Page 18 of Psycho Therapist

“What’s this?” he asks, “One night he's a monster and the next he's a hero?”

I can’t help but smile but it only earns me a stern look and a subtle shake of the judge’s head to remind me I'm far from out of this until he says I am.

“The accused is assisting the FBI in an ongoing investigation… Something we weren't aware of until a few hours ago… We need more time to review the charges but for now… For now, we’re apologetic for the court’s time and will accept a not guilty plea with no charges submitted-” the pasty-looking prosecutor drones, disinterested but knowing full well he’s poking a bear.

“I think I’ll decide what happens in my own courtroom, counselor!” The judge snaps, adjusting his glasses and examining the paperwork before his piercing eyes dart to mine.

“And what have you got to say for yourself, Mr. Larson? Every complaint about you has been dropped and the police have no real chargesapparently… If they have a case against you, this is where they make it.”

I shrug and try not to smile. Try to keep a straight face at the prospect of being back with Lori so soon. And knowing the cops will be dunking some humble pie into their coffee for some time yet if the feds are straight up about ‘needing my assistance’ when it comes to fingering Schmidt for whatever he's really been doing all these years with his patients at his private ‘facility’.

Those photos of the girls he showed me? They weren't the girls I was browsing before I saw Lori at all. Turns out the docs house was full of them and more than just portrait photographs. Locks of hair, personal property. I wasn’t imagining it when I sensed the old buzzard was getting off on me recounting that night. The reactions he got from me so easily were part of his own sick fantasies.

Enough to have the feds brought in once the uniformed police went through the place. So having helped them in a roundabout kinda way by bringing Schmidt to their attention, they’ve somehow flexed an invisible muscle that’s elevated me to witness in a federal case so big, so secret that all the other charges the police had for me to answer have been conveniently put to one side.

“I’m happy to assist the FBI investigation, your honor. And if there’s no plea to be made… no charges…” I tell him, deliberately trailing off. Saying it without saying it, basically. That if there’s no charges against me, then what the hell am I standing here for?

The judge summons the bailiff over and murmurs something to him, sniffing and humming over his notes once he dismisses him. Ignoring the whole courtroom but nobody’s gonna dare interrupt the man. Especially me.

A few agonizing minutes later, the bailiff returns with another file, and after a little more murmuring the judge frowns with satisfaction but still looks annoyed he’s had such an early start to his day.

“Very well. With this new information…” he says, holding up a very official and top secret-looking file I figure must be from my new buddies in the agency and giving me a ‘you just dodged an artillery shell, son’ look, he reluctantly rules in favor of my immediate release if there’s no pending charges to be answered.

“If what I’m told is correct, Mr. Larson. You’ve led the authorities straight to one of the most wanted men in the country… You've done your community and your country a great service…providing it doesn't see you back in my courtroom again this week…Understand?” he asks me gravely, but my head’s bobbing and my dick is already throbbing at the thought of Lori in my arms again. My need to watch over her for good is stronger than ever now. I have no real idea about what Schmidt’s done. But it’s not good. And the thought of him being anywhere near Lori proves that I did what I had to do for more reasons than I even knew at the time.

The snap of the judge’s gavel gives me instant relief. The courtroom already clearing ready for the next case and the hard eyes of the police who had me in cuffs a few hours ago shift away from mine. They did their job and the judge did his and for all of them it’s back to work now I’m just a regular citizen in the eyes of the law.

“You're free to go, sir…” The bailiff reminds me once it’s clear I’m holding up proceedings. Agent Darling is waiting outside, all smiles, and claps me on the shoulder.

“I mean it, Lee… You led us straight to him. Something a hundred agents couldn’t do in ten years and Schmidt’s just the tip of the iceberg-” He says, breaking off and clamming up having said more than he probably should have already. “Can I give you a ride someplace?” he asks, but I’d rather not.

The sound of a familiar, shrill female voice stops me from answering anyway. The sound of Lori shrieking my name and wrestling herself free from her parents as she runs over towards me making my chest explode. Making me believe in miracles as I scoop her up into my arms, kissing away her tears of happiness as I tell her it’s over. That we can go home.

But there is the small matter of her mom and dad to contend with. Something we both realize when they unashamedly come closer. Agent Darling disappears without another word and I prepare myself for the angry dad and mom scene I guess had to happen sooner or later. Except neither of her parents seems angry at all. They look every bit as relieved as I feel.

“Lee? ” Her dad asks, politely ignoring me holding his daughter in a way he probably never thought another man ever should, especially a man twice her age.

“The police told us a little… What they could about that therapist, Dr. Schmidt… If you hadn’t stepped in- I- I don't know what might have happened to our baby girl, so I guess I owe you one.” He shoots out a firm hand that I’m glad to shake, setting Lori down but keeping a firm grip on her.

“If there’s one man I think we can count on to keep an eye on our daughter from now on, it's you,” he adds, his voice breaking a little with emotion.

“Lee. This is my dad, Mark and my mom Stacey…” Lori sighs with a little embarrassment. Introducing them in a way that makes both of them stare at their feet, almost suddenly shy like Lori is sometimes. But I’d rather have an awkward introduction than a fistfight with her dad, especially after what the judge has just reminded me of. That I have to keep my nose and hands clean from now on.

No more flying off the handle. Something I know won’t be an issue for me, as long as I’m with Lori.

“Maybe we could all go someplace, have a talk.” I recommend but Mark grins sheepishly and his wife follows suit.

“Actually… we were kinda still on vacation.” Stacey says in a Smokey voice, “And meeting you… knowing how you’ve taken care of Lori so far…” She adds, giving her husband a needful look. The kind of look I have for Lori every time I look at her, especially right now.

“We’ll be home in a few days, maybe you'd like to stay and we can talk more once we get back?” Mark asks me, “Just until they get the front door fixed…” he adds.

“It’ll be my pleasure, Mark. I assure them both. But most of all I make sure that Lori understands my meaning more than her parents. I think her mom can see my true intentions, but her dad’s preoccupied with his own by the looks and he reminds Stacey that if they leave right now they can be at the hotel a lot sooner.

“You two need a ride home?” Stacey asks her daughter. Lori looking up to me for an answer. I shake my head.

“I think we’ll get a cab,” Lori replies, slipping her hand into mine and squeezing it. Her parents doing the same as they bid us farewell, keener than ever it looks like to get their own ‘vacation’ underway. And I have to say, they can spend the next month on vacation if they want.

I’ve got what’s mine now and they can rest easy knowing that Lori won’t be out of my sight ever again. Not even for a minute.

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