Author's Note: Hey guys! I was going to just write a short little ending and be finished writing this story, but I found myself thinking more and more about this story and decided to continue. I really like where this story is going and I have some ideas for the future if people want to read it ;) this chapter will probably be long and more filler, but it is necessary to continue. As always, please review :)
"Brooke!" Joan called upstairs.
"Yes?" Brooke called down as she walked out of her room into the hallway.
"Will you come here for a minute please? Arthur and I want to talk to you." Joan said.
"Okay, I'm coming." Brooke said as she walked downstairs.
She walked into the living room to find Arthur sitting in his chair and Joan on the couch. Joan patted the seat next to her. Brooke sat down. She was now in the middle of Joan and Arthur.
They looked serious, which was the opposite from how they had been acting lately. Lately, they had all been happy and energetic, Joan had taken her shopping and they cooked dinner together every night this week. Arthur had played basketball and soccer with her when he got home from work a few times this week.
"Is everything okay?" Brooke said worriedly.
"Everything is fine." Joan started. It was Saturday, Brooke had to start school on Monday and she was nervous already and now she was even more nervous. "We just got notified that the trial for your adoption will be next tomorrow, they just changed it. Everything should go well, we just have to make sure to have everything put together before then."
"How can I help?" Brooke said.
"I have all of the information at work, so I am going to go in early tomorrow morning to get it" Joan finished.
"Okay." Brooke said. She paused, "Can we talk about Monday for a second please?" Brooke asked.
"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" Joan said looking at Brooke.
"Umm, how am I getting to school? And how am I getting home?" Brooke asked.
"Well, I thought that I would drop you off on Monday," Arthur said, speaking for the first time.
"And I'm still checking about the way home. Either I am going to have Annie pick you up, or you will ride the bus home." Joan said. "I don't think that I will be able to leave work early. Sorry sweetie."
"It's ok." Brooke said.
"Okay, do you want to help me make dinner?" Joan said.
"I'll be there in a second." Brooke said.
Joan smiled and stood up and walked out of the living room.
Arthur got up to leave too and Brooke stopped him, "Dad, what's up? You are acting really weird and I know that something is wrong."
"I'm just nervous about tomorrow." Arthur admitted.
"Why? I thought that mom said that it wouldn't be a problem?"
"It shouldn't be, but our country's legal system really protects its children and it could be harder than we planned on, especially given my job."
"Oh, because you are the DCS, people know that you work for the CIA?" Brooke asked.
"Yes, and it says in Joan's file that she works for the world bank." Arthur said.
"Okay, so I still don't really see the problem." Brooke said.
"It's ok, there really is nothing to worry about, why don't you go help your mother in the kitchen?"
"Okay." Brooke said as she stood up and walked into the kitchen.
Arthur remained seated in his chair. He was worried that some of the issues regarding Joan's drug addiction would keep them from adopting Brooke. He was also worried that they may say that it is too dangerous to put a child into the house of the DCS because of the media, she could become a target to get to Arthur.
He sighed and got up. He went into his bedroom and shut the door.
Brooke and Joan made dinner as they talked about the events that would happen tomorrow. "We need to be at the courthouse at 9:00 am. We cannot be late, I probably want to be there by 8:30-8:45. That means leaving here by 8 or 8:15." Joan said.
"Okay, I'll get up around 7. Will you straighten my hair in the morning please?" Brooke asked.
"Sure. Please be dressed and completely ready to leave before I do that. I'll come in around 7:30? Okay?" Joan asked.
"Yup." Brooke said with a small smile.
Joan knew that look, "What's wrong sweetie?" she said as she stopped cutting up the bell pepper and walked over to Brooke. She pulled Brooke into a hug and stroked her hair.
"I don't know, I'm just really nervous." Brooke said, laying her head on Joan's shoulder.
"You will have to go up onto the witness stand. Okay? We practiced with the lawyer and you know exactly what to say." Brooke just nodded.
"Let's finish making dinner and after we can watch a movie. We can talk more about this at dinner. Alright?" Joan said.
"Okay." Brooke said.
They finished making dinner and they ate almost silently. When they were finished, Brooke took her plate to the sink and then went upstairs.
"Brooke, I thought that we were going to watch a movie." Joan called after her.
"I'm just really tired, I'll see you guys tomorrow." Brooke said.
Joan looked upset. Arthur wrapped his arms around Joan's waist and kissed her. "She is going to be fine." Arthur said reading her mind. He wanted tomorrow to be over with and he knew that he had to act as though nothing was wrong so that Brooke wasn't nervous.
"I know. She's strong." Joan said.
"She reminds me of you." Arthur said.
Joan smiled, "I would not have survived in her situation at age 14."
"Yes you would have." Arthur said. Joan smiled again. "Come on, let's go to bed." Arthur said, leading Joan towards the stairs.
The next morning, she awoke to her alarm. Brooke looked over at her iPhone and turned off the alarm. She got out of her bed and walked into her closet. She picked out a modest, but pretty dress and a pair of heals. She went downstairs, still in her pajamas and walked into the kitchen. She saw Arthur sitting at the island drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.
"Good morning." Arthur said with a smile as he put down the newspaper.
"Good morning." Brooke said as she opened the refrigerator.
"Mom picked up bagels this morning. They are on the counter." Arthur said as he pointed to the bag.
"Okay." Brooke said, getting the cream cheese out of the fridge. She sliced an everything bagel and stuck it into the toaster. She then poured herself a glass of orange juice. When her bagel was ready, she spread the cream cheese onto the bagel and then sat down next to Arthur.
She started to eat and stare into space. She was startled when she looked over and saw Arthur starring at her. He smiled and put his arm around her and kissed her hair.
"Everything is going to be okay." he said into her ear. "I know that you are nervous and that you came from a family of spies, so you probably know how to hide it really well, but I can always tell, even when Joan is nervous. Okay? And I know that everything will be fine and I also know that there is a surprise waiting for you when we get home." he smirked.
"Maybe I am actually like a spy because I hate surprises." She said as she smiled.
"Join the club." Arthur said, they both laughed, "but this one is good and Joan would kill me if I told you. And trust me, she could do it without leaving any trace evidence." They laughed again.
Joan walked through the door and followed the laughter into the kitchen. When she was in eyesight of the two of them, Arthur said, "there she is now."
"Were you two talking about me?" Joan said with a smile. She was already dressed, but not in a dress like she usually wore to work, but instead she wore dress pants and a beautiful blouse.
"Yes, we were actually. I was telling Brooke that if I show up dead, to come to you first because you can do it without leaving a trace." Arthur said as he laughed.
Brooke laughed too, but Joan didn't look too thrilled, "that's not even funny Arthur." She said as she hit him with the newspaper.
"Not even a little funny?" he asked.
"Well maybe a little, but only because it is true. But I would never hurt you two." Joan said as she laughed. "I'm only kidding." She said to Brooke who looked a little stunned. "Let's go upstairs and get you ready." Joan said as Brooke ate the last of her bagel and drank the last of her orange juice.
Brooke smiled as she got up and walked upstairs with Joan. Brooke got dressed and Joan straightened her long, thick, brown hair.
Once they were finished, they got into the car and drove to the courthouse. They walked in and were greeted by their lawyer. "Hello." Their lawyer said as she walked over to them. "Hi Brooke."
"Hi," Brooke said as she stood in between Arthur and Joan. Arthur put his arm around Brooke to remind her that she wasn't alone.
"Okay, so this adoption is unlike normal ones, so the procedure is a little different as well. Because it is a rushed adoption, they will have an attorney from the state cross examine each of you after I ask you my questions. They do this because they have not yet had a chance to really evaluate you guys. They have done background checks and they assume because you are the DCS," she said looking at Arthur, "that your family will be a safe environment at least on your part, but they have not done everything, for example, home visits. I will warm you, they do have some concern that your job could propose a risk to Brooke, but if you talk about how her parents were and the dangers that they put her in, that part should be fine because you actually saved her from harm. Actually Brooke, I want you to try to talk about it because you witnessed it first hand." the lawyer finished.
"Okay," Brooke said. She was trying her best not to show that she was nervous, but it was hard, because she really was.
Joan smiled at the strong, beautiful, smart young lady that was about to become her daughter. She continued to stare at Brooke until they called their name to come into the court room.
The three of them sat down behind the desk. Joan turned to Brooke, "That is the witness stand." Joan whispered in her ear as she pointed to the chair in the front of the courtroom, next to the judge's. "You will go around there," Joan continued to point out the path that Brooke should walk, "and go up the stairs over there and sit down."
"Because nobody is really being prosecuted, they won't," the lawyer paused, "at least, they hopefully won't completely grill Brooke, but just remember, all three of you, to remain calm and answer the questions as completely and truthfully as possible." the lawyer said.
The lawyer was through the CIA, so Brooke asked, "What if they ask questions about how I was brought back, or other things about the CIA, how do I answer truthfully without giving that away?"
"Because this case involves the DCS, it is a closed court, and not open to the public. The people in here have a vow not to reveal anything or they could be prosecuted for treason, so you can say anything that you want." the lawyer paused, "Even about Joan and Annie."
Joan nodded. Arthur leaned over, "Brooke, remember to look at the lawyer for the question, and then tell the judge the answer. It is an unnatural motion, but just try to remember. You will do great. I know it." Arthur said smiling as he kissed Brooke's head.
The next thing they knew, they heard, "All arise."
They all stood and the judge walked in and sat down. She was told briefly what the case was about and they got right down to it.
"Alright, so I know that this is a little bit different from normal adoption hearings, so lets first start off with just a general statement from," the judge paused, "at least you." the judge pointed to Brooke, Joan, and Arthur, "Just to make it easier, I'm going to call you defense and you prosecution," she said pointing to the attorney from the state. "If you really deem necessary, you may also give an opening, but you really are not trying to prove anything, you are just trying to ask questions that will help us understand why," the judge looked down, "Brooke, is that right?" the judge asked looking at Brooke. Brooke just nodded the judge smiled, "needs to be adopted, we also need to make sure that these people are going to be good parents. Is this the only thing that you are trying to do today?" the judge finished.
"Yes, your honor, no opening for prosecution is necessary." the state attorney said.
The Campbell's attorney gave her opening, highlighting key points that Brooke was put into harms way with her biological parents and how they were now in jail and how Joan and Arthur vowed to protect her. She finally finished and sat down.
The judge said, "Defense, your first witness?" she paused, "I don't like that. What order will the three come up?"
The lawyer said, "First will be Mr. Arthur Campbell, second will be Mrs. Joan Campbell, and the third is Brooke Langston."
"Alright, Mr. Campbell." the judge said.
Arthur got up and walked to the witness stand. He was made to swear against perjury and then he sat down.
The lawyer asked a couple questions about his job and he basically said that he has doesn't feel like he is in danger and that he can protect Brooke. She asked him some questions about his and Brooke's relationship and he talked about how he plays soccer and basketball with her and how they have really gotten close. He looked over at Brooke and she smiled.
Then it was time for the cross. The lawyer asked questions more about his job and asked how it could cause danger. He said, "Any job poses threats; as a teacher, you run the risk of a student bringing a gun, as a lawyer, you risk people coming after you if you get them convicted, I am the DCS, and my job could pose a risk, but I have more ways to keep her safe."
When the cross was over, the judge said, "Mrs. Campbell."
Joan walked up to the stand and swore against perjury before she sat down. Their lawyer asked more questions about their relationship, how their household has been, and how they have been emotionally since Brooke started to live with them. Joan said that they are really close and that they spend a lot of time together. She talked about how Brooke has brought her and Arthur together in some ways and how she makes them see the good in their relationship and emotionally when they got close to losing hope.
The direct was over and now it was time for cross.
"So Mrs. Campbell, you work for the world bank?" the state attorney said.
She looked at Arthur. He nodded, so she turned to the judge and said, "Nothing I say can leave this room, correct?"
The judge replied, "That is correct Mrs. Campbell."
So Joan said, "Actually, I work for the CIA, the world bank is just my cover job."
The judge looked a little surprised and so did the state attorney, so Joan said, "I hope that you realize that I cannot talk about my job, other than to say that I do not do field work anymore, normally." She smiled at Brooke.
They questioned her a little bit more about her relationship before the state attorney said, "So, I have your file here." He said as he turned to pick it up, "Isn't it true that you had a drug addiction?"
Joan paused before saying, "Yes."
The follow up question was, "Do you believe that you could relapse and will affect either your relationship with Brooke, or put Brooke at risk, either physically or emotionally?"
Joan responded, "No, Brooke would never be at risk for any harm, ever. I would never do that her. She has already been through enough."
"Have you ever relapsed?"
"Yes." Joan said.
"How long ago was your last one?"
"A month and a half ago." Joan said reluctantly.
"So let me get this straight, you work for the CIA and you relapsed? And I know that you can't confirm this, but I assume that you are in charge of a division if you are no longer a field agent and your husband is the DCS. How does this relapse effect your job, generically?"
"It has made some of my decisions quicker and not as thought out, but as a person, I have not changed." She said. She was beginning to get upset.
She was questioned a little more before she got down. The judge then said, "Ms. Langston, it's your turn." the judge smiled at her.
Brooke came up and swore and then sat down. Their lawyer asked her, "How has living with the Campbells been?"
Brooke started, "I love them. They are the parents that I have always wanted."
The lawyer smiled and continued, "How are your relationships with Joan and Arthur?"
Brooke started, "Well, my parents and I are really close," she paused, "By my parents, I mean Joan and Arthur. I call them mom and dad, they are my parents. Anyway, we are really close and I love them. My mom and I cook and shop together. She is amazing and would never do anything to hurt me. My dad and I are really close too. The two of us, as he already said, play basketball and soccer together. We also watch tv and movies together. I know that he would always do everything in his power to protect me." Brooke finished. She looked at her parents and they smiled at her. She smiled back.
She continued to be asked questions and Brooke continued to answer. Then it was time for cross.
The state attorney came up to the stand and said, "Hello Brooke, I'm going to ask you a few questions." Brooke just nodded, so he continued, I know that it is difficult to talk about, but will you please describe what happened leading up to going to China?"
Brooke looked at Joan and Arthur that were smiling at her. She began, "well, I don't really know. I came home from school one random, normal day and my biological parents had two bags sitting on the kitchen table. They told me to take the battery out of my cell phone and put it on the counter. They then handed me a bag and told me to go to my room and pack up anything that I wanted that would fit into the bag, but no electronics. They told me that we were never coming back, so I went into my room and put some clothes in and some books and a couple of pictures and we left. We got onto a plane and went to China."
"Did you ask questions about where you were going or what was making you leave?"
"I asked once we were in the car, and I knew that my parents were in the CIA, and they always told me to be prepared to leave right away, in case something happened and we had to flee the country."
"So what happened once you were in China?"
"We went to an apartment and put down our things and then we went out to buy some "essential things" as they put it, food, clothes," Brooke paused, "guns. Everything was bought with cash, cash that was in the apartment already for us in a big black bag."
"I know that you cannot talk about what specifically happened next because of national security, but can you tell us what happened to your biological parents?"
"An agent from the CIA came to get them because they needed to be put into jail. She was having trouble finding them because they were hiding and eventually she must have found them because they just left. Nobody even cared enough to save me." Brooke said. Joan smiled at her amazingly strong daughter, who was honesty telling the story, some details even she hadn't known.
The attorney continued, "And how did you eventually leave and end up in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell?"
Brooke looked at Joan and Arthur again and this time they nodded, so Brooke said, "My mom was one of the agents that came to rescue me, along with the agent that came the first time. I didn't really trust the other agent because she left me, but later I was told that she had no choice, she was ordered to come home with the two targets and then they would formulate a plan to get me."
The attorney looked a little confused, so he said, "Your honor, the state would like to recall Mrs. Campbell to the stand."
"On what grounds council?" the judge asked.
"In her testimony, she clearly stated that she does not go on any more covert missions, and so it will not pose a threat to Brooke however, Brooke just stated that Mrs. Campbell was one of the two operatives that rescued her from China. The state would just like to clarify this in order to account for the safety of the household that Ms. Langston will be living in." the attorney said.
"Objection, your honor, I believe that Mrs. Campbell said in her testimony, and I quote 'I do not do field work anymore, normally.' This would imply that on occasion, Mrs. Campbell does go into the field, but on a normal basis, she is not in the field." their attorney said.
"Sustained," The judge said, she turned to the state attorney and said, "I do believe that the opposing council is correct. Mrs. Campbell's testimony would indeed suggest that she does go into the field once in awhile, but not on a normal basis."
The state attorney nodded and turned to Brooke, "Knowing that your parents were in the CIA, I'm assuming that you know that they probably have many occasions where they rescue people from other countries, why were you invited into the Campbell's household?"
"Well, when my mom rescued me, we were immediately were really close. I didn't want to leave her side. When we got onto the plane, she called my dad and asked if I could stay temporarily because she was the only person that I trusted, even though I had just met her. When my dad said yes, she brought me to her house and my dad and i immediately had a connection. I could just feel it, that they were good people and that I could trust them. And I'm glad that I did."
"Thank you Ms. Langston, no further questions your honor."
Brooke stepped off the podium and went to sit down with Arthur and Joan, who immediately told her that she did great and gave her big hugs.
Their attorney gave a quick closing, reiterating how the Campbells are amazing people who love and care for this girl and value her safety and happiness above all else.
After all was finished, the judge said, "Let me talk with the state attorney and the child advocate from the child protective services and we will be back in a moment."
"All arise." they stood until the judge left the room.
Their attorney said, "I think that we definitely won this case. Mainly because above all else, she is going to two loving parents that can protect her. All families have some shit and they know that. There is no perfect set of parents."
They continued to talk until they heard, "All arise."
When the judge sat down, she said, "We have a verdict."
AN: I hope that you guys liked it. I know that it is really long and I was going to break it into two, but I didn't like that idea as much because I just kind of wanted to get that all out in one chapter, so we can move on. I am really interested in the court of law, but I have never really seen a custody hearing and I wanted some of those issues that could test the ability of Joan and Arthur to provide a stable and safe household to be brought up and this was the only way that I could think to do this. It will probably be awhile until I can update again because I have soooo much homework. Please review and give me suggestions for the next chapter.