[So, this is to take place in the same continuity and universe as Marshall&Gavin, LLP, just earlier. In case anyone didn't know, I actually am a trial lawyer, and if you have any questions about that, feel free to PM me. Haha. While I find the PW/AJ Justice system fascinating, I'm still a bit partial to the system I make my living in. So, this is PW/AJ meets the American justice system, slightly simplified. Read&Review!]

Rolling his head back, Kristoph tried to slow his thought. They were torn between whether or not he was dressed too fancily, almost like some sort of Wall Street lawyer and less like a fairly green Public Defender, and on how damaging his competition was being. Accent aside, the Deputy District Attorney at the opposite table could almost be considered pesky; his perfectly timed and often wickedly sharp objections were becoming enough to almost unsettle him. For whatever reason, he couldn't help but admire the DDA. His suit, a dark brown two-piece affair, was very well tailored, also lending to him the image of a corporate executive. In the back of his stressed out mind, Kristoph slightly regretted not taking that job at ExxonMobil. From his spot on one of the few padded benches in the Courthouse, he closed his eyes as he leaned his head back, hoping for some manner of respite.

"Last chance for a deal." That twangy, guitar string accent bounced into his ear.

"Still no." Kristoph said, not opening his eyes. He heard and felt the prosecutor sit down next to him.

"We haven't been rightly introduced. Neil Marshall, Deputy District Attorney." He said, offering a hand.

"Kristoph Gavin, Office of the Public Defender." The blonde replied, extending his own hand for a very cordial handshake. "And sorry, no deal."

"Ah, what a shame." Neil said. "Don't take my eventual win personally."

"Tell me, is it standard procedure for members of the DA's office to guarantee a win?" Kristoph asked.

"Only when half of the witnesses are cops." Neil corrected.

"We'll see." Kristoph almost slyly countered. "Where's your ring from?"

"The University of Virginia." Neil said, holding up the large, golden ring to the light. "Undergrad and law school. You?"

"UCLA for both." Kristoph said.

"Ah." Neil nodded. "I'll have to bring back stories about facing the three-piece suit wearing prodigy."

"I like vested suits." Kristoph merely laughed.

"Oh, I could tell." The prosecutor nodded. "Grey is a good color. The jury finds it neutral, non-threatening. Same goes for the tie, dark blue, perfect double Windsor knot. Very professional, almost expected"

"Same with yours. Slightly expensive, but normal looking. Easily offendable jurors won't be put off by it. And I take it you favor red power ties." Kristoph noted.

"I see you read the same stuff I do." Neil chuckled.

"Anything for the advantage." Kristoph said, glancing at his watch. "We're back in session in five minutes."

"Good luck with my witnesses." The prosecutor said.

"Please, luck is for the corporate law people." The public defender said, smirking. "Keep in mind the Judge is a former PD."

Before the conversation could continue, the two noticed people were again filing into the modest Courtroom. The two trained their eyes as they rose, adjusting their ties and suit jackets. Nothing was said as they picked up their briefcases and strode back inside. Each was working the case as a solo chair; a flux of trials had stretched both the Office of the Public Defender and the District Attorney thin. Their respective tables weren't that large so hopefully the jury didn't notice both sides were technically undermanned. Each sat quietly.

"All rise." Said the Bailiff, Mike Meekins, a fellow both defense attorney and prosecutor noted was very enthusiastic. "Court is again in session; The Honorable Douglas Swallows presiding. Give your attention and you will be heard."

Emerging from a small door behind the bench, the youthful, he was in fact the youngest sitting Judge in Los Angeles County, took his seat and banged his gavel twice. "Be seated." He said. "Please bring the defendant back in."

Meekins nodded, disappeared behind another small door behind. At this, Kristoph felt himself twitch. Of all the clients he pulled, it was the oddly awkward Glen Elg, a self employed hacker who had, for some reason or another attempted to kidnap his girlfriend, one Alita Tiala. As a defendant, he wasn't very sympathetic. He did not appear to appreciate the gravity of his situation. Kristoph had spent the bulk of the trial so far trying to shield his idiot client from the prying eyes of what he deemed a hostile jury.

"If the District Attorney has no more questions?" Judge Swallows began.

"Nothing further, Your Honor." Neil rose and said.

"Very well. Mr. Gavin, you may begin your cross-examination. I remind the witness he is still under oath." The Judge said.

From the witness box, Dr. Turner Grey nodded, looking almost fed up. From the defense table, Kristoph rose and slowly walked in front of the table. He adjusted his glasses, a trait someone had told him looked good.

"Dr. Grey, how long have you worn glasses?" The blonde asked. From his table, Neil shot up like a rocket.

"Objection." He drawled. "Relevance?"

"Your Honor, this is an eye-witness, the defense merely seeks to make sure all the facts are one the record." Kristoph explained.

"Overruled." Judge Swallows said.

"Thank you, Your Honor. Now, Dr. Grey, how long have you worn glasses?"

"Since High School." The Doctor answered.

"Is your vision stable?" Kristoph asked.

"No." Dr. Grey answered. "It's slowly, very slowly, getting slightly worse. Nothing horrific, just means new glasses every few years."

At the prosecution table, Neil sank slightly in his chair. While looking like a good witness, Dr. Grey had a nasty habit of saying too much. Well, he had to try something before the blonde prodigy ran with it.

"Objection, move to strike." Neil said, rising from his chair. "Dr. Grey, while well meaning, overstepped the bounds of the question. I just want to make sure the jury doesn't get needlessly befuddled."

"Overruled, Mr. Marshall." Judge Swallows almost sighed.

"Now, Dr. Grey, when was your last optical exam?" Kristoph asked, plucking a legal pad and pen off the table behind him.

"Ten or so months ago." He answered, suddenly not liking the defense attorney too much.

"So, you're due for a checkup, as it were?" Kristoph inquired.

"Yes, I suppose so." Dr. Grey nodded, tersely.

"You told Deputy District Attorney Marshall earlier that you witnessed this incident, but you admitted to the fact it all happened, as you said, very quickly." The blonde said.

"Objection." Neil rose again, this time smiling unabashedly. "Did I miss the question in there?"

"Mr. Gavin, the Deputy District Attorney has a point. Let's try asking questions of the witnesses." The Judge said. Kristoph, casting a half glance at the prosecutor at the other table, returned the smirk. Annoying or not, this Neil Marshall fellow was an expert at not letting Kristoph establish any form of momentum. He carried himself and was concise enough to avoid looking like an obstructionist. That, and the six women on the jury couldn't keep their eyes off of him.

"Sir, how was Ms. Tiala behaving at the time of the alleged incident?" Kristoph asked.

"She was resisting." The Doctor answered.

"Verbally or physically?" The defense attorney pressed.

"Both." Was the answer.

"Right, so you saw her physically resisting, but you were still able to identify my client?" Kristoph asked again, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes." Dr. Grey nodded.

"Was the attempted abductor also struggling?" Kristoph posed.

"Yes."

"How so?"

"He was trying to avoid getting hit. Honestly, he looked like he was pretty afraid of her." Dr. Grey grinned. From his seat, Neil enjoyed finally catching this slight break. The aloof defendant being made to sound afraid of a fairly small young woman was a solid point for him.

"So, he was trying to avoid being struck?" Kristoph asked.

"Yes."

"Does this mean he was moving his face?" The blonde leaned forward.

A pause set in, with Kristoph, Neil, Judge Swallows and five members of the jury understanding what was being asked.

"Well, somewhat." Dr. Grey answered, shifting in his chair.

"In a frenzy of activity, with two people moving, and the situation occurring, as you said, quickly, you saw my clients face?" Kristoph said, voice firmer than in previous questions.

"I believe so." Dr. Grey said, now glowering at the young lawyer.

Kristoph issued a thin smirked as he turned his head to the jury, feeling that between establishing the eyesight issue and the drawing out the fact that the incident in question happened fast helped his case greatly. "No further questions."

"Re-direct?" Neil said, standing before Kristoph had even gotten back to his chair. Judge Swallows nodded. "Dr. Grey, what is your medical specialty?"

"Objection!" Kristoph boomed, taking to his feet as soon as he had sat back down. "It's already been established the witness is a surgeon."

"I just want specifics." Neil said, voice teasing.

"It goes both ways, Mr. Gavin. Your objection is overruled." The Judge ruled.

"Reconstructive surgery." The Doctor proudly answered.

"So, you work with the human face?" Neil expanded.

"Exclusively." Dr. Grey nodded.

"Nothing further for this witness, reserve the right to re-call Dr. Grey." Neil said, regaining a slight edge. From his chair, Kristoph had a smirk when he should have had at least a frown. Perhaps he was still on a slight high from his slim victory, or, maybe it was because the District Attorney's Office had finally produced someone who was going to be a good challenge.