Hello everybody! Long time, not see!
I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update! I know, I know! It's not good. I am such a bad author! Henry is definitely better then I am! ;)
Anyway, here is your chapter, and it's here we will find out who the witness is! :D
Before you guys start to reading, I just want to congratulate our dearest Lana Parrilla for winning the teen choice award! She has come so far, and I couldn't be more proud of her! (I am still not over, that they spelled her last name wrong! I mean come on! How hard can it fucking be to put an extra R in the fucking name!) but huge congratulations to her! I'm so proud!
Anyway, here is your chapter, so without further ado, lets begin!
"All rise, court is in-session the honorable judge Brown now presiding"
Everybody in the courtroom stood as Judge Brown entered the room and Emma could feel her body shake. Even Regina could feel the girls vibration from beside her and she looked at Emma making sure she was okay. Emma felt eyes on her and turned to see Regina smiling assuringly at her. She smiled back and nodded, assuring the woman she was okay. Regina smiled and turned back to the judge who asked everybody to sit back down, and they all did. Just behind Emma and Regina's attorney table, sat their entire family. Cora at the end next was Zelena, Rex with his arm in the sling, Jane, Maura and then Ruby. The boys were at home, so they wouldn't see their mother and stepsister's hard time in the trial. They didn't want to scar them if it ended badly.
"Alright. Before the trial begins, attorneys. A word please?", Judge brown asked and Regina and mr. Wilson shared a look before they both walked to the judge bench. Judge Brown stood from his seat in order to bend down so he could whisper to the two attorneys.
"I know this case is a very big case, and very important might I add. But I won't tolerate any fighting or yelling in my court. Is that clear?", he asked and the attorneys shared a look before nodded. They both knew that they both, Regina especially, was very high tempered attorneys, and they could both easily loose it.
"Good. You can walk back to your seats", judge Brown said before sitting back down. Regina and mr. Wilson walked back to their seats. Regina played with her button on her blazer and Rex instantly knew it as distress. He knew how nervous his sister was and he dearly wished he could take it off her shoulders. Representing your own daughter in court, on the edge of prison or not. It must be horrible.
"So. Attorneys. What are your statements", judge Brown asked and the attorneys shared a look, and of course mr. Wilson gave her a look of approval to go first. Regina could practically hear the mans famous line. Ladies first
Ladies first, my ass, she thought before clearing her throat and standing from her seat. "On behalf of Skadden Arps, I Regina Mills, defense attorney for Emma Swan, along with the NYPD and the BPD, find the defendant, not guilty your honor"
"On what behalf miss Mills?"
"Your honor. My client has been accused for shooting a man without any given reason. I—"
"I know the accusations miss Mills. I want to know why you think that your client is innocent"
Regina pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. The trail has been going on for not even five minutes, and she is already being humiliated on front of far more people than she thought would show up.
Count to ten, Regina
"My client Emma Swan has not shot a man without any given reason, because the man had already fired the gun before my client did", she said and judge brown nodded turning to mr. Wilson.
"Mr. Wilson. Your statement"
Mr. Wilson nodded standing and turned to see the brunette attorney sitting back down. He could clearly see the nervousness in the woman.
"On behalf of Hogan Lovells, I James Wilson, prosecutor attorney for mr. Liam Jones, find the defendant, guilty your honor. We have reasons to believe that miss Swan shot my client before he pulled his own trigger. Which makes her a killer"
"Yes thank you mr. Wilson. As I also told miss Mills, I know the accusations and the laws rules. So as you know we have a witness to the case. So let us get him in, shall we?", judge Brown said and Regina tensed knowing this would destroy Emma. She turned to look at the girl beside her. She looked just as nervous. Maybe even more nervous. But how could she? Regina knew who this witness was, and she knew it would absolutely destroy the girl when she saw who it was.
"Bring out the witness", judge Brown said and the doors opened. Everybody turned around to see two cops walking out with a small boy with brown hair before them. Emma's eyes widened as she saw who the boy was. She may haven't seen the boy for many years, but she would recognize those eyes everywhere.
August
Even Zelena had her eyes widened as she saw the boy she had seen running out on the rode and been driven over all those years ago. The boy walked to the witness stand and the two cops stood beside it, keeping an eye out for him, if anyone should try and do something. They of course knew how many witnesses that were killed in cases like this.
"Mr. Booth. I'm glad you could join us", judge Brown said and the boy smiled tightly at him nodding before turning only to meet sea green eyes. He immediately tensed and looked down, unable to look at his old friend in the eyes.
"So mr. Booth. Tell us what you know"
August nodded and took a deep breath.
"Right. I was out walking, on my way over to miss Mills house—"
"I'm sorry to interrupt mr. Booth, but what were you doing at miss Mills house?"
August sighed and took a deep breath looking at Regina in the eyes.
"I wanted to come clean", he said in a small voice and Regina furrowed her eyebrows at the boy. Even Emma didn't understand what was going on.
"Come clean with what?", judge Brown pressed and August turned to the 12 people they called the jury.
"That mr. Daniel had hired me to drug mr. Jones' drink. I wanted to tell miss Mills in person, but when I arrive at her house, I see Emma standing in the doorway with a gun in her hand. She shot mr. Jones", he said and judge Brown nodded giving the two at attorneys before turning back to the boy. Regina on the hand sat and mentally killed Daniel all over again.
"And how, mr. Booth, did mr. Jones stand according to miss Swan's shooting?"
"He was standing still. He had his hand with the gun raised. But as far as I could see, mr. Jones wasn't even close to shooting before Emma shot him", he said and looked down. Rex instantly saw the lie and sighed turning to Jane who already looked at him knowingly.
The damn kid is lying his ass off
"Who would like to start?", judge Brown starts and mr. Wilson gives Regina the look again, and Regina rolled her eyes at the man before standing from her seat. She was seriously going to kill the man some day.
"Mr. Booth. Thank you for coming", she starts and August smiles at her.
"Thank you ma'm"
"So you said you saw miss Swan shooting the man before he shot detective Mills. How close did you stand exactly?", she asks and August shrugs.
"I don't know the number precisely, but around the fifty feet away I believe", he says and Regina hums nodding.
"Mr. Booth do you know how long fifty feet actually is?"
August was taken aback by the question and furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Mr. Booth do you know how much fifty feet actually is at my house?"
"No I don't—"
"Exactly. Because its longer than you think. If you say you stood fifty feet away form the door, you wouldn't have the slightest chance to see if Emma shot mr. Jones before or after he shot my brother", she said and August sighed nodding looking down.
"No further questions", she says walking back to her seat smirking at mr. Wilson on her way before sitting down. mr. Wilson stood from his seat and stood for a moment before sitting back down.
"Mr. Wilson?", judge Brown called the man out and said man shook his head.
"No questions your honor"
"Thank you mr. Booth. You can leave", judge Brown said and August nodded and smiled before standing from the witness stand and the two cops lead him back outside. August looked at Emma with sad eyes and he could easily see the betrayal the girl felt. He knew he had just ruined his new start with his old foster sister. He sighed and turned away from the girls look only to meet another pair of familiar eyes. Zelena however didn't look at him with betrayal. More with loss. He smiled a small smile at her before walking to the doors letting them close behind him and the cops. Zelena turned and was met by sea green eyes who looked back at her with much vulnerable eyes. All Emma wanted was to hug the older woman, but she knew she couldn't.
"Alright so. Miss mills. Do you have anything to calculate?", judge Brown asked and Regina cleared her throat before standing from her seat.
"The defense calls detective Rex Mills to the witness stand", she said and judge Brown nodded towards said man and Rex turned to Jane kissing her cheek before standing and walking to the witness stand.
"Detective Mills. Nice of you to join us", judge Brown said and Rex smiled and nods before turning to his sister who just stands and looks down at her case file. He can practically feel her nervousness.
"Miss Mills", judge Brown calls her out and Regina shakes her head and turns to the judge smiling apologetic before clearing throat turning to her brother who smiles back at her, assuring her mentally. She smiles back and clears her throat before walking towards him.
"Detective. You were leading the case about the murders of Brennan Jones and Liam Jones the second, with your partner detective Lucas, correct?"
"That's correct", Rex confirmed and Regina took another deep breath.
"And at some point along the way, you had to work together with the Boston Police Department, correct?"
"Yes. We found out that the victims from the case were from Boston", he said and Regina nodded. Jane nodded as well, mentally kissing the man every time he gave the right answer.
"Detective Mills, you were shot in your right back shoulder by Liam Jones the first", she said and Rex nodded smiling.
"Yup", he said motioning with his arm, and a few people in the courtroom chuckled at the mans happiness despite the heavy amount of pain he must be in. Even judge Brown cracked a smile. Regina smiled as well, but also felt tears in her eyes. This was her little baby brother after all.
"Can you tell us little about the shooting? Tell us a little about what you saw?", she asked and Rex nodded.
"Detective Jane Rizzoli from the BPD and I went to the house as we had found evidence against mr. Daniel Colter for killing Brennan Jones and Liam Jones the second. When we arrived the front door was wide open and mr. Colter laid dead on the ground. One shot to the forehead", he said and he could see Regina getting tears in her eyes at the description. But he could also see how strong she was. How she held them back and stood straight and tall. He could never be more proud of her.
"We walked further inside and saw Liam Jones standing with a gun at the door to the bathroom, where you and miss Swan had hidden. So we ordered him to step away from the door and to drop his gun. But he didn't, so we had to warn him a couple of more times. But he wouldn't back down. So I made a deal with him. He wanted to speak to miss Swan, so told him he could speak with her, when she and you had come out of the bathroom safe", he said and Regina nodded mentally asking him to keep going. He took a deep breath looking down for a moment before looking back up meeting Janes eyes. He could see the love she had for him her eyes and he smiled at her continuing.
"When you and miss Swan was safe, you walked out of the house, so it was only detective Rizzoli and I together with Liam Jones. We argued back and forth, before he got angry and he was ready to shoot detective Rizzoli. I stepped in front of her, with by back towards the gun and then I heard the shot, and I felt pain in my shoulder", he finished and Regina nodded walking closer to the witness stand.
"You say you heard a gunshot. Did you only hear one, or did you hear any other shots?", she asked and Rex nodded.
"I heard two shots. The first was loud and clear, while the second was a little calmer and quiet.
"Thank you detective. No further questions", she said looking at the judge before walking back to her seat sharing a look with Emma. She smiled at the girl and said girl smiled back at her. She instantly felt a hand in her own and turned to see Regina holding her hand tighter than ever before. She smiled and squeezed her hand making Regina calm instantly.
Mr. Wilson stood from his seat and walked to the witness stand smiling at the detective in the seat.
"Detective. First I wanna thank you for your service in this country", he said and Rex smiled and nodded.
"Thank you sir", he said and mr. Wilson smiled at him.
"Detective you said you heard two shots, correct?", he asked and Rex nodded.
"Yes sir"
"And you said the first was very clear to hear, but the other wasn't?"
"Yes sir, that's correct", Rex said once again and mr. Wilson smiled at him.
"Do you think it's possible that you heard the first gunshots echo instead? You were shot in your shoulder after all"
Rex furrowed his eyebrows at the question, but he knew he had to answer.
"I know what I heard"
"And from what I hear, when you are shot, you seem to hear all sort of things, that in the end, isn't what we think it is. So could it really be possible that you heard the echo of the second gunshot and just didn't hear the first one?"
"Y-yes, but—"
"No further questions your honor", mr. Wilson interrupted the man and walked back to his seat. Regina closed her eyes mentally slapping herself. Of course he would use that one. She knew how good the man was at his job. She knew how though this case would be.
"Miss Mills?", judge Brown called her out and Regina sighed shaking her head.
"No further questions your honor", she said and Rex sighed. He understood his sisters decision. What could she ask him? There were no more to say. To tell. Judge Brown nodded and turned to the detective.
"Thank you detective. And get well soon with your shoulder"
"Thank you your honor", Rex said smiling at the man before walking back down to his seat squeezing Regina's shoulder on the way.
"Alright. I call for thirty minutes break. The court is adjourned", he said standing form his seat, everybody standing as well all the way till he walks out of the room. Regina turns to Emma and immediately hugs her tight, her palm on the back of the girls head. Emma instantly hugs the woman back tight holding onto her for dear life. Rex and Jane hugs as well while Maur and Ruby talks and Cora and Zelena looks at Regina and Emma, who continues to hug. The mother and daughter shares a sad look and Cora nods towards the doors and the family walks out of the room leaving Regina and Emma alone. After a couple of minutes, Regina pulls back and covers Emma's cheek with her palms.
"Are you okay?", she asks in a whisper and Emma nods. Regina smiles and leans in kissing the girl on her forehead. They walked out of the room, meeting their family in the big hallway.
"Hey", Regina says hugging her mother tight, while Zelena immediately goes to Emma hugging her tight. Emma instantly hugs her back and she can feel tears in her eyes.
"August", she whispered in a sob and Zelena nods hugging the girl tighter, her hand also on the girls back head.
"I know. It's okay", she whispers and Regina smiles them before turning to her brother who nods her tight with his only functioning arm, his chin on her temple.
"Are you alright?", he asks and Regina shakes her head.
"I don't know", she admits and Rex nods in understanding. Regina pulls back before turning to Jane who smiles at her sadly and Regina walks forward hugging her old best friend. It truly has been many years.
"How are you doing?", she decides to asks and Jane chuckles.
"It should be me asking you"
"Maybe, but I want to know how you and the rest of your family is once we are done here", she says and Jane smiled and nods.
"Of course", she says before pulling back and Regina smiles before tuning back to Emma and Zelena who's still hugging. She can see the tears in Emma's eyes and some of them rolling down her small pink cheeks. Regina smiled sadly and walked forward, breaking the two of them. Emma turned to Regina, silently asking the woman to be alone with her, and Regina understood the request. She nodded taking the girls hand before turning to her family.
"We are gonna find a room and talk about the case and what we are going to do after the break", she said and they all nodded.
"Of course. We'll see you again in there", Cora said and went down kissing Emma's cheek before kissing her daughters cheek as well and walking away, the others following.
"Come", Regina said and they walked to the room from before. She closed the door behind them and brought Emma in for another hug. She could feel the pressure Emma gave in the hug and sighed kissing the girls head.
"It doesn't look good", Emma whispered and Regina shook her head. She knew it was true.
"I love you", she whispered and Emma nodded.
"I love you too"
The girl pulled back and looked up at the woman. She brought her hand to the woman's cheek before leaning up bringing their lips together in a small sad kiss. They knew it could be one of their last ones. So of course they both savored the taste and the moment, so they would remember it for a long time after all of this ended.
After the thirty minutes were over, they all walked back inside the courtroom. Judge Brown once again walked out and everybody in the room rose form their seats before he told them to sit back down.
"Alright. So. Attorneys. What do you have for me?", he asked and before Regina could even stand form her seat, mr. Wilson beat her to it.
"I would like to call Emma Swan to the witnesses stand", he said and Regina turned to judge Brown only to receive a nod. She sighed and turned to Emma nodding. She took her hand and gently squeezed it before letting go. Emma nodded and carefully stood from her seat. She walked to the stand and sat down, blushing as she felt everybody's eyes on her.
"Miss Swan. As I know, you don't talk very much, but I have been told that you have started to... Say some words", judge Brown started and Emma nodded looking at the man.
"So I would like to know if you would like a machine or if you will be able to say something of your own", he said and Emma looked down in thought, she turned to Regina meeting a smile. She could see that no matter what she chose, Regina would be satisfied. She smiled back and turned to the judge smiling a little.
"I-I will try", she said and judge Brown smiled at her and nodded.
"Good. You can always ask for the machine, if it becomes too much for you, okay?"
"Yes sir", she said and the man smiled and nodded towards mr. Wilson, giving him the permission to start his questioning. Mr. Wilson smiled and nodded in apparition before walking towards the girl.
"Hello Emma", he said and smiled at the girl.
"Hi", she said in a small voice, and Regina could already see how uncomfortable she was already feeling under the mans gaze.
"How are you doing Emma? Feeling nervous?", he asked and Emma nodded a small nod. Mr. Wilson smiled and assuringly at the girl.
"Don't worry Emma. I don't bite", he said and Regina stood from her seat.
"Objection! He's practically torturing my client"
Judge Brown nodded at the woman.
"Sustained. Get on with it mr. Wilson", he said and mr. Wilson raised his hand in defeat.
"I am sorry your honor. I was simply trying to make miss Swan feel comfortable", he said and judge Brown nodded.
"I'm sorry Emma. Now why don't you start telling us your side of the story. What happened at the scene of Liam Jones' death?"
Emma nodded taking a deep breath. She turned to Regina knowingly searching for support. Regina smiled at her assuring her that she was just sitting there, always looking at her. Emma nodded taking another deep breath before turning back to the other attorney.
"Y-yes. Uhm... Me and Regina were at home. We-we were sitting in her o-office when the door bell rung. I-It's Daniel that opens a-and we hear a gunshot. I take Regina's shoes off and then walks to—"
"I am sorry to interrupt miss Swan, but you said you took off miss Mills' shoes?", mr. Wilson interrupted and Emma nodded looking at Regina.
"Y-yes. S-she was still wearing her heels, after she had been at her work. S-so I to-took them off s-so mr. Jones wo-wouldn't hear us, when we walked inside the house", she explained and mr. Wilson nodded in surprise and maybe some impress. Both Rex, Regina, Cora and Zelena looked at the girl with proud and impressive eyes. Emma was smarter than she showed.
"Impressive. I'm sorry. Please continue", mr. Wilson said and Emma nodding clenching her hand into a fist.
"Yes. uh... Wh-where was—"
"You were at taking off miss Mills shoes", mr Wilson said and Emma nodded.
"Right. Uhm, so I-I take off her heels and w-we walk out of the-the office. We walked to-to the living room, where we-we saw mr. Jones standing l-looking at some pictures. I k-knew we couldn't get out, so-so I walked us to th-the bathroom and locked us inside", she finished and mr. Wilson stepped forward.
"And the gun you had. Where did you get that?"
"I-In the cabinet in the bathroom. It was behind some s-sort of an extra wall", she said and mr. Wilson nodded.
"And when you sat outside, after detective Mills and detective Rizzoli had come and got you out, what made you go in there? What made you think you could go in and shoot the man?"
"Objection! He is literally standing and accusing my client of murder", Regina objected and judge Brown nodded turning to mr. Wilson.
"Sustained. Mr. Wilson, this is your final warning. Next time over the line, you're out", he said and mr. Williams nodded.
"I am sorry your honor", he said before turning back to Emma who sat with scared eyes.
"Well me what happened after you and miss Mills got out miss Swan", he said and Emma nodded.
"Y-yes. W-We were sitting on a bench ne-near the front door. I still had the gun in my hand, and I wanted to ma-make sure that Rex and Jane were o-okay. So I walked to the door and saw mr. Jones standing with the gun in his ha-hand aiming at them. I could see he was a-angry. I could see he-he was about too shoot. The-then suddenly I he-hear Jane yell at him, to-to put his gun down, and I see him pull-pull the trigger. That's when I sh-shoot him", she finishes and mr. Wilson looks at her for a few seconds before walking around a little.
"Did you shoot when he head shot detective Mills, or did you shoot when you think you saw him shoot him"
"OBJECTION! He's accusing my client of lying!", Regina said and Mr Wilson raised his hands in defense.
"I'm sorry, let me reverse it. Did you hear mr. Jones' shot before you shot him?"
"Yes", Emma says and mr. Wilson nods.
"Miss Swan. When you heard the gunshot from the office. When you came out of the house. When you stood there with the gun. Did you ever feel... Dizzy? Stressed? Scarred for life? Scared for your life?", he asked suddenly and Emma furrowed her eyebrows.
"I-I was scared yes, bu-but I wasn't dizzy or st-stressed", she said sincerely and mr. Wilson titled his head.
"Are you sure? Cause if it was me in a house with a serial killer looking for me, I would freak out. Maybe do some things I would never do normally", he said and Emma for the first time that day eyed the man with angry eyes.
"Then it's a good thing, I'm not you", she said without a single hint of nervousness in her words and the whole courtroom erupted in muttering and a lot of people looked at the girl in amusement. Even judge Brown couldn't help but smirk at the girls harsh words. Regina turned around to her family only to see a smirk on each of their faces. All expect for Maura who looked just as blown away as many of the other fine people in the room. Regina's eyes met her brothers and a smirk on his face. She made a shrug before turning back to the girl who still eyed the man with angry eyes.
"Alright alright everybody, quiet down", judge Brown said hammering his hammer down onto the surface. The noise broke Emma out of her trance and turned to look at the judge smiling at her.
"If that's all mr. Wilson", judge Brown said and mr. Wilson raised his hands in defeat.
"No further questions your honor", he said before walking back to his seat looking at Regina on the way.
"She's all yours", he said and Regina smirked.
"She already was dear", she said standing and walking towards her daughter and lover.
"Hey sweetie", she said and Emma smiled at her.
"Hi", she said and Regina smiled at her.
"I'm just going to ask a couple of questions okay?"
Emma nodded and Regina took her hand squeezing it tight.
"Objection! She is in physical contact with the witness", mr. Wilson objected and Regina turned to him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Excuse me, she's my daughter", she said and judge Brown nodded before turning to Regina.
"Although I do understand your need to comfort your daughter miss Mills, it is against the rules. I'm sorry", he said and Regina nodded squeezing Emma's hand one more time before letting taking a step back.
"I'm sorry your honor", she said and cleared her throat turning to Emma.
"Alright. Emma. Do you have anything you would like to say? Something he didn't let you say?"
"Objections!"
"Sustained. A warning miss Mills. I warned both of you in the beginning. Don't make me regret taking this case", judge Brown said and Regina smiled and nodded.
"I'm sorry your honor", she said before turning to Emma who stared back at her, and Regina thought she probably has the whole time.
"So? Emma?"
Emma sighed looking down before shaking her head looking back up. Regina nods and smiles before turning to jugde Brown.
"No further questions your honor", she said and walked back down to her seat smiling.
"Alright. If thats all, then you can sit back down miss Swan. Thank you for coming", judge Brown said and Emma smiles and him and nods before sitting back down beside Regina. Regina smiled at her taking her hand squeezing it gently before turning back to judge Brown.
"Well that was short. So. If you attorneys don't have anything else to add, I will let you guys come with your final closing argument. Miss Mills", he says and Regina is about to stand when the doors open and a man walks in. Everybody turns to him and he walks to mr. Wilson with a file. Regina turns to Rex who shrugs, knowing he is just as lost as she is. Regina turns back to the man who walks back out of the room and mr. Wilson raises his hand. Emma is just as confused and she turns to see Zelena just as confused.
"Actually your honor. I have something I would like to add", he says and judge Brown sighs, but nods giving the man his permission.
"Then proceed mr. Wilson"
Mr. Wilson smiles and nods in gratitude before turning to look at Regina with a smirk.
"I have some pictures I would like to share with the court", he says and Regina and Emma gets even more confused.
"Objection. What has this got to do with the case?", Regina asks and judge Brown eyes her.
"Now now miss Mills. If I may look at the photos first, hmm?", he says and Regina wants to roll her eyes but doesn't before sitting back down.
"But she's partly right mr. Wilson, what is this?", he asks and mr. Wilson smirks, giving the man the case file with the pictures. There's quiet in the courtroom as judge Brown opens the file and looks at the picture. His facial expressions quickly turns from confusion to a frown and he looks sharply down at Regina.
"Is this supposed to be a joke?", he asks the two attorneys, and Regina furrows her eyebrows.
"I don't understand your honor"
"Show the pictures", judge Brown says to a woman beside him and she takes the photo laying them on a projecter. Judge Brown turned on the tv and the whole court gasps.
IT WAS AUGUST! I KNOW RIGHT?!
But what's on the pictures? Can you guys figure it out? Find out in the next chapter!