A/N Hello, my lovely readers, I have returned with an update.

Thanks to all reviewers!

Dedication: To MCR-1993 for her review. :)

Disclaimer: I own nada other than Sofia and the other characters you don't recognize.

Frank and Joe had been escorted from the courtroom by their grandfather and into the back of a waiting limo.

"That, my dear grandson, was very close to insubordination." Anthony Russo proclaimed.

"Darn," Frank began sarcastically. "Here I was hoping to actually reach actual insubordination."

"Don't push me, Frank." His grandfather warned. "Now, Joe let's have a talk about your testimony, just to make sure you remember everything, shall we?"

"What's to remember?" Joe shrugged. "Just agree with whatever your lawyer says, right?"

"Correct, and Joseph?"

"Yes?"

"See that you do that, remember the continued survival of your dear Vanessa is riding on this." His grandfather replied. "Not that she is at all an appropriate consort for you. We will arrange a more suitable match for you later on."

Joe meanwhile was busy shooting his brother worried looks, and ignoring his grandfather's insane ramblings.

Having concluded with everything he desired to say Anthony directed the driver to head back to the courthouse. He had been driving in circles while they 'talked.'

-Story Break-

"We lucked out with Judge selection." James Cassidy informed his clients.

"Why?" Laura wondered.

"Santini is one of the few judges not in Russo's pocket, however there's no way to be sure how he will rule, but we have a better chance then with most judges."

"So there is hope then?" Fenton asked.

"Yes." Cassidy replied. "There is still a strong chance that we could lose however, perhaps you should speak with your father Fenton? Try to get him to see reason?"

"That will never work." Fenton replied grimly.

"Then we will simply have to hope for the best." Cassidy remarked.

-Story Break-

"All rise the Honorable Judge Santini presiding." The voice of the baliff called.

Santini emerged and took his seat. "Court is resumed, we will begin by hearing from Joseph Hardy."

Joe was called to the stand and took his seat awaiting whatever questions the lawyers would ask.

"Mr. Tosino you may question the witness, I again urge you to remember that you are speaking to a teenager, not an adult." The judge cautioned.

"We established during Frank's testimony that you have been kidnapped a total of fifty-one times, and hospitalized fifty-nine times as a result of an attack, what would you say was the cause of these occurrences?" Tosino asked the teenager.

"Perhaps I have bad luck?" Joe ventured.

"Seriously, Joe, when you were kidnapped or attacked what did the responsible party cite as the reason?"

"In my experience, I would say most criminals don't sit you down and reveal their grand master plan to you and then attack you, they just attack you and then proceed with it." Joe evaded. Frank mentally applauded his brother from his seat next to his grandfather.

"Fine, then, could you tell the court what the police cited in their reports as the motive in the majority of these cases?" Tosino asked triumphantly.

"Usually it was because Frank and I got involved in trying to stop them." Joe replied.

"And your parents allowed this?"

"Yes, but we were trained," Joe answered.

"Are you certified private investigators?" Tosino wondered.

"No." Joe answered glaring at the lawyer.

"No further questions, but we reserve the right to recall this witness." Tosino said to the judge before returning to his seat.

"Has your father ever told you to stay out of a case because it was too dangerous?" Cassidy asked Joe upon beginning his questioning.

"Yes." Joe replied.

"And did you listen?"

"Yes. I trust my dad." Joe replied ignoring the looks his grandfather was sending him.

"Has your dad ever abused you in any way?" Cassidy asked.

"No." Joe answered immediately.

"Has your mother ever neglected you?"

"No."

"In short, have either of your parents ever done anything besides what they believed was best for you?"

"Not that I can think of, no." Joe stated.

"I have no further questions for this witness, but reserve the right to recall him later." Cassidy stated.

"With the conclusion of Joseph Hardy's testimony we will recess until tomorrow morning at nine a.m. I will then hear from Fenton and Laura Hardy." The judge stated.

The judge exited the courtroom and Frank and Joe were swiftly ushered out by their grandfather, without allowing them any time to speak to their parents.

A/N This story will be updated next Friday in compliance with my new update schedule. Review!