Chapter 13: Trial

A/N: Okay wow a seriously sad chapter I'm not going to lie. This one was hard for me to write because I become SO attached to the characters I write about. But this is Dickensian London not happy princess fairy ville (wouldn't that be a cool place to live though?) Haha anyway, on with the chapter, please R&R.

Warnings: Swearing, Sadness, Drama.

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"ACE!" Johnny rushed forward in alarm as soon as his brain could wrap around what must've become of his best friend.

"No!" Sikes cried. Again his hand flew out to restrain Johnny, who was instantly struggling against his grasp.

"Let me go damn you! That's my best friend in there!"

"There's nothing you can do," Sikes tried to reason pulling Johnny back.

"Somebody 'as to find out what's going on. Somebody 'as to 'elp 'im!"

"'E won't be on trial tonight," Bill said holding Johnny back. Furious, Johnny rounded on Sikes and spat his next sentence through gritted teeth.

"Damn you," he growled. "That is my best mate. We've known each other all our lives. We ran away from the chimney sweeps together, we lived in the streets together, an' we came to Fagin's together. If you think fer one second I'm going to sit 'ere while 'e rots in the clink then you, Bill Sikes, are daft!"

"See some reason Johnny, nobody's talkin' about leavin' the kid defenseless. Let's go talk to Fagin an' see what 'e thinks."

"We 'ave to find out when the trial is," Johnny continued frantically as if Bill hadn't spoken. Again he tried to pull away and go into the Courthouse but Bill's grip was too firm for him to manage it.

"Then I'll go. You'll be of no good to any of us in this state. Take Nancy back, tell Fagin wot 'appened, an' I'll be back afore ya know it." Johnny seemed to calm if only a little and, noticing poor Nancy's bloody state, took her by the hand to lead her back to the flat.

Nancy walked numbly along the road next to Johnny, ignoring how her head seemed to throb. It was not bleeding badly anymore, she highly doubted it was anything to worry about. Instead, the worry came from what was going on with Ace right now. I shouldn't have let him go out, she thought. I should've made him come back to Fagin's with me. This is my fault....if he can't get set free....my fault...

"My fault," Nancy murmured. She jumped when she realized she had voiced her thoughts and quickly stole a glance up at Johnny. He was not paying attention to her. His eyes were locked straight ahead and his jaw was set in a tight line. If he was thinking, it was not of where he was right now. The boy seemed to be nothing more and nothing less then completely numb. She thought of the camaraderie between Johnny and Ace, how Johnny always seemed to know Ace's whole story. She couldn't imagine one boy functioning without the other. No matter what happened, they had to get Ace back.

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"Tomorrow mornin' then?" Bill asked, trying his best to sound cordial.

"Yes all trials are set for tomorrow morning," the policeman said.

"Thank you." Sikes turned away from the man, who was under the assumption he had been inquiring so he could study the proceedings of a trial. It had nearly killed him to say he was doing so because he was hoping to be a member of the Bow Street one day. Still, he'd lie any way he had to to get what he needed. At the moment, what he had needed was information about Ace's trial.

As Bill was exiting the Courthouse he nearly tripped over something just in front of the door. Bulls-Eye was laying there whining quietly. When he noticed Bill, the dog looked up at him with wide eyes. If at all possible, Sikes could've sworn the dog looked worried. Awkwardly, he reached down and scratched Bulls-Eye's ears before giving him a gruff pat on the head.

"Nothing more's 'appening tonight boy, let's get 'ome." To Bill's surprise, Bulls-Eye got up and followed him into the night.

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"In the morning Bill, you're sure?" Fagin said. He hadn't moved from his place at the table since Nancy had come home to tell him what had happened. He was sitting staring at the woodwork with his hands folded before him almost in a way of meditation. Nancy was standing next to where Bill sat, staring at him with wide eyes as the conversation continued. She was not alone, Bulls-Eye would not leave his side. Johnny it seemed was the most affected, the boy wouldn't lift his eyes from the flames that were eating the wood in the fireplace. All of them left him be, they knew he had to be worried enough as it was.

"Positive."

"Alright then. Bill, in the morning you 'ave to go down there. We'll need adequate warning if Ace is going to p-"

"If you finish that sentence," Johnny snapped cutting him off. "If you so much as think of insulting Ace by suggesting that 'e would peach on you, I will come out of this chair and knock your teeth down your throat Fagin. Am I clear?" All of them stared in shock at the thirteen year old before the fire. He hadn't spoken since the scene in front of the Courthouse, and now he had exploded on Fagin himself.

"I know Ace is your friend," Fagin said slowly. "But that doesn't mean 'e's above-"

"Johnny's right," Nancy said. Every eye in the room turned to face her. The little girl didn't seem aware of that, she was still talking soully to Fagin. "Couple weeks after I came 'ere, tha' mornin' Ace stole my shoe do you remember?" Fagin smiled despite himself at the memory of that particularly chaotic morning at the flat. "Well tha' mornin' Johnny was jokin' around saying he'd as soon quit pickin' on me as 'e would peach on you. An' Ace, 'e got furious. I've never seen 'im so mad. Trust me, whatever's about to 'appen in that courtroom tomorrow, it's not going to be Ace peaching." The old man seemed to mull over her words for a moment before he nodded very slowly.

"Alright."

"We 'ave to find out what's going to be going on though," Johnny said frantically. "I'll go down in the morning and-"

"No," Fagin said. "You can't keep your head on enough to sit in court quietly I fear. Bill, take Nancy down in the morning. Nancy my dear, wait inside and run the information back to us as soon as you find out what's happened yes?" Johnny made a small choking sound like he was biting back tears and he didn't turn from the fire as he tried not to burst right then and there. He was shocked by the feel of Fagin's hands on both his shoulders. "Don't fret my dear, Ace will be fine." Johnny nodded wearily, because he wanted nothing more then to believe him.

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"What's the next trial?"

"Young boy your honor, charged with picking pockets."

"Yes yes," the judge said in a stuffy manner. "Bring him in." Nancy's head jerked up as she realized it was Ace being brought in and being made to stand in the dock. "What's your name boy?"

"Alex Cook your honor." Nancy was shocked at the way Ace was acting. He was standing there bravely, acting as though he was almost honorable.

"Charged with picking pockets?" Ace nodded. "How old are you boy?"

"I'm thirteen sir." The judge nodded.

"Are there any witnesses in this case?" The policeman nodded and handed some papers over to the judge. The judge raised his eyebrows and stared over his spectacles at Ace. "Twenty-seven witnesses?" Ace winced at the number, he did not think so many people had seen him. He was cursing himself now, not sure how he could've been so stupid. The policeman leaned in towards the judge and muttered something that Ace didn't quite catch, he was too busy sulking over his stupidity. But that had been such a nice watch. "A member of the gang?" That much Ace did catch, coming from the judge's lips. His head jerked up and he stared at the old judge, who in turn was boring holes in him with his eyes. "Alex Cook, is it true that you are a member of Fagin's gang?"

"Don't know what you're talking about," Ace replied before Bill even had time to so much as flinch in fear of peaching.

"A man by the name of Fagin runs a gang of young pick pockets, are you among the members?"

"Never 'eard of 'im," Ace insisted. Nancy was impressed with what she could see, Ace had his poker face on, and even she couldn't see through that. Let alone an old and probably half-blind judge.

"Boy, I think you're lying to me," the judge replied, his tone grave. In response, Ace did little more then shrug his shoulders indifferently. "If you reveal for me the whereabouts of Fagin, I'll cut you a deal. I'll set you free and you won't be tried with the rest of the gang. I mean it." Nancy could hear it in his voice, the judge actually did mean it. She was sure Ace could hear as much also, but still he stood there like a statue, his lips drawn in a tight line. The judge waited a minute and then continued on rather unnervingly. "Well if you won't respond to bargains...how about a threat? Refuse to give up the gang, and I'll try you as an adult. Mark my words boy, you'll hang!" Nancy flinched at the word and she looked over with a chalk white face to Bill. He was sitting rigid in his seat, ready to run at any moment as it would seem. It was only then that she became aware that the courtroom was still silent, Ace hadn't so much as blinked in response. "I'll give you one more chance boy...." the judge was growling now "where are your accomplices?" Ace's face was like stone as he looked the man dead in the eyes.

"I acted alone."

And, as nothing more and nothing less then a boy that had become one of the most well loved and respected members of the gang, Ace was sentenced to hang at sunrise.