Maisie laid across her bed, doodling in a notebook as she listened to Karen, Claire and Owen talk in the living room. The court date was only days away and tension in the apartment were at an all time high, for all of them.
Sitting up on her bed, Maisie fully tuned into the conversation when she heard Karen say her name quickly followed by Owen's loud "Are you fucking kidding me!"
"Owen." Claire warned as the three fell silent. Maisie knew they were all probably looking towards her room. She pressed her ear against her door to try and hear them better.
Dodging Owen's glare, Claire turned towards her sister. "Please tell me there's another way."
Slowly Karen shook her head and leaned forward in the chair across from Claire and Owen on the couch. "Look, I get that it's a lot to ask for, but she's a witness." She paused for a moment until she regained both their attention. "Whether you like it or not she was in that house and can give more insight to what went on."
Claire covered her face with her hands as she desperately tried to shove the images of Maisie in the small cell and what she could have heard or witnessed while trapped.
For the last few days neither of them could get her to open up and talk about what happened and neither Claire or Owen wanted to force her to talk about it. They especially weren't going to make her talk in front of an entire court room.
"How many more witnesses do they need? You have mine and Claire's statements. You have Mika's emails from the DPG computer." Owen stood up and scrubbed his hands down his face. The anger building inside him needed to escape, so he paced the space between Claire and Karen. He paused as he added, "Hell, Karen you even have the damn security camera footage of them attempting to kidnap Claire! Maisie does not need to be on the stand."
On the stand? Maisie leaned away from her door as she stared at it confused. What did that mean? She listened again as Karen answered him.
"He's fighting the footage from Robert with Claire."
"What?!" Both Claire and Owen shrieked.
"I know," Karen agreed through gritted teeth. She shivered as she remembered seeing the footage. From the standpoint of a bystander Robert did make it seem like he ran into her, but watching his movements was very obvious Claire was shoved into the van. Wincing as she remembered Robert using his body weight to pin Claire down, and the photo evidence of the bruise it left on Claire's side, she struggled to keep her cool as a lawyer and not react like the protective big sister.
Karen had hoped the video would be enough evidence, but Eli's lawyer has requested to question Claire on the incident and knew the video would be played. She was still trying to figure out how to request Owen leave because as hard as it is for her, there'd be no way he'd have the same self control. He and Karen had already had that argument and her refusing to let him see the footage only fueled his hatred towards Eli, Robert and Mika. The only satisfaction he got was that it was Claire who actually shot him and set the scene for Blue to kill him.
"What could he possibly say to convince the judge it was an accident?" Owen asked once he got his temper under control.
Claire let her hands fall to her lap as she waited for Karen to answer his question.
"Well," Karen started and stood up, doing her best to stand confidently. This got Owen's full attention. "Eli and his lawyer claim they see a random man walking down the street and bumping into Claire—"
"But there were pictures!" Owen yelled. The phone had to have been in the truck where Maisie and I were forced into. The whole plan was written in the email…"
"I know, Owen and I have the FBI looking for any cell phones. So far there is nothing."
"He had to have sent the pictures to Eli." Owen said, glancing at Claire as she shifted uncomfortably. He saw the tension in her eyes and moved to sit back down beside her. She immediately moved closer to him and he reached for her hands folded tightly on her lap.
"Yes," Karen nodded. "We have every piece of electronics we could find. There were a few computers and a tablet."
"I'd like one of my guys to look at them." Claire requested.
"Who?" Karen wondered.
"Franklin Webb. He's my tech guy at the DPG and I can guarantee he can find things the most trained techs in the FBI can't find."
"You sure?"
Claire nodded.
"Ok, I will see what I can do." Karen nodded once and took a deep breathe. "Maisie…" She trailed off, watching Claire and Owen, but she spoke again before they could protest. "Maisie has her side of the story and I know how you feel," her focus settled on Claire and she moved to sit beside her. Karen reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her sister's ear. "I know how you feel." She said again, this time her voice was soothing. "As a mother you'd literally do anything to keep your kids safe. I remember picking the boys up in the hanger after Jurassic World. I knew there would be court dates and statements and I had the same internal battle.
"She's been through enough." Claire whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Yes she has, but her voice in this is important. Trust me, I wouldn't put a child through questioning if I didn't think it would be to benefit her in the end." Karen laid both her hands over Owen's who had his still holding Claire's resting on her lap. "I'm afraid if he isn't found guilty he may fight for custody of Maisie."
At those words, Maisie was out of her room and stood in the entrance to the living room. "I want to do it." She stood tall, confidence radiating off of her.
Claire quickly slid her hands out from under Owen and Karen's to swipe at the tears on her cheeks. "Sweetie, I'm not sure you understand…"
"I have to tell my side of the story to the people in the court. What more is there to understand?" Maisie asked as Owen rose to his feet, crossing the room to kneel in front of Maisie. He took her hands in his and squeezed lightly.
"Oh, Kiddo, it's going to be much more than that. Karen and Eli's lawyer will have to ask you some specific questions about what happened." Owen explained.
Maisie squared her shoulders and stared Owen directly in the eye. "Then I'll tell them what happened. I don't want to go with him. I want a mom and dad. I want to stay here." Peeling her eyes from Owen she glanced over his shoulder towards Claire now standing in front of the couch. "You came for me," she pulled one of her hands free from Owen's and placed it on his shoulder, "You came for both of us. You fought for me, so now it's my turn. Isn't that what families do? Work together?" Her eyes flickered from Owen to Claire, both sporting the same expression. Eyes brimming with tears.
Claire walked towards her, dropping down beside Owen. "Ok." Claire said softly and reached up to place her palm against Maisie's cheek while her other hand reached out to rub Owen's back.
"The moment you feel uncomfortable let us know and you will not have to do it." Owen told her. "I mean it, Kiddo, just say the word and I will pull you out of there."
"Ok." Maisie said, a smile spreading across her face. "But I won't back down. Claire never did."
Owen stood up, chuckling lightly at Maisie's words and pulled Claire into his side. "And I doubt there ever will be anything she will back down from."
"No, there won't be." Karen added, joining the three of them. She wrapped her arm around Claire's waist and kissed her temple. "She's always been like that." She said and reached out to poke Maisie's shoulder lightly. "Seems you've began to take after her."
Maisie's grin grew wider. That's exactly what she was trying to do. If Claire could face any challenge, so could she.
XXX
Sitting outside the court house while the trial was out for recess, Claire paced the open space in the side courtyard. Having rushing out of the court room before Owen or Karen could follow, it took them a bit to finally catch up to her.
She stormed back and forth in the small grassy patch as her face burned red, fire filled her eyes. Eli was claiming innocent in kidnapping Maisie and falsely informing Owen of Claire's whereabouts. Fighting as best she could to keep her cool during the trial, now she needed to release her fury.
"Claire!" Owen pushed through the crowd fighting their way out the court house doors. "Claire wait!" He called out once more.
Clutching Maisie's hand, Karen hurried after Owen. "Hey," She said, grabbing onto his arm when they made it though the doors and spotted Claire. "Owen, hey." Karen tugged harder on his arm to get him to stop.
He finally turned towards her, anger raging in his own eyes.
"I know." Karen said softly, understanding his frustration, but also knowing Claire stormed off for a reason. "Leave her be for a minute." She told him as her gaze drifted towards her sister. Dropping Maisie's hand, Karen clasped her hands around Owen's, patting his softly. "You and I both know she's going to flip on anyone that approaches her right now. Let her cool off."
Owen nodded once, knowing Karen was right. He slipped his hand from hers and turned to slump down on the front steps. "Man, Karen, I give you some major props for keeping your cool like that in there. Does he stand a chance with his pleas?"
Karen shook her head. "No. He may not have been the one to take Maisie or fool you into believing he had Claire, but we have the proof we need that he was involved and the mastermind behind it all. we just have to bring all that forward now." Karen couldn't help but smile and she caught Owen's eyes. "It's my turn to question him next."
With Franklin's skills he was able to locate the pictures from the cell phone that was recovered from Robert's remains. They were deleted shortly after Owen and Maisie were taken, but it was easy for Franklin to revive them.
Shaking his head slowly, Owen closed his eyes as he remembered the threats made against Claire. The Torment he believed they were going to put her through if he didn't follow their directions. Opening his eyes, he searched out Claire. His fingers twitched with the need to touch her, to know she was ok. Feeling his stomach churn as he imagined just how different that night could have been had him reaching for Maisie, thankful that Claire was able to save her. When his hand landed on the concrete beside him, he looked up at Karen. Eyes growing wide when he noticed Maisie wasn't beside her either. Jumping to his feet he called out for her.
Karen's arm shot out to halt him from running to search for Maisie. She quickly pointed towards Claire before he could protest. Claire had stopped pacing and had her face buried in her hands as she leaned on the rock ledge. Maisie slowly approaching her from behind.
"Claire?" Maisie said softly, coming up to stand at her side. "Are you ok?" She hesitated briefly before reaching out to touch Claire's arm.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Claire let her hands drop from her face and she turned towards Maisie. "Yeah, just aggravated."
Looking down at the rock wall in front of them, Maisie kicked it lightly and sighed, "I know, me too."
With the adoption court date pushed back until after Eli's trial, Maisie's fears of being taken away were growing with every passing second.
Claire looked down at Maisie, and forced a smile. There was no aggravation in her eyes. They were wide with fear. Claire immediately wrapped her arms around Maisie, hugging her tight. "We will win, Mais."
Maisie turned her head into Claire's shirt to hide her tears. "I just want you guys to be my parents."
Claire squeezed her eyes shut in a desperate attempt to keep her emotions under control. "We will do all we can to make that happen." It wasn't much to convince Maisie, but it was all Claire could say.
Owen and Karen approached Claire and Maisie, the four of them standing silent for a moment before Karen placed a reassuring hand on Maisie's shoulder. "After I question Eli, it's going to be your turn on the stand." She informed Maisie. Karen bent down so her eyes were level with Maisie's. "Eli's lawyer may be a little pushy with his questions, but as long as you tell the truth there's nothing for you to worry about."
Maisie gave a nervous nod as she pulled herself further into Claire's side.
"I know it's a little scary, but the judge loves kids, so she will make sure you're taken care of up there." Karen added and smiled warmly at Maisie.
Watching the trial so far, Maisie did like the judge. She seemed nice and even smiled at her when she first walked into the court room.
Looking up and Claire and Owen before returning her gaze back to Karen, Maisie stood tall. "I'm ready."