Author note: As I've now finished writing this, updates will come through quicker. I've had such a writing buzz recently, it's kind of funny. Went almost a year with nothing, but then all of a suden BOOM! Urge to write! I've even started nudging Living On A Prayer again! Admittedly, it's not moving, but I think it's still alive!
Warning: Sex, violence, masochism, bondage, good lord, it's GRELL, that deserves a warning all it's own!
Pair: Grell Sutcliff and William Spears
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to anything. I've never been to a Disciplinary Hearing (thank heavens) so I'm making it up as I go. Jim, Diggs, Maivis, Rebecca Alice, and the shinigami of the Committee are mine though - and I'm resenting myself for somehow comiling so many OCs. I don't like Ocs. Why do I have so many?

On the top floor of the Yorkshire Branch offices, the room the Disciplinary Hearing was being held in was sizeable, but not huge. It was large enough to hold the people it needed to, no more, no less, which is why it had been chosen.

Will, in his usual smart suit, sat in his allocated seat, waiting for everyone else to settle in. Grell would be coming soon, bringing what little defence they could – by rights it wouldn't be needed, but a little back up never hurt anyone, right?

Jim sat behind a desk opposite his own, with the recently qualified Anthony Diggs beside him. It didn't a genius to figure out who had arranged this. Will couldn't blame the young man, really – he thought he was acting in the best interest of a co-worker. It would probably have been a good idea for Diggs to speak to Grell before approaching the boss, but what's done is done.

Aside from the three of them, there were also four people from the Disciplinary Committee, two men and two women; and Rebecca and Alice, presumably as witnesses.

One of the women, a sour-faced grey-haired lady, stood.

"Alright, if this is everyone, we'll begin." She glanced down at the papers in front of her. "William T. Spears, you face accusations of sexual and physical harassment of a female co-worker. You've already stated that you would deny this claim. Considering that we are aware that similar accusations have been made against you prior to this, do you wish to continue with this statement?"

"Yes ma'am." Will stood politely. "I believe I have the right to face my accuser and make a statement?"

"Of course." She agreed. "Anthony Diggs, please stand." The mew recruit rose. Will could see his hands shaking even from the distance.

"Anthony Diggs," Will nodded a polite greeting, "I wish to congratulate you. You're a brave young man, looking out for your co-workers, even one you don't know personally. Even more so when you recall that you are, technically, my subordinate. After this is over, I intend to give you a pay raise." Diggs blinked in surprise.

"Um… Thank you sir, but why?"

"It takes initiative and courage to stand up to a superior. I respect that in a worker." Will sat back down, signalling that he was finished.

"Thank you, Mr Spears, Mr Diggs." The woman official had risen again, and wave Diggs back into his seat. A knock on the door made them all look around. She frowned. "Enter!" Grell peered around the door. "Ah, Miss Sutcliff. Please, come in and take a seat. Thank you for coming today."

"Not at all." Grell opened the door properly and sauntered in. "Forgive my tardiness, ma'am, I had to pick up part of the defence from the train station." Ronald Knox and Miss Mavis followed him in.

Will couldn't take his eyes off his lover. Grell's hair was brushed into a ponytail, and he was wearing a suit. A man's suit, reminiscent of the ones he wore before he was officially permitted to wear skirts at work, complete with scarlet ribbon around his neck.

"Ah, 'defence', Miss Sutcliff?"

"Yes ma'am, witnesses to substantiate evidence against the accusation being made today." Everyone but Will looked surprised. Although he acted like, and generally was, an airhead, it had to be admitted that if Grell knew anything, it was the proper language and procedures for a Disciplinary Hearing – god knows he'd been through enough of them.

"Very well, Miss Sutcliff. Please take your seat." She turned back to Will. "We have already described the charges you face, Mr Spears. We have evidence in the form of a verbal confession from the target. Misses Jenkins and Tyler were the recipients of this confession, and Mr Diggs brought the charges forward." Alice stood up.

"Ma'am, if we may begin the defence." The official looked surprised – she and the other members of the committee had been under the impression that the two women were here to support the accusation.

"Yes, Miss Tyler?"

"What Mr Diggs believes he has reported is not true. What he heard is completely out of context."

"That's right." Rebecca stood too. "The conversation was a private discussion between the three of us, and no such confession was made." The official looked at Grell.

"Is this true, Miss Sutcliff?"

"Yes ma'am." Grell nodded respectfully. "If I may, there are several other parts of the accusation I would like to dispute." The official nodded her agreement. First of all, I never made the confession Diggs claims. He misheard a private discussion with my friends regarding my personal life. Will and I have been lovers for many years now."

"We can support that." Ronald waved casually, not even bothering to stand. "We were with them when they first hooked up."

"And who are you?" the woman peered down her nose disapprovingly at the blond shinigami.

"Ronald Knox, London dispatch division."

"Maivis Cooke, head secretary at the London division."

"Forgive my friend's rudeness ma'am." Grell glared at the blond man. "He and Miss Maivis worked with Will and I before we transferred here."

"What is the purpose of their presence, Miss Sutcliff?" Grell gritted his teeth. He was starting to dislike this woman, with her condescending looks and haughty voice. He never thought it was possible, but he was even starting to resent hearing the title 'Miss Sutcliff' coming out of her mouth.

"The point is, ma'am, that as we have evidence from multiple parties that William and myself are romantically involved, he cannot be accused of sexually harassing me. His attentions are more than welcome, and I consented to everything." She nodded acceptingly. The other committee members muttered amongst themselves. Diggs was turning red, clearly now understanding his mistake.

"There is still the matter of the physical abuse reported." The official reminded. "Such actions against a woman should not be taken lightly." Grell approached her desk and handed her an envelope.

"This is a copy of my birth certificate. As well a copy of my doctor's diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder. " She opened the envelope and glanced across the contents. "If it were possible for shinigami, I would have had the surgery, but I was born male, and physically am forced to remain so. William would never hit a woman." Will stood.

"This is all stated in our official transfer files, ma'am, following an incident fifty years ago in London."

TBC