Actress/Character One-Shots (WLW)

Court - M. Clark

Katya Mitchell pushed through the crowds of press, her face stoic and pace unrelenting as she stormed up the courthouse steps. Her black heels clicked loudly against the tile floors of the hallways as she strutted towards her courtroom. When she finally made it to her designated space, she pushed through the doors and began setting up at the prosecution's table. She pushed her maroon blazer back, her hands resting against the matching fabric clinging to her hips. She let out a quiet sigh when she was finished, not having noticed that the defense, as well as the judge, had already joined her.

The gallery was full, her client sitting in the row directly behind Katya and her team. Katya was confident in her skills as the lead prosecutor on the case and was determined to bring justice to her client. She was even more confident when she had her team beside her. It consisted of Marcia Clark, one of the best prosecutors in the country, who also happened to be her girlfriend, and James Moore, another very qualified prosecutor who brought a lot to the team. They had studied this case inside and out and prepared every necessary action to make sure the defendant was found guilty. Katya turned to check on her client, speaking with her briefly, before turning back and preparing her final notes.

"Ms. Mitchell, you may address the court," the judge boomed. Katya nodded politely.

"Thank you, your honor." She turned to the jury, delivering her opening statement seamlessly. She watched the faces of the jurors flicker from emotion to emotion as she spoke, her approach passionate and gut-wrenching. When she finally finished her speech, she returned to her seat, nodding to the judge once more.

The day continued on, and eventually, they moved on to witness testimony. First on the stand was the victim herself. It broke Katya's heart to make the woman relive the events that took place, especially with the perpetrator sitting in the same room, but she knew it was the only way for them to win the case. She started her questioning with a gentle approach in hopes of making the process at least a little less horrible.

"Ms. Smith, could you please tell me what occurred on the night of March 28th of this year?" she asked calmly. The woman nodded shakily and began her account of the night. About halfway through her testimony, a child began to cry in the gallery. Katya turned toward the noise to see none other than her client's soon-to-be one-year-old crying for her mother.

"I'm so sorry," the woman said.

"Ms. Smith is there a reason your child is present with you in court?" the judge asked, rather harshly.

"I- I couldn't pay f-for a babysitter, and I have... have no one else to watch her. I'm so sorry, your honor," she pleaded. Katya's heart shattered once more. She turned her back to the judge and walked towards the gallery, asking the nearest person to the child to hand her over the short wall. She wrapped the crying child in her arms, rocking her gently back and forth as she held her close to her chest. The little girl's cries subsided to quiet whimpers and sniffles rather quickly in the familiar woman's arms, and Katya moved to address the judge.

"If you don't mind, your honor, I would like to continue the questioning of Ms. Smith so she can return to her child sooner rather than later," she said, doing her best to keep her tone polite in response to the judge's harshness with her client.

"Of course, Ms. Mitchell. Please, continue," he replied. She gave him a small nod before returning her attention to her client. Katya continued to rock the small girl in her arms as she asked the woman questions, and the girl eventually fell asleep against the prosecutor's shoulder. Very few people had seen this soft side of the "bitchy" and "stone-hearted" attorney. Her girlfriend, however, saw it every day, and couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips at the sight of the love of her life with a child in her arms as she dominated the courtroom. The contrast of the moment was almost laughable.

When the woman finished her testimony, she stepped down from the stand and walked over to the prosecutor she had grown rather close to in their time together going over the case.

"Thank you so much," she whispered to Katya. Katya could only smile as she looked down at the little girl in her arms.

"No need. Get this sweet angel home, and get some rest yourself; you both deserve it after the day you've had." With that, she handed the girl back to her mother and returned to her previous position at the table before calling her next witness.

The court was adjourned for the day, and Katya returned home, sliding off her heels and plopping down on the couch with a heavy sigh. The sound of the front door opening notified her of her girlfriend's arrival, but she remained seated, notes from the proceedings in hand. She was pulled from her reading, quite literally, when the notes were snatched from her hands and set on the coffee table in front of her. Marcia climbed onto her lap soon after, straddling her and holding Katya's face in her hands.

"Hi, Kat," she whispered against her lips. Katya smiled into the kiss, relishing the way their lips moved in perfect unison. They pulled away slowly.

"Hi, baby. How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. I missed your touch today; I hate not being able to even hold your hand when we're in court," Marcia whined as she wrapped her arms around Katya's neck and buried her face in her hair. Katya only laughed, winding her arms around the woman's waist.

"Trust me, I hate it too, but it's for the best. It just makes moments like these that much better." Marcia removed her face from the woman's hair and smiled at her, scanning her features intently. "What?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking about you."

"What about me?"

"The way you soothed Jessie's baby in court today; it was incredibly adorable, Katya," she replied, a wide grin on her lips. Katya rolled her eyes as her cheeks flushed.

"I was doing what anyone else would have in my situation. The poor woman is stressed enough with the trial and a baby to take care of, so why not take one of those off her plate for a while?" she suggested with a shrug. She slumped back against the couch, running her fingertips gently over her girlfriend's face. Marcia giggled at the feather-light touches of Katya's fingers.

"I like it when you do that," she whispered.

"I know, baby. That's why I do it," Katya responded. She pressed a kiss to Marcia's forehead. "How about we go start dinner and then we can go over stuff for tomorrow." Marcia nodded eagerly, and the pair ventured to the kitchen. They laughed and talked, sipping wine and holding each other as they cooked, ending the night with a final slow dance in the kitchen before going to sleep.