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Cowboy	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 5572 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. Written for pleasure not profit.

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“Cowboy”

October 2010 ShenLong

Chapter 29

[It’s the broncs and the blood

It’s the steers and the mud

And they call the thing, Rodeo

Rodeo – Garth Brooks]

The bailiff stepped forward with a sheaf of papers in his hands and in a clear voice, announced to the court and the judge the charges. “Case #276549; The State versus Miss Relena Peacecraft. Charges are; Defamation. Instigation of attempted murder.”

“Who are the representatives?” asked the judge as the bailiff placed the papers pertaining to the case on his desk where he could read them.

Both attorneys stood up. “I am Roger Gilbert, representing the defendant, Miss Peacecraft, your honor.”

“District attorney, Henry Davies representing the prosecution for the State, your honor.”

“Thank you, gentlemen. In the case of the first charge of Defamation. How does your client plead, Mr. Gilbert?”

Gilbert glanced at Relena who nodded and then lowered her eyes. “In the case of Defamation, my client pleads guilty, your honor.”

There was a murmur throughout the court room, French, Barnes and the DA smiled to each other. Heero and Duo looked a little stunned.

“I didn't think she would give in that easily,” Heero muttered to Duo.

“Guess she got smart,” Duo replied.

Marks banged his gavel down to restore order. Everyone immediately shut up. “In the case of Instigation of attempted murder, how does your client plead, Mr. Gilbert?”

“In the case of Instigation of attempted murder, my client pleads not guilty, your honor.”

Once more the murmurs started. Duo's eyes were wide, Heero looked grim. In front of the pair, the police officers and the DA all looked quite comfortable with the decree. It was as if they had been expecting it and were more than happy to have the chance to bring forth evidence and shoot the woman down in flames.

“Not guilty?” Marks checked.

“Correct, your honor.”

“Very well. I will give both the defense and the prosecution the opportunity to present their opening statements to the court. The defense will then proceed with their evidence; the prosecution will be given their chance once the defense has concluded. Gentlemen, you have five minutes to prepare your opening address'.” Marks brought the gavel down hard again.

The DA went into a huddle with the two police officers, jotting down a few things on his note pad as they talked. Gilbert was similarly speaking with Relena. Heero took a moment to glance across at Relena, just as she looked up. Their eyes met for a brief moment. Relena's eyes were pained, a look of sorrow also in the depths. Whether the sorrow was for the trouble she'd caused, Heero didn't know, and personally, he didn't care either. Because of Relena, and Dorothy, Heero had almost lost the one thing that was rapidly becoming the sole focus of his life. He filled his own eyes with as much hatred as he could and glared back. Relena looked away.

The gavel banged again, ceasing all chatter in the court room. “Your five minutes are up, gentlemen. Mr. Gilbert, if you would proceed with your opening address?”

Gilbert stood and after a quick glance to his notes, he began his speech. “Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the court. The woman you see before you is a kind and gentle person...”

Duo snorted and quickly turned it into a cough.

“Relena Peacecraft is not capable of instigating a murder, in fact, far from it. Yes, she was upset when her fiance

informed her he was leaving her, and whilst this sort of thing happens regularly in the world, the news that your fiance is leaving you for another man, does not. Understandably my client was upset, angry and humiliated. It was whilst my client was in this state of emotional turmoil that she moved in with a very close friend of hers and she did what all people do when they find themselves in such a situation; she talked to her best friend about it. Whilst my client may have wished the removal of a Mr. Maxwell from the scene, she would never have acted on those thoughts. I intend to prove that my client, although emotionally upset, was not capable, and never did instigate an attempt of Mr. Maxwell's life.” Gilbert returned to his seat.

“Thank you. Mr. Davies?”

The DA stood up and turned to face the court, swiftly glancing over the people present before switching his gaze to Relena. “Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the court. I intent to prove that Miss. Peacecraft, whilst she may not have 'pulled the trigger' so to speak, was certainly responsible for putting the idea into another's head and allowing the other person to go ahead and attempt to remove a Mr. Maxwell, who is completely innocent of any crime, from this earth.”

“Short and to the point, ain't he?” Duo muttered.

“No sense in wasting words,” Heero whispered back.

“Thank you, Mr. Davies. Mr. Gilbert, you may now present your case in the defense of your client.”

Gilbert took the floor and went into a long explanation on how Relena, feeling completely betrayed by her fiance had fled to her friend's home and been taken in. He called Relena to the stand and had her sworn in.

“Miss. Peacecraft, when you discussed your breakup with your fiance, Mr. Yuy, with your friend, did you at any stage say you wished to see Mr. Maxwell killed?”

“No.”

“Did you discuss ways in which you could get your fiance back from being with Mr. Maxwell?”

“Yes, I did.”

“What, in fact, were you planning to do in order to have Mr. Yuy return to you?”

Relena took a deep breath and keeping her eyes lowered spoke with a slight tremble in her voice. “I was hurt and humiliated that Heero would have left me for another man. My fiance is not gay and that other,” she swallowed, “that other cowboy somehow managed to lure him away from me and corrupt him with his vile ways.”

“Objection. Mr. Maxwell's lifestyle is not the question here.”

“Sustained. Miss. Peacecraft, kindly keep your answers to the question asked and do not speculate or offer information that is not relevant to the case.”

Relena looked suitably crushed. Duo couldn't help but smirk.

Gilbert gave his client a stern look. “I repeat, what were you planning to do in order to have Mr. Yuy return to you?”

“I wanted to expose that Maxwell creature for what he is. I planned to have a couple of newspapers run stories on their relationship, tell the people just what sort of low down creatures these gay people are, let the world know just what was going on in that rodeo and amongst certain cowboys. I'd hoped that when the story hit the media and Mr. Maxwell was outed for what he is, he wouldn't be able to compete in another rodeo or purchase the stock he wanted to for his ranch. Once he's exposed for what he is, no one would want to deal with him, Heero would wake up to himself and return to me where he belongs. It's not right, two men living together and carrying on like that, it's against the laws of nature...”

“Objection!”

“Sustained. Mr. Gilbert, please inform your client to only answer the questions. I will not tolerate any further deviation from the point in question.”

“Yes, your honor.” Gilbert turned to Relena. “Just answer me with a yes or no, do not say anything further about Mr. Maxwell and the life he chooses to lead.”

Relena bit her lip and nodded.

“You planned on exposing Mr. Maxwell as a person of ill repute who had nothing better to do than steal your fiance?”

“Yes.”

“You had no intention of harming Mr. Maxwell or Mr. Yuy?”

“No. I just wanted to humiliate him and have Heero come back.”

“Were you at any time aware of your friend, Dorothy Catalonia's intent to remove Mr. Maxwell from the equation?”

“No, I wasn't.”

“Had you been aware of Dorothy Catalonia's intent to harm Mr. Maxwell, would you have gone along with it?”

“No!”

“Had you been aware, would you have done anything at all to prevent it?”

“I wasn't aware of Dorothy's intentions at all, if I had known I would have tried to talk her out of it.”

“Would you have informed the authorities of her intentions?”

“Yes, I would. I never dreamed she would go that far. I never intended for anything further than humiliation and I'm so sorry I didn't know what Dorothy was planning. Maybe if I had, I could have stopped her.”

“No further questions, your honor.” Gilbert sat down. Relena sniffed politely into her handkerchief.

“Mr. Davies?”

“Thank you, your honor. I have a couple of questions.” Davies stood and approached Relena. “Miss. Peacecraft, you say that Mr. Yuy is your fiance, correct?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Then can you tell me why he never bought you an engagement ring?”

“He hadn't got around to it.” Relena was starting to look a little flustered.

“Isn't it true, Miss. Peacecraft, that you proposed to Mr. Yuy, that it was you who suggested you get married and that Mr. Yuy continuously told you he was not interested in settling down at this point in time.”

“Heero was just being shy.”

“Miss. Peacecraft, Heero Yuy is not your fiance, he never proposed to you, you were the one that proposed to him and he turned you down. You are not engaged nor ever were. Mr. Yuy was and still is a free man, free to make his own decisions with whom he wishes to see and spend his time with. Not only did you try to force an innocent man into a commitment of marriage, but when that failed you planned to remove the one thing that stood in your way – Mr. Maxwell.”

“No! No, I never...”

“Order! Order!” the judge barked out, banging his gavel hard as the court room erupted into chatter.

“No further questions, your honor.” Davies sat down.

“Does either party have anything further to say in regards to the charge?”

“I have a written statement from my client in her defense that I would like to present to the court,” Gilbert said and stood.

”You may submit the document.”

“Thank you, your honor.” Gilbert handed over the letter.

“The state has several statements and recorded evidence it would like to submit.”

“Present your evidence and statements, Davies.”

“Yes, your honor.” Davies approached the bench and handed over a file.

“The court will adjourn for an hour whilst I consider all the evidence. The court will reconvene at twelve noon when I will announce my verdict.” The gavel slammed down hard on the desk.

“All rise,” said the bailiff as the judge departed to his chambers.

Once the judge was gone, the court room emptied out pretty quickly. Duo and Heero found themselves surrounded by their friends, Treize and Charlie amongst them. It didn't take much convincing for Heero and Duo to join their friends at a local cafe and grab some refreshments whilst they had the chance and discuss the events thus far.

All agreed the DA was excellent in his job and that Relena had what was coming to her. The evidence was there, completely stacked against her and Duo had begun to feel a little more confident as the trial had continued.

“They have to find her guilty,” Quatre stated. “After a confession like that, there's no way they would let her off.”

“I'm pretty sure that once she opened her mouth and went on her little rant about gay people the judge knew she was just as responsible as Dorothy for the attempt on Duo's life. It's nothing but a vendetta against Duo and the gay community,” Trowa summed up.

“She's nothing more than a spiteful, selfish, moron,” Wufei sniffed.

“I'll bet my job that the judge can see through her,” Charlie added to the conversation.

“I'll be happy if he locks her up,” Heero muttered.

“I just want her to leave us alone,” Duo said and then looked at the eyes upon him. “What?”

“How can you be so calm about it all? The woman tried to kill you, Duo.” Wufei couldn't believe his ears.

Duo shrugged. “She wasn't the one that cut my rig, that other bitch was. I do believe that Relena didn't intentionally want to see me physically injured or killed, but that doesn't mean she didn't plant the idea in Dorothy's head. I'll be happy if the judge puts a restraining order on her or something like it.”

“I have to say, you're a bigger man that I am, Duo. I'd want her blood,” Wufei said.

“Yeah, well. Once all is said and done, I'm still here, she didn't get Heero and the pair of us plan to explore this relationship a lot more and hopefully it will lead to something permanent.” Duo blushed as he finished his speech and glanced to Heero. Heero also turned a fetching shade of red but took his partner's hand in his own and squeezed it.

“I hope it does too,” Heero whispered softly.

“Awww, that's so cute,” Meiran said with a smile.

“Umm, I think we better get back to the court house, the judge should be back in another ten minutes,” Quatre said in an attempt to steer the embarrassment away from the couple.

“Yeah, guess we'd better,” replied Duo and stood up.

The group made their way from the cafe and back to the court house, stepping back into the court room and taking their seats again. Five minutes later, the bailiff opened the door and walked inside. “All rise,” he said loudly.

Judge Marks entered and took his seat, the court room taking theirs once he was seated. He shuffled a few papers around on his desk before looking up to the court room and then specifically at Relena. Gilbert nudged Relena who turned her attention to the judge.

“Miss. Peacecraft, please stand.”

Relena stood, along with Gilbert and twisted her hands nervously.

“After studying the statements and evidence supplied for both charges and hearing the arguments from both the defense and the prosecution in relation to the latter charge, I have come to my decision on both charges.”

The court room held their breath. Duo reached for Heero's hand and the pair entwined their fingers.

“In the case of Defamation in which you pleaded guilty, I fine you a total of five thousand dollars plus court costs. The five thousand dollars is to be paid to Mr. Maxwell for damages caused by your attempted allegations.”

Duo went pale. Five thousand dollars? Shit! He couldn't believe it.

Relena looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel.

“In the case of the charges of Instigation of attempted murder, I find you guilty as charged. I hereby sentence you to five hundred hours of community service and a further ten thousand dollars in compensation to be paid to Mr. Maxwell for the injuries he received from the attempt on his life. You are also to refrain from contacting or interacting with Mr. Maxwell for a period of twelve months. Failure to comply with any of these orders will result in a prison term of twelve months.” The gavel banged down hard. “The case #276549 of the State versus Relena Peacecraft is now closed.”

The bailiff had them all stand whilst the judge left the room for a fifteen minute recess. Once the judge had gone the court room erupted again into chatter. The bailiff approached Gilbert and spoke with him in regards to the fines and orders imposed on his client, escorting the pair from the court room and into the back of the court house where all the paperwork would be finalized. Back inside the court room Duo sat in dazed shock as his friends gathered around him to congratulate him and each offer their own thoughts on Relena's punishment. All agreed it was a fitting punishment and hoped that Relena had learnt her lesson.

“I don't think she will do anything like that ever again,” Heero grinned as he gave his boyfriend a hug.

“Shit! I don't believe it, Heero. Fifteen thousand dollars! Fifteen thousand. I can start to buy some decent mares for the stud,” Duo said, his mind still coming to terms with the result.

“You deserve it, Duo,” Heero smiled.

“I think it's quite ironic in a way. The very thing she set out to destroy, namely you and Heero being together and not being able to achieve your dream of breeding cow ponies and now she's actually going to be contributing to the cause and has to leave you alone as well. That's what I call justice,” Wufei smirked.

“I think we should all go out and celebrate afterwards,” Trowa said with a grin.

“I hope they have her picking up the rubbish from the road sides, or cleaning out the toilets,” Quatre muttered.

“Quatre?! That's not at all like you,” Duo said with a hand over his heart.

“She belongs with the trash after what she's done,” Quatre huffed, “and I make no apology for thinking that either.”

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the normally gentle blonde's disgust.

“I agree with Trowa, we should go out and celebrate later,” Treize said.

“I'll wait until after Dorothy's case is heard before I think about celebrating,” Duo stated.

“Of course. It will be a double celebration,” Charlie couldn't help but say.

“I like your positive thinking,” Duo snickered.

The officers and the DA were also thanked for their part in having Relena found guilty, all three waving away the praise and thanks, saying it was all part of their job.

The fifteen minutes passed rapidly and soon the bailiff was back. The court room quieted as Albroh, Dorothy's lawyer entered the court room. A couple of minutes after, Dorothy entered, flanked by two hospital orderlies a policeman and a doctor. Whilst the woman wasn't in a straight jacket, much to Heero's surprise and dismay, she was wearing a type of handcuff. Taking her seat, Dorothy turned to where Heero and Duo were sitting and gave them both a spiteful glare.

Heero resisted the urge to physically wipe the glare off Dorothy's face and retaliated with a glare of his own. Duo felt like poking his tongue out, but opted to ignore the woman instead.

“All rise.”

Judge Marks stepped back into the court room and took his place once more behind the desk. Everyone else sat and waited for the next case charges to be read out.

“Case # 276550. The State versus Miss. Dorothy Catalonia. The charges against the defendant are: Defamation. Tampering with private property with the intent to harm or kill. Attempted murder.”

A ripple of a murmur passed through the court room. Obviously the locals didn't get much in the way of entertainment out here.

“Who are the representatives in this case?”

“David Albroh, your honor, representing the defendant, Miss. Catalonia.”

“Henry Davies, representing the prosecution for the State, your honor.”

“Mr Albroh, in the charge of Defamation, how does your client plead?”

“Guilty, your honor.”

An eyebrow shot up into Hero's hair line. He hadn't expected that. Duo looked equally as stunned.

“In the case of Tampering with private property, how does your client plead?”

“Not guilty, your honor.”

“In the case of Attempted murder, how does your client plead?”

“Not guilty, your honor.”

Aside from the judge looking a little stunned by the pleas of not guilty, Duo and the rest of his friends wore looks of disbelief on their faces.

“Mr. Albroh. I did hear you correctly, did I not? Your client is pleading not guilty?”

“Ah, yes, your honor.”

“Despite a statement from your client that clearly has her admitting to the crime of cutting the rig with the intent of having the cowboy to whom the rig belonged unaware that his rig had been tampered with and as a result, being seriously injured?”

“Your honor, my client enters a plea of not guilty due to mental instability.”

“I see.” Judge Marks frowned. “This case is adjourned to my private chambers. Only the defense, prosecution and the defendant's attendants are to be present.” The gavel banged down hard.

“All rise.”

The judge left the court room, Davies and the two police officers followed a moment later. Albroh spoke briefly to the doctor and orderlies before they escorted Dorothy from the room.

“What now?” asked Duo as he watched the groups leave the court room. He wasn't all that clued up on court procedures so was unsure what was going on.

Treize answered the question for him. “Given Dorothy's plea of mental instability, the judge is pretty much having the case heard as a closed trial. That means only those immediately involved are allowed to be present.”

"But I'm involved, it was my life she tried to end," stated Duo.

"I know, and should the judge require you to provide further verbal evidence he will summons you," replied Treize.

“Will we get to hear the outcome?”

“Yes. Once the judge has listened to the evidence from both sides, read any and all statements pertaining to the case, which includes the psychiatric report and heard from the doctor, he will then deliberate his findings. When he has come to a conclusion, he will reconvene the court and we will all hear the verdict.”

“Thanks, Treize. For a moment there I thought she was going to get off when the judge said to leave.” Duo looked a bit happier.

“Mental instability,” snorted Quatre. “That woman has always been nuts.”

“I have to agree with you there, Quatre,” Heero stated. “I didn't have a great deal to do with Dorothy, usually if she came around to visit Relena I'd take off with Wing. She gave me the creeps.”

“I can't believe she would stoop so low as to cut your rig. Revenge is one thing, attempted murder is another,” Wufei said to Duo.

Duo shrugged. “I guess that's what best friends are for, to do your dirty work for you.”

Meiran, who had been listening in to the conversation spoke up. “You say this woman is best friends with the other one? I do apologize, Duo if I'm sticking my nose in where it isn't wanted, but Wufei has filled me in a bit on what happened to you.”

“It's okay, Meiran, it's no big secret. I don't know how much Wufei has told you, but in a nutshell, Heero and Relena were together, Relena wanted to get married but Heero wasn't ready to settle down just yet. We kinda met up at a rodeo a while back now and got to know each other. The more we learned, the more we liked each other and the less Heero felt he was attracted to Relena. Heero decided he wanted to try a relationship with me, but Relena, in her bigoted way, decided two men together is an abomination. She accused me of stealing Heero away with my wicked ways and she wanted Heero back and me out of the equation. Dorothy is the one who cut my rig and caused my accident,” Duo recited.

“You know, I could be wrong, but from what you've told me, what Wufei has told me and what I've witnessed with my own eyes, I'd say that woman, Dorothy, has a crush on that other woman, Relena.”

Meiran's words were greeted with total silence.

“Well shit,” Duo huffed.

“How do you come to that conclusion?” Wufei asked. “You've never met either of them.”

Meiran smiled. “When I had my accident four years ago, I spent some time speaking with the psychiatrists in the hospital whilst I was recovering. It's very boring in a hospital and although the psychiatrists were treating me for my depression, I developed an interest in psychology. I spent a lot of my time reading up on it, studying it and learning a lot about how the human mind works. Seeing how Dorothy reacted to seeing Heero and Duo together, coupled with the charges and what I know of what happened, I'd say that woman is completely besotted with the other one, to the point where she would do anything to see her friend happy.”

Heero ran a hand through his bangs. “Actually, that all does make some sense. If I think back to when Dorothy and Relena would get together, there wasn't anything Dorothy wouldn't do for Relena.” He shuddered.

“If you ask me, she's one sick puppy. To think she tried to kill Duo just to get him out of the way and have Heero return to Relena...” Quatre looked ill.

“She's a hypocrite. All her ranting on about Duo and Heero being together and how sinful and evil it is, when all this time she's in love with Relena. I hope they lock her up and throw away the key,” Trowa stated quietly.

“Meiran, you're pretty smart to figure all that out. I'm impressed. Wufei, I'd hang onto her, she's a real keeper,” Duo said with a grin.

Meiran blushed but looked pleased with the praise. Wufei didn't bother to answer, he just wrapped an arm around the woman's waist.

“Well, nuts or not, looks like we are about to see what the judge thought and has decided,” said Treize and nodded to the corner of the room where Albroh, Dorothy and the rest of the 'private' gathering were returning.

Heero glanced at the clock and was surprised to see two hours had passed since the judge had left the court room for his private hearing.

“All rise.”

Everyone fell silent and stood as Judge Marks reentered the court room and took his seat. Duo and Heero were both sneaking looks at Dorothy to see if they could get any indication of what had transpired from the woman's face, but she was careful to keep her expressions to herself.

“In the case #276550; the State versus Dorothy Catalonia, on the charge of Defamation to which the defendant pleaded guilty, I fine you a total of two thousand dollars to be paid to Mr. Maxwell for the humiliation he has endured due to your actions.”

Duo gave a soft gasp.

The judge continued on. “In relation to the charge of tampering with private property, I find the defendant, guilty. In relation to the charge of attempted murder, I find the defendant, guilty.”

The court room burst into excited chatter, Heero grabbed Duo's hand and squeezed it tightly. Duo looked dazed. Dorothy's face clouded with anger, but before she could say anything, Albroh whispered in her ear and the doctor gave her a cold look.

“Order! Order!” Judge Marks bellowed and slammed his gavel down hard.

The court room quickly fell silent.

“After reading the psychiatric report and speaking with the doctor currently treating Miss. Catalonia, I am prepared to accept the diagnosis. Whilst the defendant did commit the crimes with the intent of removing Mr. Maxwell, she was not in a stable state of mind. Therefore, I sentence Miss. Catalonia to fifteen years incarceration with a non parole period of ten years. The sentence is to be served in the local psychiatric hospital within the Department of Corrections. If and when Miss. Catalonia is deemed well enough, the remainder of her sentence will be served at a correctional facility to be decided upon at that time. Miss. Catalonia is also responsible for all court costs and payment of all Mr. Maxwell's medical bills; and a payment of a further twenty thousand dollars for his pain, suffering and loss of income due to his injuries. This case is now closed.”

~ * ~

tbc...

AN: I am not all that clued up on the actual legal system and have based the trials of Relena and Dorothy on how the justice system operates here in West Australia where I live. My apologies for any inconsistencies.
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