*James*

I'm grateful for these short 15-minute breaks the judge gives us, but I just want to get this done and over with. Once we are back in the room the judge calls up Dr. Giovanni, who explains what exactly happened to my brain in medical terms. He talks about the damage my brain endured during impact, the surgery, coma, seizures, you name it. He looks at me with empathy as he speaks.

Then Jonah gets called up to the stand. At first, everything is smooth. Jonah explains all the things I can't do to the world. No, I can't zip up or button my own pants or put toothpaste on a toothbrush. If this doesn't help the case then I'm being humiliated for nothing.

Addison does a decent job but when it's Colton West's turn to cross examine Jonah- things go downhill fast.

"If James cannot be responsible to take care of others," Colton looks at me and then back to Jonah. "Why was he hired as one of Nate Hollan's personal bodyguards on his Around The World concert tour? An extremely famous celebrity who needs bodyguards to react fast, contain the crowd and make sure Nate Hollan is unharmed. How is James, who can't brush his own teeth, able to be employed as a bodyguard?"

Oh no. 

He's twisting shit! 

Oh God.

Jonah looks at Nate, and then Addison, unsure how to answer and I can feel sweat forming on my forehead.

"I mean, he can push people out of the way. He is a muscular man. You don't need much coordination to push."

"But is he qualified to be a bodyguard for someone of Nate Hollan's stature? If so, then he could handle himself just fine in let's say.... a prison."

"No, he couldn't. Not unless he had a nurse with him to help him with his daily needs."

"Yet he was employed by Nate Hollan himself. So, are you saying he was employed illegally then and not qualified for the position whatsoever?"

"Your honor!" Addison looks flustered. 

*******

*Trisha*

Shit. We didn't think of this.  I mean, James wasn't REALLY a bodyguard. Well, but he was, and I can tell just from sitting behind him that James is about to cry.

"Mr. Marshall..." Colton is an impatient bastard.

"No, I do not think James should be employed. He was hired so he could join Nate on tour and feel like he had a job." Jonah looks at James and drops his shoulders.

"So, he was hired illegally then."

Motherfucker. We're screwed. We're so fucking screwed. I tune out the rest of the shit Colton spews but then the judge calls both lawyers to approach the bench. No one can hear what they are saying but we notice the judge looks at his watch a few times.

"What's happening?" I whisper to Nate who shakes his head with a bit of confusion.

Then.... the judge ends the session. He fucking ends the session on a high note for Colton West and an awful ending for James. This is so unfair! Why? Because it's fucking five fucking o'clock and he's missing his wife's fucking homecooked fucking dinner?? This is unbelievable.

Addison walks out with James first with security surrounding him and poor Maggie is back to looking petrified. Reporters swarm James and the lawyer looking for comments. Addison and some bodyguards whisk him away.

"Ms. Landry! Is the trial going as you expected, or do you agree it has taken a turn for the worst?" One man asks, sticking the microphone right up in her face.

"That was awful" Nate mutters as Evan takes his arm to escort him out now. We can hear all the reporter's shouting things from every angle.

"Did you hire James Gallo illegally? Is Colton West right about James being able to hold down a job?"

"No comments. Thank you."

James's sister all file out along with me, Jonah and Casey and the look of defeat on our faces is something you just can't hide. Of course the cameras are going to pick up on this.

 No one says a single word until we are in the safety of the SUV. Even then, we are all pretty quiet.

"I can take the dog out for a walk." Casey says softly and James who is sitting next to me, nods. Then, out of nowhere, he bursts into tears.

"That was terrible!!" He cries and buries his head in my shoulder to hide his tears. I put my hand on the side of his face to cover him more and look up to Nate with wide eyes. He shakes his head, his own tear falling and I look away.

This couldn't have gone any worse.

******

*James*

I cried from the courthouse to Nate's apartment. I cried while Casey took my clothes off and changed me into casual clothes. I cried while walking to Nate's bedroom. 

Nate has already changed and sitting on his bed with his head in his hands.

"C-can you take me to see Julia?" I stutter and Hollan lifts his head.

"Yeah, Mate. Of course."

Everyone decides to go. Hell, even Trisha, which says a lot. I don't think she particularly wanted to go but didn't want to stay home alone either. When we get to Julia's apartment there is pizza waiting for us. I guess the rapist was hungry.

Paul walks over to me and pats my shoulder.

"Long day..." He mutters. He doesn't ask how I am. He knows. The quick pat on the shoulder was Paul's way of showing he cares. I nod and look around the room.

"Where is she?" I ask.

"She fell asleep. I think the sedative is still in her system a little." Paul answers and I make my way to Julia's room. Maggie follows behind me and jumps right up onto Julia's bed.

I kick off my shoes, unable to untie them, and lay next to Julia. She's on her side with her hair all around her fast asleep. She looks so peaceful right now though I know inside that little body, there's no peace. Not at all. There's only chaos right now.

Maggie lays right up against me and rests her snout on my chest.

"You did good today Mags." I scruff up her fur. "You were such a good girl, you know that?" 

Once again, I start crying and the dog creeps up to lick the side of my face.

"What am I going to do, Mags? I can't go to jail. I can't be without you. That guy twisted everything and made me look so bad. Am I a bad person?" I look down at Maggie who puts her paw on my chest. "No. I don't think I'm that bad either."

I close my eyes and try to pray but drift off to sleep instead.

*******