"The funny thing is," Danielle said to Joanne and Dr Stark just before being guided back to her cell. "Jefferson was the one who told me Michael was on my left. 'Never speaks, him,' he said. 'Although I think he's fucking awesome, I wouldn't want to be alone with him. Murderous son of a bitch he is.' Then he goes and provokes him which gets him killed."

"So do you still believe Michael doesn't care about you?" Dr Stark asked. This time she knew she had to shake her head.

"Jefferson did and said one wrong thing too many about me in front of Michael, and he just snapped. Is anything going to happen to Rick and Joanne because of what happened?"

Dr Stark smiled at Joanne, who smiled back. "No. For all intents and purposes, Rick and Joanne were doing all they could to stop Michael from killing him. They just… Well, couldn't. However, due to the fact that Michael did kill someone today, you won't be able to go to his cell tonight. I really hope you understand. We have no idea how he's feeling or if…"

"He's still lusting for blood," she finished with a queasy smile. "Got you. It's ok. It's only him and I in the corridor anyway now so…" She couldn't finish.

They entered the block just as Rick was un-cuffing Michael then closing his cell door. Dr Loomis gave the killer a small smile as the others entered.

"Hi, are you ok?"

She nodded. "Thanks Dr Loomis, I'm just tired."

"Can I do anything for you?" Joanne asked, as Danielle lay down on her bed.

"Can I get some tea please?"

"Sure, on its way."

"You ok if I leave now?" Dr Stark asked. She nodded. She was absolutely exhausted. "Ok, got that button if you need us?" She smiled at her and touched it. "That's the one," She could tell Dr Stark was smiling at her. "Good."

"Thank you, Dr Stark, for everything."

"No problem. Goodnight." The doors slid closed, and she was gone.

A short while later Joanne came in with her tea and evening meal. After she finished eating, she lay down on her bed and surprisingly to herself she fell fast asleep.

…

She was woken sometime later by a sound she'd never have expected. Her phone was ringing.

"What the fuck?" She muttered groggily as she reached for it, thankful it was only on vibrate. It would have echoed badly in here. It was after midnight. She started to panic for a second. It wasn't Adam, was it? Then she quashed the thought. She was safe, Adam could not reach her here, and then there was the man on her left… "Hello?"

"I'm really sorry to wake you!" She hadn't looked at the ID before answering, but she didn't have to. She knew Charlotte's voice instantly. Her friend sounded as if she'd been crying. "Please just listen to me! I'm so, so sorry babe! You were right all along. Adam is an abusive son of a bitch, just like you always said! I made the stupid mistake to get with him and, and…" Charlotte broke down sobbing, unable to speak. "He made me send you that text," she managed eventually. "I'm so, so sorry! I'm not asking for forgiveness, I'm just… I would've called you much earlier, but I've been in court all day testifying against that bastard for you! Not me, you! I deserve what I went through! I didn't listen to you and let my desire for him rule over our friendship! I…"

"No one deserves to be abused," Danielle said, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb Michael. "No one, Charlotte. He's an abusive prick! Now perhaps you understand why I jumped from that chair that day."

"I do," Charlotte's voice was still clogged with tears. "Are you still in Smith's Grove?"

"Yes, and I'm not leaving anytime soon. To be fair, all the staff have been fabulous to me, I'm not exaggerating or being sarcastic. They've really, really helped me. I don't know where I'd be without them. They genuinely seem to care about me. So does one of the other patients, the one in the cell to my left. Can I tell you something, Charlotte?"

"Anything!"

She didn't know why she was desperate to tell her friend, but she was. She never hated her for sending that text, she'd known it was Adam all along. "I know he made you send that text," she said before beginning her story. She told Charlotte about Jefferson's sexual advances on her, right down to his throwing his cum in her face. Charlotte gasped. "Oh my God! What a prick! I'm so sorry!" She knew Adam had done the same thing; she'd told her at the time.

She went on to explain how Jefferson was now dead, how a fellow patient had smashed his skull against his own cell bars and by all appearances the guards and doctors hadn't been terribly sorry to see him go. "But this is the part I don't understand," she told Charlotte of how the patient on her left had cared for and protected her. How he'd held her throughout the night.

"Wow! He sounds like a good man. Are you going to keep in touch with him when you leave?"

"If he lets me, yes."

"Cool! If/when he's released, I'd love to meet him! I'm glad, Danielle. You deserve to be treated well. What's his name?"

This was the part she had been dreading. But there was no way she was going to lie to Charlotte. She took a deep breath and spoke her two-word answer.

"Michael Myers."

"Michael Myers?!" Charlotte's voice was only just above a whisper. "Holy fuck! The, Michael Myers? You're kidding?"

"No, I'm not. Jefferson died after he threw his cum in my face."

"So let me get this straight. You've been held by a cold-blooded killer? How the fuck are you not dead?"

"Believe me, I've asked myself the very same thing for weeks. I've gone through the whole 'but I can't trust him, he's a killer' riot. But I do and I can't help it, 'I shouldn't jump at the first man who's kind to me' battle. And I lost."

"Jesus." Charlotte whistled. "You're brave."

"Or stupid," she said with a small laugh. "I haven't quite worked out which one yet."

"But by the sounds of it he genuinely likes you. I'm also going to take an educated guess he's the one who killed Jefferson?"

"Yes, and Yes."

After Charlotte hung up a few minutes later, she lay still in her bed, thinking. She had to think. She'd always hoped Charlotte would realise the truth, just not in the way she had, by literally experiencing it herself. Danielle had pleaded with her not to date Adam, but Charlotte had ignored her and boy had she paid for it.

…

"Adam. First things first, you need to listen to me and trust my guidance if we're going to get you a 'Not Guilty' verdict. Whether you're guilty of what you're accused of or not is irrelevant to me and I don't need or want to know. My only concern is defending you and if it turns out that you are in fact guilty and you had divulged that to me; I wouldn't be able to defend you. Got it?"

Adam stared at the sharply dressed lawyer across the desk from him in the court's visiting room. Good. Finally, he might be getting somewhere. "Got it Sir," he said.

"They've got you by the balls right now," Kevin Roland said. "Regarding the internet access and the swapping of accounts to buy the white cane. You said you did it because you didn't know the cane's measurements, yes?" Adam nodded.

"Well, that sounds reasonable to me," Roland said. "So, you approved the transaction?" Adam nodded. He was going to continue lying, good lawyer or not. He knew he had to. Roland might say he'd defend him regardless, but Adam didn't trust him. Not yet. "Of course, I did. I'd never have denied my Danielle anything. She was my world before she tried to kill herself! That broke my heart."

"Of course," Roland said. "But we have to convince the jury, because right now Adam you're the number one suspect of the domestic abuse. Those scars she has… Well, they're horrific and there's a strong argument she couldn't have caused them herself and that came from medical experts."

"So, what does that mean for me?" Adam asked.

"That right now you're in deep shit," Roland said bluntly. "Which is my job to get you out of, but you need to work with me. Did she ever do anything to annoy you, or do you just hate women?"

This time, Adam told his lawyer the truth. "Can't stand the sluts," he said. "Bitches. All they're good for is sex. They do as we men tell them. Society is made out of a bunch of pussies to make it the law."

Roland said nothing, just wrote on his legal pad. Adam was starting to like him already. "So did she?" He prompted. "Annoy you with anything specific?"

"Apart from being a shitty cook and equally shitty in bed you mean, and disobeying me? Not doing as I tell her? She knew I was in charge, and she still defied me. Not that I can think of, Counsellor. Women in general just annoy me. Why is the fucking Judge a woman? That's not going to help me, is it?"

"Adam, I know Judge Spinner. She's fair and the fact she's a woman will make no difference in this case. You have two female jurors as well. Again, no difference. Her Honour listens to all evidence before decisions are made, that includes the verdict."

"I'm trusting you," Adam growled. "To get me out of this. Just because it's not yet legal to show women whose boss, that's not my fault and I refuse to go down for it. One day it is fucking will be, because some man will finally realise it should be, apart from me! One who's in power and can actually do something about it!"

Roland was silent as he wrote. Adam didn't care if he agreed or not. That wasn't his job. His job was to get Adam out of the shit he was in, so he could take revenge on Charlotte. How dare that bitch testify against him! She'd pay for it alright.

…

Danielle sighed. She knew what she had to do, but could she? Would she be allowed to do it? Then there was her deepest and most desperate wish. That Adam would come face to face with Michael Myers. She'd love to be there as Adam begged for his life, she'd stand there and laugh. Picking up her phone, she started to make notes of her thoughts, plans, and dreams. She got no sleep that night.

…

Adam wasn't sure how he felt when Judge Spinner told the court the next morning proceedings wouldn't start until late afternoon, if at all that day. The Jury had requested time to discuss everything they'd heard so far and Judge Spinner had allowed it. But he supposed in a way it was a good thing, as he could talk with Roland. Judge Spinner had quickly told him what he feared. He was going nowhere, still on remand. That bitch. If he could, he'd take revenge on her too. But if not, Charlotte would suffer. He was already imagining all the things he could and would do to her when this was over.

"What do I do about the fact that their statements are consistent?" He asked Roland immediately as soon as they were alone. "That's bad for me, right?"

"It's not great," Roland agreed. Adam felt a stab of anger. "But it's not a nail in the coffin Adam. They were friends after all, that's the argument I'm using. Danielle still has her phone in Smith's Grove by all accounts, so contact between them isn't impossible, especially when you were remanded."

"Fucking bitches," Adam muttered. "They won't win, will they, Roland." It wasn't a question.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure they don't," Roland said. "My job as I said before is to defend you and defend you I shall. You told me that Danielle told Charlotte everything you're accused of doing to her while you were with her?" Adam nodded. "Good. Something else we can use to our advantage. Charlotte could be lying to help out her friend. The only small problem we have is the text you made her send Danielle. It blatantly says she's lying."

Adam cursed. He hadn't considered that when he'd done it, but then he hadn't expected to be arrested either. He gritted his teeth. Shit.

"I'm working on it," Roland said. "But that's a tricky corner we're going to struggle to get out of. Then there's the text you apparently made Charlotte send her boss at 3 AM because he called her 'babe.' We've seen that too."

"Are you, my defence?" Adam snarled. "Or just another fucking prosecutor? Instead of telling me what we're struggling with, tell me how the fuck you'll get me out of its Counsellor!"

"We have to discuss this," Roland's voice was still calm. He wasn't ruffled under pressure that was for sure. "Because that's how we're going to work on getting out of it. Charlotte has already told the court you made her send it and Danielle has testified the same. So, that door is closed. We can't do anything there. However, Danielle's talks with Charlotte, we can. You forget. You told me that Charlotte had fancied you for a long time before she was with you. So that text was sent before any of what you're accused of with Charlotte began. We are perfectly able to argue she sent it in anger due to Danielle's lies. There's nothing which can be used to contradict that."

Adam looked slowly at his lawyer, before a grin spread across his face. Fuck this guy was good! "Awesome, Mr. Roland," he said. "Absolutely awesome."

…

To Danielle's surprise, the breakfast bell didn't sound the next morning. Instead, two guards entered and slid her and Michael's food through a small hatch in their doors. She wondered why, but she didn't ask. She didn't know these guys. After she'd eaten, she lay back down, still thinking hard and fast. She was desperate to talk to Dr Stark, she had to know if her plan was possible. God, she hoped so. Her own little taste of revenge.

Shortly before she was due to head out to the yard, two guards entered, chained Michael and he was led out first. Was this to protect her all over again? She felt herself shiver slightly. Yet she cared about him. She was sure she always would, whatever happened between them in the end. Even if he killed her.

A few minutes later however, the doors opened, and Dr Stark and Joanne came in, immediately speaking so Danielle knew they were there. "We have a little surprise for you," Dr Stark said. "You have a visitor." She stood up and approached the bars, curious. Who on earth would want to see her? It had to be court related. Right?

"Hi Dan," said a voice she knew instantly, and her eyes filled with tears. It was Charlotte. Before she could answer, her cell door was opened and within seconds, the two friends were locked in a fierce embrace. Yet another thing she knew the doctors weren't supposed to allow unless they were absolutely certain there was no risk. God, Danielle loved Dr Stark. She clung to her childhood best friend, never wanting to let go. Dr Stark closed the door and the two girls talked about anything and everything. Charlotte was still unable to believe what she had told her the previous night. Charlotte was the first-person Danielle confided her thoughts, feelings, and plan to.

She was speechless with shock when it was Charlotte who was allowed to guide her out into the yard a few hours later. Joanne was there she knew but didn't say a word. She squeezed her friend's hand as hard as she could as they headed out into the sun. There was no one else she'd rather guide her. Danielle trusted her with her life. As they stepped out, Myers was just being led past them. Danielle knew this because she heard the clinking of his chains.

"Rick?" She asked.

"Yes, it's me. Hi. You, ok?"

"Fine, thanks. Actually, I haven't felt better in a long time. I'd like to introduce you to my friend Charlotte Avery. Best friend since school."

She didn't have to see it to know her friend's eyes had then gone to the infamous masked killer.

"Mr. Myers," she said quietly, confirming Danielle's suspicions. She smiled to herself. "Hello sir." She heard the chains clink again but wasn't sure why. But she found out shortly afterwards. There were no alarms, no panic. But she certainly hadn't expected what she heard. "Thanks for looking after Dan," Charlotte said. "I'm really, really grateful to you. Plus, someone has to keep her in line."

"Shut up," she laughed. Charlotte Avery and Michael Myers had just shaken hands. She was almost certain of it.

"Michael," they heard Rick say. "May I have a quick word please?" Even he sounded a little nervous when addressing the killer, the girls noticed. Not that they blamed him in the slightest. "See you later Danielle, nice to meet you Charlotte," Rick said before leading Michael back through the doors.

"Wo!" Charlotte breathed, sounding almost in awe. "Wo!"

…

Rick Evans had been a security guard for three years and considered himself relatively experienced and not afraid of trouble. He could handle fights, riots or stand offs, but this? This was something else. The man he was currently standing in front of was probably the only one… Scratch that. Was the only one who terrified him to his very soul? He was silent, dangerous, and killed without mercy or remorse. Yet… Rick could hardly believe what he was about to say to him. With a gentle hand on his arm, Rick led the killer back towards his cell. "Tea? Coffee?" He asked. Myers nodded at the latter. Rick knew he should probably say this to the killer with bars between them, in fact the rules stated quite clearly, he should, but no way. Myers was a man just as he was and deserved this face to face. Leading him out of sight of the cameras and unable to believe what he was daring to do; Rick reached forward and clasped the killer's hand. Myers made no move to pull back. Chains or not Rick knew he could badly injure him if he so desired.

He swallowed. "Mr. Myers… Michael," he said quietly, still grasping the other man's hand lightly in his. He kept his voice low, avoiding the microphones he knew were in the corridor. "Listen. I can't thank you enough for what you did for Joanne and me. You could've seriously hurt; hell, even killed us. But you didn't. You knew we were really on your side and we're both very grateful to you for not trying to attack us. We both noticed how you held our vests and how you pushed us back. That was a decent fall stunt from Joanne though I must admit," he grinned a little. "She really made it look convincing. One of those 'don't try at home' jobs."

Rick could hardly believe his eyes. He was sure Michael Myers was ever so slightly smiling back at him. It could've been the light, but he didn't think so. "See? There are some of us who don't deserve killing," Rick said with a small grin. "But I just wanted to thank you." He tightened his grip so that as much as possible through the chains, he shook the killer's hand. He was about to pull back when Myers tightened his grip in turn, giving the guard's hand a single squeeze. Rick absurdly felt a lump in his throat. He was more touched than he could ever say to anyone by this very small gesture from the masked killer. Leading him back into his cell, he returned with a cup of coffee and a couple of Michael's favourite snacks not strictly on the Smith's Grove menu, rather bought from his own pocket in the staff canteen. He saw Myers look at them and raise an eyebrow, Rick was certain he saw that slight smile again. "You're welcome," he said before walking to the block doors. "Enjoy, courtesy of Joanne and I."

…

Danielle Hayward got the best sleep she'd had in years that night. Seeing Charlotte again knowing they'd patched things up, Charlotte was going to be alright and would see Adam locked up for a very long time made her feel happier than she could remember being since she met Adam. She'd confided her plan to Charlotte out in the yard, who'd listened without interruption.

"Are you sure?" Her friend asked finally. "I mean, with everything that happened?"

"Dead sure," she said without a flicker of a smile. "I want to see that son of a bitch locked up even more than you do. He deserves it and worse. If we don't, he'll find another woman to destroy."

"You're right," Charlotte sighed. "But he's got himself another lawyer after the old one walked out following a 'conflict of interest,' but I don't believe it for a second! He was unable to defend a man he was sure was guilty."

She had to laugh. "Seriously? Good man!"

"But this new lawyer is determined to win," Charlotte said bitterly. "Probably due to the vast amount of money which he'll receive if he does."

"Shallow bastard, well I want to help you, us, C! I love you and I'll be damned if Adam Dawson will abuse you any further!"

"I say the same for you," Charlotte said, and the two friends smiled and hugged each other.

"I'll call you as soon as I know anything," Charlotte promised before she left. "Anything at all. You let me know what they say if you ask them. Ok? Personally, I think you're damn brave, but it's your choice. Fair fucking play to you for even thinking about it! I'd be running the other way!"

"I want him locked up," she repeated, there was nothing else to say.

…

For the second time, Dr Loomis looked at Dr Stark as if she'd gone as insane as their patients. "No," he said. "Not there. We can't do it. He's even worse than Jefferson."

"Any suggestions?" Dr Stark asked. "Sorry to repeat my words Sam, but we have no other choice. This is the high care ward, and this guy needs it. He's very dangerous. He's hardly going to go after Danielle, is he? Michael did, but in different circumstances. Trust me we have no choice. We also have the best guards on that ward."

Once again Dr Loomis was forced to admit she was right though he didn't like it, not at all. "I don't want Danielle even in the block when he comes in," he said. "That's an order."

"I agree," Dr Stark said without preamble. "I'll make sure she isn't I'll talk to Joanne. I can't believe how close those two are now."

"I know," now Dr Loomis had to smile. "It's great. Joanne's a good woman and Danielle trusts her."

"Where is she right now?"

"In the yard with her friend Charlotte."

"When's Derek Chancer due to arrive?"

"In two days at 10 AM."

"Ok. Please speak to Joanne. I don't want there to be even the slightest risk I don't even want her in her cell when Chancer gets here. Got me? She's doing so well, and I don't want this guy to cause her to relapse. They are to never be out of their cells at the same time."

"I hear you Sam," Dr Stark said. "Clear as a bell."

…

"So, this text can be proved was sent before Charlotte moved in with you Adam. It means we have something to work with. I can't promise you it'll release you because of everything with Danielle, but it gives the jury a fact that you changed when you left her. A shorter sentence perhaps."

"That's…"

"Adam!" Roland snapped. "It's either that or a longer sentence. Like it or not you're still up on charges against her and I can't change that! I'm trying to help you here, get you the best outcome possible! Work with me here!"

"So, what do I do about her?"

"They can't prove you made the scars. They can testify it looks like it, but they can't prove it. That's key. Unfortunately, with the internet access it's going to be tricky to prove your story as it really does look like how she has alleged it. That you were in control, not her as you're stating. The email 'Come home I want my dinner and sex' for example. That looks like you. Unless she was pretending that she isn't blind. Not likely, sorry Adam. 'Unless you've got lost somewhere, which I hope you have.' They've got you on that one I'm afraid. But there are other things we can convince the jury of to prove that it wasn't as bad as she is reporting at least. For example, the jury has evidence from witnesses which are consistent with her statement, but again there's no proof. That's the solid word needed here Adam. Proof. Without that they can't do anything. Do you know if anyone videoed anything between you and her?"

Adam's blood went cold. He sincerely fucking hoped not, or he really was screwed. "Not that I know of," he said quietly, hoping his emotion didn't show on his face. But if it did Roland ignored it. Good! He wants my money more than Barlow did it seems. Money over morals. Good man! He also knows he'll get a shit load more if he wins. Perfect! Just the kind of lawyer I need. Not some stupid fucker who thinks women are equal to men, Adam sneered inwardly. Idiots.

…

Danielle entered the therapy room for her session with Dr Stark feeling nervous. She knew she had to do this had to at least ask, but how? She didn't want an immediate 'no.' Even if she didn't get an immediate 'yes,' she wanted her doctor to at least consider her request, so she wanted to justify her argument the best way possible. She'd spent all morning in her cell thinking it through.

"Dr Stark," she began as she sat down on the soft couch on the patient's side of the window. "May I talk to you about something?"

"Of course," Dr Stark said. "That's what I'm here for."

"Sorry, that came out wrong. I know that. Well, it's just, I've been doing some thinking recently and I would like to talk to you about it."

"Of course. go ahead. I'm listening."

Because she was in the high care ward, there was no time limit on her sessions whereas some patients in the lower wards only had an hour. She knew she wasn't taking up all of Dr Stark's time. She took a deep breath and began to speak.

"It was so nice seeing Charlotte yesterday, I missed her so much! I'm so glad we've patched things up and she's updated me on the trial. Here's the thing though. I can't just sit here watching and waiting. I just can't! I have to do something to help! That fucker caused me to take my own life, only Nigel stopped me succeeding. Which is why I'm here talking to you in the first place. He would've been happy to see me succeed! That's why he locked the fucking garage door! So, here's the thing. I want to testify. In person, at his trial. Tell them face to face all the things he's done to me, show them my damn scars if I have to! I'll follow whatever rules you set out for me, but I really, really want, no, I really need to do this! All I'm asking you Dr Stark is can we talk about it? Please? I'm begging you right now to just let us do that?"

"Ok. Hold on for just a moment. I'll call Dr Loomis in as well."

She felt gratitude shoot up in her chest. They were seriously going to listen to, discuss it with and maybe give her that chance. A few seconds later, Dr Loomis entered.

"Hi," he said as he sat beside Dr Stark. "Dr Stark tells me you have a request?" She was sure she could hear a smile in his voice. She took a deep breath.

"Yes, I want to testify in court, in person at Adam's trial. Show them my scars if needs be. I want to see him locked up for a very long time. So, he can't hurt another woman or seek retribution against Charlotte or me. I spoke to her during her visit yesterday and she told me how the trial was going. It seems Adam's lawyer doesn't even like him." She smirked a little. "She was the first person I told of my plan."

"Which makes perfect sense," Dr Stark said. "We totally understand why you want to do this and how much it would mean to you. But I have to ask you do you feel that you're ready for it? Strong enough? I know you're angry and hate Adam, with very good reason but are you mentally ready for it? Will you be able to face him given everything he did to you?"

She was silent for a minute, neither therapist pushed her. Finally, she took a deep breath after considering her doctor's question and spoke. Her voice steady and determined. "Yes."

"Ok." Dr Loomis said after another moment in which she heard one or both of them writing something. Her heart sank. Were they going to refuse?

"It's ok," Dr Loomis said as if reading her mind. "We're going to allow this; we agree you deserve that chance. But it will be with the following conditions. First, you will wear a camera which will transmit everything back to us. Second, Joanne will be with you and while she obviously won't be able to say anything to you in the courtroom, when you come out you will speak honestly to us on her radio and tell us how you're doing. Third, if the Judge senses you are getting distressed, she can and will stop the proceedings and Joanne will bring you straight back here. If she does that, don't argue with her. We will contact the prosecution team and one of them will visit tonight to meet with you before you go in tomorrow. Sound good?"

She briefly considered those conditions. They sounded fair, every one of them and she knew the doctors were only doing it for her protection. "Done," she said quietly. "Can I ask a question?" But before she could say anything else, Dr Loomis interrupted her with a soft chuckle.

"Yes," he said. Michael can watch it with us as long as you talk to him when you go out into the yard, tell him what you're doing and what you'd like from him, but in such a way that you're not asking his permission. Ok?" She couldn't help a small smile. How did psychiatrists do that?

"Thank you, doctors," she said quietly just as Joanne silently appeared next to her. "Once again, done."