woman in her early twenties. It was clear she was nervous.

"In the matter of ABH have you all reached a verdict in which you are all agreed?" The Judge watched as the young woman nodded.

"Yes"

"What say you?"

"Guilty" Matt let out a sigh of relief at the verdict. It was only the first of the charges, but whatever happened now it was clear that time would be added to the sentance he was still supposed to be serving. The court room was silent as the guilty verdict was repeated for the offences of obstructing justice and unlawful imprisonment. Chloe could be heard crying quietly. Ronnie turned to see Liz hugging her daughter as she rested her head on her shoulder. Suddenly Chloe looked a lot younger than her 20 years. Alesha sighed as she glanced at James. He was smiling slighlty as the case seemed to be going their way. She knew him too well not to see that he was enjoying seeing their hard work pay off. It also helped that his ex wife was now looking more contrite than smug.

"In relation to possession of a firearm and attempted murder of Matthew James Devlin, what say you?" The Judge's eyes never wavered from the young woman in front of her. None of the others in the court could drag their eyes away from the young woman. Matt felt Alesha squeeze his hand. For a moment he wondered if she had cut the blood supply to his hand off permanently.

"Guilty" The young woman looked visibly releaved as the Judge thanked the Jury and asked her to sit down. Matt dragged his eyes away from the girl and looked at the man that had shot him in the chest and left him for dead. Ronnie glanced across at him and closed his eyes, he knew the young detective was watching for any reaction from Morris. He didn't think he would be lucky enough to see anything. Morris already knew he was going back to prison, what he didn't know was how long he was going back for.

"James Arthur Morris, you have been found guilty for violent and abhorrent crimes" The Judge stared at Morris who just shrugged. James clenched his fist, but knew no one could see. Bea remained motionless. She had known her client would be found guilty. It was a forgone conclusion from the moment she had read the case notes. Although she wouldn't ever admit it to James. "Such crimes as the possession of a firearm, beating a young man to a pulp, leaving him brain damaged and shooting a police officer in the execution of his duty is particularly abhorrent. I have no hesitancy in imposing the maximum sentance for these crimes. Mr Morris, I am sentancing you to twenty five years with a minimum tariff of twenty years to run concurrently to the sentance you are already serving" She watched as Morris narrowed his eyes.

"I would like to thank the members of the Jury for their time and consideration on this case. Court dismissed" She stood as the prison officer led Morris out of the dock. Matt held his gaze as he walked away. Ronnie let out an audible sigh as Natalie sat back down, physically and emotionally exhausted.

"Guv?" Ronnie turned to her.

"I'm ok Ron" She sighed. Ronnie wasn't entirely convinced. "You think this is the last we are going to see of this charmer, then?"

"I 'ope so" He watched as the court room emptied. "I really 'ope this is the last we see of 'im this time"

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The snow had fallen heavily while the team had been in Court. Ronnie hadn't realised how thick it was as he tugged his overcoat around his shoulders. He's said his goodbyes to Liz and Chloe as they got a taxi home. He looked round to see George talking to James and Bea while Angie and Kate were talking in the corner. Both women looked relieved. It was Matt he wanted to see. The younger man had been unnaturally quiet all day. He walked across the road to where Matt stood staring out over the river. He looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"You alright Matty boy?" He leant on the railings next to him. Matt continued to stare at the water below.

"Yeah"

"Well you dun look alright son" Ronnie turned to face him. "You look like you found a quid but lost a tenner"

"I'm fine"

"Really?"

"Really"

"Yeah, the sort of fine that means you are out here on your tod while Alesha is where exactly?" Matt rolled his eyes. He knew Ronnie wouldn't give up until he found out what had bothered him. Ronnie was waiting for an answer.

"Alesha is in Chambers, she wont be long" He sighed "She thought she was pregnant. I mean she isn't but she thought she was. Ron, Morris could have killed me and she could have been on her own with a kid" Ronnie clapped the younger man on the back.

"But you're not and she isn't" He smiled. Ronnie understood his logic even if no one else did. "So I dun see a problem"

"She'd have been on her own Ron. If I had died, she would have been just like Pete's wife" Ronnie nodded.

"Ah, so thats what all this is about eh sunshine? Right, listen to me. Alesha Philips is a good girl and if you spend all your energy on what might have gone wrong will just push 'er away. Now stop being a dipstick and go find er" He shook his head as Matt laughed.

"You ever thought of going into relationship counselling Ron?" Matt smiled.

"Not really, I think it's just a natural talent of mine. Now clear off and sort things out with her" He watched as Matt nodded and stepped away from the railings. Both men had seen Alesha stood on the steps of the courthouse with her coat pulled tightly around her.

"And where are you going?" Matt smiled slightly as Ronnie shrugged.

"Chip shop" Matt shook his head as Ronnie walked away only to be swallowed up in the throng of communters making their way home at rush hour in London. He looked back towards Alesha who saw him and smiled. Ronnie was right Matt tugged his coat tighter time to stop worrying about what might have been and concentrate of what I've got now. He watched as Alesha walked down the steps towards him.

"Lesh!" He called as she stopped and smiled. "You hungry? Fancy the chip shop?"

Alesha couldn't help but shake her head and smile as she saw her boyfriend return to his old self. Suddenly the idea of chip shop chips and a walk home in the snow seemed like the best way to spend the evening.

a/n ok not sure about the ending. Please let me know what you think. As ever thank you all so much for the reviews. I may write another L&O UK story soon xx