A/N: TIME HOP. Time to get on with the Trial. Also. I got a second job, so as weird as this sounds. I'll have more time to write. Yeah... Weird. So yeah, here we go! PLEASE review.
3 Months later.
If Beca had to pick one word to describe how the last three months had gone. Preparing for the first day of the Trial. She would have called it messy.
Everyone was tense, and nervous. Even the three months leading up to the day. Aubrey was fixated on knowing everything she could possibly know about the ins and outs of a trial like this. She had pushed herself to the point of returning to the good old days of stress vomiting. Every few hours. They found a lawyer. She was apparently the best in the state. But, werent they all? He name was Avery, and she had been around quite often, helping them prepare. Going over what would be said, and the questions they would be asked. A counselor had come by to speak with Alex, and prepare her for when she took the stand. They felt secure in that aspect.
Chloe, did her best to help Aubrey, as well as help Beca with Alex, since Aubrey was incapable of it during that time. Between making sure Aubrey was keeping a sufficient amount of food and liquids in her system, and making sure she made it to an appropriate place to empty her stomach when the time came as well as caring for Alex and helping Beca when she needed it. not to mention the current situation with Stacie, who had never again brought a guy home, but in turn, she had begun going out with them. Not coming home at night, often calling Beca, drunk, asking to come get her, because she didn't want to stay with the guy she had left some bar with. Beca, went everytime. She got up, in the middle of the night, and went to get her in the small beat up car they had been loaned by the department. She would bring in a stumbling Stacie, and put her to bed. Then go back to bed herself. It was taking a toll on her. She was worried about the taller girl, they all were, her reckless behavior was putting herself in danger, and her dependence on Beca was pushing it. Every day the circles under her eyes got darker, as she only got a few hours of sleep. Then woke up to take care of her daughter. Chloe was a ticking time bomb. She could only handle so much, so much of Aubrey throwing up, so much of the five year old who never wanted to do as she was told anymore of Stacie taking advantage of Becas care for her, and then neglecting to care for herself before she just stopped.
Beca could remember the day clearly, half way through the third month. Aubrey had to be taken to the hospital. Go figure. She was dehydrated, and had to be put on fluids for 24 hours. Her throat was raw and had lesions from the amount of vomiting she had done. They had been home for less than hour. Alex, tired and cranky from being at the hospital all night with them. Beca struggling to get her into the bath, Stacie had stumbled into the apartment, having been gone since the previous morning, right before they took Aubrey in.
Aubrey was laying on the couch, sipping orange juice, her face pale, Alex was throwing a fit and had running out of the bathroom with Beca following after her, looking tired and like she was about to just give up. Stacie walked in, Chloe saw her and she lost it.
"THATS IT! Alexandra Jade Posen, stop that ridiculous behavior, and listen to your mother! You need to do as you are told!" She yelled, making the smaller girl stop dead and stare at her in surprise.
Beca had stopped as well. Aubrey looked up from the couch and Stacie stopped walking. The redhead turned on Aubrey next.
"And you! You have got to stop with this obsessive behavior over this trial, it s only hurting you! You know everything you need to know, and it's time to stop! You were hospitalized for Christ sake, because you stopped taking care of yourself' how does that make sense?!" Aubrey looked down guiltily. She was aware of how foolish it was.
"I know, I'm sorry." She said tiredly.
Chloe seemed to take that answer, and it calmed her a bit as she turned to Beca.
"Beca, sweety, I love you to death, you are the most caring woman I know, but for God sake, go to sleep. Turn that phone off, and get some rest. You are right behind Aubrey." Beca nodded, knowing how right she was. She was exhausted, and felt like she could fall over and fall right to sleep on the hard wood floor.
It was Stacies turn next. Chloe whipped around to face her. "Stacie, I am so far beyond ashamed of you. What the fuck are you thinking? You are a grown ass woman, it's time you started acting like one. We are due to appear in court in less than two weeks, and where are you?! Out putting yourself in harms way on a daily basis. And it's time to stop! I know you miss Donald. But this is NOT the way to grieve. You will stop going out at night, you will stop calling Beca to come get you, because you know she always will. I won't watch you take advantage of her anymore, she has a child to raise, she doesn't need to babysit you as well!"
Everyone stood in stunned silence as Chloes eyes filled with tears of frustration.
"Does everybody understand me?!" She said, her voice cracking.
They all nodded.
"Good, now Aubrey, go to bed. Stacie, you owe Beca an apology, then Beca you go to bed as well. Alex get your butt in that bath tub, I'll be in there in a moment." Alex turned and ran back to the bathroom, as Aubrey slowly stood up. Beca was next to her instantly, helping her rise. Then they walked over to Chloe and Aubrey apologized again, before kissing her swiftly and Beca kissed her cheek as she helped Aubrey back to the bedroom and into bed. Chloe looked at Stacie, "Don't keep her up long. She is exhausted."
"I won't. And I'm sorry. You're right, I've been selfish, I'm really sorry Chloe." Stacie said as tears of her own filled her eyes.
Chloe nodded. "Fix it."
Stacie nodded as Chloe went back to the bathroom to bathe Alex. She went into the kitchen to make two cups of coffee while she waited to talk to Beca.
XXXXXX
The only movement in the traditional style court room as the thee women sat at their table, was the swinging of Alex's legs behind them. She sat next to Stacie, wearing a simple blue dress, her hair pulled back neatly. Stacie beside her in a pencil skirt and button up shirt, her hair in a braided bun.
Chloe and Aubrey flanked Becas sides at the table. Beca refused to be made to wear a skirt. It reminded her of the old Bellas uniform and she didn't like that then, she wouldn't like it now. She wore a simple black pantsuit with black heels and a light blue blouse underneath. Her hair in simple curls. Aubrey and Chloe wore outfits similar to Stacie, their hair pulled back as well. Looking neat and appropriate for the occasion.
Beca had expressed her fear of Jesse being so close, as he would be seated only ten feet away, she was reassured that he would be in shackles, on his wrists and ankles, but it wasn't enough to ease her mind. In the end, they had cleared it with the judge, that the bailiff who usually stood off to the side of the stand, would stand between the two tables. This gave Beca the small piece of mind she needed to be sure he might not get to them.
She looked behind her to see a full room. She didn't know most of the people, a few she recognized from the college. the family of the girl that Jesse murdered was there. As well as Jesses Mother and step father. She had only met them a handful of times, and they weren't looking at her. There was also a camera man, and a woman in a suit like Aubreys with a micro phone, they had been informed that the story was national news and would be televised. Contracts of privacy had been signed. Alex's statement would not be televised, nor would jesse be present during that time. Nor was her name to be released.
Avery walked in and down the aisle to the table.
"Okay, today, is the start of what could be a very long process." She said. "Jesse is here, and he is being searched just through those doors," she said pointing behind her to the doors Jesse would be coming out of. "He knows not to speak to you, and if possible, just don't look at him. Not yet. It won't help any of you," she said.
"The cameras will begin rolling as soon as the judge enters, ignore them. Just do what you know needs to be done. And trust that this is going to be okay, the jurors are coming in now," she said and they looked over to see a door to the left of the judges stand had opened and a line of people were filing out. They all had looked at the three women. Some gave a slight nod, others a small smile. They took their seats and waited.
The bailiff stepped up then, between the tables. Avery straightened, cleared her throat then took her seat after a breath.
"They are bringing him in. He will take the stand today." She said. Chloe and Aubrey both hand their hands resting on Becas thighs, and they both squeezed lightly as they door opened. They looked ahead, Beca looked down, taking their hands into hers and holding them tightly as she listened to the footsteps. She could hear the small clinking of the chains that held his wrists, wrapped around his waist and secured his ankles. She could feels his eyes on her. One sensation she truly hated. He was watching her, she could feel it, and it made her sick.
Aubrey leaned over and her breath tickled Becas ear. "Breathe baby." She said softly and Beca let out a puff of air she didn't know she had been holding.
She looked at Aubrey thankfully.
"All rise! For the honorable Judge Abernathy-McCadden." The bailiff called and their was a dull shuffle as the court room rose to their feet as a blonde woman wearing black robes entered the courtroom. Beca didn't release their hands as they stood and waited for the a judge to take her seat.
She didn't look at Jesse, but as she sat she looked up at the three. "Okay, take your seats." She said and the shuffle was back as everyone got comfortable.
"This is day one of case 147, the people of Georgia against Jesse Swanson." She looked over at Jesse who sat in a light grey suit, his hands in his lap looking back at the judge.
"Mr. Swanson, please stand." She said as she picked up a piece of paper and read it over. "You are accused of the following charges. Aggravated assault, attempted first degree murder, murder in the second degree of an unborn child, aggravated rape, kidnapping in the third degree, first degree murder, attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, felony kidnapping of a minor, felony endangerment of a child, possession of weapon with intent to harm, possession of an illegal substance." She read then looked back up to Jesse.
"Once again, Mr. Swanson. How do you plead?"
Jesse stood up. "Not guilty, your honor."
"Please take the stand." Jesse was lead to the stand, and Beca looked back down. Knowing she would have to look at him soon. She waited as he was sworn in and then sat down as his lawyer began the questioning process.
"Mr. Swanson, how old were you when you met the defendant?" He asked,
"I had just turned 19."
"And where did you meet her?"
"We attended Barden university together."
He nodded and looks toward the jurors. "And would you say you and the defendant got along right away?"
"I would say so. Beca and I worked together daily."
Beca had her eyes on the table the whole time, until he said her name, and she looked up, before making the decision to do so. Her eyes landed on him for the first time. He was staring right at her. His hair was neatly combed, but he had a healing scar on his forehead and visible yellowing bruises on his face.
Chloe and Aubrey had been looking at him as well.
The questioning continued until they go to the first time Jesse had assaulted her.
"Now, Mr. Swanson. Is it true, as stated, that you pulled Miss Mitchell from the club you were attending and forced her to give you the keys. Where you then took her to your apartment and physically intimated her, to the point of her giving you her virginity to calm you down?"
The jury had read the case, they knew everything, yet they still seemed surprised and gasps could be heard.
"No, I didn't. We had sex that night after a small argument. But it was consensual."
Beca tensed and Aubrey and Chloe could feel the anger rising in them.
"We're you aware that Miss Mitchell was a virgin?"
He nodded. "Yes I was."
"And you fell asleep together that night?"
"Yes."
"And the next morning, she was still there?"
"Yes."
"Objection, your honor." Avery stood, "it is clearly written in a statement provided by Stacie Conrad that Beca showed up on her door step in the early hours of the morning, bruised and bleeding, she was not at Mr. swansons residence."
Everyone looked at Jesse.
"Mr. Swanson you are under oath." Judge Abernathy stated with a raised eyebrow. He nodded.
"Yes your honor."
"And where is Miss Conrad?" The judge asked. Avery turned to Stacie who stood up.
"I'm Stacie Conrad." She said.
"You gave the police a written statement that Miss Mitchell was indeed at your place of residence after the fact?"
"Yes your honor."
Avery pulled out a piece of paper. "I have the statement here." She said and handed it to the bailiff he took it up to her, she read it over.
"Mr. Swanson, I would advise that you start telling the truth." She sighed.
Stacie sat back down as well as Avery. Jesses Lawyer looked back at Beca and sneered slightly.
"No more questions at this time." He said. And Jesse was led off the stand. As he passed them, Beca looked up and their eyes met. He smirked at winked at her, she dropped her gaze and Chloe and Aubrey sighed, scooting in closer to her.
"15 Minute recess." The judge called and slammed down her gavel.
Jesse was taken from the room and Beca stood up, leaving the court room. Aurbey and Chloe hurried after her and Stacie stayed with Alex.
"Beca, wait!" Chloe called. Knowing that just outside the door was more reporters.
It was too late however. In her hurry to leave the room and get some air, she didn't think about what was outside the doors until she pushed them open and was met with numerous bright flashes, momentarily blinding her and a roar of questions coming from the people shoving microphones toward her. It was the first day, should there be this many reporters? She thought.
She felt someone grab her from behind, it was Aubrey, her and Chloe shielded her from the cameras and led her quickly into the nearest restroom where they locked the door.
Beca dropped her head as she leant against the sink. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it would feel like this." She said as she reached out and turned on the faucet.
"It's okay, Becs." Chloe said and smoothed out her hair.
"He lied, he will lie again. This will never get resolved."
"No one believes him, Beca. He is a cold blooded killer. This trial is a waste of time, but it's got to be done. He will get the sentence he deserves Bec." Aubrey turned her.
"I didn't study myself into the hospital for nothing." She smiled lightly and Beca smiled back as Chloe ran a paper towel under the faucet and moved Becas hair, applying the cold paper to the back of her neck.
It was soothing.
"I take the stand next week, and Jesse will be sorry." Aubrey said.
She nodded and laid her head on the blondes chest.
"Just as soon as this is over, Becs, we are out of here." Chloe smiled. Aubrey looked at her warningly, but Beca caught the change of tone.
"What?" She asked pulling back and looking between them.
Chloe smiled and Aubrey shook her head in amusement. "We were going to wait to tell you."
"tell me what?"
Aubrey smiled. "CR came though for us, she found a house. A beautiful two story house right off the beach in Cayucos California."
"Seriously?" She asked,
"Yep. Just a 30 minute plane ride to San Francisco, where she says there is a studio with access to your mixes. They are interested in you,"
Beca couldn't help the smile on her face. "Oh my god that's great!" She said and pulled them both in for a hug. They laughed and hugged her back.
"Let's get this god forsaken trial over with!" She said.
"Seriously, there is a beach house calling my name!" Chloe smiled and tossed the paper towel into the trash.
"Back into the mess?" Aubrey said. They nodded and braced themselves as she unlocked the door. As soon as it opened they were blinded by more flashing lights.
A/N: how was that? I'll be posting a pic of Cayucos on my tumblr, I've been there it's gorgeous! PLEASE REVIEW?!
