Finally Ch. 11

I disclaim

*** Sorry Guys, I've had the final chapters thought out for quite some time, but I got caught up in some General Hospital Fics, but I back and should be finish up the fic in a couple of days.

~~

Salem City Courthouse

"All Rise." The Bailiff stopped under the light fixture on the wall and waited until the judge began to climb the steps to his bench. " The Honorable Michael Horton presiding."

" Be Seated." Mickey sat down in his chair and looked out at the courtroom. Austin was seated on the left with his attorney. While Kate and company sat behind him, trying to look strong and confident, but not accomplishing the feat. The right side held the District Attorney, a sign of how important this case was, as Patrick O'Neil sat behind him and alternated between sending Austin deadly glares and keeping the sadness form his eyes. " Now this hearing is to discuss the charges against Austin Reed, are both sides ready?"

" Colton James for the Prosecution, your Honor." The tall dark haired man gave a practiced smile. " We're ready sir."

" Alexandria Hanson for the Defense, your honor, and we are also ready."

" Very Well proceed."

Colton stood." Your Honor the state is currently asking that Austin Reed be charged with one count of driving while under the influence, one count of leaving the scene of an accident, one count of reckless endangerment and one count of drunken and disordered conduct." " Charges for the accident are pending on the victim's condition, which is currently stable."

"Your Honor, the police have no real evidence that my client was the driver of the car that struck Ms. Red Wolf." Alexandria stood and although she faced the judge she was clearly speaking to the DA.

" Untrue we have witnesses that will testify to seeing your clients car." Colton jumped form his seated position and turned to glare at his opponent before granting the judge another smile.

The blonde attorney rolled her eyes and turned to the DA, not even bothering to hide the animosity in her voice." Witness recalls seeing a black BMW, which if I may be so bold is rather common place in the town of Salem." She gave a condescending smile when Colton stood returning her look.  

" Is it also common place for your client to be found unconscious behind the wheel of said car miles out town."

" My client has no memory of that incident or any surrounding this crime." " The defense is merely acting on heresy."

" Your client probably has no memory of being sober, and we base that and all other facts on the heresy of 32 witnesses."

" Well this is getting downright entertaining." Mac watched the ping pong argument from her seat atop of the jury box. " You could cut the sexual tension with a chain saw." She hopped down from her seat and stared down at Austin. The man looked beaten and tired, he was only about 38 years old, but sitting there he could past for forty in a heartbeat. " What the Hell happened to you Austin, drinking over a woman." " If you can even call Scammin Sami a woman." She shook her head and then glared at the man seated behind Austin trying to look sympathetic." That's something I would expect from Philip The Punk."

" Come to Order." Mickey slam down his gavel and drew the attention back to himself. " I will not have your personal vendetta interfere with this case." " Mr. James the defense makes a valid point, whether it be three witnesses or thirty, if none of them can accurately identify the car as belonging to Mr. Reed then your case is purely heresy, and I will not be willing find him accountable of any of the charges read."

" Your honor, not only do we have two witnesses that recall the licenses plate number, but we're currently checking video tape from the mall security cameras." " I am certain that not only we will it shown Mr. Reed's car, but Mr. Reed himself." Colton removed a stack of papers and handed them to the court secretary as well as Alexandria. " I enter into the court's record the avadavat of Robert Harris and Valerie Johnson, both gave the license plate number that matches the DMV number given to Mr. Reed."

" Well ain't that convenient." Mac took a closer look at Austin's eyes; she saw fear and shame, but no guilt. As a student of human nature for more years then she cared admit, she knew that even when the person wasn't completely aware of what they did, the subconscious did, and couldn't hide the act from their eyes. " He didn't do it." She turned toward the jury box. " Am I right?"

" How would I know." Stefano raised and eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders.

" I actually wasn't talking to you, Fat Bastard." " Dad, did he do it?"

" Mackenzie, I don't know." Hank moved out of the jury box and walked toward her.

" Don't you people see all and know all."  

" No." Hank snapped his fingers and the courtroom faded away bring them back to the all white room. " I'm sorry maybe we should explain this to you."

Mac sat down on the couch and gave a sarcastic grin. " That would be new."

Stefano laughed and clapped his hands, before glaring at Hank." How funny is she when you're on the receiving end."

" Please Angels, can we focus." The teasing tone had left Mac's voice as her curiosity overrode everything else.

" Yes, you see we're not angels, we're here because we are the people you most trusted in both lives." " Admittedly we can see certain events from the past, and we were shown some possible future events, but only events that deal specifically with you and your life." " The accident is not one of the events we are allowed to see."

" And who choose this events?"

Stefano and Hank look heavenward.

 "So God picked the Best and Worst of Mac, interesting."

" Unfortunately Mackenzie, we must ask that you hurry with your choice." " Events are unfolding at a quicker pace then anticipated, and your time running out."  

" How much time do I have?"

" 72 hours at best."

" Then you got more work to do, because I'm still undecided."

~~

" Goodnight Gabriela." Chloe smoothed her daughter's hair and kissed her forehead again, before turning off the light and going into the kitchen. She had just finished loading the dishwasher when she heard the front door open.

" Hey." Brady leaned against the doorway, and tried not to be hurt when his wife didn't look up. " Lil' Mac down for the night."

" Yeah."

" That's too bad I wanted to say goodnight to her, we haven't spent nearly as much time together as we should."

" She has a bedtime Brady, you know that you set it." Chloe closed the dishwasher, moved to the countertop, and began putting back the spices used to fix dinner.

" I know was kind of hoping to see her during the daylight hours." Brady watched her stop and whirl around until she was facing him, looking angry.

" What does that mean?"

" Nothing."

" No it's not nothing, what do you mean?"

Brady moved off the door jab, and sat done at the table, he knew he was starting something by mentioning the lack of time he spent with his daughter, but it needed to be out in the open. " I don't think its such a good idea for Gaby to spent so much time at the hospital, I don't think it's good for you either."

" She's my friend, practically a sister, I'm not going to stop seeing her."

" I'm not asking that, but this is looking eerily familiar to what happened when Patrick 'died'."

" You're right, you were jealous then too."

" I'm not jealous I'm just concerned." " Gaby loves Mac, and I don't think she should see her like she is, pale, and weak." " I'm not saying that Mac won't pull through, but God forbid she died, do you really want Gaby to remember her godmother like that." Brady stood and put a hand on her shoulder" I feel like you're pulling away from me Chlo, and it hurts."

" Brady I can't do this now." Chloe shrugs off his hand and walks out of the room leaving Brady to watch after her pain evident on his face.

Philip watches the scene from his monitor and smiles. " This is going to be easier then I thought.