Day two of the trial commences. Sonny reflects on everything Rafael has done for him and taught him. Wheatley takes the stand and Rafael is given his final ultimatum. Amanda starts realizing something is horribly wrong.
Trigger Warning applied for later in the chapter for threats of rape and murder
It was now day two of the trial and currently, Sonny was pacing around in one of the courtroom interview rooms
"Sonny. Sonny! Slow down." Amanda said.
Sonny turns back around to face her.
"I can't Amanda! Wheatley is going on the stand today and Barba has already proved that we have basically nothing against him, what the hell am I supposed to do?!"
"Dominick, right now you need to take a breath." Amanda looks up at him with concerned eyes
"I'm worried about you. This trial is eating at you."
"Amanda I have looked up to Rafael since day one, he is the reason I passed the bar and am even here in the first place. Something is very wrong with him and I can't figure out what. If there is any chance I somehow end up winning this trial, victory is going to be anything but sweet because I'll have lost the man that taught me everything."
Amanda is devastated by how much this is truly affecting Sonny. She knows how much Rafael's mentorship and friendship mean to him and she wants to find out what's going on as much as he does because Sonny is absolutely right. Even with Rafael's perspective and tactics changing as a defense attorney, this cold, brutal act isn't him and there has to be a reason why. But until they find out why the trial has to go on, and Amanda needs to support Sonny the best that she can.
"Sonny I am so sorry that this is happening, but right now, all you can do is try to use the charm and boldness that you have to crack Wheatley and throw off Barba, and I think you and I both know exactly how you can do that."
The two look at each other and say at the same time.
"Stabler."
Meanwhile, in the empty courtroom, Rafael is hunched over his notepad trying to figure out how he was going to make his client look like a model citizen who was being prejudiced by the police. He was calling Wheatley to the stand and hoped that the man's ego wouldn't be the last nail in his coffin. His reputation as well as probably. Who was he kidding, his body would be in that coffin and he wouldn't be surprised if no one cared. He refused to look behind him as everyone filed in because the woman who would give him reassurance that he had this was gone. He had driven that wedge and the chasm was too far to fix. So instead he carefully read over everything he had written and prayed it was enough. When everyone was ready Rafael spoke.
"The defense calls Richard Wheatley to the stand." Rafael said as he stood up and buttoned his suit jacket up hoping that it would somehow act as armor for himself.
Wheatley walked over to the stand but not before looking in Olivia's direction.
"Your Honor!" Carisi yelled out.
Rafael was thinking two things at the moment, one, stop looking at her before I or even she wipes the smirk off your face, and two, this guy was impossible and was seriously digging his own grave. Especially because the jury looked annoyed.
"Go sit down Mr. Wheatley before I hold you in contempt."
Wheatley looks right at Judge Catano and smiles.
"My apologies, Your Honor."
He walks over and sits in the witness stand. Unlike the other times, Rafael starts over by his table because he doesn't want to get anywhere near Wheatley right now.
