AN: I would like to apologise for not updating yesterday, FanFiction was not co-operating, so I couldn't sign in.
Also:
Damn it! I'm a writer, not a lawyer!
Any mistakes in the legal processes and/or terminology are Kirk's fault, but I apologise on his behalf.
Jonathan Burbank never forgot that divorce case. Case number 201000101444. L. McCoy vs. J. McCoy. He'd been a green, newbie lawyer then, twenty-four years old, fresh out of law school. This was his first divorce case, and it was definitely trial and initiation by fire.
His client was one Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, who was the subject of divorce papers filed by his soon-to-be ex-wife. It was a bitter divorce, and the case dragged on for weeks in court.
There was the matter of how the couple's property was to be divided, who was the injured party, and most importantly, the custody arrangements for their young daughter.
It was all a new experience, and a lot of work for the young lawyer. It didn't help that his client was relatively un-cooperative in Jonathan's attempts to win him the best deal possible. He was alleging that his client was the injured party, as his wife had cheated on him with another man. Yet the attorney for the wife argued that the wife was the injured party, as it was her husband's detachment and alcohol problem that led to their divorce. Consequently, he argued that these issues were in fact caused by her long term affair.
It was all a big mess. It was serious. His client stood to lose everything. Absolutely everything, all of his belongings except his clothing, toothbrush, razor and the like.
Yet the man showed up to Court day after day in the same clothes as the day before, unshaven, untidy and reeking of alcohol, hung-over and out of it. This did not help his case. Jonathan was hired to get the best deal for his client, yet his own client was not helping in the slightest.
He was trapped. His hands were tied. He could not argue with his own client. He had, many times, politely requested his client not drink that night, but each and every time Dr McCoy had gone and drunk, and shown up hung-over.
He was on his wit's end. He could not, definitely could not, win anything in this case without his client's co-operation! He was not putting up a favourable impression to the judge, who was, he was certain, already leaning towards the wife's side.
It was only at the end of the case, when all property had been decided, that Dr McCoy showed up neatly dressed, clean-shaven and without a scent of alcohol. Jonathan had to work hard to disguise his surprise.
Why? Why today of all days? After he's lost everything!
Then he remembers. Today is the day that custody of the former couple's daughter will be decided. From what little information he has been able to glean from his client, he cares deeply for his daughter. That must explain for his change in attitude.
Jonathan does find it difficult to understand, though.
Why simply show up presentable on one day? I know it's the most important day for him, but why just that one day? Why not every other day? From a legal, heck, from a logical, common-sense standpoint, he would give himself a better chance.
Perhaps...perhaps the man is an alcoholic, flawed, just like his ex-wife says. Perhaps he couldn't help it, perhaps he had to go drown his sorrows...and perhaps he cared enough about his daughter to stop for just that one night, so he could see her, at least sometimes. Perhaps she gave him the strength.
That doesn't give him any more understanding. Although, as he has no wife, no children, no significant other, that's completely understandable.
Back to the case at hand. Court is in session.
His client catches his eye as the other attorney presents their case.
Please. This means more to me than anything. Help me keep my baby girl.
He looks away.
The other attorney continues.
She's arguing that her client should receive full custody. That's unsurprising. She argues that his client is obviously a flawed alcoholic, with too many personal issues to be a capable carer for a child. She argues that he does not care for the child, that a mother is a better carer for a daughter, particularly at this age. She argues that the daughter is closer to her than her oft-absent father.
It's a good argument. He objects, he rebuts, he tries his best. But he can see the judge is not swayed. Things do not bode well.
Court adjourns for a lunch break. Jonathan hurries to speak to his client.
'Dr McCoy-'
'Kid, I know what you're about to say. You're gonna say I should give up, that I can't win. But to hell with logical arguments, I can't let her take my baby girl, my Joanna. I'll pay you extra, just fight this case out. Get my girl back.'
'I wasn't going to suggest giving up, Dr McCoy. I was just about to ask your thoughts on proposing joint custody.'
The older man turns away from him.
'I don't wanna give her the chance to turn her against me.'
'She'll have more chances if she gets full custody.'
Dr McCoy turns away again, frustrated, annoyed at the flaw in his logic being pointed out.
After what seems like a very long pause, during which Jonathan wonders if he's just lost his job, the doctor turns back 'round to face him.
'I'm going double or nothing, kid. I want full custody. Nothing more, nothing less.'
Jonathan doesn't know what to say, so he just nods.
The case takes days. He and the wife's attorney spend days fighting it out. He tries his best, but he's young and green, new to the business. Dr McCoy's behaviour in the earlier parts of the case don't help either.
Finally, a verdict is reached.
He's lost.
Jocelyn McCoy, now Jocelyn Darnell, receives custody of their daughter, Joanna. Full custody, with some visitation rights for Dr McCoy.
Jonathan doesn't know what to say to Dr McCoy. He just turns and looks at the man, whose eyes are full of unshed tears.
I'm sorry.
That evening, he sits in a bar with the doctor, both men indulging in a mint julep.
Dr McCoy senses the young lawyer's melancholy.
'It's okay, kid. Thanks for trying.'
He nods, everything just sinking in. Dr McCoy stands to leave.
'Where are you going, doctor?'
The older man just shakes his head and shrugs.
He doesn't know. But he just has to get out of here.
'Goodbye, Jonathan. Thank you. I won't forget.'
'Goodbye, Dr McCoy. Good luck.'
Almost four years later, Jonathan still hasn't forgotten that case.
He's always wondered what happened to Dr McCoy. Now, watching the holo-news, he knows.
Things turned out good for him. He hasn't quite got his happy ending, though. I hope he sees his daughter again soon.
After all, now I know how valuable she is to him.
He smiles as he sits on the edge of his wife's hospital bed, cradling their newborn baby daughter.