One Night Stand
Chapter 11
Disclaimer: Still don't own them
Authors Notes: First off I want to thank the following people for reviewing chapter 10: Terri Clark, anonymous, Sisterbear, Kirby Doggett, Prillygirl, Countryfreak, Crazypixie, Lu Delgado, Krisnina77, Petitecat, Missyjane, oOoOo and Nepeace.
Secondly, I would really like to thank the following people for reviewing 'Someone Loves You'. Since it is a ficlet, I won't have the chance to thank y'all in the second chapter. So thank you's go out to: Krisnina77, Sisterbear, Prillygirl, Missyjane, Emily Elizabeth, Petitecat, Triple-rock, A Bloom, Drvvh and Forensicsfan. I'm glad y'all loved the story. Your reviews made my day.
Third, I just want to let y'all know that I have removed Undercover, Secrets Revealed, Father of the Bride and Never Forget. I removed them because right now my heart isn't in them. This isn't to say that later on I might go back and work on them again. I just didn't feel it was fair to y'all to leave them up when I didn't know when and if I would ever update them. Thank you to Julie, Jacqueline and Saskia for giving me encouragement concerning this topic.
Finally, I want to let y'all know that I did do research on this chapter. I also spoke to Jacqueline and Saskia in length about the chapter. Thank you to Julie, Jacqueline and Saskia for reading this chapter.
Oh and just to make it easier, I've decided that the story will just take place in Las Vegas. I know that I never stated the city or state the school was at. So just go with it.
May 2004
Seven months had passed. Seven long months. Nick did a complete withdrawal from school for the fall semester. His parents packed up and moved to Las Vegas. They had insisted that they wanted to be closer to their son and grandchild. Plus, they were able to quickly find new jobs in the state. Sara's parents had originally planned to take Sara's comatose body back to San Francisco for treatment, but after many long and demanding fights with Nick, his parents and her friends, they consented to her staying in Las Vegas. Sara was moved to a private hospital a month after the accident. Sara's parents also moved to Las Vegas, insisting on being closer to their only child and grandchild. Nick appreciated the support from his parents and Sara's parents but there were times that they completely overwhelmed him.
Grace had to stay in the hospital until she gained weight and was breathing on her own, which was two months time before she was released. Nick felt excited and depressed at the same time. Here he was taking his daughter home but her mother was still in a coma.
Not two days after the accident, the driver of the Expedition was charged with Vehicular Manslaughter for Brynn's death, Reckless Endangerment for both Sara and Brynn, leaving the scene of a crime (hit and run) and the last charge was DUI. Nick was infuriated to discover that the driver was Kristy. The night of the accident Kristy had been drinking because she was upset over her apparent 'break up' with Nick. She then found out that Sara was the 'other woman', not knowing that Sara was in fact pregnant. She went out to confront Sara and ended up running the red light that t-boned Brynn's car.
A street cop pulled her over twenty minutes later for erratic driving. Doing a breathalyzer, her blood alcohol count was discovered to be only .10, barely above the legal limit of .08. The cop, noticing that there was damage, minimal, to the Expedition and that she had cuts on her face took her in. Witnesses were able to confirm that the Expedition matched the one that hit the girls. Two of the witnesses had actually had time to write down the license plate number before she sped off. Kristy's friends were approached by detectives and they confirmed that she had in fact been drinking the night of the accident. They also confirmed that she was on her way to 'see' Sara. Crime scene investigators were able to match the paint from Brynn's car to the paint chippings left on the Expedition.
All the evidence to the case was handed over to the state and the District Attorney, Ronald Murphy. The DA offered Kristy a deal of 12 years total for the three charges and DUI (which only carried a fine and minimal jail time), but her defense refused the deal, truly believing that they could get their client off in a jury trial.
So now, seven months later the trial was winding down. With the witnesses for the prosecution and the defense the trial has only lasted two weeks. During the entire trial, Nick was there. Waiting, watching. He eyed Kristy and her smugness. The defense was adamant at stating that all the evidence against their client was purely 'circumstantial' at best.
Nick and Ronald spoke everyday of the trial. Ronald was only partially confident that they would win. The plea offer still stood as far as he was concerned, and made it knowledge to the defense, but they still refused.
All this changed on closing statements.
Because of the charges, Ronald was able to discuss not only Brynn but Sara as well. One of his strategies was to make the jury feel for the loss of young life by the hands of a reckless driver.
The defense started the closing statements. Again, repeating that their client was charged based on circumstantial evidence. No one witness could positively identify her. He went on to challenge every piece of evidence brought forth by the prosecution.
Sitting in the courtroom, Nick was getting worried. The trial had been a completely heart-wrenching, emotional experience. Ronald turned and looked at him as he stood to give his closing statement, smiled, and turned to face the jury.
"Ladies and gentleman of the jury. I come to you today not as a lawyer but as a father. I myself have a daughter who is in college. The same age as our two victims in this trial. The two victims who can't be here right now, because one is dead and the other is in a hospital in a deep coma, all because another college student, our defendant, was careless. She was reckless in the respect that she decided to drink and drive. She became a criminal when she ran a red light and hit an oncoming vehicle then left the scene of the accident. One of these women, Brynn Molnar, will never know life beyond her twenty-one years. She will never get married, have children, and grow old with her husband. These precious moments of life were taken away from Brynn and her family."
Ronald paused to allow the jury to comprehend what he had just stated.
"Then there is Sara Sidle. Sara is the second victim in this tragic case. What makes this even worse is that there is a third victim. A victim that hadn't been born yet. Sara Sidle was six months pregnant when she was hit by the defendant. Due to the impact of the collision, she was sent into premature labor and a coma. Now there is a twenty-two year old young woman lying motionless in a hospital bed, who has a daughter she has never seen. There is a twenty-three year old man, who now has taken responsibility of being a single father. But even worse, there is a seven month old little girl, who was born three months premature, who has Cerebral Palsy who has never heard her mother's voice, never felt her mother's warm arms around her, embracing her like every child is entitled. What kind of system rewards the suspect when the victim is too tough to die? That ladies and gentleman is Sara Sidle. Too tough to die."
Ronald paused again, turned and looked at Nick and the two families. Each person had fresh tears streaming down their faces.
"Remember all of this while you are deliberating. Remember the forensic evidence that was presented to you that proves Ms. Hopkins was driving the car that hit Brynn Molnar and Sara Sidle. Remember the young life of Brynn Molnar that was taken away and cut so shortly. Remember young Sara Sidle, who remains in a coma. Remember 7 month old Grace Sara Stokes, who has yet to hear her mother's voice. Remember. Remember and come back with the verdict, guilty on all counts."
Ronald turned to the judge, "The prosecution rests."
The judge dismissed the jury to chambers to begin deliberating the case. Nick quietly and quickly left with his mother and Sara's parents. His father had agreed to watch Grace while they were in court today. Nick just wanted to get back to his daughter. He knew Ronald would call him as soon as a verdict was reached.
When the group arrived back at the Stokes household, they were surprised to be greeted by the entire Stokes clan. Nick's siblings had all flown in secretly. Nick was quickly enveloped in hugs by the family, so were Mr. and Mrs. Sidle. Once, the hugs were completed Nick introduced everyone, going around the room.
"Guys, these are Sara's parents Patrick and Mallory Sidle." He paused for the 'hellos' to commence, "William, Mary these are my sisters and brother, Allison, Katie, Michelle, Beth, Rachel, Hannah and Thomas."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you all." Patrick replied.
"Thank you for being so welcoming." Mallory stated
"Your family." Allison, the eldest Stokes child, stated matter of factly, "It's that simple, your family."
"Well, since we don't know how long the jury is going to be deliberating, why don't I make us all something to eat." Nick's mother, Ellen, stated.
"Why don't I help you?" Mallory suggested
Ellen nodded and the two mothers headed off to the kitchen.
"Dad, where's Grace?" Nick asked
"She's in our room sleeping." His father, Patrick, responded.
"Did you guys meet Grace?" Nick asked his siblings.
"Nicky, she's beautiful." Hannah stated giving her baby brother a hug.
"Thanks."
Nick sat down on the couch with his father and began discussing the trial to his siblings, who were unable to attend. He was in the middle of discussing the evidence against Kristy when the phone rang.
Ellen walked out to the living room, silent, "Nicky, its Ronald."
Nick looked over to his mother surprised, "It's only been an hour, and they couldn't have reached a verdict this early could they have?" Nick took the phone from him mother,
"Hello, Ronald, what's going on?"
"Nick. I have some news."
"They reached a verdict didn't they?"
"Actually no, something else."
"What?" Nick asked slightly worried
"The defense approached me about twenty minutes after the trial ended. After proceeding with the entire trial and hearing my closing statements, they decided to take the plea agreement."
"Can they do that?"
"Up until the jury comes back with a verdict, yes they can."
"What was the agreement?"
"Same as it was before. Guilty on all charges, fourteen years in prison with the possibility of parole after seven."
Nick took a deep breath, "Thank you for everything. I can't express how much I appreciate it."
"You're welcome, if you or your family or Sara's family have any questions don't hesitate to give me a call."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, bye."
"Bye."
Nick hung up the phone and looked around to find twelve faces staring at him, hoping for some type of news.
"Kristy took the plea agreement. Guilty on all charges, fourteen years in prison with the possibility of parole after seven years have been served."
The families began to cry and hug each other, all feeling that justice had finally been served, not only for Sara and Grace but for Brynn also.