If You Believe (George Harrison/Beatles FanFic)

Chapter 23

May, 1976

Six weeks later, Annie stood in the courtroom with George's dad at her side. Everyone involved thought George should stay home because his celebrity would cloud the real issues going on at trial. He mistakenly thought he was the issue and because of this, he was not happy. He couldn't believe he couldn't be with Annie when she had to face that motherfucker, but not outdone, he pressed his dad into service. The only other person he would trust to take care of Annie in his stead was John and he was in the States. But Harold was glad he could be called in to help and stayed close to Annie in the conference room while she waited for her turn to testify. Annie twirled her wedding band around her finger and paced until her back gave out as she rubbed her pregnant middle.

"How are you feeling, Annie," Harold asked her, taking her hand in his.

"Like I'm being forced to do something I don't want to do," she answered with a cheeky smile. "Thanks, Da, for being here."

"Anytime, honey. Anytime. I'd do anything for my lovely daughter."

"Thanks, Da." Annie squeezed his hand.

Across the room, the door to the chamber opened and a court official called her name. Annie stood, her legs a bit wobbly from sheer panic but she followed the attendant dutifully. The courtroom was packed. Packed. She laughed a bit thinking of her friend back home who would have said, 'it was so crowded you couldn't get a raisin in with a shoehorn." With a half smile, she climbed up into the seat next to the judge and then she saw him...Steven...cleaned up in a suit and tie with the overhead light bouncing off his bald pate. Somehow, this cracked her up and she struggled to state her name for the record.

After a stabilizing cough and a drink of water, she squeezed out, "Annie Rose Harrison" and they were off and running. Question after question with Steven's beady, steel grey eyes pinned to her. The defense didn't have much of a leg to stand on. Five people saw him stabbing George, so they decided to focus on how he should be sentenced. Twenty years in jail, or twenty years in a psychiatric hospital.

Then Steven was on the stand. Boo-hooing fake tears about how sorry he was, how he had anger issues his entire life and trouble with women. Here, he paused to look at Annie with a sappy look. She wasn't buying his bullshit in the least. Annie heard, blah, blah, blah. Cradling her middle in her arms, her mind was focused on George and their baby. He was right there with her. It didn't matter the circumstances, George's lean, strong arms held her tightly against him. She knew it and it settled the grumbling in her stomach. She did have to admit, Steven was putting on a pretty good show knowing his life depended on it and the little fucker could get away with it. There were 8 women on the jury and that little boy lost persona could crack any woman's defense. Annie had to prepare herself for a light sentence for Steven. He could be a charmer when he wanted to.

The jury only deliberated for 2 hours. Annie sat with Da in the conference room watching the proceedings on a television. They said he wasn't aware of his actions when he attacked George and they believed his weepy "I'm sorry". They said he was under some kind of psychosis when he nearly killed George. Steven's deep depression turned him into an attempted murderer. According to the jury, he was definitely a candidate for rehabilitation.

Annie sat there stone faced as the judge confined him to a psychiatric hospital for...what? One month, one year, 20 years? What difference did it make? Steven could hold a grudge for eons and 'pay back' was his middle name. Annie tried to swallow her fear that she wasn't quite done with Steven just yet. It caused her to shiver down to her feet. Annie and Da left as she tried to maintain her composure. Her head was down as Da led her through the mass of reporters and eventually reached their car.