CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile.

Waking up in the morning the first thing I want to do is roll over and go back to sleep, Jax's body is a warm lump beside me in the bed that I curl closer to till I'm nudging his shoulder with my nose.

"Mmmm. 5 more minutes." He grumbles sleepily and I nod against his skin, letting my eyes close again.

The reason for me being awake becomes obvious when there's a knock and the door creaks open "S, breakfast will be ready in the conference room in 30 minutes. Charlotte is on her way and everyone else is already up."

Donna's voice is a hushed whisper in the quiet room but I hear each word perfectly "K D. Getting there." I mutter, lifting my head off the pillow with a groan.

Jax rolls over; folding his arms around my body and pulling me back down "2 more minutes then." He says with a smile "2 more minutes of just us, peace and quiet before reality sets in."

I nod against his chest and press my lips over Abel's name "Can't we just stay here all day?"

Jax chuckles softly "I wish babe, I really do."

I sigh and pull myself out of his arms "I'm going to shower. I set your clothes for today on the dresser last night."

Jax looks over at the pile and frowns "Jeans and a shirt? You don't want a suit and tie."

I laugh as I walk towards the bathroom "Hell no. I'm not putting anyone forward as something they're not. But be aware, Cam, Al, D, Charlotte and I colour co-ordinated."

"So I finally get to meet the DA?" Jax slides out of bed and follows me, checking on Abel as he passes the cot and dropping a bottle into the warmer we'd brought with us.

Turning on the shower I nod, gathering my shampoo and body wash "Yeah, you should have met her before the trial, but with it being moved forward it didn't happen. At least she's here this morning so you do get to meet her before we're in the courtroom."

35 minutes later Jax and I are both showered and dressed and Abel is dressed and in Jax's arms as we descend in the lift to the ground floor where the conference room is.

Introducing Jax, Donna, Opie, Happy and Juice to Charlotte takes a second but she nods with each of them, shaking Jax's hand before dropping her briefcase on the desk "So I just have a few other pre-trial things I need to check with you Sarah. Do you want to go somewhere more private?"

I snort and shake my head "Anything that's going to come out in the trial will be public knowledge within a few days so if my friends know it first they're better prepared."

Charlotte smiles and nods "Okay that sounds reasonable. First, I went past the court on the way here, there are no reporters there yet but it's still early enough that they could be on the way. The junior they assigned me has been given the very important job of ringing me five minutes before we leave here to tell me if there are any reporters there yet. And then again two minutes before we leave. It's only a 5 minute walk from here so if we leave 15 minutes before we're due to sit down you've got plenty of time, plus that also gives us time if something does happen and you need to go in the back way."

I nod and she steps towards the buffet in the corner "I know it's unlikely but please try and eat something instead of just drinking coffee. I don't think you'll end up on the stand any time before tomorrow. But just in case I don't want you passing out on me."

I sigh and Jax pats the arm that's supporting Abel's weight "I'll get you something babe. You just stay there."

Jax returns with a plate piled with bacon, eggs, sausages, toast and a whole lot of miniature pastries. "Before you ask me if I'm insane this is for both of us." Abel sticks his hand out and picks up a piece of toast which makes Jax laugh.

Reaching over I pull the toast out of his hand, waiting for the squawk of disapproval which arrives just as I lift one of the tiny jars of baby food I'd put together out of the diaper bag. Before I can even open it Trish is in front of me holding out her hand with a smirk on her face "Now I know you're not thinking of feeding him something orange while you're wearing white are you Mom?"

Shaking my head I pass her the jar and watch as she settles Abel into the high chair the hotel had provided.

Charlotte returns to the table with a cup of coffee and her own plate of food. "The list of witnesses has been passed over if you want to double check it, but it's the same as the last one."

I shake my head, picking open one of the miniature croissants and shoving some bacon and eggs into it. Taking a tentative bite I realise that even though I'm nervous I'm also hungry. Jax grins when I finish the croissant and end up eating another one with the same filling and then a chocolate Danish.

"Feel better?" He asks with a smile.

I nod and lean over to give him a soft kiss "I do. Thanks baby. Can I have my coffee now?"

Jax passes me the cup he'd kept out of my reach as he kept pushing the plate towards me. Charlotte looks between us and shakes her head.

"What?" I ask, picking up the cup.

"I never would have believed it if I didn't see it." She comments, running her hand through her thick blonde hair. "You're a different person then you were when you left, you were pretty much afraid of your shadow."

I shrug and grab Jax's hand "There's a saying that I've recently discovered is complete bullshit. It's 'You can never go home again.' I've found that going home was exactly what I needed to become myself again."

Charlotte nods, turning to the rest of the table and starting to list some of the things we're likely to hear, and see, including the photos taken when I was in the hospital. Everyone at the table either saw me in person or has already seen the couple of photos Al and Cam had, apart from Happy.

"Charlotte, do you have those photos?" I ask quietly when there's a break in the conversation.

She shakes her head "Not the originals, they're at the courthouse already. I do have some copies."

I hold my hand out and she lifts a couple of photocopies out of her briefcase "Are you sure?"

I shake my head and pull them from her fingers "It's not for me." Turning in my seat I look at Happy where he's at the other end of the table "Hap, come here. Trish, can you and Derek take Charlotte to the front desk and make sure they know to let her in whenever she comes?"

Trish stands up and waits for Derek and Charlotte to rise, the later looking at me with a slightly confused look but understanding dawns in Cam's eyes and she quietly whispers "You don't wanna know." Under her breath which makes Charlotte frown even deeper but she follows Derek and Trish, who is still holding Abel silently out the door.

Happy sits in Charlottes abandoned seat "What's up cupcake?"

Passing the two photos to him I put my hand over them "Before you look at these remember one thing okay?"

"What?" He says, his dark eyes flashing over my face with concern.

"Remember that justice is done." I lift my hand off and wait while Happy turns the pages over, the normally stoic man sucks in a startled breath, lifting his eyes to me.

"What was wrong?"

I shake my head "You'll get the full list later I'm sure, but probably not till I'm questioned, or my doctors that is. I was completely malnourished and dehydrated, among other things."

Happy passes the photo to Jax who barely looks at it; it's almost a carbon copy of the one that they saw at Cam's. Tossing it into Charlottes open briefcase it's not till Happy lets loose a tirade of profanity that I realise the second page isn't a photo, it's a full list of my injuries.

"Hap!" I grab his hand and get nothing but a violent wrench from his arm as he continues to list the things he'd like to do to Craig. "Happy!" I try again, in vain as he moves on to some things that make me cringe and Jax cross his hands over his crotch. "Happy Lowman you stop that right now!" I snap, finally bringing Happy back to the present as he was muttering in great detail what he'd like to do with a bottle of disinfectant and a pair of needle nose pliers which has Juice paling and Donna and Opie both covering their kids ears tighter.

Happy lifts his eyes as he reaches the bottom of the page, the swirling colour darker than the pits of Hell where Craig now enjoys every day. "I'm alive, I'm healthy, I'm happy and I'm here! What happened to me is in the past and once this shit is over I fully intend on never thinking about it again. Okay?"

Happy surprises not just me, but everyone else in the room by getting to his feet and hugging me tightly to his chest. Pulling far enough back so he can look down at me he shakes his head "There would not have been a rock on earth that piece of fertiliser could have hidden under if you'd not survived."

Hugging me again I nod against his shoulder "I know Hap, but I'm fine. Now, before everyone starts thinking you're insane wanna let go so I can finish my breakfast?"