Hey guys! I'm BEYOND sorry for not updating; I just got done with a Biology test and so glad to be done. There's so many ideas coming up that's just insane and sorry for being a month late.
Here's chapter nine
February 2015
"Mr. Hawthorne, you do know what will happen if you are founded guilty right? You'll end up in a federal prison including paying the damages you caused Peeta Mellark for six years including holding information on Katniss Everdeen well-being and hiding her from the system minus the fact that you married her in court house." A silvered round man name Plutarch Heavensbee said talking to his client as he leaned his arms on the table as he looked at Gale.
"Yes, I do understand the risk." The brunette man stated looking at hi lawyer dead into his eyes.
Gale sighted as he straightens out his gray tie on his neck and stepping back to see him dusting off his navy suit jacket then pants. He ran a comb through his brunette locks slicking them back to look professional and serious. His gray his look down at his dress shoes making sure they looked perfect with no marks or scuff marks on them.
"Are you ready Gale?" Plutarch asked with on hand on his briefcase and the other in his suit pocket.
"Yes, yes I am." The brunette man answered and walked towards his lawyer. They both man leave the jail cell and then heading to the courthouse.
Peeta & Katniss
"KAT DARLING, WE NEED TO HEAD TO THE COURTHOUSE IN FIFTEEN!" Peeta yelled from downstairs.
The brunette woman just got done throwing up for the past ten minutes and sat on the edge on the bathtub. 'Could I be? I'm late after all.' "ALRIGHT, I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!" Katniss answered her husband back and walking over to the sink to rise her mouth. She lifted her head up seeing her face is nearly pale and putting a tiny bit of blush and lipstick to have some color on her face. The brunette woman checked her signature braid and her appropriate attire of wearing a dark green blazer covering up her black blouse, boot cut dark wash jeans, and brown ankle high heel boots. Katniss then quickly opens the door running to get her purse from their bed and carefully running downstairs.
Peeta holds out her father's hunting jacket as his wife made her way towards him and helped her putting on her jacket. He was dressed in a black suit and light blue tie. "Everything alright?" He asked being concern.
"Yeah, everything's fine." She assured her husband and buttoning up her jacket.
"Just double checking." The blonde man replied with a smile as the puts on his black coat and buttoning up.
The taxi cab honks.
"Let's go." Katniss said as she walks out the front door with Peeta following behind her.
Peeta locked the door behind her and putting the house keys into his jacket pocket.
"Katniss! Peeta!" Haymitch yelled through the wind running towards the sidewalk. "Ready for this?" He asked.
"We're ready." The couple answered.
Peeta opens the taxi cab door letting his wife go inside first, then him, and their mentor as he closed the car door behind him.
"Where to?" A Hispanic male driver asked with an accent.
"The New York City Court House please." Katniss answered his questioned.
The Hispanic male nodded his head and starts heading towards the direction.
"So, where's Johanna?" Haymitched asked as he looked at his two former protégés.
"She's at her office but she'll meet us there." Peeta replied being confident nodded his head. "Is Ray Dallas going to be there? Since he was the one that looked up on Katniss?" He asked.
The former commander trainer nodded his head. "Yes, he will. I think Ray has more information on Gale including Sweetheart here might add a few things to tell the judge that could help this case." Haymitch stated being straight forward.
"Katniss?" Peeta looked at his wife and looking down at his left shoulder seeing her fall asleep.
"Let her nap for a bit boy, she's going to need that energy to go off on Gale when we get there." The forty five year old man chuckled little getting out his flask out of his coat pocket and taking a swig of it.
"I don't know if I should hit him as soon as I see that s.o.b. or let Katniss do it?" The young blonde man sighted and lightly put his head on top of his wife's.
20 minutes later…
"We're here and fifty dollars." The driver asked parked in front of the courthouse.
Peeta pulls out his wallet about to pay until Haymitch jabs him lightly on his side motioning to him 'I got this' look on his face. Haymitch gets a fifty dollar bill out of his wallet handing it to him. His blue eyes look at his mentor thanking him then turned his head to lightly shaking his wife to wake up. "Katniss, Katniss, it's time to wake up; we're here." He spoke soft but strong.
The brunette woman yawned and lifted her head up as she opens her eyes to look at her surroundings.
Haymitch opens the cab door feeling the wind blowing inside the car. Katniss gets out of the cab on her side with Peeta following behind her.
"Let's do this and win this case!" The older blonde man lightly yelled through the wind and makes his way up the stairs of the courthouse.
The married couple nodded their heads agreeing with him and taking each other's hands as and following their mentor walking their way up to the courthouse.
Inside the Courthouse
Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch make their way through the hallways to find what room their court is going to be taken place in.
"Our courtroom is A38 it should be down this hall." Their mentor said guiding them.
"SECOND FLOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE!" A voice yelled out with the sound of high heels coming down the hall.
All three of them stop in their tracks and turning their heads around on the voice.
"Johanna Mason, you're here!" Peeta replied being relieved walking over to their lawyer.
"So this is the lawyer that Peeta talked about is the best?" Katniss asked Haymtich.
The older blonde man nodded his head answering his protégé's question. "Yeah she is, a hell of a mouth on that one. Johanna's very straight forward, blunt, and she can get into anyone's mind just by their background check including body language." Haymitch explained what kind of lawyer and person Johanna is.
Katniss nodded her head being impressed of hearing the reputation of their lawyer. "I like her already." A smirk rose on her lips.
"Kat, come meet Johanna Mason." Peeta smiled as he gestured his hand to come over.
Katniss had a small smile on her lips and breathing out then walking towards her husband and lawyer. "Heard about you reputation and I trust that you will help us win this case Ms. Mason." She extended her hand.
"You heard right and please, call me Johanna." The brunette woman lawyer replied with a smile and shaking her client's hand. "Let's head our way to upstairs are our court time is fifth teen minutes." She dropped Katniss's hand and leading the way to the second floor.
Haymitch followed behind Johanna and cleared his throat loudly for the couple to follow them.
"So, what do you think of her?" The blonde man asked taking his wife's hand into his as they followed both their lawyer and mentor.
"I like her already. I know she'll put Gale in a corner real soon." Katniss stated being serious.
Court room A38
Katniss walks in the courtroom with Peeta behind her and their lawyer; Johanna Mason as they make their way to the front of the room and walking towards the table on their left. Gale walked inside of the room with his lawyer Plutarch Heavensbee as the two men walk to the front of the room then walking to the table on the right.
The brunette young woman walked over to her former best friend and slapped him across the face. "YOU SON OF BITCH! YOU LIED TO ME! HOW COULD YOU?! I TRUSTED YOU, I TRUSTED YOU WITH EVERYTHING I HAD. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" She yelled with venom coming from her mouth as she starts hitting him.
Peeta rushed over to pull his wife away from Gale with her wanting finish the first round on him.
"I DID WHAT I DID BECAUSED I LOVE YOU KATNISS. YOU SHOULD HAVE MARRIED ME, NOT THAT WHIMP!" The brunette young man yelled answering her question.
"You're full of shit there Hawthorne, full of it! You even lied about telling her ONLY family that she's dead and you didn't want them to contact you!" Peeta said raising his voice being serious bringing up another fact as he held his wife's wrists.
"YOU TOLD MY MOTHER AND PRIM THAT I WAS DEAD? YOU MOTHERFUCKER, BASTARD, TRAITOR!" Katniss yelled again as stomped her feet wanting to knock out Gale to the ground.
A guard comes out from the door of the wall being dressed in a uniform. "All rise for the Judge Cornelius Snow." He spoke on commanding with his hands at his side.
Everyone being on their feet going back to their places as the seventy nine year old man comes from the doorway with white hair and bread went down to his chin. He walked up to his seat and stood for a second. "You may be seated." Judge Snow said to everyone as they seated. The white haired man looked at the guard as he handed him a file and opening up. His blue eyes scan the pages quickly then looking up. "Peeta Mellark & Katniss Everdeen-Mellark verses Gale Hawthorne. Manipulating on Mrs. Mellark's condition." He turned his face to the left as he looked dead into Mister Hawthorne eyes. "This is very serious charges here Soldier Hawthorne, how do you plead?" Snow asked.
Gale got up from his seat and fixed his suit. "Not guilty." He said being serious.
"Bullshit!" Katniss yelled out and moved her head down on her left side. She threw up into the small trash bin for a couple a seconds before coughing up to finish up.
Peeta was right by his wife side lightly rubbing her back. Gale stand up to his feet to look over at his wife.
"Are you alright there Soldier Everdeen-Mellark?" Judge Snow spoke being mildly concern.
The brunette former soldier sat straight back into her seat and pouring herself a glass of water. "Yes, I am. Please continue." Katniss spoke being serious as she takes on a couple of sips to settle her stomach.
Gale sat back down into his seat and shook his head in disgust not being able to be by her side. Peeta and Johanna turned their heads towards Katniss with their eyes gesturing 'Are you sure?' look on the expression on their faces as well. Katniss nodded her head yes then turned her head to face the Judge with two following her lead.
"Very well then." Snow said being serious and cleared his throat to speak again. "Can the both of you explain your views on, better yet I would like to hear about all three of your backgrounds. Sure I have recruited you and only signing a contract to join the Army but that was one time including that was six years ago." Looking directly at Gale, Katniss, and Peeta.
Plutarch was about to stand to his feet.
"Directly from your clients." Judge Snow said being straight forward.
Heavensbee nodded his head respecting the judge's order and staying in his seat.
Gale got up from his seat and straighten out his suit before answering. "Gale Hawthorne born and raised in District Twelve, New York. My father died in a mining accident along with Katniss's father. I had to provide for my mother who just had a new born baby sister and two younger brothers at the age of thirteen. I had jobs around twelve growing up as a teenager through high school and after graduating from high school I joined the Army." The tall brunette man stated the truth and being serious then taking his seat back.
Peeta held his wife's hand knowing it was his turn to speak. He got up from his chair and still holding her hand. "Peeta Mellark born and raised in District Twelve, New York. My whole family is the Bakery Business for generations; my parents are bakers and so are my two older brothers. Katniss and I dated through high school and after graduation I asked her to marry me, she said yes. A couple months later she and I decided to join the Army together." The blonde man said who spoke strong and serious taking his seat back next to his wife.
Katniss breathed out as she rose up to her feet and looking directly at the judge. "Katniss Everdeen born and raised in District Twelve, New York. Just like Gale Hawthorne both of my father was also killed in a mining accident. I was twelve years old to provide for my mother who slipped into depression; shutting the world out from her and my little sister, Primrose. I became her mother, I raised her when my mother couldn't and took odd jobs just to be food on the table every night. Dated Peeta for four years in high school and after graduating; we got married and joined the Army." She spoke clear and serious then taking her seat next to her husband.
Judge Snow nodded his head understanding each of the three soldier's background in their own words. He opened another folder seeing the title Katniss Everdeen-Mellark and quickly scanning every report and paragraph in the matter of minutes. "It says here." He held out a report. "Katniss Everdeen-Mellark was killed in action by the Taliban army land bombs. Her body was burned in thirty degree temperature and with no chance of survival."
Johanna stands up clearing her throat as she opens her briefcase pulling out two pieces of paper. "Your honor, if I may, I have Katniss's death certificate right here and after the report of her suppose 'death.' My client; Mister Peeta Mellark didn't sign it, therefore, she's still legally married to her husband by the law and state. Not by paying off a judge and telling her that 'she's mentally unstable to make her own choices.' Isn't there right Mister Hawthorne?" She replied walking towards the judge and handing him the notes.
"You did what? Mentally unstable to make my own choices Gale, Really?" Katniss raised her voice feeling hatred towards her former best friend as she looked at him in disgusted.
Peeta shook his head on what's going on and placed his hands together staying silent.
"What? How did they?" The brunette man asked his lawyer being caught off guard.
"Objection your honor!" Plutarch yelled a little getting up from his seat.
"In what way would that be? Over ruled." Snow slammed his gable onto his desk.
"I call to the stand Gale Hawthorne." The blunt brunette lawyer said being serious as she eyes the brunette man.
More to come and sorry for the delay; I hope this makes up for it. I'll try to write for the next chapter after my two test are finished. Promised!
Honeylove90