Conviction's Price
by Valerie Vancollie
valeriev84 at hotmail dot com
Characters: Charlie
Rating: PG
Summary: The consequences of Charlie's decision catch up with him.
Spoilers: When Worlds Collide
Note: This drabble was written for the word prompt contempt.
"We find the defendant guilty as charged."
Charlie staggered back as if stricken and fell, stunned, into his seat as the courtroom reacted to the foreman's announcement.
This couldn't be happening! This could not be happening! When he'd sent the e-mail he'd known he would be arrested, knew he'd be tried and knew that he could loose his security clearance. Yet, despite all that, he'd never thought that he'd actually be convicted!
It was harmless.
All he'd done was send vital scientific information to fellow scientists working desperately to save starving people. It wasn't like he'd leaked top-secret weapons files to a hostile government hell bent on destroying the United States.
"What- ... I mean... I don't... Phil-" Charlie stuttered, looking desperately at his attorney for an explanation.
Phil had been found not guilty just a week ago! So why wasn't he? He'd done the exact same thing.
"I was afraid of this."
"I don't understand," Charlie whispered, the realization of exactly what was happening sinking in.
"Sanjrani made an honest mistake. He sent his work to Pakistani scientists not realizing that it was forbidden. You, however, knew. You knew that it was illegal and yet you did it anyway."
Well, my first non-Don centered drabble. I hope you like it! Leave a review or send me an e-mail. Thanks.