Mental

Chapter Thirty-One|Oh, Glory

Dan

There was a reason Dan didn't chose to be a lawyer when he bascically had the chance to be anything he wanted by fifteen. Many reasons, actually. He didn't like court. He wasn't a huge fan of wilted justice. He didn't like the fact that there were no miracles in the court house like in a hospital, and if he was being completely honest, he didn't particularly like judges.

He missed Phil like he missed having someone else in his bed every morning, and Chris smiling. He hadn't seen that in a long time. He hasn't been allowed to see Phil in four days. But finally, today was court day. If things went well, he'd see those bright blue eyes again, and it wouldn't be a goodbye.

The judge he was facing now was an older man with no facial hair, and a pudgy complexion. His skin was red and his balding scalp held a single patch of stringy brown hairs that had been slicked back. His expression didn't look angry, but bored, and his watery blue eyes kept rolling back into his head as he read the papers in his hand. His tiny glasses rested awkwardly at the edge of his pointed nose.

He didn't look like the gentle type Dan had been hoping for. He wasn't intimidating, but not exactly the most approachable dude. Dan knew from one glance that this guy had marital issues. Possibly his wife was cheating? Dan was no Sherlock, but he was a gifted psychiatrist. You get to know people.

"He's a tough one," Karen whispered, scaring Dan half out of his wits, "His name is Madison Franklin. I heard his wife is filing a divorce on him. He's been cranky ever since he found out she's been banging a younger man behind his back. We couldn't have got him at a worse time," she explains.

"Oh wow, way to be positive about this case, Karen," Dan cheered sarcastically.

Karen shrugged, "Hey, I'm just being honest. There's no way you're leaving here without consequence. I hope you know this."

Dan sighed, "Will I get to keep my job, at least?"

It was Karen's turn to sigh, "I'm sorry, buddy, but I can't answer that."

Dan hoped that wasn't just buttered up code for 'hell no.' Lately, people seem to lie to him for the sake of not wanting to see him cry. They'd seen the state Phil was in, and they knew it would be the same for Dan if they didn't keep his hope alive. It was pathetic. The whole deal.

Eventually, the trial started. Madison Franklin was very uninterested in the whole case as if it didn't even need to be done. Dan didn't blame him. It was unbearably boring when they stated the oath, and droned on about justice. Dan couldn't deny that he was nervous when his opposing side was called to testify first.

"Daniel James Howell is a fantastic doctor," Dr. Jackson said, "But I'm afraid that he has gone against federal law, and was involved in 'on and off' relations with one of his patients. He has admitted this to me, and my lawyer himself for doing so, and should be charged for his mistake."

Dan gritted his teeth, and sat up straighter. It sounded so bad when his crime was all laid out in front of him. Talked all fancy, and free to be judged. Labeled and consequential. No one really cared that it was more than a filthy crime. Not only that, but it was called a mistake. But it wasn't one, because he would do it again a million times over. He had no regrets of falling in love with Phil. Falling for him while with Pj, yes, but the action itself was magical.

Judge Franklin grunted, "Are you serious? He's already plead guilty? Shouldn't we just lock him up, and go home?"

Dr. Jackson's eyebrows knitted together, "Um, I'm afraid it's not that simple, your honor."