Bride and Prejudice: Aftermath

by tarskeewee08

John stormed into the station with Sam, Mike and Thomas close behind. The first officer he saw her grabbed by the collar "Where is she!" he yelled. The officer gagged as John tightened his hold on his throat.

The officers turned around shocked reaching for their guns demanding John let him go. Thomas immediately ran up to his son pulling him off the cop. Michael threw his hands up telling the officers who they were and that John was not a threat. The other officers recognized Thomas McBain and didn't charge John lowering their guns. The officer he held by the throat snatched away and glared at them all.

"What in bloody hell is wrong with you mate! I ought to throw your ass in jail!" he spat
"Where the hell is she!" John shouted back breathing hard.

The Chief of police came from out of his office to see John and crew standing there. John was glaring dressed in all black with a black trench and his black gloved hands clenched into fists. Michael was standing near him dressed similar. Thomas was touching his son's shoulder and trying to get him to calm down.

"What can I do you for?" Chief O'Hare said coming out to the men. He was over 6 foot with fire red hair and freckles. His green eyes were cold and beady giving John the feel that he could not be trusted.

O'Hare had little respect for the royal family of Ireland and had heard of the arrest of the women.

Thomas walked up. "You are holding my daughter in-law and other family members sir, we have come to post bail"

"Well marching into my station growling at my officers is not the way to do it sir"

John heard the mocking tone in the chief's voice and fixed his blue eyes on him. He was seconds away from wringing this assholes neck. They targeted Evangeline and he knew she must be terrified now. They are treating her like some common street thug and he would snap any mans neck in the room that kept him from her.

"With all do respect Chief O'Hare….exactly how do we get the ladies bailed out" Sam asked stepping up trying to diffuse the situation.

The Chief noticed the glare that John was giving him and smirked. He licked his lips and turned to the officer next to him. "What are they charged with Pete?"

"Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer, sir"

Thomas shook his head "There must be some kind of mistake none of them would resort to that type of behavior…"

Sam rolled his eyes knowing full well Ming was probably the ring leader.

The chief shrugged. "The charge of assaulting an officer requires they appear before a magistrate. They will have to wait for court for release"

"Bullshit! I want you to make it happen now!" John said barking at the officer
O'Hare glared at John "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me. Release them and drop the charges or I make it my personal business to give this precinct and your leadership some unwanted attention. First I call the Mayor…"

O'Hare stared at John and the station became dead quiet. He hated the smug look on his face but he knew that with his connections and pull in Dublin he'd be fighting a loosing battle. The charges wouldn't stick anyway. But to give into these demands in front of his officers made him look like an idiot.

"I'd advise you to watch your threats rich boy" O'Hare hissed

John smiled and moved in his face "Now…I want her brought out here right now!"
O'Hare sucked his teeth and turned to the officer "Bring them up and drop the charges." Turning he looked into John's face "Maybe you and I will meet again when you aren't hiding under your families skirt."

John smiled slyly "Can't wait"
O'Hare nodded and walked back around to his office. Mike walked over to John. "Will you calm down please, threatening the Chief of Police is not a good thing John."
John ran his hands through his hair and started to pace. "How in the hell did this happen? What on earth was Evangeline thinking?"

Sam came up to his left "Marcie said that they were attacked by the Paparazzi, John you know how Ming and Layla are mate….its not to far fetch that it would end up like this"

Looking up he saw the three of them coming down the hall Evangeline's head was bowed and she wore a soiled wedding dress. John couldn't believe it. Ming and Layla were on either side walking with her protectively and John immediately stormed down the hall toward them taking off his trench. Evangeline looked up to see him and burst into tears. He threw his coat around her shoulders and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so sorry John" she said crying.

"Shhh….its okay sunshine lets go."

Sam came over and grabbed Ming's hand "Are you okay?"
Ming looked back at the officer "Fucking asshole" she spat

Sam snatched her arm and pulled her out of the station behind John and Evangeline. Thomas and Michael went to Layla and pulled her along as she glared at the officers. Chief O'Hare watched amused from his office door. He wasn't happy with how John McBain demanded their release and wouldn't forget it anytime soon.

They rode in the limo in silence except for Evangeline's cries into John's chest. He held her and Layla avoided his eyes. She felt horrible, the officers were really cruel to Evangeline and handled her roughly. The more they taunted her the crazier she and Ming became. Evangeline tried to remain a lady through it all but eventually broke into tears when the Police took her through the front of the station so the press could get pictures of her in handcuffs.

Thomas was on the phone making calls to all the media outlets demanding that the pictures not run. Layla felt tears in her eyes well and looked over to Ming who sat on the other side of the limo with her arms folded glaring out the window. As soon as they arrived to the Palace gates they were greeted by more press and cameras and Evangeline started to cry louder.

Layla looked at her sister then John noticing the rage on his face directed at her. She chose to remain silent. The press wasn't able to get onto the grounds and the limo drove through them up to the Palace doors. John helped Evangeline out and the others piled out to see him half carrying half walking her into the Palace doors.

Marcie was in the lobby when they arrived. She ran to Layla and hugged her "Are you okay?"
"Yes" Layla said weakly.
"Everyone go into the Parlor and I will have tea brought in to you" Thomas said walking off on his cell phone. Layla followed them inside looking back to see John now carrying Evangeline in his arms up the stairs to their bedroom.

John walked into the bedroom and laid a weeping Evangeline on the bed. She rolled over crying still in the bulky gown. He tried to calm himself so he could calm her but it wasn't working. Standing over her he listened to her and fought the urge to shake her and demand to know how she could be so stupid. But seeing her pain was making him even crazier with despair. Pulling off his gloves and suit jacket he kicked off his shoes and went to the bed. "It's okay baby"

Evangeline moaned but said nothing rolling onto her stomach and burying her face into the pillow. John zipped down the back of her dress and she didn't resist as he pulled it off of her. Going into the bathroom he ran her bath and dropped in her jasmine beads. This whole thing would be a public relations nightmare. There was big trouble ahead from this. Looking back into the room he saw her in her panties curled up still crying. He knew she was humiliated and even though he was angry with her, he just wanted to make it all go away. Pulling up his sleeve he stirred the water and made sure the beads dissolved.

Walking into the room he went to the bed and pulled her to him. She went straight into his arms. Carrying her into the bathroom he brought her to her feet and then removed her panties before helping her into the tub. She hadn't spoke since he brought her home and he didn't push her. Leaning back in the tub she closed her eyes and he knelt next to the tub moving her hair from her face. "What happened Van?"

She looked over at him. "I don't know how I let things get so far out of hand. I am sorry John, those men came charging into the boutique shoving cameras in my face and Layla and Ming….they just…." She started crying

John sighed and cut his eyes. "Dammit!" he snapped standing up. "Do you know what type of media nightmare this will be? Couldn't you guys have gotten security or something…arrested Van!"

Evangeline saw his anger and wanted to die. She never meant for this to happen and now knowing that she has brought the worst type of scandal upon the family she felt sick. "John…I…"

He stopped and looked at her. She swallowed her apology and chocked on her tears. He stood there staring at her for a long time. "I will take care of it sunshine, don't you worry" he said his face softening.

Crying she dropped her head and he came back over to her. Lifting her face he kissed her through her tears. "Stop crying beautiful, it's okay really"
She opened her eyes and kissed him back. When they broke apart he touched her cheek. "Take your bath and stay up here I will send your dinner up and join you soon. I got to take care of some things."

Evangeline nodded and watched him leave. She couldn't go downstairs and face anyone now anyhow, most of all Eve McBain.

Layla looked up as John walked in. "How is she?"
John glared at Layla "Why on earth would you two get into a public brawl in a bridal store. I just got to know the answer to this one!" he hissed

Ming stood up "It wasn't our fault those pricks attacked us!"
"Ming! I know you and how you respond to any threat….tell me it couldn't have been handled differently!" John said glaring at her,

"John in all fairness I was there, the paparazzi shoved Ming to the ground and charged Evangeline, hell earlier I was holding the baby and they shoved me" Marcie said

"What?" Mike said angrily
"This was my entire fault John" Layla said rising "Evangeline didn't want to go to the shopping area. She didn't want a scene and tried to diffuse it, those cops did this to humiliate her. They marched her into the station through the front door wearing that dress with handcuffs on laughing"

John felt his temperature rise, to know that she was made a fool of publicly enraged him. "I don't want anyone leaving this Palace until I get a handle on this situation. Are we clear ladies!" John snapped

They all nodded. Throwing up his hands he stormed out.

Evangeline brushing her hair in the mirror wearing her satin robe heard the door to her room open. She put down her brush and walked out her bathroom ready to face John and work this out. To her surprise he wasn't the person standing in the room.

"Well…well….you didn't waste anytime bringing the hood to Dublin" Eve smirked

Evangeline stood there looking at her unable to speak.
Eve looked her up and down "I turned on the telie and guess who I see being dragged into the police station in a tacky wedding dress?"

"I can explain…" Van said weakly
"Really?" Eve said amused "This ought to be good. Please Evangeline explain to me how in one day you were able to destroy a reputation that we have built in over 300 years."

Evangeline ran her hand through her hair and then started wringing them. "The press is blowing this out of proportion; we were attacked in a boutique…"

"Save it dear! You did me a favor. And to think I was beginning to rethink my stance on your little blessed union. Well now it won't be me stopping the wedding. John will do that all on his own. No one in Ireland will support this marriage and the Foundation will loose all its sponsorship. His company will take a beating. If he wants his life he can only keep it by removing you."

Her words ripped into Evangeline's heart. The trauma of today's events coupled with the anger she saw on John's face made her believe in Eve's taunts. Turning she walked over to the chair and sat down slowly. Her world was crashing around her and she felt like a drowning woman.

Eve smiled "You know what I will say this. My son loves you."
Evangeline looked up at her confused by the admission. Eve smiled even wider "Oh I know my boy and I see how he is with you, I've never seen him like that with any other woman."

"Then why are you so dead set against us" Evangeline asked weakly
"Because dear we McBain's aren't afforded the luxury of love. Don't believe the fairytale reported in the press and fictional stories, a life in our world is full of solitude and heartache. We can only hope to be comfortable enough to survive it all."

"John doesn't want that life Eve, and if you loved him you wouldn't want that for him either." Evangeline said the pain cracking her voice.

"I heard your sister is here too, the staff updated me to her arrival. I suspect you and your clan will be leaving my home soon?"

"I won't go unless John asks me too." Evangeline said weakly
"If you loved him you'd spare him that pain dear. Like I said he loves you even at the cost of his own wellbeing. I am asking you to do what's right and allow me to salvage what's left of my family. I am asking that you leave on your own."

Evangeline burst into tears gripping the edge of the arms of her chair. "I can't…I can't loose him."

Eve clasped her hands in front of him. "Evangeline you saw the press, you know how relentless they are. I heard you visited McBain's House."

Evangeline looked up surprised that Eve has been keeping tabs on her. Eve smiled at her shock "The Foundation keeps that orphanage going, this will ruin our funding. Think of those kids. And the hospital….please dear do the right thing."

"I love him…"
"Love means making sacrifices. Do you love him enough to protect him. Because if you stay you will destroy him and all the things he stands for. Prove you love by putting his needs before your own."

Evangeline looked up at her angrily "You are a cruel evil woman! You don't fool me in the least…this is about you winning not John's happiness"

"Did I create this mess sweetie? No I think not! You and that tribe of hooligans you run with created this mess! I am just asking you to correct what you started before its too late."

"Get out!" Evangeline shouted crying harder and Eve laughed shaking her head at her pain. Evangeline couldn't stop the tears and tried to catch her breath.

"Do what's right dear, save John the humiliation and yourself as well"

Evangeline continued to cry and Eve satisfied that she won this battle turned on her heels and walked out of the room. Looking up as the door closed she fought the urge to scream. There was no way she could marry him now and she would have to convince him of that cold hard fact.