Hands up in exasperation filled the dimly lit Jury room, every man and woman at the desk covered in papers of notes.

"For God's sake Ellen! He's guilty! We can all see it except you! Why?"

"I have a son who was convicted of Domestic Abuse," the Juror, Ellen, said simply. "She lied about him. He was found guilty. Serious miscarriage of justice!"

"You can't…" Dave was struggling to keep his voice calm. "Let your personal experiences influence you, Ellen. It's in our Jury's oath!"

"I don't care!" Ellen said. "I don't agree, end of story! My son was eventually released and given vast compensation! I'm not seeing another man go down like he did!"

"You've seen how he talks about women," James said, struggling with his own anger. "He hates women, Ellen! The irony he'd find in it if he knew a woman was defending him! He's already lost one male lawyer because he was sure Dawson was lying! You wouldn't be doing him any favours; it'd just greatly amuse the abusive sexist prick!"

"I'm sorry but I'm not changing my mind. Having seen an innocent man go down for it, I'm not risking it again,"

"But he's NOT FUCKING INNOCENT!" Tim shouted the last few words and actually slammed his hand against the table. "Jesus' woman! We're convicting eleven to one and you don't agree because of your damn son? You can't do that! I have to tell the Judge. I have to! You are perverting the course of justice!"

"Do what you will," Ellen appeared completely unruffled. "But I'm telling you, my opinion still stands. You think he's guilty, but what if he isn't? What if indeed Hayward and Avery are both lying? Yes, he called Hayward a bitch today, but that may have been out of pure frustration. He loved her, remember. Until she broke his heart. I'd be frustrated too if someone was lying about me!"

"Just today he threatened her with a fucking machete," Greg stared at her, pushing down his own rising anger. "That doesn't sound like an innocent man to me, Ellen! You're making a very, very serious mistake! Her Honour obviously feels the same as the eleven," he stressed the eleven. "Of us because she's remanded him for four nights now! Come on Ellen, wake the fuck up! You're more fucking blind than Danielle is, if you can't see that he's guilty! Oh my God, I don't believe this!"

"Be that as it may," Ellen said. "The vote has to be unanimous, and I do not agree. I'm sorry."

"What's the matter with you woman?" Hazel, the other female Juror snapped. "You're making as Greg said, a very serious mistake indeed! What if he goes on to continue abusing Charlotte? Or one day gets his hands on Danielle? This man is evil, hands down. You want us to vote Not Guilty because of your precious fucking son?"

Ellen got to her feet now. "Sean was found guilty and spent time in prison," she almost shouted. "Yes, he was released and vastly compensated, but every day it hurt me! I cannot, will not, see it happen again to another possibly innocent man! Regardless of what you say! He's got a mother out there somewhere you know!"

"Who should've killed him at birth," Hazel muttered. "Ellen, I too have a son. If he did to any woman what Adam has done, I'd be sending him down, no qualms. I'd still love him, but he'd have to face the consequences of his actions."

"I mean hell," James added. "Her Honour will be contacting us any minute! "Shortly," she said! She must know how most of us," he too stressed the most. "Feel about this man!"

"Is accused of doing," Ellen said.

The other members of the jury were glaring at her. Luck really wasn't on their side. Just before the start this morning, the Bailiff had come in to tell the judge one of the alternate Jury members had had to leave because her daughter had become very sick at school and no one else could pick her up. Then, the second had collapsed while she was giving testimony with a heart attack and had to be rushed to the hospital. This was why they were in the situation they were in now, a Juror putting her personal life in the way of justice.

…

"Mr. Goodwin," Danielle said a few minutes later.

"Now I've told you it's Alan," Goodwin squeezed her arm. She couldn't stop a smile.

"Thanks, Alan. Are we expecting a verdict today?"

"It's very probable," Goodwin said. Dr Loomis had finally given Goodwin permission to tell her what had happened, why the Judge had adjourned so suddenly. "Ha," she laughed bitterly. The camera was still live. "He's threatened me with a machete so many times, tell me something new. But I just never knew he had one on him to finish the job that day. But meh," she shrugged. "That machete threat isn't new."

…

Sure, enough just over an hour later, they were called back in, this time turning to face the Jury.

"Jury," the Court Clerk said. "Have you reached a verdict you all agree on?"

"No," James said, and they could all hear his anger. "No Sir, we have not."

"That surprises me," Judge Spinner said. "James, just an hour ago, you all said you were ready. Why have you changed your mind now?"

"One of us doesn't agree," James said simply, glaring at the wall. "For the stupidest reason I may add," he muttered.

"Who doesn't agree?" Judge Spinner asked. There was silence and the Jury knew Ellen despite her words was too afraid to stand up and tell the Judge why. All eleven other members of the Jury were glaring at her. That attracted Judge Spinner's attention.

"Mrs. Duckworth, you do not agree? May I ask why? You gave no sign of this yesterday when I asked if you were ready to prepare your verdict, which you should have done. I ask you to tell the court why?" Ellen didn't move. The Judge hit the bench with her gavel and asked again. A signal everyone knew meaning Duckworth was close to being in contempt of court. Ellen slowly stood.

"You're Honour," she stammered. "I…" But before she could finish, James leapt to his feet.

"You're Honour, Ellen doesn't agree because she's only now just told us that her son was charged and found guilty of Domestic Abuse, that he was wrongfully convicted then released after doing time in prison. She states she doesn't want another 'innocent,' "he made quotation marks in the air at that word. "'Man, to go down like he did.'"

"Is this true Mrs. Duckworth?" Judge Spinner asked. All Ellen could do was nod, tears in her eyes. "This should have been mentioned when you started the case. You knew it was Domestic Abuse against a male and that you can't allow personal opinions or experiences into it. You have to go with evidence, not your personal life. I'm afraid this means you will face punishment for not being honest from the start, Mrs. Duckworth. I also fail to see how you can disagree given that the eleven others seem to agree, after all the evidence that has been heard."

Adam began to laugh. Cold, mocking. "Why thank you darling'," he drawled. "One bitch knows who's boss. Who respects and fears me? Aww, don't want me to end up like your precious son, eh? I'll take part of it back then. One bitch in this world talks sense."

"Silence Dawson!" Judge Spinner snapped. "Enough! Jury, you need to go back and deliberate again. Thank you! The verdict has to be unanimous!"

James was glaring at Ellen now, as were Tim, Steve, and the others. This was insane! This could take days if Ellen refused to change her position.

"Guards, take Mr. Dawson back to his cell. Jury, I will contact you in three hours regarding the verdict!" The echoing crash of her gavel against her bench left no room for argument.

…

Charlotte, Danielle and Joanne sat in a small café while they waited to return to court. Joanne got a discount as Smith's Grove staff. She showed her ID, but Charlotte insisted on paying. When Joanne tried to argue, she glared at her. Smiling Joanne shut her mouth. When Danielle tried to protest Charlotte just started whistling, drowning her out. They both got the message. The police had given Charlotte a lift to court but while there, Dr Loomis had spoken to Joanne via her radio so only she heard, asking her to ask Charlotte to come back with them and a Domestic Violence worker would speak to her face to face. Charlotte had agreed, smiling in thanks and gratitude. So now here they were having hot drinks before heading back to court.

"You were so brave in there," Charlotte said as she bit into her toasted ham and cheddar sandwich. The camera was no longer live, but the earpiece was. She smiled a little. "Thanks."

"I agree," Joanne squeezed her arm. "Even when things got difficult, you stayed strong."

"I say again," Charlotte said. "I'd have been running the other way if I'd gone through what you have at his hands. Damn I respect you."

Danielle smiled slightly. Charlotte could see people looking at Joanne from the other tables. It didn't surprise her; she was in full uniform plus her gun. Charlotte had also snuck looks at her throughout the day. Though her uniform looked intimidating, her kind face dispelled any fears. Charlotte was desperate to ask her for a quick look at her protective gear but wasn't sure if she should. Police were one thing; these guys were another and Charlotte really respected them.

Danielle bit into her blueberry muffin, surprised to find out just how hungry she was. She couldn't believe how much better she felt, having given her testimony against Adam.

…

"How are you feeling?" Dr Stark asked over Joanne's radio as Danielle sat in a private consultation room to talk to her. "You were amazing in there today."

"Thanks, I appreciate that. I just can't believe one juror won't agree because of her own personal life! Isn't that prison time?"

"It is. The Judge will deal with that as she said. Mrs. Duckworth will face retribution for it."

"I hope so," she muttered. Then she sighed. "It just brought back so many memories, but I'm afraid to talk about them because…" She hesitated, then decided she had to be totally honest with her doctor. "I'm worried if I do, you'll think I'm regressing, and I really don't want that. They're not making me feel suicidal or anything, it was Adam himself who did that!"

"No, quite the contrary. Talking is a good thing. I won't think you're regressing just because you speak to me. I want to know what happened because I want to help you. No other reason. I'd be more concerned if you didn't talk to me."

"Thanks, I needed to hear that. Well…" She took a deep breath. "I was just remembering things he did to me. Like…" She looked embarrassed. "You know he never let me see him in a suit and tie? Sometimes I liked wearing one, not sure why and one day he grabbed my jacket collar and shoved me against a wall, asking me if I liked the power, I thought it gave me, the power men have that women don't."

"What power do you think that is?"

"To control us I guess," she said. "To make decisions for us. I think he was judging it based on other countries. You've seen how women are treated. Raped by their husbands if they don't cook dinner quick enough or take his plate out fast enough. They need consent from a male guardian to marry, talk to other men, vote, and drive, and have a bank account. That's just the start."

"That very unfortunately is the case," Dr Stark said. "Sadly. But work is being done to stop it. Even if it may take a while. Do you think that's what Adam was referring to regarding you?"

"I know it was," she said without hesitation. "He wants to control women, own them, and dictate their lives. He seems to get a kick out of it. A dick that is. It turns the sick fucker on."

She was silent for a moment, her hands resting on the table. Finally, she took another deep breath and continued.

"Then there was the time I owed him $25 for something, and I couldn't pay it back. Not to mention he had my damn bank card! But I had no money in my account, he'd probably spent it all! He said if I didn't, he'd take me to court for theft. I know now that he didn't have a leg to stand on, but back then… In the end, he said to sleep with him, and he'd forget it. I didn't have a choice, or at least that's how it felt, so I did."

"I'm sorry," Dr Stark said. "We have your bank card now for when you leave, and you'll get it back then. You know if you want anything while here though you just have to ask."

"As to whether he did forget it, I'll never know. Hell, he spent all my money anyway as soon as I was paid so…" She shrugged. "The threat with the machete wasn't new either. That's why I acted so unbothered. I was. He said it so many times before."

"But that's not right that you are so unbothered. You should've been terrified as if it was the first time you'd heard it. It wasn't, that's what's so wrong."

"But I didn't know he was planning on killing me that day if the rope had failed," she said quietly. "If not for Nigel, even if the rope broke, I'd be dead now. Can you break down a door with a machete, Dr Stark?"

"You can try, but it's not the best weapon for the job. Don't worry, I'm certain the court also knows this and sees through the lie. Indeed, Goodwin challenged him on it. Didn't he? I will say that was the moment I was proudest of you in there today. You would've been completely justified to panic when you heard that, a lot of people would. But you didn't, you kept your cool. Dr Loomis said the same."

"Thanks. I think it was mainly because I knew that Joanne and Charlotte were there, I felt safe, not to mention who else was watching besides you two."

"Quite."

…

Adam jolted awake in his cell, his heart beating unusually fast. "What the fuck?" He muttered, pushing himself into a sitting position on the narrow bed. It'd been a bad dream and fuck it'd been vivid. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. That fucking killer Michael Myers. Why was he cropping up in Adam's damn dreams? Adam's blood had gone cold. Why the fuck had his bitch she wanted to Google him in the damn first place? The guy was a masked psychopath. Then again, he smirked. She was in there with him now. Maybe she was also with him in that way too. At that thought, Adam actually laughed out loud. He'd never take her as his. He'd kill her first, good. He'd be doing him a favour. In his dream just now though, he'd been there with a knife at Adam's throat, wearing that terrifying deathly pale mask. Why the fuck was he on Adam's mind right now? It wasn't like he was at the damn trial. Hell, he didn't even know about Adam. It was ridiculous and he knew it. But still…

Adam was proud to admit he often had sexual dreams and woke with a hard on. Not right now. Right at this moment his blood was freezing cold, and his cock was for once, the last thing on his mind. "What the fuck?" He muttered again, trying to regain his composure. "Get a grip, Dawson!" He must've been thinking about him somehow, if only subconsciously. That was all. There was nothing else in it. She probably wouldn't even have met Myers. The guards wouldn't have let that happen. Shame, he'd thank the guy if he killed her for him. Shake his fucking hand and all. How dare she testify! What the fuck were her doctors playing at anyway? The bitch was insane. Why would the jury believe a word she said? But still, Adam felt uneasy. What if… He knew they wouldn't, but what if they did? Adam hadn't even meant to fall asleep in the first place. He wished the fucking jury would hurry up. He glanced up at the clock. one hour to go.

…

"Ellen, for fuck's sake! Think about it woman! You're making a very, very serious mistake!"

"Sorry," Duckworth said. "But I refuse to change my mind or position. What if, just what if Mr. Dawson is not guilty? You are all sure he is, but what if he isn't? Just as my son wasn't?"

James felt anger grip him and glancing at the other jury members, he could see it reflected in their faces as well. "Ellen," he said, desperately trying to keep his voice calm. "Please allow me to go through the evidence for you again. We have a totally blind woman found hanging in a garage, her so-called boyfriend's garage which he locked, once he saw that she was hanging in there. She had to be cut down by a neighbour. He was leaving her to die. He had absolutely no desire to rescue her. Then there's the machete. You can't break down a garage door with a fucking machete! He was going to kill her with it if she somehow survived! Then there's the internet, the texts, those horrific scars on Danielle's body! Woman, just listen for a minute!"

"As I say," Duckworth said. "That doesn't constitute guilt."

"Oh, my good God," Tim put his hands in the air. "What did you study in school, woman? Only you're ABC's?"

"Are you calling me stupid?" Duckworth challenged him.

"Yes!" Tim said, finally losing patience. "Very! What the hell? You're going to let a guilty man walk, all because of your own personal experiences! You can't do that! You, you just can't!"

"Ellen," Hazel sounded as if she was near tears. "Just, for a second, take your son out of this. Would you think Dawson was guilty?"

"That's impossible to answer," Duckworth said calmly. "But it won't change my mind. Did you hear how upset Mr. Dawson sounded in the dock when talking about her? He loved her. I think he's just hurt because she's accused him of all this."

"Crocodile tears! I need air," Steve and Dave said in unison, leaving without another word. Tim rubbed his hair, furiously. There was absolutely nothing they could do. Adam Dawson was very likely going to walk out a free man.

…

There was the buzzer. Danielle felt faint. Joanne and Charlotte both gripped her hands. "Charlotte," she said. "Will you stand with me this time? Please? Can you?" Before Charlotte could even answer, Joanne had nodded. "Yes," Charlotte said immediately. Goodwin had again shaken her hand, reminding her he was there for her. It turned out Goodwin had asked the judge if Charlotte could stand with her during the recess to which Her Honour had agreed. She wasn't surprised to feel her legs shaking, as they once again entered the courtroom.

…

Adam heard the buzzer and felt his heart sore. This was it! Hallelujah! They couldn't hold him here any longer! It had to be decided today, one way or another and by the look of it, he was getting out. He made a special effort to get the creases out of his suit. Not that his ex-bitch would ever feel him in it. He smiled at that thought. Oh, this was going to be so much fun… Also, if she hadn't changed her number he was going to call Danielle upon his release, just drop in a nice little reminder of who she still obeyed and who still owned her… Both of them for that matter. Charlotte had better hope and prayed his house was exactly as he'd left it, or she'd be in a world of trouble too. Hell, she was anyway, but he didn't need much of an excuse to make it worse for her.

Roland was waiting in the consultation room as Adam entered. Once again, no handshakes between them. Hopefully, Adam thought, I won't need to see this man again after today. My life can start again! All the pussy I haven't had! All those women out there that I can fuck, own, control… "Ok let's go," Roland said without preamble. "They're waiting for us."

The guard escorted Adam, still in handcuffs up and into the dock, which was securely locked before he was un-cuffed. No more fucking handcuffs, he thought with glee. Not on me anyway. On those bitches though? Hell yes! It's certainly given me a few ideas; I can get hold of real handcuffs easily.

The doors opened and Adam heard people entering, once again stepping behind the safety screens. Fucking cowards, he scoffed. Face me, why don't you? Too afraid of me? Poor little bitches. Once again Adam felt his cock hardening at the thought of their fear of him. Oh, how he wanted to fuck them, right now on the floor of this court room…

"Ok," Judge Spinner said. Again, Adam's cock twitched at the sound of her voice. You too bitch, he thought. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, this is the final time I will be asking you this question. Have you reached a verdict upon which all twelve of you agree?"

…

Behind the screens, Danielle's heart raced at an impossibly fast speed. As if she could sense her distress, Joanne pulled her close and gave her a comforting squeeze as did Charlotte. She was actually shaking, and she almost cringed away in surprise when she felt a soft, warm pressure against her cheek. However, she was able to relax a tiny bit when she realised Charlotte had just kissed her cheek.

She knew what was coming; somewhere deep down in the pit of her clenching stomach, she knew that it would not be good news. Then came the words she had been dreading.

"No, Your Honour," James informed the court, and she could hear his anger quivering in his low, emotion-roughened voice. "We are still hung, eleven to one. Mrs. Duckworth still does not agree, and she refuses to look at the exhibits and other evidence that we were supposed to examine."

"Fuck," Danielle squeaked, trying desperately to hold on to her composure. The walls were closing in - she could feel the pressure surrounding her increase as the lid of an invisible box slammed down, and the air suddenly seemed too thick and caustic to breathe. She was about to have a panic attack. "Fuck…"

"Very well," Judge Spinner said quietly after a long moment of pensive silence, during which Danielle felt like she was suffocating. "Everyone, please remain where you are. I have to make one phone call for further instructions. It will not take me long. Mr. Dawson, you are to remain in the dock in the meantime, and the jury is not yet dismissed."

It felt like ages before Judge Spinner returned, banging her gavel against her bench to order silence. Tasting bile rising up from her throat, she thought she was about to be sick. After days of giving evidence, waiting, this was it… Charlotte tightened her arm around her as did Joanne. Goodwin softly tapped his table, telling her that he was right there with them.

"I think I'm going to be sick," she just managed to whisper. "Oh, Jesus I…"

"Ladies and gentlemen," Judge Spinner began. "I called the District Attorney for the State of Illinois to request a retrial as this trial resulted in a hung jury." Danielle was sure she heard Her Honour take a breath. "It will take several weeks if not months for the D.A. to review the evidence and decide whether or not to move forward with a retrial." There was total silence, before she spoke again. "Assuming that he can post a secured bond of $20,000, Mr. Dawson is to be released without further action pending the District Attorney's determination regarding a retrial. However, Mr. Dawson, you will have strict conditions placed upon you, and the circumstances and events of this trial will be released to the media, along with the jury's eleven to one position. Additionally, it will be made freely available to any future women with whom you try to start a relationship with, casual or otherwise. Based on the evidence presented in this courtroom and your own testimony, I believe that you are a very dangerous man, and the police and I shall be watching you, Mr. Dawson - very, very carefully - and we shall not hesitate to take action if required. I am issuing an Order of Protection, prohibiting you from being within five hundred yards of Danielle Hayward or Charlotte Avery. If you violate this order, you will be arrested on the spot, and the full amount of your bond as well as your freedom will be forfeited to the State."

Danielle suddenly felt very strange. Had someone just pressed a concealed button? It felt as if the ground was tilting up, like she was going uphill on a treadmill. "Danielle!" She heard Charlotte's voice say as the ground rushed up to meet her. Then, nothing. She had no awareness whatsoever of the Judge's next words.

…

Taking a deep breath and trying to think quickly about what was appropriate in this situation, Judge Spinner changed the subject and turned to face the jurors where they still stood in the box. "I am extremely disappointed in this jury and their inability to reach a unanimous verdict, and especially in you, Mrs. Duckworth for having lied under oath about your ability to render an impartial judgment during Void Dire and when you were sworn into serve. As a result of this, Mrs. Ellen Duckworth, you are hereby charged with perjury and contempt of court, for which I sentence you to ninety days incarceration, all but thirty to be suspended pending good behaviour. Bailiffs, please take Mrs. Duckworth into custody and transport her immediately to County Jail to be processed and begin serving her sentence. Mr. Dawson is to be released immediately upon making the Bond. Please escort him to the Clerk's Office for this purpose."

Judge Spinner was fuming. As the dock was unlocked, Adam Dawson started to whistle. She wanted to punch him. She took a deep breath. She had to stay professional, but she hated the little worm. She saw that Charlotte Avery was in tears, then two medics came running towards the safety screens set up to protect that bastard's poor victim. Her heart broke. Danielle had clearly collapsed, and she could not help feeling like it was partially her fault. After all, she had presided over the trial that failed to give the young woman justice, and she had failed to detect Ellen Duckworth's bias in time. She was sincerely thankful that Adam had not and could not see the evidence of her collapse. She saw Goodwin and Roland shake hands, exchanging bitter smiles. It was clear to Judge Spinner that they were united in this. Obviously, they did not want Adam released either.

Adam had just strolled to the doors, smoothing his tie and suit jacket, one of the bailiffs walking right behind him to guide him to the Clerk's Office where he could call for a Bond. The very way he walked was infuriating, the casual confidence that clearly broadcasts just how invincible, just how superior the disgusting fiend believed himself to be. Judge Spinner wanted to lock him up so badly and to throw away the key. At least there had been someone who she could apprehend today. One guilty person might be leaving the courthouse a free person, but the second was not so fortunate. However, the more she thought about it, the more insufficient her initial sentence seemed, although she never had been compelled by the circumstances in her courtroom to assign a greater penalty. She could not even recall what the maximum sentence was for perjury and contempt of court were off the top of her head. With a sigh, she stalked down the hallway to her chambers. She had work to do, and very little time in which to get it done.

…

Rage. Cold, black rage. That was all The Shape felt as he watched Adam's release, then Danielle collapsed. He wanted to help her more than anything. His hand clenched as if it was curling tightly around the wooden handle of his beloved knife. He could imagine how it would feel to sink that long, sharp blade into a vulnerable body, the satisfying give of the penetrated flesh, the sudden wet heat coating his hand, spurting out onto him, and dripping down his arm. Now, Adam Dawson and Ellen Duckworth's names were both recorded on a metaphorical notepad that he kept inside his head. He barely felt Dr Loomis' gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Easy," Dr Loomis murmured to him. "Easy, Michael. I understand, believe me I do, but they're nowhere near here right now. Keep it under control for me, please? No one innocent needs to die, ok?" For a brief second, The Shape wanted to turn and wrap his hands around the doctor's neck. The urge to kill, the need to destroy a living being, was almost as strong as he had ever felt it. Even so, he just about managed to hold on to it. Two guards entered, moving quickly to stand at either side of him, as if drawn by some inaudible alarm or by the sense of prey that a predator is on the verge of pouncing - Ryan and Jack, the Shape saw. But neither made any move to touch nor escort him from the room.

…

"Danielle! Can you hear me?" The voice seemed to be coming from down a very long tunnel. She slowly opened her eyes. Fuck, her head hurt so badly. She knew that voice; it was Charlotte. It was then she felt her hand being carefully picked up and softly held. "It's me," her best friend's voice tinkled faintly in her ear as if from a great distance away. "I'm here, D, I'm here. It's alright now."

She opened her mouth trying to speak, but her throat was too dry for any words to form. Instantly, a cool glass of water was pushed into her hand then guided up to her lips.

"Hey there," said a voice that she did not recognise, and the unfamiliarity of it might have startled her were it not so warm and full of compassion. "I'm Hayley, one of the court medics. You're alright, sweetie - you just passed out. Hardly surprising, I might add; you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Do you hear me?"

"Exactly!" Charlotte exclaimed.

"How are you feeling now, sweetheart?" Hayley inquired, and she realised that it was this new woman's hand that had supported her own, helping her drink the water.

"Like shit," Danielle muttered. She put a hand up, feeling for the camera. "Is…"

"Now don't you worry about that," Dr Stark's voice said immediately from the speaker on the camera. "It's working just fine; we can see you perfectly well. We're still watching you, for obvious reasons."

As if she had seen and interpreted the sudden opening of her mouth, the psychiatrist interjected, "Now, don't you dare even try to apologise or move until Hayley, there says you can. That will make all three of us very unhappy. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Dr Stark."

Charlotte and Hayley smiled at each other, deeply relieved by Danielle's acquiescence to the doctor.

"Where's Joanne?" She croaked.

"I'm here, my girl," her guard said, touching her shoulder. "Right here."

Finally, as if that light, kind touch had broken an overloaded dam within her, she started to cry. Immediately, Charlotte, Joanne and Hayley all knelt at her side, putting their arms around her. "It's ok," they said together.

"He'll die before he hurts you again," Charlotte growled protectively, and she could almost sense the look of understanding which must have passed between her friend and guard.

Isn't that the truth! She thought, feeling the corners of her mouth turn up into a hint of a smile knowing how well-protected she was. She felt her eyes closing again as Charlotte continued to hold her hand.

Hayley stood. "I'll be back in half an hour," she whispered to Charlotte, Joanne, and those on the other side of the camera, before quietly leaving the medical room.

…

Judge Hannah Spinner entered her chambers, nodding distractedly to the police officer who was already there waiting for her arrival, pleased by his prompt arrival in response to her hasty summons. Hannah was well known around the courthouse for working quickly and efficiently, and the officer's presence was proof of that.

"Your Honour," he respectfully greeted her, wondering why he had been called to her chambers, and what could have caused the ordinarily even-tempered, nearly unflappable judge to look so furious.

She smiled grimly back at him as she entered her office, immediately grabbing two thick, leather-bound volumes from her bookshelf and booting up her computer before taking a seat behind her desk. A few minutes later, after some hurried legal research in the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure, the Court Rules for the district, and online using Westlaw to ensure that there would be no grounds for the appellate court to overturn her decision should it be appealed, followed by a phone call, there came a knock on the door. When it opened, the figure of Ellen Duckworth was revealed hesitating in the doorway, her eyes wide and wet with tears and her arm held in the firm grip of the bailiff who was scowling down at the obviously flustered woman.

"You asked for me, Your Honour?" Duckworth asked, looking nervously between the Judge and the police officer.

"Indeed, I did," Judge Spinner replied coldly. "Please take a seat Mrs. Duckworth."

Ellen's nerves were mounting almost to the point of overwhelming her completely. Something told her that she was in very serious trouble - even more so than she initially had thought when Judge Spinner had ordered her to spend a month in County Lockup at the conclusion of the trial. Obeying the Judge, she cautiously sat on the edge of one of the leather-upholstered armchairs across from an intimidatingly large desk.

"Mrs. Duckworth, I'm afraid that your behaviour leaves me no choice. You are seriously perverting the course of justice by having perjured yourself during Voir Dire and you are in contempt of court. Your decision not to convict had absolutely nothing to do with the evidence before you, and you even told your fellow Jurors as much. Your failure to inform us of this conflict of interest at the beginning of the case, that you were required to do during Voir Dire and again when you were sworn in as a juror has cost the State over $one hundred thousand dollars and cost the victims more than you could ever know or understand. You have just released an evil abuser of vulnerable women back into the general public, of this I have no doubt. Frankly, Mrs. Duckworth, I am disgusted by you. Your actions are abhorrent and despicable, and I can't allow you to get off with little more than a slap upon the wrist, as a month in County Jail would be."

Ellen's heart sank hearing those words. A month in jail seemed far too steep for standing up for her convictions! Admittedly, she had not paid much attention to the evidence in the Dawson trial because all she could think about was her poor, wrongfully convicted son, but she was confident that the women who testified against him had been the real perjurers. Not her! This was so unfair, and hot tears began spilling down her pale cheeks.

Unperturbed and even slightly pleased by the former juror's tears, Judge Spinner continued, "As I never had encountered such a blatant dereliction of duty by any juror in all my years on the bench, upon leaving the courtroom, I conducted some legal research regarding the statutory maximum sentence that I could impose on you. By the power vested in me by the State of Illinois, I sentence you to eight years in prison for the aforementioned offenses, of which you must serve five years before you are even eligible for parole."

The police officer, who felt almost as disgusted by Duckworth as the Judge herself, despite not knowing any more about the case and the woman's role therein, than what he just heard, stepped forward and intoned gravely, "Ellen Duckworth, you are under arrest for perjury and being in contempt of court, thereby having perverted the course of justice. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you do/say may be used in court against you …" As he read her the Miranda Rights, he pulled her arms behind her back and clicked thick steel handcuffs around her shaking wrists.

"Your Honour," Duckworth began to plead. "Please, I…"

Not wanting to hear any more from that sanctimonious idiot, Judge Spinner left the office, not even looking back.

…

"How are you now?" Hayley asked upon returning to Medical a half-hour later. Her eyes had fluttered open again a few minutes before she walked in.

"I think I'm in shock," she admitted. "Fuck knows why, though, as I was expecting this."

"Stop thinking you're weak, you," Charlotte interjected firmly, scared again for her friend who had come so close to dying, and to whom justice had just been denied by some idiot woman who did not belong in the jury. "You may have been expecting this, but it doesn't stop the shock from shaking you when it strikes."

"That's exactly right, Charlotte," Joanne added; and Hayley said, "Well said," at exactly the same time.

"Do you think you're ready to get up now?" The medic asked and she nodded somewhat shakily in reply.

"Steady," Hayley said as she rose to her feet. "Let us help you. Humour me here, please."

Charlotte and Joanne took hold of her forearms, supporting her into a standing position.

"How's that?" Hayley asked, and she could hear the genuine concern in her voice. "Any dizziness?"

"Only briefly," she replied with a small smile. "I think I can walk now."

"Oh no you don't," Hayley said firmly. "Not yet. You're drinking this water first, young lady."

Joanne and Charlotte shared a glance and a smile at how solicitous Hayley was with their stubborn friend and at how effective it was proving to be.

"Yes, Mom," she said with a sarcastic smirk before taking the glass, squeezing the medic's hand as she did.

"Good girl." A few minutes later, the medic cleared her to leave.

"Easy does it," Joanne said as she and Charlotte escorted her out.

"Please let me say this just once. I feel really ashamed of myself. Expected result or not, I went to pieces. I collapsed. I feel so weak."

"Then let me say this just once," Charlotte retorted. "The man that was just released would've left you to die in his fucking garage; he raped, controlled, assaulted, and belittled you. He treated you like shit! You have NOTHING to be ashamed of Danielle Hayward! Got it? Ok, you've said it, now don't you dare ever let me hear you say you're weak ever again!"

"Me neither," Joanne said firmly. As it was two against one, she shut her mouth.

They reached the foyer and she heard someone whistling. Her insides turned to ice. She did not have to see or hear him speaking to know that it was Adam standing somewhere in the room. Joanne and Charlotte both tightened their arms around her. There were a few small things in life that filled her with joy, and one thing in particular that she loved was the sound of someone whistling. Even though her friends and family thought it was silly, it was still her favourite sound. Adam could whistle remarkably well, sounding almost like Bing Crosby, but he never did it for her pleasure. Maybe if she had been more obedient and done whatever he wanted, including sex and food for a week, he would whistle for a second, but that was all. She knew when Adam saw them, because he stopped whistling abruptly, just to prove her point. There was absolutely nothing that he would do, no matter how simple it might be, to make her happy. She had to fight back the tears of hatred which rushed to her eyes.

She was slapped out of her bitter thoughts about the man who she mistakenly had thought loved her by a loud, barking voice right beside her, and she jumped in alarm.

"Mr. Dawson, stand back! This is your one and only warning! I am armed!"

Although she recognised the voice, she had never heard Joanne speak like that before, and if she had not heard it with her own ears, she wasn't sure that she would have believed the sweet, considerate, warm, and caring Joanne was capable of sounding so authoritarian and strong. She felt herself shiver, but not with fear this time. Joanne Turner was one tough lady, and she was damn good at her job - a job which included protecting her.

"Don't make me ask you again. Move!" Joanne harshly snapped, her free hand resting on her baton, less than an inch from the butt of her handgun.

Charlotte grinned, holding her tighter. "Told you that you are safe with her," she breathed.

"It's a free country, bitch," Dawson sneered, leaning casually against the doorway, looking completely unfazed by the guard's belligerent tone, and intentionally blocking their exit. "I'm a free man now. I can do as I wish."

"You are blocking our exit," Joanne snarled between clenched teeth. This man absolutely enraged her! "This is your last warning, Dawson. Move. You have five seconds. I will not hesitate to use force if necessary. Five…"

"Whoa," she exhaled to Charlotte, her soft utterance picked up by Joanne's radio. "Damn, she's good. I wouldn't want to be on her wrong side, that's for sure!"

"Didn't I tell you she'd protect you when you first came here?" Dr Stark's voice said through the audio equipment. "I meant it."

"Four…" she had never been close to Joanne while in full guard-mode, responding to danger that was threatening her before, at least not like this. It made her feel strangely loved, even safe.

"Three…" Joanne stated coldly, continuing the countdown. Charlotte pulled her closer. "Two…"

"Fuck off, bitch," Adam spat. "Do your worst!"

"Whoops," Charlotte murmured, unable to resist smirking at her vile ex-boyfriend. "You might regret that…"

Joanne had drawn her gun before Charlotte even saw it. The sharp report of the gun firing and the fleshy thwack of a rubber bullet striking its target made both women winces. Charlotte squeezed her friend closer. "It's alright," she murmured. "She shot him in the shoulder."

Adam yelled in pain, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "YOU ARE FUCKING BITCH!" he bellowed in black rage tinged with shock and pain as other guards ran over.

"He wouldn't move out of our way. Better get him a medic," Joanne stated dispassionately before running back over to the women.

"Very well done, Joanne," Dr Loomis said over her radio's speaker, just as Judge Spinner appeared at the entrance of the foyer.

The Judge schooled her face, but inside she was crowing in triumph at the screen that had played out in front of her. Adam's shoulder was gushing blood. Two medics came over and started bandaging the wound before two courthouse guards arrived and practically dragged him out of the courthouse.

"Nice," Charlotte said admiringly. "But that was kind of scary."

Joanne smiled at her then hugged her. Charlotte grinned, hugging her back. "Damn you're tough," she said. "I respect you guys so much." Joanne smiled at the sincere compliment, then hugged Danielle too. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said softly. "Are you alright? I'm sorry that I had to do that."

"I know," she replied softly. "Thanks, Joanne; that made me feel… Well, safe."

"Hello," said a slightly familiar voice from close beside her. "It's Julie Griggs. Are you alright?"

"Yes thanks," she said, her voice still shaking a little.

To her shock and gratitude, Julie herself guided her out of the courthouse and towards the secured underground garage where the car waited for them. After thanking Julie profusely, the three of them got into the vehicle to drive back.