Pray For Me

Trial

One month later

Timothy has been home for three weeks, and Octavia is now two and a half months old. Today, they are due at the court house so Timothy can give his testimony against the shooter.

"Let's go," Jude calls, holding Octavia on her chest. Octavia smiles at Timothy over Jude's shoulder, making him laugh.

"Are you ready to go, my little bird?" Timothy asks, tickling Octavia's cheek. She smiles, lifting her head up to him. Jude cracks a small smile, then checks her watch. She looks out the front window and grabs Timothy's hand.

"Lana's here. You always run late, Timothy Howard," Jude groans, pulling him out the front door. Lana was going with them, for moral support and to report on the trial.

Jude slides into the front seat next to Lana, Timothy next to the door. Octavia lays her head on Jude's shoulder and looks over to Timothy. He takes her from Jude's arms and speaks softly to her. Jude smiles, resting her hand on Timothy's thigh while she talks to Lana.

Timothy carries the baby into the courthouse, holding Jude's hand. The second the hearing starts, Lana takes out her tape recorder and her yellow legal pad. Jude fishes a pen from her purse and hands it to Lana.

"Thank you," She mouths, smiling.

They bring the shooter in from the holding cell, and Jude nearly screams.

Casey.

He glares at Timothy and Jude until the officer jerks his arm to refocus him.

"Oh, God," Jude whispers, looking up to Timothy. He doesn't move a muscle. "You knew?"

"Not now," He whispers back at her, taking her hand. She closes her eyes and fights back tears.

At recess, Jude takes Octavia with her into the bathroom to feed her. She sits on a couch in the lounge area, next to Lana as Octavia eats.

"I can't believe Timothy didn't tell me the shooter was Casey. I bet he was there just to kill Timothy because of what happened when he brought us our food that night."

Lana just looks up from her notepad.

"What do you mean?"

"Casey was delivering for the restaurant we ordered from, and when he brought our food, he kind of got into it with Timothy."

Lana just shakes her head.

"He's insane."

Jude chuckles humorlessly and nods, patting Octavia's butt as she finishes up.

The second half of the trial is even more intense than the last.

Timothy hands Jude the baby when he is escorted to the stand.

"Mr. Howard, is it true that you had an encounter with the suspect just weeks before the shooting?"

"Yes, sir."

"And what was the nature of this encounter?"

"Well, the... suspect, was quite agitated when he realized who I was. I believe it is because of his prior relationship with my girlfriend."

"Which was?"

"They were engaged, sir."

The lawyer nods and looks at the judge.

"No further questions, your honor."

Timothy returns to his seat after his questioning.

"Are you alright?" He asks Jude, stroking Octavia's cheek lightly with the back of his finger, watching her sleep. She's passed out in Jude's arms.

Jude nods and smiles at him, taking his hand in hers.

Another recess is called while the jury debates a sentence. Jude rocks Octavia, conversing with Timothy lightly.

"I love you."

"I love you too," He smiles, leaning forward to kiss her. She smiles and kisses him gently. Lana returns from the bathroom and goes over her notes, Jude watching.

"There's no way they'll let him off. With everyone's testimony, especially Timothy's, they'll have to convict him."

"That's good. He doesn't deserve to walk free. He went there specifically to hurt Timothy."

Lana nods and smiles down at the baby.

Timothy goes to the coffee cart in the hallway and gets a coffee for himself, and a latte for Jude.

"Thank you, my love," Jude chuckles, kissing his cheek and bouncing the baby on her legs.

"I just got off the phone with the station manager. The expose got pushed back another two weeks!" Lana complains, falling next to Jude and shaking her head. This is the third time it's been pushed back.

"What the hell!" Jude cries, shaking her head along with her best friend.

Before either woman can express her disdain at the fact once again, the jury files into their seats. Jude and Timothy, along with the rest of the courtroom, sit on the edge of their seats.

"We the jury find the defendant guilty of child endangerment in the second degree, and attempted homocide in the first degree."

"The penalty for that is life," Lana whispers happily, grabbing onto Jude's forearm.

"The suggested sentance is life inprisonment without a chance for parole."

The judge bangs his gavel, and with that, Casey is whisked away to his new life behind bars.