*Trisha*

Last night went about as well as the day did. James got himself so worked up while watching the news that he had a seizure.

I slept in his room, but no one got any sleep. Nate spent most of the night on the phone with his lawyer, clearing himself from any legal activity regarding James being a bodyguard. So that's one issue resolved.

This morning, James is all out of sorts. His speech is off as well as his fine motor skills, and he is getting frustrated easily. At least towards me he is.

"I-I don't know if I can go through with this." James stammers while I help him with breakfast. "Getting up on the st-stand and stuff."

"Just do your best, ok friend? The judge AND the jury will have compassion once they see how the accident has affected your health." Jonah pats James on the shoulder while walking by.

"I'm going to take Maggie out for a long walk before we are cooped up in that building." Casey announces. It's barely seven thirty so she has plenty of time.

"Do you want me to help you take a shower?" I whisper to James. He knows I don't mean anything sexual. It's the last thing anyone is thinking about. For the first time in a while, he nods, accepting my help.

We leave breakfast on the table. The breakfast no one really ate. I have a feel the dog will jump up and finish off the bacon and eggs from James's plate.

Nate lets James use his bathroom for his showers since it is so spacious, and James needs another person to help him. I get the shower going and help James out of his clothes. He remains silent and almost reminds me of how he was when he came out of his coma and couldn't speak. I can't read him. His facial expression is blank. He's in survival mode right now.

Once I undress James, I undress myself. I took a shower last night, but it's just easier to wash him if I am already in the shower because you get wet no matter what. He faces away from me and extends both arms, so his hands are against the shower wall. With his back to me, he drops his head and begins crying while I soap up his tatted back.

I wrap my arms around him from behind and rest the side of my face on his back. I have a feeling James was just being polite to me. He didn't want me in here with him. He wanted to let it all out and cry alone. Why else would he turn his back like this?

"It's ok. It's all going to work out." I say to James but also to myself.

It has to. Addison better fucking come through for us today.

*******

*James*

Colton West thought he had leverage on us, but it fell through, and reporters are having a field day with it. Not only did he try to try to get one up on Nate with the whole hiring me as a bodyguard deal, because it fell through, reporters and fans alike took over social media defending Nate. It all makes that lawyer look bad in the public eye.

Jonah brought all my medical documents to court and once the judge read through it all, he decided for my health, it's best to limit my time on the stand. Dr. Giovanni is going to stay here too, just in case I need him since I keep having these seizures.

Maggie is right by my side as we sit down and get ready for another day in court. I have a glass of water in front of me that Addison poured. My throat is dry and the only person at this table to help me is the lawyer.

"Um... Ms. Landry?"

"What is it, James?" She's a little short today, feeling on edge now.

"Nevermind." I look away. Actually, you know what? No. I'm thirsty and need help. "Actually, can you help me with m-my water?"

Addison stops laying out her folders and looks over at me now. Her shoulders drop when she realizes she was a little snappy and I just needed a sip of water.

"I'm sorry. Yes, of course." She holds the glass to my lips, and I take a few large gulps, so I don't have to bother her with this shit for a while. I can feel the eyes of the judge AND the jury on me, but I knew if I tried to pick up that glass I'd drop it and make a fool out of myself. When Addison puts the glass down, she stares at Colton and shakes her head. He looks away after seeing that.

Nadine Jones is called up first.

"Miss Jones. Can you tell us a little bit about your uncle?" Colton West begins.

"He was a wonderful man. A devoted husband who took care of his wife until she lost her battle with cancer for years. Uncle Mal was nice to everyone and had good work ethics. He died on the job, driving Mr. Hollan."

"So you want justice to be served, correct?'

"Yes, sir. My uncle would still be alive today if it weren't for James Gallo's decision to drive impaired."

Impaired? She's making it sounds like I was drinking or something!

"Miss Jones," Addison doesn't waste any time. "How close were you to your uncle?"

"I mean, he's my uncle. I don't know. What does that have to do with anything?" She cocks a brow.

"Miss Jones, please answer the question. Were you or were you not close to your uncle?"

"Yes?" She says as a question, raising a few of the jurors' eyebrows.

"Do you wish him a happy birthday every year?" The lawyer asks.

"Sure. Um. Yes."

"Your honor?" Colton objects but it is overruled, and Addison is told to proceed but to get to the point.

"When is his birthday, Miss jones?" There's a pause that doesn't work to Nadine's advantage. I don't know where the lawyer is going with this and become very nervous. My life is on the line, she better not fuck this up.

"I don't know the exact date."

I hear Nate clear his throat behind me. I'm not sure what's going on here, but him and the lawyer are up to something.

"Winter, spring, summer or fall. When do you wish him a happy birthday? Someone close to their uncle who wishes him a happy birthday would know the answer to this." Addison continues.

"Winter."

"Mr. Hollan, can you tell us Mr. Jones's birthday?"

She turns to Nate, and he stands up.

"It's July 12th. Same day. Every year." Nate looks at me.

"Let the records show it is indeed July 12th. How is it that Mr. Jones's boss knows his birthday and you, as close as you are to Mr. Jones, not only didn't know the date, but you also didn't know the season!"

"I- I got confused. It's stressful being up here." Nadine suddenly looks nervous.

"Nadine. If you were so close to your uncle, why did it take you months to come forward as next of kin? As everyone in this courtroom knows well, because the accident involved well-known celebrity Nate Hollan, it has been talked about on the news widespread for months. From the moment it happened until this very day. Why did you wait?"

"I had lost my father around the same time. I was distraught and trying to get my life back together." Nadine looks over at her lawyer.

"But you were close to your uncle."

"Yes. I was." She nods.

"Yet you didn't have a wake, funeral, or any kind of service to pay respects to the deceased man..."

"Like I said, my father had died around the same time. I was busy preparing his wake and funeral."

"And we all know how expensive that can get, correct?" Addison is going somewhere with this, and we all know it.

"Very."

"Let the records show that Mr. Michael Jones, Malcolms brother, died three months AFTER Malcolm passed away. You had three months, Nadine. THREE FULL MONTHS before your father passed away. You weren't preparing your father's wake. You weren't distraught. But when your dad died the bills piled up. We have already established that Nate Hollan provides for Mr. Gallo financially. You are after Nate Hollan's money."

"OBJECTION!" Colton is now red in the face and Addison is gloating. Oh my gosh. It worked. For once, things go in my favor in the courtroom.

We have another fifteen-minute break in the session before it's my turn to go up.

********

*Trisha*

We filter back into the courtroom after a short break. Poor James needed Jonah's help in the bathroom. He can't do things we take for granted like unbuckling belts, buttons, zippers and I could tell the poor guy needed to take a piss so bad. Fortunately, James spoke up and Jonah whisked him away to the private handicap bathroom.

Now we sit in the courtroom watching the rest of the session unfold.

"Your honor, we would like to call to the stand Mr. James Gallo."

Nate grabs on to my hand as we watch James approach the stand. Maggie follows him and none of us know if that is ok. The judge allows it, and she sits next to the stand and watches her owner. She's so well behaved it's remarkable.

"Mr Gallo, as we all know, this is not a case of guilty or innocent. The collision happened. You ran a red light. A man died." Addison begins and I look at Nate. What the fuck?

"Those are the facts so let's get that out of the way and move on. Here we have a man, and outstanding member of our society who's only fault was working to hard. He was not drinking, not on drugs, not under the influence of anything that would impair him. He simply worked too many hours trying to provide for his family. A man who puts everyone else before himself all the time. A man who," She pauses for dramatization, "is now physically disabled for the rest of his life. Mr. Gallo, do you remember anything from this accident?"

"No, ma'am. I don't" He frowns, and his voice sounds weak and nervous.

"So, your intentions were not to inflict bodily harm on another person."

"No. Of course not! I feel terrible that the man died." He looks at the judge who nods with empathy.

"So, this wasn't a malicious act. This wasn't manslaughter." Addison looks at the jury. "This man was in a car ACCIDENT. One that has altered his life to the point he can no longer take care of himself. James Gallo will never be able to drive again. He may never be able to dress himself again or shower himself in privacy. He cannot turn a doorknob or use a cell phone and requires a medical dog along with 24/7 nursing care. This man does NOT belong in prison."

I sigh, feeling a little relieved with the turn she took. Addison goes on to ask James a bunch of boring questions on what he can and can't do before ending on a high note saying, once again, it was an accident from working too hard at his job and being overtired.

Now it's Colton's turn and James doesn't look too hot. In fact, He looks like he may throw up.

"People of the court. We are all familiar with laws and know we need to abide by them. We also know when a law is broken there are consequences. James Gallo, you got behind the wheel knowing you were tired, correct?"

"I mean. I'm al-always tired after my shift. I work overnights. I-"

"Yes or no Mr. Gallo." Colton snaps and my eyes widen. This fucker doesn't care it sometimes takes James a moment to respond, does he? He's fucking using it to his advantage! Nate squeezes my hand, knowing exactly what I'm thinking.

"Yes. I knew I w-was tired."

"So you knew you were tired and made the conscious choice to get behind the wheel and drive. You weren't thinking of anyone else on the road or how your decision would affect others, were you?"

"Objection, Your honor. Speculation." Addison barks out.

"Sustained." The judge agrees with Addison.

"We have laws for a reason, BY LAW reckless driving resulting in death results in prison. That is the law. If we didn't follow through with consequences, everyone would be out there driving, knowing they won't get punished. Drunk drivers, drivers under the influence of drugs. Drivers too tired to stop at a red light of a busy intersection. It doesn't matter how the accident medically affected you. The law states that if you are a reckless driver who killed a man, you go to jail. Isn't that correct, James?"

"Bu- but it was an accident." James stammers and tears fill up his eyes. Oh no. He needs to get off that stand. He's stuttering more, and Maggie is no longer sitting. She stands up, giving James her full attention, which I've never seen her do before. It's like the dog is studying him. Or sensing something.

"And accidents happen. You're right, sir. That doesn't bring Mr. Jones back, though, does it?"

James stares at the man but doesn't focus on him.

"Nate. Something's wrong. Look at Maggie." I nudge Nate right as Maggie starts barking. James isn't responding to anyone. It's Jonah who notices what's wrong.

Maggie starts barking up a storm.

"Oh shit." Jonah's voice bellows through the courtroom. "He's having an Absence Seizure!"

Jonah is quick on his feet and bolts to the front to grab James before he falls over while Dr. Giovanni makes his way up to the front of the room. Guards contain the crowd, and James's sisters are now all crying, as the jury and the lawyers all look in shock. I'm standing with my hand over my mouth, watching it all play out in front of me.

"Refrain from recording." The judge barks out, and the cameramen know, by law, they have to put their equipment down and stop.

"This is too much stress for him!" Nate snaps at Colton West, and Evan stands in his way. Shit. "Look what you're doing to him!!"

Everyone is losing control. The courtroom is pure chaos. I hear the judge say something, and then everyone around is, even the jury is escorted out. But the core group who are on the list to be called to the stand stay, and no one tells us otherwise.

Jonah and Dr. Giovanni lower James to the safety of the ground and lay him on his side. Both me and Casey rush over. She takes the dog while I kneel down and rest my hand on the side of James's face.

"What is an absent seizure?" Addison asks while Jonah and Dr. Giovanni hold James in place until he comes to.

"Its symptoms are different than a clonic seizure, which is what James usually has. This one is harder to notice, which could result in more damage if his dog hadn't alerted us. The only signs the person would show are staring off and slight muscle twitching." The doctor looks down at James with so much sympathy when he noticed the loss of bladder function. The judge notices right away as well.

"Court is adjourned for today. We will try again tomorrow." Judge Capriotti kneels down and pets Maggie. "Good job." He says to the dog.

"WHAT?!" Colton West is not happy.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I say under my breath and Nate inhales sharply.

James comes out of his seizure unharmed but confused. Nate and Jonah sit him up and Nate quickly takes his suit jacket off to tie around James's waist. We know he gets embarrassed by what his body does during a seizure. Nate is trying to help.

"You heard me. Tomorrow morning, 9am. This was too much for Mr. Gallo. He needs to go home, get cleaned up and rest. Have some compassion here." He glares at the lawyer.

All this stress is taking a toll on James. Mentally and physically.

**********