The Judge

Chapter 1

I'm currently sitting in court. No, I'm not the victim nor the criminal, I'm here for my best friend Hank Palmer. Me and Hank have been friends for over 25 years, yes a long time but it's been a blast. We left home at 17 for a Metallica concert and well we didn't come back, I was never fully justified why Hank wanted to run away but he said he wanted me to come too and I had a bad background over there anyway.

I'm not quite sure what he's here for but I know that it wasn't a pleasant event. The man is obviously a guilty verdict, you can tell how he is always on guard and is scared of loosing the case and going to prison. People always say I'm a special person because I can deduce someone but it's not hard you just have to pay attention to little things. I see hank pick up his phone and place it to his ear, I saw his face go pale and he placed his phone in his pocket." We'd like to remove any doubt as to the validity of our search and reveal the identity of our inform-" Kattan said standing up," could- could I approach your honour." Hank says looking over to the judge, he waved his hand over for the two men to approach." I need a continuance-"
"Absolutely not-" Kattan said slamming his hand onto the table." Three, four days tops."
"Grounds?" The judge asks," My mom died this morning."
"My ass." Kattan butts in," Hank hands the judge his phone and presses play onto the voice message." This what you do every time your about to loose a case?"
"I'm sorry for your lost." The judge hands Hank back his phone." First time." Hank turns around and walks down the aisle, I follow not far behind.

"Hank?" He stops and turns around," I have to go, I'll call you." He proceeds to walk away," Hank!?" I try and shout him but nothing works." Uh." I groan watching him jog away. I had no idea what that was about but I'm gonna find out I grab my purse and walk over to my car, I own a black Mercedes Benz and i love it. I began to drive home and it was a sunny day outside, I don't live that far from town which isn't a bad thing I suppose.

I'm now sitting on my couch watching a documentary while on my phone, I don't know what I was doing on my phone but I was bored-out-of-my-mind. Suddenly I got a call off Hank," Hello?"
"Hi, Y/n I'm flying out for a few days and I was wondering if you could join me. It's something personal and I don't think I can go alone."
"Where is it?" I hope he's not going to say what I think he's gonna say." Carlinville, Indiana." My heart stopped for a moment," W-Why?"
"It's about my mom, I-we have to go back."
"We don't have to do anything, ok this is your problem I am not going back there."
"Come on, please."
"What about Lisa? Can't she go?"
"We sorta had an argument and... I called things off."
"Hank, I'm sorry."
"Don't be it was bound to happen...so, are you coming." I thought about it for a moment before answering." Fine, I'll meet you at the airport."
"Thanks, I'll see you later."
"Bye." I turned off my phone and let out a breathe.

*Time jump*

"So, why are we going back anyway?" Me and Hank were on the plane heading over to Indiana. We have a 2 hour and 45 minute flight and I was already restless," My mom, she passed." Hank looked at me and then out the window, me and his mom were never close. She thought I was a bad influence on him but he still loved her." I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's fine." I took his hand and made him look at me," what's gonna happen to Lauren?" He looked over to me and stared into my eyes," I- I don't know." I nodded and gave his hand a squeeze before relaxing in my chair," You ok?" I looked up to see Hank staring at me," Fine, just worried about home that's all."
"I know." He kissed my cheek before resting in his chair, I placed my head on his shoulder and he rested his head on mine." We'll he Fine right?"
"Yeah, just try and get some rest." I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

*Hanks POV*

Y/n was asleep on my shoulder, she looked peaceful and quiet. I tried to close my eyes but I could only see memories of my childhood, me and my father fishing together. We were at the Lake house with my brothers but it was only us there, well I didn't recall the whole thing. I had barely any memories of me and my father which wasn't a surprise, we weren't that close anyway.

I felt Y/n wriggle beneath me so I pretended to be asleep," Open your eyes dip shit I know your awake." She sat up and I smiled." How'd you know?"
"I could see you thinking."
"You didn't..."
"Deduce you." She raised her eye brow." Yeah."
"No, I told you I wouldn't... unless you piss me off." I chuckled," How long we got left?" I looked at my phone and was shocked," half an hour."
"Wow, that went quick." I smiled." How'd ya sleep?"
"Uncomfortably. Your shoulders are like rocks."
"Not my fault I'm so muscular."
"Yeahhh, keep telling yourself that." I put my hand on my chest," I'm offended." She rolled her eyes at me and sat back in her seat.

*Time jump*
*Y/n's POV*

Me and Hank were in our rented car and we were heading to his the funeral home. He hadn't told anyone I was coming but he did seem a little agitated. Me and Glen we're close friends, we used to play baseball together until.... an incident. Dale was more a brother than anything, I would have died to be in their family but unfortunately you don't get to choose who your put with. The car ride was quiet and fast, we had the radio was on but it was the news. It wasn't an awkward silence more of an peaceful silence.

We soon made it into town and everything was the same. People were laughing, loading fishing things onto trucks it was all...cheerful." Nothing changes huh." I said glancing over to Hank," No, no it doesn't." As we drove around town I could feel my hands begin to get clammy and my heart speed up," We're here." Hank stopped the car outside at the Funeral home. We got out of the car and walked up to the entrance, Hank held the door for me and we walked over to Mary's coffin." I'm gonna get some coffee."
"Sure thing." I walked away and left Hank alone. He was close to his mom and would rather be with his mom than his dad. Joseph and I had a different relationship than him and Hank, Joseph treated me like a daughter and he adored me. But he treated Hank like a business man and he was hard on him.

I went to the reception and made myself a coffee, I wanted to pay my respects to Mary. I heard talking coming out of the room but I couldn't make out the other voice, I walked over and leaned against the door frame. It was Dale and Hank." Hey Hank." Dale moved in for a hug."Hey Dale." Hank accepted it and hugged him back." You look outa round." Dale says having a second hug." Her heart just kinda turned off."
"Huh." Hank said looking over to me. I walked over to them and Dale turned around," Hey Dale." He hugged me tight," Hey Y/n." I pulled away and smiled to him." What are you doing here?"
"I thought I would pay a visit back home." He nodded and looked over Hank."Y/n Y/l/n in Carlinville." I heard Glen's voice behind me." Shocker right?" He hugged me tight before talking to Hank." Hank." He stook our his hand for him to shake, and Hank accepted." Christ, Glen, what she been feeding you? Can you still climb a pitchers mound?" Glen sighs and rolls his eyes to Hank.

"How's the family?" He asks Hank." Couldn't make it, school and all." Kids in Chicago go to school in summer do they?" Hank ignored the question and looked to me," Here's your coffee." I handed him his coffee and took a sip of mine." None for me." Glen asks looking at us,"You've got hands." I said smirking at him," Its good to see you." He hugs me once more before walking out with Dale." What a nice welcome." I said looking over to Hank looking at his cup, he looks up and rolls his eyes.