Beacon Hills ♚ TMR x TW

9; guilty or not guilty

A day later and Thomas was sitting in the courtroom, nervously fidgeting with the bottom of his tie that Booth had let him borrow. He had given his witness statement, Janson had already been called to the stand and now Ava Paige was sat in the box and staring directly at him. Their lawyer had called both of them to the stand and they were trying to make it as if some random guy they worked with was the ring leader for the whole operation. She glanced at the man asking questions every now and then but Thomas felt the daggers she was glaring at him the whole time.

Lydia's hand rested atop his arm, giving a reassuring squeeze.

Finally the process was over and they were waiting for a verdict.

Booth and Brennan stood beside the pair, chatting amongst themselves.

"How long does this usually take?" Thomas asked.

"Sometimes minutes, sometimes hours." Booth answered, giving a grim smile. "For our sakes hopefully it won't take long. The shorter the time, means they know they're guilty. Anybody want coffee? Water?"

Lydia requested water and Thomas declined both. His stomach was in knots.

Both Booth and Brennan walked out of the room.

"How are you doing?" Lydia whispered, hand still on his arm.

Thomas shook his head, staring down the door the jury had disappeared into. He rung his hands together. "I'm terrified," he finally admitted.

"I think it's going to be over today. I don't think the jury was convinced of the innocent act. I know I wouldn't be." She tried to reassure him but he said nothing.

Booth brought the water back, bringing one for Thomas as well. He sat down beside him and held out the cup. "Drink, even just a little."

Thomas grabbed the cup with a clammy hand, his trembling almost sending the water over the edge. He put the tip to his mouth and sipped on it.

Only a few more minutes passed before the jury was coming out of the room again and the WCKED people were brought back out for the sentencing.

The whole courtroom was terribly silent as the judge asked if the jury had a verdict.

Guilty.

Guilty for murder, jail time ten years for every child they killed. Over 200 recorded.

Guilty for kidnapping, jail time three years for every child they kidnapped. Over 300 recorded.

Guilty for so much more they named, Thomas couldn't even remember. There was a ringing in his ears, he couldn't believe it. Was it really over?

"We could've changed the world, if only you were smart enough," Ava announced, her eyes staying on Thomas and Lydia as her and Janson were led from the room in handcuffs.

Thomas let himself breath. He grabbed onto a chair for stability and vaguely heard Lydia asking if he was okay. "Yeah, yeah. Just... shocked." He whispered, following the group of people from the room.

After they left the courthouse, Booth said they were going to dinner to celebrate. Now they were sat in a small diner and Thomas was still trying to process it. They were found guilty and now had to serve over 2,000 years in prison. They would die in prison, and he finally smiled at that thought.

Lydia saw his first smile of the day and reached over to grab his hand in hers. "They're gone."

Thomas met her eyes and all he wanted to do in that moment was kiss her.

He quickly shook that thought away, knowing she didn't like him that way. She never had. But she had gone through all of it with him, at least he had a friend to help him get through it. "Thank you. For being with me. I really couldn't have done this without you." He said, returning the grip she held his hand with.