Jack & Jennifer Alternate Days Story

Part Nine:

(Written by Mystic)

The courtroom is buzzing as everyone takes their time to digest the revelation Kristen had just made.  She confessed.  After all these heartbreaking months, Kristen Blake had finally confessed that Peter is indeed alive.  An absolutely stunned Jennifer looks over at Jack, who has the same expression on his face -- of total and utter disbelief.  Jack looks at Jennifer and sees that she is as bewildered as he is.  'What just happened?'  he thinks.  Everything was happening so fast that it almost seemed like a dream.  The courtroom is in absolute chaos as everyone is talking amongst themselves.  Kristen
continues to stand there breathless.  She looks around the courtroom, taking in the sight of the chaos she had just created.  She looks at Stefano, who is staring at her with pure evil in his eyes.  Kristen quickly looks the other way.  'I'll have hell to pay later...,' she thinks.  Then she looks over at Jack and Jennifer.  '...but I did the right thing,' she finishes in her mind.  Jack and Jennifer, who still have not said a word, continue to sit there speechless, just trying to comprehend what was going on.  The sound of the judge pounding his gavel against the table interrupts everyone's thoughts.

"Order in the court!" he yells.  "Order in the court!"

The court quiets down as everyone anxiously awaits to see what the judge will do.  Mickey, not wanting to take any chances, quickly stands up.

"Your honor," he begins.  "With your permission, I'd like to put Kristen Blake back on the witness stand and re-question her.  I think this new revelation justifies the right for me to do this."

Jack and Jennifer both stare at Judge McMillan, knowing that their entire future rests upon what the judge will decide.  The judge stares at Kristen, who is still standing up and looking unaware of what to do.  Then the judge looks back at Mickey.

"You may put this witness back on the stand," he says with a nod.

"NO!!!"  Stefano angrily gets up, in a rage.  "NO!!  She doesn't know what she is talking about!!"

The judge pounds his gavel again.  "Mr. Dimera, sit down!!  There will be no sudden outbursts in my courtroom!  One more from you and I will see that you are taken out of here right away!"  Stefano, with not much power to do anything, grudgingly sits back down.  He turn around and looks at Kristen, his eyes threatening her not to say a thing.  Kristen ignores his stares and looks straight at the judge.

"Ms. Blake, please approach the witness stand," the judge orders.

Kristen walks slowly up to the witness stand.  She is sworn in again, then takes her seat.  Again, she notices Stefano's eyes blazing at her.  She looks down, desperately trying to avoid his evil stares.

Mickey walks over to Kristen and again begins to interrogate her.  "Kristen," he begins.  "Can you please repeat to the courtroom what you have just stated a little while ago?"

Kristen, still looking down, says quietly, "I said that my brother is alive."

"Can you please speak up?"  Mickey pressures her.

"I said that my brother is alive,"  she says again, this time more loudly.  The courtroom again begins to buzz.  Judge McMillan pounds his gavel again as the court quiets down.

"But I don't understand!"  says Mickey.  "When you were on the witness stand before, you specifically stated that your brother, Peter Blake, was dead!  Are you telling us that you did not tell the truth before?"

"Yes," Kristen says, very quietly.

"A little louder please, Ms. Blake,"  Mickey says.

"Yes!" Kristen answers again, tears forming in her eyes.

Again, the members of the courtroom begin talking amongst themselves.  Jack turns around and looks at Jennifer.  Jennifer looks back at him and gives him a hopeful look.  She puts her hand on Jack's shoulder and gives him a tiny smile, illustrating that this could finally be the break they were waiting for.  Jack smiles back at her, one out of relief.  But he stops himself and tries to control his joy.  Everything was happening so quickly, he was afraid that celebrating now was a little premature.  The judge, looking as if he is about to kill every person in that courtroom, angrily pounds his gavel again.

"Silence!!"  he says.  The courtroom quiets down again.  Then the judge turns back to Mickey.  "You may continue," he says.

"Thank you, judge," says Mickey.  He looks back at Kristen.  "So let me get this straight, Ms. Blake.  You are stating to the court that your brother, Peter Blake, is indeed alive.  He was never killed by the defendant, Jack Deveraux.  Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes," Kristen says again.

"Can you please explain to us how you found out that your brother, Peter, was alive?" Mickey asks.

Kristen takes a deep breath and looks at Stefano.  The horrid look in Stefano's eyes is enough to make Kristen quickly turn her head away.  She proceeds to tell her story.  "Well, I first found out that Peter was alive when I saw him in the Blake house on that night you mentioned before."

"December 14, 1996,"  Mickey states.

"Right.  I guess that was the date," says Kristen.  "Anyway, I had no idea that he was alive until that night.  I went over to the Blake house to speak to Stefano and I got the feeling that he was hiding something in this bedroom.  So I walked into it and found Laura Horton there.  She was tied to a chair and had a rag stuffed into her mouth.  She was clearly being held prisoner."

Laura looks at Kristen, disturbed at the memories she was remembering.   But she was also happy that the truth was finally being told.  It felt good to know that now people wouldn't believe that she was crazy, and that she indeed was being held captive by Stefano, Kristen and Peter.  Jennifer puts her arm around her mom, feeling guilty for all those times she had doubted her.

Kristen continues with her story.  "I didn't approve of what Stefano was doing to Laura!" she tries to explain herself.  "I really didn't!  I did everything I could to get him to let Laura go."

"Ms. Blake, we are not on trial for that matter right now.  Please explain when it was that you found out that your brother was alive," says Mickey.

"Well," begins Kristen.  "I guess I didn't notice that he was in the room at first.  I was too busy trying to figure out why Stefano was holding Laura captive.  But then I heard the sound of Peter's voice.  I turned around and.......  and there he was....... standing right in front of me."

"NO!!!  THAT IS NOT TRUE!!!  SHE IS LYING!!!"  Stefano jumps up from his seat again.

The courtroom grows noisy again from this outburst.  The judge pounds his gavel hard again.  Jennifer looks at the gavel and wonders if it'll break before this trial is over.

"Mr. Dimera, I warned you before about making outbursts in my courtroom!!!  Now I want you taken out of here so we can continue on with this trial unbothered."  The judge orders the guards to take Stefano back to his cell.  Kristen watches Stefano being taken away.  When he is no longer to be seen, Kristen is relieved that he is gone.

"Kristen," Mickey begins again, when everyone is settled.  "Can you please continue?"

Kristen clears her throat, thinking about what she will say.  It's too late to turn back know.  She knows this.  "Um, well, I saw that Peter was standing there in front of me, very much alive.  I think I fainted.  I had no clue that he was alive, after all.  But when I came to, it became very clear to me that Peter was alive and that Stefano was hiding him out.  I didn't know he was alive before then.  I swear I didn't!  And I was so angry at Stefano for not telling me sooner that my brother was alive.  He made me grieve for him and I probably wouldn't know to this day that Peter was alive if I hadn't discovered the truth by accident."  Kristen is tearful now.

Mickey tries to get the questioning back on the track he wants.  "Kristen, do you know where your brother is now?"

Kristen shakes her head.  "No, I don't.  Stefano hid him somewhere.  Probably on one of his islands.  I don't know."

Mickey nods.  He looks over at Jack, who seems to be in a daze.  Mickey understands how he feels.  What was happening was very unexpected.  But now Mickey finally feels secure enough to believe that he can get his client, Jack Deveraux, off the hook for good.  He turns back to Kristen, ready to conclude his questioning.

"Ms. Blake, I just have a few more straightforward quetions.  You can answer with a 'yes' or 'no'."

Kristen nods, looking defeated.

"Is your brother, Peter Blake, alive?"

"Yes," says Kristen.

"Can you confirm that Stefano Dimera's testimony is false and inaccurate?"

Yes," she answers.

"Is Jack Deveraux innocent of this accused crime?"

Kristen looks over at Jack.  He holds his breath, awaiting her answer.

"Yes," she finally says.  "Jack Deveraux did not kill my brother."

Jack breathes out a sigh of relief.  The words he needed to hear had finally been said.  Jennifer smiles and leans forward and puts her arms around Jack.  The courtroom is buzzing again as they talk about this startling turn of events.

"SILENCE!!!" Judge McMillan screams.  He pounds on his gavel furiously.  The members of the court shut their mouths, almost immediately.  They were afraid that the the judge might throw that gavel at one of them.

Mickey looks at Kristen one last time before turning to the judge.  "I have no more questions, your honor."  Mickey walks back to the defense table and takes his seat next to Jack.

The judge looks over at the prosecution table as they shake their heads.  There's no reason to cross-examine the witness after her confession.  It was pointless.  The judge gets ready to leave.

"I am going into my chamber to re-evaluate my verdict, given the fact that we have new evidence."  He stands up.

"All rise," the bailiff orders.

Everyone in the courtroom rises as the judge walks out of the room.  When he is gone, Jennifer runs to Jack and hugs him.  "Can you believe this?"  she says to him.  Jack hugs Jennifer tightly.  He didn't think he'd have this opportunity again.  He closes his eyes and takes in the thought of still being able to hold the woman he loves.  "Jack?"  Jennifer says when Jack doesn't answer her.  She pulls away and looks into his eyes.  "Can you believe this is happening?"

Jack lets out a sigh, one of disbelief.  "No!" he says.  "I mean...  what..... what just happened, Jenn?  Did Kristen just confess?  I mean, what, am I dreaming here?"

Jenn laughs and shakes her head.  "No, Jack," she says.  "This isn't a dream.  It's real.  Kristen just confessed and now you're free."

"Wait, we don't know that for sure, Jenn," Jack says quickly, still not wanting to get his hopes up.

"Jack, what are you talking about?!  Kristen just confessed that Peter is alive!  She even said specifically that you didn't kill him!  How can the judge not react to that?!"  Jack still looks doubtful.  The confession did seem like a surefire way for Jack to be released for good.....  but still.  Life did throw some unexpected curves before.

Mickey walks up to Jack and Jennifer and smiles.  "Uncle Mickey!" Jennifer says excitedly.  "This is great, isn't it?!  Kristen confessed!  That's just what we needed to hear, right?!"

Mickey nods his head.  "Yes.  I think that there is no way the judge can sentence you back to jail now, Jack.  I really think he's going to let you go."

"But how can you be so sure, Mickey?"  Jack says.  "Maybe Kristen's confession isn't enough."

"Jack, come on!"  Jennifer says.  "How can it not be enough?!"

"I don't know, Jenn.  I don't know what to think anymore.  I guess I'm just trying to play things safe here," Jack explains.

"Jack, I know what you're doing.  But I really think tha--"  Jennifer is interrupted when she sees that the judge is re-entering the courtroom.

"All rise," says the bailiff.  Jack, Jennifer and Mickey all walk back over to their seats.  Jack gets the case of the nerves as he watches Judge McMillan slowly take his seat.  As he is seated down, the bailiff orders everyone to be seated.  The defense is then called to stand up, as the judge prepares to read his verdict.

Mickey quickly stands up, as Jack slowly stands.  Jack keeps his eyes on the judge, trying to read him and figure out how he has ruled.  The judge has a blank look on his face though, as he is reading something.  Jack is disappointed that he cannot tell what he is thinking.  The judge finally looks up and looks at Mickey and Jack.  Jennifer, so sure of herself before, begins to get nervous as she watches the judge's every move.  She looks up at Jack and could feel his anxiousness too.  She looks back at the judge as he begins to read his verdict.

"This case has certainly been one of the most bizarre cases I have ever seen,"  begins the judge.  "There were many factors to consider while rendering my verdict.  The most important question in this case was clear.  Is Peter Blake alive or is he not?  If he is alive, there really is no reason to sentence Jack Deveraux back to prison.  Now Laura Horton and Marlena Evans' testimony, while compelling and strong, still was nothing but circumstancial evidence.  Their accounts could not be enough to exonnerate a defendant facing a very serious charge.  I needed first-hand testimony, which could only be provided by Stefano Dimera or Kristen Blake.  Without that, this is an open and shut case.  But obviously, we were given that testimony by Kristen Blake.  There are still many questionnable and unanswered questions concering other matters, but that is for another trial.  This trial is to determine whether the defendant, Jack Deveraux, is guilty or not of killing Peter Blake.  Like I said before, we needed a confession from either Mr. Dimera or Ms. Blake.  Well, we have that confession."

Jack holds his breath as he listens intently to the judge's every word.

"So in light of this new evidence, I have no choice but to release Jack Deveraux."

There is a cheer in the courtroom as family and friends understand the power of the words the judge has just said.  Judge McMillan gives his gavel another pound, hoping that this is the last time for the day.  "Silence in the courtroom!!!" he shouts.

"For the charge of killing Peter Blake, I find the defendant, Jack Deveraux, not guilty.  This court is adjourned!"  he pounds on his gavel one last time.  Then he stands up and runs out of there.

There is another cheer from the courtroom.  Jennifer, deliriously happy, jumps out of her seat and hugs Jack again.  She hugs him tight, knowing that it is forever.  Jack returns the hug just as tightly, still trying to get ahold of what is happening.  Mickey, Laura and the rest of their friends stand back, wanting to give Jack and Jennifer this precious time alone.

Still hugging Jack, Jennifer whispers, "You're free.  Jack, you're finally free."

Tears begin to form in Jack's eyes.  But these are different tears now -- they are happy tears.  Today was the day he had thought would be the last for him and Jennifer.  He had thought that today would be a day of goodbyes and sadness.  But the emotions he was feeling now versus the feelings he felt that morning -- well, they were very different.  Today was not the last day for him and Jennifer.  No, it was the first day of the rest of their lives.  That thought almost makes Jack's heart burst with happiness.  He continues to hold Jennifer in his arms tightly, as his tears begin to fall.

Jennifer pulls Jack away so she can look directly at him.  She can always tell how Jack is feeling when she looks into his blue eyes.  She studies them and sees happiness in them.  The sight makes Jennifer smile.  The tears that had been welling up in her eyes begin to fall too.  She almost starts to laugh.  Her eyes tell Jack that she knows how he is feeling, and she hugs him again.

After a few more seconds of holding Jenn in his arms, he gently pulls her away so he can say something to her.  "Jenn," he begins.  ".....God, I don't even know where to start."

Jennifer smiles understandably.  "I know, Jack.  This is all so overwhelming."

Jack nods his head.  "Yeah, it is."  He lets out a deep breath, then looks at Jenn.  "It's over, isn't it?  This whole nightmare is over?"

Jennifer's smile gets bigger and she nods her head.  "Yes, Jack.  This whole awful nightmare is over.  We won, Jack.  We have finally won."

Jack smiles.  "And I guess what your grandmother has said all along is true -- true love always wins out in the end."

Jennifer continues to smile and she nods her head slightly.  "Yes....  and she is absolutely right."  She stares at Jack lovingly.

Jack returns the loving stare, just as strongly.  He brushes her cheek with his hand.  The emotions he was feeling right then were so powerful.  A nightmare in their life had ended.  A dream he has had for so long was about to begin.  The past was behind them.  The future shined brightly ahead.  A whole new chapter in their lives was about to begin.  Jack puts his arms around Jennifer, pulls her close to him, and kisses her with all the passion he has to offer.  And he knows that he will never let her go again.
 

Later, back at Jack and Jennifer's house...

"Jack, I am so happy for you!" Hope says as she hugs Jack.  "Now you and Jenn can finally be together."

"Thanks Hope," Jack says.  "Thanks for all your support.  It's meant a lot to me."

Hope is not the only one at Jack and Jennifer's house.  A little impromptu party has started to celebrate Jack's acquittal.  The guests:  Hope, Franco, Alice, Mickey, Maggie, John, Marlena, Austin, Carrie, Mike, Lucas and Sami.  The atmosphere is lighthearted and spirited.  Everyone is in a good mood -- especially Jack and Jennifer.  Laura is not home because she is picking up Abby from school.

"Everybody!" Jack calls out to the room full of people.  "I'd like to say something."  Everyone in the room quiets down.  "I'd just like to thank you all for all the support you've given me.  You've been really good and supportive to me and I appreciate that more than I can ever say.  I would also like to thank Mickey for all his time and energy he's put into this case.  I owe you a lot, Mickey."

Mickey modestly shrugs and says, "Jack, it was my pleasure to help the man who makes my niece so happy."  Jennifer smiles.  "But honestly, I don't think we could've gotten your sentence overturned if Kristen hadn't confessed."

"Yeah, I am so relieved to know that she still has some goodness in her,"  Jennifer says.

"I don't know if it's goodness, Jenn,"  John says.  "I think it's just residual guilt."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm just glad she finally confessed," says Jennifer.

"So am I," Jack agrees.  He turns to Jenn.  "I don't think I'd be able to go on with my life if you and Abby weren't in it."  Jennifer nods and puts her arms around Jack.

"Speaking of Abby, where is that little girl anyway?"  John says.

"Oh, mom is picking her up from school," Jenn answers.

Just then, the front door opens as Laura and Abby walk in.  Abby sees her daddy.

"Daddy!!!"  she says as she runs up to Jack.  He picks her up.

"Why, hello there princess!" he says with a smile.  "How was school today?"

"Good!" answers Abby.  She stares at her daddy.  "Why do you look so happy?"

Jack laughs and says, "Because I am, Abigail.  I am so very, very happy."

Jennifer puts her arms around Abby too.  "So am I, sweetheart."  Jack looks at Jenn and then gives her a soft kiss on the lips.  Then he turns his attention back to his daughter.

"Abby, what do you say next week mommy and I take you to the zoo?  Does that sound good?"  Jack asks.

"Yea!!!"  answers Abby, gleefully.  Jack laughs and hugs Abby.  It feels so good to be able to plan for the future.  Jennifer understands this and looks at Jack knowingly.  She smiles at him and he smiles back.

Abby thens says that she wants to play with something in her room so Jack and Jennifer let her run upstairs.  The guests in their house continue to chat amongst themselves as Jack and Jennifer are alone in a corner of the room.  Jack smiles at her.  He holds her left hand up to his lips and kisses it.  He notices the ring that he had put on her finger the night before.  He looks into her eyes and smiles.

"Do our guests know about this?" he asks, referring to the ring.

Jennifer realizes that they don't.  "No, actually they don't..."  Jack and Jennifer smile at each other.  Then they turn around and face their guests.

"Uh, excuse me!"  Jack says, trying to get everybody's attention.  "Jennifer and I have an important announcement to make."

The crowd in the room quiets down as they await the announcement.

Jack looks at Jennifer and smiles as she smiles back.  He then looks back at their friends.  "I am happy to announce," he begins, "that Jennifer and I are engaged to be married..... again."

Everyone in the room laughs and are all very happy to hear this news.  They all shout out their congratulations.  The women gather around Jennifer as they admire the ring.

"Jenn, this is so beautiful!"  Carrie says, admirably.

"Thanks," Jenn answers.  "I am so happy that Jack and I are going to be husband and wife again.  I mean, he already still feels like my husband, but it'll be nice to make it official again under the eyes of God, you know?"

"Yeah, I completely understand," replies Carrie.

Jennifer continues to smile and is enjoying the happiness she feels she and Jack deserve.  But then John interrupts everyone's good mood.

"Wait a minute," John says.  "Look, I hate to be the downer here...."

Jack and Jennifer look at John with confused looks.  "What is it, John?  Jack asks.

"Well, I was just wondering how you and Jenn can get married if....." John begins.  He didn't need to finish the rest of the sentence.  Jack already knew what he was going to say.

".....if Peter is alive," Jack finishes for him.

"Right," John answers.

Jennifer, who didn't really realize this before, looks at Jack with a troubled look.  Jack puts his arm around her, trying to reassure her.  But they both know that this will be a problem that comes up again in the future.

    Back to Jack & Jennifer Fans Home Page