Echoes of Resilience

26

"I'm going to have to testify?! You told me he took a deal, you told me it was over! I can't testify! I can't face him! I can't do it! I just can't!" Meredith screamed at the officers before turning to curl into Addison's lap, sobs overtaking her as she continued muttering that she couldn't do it.

"We are so sorry Meredith, we weren't aware that Agent Nicholls' offered that deal without approval. The DA was still willing to offer a deal, but his lawyer has advised him not to take it." Officer Jacobs explained as gently as she could, trying to ignore Cristina staring daggers into her.

"You're sorry? That's all you have to say?" Cristina scoffs.

"The only options we have are the case goes to trial in which Meredith will be called to testify, or the DA drops the charges for what he did to her and solely goes after him for Rose's murder. He'll still do time, but he would not be legally guilty of the crimes he committed against Meredith." Officer Taylor jumped in, sensing that her partner was uncomfortable and struggling with guilt.

"You know, you may want to blame all of this on Agent Nicholls' for making the deal without clearance, and that's all fine and good, but the two of you are just as guilty."

"Cristina." Addison tried to stop her, knowing it was pointless.

"Addison, you know I'm right. These two have been on the case since the beginning, they're the ones who called in the FBI! They found a bloody rope and instead of testing it to make sure it was Mer's blood they just assumed it was! The only reason they even figured out that McAss killed Rose was because Mer had a fucking nightmare about when she found that same bloody rope and McMurderer told her that she wasn't his first victim. They called the FBI and were more than happy to just let them take the lead on a case they didn't even fucking know. They could have made sure that deal was cleared with the DA, but they didn't because they were more concerned with getting confessions and closing the case than they were with how Meredith was doing. If they were thinking about Meredith or any of the other victims they would not have just let a stranger swoop in and make promises without double checking that it couldn't get thrown out. Congratulations, you now know how many people Derek Shepherd killed and why, but a good amount of them will never get justice because of your carelessness. Even if Mer were to agree to take this to trial, your actions and the FBI's actions have created more than just reasonable doubt." Cristina said harshly, trying her best to stay calm.

"We have his confession on Rose's murder and his DNA. He's not getting away with that."

"They had OJ Simpson's DNA yet he was found not guilty. DNA does not matter, all that matters is what story a jury will believe and we have an alcoholic FBI agent that faked a deal to find out what happened to her sister. You really don't think the defense is going to spin it to make it seem like his DNA was planted to further her agenda in getting justice for her sister?" Cristina scoffed with a light chuckle. "So the options are either Meredith gets torn apart on a fucking witness stand or the charges are dropped and everyone who has already called her a liar has proof that she lied. Good police work." She growls before walking out of the room and going out to the backyard to calm down."

"She's right. There's no good option here and I'm the one that has to suffer due to it. This is why I don't trust the police, you don't care about getting justice. It's all about politics and I am done being a pawn in a game that I never asked to play. Please leave." Meredith said in an angry tone, her voice shaking. Once the police apologize one last time before leaving the house she sits up and turns to face Addison. "I want to sue. I want to sue Seattle police and I want to sue the FBI. I can't sit back and just let them do this to somebody else."

"I'll call my lawyer, why don't you go check on Cristina? Just be careful, she's probably at her hitting tree and I don't want you to get hurt." Addison told her while squeezing her hand pressing a kiss to her temple.