Just a few more chapters left lovebugs to enjoy :)
The day had finally come. It was the day of William Schuester's trial. He was dressed in a light grey suit, and his small stubble of hair was completely shaven clean. He hadn't slept the night before so his eyes were bloodshot red. Will had been fantasizing about his trial since he was first arrested. He imagined the camera, the journalists, the court artists, and the people waiting outside to hear the verdict. He imagined the scent of the room, where he would be seated, how he would sit, and how he would cast glances around the courtroom and even fashion a wink at the camera so the papers can have a story to tell. Possibly one that would be about how the cunning psycho handles himself in court.
However, the thing that was at the front of his frontal cortex was Mercedes. What would she be wearing? Would she look at him? Would she cover her skin, or would she let it show? He hoped for the latter option. He had been thinking about her ever since he first met her father. In his dreams she would be there willing to be Will's everything, she was his love in his dreams, and they were in happy bliss. It was the only thing that kept a smile on his face.
Now he was awaiting his trial, he was behind the door of the courtroom ready to enter it from the side. To see his love in true form, and to endure his court appearance.
"It's showtime," Will murmured to himself.
Mercedes had been on edge for the week that led to Will's trial. She stopped going out and kept going back over the police reports, and the hospital records, making sure that everything was in place. She even went over victim impact statements over and over again to make sure her words didn't fall on deaf ears. She called Roz and Roz was on the phone talking her through her anxiety and offering her new tips on how to control her emotions. This would be the first time she would see Will in person, the last time she saw him he looked like he might make run for it when he heard Sam's voice.
Granted a year did good in the sense that she was able to live again without feeling the nagging need to look over her shoulder, but this was still Will. Will was a dangerous human being who hurt for about three days straight and caused her more pain than anything in this whole world. However, Mercedes promised herself that she would sit in the courtroom her back straight, and with confidence that radiated throughout the room because she wasn't Will's victim, she was victorious. She survived, and she didn't let Will break her.
She was clothed in a black pinstripe suit, and her ginger hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was as ready as she ever would be.
She was standing outside of the door of the courtroom, her mother, Sam's parents, Quick, Artie, and Brittana all inside have taken their seats to support her. She looked at the door and felt a large hand envelope her small one. She looked to her side and saw Sam looking at her and gave her an encouraging smile before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Mercedes took a deep breath and opened the door, her back straight head high, and she took her seat by her attorney.
She was ready.
Will walked into the courtroom and took his seat with Marty. He glanced over at Mercedes but noticed that she hadn't even batted an eyelash since he walked in, and she was not going to be looking at him or her father. He turned his body around and saw that Mercedes had an entourage with her, there was an older woman who Mercedes looked alike so he presumed that was her mother, then there were Sam's parents, and some girls that he recognized from Luxe, and two other guys he didn't know then his eyes landed on Sam.
Will cocked his head to the side and looked at the man as he flexed his fist in his lap.
"Are Sam and Mercedes back together?" Will whispered to Marty.
"I don't know," He answered truthfully.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Sue Sylvester," The bailiff announced. Everyone did as said as the tall woman came into view and once she sat down in her seat everyone else followed her seat.
"May the defendant, Will Schuester please stand," Sue stated. Marty and Will both rose to their feet.
"Mr. Schuester are you aware of the charges against you?"
"Yes,"
"Are you aware that you can spend time in jail if you are found guilty,"
"Yes."
"Are you aware that under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution that you do not have to answer questions during the examination portion of court?"
"Yes,"
"Wonderful how do you plea?"
"Not guilty," Will said proudly with a smirk.
"Alright council you may begin your opening statements," Sue stated.
Mercedes lawyer stood and buttoned up his expensive tux before making his way to the middle of the floor, "Mercedes Jones is an intelligent, beautiful, kind, caring young woman. She has a club that she takes special care in, and even makes sure that her employees are more than taken care of. Mercedes had the rest of her life planned out for her, she was going to marry her boyfriend Samuel Evans. The son of famous politician Dwight Evans. However, Mercedes's dreams and aspirations were taken in an instant. The defendant, Will Schuester stalked, kidnapped, tortured, and raped Ms. Jones for approximately three to four days. She was found by her boyfriend and rushed to a hospital in the Hamptons where it was revealed that her injuries were more than superficial. She had a busted lip, both of her eyes were blacked, three of her ribs were broken while two of them were severely cracked, and that is just some of the injuries. I am here to prove that Will Schuester did have the intention of harming my client, and when the guilty verdict comes back it is in my client's best interest that her attacker be prosecuted to the highest extent. Thank you, judge."
Marty had to admit that the young lawyer was good, and so far Will didn't stand a chance but he was going to do what he had to do to lessen the blow. He stood and took a sip of water before walking over the jury.
"William Schuester was married for nearly three decades, he has a daughter who is living a successful career as a doctor in Los Angeles, California. He took care of his family and even decided to delve into the life of politics where he gained a respectable following. He is a man of purity. The plaintiff, Mercedes Jones, owns a gentleman's club, where women walk around half-naked and serve drinks to men. How is that respectable, I mean in the world of feminism isn't she kind of putting the woman race back a few hundred years? Will Schuester simply made a mistake and that should be understandable it doesn't mean he needs to be in court and putter under the guise that he is a bad person. I am here to prove that my client just made a simple mistake, a slight misunderstanding on his part." Marty finished his statement and sat down and out of the corner of his eye he saw his daughter wipe away a stray tear but she kept looking forward.
"This is going to be a long trial," He whispered to himself.
"The prosecution may present their client to the stand," Sue stated. Mercedes's attorney gestured for her to make her way to the stand. She sat and they did the whole ordeal of her telling the truth before her attorney started to go over the questions that he had prepared.
"Can you please state your name for the court?"
"Mercedes Jones,"
"Thank you, Mercedes can you tell me about your club?"
"It is a gentleman's club called Luxe, it has standard upkeep, all customers are screened before being allowed memberships, and all of the girls that work there are highly protected due to security."
"Great, and could you explain how you and the defendant crossed paths."
"Well, he was a member of the club, and he had been known around the girls that he was becoming trouble, and I took the necessary precautions to terminate his membership. Then shortly thereafter, he kidnapped me and raped me."
"Thank you, Ms. Jones, no further questioning your honor." Then he sat down. Marty stood and made his way over to his daughter.
"Ms. Jones, did you start screening potential clients before or after the ordeal with my client?"
"After,"
"Great, and you made it clear that the reason you and Will's paths crossed due to the common denominator being your club,"
"That is correct,"
"Are you sure the common denominator wasn't your ex-boyfriend?"
"Objection, irrelevant?" Mercedes's lawyer spoke up.
"Mr. Jones please ask appropriate questions for the witness,"
"Sorry judge did you and your ex-boyfriend ever meet Will."
"Before the kidnapping yes we had a conversation with him," Mercedes answered truthfully.
"Can you explain what the conversation entailed,"
"To extract information from Will, we had pulled personal confessions from the girls and threatened to use them against them,"
"So, you used his time at your club against him."
"Correction, I used his disgusting habits against him, I already planned to terminate his membership but that would come after."
"It kind of seems like you set me, client, up."
"No one set your client up,"
"Are you so sure about that," Marty questioned.
"Objection, speculation," Mercedes's attorney called out.
"No further questions your honor," Marty said as he went back to his seat. After neither side had any more questions Mercedes was free to head back to her seat. her supporters gave her big smiles and she returned it and her attorney let her know that she had done well.
Now it was Will's turn he was going to be questioned and that was going to be the real drama of this entire trial. He stood from his seat and the guards walked him to the stand. He shot a wink at a news reporter and gave Mercedes a cunning smile.
Sue sighed out, "Please state your name for the court,"
"William Schuester," Will smiled.
"I'm sorry but before we allow questioning is there something funny about this trial to you Mr. Schuster."
"Nope,"
"Hmm ok, Mr. Jones you may begin your questioning."
"Thank you, your honor. Mr. Schuester can you explain to me your previous job to the court." Marty began.
"Of course, well I worked in politics I was running for Senator trying to overthrow one Dwight Evans."
"Wow, so you believe in the democracy of this country?"
"Of course, something is so flattering about it," He answered.
"And, um did you go to Luxe,"
"Of course, I was a member I paid good money, and I never did anything that nobody else was doing,"
"Do you believe that Ms. Jones tricked you,"
"In some ways, yes, and that is why I persist my innocence and believe this is all just one big misunderstanding. I would have never done anything in this world to hurt Mercedes because I love her," Will said. He heard audible gasps and a few distressed murmurs, and he saw Sam give him a death glare and flex his fist.
"No further questioning your honor," Marty said as he went back to his seat. Mercedes's attorney stood and walked over to Will.
"Mr. Schuester, did you know that the people who are standing behind Ms. Jones are the people that found her?" He stated.
"No, I didn't."
"Well, that is her mother Sinclair, Dwight and Mary Evans, Sam Evans, Quinn, Puck, Artie, Santana, and Brittany."
"Ok,"
"Will, you say you love Mercedes?"
"Accurate."
"And in loving her, you kidnap, rape, and beat her, all because you love her."
"I didn't hurt her," Will said maintaining innocence.
"Your honor I would like to present to the court Evidence A is a picture taken by the police officers involved in the incident. You will find Ms. Jones covered in bruises and scars."
"So Will does any of this rang of a bell to you,"
"I didn't hurt her, it was an accident."
"So I am assuming the broken and cracked rips, the two blacked-out eyes, and all the rape was an accident to because you loved her."
"Of course.,"
"Wrong! Mercedes is in love with Sam Evans, and not once has she ever mentioned that harps feelings for you, and yet you love her."
"Yes!"
"Did you or did you not kidnap my client to get back at the Evans?"
"NO!"
"Did you hurt my client because she was with Samuel Evans?"
"NO!"
"Did you hurt my client!"
"FUCK IT! I DID! I WANTED HER SO FUCKING BAD, AT FIRST, IT WAS JUST TO GET SAM EVANS TO SQUIRM I WAS GOING TO GIVE HER BACK BUT THEN I FELL FOR HER. THAT TIME WE SPENT IN THE HAMPTON WAS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED! SHE MADE ME FEEL ALIVE, AND I KNOW SHE LOVES ME! MERCEDES YOU LOVE ME, MERCEDES YOU FUCKING LOVE ME!" Will screamed out. He stood from the stand and bolted towards Mercedes but the bailiff tackled him from mid-air.
"Baliff take him out, and he is not to return until I make the final decision. We are taking a ten-minute recess, and Marty you better get your client together," Sue growled out as she left the room in a huff and everyone else filed out.
10 MINUTE RECESS
"Great now that everyone is back and everyone has calmed their nerves, we will have Ms. Jones's victim-impact statement and then I will make the final decision let us begin," Sue said once everyone had made it back in. Will had calmed down to a certain degree but now three guards were hovering over him. He hung his head low and rotated his neck around trying to lessen the feeling of pain since the bailiff took him out mid-air.
Mercedes stood up from her table and smoothed out her pantsuit and took a deep breath.
"I was taken away from my family, and friends for three days. For those three days, William S. Schuester raped, beat, and tortured me. He referred to me as being a good girl, and a bad girl in the same sentence. My innocence and my happiness were stripped away in the same amount of seconds it took for him to knock me out with chloroform. My life was taken away from me, and after I was rescued I always carried the grief or burden that he was going to come back and finish what he started. That he was going to come back and take me back to that cottage. For a while, I couldn't be in crowded places or hear yelling because I would always feel like I was chained to that bed. I always felt like I was somehow going to be found by him again, and the life I was desperately trying to rebuild was going to go away. Will claims that he loves me and I have to say that is the most psychotic bullshit I have ever heard. So to Will because this is the last time I will ever see or speak to you again, I hope you realize that you didn't break me because I am still here, I hope every time you go to sleep you have nightmares of me because it is what you deserve. I hope you rot in prison, and never experience joy, and even when you think things are going to get better please remember that because of me you will stay in prison. Thank you, judge," Mercedes concluded. Mercedes took her seat and flashed a smile to her family and attorney.
Sue began, "Ms. Jones that was brilliant, you are a brilliant young woman. So after looking at the evidence and hearing both clients and attorneys stake their claims, I have found you William S. Schuester guilty on all counts that you have been charged with. I sentence you seventy-five years to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The court is adjourned."
Mercedes and her side of the court cheered and each person hugged Mercedes as they all celebrated the fact that this nightmare was over.
The guards took Will away and Marty made his way over to Mercedes.
"Mercedes," He began.
She turned towards him and in an instant, her smile faded.
"I'm very happy for you baby girl, I hope we can work through this, and I can be the father that you deserve," Marty said as he placed his hand out in front of her.
"Let me get this straight. Since I have been a little kid you have never bothered to come to anything or to teach me anything. I can count on my fingers how many choir recitals you went to. Zero. I can't count on my fingers how many soccer games and karate matches you went to. Zero. And now you have the audacity to come into my face and beg for a relationship after you just represented my attacker in court, and even tried to cross-examine me, your own daughter, to try and win a fucking case. But you want me to be in your life. The answer is no. I don't want anything to do with you, so I hope it was all worth it, the work, the canceling on me last minute was worth it, because Marty I am done with you. Now run along, I am sure your client would like to speak with you."
"You don't have a father without me," He growled.
"Wrong, I do, his name is Dwight Evans. See Dwight became my father the first time I met him, he actually loves and supports me like you were supposed to." Mercedes said pointing towards Dwight who gave her a proud smile. Marty gave her a glare before stalking off.
"So now that this is settled can we please go to the bar, I want food," Mercedes exclaimed. Everyone cheered and practically ran off to their cars, but Sam stayed back and wrapped Mercedes in his arms.
"I am so fucking proud of you," Sam replied as he cupped Mercedes's cheeks in his large hands.
"Thank you, baby, I am so glad it is over," Mercedes replied as she looked at him.
"Me too, I am ready to start this new journey of life without all the drama," Sam replied and with those words, he leaned his head forward and kissed Mercedes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in further, before kissing the side of his mouth and resting her head on his forehead.
"I guess we better get out of here before we give them a show," Mercedes giggled.
"I guess so, c'mon baby," Sam said as they walked out of the courtroom. Closing this chapter in their life and starting anew, Mercedes Jones, and Sam Evans were walking in their futures glad to have each other for the ride.