The jurors filed slowly into the jury room and the room was thick with an air of excitement. After weeks of sitting and listening to witnesses and lawyers, they were finally getting to decide the case. For most of them, this was no problem. A few had even made up their minds weeks ago.

They chose a foreman, a man by the name of Earl Peters. He looked to be in his early 60's and had an authoritative air about him. His first decision was to take a vote just to see where everyone stood. They quickly took a secret ballot.

As Mary Woods unfolded the ballots it looked like it was going to be an easy decision “Not Guilty… not guilty…” then there was a long pause as she read out the last ballot. She sighed as she said, “guilty.”

Dallas Courthouse: The Jury Room

They had been debating and arguing for hours now. All of the jurors were in agreement except for juror number five. His name was Ted Bruns. He was a businessman in his mid forties and, most importantly, he had a 7-year-old adopted son. Every time he thought about this case, all he could see was the face of his own young son. He could only imagine the pain of having the birth mother come and take him away.

The other jurors who were more sympathetic to the defendants, had spent hours recounting to Ted all of the reasons why Karen should be believed… the abuse of the little boy was especially disturbing to most of them. They all seemed to understand why Karen felt the need to get Austin out immediately. In fact, all of the mothers on the jury were in agreement that had it been them, they would have done the same thing. But their votes weren't enough; they needed Ted. And despite the arguing and pleading of the other jury members, Ted remained unmoved.

“Look you guys, I don't want to be here forever either, but Eric Stone and Karen Ewing are guilty, I don't understand why you can't see it!”

Mary ran her fingers through her long hair in frustration. “Ted, cases like this one are what juries are for… they may be guilty by the letter of the law, but there were good reasons for what they did - it's almost like a case of self-defense.”

Ted rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and I suppose sneaking up behind a police officer and bashing him on the head is self-defense!”

At that comment a couple of the jurors who had previously voted to find Karen and Eric innocent shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Earl, the foreman, could see that things were getting out of hand, instead of moving closer to a verdict, they seemed to keep moving further away. He cleared his throat. “Ahem.” All eyes turned toward him. “Let's all take a few minutes and cool down. And then when you're ready to listen, I have a proposition…”

Southfork Ranch

Moonlight flowed into the bedroom where Bobby and Pamela lay contented and sleepy in each other's arms. Bobby had closed his eyes and was just drifting off to sleep, when Pam whispered, “Bobby?” And then a little louder, “Bobby, Bobby are you asleep?”

Keeping his eyes closed, Bobby muttered, “yes.” But there was a slight smile on his face.

Pam rested her chin on her husband's chest. “Bobby, I'm hungry.”

Bobby opened his eyes and looked at her in the moonlight. She was so beautiful. Pam had been worried about her appearance now that her pregnancy was starting to show. But Bobby just thought her even more attractive. There was a peaceful kind of satisfaction knowing that she was carrying their child inside her, and he loved it. He had missed so much of her pregnancy with Grace because of Pam's crazy sister. He planned on enjoying every minute this time - it was sure to be the last.

He feigned surprise. “Hungry again? Already?”

“Hey! Remember, I'm eating for two.”

Bobby laughed, “Two what? My new son's gonna be some great defensive lineman for the Cowboys if he keeps eating like this!”

Pam smiled, partly in exasperation. “I know. I don't remember being this hungry with Grace until I was at least six months along.”

Bobby grinned and said, “that's because this baby is a boy. They eat more.”

“Boy or girl, I'm still hungry. Are you going to go get me something?”

“Depends. What's my reward if I do?” Bobby ran his fingers through her silken hair.

Pam smiled softly, “Reward? It seems to me that I remember you promising me anything I wanted a couple of hours ago.”

“And you got it didn't you?” Pam blushed and Bobby kissed her before sitting up and pulling on his robe.

“Okay, what do you want? And please, let it be something in the house, and not from some Italian place in downtown Dallas!”

Bobby made his way downstairs to the kitchen; he stopped as he heard some one coming in the back door. A second later he saw the very tired form of his son. Christopher didn't even look up. He headed upstairs. He planned on getting a shower and a change of clothes before going right back to the jail to sit with Karen.

“Christopher. Hold on son.”

Christopher turned to see his father. “Oh, hey dad, sorry. I'm in a hurry. I want to get back to the jail.”

“We've been waiting for your call. Is the jury back yet?”

“No, but I want to go back and wait with Karen.”

Bobby surveyed his son. He was definitely near complete exhaustion. He needed a rest. “You know son, you need to take care of yourself too.” And then trying to sound a little lighter, “You look awful.”

Christopher sighed. He looked at his dad and Bobby noticed that the usual stubbornness and determination seemed to be gone from his eyes. “Christopher, if the jury isn't back by now, they probably won't have a decision before this morning at the earliest. They have to sleep too, you know. Why don't you just get a couple of hours of sleep before going back.”

Christopher suddenly realized how tired he really was. Still, he felt obligated to be at the jail with Karen. “I really don't want to be away from Karen.”

Bobby stepped forward and put his hand on his son's shoulder. “Christopher, Karen is going to need you after the verdict too, no matter what it is. And so is Austin. But you're not going to be any good to anyone if you don't take care of yourself.”

He wanted to argue with his dad, but he saw the wisdom in his advice. “Okay, I'll call the jail and see how Karen is. If she's still holding up well, I'll stay and sleep for a couple of hours,”

Bobby patted his son on the shoulder. “Good enough.” They both started up the stairs. Bobby got half way up and turned around.

Christopher stopped. “Dad, where are you going?” His father continued walking as he answered the question and a very confused Christopher could have sworn he heard his dad say something about 'cheesecake and hoping he didn't have to drive into Braddock.'

Southfork Ranch, the next morning: Bobby and Pamela's Bedroom

Pamela stood staring out her bedroom window as the morning sun shone down on the ranch. She had gotten up and dressed early in the hopes that they would receive the anxiously awaited call from the courthouse that the jury was back with a verdict.

But Pamela had more on her mind this morning than Karen's trial. She was worried about her recent visit with Dr. Bader. Earlier in the week, Pam and Bobby had seen the Doctor and she had told them that everything looked good. But that was before she had received the results of Pam's blood tests.

Dr. Bader called her and asked her to come back for another test just to double check the results of the first one. Pam had pressed Dr. Bader for answers, but knowing Pamela's history, she would only tell her that the results could very well mean nothing at all; but they needed to be careful and check it out. She hadn't mentioned it to Bobby. Worrying him wouldn't help things… she would wait until Dr. Bader had the results… which was supposed to be today.

Southfork Ranch: Breakfast

The telephone was ringing as Bobby and Pamela were walking down the staircase, headed for breakfast.

Nervous that it might be one of the calls she was waiting for, Pam quickly went to answer it.

“Hello?”

“May I speak to Mrs. Pamela Ewing?”

“Just a minute please.”

Pam took the phone away from her ear and turned around to face Bobby who had been standing next to her, waiting to see if it was the call telling them the jury had reached a verdict. “It's for me,” she whispered. “Why don't you go on in to breakfast, I'll be along in a minute.”

Bobby shrugged and said, “okay, but hurry up, you don't want to eat cold sausage.” A wave of nausea hit Pamela at the very thought, Bobby knew she had been battling morning sickness.

“Very funny!” Pam swatted at him and he ducked, barely avoiding her hand. He grinned at her as he turned to walk into the dining room to join the rest of the family for breakfast.

Pamela turned her attention back to the phone call. “Hello, this is Mrs. Ewing.”

Bobby, who was busy loading his plate, glanced at her from his seat in the dining room. Pam turned away, not wanting him to see her face; she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“But shouldn't you do more tests, to be sure…?” She listened as patiently as she could, her heart pounding in her chest.

At that moment, Christopher came down the stairs and headed for the door, and his car. He had overslept and was in a hurry to get to the jail to be with Karen.

“Hi Mom, see you later,” he said as he passed her. Pam could barely do more than nod in his general direction.

“Okay… well, if you're sure… I'll call back to make the appointment…” Pam set the phone down and gazed at it, in shock. How am I going to tell Bobby?

She didn't have time to digest the news; the phone began ringing again. Pam picked it up quickly.

In the dining room, Bobby looked over at her again, wondering who was keeping her on the phone so long at this time of the morning… Pam didn't turn from his gaze this time. Instead she quickly put down the phone.

“Bobby! Hurry! The jury is in!”

Bobby jumped up, grabbed his suit jacket and was out the door, just behind Pam who had run ahead hoping to catch Christopher before he left.

At the breakfast table Miss Ellie said with a warm smile, “well, let's hope this means Karen will be home in time for the Barbeque!” The thought of having her family around her at Southfork always made Ellie happy.

No one else at the table held out much hope for a homecoming. They had all been following the trial in the media and knew how guilty Karen looked.

JR looked at the front page of his paper. The headlines screamed “Verdict Expected in Ewing/Stone Trial”. He shook his head and said, “I wouldn't get out the 'Welcome Home' banner yet momma.”

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