CH 265
Mr topper ask Kate some simple questions then he started asking the harder questions which Kate was able to answer then he try to twist her words around. Mr topper and every one in the court room weren't perpeared for what Kate said and the tone she said it in. Mr topper try another tactic which didn't work. No matter what questions he asked or try to twist them he knew he lost against Kate.
"no more questions your honor"
"Mr Young"
"Yes I got a couple" he stood up and walk around the table to ask Kate the questions.
Ryan lean over to Brian "that what we called throat ripping debate and as you heard and seen Mr topper didn't stand a chance against Kate" Ryan said smiling
"i agree she one women you don't want to mess with"
"True"
When Mr young finish questioning Kate, she stood up and walk out of the court room. The judge look at his watch then to every one
"We will continue this tomorrow at nine in the morning"
then he and the jury walk out of the room then the armed prison guards walk in and took bird family away. Ryan walk around to where bird is he crouch down next to her as she look at him
"What do you want to do now Jess"
"go back to the hospital so the doctor can check to see our son and I are ok, why"
"Well why don't we go and see what the crew got plan" bird smile
"Knowing them they will want to go to the pub tonight"
"do you want to go"
"Depends on what the doctor says"
"Ok how about we wait till after this trial before going them" Bird smile
"sounds good to me"
"Ok" he stood up and walk behind the chair as Mr young look at him with Mr topper just about to walk out of the court room
"See you both tomorrow" Mr young said
"We will be here sir"
"good that lieutenant commander McGregor she sure got some temper" Bird and Ryan grin
"We call that throat ripping debate, no one par from commander Flynn stands a chance against her"
"Really is she that good officer"
"today you only seen about fifteen percent out on the water she would have you shitting your selves if you get into trouble" Ryan said
"That is why Hammersley and it crew is the best in Australian history with what they have done in the past few years, they done more that any other patrol boat I mean FFV, drug bust, catch wanted men and women finding and returning stolen army weapons, things like that" bird said
"sure sounds like it, well see you both tomorrow"
they shook hands before Mr young walk out the door Mr topper watch Ryan push the wheel chair out the door to be greeted by the crew. When he walk out the door he saw the crew great bird and Ryan, they talk and laugh.
Two dads turn to Mr topper and grin then he walk over to him while smiling "woof woof" then he turn around and walk back to the group
"Two dads what did you say" Bird said
"i said woof woof"
"Why that" charge asked
"Cause after what captain said on the stand he return back to his seat with the tail between his legs"
"Two dads" every one said just as charge clip the back of his head.
Mr topper turn and walk away not happy with the way things are going for his clients, but he didn't know how bad things were with Jessica till he and others heard what his clients said on the stand is totally different to what they all told him before the trial. If he knew the truth before he took there case, he wouldn't of taken it in the first place.
Ryan and bird talk to the ones who there for five minutes then they all walk out the door together. They watch as Ryan help bird into the SUV then closing the door. Bird wind down the window while the crew step closer
"We will be here tomorrow bird"
"thank you all of you" Ryan got into the other side
"Ryan you take care of bird here"
"don't worry I have been see you all tomorrow" the crew wave to them just as the SUV drove away. They walk over to the taxi stand while swain called for two taxi vans to take them back to Hammersley.
Ryan spent few hours with bird before leaving to go to the hotel for the night. The next morning Ryan and bird was greeted by the crew. The crew watch and listen to number of witnesses for the day. The next day it was the FBI turn in the witness stand where they each answer number of questions including the evidences, every thing by the end of the day they know it was almost over with two more witnesses to go.
The next morning the media was every where when Ryan and bird showed up at the court house like every other day. When they were in side the court room so was Hammersley crew, Brian, Kim, Ian, Kevin and Adam were there. They all listen to the last two witnesses.
After morning brake both Mr Young and Mr topper said there closing arguments to the jury then they jury walk out of the room. Now every one knows it the waiting part they they all hate the most. Ryan and bird were out side the court room with the crew talking about different things as well meeting bird father and his family.
It was after two when they got word that the jury reach a verdict so they head back to the court room. When they were all in side Ryan was leaning ford holding onto bird hand when the jury walk in. When it came to reading out the verdict for each of the family, bird started to cry in re leaf.
In the end Bird father got fifteen years, her mother eighteen years. Fred got thirty years, Jeff got twenty years, Ron got eighteen years and Cheryl got seventeen years. Ever one knew it was over and Justice was serve.
The judge order that there house to be put up for auction and every thing in the house to be sold. The money would go to bird cause of what they did to her.
"Your honor I would like to say some thing" Bird said. Every one turn to her
"Yes go a head"
"i don't want the money, give it to the child abuses centers so they can use it to help abuse children and some sort of campaign about child abuse. Back when it happen to me it was almost unheard of, now it more common and have teachers take a course in to what to look out for if a child in school is abuse"
"Are you sure about that Mrs White" Bird smile
"Yes sir it is"
"Very well then" the judge said a few more words then the case was close.
Every one watch as the family was taken away, they didn't look happy. Bird shook Mr young hand before he walk out of the court room. Ryan walk around and crouch down next to bird
"It finally over" he said
"Yes it is Ryan, let's go and celebrate with our crazy friends and family" Bird said smiling
"Why not but we will need to get change and so will they"
"True, let's go"
"Why about a statement to the press"
"We should" Bird said
"Yes"
"ok, let's go"
Ryan stood up and bend over and gave her a kiss before walking around to the back of the wheel chair then he push it towards the double doors where two agents are, they open it for them
"thanks" Ryan and bird said when they walk out to the corridor the crew wasn't there so they headed to the exit.
When they got out side the media was yelling one question after another. Ryan stop the wheel chair and put the brakes on then he walk around to bird side where he help her to stand up.
"I got some thing to say" Bird said Every one went quiet.
"As you already heard my family was found guilty for the crimes and the abuse they did to me over the years. No child should suffer in family members hands. If you know of a child who is being abuse, please tell some one, call the police. The abuse got to stop and you the public, neighbors, friends, family, you can do some thing about it, don't turn a blind eye. The victims don't go through what I been through, ask for help whither it a neighbor school friend or a teacher, if your parents who who ever your guardian is, they will threaten you verbally and physically. You can make it stop. You are stronger, you are not weak. Times are changing people need to change. I had support from neighbors, family, people who I work for who knew what was going on. They help me the best way they can with there words of wisdom, there love. If I didn't have that, I wouldn't be here today. We can stop the abuse. If some one was abuse in the past, talk about now cause you and I don't want to see it happen to some one else."
"Mrs White what are you going to do now" one reporter asked
"sit down before my legs give way" every one laugh just as Ryan help bird back in the wheel chair
"Mr White what do you think about your wife up bringing" Ryan turn to the media as bird held onto his hand
"It sickening It took Jess months before she started telling me about her family and the abuse she went through. Plus it up set her and made her sick. I suggested to her to tell the crew, she couldn't for ages. When she finally told them they were shock but they did comfort her including the captain lieutenant commander Kate McGregor. Back when bird was younger there was no counseling for Jess, nothing cause some one did call the police and for that Jess was beaten up cause some one reported her family to them. What worse was that the two officers didn't do a follow up. If they did, Jess wouldn't be living with them. But you can't change the past. But you can change the future by stopping the abuse now. Jess was lucky to have many people love, support and there words of wisdom to get her though the years till she join the navy. She told me it was the best thing she ever did and cause of that, it make her happy. And as for the crew they have asked Jess number of questions which she was able to answer so they get an understanding what she been though"
then he turn around when hr heard foot steps, Jess manage to turn around to see the whole crew walking out side and standing beside and behind them.
"Ladies and gentlemen this is the Hammersley crew" Ryan said then number of photos was taken of the crew including Mike.
"If you got any questions, please one at a time" Bird said.
The media asked the crew number of questions which they where happy to answer them. Then mike step ford and down a step he pulled a box from behind his back.
"Hammersley up" Kate said the crew stood at attention
"Able seamen Jessica white for the acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. While on board the damage HMAS Sydney. Able seamen white took control and leadership of the wounded and some of the crew. Cause of what she done. Able seamen white save over twenty lives that day despite of her own health and health of her unborn child. On behalf of the crew of the HMAS Sydney and the royal austlrian navy, I'm here to present to you the star of courage" then he open the box
"nut bar" every one laugh
"Two dads" every one said causing the media to laugh.
He step ford passing the metal to mike. Mike shook his head then he pin it on Jessica next to her other metals. Mike notice she was eyeing the nut bar so he took it out of the box and pass it to her then he stood at attention then he and Hammersley crew saluted at the same time
"Hammersley, dismiss" Kate said then they all relax teasing two dads while the media ask mike questions about what happen the the HMAS Sydney which he was able to answer.
"Mrs white what do you think of your metal" one reporter asked
"Shock but I'm not interested in the metal it the crew lives I was interested in. It good news that they going to all fine"
"what was your reaction when commander Flynn open the box"
"Shock but had to laugh to what was in the box and the crew knew that two dads was behind the joke" then she turn to him
"you better go and buy dozen plus tooth brushes two dads" Every one laugh
"Hey I had to cheer you up some how and it work"
"But embarrassment to commander Flynn and the navy two dads" bird said shaking her head at him.
The media asked few more questions before Ryan wheeled Jessica down to the waiting SUV. The media watch and recorded Ryan helping bird into the wagon. Before he got in. Bird gave them all a wave before the wagons drove away back to the hospital. Ryan got his phone out and turn it on.
He sent a text message to mike then waited for his reply. "I'm glad it over Ryan" she said looking at him
"same here Jess, now we can move ford"
"Yeah" then Ryan phone ring. So he see it a text message, he show it to bird.
"Well it looks like we going to have a busy afternoon and evening" Ryan said
"Yes we are"
they return back to the hospital where they both got chance since Ryan took a change of clothes there. Then the doctor check on bird and the baby before they left to go to the RSL for afternoon tea, talks and dinner. When they arrived at the RSL, Ryan help bird out of the SUV and into the wheel chair then he wheel her in side.
Dutchy was there waiting for them "how are you feeling" He asked
"hungry" Ryan laugh
"Well come on, I'm sure we can find more nut bars for you"
"thanks" they walk down the corridor till they saw two agents at double doors.
Ryan turn the wheel chair around when they open it. Ryan push the wheel chair in the shop when they look around the room. Not only the Hammersley was there but all of HMAS Sydney crew and there families. Brian O'Connor and his parents and two brothers. They all clap and smile at bird which shock her and Ryan.
Spider step ford to give her a hug "congratulation bird, we heard about the metal"
"you mean the nut bar" Ryan said as spider gave his brother in law a hug. Spider laugh
"Yeah charge told us what happen"
"I bet he did, what are you doing here"
"We got few days shore leave, commander Flynn invited us here"
"that good of him"
"Well we still part of Hammersley family"
"True" Bird said.
then buffer step ford and bend over to give bird a hug "I'm please it all over for you bird"
"thanks buffer"
"hows the little one"
"hungry" Buffer pass bird a nut bar
"thanks"
"Enjoy" then he shook Ryan hand.
Bird open the bar and started munching on it when the captain of the HMAS Sydney walk up to bird and saluted her which she did in return then they shook hands
"You did an amazing job with the wounded able seamen white"
"thank you sir" then he shook Ryan hand then another sailor walk over to them then another.