Chapter 9

Heart heavy and confused Jarvet made his way to the police barricades, upon returning he was rewarded a medal for his efforts, and a personal congratulations from the chief himself. Jarvet hardly noticed the prized adornment as it was pinned to his lapel, the words of praise background noise to his misery, all Jarvet wished was to escape their penetrating gazes directed his way, fade into obscurity. Thankfully Jarvet was soon assigned another duty, cataloguing the dead from the losing side, even such a grim task Jarvet welcomed just to escape the crowd of celebrating colleagues.

Jarvet did not expect for the morbid sight to affect him so, he had seen worse in his profession, but the sight of so many boys lying dead, lined up in a row made him sick to his stomach like never before. So young - deemed to such a cruel fate. They had their whole life ahead of them, snatched away with no chance in which to redeem themselves. Schoolboys and nothing more. Jarvet silently walked along the row, each step heavier than the last till he reached the end, the youngest lay there among the rest. One word rang true in Jarvets mind, innocent. The boy did not deserve this fate far too young to lose his life in such a terrible way. With a deep dark despair Jarvet unclipped his own medal of valour presenting it to the boy that had been so brave. Jarvet did not deserve it for taking part in this sinful practice. The bible clearly stated, have nothing to do with a false charge, and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Was Jarvet guilty of such a sin? A child so young could not be anything less than innocent? What other innocent people had the law condemned? That he had condemned? His mind flashed to Jean Valjean, and Jarvet suddenly felt a self-loathing so deep that he could feel the very darkness oozing from his soul. He could not stay in the room a moment longer.

A banging noise like a heavy weight being scrapped painfully against metal sounded from the sewer momentarily distracting Jarvet from his distress. His duty of investigation called loud and clear and Jarvet followed the noise, to a sewer grate where he was surprised to see Jean Valjean crawl out a weary look upon his weathered face and a boy upon his shoulder. Covered in grime and filth it was not too difficult to imagine Jean Valjean as the convict that he was remembered him to be.

"Its you Jarvet, I knew you would not wait too long, the faithful servant at his post again, this man has done no wrong, he needs his families care."

"I warned you, I would not give in, not be swayed." He said clinging desperately to his lawful morals in a turbulent sea of doubt.

"Another hour yet and I'm yours, all debts settles,"

"The man of mercy comes again, and talks of justice, you know not."

"Come now Jarvet, time is short, look down, he's standing in his grave."

Vajean moved towards him, and Jarvet drew his gun holding against Jean Valjeans temple, he would not be weak, Jarvet would fulfil his final duty at last and he would find solid certainty again. "One more step and you die."

"Then I die." Jean Valjean called his bluff as if he was partial to Jarvet hidden heart, he could never truly shoot this man. Jean Valjean met his gaze, pleading for the innocent life bestowed to him. Jarvet cursed himself, even when everything was clear and simple he could have never refused Jean Valjean whence he turned that look upon him. He was indebted to this man, owned body and soul.

Jarvets hand trembled upon his pistol; Jean Valjean walked past without any resistance. Jarvet willed himself to shoot with every moral fibre in his body, do his duty to the law, bring a convict to justice, but he could not do it, frustrated and enraged with himself he lowered the gun, dropping it in the muck.

"Take him and go Valjean."

He had failed at the final test, without a doubt a choice between Justice and Jean Valjean he would choose Jean every time, he was sinful! Condemned! A failure!

"Take him, Jean, Go! Before I change my mind!" With the last final word Jean Valjean gathered the boy in his arms and took his leave, taking the corner and disappearing out of sight.

Jarvet turned away, clutching the railing tight as violent trembles racked up and down his body. He stared out into the river. Jean was gone. He was alone. A failure. A sinner. Jarvet began to move away along the embankment, up the steps, towards a bridge. The turmoil in his brain screamed loudly blocking out any form of coherent thought.

"Damned if I am owed to a thief. Damned if I yield at the end. I am the law and the law is not mocked! I'll spit right back in his face! There is nothing on earth that we share! It is either Valjean or Javert! How can I allow this man to hold dominion over me? This desperate man that I have hunted... He gave me my life! He gave me Freedom. I should have perished by his hand. It was his right….it was my right to die as well… Instead I live… But I live in hell..."

Jarvet moved up unto the edge of the bridge, a deep dark whirl pool awaited him.

"My thoughts fly apart, should this mans crimes be reprieved. Shall his sin be forgiven? I now begin to doubt, I who doubted all those years ago. My heart is cold as stone, yet still I tremble. The world I have known is lost in shadow and grey. Is he from heaven or hell? Does he know? By granting me love and life, he has killed me so." Jarvet climbed upon the edge, steeling his fate.

"I stare into the void of a world I cannot hold, I escape from this world, from the hold of Jean Valjean, there is nowhere I can turn. I cannot escape what is inside my very soul, what is carved into my traitorous heart. I may as well confess it now it is my end, I love you Jean Valjean, a convict, a criminal, and a good man. There's nowhere to turn, no way to go on." Jarvet took one last look at the world and fell back, his hands reaching, reaching, grasping for something tangible. The stars were black and cold beyond his gaze. The currents engulfed him entirely. Jarvet was no more.

The end

A/N I would like to thank everyone who supported this story, mentioning it again, but this story is posted on my ao3 account.

Also I will be posting a kinda crack!epilogue from valjeans POV for a special exclusive to my readers, so stay tuned for that. Whether you consider it to be canon to this story is up to you.

Also would love to hear your reviews on this.

Did the ending please you? or did you hate it completely? tell me in a review