A/N: Thank you GuestM, Buckhunter, Guest, leyapearl, and SnidgetHex for reviewing! Final chapter for this one, but I've got 8 "episodes" of this AU. ^_^


Chapter 3

Arthur and his Knights took turns in pairs watching Greelie's house and Tim's school, making sure to stay at least one hundred feet away, which was the standard distance for a restraining order, so even if Greelie wanted to take legal action against them, they didn't come close enough to warrant one being filed. Nor did they conceal their presence, but stood silent and foreboding just on the edge of the neighborhood where Greelie could see they weren't afraid of him—and where Tim could see it too.

Arthur sat at his customary place at the bar, sipping beer and still brooding. They were in a standoff with Greelie, and the only way to break it was for Tim to gather his courage and tell someone about the abuse.

Gwaine and Elyan were playing pool while Leon watched Percival arm wrestle some overeager drunks for cash. Lancelot and Merlin were on shift at Greelie's house. The man should have been home at this time of night, but he suddenly barged into the bar, dressed in his uniform with a bunch of other cops right behind him. Arthur immediately got to his feet.

"Is there something I can do for you, officers?" Gaius asked neutrally.

"Yeah," Greelie replied. "Everyone put your hands on the table in front of you and don't move." He turned toward Arthur and marched straight for him, giving him a rough shove to face the counter. "Spread 'em."

"Where's your warrant?" Arthur snapped.

"Don't need one. Got an anonymous tip," Greelie said as he started patting Arthur down. His fellow cronies did the same to the others. "Look what we have here," he said smugly, straightening and holding up a small baggie of white powder.

"You son-of-a-bitch!" Arthur snarled, twisting around, but Greelie slammed him down on the counter and pressed his weight into Arthur's back.

"Want to add resisting arrest to the charges?"

Arthur fumed as similarly planted bags of drugs were found on his friends and they were all handcuffed. "You won't get away with this," Arthur hissed.

Greelie just smirked at him and roughly hauled him outside and into the back of a police car. They were taken downtown, booked, and thrown into a jail cell.

"Where's my phone call?" Gwaine yelled as Greelie left them there.

"That's violation of due process," Elyan said. "We'll be out on a technicality."

"But still charged with drug possession," Leon pointed out dourly.

Arthur slammed his palm against the cement wall. That bastard.

They were left to stew in jail overnight. Percival and Leon managed to nap, but Arthur was too livid to calm down and close his eyes. So were Gwaine and Elyan.

When someone finally came down the next morning, it wasn't who Arthur expected.

Morgana walked in behind a uniformed officer who proceeded to unlock the cell. "The charges have all been dropped," she informed them. "You're free to go."

Arthur gaped at her in amazement. "How did you manage that?"

"I knew you'd never have anything to do with drugs, so I called in a personal favor to have the drug bags fingerprinted asap, and none of your prints are on them."

"That proves Greelie planted them!" Gwaine exclaimed.

"No," she said pointedly. "It only makes the prosecuting attorney's case weak and I convinced them it'd be a case they'd lose, especially if I was your defense lawyer."

"So, you didn't actually clear our names?" Percival asked.

"Your names haven't been sullied on record," Morgana countered. "And if it's your reputation you're concerned about, perhaps you shouldn't have declared war on a cop." She shot Arthur a pointed look at that.

"He beats his kid! And plants evidence on people he doesn't like," Arthur scowled.

"So much for the efficacy of the criminal justice system," Gwaine disparaged.

"It has its faults," Morgana said. "But it works more times than it fails."

Arthur's mouth pressed into a tight line. "Not this time."

Morgana gave him a sympathetic look. "Let's go."

They retrieved their personal items confiscated at booking, and Morgana called them a taxi to take them back to the bar for their bikes. Arthur had several text messages from Merlin and Lancelot, first checking in, then wondering why there was no answer, and finally that they'd talked to Gaius and were calling Morgana. So that was how she'd found out so quickly. Merlin's last message said he didn't know what Arthur wanted them to do, so they'd stay outside Greelie's house for now.

"Merlin and Lancelot need to be relieved," Arthur said aloud as the taxi pulled up outside The Apothecary.

His friends all exchanged looks around him.

"Arthur, after last night, don't you think we should back off for a bit?" Leon said.

"And let Greelie think he's won?" Arthur retorted.

"This isn't about winning," Percival said. "It's about strategy and making sure he doesn't take us down in the process."

"We're not the criminals."

"Clearly that's not a factor," Gwaine pointed out with a huff.

"Fine, I'll stand guard myself." Arthur exited the cab and marched over to his bike.

"That's not what we're saying, Arthur," Elyan called as he and the others climbed out. "But Percival's right; maybe we need to come up with a new strategy."

Arthur stopped and inhaled sharply through his nose. He knew they were right. He just hated that Greelie thought he could get away with anything simply because of the uniform he wore. And thus far, he was.

With a slump of resignation, he pulled his phone out and called Merlin.

"Arthur, thank goodness. You out?"

"Yeah. Listen, you and Lancelot should back off for now. We need to…regroup."

"Okay…" Merlin sounded hesitant. "Um, Greelie left this morning, but Tim missed the bus to school. Might just be home sick, but…"

A cold dread coiled around Arthur's stomach. "I'll be right there."

"What happened to backing off?" Gwaine asked.

Arthur climbed onto his bike and put his helmet on. "Stay here," he ordered.

"Arthur…" Leon started.

He kickstarted the engine and revved the throttle, then rolled it back and roared out of the parking lot.

Merlin and Lancelot were still down the block when he rode up and cut the engine.

"Anything?" he asked.

Merlin shook his head regretfully.

Arthur removed his helmet and started striding down the street toward the house. Merlin and Lancelot jogged after him.

"Please tell me you're not going to actually commit a crime today," Merlin said.

"No."

Arthur stormed up to the front door and began pounding on it. "Tim? It's me, Arthur. Are you okay in there?" He pounded some more. "Come on, Tim, open the door and talk to me. I'm not leaving until you do."

It was several more minutes of persistent knocking before he heard the lock clicking and the door snicked open. Tim peeked out, trying to hide behind the door jamb, but Arthur could see enough. He pushed the door open all the way, revealing Tim's bruised face, his lip split and swollen. Arthur's blood burned hot with wrath.

"Aw, damn," Merlin murmured behind him.

Arthur straightened his shoulders and held out his hand. "Tim, come with us. We'll go straight to the district attorney's office and you can tell a prosecutor that your dad did this. We'll protect you."

Tim shook his head fearfully. "He's already so mad…if I leave it will only make it worse."

"If you stay, it will never get better," Lancelot said gently.

Arthur beckoned for him to make the first move. "Tim, trust us."

There was the sound of tires running over the lip in the driveway, and Tim's eyes widened in terror. Arthur turned to see Greelie was back, and he looked livid. The cop scrambled out of his car, a gun already in hand. He raised it at the three Knights.

"You've got some balls," he snarled at Arthur. "Guess there's only one thing you'll understand." He flicked the safety off. "You're trespassing. I have every right to defend my property."

"You wouldn't shoot us in front of your son," Lancelot said in disbelief.

"Tim, go back inside," Greelie barked.

Arthur shifted to place himself in front of Tim protectively. "You will never lay a hand on him again, as God is my witness."

Greelie steadied his gun on Arthur. "You'll be taking that up with him personally."

Just as Arthur was sure Greelie was going to shoot, a flurry of sirens went up from unmarked cars pulling up to the curb. Four people jumped out, their own guns raised at the ready. Greelie faltered and glanced around as they approached.

"I'm Detective Trudeau, State Police," one of them introduced herself. "What's going on here?"

"These men broke into my house, assaulted my son," Greelie said.

"That's a lie," Arthur snapped. "He's the one who beats his son." He stepped to the side just enough to reveal Tim cowering behind him. "This boy needs medical attention and his father is denying him it."

"These men are criminals," Greelie spat. "Part of a biker gang. Their bikes are just down the street. They've been stalking me and my son for days."

"You can put the gun down, Officer," Trudeau said. "We'll take it from here."

Greelie's eyes flashed with fury, and Arthur knew he wasn't happy about not being able to shoot them on the spot. But if he fired now, it'd be murder, with witnesses. Arthur stood his ground, bracing for the unpredictable. But Greelie grudgingly lowered his weapon, and one of the other State Police officers moved in to take it from him.

Trudeau walked over to Tim and crouched down in front of him. "Your name's Tim, right?" she asked.

Arthur furrowed his brow.

Tim nodded shakily.

She looked at him sympathetically. "Who did this to you, Tim?"

He flicked a look at his father, then Arthur, looking absolutely terrified.

"I'm with the State Police," Trudeau went on. "Do you know what that means?"

Tim shook his head.

"It means I don't answer to the local cops. Not your dad or any of his friends. You don't have to be afraid."

"Tim," Greelie said warningly. "You best tell the truth now, you hear?"

"I wasn't talking to you," Trudeau told him sharply. She softened her expression at Tim again. "Who hurt you, Tim?"

The boy looked up at Arthur again, eyes wavering.

"It's okay," he said. "You're safe now. All you have to do is answer truthfully."

Tim let out a shaky breath. "My dad," he said quietly.

"What about your broken arm?" Trudeau asked.

"Him too."

"You worthless piece of shit!" Greelie snarled, lunging forward.

The other State Police surged to grab him, wrenching his arms behind his back and reading him the Miranda.

"You have no idea how timely your arrival is," Merlin said to Trudeau. "But, uh, what are the State Police doing here?"

"Someone called in a favor," she replied. "Come on, Tim, let's go inside and talk."

She led the boy inside as his father was taken to the back of one of the unmarked cars. He wouldn't be using his uniform to get out of this one.

"A favor?" Lancelot wondered.

Merlin nodded to something across the street, and Arthur turned to find Morgana getting out of her car and coming toward them.

"This was your doing?" he asked.

"You're welcome," she said tersely. "How could you be so foolish, Arthur? You could have been killed, you know that?"

He held his tongue and nodded along, knowing it was better to placate her in this mood. "Thank you," he said.

She huffed and headed into the house to talk to Tim too.

After all the statements had been given and Tim taken to a clinic for a medical exam, Arthur sat with him in the prosecutor's office.

"You won't be alone in court," he said. "That's what me and my guys do; we stand up for kids like you, help you be brave."

Tim looked small as he hunched in on himself in the chair. "What's going to happen to me now? I don't have anyone. My dad told me what happens to kids in foster care."

Arthur tried to keep a renewed surge of anger in check. Greelie wouldn't be able to torment and manipulate Tim again. "We'll do everything we can to be there for you," he promised.

"Tim," Morgana interrupted. "I found your mother's parents, your grandparents. They want you to come live with them."

Tim frowned. "I don't remember them."

"Your dad cut them out of your lives after your mother died," Morgana explained. "But they've missed you this whole time and really want to see you."

Arthur patted Tim's knee and smiled encouragingly. "Things will get better now."

A ghost of a hopeful smile flitted across the kid's face.


Greelie's day in court came, and the Pendragon's Knights were all there in the stands behind the prosecution side. Greelie was puce with rage as he glowered at them, but Tim's injuries were still visible as he took the stand. He looked terrified, but he kept his gaze fixed on Arthur as Morgana led him through his testimony.

Greelie was found guilty and sentenced to prison time.

"How do you feel?" Arthur asked Tim as the courtroom began to disperse.

"Okay, I think. Glad it's over."

Arthur slung an arm over his shoulders. "You did great. We're all proud of you."

"Tim," Morgana called. "There's someone here to see you."

They headed out into the foyer where Tim's grandparents were waiting, having driven eight hours to get there. The elderly couple's eyes were full of tears and love as they embraced Tim, and he smiled at the blatant affection he'd been denied for so long.

Arthur strode over and pulled out a small dragon pin. "Here," he said, handing it to Tim. "No matter how far away you are, you can always call us for help. You're a Knight now."

Tim fingered the pin, then abruptly threw his good arm around Arthur in a hug. "Thank you."

Arthur patted his back. He'd be all right now. They all would.