Hi there! Thanks for all your incouragement. I honeslty lost track of time. After I realized how much time had passed I immediatly speeded up my writing. So here it is. Enjoy.
Eric`s POV
Dauntless youngest leader showed no outward emotions as he sat waiting outside the courtroom though he felt relieved that the days of waiting were over. His two "favorite" Candor minions had been tasked as his guards and were waiting with him until it was time for him to be questioned. Eric snorted inwardly. These two wouldn't stand a chance if he decided to be even slightly uncooperative but the way there were acting they had no clue. It was funny how they had the illusion of having he upper hand. Suddenly he heard loud voices at the other side.
'Shit! What happened in there? Is Teddy okay. And Mia? She would be with Teddy, or would Candor forbid that? They better not.'
Then he was able to recognize his son's voice along with his name: "Eric! Eric!"
At the spilt of a second he was on his feet and on his way to the court room.
"Hey stop! Where do you think you are going?" Minion one shouted angry while minion two tried to step in his way. Without further ado Eric knocked them out cold. He had no time play nice. With only a few strides he was in front of the door only to found it locked.
"Fuck!" 'Who in their right mind would lock a room full of people?'
With the ease of years of practice Eric stepped back a little and used the full force of his body to tear that darn thing to pieces of splintering wood.
He scanned the room quickly for Teddy and was relieved to found him safe in Mia's arms.
"Mia! Teddy!" Shouting their names he quickly made his way over to them while shoving anybody out of his way who wasn't quick enough to make way. People were running around alarmed, resentful or scandalized, some confused about what was going on. Eric saw Sean along with Jack and Mike making their way down to Mia. He was glad to see them here to support him and his little family. Eric then focused his attention solely on them.
"Eric! You came!" Teddy cried out in relief. The little boy switched from Mia to Eric in a heartbeat once he reached them and then clung to him.
"Eric!" Mia also addressed him with obvious relief, "I'm so glad to see you." He hugged her close with his free arm, trying to calm himself now that he was with his family again and he had assured himself of their wellbeing.
"Mia, what happened?" He asked but was interrupted by Kang who at the same time wanted to know the same and was telling him he shouldn't be in the courtroom.
The young father turned to the Candor leader and glared at him hissing: "You have the nerve to tell me that when I find my son crying? He is no criminal! What did you do to him? Damn! I trusted you Kang!"
The following exchange of words were filled with animosity from Eric's side and defending and explanations from Kang's. Meanwhile chaos hat quieted down a bit once the people realized that Eric didn't seemed to attack anybody and Teddy had stopped his cries. Eric, who saw Sean and his friends retreating to their seats, now that Teddy and Mia were alright, then tensed when his eyes caught sight of Four.
'Damn that fucker!' By now he was certain that he had had to thank that maroon for this, having had enough time down in his cell to think about it. 'Just wait till this is over.' Eric thought darkly.
Kang, who had agreed to continue with the trial with Teddy still in the room since the boy wouldn't let go, tried to get the order reinstalled for Eric' questioning.
As a Dauntless leader Eric wasn't impressed with the responds Kang was getting. He wanted this to be over and done with and people were still talking and some were ever so slowly walking back to their seeds.
"Cover your ears, Teddy!" This request was followed without a question. The little boy was too shaken und too relieved to have Eric back to give him a hard time. Once his son had covered his ears Eric filled his lungs with air and boomed. "Quite!"
Instantly every head snapped around and people felt quite at the authority he held in his voice and stand. "Everybody sit down. Now!"
The muted audience followed his every move as Eric nodded reassuringly at Mia before he then simply walked to the seat reserved for the defendant to sit down with Teddy in his lab. Briefly Kang appeared to oppose but then Candor's leader reconsidered. Waiting for the trial to continue or to start his case, Eric had now time to look at the audience. The room was crowded. Apparently word had gone out about a Dauntless leader being charged. Although there was no official order each faction had taken their own spot, crouched together and staring at him, especially those from another fraction. Before Eric could do a closer inspection of the crown, Kang took back charge and the trial continued with the injection of the truth serum into Eric. Teddy frowned once he saw it but calmed at a reassuring word from Eric.
After the usual formalities about stating his name and so on, Kang started with the questioning:
"Please describe your how you are related to Ted."
"He is my adopted son."
"As his father it is your duty to care for him and educate him. How do you provide for him?"
"Teddy has his own room and before you ask, yes he has his own bed in there two along with toys and obviously he has clothes too." Eric answered annoyed. "He had recently started to go to the day care but he often is also with me in my office, where he also has an area all to himself." He hadn't wanted to broadcast that to everyone but it was how the truth serum worked. He had to spill everything and he hated it. Though of cause he would do much more for his little guy.
"How about his education; what do you do to discipline him?"
Teddy stiffened in his arms and Eric felt his blood boiling as well. Of cause he knew Kang was just doing his duty, but none the less the question angered him.
"He gets time outs and I will explain to him what he has done wrong. Sometime he will have no desert."
Eric didn't liked the astonished reaction from the audience, that made it clear to him they had expected to at least gave him a slap ever so often.
"Did you ever hit Ted?"
"No!" He practically growled the answer, at the same time as Teddy shouted: "I told you he didn't!"
Eric gently strokes his back to calm him down but didn't say anything else.
"Teddy was sick once in you care. Is that true?"
"That is correct." Eric confirmed simply while wondering were Kang was heading. Presumably for neglect.
"Please tell us what happened."
"I got a call while training the initiates that Teddy was sick. So I left them at the hands of my co-trainer Four, " Eric had to stop himself from grinding his teeth at saying that name "while I left with Teddy once he arrived with Cara, one of the nursery school teachers. I put him to bed and looked after him. I also called sick bay and they said they'd send someone up. It turned out to be Mia and since her shift ended while looking after Teddy, she offered to stay the night to help me look after him."
"Is that the only reason she stayed?"
"She also stayed with me as a friend." Eric, who could already feel the next question coming, was getting angry since he now knew were this was heading.
"Just to clear things up… Did you… Ted please cover your ears." Kang then advised belatedly and after a conforming nod from Eric Teddy did so looking confused.
"Did you have sexual intercourse that night?"
"No." His voice was bare of all emotion since he had already guessed that question he was prepared. Otherwise he would have shouted it. Mia on the other hand gasped out loud and she could see, how offended she was. It made him wish to be able to comfort her but that wasn't an option now.
The questioning went on and Eric more often than not had difficulty to keep his cool. Finally Kang finished with the standard phrase from Candor: "Thank you for your honesty."
"We will tell you our decision shortly. You may go to Mia but you have to stay in this room."
Eric sighed in relieve. That was as good as Kang telling him that he was cleared of all charges but of cause he had to follow protocol.
The moment he reached Mia she gave him a bear hug, while Teddy wanted to know if they could finally go home.
"Just a few more minutes." Mia answered for him.
"But they don't make me leave you, Eric?" Teddy asked anxiously.
Before Eric was able to answer the question Kang was already back.
"Please stand for the court."
Eric, who knew this was meant for him had suppress an eye roll, since he was already standing but none the less he went over to the officially spot he had to stand in.
"Eric?" Teddy called out alarmed as he walked away from him and quickly Eric turned around to see Mia already whispering into his ear. Apparently it was the right thing to say since Teddy looked reassures. It was only then that the young father continued his path to the stand for the defendant.
"Eric Coulter, we the judges of Candor declare you free of all charges. You are free to go. Ted Coulter will remain in your custody."
