Loving a Gallagher (A Shameless Lip Fanfiction)

Courtroom confessions

"Phillip Gallagher, Miss Monroe?" A voice called from the other side of the hall. It was Samuel our family lawyer, finally giving us the okay to enter the courtroom. "You feeling okay?" I asked Clarissa who looked as if she was fixing to throw up. "Yeah..... just nervous" she replied wiping away the beads of sweat from her forehead and taking a seat next to me, as close as she could sit intertwining her arm with mine. We were as close to the judge as we could be without touching him on the plantiff's side. While Frank's lawyer sat idly by waiting for him on the defendants side. It was a private court hearing meaning only the people who were suppose to be in court and close family were allowed. Fiona, Kev, V and the rest of the Gallagher clan sat behind us in the front row for moral support. Brayden was here as well in the arms of his uncle Ian who was trying to keep him as entertained as possible without disturbing the courtroom. "Okay Phillip, Clarissa... just remember what you told me the questions you were asked the statements you made and this will be quick and painless. Most likely Frank will get 5 to 10 years but we wont know for sure until the judge makes his finale descion but with a child involved I believe this will go y'alls way". Samuel said straightening my tie as he took his seat next to us and pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase.
I felt like someone coming down off of drugs the closer it got time for this trial to start. My palms were sweaty, my legs felt like they had the shakes and I needed a cigarette more so than ever to calm my nerves. Clarissa was obviously nervous as I was unable to stay still and biting her nails which she never did unless she was stressed. When I felt a hand touch me on my shoulder it was Fiona. "Everything's going to be alright little brother". She said patting me on the back, as I looked over to see my family all in a line sitting behind me I felt an overwhelming sense of love that Frank did not have on his side. He had no one sitting on the rows of seats behind where he would soon sit and his own kids hanging him out to dry only a few feet away but it wasn't anyone's fault but his own and if it wasn't us putting him away it would be somebody else sooner or later he couldnt go fucking people over forever it eventually would catch up to him. Though I'm glad his own kids were the ones to give him a dose of his own medicine it's not like he ever did a thing for us. He was such a horrible father he didn't deserve the six of us. Maybe sometime in jail would make him wake up and realize the stupid choices he's made over the years have consequences and sadly I don't know if we will ever be able to forgive him.
"Ouch!!" I exclaimed when I felt Clarissa's elbow jab me in the side. "What the hell?" I said rubbing my rib, "what was that for?" When she pointed to the side entrance. It was Frank being led into the courtroom by two police officers with cuffs still on his wrist to be seated next to his lawyer. "I'm sorry" Clarissa said wrapping her arms around me. She didn't mean to act so frantically I guess she just freaked herself out seeing frank again it was all to real and emotions were definitely running high today for all of us.

"All rise for the judge" the bailiff said standing straight and tall and proudly before the courtroom. "You may be seated" the judge said taking his seat at the front. "The state of Chicago against Frank Gallagher for child negligence and 2nd degree aggravated assault how does you're defendant plead?" The judge asked Frank's lawyer Tony Sanders who was one of the worst ones in the state. He never helped us get out of foster care until the last minute and almost always sent social services to our home for unnecessary visits. Yeah we may have grown up in a not so great home life but Fiona always made sure we were together even if it meant lying to the state and pulling three jobs at a time she still found a way to fight the system for us when our own parents wouldn't. "My defendant pleads GUILTY you're honor" he said leaning over whispering to Frank. Clarissa looked at me with just as much shock in her facial expression as me when we heard the words that Frank was admitting himself as guilty we thought for sure he would fight it as much as possible because that is just how Frank is he only cares about himself. "You're honor my client has seen his poor judgment and juvenile behavior as a sign to get clean and do his time with no arguments upon his son and other children's request upon his sentencing" Sanders said as Frank shook his head turning it enough to look at all of us. "Samuel Miller does your client have anything to add on his behalf in front of this court about the testimonies from both himself and miss Monroe and the charges against Frank Gallagher in the state of Chicago". The judge asked looking directly in Clarissa and My direction when Samuel told me to stand. "Yes your honor" Samuel replied "I believe his oldest son and the father of the injured child would like to speak on behalf of this case and for Clarissa Monroe and the other children of the Gallagher family before final descions are made." He said poised and direct giving me the floor as Clarissa let go of my hand she held on to tightly. As I stood up in front of the judge I looked behind me and looked at the family that I had Clarissa, Brayden, Fiona and the others and knew I had to make this statement a good one cause it wasn't just for me and the justice for my son for the tragic events that caused him harm it was for my brothers and sisters and for all of the things Frank had ever done to us over the course or our lives that made us the people we are today. "Your honor, I stand before you today with a new perspective on things. My son is healthy he is happy he is loved by the family he knows isn't going to harm him. Which I am eternally grateful for but I am also at an uncomfortable position. Frank Gallagher is my biological father as he is the father to that row of people minus a couple right behind me. Does he deserve this title... No. Frank Gallagher is a manipulative, selfish man. Who deserves this time and more if I were the one sitting in your position. But I also have to think of my younger siblings Debbie,Carl and Liam. Yes he is a grade A screw up who doesn't deserve any of us kids and honestly has never taken responsibility for but that doesn't mean he isn't capable in the future of doing so. They are young.... they still have time to build a relationship with him but us older children are beyond having compassion for him. My girlfriend and I have been through more than enough heartache during this difficult time in our lives and I ask you to not take his sentencing lightly but to also remember the children he could have a relationship with one day if he did get in his right state of mind again. But as far as myself, Clarissa, Fiona and Ian are concerned we have washed our hands with Frank and would like nothing more than to cut all ties with him and to see him serve the time he very much deserves he almost took my son away from me and Clarissa and I am not going to lie I want Frank to suffer.... the way we have so whatever you decide I will move forward with he can't hurt us any longer and I wont give his sorry ass a chance to ever again." I said looking directly in Franks direction fighting back tears there was so much more I had planned to say but couldn't bring myself to say them in front of Debbie, Carl or Liam. As long as Brayden got the justice he deserved I could finally focus on the future for a change instead of always being stuck in the past plus I didn't want to end up in jail myself by being arrogant and disrespectful towards the judge because of how angry I was. "Court is adjourned for a half hour recess when we return we will go forward with sentencing" the judge said just in time to cause if I had to wait any longer to smoke a cigarette I think I might go crazy.