''What was your first impression of Miss Lopez?''
Brittany glances at Santana shooting her a reassuring smile as she sees the fear in her eyes and turns back to Marley. ''That something wasn't right, she showed the typical signs of bettered woman syndrome.''
''And what are the typical signs?'' Marley asks curiously.
''Emotionally withdrawn except when her daughter is around or if she feels safe like in the presence of her friends, denial, unaware of the type of help that is available for this kind of situation, typical sleeplessness I immediately noticed the bags under her eyes, avoid talking about everything except for her little girl even though she keeps her out of conversations with strangers to protect her and afraid of any kind of physical engagement.''
Marley nods her head and sighs. ''Officer McHale mentioned that you were the witness of the assault that happened at the park, can you tell us what happened?''
''Yeah I had a doctors appointment that day and decided to take a slow jog around the park to train my leg, when I sat down on a bench near the big tree in the middle of the park a toddler walked up to me and asked me for her mami.'' Brittany pauses sorting her thoughts and sighs. ''At first I asked her where her parents are because a two year old is definitely too young to walk around the park late in the afternoon and she pointed to the big tree telling me her mami is there, I stood up to bring her there but the little girl was so afraid that she wanted me to pick her up which I did after contemplating because well it doesn't look good for a stranger to walk around the park with a child she doesn't know.''
Marley nods her head as Brittany pauses and smiles sadly as she stormy blue orbs lock on her own. ''What happened next?'' She asks knowing the whole situation pisses her off.
''I walked around the tree after seeing shadows moving and saw Ms Taylor pinning Ms Lopez to the tree with her hand in an area it definitely didn't belong judging the fearful expression on Ms Lopez's face.''
''Objection your honor, witness is speculating!'' Mr Taylor yells as he jumps up glaring at the blonde.
''Your honor Officer McHale already stated that he arrested Ms Taylor at the scene of crime, I don't hear any speculations.'' Marley immediately replies turning to judge Garcia, judge Garcia nods his head in agreement and turns to Mr Taylor.
''Overruled Mr Taylor, please sit down.''
Marley turns to Brittany and shoots her a soothing smile as she sees the barely hidden anger in her eyes. ''I know it's hard to recall everything Ms Pierce but please continue.''
Brittany nods her head and sighs. ''Yeah it sure is Ms Rose.'' She takes a deep breath and glances at Santana smiling sadly as she sees silent tears running down her cheeks. ''As soon as I noticed what is happening I covered the little girls ears and yelled at the offender so she would let Ms Lopez go, as soon as she jumped back I placed the little girl in her mami's arm knowing that it would calm the both of them down and pinned Ms Taylor to the tree and called the Lima PD.''
''Did something happen during the wait for the officers?'' Marley asks, Brittany takes a sip of her water and nods her head.
''Ms Taylor kept yelling and swearing so I send Ms Lopez around the tree with her daughter because a little child doesn't need to hear that kind of language, after that officer McHale arrived and he took over.''
Marley nods her head and tilts her head. ''What about Wednesday the 12th Ms Pierce?''
Brittany blows out a breath sitting up straight and sighs. ''Well before I tell you I gotta say that over the cause of those few weeks Ms Lopez and I befriended us but she still didn't really talked about what happened at home, I had several tutor hours with her and sometimes she joined my little sister and their friends at my apartment to hang out because we have space and told them to come over whenever they want.''
She smiles slightly as Marley nods her head silently telling her to continue and places her hands in her lap intertwining her hands. ''Well fast forward to Wednesday I received a call in the late afternoon and Ms Lopez asked me to meet her in the park, by the tone of her voice I immediately sensed that something wasn't right and left the apartment in a hurry to meet her in the park between both of our houses.'' She bites her lip glancing around the room trying to ignore the three offenders glaring at her silently telling her to shut up and locks her eyes on Marley's calming blue orbs. ''As soon as I arrived at the park I looked around and noticed Ms Lopez walking well more like limping towards me with her arm wrapped around her abdomen, I noticed the discomfort she was in and ran over to her yelling her name.''
''What happened Ms Pierce?'' Marley asks as Brittany pauses once again clearing her throat to hide the soft crack, Brittany bites her lip and sighs.
''The second Ms Lopez noticed that I was there all of her strength just left her body and I caught her before she fell, after trying to convince her to go to the hospital I gave up because the subject only panicked her more and picked her up because her legs were dysfunctional due to the high stress level she had. I carried her to my apartment because my medic instinct kicked in and decided to at least examine her myself and I would call the police and doctor after the examination, during the walk she lost her consciousness and I had to ring the bell so my roommate Noah Puckerman would open the door.''
Brittany takes a sip of her water trying to calm herself down knowing losing her shit won't help the case at all and sighs. ''After he opened the door I carried her over to the couch and asked him to pick her daughter who was staying with her godparents that day up knowing she would only cooperate if she knew that her daughter was safe, he called the police before he left and I attended to her wounds to at least make sure that she wouldn't be in too much pain the second she would wake up. After she woke up I talked a bit with her trying to ask who it was but she didn't want to tell me and only panicked, after that Dr Anderson and officer McHale arrived.''
Marley nods her head hearing the soft murmur of the jury knowing they are already silently discussing everything and turns to the judge. ''That's all your honor.''
''Does the defendant have any questions?'' Judge Garcia asks, Mr Taylor nods his head and stands up as soon as Marley sits back down.
''Ms Pierce how come Ms Lopez confided into you and felt safe in your presence? Are you hiding something from us?''
''I don't know what I have to hide Mr Taylor.'' Brittany replies frowning in confusion.
''Well I don't know, maybe your sexuality and your interest in Ms Lopez?''
''Objection your honor, speculation due to my witness her sexuality!'' Marley calls out, Mr Taylor sighs and turns to the judge.
''I will reword my question your honor.'' He turns to Brittany barely hiding his sneer and raises an eyebrow. ''According to my client you showed a lot of interest in Ms Lopez the second you met her, care to tell us why?''
Brittany shoots Marley a glance telling her to not object and turns back to Mr Taylor placing her intertwined hands on the small table in front of her. ''What do you call a lot of interest Mr Taylor? I joined the glee club my sister is in a few times the past few weeks because Mr Schuester was a teacher of mine too, my best friends and I were a part of that club three years ago and Mr Schuester told us that we can join whenever we want. During those days I sang a few duets with Quinn Fabray, my sisters girlfriend and talked to the other students because they asked us about our lives and why we decided to take the paths we took.''
She takes a deep breath trying to calm herself down and keeps their eyes locked. ''Every time I tried to interact with Ms Lopez, Ms Taylor sat right beside her and kept a firm hold on her leg which also caused bruises seen on some of those pictures.'' She mentions her hand to the pictures set up beside her and sighs. ''It was clear that I would hang out more with the four teens because one of them is my sister, one of them is her girlfriend, one of them is my roommates brother and Ms Lopez is their best friend.''
''That doesn't explain to us why Ms Lopez feels so safe around you now does it, just like you said yourself Ms Lopez is emotional distant so why isn't she like that to you?''
''With all due respect Mr Taylor but your question doesn't make any sense, yes Ms Lopez is emotional distant but she isn't to her friends and during every tutoring lesson she opened up a bit more but never about her life at home. Just like I said before we befriended along the way and while I noticed the same behavior some of my soldiers had I knew something was wrong and offered Ms Lopez that she could talk to me whenever she felt like it, I offered her my apartment as her safe place to get away from all the horrors she normally had to live through but she never took me up on that offer until Wednesday the 12th.''
''I find it concerning that two adults spend their days in their apartments with four minors.'' Mr Taylor glances at the jury and turns back to Brittany smirking. ''Let alone two adults with a history of assault and theft, is it true that you got arrested at least ten times while you were a teen yourself Ms Pierce?''
Brittany exchanges a small smirk with Marley both having expect them to dig through her past and turns back to Mr Taylor raising an eyebrow. ''No that is not true Mr Taylor, yes I got a fair share of warnings from the Lima PD during my teenager years but they never arrested me. The hidden files you found on me and my best friend are all invalid and archived because they were all because of the same reason.''
''Which is?''
''Objection your honor, I don't think my witness her past matters to this case.'' Marley calls out standing up once again, Santana bites her lip looking down at the table frowning knowing Marley had warned her that this could happen but still hates it.
Mr Taylor turns to judge Garcia and sighs. ''Your honor the files I found are worrying and I don't think that Ms Pierce is someone who is allowed to be around four teens.''
''Okay hold up.'' Brittany states, she turns to Mr Taylor and sighs. ''Mr Taylor the files you found in archive were indeed for theft but I only went out and stole breakfast for my little sister because our parents didn't and still don't really care for her, I never got arrested for assault.'' She glances at Puck knowing his past will be brought up to and shakes her head, she turns back to Mr Taylor and bites her lip. ''Yes my roommate got arrested once for assault but that settled quite quickly because it was self defense and he protected my thirteen year old sister for a serial rapist that went around town four years ago.''
She turns to the judge and forces a smile. ''Your honor even though the files are archived and none existent in my or my roommates police record, I am sure Mr Taylor has a copy and I allow it to be shown.''
Judge Garcia's eyebrows raise in surprise at the cooperation of the soldier beside him and turns to Mr Taylor. ''Mr Taylor please hand me the files.'' He holds out his hand as he walks over to the table grumbling probably not expecting Brittany to react like that and places them on the projector, Brittany glances at the screen and turns back to Mr Taylor.
''As you can see the police noted everything down and wrote the reason of the warning behind it, they told me to just come to the station if I needed anything for my little sister and they would give me some food so she didn't have to go to school hungry and under the warrant it says that it was self defense and Noah Puckerman even helped them arresting the serial raper solving the running case that was going on for a year and a half back then.''
Marley glances at her boss covering a chuckle as she sees him hiding a smile knowing that the unprofessional behavior of Mr Taylor opening the police archive even though it's frowned upon and turns to Santana squeezing her leg softly as she sees her trembling. ''He just fucked up San, he made a huge mistake and it's playing in our favor.''
''Any more questions defendant?'' Judge Garcia asks not even hiding his disapproving tone at the big Archived caption on all the files laying in front of him.
'' Only one your honor.'' Mr Taylor answers, he turns to Brittany and tilts his head. ''Ms Pierce you are walking in here wearing formal army attire, but you got discharged and told to not come back ever again which can only mean that you did something that was frowned upon care to tell us why you let Ms Rose introduce you as Specialist Pierce?''
Brittany chuckles and quickly covers her mouth. ''Sorry.'' She quickly apologizes hiding her amusement as she sees Marley also biting her lip to hide her smile knowing the paperwork of her discharge isn't quite through yet, she turns to Mr Taylor seeing the anger in his eyes after hearing her laugh and clears her throat.
''Mr Taylor may I ask where you got that information from? As far as I know the papers aren't through yet and nobody except for my friends and little sister know why I got discharged.''
Mr Taylor frowns and turns to judge Garcia. ''Your honor the witness tries to deflect the question, I only worry about the teens staying with her because she could be dangerous.''
''Please answer the question Ms Pierce.'' Judge Garcia says turning to the soldier sitting beside him, Brittany nods her head and turns to Mr Taylor barely hiding her smirk.
''Mr Taylor I got honorably discharged after I got shot during a mission, the bullet hit my knee cap and shattered it. After a total of seven operations in a short time they managed to save my leg with metal plates and pins, but the function of my leg is down to seventy percent with a lot of pain which means that I can't serve anymore. I am still a member of the US army and I will stay a member even if the paperwork got through, I will be a soldier on standby and as soon as I trained my leg enough to get a bit more function back and the doctor gave me the clearance I will be back but I will only help them out during responses here in the US.''
Marley breaths out a soft chuckle as she sees all color drain from Mr Taylor's face and glances at her boss seeing the impressed look on his face, she keeps her hand on Santana's leg and smiles as she turns to look at her fear still clear in her eyes. ''I was right, you don't have to talk at all Santana. Brittany most definitely just sealed the deal.''
''Any more questions defendant?'' Judge Garcia asks eyeing the defendant standing in front of him with a look of pure panic.
''No t-that's all your honor.'' Mr Taylor says quickly walking back to the table to talk with his partner and daughter.
''Very well.'' Judge Garcia says standing up, he grabs the piece of paper where he took notes and turns to the jury. Marley turns to Santana as he reads the jury the law they must follow and smiles reassuringly.
''Do you want to step out while the jury leave to discuss?''
''Please.'' Santana murmurs softly feeling three heated glares directed at her, Marley nods her head and raises her hand calling the bailiff over as the Jury leave the room to discuss.
''Can we step out? My client needs to take a breather.'' She stands up as the bailiff nods his head and offers Santana her hand helping her stand up, she leads her through the row of benches out of the room knowing the group will follow and tells the officers beside the door that they will be around the corner in the hallway.
She leads Santana to the secluded area helping her lean against the wall and squeezes the hand she still holds. ''Breath Santana.'' She murmurs softly feeling her tremble.
Santana glances down at her feet leaning her full weight against the wall and exhales a shuddering breath fighting the flashbacks of the recording she heard racing through her mind, she slowly shakes her head trying to get rid of them and sniffles.
''C'mere sweetie.''
She looks up as soon as she hears Brittany's voice and gazes up into calming bright blue orbs, she immediately let's herself fall forward knowing Brittany will catch her and buries her face in her shoulder letting her walls drop bursting out into tears.
Brittany wraps an arm around her waist pulling her close and runs her free hand through her hair kissing her head softly. ''It's okay San, you are okay.'' She murmurs soothingly knowing the recording and the evidence shown the whole time caused flashbacks to appear.
''I can't do this.'' Santana murmurs tearfully keeping her face buried in Brittany's shoulder tears streaming down her cheeks, Brittany shushes her softly slowly pulling back knowing their friends are listening and cups her cheek fully focusing on Santana.
''You don't have to do anything San.'' She murmurs softly, she reaches up wiping away her tears as emotional brown orbs lock on her own and smiles sadly. ''It's almost over sweetie you did it, I know listening to everything cause flashbacks to race through that pretty little head of yours but after the verdict it's really over San.''
Quinn watches the duo smiling lovingly as she sees her best friend relax in Brittany's protective hold and turns to Emily and their friends. ''Britt really knows how to calm San down.''
Mercedes and Puck exchange a knowing glance and hum softly, Emily nods her head in agreement watching her sister console Santana and smiles sadly. ''I am glad when all of this is over and Santana can be her sassy self.''
''Amen.'' Jake mutters still shocked about everything he heard.
''Amen to that, Em's.'' Mercedes murmurs rubbing her back.
''Ms Rose, you can come back in!''
Marley sighs turning to Santana as she sees her tense and smiles reassuringly. ''It will be okay Santana, I am ninety-nine percent sure that we won this.''
Brittany hums in agreement and kisses the top of Santana's head. ''You got this sweetie, come on.'' She murmurs softly.
She leads Santana back to the room letting go of her as soon as they near it and turns to Marley, Marley smiles taking over and places her hand on the small of Santana's back. ''Calm down Santana.'' She murmurs softly as they walk back into the room taking their seats.
''Trying.'' Santana forces out close to hyperventilating, Marley frowns in concern noticing the sheer panic on Santana's face
''Do you need Brittany?'' She asks softly, she stands up as she nods her head hyperventilating and turns to the judge. ''Your honor?''
''Yes ms Rose?'' Judge Garcia asks in confusion turning to the prosecutor.
''Asking for permission to call Specialist Pierce to the table, my client has a panic attack and only Ms Pierce can help her through it.''
Judge Garcia glances at the girl seeing her bent over hyperventilating and nods his head. ''Granted.''
Brittany immediately climbs over the small wall separating them and crouches down behind Santana turning her chair so she is facing her, she reaches up cupping her cheek and ducks her head so she can look at her. ''Hey look at me.'' She murmurs soothingly.
Santana slowly forces her eyes open still gasping for breath and locks them on Brittany's calming blue orbs, she let's her grab her hand watching her place it on her chest and forces herself to listen to her voice.
''Breath with me sweetie.'' She murmurs softly so only Santana can hear her keeping her breathing steady, she nods her head as she sees Santana slowly following her lead and smiles. ''Just like that San.''
Santana takes a few slow steady breaths feeling her heart rate calm down and keeps their eyes locked, Brittany smiles as she feels her slowly relax and squeezes her hand softly. ''Okay?''
Santana nods her head biting her lip and gulps. ''Yeah, sorry.''
Brittany shakes her head and smiles lovingly. ''No need to apologize sweetie.'' She turns to Marley and nods her head silently telling her that they can continue, she slowly stands back up squeezing Santana's hand once again and climbs back over the small wall behind them swapping seats with Quinn so she is sitting right behind Santana.
Judge Garcia turns to the teen and smiles kindly. ''Everything okay Ms Lopez?''
Santana slowly nods her head and clears her throat. ''Yes your honor, I apologize for the interruption.''
''No need to apologize Ms Lopez.'' Judge Garcia erasures her, he turns to the jury and smiles. ''Will the jury foreperson please stand?'' He waits till he stands up and folds his hands on the table in front of him. ''Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?''