Maisey pulled herself out of bed at the persistance knock on her hotel room door with apprehension. Whatever Terri-Lee had found or wanted at 2 am, she was not impressed with the lawyer for waking her--especially since Terri-Lee knew she was having a hard time sleeping as it was. She gapped as Brett pushed past her into the room, a bag over his shoulder. She closed the door and crossed her hands over her chest, "What are you doing here?"
Seeing her had done something to his insides, he didn't speak but dropped his bag and dragged her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Maisey was stiff but found herself relaxing into him and resting her face against his broad chest when she felt his mouth on the top of her head, "Don't ever leave me again," he said softly, "I was frustrated when you heard me talk to Tony, you shut me out and I didn't know how to deal with it. You are a part of me whether or not either of us wants you to be--I've been sick with worry."
Tears poured down her cheeks as all the stress and apprehension suddenly rushed out of her, "I thought you resented me," she admitted, "I wasn't going to stay if you didn't want me there."
"It took an old man and a doctor to help me see how stupid I was." He held her back a little way and then drew her back to him, "I haven't slept since I got back to find you gone." He admitted.
She took his hand and led him to the queen bed she'd been nestled in when he'd knocked on her door. She took his face in her hands as he put his forehead against hers, their eyes met and he kissed her eye lids as he wiped the tears away. He waited for her to get on the bed and then followed her under the cover, pulling her to him. It didn't take long before they were both sleeping.
There were no nightmares to keep her awake with Brett holding her.
The ringing phone woke them the next morning, Brett answered it, "What is it?"
"I think I have the wrong room," the woman on the other end sounded confused, "Is this 201?"
"Is this Terri-Lee?" Brett asked and nudged Maisey.
"Yes, who is this?"
"It's Brett, let me get Maisey."
"Morning, Terri-Lee," Maisey took the phone, laying across Brett's chest to reach the phone. He was running his fingers up and down her covered thigh while she listened. "Alright, we'll be down shortly." She hung up the phone and blew out air against his rib cage, "I was supposed to meet her for breakfast an hour ago, court starts at ten." Brett shuddered as she accidentally brushed her fingertips against his ribcage.
"Showers first," he said, "Neither of us is going into court without a shower." A cold shower for him.
She nodded and turned her head, "I was terrified about going into that courtroom alone," she admitted. Brett caught her hand in his and captured her eyes, Maisey kissed his cheek, "I wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for you."
"Go get cleaned up," Brett told her, "We'll talk about this debacle later-- I'm not letting you face Jesse and his family without me beside you."
Maisey stood under the water and let it wash away the last of her sorrow. She didn't want to know how he'd tracked her down, she was just grateful he was there, even if he left again after the trial. She braided her wet hair over her shoulder and put on a pair of slacks and a loose blouse. Brett's eyes took her in appreciatively and he complimented the outfit as he took over the bathroom.
He was showered and dressed in jeans and a clean cowboy shirt faster than she'd forced herself to eat a piece of fruit. He slipped his feet into his boots and he carried his cowboy hat as they left the hotel room.
Terri-Lee raised an eyebrow at the cowboy's presence but didn't say anything. "We'll walk over," she told them, "Remember, their strategy is to rattle you, whatever or whomever is in that courtroom you need to stay in control." Maisey nodded and paled.
"Remember, I'll be right beside you." Brett told her.
"No you won't, prosecution only at the table."
"I'm Bandit's boss," he told her, "plus it was my house he tried to break into."
Terri-Lee pursed her lips and glared at the cowboy. Finally she nodded. Terri-Lee proceeded to explain what they could expect from the trial. She wasn't sure how Brett's presence would impact things but she could see Maisey straighten and appear more confident with him beside her. They ate quickly and headed up the block to the courtroom.
"Judge Peter's presiding, all rise," Maisey and Brett stood next to Terri-Lee, Jesse leered at her ignoring the judge. "Be seated." The bailiff directed.
"Before we hear opening arguements," Judge Peters leaned forward, "I want to be clear that I will not tolerate bad behaviour in my court." he was glaring at Jesse.
As the prosecution, Terri-Lee was invited to speak first, "This is not our first time in a courtroom, " she spoke calmly, her tone low, "A little over a year ago my client, Maisey, sat in courtroom facing a man-- her husband and the brother of the accused--that was accused and later convicted of assault, battery and intent to do harm. At the time we knew that others were involved but there was not enough proof to bring them to trial. That has changed now: Jesse Barnes is accused of being a part of the assault and more recently tried to break into Maisey's home to do harm, even assaulting his own cousin, Bandit remains in hospital fighting for his life from the damage caused by the accused. Today we will show evidence that will leave you with no doubt. You will hear testimony and see evidence-- graphic evidence--of our claims that Jesse Barnes assaulted, raped, abused and threatened Maisey as well as other women and that he assaulted with the intent to kill James, Bandit, Barnes." Maisey listened numbly as Terri-Lee carried on with her opening arguement.
Terri-Lee's opening was followed by the defense attorney. "your honor," he said, "I would like to ask for a mistrial." the judge had to bang his gavel to get people to be quiet, "Jurors 3 and 10 have been identified as cousins of Brett Franks who sits at the table with the prosecution. These jurors, if you recall were selected by the prosecution and we feel these individuals can not be impartial."
Terri-Lee looked at Brett sharply, he shook his head, and she rose, "Is there proof? Why did the defense not turn down these jurors during selection?"
"If I may, your honor?" the defense lawyer held up some pages. At the judge's nod he passed them to Terri-Lee who shoved them at Brett.
"There's a mistake here," Brett pointed, "and my mother never had a brother so that whole line is wrong."
The defense attorney glared, "Liar."
"No sir," Brett bristled, "My mother was an only child of my grandparents, no bastards, no adoptions, nothing, I had a lawyer look into it when my parents died. I am willing to swear that by oath."
After a brief recess to verify the claim they came back into the courtroom, "Mr Reynolds," the judge glowered at the defense attorney, "I suggest you get on with your opening statement and stop wasting the court's time!"
"My apologies, your honor," the attorney ducked his head in embarrassment, "My client," he began, "had been accused of heinous crimes--assualt, rape, intent to kill." He paused, "We wouldn't charge a couple for BSDM or for having orgies, it's not illegal to have relations with people other than your spouse, these charges are just an attempt for a woman to take no responsibility for her part in a polyamorous relationship." Maisey clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as there lawyer continued, "My client was invited to his brother's home to participate in a consensual orgy that got out of hand, not a crime and it should not be treated like one." He sat down.
Terri-Lee stood, "My client was not a consenual partner to anything: her ex-husband was charged, the evidence was clear in that case. My client was a victim of abuse, assault and battery. We draw attention to the evidence - multiple videos, specifically I want to draw attention to video 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10...I'm not sure I need to go on, please see the TV screen for a montage of the clips." Maisey tensed and paled.
The jury and the judge looked to the screen: freeze frames of Maisey tied, blood on her back, bruises on her face, a belt around her neck, Jesse with a grin and a belt in his hand, Jesse kicking her in the stomach and more flashed up on the screen. Jesse was present in every freeze frame.
Brett stopped himself from touching Maisey, Terri-Lee had warned them against that. He had to appear impartial toward Maisey while representing Bandit and the ranch. His heart ached for her: wanting to protect her from the aweful memories that she had to face in order to see Jesse put away. Maisey, to her credit, stared at the table in front of her rather than at the video screen, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Terri-Lee spoke to the jury but Brett didn't hear what she was saying. The jury was obviously uncomfortable by the things they were viewing. Brett glared at Jesse who was grinning at the screen. Terri-Lee called Jesse to the stand for questioning.
Jesse interupted Terri-Lee's first question, leaning forward, "I'd like to whip her again here and now so everyone can see how much she likes it: that bitch got my brother thrown in jail and I'll kill her if I get her alone again." The defense attorney yelled at him to shut up, but Jesse yelled back and fired the man. "I did her more than my brother did: I beat her, I tied her up, I pissed on her and I watched others do the same and when the bitch turned up pregnant I told my brother to throw her down some stairs so she'd lose the baby. It worked."