Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

This was utterly and completely, certifiably pathetic. I've stooped to a new low. I was sitting on a closed toilet lid in a stall of the women's bathroom at the courthouse, ear buds in and an iPad in my lap. Except I wasn't watching some new realty show just released on Netflix. I was watching the trial. How, you ask? Dani was wearing a special pair of glasses adorned with a hidden camera. Now I could see and hear what was going on.

Legally this shouldn't even be happening. We could get in serious trouble for this. But I was past the point of caring. I passed that milestone weeks ago. Colonel Shoonover had just been sworn in. He served with Frank in the Military. From what I understood, he was meant to be a character witness or something. Foggy stood up from the table and stepped toward the stand. "Colonel, how long have you known the defendant?" he asked.

"I'd say the better part of a decade," the Colonel answered. "Most of his career in the Marine Corps."

"So you're familiar with his service in the Middle East? Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran?"

The Colonel nodded. "Yes. Very familiar."

I exhaled and turned slightly on the toilet, leaning back to prop my crossed ankles on the small storage container mounted on the side of the stall. "I'm wondering if you could tell us how Lieutenant Frank Castle won the Navy Cross?" Foggy prompted.

"Due to the nature of that mission, you'll have to understand that precise circumstances are classified," the Colonel replied, calmly. Foggy paused and turned to look back at the table. Dani turned her head just enough for me to see Karen in the shot. Karen shrugged slightly and Foggy turned back to the Colonel. I heard Dani sigh. "How about the part that's not?" Foggy reasoned.

"Lieutenant Frank Castle was part of a small team that was conducting a small target reconnaissance in the vicinity of the Hindu-Kush. Mission became compromised, taking enemy contact on three sides. Lieutenant Castle wanted to abort, said the mission was a bust, pulling the plug would save lives. Officer in charge said no," Colonel Shoonover recounted.

"Why was that?" Foggy inquired.

The Colonel replied, "Maybe he wanted more medals on his chest—doesn't matter. Either way, Frank was right. They were cut off, boxed into a canyon."

"And what happened next?" Foggy prompted.

I was practically chewing a hole through my lower lip—again. This was ridiculous. I should be seeing this from the courtroom. But, no, I'm in a women's bathroom watching it from an iPad. Thanks to the DA, and maybe even my big mouth, this is as good as it gets. This better not go too much longer because my butt is starting to get sore from sitting on this stupid toilet.

Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

"In the first hour, the officer in charge of that mission got his arm blown off," the Colonel continued. I crossed my arms and leaned back, intently listening to the war story. Those types of things have always fascinated me, but at the moment, I was more interested in learning more about Frank. Was he always a 'punisher', of sorts?

"So Lieutenant Castle assumed command. His only goal was to get his men out alive. The enemy had set up an ambush at the only LZ that would accommodate one of our birds."

"Sorry, Colonel…" Foggy said, probing him to explain more.

"LZ is a landing zone that can accommodate a helicopter. So the enemy…they'd blocked this landing zone knowing it was the only way the team had to get out alive. All they had to do was wait. Knew that Frank's team would come to them."

"Fish in a barrel."

"So to speak. Only, fish don't know they're going to die. These men did," the Colonel said. "Frank went to the LZ…all by himself; to draw them away."

"Why didn't he order one of his men to do it? He certainly could've?"

He shook his head, looking at Frank. "Not his style. So, the men hear the firefight break out…all Hell breaks loose. Frank against God knows how many. And then there was silence. The team thinks, 'That's it, Frank's dead. And we're next'. The next sound they hear is the Helios, the helicopters. They get to the landing zone, you know what they see? Frank Castle, standing there grinning. Thirty-two enemies surrounding him, all dead."

The crowd started to murmur. But the Colonel continued. "He cleared that entire LZ all by himself."

"How?" Foggy asked. Well. What do you know. Frank was The Punisher loooong before the title. I'm not surprised. I was a killer long before someone stuck a gun in my hand.

"By being Frank Castle."

"And his men survived?"

"All of 'em. Including the idiot officer who got 'em trapped in the first place."

"If you had to sum up Frank Castle, how would you do it?"

"I would say, Frank Castle is a man who would gladly give up his life to keep others safe."

"And the crimes he's accused of today? Could the man you knew have committed them?"

"Absolutely not. The Lieutenant Frank Castle that I knew was a hero; a man who deserves our respect. And our gratitude. Not the same man."

"Thank you, Sir," Foggy said. "No more questions your Honor." Foggy came and sat down next to me. He looked at me questioningly. I nodded and he sighed with relief. Next, the DA stepped up. I rolled my eyes, wondering what kind of clown show she'd turn this into.

"I'd like to personally thank you for your service to this country, Colonel," she said, although I don't think she meant it. "My father served in Vietnam. You know what he told me about medals?" No, but I'm sure you're going to tell us.

"No, Ma'am," the Colonel said.

"He said the only people who really know what happened…are the ones that were there. You told a nice story, Colonel. But how can we know that it…happened the way you described." I threw my head back. You've got to be kidding me. Foggy back handed my arm and I sat up. I gave him a 'what for' look as I readjusted my glasses. He shook his head and I turned back to the liar, with a sigh of annoyance.

"Well, perhaps I wasn't clear," the Colonel said. "I was there, Ma'am. That officer that didn't listen to Frank, got his men trapped…you're looking at him." The court was really talking, now. "Believe me when I tell you, I thank God EVERY day that I only lost my arm. That man saved my life, and the lives of his entire team. If it was up to me, he'd have a medal of honor hanging around his neck."

Wow. It's a cold day in Hell, for her. "No further questions at this time, your Honor." She promptly sat down with her assistant. Well, that worked in our favor. I straightened my suit jacket. Something Foggy made me wear. Said I had to to be next to him in a court room. So…here I am…pant suit and all. I don't know how people where this on a daily basis.

I looked over at the others. Frank was sitting too far back so I couldn't see him. Foggy and Karen were leaned close to each other. "Matt couldn't have done it better," she said. I leaned into their posy and said, "I'll drink to that one." They smiled and quietly chuckled. The rest of the session went on as normal.

And then Foggy brought out his 'expert' medical doctor guy. Then things got boring, and I was reminded why I didn't become a lawyer. About two minutes into it, I sat the glasses on the table, pointed at the stand. I then slid down into my chair, until my head hit the back of it. I know this seems childish, but I don't care. This is all my brain can handle right now.

After everything this week…I'm realizing that it's my new 'worst week of my life'. And I can't even begin to describe how annoying all this is. I don't want to be here. I want to be home, A.K.A. Alison's. I want to be camped out on the couch, wearing my plaid PJ pants (the ones that the fly always comes undone in the wash and I forget to re button it), with a bowl of air pop drowned in butter and salt, watching something with a lot of guns and violence and curse words.

Why is that so hard? Can't I just drown out the world, like really drown it out (not like what I'm doing right now to Foggy), but to the point where I forget I exist. Where, in my head, for a moment I'm someone else. Is that too much to ask for? I sigh and cross my arms. Karen glanced at me, giving me yet another weird look. I looked over at her when she was looking at Frank. I stuck my tongue out at her and then was back to my normal position by the time she looked back. I feel much better.

"Frank Castle's been through Hell," the med guy said. Yeah, so have I. But you don't see me running around-…Oh.

"Thank you," Foggy said.

"YOU KILLED MY DAD!" Everyone jumped and looked toward the voice. A younger man was standing up, one the verge of tears. A woman stood next to him and tried to console him. "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU KILLED HIM!" I grabbed the glasses and pointed them that way. Like people were caring to notice.

I whipped around the other way, looking at Frank. His face was sad and serious at the same time. He turned back around, the guy still shouting as someone led him out. I could tell Frank was thinking. He was doing that thing. You know…'the thing'. It's that thing he does. Ha. I'm sorry. I had too. I'm in a mood, right now.

We all left the court room not too long after. I stood outside the building and tried calling Matt. It rang and rang. No answer. I hate it when people don't answer. Well…look at the bright side. At least I'm not dying. Oh, wait. That was four days ago. My bad. I don't know why, but I tried again. Same thing. I wanted to scream and throw the phone.

My world is falling apart and the man who supposedly loves me is nowhere to be found. I sighed and then went to find Foggy. I found him…and then was told to go talk to Frank. Like I want to do that. At least, not right now! Of course, Foggy doesn't know that. No one does. Well, okay, Alison does. But she still can't see him.

I begrudgingly went down there to see him. We need to get him to take the stand. And I have a feeling he'll say no. But, lucky for us, I'm not in the best of moods. So this might just go our way…if I don't open my big mouth and ruin it. I sat down in front of Frank, a table between us, just like before. We just sat there in silence.

I stared at him intently, trying to guess what he was thinking. Probably having to do with that guy in the court room, yelling about his dad. I know because that's what I'd be thinking about. I cleared my throat, intertwining my fingers in the table. His head stayed perched off to the side, but his eyes moved my way. "Hi."

He huffed, glancing around the room before settling on the table. "What do you want?" he looked at me.

"Ain't that a loaded question," I sighed. He looked like he couldn't tell if I was joking. "Dude, you are way too serious." He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Okay, fine. Gosh! Look, I'm not having the best…" I hummed thinking. "Life, right now. I know you can relate, so…"

"What do you want?"

"Just…don't believe everything you hear on the news." He raised an eyebrow. "I'll be…on the front page for a while. But none of it's true." I put my elbow on the table and then rested my chin on my fist. "I'm here to convince you to take the stand." He scoffed and looked away. "Look, just hear me out. This all goes back to that whole 'making sure you don't die' thing. I'm not a lawyer and neither are you…but I think we both know that what just happened in there, didn't help our case."

"You think so?"

"Oh, now you want to be sarcastic," I scoffed and leaned back. I crossed my arms and looked at him. "You should know that I…uh, well, never mind. The point is, Alison saw everything that happened in that court room today." I saw the lights turn on behind his eyes. Like whoever lives up there just got home. "I need to make a mental note: 'lead with Alison'."

"What'd she say?"

"To take the stand, convince the people otherwise. You have been through soooooo much, and no one's heard your side. You know? Big whoop if you've got some know it all doc and a Colonel. They're not you, Frank. You and I, we're cut from the same cloth. And if I were in your position, I wouldn't go down without people knowing where I stood. And I know you feel the same way. Isn't that why you came to Alison in the first place? To get your story heard? Well…this is your shot, Frank. And it's your last one, at that."

Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

I made my way out of the courthouse. It wasn't hard to spot Foggy halfway down the long front steps. He was pacing slowly on a step, nervously staring at his watch. Karen stood a little ways to his left on the same step, tapping her foot. I inhaled and started trotting down the steps. "Hey, Foggy," he turned toward me as I stopped a stair up. "Where's Dani?"

"Talking to your boyfriend," Foggy answered, tiredly, looking back down at his watch. I tilted my head in an expression at his words. "Should be back any second."

"Don't be like that," I shook my head.

He scoffed. "Like what?"

"Shhh, guys, here she comes," Karen quickly silenced us. I turned left. Sure enough, Dani was trotting down the steps to us from the side. "He'll take the stand," she said, arriving on the step above Karen's. She looked right at Foggy. "You're welcome."

"Are you serious?" Foggy asked, looking like he was hoping for it to be a joke. Dani nodded once and he turned away with a nervous huff. "Ugh! How did we even get here?" he questioned, turning back toward Karen and Dani. "This guy's a murderer! He's killed sons and fathers- you heard that kid! Why are we helping him?" I sighed, crossing my arms. Dani held up a hand toward me, telling me to stand down.

She turned to Foggy. "Foggy, this is the case of the century, okay? This is for big boys. So strap on your boots, hike up your drawers, and stop acting like a baby," she said, firm but calm. I bit my lip to keep from smiling. "If Frank really was insane like you think he is, don't you think we should help?" Her eyes were slightly narrowed in a pointedly rhetoric expression.

Foggy groaned, but caved in. "Fine, yeah…one caveat, though. We get Matt to do the questioning."

"Foggy," Karen put her hands on her hips.

"No, you're doing great," Dani shook her head. "We don't need Matt."

"Yes we do!" Foggy argued.

Dani looked to me. I raised an eyebrow. "Well, don't look at me," I shook my head, causing her to sigh heavily.

"Come on, Alison, Frank's life hangs in the balance here. Do you really want mister no-show to be calling the shots?" she questioned, her tone subtly annoyed. "Back me up! You know he can't be bothered to come here, anyway. What makes you think he'll show up now?"

I groaned in indecision. This is ridiculous. I looked between Foggy and Dani. "You know what I think? We're losing. We only have one shot at this trial. I don't like this idea anymore than you do, Dani—nor do I have the faith in Matt needed to believe he can make it here on time. But he's all we've got and, no offense Foggy, but I trust Matt a whole lot more to get this right with Frank taking the stand."

Dani was fuming, but I could tell she saw my point. She sighed. "Fine…I'll get him to come in."

"Want me to come with you?" I asked.

She shook her head, "No, thanks. I've got this."