Madison stood in front of her closet trying to figure what to wear. She was trying to find something that that would not reveal the x shaped scar on her chest. There was a small pile of discarded clothes already building up on the bed. After a frustrated sigh, Madison selected a cotton turtleneck sweater that was a light gray color. She pulled on the sweater and looked at herself in the mirror. The sweater was a little faded, but it would do.
Sam walked into the bedroom carrying a cup of coffee for his wife. Madison tried to put on a bright smile for him and hide her clothing frustration, but he already noticed the pile of clothes on the bed. He knew how she felt. That scar on her chest was a painful, daily reminder of what Gordon tried to do.
"Don't forget Maddy, we have that meeting with the assistant district attorney at five-thirty. How about I pick you up at the firm?" said Sam as he handed his wife her coffee.
"Sure. I hope that he tells us that Gordon is going away for a long time," said Madison accpeting the red colored mug of steaming hot liquid.
"Even if that means a trial?" Sam feared that a trial could expose his wife's secret putting her in danger from hunters who would come to San Francisco looking for a werewolf.
"I don't like the idea of having to testify about what Gordon did to me, but I don't want him walking around free," said Madison with a sigh.
oooooOOOOooooo
Arriving early at the district attorney's office, San and Madison were ushered into an office and left to wait. Sam took note of the pictures on the wall. There was one of a smiling couple on their wedding day, another one of the same couple standing on the deck of a cruise ship. A few minutes later the door opened and the assistant district attorney walked in. His name was Paul Shoemaker. He was five foot eleven with piercing blue eyes and dark brown hair. He had a high conviction rate of seventy percent.
"Mr. and Mrs. Winchester, I am so glad you could make it," said Paul as he shook their hands. He had spoken to both Sam and Madison the phone, but this was his first time meeting them in person.
"Please call us Sam and Madison," said Sam.
"Okay. Now I know you're probably wondering what is going to happen to Gordon Walker." As he spoke, Paul pulled a file out of a drawer in his desk.
"Yes," said Sam and Madison in unison.
"Well after an extensive psychiatric evaluation, it has been determined that Gordon Walker is mentally unfit. Therefor there is not going to be a trial," said Paul.
"What? You're just going to let him go!" growled Sam. He could feel his anger boiling over and he looked at his wife, her face was as white as a sheet. Sam reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Sam, Madison I can promise you that Gordon is not going to be set free. He will be committed to a state run psychiatric facility. According to the doctors who evaluated him, Gordon is severely delusional. Now I know you're both probably wondering what that means," said Paul.
Madison tightened her grip on Sam's hand. She knew what Paul was talking about, except Gordon really wasn't delusional. She really was a werewolf.
"Gordon is going to be institutionalized for a long time. Should his mental state ever improve, then after extensive evaluation Gordon would be released," stated Paul
"Released?" shouted Sam.
"Look Sam, I understand you're upset," said Paul.
"Do you really understand? Have you ever had to watch a man terrorize your wife? Did you see him cut your wife right over her heart? Until you do and I hope you never do, you can't even begin to understand how upset I am," said Sam with a glare.
"I'm sorry. You're right, I can't begin to understand how you to feel, but there's no way we could proceed to trial. Gordon Walker is a severely delusional man who needs help. You and I both know there's no such thing as werewolves, but Gordon is convinced that your wife is a werewolf," said Paul.
oooooOOOOooooo
Sam knew he should be relieved that Madison would be spared the pain of a trial, but he was angry. Gordon deserved to go to jail for what he did to Madison, not to mention injuring Lindsay.
"Why does it feel like he's getting away with what he did?" asked Sam, his voice laced with anger.
"I guess I deserve that," said Madison sadly.
Hearing his wife say that caused Sam to stop walking. He turned towards Madison and searched her face for a clue as to why she would even think that.
"Madison what are you talking about?" asked Sam.
"Sam, I killed two people and I never had to pay for it," said Madison.
Oh baby thought Sam; you have paid way too much for that. Way too much in tears and sorrow.
"Maddy, don't compare yourself to that bastard. You couldn't control what you did when you changed. You are a good person who would never consciously hurt someone," said Sam as he looked into his wife's eyes.
"Can we just go home?" asked Madison.
"Okay Maddy," answered Sam. He would table this discussion for now, but it was far from over.
oooooOOOOooooo
Sam tried to get Madison to talk to him, but she kept changing the subject. After dinner saying she was tired, Madison headed to bed. Sam stayed to clean up the kitchen. When he was finished he decided to head to bed as well.Sam was walking to the bedroom when he paused in front of the hall closet. Unlocking the door he stepped inside. Sam hated this place. He hated having to lock his wife up each month, but he knew he had to. He did it because he loved her. Before he loved her Sam did it because he wanted to protect her, to keep her safe. Well, I've certainly screwed up that lately he thought. And now that bastard isn't even going to jail for what he did. Unleashing his anger Sam punched the wall has hard as he could. Picturing Gordon's face he pummeled the padded walls until his knuckles were flame red.
Sam sank to the floor and pulled his knees against his chest. He thought about that day almost two years ago when he made the offer that would change his life. Madison handed him a gun and asked him to save her. Sam saved her by staying. He never once regretted his decision and he knew he never would. However, he hated that his decision to stay placed Madison the firing line.
After awhile Sam decided to finally head to bed. Being as quiet as he could he entered his bedroom and quickly changed into his pajamas. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his hands, Sam slipped into bed. He looked at his sleeping wife to see her face scrunched up in discomfort.
Madison's NightmareMadison was back in that room tied to a chair. She was struggling with the rope tying her hands, but it held tight. Gordon stood right in front of her with an evil sneer on his face.
"You are an evil creature," hissed Gordon.
"No, I'm not," said Madison firmly.
"Killer," growled Gordon.
"No," shouted Madison.
"Killer," yelled Gordon.
"No, no, no!" cried Madison.
End Nightmare"No, no, no," whimpered Madison.
"Baby, wake up," said Sam as he gently shook his wife.
Instead of waking up Madison began to toss and turn even more. Sam became more worried for his wife when his attempts to wake her failed.
"Maddy, its okay. You're safe," murmured Sam.
After several seconds that felt like an eternity to Sam, Madison started coming around. Slowly she sat up in bed.
"Sam," said Madison softly. Tears were threatening to spill from her hazel eyes.
Sam pulled his wife close and wrapped his arms around her. He could feel her body shaking.
"I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry that bastard hurt you," said Sam.
"No Sam, it's my fault," said Madison as tears started to fall down her face.
Sam brought a bruised hand to her face and brushed away her tears.
"Sam what happened to your hand?" asked Madison as she noticed the bruises on his knuckles.
"Don't worry, it's nothing," answered Sam.
"It's not nothing Sam. Your hands are hurt. You need ice for them," said Madison as she got out of bed. She headed to the kitchen to make ice packs for Sam's bruised knuckles.
God she's amazing thought Sam. With all that's going on, she's worried about me. How did I ever get so lucky?
A few minutes later Madison rejoined Sam in bed. She grabbed his hands and placed the ice packs on them.
"I noticed the door to the hall closet was open. Were you shadow boxing in there?" asked Madison.
Sam gave a small chuckle. "Sorta, except the shadow had a certain bastard's face."
"Sam, I'm sorry. I should have told you right away about Gordon," said Madison.
"It's okay, Maddy," said Sam. He tried to put his arms around his wife, but she held tight to the icepacks.
"Don't move your hands buster," said Madison sternly.
"Don't worry, my hands are fine, but Madison what happened is not your fault. Yeah, I wish you had told me about Gordon from the beginning, but you weren't the one he wanted to hurt in the first place. I just wanted to keep you safe, but instead I'm always placing you in danger," said Sam.
"Sam, you have kept me safe since the day you said you would stay. I owe my life to you. Please don't blame yourself," said Madison near tears again. Sam was the best person she had ever met. She was ready to die and he saved her life. Madison hated that he would blame himself for what happened to her.
Sam and Madison sat together silently for a few minutes each lost in their own thoughts, their own self-blame. Since there was nothing he could do about Gordon, Sam decided that maybe it was time they move one. It won't be easy, but he knew that together they would get through this.
"Madison, how about from now on instead of blaming ourselves and being angry about thing that are out of our hands, we focus on the future and try to move past what has happened," suggested Sam.
"That's the best idea I have heard in a long time," said Madison.
More to ComeReviews are always greatly appreciated!
