Spark (GH Series #5)

Part 31

Jack

Day one of the trial against Grant and it's been mostly technical stuff and bantering back and forth between the lawyers and that's just with going on what Ellie has told us. We aren't allowed into the gallery until we have given our evidence, it's just the way things are here. I'm frustrated as hell and all I want to do is damn well support my girlfriend. She's knows that we are here, out in the waiting room, supporting her from these stupid four walls. "Jack, please sit down. You are making me nauseous."

"I can't help it. I should be in there."

"You will be. It just depends on who they call in to give evidence first. You know that." I looked at Carson and I know she's trying to keep me calm and Damien is looking at me with his big eyes, almost pleading for me to listen to Carson.

"Okay, fine." I sat down and then hours later, a member of the court came in and called for Carson. She gave us a quick look, Damien gave her a quick hug and whispered something reassuring in her ear and off she went. The only plus side that now Carson has been called, she is able to stay in the court room and be that support for Ellie. I'm hoping that she is doing okay.

Ellie

I know I'm supposed to be focused on this trial and everything that is going on around me, but everything seems so surreal. Listening to the backwards and forwards of the lawyers, the jury selected and then once everything was ready to start, I blanked out. I knew that Jack would be going apeshit in the waiting room, not being near me for that emotional support, and my mind kept wandering back to her when I zoned out from time to time.

Watching Carson being sworn in and then my lawyer started with her questioning and the love I felt for my best friend standing by me throughout all this pounded hard in my chest. When Grant's lawyers try to trick question her, Carson looked them as if they had a few screws loose, but with Carson's degree in psychology she wasn't going to fall for their tactic and her answers cut them down at times and I so wanted to high five her when she was dismissed from the stand and sat behind me in the gallery. I turned around briefly to look at her and she gave me a smirk and a wink, and I settled down more then.

Damien was sworn in next and if looks could kill, I certainly would have been six feet under. Now that Damien is here, I started to worry about Jack being out in the witness room by herself, without the support of her family. I know Jack is resilient, she has proven that time and time again, but that doesn't stop me worrying. My head snapped up when I heard Damien talking.

"How to I perceive Grant as my best friend? I don't."

"Why is that so? Surely you should know that your best friend would never hurt his girlfriend." Damien scowled and looked at Grants lawyer like he had warts growing out of his ears.

"Are you implying that I should know that Grant is a no good, girlfriend beater? If that's the case, no I shouldn't know that, but it all came to light on my wedding night."

"You chose Grant as your best man."

"He failed. He got blind drunk, couldn't do my best man's speech, leaving it to my sister-in-law and then decided to continue drinking instead of sleeping it off." The lawyers conversed before asking Damien another question and his answer blew my mind. "No-one, whether you are a man or woman should lift your hand, your fist or use your anatomy to take advantage of the person you love. I warned Grant several times that he was going to blow the one good thing that has happened to him and that was Ellie at the time. It's his own fault for becoming absorbed in the gaming world where his mind was corrupted."

"But you are admitting his mind was corrupted." Lawyers. They can be assholes at times.

"Yes. But with all the positive influence that surrounded him and then he started hanging out with guys that were not in his usual circle. I have no objection to people making friends, as long as they are right for them."

"Were you a right friend for Grant?"

"For a period of time. But you know that I can't stop him from abusing someone, even if it went undetected for a while. If I knew he was hurting Ellie, I would have helped them both." The lawyers tried a few more questions but Grant held his own.

We had been at it all afternoon with their testimonies, and I was feeling drained. Court was dismissed and it was to reconvene the next day at ten in the morning. At least we can try and have a decent sleep and get up at a decent hour. I stayed back with my lawyer and I watched Carson and Damien walk away. I'm hoping that Jack is still waiting and hasn't left from the court adjourning for the day.

***

Jack waited near the courthouse for me, and we hopped into the taxi that she had flagged down. We didn't want to pay the parking charges for leaving our car in town all day. We sat in the car in silence, and it was a little uncomfortable. We got back into the apartment and headed straight into the living room. Jack spun around and pulled me flush against her and held me tight. "Today was brutal. I hated not being there for you."

"I know. I kept wondering how you were doing, losing focus on what was being said, but Carson and Damien were incredibly supportive, and their testimonies were great too. From what my lawyer was saying today, she's calling you up next. They are going to play dirty with you, they tried it with Carson and Damien." We moved and sat down on the sofa together and I curled up in her arms.

"Well, they can bring it on, I'm ready for them. We are well prepared for whatever they are going to throw at us. What do you fancy doing tonight? Takeaway? Netflix?" God, how much do I love this woman. I can't wait for us to be out in the open and free.

"Sounds good. I just fancy a pizza. I'm not overly hungry so we can share and find something to watch. How about we order pizza, have a quick shower and then get into our comfies?" Jack beamed a smile and got off the sofa and pulled me up on to my feet. Pizza was ordered on route to the bathroom and Jack chucked her music on and I started up the shower. Clothes were shed quickly, and we stepped into the shower. We actually behaved, assisting each other with the hard-to-reach parts and as Jack placed a kiss on my shoulder, I turned around and gave her a searing kiss. I was about to try and take it further when the doorbell rang.

"Shit. I better get that." Jack quickly jumped out the shower and put a towel and a robe on and darted to the door.

"Take it that was the pizza?" I joined Jack moments later in the hallway and stopped dead in my tracks. "What the hell are you doing here?" Before she could respond the pizza delivery guy appeared at the back of her and I gave Jack a look and she took the pizza into the apartment.

Here I was standing face to face with my mother. Ironic really as she shouldn't be here since she has been called up for the defence team. Giving evidence against her own daughter. She started to stammer, and I shook my head. "I will save you the trouble." I slammed the door in her face and let out a low frustrated groan and went back into the kitchen where Jack had put the pizza.

"Are you okay? Who was that? All they did was ask me if you were in. I was dubious to answer and kept stalling but then out you came."

"That Jack, was my mother."

"Oh." Jack took a slice of pizza and bit into it. "Dare I ask what she wanted?"

"She never got the opportunity to get her words out. This is fucking frustrating Jack. I was just starting to unwind after that nice shower and now she has my blood pressure rising like it's going to go through the roof." Jack gave me a sympathetic look and I took some pizza, my appetite now completely shot. "But I'm confused as to why she would show up here. She isn't supposed to be in touch with me as she is a witness for the defence."

"I think you better advise your lawyer that she turned up here tonight. I'm hoping that she hasn't put two and two together since we both turned up at the door soaking wet from our shower."

"Good point."

"Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." I put my pizza slice down and looked at Jack.

"I love you too. Thank you for being an amazing support blanket, girlfriend, lover, best friend in one. I honestly don't know how I would have done this without you." Jack pulled me close, and I wrapped my arms around her neck as her lips met mine.