stand on the edge

[usattorney]

stand on the edge;
Friday before trial Kevin calls Janet into the office to prep her testimony. Luke insists on being there, even though he absolutely doesn't need to, because he wants to show Janet he supports her. He wants to make her feel safe, when he knows this is all going to drag up bad memories. He left her alone before; he won't make that mistake again. So when he should be reviewing paperwork for two other cases, he's leaning up against the conference room cabinet, playing with the end of his tie.

"You're nervous," Kevin says.

"Course I'm nervous." Luke mutters. "This is huge."

Kevin doesn't try to reassure him. He knows Luke is never nervous going into a trial; his arrogance prevents the what ifs from taking hold until deliberations set in. Nothing he says is going to make any difference. Also that's the moment Janet walks in, walks being a loose term; she's limping still in visible pain, and Kevin stands from his chair to help her into another one. "Thanks for coming," he says. "Can we get you anything?"

"I didn't really have a choice," she replies, with a deadpan chuckle. "And maybe a bottle of water." When Luke reaches into the cabinet and slides one across the table, she finally looks at him. "You didn't have to be here."

"I wanted to."

"Don't you have work to be doing?"

"I don't care."

"Well, now that we have that out of the way." Kevin comments, folding his hands in his lap. "You know how this works. Do you want me to run you through your direct testimony, or just the cross-examination?"

Janet's been called as a witness in enough trials that she could testify in her sleep. She knows that Kevin has her first on his list to set the scene of the shooting—what she heard, what little she saw, how much she's suffered because of it. She has little to offer his case in evidence since she turned to shove her father to the ground when she heard the gun. The real reason for this prep session is because the defense will use her as a weapon to prove that her father deserved it, that Jack Ford has a dozen different enemies who all wanted to shoot him, that it's his fault she was put in that position. Kevin has to protect her from being manipulated in that way. From being the front page headline she was so ashamed of being 15 years ago.

"Let's just get the hard part over with," Janet tells him, already slumping in the chair.

"Okay." The Bureau Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney gives her the most imperceptible of nods. "Agent Ford, isn't it true that you have a strained relationship with your father?"

"I don't have any relationship with my father."

"Why is that?"

Janet hesitates and eyes Kevin for a moment. "Do I have to tell them why? Can I just blame it on the divorce?" she says. "Saying he got arrested opens the door for them to introduce his criminal history."

"It does, but they'll just ask why your parents divorced, so there's no real way around it." He shakes his head. "I can object on relevance, but they'll redirect by asking why you were with him. It's best to come out with it rather than giving the impression your family wants to hide."

She sighs. "My father and I have been estranged since his arrest 18 years ago."

"Agent Ford, isn't it also true that you're estranged from your father because you find his conduct reprehensible?"

"I'm estranged from my father because we're different people."

"So you have no ill feelings toward him at all?" Even saying the words, Kevin looks like he's not sure Janet won't slap him. But that's why he's doing it; to prepare her for a defense attorney who wants to provoke her into a fight.

"I don't agree with his choices, but..." She cuts herself off because she knows the defense lawyer will do the exact same thing. "What do you want me to do here?" she asks, honestly lost. All three of them know the truth. She has loathed Jack Ford for a long time, and after this latest incident, she doesn't think she'll ever forgive him. She's actually afraid to be around him.

"What makes you feel comfortable?" Kevin reaches over and squeezes Janet's arm empathetically. "You only have to answer the question. You don't have to go into details. Your personal life's not on trial here."

Janet exhales slowly. "I don't like him."

"That's good. If they keep pushing, I can raise an objection." Kevin nods encouragingly. "I don't know anything more about your father's case than what you've told me. Is there anything I should know going into the trial?"

"I can't think of anything. I'm sure you'll fight to keep from making this case about an 18-year-old felony." Janet bites her lip. "You might want to talk to the SEC and the DEA. Get his employment records with them. Counter that his arrest was one isolated incident compared to the dozens of cases he's helped close since then." She always has loved math.

There's a pause as she stares at the table, then looks between the two of them. The two U.S. Attorneys she's worked with for over a decade, who know her as well as any FBI agent. She doesn't want to ask this question but Luke and Kevin know she has to.

"You're not going to put him on the stand, are you?"

"I might have to. To establish how he came into contact with Vincent in the first place and the contents of his investigation. We know Whitehouse isn't going to testify unless someone offers him a deal." Kevin glances at Luke as the words leave his mouth, knowing Luke is a hard-ass who isn't going to cut a deal, especially not for the man who caused his and Janet's breakup. "I'll make sure you two don't have to interact with each other."

"Thanks." Janet sighs. "Is there anything else you need?"

"I'll let you know if there is. And you let me know if there's anything else I can do to make you comfortable." Kevin stands and offers her his hand to help her up. "But try to enjoy the weekend and not think about it. Get your mind off this. I'll protect you as much as I can."

"I know. I trust you, Kevin. It's everyone else I'm worried about." She leans on her cane and glances out to where Bryan Ritter is leaning against the wall. The investigator has been her shadow for a few days now and she's getting used to it.

When Kevin heads back to his office, Luke circles around the table to get the door for Janet. "What did your dad say to you before?" he asks out of some morbid curiosity.

"That he doesn't want me to spend the rest of my life hating him," she replies. "He doesn't want to be seen as the person who ruined my life. The problem is, he's exactly the person who ruined my life."

She lets Bryan guide her out of the office and back to the car. Luke lingers in the conference room doorway, watching her go. There's no way he can argue with Janet's assessment then or now. He loves her more than he'll ever love anyone, and the only thing he wants to do is make everything okay.