"They say we are asleep until we fall in love
We are children of dust and ashes
But when we fall in love we wake up
And we are a god and angels weep
But if I die here tonight
I die in my sleep"
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Zoe had her elbows on the table and had her head in her hands. She felt like her head was going to burst. With the amount of potential jurors they had gone through, Zoe felt like this case would never be able to start. She turned her head when she felt Karen put her hand on her thigh in a comforting way. That was when Zoe noticed that Karen was even trying to comfort Benicia, who seemed just as on edge about this trial as her. But Zoe knew it wasn't for the same reasons.
Zoe loved Benicia. She always thought Benicia being so caring was a good thing but with this situation, Zoe was being reminded of how it could be a bad thing as well. Maybe there was a slim possibility that Zoe would understand where Benicia was coming from if she had been the one to talk with him. But this was still her career on the line. Reyes would absolutely destroy them if they're not careful with how they handle this case.
"Counselors, over four hundred potential jurors have come through this courtroom." The judge was seated and staring down at them. One table had Matt, Foggy, Zoe, Karen, and Benicia, while the other had Reyes and Tower. "So I should tell you, if you can't agree to move forward with the twelve men and women selected, I will make this trial a living hell for all of you."
Matt stood up from his seat, "Your Honor, New York hasn't seen a trial this divisive and this public in years. Finding an impartial jury is not easy."
Foggy stood up with him as well and added, "Everybody has an opinion about Frank Castle."
"It's New York, Mr. Nelson." The judge clasped her hands together and set them down in front of her, "Everybody has an opinion about everything. Ms. Reyes, is the prosecution satisfied with its jury panel?"
Reyes stood up and nodded, "Yes, Your Honor."
"And the defense, Ms. Mercier?"
Zoe stood up with Matt and Foggy, "Uh, yes, Your Honor, we are."
"Thank Christ. The trial of The People of New York v. Frank Castle is now in session."
***
Zoe was reading over files at the table with Foggy and Matt. Karen was at her desk handling all of their other paperwork that didn't involve the case since someone needed to be doing that or they would be incredibly swamped. While Benicia was trying to figure out the files that were given to them.
"If I get-" Benicia walked in with more files, "-my hands on the worthless intern who organized these files."
"I'm sure the poor intern's just following the DA's orders." Zoe tapped her pen against the table as she leaned back in her seat, "It's not officially sabotage. It just sets us back."
Benicia huffed, "It's a cheap trick."
"We got bigger problems." Foggy breathed out as he looked away from his work, "Like, locking a defense."
"M'Naughten Rule's still our best bet." Zoe stated to all of them while crossing her arms over her chest.
"Uh-" Benicia tilted her head in confusion, "What's that?"
