During the short recess, Elise struggled to suppress the urge to confront Whitney Mercure about her betrayal. She hated the sight of the prosecutor sitting comfortably behind her table, contentedly reviewing the documents she had brought with her and making notes in the margins. Elise had nothing in the way of stationary – she was going to have to wing it – and as such, there was nothing for her to do but stew in her resentment and anxiety.

One of the many things disturbing Elise was Loki's unusually calm reaction to her testimony. Although he did not appear especially chipper while she gave her answers to Whitney Mercure's intrusive questions, something was not right. That Elise had implicated him in a murder and made public the abuse he had inflicted upon her in private seemed to be little more to him than a minor irritation. Perhaps his earlier outbursts had exhausted him, but somehow, Elise found this unlikely. She observed as Loki nodded along to Parmeri's words of encouragement.

"It's not goin' bad," Parmeri advised Loki as though Elise were not seated right beside him. "It doesn't matter all that much if they can put you in the right place at the right time. If that's all the witnesses Whit's got, she's got nothin' to negate insanity. We just gotta keep our witnesses from droppin' the ball."

"And what shall we do once they find me 'insane?'" Loki asked coolly. "Surely, they will not be content to allow me to roam Midgard freely."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Parmeri replied. "What's probably gonna happen is they'll throw you in the loony bin, you'll get your head straight, and you'll come out. Get through that, and we'll talk asylum."

Elise couldn't keep herself from intervening, if only to prod Loki out of his disconcerting calm. "Really, Skip?" she said. "You're filing asylum applications now?"

"I think I can handle it, 'Lise," he retorted. "You just keep worryin' 'bout your own case." He then leaned in toward Loki and said, quietly, "Don't listen to her. I've done immigration before, I've done visas and all that. I got you covered, pal."

"I hope he sues you for malpractice," Elise muttered, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat.

"You seem quite bitter, Elise," Loki said, leaning forward in an attempt to make eye contact. "Have you come to realize your mistake? Do you now regret betraying me?"

"I didn't betray you," Elise hissed. "I never wanted you in my house in the first place. I wanted you out of there on day one."

Loki smirked. "By day two, I had changed your mind."

"Don't talk to her, buddy," Parmeri cautioned. "Don't give 'er ammo."

Loki ignored him, twisting his face into a scowl. "Listen, girl. You know as well as anyone what I am capable of. Do you truly think that I would be here, awaiting the decision of this mortal jury, if I feared their judgment? Do you think that I would not destroy you here and now if I feared the penalty they threaten?"

Before he could say more, the jury returned to the courtroom, and the trial resumed.

"Alright," said Judge Dames, "let's move this along. Defendant Laufeyson's first witness."

"Thank you, Your Honor," said Parmeri as he hoisted himself out of his chair and maneuvered himself out from behind the table. "The defense calls Thor Odinson."

From the back of the courtroom, Thor proceeded to the witness' stand. As he settled into the chair, the buttons on his suit jacket pulled at their respective holes, and the edges of his sleeves migrated to above his wrists. Were it not for the determined and solemn expression on his face, he would have been a comical sight.

"Can you repeat your name for the court?" Parmeri began.

"Thor Odinson, of Asgard," he replied proudly.

"Great. Thanks," said Parmeri. "I'll keep this brief. How do you know my client, Mr. Odinson?"

"Loki is my brother."

"So, would it be fair to say you know him pretty well?"

"Of course," Thor answered. "I have known him since I was a small child."

Parmeri nodded once. "And did you live together, up there in Asgard?"

"Yes."

"And you watched Mr. Laufeyson grow up into the man he is today?"

"Yes."

"So what happened to him?" Parmeri asked, swinging his arms out to his sides for dramatic effect.

Thor paused, his face wrinkling with confusion. "I do not understand what you ask."

"Well, walk me through it," said Parmeri, strolling casually toward the stand. "How'd Laufeyson get from being just a regular kid to being the kind of guy he is now?"

Thor looked to Loki, frowned, then turned back to Parmeri. "Jealousy changed him."

"Explain."

"Loki thought that our father favored me, though he raised us as equals. It seems he has always thought that."

"And you say you were raised equal, right?"

"Yes."

"So would you say that Mr. Laufeyson's belief that you weren't raised the same way is delusional?"

Thor hesitated, then said, "Perhaps, yes."

"Alright, Mr. Odinson," said Parmeri, pacing across the courtroom floor as he gathered his thoughts. "Did anything happen in your family – recently, in the past year or so – that might have caused Mr. Laufeyson considerable distress?"

"Objection," Whitney Mercure called out. "The question calls for speculation."

"Your Honor," Parmeri interjected before the Judge could rule, "the witness has an intimate knowledge of my client's history, and everything I'm askin' goes to the elements of my client's affirmative defense."

"He's asking the witness to speculate as to the Defendant's thoughts and feelings," Mercure countered. "No matter how much 'intimate knowledge' this witness has, he can't possibly know whether any event or occurrence would have caused him emotional distress."

"I'd be more than happy to make an offer of proof, Your Honor," said Parmeri.

"That won't be necessary," said Judge Dames. "Overruled. Mr. Odinson, you may answer the question."

Thor answered quickly: "After Loki learned of his true parentage... that was when he became obsessed with power."

"Obsessed with power," Parmeri repeated, nodding and pulling an expression that suggested his careful consideration of those words. "And he wasn't normally like that?"

"Not before then," said Thor, shaking his head slowly. "He was once mild, and disliked violence. In those days, I would never have expected this from him. Nothing of this sort."

"So, why did this one thing cut him so deep?" Parmeri asked. "What's the context of all that?"

"Loki is one of the frost giants," Thor explained. "The giants are enemies of Asgard. We have been taught, all our lives, to fear and despise them."

"Sure," said Parmeri, nodding. "And Mr. Odinson, would you describe Mr. Laufeyson as paranoid?"

Thor paused to consider this. "He does often perceive there to be enemies where there are none. To him, anyone who does not flatter him is among his enemies."

"So it's sort of black-and-white with him, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Do you think that has anything to do with how he reacted to the news? About being adopted, I mean."

"Most certainly, yes," Thor replied.

"Just one last question," said Parmeri. "Is there anything else you think we should know about Laufeyson?"

"Yes, there is." Thor looked squarely at his brother, and Loki, frowning, stared back at him from his place at the table.

"And what's that?" Parmeri asked.

"You not believe me," Thor said, his tone steady but heavy with disappointment, "but Loki is not evil. He has made horrible mistakes, with grave consequences. He has betrayed his own family. But all of this, it is..." He seemed to search for just the right words. "This is not him. I no longer recognize my own brother. All I can see when I look upon him is..." He paused once more, this time to breathe a deep sigh. "Sickness. Sickness of the mind. That is what controls my brother now. I want nothing more than for him to be healed of this..." He trailed off and hung his head mournfully. He appeared exhausted, completely drained.

"Thank you, Mr. Odinson," Parmeri said quietly, his voice washed with contrived compassion. "I have no further questions."

Even Elise was almost swayed by Thor's emotional speech – that is, until she turned to see Loki wearing his trademark smirk. Clearly, he had not been moved. He had looked his own brother dead in the eye and listened as he articulated his love to the best of his ability, but still, all he could be was flippant. It would have been unbelievable, had Elise not already been convinced that something was severely wrong with him.

Whitney Mercure seemed to be taking a moment to strategize before beginning her cross-examination. She seemed flustered, and Elise understood why. Aggressively trying to discredit a witness as beloved and sympathetic as Thor would alienate the jury. Besides this, Thor's testimony was pure showmanship; it was an emotional appeal that would remain at the forefront of the jury's minds, whether he could be discredited or not. Ultimately, Mercure's mind was made up for her.

"The Prosecution has no questions for this witness," she announced.

"Very well," said Judge Dames. "Ms. Milton, your cross."

Elise had no questions; just a few choice words for anyone delusional enough to believe that Loki's sociopathy was a temporary condition. "I have no questions, Your Honor."

"Let's move along, then," said the Judge. "Call your next witness."

Almost as soon as he had settled into his seat, Parmeri was back up again. "The defense calls Doctor Zoravar..." He snatched a piece of paper from the table and squinted to read the name. "Sur-ee-mal-ee-an?"

"It's Suramalian," said the witness as he approached the stand.

Whoever he was, he was a picture-perfect young professional. A single misplaced tendril of his curly, black hair brushed the top of his thick-rimmed glasses as he walked, quickly and confidently, and he looked expensive and well-put-together in his dark, slim suit. When he reached the witness' stand, he appeared uncommonly comfortable there, as though he was sure that had perfected the art of testimony. Without at doubt, Elise thought, he was the expert witness.

"Could you please state your name, Doctor?" asked Parmeri.

"Doctor Zoravar Suramalian," he said.

"And what is your occupation, Doctor?"

"I'm a clinical psychologist."

"Can you describe what you?"

"Well, for the most part, I diagnose and treat mental illness."

"Good," said Parmeri. "And if you don't mind, could you briefly explain your educational background?"

"Of course," said the doctor. "I graduated from Cornell University in 2002 with a Bachelor's in Psychology, then I went to the University of Pennsylvania for my Master's and Doctorate."

"That's quite the resume," Parmeri replied with a smile. "And you've been practicing psychology since you graduated?"

"I have," he said. "I run a practice here in New York, and I specialize in criminal and forensic psychology."

"Just one more question about your background – and I only ask this because I'm sure it's gonna be asked – you sometimes serve as a trial consultant, is that right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And you've testified as an expert witness in the past?"

"I have."

"And have you evaluated the Defendant, Loki Laufeyson?"

"Yes," replied the doctor. "I have."

"Your Honor," Parmeri said, turning his attention to the Judge, "the Defense would like to tender Doctor Suramalian as an expert witness."

"The prosecution waives voir dire," said Mercure, without looking up from the papers in front of her.

Judge Dames nodded to indicate that Parmeri could continue.

"Now, Doctor Suramalian," Parmeri continued, "what's your professional opinion regarding Mr. Laufeyson's current mental state?"

Elise listened carefully for an objection to arise. Loki's defense hinged on Doctor Suramalian's testimony, and with Mercure seemingly preoccupied – likely preparing for a thorough cross-examination – she didn't want to leave anything up to chance.

"In my professional opinion," Doctor Suramalian testified, "Mr. Laufeyson is faring quite poorly in general. The most notable characteristic of his psychological profile is that he presents with psychosis, and he suffers from a 'mixed bag' of delusions, so to speak."

"Whaddaya mean by 'mixed bag?'" Parmeri asked, continuing a line of questioning that had clearly been rehearsed.

"Delusions can be grouped into a few different sub-types," the expert explained, "but Laufeyson experiences a few different sub-types. His delusions seem to be alternately grandiose and persecutory in nature, but our discussion led me to believe that they also relate to some of his more intimate interpersonal relationships."

"Can you elaborate on his delusions around his interpersonal relationships?"

"Certainly," said the doctor, leaning forward in his seat as he prepared to launch into a psychological soliloquy. "However, I'll have to get a bit more general before I address this with more specificity. Enduring psychosis is Laufeyson's most dominant psychological feature, but that is exacerbated by a few other factors. While I'm hesitant to make a diagnosis after only one evaluation, my opinion is that Laufeyson likely suffers from a personality disorder, and it's within that context that his psychosis exists. He exhibits profoundly poor impulse control and seems predisposed to both deception and blatant aggression. Even in our short time together, it quickly became clear to me that Laufeyson is incapable of controlling his own behavior.

"Of course, these are by no means the only mental health concerns I noted, and as I said, his dysfunctional interpersonal relationships are very concerning. His persecutory and grandiose delusions and intertwined, and they relate in large part to perceived betrayals by members of his immediate family. He experiences the consequences of his actions to be unjust punishment meted out by an illegitimate authority. He then acts out against that authority, and in turn, there are more consequences, so the thought-process is self-perpetuating. And with regard to his wife-"

"Sorry, gotta stop you there," Parmeri interjected. "His wife?"

Doctor Suramalian blinked, clearly taken aback. "Well, yes. Elise is his wife, isn't she? It was my understanding that they were married and had a child."

Elise made eye contact with the witness and shook her head, but she didn't dare speak out of turn.

"Well, I suppose this is an example then: either he truly believes that he's married with children, or this is another instance of deception. In any event, our discussion of this individual dominated a fair portion of our time together." The doctor seemed suddenly uncomfortable, shifting in his seat. "He has some... quite challenging ideations about her, some of which are brought on by a certain degree of obsession arising from erotomanical delusions, and some of which speak more to his hostility and grandiose thought processes."

"Let's get back to Mr. Laufeyson," said Parmeri. "What would you say his prognosis is?"

The doctor sighed. "It's hard to say. If I am correct in my tentative conclusion that Laufeyson suffers from a personality disorder, his prognosis is poor. But with medication and therapy, he can – and should – be treated for his psychosis. A long-term, residential program would be my recommendation."

"So, without treatment, what would you say the effect of all this is on Mr. Laufeyson's ability to make decisions?"

"His judgment is completely impaired by this," said Doctor Suramalian. "He's operating off of a different conception of reality than you or I. He likely doesn't understand that he isn't completely justified in everything he does, and the longer he goes without treatment, the more harm will come of that."

"Then, in your opinion, had he been treated for his mental illness," asked Parmeri, "he might've been able to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions?"

Elise saw her opportunity. "Objection," she called. "He's asking the witness to testify on the ultimate issue of Loki's mental state at the time of the alleged crime."

"Overruled," the Judge said.

"But your Honor," said Elise, "Rule 704 clearly states-"

"Don't recite the Federal Rules to me, Ms. Milton."

He was either mistaken or willfully ignoring the scope of an expert's testimony. "But your Honor," she pleaded, "the question doesn't have to do with his current mental state, he's asking-"

"I heard the question," Judge Dames replied, his brow furrowed and a frown firmly planted under his nose. "I've warned you several times now about decorum. I expect better than this from an officer of the court."

Defeated, Elise shrank in her seat, embarrassed at herself and convinced that the psychiatrist's next answer would put the nail in the coffin of Loki's prosecution.

"I apologize, Doctor Suramalian," said the Judge. "Should I ask the counselor to restate the question?"

"Yes, please," said the doctor, unshaken by the interruption.

"Go on, counselor."

"Right," said Parmeri. "What I asked was, if Laufeyson were treated for mental illness, would he have a better grip on the wrongfulness of his actions?"

"Undoubtedly," the expert witness replied. "Treatment is likely the only way he'll ever develop a sense of what is right and wrong, and the only way he'll accept the consequences for his actions as legitimate rather than as a slight against him."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Parmeri. "This has been eye-opening. No further questions."

Mercure finished scribbling something on a legal pad, then shot up out of her chair and began her cross-examination. "Doctor Suramalian," she began, "in your opinion, in his present mental state, is the Defendant a danger to others?"

"Currently? Yes," the doctor answered.

"And you've said that his prognosis isn't good. So isn't it possible that he'll never be rehabilitated?"

Doctor Suramalian nodded. "Yes."

"Then, wouldn't incarceration or execution be just as effective as institutionalization?"

"I won't recommend that my patient be executed, Whitney."

"Of course you won't," she responded. "But if the entire objective of rehabilitation is to prevent Laufeyson from posing a threat to others, is there any reason we shouldn't seek to accomplish the same thing without imposing the cost-burden of rehabilitation on taxpayers?"

It was a transparent public policy argument, meant to appeal to the hard-working American citizen. Elise knew what this meant: Mercure was floundering. Parmeri's expert was too well-prepared.

"Yes, there are a few reasons," the doctor answered. "For one, compassion. Someone who, due to severe illness, is completely incapable of differentiating what is morally and legally right from what is wrong can't be held accountable. You'd want the same consideration if it were you."

"Compassion," Whitney snorted. "In your professional opinion, Doctor – and remember that you are testifying under oath – is the defendant capable of 'compassion?'"

"We'll never know what he's capable unless we try to find out."

"Thank you," said Whitney. "No more questions."

As Mercure returned to her seat, Elise stood, taking up one of her crutches, and approached Doctor Suramalian with a question of her own.

"Doctor," she asked, "you've said that my co-defendant poses a threat to others, and you've also said that my name came up in your meeting with him. Correct?"

"That is correct," he answered.

"I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that he regaled you with a detailed account of every way he'll try to kill me if he isn't convicted." Leaning unsteadily on one crutch, Elise began rolling up one of her sleeves. "Am I right?"

The doctor clasped his hands together and shifted in his seat. "Yes. Unfortunately, his delusions cause him to-"

"It was a 'yes or no' question, Doctor." She swiveled on her crutch and her good foot and faced Judge Dames. "Your Honor, I'd like to offer my arm into evidence." She held her scarred and unbandaged forearm out to him so he could inspect it.

The Judge leaned forward to get a good look. "Goodness," he uttered, apparently taken by surprise. "Yes. Admitted."

"Take a look," said Elise, hobbling closer to the witness' stand and extending her arm toward the expert. "I realize you're not a medical doctor, but what does this look like to you?"

Doctor Suramalian seemed to find the very sight of the injury distasteful; he turned his head away and did not turn around again until Elise lowered her arm. "I don't know," he admitted. "Were you burned?"

Slowly, Elise made her way toward the box containing the jury, holding her wrist out for all of them to see. Still standing near them, she answered the doctor's question and asked another. "I did see a medical doctor for this. That doctor said she had never seen anything like it before. Do you have any idea what could have caused an injury like this?"

"I object! Scope!" Parmeri shouted in an obvious attempt to prevent Elise from reaching her conclusion.

"I'm inclined to sustain that objection," said Judge Dames, "unless, of course, you can tell us where this might be going."

"Your Honor," Elise said, "I assure you, this relates completely to my co-defendant's mental state and his capacity for harm."

"I'm going to need more than assurances," said the Judge. "I'll overrule it for now, but if your next question doesn't directly fall within the scope, I may change my mind."

"Thank you, Your Honor," said Elise as she made her way back to the witness' stand. "Doctor, did Loki tell you about this? Did he tell you that he caused me to be permanently disfigured?"

"No," the doctor replied quietly. "I suppose he didn't."

"Does that change anything?" Elise pushed. "Does that change your conclusion about his prognosis? About your assessment of the possibility that he could be rehabilitated?"

"Alright," Doctor Suramalian sighed. "I know it's... unorthodox, but based on my own observations of Laufeyson, I have a recommendation for you."

"And what's that?" Elise huffed, unconvinced.

"Your relationship with Laufeyson is toxic," the doctor replied urgently. "And it isn't just because of him and his problems. If anything he's told me can be believed, this is a classic and severe case of co-dependence."

Elise hesitated to ask her next question, as she wasn't sure that she was prepared to hear the answer. "What leads you to believe that?"

"I should emphasize that this is based solely on my observation of Laufeyson," Suramalian said, "but it sounds like you tried to fix him when you weren't qualified to do that. You failed to set boundaries. You saw someone who was struggling, and you internalized his struggle. Your sympathy fed into his need for validation, and your trust..." He paused. "Listen. His mental illness causes him to be either unable or unwilling to prioritize the needs of others. Your propensity for trust and his extreme propensity for manipulation mean that the two of you are a catastrophe."

Elise wanted to stop him before he could jeopardize either her acquittal or Loki's conviction, but his candor and frankness had taken her by surprise, and she was rendered speechless.

As Elise stood there stammering, Doctor Suramalian continued. "It's a little late now, and I don't know if it's even possible for you to enter a guilty plea at this point, but... Ms. Milton, at least if you go to prison, you'll be safe. Don't let there be any way for him to seek you out. You need to separate completely, and a restraining order isn't going to keep someone like Laufeyson from pursuing someone like you. For everyone's sake – for you, for him, for everyone – please, I'm begging you, if it's all true, confess."

Complete and solid silence descended upon the courtroom. Elise turned her head left and right, but found no comfort in the expressions on the faces of the attorneys, the spectators, or the jurors.

Shaken, she said what needed to be said before she slunk back to the defense's table. "I... I, uh... nothing further."