HEARTS DIVIDED: Court DNA

by tarskeewee08

John sat at the in empty courtroom staring and the mahogany wood bench that the judge would sit at too here his case. He did something he hadn't done since his beloved Kelly passed away.

He prayed.

He asked Kelly to help him be strong and take home their son. He knew that she wasn't the mother but in his heart she would be. This was his second chance. Squeezing his hands together in front of him into a tight fist he closed his eyes and settled the butterflies in his stomach. Today he had taken extra care to make sure he looked presentable. He wore a dark navy blazer with a white shirt that Kelly loved to see him in and tan colored pants. He would face the woman who bore his son and he wanted to be at the top of his game.

He felt his rage simmering below at having a child almost two that didn't know he existed. It seemed that someone in heaven or hell took extreme pleasure in torturing him. Well he would correct it today. Today he would let them all know that he's taking his life and his son back.

"John…"

Feeling a hand on his shoulder he looked up to see Dorian and Blair. He hadn't seen Blair in years. Rising from his seat he hugged her. "Hey beautiful!" he said kissing her cheek. She hugged him back tears coming down her face. "Dorian told me the whole story and I had to be here to support you. I am so sorry John…"

He looked at her and smiled "Don't be. We'll fix this as a family." He said smiling.
Just then the doors flew open and he saw her. She was standing next to an older blonde woman and her attorney wearing a black suit with a white blouse in tucked neatly in her skirt. Her hair shiny and as black as her suit cascaded off her shoulder down her back. She wore pumps that carved out the firmness of her long legs. Her skin was a pecan brown and her eyes were brown with long lashes covering them. She was a very striking woman much different than he thought she would be even though she did look like her picture.

Their eyes locked.

Evangeline grabbed Vikki's hands. Oh my god his eyes. He has my baby's eyes. She looked into the clear sea blue eyes peering from a face that was familiar and wanted to scream at the injustice of this all. She saw her son in his face. A mother knows her child and the question that nagged her since the day the doctor laid him in her arms and she stared into his blue eyes was answered.

The panic in her made her want to flee. If Vikki didn't put he arms around her to lead her down the walkway she would have. She stared into his eyes and her heart sank. Please god no. Please make it be some cruel joke. Kevin if you are up there watching over me please protect us.

John saw the way she glared at him and he glared back. Beautiful and polished she was just like the snotty elitist in this town. She thinks her money will keep him from his son she is sadly mistaken. He automatically disliked her.

Evangeline walked through the open door that her attorney held for her. She rolled her eyes at the monster that wanted to steal her child. She hated him. Well if he thinks she would even consider letting him within 10 feet of her baby he is sadly mistaken. She saw his confident arrogance and wanted to wring his neck.

Her hands shook and she began to sweat with another realization as she sat down refusing to look back at him. He was as handsome as her little boy and inside the truth had a stranglehold on her heart. She didn't need a DNA test to tell her who he was. He was her baby Daddy.

Vikki glared at Dorian who rolled her neck and glared back. Blair rubbed John's shoulder and leaned in closer to him. "She's really not a bad person John.."

John looked over at Evangeline who looked up at him and then cut her eyes. "Doesn't matter." He said sitting down.

Attorney Hugh walked into the courtroom and everyone turned back at the loud entrance he made.

He smiled at Evangeline.

He had been extremely jealous over her esteem in the legal community of Pennsylvania. Even practicing law part-time she was the most sought after attorney in the state. If he stuck it to her he would carve out a name for himself for sure.

Evangeline leaned over and whispered to Vikki "That asshole is doing this on purpose!" she hissed.

Vikki frowned "What?"

"Hughes…he is a whiney brainless prick that has been finding a way to undermine me for years. I should have known he was the one who stirred this hornet's nest.

Hugh walked through the wooden gate and looked at Evangeline. "Ms Buchanan he said smiling."

Evangeline glared at him. She didn't speak. John saw the tension between them and frowned. What was that about? Hugh came over to his client throwing his briefcase on the table. "John, ladies…" he said smugly.

Dorian stuck her hand out. "Glad to meet you Attorney Hughes."
Shaking her hand he smiled at her "Likewise."
Blair grabbed Dorian's arm and smiled at John. "We'll be right behind you sweetie"

As Blair pulled her away Dorian stopped briefly to smirk at Vikki, then walked around to the back of John and his attorney.

"You ready?" Hugh asked.
"Definitely"

The bailiff came into the courtroom and stood before them in a dark navy police uniform. He was over 6 feet, black, with a receding hairline and round belly. "All rise…"

Evangeline held onto Vikki's hand and rose. John rose slipping his hands in his pocket neither looking at the other but both in extreme pain over the paths there lives had taken.

"The honorable Judge Warren presiding…."

The side door opened and an attractive older white woman appeared. John thought she reminded him of Eve. He wished his own family had come to support him. It would have meant so much.

Taking a seat she looked at them standing and nodded "Please be seated."

Hugh popped open his briefcase and retrieved two folders waiting expectantly.
The judge sat before them reading the petition in front of her flipping the pages. Evangeline chewed on her lip tasting the coppery taste of her lipstick.

The judge looked at her alarmed. She knew Judge Warren personally. She'd had her at Llanfair for dinner several times.

The judge turned and looked at John confused then his attorney. "Am I to understand you want to contest the paternity of the Buchanan child?"

"Yes Your Honor." Hugh rose and walked over to the table that Evangeline, Vikki and her attorney sat dropping a folder on it. Attorney Garrett grabbed it immediately and Evangeline leaned over to read the contents with him. He then took the folder to the judge smiling. The judge accepted it and began to scan the documents.

Hugh walked in front of Evangeline's table and stared into her eyes before he spoke smirking "My client deposited a sample of his sperm to the Truman Fertility clinic almost 3 years ago for the insemination of his wife. It was later discovered by the FBI that this clinic was delving into unsavory experimentations with infertile patients to garner large contributions from these wealthy women…."

Evangeline's face turned red and she glared at the asshole that was implying she bought some strange man's sperm.

"Objection your honor! He's clearly trying to intimidate my client. Plus what he's implying has no bearing on Ms. Buchanan she never…."

"Alright Alright. Attorney Hugh….stop with the theatrics and spit out. You aren't impressing me with this dog and pony show." The judge said waving her hands.

Evangeline clenched her fist and looked over at the man claiming to be the father of her child. He kept staring at the Judge not acknowledging her.

"Sorry Your Honor. John McBain was informed by the federal government that his specimen was used without his consent to impregnate a woman unable to conceive by natural means. We believe the sperm used to inseminate Ms. Buchanan was my clients specimen and we'd like to have a DNA test to proceed with him reclaiming his child"

"What!" Evangeline shrieked. "Reclaiming his child! That man isn't going anywhere near my baby!" she shouted pointing at John"

Judge Warren banged her gable thunderously "Ms. Buchanan, you will have a seat right now! I will not have you behaving like this in my courtroom."

"NO!" Evangeline shouted again shaking her head and Vikki rose pulling her back down.

"Attorney Garrett, please address your client! I will have her removed!" The Judge shouted.

John looked at Evangeline shaking and crying in Vikki's arms. How dare she say he won't see his son. He glared at her and fought the urge to get up and tell her to go to hell. She wouldn't keep his flesh and blood from him. Who the hell did she think was?

"I'm sorry Your Honor, Ms. Buchanan is under extreme distress, this is first she is hearing that her husband sample was switched."

The judge nodded and looked at Hugh "Your petition to have the DNA sample of Kevin Buchanan Jr, analyzed for definition of his paternity is granted!"

"NOOOO" Evangeline moaned as Vikki held and rocked her. The judge liked Evangeline immensely and ignored her wails. "As for your petition for visitation of the minor we will reconvene after the results are in. Ms. Buchanan you are hear by ordered to take Kevin Buchanan Jr to Llanview hospital to have a sample collected for analyzing within 24 hours."

Evangeline continued to cry and shake as Vikki rocked her not hearing anything. Her pain to raw and her agony to profound.

"Court is adjourned" The Judge said dropping her gable one last time after signing her orders.

Dorian jumped up animated cheering and John turned around and smiled at her. Vikki couldn't stand their celebration while her poor daughter in-law fell apart in the court.

"Dorian you will not get away with this!" She hissed. "I won't let you use that defenseless baby for your personal vendetta against me and my family!"

John looked at Vikki confused and insulted. This had nothing to do with Dorian and her dismissal of his rights as a parent pissed him off. Before Dorian could speak he touched her and silenced her.

"This is not Dorian's fault Ms. Buchanan! I'm the one that's doing this I'm the one that's coming to take my son."

Evangeline's head shot up and she turned and glared at John. "How dare you! I won't let you near my child! Who the hell are you to breeze into town and attack my baby!" she screamed trying to rise to attack John but Vikki held her back.

His blue eyes darkened and narrowed on her. "Who am I? I'm his father! Look at me! I've seen pictures of my son. Tell me I'm not!" he said angrily.

Evangeline shaking now with her pain could say nothing she could barely see through her tears and she wanted to die.

"John…let's go" Blair said touching his hand. John held Evangeline's painful stare and they both new the truth of KJ's paternity. He rolled his eyes and stormed out with Blair and Dorian on his heels.

Hugh walked over to Evangeline who still had Vikki's arm around her shoulder. "Sorry counselor" he said grinning and then walking away.

Evangeline shook her head sadly. "I won't let him do this…."
Attorney Garrett looked at her. "Okay what do you want to do?"

Evangeline swiped her tears. "Call in our people. I want a complete work up on this man. According to this folder it says he worked with the FBI. Evidently that's how he learned about my child's paternity. I want him and every questionable deed he's done while he was with the Bureau. I want this financial records. I want to know if he drinks, smokes or pisses without washing his hands. Everything do you hear me!" she snapped.

Vikki let her go and frowned "Don't we need to wait to see if he's KJ's father."

Evangeline stood up fixing her suit and smoothing her hair. She looked at her mother in-law coolly. "No….I know he's the father. I knew it when I looked at him and so did you. But what he doesn't know is who I am. And if he thinks that he will get my baby he's as crazy as Dorian!"

Grabbing her purse she looked at Attorney Garrett. "I will be riding first chair on this one you will be my second. This is the welfare of my baby we are talking about. Nobody can fight for him like I can!" she said turning on her three inch heels walking out of the courtroom. They watched her retreat the soft echo of her heels clicking on the hardwood floor.

Evangeline retrieved her shades and put them on walking toward the exit with her head held high. As she rounded the corner he came walking out of the bathroom. She stopped as their eyes met. He looked her up and down coldly and she put her hand on her hip doing the same.

"A word of advice….Mr. McBain, clean your own house before you come digging around in someone else's" she said rolling her neck.

John took a step toward her "What the hell is that supposed to mean lady?"

Evangeline removed her glasses. "I remember you now. I read about the way you did that raid at the Palace years ago infringing on peoples civil liberties at a public function. The Bureau took some heat because of your renegade methods."

John glared at her. Who the hell did she think she was? She smiled slyly at him her eyes slit, black as coals were staring menacingly into his face. "I'm sure if I dig deep and hard I will uncover exactly what type of man you are. One that no court in the state of Pennsylvania would want near a helpless child" she said confidently smirking in his face.

John got up in her face. "Look lady dig all you want. Truth be told I welcome it. Because no matter what you find it will not change the fact that he's mine. So don't get all indignant with me because your husband couldn't give you what you needed you had to buy my seed!"

Evangeline swung and slapped him as hard as she could. John's hair flew into his face and he rubbed the sting out of his jaw.

She backed away from him hurt and angry. "I will never let you near my baby…."

"Our baby…" he said smiling still holding his jaw.

"No…" she said shaking her head turning and fleeing. John watched her rush out of the courthouse her hair swinging loosely around her shoulders. He opened and stretched his mouth to help the pain in his jaw. He didn't know why he lashed out at her like that.

But the more he thought about it the more he understood. She stood between him and his child. He despised her for having known, touched and held his son without his presence. He knew Kelly wouldn't be happy with him now but his anger over loosing his first family made him determined to create a new one. It would be the only thing that could give him peace.

Evangeline raced into the open door of her limo. Her heart pounding in her chest. Once inside she exhaled and Vikki looked at her confused. "What kept you?"

She turned and looked out the smoky tinted window to her right and saw him walk out the courthouse doors. He stopped looking at her limo and she knew he couldn't see her but she remained frightened.

Frightened that he was right.

She would be connected to him no matter what because he was her son's father. Bursting into tears Vikki touched her knee as they pulled away.

"Don't worry…..we will fight him…we will fight Dorian!"

Evangeline shook her head and continued to cry. She had failed Kevin and betrayed him by carrying another mans child. All she wanted to do was have a part of Kevin. Now she knew she didn't. Her beloved husband was gone and this latest revelation made the pain of his death raw for her all over again. Now she and her baby were helpless, she saw it John McBain's face. He wouldn't stop. He would follow to the four corners of this earth for her child and she was terrified. God help her she was scared to death.