A/N: Not ours, just taking them all out to play.

Gasps

The deep intakes of breathes was heard throughout, as Morelli was led into the courtroom, still shackled and chained. This time his hands were behind his back, due to an 'altercation' with his new cell mates. Morelli looked like crap.

His bottom lip was busted, a black eye was forming and he was limping, thanks to a 'kick to the nuts' from his new cellmates. It was his 'good friend' Binkie that put a stop to it, slow to stop it but stop it he did; earning Morelli's gratitude over and over. Hector and Manny had had some fun though, while Binkie was 'seeing his attorney' in Juniak's office, all the while watching it takes place along with Carlos. The chief of police couldn't watch himself, as much as he wanted to, that would be against the law, instead he used the old adage 'what he didn't know or see' wouldn't hurt him.

It was Tank and Bobby that had drew the short straws. Being in their Rangeman uniforms at all times, it was up to them to personally escort Morelli to and from the courthouse. They didn't want to draw any extra attention from the press back to Carlos and Lester, who were with Stephanie and her family.

If you didn't know better, you could see the twitch of lips as a smile formed on Carlos and Lester's face. Seeing the handiwork his men did on Morelli, they all thought, 'serves him right with what he said screaming at Stephanie that 'she meant yes.' That had caused more nightmares and hot showers as well as a session with Ella.

Paybacks were a bitch, indeed.

And now with Binkie being his new best friend, hopefully Morelli will start talking about that night, who knew? They were hopeful, maybe just maybe with his mind the way it is, he might let something slip.

Melissa entered the courtroom, making eye contact with Stephanie, giving her a wink for reassurance then glancing over at her own superhero, Lester Santos. The blush rising in her cheeks as she recalled the steamy make out session that had happened just the previous evening.

'All rise', the bailiff announced to the courtroom, Tank took up his position directly behind the accused, Vinnie was sitting a table length away from his client; he wanted nothing more to do with him, just wanted to get the show over and done.

Vinnie had filed a motion for another psyche evaluation based on Joe's comments. It was pending on Judge Sharpton's desk at the moment. It looked like Joe might be slipping in the mental department after all, who knew? There was the report from the Trenton Police Departments own psychiatrist that stated Joe knew right from wrong, Only time would tell whether that motion would be granted.

Frank had received a call from Jennifer last evening highlighting the fact that Helen was a clear candidate for long term care; he decided to sell the former Plum home and have the funds available to pay for Helen's care. After talking with Valerie, Mooch and Edna about it, they were all in agreement. Stephanie was sad to see the house being sold, but knew she could never step foot in that place again, too many bad memories of her mother and her harping.

That had sent Stephanie on a trip down memory lane:

She was 6 at the time and Joe Morelli wanted to teach her a 'NEW GAME' , he called it choo choo, she was to stand with her legs apart and he would be the 'Train' , he then proceeded to finger her, making her his, she of course didn't know this. She didn't like it and had a feeling what he had done was wrong, so she went to her mother and told her. Instead of Helen telling her how wrong he was and none of it was her fault, she kept telling Stephanie how bad of a girl she was and how she was ruined.

The next memory came on as quickly as the first had.

She was 8 years old and wanted to fly, so she did what she thought was right and climbed up onto the roof of the garage and jumped. She had felt free for about 5 seconds and then she landed. She had broken her arm and ran into the house crying, Helen saw Stephanie and started berating her, about her stupid ideas, couldn't she be like the neighbors daughters and stay out of trouble for just once, how she was never good enough in her mothers eyes and how disappointed Helen was in everything that Stephanie had done.

And so on through memory after memory. She was crying when Carlos had found her. Opening his arms up, she fled to him and held on for dear life. She asked him, 'why couldn't her mother love her for HER?' 'I don't know Babe, but know this, it's HER loss not yours, you know I love you, we all love you, trust in that.' Then he said the magic word 'please', nodding her head, she continued holding onto Carlos as if she was drowning, at least that what she felt like.

Frank was ambivalent to the situation with Helen; Angie helped him see it wasn't his fault Helen had this psychotic break with reality, but Frank being true to form was going to help take over her care by selling the house, another burden for him to bear, thanks to Helen, but once the house was sold, it would be over.

Judge Sharpton entered the courtroom, his blank face evident as he scanned the courtroom, resting on Morelli's battered face, he asked the accused, "Mr. Morelli, is there a reason you come back into my courtroom looking like a battered man, when yesterday you looked just fine?"

Joe shook his head no and told him, 'nothing I couldn't handle, your honor' for Joe knew if he said a word about his beating to anyone he would be labeled a snitch and that was as bad as a child rapist.

'Well then, let's begin shall we? After all, justice needs to be served here, doesn't everyone agree?' Judge Sharpton asked the courtroom, seeing Stephanie clutching her daddy's hand, her lifeline that was this hell she had found herself.

Melissa stated, 'State calls Trenton Police Chief Joe Juniak back to the stand.'

After he was reminded that he was still under oath, he finished his testimony by producing for the court his search warrant and what it had entailed.

Juniak went on to say to the courtroom how he came about to pick the military police, their trip back to Trenton and finally Morelli's arrival at his new cell. He talked of the demonstrators that greeted them upon arrival, the signs that said child rapist and so on.

'That's all for this witness.' Melissa said. Juniak was dismissed after Vinnie stood and said 'I have no questions of this witness,' once again earning a growl from Morelli, after all who was going to taint the evidence? Joe thought his attorney needed a reminder so he leaned over to talk to him. Vinnie had to ask for a recess to confer with Joe.

Court granted them a ten minute recess at the table.

'Just whose side are you on here? You are supposed to defend me here, damnit' Joe sneered at him. Vinnie looked at him and retorted, 'look Joe, you raped a teenage girl, they have you dead to rights here, they won't accept a plea deal, you won't testify, there is nothing here to work with.

My plan is to get them off the stand as quick as possible and pray the judge has a good night sleep and is feeling lenient before he sentences you, you should have pled guilty all along and saved everyone from a trial.

Your mother raised you better than this, you know it and should own up to the fact you did this. There are only two more witnesses before this is over; it's a slam dunk for them. What more is there to do? You do know that STEPHANIE is going to testify and the only way out of that is to refute everything she said, by GETTING YOUR ASS UP ON THE STAND YOURSELF. That is what the prosecutor is counting on. Melissa is a shark and has a file full of questions just for you. So can you step up and BE A MAN FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE AND DO THAT?"

Morelli's face turned pale when he met the eyes of Melissa Dorrier (soon to be Santos,) her green eyes were fixated on Joe Morelli, like the prey he was, he was in her sights and she could hardly wait to get him up there on the stand and see how he was going to get out of this and try to make this the victim's fault, in this case Stephanie's.

Joe leaned back into his chair as he heard the gavel come down and then heard a name that had given him nightmares, since the beginning, being called to the stand.

'State calls Carlos Manoso to the stand' Melissa said.

When he heard the door open, he turned even paler and while there was no shoe scuffling to hear, he knew he had come face to face with his enemy that was being sworn in to tell the truth.

Each was thinking different things as their eyes locked onto one another.

'Cupcake, so soft to eat, what a treat and I had her first' Joe was thinking to himself.

'Babe, this is for you,' Carlos thought as he was looking at the piece of crap that had taken her innocence away from his love.