I cannot BELIEVE HOW STUPID I WAS!!! I thought I had posted this chapter, and started working on the 14th one!! eek I'm so, so SOOO sorry guys :( I think I'm losing my mind...

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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Ending

Chapter 13: Stalled

"You may proceed, Mr. Trent," said the judge once he had studied the file. Lara still kept on gazing at him. Kurtis was not a lawyer; he was a mercenary, then how come…?

'What are you doing?!'

'Saving your life.'

"Your honor, this is preposterous! How come Mr. Trent can take up Lara Croft's case?" said Jacobs, annoyed.

"Jacobs, he has presented papers of him graduating in law from a university, and his past experiences in the courtroom, and I'm convinced. You may let Mr. Trent do the talking for now," said the judge coldly.

"Thank you, my lord," said Kurtis, nodding his thanks. "My client, Lara Croft has been charged for six murders and for stealing a car, right? As Sylvester said earlier, no one actually saw her commit the murders, only saw her leaving the crime scene. Your honor, today I myself went into the Strahov and found something that would make Lara appear in a different light. It's a video, taken from the conference room of the Strahov, where the Mafia are seen discussing their next moves, and framing Lara altogether for their crimes," He retrieved the paper bag from his coat, and gave the video to the judge, who played it in a VCR, present in the courtroom.

"Joachim; my right-hand man. You are the only one who has not upset me up. Tell me, what the case with Monstrum is? Was all the trace of Bouchard's murder destroyed?"

"I have taken care of it. Croft was trying to find something to make her way out, so her fingerprints are on his body. She's been blamed again, poor thing."

"An innocent blamed for one of my deeds again…"

The judge closed the television, having seen enough. Jacobs' eyes looked they'll pop out any second, and the jury (along with everybody else) looked softly at Lara, who stood with her head down, taking everything in silently.

"As you see," began Kurtis after a moment, "Lara Croft was gruesomely framed for their evil deeds. Eckhardt said "An innocent blamed for one of my deeds again," this clearly shows that Lara was simply at the wrong place in the wrong time. Beneath Vasiley's apartment, whilst trying to find her way out, she found Bouchard killed like all of the other Monstrum victims, whilst she only was trying to find her way out of the place. This is how she has been framed for all the killings, the victims being murdered about 10 seconds before she reached the crime scene. The blood is still fresh, so people think that she's the one who committed the crime."

"Do you have anything to say, Mr. Jacobs?" asked the judge.

"Not at the moment your honor."

"Proceed, Mr. Trent."

"Sir, I have another piece of evidence, that may shock you all." He produced a document from his coat's inner breast pocket. "Here," he said as he handed it over to the judge. "You may wanna read it out loud."

"It is an official document of the Cabal," began the judge.

'What's that all about?'

'You'll see.'

"To Mr. Richard Galistro, you hereby are officially the helper of the Cabal. For your first assignment, you are to destroy Ms. Lara Croft. As scheduled, she would be coming with Mr. Louis Bouchard to Rue Valise, where the late Werner von Croy lived. You are to dispose off Ms. Croft, and then return to Prague for your next task. We hope you would cooperate with us in order to boost up your wages. Signed, Pieter van Eckhardt!"

The crowd drew in a breath of horror, and yet more hearts softened for Lara. After some time, Lara spoke up, "Sir, I admit I stole the car, but I didn't kill the cleaner. For starters, he was wearing heavy bulletproof jackets, a cleaner from nowhere. He had set traps for me in von Croy's apartment. There were lasers attached to explosives, many at ankle height, so I could run through them, trigger off the explosives, and die. It was all carefully planned, but sir due to the heavy impact of a machine gun, he only slipped and fell down the stairs, and could have been unconscious or maybe dead, I didn't check. Even if he did die, it was plainly-"

"Self defence, your honor. Ms. Croft has spoken truthfully for herself," said Kurtis, now walking sideways with invincible confidence. "I think for the moment, these two pieces of evidence clearly prove Lara innocent, or maybe a bit on the good side. But in less than four hours to save a life, your honor, one can only find these small pieces of evidence, and that if one is lucky. I would go and find more proof, even if I have to go to Paris, but sir, little did the Mafia know, they still left important pieces of the puzzle behind. I would request you to give me a few days to gather more proof, in order to prove Croft innocent. Remember sir, this is the matter of a life, and talented people like Lara Croft, who have risked their necks to save you, me everybody, are not born again and again. Please take this into special consideration before you come to any conclusion at the end of this trial. Thank you."

With that, Kurtis sat down, and with a strong expression, looked towards Lara. Lara stood with her head down, leaning on her forearms and hands crossed staring blankly at the floor, awaiting the result.

"Do you have anything at all to say about this case, Mr. Jacobs?"

"No, sir. I'm speechless at the evidence presented."

"So are we." He scribbled something into a file for a short moment. The jury presented their opinions, and in a short ten minutes, the judge had made his decision. "Keeping all the evidence in mind, we have reached to this conclusion, that Ms. Croft did not murder Richard Galistro and Louis Bouchard, but we are given no proof as to prove Ms. Croft innocent for the other murders. Therefore, we give Mr. Trent by the end of next week, to gather more proof, from Paris and maybe other places if necessary. By that time, Ms. Croft would remain in the police's custody, and a final warning to John Elliot for abusing the Lara Croft's relatives. The court is adjourned till the end of next week; 22nd November, 2003; twelve days to be precise, and then we'll continue the case. Thank you."

Everybody filed out of the courtroom, and the police officers took hold of Lara again. Before they took her out, Kurtis whispered to her, "I'll meet you at the police station, take care." Lara gave him a small hug, and then was taken away. Kurtis sighed, with relief and tiredness. He was the left alone in the courtroom, letting the events sink in deep, the adrenaline rushing at top speed during the actual time prevented to make a memory of them. The door opened, flashing cameras and yet more idiotic questions reached his ears. He grabbed his stuff, and rushed out, protecting Lara once more.

"Ms. Croft, did you expect to see the next day?"

"Ms. Croft, tell us did your adventurer boyfriend plan this to happen?"

"Lady Croft, how does it feel being betrayed by Maurice Sylvester?"

"Lara Croft, what do you feel about Kurtis Tre-"

The police barked some Czech, but the reporters ignored them completely. "Leave her alone, will ya?" Kurtis snapped as he rushed forward and walked with Lara, side by side. Now he was the one who became the prime attraction.

"Kurtis, tell us are you really a lawyer?"

"Mr. Trent, please state your relation with Ms. Croft."

"Kurtis Trent, how did you get involved in this?"

Kurtis simply ignored everyone, covering Lara with his strong frame and along with the police, led Lara to the van, where she was taken away. He saw the TV reporters turning and saying the latest news to their respective channels, when he wore his over-coat, revved up the engine of his bike and sped off towards the police station.

At the station

Once again, Kurtis barged in through the doors of the police station; the guard drew his weapon turning away from the news on the radio on his arrival. He simply put his weapon down, and pretended that he never even existed. After all, he was the reason the police officer was disturbed when "My Immortal" had reached the climax earlier.

He turned and saw Elliot locking Lara in, but on his arrival, he simply jingled his keys, and leaned casually against a wall. Kurtis glared daggers at him. Elliot walked towards Kurtis. "So," he started, "a lawyer? I think not."

"Oh you want the truth? Fine, I'm not a lawyer," Kurtis said seriously. Lara felt like the very breath of her was knocked out, but Kurtis remained cool.

"Huh?" Elliot exclaimed.

"No, I'm no lawyer. But hey!" Kurtis faked, "It's your job to prove it, right? Go ahead, I'd love to see you try!"

Elliot rolled his eyes, unlocked Lara's cell door and allowed them fifteen minutes alone.

"You, a lawyer?" asked Lara, with a grin. Kurtis smirked, and she walked over and put her hand in his. "Thank you, for everything. I don't know how I could ever-"

"Shh…" said Kurtis lowly and put his finger on her lips. "Not yet." Lara turned crimson and turned away to hide it: she felt like giggling like a love-struck teenager.

"Lara, there's something you should know…" began Kurtis, with a sigh. Lara forgot her childish feelings and turned to him: dead serious.

"What?" she asked shocked; she did not like the sound of it, or the way he sat on her bed: like a defeated soldier, only she thought of the posture wrong.

"I'll leave for Paris the first thing in the morning," he said, looking up.

"Th-that's it? God, Kurtis you had me piped up about so many things. But don't go as yet."

"I have to! You know this is important – why shouldn't I?"

"There maybe something more in Prague…"

"Was anyone except for Luddick and Bouchard killed here? Vasil-"

"Vasiley!" Lara said with big eyes. "Kurtis, someone must've seen me in Paris or…" Lara stopped short.

"What?" Kurtis asked as surprised.

"Bouchard's chauffer," Lara whispered, and then looked at Kurtis. "Kurtis, you have to find Bouchard's chauffer, he's a witness!"

"What do you mean?" asked Kurtis, confused.

"I was brought about by Bouchard after that guard knocked us out in the alley outside the Louvre. You were gone and I picked up your Shard, told Bouchard that I need to go to von Croy's apartment, and during the ride, his chauffer must have heard him telling me about Vasiley's murder. Now how could I murder Vasiley and be with Bouchard at the same time? That's because-"

"Eckhardt finished off Mathias Vasiley before any of us, or Werner himself could reach him," Kurtis realized. "Brilliant! On the way out, I'll get the details of Vasiley's murder and a look at the post mortem report. Great, we have a lead! At least now you'd be innocent for three of the murders, and another good look at those tapes in the Strahov would hopefully reveal the killer of Luddick's death." Kurtis paused for some time.

"You were right, they did leave behind more proof than we thought," said Lara cheerfully. "Oh Kurtis I love you!" Lara joked and hugged him; excited at the thought of freedom quite close.

Kurtis took in a moment to let it sink all in. Lara Croft hugging him, tight enough to knock out his breath! For a moment, all the thoughts of murders and mysteries were forgotten and on his mind was a new thing: Did she mean it?

"You mean it?" he croaked, short of breath.

"No," Lara said as excitedly.

"I thought so," and Kurtis admitted to himself that he was actually disappointed. "Um… could you let me go before I suffocate to death?" he asked in small voice.

"Of course!" she said and let go. Silence hung over them, but they were happy in there own ways.

"Lara, I never expected us to be so casual and free around each other. Back in Eckhardt's lab we were just bickering about little stuff like children, now we're actually going along at something," said Kurtis with a knowing smile. "Still like children," he added.

"Maybe we had our differences back then," said Lara. Kurtis gave her a blank look.

"It was yesterday," he said plainly.

"And so it was," admitted Lara. "It's just that in… more than twenty four hours we really got to know each other a lot better."

"You used me as bait!" said Kurtis exasperatedly, "Twice!"

"And so I did, for the better of us."

"If you had lowered in the chum bucket I wouldn't have needed to swim around with that mutant!"

Lara looked bored. "When are you leaving for Paris again?"

Kurtis paused. "Ouch, that hurt, Croft."

"When are you leaving?"

"Now," Kurtis said and got up. Lara followed, and put a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry, I was just joking."

"Yeah I know, I'm the telepathic one you know," he stated with a smirk. "I'll leave for Paris tomorrow evening, and another trip to the Strahov in the morning. And hey, I almost forgot!" he said suddenly.

"What?"

"Come here, in a corner," said Kurtis in barely a whisper. He took Lara to a corner by hand, took out a small box and gave it to her: A personal pizza.

"You shouldn't have," she said, holding the warm box.

"No, I should. They say the food here tastes like plastic, you're gonna need it, for tonight at least," Kurtis turned and stood in the doorway of the cell. "I'll be back tomorrow morning, with hopefully more leads. Take care," he said and tapped his temple to remind her of their "telepathic conversations."

"You too," she said and gave him a sly smile.

"Yeah, uh… can I see all the details of Mathias Vasiley's murder?" asked Kurtis at the counter.

"A lawyer?"

"I'm doing Ms. Croft's case," he replied.

"Right," the guard walked over to a filing cabinet and handed a file to Kurtis through the slot, "Here you are, Mr. Trent."

"Thanks. Does this have the post mortem report?"

"Photocopied, yes, and a few of the last fax dealings with Mr. von Croy too," provided the guard.

"Thanks, thanks a lot, I'll be on the seat right here," said Kurtis and sat on the nearest one. He slowly read page over page of the file, inspecting it closely and making notes in his notebook. Everything seemed normal before his death, apart Werner's faxes some of those too were by his customers, Vasiley being a businessman.

The details of his death were extremely grotesque, and Kurtis felt sick to the stomach by just looking at him. On the post mortem report was the time written, approximately how many hours before did he die before they discovered him.

"21 15, hmm… Murdered at about 9:15 PM on November 6th … Interesting," he muttered as he made quick notes.

After another glance, he handed the file back. "I may need to see the file again if I found something else, just to let you know," he told the guard before leaving.

"If it would help saving an innocent, of course, friend," returned the guard.

This caught Kurtis Trent off guard. "Yes, I never suspected Ms. Croft at all, but why does my opinion matter? I'm just a rookie cop," said the guard with an understanding smile.

"It's surprising, really…-"

"I know."

"Well. Thanks again, later."

"Goodbye."