thank you for all your lovely comments, glad your still enjoying it we are nearing the end now. I'm not sure how many more updates there will be but not very many.
Caroline had known Kate was going to find this whole process extremely hard, but she hadn't banked on all the added stress they had, had over the last few days. Caroline still hadn't truly got used to the idea of Kate being pregnant and it wasn't long since they had been so close to falling apart. All of that in the few days before the trail they hadn't really had time to digest any of it. Caroline watched Kate intensively trying to figure what her mind was thinking, she seemed so quite introverted. She wasn't used to seeing her adorable Kate in this way, she knew something was wrong when she was like this and it worried her. She hated being so out of control and not being able to fix the problem but here there really wasn't much she could do.
kate was stirring her cereal around the bowl without taking a bite, as Caroline shuffled over to her across the breakfast bench and buried her head into her neck. "God I love you" she whispered feeling Kate's jaw move as a smile couldn't help but form across her lips. "I know this is hard Kate, but nearly over darling", Kate turned to face Caroline staring into those adoring eyes. It was so hard to believe that in Under a year this was where they had ended up after a kiss. "Best decision I ever made" Kate muttered "eh?" Caroline giggled "like I said best decision I ever made... Kissing you that first time. I know we have had more than our fair share of drama and sadness but I stand by it... Best decision I ever made falling for you" Kate declared. She smirked watching Caroline's eyes brighten " well it took someone special to make me fall in love again. I never used to believe in soul mates but... Well.. Now I don't remember how I used to enjoy life without you. Something was always missing until that day you first kissed me. I couldn't have walked away ..even if I had wanted to". She felt Kate's body wrap around hers their lips seeking each other, mouths syncing , tongues swirling, hands grasping breathes catching as they delved into each other. Caroline pulled back her cheeks a flush her heart racing loudly under her rib cage, "I best go get ready to go or I'll end up taking you back to bed instead". Kate sighed "I'd be happy with that.. Come on then let's get ready".
Caroline paused "Kate maybe you should stay home today, if you come in with me you will have to face him and after yesterday...". "Caroline I'm not letting you do this on your own", "Kate I'd feel happier if you were less stressed and just stayed home".
"Oh Caroline don't, I'll feel awful if I stay home I'll probably stress more than coming with you. But I don't want to upset you by coming... Please let me support you, stop being the strong one all the time".
Caroline paused again "ok.. But if you get tired or stressed out your coming straight home!" Kate nodded.
"Do you know how much I love that, ... You care so deeply so openly For me Caroline, Who Would have thought Caroline Elliot is a total softy" she chuckled. Caroline planted her lips on hers "Dont you go telling people" she spoke with controlled authority, before She smirked at Kate expression of seriousness. Caroline burst into to laughter seeing Kate's face crumple "your so bloody convincing sometimes" but your secrets safe, I won't say a word she mimicked zipping her lips shut.
Caroline stood outside the doors, she brushed a stray strand of hair neatly back into place, straightening down her tailored suit. Flashing Kate a calm and confident smile before the facade was in place, the mask firmly on Caroline the head teacher.
She strutted inside the court room with an air of grace, authority and sheer bloody mindedness. The voices hushed eyes turning transfixed upon this woman entering the room who was demanding their attention their respect.
He felt her presence before he saw her, it made him shudder much to his own disgust, he knew this woman was formidable and in recent months knew that he needed to respect her ability to outwit him. She felt his eyes upon the back of her head she refused to look, she was going to play this her way, her heels clicked across the floor the room quiet as she entered the witness box .. here goes nothing she thought.
"Are you Caroline Elliot?"
She looked up at the man infront of her remembering his harsh face from yesterday whilst he harassed Kate.
"I think your find I'm Doctor Caroline Elliot yes", he fumbled with his papers a little. "Yes of course apologies, You are the head teacher of Sulgrave SchooL?".
"I am indeed" her lips twisting as she watched his face assessing her, she wasn't going to be as flap-able as Kate and he knew it.
"So you know my client in a professional capacity as his employer?"
Caroline sat up straighter and looked up seeing Michael as he sat handcuffed to a police officer Who refused to meet her eye, his harsh face pointing to the air to shun her.
"I was his employer yes under the private Governors and the School board yes". She smirked a little as Michael finally allowed himself to meet her eyes, she saw the panic she saw the fear and surprised at her own malice she enjoyed it.
His eyes finally forced to meet hers those piercing blue eyes, boring into his made him feel uncomfortable, that confident smirk across her face with an almost evil glint. He couldn't face her, his eyes falling to the floor, she saw it the little coward not even brazen enough to front her out.
The small smartly dressed man in front of her shuffled his papers again "So how did you come to be involved in these allegations, of my clients unfair dismissal and this whole debacle?"
Her eyes glanced at Kate sitting in the corner at the very back away from Michael's view she sat silent begging not be noticed, for no one to speak to her. But she met Caroline's eyes reassuring her, speaking without words at her love for her.
"It's very simple" her tone sharp, authoritative her head teachers air of confidence and resilience.
"I have worked with Michael for 2 years although I found his teaching mostly very good, hence why I felt he had earned the title as Deputy. His attitudes often caused me concern his behavior and hostility towards anyone who stood in his way professionally often compromised his teaching standards. He found it hard to create a rapour with any of his colleagues or pupils and as his time at the school continued I found myself becoming more and more disappointed in his abilities and professionalism. The more I questioned the more he resented me and my position, and became very hostile and difficult to work with I experienced that myself".
Caroline watched as the eyes all around her were focused on her, she had their attention she had commanded it and received it. She turned to the judge who nodded for her to continue, "I was aware unofficially of the unwanted advances of Michael towards Miss Kate Mckenzie. But as She had not brought it too my attention I couldn't demand he stopped, this went on for serval months annoying yes but I wasn't aware it was threatening. So I monitored it the best I could without a complaint being made .. That is.
I began a personal relationship with Kate Mckenzie and so when the ATTACK happened, I was told on a personal and professional basis from Kate and acted accordingly". she glanced up at Kate briefly seeing her eyes smiling back, she felt a warm tingle spread inside her.
The solicitor coughed regaining her attention "So your saying you then used your position of authority to carry out a personally motivated revenge, Based on what you had been told by your lover".
Caroline's face stiffened "No I didn't not say that, if you feel my professional conduct is inadequate please feel free to question me..." he looked up to answer.
"But I doubt you would find cause". She felt the control she felt the power, she was doing this for Kate and no one was going to cause her to fuck this up.
Tony stood up "I can collaborate this if you look at article 1, you will see that my Client Doctor Caroline Elliot "he winked at caroline. "Made a written statement on the day of the attack to my other client Kate Mckenzie where a Gavin Henderson noted it. But at the time Kate was unwilling to press charges and so It was taken no further, then when the harassment took place, with further assaults, they were logged in a detailed diary. Article 2".
Caroline couldn't help smile a little shed prepped Gavin and after the trouble that be caused he had agreed if necessary to say he had received the files shed given him less than a week ago, from the very start. The least he could do and if he did care about her, he'd help her which he had graciously.
Tony Green Caroline's solicitor carried on "Reasons for dismissal where logged and not questioned by senior school authorities, it was only at your Client Michael Dobson's allegations and slander that has lead to this coming to trial. That my clients felt that this matter needed to be resolved through the courts rather than privately, Doctor Caroline Elliot followed procedures and was professional throughout. It's only because of the blackmail by Michael Dobson and personal vendetta against my clients, that the only way was to press charges for the pervious assault. Which my clients did not want to do asto minimize distress, but to stop further difficulties it has been a necessary step".
Caroline felt calmer as it had been listed like this it sounded solid, she saw the men in front of her shifting though the articles, obviously struggling for a way to use something as an attack angle and failing.
The small stumpy man representing Michael stood once more "if you had logged the assault claim by Miss Kate Mckenzie, why did you then let them attend a school trip together?" The man looked unforgivably smug at this question butCaroline retained her control.
She smiled at him wanting to smack his grinning face, she looked up confidently "well of course I took the allegation of assault very seriously but as Kate Mckenzie did not wish to press charges... She agreed she was happy to attend the trip as arranged and decided it would be beneifcial if i attend as well. At this point I couldn't take her word I had to remain im- partial, professional".
"It was throughout the trip it become clearer..now Micheal was aware I was in a relationship with Kate Mckenzie and I was aware of his behavior. He became threatening towards me as well as Kate verbally and physically, it was this behavior I made the decision he was not fit to be responsible for minors or in a position of authority. Which he was trying to use to intimidate others and sent him home and on return formally dismissed him of his position at the school".
She waited to hear about her own behavior expecting him to have used it against her but much to her surprise it didn't come. She sat a little baffled before a question drew her back..
"So you maintain you were professional and didn't hold a personal grudge againstMichael Dobson".
She paused if she said no they would all know she was lying Kate was her girlfriend for god sake but to say yes, could complicate things.
Caroline finally spoke loudly Her voice full of conviction, "Of course I felt something personal I wanted to make him pay for what he had done to Kate" a small tear slipping down her face at the memories of the last few months of hell. "But I remained professional throughout to do justice to myself in saying professional and for Michael so like now he can not use it against me to worm his way out of what he has done!".
Kate felt sick, they had been here for nearly an hour, if felt like forever she gazed at Caroline in wonder at how she could be so amazing. She was always so calm and collected when she needed to be, Kate had never quite managed it with quite as much feness as Caroline.
"I don't need to be underhanded his own daughter knows what he is like and is willing to stand here and tell you that he has, concocted all these allegations against me and Kate because he is jealous. Jealous that Kate didn't return his affections, angry that I believed her and not him in the assault and that whatever happens here today... I have someone I love and someone who loves me. And yet again he is alone unloved a violent and angry man who will die very sad and alone, and all I feel for him is pity that he's such an unworthy human being".
she stared at him as her words penetrated his skin, he tried to look away but was unable to look away transfixed by her icy glare. He tried to shake it off but an overwhelming feeling of sadness filled him, the anger dissipated for a small moment in that he knew her words were true.
"ok thank you Doctor Elliot, you may step down".
Tony smiled at her giving her a small thumbs up "I'd like a small adjournment to speak with my clients, then I wish to bring a piece of evidence to your attention Which I believe to be imperative".
The judge nodded as a buzz of conversation erupted in the room, Caroline walked confidently down the small steps and towards the door. Her heart pounding her head all over the place, his gaze reflected in her eyes, She felt strangely happy, relieved.
"Kate" she gasped pulling her into a tight hug, "Bloody hell Caroline!" Caroline shrugged holding Kate tight. "God I could do with a glass of wine" she smiled warmly as she held Kate letting her hand slip between them to rest of her warm tummy. "I love you Kate, you know that don't you?" "Yes I do, you show me everyday. I love you too" a soft passionate kiss exchanged "right let's go get you that glass of wine, we've got half an hour".