The Student Reporters

This story is the property of the author. You may keep a copy on your computer for personal enjoyment, however if you wish to publish or distribute the story then you must get the permission of the author

The Student Reporters

Part Ten

By Chris

"It's okay; it's not something that we didn't expect to eventually get." Jillian told her as she began to guide Ashley toward the couch. "Let's see what we have here and then call Alex."

Once on the couch, they both opened their envelopes and they found they were identical except for their names. "What does this mean?"

"It means that we have to show up for a disposition from the defense lawyers on Monday afternoon." Jillian told her.

"Oh, this isn't a trial?" Ashley asked.

"No they just want to ask us a few questions to see what we know and I'll give you three guesses as to what they want to know." Jillian told her.

"Who our source is," Ashley stated with a smile though not a happy smile.

"Yep," Jillian said to her. "I think it's time to call Alex, I hope that she can go with us." Jillian said to her.

"Where's your phone, I'll call her." Ashley told Jillian and then taking it from her as soon as Jillian found it.

Ashley made the call and her face showed her disappointment to Jillian who also frowned when Ashley told the person on the other end to have Alex call her as soon as possible. ''Where's she at?" Jillian asked.

"In a meeting that is supposed to last for a while, she'll call us as soon as she gets out." Ashley said to Jillian.

"Do you think that she can get us out of this?" Ashley asked.

"No way, the best we can hope for is for her to put it off until she can accompany us." Jillian told Ashley giving her a hug.

They talked for a while and then they both decided that they needed to study to keep from worrying but Ashley did more worrying than studying. Ashley kept wanted to call Alex back to see if she was out of the meeting but Jillian kept talking her out of it. It was a little after five before Jillian's phone rang and Ashley came running into the living room. She sat beside of Jillian on the couch as Jillian answered the phone.

Before Alex could even finish saying hello, Jillian started to talk, "Ashley and I just got served with subpoenas to be present for a disposition on Monday afternoon. Can you get us out of it or put it off?"

"No and no, this was sooner than I expected but I'm free Monday afternoon so we might as well find out what they want." Alex said to both of their disappointments.

"Oh okay," Jillian said with a frown that matched Ashley's frown.

"Can you send me a copy of the subpoena?" Alex asked.

"Yea, I can scan them and email them to you." Jillian told her.

"Good, do that and I'll see you Monday," Alex said and then she hung up on Jillian.

"Well she was a lot of help," Ashley said with more than a little sarcasm in her voice.

"We need her Monday, not today." Jillian reminded her.

"True but can she help us there?" Ashley asked.

"We're about to find out." Jillian told her.

Ashley managed to get back to studying though it was hard not to think about what was to come. They even managed to make love that night just to sooth their nerves and get some relief that they both needed. Jillian was even more loving with her caresses as she got Ashley aroused and then she slowly brought her to a wonderful orgasm. Ashley then did the same for her, wanting Jillian to feel the love and affection she felt for her.

Monday afternoon arrived much sooner than Ashley would have liked. She and Jillian were escorted into a large conference room at the law office that the athletic director had hired. They were given water to drink though neither of them was very thirsty. Right at the appointed hour, the door behind them opened and eight well dressed men and two women came into the conference. They were all talking and pretty much ignoring them as they went around the table and sitting across from them. They each pulled out legal pads and the conference room became eerily quiet. The silence became deafening to Ashley after a few minutes and she figured that they were trying to intimidate them and it was working. The worst part was that Alex was nowhere to be seen and that scared the shit out of them.

The man sitting directly across from them cleared his voice causing both Jillian and Ashley to jump which brought a smile to the old bastard's face.

"Well we're all busy people here and we need to get this over with, we got just a few questions for you and if you'll just let us know what we want to know then we can all get out of here early." He stated not even bothering to introduce himself.

He then went on without bothering to let them say anything not that either of them knew just what to say. "The first thing that we need to know is just who gave you the information that you claim to have gotten from someone within the university, that is assuming that you didn't just make it up just to embarrass our clients."

"Don't answer that!" Alex said as she burst into the room.

"My name is Alex Morrison and I represent these fine young ladies. Here is my card and if you need to have any future interaction with these women then you need to go through me." Alex went on to say as she went around the room handing each person there one of her cards.

"Well I think we can make this very easy on all of us, all we need to know who told these ladies the lies about our clients and we need for them to hand over everything that they have gathered for their pack of lies that they told on my clients." The man said to them.

"So you're calling my clients liars, I don't appreciate that and I do hope that you will try your best to refrain from doing so in the future. Cause if you do then we're going to walk out of here." Alex told him and Ashley saw the intense expression on her face. She then looked to the older lawyer who seemed to want to stare back but then he looked away and Ashley knew that Alex had won the first round.

"I'll try to control myself," the man said with a wirily smile.

"You do that," Alex told him just to rub her victory in a bit.

"Okay but the question still remains, we're here to find out just where your clients got their information and I believe that we have a right to that information. It is needed to help us fight this frivolous lawsuit that has been brought against my clients." He said.

"If I might have a word with my clients," Alex said as she got up and indicated for Ashley and Jillian to get up. They then followed her out of the room and she lead them down the hallway a few steps to ensure that they wouldn't be overheard.

"Okay ladies, they got right to the point and now you must make a decision. I can claim that you are standing on your first amendment right of the freedom of the press. And thus are protecting the identity of your source or you can tell them what they want to know." Alex told them honestly.

"And if we claim our first amendment rights?" Jillian asked.

"Then he will threaten to go to the judge and get the judge to make you tell them," Alex told them.

"And will he do that?' Ashley asked.

"You can count on it." Alex told them.

Jillian looked over at Ashley who nodded to her, "We'll take our chances with the judge."

Alex smiled and then said to them, "That's what I thought. Come on and let's get this over with."

Alex took off for the conference room in a fast determined pace, so much so that Jillian and Ashley had to run to catch up but they didn't catch up until Alex had entered the room. Ashley went to her seat and started to sit down but then she felt Alex grab her arm holding her up. She glanced over at Jillian who was also straightening back up after first wanting to sit down like Ashley had tried to do.

"I have advised my clients to refuse to answer your question base on their first amendment rights which gives freedom to the press." Alex told them firmly.

"We'll just go to the judge and he'll force you to tell us what we need to know and also hand over any material that was gathered to write this story." The older man said confidently.

"We'll see you in court then," Alex said and then she picked up her briefcase, put her legal pad into it, and then she turned and left the room. This time Ashley was ready for her actions and she was on her heels with Jillian following close behind her. They followed Alex to the elevator and she pushed the button for the lobby. Ashley started to say something but Alex just frowned her stopping her before she could say a word.

When Alex left the elevator, Jillian just gave Ashley a shrug of her shoulders as she went out of the elevator with Ashley bringing up the rear. Ashley didn't have a clue as to where Alex was going and she could see that neither did Jillian. Alex led them out of the building and then she started down the street. Alex was wearing flats but Ashley could still hear her heels clicking against the sidewalk as she walked with a purpose. They walked a block and a half until they got to the courthouse. There she marched up the steps and into the old courthouse. Ashley gave Jillian a questioning look and she got the same look in return. They followed Alex up another set of steps and then down the hallway. Alex didn't stop until she got to a set of double doors. There was a court clerk waiting for them and she let them into the courtroom. She took them up the aisle past the rolls of pews and she went on to where the defendants would sit. She sat down in the center seat leaving the seats to each side of her for Ashley and Jillian.

"You're probably wondering why I brought you here but..." Alex was saying when Jillian finished her sentence for her.

"You wanted us to be familiar with where we'll soon be." Jillian told her.

"Yes I did," She said before getting up from her seat and she walked over in front of the judge's bench.

"They are then going to give the judge a lot of reasons for forcing you two tell what you know and then I'll give him a lot of reasons as to why you shouldn't. They'll have a lot of past cases to back up what they want and I'll do the same." Alex told them.

"And what will the judge say?" Ashley had to ask.

"I wish I could stand here and tell you that he'll rule in our favor but I honestly don't know. I just have to tell you to expect the worse and hope for the best." Alex told them.

"What is your best guess?" Ashley had to ask.

"I honestly don't know but I'll try my best to keep you free. I think it's wrong to put reporters into jail just because they are protecting their source but judges have done it in the past and will do so again." Alex told her which was what Ashley expected to hear, she felt that Alex wasn't one to fill her clients with false hope.

"What can we do to help?" Jillian asked.

"Are you willing to give them your notes?" Alex asked.

Jillian looked over at Ashley who said "yes," as they had cleaned everything out that would refer to Granny.

"Yea, they can have everything that we wrote down or put on our computers." Jillian told Alex.

"Bring that with you when we go to court, maybe they'll be satisfied with that." Alex told them.

Alex then went over with what she thought would happen and what she felt like the judge would ask them. She, at times, made it as scary as possible, even yelling at them and tried to brow beat them but they both held fast. Ashley didn't like to be yelled at but she knew it would prepare her for what was to come. Once Alex was satisfied that they were ready, she told them to go home and relax. Ashley didn't think she would ever be able to relax again, at least until this was all over and behind her. The problem was that she was sure that this would be hanging over their heads for months to come.

On this point, Ashley found out that she was wrong. Alex called them on Wednesday telling them that they had an appointment with the judge first thing on Monday morning. They had wasted no time in going to the judge and the judge wanted to get this out of the way quickly so that the lawsuit could get going. The judge had decided that he wanted to fast track the suit and get it settled, either by the parties themselves or in his court. As much as Ashley hated that it was so soon, at least they were off on spring break, however it also meant that she wouldn't be able to go home and see her family. Or at the very least this meant that she'd have to put it off a day.

They talked a lot about what was to come and that did help Ashley to worry a little less but they both knew what may lie ahead of them. They didn't talk about that but they both knew that they were each thinking about it. That weekend, they went out and saw a movie and even went dancing, just to keep themselves busy. They even saw JoAnn and Maggie there, while they didn't sit with them or dance with them; they were able to dance next to them during every slow dance. Maggie told them that Granny was willing to come forward if things went bad but Ashley told her to tell Granny that they could handle things. Jillian told Maggie the same thing and that seemed to please Maggie. While Maggie couldn't get any information from Alex, Maggie did have a friend who was working at the court house who was able to feed them some information, so she knew about the court date that coming Monday. It took them a few songs to get caught up with each other but Ashley liked that they were able to at least see and talk to their friends.

"Come on," Ashley said to Jillian as soon as they entered the apartment.

"Where you taking me?" Jillian asked.

Ashley turned to face Jillian putting her hands on Jillian's hips, "I want to make love to you and you make love to me." Ashley told her almost in a whisper and her tone indicated the need she was feeling, but not for sex but for the intimacy of making love.

"I will my sweet love," Jillian told her giving her a light kiss that foretold of many more kisses to come that night.

Jillian then took Ashley's hand in hers, leading her to the bedroom. When she got her there, Jillian first removed Ashley's glasses placing them on the bedside table. She then leaned in giving Ashley a kiss on the forehead, on the tip of her nose, and finally on her lips. Ashley let out a soft coo as Jillian kissed her lightly on the lips. As she kissed her, Ashley felt Jillian's hands on her hips. Those hands began to pull up on her light pink sweater top. Jillian kept the kisses that she was giving her light, just letting their lips touch until Ashley's sweater was at her shoulders. Jillian then stepped back a half a step. Ashley raised her arms above her head, letting Jillian pull her sweater off. Jillian dropped the sweater to the floor and to Ashley's surprise, Jillian walked around Ashley until she was at her back. Ashley first felt Jillian kiss her right shoulder and then her left.

Ashley then felt Jillian's fingers part her hair putting it to each side of her shoulders. Ashley then felt Jillian's lips touch the back of her next, at the same time she felt Jillian's fingers at the connection of her bra. She quickly unhooked it, pushing the straps off Ashley's shoulders. Ashley let the bra drop from her arms onto the floor. She then felt Jillian's hands at her sides moving to her chest. Ashley sucked in her breath when Jillian's hands cupped her breasts. She let out a contented sigh when Jillian's hands began to squeeze her breasts. Ashley felt her nipples hardening and her pussy began to get moist.

Jillian moved her lips from the back of Ashley's neck to her cheek as she pressed against her. Jillian's fingers began to pinch and pull on her nipples making Ashley groan from the slight pain and immense pleasure that gave to her. Slowly Jillian's hands slid down her stomach to the front of her jeans. Ashley had her head turned to the right so that Jillian could continue to kiss her cheek and neck. Jillian's fingers quickly unbuttoned her jeans and unzipped them. Her hands then went to her waist, hooking her thumbs into her jeans and panties, where Jillian began to push them both down.

Jillian's lips left her cheek, returning to Ashley's back. As Ashley's pants and panties went down over her hips, so did Jillian's lips go down the spine of her back. Ashley felt a shiver go through her body and she heard Jillian giggle making Ashley smile. When Ashley's jeans and panties got to her knees, Jillian's lips were at the top of her ass. Jillian pushed Ashley's jeans and panties down to her ankles while she placed kisses on Ashley's ass cheeks. However this is where Jillian ran into a slight problem as Ashley still had her boots on and they would have to come off before the jeans and panties could come on off.

But as always, Jillian had a solution to the problem. Ashley felt Jillian's hands back at her hips turning her around, which wasn't easy with her jeans, and panties around her ankles. But she did manage. Once she was facing Jillian, she saw a soft smile on Jillian's face and a tinkle in her eyes as she leaned in to give Ashley a kiss to her now swollen clit. Jillian eased her backwards until the back of her legs hit the bed. Ashley knew what to do then, so she sat down to an approving Jillian.

Jillian reached down to Ashley's left foot raising it up. She pushed the jeans up enough for her to unzip the boot and slip it off. She put that foot down and did the same to the left foot. Jillian left Ashley's jeans and panties around her ankles and she came up to cup Ashley's breasts in her hands. She held them tenderly as she leaned in to kiss Ashley's left nipple. Ashley drew in her breath feeling Jillian's hot wet lips upon her nipple. Ashley grabbed the sheets in her hands while Jillian sucked more of her breast in her mouth.

"Oh baby that feels nice," Ashley moaned.

Jillian sucked harder letting her tongue tease Ashley's now hard nipple. Ashley let out a moan that she could no longer contain. Jillian pulled off her left nipple and there was a wet popping sound as Ashley's nipple fell from Jillian's mouth. Jillian quickly went to the right nipple biting it lightly making Ashley groan. Jillian sucked that nipple into her mouth while dropping her hands to Ashley's thighs. Ashley spread her knees open, at least as much as she could with her jeans and panties around her ankles. She felt Jillian's hand slide down and in toward her pussy.

Ashley gripped the sheets in her hands tighter as she felt Jillian's fingers get closer to her pussy and Jillian's mouth on her right nipple sucking hard was driving her mad. She could feel her pussy pulsing and getting wetter. She then felt Jillian's fingers lightly touch her pussy lips. They all so slowly moved up and down the sides of her pussy lips teasing her and making her leak more juices. She could feel the sheet under her ass get moist from her juices. Jillian pulled off of her right nipple going back to the left one. She felt a couple of fingers move to the entrance of her pussy and slowly press inward. Ashley sucked in her breath as she felt Jillian's fingers penetrate her. They moved slowly at first but then faster and Ashley felt a couple of fingers from Jillian's other hand move to her hard clit.

Ashley let out a long moan feeling the pleasure that Jillian was giving to her. The fingers went in so deep moving around inside of her. Jillian would then curve her fingers upwards touching that spot that only Jillian knew how to touch. She rubbed that spot until Ashley felt her orgasm about to explode before Jillian began to fuck her with her fingers. Ashley groaned from frustration but she knew what Jillian was doing to her. Getting her so close and then letting her down before putting her over the top. She felt Jillian push her fingers in hard again and curved her fingers upward rubbing her again as she rubbed Ashley clit harder and faster.

Ashley felt her pussy clinch on Jillian's fingers when her pussy exploded with an intense orgasm that caused her head to fall back on the bed. Her fingers still clinched on the sheets while the orgasm coursed through her body.

When she came back around, she felt Jillian's tongue tenderly licking at her sensitive pussy and clit. She also came to realize that her feet were free of her jeans and panties. Ashley reached down to Jillian's shoulders feeling them bare.

"Hey I wanted to undress you," Ashley told her while pulling up on Jillian's shoulders.

"Sorry," Jillian said with a smile as she looked up from Ashley's pussy with her face wet from Ashley's juices.

"I'll forgive you this time but don't let it happen again," Ashley admonished her.

"I won't," Jillian said lying down on top of Ashley and giving her a kiss.

"You'd better not," Ashley said after the kiss then she put her hand to the back of Jillian's head pulling it down for another kiss.

Jillian opened her lips and Ashley pushed her tongue into Jillian's mouth before Jillian could do that to her. She could tell that she had surprised Jillian but Jillian quickly adapted, sucking on Ashley's tongue as their tongues danced within Jillian's mouth.

"You wouldn't relieve an itch for me would you?" Jillian whispered softly to Ashley when Ashley ended the long passionate kiss.

"I might..." Ashley told her giving her a wink while she dropped her hands down to Jillian's ass cheeks.

She grasped them in her hands pulling them toward her. She knew what Jillian needed right then and it wasn't a lot of foreplay. Ashley gave a quick kiss to Jillian left nipple as it passed over her head. Ashley kept pulling Jillian up until Jillian got up on her knees with her pussy positioned over Ashley's mouth. Ashley saw just how wet Jillian was and she pulled that wet pussy down to her mouth.

Ashley stuck out her tongue and began to lick up all the juices that had leaked out of Jillian's pussy. She worked her tongue up and down Jillian's pussy lips and then on down to the edge of her rosebud getting the juices there and making Jillian groan with pleasure. Ashley used her fingers to open Jillian's ass cheeks so that she could lick Jillian's rosebud a little better, letting the tip of her tongue rim it and then go across it. She knew just how much this turned Jillian on so she loved doing it to her. She could taste the juices running down from Jillian's pussy and she just had to go back to them. So she moved her tongue up to Jillian's slit letting it part Jillian's lips to get in deeper. While she did that, she let her fingertips continue to caress Jillian's rosebud giving her added stimulation. She used her tongue to probe Jillian's pussy pushing it in deep making Jillian squirm over her face. She circled her right arm around Jillian's thigh so that she could use her fingers to caress Jillian's hard clit.

"Oh rub me there baby, that feels so good," Jillian moaned.

Ashley did just that, letting her fingers rub across her clit and then put more pressure on it as she massaged that hard sensitive bud. Ashley licked and sucked on Jillian's pussy drinking in her juices and she so wanted to get her to cum hard for her. Ashley used her index and thumb to pinch and then roll Jillian's clit making her squirm harder and groan. Ashley kept this up until Jillian shivered and she felt Jillian's creamy girlcum come into her mouth. Ashley sucked hard wanting to get all the girlcum that she could get from her. Ashley kept sucking until Jillian had no more to give her.

Ashley then began to tenderly lick Jillian's pussy lips until she began to stir again and Jillian moved back down until she was sitting on Ashley's hips. Jillian's face was glowing from her recent orgasm and she had this loving smile on her face. Jillian leaned down to give Ashley a kiss but wouldn't let Ashley pull her on down against her.

"How about a little tribbing?" Jillian asked her with a grin when she ended the kiss.

"You know I can never turn an offer like that down," Ashley said with a grin.

"I know you can't, that's your one weakness that I can exploit," Jillian said giving her a grin.

Jillian then turned her body and allowing Ashley to bring her right leg up and over Jillian's left leg. Jillian then moved her hips until her pussy was against Ashley's pussy. Ashley adjusted her hips a bit and she had to smile as she so loved to make love this way. Jillian first gasped hands with Ashley and then she started to move her hips slowly and Ashley let her control things as she knew that Jillian's pussy and clit was still a bit sensitive. Besides she loved to feel Jillian wet and hot pussy rub against her equally wet and hot pussy. When Jillian was ready, she began to rub harder and faster. Ashley then began to push back moving her hips to increase the friction against their pussies. Ashley felt their juices mixing as they both began to grind against each other. They used their hands to pull and tug against each other as they ground their pussies harder and faster. They were grunting and moaning as they slid against each other. It didn't take them long to bring each other to an orgasm with Jillian falling down against her as she came first though Ashley was not far behind her.

Jillian came around first giving Ashley a little kiss which brought her back down to earth. Ashley kissed her back and they cuddled for a moment before Jillian turned around so that they could lick their combined juices from each other's pussies. They licked softly and slowly as they were both still so sensitive, however even that light licking caused them both to have another small orgasm; only then were they ready for sleep. Jillian came back up in the bed lying on her back and drawing Ashley to her. Ashley gave her a light kiss before laying her head on Jillian's shoulders and she eased off to sleep.

Sunday they tried to fill their day with activities that would help them forget about what was to come. They went out for a late breakfast and then they went to the mall to window shop. It was something to do and that afternoon, they went to a movie, a comedy that would make them laugh. And that night, they made love until they were both exhausted and they were able to fall asleep.

Monday morning, Alex was waiting for them in front of the courthouse and they all entered together. Ashley noticed that Alex's briefcase was heavy from the way that she was carrying it. She could only hope that there was something in there that would keep them out of jail for contempt of court, if the judge ordered them to reveal that Granny was their source, and then they would be in contempt of court as they weren't going to tell anyone who their source was.

They were the first ones on the judge's docket that morning so they were able to go ahead and set up at the left hand table. A couple of minutes before eight, the Athletic Director's lawyers and the University's lawyers showed up setting up at the other table. At precisely eight o'clock the bailiff announced Judge Bean's arrival so they all stood while he came in and then sat once he did so.

"Okay, let's get this over with quickly, I got a lot of things scheduled today and this wasn't one of them that I planned to have to do." Judge Bean stated.

The athletic director's main lawyer stood up and stated, "If Ms. Cooper and Ms. Zackery had cooperated during the deposition then we wouldn't have to request this hearing. All we need is all of their notes on the article that they wrote and who their source was from the University. Without that information we cannot put a proper defense against this bogus lawsuit that was filed by Ms. Wilder."

"First off, we don't know if this suit is bogus, that's what a trial is to determine. Secondly, where are your clients? I want them here for any hearing that we may have. Ms. Cooper and Ms. Zackery have shown up and so should your clients." Judge Bean said staring down at all the lawyers sitting behind the small table.

"Sir, they all have busy schedules and this is just a hearing." The athletic director's lawyer said.

Then the university lawyer stood up stating, "I represent the university as a whole, obviously I can't bring them all here." The lady lawyer said in a smart tone.

The judge's face turned hard, "The University has a president and I believe that he is mentioned in the lawsuit, he'll be here for any other hearings, should they be required."

"Yes sir," The lady lawyer said as she meekly sat down. This made Ashley smile as she liked that the judge ordered them to be here.

"Okay what about your clients, why didn't they provide the information requested?" Judge Bean asked of Alex.

Alex stood up and stated, "As to the material requested, we have that here today and will hand that over, as to their source, my clients stand on their First Amendment Rights, specifically the freedom of the press."

"I see so your making this a First Amendment case as your defense, I suppose that you have something to back this up." Judge Bean stated.

"Yes sir I do," Alex stated and then she began to list off a number of cases that she was sighting as she brought those cases up to the judge and then handing a single copy of each case to the other lawyers.

"What you say?" Judge Bean asked of the other lawyers.

They were ready as they also listed off a number of cases presenting them to the judge before sitting back down looking confident that they would win in the end.

"Okay first let's take care of the easy part; the material requested will be given over today and since I have fast tracked this case, I will rule in the morning as to the First Amendment rights that is at hand. However if I should rule against your clients I urge you Ms. Morrison to inform your clients that should they not reveal their source if so asked then they will be in contempt of court and subjected to being jailed." Judge Bean stated.

Alex stood up stating, "They are fully aware of this possibility but they feel strongly that they must protect their source and uphold the Freedom of the Press that the Constitution affords them."

"Ms Morrison, until the Supreme Court puts this issue to rest once and for all, it is still questionable that the Constitution affords them this right." Judge Bean stated.

"Okay I got lots of reading to do tonight, so this hearing is over, however I do expect to see your clients tomorrow morning at eight sharp," Judge Bean stated before taking his gravel and ending the hearing.

They all stood as he left and then Alex handed over the required papers; however she only made one copy letting the fight over it. She then indicated to Ashley and Jillian to follow her out of the courtroom. As Ashley began to walk down the aisle, she noticed a young blacked haired woman who was sitting at the back of the courtroom who was dressed like a law student, all sharply dressed and had a legal pad in her hand. Then just before she and Jillian left the courtroom, the young woman discreetly winked at them and gave them a thumbs up. Ashley looked at Jillian, who she could tell was thinking the same thing as she was; Maggie had placed a spy into the courtroom.

When they got back to Alex's office, Alex stated, "I believe that the judge will rule against us tomorrow morning so don't be surprised when he does. I've still got things to do including appealing his ruling, but you may end up spending a few days in jail, do you really understand this?"

"Yes we do but we're not turning Granny over to them. She was just doing what was right." Ashley said.

"How long can he hold us?" Jillian asked.

"Until you tell them what they want to know or until I can get him overruled. So is this something you're willing to fight to the end? I need to know this before we go any further." Alex asked of them.

Before Ashley could speak, Jillian asked, "Can I be the only one that goes to jail?"

"No..." Ashley said but Jillian stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"I'm the one who got her into this and I'm the one who wants to be the reporter, I should be the one who goes to jail." Jillian went on to say.

"No I wanted to help and I'm just as involved, I won't let you go to jail alone." Ashley told her.

"No I don't want you to go to jail for what I got you into," Jillian told her.

"But..." Ashley started to plead when they both heard Alex say in a commanding voice, "Hush girls!"

Ashley took her eyes from Jillian and looked at Alex strangely.

"Both of your names are on the article so both of you are responsible, you're in this together." She told them both thus ending the argument. "Now both of you get out of my office, I've got lots of work to do if I'm going to keep your cute asses out of jail."

That made them both laugh; though it was a nervous laugh but a laugh all the same. So they got up and made their way out leaving Alex to her work. When they got outside the building, they found the girl that was in the courtroom waiting for them.

She came up to them and she stated nicely but firmly, "I need for you both to come with me."

"Why," Jillian asked.

"Someone wants to talk to you and do so where you won't be seem with her." She said and she turned to walk down the street.

Ashley looked at Jillian who just smiled and they started to follow her. When they got to the end of the street, where she got into an old white four door Impala and she unlocked the doors for them. They got into the back seat and she pulled out into the street watching behind her as much as she looked in front of her.

"Are you a friend of Maggie and JoAnn?" Ashley asked of her.

"Let's just say that I'm a friend of the family which now includes you two." The young woman said.

"Okay," Jillian said and there was no more conversation as Jillian and Ashley decided that the black haired young woman had enough to do looking into her rearview mirror and to where she was driving.

She drove them out of town and into the country side, finally stopping at a road side diner. "They're inside waiting for you." The girl stated as she shut off the engine.

"You coming?" Ashley had to ask.

"No I'm fine; I'll take you back once you're done with your business." She said with a smile.

Jillian and Ashley got out and went into the diner, once inside; they heard Maggie call out to them from the corner of the dining room. Ashley looked over to see Maggie, JoAnn and Granny sitting at a table. Granny was sipping a cup of coffee as Maggie and JoAnn had a coke in front of them. They all looked worried, especially Granny which made Ashley worry for her. They went over to them and exchanged long hugs and kisses on the cheek, with Granny giving them the longest and tightest hug.

"I don't want you to go to jail to protect me; I'll tell them that I'm the one who gave you the information. I should have said something long ago and now I'm sorry that I didn't. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping quiet and letting it happen all these years but this old lady has had a light showed to her and she knows that she was wrong, all so wrong." Granny said as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Granny, you did the right thing when it mattered most and that's all that is important. Those assholes will get what is coming to them, Coach Wilder will see to that and I have heard that more people are coming out about what happened to them. It was you that did this; the story that Ashley and I wrote and you helped us with only scratched the surface. We got them backed into the corner." Jillian told her as she and Ashley both reached out taking Granny's hands in their hands.

"But this is not only about the article but about our First Amendment rights and the freedom of the press and not about protecting you. I, as a reporter have a duty to protect a source when I promise to do so. That is what is on trial here." Jillian went on to say.

"And me as a writer must stand up to the same rights. There may come a day when I write a book where I have to protect my own source. I have to stand up to them too. We're doing this for you but also for ourselves and for reporters everywhere. And if we have to go to jail to do this then we will." Ashley told her.

"I won't let one of my girls go to jail," Granny said firmly.

"I'll tell you what, when and if the time comes where we can't take it anymore, we'll send word through Alex that we want you to come forward, but until that day comes you must promise to keep quiet. Let us fight this our way." Jillian told her.

"I don't know..." Granny said, "I just can't help but to worry about you two sitting there in jail."

"Oh hell it'll be adventure, something I might just one day be able to use in one of my books, it might help me to write a best seller and make me rich and famous," Ashley said grinning though she didn't really want to experience jail just to be able to know what it was like.

"You two are not lying to me are you?" Granny asked.

"Oh no, we know better than that. We don't want you to do what you did to Maggie when she decided to party and come home drunk," Jillian said giving Granny a wink.

"I will too, you're not too old and I'm not too old to do just that!" Granny said firmly and she finally smiled a little.

"We'll be fine, just let us do this our way. You just take care of yourself and keep Maggie and JoAnn in line." Ashley told her giving the hand she was holding a squeeze.

"We'll take care of her, but you let us know if you want us to come forward, you know we will." Maggie told them both.

"We will, I promise, we both promise," Jillian told them.

"Yes we do," Ashley echoed.

"So who is the woman in the courtroom who brought us here?" Ashley had to ask, plus she wanted to change the subject.

"What did she tell you?" Granny asked.

"That she's a friend of the family but I don't ever remember ever seeing her at your house," Jillian told Granny.

"That's because she just recently became a friend of the family," JoAnn said with a smile.

"Now you can do better than that," Ashley told them all.

After a brief silence as Maggie and JoAnn looked to Granny, "She is the granddaughter of an old friend of mine. She graduated a year ago and can only find odd jobs here and there so I hired her to look in on you two."

"Won't someone connect her to you?" Ashley asked suddenly afraid that Granny would do herself in if anyone questioned why she was there.

"Betty is actually a childhood friend and now lives down in Florida so I don't get to see her much and Belinda, her granddaughter went to school here and just graduated but couldn't find a real job and she is thinking of going back to school to study law. So I gave her a job to look in at you two." Granny said.

"Oh okay but has she been to your house?" Jillian had to ask.

"No when Betty comes up to visit, she does stay with Belinda but Belinda being a young woman, she isn't really interested in sitting around listening to two old ladies relive their childhood." Granny said with a laugh. "But she is a smart girl and she loves her grandmother so when Betty asked her to help me out, she did so without thinking about it." Granny told her.

"Okay just be careful okay," Jillian warned her.

"We will and you two be careful too. I don't want any harm to come to you two; I couldn't live with myself if it did." Granny said.

"Don't worry Granny, if that judge puts them in jail, JoAnn and I plan on breaking them out that very night." Maggie said with a laugh which caused everyone else to laugh and even Granny after Granny frowned at her.

"See we got it all taken care of, "Jillian said giving Maggie a high five and laughing with her.

"That'll be my luck, having all my girls in jail." Granny said sadly after a moment.

"You know I'm all talk," Maggie assured her.

"I know girl," Granny said giving her granddaughter a hug.

"Now you two need to go but remember if you need anything from us, then tell us," JoAnn said as she stood up.

"We will," Ashley said as she with the rest of them stood up. They all exchanged hugs and tearful kisses before Ashley and Jillian made their way out to Belinda's car

"We appreciate what you're doing Belinda," Jillian said once Belinda got the car back on the road.

"So they told you who I was," Belinda said with a smile as she looked through the rearview mirror at them.

"Yea, they did but we also have a request of you," Ashley told her.

"What's that?" She asked.

"Make sure you let Granny know we're doing all right, tell Maggie anything you want but Granny must not know if we are wearing down." Ashley told her.

"I don't know..." Belinda said as she hesitated into committing to that request.

"We just don't want Granny to worry and Maggie will know just how much to tell her grandmother, we just want to protect her." Ashley told her.

Belinda thought that over for a moment before saying, "Okay but if I see that any harm may come to either of you, I'm pulling the plug. I won't let that happen."

"Deal," Jillian said and then she asked, "So you were there today, do you think the judge will rule against us tomorrow morning when we don't tell them that Granny is our source, will he find us in contempt of court?"

"I'm not a lawyer but yea, I think he'll rule against you. He pretty much said so this morning." Belinda said.

"Yea that's what we figure too." Ashley said sadly and she felt Jillian take her hand in hers giving it a squeeze.

"You won't be the first reporters that have gone to jail to protect their source," Belinda added.

"Yea we know that too," Ashley said.

"But what you two did was great, I like seeing that damn athletic department brought down over this, they deserve whatever happens to them." Belinda added with a smile.

"But nothing has happened yet, they are still running that place like always," Jillian complained.

"I won't say that, I bet they are trying to cover their asses right now and the news keeps bringing it up. Then if you two go to jail then that just puts more pressure on someone to do something about what went on." Belinda said and after a pause she quickly added, "Not that I want that to happen to you, I don't."

Ashley glanced over at Jillian and she had this faraway look in her eyes and she knew she had something going around in her head. Ashley had a bad feeling about this as she knew her girlfriend and her way of thinking.

"You know, if the judge does put us in jail and let's say a protest begins from the students to get us released..." Jillian said smiling.

"And if the courthouse is also protested..." Belinda added.

"Yea..." Jillian said but Ashley stopped her before she could go on.

"You two sound like you want us to go to jail, just to start some protest," Ashley said a little bit hurt and worried about the whole thing.

"No honey, I don't want to go to jail and I definitely don't want you to go, I really don't." Jillian said to her and Ashley could see in her eyes that she really didn't.

"But if you did then the more pressure is put on to get you two out and to put more pressure to get an real investigation going then the sooner you may get out without having to tell that Granny is your source." Belinda added.

"If we are going to have to do this then I want it to do some good. We both know Granny won't let us sit in jail for long so if Belinda, Maggie, and JoAnn can work from the outside as we work from the inside then maybe we it will be worth it." Jillian told her.

"But what can we do from the inside, as you know the inside will be from a jail cell." Ashley told her.

"I don't know but between the two of us, we'll think of something." Jillian assured her.

"I hope so, I really don't look forward to being in jail," Ashley told her.

"Me either," Jillian told her.

For the rest of the trip, Jillian talked with Belinda about getting the students to stage any protests that might be needed as Ashley looked out the window. She wanted to take in the scenery because she feared that this would be her last day of freedom for a while.

That evening they cuddled on the couch, not saying much. Jillian seemed to know what Ashley needed right then and that was to be held. Ashley was glad that her girlfriend could read her so well as that was exactly what she wanted and needed. Ashley felt a little guilty about not wanting to make love but she just wasn't in the mood for that, she just wanted Jillian as close to her as she could get her. They went to bed early but neither of them could sleep, so they just held on for dear life.

Monday when they got to the courthouse, Ashley noticed more people than normal entering the courthouse and she was surprised to find them going into the same courtroom that they entered. All of the seats were about full and Ashley looked around for Belinda finding her in the back. Belinda didn't acknowledge her but Ashley did feel better knowing that she was there. Ashley felt herself getting more and more nervous as the minutes passed and she could tell by Jillian's fidgeting that she was just as nervous. Again, a minute before eight the doors in the back opened and in came the Athletic Director and the University President came walking in with all their lawyers following close behind. Neither of them looked to happy and they gave her and Jillian a scowl before going to their seats. At exactly at eight the bailiff announced for them all the stand and Judge Bean came walking in.

"Well I'm glad to see that you brought your clients with you today." The judge told the Athletic Director's head lawyer.

"Yes sir, as you directed." He replied none too happily.

"Okay, let's get down to business, I have reviewed all the cases that you submitted to back you your First Amendment arguments and while they do make a point, I feel in this case I have to deny your motion, Ms. Alex." The judge said and Ashley felt her heard sink.

Alex acted like this was expected and had no real reaction, she just stood up and stated, "I have a few more cases to submit and ask that you hold off ruling until you have reviewed these."

The Athletic Director's lawyer immediately objected stating that they needed this information now and that there should be no more delays. The judge seemed to think over before saying anything more.

"I will take your cases under review however I must go ahead and make a ruling this morning so that we can get this over with. I believe that I have to ask that your clients reveal who their source is this morning." He stated and Ashley felt Jillian's hand touch hers and then she felt it took a hold of her giving her the strength that she needed.

Alex looked to them both and they both told her "No" so she addressed the Judge, "Sir my clients must stand on their First Amendments Right and must follow their conscious and withhold this information."

The judge frowned as Ashley could see that wasn't what he wanted to hear, "I must then hold your clients in Contempt of Court, and hold them over night in jail in the hopes that it will convince them that they must tell who their source is."

Ashley felt her knees start to buckle and she felt tears begin to form in her eyes, she didn't want to go to jail, no way, no how. She then felt Jillian squeeze her hand and she heard her whisper into her ear, "Be strong, don't let them see you cry. We can do this."

The crowd in the courtroom began to murmur and the judge had to remind them to be quiet.

"I object your honor, there is no reason to send these students to jail just because they are upholding their First Amendments Rights and are wishing to remain silent." Alex jumped up stating.

"Objection noted but overruled. I will consider your new motions but I stand on my ruling. Now do either of you wish to change your mind?" He asked them obviously hoping that he had scared them into talking.

"No sir," Ashley said in as strong a voice as she could muster.

"While I'm not a reporter yet, I do hope to be one, one day, and I cannot and will not reveal anyone who by their conscious does the right thing and wants to right a wrong that has been done to a class of people who are supposed to be protected by the law and who have had that law and their rights violated by men who feel that they are above that law and don't believe that homosexuals are equal to them. I will not let their homophobic fears go uncontested and they should be the ones going to jail and not two students who were only trying to do the right thing." Jillian said proudly and with a voice full of conviction.

The room erupted into cheers and that made the judge bring them back into order or he would empty the room. Ashley felt proud of Jillian who had obviously been thinking of what she would say if given the chance. Jillian's speech and the crowd behind them also gave her some strength. Plus seeing the judge's face turn to surprise at hearing Jillian's speech was priceless.

"While your speech was well thought out and makes what might be a valid point, I stand by my ruling. Bailiff please escort these ladies out and this hearing is adjourned until tomorrow morning at eight AM." He stated and then he then hit his gavel to a loud cheering of boos while he left the courtroom.

"Can you do anything Alex?" Ashley asked as she saw the bailiff come over to them.

"Not today but don't worry, I will be back in the morning well prepared to get you out, I promise." Alex told them and then she gave them a hug.

"Don't cry, don't let anyone see you cry, there will be time for that later and I'm going to protect you even if I have to beat the shit out of everyone in that fucking jail." Jillian promised her as she took her hand. The crowd in the courtroom was still booing as the rest of the bailiffs were trying to clear out the room. Just before they were escorted out the back door, Jillian stopped them and she turned making Ashley turn with her. She pulled up her hand that had Ashley's hand in hers and then got a loud cheer from the crowd.

They were taken through a long hallway and then a few doors, the last one they had to be checked through a door that was released from the inside. Inside there was medium size room with a couple of holding cells one for men and the other on the opposite side of the room for woman. Ashley looked them over and all the women looked tough, tougher than either her or Jillian by a long shot. They were taken over to where a large black lady sat. Even from a sitting position, Ashley could tell that she was well over six feet tall and weighed more than double of hers and Jillian's weight combined.

"Here you go Mama, these two are for you; Judge Bean got them on Contempt of Court and wants them held overnight." The bailiff said to Mama who was on the phone and she wasn't saying anything but a series of "Yes Sirs" to whomever she was talking to.

Finally she hung up and looked at them, "So what am I going to do with you two?" She asked and Ashley figured that she didn't want an answer but she decided to give her one anyway.

"You can let us go home and we promise to be here in the morning bright and early," Ashley told her.

Mama laughed, a deep hardy laugh, and then she stood up and towered over them. "I bet you'd like that but the Judge would have my ass if I did." She said and Ashley was definitely intimated by her but then that was probably why she got her job, no one was stupid or brave enough to take this woman on and Ashley could only hope that she also had a good heart.

"He'd never know," Jillian piped in.

"Oh the judge knows everything. Besides he wants to put the fear of god into you and so he'll get his wish. However he also doesn't want any harm to come to either of you and he'll have my ass for that too if I let that happen." She told them. "I'm guessing that I can trust you to be good and not go anywhere while I try and figure out what to do with you."

"Yes ma'am you can. We don't want to really get into trouble, at least any more trouble than we're already in." Jillian told her.

"Oh you're not in that much trouble, you just caught those guys with their pants down and they're trying to pull them back up hoping that no one notices how little their wieners are," Mama said with a big laugh at her joke. "Now you two sit here and don't move until I come back."

"Yes ma'am," Ashley said as she sat down in one of the hard chairs as Jillian sat in another one.

"Hey girlies, come on over here and I'll show you what a real woman is like," A heavyset older woman with lots of tattoos on her arms and neck hollered out at them from inside the holding cell.

Mama, who had just disappeared behind a door came bursting back in and said to the woman, "Now you keep your big trap shut Cici and I mean that to all of you!" Mama yelled at the woman and the rest of them in the holding cell.

"Yes mama," Cici said and it looked like Mama was the only one she would back down too.

"I'm glad she's on our side," Ashley whispered to Jillian.

"Yea me too and we got to keep her on our side." Jillian told her.

"She's not going to have any trouble with me," Ashley assured Jillian.

"How long are we going to be here?" Ashley asked.

"Until Mama gets back," Jillian told her.

"No I mean in jail, I don't like it." Ashley said a bit frustrated at Jillian for not catching her meaning.

"Oh sorry," Jillian said as she took Ashley's hands in hers. "I don't know, I guess until either the Judge or we give in."

"Or Granny," Ashley said.

"Yea but I don't want her to have to come forward." Jillian said. "I just don't know why there has been no investigation, I mean with all the publicity that this story has gotten, they should have been busted by now."

"Yes but we live in the south, they don't believe in equal rights unless they are forced to do so." Ashley told her.

"Well I guess we'll have to force them won't we." Jillian told her.

"Do you think Belinda with get the protests going like you all talked about?" Ashley asked.

"Oh yes I think so, you saw how the courtroom was crowded this morning. I bet tomorrow will be standing room only." Jillian said.

"I hope so," Ashley said then they both lapsed into silence as they thought about what was happening to them.

About thirty minutes later Mama returned to get them. "Okay girls, now I'm going to have to put you in what we call solitary confinement, it's the only place that I got that'll keep you out of the general population and it will keep you together as I'm sure that you'll prefer. And I'm supposed to put anyone in jail into the prisoner's uniform but seeing why you're here, I'll let you stay in your own clothes." Mama told them

"We appreciate that," Ashley said not wanting to have to put on the striped pants and shirt.

"Yes..." Jillian said and then she paused and Ashley knew that her brain was at work. "No we want to wear the striped uniforms." She told Mama.

"We do?" Ashley asked not believing what she was hearing from Jillian.

"Yes we do and when we show up in prison uniforms in court tomorrow, the crowd will really be on our side." Jillian said to her and Ashley realized that Jillian had made a point.

"Girls, I don't think you want to play games with the Judge, he's being nice here." Mama warned them.

"I know and we do appreciate that but he sent us here to make a point and I want to make a point back to him. He has a job to do but so do we. And the only way we can do that from in here is to get the public on our side or at least as much as we can. And we want our fellow students to be upset that this is happening to us." Jillian told her.

"Okay but it can backfire on you." Mama warned them.

"I know but I don't think you'll let anyone hurt us when all we are doing is to try and protect someone who did nothing wrong. They just tried to right a wrong and they don't need to be punished for it." Jillian pleaded with Mama. Ashley stood there looking up at Mama with an expression that showed that she needed to be protected and she did.

"Okay we'll play it your way; I just hope that you know what you're doing." Mama said before telling them to follow her.

"I hope you do too," Ashley whispered to Jillian and she did wish to convey to Jillian that she didn't like the idea but would go along with it.

Mama took them back to a room, giving them their new clothes. "I guess this works out for the best, at least when I take you back, you'll look like everyone else." Mama told them.

"Yea, we don't want to piss any of those women by being different." Ashley told Mama.

"Honey, no matter what you wear, you're going to be different. We don't get your type in here very often." Mama said with a little laugh as she shut the door to allow them to change.

"At least she is letting us change in private; I wasn't looking forward to taking off my clothes in front of anyone." Ashley said.

"Me either," Jillian said as she began to unbutton her blouse.

Ashley unbuttoned her blouse, taking it off before doing the same with her long black skirt. She then picked up their new clothes trying o find which was hers and which was Jillian. One was a medium and one was a small so she took the medium giving the small to Jillian. Ashley put her top on and it was big on her. She did the same with her pants that had an elastic waist and it too felt big. Once she got hers on, she looked over at Jillian and about laughed as her clothes hung off of her too.

"Well am I styling or not?" Jillian asked as she cocked her hips.

"Oh you're styling for sure." Ashley said with a smile getting a bit of relief from the tension and fear she was feeling but then Mama knocked on the door bringing her back to reality.

"You ready?" She asked and then she opened the door.

"Yea," Ashley said sadly.

"Okay a bit of advice here. As I take you back keep your head held high and don't respond to anything that is said to you. The only time that'll have to face any of these women is when I take you in and out. And don't let them scare you, they're just trying to act tough and get to you. You're the only entertainment that these women will get until they are set free or sent on to prison." Mama warned them.

"Okay," Ashley said trying not to show the fear that she was feeling.

Then she felt Jillian's mouth at her ear and then heard her say, "Now don't be a pussy and embarrass me."

Ashley jerked away as she couldn't believe that Jillian would say something like that to her and it royally pissed her off. However before she could say something back Jillian walked on past her with her head held high. Ashley now so pissed, she wanted to tear Jillian's hair out, caught up with her. Mama then gave the guard at the door a signal and the bars moved allowing them to enter the main part of the jail. The catcalls began immediately but Ashley was too pissed at Jillian that she didn't hear them; she just stared at Jillian's back wishing that her eyes were lasers that could bore into her. She was also thinking of all the things that she was going to say to her when they got into their cell. Mama said something to them before closing the door and locking it. Ashley only then turned around to see that they were in a small cell with only one bunk. The door was all metal with only a small hole about eye level. She turned back toward Jillian and she saw her giving her a soft smile and only then did she realize what Jillian had done to her or rather for her. Jillian knew how and when to push her buttons and she did so beautifully.

Ashley felt her lower lip begin to tremble and she said softly, "Can I be a pussy now and cry?" But she didn't give Jillian time to answer instead running to her and she began to sob uncontrollably.

From somewhere close Ashley heard, "Oh you poor baby, crying like a fucking baby, you big pussy!"

Jillian pushed Ashley back and she went to the door putting her mouth to the foot square hole and yelled, "You'll think pussy when I shove my fist so far up your ass, I'll be able to scratch your nose for you!"

"Come on Bitch!" The voice said but then she said no more.

"Thank you," Ashley said as Jillian came back taking her in her arms.

"Well let's just hope that I don't actually have to do it, it might be her fist up my ass," Jillian said to her making Ashley laugh a little.

"I'll come to your defense, between the two of us, her fist won't get anywhere near your ass." Ashley said feeling a bit better but the tears were still running down her eyes.

"You know I'll come to your aid," Jillian said.

"I know just as long as I don't act like a pussy and embarrass you right?" Ashley asked arching her eyebrows at her.

"Hey I just said that to..." Jillian was saying trying to explain what she was doing but Ashley stopped her but putting a finger to her lips.

"I know why you did it, to piss me off and get me through this and it worked. You did piss me off and I didn't hear what those women said or what they may have done. So thank you." Ashley said giving her a light kiss.

Ashley then looked around the small cell and let out a depressed sigh. She went over to the bunk and sat down on the edge, "So what are we going to do in here for the next twenty four hours?" She asked.

Jillian came over to the bunk, sitting beside of her and she smiled at Ashley, "Well every since I have known you, you've been saying that you've wanted to get in shape, now's your chance."

"How? I don't think that the Judge will let us bring any exercise equipment in here, even if it was big enough to fit which it isn't." Ashley told her.

"No but that doesn't mean we can't do some exercises. I looked up several on the internet and found some that we can do even in this small space." Jillian told her.

"You knew we'd end up here didn't you." Ashley stated more than asked.

"Yes, I figured that we would, I hoped that we wouldn't but..." Jillian said.

"Okay, it's worth a try. Anything would be better than just sitting here looking at the walls and your ugly mug." Ashley said with a little laugh as she stood up.

"Good, I was hoping that you'd agree. Beside this way we can tire ourselves out enough so that we can sleep tonight. I don't think that bunk is very comfortable nor will it be too quiet tonight." Jillian said standing up.

Jillian put Ashley in the center of the cell and she stood facing her about four feet away. Jillian first had them do some twisting and kneeling just to loosen them up. Once they were both warmed up, she began to show Ashley some of the exercises that she had once done in an aerobics class she took at the university. When they were sweaty and tiring out, they got a drink from the sink and both peed on the toilet in the cell. They rested for a few minutes before Jillian pulled her back up from the bunk and they started on some new exercises that she had seen on the internet. Ashley wasn't so sure that Jillian had them down right or was partly making them up but at least she tried to make them fun.

They stopped for lunch that was cold sandwiches but at least Mama slipped them both in a soft drink for which they were grateful. The then cuddled up on the small bunk and took a nap. But as soon as Ashley was awake and had peed, Jillian had her back up in the center of the cell doing more exercises. Ashley was already feeling sore but Jillian was determined to tire her out and at the same time, tire herself out. By mid afternoon they were both tired and sweating as the cell was getting hot. So Jillian suggested that they strip down to their bra and panties. Ashley wasn't too keen on the idea even though she was hot. However Jillian pointed out that they had four block walls around them and a solid door so no one could see them. She then immediately took off her shirt and pants and looked at Ashley almost daring her to take hers off too. Ashley let out a sigh and gave in, pulling her shirt off and dropping her pants.

Ashley's legs felt like rubber but she was determined to follow Jillian's lead. They were going much slower now and could talk. However their talk was about everything except where they were or how they got there. There was no reason to talk about that and they were trying to forget though it was hard since they had four walls around them and couldn't go anywhere. So they worked out until supper arrived which was another cold sandwich and this time no coke. They rested for a little longer this time and then did some more light exercises before calling it a night. They had no clock nor could they see outside but they were worn out and ready for some sleep.

Jillian let Ashley get into the bunk first and she took the outer edge. They had to move around a little to try and get comfortable and once they got set, Jillian gave Ashley a light kiss and they were soon asleep. Ashley woke up once to see that the lights were now out. She snuggled back in close to Jillian and fell back to sleep, not waking until she heard the rest of the jail waking up and moving out to breakfast. Ashley climbed over Jillian trying not to wake her and she went to the toilet. She didn't mind peeing in front of Jillian as she had done that many times before and it wasn't a big deal to her. However moving her bowels was a different matter and she preferred to do that in private. It took her a bit to be able to go and she was thankful that Jillian had turned away from her and was pretending to be asleep thought she knew her well enough to know she was awake. That fact was proven when she flushed the toilet; Jillian began to stir and turned back over.

"Thank you," Ashley said to her.

"For what?" Jillian asked as she sat up in the bed and stretched.

"Nothing, just thank you," Ashley said washing her hands.

"Okay," Jillian said thought she gave her a little smile. Jillian then went to the toilet pushing her pants and panties down as she sat down. Ashley went over to the door and started talking about what they were going to have for breakfast pretending not to hear Jillian passing a little gas as she moved her bowels.

Breakfast turned out to be hash browns and eggs with a piece of toast but at least it wasn't another sandwich. They ate and waited for Mama to come and get them which was soon after they had finished eating.

"So you want to take a shower and change before facing the judge?" Mama asked before taking them out of the cell.

Ashley didn't bother answering as she knew Jillian probably had something planned. "No but if we could have some toothpaste and toothbrushes, it would be nice." She said.

"Do we want a hairbrush?" Ashley had to ask knowing the answer.

"No, I think our hair looks great." Jillian said with a smile.

"This had better work; I hate not taking a shower every day." Ashley told her.

"I know and so do I but we need to make a point, if not to the judge then to the press and any students that make it in." Jillian told her.

"Okay," Ashley said to her and then to Mama, "Just a toothbrush and if we can keep them in our cell it would be greatly appreciated. Jillian has awfully bad breath when she doesn't brush and I refuse to kiss anyone who has bad breath."

Ashley knew that she had just told Mama that they were lovers and lesbians but Mama didn't seem too surprised about that bit of information. "Sure thing but if you two are in here for very long, you're walking downwind from me." She said with a laugh.

Mama took them out to another series of catcalls but Ashley was ready for it and didn't need for Jillian to piss her off to get her through it. Mama allowed them to brush their teeth and Ashley did manage to run her fingers through her hair straightening it a little but still leaving it a bit messy. Jillian didn't do a thing to her hair but Ashley could tell it was killing her not to do so.

When they were taken into the courtroom, Ashley found that it was indeed crowded with both press and students. They got a big cheer as they came in but all Ashley saw were her mother and father sitting right behind where they would be sitting. She ran over to her mom going through the gate to get to her. She didn't see one of the bailiffs start to come and get her nor see Mama wave him off letting her hug both her mother and father.

"Are you okay baby?" Her mother asked her with tears in her eyes.

Ashley knew she had to be brave for her mother. "I'm fine mama; they're being good to us." Ashley assured her.

"Then why are you in jail, what did you do? You lawyer tried to explain but it makes no sense why the judge put you in jail when you committed no crime." Her mama asked of her.

"Because the judge wants us to reveal who our source in and we refuse to do so, we have to protect this person. Once this is over with, I'll explain it better." Ashley assured her.

Then she turned her attention to her father, "Now papa, you take mama home with you and I'll send you information about how I'm doing through Alex. Don't either of you worry about me; I can take care of myself. I know what I'm doing." Ashley told him and also her mama. But then their visit was cut short as the bailiff brought the court into order and Ashley had to hurry back to her place before the judge entered.

Ashley was watching the judge as he came through the back door and his eyes lit upon them both in their prison uniforms. Ashley could almost see him want to chuckle before his face turned serious. He came on into the room and started the hearing.

"May I ask why you are in the jail uniforms?" the judge asked looking at them both with a stare but Ashley knew that the judge knew what they were up to or at least what Jillian was up to and she was playing along.

"You sentenced us to jail and I believe that this is the appropriate jail attire," Jillian said to him with a smile.

"Then I take it that you haven't changed your minds?" he asked.

"No sir," Jillian said and Ashley echoed that.

"Okay let's get this going, first off I deny your motions Ms Morrison and command that your clients spend another day in jail.

"Sir I have more cases to present and I request that my clients be released while you review them." Alex told him.

"I'll review your cases and I'm curious, do you plan on giving me cases each day that this goes on?" He asked.

"Yes sir, I have everyone at my firm scouring law books for cases that might help my argument, I even have a couple of the partners looking for me." Alex told him.

"I see," he said as he sat back in his chair and adjusted his glasses. "I don't guess you can just give them all to me and get this over with?" He asked.

"Not until you release my clients," Alex told him.

"Okay, so be it." The judge said with a sigh knowing that he would have reading to do every night that this went on. Any hope that this would be over with quickly had just gone out the window and Ashley could see that he knew that as well as she did.

"Sir my clients are requesting that they be relieved of showing up for these hearings. They have an athletic department and a university to run." The opposition's lawyers asked.

Ashley saw the judge's face go red as he sat back up. "No, they are requesting this information and they will have to be here. When they drop their request or we find out who the source is, then they can stop coming, until then we're all at Ms Cooper and Ms. Zackery's mercy."

"Yes sir," The lawyer stated and Ashley saw the Athletic Director's face turn red as he glared at them both and Ashley just had to smile at him.

"Okay this hearing is at an end until eight tomorrow morning, bailiff please return these two to their cell." The judge ruled getting a boo from the crowd which didn't please the him. Ashley also heard her mother gasp so she turned to her mother and gave her a smile to assure her that it was okay even though she had no desire to return to that damn cell. Just about this time, Ashley heard a chant coming from outside the courtroom saying, "Free Ashley and Jillian, put the Athletic Director and President in jail where they belong." And this was repeated over and over again. Jillian had a big grin on her face and Ashley saw that the judge had a frown, as he obviously didn't like the way things were turning out on this case.

"I see that we have some protesters out there," The judge said to the bailiff.

"Yes sir, a crowd of students with signs and the press is covering it," The bailiff said.

"Well keep them on the sidewalk and make sure that they don't block the entrance." He told the bailiff.

"They're obeying the law and being good," the bailiff said with a smile.

"Good," the judge said as he banged his gravel and got up to boos from the crowd in the courtroom but the judge ignored it this time.

"So is there a big crowd?" Jillian asked Alex.

"Oh yes, your friends are doing a good job of keeping them going. And a lot of the papers around the country are picking up the story. I even got a call from a Professor Laurence requesting that I do some interviews for some of his friends." Alex said with a smile as she brought out several papers including the New York Times and this time they made the front page.

"This should get an investigation going," Ashley said as she looked at the papers as Mama looked on.

Alex waited for the athletic director and university president to leave the room before she said, "Oh I think an investigation has been going on for a while now." She said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Jillian asked just as surprised as Ashley was.

"Let's just say that I have my sources and keep it at that and keep it under your hat." Alex told them.

"Does that mean we'll be out soon?" Ashley asked.

"I'm working on it but you two have to hold on, you've started something so now you have to finish it, you understand me." Alex told them both.

"We will," Ashley said feeling some hope but still dreading going back to that damn cell.

Mama then cleared her throat so Ashley turned to her Mother and Father giving them both a hug and wiping the tears from her mother's eyes. Then she made them promise to go home and when it was over to come and get her. She also made her mother promise to fix her favorite food when she got home. This, she knew, would make her mother happy as it seemed to assure her mom that she would be returning home soon. She gave them another hug and a kiss before walking out with Mama with the crowd cheering them on. And as she went through the door, she saw Belinda in the back giving her an thumbs up.

Mama took them back to their cell, Ashley didn't look at the women in their cells but she did try to see what they looked like. They all looked worn and weary and some she could tell were drug addicts and others looked just plain mean. But a few didn't look much different than her and she wondered just what they had done or been accused of doing.

"So why didn't we want to take a shower this morning?" Ashley asked Jillian once they were back into their cell.

"Because I want everyone to see us as the victims," Jillian told her.

"I thought we were the victims, I mean we're only protecting our source, we didn't commit any crime." Ashley told her as she went to sit down on the edge of the bunk.

Jillian sat down beside of her and said, "To some we are but to others we not victims, some see the athletic director and the university president as the victims. They see that we accused them of something but refuse to turn over the person that gave us the information and they believe that our source is the real bad person for turning on her boss."

"But can we change their minds?" Ashley asked doubtfully.

"Not all of them but maybe some." Jillian told her.

"Okay but if we get to the point that we can't stand to smell each other then we're going to take that shower." Ashley told her and she made sure her expression told Jillian that she meant it.

"Deal," Jillian said with a smile.

"So what we going to do today, more exercises?" Ashley asked, "Because I'm so sore from yesterday I can't more."

"Well it's either that or stare at these four walls all day and try to find something to talk about to fill the day." Jillian told her.

Ashley looked around the four bare concrete walls and let out a sigh, she then stood up, "Come on, I don't think I can stand to talk to you all day," she said to Jillian.

"I thought you'd see it my way." Jillian said with a laugh.

"Aren't you sore from yesterday?" Ashley asked her stepping back a few steps to get into position.

"There isn't a part of my body that doesn't hurt." Jillian said with a laugh.

"I'm glad; I don't want to be the only one who suffers like this." Ashley said laughing with Jillian and then she began to follow Jillian's movements as she began to stretch trying to get her muscles to work despite the protesting that they were doing.

They pretty much followed the same routine that they had begun the previous day; working out until they couldn't go any more then resting until lunch followed by more exercises, a nap, supper and some more working out until they fell into bed exhausted. Unfortunately the next morning's hearing also went the same. The court was crowded with reporters and students, and also Dr. Laurence showed up to lend his support. Alex's motions from the previous day were denied and she handed more to the judge for him to review. They all knew how he would rule but Alex was at least making him work and think about what he was doing. They were then escorted back to their cell. About the only thing was different was that Alex didn't sit as close to them as she had the first two days.

And so their week went until Friday when they found out that they would have to spend the weekend in jail, the judge would not let them out. He was going to make them sit there until they broke or something else happened to change things. Ashley was very depressed upon hearing this and she worked extra hard on their exercises just to work out her frustrations. She was also very angry about everything and the exercises helped her work things through. She could see that it was all getting to Jillian too as she was working just as hard and wasn't saying much. The courtroom was staying crowded and they could hear the protests going outside the courtroom but so far neither were helping them get out. The papers were also still running articles on them and there was also letters to the editor from citizens wanting them out. There was no reason to put innocent college students in jail in their mind to which Ashley heartily agreed.

That night when Jillian got into the bunk with her, Ashley got a good whiff of her body and the only thing that smelled good about her was her breath. Ashley was still angry and while she had to find a way to deal with being locked up, she didn't have to deal with Jillian smelling bad and she knew that she smelled just as bad if not worse.

"Okay I've had enough, get out of bed and strip!" Ashley said as she began to push against Jillian to get her out of bed.

Jillian smiled at her as she got up, "I take it that we're about to wash." Jillian said to her reaching down to help Ashley out of the bunk.

"Yep, I've had about enough of the way you smell and I know I can't smell very good to you," Ashley said standing up.

"I don't think we're going to get them to let us go take a shower and I know Mama has gone home by now." Jillian said.

"Haven't you ever heard of a whore bath?" Ashley asked.

"Do I look like a whore to you?" Jillian asked.

"Nothing personal but right now you look exactly like some skanky whore on the street," Ashley told her.

Jillian stood there for a moment looking at Ashley then she burst out laughing, "Okay I walked right into that one."

"Yes you did. However I too look like a skanky whore and while I don't mind looking like one, I sure as hell don't want to smell like one." Ashley told her.

"Now strip and I'll show you what a whore bath is." Ashley instructed Jillian while she began to remove her own top and bottoms of her jail uniform and then she look off her bra and panties. Jillian watched her for a second before removing her prison uniform and her panties and bra. They were then standing there by the sink naked and looking pretty bad. Ashley turned on the water in the sink and picked up the wash cloth and bar of cheap but halfway nice smelling soap that Mama had left for them that morning along with clean uniforms and clean bedding. She was obviously dropping a hint, hoping that they would take it. And maybe that was what triggered Ashley to get them both to wash so maybe it did work. Ashley didn't care if Mama had maneuvered her to getting them to bath or not, she just wanted to smell nice again. She would let Jillian control things for the most part while they were trapped here but there was a limit as to how far she would follow and she had gotten to that point.

She wet the washcloth and got the soap getting the washcloth nice and soapy. She reached for Jillian's right arm getting it soapy and getting the underarm which she saw the beginnings of growth of hair. She dropped that arm and she began to wash the other arm paying lots of attention to Jillian's underarm. She went from there to Jillian's chest and breasts, and while Jillian's breasts felt nice under her hands, she was not feeling especially sexual in that cell. The fear of someone watching them was too much to overcome. She also noticed that Jillian didn't let out any soft moans meaning that she too didn't feel like that this was the time or place to become amorous. Ashley did try to make her bathing of Jillian as loving as she could. She moved down to Jillian's hips and then to her pussy running the washcloth over her short growth of hair. She went on down her legs before turning Jillian around and moving back up her body. She soaped up Jillian's ass cheeks and worked her wash cloth between her cheeks as Jillian bent over allowing her a little more room. She finished with Jillian's back and then she went to her face, using gentle touches to wash the dried sweat from her face.

Ashley dipped the washcloth back under the water rinsing it out before going back over Jillian's body getting the soap off. She ended up leaving a little puddle of water under Jillian's feet from the washcloth that she used to rinse her off dripping wet. She then made Jillian lean over the sink so that she could wash her hair. She figured that this was the first time that Jillian had ever had her hair washed in anything other than expensive shampoo that left her hair shinny and full of body. Ashley got Jillian's hair wet and then used the bar of soap to get it soapy and thus clean. She rinsed it off and she got one of the cheap, thin towels to dry off her hair before As Jillian used the other towel to dry her body as best she could.

"And that my friend is a whore bath..." Ashley said with a smile.

"Well it wasn't like any bath I've had before however I do feel cleaner than I have ever felt after a bath." Jillian told her with a smile.

"That's because you were dirtier and smelled worse than you ever had before a bath before," Ashley said with a smile.

"True, and now it's time the other skanky whore in this jail cell to get a whore bath," Jillian said as she put the two towels that she had used over the back of the sink as Ashley would have to use the same towels to dry with.

Jillian got the wash cloth and bar of soap, getting the washcloth soapy again before she began to wash Ashley. The wash cloth was cold but she didn't mind, she was getting clean again and that was all she cared about. She closed her eyes and just let the feel of Jillian's hands washing her give her some comfort. While any other time, Jillian's touches would arouse her, she again didn't feel sexy so she couldn't get aroused. But she did feel the dirt and smell leave her body with each movement of the washcloth against her body. After Jillian finished with her body and then her hair, she felt like she was a woman again, she felt and smelled so much better. She didn't even mind that the towels she used to dry her hair and body were still a bit damp.

They then changed their bedding and slipped into the bunk naked. Ashley lay against Jillian's body and she couldn't help herself and she smelled Jillian slightly damp hair.

"Mmm... you smell nice again." Ashley told her.

"You do too," Jillian said squeezing her a little tighter. "You know that was a dumb idea to try and stink them into letting us go."

"Yea, they would only have to smell us for fifteen minutes max while we were stuck smelling each other twenty four hours a day." Ashley replied.

"I realize that now," Jillian said and Ashley could see her smiling at herself. "If I come up with any other dumb ideas, let me know."

"Oh I assure you I will," Ashley said with a giggle.

"Good," Jillian said and they both drifted to sleep.

The next two days they didn't even have the benefit of getting out of their cell to go to court. They had the option to go out for an hour with the rest of the inmates but they declined that offer. They both knew that they were not able to really defend themselves with some of those women and they didn't trust the guards to protect them. They knew Mama had been instructed by the judge to keep them safe but she wasn't there so they stayed in their cell doing their exercises and taking naps to pass the time. They did add a nightly whore bath to their boring routine.

"I see you both smell a little better this morning," Mama said Monday morning when she came to get them.

"Yea Ashley introduced me to what is called a whore bath," Jillian said with a smile.

Mama let out a laugh, "Oh everyone needs to experience one of those every once in a while, makes them appreciate what a luxury a real shower or bath is." Mama told them seriously.

"Well I won't take it for granted anymore," Jillian said and then she paused for a second, "I guess I won't take anything for granted anymore, not after this."

"I don't think either of you will," Mama said knowingly.

"Can we have more towels and soap?" Ashley then asked her.

"Yea, I'll get you some, anything else you need?" Mama asked.

"No that's it, I know that you're doing more for us than any of these other women are getting and I don't want to be greedy." Ashley told her.

"Well these other women have done a lot worse things than just telling a judge no. You haven't committed any crime and I do think you're being punished wrongly but I never said that." Mama told them quietly.

"Well we appreciate what you're doing for us," Jillian told her.

"No problem, you two ready now?" Mama asked as she signaled for them to come with her.

"Wait a second," Jillian said and then she turned to look at Ashley.

"What?" Ashley asked when she saw Jillian looking at her intently.

"Your hair doesn't look messy enough," Jillian said before using her fingers to mess it up a bit more.

"How does mine look?" Jillian then asked.

Ashley looked at Jillian and knowing what Jillian was after, she reached up and pulled and rubbed a bit on Jillian's hair getting it to that just perfect look, it that it looked terrible. "Now it's perfect," Ashley told her.

"You two are crazy," Mama said with a laugh.

When they got to the courtroom, Ashley found that it was still crowded and she knew they all were wondering if after a weekend in jail, they would talk. They went over to the table where Alex was waiting for them and she complimented them on smelling nice and she slid back over close to them again. Ashley heard the protesters outside the courtroom on the sidewalk and that made her feel better. At least someone was on their side and Belinda was there in the back giving them a smile. The judge soon arrived and started things. She could see the hopeful expression on his face which turned into a frown when they both declined to say who their source was. As much as she hated going back to that damn cell, she couldn't break her promise to Granny, Maggie, and JoAnn. After some arguing from Alex, the judge sent them back to their cell though she could see that he didn't want to. However the three of them had started something that none of them could stop at this point. Ashley did get to write out a quick letter to her mom giving it to Alex to send before they were taken to their cell.

"You know classes are starting back today," Ashley said as she sat down on the bunk.

"I know and I'm sorry for getting you into this," Jillian said sincerely.

"Don't be sorry, we're in this together," Ashley said and then she got up taking off her top and pants even though it was still cool in their cell. She was intent on working out hard just to make the day go by as quick as possible.

"I'm still sorry..." Jillian said as she began to remove her jail stripped top and pants.

The week drug by slowly as did the next week. They were all locked into a battle that no one seemed to be willing to give an inch. Alex was fighting with everything that she had even getting into some heated arguments with the judge. This was all being reported in the papers and Ashley saw from the papers that Alex brought to them that they were winning the public opinion battle but they were still losing in court. She could also see that the Athletic Director and the University President and their lawyers were getting frustrated with them and that did please Ashley but nothing else did.

At the time went on, Ashley began to feel the resentment in her growing over the whole ordeal. She tried not to blame Jillian but she could feel something inside of her doing that anyway. She did her best not to show this to Jillian but she knew that Jillian knew her too well not to sense it. They began to talk less while they worked out in their small cell. However they did keep washing each other at night and they slept with each holding onto the other. As much as the feeling toward Jillian changed, she still needed her close to her and she still felt that love deep inside but it was all getting messed up inside her head.

The first break that they caught and the first hope that they could feel that things may change, was about a week before they were to graduate, when they should have been taking the last finals of their collegiate careers; they came into the courtroom to see that the University's lawyers were not there. Before they could ask Alex what was going on, Judge Bean came in with a bit of a smile on his face.

"It seems that the University has decided to settle their case with Coach Wilder and have dropped their request. I don't guess that you would also like to settle?" Judge Bean asked of the Athletic Director and the University President.

"No sir, we do not. We demand that you make them tell us who their source is, this has gone on long enough." The head lawyer demanded.

This, Ashley saw, really pissed the judge off, "What you want me to do, take them out and give them the lash until they talk?" Judge Bean demanded in a loud voice and his face turned red.

"No sir," the lawyer said softly as he sat down.

"Didn't think so," Judge Bean said.

"Don't guess you want to tell us anything?" Judge asked them both.

"No sir," they said in unison.

"Okay, Ms Morrison let me have your motions," he said with a sigh.

Alex brought them to the Judge and they talked a few minutes. Ashley had noticed that some of the reporters had left but the students were still there filling out the room. And of course Belinda was there to give them some encouragement. However they were soon back in their cell and Ashley was feeling depressed, even with the university settling their case but they were still sitting in this damn cell. Ashley was quiet that day and Jillian didn't try to talk much not that she would have been able to get much out of her.

That week went by so fucking slowly, Ashley had trouble sleeping and she knew that she was keeping Jillian awake. So by the time that the following Monday arrived they both were looking terrible. They both had dark circles under their eyes and they both looked like they were on a hunger strike as their prison uniforms that were much too big on them to start with now just hung off of them. Ashley had slimmed down to the weight that she always wanted to be but she didn't notice. And while Jillian didn't lose any weight, she looked so bad. They were both as fit as they had been in their lives and at the same time they looked the worse that they had ever had before.

When they walked into the courtroom, the first thing that Ashley noticed that there were no reporters there and that depressed her. She knew then that they had finally got tired of reporting on them and they would forever languish in that fucking cell. The thought almost made her cry. But then she looked up at Alex who had a big smile on her face.

"What's going on?" Jillian asked as they got to her.

"I don't know but my source within the Justice department said something big was going down." Alex told them.

"What is it?" Ashley asked afraid to get her hopes up.

"I don't know," Alex told them.

Ashley was left to wonder just what was going on and when a minute before eight came and the Athletic Director and University President didn't appear with all their lawyers, she let herself get a bit of hope, but just a bit.

Judge Bean came in at exactly eight and he looked around to see what Ashley was seeing, no lawyers on the other table. "Could someone let me on what is happening, was there a settlement that I wasn't informed about?" he asked looking at Alex.

"I don't know anything sir," she said shrugging her shoulders. And she started to say something else Ashley saw, when a deep voice spoke up behind her.

"I believe that I can shed some light sir," The man said and Ashley turned to see a middle aged man with slightly graying hair coming toward the gate that separated the crowd from the judge and defendants.

"Who are you?" Judge Bean demanded.

"I'm Mac Hall from the Justice Department." He said pulling out his badge and showing it to the judge. "May I speak?"

"By all means," the Judge said to him.

He came through the gate and stood just inside of it, "The University President and the Athletic Director as well as several members of their inner circle were picked up at six this morning and are currently being book into the jail on fifteen counts of violation of the federal civil rights code. We are currently investigating about thirty more violations that may be added to the charges. We also know who these ladies source is and she is cooperating with our investigation. Thus I see no reason for these ladies to be jailed and request that they be released."

"Mmm.. that is an interesting twist however the civil suit is still ongoing..." Judge Bean stated dashing the hopes that Ashley now had and she wanted to scream at the fucking judge to let her go but she held that in.

"Sir you did state that if the Athletic Director and University President didn't show up, you would release my clients." Alex told him.

"So I did... didn't I..." He stated as he looked down upon Ashley and Jillian and they were both giving him a hopeful look.

"And sir, I believe that the University President and Athletic Director have more serious concerns on their mind now and the lawsuit is the last thing on their mind. Plus when we are ready, their source will be revealed. I believe that the university and the source are working out a deal to protect her from any reprisals from anyone at the university. I see no need to hold them." Mr. Hall stated.

"I guess I had better make good on my promise however before I release your clients, I would like to speak to them privately, if that is all right." Judge Bean stated.

Ashley didn't want to talk to the fucking judge, she just wanted out but if that was the price for her freedom, she was willing to go with it. So she nodded yes to Alex as did Jillian.

"That would be fine with them," Alex said.

"Call my mom and tell her to come and get me," Ashley said to Alex and she saw the disappointment in Jillian's face but she couldn't help it, she just wanted to go home where she felt safe.

They followed Judge Bean into his small office where he took off his robe and then sat down behind his small desk which surprised Ashley as she thought that he would have a large office and desk. "Have a seat, would you like something to drink?" He asked.

Again Ashley was surprised by how nice Judge Bean was being with them after making them spend over six weeks in jail. "No sir," Ashley told him and she could see Jillian thinking about it but then she too said "No sir."

"I don't guess you two feel too kindly toward me right now do you?" He asked them.

Ashley want to say hell no, he was a fucking bastard but she didn't think that was such a good idea. Jillian came to her rescue though when she said as politely as she could, "I don't think either of us can say what we really feel toward you without finding ourselves back behind bars."

The judge laughed and he smiled as he said, "No I won't put you behind bars because you think I'm a bastard for doing what I did. But I did want you to understand that I didn't do it because I thought you were wrong in what you were doing, in fact I admire your courage and your dedication. I think you are two very honorable young women who will go far in whatever you want to do."

"Then why in the hell did you put us in that fucking jail, where all we had was four walls and each other to look at!" Ashley demanded as she felt tears forming in her eyes and then falling down her cheeks.

Ashley felt Jillian hand on her forearm squeezing it and then she saw a tissue in front of her. When she looked to take it she was shocked to see that the hand holding the tissue was the judge's hand and she saw sympathy in his eyes. She didn't believe it at first but then she looked deeper into his eyes and saw that it was his true feeling coming through. She got herself back composed and she used the tissue to blow her nose. He then surprised her by taking the used tissue from her and tossing it into the trash can.

"I want you both to listen to me," he said to them in a soft voice.

"Okay," Ashley said now wanting to hear what he had to say though she saw that Jillian was a bit suspicious of whatever he might say.

"My job is to uphold the law as best I can and sometimes that forces me to go against my feelings and do what my brain tells me and not my heart. Once when I worked criminal court, I had to sentence a woman for killing her husband when I thought she should have gotten a metal for killing the bastard. He didn't deserve to live after what he had put her through for years. After that case, I got myself moved to civil court, my heart just wasn't into it anymore." He told them.

"What happened to the woman?" Jillian asked with the reporter coming out in her.

"I made sure that she got sent to a minimum security prison and then I was able to get her out after a year on good behavior. Then I got her a job here at the jail and I made sure that she looked after you two." Judge Bean said with a smile.

"Mama?" Ashley asked.

The judge laughed at that name, "Yea mama."

"But she's so..." Jillian was saying stopping before she said big.

"Her husband was an ex heavyweight boxer who used her as his personal punching bag. She was young and didn't know what to do until she had enough and then after he beat her to a pulp, she got his gun and shot his balls off before shooting him in the chest. When she aimed the gun she didn't intend to miss." He said with a sad smile.

"I bet," Ashley said admiring Mama more now.

"But to get back to you two, while I did admire what you did and also how you arraigned to get the public behind you, though I believe Dr. Laurence and that young woman in the back of the room had a lot to do with that." He said with a smile.

"You knew about her?" Ashley asked.

"Did you have her checked out?" Jillian asked right behind her.

"Yes I knew she was up to something and I heard that she was the one getting the protesters out front going each morning and to answer your question Jillian; no I didn't have her checked out. She was breaking no laws and doing nothing wrong, except getting everyone to hate me including my fifteen old granddaughter." He said with a smile.

"Maybe she will forgive you now that you're letting us go." Ashley told him.

"I hope so or maybe it will take a new phone or take her out shopping for clothes, which do you think?" He asked.

"I'd go for both just to make sure," Ashley said with a smile.

He laughed, "Okay I'll go for both."

"Can we go home now?" Ashley asked.

"Yes you can, I just wanted you two to see my side of things, not that you'll ever agree with me but at least see why I did what I did. And I also wanted to give you a warning that may be unnecessary now but maybe not." He told them.

"What's that?" Jillian asked.

"Be real careful when you tell a source that you'll protect their identity. You just paid a heavy price this time but it could have been worse, I know of reporters who have spent over a year in jail and they may not have been treated as well as I tried to treat you. Being a part of the press is a real important job in our society but it comes with a price. I just don't want to see you go through all of this again, you know what I mean. Make sure the person is worth it and the story is worth it. In this case I believe that it was but maybe you could have done it differently you know. Make sure that protecting your source is your last resort." He told them.

"I will, I'm the one who wants to be a reporter and I'm the one that got her into this mess, Ashley here is going to be a writer and she's going to be a great one." Jillian told him. "And I will be more careful in the future, I don't want to do this again but I will if, like you said, the story is worth it." Jillian said.

"Well may I ask if you'll send me a copy of your first novel?" He asked sincerely.

"Yea, I'll send you one," Ashley said with a smile.

"I don't guess you'll tell me who your source is now, the curiosity is killing me?" The judge asked.

"Afraid not," Ashley said with a smile, after going through all of this, she wasn't about to give Granny's name out now, even to the judge.

"That's what I thought," The judge said with a smile but Ashley thought that he respected them even more now.

They then got up to leave and just as they got to the door, the judge asked, "So am I still on your shit list?"

Not missing a beat, Jillian turned and said with a serious tone in her voice, "You were at the top of our shit list, but I think we may move you down a notch or two."

The judge laughed loudly and Ashley couldn't help but to smile as she opened the door and walked out to a now empty courtroom which disappointed both Jillian and Ashley. They walked over to Alex who had a perplexed look on her face. "What was the judge laughing about?" She asked.

"Oh Jillian just told him that he was no longer at the top of our shit list but had moved down a notch or two." Ashley said to her and that just made Alex laugh.

"Good for you!" Alex told them. "So you ready to get out of here and meet your admiring public?"

"Definitely," they both said.

"Oh I almost forgot to give you this," Alex said as she opened up her briefcase pulling out two rolled parched papers. She handed one to each of them.

"What is this?" Ashley asked.

"Just look," Alex told them with a smile on her face.

They both opened their papers and Ashley saw that it was a diploma with her name on it and also that she graduated with honors. "How did we graduate, we never finished our classes?" Ashley asked not really believing what she was seeing.

"Let just say that with the help of Professor Laurence, we were able to convince the university to go with your midterm grades and let you graduate. I insinuated that they might have to settle a second lawsuit if they didn't see it our way." Alex said with a smile.

"Thank you," Ashley said with glee and she hugged Alex as did Jillian.

"You're welcome, now go get those damn jail uniforms off, I want you looking nice when you walk out of here." Alex told them.

"Gladly," Ashley said and they went over to where Mama was waiting for them. Without thinking about it, Ashley went up to her giving her a hug. "What's that for honey?" Mama asked.

"Just for being so nice to us," Ashley said before adding, "And because I think you're a great person and that deserved better than what you got."

"What did that damn Judge say to you?" Mama asked.

"Nothing, we promise," Jillian told her.

"Yea right, I wish that damn man would keep his mouth shut," Mama said but she was smiling. "Let's get you out of those stripes and into your regular clothes.

Mama talked to them as she took them back to a room where she gave them the clothes they wore in and then she left them to change. Ashley took off her jail uniform as quickly as possible. She then picked up her skirt putting it on only to find that it no longer stayed on her hips, she had lost so much weight. She had to get Mama to find her a safety pin to pin up her skirt. She told Jillian that it was about the only good thing that happened there. She put on her blouse and it too hung on her but fit better than her skirt. Once dressed, Mama took them back to where Alex was waiting just outside of the courtroom. They both gave Mama a hug and thanked her for her help before going to Alex.

"Come on and let's get out of here," Alex said getting her briefcase and then they went out the main doors. It was there that they were greeted by a small but boisterous crowd.

"Enjoy it, you deserve it." Alex said giving them a hug and then she left them to their admiring audience. They talked to several of the students there and a couple of reporters before making their way down to where Maggie, JoAnn and Belinda were waiting.

"Oh god you're free, you're finally free," Maggie said as she ran up to them giving Ashley a hug and a kiss before going to Jillian. JoAnn was right on her heels and Ashley saw the tears in her eyes as JoAnn hugged her tightly. This caused Ashley to start to cry and she clung to JoAnn for a moment before releasing her.

Finally Belinda came to her and she gave Ashley a light hug but Ashley wouldn't let her get away with that as she pulled her in tight and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, it was reassuring knowing you were out there working to help us," Ashley whispered into her ear.

"It was what I was paid to do," Belinda said as if it wasn't any big deal but the way her eyes were tearing up told a different story.

"I don't believe that was why you helped us," Ashley said giving her a knowing smile and she reach out to wipe the tear that was falling down her cheek.

Ashley then passed Belinda on to Jillian who also hugged her tightly and thanked her for her help, now Belinda was crying just as freely as the rest of them.

"So how is Granny, that man from the justice department said that our source was cooperating with them?" Jillian finally asked after more tears and hugs were shared.

"She's doing great, they have been real good to her and treating her like a queen and the university let her retire with full benefits and a little extra to help her ease into retirement. Plus Granny talked them into letting JoAnn here attend graduate school free of charge, books included." Maggie told them.

"And somehow or another, I have won a scholarship to law school in the fall and I don't even remember applying for the scholarship," Belinda said with a knowing smile.

"How did the justice department find out Granny was our source?" Jillian asked.

"I think they checked everyone's phone records that might be in a position to know what was going on and they traced her cell phone records to me and from me to you two." Maggie said.

"Did they tell her that?" Jillian asked.

"Yea but not directly, they hinted at it, and then we figured it out," JoAnn told them.

"When did they approach her?" Ashley asked.

"About a month ago, but we weren't allowed to tell anyone including you two, they made us promise," Maggie said as she frowned a little obviously feeling bad that they didn't say anything.

"We figured that they started their investigation long before you two went to jail but they wanted to make sure there was a case before seeking Granny out. And then they interviewed her in her home just so no one from the athletic department would become suspicious," Belinda told them.

"Hey lets go home, Granny wants to see you both so bad and to thank you for what you did," Maggie told them.

"Ahhh... I can't. My parents are on the way here to pick me up. I need to go home for a while." Ashley said and she saw Maggie, JoAnn, and Belinda look from her to Jillian who had this sad and helpless expression on her face.

"They can come too; can't you put this off for a day or two?" Maggie asked bluntly.

Before Ashley could answer not that she knew what to say, Jillian came to her aid though she wasn't sure why, "No, Ashley wants to spend some time at home and so she should."

Ashley gave her a grateful look and she was thankful for Jillian defending her but that didn't change her mind, she still had to go home. "But Jillian can come with you and she can give Granny a hug and kiss for me." Ashley said.

"No I'll take you back to the apartment to pack," Jillian said sadly.

"Okay, but you'll come back soon won't you?" JoAnn asked looking directly at her.

"I don't know..." Was all that Ashley could say because she really didn't know; she just knew that home was where she needed to be.

"Well give me a hug," Maggie said going up to her and giving Ashley a long hug.

JoAnn did the same though she also whispered into Ashley's ear, "Don't stay gone too long, Jillian needs you and you need her..." JoAnn then kissed her cheek softly.

Ashley wanted to say something but she couldn't for fear of breaking down and that she didn't want to do here. But she knew it was coming, she just had to hold it off for a while longer.

They all walked down the street to where Belinda had parked Jillian's car. She had been taking it out everyday only to return it in the morning just in case they were released. They all hugged again before Jillian helped Ashley into the passenger seat and then she went around to the driver's seat and got in.

"I can't believe that we're finally free," Jillian said to her once she got them out onto the street.

"I know, I didn't think I would ever be able to see the light of day again." Ashley said trying to keep her voice even.

Jillian then changed the subject talking about now having to try and find a job when none were open, at least for someone who wanted to write for a newspaper. Ashley followed along with the conversation but mostly her mind was on going home and getting away from the person that she loved so much but also the person that she resented the most, and the conflict in emotions was tearing her up inside.

When they got back into the apartment, Ashley called her mom and found out that they were about thirty minutes away. She knew that her father was driving far faster than he usually did and her mother was telling him to go faster. Ashley went on to the bedroom while Jillian got out a couple of suitcases for her. They both worked to pack her bags without saying much, though she could see that it was killing Jillian not to beg her to stay. And she knew that Jillian just might be able to convince her to stay but if she did the resentment would grow within her and at some point she would have to leave and maybe not come back. This way, they still had a chance but she had to get things right in her mind.

They just had about everything packed when her mom called to say that they were pulling in front of the apartment building. Ashley told her that she would be right down. She then turned to Jillian and saw the tears rolling down her cheeks and she felt her own eyes tearing up. She told herself to hang on a little longer.

"Jillian I've got to go, I'm sorry but I do. Just remember that I do love you, I love you with all my heart but I just need some time to be by myself. I've got to get everything right in my mind or I won't be any good to you or to me either. Do you understand?" Ashley asked of her.

"I could lie and say I do but I don't. I just want you with me but I won't stop you. This is something you got to do and I won't try and stop you." Jillian said as the tears really start to fall from her eyes making Ashley want to go to her but she held off.

"I appreciate that," Ashley told her and then she reached into her purse bring out the phone that Jillian had gotten for her. "I guess I should give you back your phone."

"No keep it, maybe you want to call me real soon..." Jillian said to her.

Ashley knew that she should still give back the phone but she couldn't, it would be her only tie to Jillian and she wasn't willing to break that string, she knew that she just may use it but she wasn't sure. "Okay," Ashley said putting it back into her purse and she saw that Jillian was grateful for that as it also gave her some hope that it wasn't over, at least not yet.

"I've got to go," Ashley then said as she started to get her bags.

"Can I have a last hug?" Jillian asked.

Ashley couldn't resist that request as she wanted to feel Jillian's arms around her one last time, so she went to her, letting Jillian hold her tightly and she felt Jillian's tears on her cheek making her cry too. "I do still love you, I really do," Ashley whispered into Jillian's ear.

"I know you do and I love you," Jillian said and then she gently pushed Ashley back.

"Now go and do what you need to do and remember when you're ready, I'll be waiting for you. Just call and I'll drop everything to come and get my only true love," Jillian told her.

Ashley wanted to say something but she didn't know what to say so she turned and went to her bags, dragging them to the door. She stopped for a moment and got her key to the apartment putting it on the table by the door. She then opened the door and dragged her bags into the hallway. When she shut the door, she heard Jillian let out a sob and that broke her heart. She had just hurt the one person she loved more than any she had ever loved before and probably would ever love.

End of Part Ten.

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think of my story. I welcome all comments good or bad. You can email me at numlfl@hotmail.com