Title: Behind Cell Block Thirteen
Warning: YAOI, Language, Rape, Torture, Drugs, Gaa/Nej, Sasu/Naru, OOC, AU
If you don't approve of the story then please don't read further. Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Naruto series. But a girl can dream.
AN: We are getting closer to the end. Man, it makes me sad just thinking about it. I hope you like this chapter. It's really a feel good one, I hope. Finally we reach Gaara's trial. Enjoy!
Chapter 36: Relief
Everything was black. He didn't know where he was. He wasn't sure why he was there. He screamed but the sound of his voice just got lost in the darkness. He tried and tried again but he knew he was trapped. No, he didn't want to be trapped in this hell. He ran. He wasn't sure where he was running to but he ran fast through the dark world. He didn't want to be alone again. He had to find Neji. Gaara let out another angry scream. He was tired and confused. Where was everyone? Had they abandoned him? Just before hopelessness engulfed Gaara, he saw a faint light in the distance. He wasn't certain but he swore he heard whispered voices. He ran faster. He had to reach this light.
"Gaara?" a familiar voice said in the distance. Gaara knew this voice. Just the sound of it filled his very soul with warmth and contentment. He needed to hear it again, forever if time would allow him. "Gaara, wake up. Please…" He heard again. Wake up? "Open your eyes." The darkness around Gaara erupted with bright light. It surrounded his body. For some reason everything felt right again. He could feel his eyes. His body ached. His head was throbbing but he knew he was back. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Light blinded him for a few seconds but soon figures started showing up through his vision.
"He's opening his eyes!" An annoyingly familiar voice squealed next to him.
"Naruto, stop yelling. I don't want you to pop his eardrums." Another familiar voice said. Ah, his new annoying cellmate for sure.
When his vision cleared, he saw many people surrounding him with concern and hope in their eyes. He knew them all. What were they doing? Were they really here for him? Someone was holding his hand. Gaara looked to his left and saw those beautiful milky orbs staring back at him. He couldn't be in hell anymore because right before him was an angel sent to him from heaven. Neji was alive and breathing. He felt like he could die happy. Gaara gave Neji's hand a gently squeeze letting him know he was okay. Neji let out a sigh of relief and smiled with tears of joy. He looked up at the doctor and nodded at him. "The doctor is going to check your vitals Gaara. I'll be right here. I won't leave." Gaara gave Neji a reassuring squeeze once more and let go of his hand.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"He's going to be fine." The doctor said to Kankuro and Neji. They were called from the visitor's lounge a few halls down from Gaara's room. "Recovery should be smooth. It was quite a scare but he miraculously made it through. He's a fighter."
"Thank god he's going to be okay."
"His wound is still painful and it will be difficult for him to move for the next few days but there are no major long term problems. What he needs now is healing and a lot of support." He looked out the window near them. "The media is in a frenzy about this whole Haku case. They demand answer and they want to know the background story of Gaara. They know him as a murder but since they found out about Haku some are starting to think otherwise. I guess that should be a good sign but Gaara is not in good health to speak to anyone."
"Did the police talk to you yet?" Kankuro asked the doctor.
He sighed, "Yes they did. They asked me the approximate recovery time so they can bring him back."
Neji rubbed his temples. "Those bastards." He said under his breath.
"Don't worry Neji. I'm pretty sure my brother's lawyer won't let anything bad happen to him. He's a major connection to the Haku case and since he's technically a victim then that should lessen the sentence."
"I really hope so." Neji looked at the doctor. "Can we see him now?"
"Of course, go ahead. He should be awake from his rest by now."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Hey." Neji sat next to Gaara and held his hand again.
"Hey." Gaara croaked back. His throat was still dry and scratchy.
"The doctor said you're going to be okay. Everything should heal fine so in a few weeks you should be good to go."
"Good to go back in jail you mean?"
Neji looked away from Gaara. "Don't say it that way…"
"That's the truth." Gaara said.
"They want you to go back once you're better." Kankuro interrupted. "But I strongly believe your sentence will be lowered."
Gaara didn't pay attention to what his brother was saying. All he could focus on was the wheelchair his brother was on. "What happened?"
Kankuro scratched his head and laughed. "Oh this thing you mean? Don't worry about it."
"What happened?" he repeated again.
Kankuro shook his head and sighed. "I'm paralyzed from the waist down." He looked at his brother who was now glaring at him. "Don't worry. I'm okay. I'll get used to it. Besides, I deserve it."
Gaara continued to glare at his brother. "It's my fault you're on that thing."
"Gaara, trust me. I'm fine. Let's just look at it this way, its better this than being dead right?" Kankuro tried to laugh but neither Neji nor Gaara thought it was funny. Gaara rolled his eyes but deep down he was glad his only living relative was still alive. His mind began to wander as he stared at the white ceiling. He could never forget that horrible night. His mind betrayed him and he thought of Haku.
"What happened to…?" Gaara couldn't say his name.
"He's dead. He died a few minutes after he shot you. Police sprayed him with bullets when he tried to escape." Kankuro informed him.
Gaara closed his eyes. Deep down in the pit of his soul he almost felt pity for the bastard. Almost. He never would forget all the shit Haku put him through. But it was all over now and that was all that mattered. Then that familiar dread crawled into him and he thought of going back to jail and never seeing Neji and his brother. His thoughts were interrupted when more people came into the room. He groaned. He was never going to get used to this.
"Gaara! Hi, do you remember me? Naruto?" Naruto ran up to him and pointed a finger to himself. Sasuke walked up to Naruto, to Gaara's amusement, and slapped the blonde upside the head. "You idiot, he's doesn't have amnesia you know. I'm pretty sure he remembers you."
"You bastard! You didn't have to smack me!" Naruto playfully shoved Sasuke and the raven haired man laughed and pulled Naruto into his arms for an embrace. Gaara thought he was going to throw up. Just then, a little girl with the same eye color as Neji went up to him.
"Hi Mr. Sabaku. I'm Hanabi, Neji's little cousin." She grinned at him. "You must be his boyfriend. Are you guys going to get married soon? You know, when you feel better and stuff?"
"Hanabi!" Hiashi glared at his daughter. Everyone else in the room laughed. Gaara, however, smirked and winked at her. Her eyes lit up and she smirked back.
"Oh. My. God. Did I just see Gaara wink?" Naruto joked. "The world must be ending."
"Cousin Neji, I'm hungry. Can you buy be chips from the vending machine? Please?" She crossed her arms and pouted.
"Now now Hanabi, your cousin is busy at the moment. Why don't I get one for you?" Hiashi told her.
Neji got up. "No it's okay. I can get it for her. I'll be right back."
"We'll go with!" Naruto yelled as he dragged Sasuke behind Neji and Hanabi.
Kankuro felt awkward. "Err, I guess I should follow them." He quickly wheeled himself out of the room leaving Gaara alone with Hiashi.
"I don't think we've met but I heard so much about you from my nephew. My name's Hiashi if you didn't know already."
Gaara nodded. He wasn't sure what to say. He was afraid that one wrong sentence and he would be disliked. He was, after all, a mass murder. Who would be in their right mind and be civil with him?
Hiashi coughed nervously. "I know this must be awkward for you but I want to let you know I support you and Neji." Gaara looked at him curiously, wondering if he knew what he did.
As if answering his question, "I know what you're thinking. How can I act so normal towards you? What you did in the past isn't really, what's a good word for it, clean. You had some bad times and were hanging out with the wrong crowd. It's not your fault, you were manipulated, but I just want to make sure my nephew will be in good hands. He really cares for you. Please, don't hurt him mentally and physically. Like you, he's been through so much in a short amount of time. Gaara, can I trust you? Can you promise me that you won't hurt Neji?"
Gaara, for a second, felt offended that Hiashi would even think of him hurting Neji. But he knew he was just worried and who can really blame him? "I promise." He said back.
"I know this is a stretch but… if you want, you can call us your family. I know you and your brother don't have any other relatives and I just want to make sure you guys are in good hands this time. No more wrong crowds. I am doing this for your sake and my nephew's. It's what he would have asked me anyways. I might as well be a step ahead of him. I too owe him for my past mistakes." He frowned to himself.
Gaara wasn't use to this. Can he really trust this man? Everyone he knew from before had tricked him and played with him. Can this man be the same? No. He shouldn't think that way anymore. He knew, however, that he still needed to work on his temper. It will always define who he is but at least he would try and suppress it as much as he could. He just hoped Hiashi will understand. He didn't want to scare the man if he ever raged. Gaara was always a temperamental child. In no way or form was he going to be forced to have the personality like that of the blonde idiot.
"If it's what Neji wishes…"
Hiashi smiled at him. "Oh, I almost forgot, I talked to your lawyer earlier today. He told me your trial is set as soon as you are able to move around out of bed. He says he's sorry but he wants to lessen your sentence as soon as possible. I hope you understand."
Gaara sighed. "It's fine."
"Also, since we're a family now. I will be paying for all your legal and hospital fees."
Gaara raised an eyebrow at him but nodded his thanks. The positivity in a short amount of time was giving Gaara a headache. Who would have known that being treated as a normal person was going to take time getting used to. Just how much negativity was he around in the past to feel this way?
"We're back!" Hanabi skipped in the room holding more than one bag of chips.
"Actually dear, we need to go now. It's your sister's physical therapy soon."
"Yeah, Naruto and I need to head out now. Itachi is waiting for us at the restaurant. Kankuro, do you want to join us?" Sasuke asked his new friend.
"Who can pass off a free meal? Count me in."
"Who said it was free?" Naruto teased as the trio left for the door. "Gaara, we'll visit you again soon."
"Bye little brother. I'll be back tomorrow."
After a few minutes, the couple was left alone. "Finally! I thought they would never leave." He leaned over and kissed Gaara on the lips. Although a bit dry, he loved the feeling of his lips on his. It felt right. "Are you hungry? They've been feeding your through a tube when you were in a coma. I'm not sure if you're ready to swallow food yet though."
"No."
"Oh okay."
"There's only one thing I'm hungry for."
Neji blushed. "Still perverted even in that state I see."
"Will you be there?" Gaara asked.
"Where?"
"My trial, whenever that shit happens."
"Everyone will be. We all talked about it."
"Fuck sakes." Gaara growled under his breath.
Neji chuckled. "Get used to it."
"You do know that I still have to serve time no matter what, right?"
"I know. I've always known. It's not like they are going to miraculously let you go free. Don't worry. I'm prepared. I'll be waiting for you. No matter how long it takes."
Gaara weakly raised his hand and caressed Neji's face. "… and that's why you're all mine."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Four weeks later
Neji sat nervously as he waited for the judge to speak. His whole family and friends were there minus Hinata, who was still in the hospital. His palms were sweaty and he just wanted them to get it over with. Before, he had been the one up there with the lawyers but now he was among the audience. The whole room was tense and quiet. He kept looking over at Gaara who was sitting and staring straight ahead as if there was no one else in the room. Neji knew the feeling and he wished he was sitting with Gaara.
"Good morning. My name is Judge Sam Gray here to overview the preliminary trial of Mr. Gaara Sabaku, case number 619858 for the murder of his father Mr. Sabaku, his uncle Yashamaru and fellow inmate Jaraiya. From the previous trial Mr. Gaara Sabaku had pleaded not guilty for the crime committed. The lawyer representing the defendant will be Mr. Tatsuya. The lawyer representing the deceased will be Mr. Augusto."
"Well will start things off with Mr. Augusto. Mr. Augusto, you may take the floor."
"Thank you your honor. As you all know, I will be defending the deceased who cannot speak for themselves. I am here to bring justice to what has happened to them. No one deserved to die. But this young, trouble young man ended the lives of these individuals with no remorse."
"Objection your honor!"
"Overruled, go on Mr. Augusto."
"I understand that Mr. Gaara Sabaku pleaded not guilty with the possibility of insanity. I deem this is not the case. I believe, with my evidence, that Gaara killed knowing what he was doing and without influence from others."
Gaara felt the heat go up to his face from rage. How dare this fool accuse him of this? Gaara wanted to jump out of his seat and knock the smug smirk off of the guy but he tried his best to keep cool. However, no one in the room could ignore the deep hatred Gaara was radiating towards the man. Mr. Augusto kept rambling and rambling about other nonsense bullshit that Gaara decided he wasn't going to listen to anymore. Where the fuck was this guy getting his facts from? The lawyer must have gone on for another hour before his lawyer, Mr. Tatsuya was called up.
"Mr. Tatsuya, you may take the floor."
"Thank you your honor. Now, that was a lot of interesting things Mr. Augusto told you your honor but should we really rely on his so called facts? I have here with me more evidence that will throw off his statements about Gaara."
"First of I would like to talk about Gaara's home life before the crimes happened. You, honorable jurors, might think that his father was in no way negative towards his children. Well, you're partially right. He treated his children like any loving father should but let me inform you that he left out his youngest child in that circle. Gaara wasn't treated normally. Gaara's father had a grudge against his own son for the death of his wife. According to medical records, Ms. Sabaku died of heart failure during birth. Mr. Sabaku knew this but his depression over his wife's death overtook his logical reasoning. Whenever he looked at Gaara he would think of his dead wife and that angered him, taking out that anger on his youngest son. To make matters worse, Mr. Sabaku brainwashed his wife's brother into believing it was all Gaara's fault for the death of his sister. Can you imagine, honorable jurors, the traumatizing experience Gaara had to go through with two full grown men abusing him almost on a daily basis? I don't think any child deserves that. That leads me to my witness we have today."
The doors opened and Kankuro was wheeled in by security. He nodded at his brother before taking his oath. He breathed in deep. He was doing the right thing.
"Did you love your father Kankuro?"
"Yes I did."
"Has he or Yashamaru ever hurt you?"
"They did not."
"Your sister?"
"No."
"How about Gaara?"
"Yes. They both did."
"How frequent was the abuse?"
"It happened almost every day. It was mostly my father. Yashamaru would only hit him if he was drunk."
"Did your brother ever fight back?"
"He never did. He just… took it."
"Did you and your sister try to help your brother?"
Kankuro sighed. "No we didn't. We were afraid if we tried to help him we would lose the love from my father and Yashamaru. We thought we would get abused as well."
"Do you regret not doing anything?"
"Yes, I regret it. I think about it all the time."
"Did you know he was into the drug business?"
"No. We all didn't know."
"That leads me, ladies and gentlemen, to Haku." Whispers erupted throughout the room. This was what everyone was waiting for. Gaara unconsciously clenched his fists, he wasn't sure he was ready to relive the moments from the past. "When young Gaara was in high school he met a man a few years older than him. His name was Haku. Now, this wasn't just any random meeting. Gaara believed that their meeting was on accident and that their friendship was sincere. It was, as a matter of fact, a scheme since the beginning. Haku knew Gaara's father as a rival in the drug business. He also knew about the abuse in the Sabaku household. He took that fact to his advantage.
He wooed Gaara. Haku knew Gaara was broken and didn't trust anybody. It was his plan to make Gaara fully trusts him so his plan could work. Gaara and Kankuro's late sister Temari was also part of his plan. Evidence proved that he had manipulated Temari into believing that he loved her. He told her that what her father was doing to his brother was not right. He told her to accuse their father of molesting her so he could go to jail. Little did she know, at the same time, Gaara was being manipulated to kill. Haku had embedded Gaara with so much hatred for their father. It was when Temari told them that their father was supposedly doing to her that triggered Gaara to murder. He was only looking out for her. He didn't want what his father was doing to him to be experienced by his siblings. Yashamaru, unfortunately, was at the wrong place at the wrong time. When he saw his brother in law laying dead on the floor he tried to kill Gaara himself. Gaara killed him out of self defense. Temari didn't expect that would happen and was frightened. She called the police and told them that Gaara had killed their father and uncle and failed to tell them about the 'molesting'."
"Where were you when this happened, Kankuro?"
Kankuro bit his lip. "I ran. I didn't want to be involved. I was a coward and I was confused so I sided with my sister."
"Did you know what Haku was doing?"
"I realized when it was too late. I saw Haku and my sister having intercourse behind my brother's back. I didn't say anything because I believed it wasn't any of my business. When Gaara killed my father, everything snapped into place. It was all Haku's doing. It took me a while to get over father and Yashamaru's death and to forgive my brother. I realized in the end that Gaara is as much as a victim as I am."
"What happened to Haku after your brother was arrested?"
"We never saw him again."
"How was Gaara?"
"He was angry. He didn't talk to and trust anybody. Haku had broken him."
"Thank you Kankuro. You have been helpful." Kankuro nodded and was wheeled out of the room. He felt miserable after telling them how horrible he was as an elder brother. Kankuro was too ashamed to look Gaara in the eyes before he left.
"Now, we have the subject of Jaraiya. Jaraiya was killed in the state penitentiary by Mr. Gaara Sabaku. It is a very serious crime when you kill another inmate prison ground. Evidence shows that Gaara did indeed kill Jaraiya, no doubt about it. But was he ever given the opportunity to say why? I have another witness I will be calling up. Neji Hyuuga."
Neji nervously stood up while the security guards escorted him to the front. Gaara eyed him the whole time Neji took his oath. Neji sat down and looked at Gaara. He smiled, just barely, before Mr. Tatsuya began his questioning.
"Would you tell us what happened between you and Jaraiya."
"Yes." Neji was sweating. "He raped me while in prison ground." Again, everyone in the room began whispering. A lot of them didn't know this had happened, this including Hiashi who was shocked and angry at what he had just found out.
"Was this reported?"
"Yes it was."
"You're right. There was proof it was reported but the file was hidden away." Mr. Tatsuya held up a file to the jurors. "This, ladies and gentlemen, is the medical files from the prison's medical facility concerning Neji's rape during examination. This, along with many other rape cases, was hidden in the back of the medical office and was never sent to the county for evaluation. This means, the prison didn't do anything about the rape. Is this correct Mr. Hyuuga?"
"Correct. After the medical exam I was sent back to my cell as if nothing happened."
"You heard correct, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this prison neglects its rape victims and fails to inform the county. To them rape is not a big issue because it can be kept silent. But a killing, they can't hide that. Of course they had an obligation to investigate the death of Jaraiya. They, however, failed to tell them about the rape. According Gaara, he was only doing it to protect Neji. Gaara was still mentally unstable when this event happened and when he found out that the person he cared for was raped, his instinct first told him to defend Neji who the security guards failed to protect.
Speaking of security guards, I found out myself when going to an unplanned visit for Gaara, that they had been abusing their title. What am I talking about you ask? During that unplanned visit, I found Gaara in his high security cell abused and malnourished. He could barely stand and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. During a medical exam that I requested, we found out that Gaara was raped on multiple occasions by the guards."
Neji held his breath. He didn't know about this. His heart began to beat at an incredible rate. Gaara looked at the ground. He didn't want Neji to find out about him getting dirtied. He didn't want Neji to think he was disgusting. But he had agreed to have it mentioned in the trial. Slowly, he looked up to see streams of tears running down the brunettes cheeks but the look on Neji's face very was angry and distant.
"I believe Gaara had been punished enough. Don't forget that he was underage when everything happened. That is all, your honor." Mr. Tatsuya walked back to his seat next to Gaara. The whole room was quiet as if they were holding in their breath as well from all the information they had just received.
"Deliberations will begin right away. We will inform the attorneys as soon as possible with the results."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Two days later
"Welcome back ladies and gentlemen. The jurors have made their decision but it was requested that I, Judge Sam Gray, read off the results of the deliberation."
Everyone in the room was quiet. You could literally hear a pin drop. No one dared to move as the judge started reading the results.
"On the charge of the murder of Mr. Sabaku, I lower the sentence to ten years in prison with a chance of parole." Gaara bit his lip. He had expected that were will still be a sentence but there was that small hope in him that he would not serve anymore. He nervously waited for the other results.
"On the charge of the murder of Yashamaru, the jurors find Mr. Gaara Sabaku not guilty of the crime committed." Cheers had erupted behind Gaara. Was he hearing the judge correctly?
"On the charge of the murder of Jaraiya, the jurors find Mr. Gaara Sabaku not guilty of the crime committed." The cheers continued as the last decision was made. He couldn't believe it. He was given a not guilty for the last two charges. He was only going to serve ten more years. He wasn't going to grow old and die in that hell hole anymore. Gaara turned around to see Sasuke, Naruto and Kankuro hugging each other and cheering while Sasuke tried to pry himself out of their death grips. Hiashi was smiling and patting his nephew on the back.
Gaara was escorted out of the courtroom a few minutes later. The media was on him like flies on rotting meat. He ignored them while his lawyer and the security guards fended them off. Outside the building, he saw Neji standing with his new family. Although he wasn't allowed to be with them right now he felt the strong support from all of them. For that he was thankful. Neji was smiling ear to ear and mouthed 'I love you' to Gaara before getting escorted in the police vehicle. For the first time in years, Gaara smiled back.
AN: Again I will apologize for my court scenes. I'm never going to get good at it unfortunately. I hope you like this chapter. It explained a lot of the plot that you guys still might be confused about. I can't believe Behind Cell Block Thirteen is going to be over soon. Ah, I'm going cry. Next chapter will be the epilogue. Read and review folks. Loves you all!