Hey. So finally got this up. I know you guys may hate me. :) I hope you like it. Sorry it took so long.

Enjoy!

Lunch was quiet and the air was thick with the tension. Maura and Jane were never more than a few inches apart, hands always linked. Neither woman wanted to let go. They were due back to soon. Everyone knew Maura would be called next and there was no doubt that the lawyer would go harder at Maura.

Maura took the witness chair as Emily walked up to her. She asked the questions they had practiced. They were similar to Jane's questions. Maura didn't have much to say about the case since she recused herself. Thats about all they covered. When Emily returned to her seat Mr. Hobbs stepped up.

"You are in love with Detective Jane Rizzoli, are you not?"

"I am in love with her, yes."

"Would you say she is the love of your life?" Maura looked at him confused.

"I don't understand the question," she said. He smirked.

"Would you say you love her more than anyone before her?"

"Yes."

"Why did you marry, Garret Fairfield? Did you love him?" Maura nodded.

"Yes. At the time I thought he was, as you said, the love of my life."

"How old were you when you two married?"

"I was 20. Garret was 22."

"How did you meet?"

"Garret dumped a bucket of sand on my head when I was 7, he 9."

"So you've known each other for some time?"

"Yes. Our families were friends before we were even born."

"Did you spend a lot of time around each other?"

"No. Garret and I did not really socialize before college. We ran into each other during summer vacations because our families would usually go to the same places. I however was more likely to be found in the house library than on the beach."

"How did you two become more"

"Garret was in my psychology class and was falling behind. He was a frat brother and very devoted to their activities. I was at the head of the class so our professor asked me to help him. We spent several weeks together in the library at BCU. One evening he asked me out to dinner as a thank you when he passed his final."

"And you said yes?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He was attractive, familiar, and it was not as if I had many opportunities at the time. I was very dedicated to my studies."

"You were a loner for most of your life."

"I could still be identified as a loner. I don't do well in large groups of people."

"But your station as Chief Medical Officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must bring a lot of attention."

"Yes and I do my duties."

"Your honor is their a point somewhere in this line of questioning," Emily asked.

"Get to the point, councilor. I'd like to be home in time for dinner." Hobbs nodded.

"You claim, Mr. Fairfield was abusive. Why stay with an abusive man?" Maura tried not to shake. Practice was one thing.

"I thought he loved me."

"Even if he hit you?"

"Yes. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I thought I loved him."

"Yet, here you are. You're not only living a life without him but you are living with a woman. Tell me Dr. Isles, do you believe one is born gay or is it a choice?"

"I do not like to make assumptions. There is no scientific data to prove or disprove either assumption."

"Certainly you have a personal belief either way."

"I am a scientist by nature. I don't not believe what I cannot prove. Until it can be proved either way I will keep an open mind."

"So you think its possible that either or both could be true?"

"Again I do not have enough information to answer."

"What about evil? If Garret did this then was he born this way?"

"Evil is a relative idea that has not real function in reality beyond the human need to detach from things they do not want to relate too."

"You're honor please have the witness give an answer."

"Objection. Dr. Isles is answering to the best of her ability. It is not her fault Mr. Hobbs is asking morally dubious questions."

"I agree. Mr. Hobbs you are on thin ice. Please come to a point." Mr. Hobbs glared at Maura.

"I am done with this witness, your honor." He stormed over to his seat.

"Ms. Ryan, do you wish to cross examine?"

"Yes, your honor." Emily got up and walked back over to the stand. "Dr. Isles, do you remember the first time Mr. Fairfield struck you?"
"I do."

"Describe it please." Maura nodded.

"It was a few years ago. I had just started my work as Medical Examiner. The hours were long and I was not home very much. I had come home after a 18 hour shift where I had worked on three victims, one being a young boy." Maura took a deep breathe. "It was clear that Garret was agitated when I got home. He asked me to get him a drink so I got his usual choice of scotch. Not thinking I added ice, which he does not like. He became angry and threw the glass against the far wall. My amygdala and my lacrimal gland have a connection that I can't really control so I started to cry." Maura took a deep breathe, trying not to shake. She forced herself to keep her eyes on Emily and not look at Garrett.

"He struck me across the face, knocking me down. He then demanded I clean up my mess and left the house." Maura felt a rush of intense relief at saying this.

"And what happened when he got home, Dr. Isles?"

"He came home with a bouquet of roses and a diamond necklace. He always left and came back with a present after he hit me."

"And how many times is that?"

"Ten. He's hit me ten times."

"Anything else?"

"He's pushed me, grabbed me to the point I've bruised, and once he threw another glass near my head. The flying glass cut my face and shoulder."

"Why did you stay?" Maura sighed, trying to stay strong but the tears came anyway.

"I was afraid."

"Why?"

"I was afraid of him, what my family would think, and most of all...I was afraid of being alone again. I've always been alone, but in the beginning he made me feel not so alone." She looked at him. He held her gaze for a second before looking away. "I told myself it wasn't him. That he was just having problems and I was just getting in the way. I thought if I...if I could just stop being me..." She began to sob. Emily resisted the urge to comfort her.

"The prosecution is done with this witness, your honor."

"You're excused, Dr. Isles." Maura nodded. The bailiff helped her step down and she left the court room. Jane and the others followed her. They were done with this case.

"Next witness," the judge called.

Okay. I hope you guys liked this chapter. I'll be wrapping it up soon. Thanks for sticking with me even if I take forever. Lol. Read and Review. Thanks.