It Started Out With a Kiss (a Rhett and Link fanfic)

Chapter 15-The needle tears a hole

hey everyone! just a quick note I want to apologise for not updating recently but I have had a whole string of exams going on and I've been busy revising so I'm sorry. I also want to say that I'm going to put a song title or lyric for the chapter title! This chapter is very sad and has mature court themes and family distress. I'm sorry if anyone finds this upsetting in any way!
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next Saturday

Links POV

"Does this look ok?" I turned round and looked at Rhett. He finished buttoning his suit jacket before walking over to me. He brushed my shoulder and leant forward.

"Your tie is a little crooked." he tightened it until I felt like I was being strangled. I felt a little light headed. Rhett seemed to notice my frown and put his finger under my chin and pushed my head up.

"Everything is going to be ok! We will explain to the judge what happened and make sure that nothing ever happens to you again." He wrapped his arms around me and stroked my hair.

"I love you no matter what..." he sighed.

"Love you too Rhett. We better get going before we are late." I grabbed hold of the keys and we headed downstairs and into the car. We drove in absolute silence until we pulled into the courthouse parking lot. I saw my mom waving and walked towards us. I clambered out of the car and ran round and wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm just happy you're here!" She held me tighter. She patted Rhett on the arm as well all walked in together. As we walked into the room all eyes immediately focused on us. In the corner of my eye I saw a face of someone I knew. My dad was staring straight at us, his face contorted and angry. He had been handcuffed to the desk so he couldn't come anywhere near us.

"This is all your fault. If you had just turned out normal!" He hissed at me. Rhett pulled his arm around me and dragged me to our table. He sat me down in the furthest seat away from my dad and pulled my chair as close to him as possible. The lawyer came in and shook my hand.

"Mr Neal my name is Anthony Mackey. Mr Neal we promise you that he will never ever lay a hand on you, you mother or your boyfriend ever again. We said before that we didn't have enough evidence but after enough looking we have found everything."

Later in the trial

Rhetts POV

"Can Mr Charles Lincoln Neal the third come to the stand please?" I gave Links hand a private squeeze as he walked over to the stand and sat down, not looking upwards.

"Mr Neal?" Mr Mackey stood up and made his way over to him. "Please explain the relationship of you and your father." Link looked up and stared directly forward.

"My relationship with my father hasn't been the best for me. Some night when I was younger he would go out drinking and come back when I was in bed and started to hit me. I understand the influences that alcohol has on people but I didn't understand why he would hurt me." We all looked as an image popped up on a screen. I felt my heart break as I saw a picture of what could only be a ten year old link with bruises and scars down the side of his face.

"When I was sixteen I decided to come out to my parents. My mum who I love dearly said she would support me no matter what. But my dad utterly refused to have me in his house." At that moment Links father stood up and everyone jerked.

"I wasn't going to have a son who wasn't straight living in my household!" His face went red with rage. The judge banged the gavel.

"Mr Neal sit down!" He looked over at Link.

"So that night my mom and I packed our bags and went to live with my aunt Joanne for a few weeks until my mom found a suitable job. We took a loan from my aunt and we bought a flat together. After a while we managed to pay off the loan and moved into a smaller house. After a couple of years I moved out and found my own small apartment where I lived alone and found my own job as a waiter in a café." The court fell silent.

"Thank you Mr Neal." Link scurried out his seat and came back over to me.

"You did great. You're ok." He nodded.

"Mr McLaughlin can we hear from you please?" I stood up and sat down at the stand.

"Mr McLaughlin please explain your relationship with Mr Neal the third." I looked over to Link.

"I am his boyfriend and we have been dating for just over six months now." Mr Mackey walked over and leant against me.

"A few weeks ago there was an incident involving Mr Neals father. Can you explain why what happened?" I looked at the court.

"We were celebrating Mrs Capps getting out of the hospital as she was administered for having a heart attack. We were having our dinner when someone was knocking at the door. I looked and saw Links father and told Link to hid his mother in the downstairs cupboard. When I opened the door a little he pushed the door open and entered without my permission. Then a fight occurred which caused not only damage to me and my property but to the man I love. I knocked Mr Neal out just as the ambulance and  authorities arrived." A photo flashed up. It was Link unconscious on a bed. He was wearing only briefs but it showed the bruising and the blood and scars all over his body. Another photo beside it showed his back was blue with bruises. The court erupted into a loud mutter. Once again the judge banged his gavel, making everyone silent.

"People of the jury you have your evidence. I will give you one hour to decide on a verdict." He slammed the gave as everyone walked away. I ran back over to link and wrapped my arms around him.

"You ok?" He nodded and sniffed harshly.

"Yeah I'll be fine. Seeing those images wasn't easy for me." I pulled him in tighter.

"Let's just hope the jury has some common sense."

Later

"Jury have you reached your verdict?" Link leant in closer to me and held both of my hands in his. A fierce looking woman stood up, her rectangular glasses perched on the end of her nose.

"We have your honour. We, the people of jury, find Mr Charles Neal the second...guilty on cases of abuse of family members, breaking and entering and several other charges which has landed people in hospital. For this we are sentencing him to 3 years minimum in a secure facility." The judge banged his gavel and made it final. I couldn't believe my ears.

"We won?" Link looked utterly surprised.

"We won!" Link and I jumped up and embraced in front of everyone, earning a loud aw from everyone.

"No this is not fair!" Links dad shouted as he was being dragged off. He vanished behind a wooden wall as his shouts got quieter.

"I am so happy we won!" Link smiled for the first time today.

"Me too. Now we can live our life in peace knowing he is behind bars!"