The One Where Chandler Is Wrongly Accused

By: Jana~

Chapter Four

****

--"You're nervous, aren't you?"

Monica tore her gaze from her wringing hands and looked up at her husband. "Aren't you?"

"I was," Chandler admitted, "But, now, I'm actually optimistic. I mean, if this motion goes through, if the judge sees that they took the computer unlawfully, then all their supposed evidence is inadmissible, and this whole thing goes away!"

Nodding, she acknowledged him, but she was far from as hopeful as he. Since their first meeting with the Public Defender, they had been assigned a new lawyer three times. Having to go over their story each time, for the new person. The District Attorney refused to hand over evidence, or move the case forward, asking for a continuation every time they went to court, which was every four weeks. It seemed like the case would last forever.

Fourteen months later, since the day the feds invaded their lives, and the nightmare continued.

At least he wasn't in jail, but that wasn't their only concern. Money was getting tight, since Monica was the only one of them working, because every time Chandler would apply for a job, the background check would show that he had a case pending, with the charge of 'in possession of child pornography' clearly stated for all to see. So much for innocent till proven guilty.

Now they had a shot at having the case dismissed, and the nightmare end, but, even with Chandler's optimism, Monica couldn't muster the same outlook. Everything that had happened till that point, seemed to indicate that this would simply not end easily for them. Or quickly.

***

--"And while I sympathize with you both," the judge continued his ruling, "The fact of the matter remains that, even though you weren't aware that you could turn the officers and agents away, you didn't. You allowed them into your home. Handed them the computer to look at. Signed the receipt when they took it. You might not have known that you had the right to say no, but they didn't know that. For all they knew, you knew your rights, but were still willing to cooperate."

"I find for the state in this motion. The defendant will report back here in four weeks from today," the judge instructed, then raised his gavel.

"Your honor?" the DA called out. "Could we make that, in six weeks? Four weeks from today is two days before Christmas."

The judge checked his calendar, then muttered in acknowledgement. "Ah, ok, then, the defendant will need to be back here six weeks from today. Court is adjourned." With that he banged his gavel, all rising as he left the room.

"I don't know how he could say that," Monica whispered to Chandler's lawyer. "It wasn't just cause we didn't know we could slam the door in their faces! They actually told us they needed to come in! Needed to see the computer. Waved that paper, that, intent to investigate around like it was their permission slip!"

"They told us if we didn't sign the receipt, that we wouldn't be able to get our computer back once they were finished with it!" Chandler added.

"I know," the lawyer agreed sympathetically. "These motions rarely go the way you want, but, it was worth a try."

"What happens now?" Monica asked; frustration clearly edged her tone.

"Go home. Try to have a nice holiday. Then, we start all over again in six weeks."

"And go another eight or nine months with extension after extension?" she asked.

With a sigh, the lawyer nodded. "Quite possibly."

Monica groaned as she turned away. "And the nightmare continues."

*****

--"But, I need you there with me."

Monica sighed, her arm over her face as she lay staring at the ceiling. "I know, and I'm with you, I'm just not, with you. Ya'know?" Off his silence, she added, "I just can't deal with one more continuation. It's a waste of my time. It's a waste of your time, but, you have to go. I don't."

"I can't do this alone," Chandler stated in a whisper, and Monica's guilt soared.

"You're not doing this alone," she told him. "You're not doing anything when you go! Every time, it's just another, 'be back in four weeks'! When it comes time for the trial, or something important, of course I'll go, but it's just not necessary for me to go every single time, take off work and lose out on that money, just to hear them repeat those words, again!"

"I know you're frustrated. I'm frustrated, too. I'm so damn frustrated, I can't even see straight! I just can't understand, how another human being could do this! Destroy a man's life, his livelihood, his name and reputation, simply cause they can't admit they made a mistake!"

She rolled over, snuggling against his side, an attempt to console him, though nothing she did, or could do would. More than anything, she wished she knew what to do, to bring back the man she loved. Once the nightmare was over, would he return? It couldn't last forever, could it?

It already felt like an eternity, even though it had only been sixteen months.

Only?

***

--"Monica, it's Chandler." He actually sounded like he was in a good mood, which was a rarity on 'court day'.

Monica handed the whisk to her assistant chef, then gave the phone call her full attention. "What's going on?"

"The DA, offered me a plea bargain."

She scowled. "What kind of plea bargain?"

"I don't have all the details yet," he explained. "I have to come back in four weeks."

"Of course you do," she muttered with a roll of her eyes. It seemed that was all the DA was capable of arranging.

"But, it looks like, the charge would be reduced to 'child endangerment'."

"You didn't put any children in danger!"

"I know that. It's just so they can save face, and not drop the case, or take it to trial and risk losing."

"They will lose," she insisted, upset. "Don't take a plea! We'll just, go to trial! They know they have no case! That's why they're making the offer!"

"I know that, but it's not as simple as that. Scott says that I could still run the risk of being found guilty, by a jury. It's the whole, 'better lock him up - better safe rather than sorry' outlook. And the DA has basically said, threatened, to drag it out for another year at least. I can't do this for another year," he added, defeated.

"Well," she asked, her voice calm, "What would your, like, sentence, be?"

"Not sure yet. But Scott thinks that it would be something like, a fine, maybe some kind of community service, and a few years probation."

"Would you have to do that, registering as a sex offender thing?"

"No."

"And, you want to take the plea?" she asked, to see if he was certain.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I just want it to be over with."

"Do you have to give an answer today? Before we know all the details?"

"No. I just need to let him know if we're interested in taking a plea. Then he'll talk to the DA and hammer out the deal."

With a sigh, she said, "If you want to do this, then I support your decision."

"I know you do, but, do you think it's a good idea?"

"Well, I don't like the fact that you are saying, for the record, that you're guilty of something. But, it would be nice to just, get this over with and start putting it behind us."

"Which is pretty much where I'm at," he added.

"Ok, tell him if the deal is a good one, we would be interested in entertaining it."

"We don't have to buy it dinner first, right?"

A smile grew across her face. He actually made a joke. It had been a long time. By that alone, she knew they were making the right decision. To wait another year or longer, or even to wait months longer, and the Chandler she knew wouldn't survive it. Even if he was admitting guilt for something he certainly wasn't guilty of, if it finally closed the book on the most horrific chapter in their lives, maybe it was worth it.

"No," she answered, her smile obvious to him by her tone of voice, "We don't have to buy it dinner. Maybe just a drink," she added, and he laughed.

"I love you," he said softly, and she nodded, repeating the words back to him. "I'll see you at home tonight," he closed the call, hanging up the phone.

"Well?"

Chandler nodded at Scott. "Find out the details. She says we will entertain taking a plea."

***

--"They brought up the plea idea five months ago! It was their freaking offer! What the hell is the hold up?!"

Chandler sighed, Monica was angry. "I don't know. The one DA assistant person said she made the offer before speaking with her supervisors, and she has to clear it with them first. Or something like that. But Scott says it's just another delay tactic."

"I'm beginning to hate these people," she said through gritted teeth, fuming.

"Beginning to?" he asked, then took her hand away from the pot she was stirring to gain her attention. "It's moving forward, just slowly. Oh," he added, "And I have good news."

Shaking her head, as if in disbelief, she muttered, "Yeah, right."

"Scott told the judge that I have been to court faithfully, every single time, so now, I don't have to go back to court until the DA gets off his ass and actually does something."

As she turned back to attend to her cooking, she sighed. "Yeah, you watch, now that that's the case, the DA will be set to offer the plea and end this next month."

***

--"Well, you were right," Chandler said as he entered her kitchen, "The DA is officially ready to offer the plea."

Monica spun around to look at him. "You have the details?"

He nodded. "Can you take a break?"

*

--"So, basically, I plead guilty to child endangerment, which would be like, if I were to leave my child in the car while I went to the grocery store or something, I pay the $609 fine, which we can make in payments, and I don't break any laws for three years, and that's it."

"No community service? No jail?" Monica asked, and Chandler shook his head.

"Nope. Scott was even amazed how quickly they caved. Said it was a clear sign that they just didn't have a case."

"So, it's over?"

"After next Friday, yeah."

"One year and ten months later, and it's finally over. And you can take comfort in knowing that, their actions proved you weren't guilty of anything."

Chandler smiled when he nodded. "It's not complete exoneration, but at least it's over."

"Thank God it's over."

THE END

Please review! And, so you know, chapter five is a brief telling of what actually happened to us, if you're interested.

Thank you, and MTLBYAKY