Over TWO MONTHS!! Slap me now!!

This chapter was as much of a surprise to me as I'm sure it will be to you. Chapter 7 is already begun, so that shouldn't take me this long! lmao

Love to Becs for the speedy beta and all the rest of you - you know who you are ;-D

Enjoy, and please R&R

Tricki xoxoxox

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The Tragedy That We Knew As The End (?)

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“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do.” She answered and was motioned to sit.

“Please state your name and occupation for the record.”

“Stella Bonasera, I’m a detective with the NYPD; specifically a Crime Scene Investigator, level 3.”

“What is your relationship with this case?”

“I was one of the investigating officers.”

“Is it not true that you are also one of Mr Jessler’s victims?”

“Objection!” The Defence attorney sang out indignantly.

“Rephrase your question counsellor.” Judge Knowel, a handsome black man who Stella presumed was in his mid to late fifties, said neutrally.

“It’s alright. I was not one of Ted Jessler’s victims. His victims were carefully selected months in advance, each from the same bar. Ted Jessler did, however attack me in the CSI building.” She said, her answer carefully worded, overusing Jessler’s name to reinforce the idea in the jury’s mind. D.A. Latham had decided early on that he needed to ask Stella every ugly question that could be asked, having the defence ask her could potentially land them in deep trouble.

“Would you please describe the attack?” For what felt like the millionth time, Stella went though the story of her encounter with Ted Jessler.

“What is your relationship with Detective Taylor?”

“Detective Taylor and I have known each other for around fifteen years. We’ve been in a relationship for the last few months. I trust him with my life, he’s a brilliant officer.”

“Has your relationship altered the way in which either of you approach your cases?”

“No.”

“It seems to me that the events that occurred between you and the defendant would change Detective Taylor’s objectivity – given your involvement. Can we trust Detective Taylor’s future testimony?”

“Detective Taylor loves his job more than anything. He would never do anything to compromise it. He is the best CSI I have ever known.”

“So, in your opinion has this case been compromised?”

“No. This is not a case which came down to interpretation; the evidence is completely conclusive as to Ted Jessler’s guilt.” Stella answered certainly.

“Nothing further, Your Honour.” Latham said and slid back into his chair, turning to face the Defence attorney with an analytical look on his face.

“So my client attacked you?” Albany asked.

“Yes.”

“And you and your boyfriend are the only ones who can verify this?”

“No.” Stella said, unfazed by Albany’s line of questioning. “There are several security cameras in each room. The entire event is on several different video tapes, DVDs and a central hard disk.” It may have sounded pedantic and anal but they needed to keep the lab’s metaphorical ass covered.

“How can you say that this case hasn’t been compromised? If that were someone I cared about I’d do everything in my power to have someone held accountable.” Albany said.

“Objection! This is not about Mr Albany’s opinion!”

“Sustained. The jury will disregard.” Judge Knowel said firmly.

“No further questions.” He said confidently. The seed of doubt had been planted.

“Next witness counsellor, you may step down, Detective.”

“The prosecution calls Detective Mac Taylor as an expert witness.”

Stella brushed Mac’s hand as they passed on her way out and his way in; it was going to be an interesting day...

Stella had managed to sneak back into the gallery half way though Mac’s testimony (missing all the case details, which she didn’t really mind.), even though as a witness she wasn’t meant to hear the other witnesses’ testimony. She was done though, she was almost completely certain that she wasn’t going to be recalled and besides, she was only listening to one little piece of the puzzle – if she and Mac had of wanted to give false testimony they would have worked it out before today.

“Detective Taylor. Detective Stella Bonasera stated under oath, and I quote, “Detective Taylor loves his job more than anything. He would never do anything to compromise it.” Is that true?” Albany asked.

“No.” Mac said simply, stirring whispers, gasps and chitchat in general from the gallery and jury. “I love her more than my job.” He continued, catching her eye and holding the gaze. Goosebumps began to form on her body. She didn’t think he could love anything or anyone more than his job – Claire maybe, his mother maybe, perfect coffee maybe (probably not on that one, actually) but certainly not her.

“So then isn’t it reasonable to assume that you want Ted Jessler convicted?”

“I want Ted Jessler convicted because he is guilty of raping and murdering four women and attempting to kill a CSI.”

“Oh, really? How many of these bodies have you recovered, Detective?”

“One.” Mac answered, slightly grudgingly.

Oh shit… Latham thought.

“No further questions.”

“Detective Taylor, you’re dismissed. Next witness counsellor.” Mac rose slowly, a sinking feeling weighing on him. That did not go well.

“The prosecution calls Ted Jessler to the stand.”

Jessler rose and began to walk to the stand. All heads turned as one of the gallery members stood up tearfully and pointed a gun at Jessler’s head.

“You…” She sobbed, drawing in a deep breath hysterically. Mac began to approach her quietly and carefully, motioning the court security, and Stella, to stay back.

“YOU RUINED MY LIFE!!” She screamed, taking a menacing step forwards and cocking the gun.

“Why if it isn’t Sarah Jamison, the one that got away.” Jessler grinned dangerously.

“Shut up!” She hissed. She was completely on edge, every muscle tense, everything in her waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger.

“Sarah?” Mac said gently. As if in slow motion she spun on her heels, startled, and completely by accident, by biological reaction only, a sole muscle contraction –

Bang

– Her forefinger clenched and pulled the trigger, sending a bullet deep into Mac’s abdomen. Stella sprinted to the front of the courthouse and reached Mac just as he hit the ground. She tore off her jacket, covered the bleeding hole in his abdomen with it and put all her weight on it. Sarah dropped the gun in shock and security swamped her.

“Mac? Mac! You are not going to die on me today Mac, talk to me…” But his breathing was too laboured for him to be able to make any sound other than a barely discernable “Stel”

“Stay with me, Mac.” She begged (or was that demanded?), making strong eye contact, trying to stop him losing consciousness. Her own breathing became erratic as she began to cry – a tangled combination of anger, terror and frustration.

“You are not going to fucking die on me Mac!” She yelled at him as his eyes slid shut, and pressed harder on his wound.

“How did she get in here with that fucking thing?!” She barked at the security guards but they had no time to answer as a team of paramedics with a gurney burst through the courthouse doors. Stella was pushed out of the way, her blood sodden jacket thrown at her as the paramedics loaded Mac onto the gurney and wheeled him out, Stella ran after them and followed them into the ambulance.

“Miss, you can’t – ” One of them began.

“I’m coming.” She said, leaving no room for argument.

“Stay down the end.” He said and turned his attention back to Mac. Stella was banished to Mac’s right ankle, but she knew it was better than nothing.

“Come on, Mac.” She whispered, “Epic love stories aren’t supposed to end like this.”

“Epic…” The word echoed through his head as that little voice began to speak up.

“You need to fight, Mac. For me. I love you.” She continued.

“Fight

Battle

It’s all a battle.

Our battle.

Our epic…

Love

Love her

You’re in love with her.

For her…

Do it for her.”

Stella kissed his ankle, the only part of him she could reach, and noticed that he was getting cold. She squeezed his leg; it wasn’t supposed to end like this…

Something was squeezing his ankle. Someone was squeezing his ankle. Someone familiar.

“Stella…” Was his last coherent thought before there was a bang, a jolt and an overwhelming brightness.

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R&R, Please.