Dr Hampton wanted me to stay one more night, but discharged me the next day. He asked me to stay in the city for a few days to make sure I wasn't going to have any more problems, but then he let me go home to the farm. Doc and I decided to not go back to court until Jane testified. Neither he, Alex or Dr Hampton wanted me to watch her testimony, but I insisted and would not back down.

Once again, it was great to be back home. Doc had scheduled himself to be off the whole month, but he went in part time to help out in the clinic. I was busy with decorating for Christmas and making sure everything was set for the wedding just a few short weeks away.

Randall and Dana, the cops from the safe house, came to give their testimony about the events that occurred there. After clearing it with Max, the Crown Attorney, Doc and I had them out to the farm for dinner after they finished testifying. We also invited Scott and Karina, the detectives here at home, and their partners. They all loved Doc's cooking. Scott and Bruce had been to our summer bash and had had a sample of his cooking there, but this was a full course meal. Bruce, who also loved to cook, said it was better than his. Scott, being diplomatic, said that they were equally good cooks.

Mid November, I went to get my dress fitted. The seamstress admonished me to not gain or lose weight between then and Dec 7. I had not gained back the weight I'd lost the previous winter/spring. Dr. Hampton was happy about that, though he said I could stand to gain 5-10 lbs. Doc prefers chunkier, but he is mostly concerned about my health and he knows that extra weight is not good when one has a heart condition. He just wants me to be healthy. No matter how much I had lost, I didn't lose much off my boobs and he was thrilled about that.

In between decorating the house and yard, getting ready for the wedding and baking for the Christmas season, I spent time with my horses and Jessie. George and Gracie, the draught horses, were back for the winter, as I'd agreed to when they were finally adopted. They settled right in like they had never been gone. I planned to have a hay ride again closer to Christmas, though maybe not Christmas Eve. Doc and I wanted a quiet night with just us and Alex and Deanna, since we'd be so busy up to then – and we weren't going on our honeymoon until January.

Jane's testimony started on November 16. Alex told me he was very tempted to tell the judge and the Crown that I was not mentally stable enough to attend. He had been talking to me about it almost every day since I got out of the hospital. He and Deanna were still staying with us and probably would be at least until summer. Their insurance company was dragging it's heels on paying out and they couldn't start building their new house until it did. Doc and I didn't mind them being here. They were great company and if either couple wanted a break, we'd go to the apartment. As Doc and I did when he was on call, Alex and Deanna stayed there when he was, which also gave us all some alone time.

Scruffy's leg had healed and when Steve said I could let her go, I took her outside. She was on my shoulder and refused to get down. I finally picked her up and set her down on the porch railing. She jumped back onto my shoulder and told me off in very loud, angry squirrel chatter. She had made herself clear – she did not want to go back to the wild. At least not right now. Maybe she would in the spring. In the meantime, she could stay in the house as much as she wanted but if she wanted out, I'd let her go. She went with Doc and I to the apartment when we stayed there, though she had fully accepted Alex and Deanna and let them feed her when I wasn't able to be there. She was getting so used to humans, I was thinking maybe it was for the best that she didn't want to go back to the wild. If she trusted the wrong person, that could be bad news for her.

I bought her a small harness and a leash for when we were in the city and took her to the park near the apartment building to get some fresh air. She'd sniff around a bit, but preferred to sit on my shoulder and look around while I sat on a bench. People wanted to pet her, but I said no to them as I didn't want to risk her biting anyone.

Jane's testimony was hard to watch, but that was no surprise. The jury was not allowed to know about her outburst at the preliminary, so all they saw was what looked to be a sweet woman feeling like she'd been done wrong. She dressed in a long skirt, blouse and sweater, with her hair and makeup done (she'd let her hair grow out, presumably so it would look more feminine for the trial) and put on an air of being a good Christian woman. She claimed that I was holding Doc to me and that what he really wanted was to go back to her. She denied having anything to do with the bomb near the safe house or the snake in my hospital room. She couldn't deny everything, though. There were too many witnesses at the hospital when she and her minions had burst in to my room with their semi automatic guns. She claimed mental distress, saying I'd taken Doc to a place where she'd been unable to find him for a long time. A few times, I was very close to standing up and yelling out “BULLSHIT!”, but Doc's firm hand on my leg kept me in place. Alex could see my anger and wanted to take me home, but I steadfastly refused.

He did, however, flatly refuse to let me watch the rest of the defence witnesses. I could not budge him. He threatened to tell the Crown I couldn't watch the verdict or sentencing if I tried to sneak in. To be honest, the only thing that stopped me from doing exactly that was the fact that he and Deanna were very dear friends of mine and I did not want to jeopardize that. It's frowned upon for therapists to be friends with their patients, but in this case, it was probably a good thing. And we were friends long before I became his patient.

After the defence rested, the Crown recalled Doc to the witness stand. Max wanted the jury to hear it from Doc that I was not holding him to me in any way. I was allowed to watch, but it was made clear to me that if I showed signs of agitation, I would have to leave the room. I had no problems, though. There wasn't much Jane's lawyer could do but make a feeble attempt to get Doc to say he was afraid to be truthful in front of me, which, of course, Doc would not do.

The day after the re-call, the Crown and defence attorney presented their closing arguments and the jury was sent to the deliberation room. It was a Friday, but they would deliberate through the weekend if necessary. Doc, Alex, Deanna and I went to the apartment to wait it out. Scruffy was there and I let her out of her carrier. She helped us take our minds off the trial by running around like a mad woman. She wasn't destructive, but it was funny to watch Doc's face as she jumped on and from the furniture, bookcase, stereo etc. Alex told him to calm down or he'd stroke out. Poor Doc - his quiet, clean, tidy, prim and proper life sure changed when he met me!

The jury was out for two days. I was going out of my mind. I was sure it meant that they were going to say not guilty. The first night, I tossed and turned, tossed and turned. Finally, I got up and put my bathrobe on and went out to the living room. I sat down with my laptop. A few minutes later, Alex came out and took a seat in the easy chair. “I'm sorry if I woke you, Alex”, I said to him.

“Don't worry about that, Meredith. “What's keeping you awake or need I ask?” I shot him a look that said 'you have got to be kidding'. “Stupid question, I know. I was trying to facilitate discussion.”

“I'm just so worried that she will get off, Alex. I don't think I could cope with that.”

“What do you think you would do if it happened?”

“I don't know. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought of running away to somewhere remote, where she wouldn't be able to find me. I know if and when she ever gets out, she'll be out for my blood.”

“If she's convicted, she probably won't get out for a long time.”

“Yes, but she's like an elephant - she doesn't forget. Look how long it was since Julian broke up with her when she came looking for him, wanting to get back together.”

“That's a little different, Meredith. She will get counselling in prison. I'm sure the therapist will work on her issues in regards to you and Julian. Have you talked to him about your fears?”

“Yes. He says if she gets off, we will deal with it and go on with our lives.”

“And that is what you will do. I think you should get back to bed. I'll get a sedative for you. No arguments about it.” I went back to the bedroom. Doc, uncharacteristically, was sound asleep. Usually when I can't sleep, he can't either. I got into bed. Alex came in a minute later with a needle in his hand. He turned the lamp on my bedside stand on. “Let me at your hip, Meredith.”

“Ooooh Alex, and right in front of Doc!” I teased him as I pushed the covers down and let him pull my nightgown up.

“Meredith, you're incorrigible”, he said, shaking his head but smiling at the same time. He swabbed my hip and gave me the injection, then capped the needle and pulled the covers back up over me.

“Some day, I'm going to ask you for your analysis of my 'incorrigibleness', if I'm not too afraid to hear it”, I teased him further.

“Get some sleep, Meredith. That's an order.”

He turned the lamp off and left the bedroom. I snuggled up to Doc. “What was that all about?” he asked.

“You're awake, Doc?”

“Of course I am. I can't sleep without you in bed with me.”

“Why didn't you come out?”

He turned over to face me. “I wanted to leave you alone to talk with Alex. I think you needed it.”

“Doc, I'm so scared.”

“Of what, hon?”

“Of Jane getting off.”

He reached out and pushed some hair away from my face. “There are too many charges for her to get off on all of them.”

“I know, but what if she's only convicted of the lesser charges and gets out with time served?”

“They'd probably slap a restraining order on her.”

“Restraining orders are just a piece of paper, Doc. They don't really stop anyone.”

“Meredith, if that happens, we will deal with it. I really don't think it will, though. Have you got your victim impact statement done?”

“Yes, honey. I just need to read it over.” We were doing our statements before the verdict so they'd be ready for her sentencing. It was later in November than we'd hoped it would be when the trial ended and we wanted to be able to ask for the sentencing date to be soon, so we could be done with it and finalize wedding preparations.

“We'll do that tomorrow. I have mine done, too. I believe Alex and Oliver Hampton have written letters to submit as well. Now, you need to get some sleep, hon.”

“I know”, I mumbled. The sedative Alex had given me was taking effect.

“Turn over, let me hold you.” I turned over and he moved up to me, putting his arm around me. I was out within seconds.

I didn't wake up until almost 11am. I put my robe on, went to the bathroom, then went looking for my morning wake up juice. There was still some coffee in the pot. I poured myself a cup, then joined Doc in the living room. Alex and Deanna had gone to work. “I can't believe I slept in this late”, I said to him.

“You didn't get to sleep until after 3, remember.”

“I know, but still....”

Scruffy was sitting on Doc's shoulder, but she jumped to mine as soon as I sat down. “Has she been fed?” I asked.

“I fed her, hon”, he replied. “And I changed her litter.” I was glad that the squirrel was trusting him and our house guests, as it made it easier on me. They could care for her at times like this, when I slept in or if I was sick. I just hoped she stayed wary of strangers, although she didn't seem interested in going back to the wild.

After lunch, Doc and I went over our statements, making sure we'd written down everything we wanted to say. Then we went to the farm for a visit. I took Scruffy with us. There was a message on voice mail from Alana asking Doc or I to call her. “You call her, hon”, Doc said. “If it's about the adoption application, I'm too nervous.”

I called Alana and she had good news. Doc was approved to adopt Lilly and Blossom. “You tell him, Alana. I think he should hear it from you.” I handed the receiver to Doc, who had a look of impending doom on his face. He hesitantly took it from me and said hello to Alana. A moment later, his look of impending doom turned to one of pure joy. He thanked Alana profusely, then hung up the phone.

“The adoption was approved!” he exclaimed. He was smiling from ear to ear.

“Congratulations, Doc!” I gave him a big hug and kiss. “Now, your indoctrination into horse ownership is to clean their stall for a week”, I teased.

“Haha, Meredith. That's Karen's job, and you pay her quite well for it.”

“There may be a time when she can't do it, Doc. You really should learn how in case we have to some day.” Poor Doc was looking horrified.

“Maybe I should rethink this adoption. It's not finalized yet.”

“Doc, I'm teasing you!”

“Are you really, Meredith?”

“Yes, honey.” The relief on his face was apparent. “I know it would practically kill you to clean a stall and I understand why. If it comes down to it, I'll do it.”

“But your arthritis...”

“What's one more stall? It's very unlikely to happen that I would need to do them, though. Chey or Brent would do them if their mother couldn't and if they couldn't, there's Nasser. I'm sure the situation will never come up. Now, what do you want for supper? I should get started on it.”

“I'll make supper, hon. You go rest. I don't want you overdoing things. Which reminds me, I've been meaning to talk to you about something.”

“What, Doc?”

“Let's sit down.” He took a seat at the kitchen table. I sat down and he took my hands in his. “Hon, I'd like to ask something of you for the next couple weeks.”

“What's that, Julian?”

“Could you please take it easy? No riding and no taking risks.” I gave him a puzzled look.

“Why? Dr Hampton says I can ride.”

“I know, but the wedding is so close, and I know how accident prone you are. I don't want you to injure yourself and not be able to walk down the aisle or worse, have to postpone the ceremony.” He was looking at me intently. I could tell this meant a lot to him.

“Okay. I won't.”

He sighed with relief and leaned over the table to kiss me. “Thank you, Meredith.”

Max called us at 5pm to say the jury was quitting deliberations for the day, so we decided to spend the night at the farm. Alex and Deanna were still at the apartment. Doc and I spent a relaxing evening enjoying having the house to ourselves. We made a pact that we would not think about or talk about Jane or the case. After we did supper clean up, I started a fire in the TV room's fireplace and got out my guitar and played and sang for Doc. He loves it when I do that. We went to bed early, so we could be up and on our way back to the city early. I hoped the verdict would come in tomorrow so we could come back to the farm for good.

I got my wish. Max called us at 11 am to say the verdict was in. Court would resume at 2 pm. I was on pins and needles, waiting for 2:00 to get here. I know Doc was nervous, too, but he tried not to show it. I think he wanted to appear calm so I would stay calm. He called Alex and Oliver Hampton to let them know. Dr Hampton wanted to be there as well. He was concerned about how it would physically affect me if the verdict didn't go the way we hoped it would. It was Sunday, so he didn't have to worry about cancelling patients.

“Meredith, are you sure you are okay to be here?” Alex asked me when we met up in front of the courthouse.

“I'm fine, Alex.”

“I really don't want you to be here, but I fear if I forbade it, it would be even harder on you.”

“You are right about that, Alex. So don't even think about it.”

Dr Hampton joined us, carrying a small medical bag. “What's that for?” I asked.

“In case you get into distress.”

“Oh great, you don't expect me to be able to handle it if it doesn't go our way.”

“You don't exactly have a great track record with verdicts.”

“That was low, Dr Hampton.”

“But it's true. Let's get in there, it's almost 2:00.”

We took our seats in the gallery, right behind the prosecution's table. I was sandwiched between Dr Hampton on my left and Doc on the right. Each of them had their hand on one of my wrists, keeping an eye on my pulse. Alex and Deanna sat directly behind me. Jane was sitting with her lawyer, still dressed like she was in the 1950's. The judge came in and took his seat. He gave her a very stern warning before the verdict was read. “Ms Patton, if you move from your spot, I will charge you with contempt of court. Do I make myself clear?”

Jane stood and the jury foreman read the verdict. She was found guilty on all charges. It was better than I could have hoped for. I could see her clutching the edge of the table in front of her. However, she didn't move other than that except to sit down. The judge consulted with the court clerk to see what day could be set for victim impact statements and sentencing.

“Your Honour, the victims would like it to be as soon as possible”, Max said to him. “They are getting married on December 7 and would like this to be over so they can deal with their final preparations without it hanging over their heads.”

Uh, oh. Max brought up the closeness of the wedding date with Jane there in the courtroom. I looked at her. She turned around and glared at Doc and I. Time seemed to stand still. Finally, she started to turn back toward the judge, but then all of a sudden, she was out of her chair and running toward us. Her lawyer reached out to grab her, but just missed her. “You bitch!” she screamed at me. “He's mine!”

Doc, Alex and Dr Hampton were trying to get me out of my seat and out of the room. I refused to budge. If she wanted another fight, I'd give her one, right there in the court house. I didn't get the chance to, though, as a court officer got to her before she got to me. He wrestled her to the floor and handcuffed her wrists behind her back. She was escorted out of the room.

Once things had settled down, the judge set Wednesday as the day for victim impact statements . They had had a cancellation of a block of time, fortunately for us. We would have ten days after that to finish getting ready for the wedding. He said that if the defence needed more time, he would give it to them, but that we did not have to be there for their presentations or the pronouncement of sentence. Max could call us and let us know. I was not thrilled with that, but I understood that Jane had a right to present her case and have character witnesses. I was just glad that she was convicted on all four attempted murder charges. That would ensure she went to prison for a very long time.

We went to Rick's for supper. Being Sunday, it was easy to get in without a reservation. Rick was thrilled that Doc and I had made up but not happy that I'd ended up back in hospital. “The good thing is that Julian finally rode a horse!” I told him.

“Really?” He looked at Doc. “I didn't think you'd ever get him on one. How did you do it?”

“She had cardiac trouble and it was the only way to get to where she'd ridden her horse to without walking for two miles. And it's a good thing I did go in - she went into cardiac arrest and I had to do CPR to bring her back.”

“Oh, my”, Rick said with a worried look on his face.

“I'm okay now, Rick”, I reassured him.

“I certainly hope so, Meredith. Are you celebrating something tonight?”

“Yes. Jane, the woman who attacked me and harassed us to the point where we had to go to the safe house, was convicted of all charges.”

“Oh, that is such good news! Now, you can put all this behind you. When is the sentencing?”

“We don't know yet, but we don't have to be there for it. We present our impact statements on Wednesday, then we are going to concentrate on final wedding preparations. We know the four attempted murder convictions will get her a good stiff prison sentence.”

“I am going to send over a bottle of our best champagne for you to celebrate with. On the house, of course.”

We had a lovely dinner and all of us drank a wee bit too much champagne so we left our cars there and took a cab to the apartment. Doc and I had planned to go to the farm, but we didn't want to take a cab that far so we stayed in the city for the night and went to the farm the next day. It was a light day at the clinic and he wasn't needed so we spent the day relaxing about the house. I visited with my horses for a bit but kept my promise to Julian not to ride.

Court was starting at 9am on Wednesday, so we went to the apartment on Tuesday. We left for the city after lunch as Doc wanted to do some cleaning during the afternoon. He felt he'd been neglecting it lately with all the things that were going on, and that was bothering him. He didn't want me to help, but I insisted and he gave in.

Alex and Deanna went with us to court. Alex was presenting his statement about how Jane's actions had affected Doc and I. Dr Hampton was coming, too, to tell the judge how everything had affected me medically.

I presented my statement first. Jane was in the locked prisoner's dock, due to her previous outbursts in the courtroom. The judge instructed her to face me. He told me I didn't have to look at her, but he wanted her to see my expressions as I read my statement. I switched my gaze from the judge to her, back and forth, as I told of the hell I'd gone through the past winter and early spring. The hardest part was telling her of the terror she put me through with the “down but not out” messages and how I was so freaked out that I took off from the hospital and spent two days hiding in my barn, which caused Doc immense worry and pain, not to mention the pain I was in from my 3rd surgery in a few weeks and then from the peritonitis that set in, causing me to need a 4th surgery. Also about how hard it was to send my horses away for their own safety and going so long without seeing them. I kept looking from my paper to her as I read this part of my statement and the part where I told of how hard it was to watch Julian go through hell worrying about me.

At the end of my statement, I spoke directly to her and told her that whatever time the judge gave her, I hoped she got the help she needed to get over her obsession with Doc and accept that that part of her life (her relationship with him) was over and move on.

Doc went next and told the judge how everything had affected him – of how hard it was to do emergency surgery on me not once, but twice in 48 hours, of worrying about me throughout the ordeal but especially the two days I was missing, of being shot by the woman he had once lived with – I noticed that he didn't say the woman he once loved – and of the guilt that he felt about everything that she had done. Guilt because he felt that had he not gotten involved with her or had he not left her - even though she abused him and he had every right to - none of it would have happened. Of how he had spent hours and hours over the last seven months or so talking to his therapist and, while he was doing better, he still could not completely shed that feeling that it was all his fault. My heart was breaking for him as I listened to the emotion in his voice and I was seething with anger at Jane for causing that. It was probably a good thing that I'd read my statement first.

After Alex and Dr Hampton read their brief statements, the defence said that Jane was ready to plead her case. The judge recessed court for lunch and we reconvened at 2:00. He let her out of the prisoner's dock to make her plea, but told her if she caused any ruckus, she'd have another contempt of court charge slapped on her – he had charged her after her outburst at the reading of the verdict.

I wanted to hurl as I listened to her tell the judge that she felt she'd been done wrong. That yes, she'd made mistakes when her and Julian were living together, but she'd learned from them and felt he should have given her a second chance. That she felt they were soul mates and were destined to be together – Doc sure disagreed with that! He told me later that he never loved her, even in the beginning before she changed and started abusing him. Jane pleaded with the judge for a light sentence, saying she never meant to hurt anyone, she was just trying to scare Doc and I so that he would go back to her. She went on and on and I thought she'd never stop talking. She wasn't taking responsibility for anything, she was still blaming Doc for leaving her and me for, in her eyes, keeping him from her. Finally, she finished and was put back in the prisoner's dock.

There were a couple of character witnesses who told the judge that Jane was a sweet lady who would never harm anyone or anything, that she had just been too stressed over Doc's refusal to give their relationship a second chance. Once again, I wanted to toss my cookies, but I realized that she'd probably duped them into believing her.

Once the defence was finished, the judge said he needed to deliberate. It was almost 5:00 so he adjourned court until the next day at 1pm. We were really surprised as we had thought the defence would need more time to prepare and that they would take longer with Jane's plea and the character witnesses. We'd heard through the grapevine that she'd had a psychiatric assessment in the holding facility, hoping to be able to present a finding of lack of mental issues to the court. To her dismay, it didn't go her way and the report was so bad, her lawyer didn't use it.

The next day, the judge gave Jane a huge lecture before pronouncing sentence. He scolded her about squandering away her life because of her temper and her inability to accept that her relationship with Julian was over. He told her that she had done great harm to innocent people and that a clear message needed to be sent to the public that behaviour like that would have severe consequences. He gave her 15 years on each count of attempted murder and a total of 30 years on the other charges. Seventy years total. He said he was going to make a recommendation that she serve it as far away from here as possible, preferrably on the east coast.

I breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn't even be eligible to apply for parole until she'd served over 23 years. She could get day parole in half that, but she wouldn't be allowed to leave the area of the prison she would do her time in. Max told us they would probably put an ankle bracelet on her so that they could track her if she took off. But that wouldn't happen for at least 11 years, so Doc and I could rest easy for the first time in what seemed like a very long time. Now we could put this all behind us and concentrate on the wedding, which was coming up in just 9 days.