The Power of Hope
Chapter Three
By: Lily Handle
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Author's Note: One day, I'll wake up one morning and the writer's block I have will be gone. I'll write up a storm and have spectacular chapter after spectacular chapter out faster than you can shake a stick at. One day seems like a long time considering its over a month since I last updated. Anywho, please enjoy this update, I will try to get the next chapter out quicker. Please read and review.
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Irony was a very mysterious figure, he thought watching Matt Murdock enter his office. Never had the saying the blind leading the blind been more appropriate for a situation. Murdock may have been a fantastic defense lawyer but even his skill wouldn't get the Doctor out of his carefully laid trap. He rose from his seat, "Ah, Mr. Murdock, I didn't expect to see you until after your client had been arraigned."
"I met up with your second chair at the hospital," Murdock explained, sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, "I thought it would be best if I talked with you right away."
He nodded, though Murdock couldn't see the gesture and sat back down, "I see. Well then, we'll speak off the record, since your client isn't present."
"McKenna, I know you're not a vindictive man," Murdock started, leaving him to chuckle inwardly. If only you knew, he thought, if only. And that was what he had over them all, anonymity. Murdock, Fury, even Charles Xavier didn't fully know who he was, and what he had planned for them all.
"From what happened to Dr. Chandler today, you can see that she's clearly not responsible," Murdock continued, "Trask death is a tragic,"
"You can argue your case to the jury," he said, cutting Murdock off, "Not to me."
Murdock frowned, "McKenna, you're going against S.H.I.E.L.D. recommendations, all the evidence and the advice of your colleagues, why? For what I've heard, this isn't like you."
"It's the law," He turned his tone hard and cold, "Dr. Chandler recklessly endangered everyone she was around by not learning to control her powers as soon as she knew of them. When she lost control, she broke the Mutant Restriction Act, caused the death of a defenseless man, and that makes her responsible. Thank you for stopping by, Mr. Murdock, I can't wait to argue this again in court."
Murdock ignored his dismissal and leaned forward, as if he could see right into his thoughts and find the plans he had buried there, "I know you're up to something McKenna, and I'm going to find out what it is." He only smiled as he watched Murdock leave his office. He didn't count on Murdock being a problem, the man played everything by the book. Then again, he hadn't counted on his last problem.
He picked up the phone and dialed Meredith, "Alert Holtzhour, I want someone to watch Matt Murdock."
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Fury paced outside the head of the MPD's office. Lieutenant Mathias Holtzhour was a man of little conscious, he followed the law when it suited him and when it didn't he bent it so it did. He had been ruthless out in the field, and he believed in the supreme power of the government. Anyone who questioned that power should be held accountable as a traitor to America. Fury had been as mad as hell when he heard that Holtzhour was the one being put in charge of the MPD. Giving him that much power when he was obviously biased against mutants gave Fury a bad feeling in the pit of his gut. His suspicions of Holtzhour had been confirmed when he caught wind of Dr. Chandler's case being brought to trail. He gritted his teeth, the politics of this were biting him in the ass. He'd never thought the case would ever see the light of a courtroom, not after all the time he'd personally invested in burying the evidence. Fury stopped pacing as the door to Holtzhour's office opened. A tall woman gilded out, nodding towards him before she slipped out of the room. He was left with the vague sensation that he'd seen the woman somewhere before, but before he could place her Holtzhour distracted him.
"What can I do for you Colonel?" He asked, looking relaxed and aloof, "I thought the MPD was off of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leash."
"Everyone is on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leash, Lieutenant. Let's talk." Without waiting for an invitation Fury stepped past Holtzhour and into his office.
"You've already heard about what happened to Dr. Chandler," Fury said once Holtzhour shut the door.
"Yes, I did have to hand pick the guards to watch her," Holtzhour stepped around him and slid into his desk.
"Then you know Matt Murdock is her lawyer, her father and Charles Xavier are backing the defense and I will personally testify that Dr. Chandler is not responsible for her actions," Fury snarled, trying to get Holtzhour to listen to him this time, "This case isn't the one the MPD should try and make its name off of."
"Actually Colonel sir, it is. A highly respected mutant researcher who preached that mutants and humans could live together in peace and they end up killing a human with their powers," Holtzhour chuckled, "Couldn't have a batter case if I planned it myself."
Fury glared, "Watch it Lieutenant, I've been keeping out of the MPD's business so far, but you push me and I'll take every case S.H.I.E.L.D. turned over to you back."
"She broke the law, Colonel, doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"As soon as a jury hears about what she went through they'll set her free," Fury tried to reign in his frustrated anger, "I can't force you to drop the case, but I'm deadly serious when I say I'll take those cases back."
"How's that, Colonel? Going to use those connections and favors?" Holtzhour hissed, clenching his fist.
"At the time of those cases it was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s responsibility to investigate and prosecute them, since the cases were before the Mutant Restriction act and the MPD they still fall under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction. I'll get a judge to make you turn them over."
"You wouldn't," Holtzhour glared.
"Try me, Lieutenant," Fury grinned, thinking he'd finally gotten through to the stubborn old bastard.
"I'm going to have to, sir, because this case deserves to see what a court says," Holtzhour got to his feet, "If you're done threatening me, sir, I'd like it if you'd leave me to my work."
Fury rose as well, drawing up to his full height so he was nose to nose with Holtzhour, "You think you're good at playing political games, Holtzhour, you're not. I've been doing this for a very long time, and I'm not about to be beaten by an amateur like you." With that Fury turned on his heel and walked out. As he walked towards the front entrance he drew out his cell phone and dialed the Institute.
"Charles, I'd like to have a meeting with you, the Chandler family and your instructors," Fury said when the man answered.
"And Mr. Murdock as well?" Charles said, not surprised at the call.
"Yeah, why not, might as well keep the suit informed. You get in touch with Logan, he should still be at the hospital with Mr. Chandler, I'll find the lawyer."
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"Papa!" Logan heard someone call as he walked back towards Marcus Chandler. He watched as two nurses ducked out of the way and Thea Chandler rushed through the space they created. He remembered her from the hospital in Canada where Hope had recovered after being kidnapped. She was the exact opposite of Hope, short hair, gray eyes and generally more energetic. Thea Chandler always seemed to be in motion while Hope was sedate and Logan stopped thinking about Hope. He watched Marcus get up from the bench when he spotted his other daughter and opened his arms for a hug. Thea threw herself into the hug, and Logan stayed out of the way while they quickly exchanged some whispered words and Thea rushed to the window through which she could see Hope. Thea placed a hand against the window, "I have to see her," She said suddenly, turning around to face her father.
"No one's allowed to see her," Marcus said, looking towards the guards only a short distance away, "The MPD won't allow it."
"The MPD?" Thea shook her head, "Why won't they let us see her?"
"They say she's dangerous. When," Her father stepped back to the bench and sat down heavily, "I told you she's under arrest, no one but her lawyer is allowed to see her."
"Papa, that's foolish, we're her family." Thea turned towards the guards, and Logan could tell she was going to do something very foolish, so he stepped forward.
"Miss. Chandler," Thea whirled around, at the sound of his voice, looking surprised to see him.
"Oh, Thea, you remember Mr. Logan don't you? He was with Hope when she was arrested," Marcus said quickly, as if he'd forgotten that Logan was still at the hospital with him. After he'd finished his phone call with Charles, he'd gone to get something from the vending machines for Marcus and himself, but he still hadn't been gone that long
"Yes," Thea smiled politely turning away from the guards, "I assume you're here with Mr. Xavier?"
Logan shook his head, "Charles is still in Bayville. I came here with Colonel Fury." He watched Thea frowned, obviously she wasn't thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about Fury.
"Is the Colonel here?" She asked, deceptively polite, but Logan wasn't fooled.
"He left, Thea," Marcus said, "Come, sit beside me, it's going to be a very long wait." Thea looked between her father and Logan and then sat down next to her father.
"They didn't have any diet," Logan said, handing over a lemonade can and one of the sandwiches to Marcus.
"Thank you." He took the sandwich and can, but just set them down next to him.
"Papa, you should eat, you know what the doctor said about…" Thea scolded, then looked down at her folded hands. Something passed silently between father and daughter leaving Logan wondering about what the importance of this doctor was. He wanted word about what was going on outside the sterile walls of the hospital, but he knew Fury and the defense lawyer needed time. The funny thing was there was a scent floating around in the hallway he recognized, back from his days with S.H.I.E.L.D. It belonged to a man who called himself Daredevil, guy who ran around New York busting criminals and solving crimes. He remembered the guy being an idealist, kept him from killing a few Japanese cartel boys. What he couldn't figure out was why that scent would be hanging around the hallways of a Washington Hospital. Suddenly Marcus cell phone went off and both Thea and Marcus jumped. Logan watched his hands shake as he pulled out the phone and answered. He would need therapy, counseling of some sort, Logan thought, then he glanced towards the window. A lot of people were going to need counseling of some sorts after this.
"Hello?" Logan turned his attention back to Marcus and the phone.
"Marcus?" It was Mary Chandler's voice, so Logan stepped back, giving the family privacy.
"Logan," Charles's voice echoed into his head.
"Yeah Chuck?"
"The Colonel has called for a meeting, at the Institute. Can you please bring Mr. Chandler here?" Logan frowned, a meeting called by Fury always meant good news, "I understand your suspicions, Logan, and your reluctance to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. again, but this.."
"I know, got to suck it up. Look, I'll try and get Mr. Chandler to come with, but I don't think he'll leave her."
"If not, I'm sure the Colonel will talk with Mr. Chandler at another time."
"Call you back when I'm in the air, Chuck." Logan waited for Marcus to finish his phone call, then caught his attention, "Mr. Chandler, I know you'd rather stay here, but Colonel Fury wants to talk with all parties involved at the Institute." Though they were old lines every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent had drilled into their head before they got out of training, they didn't exactly roll well off of Logan's tongue.
"You mean leave?" Thea looked between him and her father, "We can't leave Hope by herself here, what if she wakes up?"
"Baby doll, you stay here, I'll got with Mr. Logan. You can watch out for Hope."
Thea glanced towards the guards, "Sure thing, Papa, I'll stay."
"All right, thank you, Thea. Let me make a few calls," Marcus got to his feet, the cell phone already in his hands and moved off to the side.
"They'll arrest you too," Logan whispered to Thea, who was still eyeing the guards as if she was sizing them up, "You're not going to help her in jail."
Thea glanced at him, "You worry about my Papa, I'll worry about what happens here."
"Mr. Logan? Are you ready to leave? I've gotten a limo to take us to the airport, the jet is waiting," Marcus asked, looking between Logan and Thea.
"We'll take the Institute's jet, Mr. Chandler, it'll be faster."
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Charles glanced around his office, seeing grim resignation and determination on the faces of everyone present. Hope's lawyer, Mr. Murdock was sitting by Marcus Chandler, where he'd taken over the roll of family watchdog. Logan was standing slightly behind where Mr. Murdock and Mr. Chandler sat, another watchdog, thought he was trying not to look it. Hank and Ororo were busy digesting the news of Hope's arrest and the charges against her, neither had said a word yet. Fury was standing right besides Charles, leading the meeting with military efficiency.
"As you can see," Charles said, breaking into the depressive silence, "Dr. Chandler is in a dire situation. I know Mr. Murdock will do everything he can legally to keep her out of jail, but we must see what we can turn up on our own."
"We'll be claiming self defense for the trial," Murdock said smoothly, "I will be calling on many of you to take the stand for the defense."
"I'm getting someone undercover to infiltrate the MPD, if I can't get a judge to turn the case back over to S.H.I.E.L.D. but there's no chance I can get Charles into a meeting with Holtzhour. I didn't ask, but it's possible he already knows about Mr. Xavier's powers and won't get close to him if he's planning anything."
"Can you get it so I can visit her?" Marcus asked.
"I can try, whether the guards to her room work for the MPD or not, the name Fury opens a lot of doors."
"What do you need the Institute to do, Colonel?" Hank asked, speaking for the first time.
"Dig," Fury looked down and caught Charles's eye, "I know you've got the tech to get into the MPD computers, so start looking there. Just don't get caught."
"And if they are? Will it be bad for my baby girl's case? I don't want you doin' anythin' that could hurt her case."
"It won't be any danger to your daughter's case," Murdock reassured him, "Of course I may find myself representing the Institute in legal matters if they are caught."
Charles chuckled, "Mr. Murdock, if the Colonel has faith that we won't be caught, you can have faith as well."
"And the students, Charles?" Ororo said, "Do we tell them about this?"
"If they don't hear about it from us, they'll see it on the news," Logan said, "By tomorrow it'll be all over the papers and tv."
"I will see about getting the jury sequestered for the duration of the trail, the press can be a bad influence on them," Murdock glanced at Fury, "Do you know the judge being assigned to this case?"
"Workin' on it," Fury replied with a shrug, "When I know I'll stop by your office."
"If…if she's denied bail, where will they put her?" Charles clearly heard the fear in Marcus's question, and felt for the man.
"Currently the only facility that can hold mutants is a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison in New Mexico, a couple thousand miles from Las Vegas. Because of the Restriction act, we've had to turn the prison over to the MPD, but the guards are still S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. If she ends up there, I'll have someone keep an eye on her for you."
"Thank you, Colonel." Marcus looked relived, and Charles wondered if he should send either Hank or Logan to Las Vegas if Hope was indeed placed in jail.
"When is Dr. Chandler being arraigned, Mr. Murdock?" Charles asked. If he could get inside the courtroom during Hope's arraignment, he could easily sway the judge into giver her bail.
"Tomorrow, one o'clock, she'll go immediately to the court from the hospital," Murdock answered, "I would normally ask that you appear in court, as a show of support, but this is new ground. I don't know if a mutant presence will help or hinder our case. No offense, Mr. Xavier."
"I understand Mr. Murdock," Charles looked up at Fury, "What security measures are being taken for this? There are still some followers of Trask out there; they make take this opportunity to get revenge."
"I'll get someone from special forces to do guard detail for Dr. Chandler," Fury glanced towards Logan, "There's a guy I know out in East Germany that could be talked into the assignment." Logan nodded, and Charles frowned.
"If there is nothing more we need to discuss of urgent importance, I must go back to preparing for tomorrow's arraignment," Murdock said, getting to his feet, "Colonel, I'll tell my secretary to expect you."
"I'll show you out," Logan said suddenly, "Then I'll give Mr. Chandler a lift back to Washington, Chuck."
"No need, I remember where the door is," Murdock smiled.
"I insist," Logan growled.
Charles scowled, "Logan, what is it?"
"I know this guy, if he is who I think he is, he's not a lawyer. Scents don't lie and they don't change either." Charles watched Murdock carefully as he left the office, with Logan trailing behind him, wondering what part of Logan's past the lawyer came from.
"Would you like to stay and explain the situation to the students, Colonel?" Charles said, trusting Logan to handle the situation.
"Yeah, let's get it over with," Fury said, with the same tone as a man about to be faced with a firing squad.
"Mr. Chandler, if you would please wait here for Logan to return," Charles said, smiling politely at the man, "I'm sure he'll be back shortly."
"It's not a problem, Mr. Xavier, I'll call Thea and tell her I'll be back shortly."
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"Is there a reason you insisted on seeing me out, Mr. Logan? It's not like I can share what I saw here with the public," Murdock snapped once the door to Charles's office was closed. Logan snorted, yeah, there was one hell of a reason for him insisting.
"Yeah, bub, last time we met you were in red tights callin' yourself Daredevil. Whatcha doing in a suit, callin' yourself a lawyer?" He remembered the mission where he'd run into Daredevil. He'd been trying to infiltrate a Japanese drug cartel and bumped into the red wearing vigilantly. He remembered he didn't like the guy.
"We've met before? I think I would have remembered you, Mr. Logan."
"I was callin' myself Wolverine, ring a bell?" Murdock stumbled and Logan chuckled, "Yeah, thought so."
"Well, this is an interesting development. Since we've exchanged secret identities now, care to tell me what you followed me out here for?"
"Look, I ain't got a problem if you want to run around in red tights on your own time…"
"How kind of you," Murdock drawled sarcastically.
"But if it takes time away from the Doc's case," Logan drew his claws, watching Murdock's face tighten with recognition of the sound.
"I get your point, Mr. Logan, and don't worry. Dr. Chandler's case is my first priority. What priority is she to you, Mr. Logan?"
"Because you're the Doc's lawyer, I'll over look that," Logan muttered, "Think you can make it the rest of the way without me, suit?" Murdock chuckled, and left Logan standing by himself in the hall. He didn't like the guy, but Logan's instincts were telling him that he was going to do everything he could to help Hope. Logan turned around and went back to the office. It was empty except for Marcus, standing by one of the windows, looking outside a look of deep worry on his face.
"Mr. Chandler," Logan said, trying not to startle the man, "We can go if you want."
"All right, thank you Mr. Logan. I've heard from Thea that I'll be able to see Hope when I get back," Marcus smiled at him, "Looks like things are finally going our way." Logan wanted to point out that this was far from over, but didn't have the heart to take away what little hope the man had.
Instead he smiled, "Nice to hear. I'll get you back as quickly as possible then."
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Logan stayed out in the hall while Marcus went into Hope's room, family were the only ones inside the room, but he stayed just to the side of the window to watch. Hope was still out cold, probably the IV dripping fluids into her arm had some sedatives in it to keep her controlled. He curled his hands into fist, fighting the anger back. He wanted to stay, but needed to start doing something to help.
"I'll be back, Doc," he said softly, "I'll be back."
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The world was fuzzy, but Hope could hear her father's voice, and her sister's. They were the only things that she had to orient herself with for a very long time. When they left, Hope was left trying to figure out where she was and what was going on. She knew she was being cycled drugs of some sorts, but no nurse had been in. It had to come from the IV in her arm, but she couldn't pull it out, her wrists were tied to the bed. She wanted the drugs to stop, but couldn't call for help. She curled her hands into fist, trying to dig past the drugs and into her powers, maybe they could help her. She hissed through her teeth when there was a pain in her arm. Someone was pulling out the needle to the IV, she realized. Was it her power closing the hole and forcing the needle out? Or was there some silent nurse pulling it free? Hope heard the needle drop to the floor, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Without the constant flow to her, given a few hours the drug would work its way out of her system. Why is it everyone tries to control me with drugs? She wondered, though maybe this time drugs were a good idea. She knew the reason she was hospitalized, she'd woken up hysterical with fear. Why the death penalty? Why her of all the mutants in the world? Why couldn't they go after Magneto, or Sabretooth? Hope felt tears welling behind her eyes. All ready she was falling into self pitting, what a wonderful step in the wrong direction. At least she knew she wasn't guilty of murder, what had happened in that shed was self defense. It was a comforting fact, one she held onto with a desperately tight grip. It took the drug a very long time to work through her system, Hope would guess four hours, and once it was finally gone, she didn't like what she saw. Magneto was hovering at the foot of her, watching her.
"Hello Dr. Chandler."
"What do you want?" Hope asked, unable to push herself into a sitting position because her feet were tied as well. She felt she was a distinct disadvantage being tied this way, and in a room by herself, there was no one to call for help.
"Just to talk," Magneto moved to the side of Hope's bed, still lording over her. "When I heard about your situation I thought I should come to see you."
"How touching, you bring me flowers?" Hope snapped, trying not to act afraid. Never let them see you don't know what you're doing, never let them see you're afraid. Logan had told her the first day of training, and now Hope was trying to put that advice into practice.
Magneto chuckled, "Good to see you still have a fighting spirit, Doctor. I was afraid you might have let them break you."
"Them?"
"The MPD, the humans," Magneto sighed like it should have been an obvious thing.
"I don't want to hear another "mutants are the wave of the future" speech, Magneto."
"Mutants will be the future, Dr. Chandler, but what's coming first is a war. Do you think that you will be the last mutant the MPD will prosecute unfairly? After a while mutants will realize that the MPD is only looking to imprison them, and they'll begin to fight back. Look what they've done to you, Doctor. Tied you down, charged you with murder and they look to kill you. Why? Because you are a mutant. If we do not stop the humans, others will suffer just like you. Do you want to be the first causality in this war, or the first hero?"
Hope looked away, part of her rallied to fight back. For one blinding second all she wanted was revenge, against the MPD, against Stryker, against everyone and anyone, but, "You might be right Magneto. I very well could be the first causality, but morally, you are wrong and that's where it counts."
"My offer will always stand Doctor." The window behind Magneto slid open, "When you need me, I will come." Hope watched him slip out the window that looked out over the city and leave her alone, again. She almost called him back, just so she wouldn't be alone, but when a shadow fell across her bed and she looked to see Logan standing in the window that looked into the hallway, she knew she had made the right choice.
"Told you I'd be back." He mouthed to her.
"You always come back." She mouthed back, "Thank you."
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Author's Note: Look! Fluff, I love fluff! Anywho, please read and review while I work on murdering my writer's block.
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