Ain't No Way We're Goin' Home (a Rydellington/R5 Fan Fic)

Chapter 24

Rydel's POV

Ellington and I exchange nervous glances as the car to the courthouse bumps and bounces.  It makes me nauseous.  This whole day is nauseating.  All I can do is sit here and hope that they believe Ellington and I and let us go.  I need to go home.  I need to be able to give my baby the life it deserves, and I can’t do that if I’m in prison for a murder I didn’t commit.  

Eventually, the car pulls up to the courthouse and I’m escorted out by a police officer while the rest are helping Ellington get into his wheelchair.  I’m taken to a courtroom with a judge, a few other people, and my family.  

I haven’t seen them in months!  They don’t look much different, except their hair is a little bit longer (except for dad’s)  and they’re not smiling like they used to.  Tears immediately begin to fall down my face as the officer sits me down in a seat.  I want to talk to them, but I don’t know what to say.  Or if I’m allowed to say anything at all.  And where is Ellington?  It shouldn’t take that long to move a wheelchair!  

“Mrs. Ratliff, we only have a few questions for you and you’re free to go,” a man in a suit says as he approaches me.  

“Go where?  Go home?  Back to prison?” I whimper.  The man ignores my question as he gathers some papers.  “Please tell me something!  Tell me anything!  Nobody’s told me anything about my case or my family or my fans or anything!  Please,” I beg.  

“Mrs. Ratliff, I need you to remain calm.  Now, can you tell me if before the murder of Mr. Lynch if Mr. Ratliff ever showed any signs of getting into a fight or being under the influence of any sort of drug?” he questions.  Why is he questioning me about Ellington?  I thought this case was about Ryland!

“No!  He would never fight anyone or use any sort of drug.  He is a good, innocent man!” I exclaim.  

“Are you sure?  He never came home with any bruises or scars or what not?” he asks.  

“I’m sure,” I state.  

“Okay, next question.  Did you or did you not break out of the jailhouse in Arizona?” he questions.  

“Yes,” I say meekly, “I did.”  

“Explain to me what happened,” he demands.  

“Well, I was sleeping, and then Ellington woke me up and the next thing I knew, we were in a field full of police officers with guns.  I was confused and I didn’t know what was going on, so I ran,” I whimper.  

“Did you make the decision to break out of the jailhouse?” he asks.  

“No,” I whimper.  

“But you were complicit with the escape?” he questions.  

“Yes,” I confess.  

“Ok, Mrs. Ratliff.  That’s all we needed to know,” he states as he gives his papers to the judge.  They talk quietly for a few long minutes as I feel my family’s eyes staring into my soul, even though my head is buried in my hands.  

I just want to undo the last few months.  I want to go back to before I met Taylor, back to when I had my family.  All of my brothers, and my parents, plus the R5 family.  I want all of that back.  I regret everything!  Everything except for Ellington.  I just want to live a happy life with him.  I want to marry him, but not now, even though we’re already married.  I want kids, but not now either, so we can go back on tour.  I want to travel the world with him.  With my family.  I want to go back to doing what I love, which is making music with my family.  

“Rydel Mary Ratliff is not guilty!” the judge states.   Relief floods through me as I lift my head out of my hands.  I see my family cheering and mom getting teary.  I stand up from my seat and try to walk over to them, but somebody grabs my wrist.