Previously:
While on a double date with Sammi and their girlfriends, Jamie Callahan was shot and killed saving Sammi and Alex. Two days later, while Sammi was undergoing his second surgery, Jamie was laid to rest...

Sammi lay in the hospital bed...uncomfortably on one side with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Honey, it wasn't your fault," Rita said as she stroked his hair.

"If it weren't for me, Jamie would still be alive," he sobbed. Sammi rolled over, or at least attempted to. The heavy bandages were a visible reminder of pain deeper than any wound to his shoulder.

It was almost too much too bear, but the pain was almost an easier burden to endure than the misplaced guilt he felt.

"Your Mom and Poppa C. went to the cafeteria for something to eat," Rita said, her face turned away as if looking for something in her purse. She had been crying almost the entire night into the morning, since Sammi had come out of recovery, his second surgery in three days. She wanted to put a brave face on, but she was failing miserably.

A knock came at the door. Tommy Colhane stood at the doorway. His face was red and his eyes were puffy.

"Hey, Sammi, how are you feeling?" Tommy had just come from Jamie's funeral.

"Not too bad," Sammi said, but Tommy could see that Sammi couldn't convince himself of what he had just said, much less anyone else.

Rita pulled Tommy into a tentative hug.

"How's Tammy doing?" Rita asked. "Is she home? I'll stop by there on my way home later."

"The doctor had to give her something...she hasn't slept since…" Tommy bit his lip. He and Jamie had hit it off when they first met, and the whole family felt the loss as if Jamie had been one of their own.

"Oh, Tommy...I'm so sorry. This is all my fault," Rita said, remembering how her breakup with Leon Lucas had started this whole mess. Truth be told, he had brought much more than death and injury upon these families. There was enough misplaced guilt to go around.

Rita turned away to the window as Tommy tried to hug her. He grabbed her, gently but firmly, and turned her around again. Tears streamed down his cheek, but he smiled warmly.

"It's not your fault," he said, choking back a sob. "And it's not yours either," he said as he turned his face to Sammi, who was now weeping into his pillow.

"You did nothing wrong." He put his hand to his face, trying hard without any success to keep from sobbing. After a few moments, he looked up at Rita.

"Jamie saved Alex. If it weren't for him pushing Sammi aside as well, who knows? And Alex is alive." Tommy bit his tongue so he could continue.

"And if he died to save you and Alex? Let's hear no more talk about what you did to cause this...You didn't, and you have nothing to be ashamed of...you did nothing wrong. Jamie did right!" Tommy broke down and Rita held him as he sobbed over what he had just said.

Just then, Vito and Carmella came into the room. Carmella rolled her wheel chair up to Tommy and pulled him in for a motherly hug. Tommy gave way to the safety of her arms and wept unashamedly. Vito walked over to Rita and grabbed her by both hands.

"It's going to be okay, honey." He turned towards his child, who lay in the bed, unable to staunch the tears that flowed even freer at the sight of his parents. "And you, too, mi figlia...my daughter."

"Daddy...no, don't say that...no..." Sammi sobbed and buried his head further into the pillow. "Noooo...noooo." Sammi was convinced that his choices had brought so much sorrow upon so many.

"Mi dolce figilia," Mrs. C said as she looked over Tommy's shoulder at Sammi. "My sweet daughter."

Vito walked over to the bed and kissed Sammi on the cheek and said. "It's okay, honey...It's going to be okay, bambina."

The following Monday, another intense scene played out, this time in court.

“Your honor…I must protest.” The District Attorney stood up and objected.

“I see no reason to get excited, Counselor,” the judge said glibly. “I’ve made my ruling. Bail is set at five hundred thousand dollars, cash or bond. This court is in recess.”

Leon’s lawyer smiled smugly over at the DA as he closed his briefcase. He had argued successfully before the judge in the past, and today was no different. The judge amended the charges immediately to reduce them to murder two right off the bat, even though there had been evidence that his client had planned this attack for several days. An outrage that would never be addressed in this lifetime. But in arguing for bail, he did right by his client legally, but morally he did Leon a disservice. Years of entitlement had brought Leon to court on that day, and it would ultimately be his undoing.

“This isn’t fair.” A voice came from the back of the courtroom, almost a scream. Tammy stood as her brother tried to calm her down.

“Jamie’s dead and he gets out?” She yelled loud enough for the whole room to stop.

“Young lady…sit down and be quiet!” The judge banged his gavel over the murmurs of the crowd.

“Be quiet? He killed Jamie…he killed my girlfriend! Be quiet.” Tammy was practically sobbing at that point.

“Your honor?” Leon’s lawyer raised his voice to protest.

“Bailiff, remove the young lady from this court.” The judge said as he banged his gavel.

“Order!”

The bailiff took one step toward Tammy, who struggled against her brother’s arms. She fainted and he picked her up and began to carry her out. The bailiff looked back at the judge who just shook his head from side to side.

Two figures remained seated as the courtroom emptied.

“What does this mean?” The man said with a soft brogue. Mr. Callahan turned and looked as Leon walked from the court room, casting a cruel sideways glance at Johnny and his dad.

“He gets to stay out on bail, Dad,” Johnny grabbed his father’s arm. His mother was too distraught to attend the arraignment.

“Now dis isn’t faer, lad.” Charlie Callahan said. Johnny had been worried about his dad getting worked up over the ruling of the judge, but he was surprised to hear his father say,

“But it is what it is, yes? We best be gettin’ home.”

“Yeah, Dad.” Johnny’s emotions were on the surface and he began to weep, right then and there.

“It’s gonna be okay, lad,” his dad said as he kissed his son on the neck as Johnny fell into his father’s loving arms.’

“I miss her too, son…I do.” Charlie Callahan said as he wept.

A few days later, Leon was sitting in his basement with his best friend Marty.

“Can you believe that fucker? He got me bail!” Leon smiled smugly.

“Yeah, but you still have the trial, right?” Marty winced at the expected slap in the head that never came.

“Yeah, but the way I figure it, but the time my lawyer gets this shit taken care of, they’ll be givin’ me a medal for killin’ that fucking queer. Shit…If I’d been a better shot, I’d be a fuckin’ hero!”

“I don’t think that’s a good way to look at it...that won't go over too good, Leon.” Marty replied. He was surprised twice in seconds. First, he was surprised that he actually disagreed; not once, but twice with Leon. Second, he was completely surprised when the unanticipated punch in the shoulder came; knocking him off his chair and into the wall.

“You talk against me again…” Leon kicked Marty hard in the side. He never finished his threat, but Marty knew that whatever it was Leon was thinking; it would be really bad.”

“Sammi…baby open the door…Rita’s here. Come out, okay?” Mrs. C. turned and looked at Rita and smiled. Rita grabbed the door handle and saw it was unlocked. Opening the door, she peeked inside. Lying on the floor next to Sammi’s bathroom door was a pile of hair…Sammi’s hair. She stepped over the pile, shaking her head and biting her lip apprehensively.

“Sammi…honey, are you okay…Sammi?” She called as she turned the corner past the bathroom. Sammi was sitting on his bed. His head displayed his recent handiwork; he had used the clippers to cut all of his hair down to a crude crewcut. His face was puffy and his eyes were red with tears that still streamed down his cheeks. He wore a tee shirt and a pair of sweats.

“Oh, God, Sammi, what did you do? “ Rita’s cry was more of a lament than a question. She noticed an un-open bottle of pills on his nightstand…his mother’s pain meds.

“No, Sammi…no.” She cried. He looked at her and sniffled and said.

“You don’t have to worry…I didn’t take any…I’m not going to kill myself.” He began to sob.

“It doesn’t make any difference….I’m already dead.”

He threw himself back on the bed and sobbed into his pillow. Carmella rolled her wheelchair over to Sammi’s bed and placed her hand on his back. She began to weep and pray…

“Mi Dio….please help my baby…” She placed her head beside his on the bed and kissed him as their tears mingled. Rita stood to one side. Her eyes darted between the two and the pile of hair on the floor.

“Mi dios cuidar de ella. My God…take care of her.” Rita said softly as her hand did nothing to prevent her tears from dropping to the carpet below.

Sammi stayed in his room and refused to come out; his mother Carmella spent most of the time either at his door praying or singing soft sweet songs as she moved through the house, hoping for a breakthrough.

She was sitting by the front window when she noticed a familiar figure standing at the front door. She wheeled her chair to greet Johnny Callahan.

“Hello, Johnny, come in, please. “ Carmella said as she backed up. She motioned for him to come closer and he fell into her arms for a big hug.

“I’m so sorry, honey…how are you doing?” She asked as he stood up. His eyes had begun to mist. Even when they hadn’t intended to, folks usually found themselves feeling safe enough to cry In her arms.

“I’m doin’ okay, I guess. Mom and Dad keep me grounded…we cry a lot and we pray.” Johnny stifled a sob as she rubbed the back of his hand.

“It’s not fair, I suppose, but Dad keeps reminding me that there isn’t any fair or unfair, it just is what it is.” Johnny’s accent tended to come back when he spoke of his parents.

“We miss her so, but we have each other and God and friends like you, Mrs. C.” Johnny smiled through his tears and continued.

“Is Sammi at home?” Johnny asked as he looked around.

“He won’t come out of his room.” Carmella’s eyes were also teary as she continued.

“He won’t eat, he doesn’t talk. He just cries all the time. I’m worried, Johnny. His brother tried to get him up to go out for just a walk and he got up long enough to lock his door. Rita comes by every day, and he won’t even talk to her. I’m at my wit’s end.”

“I might have something that will help. I’d like to talk to him and I’d like you to be there, okay?” Johnny smiled. Even having a loving mother like his own, Johnny was among the many kids that found Mrs. C to be like a second mom.

“Let’s go try, okay?” She grabbed Johnny’s hand and squeezed tight. He wheeled her over to Sammi’s door.

“Sammi, honey…there’s someone here to see you, okay?” She said as she knocked on his door.

“Go away,” Sammi said from his room.

“It’s Johnny Callahan.” She said.

After a few moments of silence, they heard the sound of the door being unlocked. It opened seconds later. Sammi stood at the doorway in his pajamas. His face was puffy and his eyes were red. He looked thinner and tired.

“Hey, Sammi, how’s it goin’?” Johnny said as he wheeled Mrs. C. into the bedroom.

“Okay, I guess,” Sammi said, his appearance belying his statement.

“I wanted to talk to you for just a few, if you don’t mind?” Johnny said as he sat on Sammi’s bed.

“Okay…” Sammi said with little emotion.

“I need to ask your forgiveness, yes?” Johnny said, his face a picture of sadness and hope mixed together.

“F..ff..or..giveness? What do you have to be sorry for?” Sammi looked at Johnny.

“SSSorrrry?”

Sammi tried to stem the tears that started to flow. Apart from the slight difference in height and age, Johnny was almost the twin of his brother Jimmy…or his sister Jamie, depending upon what day and where they were. Jamie had been Sammi’s best friend and companion apart from Rita. And now, with Jamie gone and the appearance of his near twin; the guilt was overwhelming.

“I…I should be asking you for forgiveness…it was my fault….” Sammi began, but Johnny cut him off.

“No…let me finish…there’s enuff guilt to go around for us all, and that has to stop!” Johnny was firm, but his voice was tender and caring.

“I have been tinkin’ ever since Jamie died. I was so angry at you, and I am so sorry for that.” Johnny said, choking back a sob.

“I tought…if it weren’t for the fact that you and she and the girls were out at that stupid movie…she’d be alive right now…we’d be havin’ a laugh or two and none of us would be upset. And it was all your fault.” Sammi eyes widened in horror at the words until Johnny continued.

“But you see, it wasn’t your fault. Jamie and you and Rita and Tammy were out havin’ some fun and that bastard Leon came and….” He paused and looked at Carmella apologetically.

“I’m sorry for the profanity, Mrs. C. It was no one’s fault.“ Johnny’s anger had subsided, replaced once again with a sad and hopeful expression.

“Alex and you would be dead and maybe...maybe not…but maybe Jamie might be alive? Who can say? If the fookin’ gun hadn’t jammed, maybe Jamie might have some company.” Carmella smiled at Johnny to give him leave for the understandable language.

“And then I tink…you and she asked me to come to the movies that evening…If I’d been there…” Johnny wiped the tears from his eyes; looking at that moment more angry than sad.

“It’s just this. Jamie died to save you and Alex and maybe others…We cannot stain her sacrifice with regrets or false guilt. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was angry even at Tommy for introducing Jamie to his sister, since that was part of it…But what the fook did Tammy do except love my baby sister like her own…” Johnny began to weep.

“What did you do but love my sister like she was your own when so many at school made fun of her dress and her choices?” Johnny looked at Carmella. By now, all three were crying. The tears of forgiveness were flowing freely as Johnny finished.

“I’m so sorry for hatin’ you. You were Jamie’s best friend and I forgot that. Please forgive me for my hatred. Mrs. C. Can you forgive me?” Johnny broke down and wept freely. Carmella wheeled her chair closer and grabbed Johnny’s hand. She reached out and grabbed Sammi’s hand. Placing Sammi’s hand in Johnny’s, she pulled Sammi close and kissed him.

“Non piá¹ senso di colpa, mia figlia. Solo l'amore e perdono , si?” (No more guilt my daughter, only love and forgiveness, yes?) She said as she wept along with the two; cleansing tears that would reach out to others as well.

The trial took only eight days. Leon took the stand and had been fairly effective at making his lawyer’s case. But Leon being Leon, he took it too far, and his arrogance cost him.

“I’m sorry I killed him, your honor,” he said, turning back to the Judge to plea.

“Address your remarks to counsel, young man.” The judge was not the judge who had heard the arraignment; a broken leg while skiing, coupled with Leon’s lawyer’s ill-advised insistence on a speedy trial, brought a less sympathetic judge to hear the trial. And as much as he tried, the judge could not mask his disdain for the smug attitude that Leon displayed.

The Jury took forty-five minutes to deliberate, bringing back a guilty verdict for the sole count of murder in the second degree. After a weekend recess, the court met once again for the purpose of sentencing. The Judge spoke to the court.

“Before I pronounce sentence, I have been requested to hear testimony by two individuals that wish to address the court regarding this matter. Would the first witness step forward?”

Johnny Callahan stood nervously at the podium set up for testimony.

“If it may please the court, I would like to address both your honor and the defendant.”

“Go ahead, young man. Before you begin, may I extend my deepest condolences to you and your parents at the loss (and here he made a point to pause for effect) of your sister.” At the mention of the word, “sister,” both Leon and his lawyer winced.

“Leon…I’m sorry for you. Truly I am and my parents with me. You’re stuck on stupid, lad, and look what it’s gotten you. Jamie did nothing to you…she never hurt anyone, and you took her life because you’re so filled with hatred and ignorance that…” Leon’s lawyer raised his hand to protest but the judge just glared at him, causing him to sit back and remain silent.

“That you hurt not only my sister and me and my family, but Sammi and her family and Tammy and Rita and their families as well. But the one you hurt the most is yourself. Mum and Dad…and me? We’ll be livin’ our lives out here while you sit in a cell, not only wastin’ your own life, but hurtin’ your own Mum and Dad as well. I feel sorry for them and you.” Johnny paused. He looked at the glass of water in front of him. The judge noticed and nodded. Taking a sip of water, he continued.

“My Mum and Dad forgive you. We can’t speak for anyone else, of course. And I’m not ready…not ready by a long shot. You took away the most precious ting God ever did for my family… I’d like to be the type of man who will be able to some day, but not while there’s no grass growin’ over her grave.” Johnny looked back at his parents, who sat quietly sobbing.

“But for Jamie’s sake and my Mum and Dad, I hope you take this to heart. You’ve got a second chance …more than you gave Jamie. Take this and use it so what when you get out, you’ll be a better person for it, yes?” He paused and looked at the judge, who nodded for him to continue.

“Your honor, I would like to ask for mercy for Leon here?” Leon’s expression changed from smugness to confusion as Johnny continued.

“I know you can only do so much, but if you could ? Not for Leon here…as far as I’m concerned he could f….., er…stay in jail…But knowing Jamie, she’d want to…you know…the same girl who saved Sammi and Alex? To be seekin’ revenge after her sacrifice? It wouldn’t do, Your honor. So could you? It would help both me and my family in putting this behind us, yes? Thank you for hearing me.” Johnny looked back at his mother and father, both with tears in their eyes, their grief mixed with pride.

The court was filled and the crowd began to murmur at the unprecedented and entirely unexpected request. The judge banged the gavel only twice and the courtroom grew silent. The judge nodded and the next witness came to the podium. A young lady, about sixteen, pretty albeit with very short hair stood before the court. She wore a simple knee-length light blue corduroy dress with a navy cardigan. And she was nervous. Her voice trembled a little, but she spoke with clarity.

“Your honor?” She looked at the judge as if to say, “Was that okay?” The judge smiled and nodded and said quietly, “Go on, young lady.” Leon’s lawyer winced once again.

“I would like to agree with my friend Johnny. I would also like to say that because of my best friend’s sacrifice…because Jamie died to save me and Alex Paretsky… I have a second chance as well. May I quote?” She smiled once and the Judge nodded again.

“It says…He who is forgiven much loves much. I have been forgiven much. I was silly and foolish and didn’t care for anyone but myself. Jamie taught me through her sacrifice that it’s important to care about others and love others.” She smiled nervously, as if she had said something wrong. The judge shook his head no…as if to say,” No …you’re entirely right.” Taking his cue, she turned to face Leon and his lawyer.

“I want to tell you that because of my best friend’s example, I can say to you, Leon I love you” The court murmured but grew quiet quickly, and she turned back to the judge.

“I would also like to ask for mercy, your honor, if that’s okay?” She looked again to the judge who nodded in approval.

“Since I have been given a second chance with my life, your honor, I would ask the court to do the same for Leon, if that’s alright? I know we don’t deserve mercy…that’s what makes is so special…My Mom and Dad taught me that. Thank you.” She turned back and saw her parents and her brother smiling with pride. Rita sat next to Mrs. C. and smiled back, evoking a big tearful grin from Samantha Compagna.

“I have never in all my days seen such an example of mercy extended to a defendant. I must take this under advisement before I render my ruling. The court is in recess for one hour.” The judge arose and retreated to chambers. He went to pick a law volume from his shelf, but thought better of it. Walking to his desk, he sat down, put his head in his hands and began to pray silently.

The Judge sat at the bench and banged his gavel softly. The court came to attention and he looked at Leon and his lawyer once again. He smiled as if he had a secret in the back of his mind, and said,

“Before I render my decision, is there anything that you would like to say to the court, Mr. Lucas?” The judge closed his eyes briefly, hoping desperately that he was wrong. Sadly, he was mistaken, as Leon stood up, buoyed with arrogance once again, mistaking forgiveness for license.

“Your honor. I want to apologize again for my actions. I thought I was doing the right thing, and I guess I was wrong. I had a bad childhood and it was hard growing up. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I hope you’ll give me a second chance.” Leon’s lawyer winced one final time before covering his face with his hand as the judge interrupted.

“Hold it right there. I smell manipulation with a capital ‘M’.” The judge said, cutting Leon off.

“Would you like to know what a tough childhood is, Mr. Lucas?” Leon started to answer, but the judge put up his hand.

“That was rhetorical, Mr. Lucas. You see, I know a little bit about tough. When I was six, I was in a car going to the store with my Dad. Some drunk driver hit our car. My father was killed and I lost my leg.” The judge paused and waited for the court to grow silent. He took his gavel and hit his left leg, which echoed with a loud metallic sound.

“I felt sorry for myself…Kids would make fun of me…and my leg.” He hit the leg with the gavel once again.

“I kept getting into fights…every day, and I got knocked on my ass more than I can remember. My mother told me that I could keep getting into fights or I could show them what I could do. So I studied hard and got into college eventually and then law school.” He paused and glared at Leon’s lawyer, who just covered his face once again.

“Until you spoke, I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt.” He shook his head. He gained no pleasure from what he was about to say.

“Since you obviously display no remorse, you give me little choice. I had been prepared to give you the minimum sentence for your crime, but you are not sorry for what you did; you’re only sorry that you got caught. Five families, including your own, have sustained a great deal of sadness and grief because of your selfish and arrogant behavior. It is the ruling of this court that you be taken to the state penitentiary to to serve a sentence of not less than fifteen years and no more than twenty-five, subject to federal guidelines. In addition, the sentence will be amended to reflect the use of a firearm; five years to run consecutively. I will be in touch with the parole board, and if you demonstrate no remorse, you can be sure I will give them my recommendation that your sentence continue, do I make myself clear?”

“You can’t do this…this isn’t fair!” Leon said angrily, pulling his arm away from his lawyer.

“Think about that poor girl you killed and then tell me what’s fair, Mr. Lucas.” He banged the gavel, this time with enough force to break it.

“Court dismissed.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Vito said as he pulled Sammi in for a hug. Carmella held her hand as Vito continued. “It’s not easy, Sammi, but we get by…with help, Si?” Vito looked up toward the ceiling but Sammi knew where her father’s help came from. Rita came over and stood facing the trio, tears in her eyes and face cast downward.

“None of that, mi figila...come give Momma C. a hug, mil dolce bambina.” Carmella held out her arms and welcomed Rita in a warm embrace. And then, to Rita’s surprise, Carmella took Rita’s hand and placed it in Sammi’s

“Let’s go home, Si?” Dan said to his sister as he patted both girls on the back softly,

“Let’s go home."

A few days later, Johnny meandered down the hall way, almost lost. He looked up and found he was by the gym. Basketball practice had started; started without Johnny. He heard a familiar voice.

“How are things, Johnny…I mean, how are you… are you getting along?” Matty stood at the doorway to the gym. Chris and Coach Sovrano were conducting passing drills and Andrew called,

“Hey, Matty…throw the ball.”

Matty bounced the basketball on one hop to Andrew, who turned and passed to Judd, who flipped the ball over his head for a hook shot that went off the backboard and in.

“Gotta practice that ‘talkin on the sideline pass’ for the game on Tuesday,” Matty joked. He turned back and saw that Johnny was gazing at the team across the court.

“You know, you can come by any time…there’s a spot waiting for you, you know?” Matty looked at Johnny. Teenage boys hate to cry, leastways in front of other teen boys. Johnny’s eyes were filled with tears.

“I feel so fookin’ selfish, Matty. “ He wiped his face with his sweater. “I mean, Jamie only been in the…the ground for a few weeks and here I’m standing have a grand old time with me friends.”

“You feel guilty about not feeling bad, right?” Matty smiled a welcoming smile and put his hand on Johnny’s shoulder.

“Jamie died to save her best friend…she died to save Alex even though Alex hated her…do you think for one minute she died so for you to ignore life, Johnny?” Matty used his hand in a broad gesture to point to the team.

“She died for what…so I could play fookin’ basketball?”

“She gave her life for her friend and she would want you to live yours, don’t you think?

“I don’t know? This is too much to take in…” Johnny would have continued except Matty unashamedly pulled his teammate into himself and kissed his cheek.

“It’s okay, Johnny, I know…don’t worry. We’ll be waiting for you.” Matty said.

“I’ll be waiting.”
 
Derived from the The Message Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7
Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.

Coming Soon: Another Team Meeting!