I'm so sorry for the short chapter last time! But this one is super-long! 10 pages! Lol...Again, I'm sorry that the last chapter was so short, but hopefully this one will make up for it.

Nebula- Yes, I went a chapter with no (or at least little) Charlie abuse! Whoop-whoop for me! Lol...It's a record...^_^ And thanks. I'm glad I did okay wth the courtroom scene...lol...I'm tryin'. ^_^ Lol, you forgot I killed Mrs. Conway? Hehehe, that's okay. It was so long ago...DANG, that was like 27 chapters ago! o.O Wow...but yes, evil minds do think alike. *smiles* I'm glad you liked the update. I just have to keep chuggin' along with this story. Lol...I have SO MUCH inspiration for what I'm doing with this story. I kinda lost steam with "One Way Ticket," but trust me...it'll return. Worry not. I hope you regain inspiration with "Facing the Past" soon! I'm glad you're not abandoning it. ^_^ But I'll be patient. I know what it's like to be overwhelmed and without inspiration. ^_^ And again, I'm glad you liked the chapter! I hope you like this one too!

SPASH Panther- Thanks bunches! ^_~

Kate- Yay! Kate again. ^_^ Aw, review rounds. I know how that works. ^_^ I still have to review several stories...lol...I'll get there eventually. Ooh, heehee. I get priority! Lol. Cool. Hehehe...Yes, of course I missed you! Oh yes, gotta love the warm bubbly feeling...lol...Hehehe...you're feeling kinda like Charlie...lol...poor you. Even if it's only...kinda like Charlie. Lol. Wow, there are like 200 homeless people in Toronto at any given time? o.O Wow, I guess he woudln't stick out that much anyway. Lol. I learned something new about Canada today! Whoo-hoo! My French teacher would be proud. Even though she's from Quebec...emm...same difference. ^_^ Same country. Anyway. Heehee! *giggles* He SHOULD get one of those handicapped parking tags and wear it around his neck! Lol...that would be so funny! Lol, yes. Jesse will give back the common sense and stop holding it hostage soon enough. Aw, poor Kate can't say 'uh-muh-muh-mum'...Heehee...your dad is looking at you funny? ^_^ Hehehe...that happens to me sometimes. Yes! I was good and brought in Bombay. Good Chelsea! ^_^ Lol, you really typed 'nice men in the white...er....black suits'? That's so funny! ^_^ We're saving the nice men in the white suits for later. Lol. Heh, you caught on to the 'Jackson' thing too. Lol. I'm so proud of you! ^_^ Kate and Katie both caught on...lol..I'm okay now...I'll stop. Lol...^_^ Thanks for reviewing, Kate! It's good to have you back! ^_^ Oh...and by the way....are you going to post your story soon? Please? Please? The impatience is really getting to me! I'm dying! *clutches heart and falls to the ground in a dramatic little...moment* I must read it! I need Charlie angst! *gasps while clutching throat and heart respectively, making dying sounds* Need...Charlie...angst...

Buterflyangel06- I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Katie- Thanks, I'm glad I did okay with the court scene. ^_^ That makes me feel better.

Banksiesbabe99- Aw, it's okay. This chapter should tell you what's gonna happen. ^_^ Heehee, I'm a good torturer? *smiles* Cool. Lol, thanks for reviewing.

Liz- Heehee! I'm glad you like it. Lol, leave it to you to link my story to a Newsies reference. Lol...^_^ I can't remember if you've read this one or not...but either way! ^_^ I'm glad you liked the chapter, though. ^_^

Rachel- *gasp* You don't have Spaghettios? How sad! I guess it is an American thing...lol...It is really good though! It's kinda like spaghetti and meatballs, but the spaghetti is in litle "o" shapes and stuff. Lol...I love it. ^_^ I'm glad you approved of my court scene. I'm tryin'. ^_^ yeah, the eveil reporter-slash-journalists are kinda evil. ^_^ Charlie suffers alot of trauma in this little story. ^_^ Enjoy your Coke and Doritos (if you have any left)! ^_^ Sit back and enjoy the chapter! ^_^

Sophie- Lol, very forceful, aren't ya Soph? 'Twas a lovely rant, though. ^_^ Wow, you have respect for my (untaught) courtroom knowledge? *smiles really big* That's gives me the warm fuzzies! ^_^ I was worried, but I'm glad to know that I did okay on it. And thanks for bein' okay with the short chapter. ^_^ This one is NICE and LONG. ^_^

Sloane Miette- Yes, let's all cry for quiet-Charlie. Chemistry has turned your brain to moosh, huh? Well Pre-AP Geography and Geometry have turned MY brain to moosh....I have like a trillion projects all at once and I swear, my brain is fried...And just for the record, I am DREADFULLY frightened of Gizmo the Bunny. Terrified beyond words. Lol, have no fear...Duck'll be here soon.

Angel Spirit- Cool! I need to watch the Duck trilogy again...it's been awhile. Lol...in case you hadn't caught on, Charlie's my favorite too. Lol. Not that you could ever guess...^_^ Just kidding...lol...anyway...and thnks for reviewing! I love feedback! ^_^

Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks.

-Chapter 34-

Charlie sat on the couch at the building they had been keeping him in. He was staring at the red letters of the digital clock. They warned him of a foreboding doom...

Two minutes before the people would come in and whisk him away, back to the courthouse. Then his fears would become reality as his father wins the case by a long shot. Then he would be dragged back home where everything would return to normal. Not only would he have to endure whatever his father came up with, but they could never go back and try again. Once the case was thrown out, there were no second chances.

Right on time, the two adults knocked on Charlie's door, entering quietly.

"You ready?" Ms. Jackson asked. She was only about 25, but she looked much older due to a lack of sleep. Charlie felt guilty for being the cause of it, but he figured there wasn't much he could do. He felt bad that she had been stuck with a case that they would never win. Mr. Smith The Lawyer didn't look much better...

"Sure..." Charlie said unenthusiastically. He had bags under his eyes as well. He hadn't slept a wink last night due to nervousness. Any time he would close his eyes, he would be hit with a flash back. Mainly the little 'speech' his father had given him the night he had returned from Jesse's...

The two adults looked at each other, each with very little hope. They still had yet to convince Charlie that they weren't the bad guys out to get him. It wasn't half as bad as it had been at first, but the kid was warped. He still wouldn't admit that anything was wrong, though everyone could tell just by looking at him.

Kevin Smith opened the front door of his car for Ms. Jackson while Charlie crawled into the back seat. Charlie wondered if Bombay would be there again that day...

Gordon Bombay, much to his dislike, hadn't been allowed to stay with Charlie so he had rented a hotel room for a few nights.

It wasn't long before they were back in the courtroom. Several more witnesses were called to the stand. These included Dr. Anne Proctor, Alyssa, and April on Charlie's side. Bob The Cashier, a kid from Charlie's school, some of George's old work buddies, and some other various people were called to testify on George's behalf.

The case was coming to a close and things weren't looking to good for Charlie. Suddenly, he heard his name called.

He looked up at the judge. No...they weren't doing what he thought they were doing...they couldn't be...

"Would you mind coming up to the stand, please?"

Yes...they were...

He groaned and stood up, sending a panicked look to Mr. Smith.

Kevin Smith patted him on the arm and wished him luck. Kevin didn't know if Charlie was ready...

Gulping and sending one last glance at his lawyer and his old coach, Charlie sat down at the stand.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?" the creepy guy asked.

Charlie sat there for a second. "Uh...yeah..." he said quietly. "I guess."

Kevin slapped his forehead.

When the creepy man gave him an evil look, Charlie cowered in his seat. "Yes, I do."

The creepy turned away and gave the floor to George's evil lawyer.

Charlie gulped again. He felt that threat of imminent doom hovering over his head again...

"Charlie Conway..." the lawyer said, clasping his hand tightly behind his back. "Would you consider yourself a kid who stays out of trouble?"

Charlie blinked. He was about to open his mouth but then stopped and closed it again. Would he?

Charlie gave him a skeptical look. "Is that a trick question?"

George's lawyer let out a fake laugh. "No, no. It's very simple. Not a trick question at all. Would you consider yourself a relatively good kid, or are you more of a troublemaker?" the lawyer said again.

"Umm..." Charlie said. "I guess I would consider myself a relatively good kid." He said, still giving the lawyer a suspicious look.

"So you are rarely in trouble?" the lawyer questioned with raised eyebrows.

"Uh..." the boy said, not knowing what to say. He got in trouble pretty often, but he didn't tend to think of himself as a 'troublemaker.'

"We're waiting." The lawyer said.

Tightening his lips defiantly, Charlie let out a sigh. "Um, I guess. I mean, I'm not perfect-" Charlie started, still wary.

"Ah, but it says here that you ran away just a few weeks ago. Why did you do that?" the man asked, referring to a file in his hand.

Charlie cocked a suspicious eyebrow. "If you already knew the answer, why did you ask me? I mean, c'mon. You obviously don't like me very much."

Gordon had to stifle a snort. Leave it up to Charlie to ask something like that...

George's lawyer tightened his lips as his grip on the file stiffened. He was about to reply, but decided to continue questioning instead. "It also says here that you held at a station for stealing?" the man asked.

"Totally wasn't my fault! I didn't even do it; the cashier guy just didn't like me." Charlie said, sending a glare towards Bob The Cashier who was sitting at the back. He had decided to stay for the rest of the trial, though his questioning was already done.

"Hm...interesting." the fancy lawyer said with arched eyebrows.

Charlie sat back in the seat. That wasn't fair...even his father had known Charlie didn't really do it...

"How can they keep that on the record when it had already been decided that I hadn't done it?' Charlie asked suspiciously.

The lawyer's eye twitched. "I'm asking the questions here. You're just answering them."

Charlie just struggled to keep his mouth shut. Something about being on the stand gave him that little boost of confidence...

That seemed to satisfy the lawyer's need for control. "Alright then. Moving on. Is it true that your mother was killed only three months ago?" the lawyer continued.

The color in Charlie's face drained at that question. He felt his throat go dry and his composure stiffen.

"Yes." He said, unable to keep the sad, yet mildly bitter, tone out of his voice.

"I see. So it would be safe to say that you're relatively distraught?" the lawyer asked. Gordon had to restrain himself from going up there and strangling the man...

Charlie's jaw tightened. "Yeah, something like that." He snapped.

"I see. And is it true that you did not have a very close relationship with your father prior to your mother's death?" the lawyer questioned.

"That's true." Charlie answered. The lawyer was standing in between Charlie and Kevin, so Charlie couldn't see his own lawyer motioning for him to expand on that answer.

George's lawyer clasped his hands behind his back again and began pacing back and forth slowly. "I've been informed that you never really settled into your school." He continued.

Charlie adverted his gaze, looking at the stand. "We didn't get along very well..." he said quietly.

"Really? Why is that?" The Lawyer Who Chelsea Was Too Lazy To Name asked. (Whoa, that totally ruined the mood...sorry about that.)

Charlie shrugged. He refused to look up again. The subjects were getting more and more personal...more dangerous...

"Well, many children in your situation may feel the need to get attention. Whether it be negative or not. Were you doing this all just for attention?" the lawyer asked, trying to gain eye contact with Charlie.

But Charlie was doing everything in his power to avoid contact. "N-no." he replied shakily, just above a whisper.

"No? No? Well earlier when we questioned your teachers and Dr. Anne Proctor, they said you claimed these bruises were not, indeed, caused by your father. So were you lying then, or are you lying now?" the man asked, hoping the boy would answer to his benefit. It had been a dangerous question and he had gone out on a limb...he knew his client was at fault, but it wasn't his job to give justice. It was his job to win the case.

Charlie took in a sharp breath and adverted his gaze to the floor again. Not a good question...not a good question...

"Umm..." he said shakily.

He could feel everyone's stares on him. He gulped and took in a shaky breath.

The lawyer stopped his pacing and paused in front to Charlie, staring at him with anticipation.

"Well?" the lawyer asked.

"I-" he said before, closing his mouth again. His throat was dry and he was getting increasingly nervous. He didn't know what to say. He could feel his father's threatening gaze penetrating the air between them. He could always feel the hopeful stare of his lawyer, Mr. Smith. "Umm..." What was he gonna say? He was under oath...

Without meaning to, he found his gaze shift over to his father for a brief second. Or what was supposed to be a brief second...

George held his gaze, despite Charlie's effort to look away. He couldn't make himself do it...he didn't know what he was going to do. His dad was giving him a look that said 'you are so getting it when I win this.'

The problem Charlie was finding was that it was a trick question. If he said he had lied before, they couldn't trust his word. But they could also say that if he said he had been lying a few moments ago, then it would be lying under oath AND just flat-out lying. This just wasn't working...

He was trapped.

"Just answer the question. Were you, or were you not, lying to them?" the lawyer persisted.

When they realized he wasn't going to answer, the judge sighed. "Just move on to the next question. It doesn't seem he is going to answer."

Wow, that's all he had to do? Not answer?

The fancy lawyer let out a groan. "No further questions, Your Honor." The man said before sitting down.

The judge turned to Charlie's lawyer. "Mr. Smith, would you like to question your client before we begin closing statements and turn it over to the jury?" the judge asked.

"Yes, Your Honor." Kevin Smith said, standing up and giving Charlie the closest thing to a comforting smile as he could.

Kevin approached the stand. "Charlie, I understand that you've had a hard day and I know it's been tough. So I will make this simple. You need to answer this question truthfully." Kevin said to Charlie, his eyes pleading. "Did your father, or did he not, beat you? Has he been abusive in ANY way?"

Charlie took in a sharp breath again and bit his lip.

"Just answer this one question Charlie. Then you won't have to answer any more. Just please, answer the question truthfully." Mr. Smith said again.

Charlie nodded and turned his gaze stiffly to the floor. He could tell his father was trying to pull the 'look into my eyes and lie to them' thing he had done before...

He bit his lip and closed his eyes. He had to do this...maybe he could actually get away...maybe it might work...

Maybe...

Charlie opened his eyes again and looked Kevin in the eyes. Charlie's eyes were starting to water. "Yeah. Yeah, he did." Charlie said in small voice, his voice cracking.

A few whispers erupted in the room. Bombay and Ms. Jackson each smiled to themselves. Now they were getting somewhere...

Kevin's nodded, giving Charlie a thankful, proud look. His face said 'good job,' as he said, "No further questions, Your Honor."

George glowered...the little brat...

Charlie bit his lip. Had he done the right thing?

"Come on Charlie." Mr. Smith said.

Charlie nodded and got off the stand, looking at his feet in order to avoid his father's piercing glare.

The boy let out a breath as he leaned back into the wooden chair once he sat down, crossing his arms on the table and burying his face in them. He was just glad he didn't have to stay up there anymore...

"Alright then. Closing statements?" the judge said as the two lawyers recited their closing statements for the jury.

~~~*~~~

It had been awhile since the jury had disappeared into the room to discuss the verdict. Charlie was growing increasingly nervous. Had his confession even changed anything? What if they still lost and he still had to live with his father? What if it hadn't been enough?

Man, would that bite...

Charlie was biting his lip and staring off into space. He could hardly believe he had done that...

What had he been thinking?

There was no way they could win...oh man, he was in so much trouble when he got home.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"AH! What the-" he yelled, whipping around. Kevin jumped back.

"Whoa, sorry kid. Didn't mean to scare you there..." he said.

Charlie closed his eyes as his heartbeat gradually slowed back to a normal pace. "Geez, I nearly had a heart attack..." Charlie said after a moment.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I know it was hard, but we're proud of you. We were worried there for a moment that you might not tell." Mr. Smith said.

Charlie gave him a fake smile, though he was thinking to himself sarcastically, 'Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm glad to know you have so faith in me.'

"No problem." Charlie said before turning back around, his fake smile fading back into the blank, staring-off-into-space expression it had been before.

The boy was once again shaken out of his thoughts when the jury walked into the room, moving in a single-file line.

He sat up in his seat as everyone scurried to sit back down and hear the results. Gordon Bombay crossed his fingers, Ms. Jackson wrung her hands, and Kevin Smith stared with hope.

One of the jury-people handed an envelope to a man, who then passed it on to the judge.

Tension was high as both parties waited to hear the verdict...

The judge carefully opened it and read it over. He looked up and glanced at both sides.

"After much careful thought and consideration, the jury has come to a decision." The judge began. "On charges of abuse, defendant George Conway is found..." the judge continued. Everyone unconsciously leaned forward in their seats, eyes wide as they waited... "Guilty."

George slammed his fist on the table as everyone released the breath they had been holding.

Kevin and Ms. Jackson each gave each other beaming smiles before jumping into big hugs.

Charlie sat there, stunned. Had he...actually won?

"We...won?" he asked with a dazed expression on his face. He was truly in shock.

Gordon Bombay jumped up in his seat. "We won! Charlie, you're free!" Bombay said, glad he wouldn't have to see the boy suffer anymore trauma at the hands of his own father.

"Case dismissed." The judge said with a light smile as he slammed down the mallet and left the room.

"I'm...free?" Charlie said to himself, still in a daze. It was a concept he was having difficulty grasping. But...how come his father hadn't won? His father ALWAYS won...

George Conway watched as his son sat there in shocked silence, his jaw opened ever-so-slightly in a disbelieving daze. He growled to himself and rubbed his temples. This was not how he had planned it...that was NOT how it was supposed to go. The kid was not supposed to tell the TRUTH...stupid brat...

He let out a frustrated groan as he glared at his lawyer. The lawyer shrugged. "I don't know what went wrong, sir." The lawyer said.

George growled...

He watched as his son was led out of the room again by several pleased- looking adults.

~~~*~~~

Charlie had yet to snap out of his trance when they walked out into the bustle of the reporters, each yelling and screaming to be talked to.

After beating off several news people away with big sticks, they managed to get away to a less-crowded area.

"Alright Charlie; we have that done. Now the only question is who will be your legal guardian." Ms. Jackson said. Several other Child Protective Service people had shown up as well.

"If it's alright with Charlie, I almost took him when his mother died. But since Mr. Conway was his biological father, he got his way. But if Charlie doesn't mind, he could come back to Minnesota with me." Bombay said.

Charlie nodded, though he was still in his little dazed moment.

"Alright. Frank and I will stay with Charlie while Don and Vincent take you for a background check." Ms. Jackson said.

They nodded and parted ways. Ms. Jackson and Frank walked with Charlie back to the main area. Most people were gone by now.

Suddenly a man walked up. Ms. Jackson's eyes darkened. "I suggest you leave before I feel the need to call security." She said darkly to him.

"Whoa, whoa. I come in peace. I simply wanted to say goodbye to my son; considering I may never see him again." George said, holding up his hands in surrender.

"I will see to it that you never do." She barked.

Charlie turned to them, his eyes widened, and he took a few steps behind Frank.

"I promise; no violence." George said, keeping his calm composure.

"Yeah right! There's no way I'm letting you speak to him." Ms. Jackson said with a glare. "Are you crazy?!"

"Look, you can supervise the conversation if you wish. There's a room right there with glass walls. You can watch intently and burst in if I do anything violent. But I won't. So there won't be any problem." He said, motioning to an empty conference room with glass walls so they could see in.

"Why can't you say it here?" she asked skeptically.

"It's private. I would rather it just be Charlie. But you could jump in and intervene if anything were to happen. So if you would allow me to speak to my son, then you can be on your merry way." George said.

She agreed only after she was sure they would be able to supervise. She was suspicious that they weren't allowed to hear, but at least they could keep a watchful eye.

Much to Charlie's distress, he followed his father into the glass-walled conference room.

The two men stood there for a moment in silence, each staring the other one down.

"I don't know how you did it." George said simply, yet without a congratulating tone. He was far from thrilled with the outcome.

"Me neither." Charlie said, digging the toe of his shoe into the red carpet with a hint of nervousness.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Besides, those two are watching us like hawks. I couldn't do anything if I wanted to. And trust me, I do." He said, his eyes darkening slightly.

Charlie gulped and nodded, thankful that Ms. Jackson insisted on watching.

Charlie then looked up defiantly, feeling mildly confident knowing that his father wouldn't try anything while being watched. "Why did you even bother to say goodbye? You know you can't possibly do anymore damage than you already have." Charlie said shakily, glaring at his father.

"You sure are one cocky son-of-a-gun, aren't you?" George said hotly.

"You said it yourslef...they are watching us. What could you possibly do?" he asked with a glare, though it was more to reassure himself then to taunt his father. He was trying to remind himself there was nothing his father could do to him at the moment.

George returned the icy glare. "You think you're out of this, don't you?" he asked with a snaky laugh.

"I would assume that, yes." Charlie replied, trying to shove any thoughts that came to mind out. He couldn't help but feel controlled, even after the trial.

"Well you assumed wrong. Because Charlie, no matter what you do, you can never get rid of me. I won't just disappear. You've become more dependent on me then you lead yourself to believe. You may go celebrate your little victory now, but soon enough you'll realize you can't escape." George said menacingly, keeping his voice low and even.

Charlie tensed. "Y-yeah I will." He said, unconvincingly. He wasn't even convinced himself.

George smirked. "You may have gotten away this time, but you'll never escape. I'll never let you go...I may never see you again, but you'll never be able to get rid of me. When you're all by yourself, you can be reminded you weren't worth it." George said threateningly, barely above a whisper as he walked out the door again.

Charlie shivered and crossed his arms, being careful of his cast. He felt the words sink in as Ms. Jackson and Frank walked into the room. He clamped his mouth shut and allowed himself to be led along the way.

He hated it when he knew his father was right...