Drawing the Line

Chapter 8: Big Guns Fire Hard

A/N: I have ZERO idea what custody hearings look like, so this is simply my fantasy for this scenario. Please saddle up your unicorn and ride along with me! And credit to @Creativefatal1ty for the nickname 'Red' for Alise, which I love – so we're using it!

I bolt up in the bed and I can feel the veins throbbing in my head, "That is bullshit! Absolute bullshit." I snort like an animal and I'm glad nobody is here to see me, "And I'm going to be fine, by the way. She can take her case and shove it up her coke snorting ass." I breathe hard, "Help me, Mr. Shapiro. Don't let her get away with this."

He sighs, "Son, call me Frank. And no, she is NOT going to get away with this. I already have wheels in motion, but knowing you are going to be fine only helps our case." I hear him shuffling papers, "If I need you in LA for a court hearing in 6 days, can you be here?"

I don't even pause, "I'll be there."

"Great. One of the benefits of you filing in California is that she has to haul her greedy ass over here if we need a court date. She doesn't need to show up, of course, but since she is the one contesting custody, it would be in her best interest to do so." He chuckles, "And to be honest, I just want to yank her chain and make her dance to your tune. Plus, the fact that you can get yourself here makes her case of physical incapability pretty weak."

"I'll be there. You tell me when and where and I'll be there."

"Great. I'll send you specifics tomorrow, and in the meantime, I'm going on the war path after her ass." He coughs and asks, "Son, I need to enlist Jerrie to help me do what I need to do. Are you okay with that? I won't tell her anything she doesn't already know, but I need her to help me with this short time frame. Do I have your permission?"

I smack my head and laugh out loud, "YES! Oh my God, between you and Jerrie, my soon to be ex-wife doesn't stand a chance."

He snickers, "That's the plan, my friend. Okay, you focus on getting better and get yourself cleaned up and as strong as you can for a court appearance. Got it?"

"Yes. I do. Thank you, Frank. I can't thank you enough."

*****

The next two days were a whirlwind. Jerrie came back ahead of Dakota and took up residence in my room and managed all of my arrangements. She charmed and bullied people into getting exactly what she wanted and now I'm slated to go to LA for 2 days for a court appearance, and then on to Belfast for my continued therapy. She made sure Alise is slated to go with me, even though she sneered at me a time or two. Once after I returned from therapy, she gave me the side eye with a muttered, "I like Red. Don't make me snatch her weave, because so help me God, Jamie, I will do if it you two are up to anything that would make Dakota so much as raise her eyebrows."

I laugh at her, "Her weave is safe, and so are Dakota's eyebrows." I still and study her closely as she works her phone furiously. "Jerrie." She pauses and raises her eyes to mine with a questioning look. "Thank you. Thank you for all you are doing to help me. I appreciate it. I want you to know that."

Her face relaxes and she stands to come closer. She kisses my head, "I know that, love. But thank you for saying it." She sits back down and goes back to her phone, "Now let me focus. I'm at war with your bitch of a wife and I have no intention of losing."

*****

"Hi baby! How's it going?"

I love the happy tone of her voice. "I'm good, love. Making lots of progress. Alise is kicking my ass multiple times a day. I heard from Frank."

"Frank?"

"My lawyer."

"YAY! Is your divorce final?"