TRIAL IV

It was 2 am. Tomorrow's trial started at 7 am. Mike had exactly 5 hours to figure out his next move. He crumpled another piece of paper into a tight little ball, and hurled it angrily across the room. What was Phoebe thinking? To beat the shit out of those pricks; and not even tell him?

Phoebe knocked gently on the door, "Mike, I've got a cup of tea," she offered guiltily.

"I don't need tea, I need help. I need somebody to tell me what fuck to say in court tomorrow, because, by lying to me, you and Chandler have left me high and fucking dry!" Mike snapped angrily.

"I'm sorry, I should've told you, I shouldn't have lied, I know I messed up… But I'm not sorry for what I did," Phoebe said honestly.

"Those were the actions of someone wild, impulsive, reckless, feisty, bloody insane! All the things I love and hate about you!" Mike yelled in frustration.

"I know... I hope you figure it out, Mike. I wish there was something I could fix my mistake. For what it's worth, I really am sorry," Phoebe whispered. She placed the tea on Mike's desk, kissed the top of his head, and left him to his own devices.

"You were the physician that treated Chandler's cellmates Eric Dunn and Lucas Kercher, is that correct?" Mike asked Dr Richard Burke.

"Yes that is correct," Richard confirmed.

"Could you tell the Court the full extent of Eric Dunn's injuries?"

"The bones in Eric's left hand were shattered, his left arm was dislocated at the shoulder, three of his ribs were broken, one of which punctured his right lung," Richard explained.

"Were these injuries life-threatening?"

"Absolutely. Ten more minutes, and Eric's lungs would've filled with blood,drowning him," Richard stated.

"And what about Lucas, what injuries did he suffer?"

"Lucas had a fractured skull, haemorrhaging of his brain, his nose and jaw were broken, and he had a slipped spinal disk."

"Were these injuries life-threatening?" Mike probed.

"Yes, if he hadn't undergone immediate brain surgery, he would've harmorrhaged to death," Richard stated.

"On a scale of one to ten, in your opinion, how severe were the injuries of Chandler's cellmates, in light of what you've witnessed throughout your time as a prison doctor?" Mike asked.

"Oooh a Ten, absolutely. It was horrific, never seen such violence in my entire five years working at this prison," Richard emphasised.

"When Eric and Lucas were first brought into the prison hospital for treatment, what did the warden say to you?" Mike questioned.

"He said that Chandler Bing notified the warden about an attack on his cellmates," Richard replied.

"So Chandler was the first to witness the full extent of his cellmates' horrific injuries. Is that correct?" Mike asked.

"Yes it is," Richard affirmed.

Mike turned to the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please take a moment to place yourself in Chandler's shoes. Imagine you have just found your friends bleeding on the floor, left for dead, with a shattered skull, punctured lungs and broken spine. Now imagine the abject terror you'd feel knowing that you were next in line for a similar near-fatal beating!"

Mike paused for effect, "The Prosecution kicks a fuss because Chandler didn't protest to a guilty plea. But let me ask you this. Wouldn't you be preoccupied and absent-minded too, if faced with the prospect of having your skull smashed in and your bones snapped like twigs? Alright, that is all Dr Burke, please be seated."

"Would you like to call anyone else to the stand, Attorney Hannigan?" Justice Courtenay asked.

"Yes, I'd like to call Lucas Kercher to the stand. Eric Dunn is currently too ill to attend Court, but Kercher's testimony will suffice," Mike said.

Lucas took to the stand in a wheelchair, wearing a neck brace, and sporting a black eye.

"In the months leading up to Chandler's guilty plea, did you, as his roommate, notice his state of mind?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, he was depressed," Lucas said flatly. What was he gonna do? Deny the glaringly obvious and come across as a liar?

"Did he tell you why he was depressed?"

"He said he was scared of the prisoners that were bullying me, him and Eric," Lucas lied flatly. What was he gonna do? Admit that Chandler was depressed because he raped him?

Fuck. I'm backed into the corner to defend Bing! The bastard's probably gonna get released from prison thanks to me! What a joke! Lucas thought bitterly to himself.

"Did Chandler tell you what he feared from your attackers?" Mike probed.

"Y'know, that he was gonna get beat up bad, like me and Eric was," Lucas sighed.

"So Lucas, to reiterate. In the weeks leading up to the entering of his guilty plea, Chandler showed signs of depression and anxiety, and he confided in you, that he feared that he would get physically attacked by other prisoners. Is that correct?"

"Yeah, that about sums it up," Lucas muttered morosely.

"Alright Lucas, please be seated. I have no further questions," Mike said. He had put on a wonderfully persuasive and convincing performance.

Justice Courtenay frowned at Mike, "Attorney Hannigan, you look extremely pale. Are you alright?"

"Your Honour, I may need a break, I'm feeling quite unwell," Mike said weakly.

"Christ, you look it... Alright, I'm calling a 5 minute recess!" Justice Courtenay announced.

Mike rushed out of the courtroom. The jury watched him, perplexed. They were used to him being cool, calm and collected. Who was this nervous, flighty person? Running to the bathroom, Mike collapsed onto his knees, and threw up into the toilet bowl. He had just committed the Crime of Perjury. There was no turning back now.