The Power of Hope

Chapter Twelve

By: Lily Handle

Author's Note: So, this was possibly one of the most frustrating chapters to write in this story. Hope's testimony made me want to rip my hair out. I just couldn't get it right. I'm still kinda iffy about it. Sigh, will I never be satisfied?

"And now, we go to Trish Tilby, outside the federal court house with today's noon update," The primped and polished blonde anchor woman said cheerily, "Trish, can you hear me?"

"Scott, if you don't stop pacin' someone's for sure gonna catch us," Rogue glared at Scott over her shoulder once before returning her attention to the tv. Scott didn't stop pacing, but stayed away from the door where there was a window that looked out onto the hall. He had too much on his mind not to be nervous. Everyday the students at Bayville High got more and more hostile towards them. The new mutants complained of teasing and how other kids tried to get them into fights. He didn't like the way Principle Kelly was watching them so intently, either. Something was going on. And if the government had already gone after one member of the Institute, it was certainly going to try for the Professor next. Without the Professor none of the students would have a place to go and it would be easy for the government to scoop them up too. The world as he knew it was falling apart, or just about to.

"Scott," Jean said softly and laid a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her and for a moment he forgot his worry about his friends, his mentor and his home and thought she's beautiful. "You're going to miss the report."

"Right, right," He said under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. He stood by Jean and turned his attention to the tv.

"Well, so far, it's been a good day for the defense," Tilby was saying, "Dr. Elise Roberts, an emergency room doctor that treated Dr. Chandler when she was rescued stated clearly that Dr. Chandler would have only survived a few more days in the conditions Wilson Trask subjected her to. However, on cross examination, McKenna did get the doctor to admit that Dr. Chandler's most life threatening injury were the three deep gashes on her hand." A new clip of Dr. Hope blocking her face with her scarred right hand popped up, splitting the screen with Tilby.

"This mysterious injury that Dr. Chandler would not explain to Dr. Roberts, has become one of the rallying symbols for Dr. Chandler's supports. They believe the injury was caused by Wilson Trask, but since Dr. Chandler refuses to comment on the injury no one can confirm this."

"She's protectin' Wolverine," Rogue said under her breath.

"I thought she did it herself, that it wasn't Logan's fault?" Scott frowned, it didn't make sense to him.

"It doesn't matter, if the jury's on her side then they'll see the scar as a reminded of how horrible Trask was to her. If they aren't, well they don't have any ammo," Jean said with a shrug.

"Will you guys be quiet?" Kurt glared at them all, "I'm tryin' to listen here."

"Neal Hardy, a highway patrolmen for Manitoba, Canada, brought the most damaging evidence against the prosecution today. His dashboard camera and the tape from it showing Trask ruthlessly shooting an unconscious Hardy and the Dr. Chandler giving up her own chance at freedom to save Hardy's life has damaged the prosecution's image of Dr. Chandler. Of course, what everyone is waiting for is only minutes away. Today Dr. Chandler will take the stand in her own defense. We seen in court that Dr. Chandler's emotions often get the better of her, can she hold it together on cross is possibly the most pressing issue. Also, everyone is chomping at the bit to hear about what happened in that shed. There's only a few minutes left now in the recesses and the tensions are high here in D.C."

"Thank you Trish," The primped blonde said, "Well, Channel Five will bring you Dr. Chandler's testimony after this short commercial break."

Being on the witness stand for Stryker's trial had been nerve racking, because of Stryker sitting right there watching Hope. Now, as she was sworn in and took a seat she could feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. This was it, she knew it. This was her one shot at convincing the jury that she was innocent, that she hadn't killed Trask for all the reasons the prosecution had given. She was defending her life, she told herself, she had no choice. Funny, why didn't she really believe that?

"Can you please state your name for the record, spelling the last," Murdock smiled reassuringly at her and she took a deep breath, well here went everything.

"Dr. Hope Chandler, C-H-A-N-D-L-E-R."

"And what is your current occupation, Doctor?"

"I'm the school physician for the Xavier Institute."

"Do you do anything else?"

"I study the effects of modern medicine on mutants."

"And what does any of this have to do with this case?"

"Because of my work at the Xavier Institute and my research I was asked to attend a meeting of the minds, sponsored by Wilson Trask."

"Was this the first time you'd ever heard of Mr. Trask?"

"No, I had heard of Mr. Trask through my work, he was supposedly working on human and mutant relations."

"But the first time you met Mr. Trask was at this meeting of the minds?"

"Yes, it was the first time I had met the man face to face."

"What was your impression of him at this meeting?"

"He was polite, gentlemanly and outgoing. Smart, too."

"You didn't feel threatened at all?"

"No, Mr. Trask seemed like a perfectly normal person."

"Did you see Mr. Trask anytime after this?"

"Yes, during the attack on Congress."

"Please, tell the court what happened that day."

Hope took a deep breath, and she swore she could smell the smoke from the bombs, "I was giving my speech when the doors behind me blew inward. I was lifted off my feet and thrown over the podium. Everything was so chaotic, people were screaming, guns were going off and when I tried to go help the injured and man picked me up by my hair. He threatened to shoot me, so I used my power to knock him unconscious. When I started to use my power to knock out the other attackers in the room I was struck from behind. When I looked it was Wilson Trask who had hit me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Hope nodded, "Even dazed as I was, I recognized his face and his voice."

"What did he say to you?"

"You have to make it difficult, didn't you?" Hope quoted, the words sometimes echoed through her nightmares, she'd never forget them.

"What happened after that?"

"I passed out. I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up I was in a box, my hands and feet tied together. I was locked in. It was moving."

"The defense would like to present exhibit F, pictures taken by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents of the box Dr. Chandler just mentioned," Murdock said, striding to the table and picking up a clear bay labeled evidence.

"Let the record reflect," The judge nodded.

"The defense would also like to present the pictures to the jury," Murdock continued while Hope tried to not fidget in her seat.

"Go ahead, Mr. Murdock." Murdock crossed to the jury and handed the photos over before turning back towards Hope.

"Now, we say earlier today that you were let out of this box once," Murdock gestured back to the gallery in the general direction of Officer Neal Hardy. Hope couldn't help but smile slightly at him when he gave her a thumbs up. She really did like the man.

"And you had a chance to escape, but you didn't. Can you explain this?"

"The tape shows why, I had to help Officer Hardy. I…I made a deal with Trask that if I could save Mr. Hardy's life I would stop communicating with a telepathic student from the Institute."

"You'd managed to contact someone for help?"

"Only once, and because I was being drugged I couldn't really communicated where I was or what was happening to me. I just said I needed help."

"And you stopped communicating with this student after you saved Officer Hardy's life?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because," Hope knew this was going to sound stupid to everyone, "I gave my word I wouldn't."

"Did you ever get another chance to escape?"

"Yes, when we reached the cabin," Hope felt a wave of fear and nausea rip through her suddenly as memories she'd tried to forget came sweeping back, "I thought he was going to kill me."

"So you did what?"

"Knocked him out with my power and ran." Like it was yesterday Hope could feel the cold air stinging her cheeks as she ran through the woods, "I took to the woods, looking for a place to hide. I lost my shoes somewhere along the way, but I kept going. I ended up finding a hallow tree trunk and I hid in that."

"But Mr. Trask found you, correct?"

God, she could feel the terror griping her as she heard his footsteps crunching through the snow, getting closer and closer to where she was curled up as tight as she could make herself, as small as she could. "Yes, a few hours later, I think. He dragged me out and stuck me across the face and then kicked me. "For good measure" he said. Then he dragged me back to the cabin and threw me in the shed." She cloud clearly see her first night in that shed. The fear or being forgotten there, the cold ache that reached into her bones and the tears that had frozen on her face. She didn't realize she was crying now until Murdock walked over to her and handed her a handkerchief.

"Thank you," She glanced at the judge, "Sorry."

"It's alright, Dr. Chandler. If you need a minute take it."

She shook her head, "No, no. Keep going Mr. Murdock."

"I know this is hard, but tell the court about what happened the day Mr. Trask died."

Hope swallowed and tried to focus on the present, not the past, "I felt sick that day. I think it was because Trask was starving me and my body had started to convert my muscle into food. I could get water from the melting snow that dripped inside the shed, but I hadn't eaten since the morning of the attack. I had figured out by then that Trask didn't want me for a ransom, or experiments. He was making an example of me."

"Dr. Chandler, back to what happened in the shed," Murdock gently nudged her in the right direction.

"Sorry. I was lying in a corner, trying to stay warm and my head was pounding. It was just aching to the point where I had to keep my eyes closed. I heard Trask coming, he wanted to video tape me again. He did that a lot, video tape me. I think he sent the tapes to S.H.I.E.L.D. He did that today,"

"You mean that day," Murdock said, noticing her slip.

"Yes, he came in and started taunting me. He's so loud, like a gun going off right next to my ear. I'm so weak, so tired. Go away, I beg him to go away and he just laughs at me. I whimper and try to get away when he reached for me. My skull is breaking apart, I clutch at it with my hands, he's screaming. I can't feel anything but pain, like something's trying to push it's way out of my skull. Then everything goes white." Hope paused to take a torn breath and wipe the tears away, "I passed out eventually."

"And when you woke up?"

"He was dead," Hope barely managed to catch the sob that threatened to slip out, "Trask was dead."

"What did you do?"

"I checked his pulse," Hope laughed at herself, "I just had to make sure even though he was surrounded by blood. So much blood."

"After you checked to see if he was alive, what did you do?" Murdock tried to steer her back on target. He could tell by her voice she was slipping back into the past. Not good.

"I apologized to him," Hope looked at the jury, "I apologized to him, like it would matter. I forced my way out of the shed, the hinges had frozen, and ran for the cabin. I almost didn't go in just because I didn't know if there was anyone else in the place."

"Dr. Chandler," Murdock said more firmly, bringing her attention back to him, "Did you mean to kill him?"

"No, I didn't even know my powers could do that."

"Did you fear for you life at the time?"

"That's all I felt," Hope said calmly, "All I lived with in that shed. The fear that tomorrow I'd die or he'd get sick of me surviving, hanging on and kill me."

"Thank you, Dr. Chandler," Murdock looked towards the judge, "That's all I have for this witness."

"Right, any cross examination, Mr. McKenna."

"Of course your honor." Hope swallowed at the vicious look in McKenna's eyes as he got to his feet and started towards her.

"You almost sound proud, Doctor."

"I'm not," Hope wanted to snap at the man, but stayed calm.

"But you saved your own life, correct? Isn't that something to be proud of?"

"When it's at the cost of another person's life, no, it's not."

"So, you regret your actions?"

"Of course."

"When the victim came to you that day, did he threaten you at all?"

"No."

"Did he have his gun with him?"

"I don't know."

"Did you see a gun at all?"

"No."

"Did he have any weapon at all with him?"

"Not that I saw," Hope swallowed again.

"In fact, the only thing he had with him was a video camera."

"As I said, he liked to taunt S.H.I.E.L.D about my condition while they were looking for me. He taunted them about how they couldn't find me."

"So, you knew there was a rescue effort?"

"Of course I did," Hope answer hesitantly. She couldn't see where McKenna was going with this and desperately wanted Murdock to do something, but from the look on his face there was nothing he could do.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. made your rescue an priority, even over the attack on the capitol."

"I…I didn't know that."

"Did you know that at the time you killed the victim S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent one of it's lead agents into the field to look for you?"

"No, of course not. I had no way of knowing that."

"But, you were present when Trask taunted the investigation efforts, you knew that they were looking for you, that the agent was only three or four days away from rescuing you."

"I had no idea Logan was that close!"

"Dr. Chandler, when you killed the victim you claim you felt like something was breaking apart your skull, isn't that correct?"

"Yes."

"Was the victim hitting you in anyway?"

"No."

"So, you just lashed out because you were in pain."

"No…I…I was afraid," Hope stuttered and she saw victory flash in McKenna's eyes.

"You were afraid of what, Ms. Chandler? That your skull would break apart?"

"I was disoriented, confused about what was going on," She tried vainly but could feel whatever little ground she'd won slipping out from under her.

"And afraid, but you were use to being afraid, weren't you?"

"Yes. Trask terrified me, my situation terrified me."

"What made this day different? You were afraid all the time and the victim took video of you before, why not lash out at those times? Was it because you were fed up? You knew you could stop him, so you decided to take things into your own hands?"

"No, no," Hope tried to cut in, but McKenna was on a roll.

"You said you felt sick, but you weren't really, you were angry, weren't you?"

"I…"

"Did you realize that you could fight back? That all the while you were lying there you actually had all the power and Trask was actually afraid of you?"

"Objection!" Murdock yelled, "Prosecution is testifying!"

"You don't feel any guilt at all do you?" McKenna yelled at her.

"I do!" Hope yelled right back.

"Then you're guilty!"

"Of course I am!" Hope thundered, "I took his life. I had no right to do that and every day I beg God to let me go back. To take everything back. It never happens and I live with that guilt, that torment everyday of my life. I won't ever be the same, I can't ever be who I was before all of this and I'm ashamed because of it. But I know, deep down that if he was still alive, it would be at the cost of my life and that if he was alive, he'd be on trial for my murder, and he would be facing the death penalty. My only crime was saving my own life by taking his and I will be punished until the day I die with that knowledge."

Gathered in Charles office, no one said a word. Fury, Murdock, Maverick, the Professor, Hank and Marcus, none could think of a single thing to say. Court had been a disaster, they all knew it. McKenna had done exactly what he planned, have Hope lose control. While the media had made the outburst and Hope's tears look good, the majority of people were predicting a guilty verdict. Of course, four men in the room had known the guilty verdict was coming for a while now, but it seemed so frighteningly real. A father sat with a glass of brandy in his hands and felt the cold ache his daughter had talked about. His baby girl was going to prison, his baby girl, the one he had promised to protect and keep safe until there wasn't a breath left in his body. A friend in love felt sick, defeated and helpless. How could he have let it come to this? How could he fail her like this? The lawyer was planning his closing statement, one last ditch effort to salvage what was left. He couldn't keep her out of jail, but damn it he would make the world feel lower than slime for allowing her to end up there. Only three of the men, the bodyguard, the Colonel and the telepath knew there was one person who wasn't giving up yet. His determination, his almost violent intensity to keep her out of jail reached them and they knew he'd do whatever it took. Out of everyone in the room, they were the only ones who knew the true meaning of dedication and hope.

Author's Note: Don't ask me where that ending scene came from, it was a last minute add that while very strange, I liked so I kept it. So, what's next, closing arguments, an appearance from Magneto, and the Brotherhood. Along with lots of other good stuff. I'm so excited! Please read and review.