Disclaimer: I don't own anything, which should be pretty obvious to most people… unless you're really dumb…

Chapter 5: Involuntary Manslaughter


"You've got one phone call," the officer said as he glared at Kate and wiped the coffee off his upper lip.

Kate just stared. She didn't have anyone to call. Everyone she had ever loved was gone. Except sawyer of course. But he was in another cell somewhere. Giving the officer no response, she stared at him, fire in her eyes.

The officer shrugged and walked down the hallway, leaving Kate in a small jail cell. The officer had already arranged for an attorney to meet with her later that day. She knew she didn't have much of a case. With a sigh, she sat down on the wooden bench and closed her eyes. Images from the previous night filled her head.

They had only been apart for about an hour but he already missed him. 'You never know what you have until it's gone,' she thought to herself. It sounded dumb to her, even in her thoughts. That was one of the few things she remembered about her mother. She would say it all the time. It sounded just as dumb to Kate then as it did now. It wasn't until now that she really understood it's meaning. She missed Sawyer like she never thought she would. Her heart ached, knowing she would never see him again.

Kate was still wrapped up in thought of Sawyer when her attorney walked up to her cell. "Katharine Austin?" he asked, a kind tone in his voice.

Broken from her trance, Kate stood up and walked over to the door of the cell so the officer could let her out. She and they attorney walked to a secluded conference room where they could talk in private.

"I see your charges are murder in the second degree, bank robbery, position of an un registered weapon, and trespassing in a hospital," the attorney began, "Care to explain yourself?" he asked, looking up at her.

Kate stared at him for a moment then told her entire story, every detail. She didn't leave anything out, hoping he would find something that helped her case.

"Well," the attorney said, drumming his fingers, "It's not hopeless. It sounds more like involuntary manslaughter, which would result in a large fine and I bet we can get a jury to believe that you were forced into the robbery, the gun wasn't yours, and there is no way a jury would blame you for wanting to visit your mother in the hospital even though the circumstances were inappropriate.

Kate looked up at him, life coming back into her eyes. "You mean I have a chance of getting out of here?" she asked, wide eyed.

"As long as I can get the jury to believe it, yes, you do. Do you think that's what really happened? In voluntary manslaughter, forced robbery, and a simple visit to the hospital?"

A strong nod signaled Kate's answer. She knew the attorney was right about the involuntary manslaughter and the visit to her mother. The robbery on the other hand… She knew she had done that knowingly but since no one was hurt, well, no innocent people were hurt, and no money was taken, she agreed that she was forced into it.

It seamed to be looking good for her right now. She was convinced she had a good attorney. She just wondered how Sawyer was making out.