Chapter Text
Going into the courtroom, was also a media frenzy. She was helped into the stand by a bailiff who just picked her up and put here there. Her entire family front row smiling at her as she took the honour and sat down.
The defences lawyer was first, Chimney sat there smirking wearing his LAFD uniform.
“Miss Buckley-“ Evelyn cut her off immediately.
“Dr. It’s Dr Buckley. If you’re going to address me, use my correct title. I think you’re getting off to a bad start already.” Evelyn pointed out.
“For someone so traumatised you surely do have quite a spit fire.”
“Objection!”
“Withdrawn. Dr Buckley, you worked with Firefighter Han for a year before the issues began to rise?” Bianca asked.
“I did.”
“Right, so what changed? I mean breaking up him and your sister, it made sense that man was upset. He loved her, just wanting to know about her welling being surely isn’t too much to ask for?” Bianca walked closely to the jurors.
“Sure, if that was the case. However it wasn’t, he was acting obsessively. I told Maddie to get away while she still could.”
“You killed your sisters first husband correct?” Bianca asked.
“Objection! Relevance?” Oliver argued.
“I’ll allow it, please answer Doctor.” The judge said.
“In self defence yes, after he broken in the attacked myself and my sister in our home. Yes I shot and killed his as it was my right to defend myself in my home. I served my country in order to keep those rights, so yes I did kill him. You can find all of the footage and the proof from the various police interrogations including the Naval one.” Evelyn answered calmly and Oliver gave her a small nod.
It was clear the lawyer was prepared for that answer.
“So you killed another man in cold blood-“ Evelyn stopped her.
“Self defence. Learn your terms your a lawyer.. act like one.” Evelyn bit back and even the judge had to cover a laugh with a cough.
“Self defence or not, you still killed another man for your sister. It seems a little like you two are close, perhaps too close. What gave you the right to break up Firefighter Han and Miss Buckley.” Bianca asked.
“I’m not entirely sure how this pertains to Firefighter Han killing me, I think that also answers your question. I was trained to see the signs, I saw the signs, worst case scrub was wrong and they’d reconnect. But I wasn’t wrong, he would’ve done to her what he did to me. Except no one would’ve saved her, so yes. I told MY sister to leave, she was not his wife, she was not his anything. She followed my advice and got the hell out here, I was not losing my sister to him. Even if meant losing myself.” Evelyn answered.
“Anyone else would find that admirable, I find that obsessive. Firefighter Han did not kill yiu, as you’re sitting here right now.” Bianca tried.
“After I was beaten for 7 minutes 37.8 seconds. My heart stopped, for 2 minutes and 47 seconds. He was still kicking me while I laid on the floor, dead. I was dead, if it wasn’t for another firefighter throwing Han off of me. I wouldn’t be sitting here, if he hadn’t worked on getting my heart started with another paramedic, I would’ve never met my nephew. Saw my family again, got to smile, laugh, feel the sun on my face, my last memory would’ve been pain. When my family would come to collect my body they would’ve remembered me as a broken destroyed mess. So yes, he did kill me.” Evelyn voice kept breaking.
“Do you need a break? Doctor?” Bianca smirked.
“Didn’t get one while I was beaten. Don’t need one now.” Evelyn answered.
Bianca went in and kept trying to pick apart her story, saying she provoked Han by comparing him to Doug. Oliver kept objecting, winning against her.
“No further questions your honour, your witness.” Bianca sat down defeated.
Oliver stood up and walked straight in front of the jury.
“Evelyn, tell me about your childhood. The best memories.” Oliver said.
Every single memory included Maddie, not one of her parents.
“So you really love you sister, would do anything to protect her. Even if it meant risking your own life.” Oliver smiled at her.
“Yes, she protected me my entire childhood. It’s what family really is.” Evelyn answered.
“So you were asked what lead to this, however never asked what happened to you during this time. I’d like to present, evidence 4-27b to the jury. These are images and multiple complaints just against Firefighter Han correct? These injurties he caused alone.” Oliver said handing her some of the pictures.
It was of her body covered in bruises by locker checks, after the blood thinners from her first pulmonary embolism. Where her leg had been kicked before, shoulders dislocated.
“Yes.” Evelyn croaked out.
“I’m sorry I know this is hard, we have video footage too. Confirming it was Firefighter Han… many people will wonder. Probably do wonder, you’re a trained SEAL. Why didn’t you fight back, defend yourself?” Oliver asked as he played the every single video of Evelyn either falling to the floor in agony, being locker checked or choking on food that had been laced.
“I couldn’t, standing was torture, walking was hell. Retaliating would’ve caused it to get worse, I did a risk assessment. In.. the condition I was in. Fighting back would’ve done more harm than good, especially if he wasn’t alone. I wanted to go home, even if it meant.. having that done. I took it, as I knew, if I did anything else. I could’ve died. Coming off the blood thinners, I was weaker, in pain, I’m not saying I wouldn’t have won. I woukdve, I was trained to win. Doesn’t mean we both would’ve come out of it alive, I also made a vow to protect and serve. Not hurt or kill, so I swore I wouldn’t do anything. No matter what, angering him.. or his friends. Well you’ll see what he managed to do on his own, also just because I’m a trained SEAL, this doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to break. We break, we’re human. I also didn’t want to risk not beint able to keep my sister safe, fighting back. It wasn’t an option, not a safe one.” Evelyn explained her voice completely destroyed as she wiped her tears.
“Have you watched the footage yourself?” Oliver asked.
“No, I lived it.” Evelyn answered.
“I’m going to play it, to prove Evelyn’s point. The media, the people, may have things to say for her not defending herself. Now you’ll see why, there’s a saying ‘pick you battles’ she did. Right now she’s fighting back, using the skills she learned in the SEALs would’ve ended Firefighter Hans life. Even with everything he did to her.. so honoured her word and vow. Now what does that tell us about the kind of person Evelyn is.” Oliver finished.
The video played and everyone watched, the judge looked visibly sick. While a few members in the audience were, family members of the 118 saw how they all stood and did nothing. When it finished, the court room was in an awful silence.
“Even when given the option, to tell him where her sister was. She could’ve lied, could’ve misled him, could’ve told him but she didn’t. She made a vow, to her sister and kept it till the very end. Now tell me, if that isn’t a fighter. She may not of fought with her fists or body, she did it with her heart. Now, would you want that kind of man near your sister, daughter, mother, children? I don’t, I’m allowed to mention this now as he denied it. Firefighter Han was offered 6 years, with the possibility of parole instead. He chose to watch his survivor break, that’s what she is a survivor.” Oliver finished.
“Thank you.” Evelyn smiled at him.
“No further questions your honour.” Oliver sat down.
“Relive the witness your honour.” Bianca answered.
“We’ll take an hour recess I think we all need it.” The judge banged his gravel.
The bailiff once again helped her down into her chair and got her into the room, while Chimney shouted at her. The judge threatening to hold in contempt if her carried on.
Evelyn sat in the room waiting or her Ohana, she just sat staring out the window. Her heart in pieces.
“Evy?” Steve whispered.
“Bug.” Evelyn cried, Steve ran to her and just pulled her out over chair and held her.
“You did it baby, you did amazing. I’m so proud of you.” Steve kissed her.
The rest of the Ohana went around hugging her, complimenting her bravery. The spent the next hour in the room, when it came time to come back. The judge came in and set up a video feed so she could watch here, while Steve stayed with her.
Everyone went back and took their turn in the hot seat, the trial went on all day. Everyone refusing to take breaks, finally it was over at 7pm, it was unheard of for a trial to go on continuously foot 12 hours.
Chimneys verdict would’ve be given tomorrow.