[IC] 'Til Death Do Us Part

[casper]

"Mr. Samuel Hanson. I am arresting you for the murder of Miss. Brooklyn Jones on Tuesday, 18th December 2017."

"You have the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. You also have the right to free and immediate legal advice from duty counsel by...."

"I'm his lawyer." interjected Chad.

The officer paused before continuing, "You also have the right to free and immediate legal advice from duty counsel by making free telephone calls to 1-800-668-8258. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded.

"Do you wish to call a lawyer?"

"He's my lawyer," Sam mumbled, completely dumbfounded by this situation.

"You also have the right to apply for legal assistance through the provincial legal aid program. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded.

"I wish to give you the following warning: You need not say anything. You have nothing to hope from any promise or favour and nothing to fear from any threat whether or not you say anything. Anything you do or say may be used as evidence. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded.

"I wish to give you the following warning: You must clearly understand that anything said to you previously should not influence you or make you feel compelled to say anything at this time. Whatever you felt influenced or compelled to say earlier, you are now not obliged to repeat, nor are you obliged to say anything further, but whatever you do say may be given as evidence. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded as the two officers led him out of the house, cuffed and seating him in the back of the patrol car.

---

On the other side of the road, Mrs. Green who had been still minding her own business stood agape, staring out of the window. Recovering herself she immediately called every member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee (and anyone else she felt should be informed..). After all, public safety was of paramount importance.

---

"Just sit tight Sam, just sit tight," Chad said coolly. Chad paced the room whilst Sam sat cuffed to the desk in the interview room.

"This has clearly been some kind of misunderstanding. My hunch is they have found the car that hit Brooklyn and somehow think it is connected to you."

"How on earth can they think that?" Sam cried, incredulous. "We've got a car each and they've not taken mine. What do they think I have done?"

"I don't know," Chad replied gently, "but it's important. I believe you, Ella believes you. Everyone who knows you will believe you but you have to level with me. Is there anything you haven't told me about that night, or about your relationship. I can't defend or represent you if you keep things from me."

"What the fuck Chad! I called you that night. I was at the station, I drove most of the night looking for Brooklyn. I came here the day after and told them my movements by the minute. My beautiful Brooklyn has been killed and these fucks think I'm responsible!" Sam didn't know how much more he could take. He'd not 'got over' Brooklyn, he never would, but he had found a way of dealing with the day, of getting through it. But now this...

"Cool your jets Sam," Chad said, "Now, I'm going to give you some advice. They already have a record of your movements that night. You've told them. You don't have to say anything. Nothing. But it's advisable to give your name, address, date of birth and then say nothing else. They've found some evidence, or they think they have. We'll find that out. But remember this, whenever the police question a suspect it's because they don't have enough information to make a charge stick. Speaking cannot improve your situation. Stay silent, no matter how hard you want to defend yourself. We'll learn what they've got and you'll be out of here in no time."

Sam rested his head in his hands. Not helping the police couldn't help - after all he wanted to help catch the killer but he was so confused. The very notion that he could be responsible would not register in his head.

---

"Sam, can you tell me your movements on the night of Tuesday 18th?"

"No comment."

"How was Brooklyn feeling the night of her death? Did you guys have a fight?"

"No comment."

"Why did it take you so long to report Brooklyn's disappearance?"

"No comment."

"Now Sam, we need to get to the bottom of this. Was she having an affair? Was you? Were you angry? I'm sure you didn't mean to kill her. We see this all the time. A lover's tiff gone badly wrong. 'Un crime passionnel'? If you only meant to scare her or hurt her the charge may be manslaughter and you'll be out sooner. Don't Brooklyn's family deserve the truth?"

Tears rolled down Sam's cheek.

"No comment."

"Can you account for your whereabouts between visiting the station and the discovery of Brooklyn that night?"

"I was driving around town looking for her like you should have you fuck!" Sam shouted, "and then I was looking after our son who had just lost his fucking mother!" he cried, spittle forming at his mouth.

"My client has already told you his movements..." Chad interjected.

"Okay Sam, we're getting somewhere. Why did you do it?"

"No comment," Sam sobbed.

After what felt like hours Sam's resolve was beginning to crack. He had nothing to hide, he had done nothing wrong. If only the police understood this. Why was Chad advising him this way?

"Look, you've got nothing on my client. He's told you everything he knows. More than once. You've no evidence whatsoever. You're clutching at straws. So, let's get this over with. Put whatever evidence you have on the table or release my client."

Chad was calm and professional. Not for the first time Sam appreciated his presence.

Officer Collins sighed and left the room. A few moments later he returned with a clear evidence bag.

"So Sam," he said sitting heavily, "can you care to explain how this was found in the burnt out vehicle that was used to kill your fiancée?"

On the table, in the clear bag was a loyalty card for 'Home Hardware'. Sam recognised the card as he'd been there often recently buying the wood, paint and tools for Louis' rocking horse. His eyes widened with horror when he saw the name on the loyalty card.

'Mr. Samuel Hanson'.

[sweetserenity]

The house had been fairly quiet since Ella finally got Louis to stop wailing. Even though Chad hadn't contacted her since he and Sam arrived at the police station, she wasn't very worried. She had great trust that things would turn out eventually. Her husband was a great lawyer and he wouldn't let Sam be wrongly convicted of such a terrible crime. The road to the destination may be bumpy but it wouldn't blow their tires.

The blonde woman set Louis down in his crib for a nap. In her ears were some earbuds which blasted one of her favorite songs. Walking to the beat, she strolled over to the fridge to pull out a snack. After her best friend died, it took until recently for her to have any appetite. Chad would have to beg her to eat during those first two weeks. Calmly, she opened the doors to the fridge.

But suddenly,

a metal object

rendered her

unconscious.

Her body collapsed on the floor, leaving the doors of the fridge hanging wide open. The metal object- a baseball bat- was being wielded by a large man with a malicious look in his eyes. Menacingly, he then strutted over to the crib. Elsewhere in this house was a broken window which he had shattered to break in. Since Ella's music had been playing so loudly, she failed to hear it. Things would currently be very different if she had heard it.

Ruthlessly, the man ripped the sleeping child from his crib.

The baby awoke with a scream and a cry.

That was the man's

grandson.

---

Sam's foul language was shocking to Brooklyn. Never before had she seen him cuss so much. It hadn't even started today- ever since her death, he had been seemingly careless about swearing... even around his son. Brooklyn wasn't a prude, per se, when it came to language; but she certainly didn't condemn it around sweet baby Louie. Everywhere Sam and Chad went while in the police station, she followed. Everything was on the line. If she never got her body back and Sam was jailed, Louis could live the first ten or so years of his life without knowing either of his parents. The mere thought of that sent shivers down Brooklyn's spine.

---

Before the house was broken into, Ella texted Brooklyn's parents to inform them of Sam's arrest. They were horrified- because same as everybody else, they knew Sam was innocent. They immediately jumped into the car to drive over to the house. Upon arrival, the plan was that they would tend to Louis as Ella drove to the police station.

Life doesn't always go according to plan. When they finally arrived, they could sense that something was off before they even entered the house. Rick even insisted on entering the house before his wife. The front door was opened with a spare key that they had previously been given before he stepped in. Autumn followed. Traveling over to the living room, only their footsteps made a sound.

Poor Autumn Jones nearly had a heart attack once she saw the scene.

There was a familiar man from her past quickly exiting the room, wielding Louis in his arms. "Stop!" Rick shouted without hesitation, running after the man. "Autumn, call the police! Call the police right now!"

Autumn did as she was told. Meanwhile, Rick chased the man throughout the house. They were roughly the same age but both had a surprising amount of speed. As they ran, they would jump over or dodge hazardous baby toys which could cause them to fall. "Set my grandson down and get hell out of here!" Rick exclaimed. Eventually, the kidnapper circled around to the kitchen and Ella's unconscious body was harshly kicked to the side. The large man tore open a drawer and whipped out a butcher knife.

No longer running, he turned to face Rick. Rick halted immediately once he saw what the kidnapper was doing.

He was holding the knife against the screaming baby's throat.

"What a shame," the kidnapper purred in an eerily calm voice, "I didn't want it to come to this but... you made me do it. Don't take another step forward, or I'll kill the boy."

[casper]

Autumn was wild-eyed in horror at the sight in her daughter's living room. A nightmare from her past had come back to haunt her and her family.

She wanted to scream, her brain couldn't comprehend the person before her, holding her grandson, his grandson!

Autumn pulled her phone out of her bag and hastily dialled 911.

"Police. This is an emergency!" she shouted, "23 Fountains Reach! Send officers now!"

Back at the station the emergency call was put through with haste.

"Yes Madam," he said to the woman on the phone, "can you remain calm and tell me exactly what the problem is?"

Autumn was frantic as she backed away to the front door, terrified for the safety of her husband who she could hear shouting in the kitchen.

"Harvey Hanson is OUT! And he's got my baby!" she shrieked.

The officer on the end of the phone spoke clearly, "are you in any immediate danger?" he asked, the safety of the caller being of paramount importance.

"Just get out here!" shouted Autumn panicking.

"We'll get a patrol car out there now," the officer said, requesting the car from the triage software on his desktop. In a town this small with such a small force it was easier to shout across the room sometimes but he needed to gather more information. He watched the two young officers over the desk nod and head off to their vehicle. He would be able to update them as they made their way there.

"Get yourself out of the house if you can madam and keep talking to me, can you be specific about the person who has your baby? Is he known to you and is he armed?"

Right now the officers in the patrol car would be patched in and listening to the call.

"It's Harvey Hanson. He's the father of our son-in-law. He is in their house and has stolen our grandson Louis. He's going to hurt him! Please come quickly!"

The officer had looked on the database for the house and saw that they currently had the occupant of the house under arrest for the murder of his fiancée. This call looked definitely like trouble. If the accused was in the cells then his father must be angry at something. Whilst he spoke to Autumn, he searched for the father on the database.

"Is there anyone else in the house with you? Can you explain why you feel your grandson is in danger?" It was important to keep potential victims talking. It stopped them doing anything reckless or dangerous and it was vital to get as much information as possible for the officers due on the scene.

"My husband, my husband Rick has gone after him. I don't know, Brooklyn's friend Ella is supposed to be here but I don't know where she is!" Autumn said tearfully as she stood on the front lawn of the house. She felt that she was betraying Rick and Louis by being out here and not helping but the rational part of her brain knew this was the best course of action.

The officer taking the call breathed in when he saw what was on his desktop. Harvey Hanson was a convicted criminal who had recently completed a long stretch in jail. Originally convicted of money laundering and financial embezzlement through the haulage firm he was a middle manager for, it later came out that he was running heroin in and out of Canada via his employer's vehicles. He'd hardly been a model prisoner in jail either with further misdemeanours and smuggling lengthening to his sentence. It appeared that he was the father of the man currently in custody. Possibly he was convinced of his son's innocence and was in dispute with the other grandparents over access to the child.

"Hold the line madam, I'll be with you in a moment," he said blocking out the caller for a minute. "You getting this guys? Looks like a domestic dispute. We've got the son in custody for the murder of the daughter. Potentially we've got a grandparent dispute. Harvey Hanson the man in the house should be considered armed and dangerous. He's a record as long as your arm. There is potentially a child in danger so be careful."

The officer spoke to Autumn again. "Can you tell me your name Madam? Is your husband still in the house. If you can speak to him, get him out of the house now." He needed to stay calm but he'd feel a whole lot better once the car got there.

---

An officer came to the interview room and opened the door a little.

"Collins?" he whispered before indicating for him to leave the room.

Officer Laurence Collins stood up and left the room whilst Chad looked up hopefully.

"Don't get your hopes up but they may be considering letting you out," Chad said to Sam. The storecard in the vehicle was unusual of course but it screamed 'fit-up'. Sam clearly had an enemy, the question was who?

Outside the room Officer Collins was filled in at the goings-on at the suspect's home. The situation had just been escalated significantly. He didn't believe really that Sam was responsible for the murder but they had nothing else. The appearance of his father, a known villain on the scene suggested that something far more complicated was going on. He asked to be appraised of developments, but at least he had a further lead. He re-entered the room...

He sat on the chair quietly, waiting for Sam to look up. Eventually Sam deigned to raise his head. It had been a torrid day.

"So Sam.... what can you tell me about Harvey Hanson? What's he doing at your house?"

Sam was hit by a thunderbolt. How many could he take?

"Dad????" he said confounded. He hadn't seen or heard from Dad in over a decade. What was he doing back on the scene?

"We've had report of a domestic dispute at your home involving your father. What is he doing there?"

"Louis..." Sam cried, standing up before being wrenched down by the cuffs.

"Ella..." said Chad quietly, pulling his phone out of his pocket and calling quickly

Officer Collins needed to get a grip quickly as the two men looked worried and he wasn't sure what was going on with the lawyer.

Sam tried to stand again and banged his arms on the table. The skin around his wrists tore and began to bleed as he tried to break free.

"Get to my house! Get Louis out of there. I haven't seen Dad for about fifteen years. I don't know why he's there but make sure Louis is safe!"

"Ella's there.." Chad said to both the officer and Sam, "She's my wife and was looking after Sam's son as you know. You need to tell us what's going on. She's not picking up!" he said fearful of the unknown.

'Please be alright, please be alright!' the two men thought in unison over their loved ones.

[sweetserenity]

"My name is Autumn Jones. I can't talk to my husband right now, officer, without entering the scene. I'm so scared. Has anybody left yet? Please tell me they have." As the distressed woman stood on the front lawn, the dispute between Rick and Harvey carried on in the house.

For the sake of his grandson, Rick did not try to advance towards the other man. What he didn't realize was that the other man was also Louis' grandfather- Sam's dad. "Please," Rick begged, "Just hand me the boy. I have my wallet in the car. If money is what you want, I can give you some. No- I'll give you all of it, if that's what it takes."

"Money is worthless," Harvey sneered, "Now get outta here before I kill you."

Rick extended his hands towards the screaming baby. "Louis-"

"I SAID GET OUTTA HERE!"

Startled, Rick jumped back. He nearly tripped over Ella's body as he did so. Harvey turned away with Louis in his arms, so Rick figured it would be safe to carry Ella with him. However, after trying to hoist her up to no avail, he had to settle for dragging her along. "I'm so sorry, Ella," he whispered as the woman's face dragged along the unwashed floor.

Autumn was off the phone by the time Rick came out with Ella. She couldn't help crying with relief when she saw him. "Oh, Rick!" She exclaimed, flinging herself towards him. He comfortingly rubbed her back. "I can't believe Harvey-"

"-Harvey?" Rick intervened.

Cautiously, Autumn pulled back from him. She wiped the tears from her cheeks with her hands as she nodded. "Harvey Hanson."

Rick's face immediately went pale. "No. Could he be...?"

"He is."

"How do you... how do you know him?"

Right then, a police car showed up. Three officers stepped out. One administered to Ella while the other two, wielding their pistols, went into the house. Autumn watched them enter the house before turning back to Rick. "We were acquaintances in university. He was a friend of a friend. Everything was fine, until he got drunk at a party we were both at and... and..." More tears started flooding out of her eyes. "It was so terrible."

"He raped you," Rick spoke breathlessly. His hands then curled into fists. "That BASTARD!"

Autumn nodded. "It took a long time for me to have the strength to tell the university. They kicked him out immediately. He wanted revenge, Rick. I ruined his whole life by getting him kicked out of school. Since I first saw Sam, I knew he was Harvey's boy. But Sam spoke about not really having a father, so I thought Harvey was dead. This is all so terrible and it's all my fault."

Rick brought her in for a hug again, continuing to rub her back in a comforting manner. The officer who had been caring for Ella looked up at Autumn. "That story is pitiful, Ma'am. What's your name again?"

She sniffed. "Autumn Jones."

The officer stood up and scribbled that in his notepad. "If this 'Harvey Hanson' fella wanted revenge on you... do you think he could be the one who killed your daughter?"

At this, Autumn's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of that possibility before. Up until now, she was convinced that Harvey was dead. "I.... I think so."

"Excuse me for a second," the officer spoke, taking out his phone. "I have a call to make."

[casper]

Back at the station Officer Collins tried to calm the two men down. The suspect was clearly terrified for his son, the lawyer seemed to have a loved one at the house. The interrogation had took a bizarre turn for the worse.

"Gentleman. I am asking you to calm down, I am ordering you to calm down. Our officers are on their way and this will be resolved."

What turned with trying to get more information regarding the crime had turned into something different. The men were frightened.

"My wife is there!" shouted the lawyer. Chad had lost all sense of professional decorum whilst Sam just say there repeating, "Louis...Louis..."

At that moment the young officer who had passed information earlier came back to the interview room.

"Call for you Sir," he said and Officer Collins took the opportunity for the break to take the call, signalling the younger officer to watch over the two men.

Chad saw his opportunity and pushed past the officer into the corridor.

"Tell me what is going on, I'm coming with you..." he called following Collins.

"Now Sir, this is police business. Go back to the room Sir," urged Officer Collins. He could do without the lawyer making things worse.

"I am NOT under arrest Officer and I am coming with you!" he replied following the police officer's stride.

"Keep him back," shouted a very strained police officer. The day had just gone to shit very quickly. He went behind a desk as Chad was restrained by another officer.

Picking up the receiver he interspersed the call with, 'uh-huh's' and other affirmations. He ran his fingers through his greying hair, considering his options. They had hardly anything on Sam. It was a tenuous questioning at best. He had a good notion that the identification was a plant and now there was a man at the suspect's house, his own father, and Sam was terrified!

As he processed the details about the casualty he looked at the desperate lawyer over the desk. 'Shit' he thought, 'this isn't looking good'. Officer Collins wasn't a gambler, wasn't a maverick. He was procedural more than anything, but right now was one of those moments in an officer's career where you had to make a call and make the right one.

He walked over to the locked firearms cabinet and withdrew his rifle whilst Chad looked on frightened. He walked over to the lawyer and spoke,

"there is an incident at your client's home. I need you to be calm. There has been a casualty. She is alive but injured. Wait for me on the forecourt. We're going over there."

Chad wanted to run, to get the officer moving. Not Ella, not Ella! He was going through what Sam must have been going through just a few short weeks ago and then Chad's stomach lurched. Ella was alive but what about the baby....

"Louis..." he said....

Officer Collins spoke authoritatively. "Your client is still under arrest, but he's coming with us. We have reason to believe we have a hostage situation in progress and your client may be able to help."

Walking to the interview room, he requested Sam was uncuffed from the table. "You're coming with us son. We need you to talk to your Dad. He has your son and we need to get him safe."

Sam ran, barging through doors with his shoulder. "Louis, Louis," he cried as he ran. He was outside before Chad and the cop were despite his restraints.

"Talk to that bastard? I'll fucking kill him," Sam muttered. He had no idea of his father's criminal past, his rape of Brooklyn's mom or the inkling he was involved in killing Brooklyn. He knew he was back and Louis was in danger.

"Chad - get my mom on the phone now!" he yelled as the patrol car sped off with the three men inside.

"Mom - Dad's back and there's trouble at home. He's hurt Ella. Why's he back. What the hell is going on?"

On the other end of the phone Patty's world shattered. Everything she and Autumn had shielded from Sam came crashing down. He'd need to know the truth. What that bastard did.

[sweetserenity]

Brooklyn wasn't around to watch Sam's reaction to all of this.

She had left the moment it was announced that their son was in danger.

The scene at the house was a mess. Autumn was holding back more tears, Rick was attempting to soothe her, Ella lay on the grass, and police officers inside the house were trying to get Harvey to stand down. The cops held up their pistols, aiming towards the man's face to avoid potentially shooting the child. It appeared that Harvey didn't want Louis to get killed, either, despite the threat of claiming his life. The knife was still wielded but no longer held against the baby's neck. Also, he hadn't attempted breaking through a window to make their escape. He desired to exit in a manner that ideally wouldn't injure Louis.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn had no clue what to do. This was a moment where she cursed the fact that she could not reveal herself. If it came down to it, she would sacrifice herself for her son, but it wasn't looking like she would have to do that. She watched the officers as they tried convincing Harvey, "Sir, hand over the child or we will shoot. Do not try anything irrational, or we will shoot. You know what the right thing to do is. Do it."

"Oh, but officers," Harvey cooed, "This is my grandson. I have more right to him than you do."

"No. You are a threat to him."

"So are you, as long as you're pointing those guns towards us."

The officers exchanged glances. They didn't have to utter a word to come to an agreement: they would not back down. Their guns remained in the air.

---

Outside, Ella's eyes finally opened. Her head was throbbing and she had a bruise on her cheek from being kicked to the side, but it could have been much worse. The officer who had tended to her helped her stand up.

"What happened...?" Ella inquired. A hand then shot up to her head, for even speaking caused more pain. But she wanted- no, needed to know. Seeing Autumn looking traumatized and relying on Rick for comfort as a police car was parked on the street made the woman very confused. She could not remember anything that happened after Sam and Chad left.

The police officer spoke, "Sam's father, Harvey Hanson, somehow broke into the house and rendered ya unconscious. He's currently in the house holding Louis hostage. Two officers are trying to get 'em back."

"Only two?!"

---

Harvey's back was to a wall. Cornered. "It's useless trying to escape," one of the officers reasoned, "there's no way out."

"There's always a way out if you try hard enough."

The aging man was causing the officers to lose their patience. They had been taught that killing was always to be used as a last resort... would this qualify? There was still the risk of accidentally shooting Louis. The screeching boy was being held at the bottom of Harvey's ribcage. No matter how many tears he shed, he still seemed to have more. That didn't assist the officers' patience levels at all.

For the next handful of minutes, the three adults remained silent. Harvey had a playful smirk on his face as the officers tried staring him down. The man's smirk was perceived as obnoxious. Finally, one of the officers got fed up. They quickly marched over to Harvey and forcefully ripped the knife from his hand, slicing the older man's hand in the process. He let out a yelp. The other officer rushed to take Louis from him in his time of weakness. "Handcuff him!" They ordered before they got to work on soothing the baby.

Within seconds, they were all walking outside to meet up with the others. Blood seeped from one of Harvey's handcuffed hands as Louis' cries died down.

[casper]

Officer Collins didn't know what the hell was going on. In the back of his car was a murder suspect cuffed on the phone to his mother whilst his distraught lawyer held the phone to his ear. He really should stop the car, lock them both up and try and deal with the situation himself. However, the situation at the suspect's home was difficult and potentially a young child's life was in danger. The sirens blared as the car cut through traffic as he tried to concentrate on the road rather than the mayhem going on in the back.

"What the!!!!!" cried Sam, incredulous. His mother was crying on the end of the phone. "My Dad didn't run out? He was in jail all this time and you never told me?" Sam raged on the phone as he cradled it against his ear, "Why Mom? Why? Why didn't you tell us? We could have made the choice to see him!"

Patty, on the other end of the line meekly replied, "your father is a drug dealer and a thief. He is bad."

"But why is he at my house now? Why has he got Louis? This doesn't make sense. You could have said he didn't run out on us!"

Sam was dangerously close to putting the man who had caused so much misery on a pedestal and blaming his mother for only trying to protect him.

Interspersed with Sam's failing to grasp what was happening, in the meantime Chad was urging Officer Collins to drive faster. He needed to see Ella and fast.

"Wh..." Sam's insistence for answers came to an abrupt stop as his mother gave in, screeching down the phone, "BECAUSE HE'S A RAPIST! He raped Autumn, Brooklyn's Mom, he raped me and I kept quiet. He is scum. The ONLY good thing he has EVER done is give me you and your sister!"

For the first time in a while Sam was silent.....

Inside his head a maelstrom of notions played out. Brooklyn's Mom? Autumn? He did what? When? How? Mom?

Why had this been kept from him. He'd have never gone near Brooklyn if he'd have known. He'd have broke up with her. How much must it have hurt poor Autumn to see the son of the man who hurt her so much even touch her daughter. Autumn never showed anything but love to Sam and Louis but right now Sam felt both he and his son were tainted. Rapist's blood.

"I am so sorry Mom...I didn't know..." he mumbled.

---

The car pulled up right outside Sam's house. An ambulance was there tending the injured woman on the ground. Officers were pushing an older man into the back of a patrol car. Half the neighbours were watching from a relatively safe distance as Rick and Autumn looked on, bewildered on the lawn. Officer Collins got out to appraise the situation as Sam began to shout.

"Louis, Louis! My son! Where is he? Is he okay?"

Thankfully, Rick had the good sense to locate the babe and bring him over to the car.

"Ella!" shouted Chad, demanding to be let out. Of course the car couldn't be opened from the inside and the officer had left the car unattended. It was the simplest of things for Rick to open the car door.

And then pandemonium broke loose....

Chad ran to the ambulance, "Ella, Ella, it's my hon." He dove to the back to see his beautiful innocent wife looking like she'd been hit by a truck.

"I'm okay baby," she said, wincing in agony as she tried to talk. She reached out her hand for Chad,

"I'm right here Ella. Right here with you..." he replied softly.

Sam tried to hold Louis whilst still cuffed, "my boy, my boy. My sweet boy. Is he alright?" he asked Rick before the realisation hit him.

"I'm sorry Rick, I'm so very sorry for everything. All the pain my family has caused you. Where's Autumn?"

Before Rick could answer, Sam had passed Louis back to Rick and walked quickly over to a traumatised Autumn.

"I am so sorry," he said slowly. "Every time you saw me you must have hated me. I didn't know... honestly I didn't know..."

Sam felt devastated, he was carrying the Sins of the Father on his back and then in the corner of his eye he saw him.

That grin. That smirk which radiated from him was a foul cross between pride and hate. Sam lost it. The man he hadn't seen for a generation was looking at him like he was a 'chip off the old block'. Father and Son cuffed together. Sam ran over to the car screaming, "you fucking bastard. You bastard. I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You!" he yelled kicking the patrol car before headbutting the roof of the car before he was wrestled to the ground and dragged back into the car he arrived in.

Bleeding from his head Sam realised he had messed everything up. From the sensitive boy who liked nothing more than singing sweet nothings to his darling Brooklyn, who was sensitive, never swore, never raised a voice in anger he was now descending into a personal hell, as emotions never felt before came to the surface. I am my Father's Son.

[sweetserenity]

Never before had Brooklyn felt so much pain. Once the news reached her about Harvey raping Autumn many years ago, she immediately felt sick. It was horrible to know that her poor, sweet mother who only wanted the best for everybody else had endured such a tragic thing. It was cursed upon her by her future daughter's father-in-law, no less.

Brooklyn stood behind Autumn with her arms wrapped around her. The elderly woman was sandwiched between her family. For now, Brooklyn did not care what Sam was up to. He likely wouldn't be able to commit a mortal sin as long as he was in handcuffs. "I'm so sorry mom," the devastated daughter spoke in a soft whisper. "To know that all this time, I was planning to marry your rapist's son..."

That title failed to do Sam any justice. He was so much more than that, and Brooklyn knew it. But it was still part of who he was. His father left an irreversible scar on Autumn's life. Brooklyn didn't know what to think about Sam anymore.

Looking over, the criminal was being shoved into another police car. He appeared to be resisting the two officers who were trying to force him in, saying, "You can't make me go back. Do you hear me? You can't make me go back!"

You better go back, Brooklyn thought, With all the things you've done, you deserve to stay locked up forever.

The hugging family of three pulled away from each other. The officer who had been consoling Louis handed him over to Rick, adivising, "Make sure he gets some good rest tonight. The poor boy has worn himself out. Also, nobody's being allowed back into the house right now because it's being taped off as a crime scene. Clear? We'll keep you and your wife updated on the situation."

"Okay, thank you officer," Rick replied. Louis was quietly cooing to himself as his maternal grandfather held him protectively in his arms. "Ella... will she be alright?"

"Yes, praise the Lord. Anyways, thanks for keeping Harvey contained until we could get here. You saved the day, Mr. Jones."

"It was no trouble at all," Rick spoke, managing a little smile. Then he glanced over at the cop car Sam was in. "...maybe tell Sam to not reach out to us for a while. We'll need some time to recover from this."

"Sure thing, Mr. Jones."

[casper]

Sam sat brooding in his cell. He was furious, angry and hurt. Chad was at the hospital looking after Ella and the cause of all of this was his Dad. That horrible, evil human being that had ruined so many lives had the nerve to be back her, "and I'm his son!" he wailed.

Sam, thankfully was out of cuffs but that was no respite. His wrists bled, his head had stopped bleeding but looked sore.

"That man. That man hurt Ella. That man threatened to hurt Louis. He hurt Autumn and Mom too all those years ago," he muttered before having a horrible, horrible dark thought.

'My God....Brooklyn....'

Brooklyn's death was no accident. She was killed and Sam was fitted up for the crime. Sam would never understand why, but who would want to hurt him and Brooklyn? He couldn't answer this, but the man who hurt Mom, Ella and Autumn was now the only logical person who could have hurt her.

Sam banged on his cell door, "Open up! Open up! I know who killed Brooklyn!"

Sam carried on banging on the cell and at this point he knew full well that in this small police station there was someone else who could hear his cries for help...

"Dad, I promise you. Right now, you will pay for this. I will see you in Hell. For what you did, you will pay."

He sat down on the bunk, his head in his hands and cried, thinking of Brooklyn, who suffered for reasons beyond his comprehension. He cried for Louis who was probably in child protection right now. He cried for his Mother and Autumn, pretty much a surrogate mother and all they suffered. If someone had have offered him the blade, the noose or the pills he would have ended it all right there and then. He was born of an evil man.

He banged the door for some time, knowing full well he was being ignored. He got louder and louder before tiring. It was an awful day all around. Eventually, he curled up on the floor and whimpered until unconsciousness caught up to him...

[sweetserenity]

Heavy footsteps circled around the deranged man's cell. He was pacing; a habit which he always succumbed to while lost in thought. His mind was racing a million miles a minute. The previous goal he had- to abduct Louis- crashed and burned. That had been embarrassing, for it should have been an easy task. He had successfully accomplished much worse in the past. Also, who the hell was that one girl he knocked out? It certainly wasn't Brooklyn; he had killed her ages ago. Harvey frowned. How could he redeem himself after this?

It was nearing midnight, although he remained restless. He had heard his son's previous yell directed towards him. At the time, Harvey smirked at it. Father and son: hand in hand, walking into the firey depths of hell. That was a pleasant thought. It would certainly devastate Autumn more if she were aware, because Harvey knew her well enough to know that she doesn't hate Sam despite his blood. She was far too naive for that.

Presently, Harvey sat down on the edge of his cot. Damn that Autumn. All he did was have some harmless fun with her, but she had to get all whiny and tell the university about it anyways. He didn't even get her pregnant or transfer an STD, so what was the big deal? Why couldn't she just get over it? After getting kicked out of the school, no other university accepted him, so he ended up as a fucking janitor. A janitor. He remained one until he obtained his next job at a damn haulage firm. Autumn ruined his life by telling people about the intercourse. Now, he was ruining hers.



Harvey leaned back on the cot and crossed his hands over his chest. His mind wandered to his ex-wife, Patty. She was the only one who knew how to keep her mouth shut. He respected her for that, and also for her generosity. Every day after work, he would come home to find that she had prepared a delicious dinner. The two of them and their kids would enjoy dinner together. Then the children would run off to play and the adults would have some fun time of their own. During moments like this, when he was all alone, he missed her. But he had no chance of getting back with her after all of this. She was too good for him.

In a cell not far away, Brooklyn sat on the cot as Sam slept on the floor. He had been through so much today, and she pitied him for it. She wished she could take away some of his pain. Even as he slept, he appeared to be in distress. He didn't deserve to feel that way. Sliding off the bed to crouch down next to him, she gently placed a hand on his head. Part of the contract had been the ability to send thoughts and ideas into people's minds. She prayed that dreams were included in that. Silently, she willed Sam to have a dream about that one Valentine's Day. The day that he and Brooklyn started the beginning of their future together.

Evening came, and morning followed. Harvey had only slept for two hours. As a passing officer made his rounds, Harvey walked up to the gate of the cell. "Hey, do me a favor," he insisted. The officer looked at him impassively. "Tell my son this message: 'I'll meet you there'."



"Meet him where?" The officer asked.

"Oh, he'll know," Harvey replied, "He'll know."

[casper]

All was hazy. The lights and colours blended into each other. Her skin and outline shimmered. They were kids. Sam looked in the locker and found the card. The card that meant everything was different. His best friend loved him. Sam walked down the hall to where Brooklyn and Ella stood. They were no longer the girls from school, they were the women who had grown up together. Sam walked right past Ella and kissed Brooklyn, with that same sweet gentleness that accompanied their love. Before his eyes the girl smiled back, his cheeks glowing and eyes unsure. Sam kissed the child again, Brooklyn was woman.

Sam and Brooklyn walked home from school that day, holding hands. Sam felt silly being an adult at school. Brooklyn changed from her school girl age to her current age. It was immaterial. Sam loved her. He had always loved her. That day so little had been said but so much was communicated. Their shyness shared only be smiles and kisses. Sam had yet to grow into the man of confidence that would just sweep Brooklyn off her feet.

"I think this is the happiest day of my life," said Sam as their lips met again, as they stood by the tree (what was to become 'their' tree). "Today, is where we learn dreams come true," as he gently lifted her hands. Brooklyn threw her arms around his neck and he pulled her in close. They'd hugged LOTS as they reached their teens but it was always as platonic friends (not that either would admit to themselves the truth). Brooklyn whispered into his ear,

"Never let me go..."

Sam heard it's ethereal quality as he promised to her he would hold her for all eternity. Sam swam....

COLD

Sam awoke on the floor of the cold cell. The floor was freezing, cold tiles indenting into his skin. He reached for his face and found his bearings. He crawled over to the bunk and climbed on it's stiff mattress, the wiry threads of the blanket scratching his arms. everything was dark.

'I am in Hell' he thought as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, a glimmer of grey light signified where the cell door and the corridor beyond was. He had been dreaming.

Sam closed his eyes, willing to go back to sleep, to go back to her. It was futile, it wasn't possible anymore. What on earth had happened in the last day or so. His head was a scattering of clearly connected jigsaw pieces but when he tried to put them together he realised he couldn't. The pieces were supposed to fit but wouldn't fit no matter how hard he tried. He had been possessed by anger, hatred, sorrow, disgust. He was scared for everyone he loved and consumed by fear. Sam closed his eyes again and tried to dream.

"Never let me go..."

Sam heard the voice of Brooklyn, but is was Brooklyn the apparition that haunted his dreams. Brooklyn the Protector. Brooklyn the Forgiver. Brooklyn the Mother.

"Never let me go..."

Sam wanted to argue with her. That he would destroy him, that he would avenge her, that he would cause pain ten times to what he had given to Autumn and his mother.

"Never let me go..."

Sam knew she was right, she was always right. "I won't let you go," he whispered into the cold pre-dawn air and Sam felt a wave of pure love wash over him. He bathed in the golden light of peace and serenity, he laid on the bunk and let clean, selfless love coat him.

Sam processed the thoughts through his mind of what needed to happen.

I need to get out of here. I have done nothing wrong and I am INNOCENT. I will tell the officers everything I can and I will be free.
I will go home and get Louis. I will be the best father I can ever be for him. He will know I always love him and I give my life to him.
I will forgive my Mom. She has always tried to protect me. I have poured everything bad onto her whilst she suffered to. I am sorry.
I will arrange a ceremony for Louis. Chad and Ella shall be his God-parents. Brooklyn would be so proud. Louis deserves people like that in his life.
My Father I own. I am of his blood but I am not him. He shall face justice for Louis, justice for Ella, justice for Mom, justice for Autumn but most of all justice for Brooklyn. He shall pay for his own sins but I shall not.

With these affirmations Sam began the rest of his life. The leap Sam wanted to get to though was understanding Brooklyn's death. He knew someone had attempted to frame him and it certainly appeared Dad was responsible but he didn't know the scale of evidence against him, if any. He knew he had to let go of hate to move on. To forgive? That seemed unlikely right now, but he knew he needed Brooklyn's guided light to watch over him.

Sam began to speak, a little self-consciously but with feeling,

"I wish you were still here. I wish you never went away. I need you and miss you so much. You are my True North. With you we achieved everything and I try to be strong and it is hard. I wish you could see me from Heaven. I know it would hurt you to see all this horror but I guess you see the full picture, the past, the present, the future. I dreamed of you tonight. I dream of you every night. You are there in the night but you walk with me during the day. Stay by side Brooklyn, pick me up when I fall. I wish I could have protected you and this never happened. Your leaving us though, it's only for now. When I am an old man I'll join you, and Louis will join us too in Heaven when he is old too. Keep waiting for us. Stay by my side before I see you again my love."

---

Dawn came and the rattle of keys in the door signified a new day. Officer Laurence Collins looked like he'd been through hell the last day and it was apparent that things had progressed during the evening.

"Come on Sam," he said quietly, "back to the interview room..."

Sam followed meekly, noticing that he wasn't cuffed as he entered the room.

"Now Sam," the officer said, "technically you are still under arrest but I am not recording this conversation. We're going to process you out and you will not be remanded in custody and you do not need to post bail. We'll have the documentation before the judge in an hour or two."

A knock at the door was answered by the officer and two cups of steaming coffee in polystyrene cups were placed on the table.

"You need this kid," said the officer passing one drink to him.

"Here is the situation. We haven't got a lot of evidence at all. The store card with your name on it is the only evidence. We've checked it for prints and there are only yours on it. However, we have reason to believe it was planted which you probably guessed. Without your confession, or any other evidence no court in the land would convict you. For what it's worth I believe you are innocent too. We have your phone records from home and your cell and we have the times of you arriving here and also CCTV from around town that night. You didn't do it, we know it. You would have had to hide the vehicle, go through everything you did, then hide the vehicle during a time when you were surrounded then ditched it sometime."

Officer Collins paused before continuing,

"You were very close yesterday to being in more trouble. If you'd have hit an officer or your Father you could have gone down badly. Hell, if we wanted we could charge you for attacking the patrol car with your head, but I shouldn't have brought you there anyway. The reason I am telling you this is because you need to calm down. Go to the doctors, get patched up. Arrange via Child Protection for your son to come home. I'm going to recommend it but I want Social Workers to sign you off as fit. You need to get a grip for your son."

"A number of accusations were thrown yesterday and we've got to unpick all of that. Do not contact Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the Social Workers will return your son to you. Do not discuss any alleged crimes committed by your father with anyone. If I have to run you in because you lose it I can't protect you and your number one concern is your son. I'm sorry we had to do what we did to you. It is our job. More importantly it is our job to obtain justice for your fiancée. Do you understand all of this."

Sam nodded, yet remained silent. He was being cut a break.

"Your father has a list of charges against him at the moment and there is a strong chance he will be charged with your fiancée's murder. He will be remanded in custody until a trial date and cannot hurt you or anyone else. We cannot control the outcome of any trial but I am telling you this. Do not try and engage with him, do not try and seek revenge. For your good and your little boy keep your head down and get on with life. Do you understand Sam?"

Sam looked the officer in the eye and sipped the coffee.

"Yes Officer. Got it.."

---

A few hours later Sam was sat in the patrol car and pulled into his street. The neighbours curtains were twitching again. His house had been visited by forensics and they'd removed any sign of police presence. Patty was there trying to tidy up and make it look like a home again. The house had been violated but it was love that made a home. Sam walked in and hugged his mom, both of them assuring each other they were 'okay'. "Louie will be home soon," he said smiling.

---

Meanwhile back at the station Officer Collins breathed in as he prepared for his next interview. "Time to nail that bastard," he said grimly to his colleague at the door.

[sweetserenity]

Soon, Harvey entered the interview room. He was being escorted by an officer who kept a close eye on him as he sat down across from Officer Collins.

"Are you comfortable?" Collins inquired, eyeing the handcuffed man.

"Depends on your definition of 'comfortable'," came the grumbled reply.

"Would you like some water?"

"I'm not thirsty."

Officer Collins looked down at a file. "Well then, let's start talking business. Where were you on the night of December eighteenth, and what were you doing?" Harvey remained silent. Clearing his throat, Collins repeated, "December eighteenth, Mr. Hanson. Where were you and what were you doing?"

Finally, Harvey said, "I was in a car. Driving."

"Is that all you would like to share?"

"Yes."

Officer Collins scribbled down a couple notes. "Well then... what kind of car were you driving? Was it one that you owned?"

"That's a dumb question. I don't remember the car's type. Yes, it was mine."

"What color was the car?"

"What color is your car?" Harvey retorted.

The officer rolled his eyes and wrote down more notes. "So you said you were driving. Where to?"

"Out of town."

"Why?"

Huffing, Harvey replied, "To get out of here."

Officer Collins tapped his chin with the pen. "Alright. Where were you going, exactly?"

"Anywhere."

"Why would you want to leave this town without a destination?"

"Don't act like this town is so damn special," Harvey snapped. "Let a man travel."

More notes were written down. "Being specific, can you describe your drive?"

"It was fine."

"That's not specific, Mr. Hanson."

Harvey groaned and tugged at his handcuffs. In response, the supervising officer reached for his pistol. Glaring at him, Harvey relaxed once more. "Ugh. It was dark outside and the crickets were chirping. Happy now?"

"Better."

The interview carried on for another hour. Harvey repeatedly dodged the questions aimed at him or answered them vaguely. In the end, he never pled guilt nor innocence during that time. No sufficient evidence was gained against him.

Days went by and no more news was provided to Sam. Louis had been given back to him and Brooklyn almost always stayed by Sam's side. The family was together again. Eventually, they received word about a trial being held against Harvey that they desired Sam to be at. It was scheduled for March 17: the day before Brooklyn would be granted life once more. She still didn't know what would happen once her time was up. With every moment that passed by, she grew more and more anxious about what fate awaited her. She prayed that Dog would still be able to bring her back in some way, even though her body had been reduced to ashes. No matter what happened, she would continue to love her family.

The day of the trial arrived quickly. At the courthouse, when the trial was about to start, Harvey was resisting heavily. "Unhand me! None of you were around me nor that girl on that one night! You all know nothing! NOTHING!"

[casper]

Life was beginning to get back to normal, well as normal as life could ever be after that fateful night in December. The house no longer felt like home, not since Brooklyn left, not since it was violated by Sam's father, not since Louis was touched by him. Sam thought he would never leave this house, their first home together, but after the events of that day he realised they were only bricks and mortar and it was down to Sam and Louis to shape their own future together. Brooklyn would always be with them in their hearts and in his memory. Whether they were here or elsewhere his love for Brooklyn would never change.

He'd been horrified by what he'd learnt about his Dad. He'd raped Brooklyn's mother - a woman who treated him like a mother when he and Brooklyn were growing up. He raped his own mother until she finally stood up to him and his violence. How Sam didn't know this was going on he never knew but then again he cut himself some slack - he was just a boy. He'd also learnt that Dad was a thief and a drug dealer, by now a hardened criminal. All his childhood memories were now tarnished by this knowledge. And even after all this, there was something darker, much darker. Sam was convinced that his father had killed Brooklyn, he could only guess at the motive but it seemed to relate to Autumn somehow. Whatever hatred thrived in his father's soul he was beyond redeemable to have killed another human being out of revenge. Sam could not comprehend this, yet alone imagine someone doing this to the mother of their grandchild and try to frame his own son, his own flesh and blood.

Sam wanted to hate his father, but really hate was not enough. He knew he could never, ever forgive him and he wanted him to be punished but he knew that if he allowed himself to be controlled by hate he would fall into the same pit as his father. Sam no longer recognised that man as anything to do with him and tried his best to believe natural justice would be served.

---

The day of the trial arrived. Part of Sam didn't want to go. Let justice take it's own path. Brooklyn couldn't be brought back, and he knew his father would be jailed for a long, long time. He didn't need to know....

Sam breathed in deeply as he played with Louis. He owed it to everyone to attend. To Ella who suffered horribly at his hands, for Autumn and Rick - Autumn had chosen not to press charges for the rape a generation ago, not wishing to have her own past under scrutiny of an unfeeling defence lawyer. For Patty, his own mother who suffered alone, not knowing the man she married was a monster. But most of all for Brooklyn - an angel who deserved only the best in life, who never hurt a single person, who was pure love in a bottle. Sam needed to stare the person who killed his dear fiancée and look him in the eye before freedom was taken away forever.

---

"Mr Harvey Hanson, how do you plead on the charges of 'Assault causing bodily harm of Ella Smith'?"

"Not guilty," snarled Sam's Dad.

"on the charge of 'Child Endangerment of Louis Hanson' how do you plead?"

"Not guilty," exclaimed the defendant, "as if I'd hurt the boy!"

"Ahem, on the charge of the 'Murder of Miss Brooklyn Jones on the night of December 17th' how do you plead?"

Harvey paused, scanned the public gallery before stopping when he saw his son. He stared at his son for a long moment, not breaking his gaze.

"Mr Hanson..."

"Not Guilty," he said, never taking his eyes off his son, his glare burning into his boy with a fire of malevolent evil.

[sweetserenity]

The judge frowned at the defendant's pleadings. Clearly, as shown by the tone of his voice and the way he had been acting, he was mentally insane to some degree. His word could no longer be taken as truth despite the oath he was forced to take prior to the trial. "Very well, Mr. Hanson," the judge finally said. The trial then continued with Harvey glaring at his son virtually the whole time. Whenever he wasn't looking at Sam, he would be looking at the judge; who wasn't planning to let him off the hook easily.

---

Naturally, the eyewitness accounts and other evidence was presented during the trial. As the prosecutors described what they collected about the night of December eighteenth, Brooklyn could only cuddle up against an unknowing Sam for comfort. Her screams that night, the blood dripping from her cuts, and the burning smell of smoke rushed into her memories. The prosecutors left no words unsaid. The worst part, however, was when they presented images of the busted car with Brooklyn's newly deceased body crumpled in it. That made her look away immediately, burying her face into Sam's arm instead of staring at the photo. She wanted to leave the trial more than anything. For some reason, she felt as if she should stay, though. As if something dramatic was about to happen.

---

Three hours later, the judge had heard enough. "Mr. Hanson, please stand," he declared authoritatively. Harvey, still sitting, drew his eyes away from his son and towards the judge. His gaze was bitter, as if daring the judge to find him guilty of any of the three charges. "I repeat, Mr. Hanson, please stand." With that, Harvey finally complied.

"On the account of assault to Ella Smith, you are found guilty. For child endangerment to Louis Hanson, you have also been found guilty. As for the murder of Brooklyn Jones..." The judge sent a brief glance Sam's way. "...not guilty."

[casper]

Sam felt all the atoms in his body disassemble and collapse. It was like he had disintegrated into billions of tiny pieces and it felt like he'd disappeared, leaving a pool of clothes on the floor. Sadly, Sam had not disappeared, he was real. This was real. Having sat through the trial that bastard of a father was guilty of all counts. He was sure, the pieces connected together. Why was he at their house? To get Louis. Why did he want Louis? Because he knew his own blood was away, framed for a murder he did not commit. Who could have known that except the murderer? The person whose vile seed was responsible for his existence killed Brooklyn - Sam was certain. Why did he kill her? To hurt Autumn. Why did he frame his own son? To hurt Patty. This evil son of a bitch did everything out of revenge for his own disgusting actions.

Sam had coped, he really had. This trial, this seeing it through was bringing closure to the last few months. He would never, ever forgive his father but if he was jailed forever that would be enough. He would never, ever stop loving Brooklyn, but she was gone from this mortal realm and he'd be an old man before he saw her again. Tomorrow was going to be the start of a new day, but now this?????

"NO!" Sam yelled from the public gallery, "NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" he screamed as the judge banged his gavel calling for order.

In the dock Harvey Hanson laughed, "you little pussy, just like your momma, you ain't fit to have that boy..." he jeered. Twisted as Harvey was, inside his mind his son was a massive failure. Timid and shy at home, hanging around with girls, awful at sports. As a man the fag worked at a library for chriss'sakes. Harvey wished he'd smacked the boy just a little more, in fact he'd respect the little prick if he had took a swing at him all those years ago.

Sam's life had been slowly repairing since dawn rose in that grey cell, the memory of Brooklyn's love and inherent goodness was the shining light that guided him every single day no matter how hard it was.

'Not guilty.... how...why???' went through his head before his hearing connected to his brain and he understood the words the bastard was saying.

At times of extreme stress and pressure the body is energising to do more than it has ever done before, feats of prowess, strength and speed. Instinctively Sam leapt over the barrier at the dock and dropped to the floor. He was a matter of metres away from Harvey whose cuffed hands were raised, egging him on for a fight.

"I'll show you who's a fucking pussy!" yelled Sam as in a split second officers moved towards him and others moved to take the soon to be convicted down. Out of the corner of his eye Sam saw the pistol in the holster of a young officer rushing him.

[sweetserenity]

"Sam, no!" Brooklyn exclaimed as Sam dove out of the stands. Everything had been going so well on his part, therefore seeing him suddenly act up was a huge surprise. She could only see blood lust in his eyes. In an instant, Brooklyn was standing up and running after him. If she didn't do that, he would soon commit the worst mortal sin: murder.

"Please stop," she begged to him mentally. Then she turned to the young officer who was aiming his pistol at Sam. It looked like he would shoot any second. Terrified, Brooklyn lunged towards him and smacked his pistol out of his hands. To any bystander it would look as if he clumsily dropped it. The officer himself was shocked and quickly bent over to pick it up, only to have his handcuffs 'mysteriously' click around his wrists. He let out a yell for help as the other officers scrambled for their own weapons.

"You won't murder me!" Harvey taunted Sam. "I see it in your eyes, my boy. You're scared. You don't have the heart to end my life because you're too much of a goddamn coward."

"Silence!" The judge ordered, sending a glare down at Harvey. "There will be no more words from your mouth. Officers, one of you free Mr. Lake- it looks like he somehow handcuffed himself. The rest of you must contain Mr. Samuel Hanson, he is acting like a threat to his father and to the rest of us."

Gasping, Brooklyn tugged at Sam's hand and willed him to feel it. If this cost her her renewed life, at least it would save her fiancé. She needed to get him out of there.

[casper]

It only took another split second for everything to be over. The cop advancing on him had seen him jump and whether by perception or instinct had realised Sam wanted that gun. The cop went to draw but either due to nerves or fear he fumbled the weapon as it clattered to the floor, somehow in the process cuffing himself.

He heard his father's words of hate scream from the dock and he wanted to kick, punch, fight his way over, fight through these men and women before him but he paused, and instantly took a step back.

He was here for justice. Not just for Brooklyn, but for everyone. It hadn't been served but his father wasn't getting out. If he continued the only place he would be was jail too. He recalled that feeling of pure white love that came over him in the cell that morning weeks ago when he promised to move on. He felt an immense need for restraint, to see his son, to move on.

"You're right Dad," he said holding up his hands and backing away to the wall to allow the officers to restrain and remove him. "I am not going to murder you, I don't want my boy to grow up not knowing me, like I did with you. And yes, I am a coward. The people I love are what matters and if I give in to rage now, I'll be no better than you."

As Sam was ejected from the courtroom to a small ante room to cool off - luckily he hadn't yet committed a crime (unless the judge was particularly harsh) he shouted over. "I know you killed her Dad, this room knows what you did. Rapist."

---

Sam sat in the room, drinking water out of a plastic cup. His father had been sentenced to eight years. It was a long sentence the lawyer for the prosecution said, reflecting on the intent of the crime and his previous conviction. The Judge was certain that a vendetta had been carried out both against his own family but that of Brooklyn's too. The Judge had also warned Sam about how close he was to being arrested himself.

"I'm not him," he said, staring at the wall. "I'm a good person, a good father. I'm hurting because I know he did it. He took Brooklyn away from her parents, from Louis and from me. I don't need revenge, but I do want justice."

Sam dried the tear forming in the corner of his eye. He needed to get home to his son....

---

Sam returned home and he tried to process the shock he was in. Not only at the conclusion of the trial and the verdict regarding Brooklyn, but also the fact that it was over. He had learnt the terrifying truth the last few months about his father and his evil had killed the most innocent person there was. He sat on the couch whilst Louis gurgled. He picked up his son and held him tight. Whichever way there lives would go they would go there together. Sam would make sure that Brooklyn's memory would live on always. Louis would know everything there was to know about his mother and Sam would raise Louis so she would be proud of them both as she looked down from heaven.

There is a light that never goes out....

[sweetserenity]

It was an immense relief that no mortal sin was committed. That night, Brooklyn could hardly sleep. Thoughts and expectations for the next day danced around in her head; for finally, after three months of waiting, she would be granted life once more.

When her eyes opened the next morning, everything was white. Footsteps were heard approaching from behind. Brooklyn grinned. Turning around, she saw that it was Dog walking up to her- just like she expected. He looked exactly the same as he did when Brooklyn last saw him. “Hey Lynnie,” he greeted, flashing her a white-toothed smile. To her surprise, he pulled out a confetti popper and released it. Little stands of confetti flew out, one of them landing on top of Brooklyn’s head. Dog picked it off for her. “Congrats on making it through those three months. I knew you had it in you.”

“Thank you,” Brooklyn replied, returning the smile. “But it honestly wasn’t difficult at all. Sam has remarkable control over himself.”

“Not just that,” Dog added, “But he can also has a naturally good heart... unlike his father. Well, anyways-“

“-Wait! Dog, what do you know about his father?” Brooklyn intervened. The more she knew about Harvey, the easier it would be to avoid his wrath once she returned to earth.

Dog smirked. “My dear, I know everything about everyone.” He held up a finger. “But! I am not permitted to reveal any information.”

Brooklyn looked at him pleadingly. “Please, Dog. Can’t you at least tell me how he knew I was leaving the house on the night of the accident?”

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Well... I can’t outwardly tell you, but I suppose I can tell you that the answer rhymes with lone.”

“Lone?” Brooklyn echoed. “Lone, sown, bone... phone?”

Dog nodded.

“Phone... was he peering through the window at my phone?”

“Can’t tell you that, Lynnie. But I suggest that you dispose of your phone and get a new one.”

Brooklyn’s eyes widened. “Get a new phone? Did he hack into mine? What about Sam? Is his phone safe?”

Stuffing his hands into his jean’s back pockets, Dog chuckled. “You’re quite curious today, aren’t you, Lynnie? I’m sorry, but I don’t think I should tell you anything else. I don’t want to put my job on the line.”

She sighed and looked away. “I’m sorry. But Dog, while there’s still time, there’s something I need to tell you. My body...” Her gaze, now filled with sorrow, returned to him. “...it’s been reduced to ashes.”

“I know. As I already told you, I know everything about everyone.”

“But how can I return to earth if my body doesn’t exist anymore?”

Dog laughed. “Oh, Lynnie, You never would have returned to that body in the first place. It would have started decomposing by now plus it was covered with injuries.”

An embarrassed blush covered Brooklyn’s cheeks. All this time, she had been fretting over nothing. But now, a new point popped into her head. “Dog,” she said, “When I return to earth, what if people go into shock? After all, my funeral already happened. People are convinced that I’m forever dead.”

“This isn’t the first time that I’ve given a person a second chance at life,” Dog reminded her. “I always wipe people’s memories regarding that person ever dying. Easy peasy.”

Brooklyn shook her head. “But the circumstances of my death weren’t normal. There was even a trial about it. Doesn’t that change anything?”

“We should have talked this out more before the contact,” Dog muttered as he rubbed his temples. “You’re one tough cookie, Lynnie. What do you want to do? Go back in time?”

“Actually, yes.”

“I was being sarcastic.”

“But is it possible?”

Brooklyn’s gaze was pleading. After staring at her blankly for a few seconds, Dog finally caved in. “Yes, yes, it’s possible. But don’t make the same damn mistake of going to Ella’s house again.”

---

The hands of time rewound. It was December 18th once more, and nobody, with the exception of Brooklyn, had any memory of what had happened previously. This was a fresh start. Brooklyn stood in the living room with Louis sitting nearby on his play mat. He looked three months younger than she remembered him to be. There were no longer wings on her back nor was her skin glowing. From the couch, her phone buzzed with a text.

Ella: want to come over to sing some holiday tunes? i got wineee. ;)

Without hesitance, Brooklyn replied: Not tonight, sorry.

Then her grip around her phone tightened. If Harvey was monitoring everything she did on her phone, it would be wise to destroy it. But maybe, just maybe, Brooklyn could figure out how to use this to her advantage. After setting down her phone, she walked over to her son and sat next to him. “Hello Louie,” she cooed. For the first time in three months, he reacted to her. A smile spread across his face and he kicked his legs in response. “Aww, I missed you so much,” Brooklyn spoke, taking one of his tiny hands in hers. He no longer had to grow up with only one parent. The other parent was going to arrive home from work soon, and Brooklyn couldn’t wait to see him.

[casper]

It had been a long day, but a fun day. The library was relatively quiet with few customers loaning books at this time of year. Sure they had their regulars in and it was generally a happy time. If people weren't stressed shopping or preparing for the big day they usually had a smile on their face and greeted each other with kindness. Sam had lost count of the amount of times he said, "Merry Christmas," wishing the old ladies getting another stack of romances, or school kids working on their next project. It was a nice time of year and Sam often pondered that the world would be a better place if people showed the joy they felt at Christmas time all year round.

Of course, if you asked Sam when he missed Brooklyn and Louis he would say 'all day', but it always seemed to get to him around 3 p.m. A couple of hours to go and he'd really start to miss them both. He knew they were both at home and couldn't wait to see them - he wasn't the kind of guy who went for drinks after work, he went straight home to see the only people who mattered. Sam popped into the supermarket on the way home to pick up a few pieces for dinner. He enjoyed his time in the kitchen and he saw his role of provider, not through the wage of his job but in the food that he cooked and the love he tried to bring into their home.

Sam pulled up in their drive way and walked to the front door. Before he put his key in the door he lifted his arm several times as if placing things on a coat stand. It was his 'trouble tree'. Every night when he returned home from work, he placed all the issues and annoyances of the day and hung them on his 'trouble tree', there was no reason to bring them into the home and if he still needed them they would be there tomorrow. It was a 'thing' he did so that the Sam who entered their home was the best possible version of himself.

Entering their living room he called out 'Hey Honey!" to Broooklyn before swooping down to pick up Louis and giving him a hug, twirling him around in his arms, his smile mirroring the babe's. "Hiya big man!" he said to the boy, "You been looking after Mommy today?" he said turning to see where his amazing fiancé was.

[sweetserenity]

Sam was finally home, and Brooklyn was thrilled. He looked years younger than he did during the trial and his personality was just like she expected it to be: pure. Having his to-be wife pass away on the hands of his father had gradually taken a toll on him, which she didn’t fully realize until now. It was immensely relieving to see him appear and act innocent once more. Before she even knew what was happening, tears of joy started rolling down her cheeks.

She was alive.

Unfortunately, there was an underlying dread. At some point she would have to tell Sam about Harvey. How she was going to approach that, she wasn’t sure of yet; she feared that Sam would suspect her to be insane if she started talking about her death, Levin, Sawyer, and everything else that would come up if she talked about the past three months truthfully. For now, though, she pushed those feelings to the side to the best of her ability. There was no way she was going to ruin this moment.

“Sorry,” she murmured, wiping away her tears. “I guess I’m feeling extra emotional today.”