FW: FIC: Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain (2/?)

[William Labarbera <asagiri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Authors: Red Demon & Bill Gopher
> Email: senseiferret@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:senseiferret@xxxxxxxxx> or
> kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> Disclaimers: Buffy and Company belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century
> Fox and UPN.
> Pairings: Buffy/Faith, Willow/Tara
> Rating: PG13 for now at least, NC17 later on.
> Distribution: If you want it, ask us and we'll probably say yes.
> Feedback: A definite 'Must Have'. Makes us write much faster, Thoughts,
> Opinions.
> Summary: In an Alternate Universe where what was right is now wrong.
> 
> Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain.
> 
> Part Two
> 
> Beth looked up from the book she was reading when she noticed a young girl
> in front of her. The child was about seven years old with a light pink
> dress and dark hair. 
> 
> "Miss," the young girl shyly asked. "My mom says you're a soldier, is that
> true?"
> 
> "Yes, why?" Beth answered, wondering what this child wanted.
> 
> "Are you gonna go and kill those mean people in eurrrp, uhmm eurrrop?"
> 
> Leaning forward towards the little girl, "What's your name?"
> 
> "Prudence, but my friends call me Prue". The little girl smiled at Beth.
> 
> "Well Prue, I'm a Marine. But I don't go out killing mean people, killing
> people is wrong." The little girl looked confused as Beth spoke. "What I
> do is to talk to them to convince them they've made a mistake, this way
> people don't get hurt. You don't like it when you get hurt, right Prue?"
> 
> "Nuh uh, it's not fun and it hurts."
> 
> "See? Now you go back over to your mom. She's probably worried about you,
> ok?" Beth ruffled Prue's hair and the girl turned with a smile on her face
> and ran over to her mother.
> 
> Standing up as he heard the call for her bus, she folded the newspaper she
> had been reading. Walking to the gate she saw the little girls mother with
> a newspaper and across the front she saw the headline."6 Marines killed,
> 12 wounded in Paris in attack on US Embassy". 'Sometimes I wish life were
> that simple as that little girl sees it.' Beth thought.
> 
> Arriving at her gate, she saw her bus that would take her home and
> boarded, stopping only to hand the driver her ticket and found a seat at
> the back and settled in.
> 
> As the bus started driving Beth pulled out the book Taylor had lent her,
> opened it and started reading "On War". 
> 
> After several hours she stared out the window as the road blurred by,
> broken only by the occasional house or car. 'God how things have changed
> for me in the last three years. If only....' Her mind wandered back to the
> day everything had changed her life as she started to fall asleep.
> 
> Three years earlier....
> 
> Buffy had just returned from her Psych class with Professor Walsh and
> threw her books down on her bed when she heard a knock on the door.
> Opening the door she saw two Sunnydale police officers and the detective
> that had spoken to her once after Kendra had died.
> 
> "Yes?" she asked puzzled at why they were at her dorm room.
> 
> "Elizabeth Anne Summers, you're under arrest for the murder of Deputy
> Mayor Richard Finch, place your hands behind your head", the detective
> grabbed her arms pulling them behind her and cuffing her just as Willow
> walked in. "Willow call Giles, quick please!!!"
> 
> In shock, Buffy had let the police escort her to the car. The drive
> itself she didn't remember, but by the time they started to process her
> into the system the numbness that had hit her when she was told she was
> under arrest for murder had started to wear off.
> 
> As they took her fingerprints and pictures she felt angry and confused,
> 'maybe this is how Faith felt when I saw her in the police station in LA
> that time' she thought.
> 
> When they were done, Buffy had been stripped, searched, photographed,
> fingerprinted and was now wearing bright orange coveralls as she stood in
> the holding cell with several other prisoners for several hours before she
> was moved to her cell in solitary confinement. 
> 
> As the cell door slammed shut behind her Buffy looked around the cell,
> there was 'toilet' if you could call it that in the far right corner and a
> small bed against the left wall. Moving towards the bed Buffy fell down on
> it and curled up trying to fight the tears she felt. She was scared, tired
> and wanted to go home, most of all she wanted to be told that this was a
> bad dream, only it wasn't. 
> 
> After three days Buffy was finally meeting the attorney Giles had hired
> for her, she knew that he was British and he was coming from London to
> represent her. The door opened and in walked a man in his 50's, rather
> distinguished looking and sat down in front of Buffy at the steel table
> she was seated at in this otherwise empty room. 
> 
> "Miss Summers, I'm Oliver Cromwell, your barrister and I'll be
> representing you. I know what the police here have said occurred; now I
> should like to hear your version of the events."
> 
> Buffy hesitated at this, since she was unsure if she could tell him
> 'everything' since she didn't want to have him run out of the room
> screaming.
> 
> "If by your hesitation has to do with your shall we say 'nocturnal'
> occupation, I can say I am familiar with it. So please do not hesitate for
> that reason."
> 
> "Alright, that night Faith...err the other Slayer and I were fighting
> vamps to get to Balthazar's lair...." Buffy proceeded to tell the lawyer
> everything that happened that night with Finch, Faith and Balthazar when
> she was finished she leaned back the chains on her arms and legs rattled
> slightly. "And that's everything that happened, so now what?" 
> 
> "From what you've told me I believe we can have the charges reduced or
> dropped in favor of your testimony against this Faith Spencer."
> 
> "Uh, what? No, I won't testify against her, she's already suffered enough
> because of me. Right now she's in a coma, what if they find her guilty?
> They could decide to kill her as she's sleeping. No, not happening."
> 
> "Miss Summers, you have several witnesses who can ID you as in the area
> when the murder took place. That and your 'previous record' at your last
> two high schools, the fights and other problems will be shown as evidence
> that you are dangerous and unstable."
> 
> The sound of the door unlocking halted any further conversation as it
> swung open to reveal the Sunnydale ADA, Thomas Nox as he entered the room.
> 
> "Mr. Cromwell, have you informed your client as to the deal we are
> offering her?"
> 
> "Not yet, I was just speaking to her about that now."
> 
> "Well let me save you some time then, what we are offering is Man 1 and a
> minimum of 25 years before parole if you testify against Miss Spencer,
> otherwise we go to trial."
> 
> "WHAT!! Are you crazy? I didn't kill anyone." 'Well alive at least' Buffy
> added silently.
> 
> "That's not what the evidence will show in court Miss Summers and if we go
> to court you'll be tried for Murder 1 and you'll be facing the death
> penalty." 
> 
> "Not only that, but if we find out that your family has been concealing
> knowledge of this murder, I will have your mother arrested for perjury and
> obstruction of justice and your sister will end up in foster care, this is
> your last chance Miss Summers. Cooperate or your family will pay as well
> as you." Nox smiled evilly. 
> 
> Anger filled Buffy as she stood up suddenly, the chains holding her until
> snapped the links holding her arms down. "No-ones' gonna hurt Dawn or my
> mom."
> 
> "Guards!!" Nox yelled out as he backed away in fear, and in rushed three
> large guards who grabbed the small young woman who was partially free from
> her chains. 
> 
> As the guards grabbed her, Buffy didn't fight back, she allowed them to
> cuff her and hold her down. "Nox, get out of my face, we have nothing to
> talk about. I didn't kill anyone and I'm not going to testify. Now get out
> of here before I do something I won't regret." 
> 
> "Guards, it's ok to leave now. I need to speak with my client. There will
> be no further outbursts." Cromwell looked at Buffy sternly as he spoke.
> The guards reluctantly let the prisoner go and walked out of the room. 
> 
> "Are you going to do anything else that foolish Miss Summers? Just so that
> I'm prepared."
> 
> "No. But he threatened Dawn and Mom. How can you..."
> 
> "Enough. That was all it was Miss Summers, a threat, nothing more. However
> if you continue with these outbursts I cannot defend you properly."
> 
> The dream changed and she moved restlessly in her seat as he recognized
> where she was now....
> 
> She'd been in solitary for two months and she longed to see Dawn or her
> mom. Out of all the things she missed from her life on the outside, the
> aching for her mom and sister were unbearable. She'd had the attorney
> Cromwell tell her mom that she was okay and that she missed them, but they
> never replied, and the ache that they might think she was a murderer cut
> her worse than anything.
> 
> Turning as Cromwell faced her, she tried to push away the thought of never
> seeing her family again. It was the middle of the trial and the police
> officer who had 'discovered' the murder weapon was on the stand and the
> ADA had finished questioning him. He walked past her and to the DA's table
> and picked up the murder weapon.
> 
> "Officer Johannsen, how long have you been with the Sunnydale Police?"
> 
> "Almost two years now."
> 
> "I see, and how exactly did you know where to look for this weapon?"
> 
> "We caught a lucky break, we were searching down at the docks when I found
> it near a trash can in an alley".
> 
> "So you just 'happened' to find this lying on the ground from a murder
> that occurred over a year ago? Is that right?" 
> 
> The officer visibly squirmed in the witness chair. "Well I wouldn't put it
> that way."
> 
> "Oh really!" Cromwell pounced on the opening he was waiting for, "And how
> would you put it?" 
> 
> "I'd say she probably tried to dump it and just ran afterwards."
> 
> "So Miss Summers after coldly murdering the Deputy Mayor, decides to leave
> the weapon lying in an alley instead of disposing of it? That is your
> conclusion Officer?"
> 
> Cromwell handed the weapon in the evidence bag to the officer, "Officer
> tell the jury exactly what this is." 
> 
> "It's a stake."
> 
> "And it's made of wood, correct?"
> 
> "Yes."
> 
> "Then why didn't she just burn it or carve it into a toothpick?"
> 
> "Objection, your honor, where is defense counsel going with this?" the ADA
> asked.
> 
> "Sustained, defense counsel will keep to the facts at hand and stop
> raising speculation on this."
> 
> "What! How can I defend my client this way? The defense must have the
> latitude to raise reasonable doubt as to the reliability of this being the
> murder weapon."
> 
> "Mr. Cromwell, I've made my decision, one more outburst and I'll have you
> held in contempt, do I make myself clear?"
> 
> From there Buffy knew the outcome had already been decided...
> 
> Buffy turned around looking for her Mom & Dawn in the courtroom. But she
> only saw Dawn enter and duck her head, letting her hair, which was longer
> now, cover her face as she sat down next to Giles. Turning back around
> quickly, she couldn't bring herself to look at her, and see the anger and
> hurt in Dawn's eyes, and looked at her orange clad legs barely paying
> attention to what Cromwell was saying.
> 
> Cromwell looked at the defeat written on her face. "The judge is going to
> be back any second. You need not react harshly. Miss Summers no matter
> what the outcome." 
> 
> She sat back letting the chains rattle loudly in the otherwise quiet
> courtroom.
> 
> "All rise for the Honorable Richard Green." The bailiff called out as the
> judge entered the room.
> 
> "Has the jury made a decision?"
> 
> "We have your Honor," the jury foreman replied and then opened a piece of
> paper. "We the jury in the case of California vs. Elizabeth Anne Summers
> on the sole count of the indictment, Murder in the First Degree find the
> defendant guilty." 
> 
> "The court thanks the jury for their assistance and they are relieved,
> this court will have the sentencing in one hour."
> 
> Present......
> 
> "Ma'am?" Beth felt a hand on her shoulder and barely remembered that she
> was in public. She quickly curbed her initial reaction to fight back. She
> felt the dried tears on her face and the after affects of the dream
> started to drift away. 
> 
> "This is the last stop Ma'am, Sunnydale, California."
> 
> She glanced up, noticing the empty bus and the sun starting to drift below
> the horizon. "Oh, I'm sorry for falling asleep" and she quickly grabbed
> her bag and started to shift past the bus driver. "Home" Beth murmured and
> stepped off into the cooling April air.
> 
> It felt strange to be back in Sunnydale. This lace had been her home for
> five years and yet now she felt like a stranger. "This place is no longer
> my home" Beth thought, 'I'm just a visitor here.' 
> 
> Squaring her shoulders she headed down the street in search of a payphone
> and spotted a sign at one of the stores and headed on over. As she got
> closer she saw the name, "The Magic Box", 'sounds like someplace Will
> would have gone to.'
> 
> Opening the door Beth stepped inside and looked around for the payphone.
> She saw quite a variety of books on magic, herbs and other odd items on
> the shelves in here. Over by the register up front Beth spotted the
> payphone and walked over, not paying attention to the young woman behind
> the counter. 
> 
> Walking over, as she reached the payphone she stiffened as heard a voice
> she thought she'd never hear again and dropped her duffel bag.
> 
> "Can I help you Miss?"
> 
> Beth turned around slowly to see Giles standing in front of her.
> 
> "Buffy!" Giles whispered his eyes widening in surprise. "What are
> you...How?" Giles knees buckled underneath him and he collapsed to the
> floor.
> 
> TBC....
> 
> Thoughts, Comments, Anyone still alive after this? 
> 
> Bill L aka Spike Jr.
> Vice-President of Monetary Embezzlement and Lawyerial Affairs to the
> Senior Executive Committe of List Gutter Affairs.
> Dark Jedi Knight and member of the Dark Jedi Council, Worshipper of the
> Temple of Chaos, Mischief and Mayhem.
> Card-Carrying Member of the Captain Cardboard Must Die and GBWNS (Get
> Willow and Buffy Naked Society) GWBNS - Hey, It's a Way of Life.
> Member #5 in the CSWCS and Director of Conversions
> Resident Silent Gopher and fellow Mischief maker with Sam (I Am) Koala in
> the Sunnydale Forest Woods Outback
> Member #3 of the Hand of Chaos
> 
> And 
> 
> Sensei Ferret, co-president of TOTW (Take Over The World)- I'm not only a
> president, I'm a member for life, worshipper of Koala Feet and Fruit Bats
> everywhere, videographer of the Intergalactic Sexcapades and Strip Tango
> companies, co-founder of CSWCS (Can't Spell Worth Crap Society) It's not
> just my passion, it's my life, and Samurai Ferret Extrodanaire.
>