Damien

"Hallie..." I said.

"I know," Nate said. "I know."

"This means..." I trailed off as I shook my head.

"I'm going to do my best to get some answers. I don't
know how I'm going to get to Vin, but I'll call i'm every favours. I promise you, Damien, I'm going to find the answers to our questions."

Do I dare hope? I asked myself.

If Vin is alive there is a huge possibility that Hallie is too. And if she is, then why? Why hide from me?

These past few months have been hell. Have been torture... and now, to finally have a chance at knowing she could be alive, I can't explain the way I feel. Aside from happiness, why do I feel hurt and a sense of betrayal?

Why?

"Nate..." my voice cracked.

"I know, man. I understand," he said as he squeezed
my shoulder.

I closed my eyes and ran my hand down my face in frustration.

"Do you want to go back in there?" he asked.

I looked back at the court house and blew out a frustrated sigh. "No," i said. "I need to be somewhere else," I said.

He nodded.

I signalled my security and they followed me to the car.

"Take me to her," I said.

My head and my heart were both pounding. I still can't believe Vin is alive.

What the hell happened that day?

I walk towards her feeling different. I feel a certain anger I can't explain.

"I'm so confused," I said out loud. "I feel
like everything I've known these past months have been a lie. A nightmare. Vin is alive and I just...
how? What happened? You were with him just moments before the explosion." I too a shuddering breath.

"God.... I never believed... you were dead. I couldn't accept it. But somehow I had to. For Ty and Michy. And now... how I hope it's true. I hope you are alive, and if you are what does that mean for me? For us?"

I took a deep breath. "I love you. I love you so much... I'm going to find answers."

Whether I'll like the answers is what I have yet to find out.

My phone pinged.

I looked at the screen and read the message. "20 minutes. Courthouse." was all the message said from Nate.

I quickly got into my car and asked to drive back to the courthouse. "Quickly," I added.

***

"What's going on?" I asked.

"You have 10 minutes with him," Nate said.

I swallowed nervously.

I nodded as he opened the door for me.

I walked in and there he was. Sitting. Calm.

I sat down in front of him unable to say anything for a few moments.

"I know you have some questions," he finally said breaking the silence.

I cleared my throat. "How?" I asked.

"I had just made it out the side of the house when the explosion happened," he said. "There was a car waiting for us."

"Just you? I saw Hallie with you. You were together," I pointed out.

"We were, but she dropped something. She insisted on going back as I waited for her."

I frowned. What? what did she...? Her necklace.

Oh god.

"The next thing I know there was an explosion and I there was no sign of Hallie.  I'm sorry," he said.

I shook my head. "No...." god it was as if my heart was sliced open once again.

"I got in contact with the authorities and asked to be put into witness protection once I found out that Marcus was in police custody. I knew he would do anything to get to me once he finds out Iw as alive and I betrayed him."

"What I don't understand is we had a plan. Why did you decide to change it without letting us know?"

"We had a plan B in case our plan didn't work. Hallie was afraid for you and your kids. She wanted to make sure that Marcus would never get his hands on Ty and Michy."

"He wouldn't have if you had just trusted the plan!"
I slammed my fist on the table. "She was right there. Right in front me!" I growled. "She was right there!" I said again. "Why couldn't she just trusted me. Trusted us. Marcus wasn't getting away!"

"I'm sorry, Damien," was all he said.

I shook my head.

"She did it because she loved you," he said.

I closed my eyes.

I opened them and I looked at him. Without another word, I got on my feet and left.

***

"Come on, Dami, let's get you home," Derek said.

I chuckled. "Home? Where?" I slurred.

"I know you're hurting..."

"Hurt? I hurt, I don't," I laughed.

"We need to get you so you can rest and sober up and be rash for trial tomorrow," he said.

"You're not going so I'm staying."

"You're not making sense."

"I'm going so I'm staying!"

"Come and help me get him in the car," was the last thing I heard, suddenly everything went dark.

When I came to, my head was pounding and I felt like a truck has run over me. Little by little pieces
of last night came to me. My
conversation with Vin. Confirming that Hallie is dead which led me to a drinking binge. Derek coming to get me.

I winced.

"Dada," I heard Michy cry through the monitor. "Dada," she said again.

I ignore my pounding head and went to get Michy.

Her happy squeak once she saw me filled
my heart.

"Good morning my princess," I said as I picked her up and nuzzled her cheeks.

"Tookie?" she asked.

I laughed. "Not yet, pumpkin."

She stuck her bottom lip out.

I mimicked her.

She giggled.

"Come on, let's get your brother and have some
breakfast."

"Ty?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Then tookie?" She asked again as she leaned her head to one side.

"oh you're good," I narrowed my eyes at her playfully as I tickled her tummy making her squeak with laughter.

" I heard cookie," Ty burst out of his room and met us in the hallway excitedly, making me laugh.

"Come on cookie monsters, let's have breakfast then we can talk about half a cookie," I said.

"Yay, tookie!" Michy cheered, clapping her hands, before snuggling close and laying her head on the crook of my neck.

I dipped a kiss on her head.

I looked down at Ty who was grinning back at me. I ruffled his head.

"I love both so much," I said.

"Wuv you," Michy said.

"Love you, Daddy," Ty said.

***

I listened to Vin as he recounted everything that he did for Marcus. He talked about Hallie's mother and the abuse. The plans he had for Hallie. How he wanted her to take her mother's
place by his side.

He recounted very single detail. Every vile thing he had said and the plans he had, had my stomach churning.

Then it was the defence turn. And once again, he tried his best to twist his words and used his feelings towards Hallie's mother. He trie dito make it seem like Vin harboured anger towards Marcus because he was married to the woman he loved. He made it seem like Vin planned the whole thing to set him up as revenge. But Vin wasn't rattled. He kept his cool and stuck to his testimonies.

"Nothing further your honour," the defence said.

"Mr. Mulroney?," the judge turned to the state attorney.

"Your honour at this time, we would like to call on another witness..." he started to say when the defence objected.

"Your honour. What is this? Another witness?"

"Mr. Mulroney," the judge began.

"Your honour like Mr. Mendes, my next witness was put into protective custody."

"Your honour how many times is the state going to use this excuse. This ploy."

"Mr. Mulroney, this court is not a room for you to use for your own agenda."

"Your honour, like Mr. Mendes, this witness is a material witness. This witness was abducted, held against her will by the defendant."

"Objection! Your honour!"

"That's enough!"

"Your honour this witness feared for her life. In exchange for her testimony today the state has promised her protection until the day it is time for her to testify."

Her. A she...

My heart was pounding.

God.

"We will hear from this witness, but Mr. Mulroney any more surprise like this and I will find you in contempt."

"Yes your honour."

I looked over and Marcus was furiously whispering something to his attorney.

"Call your witness," the judge ordered.

"Your honour at this time, the people call Hallie Scott to the stand."

And with those words, I felt myself sag.

Oh god. I couldn't move. I was frozen. I couldn't believe my ears.

Hallie Scott. Hallie Scott. Hallie Scott... Her name
kept ringing in my head.

Everything around me was echoing.... ringing in my ears. I felt numb

Footsteps sounded. Nearing me...

I felt her before I saw her.

It is her.

I knew it.

This is real.

She's alive.

Vin lied.

"You fucking bitch!" A loud growl sounded.

"Councillor control your client!" The judge ordered.

"You fucking bitch! You're dead! Do you hear! You're dead!"

The banging continued.

"Bailiff, remove the defendant!"

Marcus continued growling his threats.

"Damien," Nate said again.

But I remained in a trance.

"This court is adjourned and will resume tomorrow morning at 10am with Hallie Scott on the stand."

And only then... Only then did I look up and looked at her.

I shuddered.

There was, looking at me.

It's her.

Her hair is longer and a different colour, but it's her.

Hallie.

Alive.

6 months after thinking she died in the explosion. She's here. In front of me.

Relief filled me.

Happiness.

Then the pain came crashing down on me.

I watched as she was led by an officer.

She had tears in her eyes. Tears that matched my own.

"Damien. She's alive. Hallie's alive," Nate said beside me.

I nodded feeling numb.

*****

What do you think is going to happen next?

Why is Damien not jumping for joy after finding out that Hallie is in fact, alive?

Let me know your thoughts and what you want to see happen next?

What will happen to Marcus? Now the he knows Hallie is alive, will he exact revenge and make good on his threats?