Hey everyone...thanks for the great reviews...Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 10
All of the senior officers at JAG had taken a day of leave so that they could support Mac and Catherine in court. Vivi and Michael sat at one table while Mac sat at another table with Catherine sitting in the gallery behind her. If a bystander had looked into the court room they probably would have thought that the military was on trial and that the defense was winning. The room was filled with people in uniform and it was very unbalanced. Mac and Catherine's side of the room was packed with people…all of JAG's senior officers along with some of the junior officers and enlisted people. Also there were Clayton Webb and Colonel John Farrow.. On Vivi and Michael's side sat the Sec Nav, Michael Jr. and Michael's parents, Elizabeth and Charles Morin.
"We are here over the custody of the minor Catherine Elizabeth Sarah Morin." Judge Isabelle Huran stated as she looked at the file in front of her. "Both parties are present so we can start…good. Ok, let's get this figured out. Mr. Morin you may present your case."
"Thank you, your honor." Michael said as he stood up. "Sixteen years ago my wife and I adopted Catherine because her mother, Sarah Mackenzie, was a recovering alcoholic and was unable to care for the child. We are her family and we believe that it is in her best interest to stay with us. Also, Sarah signed away her parental rights when we adopted Catherine and we believe that she can't' give Catherine anything more than we can give her…Thank you." Michael finished and sat down.
"Mr. Morin…what about the accusations that you physically, mentally, and emotionally abuse Catherine?"
"My wife and I believe those charges to be false, Your Honor."
"Thank you, Mr. Morin…Colonel Mackenzie are you ready to begin?"
"Yes, ma'am." Mac said standing up.
"Are you going to represent yourself?"
"No, Your Honor. I am not."
"Who will be representing you?"
"I will, Your Honor." Said a tall handsome looking man as he walked into the courtroom. "My apologies for my lateness Your Honor, I got caught in traffic coming into the city…" He said as he walked up and put his things down next to Mac. "Jason McDermott, Your Honor, representing Colonel Mackenzie."
"Nice to see you again, Mr. McDermott, make sure you're on time from now on."
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Are you ready to present your opening statements?"
"Yes. I am, your honor."
"Proceed."
"Thank you, Your Honor. My client, Colonel Mackenzie, admits that she gave up her parental rights to Catherine 16 years ago, but she did so under the pretense that Catherine would be better living with the Morin's then living with her. At the time, Your Honor, that was correct, but now it is not. Catherine has been abused and beaten by the Morin's and my client now believes that she can give Catherine a better home and better support than the Morin's are able to."
"Colonel Mackenzie, are you aware how rare it is for a mother to regain custody of a child? Especially after 16 years?"
"Yes, I am Your Honor." Mac said standing up. "But I believe that I am better suited as a parent than the Morin's are. I have evidence that Catherine was abused by Mr. Morin and I have evidence that shows that Catherine was a slave in the Morin household. These two things make them unfit parents and ask that you give me back custody of my daughter."
"Colonel, would you ask anything of the Morin's if you were given custody…like help you pay for college?"
"No, Your Honor. I wouldn't. I can afford to pay for Catherine to go to college and she is bound to get scholarships both through the military and for her academics."
"Very well, Colonel…Mr. Morin, Mr. McDermott, I assume that you have character witnesses and evidence to support your arguments."
"We do, Your Honor." Mr. McDermott said standing next to Mac.
"We do also, Your Honor." Michael said standing up.
"Very well then. We will take a ten minute recess and then we will hear from Mr. McDermott and the Colonel." Judge Huran stated and banged her gavel. The crowd stood as she did and she walked out of the room. As everyone started to disperse Mac turned around and gave Catherine a warm smile. Mac saw the look of sadness and fear on Catherine's face, she desperately wanted to find someway to reassure her daughter…so Mac reached out and enveloped Catherine in a hug.
"Its going to be ok." Mac whispered in Catherine's ear as she pulled away. "Don't worry sweetie." She pushed a stray hair away from Catherine's face. "Its all going to be ok, sweetie, you'll see."
"I hope so." Catherine stated as she gave Mac a weak smile. Catherine had been so sure of this when they had started…but now, she wasn't so sure. She wanted to be with Mac but she was afraid of what would happen if Vivi won. Catherine knew that they would make life hell for her and not let her ever see Mac again.
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So what do you all think about this? Let me know...the next chapter will be up in the next couple of days and it will be a bit longer than usual.
Ciao.