Author's note: Hi. You may be asking is this the end of the book? The answer is no cause we've got a lot more of the story to tell (Wolf Entertainment hire us). For some reason, the idea plagued our minds of "What if things didn't go right?" So we thought "how else could this story end?" We want to make it clear that THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE STORY. So the next chapter goes back to after Rafael woke up.
After we finished writing it: many tears were shed and we are in time out forever. Here you go.
Trigger Warnings apply for this chapter
There are three songs in this chapter.
Olivia and Jet's is I Dreamed A Dream from Les Mis (the Glee version). Olivia's lyrics are in plain dialogue, Jet's are in italics, and the duet is underlined. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTMVkdIDB0w
Amanda's is Days of Plenty from Little Women-The Musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF3DBHk5Emc
The last one is I Will Not Say Goodbye by Danny Gokey (character will be given later) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IUl-JwJC5U
What if things don't work out? One decision could drastically change everything. Actions have unintended consequences.
The squad and the defense all sit anxiously in the courtroom waiting for the verdict.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" Judge Donnelly asks
The jury forewoman stands up.
"No Your Honor. One of us is still unsure about the harassment charges and the justification of Detective Stabler's actions."
"Is there any way you can all decide on a verdict?"
The forewoman's eyes flicker other to an older white man on the jury who looks very unwillinging to budge. She sighs.
"No, Your Honor."
"Very well. I have no other choice but to declare this a mistrial."
Donnelly turns to Elliot.
"Detecive Stabler, you are free to go. Court is adjourned."
Judge Donnelly bangs her gavel. Elliot turned to Buchanan and immediately shaked his hand. For once, a mistrial was a good thing in his life. He could go on with his life. He could move on. But the same couldn't be said for Olivia and her team.
Jet sat in her seat, shocked.
" Everything was for nothing. I let myself be vulnerable for nothing. I showed my bruises for nothing ." she thinks
Ayanna can only sit in shock as well as she watches the young Detective close up before her eyes. The thing that breaks her heart the most is the pain in Jet's eyes is clear as day. The past few days Jet was becoming a new person emerging like a butterfly from its cocoon but now she was shattered by the outcome. Everyone was at a loss for words and didn't know how to comfort Jet or each other for their sake.
"No. No" Olivia whispers out as the cast on her arm feels heavy.
Olivia had been through hell the past few days and it was all for nothing. Of all the victims she was able to get justice for, she wasn't able to get justice for herself or Jet. This case was more than the two of them, this trial was to set the stage of reform to end the misuse of power by men in power. The change they wanted to see in their world seemed to no longer be an option.
Amanda can't hold back her tears of anger as she sees Olivia in devastation. Olivia meant everything to her and now she knew Elliot's statement was coming true because she still couldn't protect the woman who meant so much to her.
