Chapter 23: Preparing for trial

Hiccup's POV

" And then her friends kept beating me. Over and over again. That's all I remember before they dragged me out to the car." I say on the stand.

The prosecutor, Tanner, comes up to me and asks, " What about the phone recording of the confession?"

" Oh. Right." I say remembering it suddenly. I let out a breath of frustration " This is ridiculous."

" I get that this is overwhelming you, but you have to remember every single detail. If the Dagny's lawyer hears you slip up once, she will pounce all over you to make sure you are discredited as a witness."

" Witness?" I scoff. " I got almost beaten to death and I'm just a witness to them."

" Look. Their job is to make you look like someone the jury can't rely on. This is the point of a trial. To test both sides of the account and to see who actually has a more believable side of the case. There is no doubt that you were the one assaulted, but Dagny's lawyer is looking to avoid her client's imprisonment. Even if that means finding one thing in your testimony that could change the whole game. Now we need to make sure your case against Dagny with not leave anything to Jurors that will say that there is reasonable doubt. Including your testimony."

" I know, but what about the other evidence?" I ask.

" They can discredit it as much as you in other ways. Which is why we need to ironclad as much as we can in order to make sure nothing can go the other way." Tanner says.

" Right." I sigh in frustration.

" Alright. Now I want to prepare for you being cross-examined. That is going to be the brutal part. I'm going to ask you a few questions that can possibly hurt you in the worst way. This is so we are not going in for a few surprises. You're going to hate me for this."

" Fine." I say.

" So you believe that Dagny's motive for this attack is because you stood up to her" He asks.

" Yes." I answered.

" Nothing else that could possibly be the motive?" He asks.

" No. Not really."

" What about you being transgender?"

" True I am transgender, but I haven't officially came out until after the assault happened on me."

" Even though the phones shows you in suit when this happened?" He asks.

" I went to the homecoming dance as part of a group that was also wearing suits. There was no other reason to suggest it." I say.

" Even though you state you were a trans in the video?" He asks.

" What?" I ask. " I didn't say that!"

" Huh?" Tanner says stopping his crossexamine tone. " Don't you remember it?"

" Remember what?" I ask in confusing.

" What happened after the assault?" He says. Again it makes no sense.

" Oh no." He says. " We have a problem."

" What problem?" I demanded from him.

" If your memory remains questionable. They will pounce all over you. The defense lawyer will have grounds to question your competence." He says in frustration.

" They still need to hear it from me of what happened." I say.

" But putting you on the stand could mean they can and will destroy you. They might end up using you against your case." He says.

" But not putting me on the stand will also mean the same thing. They can argue the refusal of my testimony will show how much of a case we don't have." I argue stubbornly.

The truth really is that I need to testify. If I don't, People will think of me as too afraid to testify against my assailant and I am not about to let Dagny win on that.

He sighs, " You might have a point on that. But we're going to have to make sure that you are prepared as best as we could. Have you watched the video I sent you?"

" Video?" I raised an eyebrow.

" The one I gave to your father. I gave it to him last week for you to watch." He says.

Dad…..

" No." I say. " He didn't give it to me."

Tanner sighs. " Let me get him."

He leaves his office for a second and brings my dad back with him.

" Mr. Haddock." He starts. " I told you when I gave you the video. There was a reason why your son needs to watch it."

" I don't want him to get hurt again." My dad responds.

" Look. I get that you feel you have to protect him, but he needs to know everything. Even the smallest details can be useful and can help him. Even if they do hurt." Tanner says sternly.

My dad sighs but he reluctantly nods.

" He'll watch it tonight." He says.

" Good." Tanner says.

" Excuse me?" I ask. " What is the video?"

Tanner and my dad sighs in response. It doesn't sound good.

" The video is copy of the one that was taken from Dagny's phone. It contains everything of the attack. It's... brutal. But, you need to remember what she has done to you." Tanner says.

" I see…" I say. I don't know if I will be able to handle the video. Reliving everything. I want to be able to handle everything. But I don't know when enough is enough.


Stoick's POV

I promised Valka that I would look after our child. I always promised her that and I try my best to stay true to it. I just never realised how much I neglected that promised after I lost her those three years ago.

Instead of looking out for my child, I stayed away from him. I kept trying to see the best of his mother, but it hurts. So I stay out far from him by taking on long work days and long business trips.

But where did it get me. Nothing, but a big reality check.

I should have seen the signs from when he was a young child.

I remember that one incidence when he was little and it was my father's birthday. Valka got him a pink dress and he cried when we told him to wear it. Cried during the party until we had to take him home reluctantly. We thought this was a child testing our boundaries at this point, but he was really calling out for help.

And we didn't listen to him. Or I didn't.

We both sit in the car as I drive home after our talk with Tanner. Once again. Neither of us don't say anything at first.

" Dad. Where's the video?" He asks.

I sigh. I really don't want him to see what I saw. Because what I saw in that video was a flash back. I saw the same small child he was screaming. Screaming for help.

" Dad….." He starts. " Please. Let me see the video."

I know how stubborn he's going to get if I don't comply. He's like me. Unfortunately. When both of us have different sides of the manner, we will fight tooth and nail until one of us relents. This time though, I have to submit.

" It's in my desk at home. I'll get for you." I say reluctantly.

" Thank you." He says as I turn into our driveway.

" Just. If you get uncomfortable, you don't have the whole thing through. Even if Tanner wants you to, I won't make you do something that you don't want to do. At least, not again." I say before continuing. "Just… Please promise me to not keep anything from me. If you have a problem or if you want to tell me something, don't hesitate. I've been in the dark for far too long and I don't want that to happen anymore."

He looks away. I can tell this is something he is not used to hearing. Especially from me.

" Alright." He responds.

" Look. I just want us to have a better relationship. Given what's been going on of late. I have never been father of the year, but it doesn't mean that I don't love you." I tell him.

" Well. Um.. Thanks. Dad. I guess the same thing goes for me too. Never exactly been the greatest child either." He says.

" Well at least you're not like Simon. Boy didn't know how to tie his shoes until freshman year. Just like his father." I say about my brother and we both laugh in response.

" Oh gods." He says as he recovered. " Um… dad. I…. kinda wanted to tell you. I got a spot in the annual art showcase at my school. It's.. a pretty big deal."

" Oh." I say. " When did you find out?"

He hesitates but says. " Two weeks before the….attack. The day before you left."

I sigh. I guess missed out on a lot while I was gone.

" Sorry I didn't get a chance to tell you…." He tries to says but I say, " It's alright. But hey. I'm proud of you son."

" Thanks dad." He says.

" Alright tell me about it and don't leave anything out." I sternly tell him.

I think this afternoon marks the first time we actually had a normal conversation in a very long time since Valka's death. I can feel right now that she is smiling down at us from heaven.


First chapter with Stoick's POV. I hope I captured what was going on very well from his point of view.I am currently on an updating binge at the moment. I am going to update most to all of my current stories this week. So I hope you guys will be happy to know about that.

Please Review. Thank You.