Damon walks into the courtroom, taking a seat next to Detective Rayna Cruz. He flew to Richmond for Galen Vaughn's sentencing hearing. It's not that he was needed there but he felt an almost compelling urge to give Katherine Mikaelson the peace in death that eluded her in life.
Galen pled guilty so his sentencing is merely a formality but it will finally bring closure to this case. The most shocking thing however was discovered by Gia Russo. By the time she and her team were done with the forensic computer examinations, they had found evidence to also implicate Maxfield's wife in Katherine's murder. It was discovered that Meghan Maxfield was the instigator of the plot to kill Katherine. It was she who got her husband to patch up Galen after his gunshot wound which was then used for leverage to bring their murderous plot to fruition. Surprising everyone, she agreed to plead guilty for a lesser sentence - still she'll spend the next twenty five years behind bars.
His heart catches when Elena and Nik walk down the aisle to sit in the first row behind the attorney representing the State. Her hair is in a sleek high ponytail. She's wearing a sharp looking tan blazer with black dress pants, a white button down and black heels. This is the first time he's seen her since she left his office that day. He'd been sent to Lubbock, Texas to work on a case although he did make it home for his father's birthday six weeks ago. His thoughts are interrupted when the Judge enters the courtroom and gavels the proceedings to order.
Galen Vaughn stands along with his attorney to hear his fate entered into the legal record.
"Mr. Vaughn, you have plead guilty to helping to facilitate the murder of Katherine Gilbert - Mikaelson. I have read over your plea bargain agreement. I hereby sentence you to twelve years in prison. You will be eligible for parole after serving eight years."
"Thank you Your Honor, I would like to say that I'm sorry for my role in the woman's murder. I owed Dr. Maxfield and his wife a great debt and felt I had no other choice but to comply. In hindsight, I should've gone directly to the authorities. I will have to live with this the rest of my life as will her family members."
"You may sit down," Judge Hopkins pauses for a moment, his eyes landing on the victim's relatives. "Mrs. Mikaelson's husband and sister are here to speak," he nods a the State's attorney, Carol Lockwood who nods at Nik.
"Mr. Vaughn, I don't know if you've ever seen these pictures of what your actions did to my wife. I'd like to show them to your family. Do they realize that when her killer stabbed her, it was so hard that the blade bent?" he raises a crime scene photo of his wife's body.
Galen drops his eyes, unable to look at it.
"There are going to be recitals, graduations, weddings where there will be empty place, an empty spot in their hearts. I try to do the best I can honoring her memory to them. As they grow up, I'll tell them about her and what a wonderful woman she was," his voice cracks as he finishes. He glares at the man then returns to his seat.
Damon blows out a breath at the powerful statement. His eyes follow him as he sits down. Elena squeezes his hand and then stands to give her statement.
"Thank you, Your Honor for giving me the opportunity to speak," she addresses the Judge directly. "At first when I was told I would be able to speak my mind as to what my thoughts would be on the effects of what happened and the punishment this man will receive, I knew exactly what to say, but when you begin putting pen to paper you get lost," her eyes start to water but she's determined to continue. "We all know what this person has done. He helped to take away my sister and with her left a piece of my heart. No matter how many times I try to put back the pieces, I always see her face. His actions led directly to her murder. While I'm grateful for his cooperation, it doesn't mend the wounds or heal the burns left on our hearts and minds. Thank you for allowing me to speak. And Katherine," her voice is thick as she raises her eyes, "You can rest easy now," she clears her throat and turns, only then seeing Damon.
For perhaps a split second her grief is suspended, the surprise protecting her until it shatters like glass, she misses him. Tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. The muscles of her chin tremble like a small child. With her heart in her throat, she gives him a subtle nod then returns to Nik, allowing him to comfort her while her tears fall freely.
"Mr. Vaughn," Judge Hopkins addresses him. "You are hereby remanded into custody to begin serving your sentence." Three police officers appear and lead him out of the courtroom.
"Rest in peace, Katherine," Damon whispers then leaves the courtroom along with the rest of the crowd when the Judge gavels the hearing to a close.
As soon as they're outside, Elena - having regained her composure - approaches him, "Damon, I'm actually in shock that you're here."
"I promised you that I would get her justice, I wanted to be here for that," Damon looks at her wistfully.
"Thank you, I mean, I didn't expect it but it was a really nice gesture."
"I'm sure she's very proud of you, I am."
"I had to, she can no longer speak for herself," she pauses for a minute when she catches a glimpse of Nik talking to the prosecution attorney. "Where did you go, Damon?"
"Right now I'm in Lubbock, I'm working a homicide case up there."
"I was wondering," she half smiles at him, "Will you be coming back to Galveston?"
"My family is there so yes, I'll be back at some point. My sister in law is pregnant again, they put Allie on the phone to convince me to come to her baby shower."
"Never underestimate the power of little people," she smiles despite the somber day.
"Indeed," he nods. More than anything, he wants to take her into his arms and kiss her senseless but he sees the possessive look on Mikaelson's face when he approaches them.
"Elena, we have a flight to catch," Nik steps in beside her, takes her hand and squeezes it dramatically. Damon's certain that was done for his benefit. He might as well piss on her to make his claim for all the drama he put into the gesture.
"We have to go, thanks again for coming, Damon," she gives him a smile and then walks away while keeping her hand entwined with Nik's.
Damon watches till they slip into a taxi and after saying goodbye to Detective Cruz hops one to the airport himself.
"How are things in Lubbock?" Enzo signals the waitress to bring them some menus.
"I was told to take a few days off but then they found another body so I have to fly back tomorrow."
"How many is that?"
"Four, we have canvassed the neighborhoods repeatedly but no one knows anything although we do have a good amount of forensic evidence. We ran the prints through AFIS and DNA through CODIS - no hits yet."
"You'll get him, I have faith in you," Enzo peruses the menu. When their waitress returns, he orders a Porterhouse steak with American fries, salad and a nectarine margarita. "Put it all on one bill," he tells her.
"I'll have the chicken fajitas and a watermelon margarita." Suddenly a familiar voice commands his attention. He looks around and then he sees her. She's a vision in a tank top, her olive skin gleaming like diamonds. Also at her table is a red headed woman, her niece, nephew and a sandy blonde haired man. It must be the aunt and uncle that raised her? Tightening his lips, he starts to slide out of his booth to go say hi when Nik Mikaelson slides beside her and extends his arm behind her, letting it rest on the back of booth.
If it wasn't obvious to him in Virginia that they're together, it seems pretty much confirmed now. He doesn't want to hear Mikaelson explain that Elena's uncanny resemblance to his wife had no bearing on their relationship. The fuck it didn't.
With a sullen look on his face, he turns around in his seat as his hand curls into a fist. He, a member of the legendary Texas Rangers, is a fucking coward!
"Happy Birthday, Aunt Jenna," Elena beams at the woman when a group of three waiters slide a cart over with a big cake. One of them blows a noise maker then they sing happy birthday, making her aunt's face turn red.
"You wait till your birthday comes. Payback is a b..." Jenna swallows the word when little Noah looks up at her. "Well you know what I mean," she eyes her niece mischieviously.
"Cake?" Noah's eyes are huge as the waiter plates it up and after handing the first piece to Jenna, gives him one.
"Me cake too," Nadia claps excitedly.
Elena picks up a spoon and hands it to her. By sheer happenstance, at that moment, she catches a glimpse of him as he walks past the window. "Excuse me," she starts to stand.
Nik looks at her strangely but stands up so she can get out. He watches perplexed as she walks towards the restaurant's entrance then moves to follow her.
"I'll be right back."
Elena's head is spinning as she bursts through the restaurant door to try to catch him. She scans the parking lot using her hand as a visor to shade her eyes from the sun. Not seeing him, she starts to move amongst the cars, her eyes darting more wildly with each passing second. Then she begins to call for him.
Hearing his name, Damon turns around, his eyes scanning - landing on Elena's at the same time hers land on him.
"Elena?" he pushes his door closed, trots over to her and there is the gentle hug of arms that still gives her the space to breathe.
"Damon, it's been a couple of months, are you still in Lubbock?"
"I am, hopefully not too much longer though," he looks at her searchingly and is unable to stop himself from pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. He loves the touch - her warmth seeps into his being and she comforts him without even opening her mouth.
"I just wanted to say hi," she nods and takes a step back.
"Elena, please wait. Look, you're with your family today," he tips his head to Nik who's standing just outside the restaurant's entrance watching them. "I owe you an explanation and apology... Do you think we can talk either later or tomorow sometime? I need to be back in Lubbock Sunday, it's a long-ass drive."
"I'd like that. Can you be at my house around 8:30 this evening?"
"I'll be there," he wants to lean over and kiss her but doesn't want to overstep his bounds, at least not before they talk. Seeing Nik approach, he tells her goodbye then walks away, a grin forming on his face - she said her house.
"Everything okay?" Nik asks when he catches up to her, his eyes shooting darts at Damon.
Her head is swimming with questions. The ache of longing to be with him echoes through the very marrow of her bones. Before Katherine, she never knew that missing someone could take over every fiber of her being and wring her out like a wet sponge every day. Damon's absence, however, is a torment she was unprepared for.
Is there hope to be had?
"Yeah, I think it will be," she nods and after a heavy exhale goes back inside the restaurant to rejoin her family.
*The Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, blends forensic science and computer technology into a tool for linking violent crimes. It enables federal, state, and local forensic laboratories to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking serial violent crimes to each other and to known offenders.
*AFIS: Automated fingerprint identification is the process of using a computer to match fingerprints against a database of known and unknown prints.
Thank you all so very, very much.
Chapter title: 'On My Way' by Thorne Empire.
Have a terrific day.