The following day came too soon for Brains, Fermat and the remaining Tracy's. Brains had slept clear through the arrival of his friend and employer's re-arrival to the hotel. He was only woken by the watch he and the Tracy's wore in order to communicate on missions. Answering the call on his watch, Brains looked down at his friend's image on his watch.
"Come on Brains, you need to be getting Fermat ready for the trial. It's in the next two hours." Jeff said as he sat up in his own room drinking coffee and eating a cinnamon bagel. He never was one much for early morning breakfasts – preferring to eat lightly in the early hours and heartier as the sun rose higher.
Brains sighed before he mumbled a reply. Brains never usually slept quite as deeply or long as he had previous. Reaching over to his bedside, Brains grabbed his glasses and put them on before he turned to find Fermat awake and flipping channels on the television.
The elder Hackenbacker wasn't quite sure when Jeff disconnected the call on their watches, but was surprised not to see the mirthful, knowing grin in place at the fact that Fermat and Jeff undoubtedly conspired to let Brain's sleep in as long as he possibly could.
"Good m-morning." Brains said as he yawned deeply. Fermat looked at his dad and smiled happily at his dad.
"G'morning d-dad. How'd you s-sleep?" Fermat had sat himself up in bed, packing pillows in behind his back to help him sit up. Brains had no doubt that if Fermat hadn't sat himself up, no doubt Jeff had done it. Brains intentionally left a keycard in his and Jeff's room so the other man could help Fermat if he himself was indisposed – like if he went to take a shower or like just recently was so dead to the world an A-bomb could detonate in the very room and he wouldn't hear it.
"G-Good, thanks son." Brains replied before he pushed the blankets away to stand. "W-We need to g-get you bathed b-before breakfast."
"O-Okay, well I just g-got a bath y-yesterday." Fermat admitted. He personally went a day between showers, he couldn't justify bathing every day like Alan – but then their body chemistry was different. Alan complained of bad body odor anytime he himself never bathed every day but he also complained of acne – while Fermat didn't have to deal with that…yet. He hadn't gone into puberty full swing quite yet.
"Well, a-alright then. H-Have you had b-breakfast yet?" Brains asked even as he caught the faint cent of syrup lingering in the room.
Fermat nodded. Virgil had come in and gave him some breakfast earlier so Fermat could digest it with enough time to not let it make a reappearance in the courtroom. His dad didn't look too bothered to not be of much help to his only child. He only nodded before he stood to retrieve a fresh pair of pajamas for Fermat to wear into court.
"D-Do you need m-me to help you g-get dressed?" Brains asked, not wanting to encroach on his son's independence. "Or c-can you h-handle it on y-your own?"
Fermat wanted to be independent, but he couldn't lift his legs very high and so would need some assistance with getting his pajama pants up. He wasn't ashamed to ask for help when needed.
"C-Can you help m-me dad? I c-can't get my pants o-on or off without r-raising my legs a-and it hurts too m-much to do it on m-my own." Fermat looked at his dad, giving his best attempt at a puppy pout, though it wasn't necessary.
"A-All right son." Brains placed Fermat's clothes on the bed beside his son and proceeded with helping Fermat wriggle out of his bedclothes and into a fresh pair that was less sleep wrinkled. When he was dressed, Brains grabbed a basin the hospital had given him and proceeded to help Fermat with brushing his teeth. Fermat was able to hold his toothbrush okay, but he couldn't stand in front of the mirror or sink and so Brains had to hold it for him. "There w-we go son."
"T-Thanks dad." Fermat hugged his dad in thanks for his help. Fermat had missed this close relationship with his dad. True he was away at school nine months out of the year, but his dad would make occasional visits and take him and Alan out for pizza or Chinese, he'd usually sign him and Alan out overnight and they'd stay in the Tracy family penthouse.
Fermat's thoughts turned to the trial and his needed testimony. It wasn't that he didn't want to testify, he did desire justice for him and Alan…but he was scared. He didn't want to see Robert, nor did he want what happened to Alan to happen to him with Robert flying off the handle and freaking out on him for telling the truth.
Within moments, he'd zoned out, thinking of easier times – back before the fire. He and Alan could occasionally blast the music in their dorms, especially since they didn't have neighbors directly next door to them. There were at least two or three empty rooms that were not inhabited by anyone, so Alan and Fermat were infamous for listening to music loudly and goofing off in general.
Alan had entered the room, fuming mad because he'd gotten in trouble with the headmaster for passing notes with Jem in class. He swung his backpack off his shoulders and onto his bed before sinking into his computer chair to sigh deeply into his hands.
"W-What happened?" Fermat asked without looking up.
"I got detention tomorrow after third period. I'll have to spend lunch in the headmaster's office helping his secretary with filing. Then I'll get lunch but have to eat it in their office. It blows." Alan emphasized his point by kicking his desk. He however kicked his desk hard enough that a framed picture fell and landed face down. Alan hissed in displeasure when he heard a loud crack noise. "Damn it all!"
Picking up the frame, Alan frowned as he took in the shattered glass of the frame which held his late mother's picture. Heaving a great sigh, Alan let his shoulders droop. "Gordon's gonna kill me."
"We'll g-get a new piece of g-glass, it can be fixed. W-We'll just need to t-take it to Mr. Struve's c-class to see if h-he can fix it." Mr. Struve was the shop/art teacher at their school. He was good at many things, but because he is first and foremost a shop teacher, most of his art classes consisted of teaching students how to build structures using various types of wood.
Alan sighed, but placed the broken frame on his desk reverently. He felt bad about breaking the frame. It wasn't even his, it belonged to Gordon and he'd loaned Alan the picture out of the goodness of his heart simply because Alan missed having a picture of their mom in his dorm. He had photos of his dad, brothers, them together as a family. There was even a picture of seven of them, that fateful day that Lucy died – it was taken an hour before the avalanche that claimed Lucy's life and buried Alan with her. But Alan couldn't stand seeing that picture because it was a morbid reminder of the day he lost his mom. So he kept the framed picture in the bottom shelf in his dresser, away from prying eyes.
"I guess." Alan wasn't happy. So far his day had been nothing short of crap-tastic and Alan wanted his day to go better.
"W-Why don't you t-turn on your radio a-and get some tunes s-started. We can s-study or hangout. W-We've got the w-weekend the day a-after tomorrow." Fermat suggested, knowing one of the best ways to get his best friend to relax and let his hair down figuratively speaking.
Thankfully Alan took to the idea and he turned up the radio and instantly a smile formed on his face. "My jam!"
Something by Fall Out Boy started playing and Alan began singing along. Fermat leaned back in his chair with a relaxed grin before he joined in to the best of his ability. The two of them sang it together, Alan being the one to do ludicrous dancing to join the rhythm of the song. He was the one who was more spontaneous in his actions as opposed to Fermat. The younger boy was more reserved.
Jumping up onto his bed, much like a child would when disobeying their parent's rules about no jumping on the bed. Alan pretended he was on a stage and singing. Fermat began laughing at his friend and before the song was over Alan was joining him in laughter, both boys taking to laying side by side on the floor when they laughed so hard they could no longer stand.
"Fermat, s-son? Are you r-ready to go?" Brains asked as he took in his son's distant gaze. When he was broken from his thoughts, Fermat looked at his dad with startled confusion.
"Yes d-dad?" Fermat inquired, realizing he was miles away and hadn't heard what his dad had just asked him.
"I was a-asking if you w-were ready to go? It's time w-we get you down t-to the courthouse." Brains said as he watched his son, trying to figure him out.
"D-Do I have to?" Fermat asked, none too eager to be ripped apart by the defense attorney and his head served to Robert on a silver platter.
Brains sighed and sat on Fermat's bed before he took Fermat's scarred hands in his. Brains looked down at Fermat's hands and gazed at the discolored skin which adorned his hands from where his skin had burned and quite literally bubbled when got too close to the flames. Fermat had a tremble in his hands, no doubt from acute nerve damage done. Brains had noticed Alan had a tremor in his hands also and he also jerked his feet and legs like one with restless leg syndrome often did. He hadn't told anyone yet, but he was devising a way to create a machine that could potentially be used to aid IR and he'd be willing to ask Alan and Fermat to be his guinea pigs. He knew the boys were usually gung ho to give his inventions a test run and Jeff would usually allow his youngest to take part as long as there was no risk to life or limb.
"Y-Yes son, you n-need to. I k-know it doesn't seem l-like it now, but i-if you don't do t-this you'll always l-look back and regret n-not facing yours and A-Alan's attacker." Brains said, trying to persuade Fermat to go ahead and continue with the trial. When Fermat gave a slight nod combined with a shaky smile, Brains with a care one granted for a newborn baby gently swooped Fermat up from the bed before depositing him into the wheelchair Barrett had brought in when they'd brought Fermat back to the hotel the day prior.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Judge Somers entered the courtroom seconds after Adrick, her bailiff had sworn those gathered in. The woman looked regal in her robes, carrying the folder of the evidence presented as well as her glasses. Fermat hadn't been able to stand and despite Robert's venomous glares from across the room, he swore he'd tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so God help him…not that he had any reason to lie. He wasn't on trial for setting the dorm Alan and Fermat shared on fire, but he was a victim in this. And because it had to go to trial, and because it was such a high profile case, Fermat, Alan, Eddy, Jem, Todd and Josh all had to give a testimony against Robert. He was the implicated party in all of this. The twins Kolby and Mason were also testifying against Robert in exchange for less jail time.
"You may all be seated." Adrick said once the judge was seated. As everyone sat down, Fermat who was already seated gazed around the crowded courtroom. His eyes caught Robert's and the older boy was glaring harder than Medusa would. Fermat gasped and bowed his head, breaking his gaze with the boy. Barrett noticed and he tapped Fermat's shoulder to bring his attention to him and away from Robert.
"You can do this kiddo, once this is done – you're home free." Barrett whispered, reassuring his client who had become flustered with Robert's glaring.
Fermat followed Barrett's words and he breathed a deep breath in hopes that he wouldn't have an asthma attack. He was terrified, nervous and trembling with anxious energy.
"Counselor, please…" Judge Somers said as she looked at Barrett. The man stood and straightened his tie before he began to talk.
"On the eve of December 19th, my clients Alan Tracy and Fermat Hackenbacker were awoken to their school dorm ablaze. These courageous young men barely escaped with their lives before the building they'd been slumbering in less than an hour prior collapsed under the weight of charred wood. My client Alan Tracy was admitted to Manhattan General Hospital with near life threatening burns over more than half of his entire body. His best friend and roommate, as well as my other client Fermat Hackenbacker was no better. Both boys were rushed to the hospital by International Rescue, because their injuries were so dire. Alan, I am told was placed on a respirator because his lungs and esophagus were severely burned by inhaled embers and Fermat was given oxygenated therapy because he has severe asthma." Barrett began his introduction before he had to call Fermat forward. "That fire that took place that fateful night is the reason we are all gathered here this afternoon."
"Thank you counselor." Judge Somers said as she gave her okay for Barrett to call his first witness.
"I call Fermat Hackenbacker to the stand." Barrett said before Adrick stepped forward and proceeded to wheel Fermat's wheelchair forward. Fermat refused to meet the gazes of anyone in the large courtroom and he did so by keeping his eyes directed at the floor. Adrick stopped in front of Fermat and offered a bible for the young boy to place his hand on.
"Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" The bailiff asked once more as he looked at Fermat. The young genius raised his gaze to look at the bailiff and couldn't help but to wonder if the man enjoyed doing this to children that were forced to testify in the courtroom he occupied.
"I d-do." Fermat said softly with a nod before the bailiff pulled away after locking Fermat's brakes on his wheelchair.
Barrett straightened his suit jacket before he walked up to Fermat.
"Mr. Hackenbacker, on the night in question you and Alan went to bed fairly early is that correct?"
"Y-Yes sir." Fermat replied as he recalled the events leading up to their turning in early.
"Why is it that you and your roommate turned in several hours before curfew? It was a Friday…was it not?" Barrett inquired, trying to get Fermat to admit why he had gone to bed early.
"W-We had a basketball c-championship game coming up. W-We were leaving a-at lunch the n-next day." Fermat said. He didn't wish to bring up why they turned in early. But Barrett wasn't fooled.
"Come now Fermat, there must be some reason you and your roommate turned in over four hours before lights out was necessary. You couldn't have been that tired." Barrett knew he was stirring the pot of memories and emotions, but that's what he was trying to do. He was trying to get more information out of Fermat that hopefully would better implicate Robert. The odds were already stacked against him, but Barrett was searching for his ace in the hole.
Fermat sighed before he answered.
"Y-Yeah, we went t-to bed early. Alan w-wasn't feeling good so t-to make it easier on h-him I went to sleep a-also." Fermat responded.
"And care to tell the court exactly why Alan wasn't feeling good? Did he have food poisoning or the flu?"
"Objection, baiting the witness." Robert's lawyer said as she stood, smoothing the wrinkles in her pencil skirt.
"Sustained, continue counselor." Judge Somers said as she gave the greenlight for Barrett to continue the line of questioning.
"H-He was i-injured." Fermat stated softly, his stutter becoming more pronounced.
"Injured, how was he injured?" Barrett asked, knowing how Alan was injured but wanted to hear it from Fermat.
"W-we were approached by R-Robert outside t-the canteen and a-after being a-accosted, Robert b-became mad and punched A-Alan in the stomach. He b-barely managed to g-get to the bushes b-before he threw up h-his dinner." Fermat said as he wrung his hands. He hated dredging up the past. He never brought up what happened to his mother to anyone besides Alan and he never liked reliving old news. To be forced to think about this again, it was more like a nightmare.
"And after Alan threw up, what did you boys do? Did you go tell someone about the bullying or physical assault?" Barrett questioned. Fermat shook his head no, not seeing a need to verbalize his answer. "There wasn't anyone you could talk to, trusted member of faculty?"
"No s-sir…Alan's g-gotten detentions in t-the past so nobody r-really believes him." Fermat said, knowing the teachers often viewed the more wealthy students as drama queens. Money talked and with Alan's family being so wealthy and far up the corporate chain of command, people tended to turn a blind eye when he lodged a complaint.
"Not even the headmaster?" Barrett asked, wanting Fermat to reveal what happened earlier that day.
"No, he d-disregarded Alan's e-earlier complaint about R-Robert when they'd b-been caught passing a n-note back and forth b-between each other." Fermat said. "Even w-when Alan was g-given a swirly. H-Headmaster Flynn c-chose to ignore it."
"And what else happened? You and Alan went where?" Barrett questioned.
"W-We returned to the d-dorm. A-Alan's stomach h-hurt and I w-wanted him to get s-some rest. W-We both g-got ready f-for bed then." Fermat replied.
"And you didn't notice anything out of the ordinary when you entered the dorms? Nothing looked out of place or any strange smells?" Barrett inquired, trying to get deeper.
"No. N-Nothing out o-of the ordinary. U-Unless you c-count Robert a-attacking Alan after d-dinner." Fermat replied.
"Okay, so you and Alan went to bed…how long until you fell asleep?" Barrett asked.
"A-About half a-an hour." Fermat commented. "I think it w-was around s-seven t-thirty."
"So you fell asleep, how long after you fell asleep until you woke up to discover the room on fire?" Barrett asked. "Tell us everything you remember, leading up to you and Alan getting out of the fire."
Fermat hiccupped as the memories assaulted him.
'Fermat kicked his blankets off in his sleep before he woke up. He blearily rubbed at his eyes before he reached over to grab his glasses. He and Alan must have turned the heat up on the thermostat too high, it was stifling in their room. Donning his glasses, Fermat pried his eyes open and a cursory glance about the room told Fermat that he and Alan were in terrible danger.
Fire. And lots of it, illuminated their bedroom. Shadows danced in the corners and the glass shone with the reflection of the fire that licked at the frame of his own bed. A look towards Alan told Fermat that Alan was in immediate danger. He wondered if Alan woke up and discovered the fire before he passed out on the floor. Being the most coherent, Fermat jumped from his bed and found himself by Alan's side. Shaking the older boy's shoulder proved that Alan was in too deep.
"A-Alan! Wake up! W-We got to g-get out!" Fermat doubled his efforts to wake Alan and when the older boy stirred, Fermat grabbed him by his shoulder and hefted his friend's weight against his smaller statured frame and pulled the both of them into the bathroom like he was taught.
Dragging Alan into the bathtub, Fermat turned on the water to its maximum and kept it cold. The water felt like sharp knives slicing into his skin, but it worked like a charm to make Alan more aware. Both he and Alan shivered violently as the cold reached deep into their very bones and settled.
"W-What's g-going on F-F-Fermat?!" Alan's teeth clicked together as he shivered. He wrapped his arms around his torso as he tried not to shiver right out of his own skin.
"F-Fire!" Fermat said, unsure if the stutter he had was due to the cold water or because of his speech impediment. "W-We need t-to get o-out!"
Alan started to fade out as smoke seeped in from under the doorway. Fermat coughed as the smoke burned his throat.'
As Fermat retold what happened leading up to their escape from the dorm, Fermat changed the story so not to reveal his and Alan's connection with International Rescue. Barrett knew because he was a close family friend of Jeff Tracy's but the courts didn't need to know that the members of IR were in their midst.
'Fermat grabbed his cell phone on the edge of the sink counter in the bathroom and with shaking fingers tried to call 911 but accidently hit speed dial one which was for one of Alan's brothers. Hearing the line pick up, and a familiar voice, Fermat began pleading for help.
"P-Please, we're t-trapped. Our d-dorm is on fire." Fermat begged. When John spoke it offered minimal comfort.
"Where are you and Alan at now? Can you get out?" John asked, being the more level headed of all Alan's brothers.
"B-Bathroom, bathtub-b-b." Fermat said as he tried to wake Alan who was beginning to fall unconscious from lack of air. "W-Wake up A-Alan!"
"You need to cover your faces with wet towels and you need to get out. Don't wait for help, just get out!" John instructed urgently. "I'm going to get Scott to call 911 and see if we can't get you boys some help."
"So, you accidently dialed Alan's brother? You did as instructed which was what exactly?" Barrett asked, noticing Fermat's smooth transition from truth to fiction.
"W-We tied s-some hand towels a-around our nose and mouth and g-got out." Fermat said as he began feeling nervous as they began to stray into dangerous territory. Fermat didn't want to remember how it felt when the flames licked at his arms and legs, how badly it burned and how sharp his and Alan's screams were as fire pierced their skin and burned away at the sensitive flesh.
"Thank you Fermat." Barrett said before he turned to Robert's lawyer. "Your witness."
The woman stood and her stiletto pumps made a loud clack-clack sound as she walked up to Fermat. She was a slender woman, Fermat noticed that and if not for the shrewd downturn of her lips, Fermat thought she might actually be pretty…but the perpetual frown she kept in place was intimidating and made Fermat want to hide behind something.
"So you and your roommate Alan locked yourselves in the bathroom when you boys discovered your room on fire. Why did you boys go into the bathroom and not try to escape through the window?"
"O-Our room was o-on the f-fourth floor. W-We had n-no fire e-escape. T-The school's code d-didn't contain a n-new stature for f-fire safety a-and regulation." Fermat said as he admitted something the school didn't advertise. "T-The fire p-protocol and s-safety regulations w-were outdated b-by ten years."
Murmurs broke out in the courtroom, forcing the judge to pound her gavel for silence. The judge directed her own question at Fermat.
"How did you know that young man?"
"W-When you a-are given a-an assignment b-by a teacher t-to find a statute in the s-school code h-handbook that y-you wanted to change – y-you tend to find things n-nobody wants y-you to know." Fermat replied honestly.
"So you discovered the statute for fire and safety regulations expired for your school…and it didn't occur to you to bring it up to a trusted adult?" Robert's lawyer questioned.
"I'm t-twelve…pardon m-me for adults n-not believing w-what a child h-has to say." Fermat spat back at Robert's lawyer. "I d-did bring it u-up…n-nobody took i-it up with t-the headmaster."
"So you discovered the expired fire and safety regulations and wrote a paper on it…are you by any chance aware of what your roommate wrote his paper on?"
"B-Bullying…he w-wanted to change the p-policy to zero-t-tolerance." Fermat whispered making everyone present strain to hear what he had to say. "T-The school a-advertised z-zero-tolerance, b-but everyone t-there failed to g-get involved even w-when it was g-going on in front o-of their v-very faces."
Robert's lawyer quirked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow before she continued along that line of questioning.
"So the school falsely advertised? I suppose you don't recall where in the student handbook it advertises the opposite of what it advertises?" Robert's lawyer questioned.
"I do a-actually. Alan, h-he showed it t-to me." Fermat replied. "It's section 2, title 9."
Robert's lawyer seemed taken aback by Fermat's knowledge of the exact location of said regulation and she moved to grab her copy of the student handbook. Flipping to the exact location Fermat quoted to her. As she read silently to herself, she began to paraphrase.
"Students and faculty are encouraged to abstain from any and all forms of bullying, harassment, hazing and disruption in a classroom setting or school related functions. Any and all complaints made by students or parent(s) must be made to the schoolboard in order for proper consequences be carried out." The lawyer scratched the back of her neck as Barrett moved to hand the bailiff a copy of the school's pamphlet. When the judge looked it over she showed it to Robert's lawyer who sighed as she read it aloud. "Wharton's school is regarded by many as an ivy-league school for boys that excels in zero-tolerance in bullying, drugs/alcohol…your witness counselor."
Barrett stood once more and walked forward before he began talking again. "So as we've heard, your school claimed to encourage their faculty and staff not to take part in bullying, harassment, etcetera…care to tell the courts what really took place?"
"The encouragement w-we were given w-was that w-we'd basically b-be given d-detention…n-never once w-were we a-actually told o-of the proper disciplinary a-action that would t-take place." Fermat admitted as he looked out at his dad, Mr. Tracy and the others. None of them were aware they'd been lied to because when Alan tried to bring it up, nobody was interested. Alan's family thought he was making it up when he told his family they were being duped. Brains as well had overlooked it since his son was getting a proper education. Fermat didn't blame either his parent or for all intents and purposes guardian(s), the Tracy for the overlooked detail.
"Thank you Fermat." Barrett replied before looking to the Judge. "Your Honor, may you grant a brief recess?"
"Granted, court will reconvene in an hour's time." Judge Somers said as she pounded her gavel. Once the meeting was temporarily adjourned for recess, Barrett moved Fermat from the room and was immediately followed by the group of family and supporters.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan sucked in a breath as the bandages were gently peeled away from his delicate skin. Instantly he felt like he had a thousand needles biting and poking into his back as air licked at the partially opened wound. It took every ounce of strength for Alan not to reach back and begin clawing at his back like one usually does when they feel that infernal itch they can't reach in the middle of their back.
"There we go. You're doing so good Alan." Karen murmured as she and Dr. Warner inspected Alan's surgical spots. Once the last bit of tape was peeled off, Alan found himself gripping the pillow like surface of the mattress tightly in clenched fingers. His back itched so badly.
"It's looking well Alan, you'll be happy to know that scarring will be minimal." Dr. Warner stated as he leaned close to Alan's back to inspect the few places where he had to place a stitch or two. "How are you feeling?"
"It's itchy." Alan groaned as he proceeded to bite the corner of his pillow. It not only itched, but it hurt equally as bad as it itched.
"Let's put this ointment on it, that should make it feel better." Karen suggested before she spoke softly. "It may be cold and sting briefly, but it should numb the itch and any pain you're experiencing at the moment."
Alan made a guttural grunt noise which prompted Karen to begin soothing the ointment on Alan's back. He hissed in pain as it felt like his back was lit on fire and he had to force back the gag…he didn't want to imagine his back being on fire ever again.
Once the ointment had been applied, Alan felt the cloth like bandage being draped over his back. It made Alan think of cheesecloth, but he didn't long to find out what exactly had led to his description. He was in pain, that's all there was to it. He didn't care if the bandage was a sock at this point, he just wanted the pain to end.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
When court reconvened, Fermat was wheeled back to the table to be beside Barrett. He had gone upstairs to the same room that Alan had gone to during his own time giving his testimony and Fermat just asked John and Virgil to distract him. There was a TV in the room and the brothers decided to do their own version of lip syncing over a muted television show in hopes of lightening the mood for the preteen.
Fermat laughed, but not at all like he would have normally…not without Alan busting a gut beside him and Gordon's occasional crude humor or Scott's strictly family friendly conversation despite there being a gunslinger on TV and threatening a fellow gunslinger. No, he was decidedly subdued and it didn't escape anyone's notice how the testimony was dragging on Fermat.
"Counselors, approach." Judge Somers requested. Both Robert and Fermat's lawyers made their way to stand in front of the Judge's pedestal. "I've decided to allow Barrett's movement for the victim's brother John Tracy to speak about what he heard during the accidental misdial."
Those gathered in the courtroom erupted into murmurs and the few reporters that were permitted in the room began reporting on the judge's decision. John in the meantime was sitting, his mouth agape as he realized that he was about to become more instrumental to the case than he ever thought he'd be.
A/N: So here is the next installment to Rising From The Ashes and I'll admit, I'm trying to find my muse. Sorry for the chapter kind of falling flat on it's face - I just wanted to incorporate a bit more of Fermat in the story. We see so much of Alan, and I wanted Fermat's story to be told too. I have an idea for a later chapter to incorporate Rachel Platten's - Fight Song into a chapter later on down the road. What do you all think of that idea? Maybe if I get back into listening to pop songs when I write instead of orchestra or piano maybe the story will pick back up. Between depression,college, loss of muse, helping my brother plan his proposal to his fiance (hint: she said yes) and helping my future sister in law find her wedding dress, my attention has been pretty divided.
Hope you enjoyed the hot mess I call a chapter! JK!
Reviews and any recommendations would be much appreciated.
~Sad-Blue-Eyed-Angel 2010~