«I always suspected it» Jennifer says with a cute smile on her face. «How come you never told me?» she asks probingly. «Well» I answer tentatively. «I guess I am a little embarrassed by it» I say a little red faced. «You're so cute» she says. «Do you realize you haven't been doing a great job of hiding it ?» she says with a smile. «I guess I am not surprised» I say as I continue to stroke her toes that are sticking out of the cast.

«So tell me what is it you enjoy about my cast?» she asks. I am a little taken aback by the question and try to come to terms with the fact she has figured it out. «What do you mean?» I ask coyly. «Don't try to play dumb with me. You know my livelihood is to figure out when people are lying, and you're just not that good at it» she says with a big grin on her face.

«I guess it is probably pretty obvious, isn't it» I ask embarrassed. «Well I guess it is an extension of the foot fetish» I offer. «It's hard to put my finger on it, but as long as I have enjoyed seeing girls I have enjoyed seeing girls' feet, and as long as I have enjoyed seeing girls' feet, I have been fascinated when they have been casted» I respond.

«Well isn't it amazing what you find out about someone» she says with a smile. «But honey, please believe, this interest of mine doesn't mean I wished any of these horrible things on you» I say very embarrassed. «With all you have been through with your poor shattered leg, I hope to God you don't think I am enjoying the fact that you have been in pain. It has just torn my heart out and the fact that I have this attraction to casted legs, just makes me feel all the more guilty».

«Oh honey, don't be worried about it. I have seen this reaction from so many men, I don't think you are the only man in the world to feel this way, you would be amazed how many guys have shown major interest in my cast». I feel a sense of relief that she doesn't think I am some sort of a freak. We continue this conversation for most of the evening and then frolic on the couch. Eventually we move our activities into the bedroom.

After rubbing her feet with lotion we make unfettered love for 2 hours. Before dozing off I take care to prop her shattered leg up on the pillows that had become the centerpiece of our bed. We sleep deep in each others embrace.

As I awake Thursday morning I admire Jen's beauty as she lay in my arms. I so love the idea that it is a holiday and we are both off work for a 4 day weekend. Jennifer's new celebrity status has us in the VIP section at the band shell tonight for the harbor side 4th celebration. I already have the things together for a beautiful picnic in the park before we head over to the band shell to hear the Boston Pops synchronized to the fireworks.

Jen slowly emerges from her sleep. We get up and figure out what we will do with our day before we head out to the celebration tonight. After looking at the newspaper for a while we decide to go out for some breakfast.

We get dressed and head out. Jennifer is dress in shorts and a sports shirt. It is a bit on the chilly side so we decide to go inside the café and eat. I prop her leg up on a chair beside her while we sit sipping coffee eating breakfast and reading the newspaper.

After breakfast we head back out to the SUV and head home. The 5 minute ride home is relatively uneventful.

As we head up the street to get in our driveway I have to maneuver a bit to get around a car that is parked across the street from our house. The driver is looking at a road map and I presume that it is just a lost tourist. I pull in the driveway and go around to the passenger side to help Jen out. We head towards the door with me to Jen's left. As we get to the front door I fumble with my keys for a moment while Jen leans on her crutches to my left.

POP. The entry light above Jen's head explodes and my instincts say that it is a gunshot. Instinctively I push Jen to her left as another shot rings out. A burning sensation pierces the back of my head as I push Jen behind the bushes beside our entry. As she falls off the crutches, she instinctively puts her left leg out to break her fall. Her stepping on the leg is only a temporary slow to our fall. As we continue our fall into the landscaping I can hear the gunshots coming from the front of the house, immediately followed by a smack on the stucco wall behind us. A total of five or six shots go off before we are safely behind the bushes.

A squealing of tires tells me our assailant is fleeing the scene. Jennifer is wailing from placing her weight on her shattered leg. The burning in my scalp eases up as I feel the warm sensation of blood flowing through my hair. «Are you OK honey?» I ask her. «My leg» Jen wails as she grasps at her cast. Covering Jen's body with mine I pull out my cell phone and dial 911.

«911, what is your emergency» the voice over the phone replies. «This is Tom Bailey, husband of prosecutor Jennifer Bailey, there has just been a shooting at our house». «Is anyone hurt sir?» the voice inquires. «Jennifer, she has a broken leg and she stepped on it when I pushed her down. I am bleeding from my head, I may have been shot».

«Is the shooter still there?» The operator inquires. «No I believe he drove away» I say with Jen still wailing in the background. «OK, we have police and ambulance on the way» the operator says. I peek up over the bushes and see that the car that was sitting there when we pulled up is now gone.

Seeing that the coast is clear I pick up Jennifer and quickly carry her into the house. «Honey, you're bleeding» she says through clenched teeth. «Don't worry, I'm fine» I say as I lay her down on the couch. I quickly grab a towel from the bathroom to stop some of the blood flow before I start dripping on the carpet.

«Are you shot anywhere?» I ask as I quickly run my hands over Jen's body. «I don't think so, itís just my leg». I run my hands over her cast to feel for any cracks or bullet holes. I feel fairly confident she has not been shot. The sound of sirens is growing stronger as Jen leans back and winces deeply from the pain she is in. «Are you OK, honey?» she asks. «Have you been shot?» «I think it just grazed me» I say dabbing at the wound on my head with the towel.

«Police» I hear a voice yelling from the front yard. «In here» I yell to the uniformed officer with his gun drawn. «It's a blue Honda Civic» I tell him before he can ask. «She is the prosecutor on the Ferguson case, it might be related to that» I tell the officer as he quickly looks through the house to make sure no one else is there. As he reenters the living room he is talking on his radio as two other officers enter the living room. «I have to call Sid» Jennifer says. «I have to warn him, in case they are after him also» she says desperately. «Don't worry, we will get protection for everyone associated with the case» the officer explains as a detective enters the living room.

As the detective begins to ask Jen what happened, an EMT looks at my head wound. «It looks like it just nicked your scalp sir, I guess it is your lucky day». «Good, now take a look at Jennifer, she has a shattered leg and is supposed to be non weight bearing, she stepped on her leg when we dove into the bushes». A female EMT attends to Jen while the first one attends to my head wound.

«We need to transport you as soon as possible» she says, «we need to x-ray this leg to make sure you didn't refracture it». Within a few moments a third EMT rolls in a gurney. They pick up Jennifer and place her on the gurney and begin to roll her out. I walk out holding the towel on my head and get into the ambulance with her.

I hold Jen's hand as the ambulance screams away. «How does your leg feel honey?» I ask her softly. «It hurts, but not as bad as it did when I broke it» she says. «How about you, how is yours head?» she asks concerned. «I'm fine, luckily it's just a flesh wound» I say with a smile.

When we get to the hospital I walk out of the ambulance while they roll in Jen on the gurney. I get taken to a treatment room and am given a local and a doctor puts 4 stitches in my head. I get out of the treatment room and try to find Jen. The receptionist tells me she is in X-ray and I can't see her for a few minutes. I stand there for a minute weighing my options when I overhear the TV from the waiting room.

«Here is what we know so far» the voice on the TV says. «It seems there was a shooting, an assassination attempt if you will at the home of prosecutor Jennifer Bailey this morning. She and her husband were rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital and their condition is unknown. Other players in the case are under tight security and the future of the trial is up in the air» she reported.

«What's that?» the reporter said to the voice talking into her ear. «We have received and confirmed a report that Jennifer Bailey's husband Tom has been shot in the head.» I suddenly realize I need to make some calls and let everyone know we are OK.

I approach the desk again to see if I can use a phone since mine is still lying in the bushes in front of the house. I borrow a phone and call Renee and Rob's number. «Hello» a desperate sounding Renee answers the phone. «Renee, it's Tom» I quickly assure her. «Tom, what happened they said on the news you got shot in the head». «I was, but it just grazed me, I'm fine, Jen is in getting her leg x-rayed because she stepped on it when we went down». «Oh thank God» a relieved Renee says. «When they said you were shot in the head I couldn't help but think the worst». «That's why I called you, please call everyone we know and let them know we are both alive and going to be ok, there is no telling how many people think I am dead now».

I inquire at the desk as to whether I can see Jennifer yet. I am told she is talking to a detective and that they would like to talk to me also. A detective meets me at the front counter and says he would like to ask me some questions. I ask him if I can see Jennifer first and he says it is important that they get to talk to us separately and that I will be able to see her shortly. I am a little perturbed by this but understand the reasoning behind it.

We enter into some sort of staff break room for the questioning. The first thing I ask is if they can release some sort of statement that we are both OK, so our friends and family can quit worrying. He radio's someone and tells them to put out a release that we are ok. He begins to question me and I go over the events of the morning as I recall them. I realize I don't remember everything as clear as I thought I would. I don't even recall the color of the car.

After answering questions they tell me I can go visit Jennifer. Before I leave I have a few questions for them. Do they know who is behind this? Do they think it has anything to do with the case? They have no answers for me, or if they do they aren't saying anything.

I am led to treatment room 3. I walk in to see Jennifer lying on the table with her leg resting on pillows. I rush to her side and take her hand. «How are you feeling honey?» I ask. «It hurts, but Dr. Anderson assures me that I haven't displaced my fractures. It will hurt for a few days but it shouldn't have a huge bearing on my recovery». «Thank God» I utter as I hug her tightly. «How is your head ?» she asks. «Just fine, nothing a couple of stitches didn't fix right up». «Good, I'm glad you're OK. When I saw all that blood I was afraid it might be serious». «Nope, I'm fine, good as new» I say with a big smile.

«Did they tell you anything about who is behind this?» I ask thinking her inside connections may have her privy to more info than I was told. «They haven't ruled anything in or out» she says. «I called Sid, he has 4 police officers at his house and he says the Judge does too» she adds. «The trial is in jeopardy if it looks like Ferguson was involved there will be an immediate mistrial and probably a change of venue».

«What do you think ?» I ask her, hoping to tap her prosecutor's instinct. «I don't know, I doesn't add up that he would be behind it but I wouldn't want to rule it out» she says. «But that is the assumption the police have to work with for now» she says.

«So how does your leg feel, really?» I ask looking at her toes. «It hurts, if I had any doubts, I know I am not ready to walk on it». «I'm sorry honey, I wasn't thinking of your leg when I pushed you down». «No, I was clueless to what was going on. Frank, he's the detective working the case, said you pushing me down may have saved my life, Thank you». «So when can you get out of here ?» I ask her. «Anytime, I will need to take it easy and ice my ankle for a couple of days». «Well let's get out of here and see if we can salvage our 4th celebration». «OK, but we are going to have heavy security until they get to the bottom of this. That means no band shell tonight, I'm not sure I am up for it anymore with my leg feeling the way it does anyway». «That's fine I say» thankful we have each other to spend the day with.

Since her crutches are still lying at the house in the bushes Jennifer gets loaded into a wheelchair. We head out and get loaded into the back of a patrol car. I get in the back seat and Jennifer places her poor shattered leg in my lap. I again see the wince on her face with any movement she makes. As we ride home with me stroking her toes, I can't help but think of all the pain she has been through since her horrible accident.

When we get home we are met at the car by an officer who brings Jennifer her crutches. She gets on them with a slight wince after thanking him. Crime scene tape still wraps the front entry. I can see that I have a few more chores to do, now that I have holes to repair in the house and a light to fix. We enter the house through the garage. I help Jennifer on to the couch and get her an icepack to put on her casted leg.

It has become apparent that we are spending the 4th at home. I am very disappointed but this feeling is countered by my thanks that Jennifer is ok after her harrowing day. A few calls from some worried friends interrupt our quit time. After icing her ankle for a while I give her yet another toe massage hoping to remove the pain from her broken leg.

After talking again with Sid and answering a call from the Judge, Jennifer does her best to nap on the couch. As she sleeps I prepare a picnic basket. One of the officers outside is going to get fried chicken and wants to know if we want any. Perfect I think to myself. I have him pick up some chicken and several side items. Jennifer sleeps through all of this.

Jennifer awakes from her nap late in the afternoon. I am by her side when she awakens. «Hi there sleepy head, how are you feeling ?» I ask as she rubs the sleep from her eye's. «Owww, my leg hurts, but I guess that should be expected». «Honey, I'm sorry, I keep thinking this will bet behind us soon enough but we keep having these little setbacks». «Oh don't worry, I'll be fine» she says trying to reassure me for a change.

I get Jen some ice for her ankle. I gently place it on her cast. «Have you heard anything about the shooting, have they got a suspect yet»? «I haven't heard a thing, if there has been a development they haven't told us» I say.

I get the phone for Jen so she can make some phone calls to get some answers. I leave her alone on the couch with the phone and her icepack to make her phone calls. I sneak into the kitchen and finish preparing my picnic basket.

After she gets off the phone I go back in the living room to see what she found out. They have nothing yet but are pursuing several leads. She also talked to Sid and the Judge, until they know more no decision will be made about the trial.

«Well what would you think of a nice 4th of July picnic before we watch the fireworks»? «That would be fun, but you know we aren't able to leave the house, and I'm not sure my leg would be up for a trip anyway». «Not to worry young lady, you won't have to go anywhere» I say as I enter the kitchen. I return carrying a plaid blanket and a picnic basket.

«Oh, you shouldn't have» she says genuinely surprised by the gesture. «Think nothing of it» I say as I fold out the blanket in front of the couch. «Oh honey» she utters again wiping a tear from her eye. I sit on the couch next to her and embrace her. «You've done so much for me already, and what's the thanks you get? You get shot». «Hey hey hey, don't you worry about that I am fine and you will be just fine also, they will find out who is behind this and we will move on from it». She smiles at me brightly from my embrace. «I love you Tom». «I love you Jennifer» I return. «Now let's have our picnic before the food gets cold».

I help Jennifer off the couch and onto the blanket in front of the couch. I see her wince with the movement, but in a few moments she is sitting comfortably on the blanket with her leg up on pillows. I take the bottle of wine from the basket and open it. I pour us each a glass. I get the rest of the items out of the basket, fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes.

We sit on the blanket watching the festivities at the harbor on TV wishing we were there. The Boston Pops concert is fabulous and looks great synchronized to the fireworks. The fireworks themselves seem to outdo themselves every year. While we do strongly wish to be at the festivities, it may be just as well we are celebrating at home, Jennifer's leg makes it difficult for her to get around even on a good day.

After watching the fireworks we engage in a passionate kiss to the sounds of fireworks going off outside the house. At least I hope that it is just fireworks.

I help Jennifer up off the floor and onto her crutches. I can tell by the look on her face she experiences pain when her leg hangs down. I help her into the bedroom and help her into bed and again carefully place her shattered leg on the pillows. I kiss her beautiful toes and gently stroke them. I kiss her cast slowly moving the passionate kisses further up the cast. I move all the way up the cast until I run out of cast and find my face in her vagina.

We grapple in passionate sex enhanced by the danger we encountered today. Thoughts of what might have been tear at my heart as we make beautiful love. Poor Jennifer has been through so much recently, I feel that if I fuck her just a little bit harder, I will be able to make it all better. After a simultaneous orgasm we both lay back on the bed to catch our breath. I replace her leg on the pillows and we share each others embrace as we drift into slumber.

I awake Friday morning to the phone ringing. I answer the bedside phone. «Tom it's Sid is Jennifer available?» I look over to see her wiping sleep from her eyes. «Here honey, it's Sid» I say handing her the phone.

I head to the bathroom and then head outside to get the paper. I wave to the officer standing at the end of the driveway. I pick up the paper and head back into the bedroom. I read the below the fold front page story. The headline reads «Possible Mistrial in Ferguson Case After Assassination Attempt». I read the beginning of the article as I head back into the bedroom. «That's great to hear Sid and I'll see you Monday morning in court» I overhear her say as I enter the room.

Jen sets down the phone. «They got him» she says excitedly. «Who»? I inquire. «Tony Robovich, remember him?» she asks. «No I don't?» I offer. «I sent him up a few years ago». «He had faked his own death for the insurance money. I figured the whole thing out and had him tracked down in the Cayman Islands» she continues. «Well he's doing 10 to 20 in the State pen, it was one of his cohorts in the case, I guess somebody who lost out on his share of the take, that took the shots at us. Someone in the neighborhood got a tag number as he was speeding away. They didn't realize he was involved in a shooting until they saw it on the 11 o'clock news. He called it in and they ran the tag, it came back as Tito Fuentes, Robovich's business partner».

«All this means that it isn't tied to the Ferguson case and the trial can continue. Everyone's extra security has been dropped and we can all get back to normal» she says with a relieved tone. «Too bad it ruined our 4th of July celebration» I say somewhat annoyed. I lie down next to her and hug her tightly. «I'm glad that is all behind us now» I tell her softly as I kiss her.

«How is your leg feeling today?» I ask as I look at her casted leg propped up on the stack of pillows. «It definitely hurts more than it has for the last week». «How about those toes, can you wiggle them?» I ask looking at her toes waiting for a reaction. She wiggles them with a wince but I am convinced that she will overcome her latest setback.

After serving her breakfast in bed we take it very easy all day Friday. I keep her on the couch all day waiting on her hand and foot. She works on the case with her down time with me bringing her briefs from the case she brought home.

Saturday was more of the same. Her leg felt much better so she was up on the crutches much more than Friday. She even came outside and got some sun while I repaired the holes in the house as well as the light fixture. Saturday leaves her feeling well enough that we were able to go to the movies Saturday night. We have a great time as we double date with Rob and Renee. At the movies Jen puts her leg up on my lap. It was a romantic comedy and we laugh till we cried. It feels so good to relax after all we have been through in the last few days and weeks.

As we leave the theater I can see the telltale look on Jen's face that she is in pain again. She turns down an offer to go out for a night cap with Renee and Rob and we head home after the movie. Even though she hasn't complained, I now it has been painful for her to make it out tonight.

Once again I get her down on the couch and ice her painful ankle. As Jen lay on the couch getting her ankle iced she dozed off with me massaging her toes. I help her off to the bedroom and again put her leg up on the pillows. As I lay beside her I can't help but think that I never imagined she would still be in so much pain after 5 weeks.

Sunday had Jennifer feeling well enough to make it out to breakfast. Once again we go to our sidewalk café and enjoy a quiet breakfast with Jen's leg propped up on a chair between us. At home, I set Jen up in a lounge chair outside so she can keep me company while I did some lawn work. All in all she is able to take it pretty easy all day. I did however have misgivings about her having to go back and face another grueling day in court. My mind keeps going back to the Doctor's admonishment about her taking it easy if she wants her leg and ankle to heal properly. I worry so much for her with all she has been through.

Monday morning we awake and both get ready for work. Bravely Jen insists on driving herself to demonstrate her independence. I kiss her goodbye and wish her well in court today.