When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

Justice

(All story rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Annabeth POV

I, being the main witness for the prosecution, sit next to the state's lawyer in the courtroom, all my friends sitting in the bench behind me. I take a deep breath and the trial begins, and I'm the first witness called to the stand.

I place my hand on the Bible placed before me as the balif asks, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth on penalty of perjury under the law?" 

I nod, "I do swear."

My lawyer, Katie Gardner, stands and asks me the first question,"Ms. Chase, the defendant is your blood father, correct?" 

"Yes." I don't feel that question needs a detailed answer.

"And your father abused you extensively for several years?"

"Yes, from the time I was six."

"Please describe to the court what your father and his associates did to you for the court."

I take a shuddering breath as all the horrible things that have ever happened to me tangle in my head, each memory fighting to emerge into my consciousness first. I decide to start from the beginning, "My mother left us two days after I turned six. My father blamed me, even as he got drunk to deal with his pain. At first, it was just verbal, he called me worthless, a waste of space. Anything horrible he could think of." I'm trying to hold back tears as I talk. One look at all my friend's faces, though, and I steel myself and continue. "And then, about two weeks after my Mon left, he hit me. He was really drunk, and so I thought it was a one time thing, but it just kept getting worse. He'd hit me over and over, belt me. Anything you can think of, and everything you can't. That's what he did to me."

The court is silent until Katie looks at me and says, "According to your statement he also collected money by selling you at night. Can you tell us about that?"

I glance at Percy, I'd never told him about this. I knew he'd had suspicions, but when heard them confirmed, his face had gone ghost white. No, I couldn't think about Percy right now. This was about justice. Even if it ruins my chances with him.

I take a deep breath, "Umm... yeah. It was the day I turned fifteen. A guy came in and gave him a fifty. And he... he molested me... and... I don't know how many times it happened after that... at least once or twice a week, a new guy would come in. They were all different, but the end result was always the same. My father always told me that I was a slut after, but the truth is, I didn't pick it. It just happened. And there was nothing I could do to save myself." 

Katie nods to the judge, tears in her eyes, and says, "I rest, your honor."

The judge turns to my father and his lawyer and asks, "Does the defense have anything to say?"

The defense attorney, Bryce Lawrence stands and says, "Ms. Chase, these are serious allegations you are laying down. Quite frankly, your plea for attention disgusts me. To deface your father just to get some press time is despicable." 

I don't flinch. Thalia already warned me that this was the approach the man would take. I say in a tense, but held together voice, "If this is indeed a plea for attention, sir, please explain to me how my body is 68% scar tissue."

He responds quickly,"Your body is only 45% scar tissue." 

The judge interrupts before I respond, "Do you perjure yourself, Esquire Lawrence? I have Ms. Chase's medical right here and her number is correct."

Lawrence's mouth flaps open momentarily, and then he says, "No, your honor, my mistake. I apologize. I'm finished with Ms. Chase then."

The judge merely nods and says, "Ms. Chase, you are excused to be seated."

I sit down and Katie, being a rather young lawyer, fist bumps me underneath the table. I try my hardest not to grin. The trial continues and Katie builds up a brilliant case. Every time Bryce Lawrence stands, he tries to discredit me. But each time, Katie logically argues against his point. 

Finally, late into the night, the trial concludes as the jury heads off to discuss. The courtroom instantly becomes more casual as the judge exits. Thalia and Katie begin to talk and laugh and I quickly realize Katie is a part of Thalia's weekend hunting crew. 

I say nothing, but sit in the quiet, clutching my head. Now that I can't focus on the legal battle before me, memories of everything are beginning to resurface. Things I have no desire to remember, but things I will never be able to forget.

Leo looks at me and says, "Annabeth? Are you alright?"

I look at him and say, "I'm not sure what that word means anymore." I considered lying for a moment and just saying yes, but I was done pretending. I'm not okay. And I haven't been in a very long time.

Strangely, admitting it lifted a weight off my shoulders. And now, I realize that bottling it up has never helped me. I needed to learn how to deal with emotions, rather than pretending they didn't exist.

He didn't get a chance to respond before the judge and the jury returned and the jury declared, "We find Frederick chase guilty on all accounts of abuse, assault, battery, orchestrating sex trade, blackmail, and kidnapping." 

Judge Chiron Brunner smiles just a bit before he declares, "I thereby sentence the subject to life in prison without probation." 

My father is hauled off screaming and cursing my name and everyone begins to celebrate. I smile a lot, reveling in the feeling if true safety. But in all honesty, I'm just really freaking tired.

Thalia takes me home. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out.

That weekend, my friends and I meet up and hang out, where Percy pulls me aside. I realize we haven't really gotten the chance to talk since the trial and I remember that I admitted to being sexually assaulted there. I knew he was going to say he didn't want to be with me anymore. 

What he actually said shocked me,"I can't apologize or undo all the things he ever did to you. But I can promise to never let those things happen again. I know you're broken and that you're always going to have nightmares. I know you are always going to be a little bit afraid. And I'm okay with that. I don't care if you're broken. I've fallen in love with every piece of that shattered soul of yours. So I'll either shatter myself so we can be the same, or I'll be the metal in the stained glass window to hold you together." 

I smile sadly at him and whisper, "Percy, I'm in love with you. But I don't think it'll be good for you to deal with all my brokenness."

Percy looks at me, stricken, and says, "You don't get to decide what's good for me. And for once in your damned life, Annabeth Chase, stop being selfless."

So I do. In that moment, I take what I want. I do the thing I've wanted for a really long time. Wanted more than anything.

I step closer, take his face in my hands, and caution be damned, I kiss Percy Jackson.