Author's Note: This story is literally years in the making, and I have run out of patience. I know there are gaps in the story. I am going to do my best to fill them as I post. Oh that is another thing, I had planned to have this completed before posting. Gaps aside it is completed, just needs to be edited as best I can and I will.
Thank you for reading this if you decide to embark on this journey with me.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I have a statement that I will be reading in regards to the legal proceedings against Mr. Stark, and I will not be taking any questions afterwards," the district attorney said. "At 9:53 A.M. this morning, the grand jury returned an indictment verdict in the thirteen counts of capital murder against Anthony Edward Stark. The charges come in relation to the deaths of the police officers who were on duty when Mr. Stark, as Iron Man, attacked the holding cell where Mr. Leonard Bowen was being held. As you all know by now, Mr. Bowen was being held on charge related to the kidnapping of Eva Stark, and his attempted kidnapping of Ethan Stark."
"Why don't you head on to bed?" Rhodey suggested gently, watching Pepper with concern. "I mean there is nothing else we can do for Tony tonight, and it's obvious that you're exhausted."
Pepper stopped her pacing momentarily to look at him, "I… I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep."
"I think you need to try. We're going to have some long, hards days of us to deal with."
She sighed, "You're probably right." She stood up, and nodded at him, "Well, good night."
"Good night," he replied, and watched her start down the hallway, "And Pepper?"
"Yes?"
"Try not to worry too much about Tony tonight."
Without another word she nodded and then continued on down the hallway.
"The prosecution has offered the following deal, Mr. Stark," Robert Rooney began in a meeting that was happening just before the next session of court, "In exchange for your immediate agreement to change your plea to guilty to two counts of capital murder, they in turn have agreed to take the death penalty off of the table."
Tony frowned at him, "Why does this sound just like what they offered me before?"
The lawyer sighed, "Because it is the same deal, Mr. Stark. As I told you before we went to trial that given the heinous nature of the crimes that were committed, they are not going to reduce the charges to anything less than capital degree murder."
"And a guilty plea carries an automatic life in prison sentence," Tony stated in a bland tone.
Rooney nodded, "But the keyword here, Mr. Stark, is life."
"But not much of a life, Mr. Rooney, since I would be away from my family."
"Yes, you would but at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the keyword here is life.
Although it wouldn't be an ideal or luxurious one, you would still have a life. If you were to take the deal, it would provide you with the luxury of time to find the real perpetrator or perpetrators of this crime, which is a luxury I can all but promise you will not have if you are convicted now and the jury sentences you to death."
"You mean they'd execute me sooner rather than later?"
Again his lawyer nodded.
"But I thought it took years or even decades for a death sentence to be carried out. I mean isn't that usually the case because of the endless appeals?" Tony asked.
"That is normally the case, Mr. Stark, yes."
"But not for me," the billionaire stated. "Why not?"
"Mr. Stark, I believe your execution would come a lot sooner because of three reasons. The first reason is that federal death sentences are often carried out far sooner than state level death sentences. And to be blunt in regards to the second reason I believe that you would be executed a lot sooner than most, is because of who you are."
"Because of who I am?"
Rooney nodded.
"In other words you are saying that I would die a lot sooner because of the fact I was born the son of Howard Stark, and because I have more money than most people can ever dream of having if they lived one hundred lifetimes."
"Yes, Mr. Stark."
So much for justice being blind and impartial.
"So what is the third reason you think I wouldn't be on Death Row all that long if I am convicted and sentenced to death?"
"Because of the law by , Congress that stiffened the penalties for crimes committed by anyone who is super powered or possesses what can be considered an item or weapon that gives them what is the equivalent of super power abilities."
"And it's this law you think they'll use against me to speed up the process so that my execution could be carried out sooner?" When the lawyer nodded Tony swore under his breath, then asked, "So what exactly made them passing a law like this?"
"I think they cited the Battle of New York, and the battle Captain Rogers had over the Potomac when he stopped HYDRA were two of their main reasons."
"What the… they actually used those as their reasons?" Tony said, swearing again, this time a little more loudly when the attorney nodded. "Once again the politicians are demonstrating their twisted perception of reality since most of the super powered people as they have labeled the Avengers, us, were fighting to save their miserable lives!" Tony ranted, recalling how a month following the Battle of New York, the City had actually made the attempt to try to make Stark Industries foot the bill for the damages Loki's invasion had caused. "As always their gratitude is so overwhelming!"
The lawyer sighed, and nodded, "I am sorry, Mr. Stark, but I believe that this is the best deal the prosecution is going offer you, and it's only on the table until your case is handed to the jury for a verdict. After that, their deal becomes null and void, and they will use every ounce of persuasion to convince the jury you should be executed."
"You think I should take it," Tony stated flatly, adding when the man nodded, "You think I should admit to something that I didn't do."
"Yes, because this may be the only thing that saves you from having to take the walk into the death chamber."
Tony didn't say anything for a moment, then asked, "Do they still want me to sign over the Iron Man suit to them?"
Rooney hesitated, then nodded, "Yes, they do."
"Then no I irrevocably, unequivocally reject it!"
"Mr. Stark- "
"No, Mr. Rooney! The government has been after my suit almost since the moment they became aware of its existence! I won't put it into completely their hands, now or ever!"
The attorney shook his head incredulous at his adamancy, "Is the suit worth you losing your life, Mr. Stark? Hmm? Is it really worth that much to you that you would have me to tell them no deal for the final time?" Tony's silence was all the answer he needed to give him his answer, "Alright, let me ask you this: Would your wife feel the same way?"
Tony glared at him but said nothing.
"I didn't think so," the man said, gathering up his papers.
"You are not to tell her anything about this. I want this to be considered privileged information."
"Very well, Mr. Stark," he said, "Although everything you've said to me is already privileged Information."
Tony was watching his wife pace around the room with nervous, and only half listening as his lawyer continued to drone on instructions. The man prattled onwards until he finally looked up at Tony from what he had been writing as he was speaking, sighing loudly when he realized whatmust have been going on.
"Mr. and Mrs. Stark, have either of you heard anything of what I've said?"
Ignoring the man, Tony addressed his wife, "Pepper honey, can you please come here and sit down?"
She shook her head, "I'm too nervous."
"I really wish you would because you are starting to make me nervous."
Pepper lips formed a thin line as she considered his request before she walked around the table, and sat down beside him. She immediately reached out for his hand, unable to help the smile that came when he pressed his lips to the back of hers. "How can you not be nervous?"
"Because I know they're not going to convict me."
"You can't know that for sure!"
"Yes, I can," he responded.
"No-"
When Tony gave the signal they used when they were trying to tell their children to be quiet, she fell silent. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb as he spoke, "Pep, I have to believe that they're going to acquit me because if I stepped into that courtroom thinking otherwise, I'd be too scared out of my mind to even go back inside. Everything is going to be okay… you have to believe that too. Can you?"'
She hesitated, "I… want to, Tony."
"But?"
"But I can't shake this feeling that something terrible is going to happen."
"Can you try to?"
"I-"
"Please, honey. For me?"
She nodded, "Alright, I'll try."
"Thank you."
A moment of silence passed, and then the sound of a throat being cleared reminded them that there were other people in the room.
Pepper blushed, and looked at the lawyer, "I… we're sorry, Mr. Rooney. You were saying?"
He gave an understanding smile before becoming serious again, "I was saying, Mrs. Stark, is that when the verdict is read, you must both keep your composure. Regardless of what it is, the judge will not tolerate any outburst - emotional or otherwise - in the courtroom. The judge will not tolerate any outburst that he feels may influence the jury in possible future proceedings, and emotional outbursts especially fall under this category with this judge."
"I can't even react, even if… if they decide against Tony?"
He shook his head, "No, not even then. specially not then." He waited a beat then asked, "Please do not take this the wrong way, but I have to ask this. If a guilty verdict is handed down by the jury, will you be able to keep from making an outburst?"
"I-I don't know," she answered honestly, "If they… convict Tony, what happens next? Will the judge sentence him right away?"
"No, he won't. If Mr. Stark is convicted, then the trial will move into the penalty phase where the prosecution will present their case to the jury as to why he should receive the death penalty, and we the defense, will present our arguments as to why the jury should choose life in prison instead."
Sharing a brief look with Tony, Pepper turned back to the lawyer, "If everything happens as you say it will… if it is just the verdict and nothing else, I believe I can control my reaction."
"You need to be one hundred percent certain on this point, Mrs. Stark, because in the event you do have an outburst, the judge may have you removed from the courtroom. He may also possibly decide to ban you from attending the penalty phase proceedings."
"I understand that, Mr. Rooney. I will control myself today."
Before he could respond there was a knock at the door before one of the junior lawyers stuck his head inside, "Excuse the interruption but we were just informed us that court will be in session in five minutes."
"Thank you, Matthew," the senior lawyer replied, and after he closed the door he turned back to his client, "We need to get back to our seats now. If you'll go with Matthew outside the door, Mrs. Stark, he'll escort you back into court.
Nodding Pepper turned to Tony, and without saying another word, leaned over to kiss him, then said softly in his ear, "Jim and I will be right behind you, okay?"
"Mmmhmm."
She touched his cheek, "I love you, Tony."
"I love you too, Pep. Everything is going to be okay, you'll see."
Pepper waited for Tony, and his lawyers to get settled in at their table before she touched his shoulder, and whispered, "I'm here."
"All rise!" The bailiff said suddenly, and everyone rose to their feet. "This court is now in session, the Honorable James R. Duncan presiding!"
The judge came in and took his place on the bench, "You may be seated. The record will show the presence of the jury, the defendant, and all counsel." Turning to the jury, he asked, "Mr. Foreman, I understand that you reached a verdict?"
The foreman of the Jury stood, and answered, "We have, Your Honor."
"Please rise, Mr. Stark," the judge said, and waited for Tony to stand with his main counsel . Looking at the foreman, he said, "You may now publish the verdict."
Taking a deep breath, the juror began,"We, the Jury, duly empaneled and sworn in the above entitled action, upon our oaths, do find the Defendant Anthony Edward Stark: as to Count 1: Capital murder in the first degree, guilty as charged."
Pepper gasped, and immediately covered her mouth when one of Tony's lawyers turned to give her a look. Beside her, Rhodey took her hand, and whispered, "It's gonna be alright."
"We, the Jury, duly empaneled and sworn in the above-entitled action, upon our oaths, do find the Defendant Anthony Edward Stark: as to Count 2: Capital murder in the first degree, guilty as Charged. We, the Jury, duly empaneled and sworn in the above-entitled action, upon our oaths, do find the Defendant Anthony Edward Stark: as to Count 3: The possession of a specialized weapon with the intended use of deadly force, guilty as charged."
"Thank you. You may be seated," the judge said to the foreman before turning to the defense table. "You may be seated, Mr. Stark."
Tony didn't move to seem to hear the judge, or did not sit down until Rooney touched his arm and made a motion for him to take a seat.
Rooney then addressed the court, "Your Honor, at this time, the defense would like to request that the Jury be polled."
"So noted, Mr. Rooney. Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, the clerk is going to ask you a question. Please answer with yes or with no."
The clerk rose, and began, "Juror Number 17, is this your true verdict?"
"Yes."
"Juror Number 4, is this your true verdict?"
"Yes."
"Juror Number 9, is this your true verdict?"
"Yes."
