Alternate Jack & Jennifer Story -- Part Eight:

Written by Sandra

An hour later, Jack & Jennifer arrive at the courtroom.....

Jack & Jennifer are both feeling an overwhelming sense of nervousness. Yet, they desperately try to hide their nervousness by not communicating their feelings of fear to each other or to others around them. The courtroom is almost packed. John, Marlena and Laura have arrived. Kristen is sitting at the rear of the courtroom all by herself. She glances at Jennifer as Jennifer walks towards her seat in the courtroom. Jennifer gives Kristen a cold glance back, knowing full well that Kristen will not easily admit the truth about Peter being alive. Laura and Marlena also walk by Kristen and look directly at her eyes with a very nasty look. If their looks could kill, Kristen would have been dead long ago. Jack is too nervous to notice Kristen or anyone in the courtroom. He takes his seat at the defence table next to Mickey.

Jennifer leans over the wall dividing her from Jack's defence table to speak to Jack. She puts her hand on his shoulder and says, "I want you to know that I believe in my heart that the judge will set you free and clear you of these murder charges. You have to believe that too, Jack."

Jack has a small nervous smile on his face. "If you believe it, Jenn, then I'll believe it too. I love you so much for all the support you've given me." He gets up, leans over the small wall dividing Jennifer from the defence table, and hugs her tightly. After the hug, Jack turns around and seats himself back on his chair. He leans over and begins to converse with Mickey about his defence strategy.

Meanwhile, Jennifer takes this opportunity to walk towards Kristen to have a few words with her former "friend". As Jennifer is approaching her, Kristen begins to feel a twinge of nervousness. She knows that, in Jennifer's heart, there is nothing but hate for her. Jennifer has a very serious and cold look on her face. Kristen is seated at the bench as Jennifer stands above her...

"Listen, Kristen. I wanted to tell you a few things before this trial begins. I want you to know how disgusted I am with how you allowed my husband to go to prison and serve time for a murder that never happened. Jack's shooting Peter was a complete accident. And now we find out that Peter isn't even dead! How could you keep that kind of information from us and allow Jack to be painfully separated from me and his daughter?!?! How could you be so cruel and heartless?!?!"

"Jenn, I didn't want it to be this way. I swear!!! I've always considered you one of my best friends. You know I'd never intentionally hurt you...."

"How can you even sit there and say that to me, Kristen???? After every horrible thing that you've done to my family, you have a nerve to call yourself my "friend". HA! Some friend you are. You know, I only have one thing to say to you -- if you have any ounce of conscience or compassion left in your heart, you will go up there on the witness stand and tell the judge the truth -- that Peter is alive and well. And if you have any hesitancy to tell what you know to be the truth, just think in your mind of my innocent and precious daughter who could be separated from her father forever because of YOU!! So do the right thing and set my husband free."

With that powerful comment, Jennifer walks away. She feels confident in her mind that her message will evoke some kind of compassionate response in Kristen's heart. Jennifer knows that although Kristen has done some horrible things in the past, she was once a good and kind woman. Jennifer believes that somehow, someway, that sense of kindness is buried deep inside Kristen and that her words will cause Kristen to admit the truth to the judge.

Kristen sits there with a very sad look on her face. She feels so much confusion right now. Just a short while ago, she promised Stefano that she would go along with his 'plan' and keep hidden the secret about Peter being alive. She would do that as long as Stefano promised her that she could 'win' back John by doing this. And furthermore, Stefano also reminded her that she would be betraying her brother if she revealed the truth about him to the court. At the same time, Kristen felt so much deep guilt in her heart over how much pain she has caused her best friend's family. She couldn't stand the thought that she was responsible for keeping Jack apart from his family -- especially his daughter. Deep down, she didn't want Jack to feel that kind of intense pain and sadness again. This guilty conscience she was feeling kept getting stronger and stronger as the minutes went by in the courtroom....

Ten minutes later, the judge arrives at the courtroom and the trial begins....

The prosecution begins to present evidence talking about the night of the shooting. They call witnesses to present evidence which they hope will convince the judge that the shooting of Peter was not a complete accident, but a deliberately-planned murder. Then they present to the court Peter's medical records, as well as his signed death certificate, which they say proves 100% that Peter is dead. Finally they call Stefano to the witness stand and he basically confirms the prosecution's story that Peter is dead and that Laura's story is a complete lie. The defence cross-examines the various prosecution witnesses but the prosecution's case seems very strong. Jack & Jennifer both feel an overwhelming sense of fear, believing that the judge might not believe that Peter is alive after all.

The prosecution rests and the defence begins to present its case to the judge. Mickey calls Marlena and Laura to the stand and they both tell their detailed stories about how they know for a fact that Peter is alive. The prosecution tries to find 'holes' in their stories, but their testimony seems very powerful. Yet Mickey had warned Jack, minutes before the trial began, that Laura and Marlena's evidence was not good enough. What they needed most was evidence from either Stefano or Kristen which would effectively help prove to the judge that Peter is alive. Jack was not surprised, however, when Stefano refused to confirm the story about Peter being alive -- how much could he expect from a "monster" like DiMera. Yet, Jack had some sense of confidence that Kristen might, under Mickey's intense questioning, admit the truth about Peter being alive. Nevertheless, Jack had his doubts and he anxiously awaited to hear Kristen's testimony.

A few hours later, the critical moment has arrived......

"Your honor," Mickey states to the court, "the defence would like to call Ms. Kristen Blake to the witness stand."

Kristen gets up from her seat in the gallery and walks towards the witness box. She is still feeling very nervous and hesitant, not completely certain of what she will say on the witness stand. Jack and Jennifer nervously watch her as she is walking down the aisle. They both cannot help but feel such immense fear over the thought that this woman has so much power and control over their future together as a "family".

Kristen is sworn in and takes a seat at the witness box. Mickey begins his questioning of his key defence witness -- albeit a seemingly 'hostile witness'. He first asks her questions about Peter's "death". Then he asks her if she saw her brother in the coffin at the funeral. She tells him that, as far as she knew, at the time of his funeral, Peter was, in her mind, dead. Mickey realized that Kristen only found out about Peter's survival a short while after the funeral. So he had no true reason to argue with her about the truth of her statements.... so far. Nevertheless, his questioning arrived at the part of the 'story' when he knew, based on Laura's testimony, that Kristen accidentally discovered that her brother was alive.

"Ms. Blake," Mickey asks, "...is it true that, you were at the house where Laura Horton was held captive by your father Stefano DiMera?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about...." she responds, still very hesitant to tell the truth.

"Allow me to refresh your memory, Ms. Blake. On the night of December 14, 1996, were you or were you not at the Blake house?"

"Well..." she pauses for a moment and responds, ".. yes, I guess you could say I was at the Blake House that evening. But only to straighten up a few things here and there. My brother just died and I had a lot of things to take care of for him... things that I know he wanted to have done..."

"Oh, really, Ms. Blake? Did any of those things include a meeting with your father, Stefano DiMera?"

"No, of course not. I had no idea Stefano was going to be in that house when I arrived....."

"Oh! So you do admit, then, that Stefano DiMera was in the Blake House that evening you went there, as you testified, to "take care of things"?"

Kristen realizes she made a giant slip of the tongue with her statement about Stefano. She nervously glances at her father and he returns her glance with an evil stare. She has backed herself into a corner and she has no choice but to admit the truth

"Uhhh..... yes.... I suppose I did see Stefano there that evening. But I had no idea he was going to be there."

The courtroom is stunned and they begin to chat amongst themselves, completely surprised at Kristen's admission that she saw her father that night. The judge becomes angered by this noise in the courtroom and orders "silence" in the courtroom.

"So now, Ms. Blake, you are admitting to us that Mr. DiMera had been in the Blake House that night. However, your father just testified to the court that he never stepped foot in the Blake House. So I guess your father was lying to the court, wasn't he?"

The prosecution objects and the judge sustains the objection. So Mickey's question is not answered by Kristen.

"Did your father tell you what he was doing there that night?" Mickey asks.

"Well... uhh... you know... he was...uhh .... hiding out from the police faking his own death. I had nothing to do with it. I just arrived there and was completely stunned to see that he was indeed alive. And he threatened me that he would do something drastic to me or to someone I love if I called the police and reported him. But I never asked him what he was doing that night and he never told me."

"Really, Ms. Blake?! That's interesting. So you say that you were not aware if your father had any 'plans' that evening, right?"

"No. Not at all..."

"Laura Horton testified that she was being held captive in an upstairs bedroom along with the very-much-alive Peter Blake. Did you happen to have your "unexpected" meeting with your father near a closed bedroom door upstairs?"

"I don't remember. I might have or might not have met him there"

"Ms. Blake, let me get straight to the point. During the night of December 14, 1996, when you had this "unexpected" meeting with Mr. DiMera, did you happen to walk into an upstairs bedroom and notice your supposedly dead brother alive in that room? Is it true, then, that you discovered that night that your brother, Peter Blake, was indeed alive?"

The courtroom sits there with complete silence. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the answer to this most critical of questions. Jack & Jennifer nervously hold their breaths, anxious to hear the answer to this question -- an answer that could determine their future together.

Kristen takes a deep breath and confusion runs through her mind. She looks at Jack and Jennifer and sees the fear in their eyes. She then looks across at her father who is staring at her with the most evil and frightening looks. She knows she has no choice but to say the following....

"No, I never saw my brother alive at the Blake House. My brother, Peter Blake, is dead. And nothing I can do will ever change that..."

"THAT'S A LIE!!! YOU MONSTER, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MY FAMILY?!" Jennifer screams out in horror.

"Silence in the court!" The judge screams. "Mrs. Blake, if I hear an outburst like that from you again, I will personally order you out of the courtroom, do you understand?"

Jennifer is too horrified and upset to even look at the judge. She sits there with her head bowed down in complete shock and begins to cry. Laura leans over and consoles her daughter. Jack is staring expressionless at the wall. He looks as though he has completely given up all hope.

The prosecution sees no need to cross-examine Kristen, considering the defence was unable to get her to admit to the courtroom that Peter is alive. Mickey has no choice but to rest the defence. He is completely aware, however, that the chances of Jack being cleared are very low. The judge then says that he will go to his chambers and review the evidence and decide his verdict. He exits the courtroom.

Kristen walks back towards the gallery and takes her seat. Almost everyone in the court is giving her icy looks. But I'm trapped, she thinks. I had no choice but to lie to the court. I couldn't risk angering my father and sacrificing my future with John, she thinks to herself.

Jack walks towards where Jennifer is sitting. Jennifer is still being consoled by her mother as she continues to cry. Laura sees Jack and moves away so that Jack & Jennifer can have some private time together. Jack sits down next to Jennifer and puts his arm around her. Jennifer is still crying and leans her head against his chest. Jack caresses her face with his other hand.

"Jenn, sweetheart. I don't know what to say," he says to her, with tears in his eyes, "I just can't believe that this is happening to us again. I don't know... I just.... I just thought that maybe just maybe things would turn out good for us and we'd have a chance to build a future together. But now...."

Jennifer lifts her head and looks directly at Jack's eyes. Tears are streaming down her face. "Jack, don't even say it! I don't want to hear it! Just hold me in your arms! Hold me close. I want to feel your arms around me even if it's the last...." She stops herself because she can't even admit to herself or to him that this is very likely their last time together before Jack goes back to prison again.

Tears begin to well up in Jack's eyes. He is in such immense and total pain right now. He wonders if him, Jennifer and Abby could just run away and escape all this pain and misery that they're experiencing. And to hell with the rest of the world. He puts both of his arms around her and hugs her tightly, refusing to let go.

In the mean time, Laura watches this with complete sorrow in her eyes. She sees her daughter and Jack in so much pain and she wants to do something about it. Fuming, she walks quickly towards where Kristen is seated. Kristen has a very sad and nervous look on her face as Laura approaches her.

"You bitch!! How dare you sit here so calmly after you ruined my daughter's life? You're no better than your own monstrous father, Stefano. You make me sick!"

"Laura, I really don't want to talk to you right now..."

"Oh, is that so, Kristen?! Well, I have news for you! Too #@%@ bad! You're going to hear what I have to say whether you like it or not!"

Kristen is not looking at Laura. She stares ahead and looks completely expressionless pretending not to listen to Laura.

"I want you to look across the courtroom at my daughter and Jack."

Kristen doesn't look. So Laura screams louder, "DID YOU HEAR ME???? I SAID LOOK AT THEM!"

Everyone in the courtroom quiets down after hearing Laura's outburst. Jack & Jennifer are still holding each other in their arms completely oblivious to everything in the courtroom.

Laura quiets down and says to Kristen, "Just look at them, Kristen. Do you see the pain and anguish in their faces? Do you see the grief they are going through because of you? Don't you care?! Or are you too sick and evil to care?"

"Leave me alone, Laura!" Kristen responds with a furious tone.

"I'll never leave you alone, Kristen. I will haunt you forever until you pay for every cruel and evil thing you have ever done to my family," Laura says bitterly and with complete seriousness. She walks away allowing those powerful words to sink in to Kristen's mind.

Kristen sits there and suddenly a complete sense of horror and shock comes over her. She instantly realizes that she just destroyed the lives of a family -- a family she never meant to hurt. But she realizes that she did hurt them and she was completely responsible for all the pain Jack & Jennifer were going through at this very moment. She cannot even stand to think about who she is and what she has become because of her sense of desperation to 'win' John.

About a half an hour later, the door to the courtroom opens, signalling the impending appearance of the judge. Mickey tells Jack to go over to the defence table to take his seat. Jack doesn't listen to him and continues to hold Jennifer in his arms. He doesn't want to ever let her go.

"Jack!" Mickey whispers, "Jack, the judge is going to be here right now. I'm sorry, but you have to get back to your seat."

Jennifer releases herself from Jack's embrace, and nods her head to agree with Mickey. Jack gently strokes Jennifer's face and gives her a gentle kiss on her lips. He thinks to himself how this will be the last time he will ever touch his beautiful Jennifer. He walks towards his seat. Jennifer bends her head down because she cannot bear to look at the judge or at Jack as the judge is about to announce the verdict to the courtroom.

"All rise," the bailiff announces to the court, "The honorable Judge McMillan is about to enter the court."

The court rises and almost everybody stands there with sadness and grief on their faces. They are fully aware that the judge's verdict will not be favorable for Jack.

"You may be seated," the bailiff announces.

The members of the court take their seats. The judge sits down and begins to read his verdict.

"I would like to say that I spent most of my time in chamber carefully reviewing all the evidence presented to this court. Much of the evidence seems very clear and straighforward to me. Clearly, the shooting victim, Peter Blake was indeed pronounced dead by his doctor, Mike Horton. The death certificate had been signed by the doctor which confirms this evidence. Laura Horton and Marlena Evans presented very compelling evidence to this court about the possibility of Peter Blake being alive. But the court finds that Ms. Horton's and Dr. Evans' testimony is not adequate to prove that Peter Blake is alive. The only two witnesses that could have confirmed their testimony -- Stefano DiMera and Kristen Blake -- did not, however, confirm this evidence presented by these two defence witnesses. Thus, the court has no choice but to..."

"STOP!!!" Kristen screams out.

"Ms. Blake, I already warned Mrs. Jennifer Blake about making a loud outburst in this courtroom. So I am ordering you to cease your yelling at once."

"Your honor," Kristen cries, "I can't keep my mouth shut any longer. The truth is... " Kristen pauses and is about to look at Stefano. She stops herself from looking at him, knowing that she must find the strength within herself to show the people in this courtroom that she does have a shred of humanity left in her. She takes a deep breath and continues, ".....the truth... is ..... the truth is that my brother, Peter Blake, is... alive..."

The entire courtroom is stunned. And the two people who are most affected by the outcome of this trial -- Jack & Jennifer -- sit there with complete shock on their faces. They are almost afraid to believe the words they just heard from Kristen's mouth. Perhaps, they think, they might have imagined it.... But no, they didn't imagine it. Kristen has finally admitted the truth about her brother... at last....

To be continued....

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