BTW, there was a great film made about the Papin sisters, called: “Sister, my sister” - Check it out.
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CHAPTER 13
When Gabrielle woke up, she immediately realized the judge wasn't in bed with her. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. On the pillow next to hers, she noticed a small note.
“Morning, counselor,
I took all the files and went back to my place.
I need to be alone today.
I need some time to think about all sorts of stuff.
I'll see you tomorrow morning.
Judge Lawless.”
Gabrielle couldn't help but notice how cold and detached was the judge's note. She signed it 'Judge Lawless' as if it was a memo. She didn't even use my name. She called me counselor…As if I don't matter to her, as if I'm nothing but her assistant, as if we didn't spend the last couple of nights sleeping in each other's arms…And let us not forget the way she snapped at me back at her mother's house. She didn't even apologize for that. Every time we take a step forward, we take two steps backwards as well. Every time we get a little closer to one another, she backs away, and I'm letting her do it. Why am I letting her? Maybe because I don't think that's how a relationship should look like, one side is running away and the other side running after him. Both people should want to be together, and clearly she doesn't want that, or maybe isn't capable of it. Is this what I want? I don't know what I'm doing. I never felt this way about anyone I've ever met. She makes me feel so much more. She's brilliant, funny, commanding, powerful, in control, focused, witty, beautiful beyond belief, sexy, passionate, she is fire, everything she does charms me - at times she can be so vulnerable, compassionate, carrying, tender, protective and soft. When she looks at me, she makes me melt. When she touches me, she makes me want her so badly it hurts. Have I fallen in love with her? Are all the feelings I have for her are love? Gabrielle was in turmoil. Deep down inside, the answer she posed herself began to become alarmingly clear to her.
What am I going to do now? She makes my heart explodes because of all those feelings I have for her, does she feel the same? It doesn't look this way, and she won't talk to me about what she feels and wants. Perhaps I should give her the space she seeks. Perhaps it would be best if I let her be alone for a day. Maybe she'll figure out what she needs. In the mean time I have to think for myself whether I'm willing to sacrifice so much for my feelings towards a judge and a woman.
********
An hour's drive sure as hell gives you plenty of time to think about things. Well, Lawless, there is no escaping it, you need to think about the unthinkable - Miss Gabrielle O'Connor. Your behavior towards her was a disgrace, and after everything she has done for you-- Everything she did for me. The judge remembered that night at her mother's house…at her brother's room. She didn't turn her back to me. She welcomed me into her bed, into her arms…and after everything I said to her about me not wanting to sleep with her. She didn't say anything about that. She didn't refuse me. She didn't admonish me. She accepted me, into her arms, giving me comfort, warmth and kindness. She eased my pain and loneliness, offering herself, without asking for anything in return, even though I had behaved like a bitch towards her. God, it felt too good sleeping with her. How did she pass the walls? How did she sneak her way into my heart? She is the most incredible woman I have ever met. She's everything I have never dared hope for in my dreams, and I cannot stop thinking about her, wanting her, wanting to protect her, care for her, give her…so much…but I can't. I don't deserve her, and she deserves someone much better than me. I care about her too much to have her being hurt by me, and I will hurt her. I have trained myself not to give anything of myself, it's a second nature to me now. I don't love... I can't risk it. It's not too late, is it?
There is nothing I can do about it. I can't afford losing control. She's better off without me. We'll both be better off.
********
It was 8:00 p.m., James found the judge in the billiard room playing pool, shooting hard at the balls. He also spotted a half-empty bottle of “Glanmorangie” scotch sitting on the bar, next to a half empty glass. The judge was oblivious to James' presence.
“Evening, judge. How's life treating you?”
“Like it caught me in bed with it's wife, old buddy,” she waved and lay down her stick on the green table. “Care to join me for a drink?” She offered.
'Old buddy!?' What's up with her!?
“No, thank you, judge, and frankly, by the looks of it, you had one too many,” James looked around. “By the way, judge, where is your better half?”
“I have no idea, James. It's over between us,” She stated. Her eyes were shimmering and she didn't appear well to James.
“Over??? What do you mean, over? It just started.” James exclaimed. I knew she would fuck it up. What a miserable woman she is...
“It barely started, and I had enough of it.”
“What did you do??”
Amazing how quickly he he's convinced it was I who fucked things up and not her...Wait a minute, it was my fault, wasn't it? Listen to me, even I got caught up in blaming myself “Nothing, James. I don't want to discuss it any further, I mean it. By the way, did someone call here, looking for me?”
“Umm, yeah, some clerk from the court house, he said he needed to speak to you urgently. I told him you were staying at your mother's and gave him your phone number there,”
“Did he say his name?”
“No, he didn't”
“James, you moron, you almost got us all killed. The killer broke into my mother's house while we were there!”
“Oh my God. I'm so sorry.”
“Never tell anyone anything about me again with out my specific permission, is that clear?”
“Yes, judge”
“Do you remember when did he call?”
“Umm...Saturday evening, I should think,”
“Call the Phone Company and tell them to send me a list of all the phone calls that were made to this house on Saturday, understood?”
“Yes, judge”
The judge finished her drink, took her car keys and put them in her leather pants pockets. “I'm off to the Pussy.” She muttered, and left.
And people think you're brilliant, you idiot James raged in his head. He grew too fond the small blond, to let her be abused by the obnoxious, all mighty Judge Lawless. Sure, she was a very good friend of hers, and he would always be loyal to her. It's just that he didn't care for the way she was handling things with the younger woman. Without hesitation, he picked up the phone, and urgently summoned Sharon and Tammy over.
They got there in no time.
“Listen up, we have an emergency. Our friend, the honorable judge Lawless told me it was over between her and Saint O'Connor.”
“What did Xena do?” The both asked in unison.
“Screw it up, evidently. The judge is on her way to the Pussy. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to make sure she doesn't pick up a fuck at the Pussy tonight. I would gladly go to the Pussy myself to stop her, but since I'm not allowed in the Pussy, for obvious reasons, nor do I wish to enter the Pussy, or any other pussies for that matter, you'll have to do it, for her sake.”
“Mission Impossible…keeping her questionable honor, judge Lawless, away form a good looking female,” stated Sharon, and Tammy nodded in agreement. “It'll be like trying to keep Sandra Bernards' mouth shut”
“Should you fail in your mission, this house keeper will deny any knowledge, well, I'll deny knowledge in any case.”
“Chicken. Anyway, we promise you that we'll do our best to prevent her from doing something that she'll regret for the rest of her life.”
At the mean time, Gabrielle was at her house, fixing dinner, occasionally looking at the phone, hoping it would ring and that the judge would be on the other line. She'd been restraining herself from picking up the phone and call Xena. She missed her. A knock on the door cut trough her train of thoughts. Gabrielle approached the door and looked through the peeping hole. An old gentleman was standing there.
“Who is it?” Gabrielle asked.
“A clerk of the district court, Miss.”
Gabrielle hesitated for a few moments, I'm letting this case turning me into a paranoid, I must put an end to it then opened the door.
“Are Miss. Gabrielle O'Connor?”
“Yes, I am” Gabrielle replied wondering what was it all about.
The old gentleman handed her an envelope, which Gabrielle recognized the blue papers immediately. It was a letter from the district court. “You've been served” he said turned around and disappeared down the stairs. Gabrielle opened the envelope and moved her eyes quickly over the document.
“That bitch!” she yelled. She slammed the door shut and barged into Tori's room. She was furious.
“You won't believe what she did!!” Gabrielle exclaimed upon bursting into Tori's room waving the blue document in frenzy.
“I assume that when you shouted 'that bitch' you were referring to judge Lawless?” she smirked. “I believe that nothing is beyond her…can you belive this woman--me -- a dyke…”
“Tori, stop thinking about yourself for a change.”
“What did she do?”
“She subpoenaed me, for Christ's sake”
“Subpoenaed you? What are you talking about?” Tori's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
“I'm supposed to go to court tomorrow morning for a hearing before her, and bring all the documents and information I have regarding Laura Adams, the young prostitute that was initially arrested for the murders we've been investigating.” Gabrielle explained.
“Couldn't she just asked you for them?” asked Tori.
“Of course she could have. I would have let her have them over my dead body, of course. It would be unethical of me to hand them over to her. Laura Adams' file is protected by attorney client privilege. The file is confidential. No way in hell I'm breaking that trust. Laura Adams has the right to privacy and confidentiality. This subpoena is in violation of her rights. Xena can't do this. I am going to fight her on this. I'm going to appeal.”
“Your girlfriend is a real piece of work, you know that?” Tori shook her head in disbelief.
Girlfriend, like hell she is “You know what pisses me off the most? That this is the way she chose to ask me for Laura Adams' file. She didn't bother to discus it with me first or asking it of me, she fuckin' subpoenaed me, as if she didn't know me, as if I wasn't her assistant, as if we weren't in a relationship”
“Gabrielle, I think it's high time you smelled the rotten corpse. What relationship?”
“I don't have time to think about it right now, Tori. I need to think about the hearing tomorrow.” Gabrielle sat down on Tori's bed, placing her elbows on her knees and covered her face with both her palms. Think, think, think Gabrielle.
“Well, I'm going over to talk to her about this, try to make her see things my way. If it won't work, I will have no choice but to appear before her tomorrow morning and object. Hopefully she won't hold me in contempt, and if all things fail, file an appeal.”
“Well, Gabby, look at the bright side.”
“Is there a bright side?”
“If she'll put you in jail for violating her order, now that you're a dyke and not seeing judge heartless anymore, finding a new girlfriend in prison should be a piece of cake,”
Gabrielle was too upset to laugh.
“Your girlfriend is “A vilde cha'ya”” stated Tori,
“A what?”
“'A vilde cha'ya', it's Yiddish for 'A wild animal'”
“I guess your grandma taught you that, ha?” Gabrielle muttered. A lamp in her throat welled up. “I thought she had feelings towards me,” she finally whispered with a trembling voice. She couldn't contain her tears anymore. Boiling tears were washing her sad face. Tori hugged her friend's quivering shoulders.
“I am so sorry Gabrielle. But what the hell were you thinking? You knew She hadn't gotten her reputation for nothing,”
********
“James, Good evening,”
“How are you, Gabrielle?”
“I've had better days. Is Judge Lawless there?”
It can't be good if she calls her that...“Umm…I'm afraid not,”
“Oh. Well I need to speak to her. It's urgent.”
“I don't know what to tell you, Gabrielle. She is not here. Can't it wait until tomorrow?”
“Can you tell me where she is?”
“Umm…I'd rather not,”
After a few moments of silence Gabrielle picked up the nerves and asked “Is she at the Pussy?”
There was silence on the other side of the line. “I'm sorry” James said finally. He couldn't have helped but feeling embarrassed “Was there another murder?”
“No,” Not yet, but just wait till I see her...There might be another one...What body part should I shove down her throat?
“Can I take a message?”
“There isn't a point, is there?”
Gabrielle hung up the phone, and went to prepare for the hearing. Great, I hate burning the midnight oil.
*******
OK Gabrielle, you've been there, you've done her...that. No need to get nervous. Though it's judge dread, remember, you had your tongue deep in her throat two nights ago, and you know how she looks like when she falls asleep and when she wakes up...And she has an Ex called Simba. Be a professional. She can't intimidate you. You're not in Law school anymore, and she is not your professor. She thrives on power, don't give her the ammunition -- retaliate. This is a battle, and it's a battle you must win. Beat her at her own game.
“Good morning, counselor” God, she looks gorgeous in hand made suits.
“Good morning, your honor,” God she looks so sexy with that robe, reading glass and hair pinned up like that.
The judge took her time reading some documents before addressing the young attorney again.
She's doing that to make you feel small, don't bite into that, stay calm. Show her you're not at the least bothered. After a few moments the judge's blue eyes made contact with Gabrielle's greens from above the frame of her reading glasses. She was examining her like a predator. Gabrielle didn't blink.
“So, counselor, what have you got for me?” the judge finally pulled down her reading glasses.
“I'm afraid nothing, your honor” Gabrielle replied confidently.
“Well, you're here, so I should assume that you've got the subpoena?”
Oh, I've got it all right “That would be correct, Your honor”
“Weren't you ordered by this court, by me, to bring before me all the documentation and files you have regarding Laura Adam?” the judge voice sounded cold and commanding.
The courtroom was barely half full because it was very early in the morning and this was just a hearing.
“Yes, I was, your honor. However, I presume your honor is familiar with ethics? All the information and/or documentation I have regarding Laura Adam's is confidential. It is protected by the attorney client privilege. Last night I tried to contact my client in order to ask her whether she'd be willing to wave that privilege, unfortunately, I was unable to locate her. For the benefit of this court, I have prepared a reference list of rulings of the Supreme Court regarding the issue. I am sure that this court will void the order”
“Counselor, surely you realize I'm the investigative judge in the series of murders which the press refers to as “The Mohel killings”?
“Of course I do, your honor. Up till yesterday, I was your assistant on the case. However, since I got subpoena by your honor, I thought it would be inappropriate for me to continue working with your honor on this case.”
The judge couldn't mask her surprise. She mentally shook her head and regained her composure. “Oh, and why is that?” she said eventually
At that point the courtroom was almost full. The reporters began to take serious notice on what was going on in the courtroom. At the beginning, it seemed like a routine, not newsworthy hearing regarding the process of collecting evidence, but then, the interaction between Judge Lawless and her former assistant counselor Gabrielle O'Connor became interesting.
“For once…well, honestly, your honor, I find it hard to work with someone that apparently doesn't take the rights of citizens of this country to privacy as seriously as I do,”
The judge cut trough the bold blond speech “Watch it, counselor. You are walking on thin ice here,” her tone of voice was strained and frozen.
“And second,” Gabrielle continued, ignoring the judge's warning, “I would think that a judge, to whom I assist in such grave investigation, would talk to me first before she subpoenas me. It shows distrust, not to mention that these sort of proceeding are a waste of tax payers money,”
The reporters that occupied the courtroom and bore witness to the exchange between the young attorney and “Judge Dread” couldn't believe their eyes and ears. Out came the pens and notebooks.
“I said careful, counselor. I will not warn you again. Now, I will not hold you in contempt for not bringing me the documents as ordered. However, you have until tomorrow to bring them to me.” As far as the judge was concerned that debate was over. She slammed down her hammer.
“I ask of this court to postpone it to another date at least two months ahead,” the brave young attorney disregarded the well act the judge pulled.
“Why is that?”
“Because I'll be filing an appeal on your honor's order by the end of this day, and it would take the federal court approximately between a month and a half to two months time to give its ruling, and since the act of delivering the files is irreversible…”
God she'll be great in front of a jury “Yeah…I can see where you're going with it…clever… You do realize that these documents might provide me with the information about the killer? The first two victims were Laura Adams' clients. This waste of time of yours might cost someone's life, counselor, and if you would have been as keen as I am to find the killer, you could have called me after you've been served with my order and discuss the matter with me,” the judge said. Gabrielle could see that the judge was furious.
“As a matter of fact I did call your honor's house last night in order to discus the matter at hand, unfortunately I was told that your honor was at a club called “The Pu…”
“THAT'S IT, COUNSELOR, IN MY CHAMBERS, NOW!!!” the judge lost control. The judge stood up and stormed out of the courtroom and into her Chambers. At the courtroom there was silence. It appeared that the journalists were too shocked. It took them a couple of minutes to snap out of it, and then a loud buzzing began. Gabrielle smiled and was light headed. She succeeded. She won, and the judge, as well as the press, knew it.
After a few moments, Gabrielle entered judge Lawless' Chambers. She saw the judge pacing back and forth, still wearing the robe.
“What the hell did you think you were doing out there?” the judge yelled and stopped the pacing.
“Defending my client's right to privacy.” Gabrielle retorted calmly.
“Bullshit. I don't buy that for a second. You were looking for an excuse to fight me because I didn't remain at your house yesterday morning.” The judge went on yelling.
“That is so not true. Besides I don't have to go out looking for excuses to fight you, you've been supplying me with good reasons to, ever since we've met” At that point Gabrielle lost the energy that was required to remain clam. It was like all the adrenaline that bubbled up inside her during the hearing was cruising through her body. She was raising her voice as well. But she couldn't deny, though, that at least part of the reason she nearly spilled the bins as to judge's whereabouts the previous night had something to do with the fact that she gave her a cold shower yesterday morning.
“Look, I need those documents regarding that Adams woman, and I need them yesterday,”
'That Adams woman'? She makes it sounds as if she was talking about Morticia.
“There is nothing there that can help us. If you would have talked to me about it yesterday, I would have told you so myself. You could have spared us both today's charade at the courtroom.”
“Well, I wanna see for myself,” the judge folded her arms over her chest.
“Tough luck, if the Federal Court will instruct me to hand it over to you, then you'll see for yourself, not before” Gabrielle replied.
“Why are you doing this!?” the judge exclaimed.
“I'm not doing anything, it is you who's doing things. You subpoenaed me because you knew I would resent it. It was your grandiose way of telling me you don't wish to peruse this thing we have between us, ”
That's horse manure, isn't it? First deny, then debate it with yourself. “I was not doing anything of the kind,”
“Yes you were!!! Why, in God's name did you subpoena me? Why couldn't you pick up the phone and talk to me about this? For Christ's sake, I'm your…” Gabrielle couldn't continue. The judge lowered her head. “That's it, isn't it? I'm nothing to you. I shouldn't be surprised with the way you've been going about things.” The blond tried her best to keep her emotions at bay and to not show how hurt she really was “By the way, was she satisfying?”
“What? Who?” the judge was confused.
“The woman you've picked last night from the bar” Gabrielle replied quietly. She closed her eyes, readying herself for the judge painful reply.
“I didn't pick up anyone last night, James sent Tammy and Sharon to keep an eye on me,”
Gabrielle felt pain attacking her inside. “So it wasn't like you didn't want to, it just that your friends prevented you form picking up someone.”
“I wasn't sure what I wanted” the judge paused and slumped into her big leathered armchair behind her desk. She felt she didn't possess the strength it took to stand up after everything that had happened.
“Well you sure as hell don't want me, that's for goddamn sure. You went out seeking a one-night-stand last night to make sure nothing could possibly develop between us,” Gabrielle realized. I cannot believe how stupid and naive I was.
“Gabrielle, I think we need to talk about things,”
Gabrielle took a long intake of breath and whispered “Xena, we don't talk, we fight, and in light of recent events, I don't think there's a point anymore -- it's over” It was then that the judge felt something. It was the same feeling that she had when the doctors had informed her that Larry's cancer had returned. She felt terrified. “I'll see you around, your honor, and good luck catching the killer” Gabrielle tried to smile but it came out miserable. She turned and began walking towards the door. She placed her hand on the handle, holding back tears. God, please don't make me cry in front of her.
“I'm scared,” the judge called from behind her. Gabrielle lingered near the door. The judge's admission surprised her. Gabrielle tarried a little longer till she was sure her voice would be steady. She hasn't turned around to face the judge yet.
“Of what?” She finely said.
“Of what's going on between us” The judge replying.
Gabrielle turned around and faced the judge “Why? Does it scare you that I care about you?”
“I'm scared that I care about you”
“Why?”
“I've eaten a lot of crap from women that said they loved me, and I have this extraordinary gift of failing at relationships. I tend to take things for granted, investing myself in my work instead of my partners”
“I know”
“Ever since then I didn't allow myself to love, but you've reached me. You've touched me. You make me feel so many things” the judge couldn't look at Gabrielle. “It terrifies me to feel”
“So you're running away…You're destroying” Gabrielle muttered.
“What are the chances? I mean, What if it doesn't work?”
“That is a chance we both have to decide whether we are willing to take or not.”
“Gabrielle, you've never been with a woman…”
“That's right, but I know what I feel,”
“What do you feel?”
“I want to be with you, Xena. I care about you a great deal. I feel waves of emotions when I'm with you, when you hold me, when we kiss.” After a small pause she said quietly “I want to make you happy” Gabrielle played with her fingers, not daring to make eye contact with the blue eyes.
“I'm not an easy person to be with,” the judge stated. She felt elated when Gabrielle conveyed to her how she felt.
No kidding, “So I've noticed. But I want to give it a chance. You make me feel things I never felt before. I need you to trust me, Xena.”
“Oh, Gabrielle” the judge murmured. After a few moments of silence the judge began “You won't share…You don't want to…be with me”
Gabrielle understood what she meant.
“It is not because of why you think,”
“Then why?”
“Because I'm afraid,”
She is saying and feeling things with such conviction, I can't believe she's scared too. “Of what?”
“That you are not emotionally ready for it. That it would make it a whole lot easier for you, at this point, to fuck and ditch me. That's what you've been doing for the past 4 years, haven't you?”
“I understand.” The judge's heart felt heavy in her ribcage. “We'll wait until we're both ready. Until it's time,”
“I want more than a one-night-stand with you, Xena” Gabrielle admitted.
Those simple words melted the heart of the judge. Waves of tender emotions washed over her, almost drowning her, “Come here, please,” she asked. To Gabrielle it sounded more like a plea. Gabrielle approached the judge that was sitting her leathered armchair behind her desk. When she reached her destination, the judge placed both her hands on each side of Gabrielle's hips and motioned her to sit in her lap. Gabrielle allowed herself to be pooled by the tall blue-eyed judge. The judge placed a warm palm on Gabrielle's cheek and gently stroked it. They looked into each other's stormy eyes, intensely. Xena pulled Gabrielle to her and captured her lips with her own. Gabrielle, which was now taller than the judge, sitting on her thighs, leaned down towards Xena's lips and claimed them with her own. It was a furious and passionate kiss that left them both breathless and hungry. Xena's lips and tongue demanded and Gabrielle gave them what they were seeking - entrance. Gabrielle tasted sweetly like stolen water. Both their hearts overflowed with emotions and desire. Then Xena delved her fingers into Gabrielle's short, golden hair and pulled her down harder onto her, increasing the pressure she placed on her lips.
Gabrielle's craved to increase the pressure between Xena's body and her own, so she wrapped her arms around the judge's body. Xena's warm sensuous lips were caressing and nibbling, first Gabrielle's lower lip then her upper one. When Xena felt Gabrielle's distress for lack of air, she broke the kiss and descended down to Gabrielle's neck. Licking her trail, gently yet passionately biting the flesh there. Sending shivers through Gabrielle's spine, sending her body ablaze with fire. More, I want so much more of her was the only coherent thought the judge could muster.
She looked into Gabrielle's eyes, placing her fingers on Gabrielle's blouse buttons, asking permission. Gabrielle nodded her approval mindlessly, clouded by her need. The judge with trembling fingers fought the stubborn buttons, and slowly opened them one by agonizing one. The judge opened Gabrielle's blouse, exposing her flesh to her devouring eyes. The judge couldn't take her eyes from the sight that was revealed to her, Gabrielle's flashed body. Xena pulled the blouse from Gabrielle's shoulders, living her with only her bra to cover her nudity.
The judge cupped both the young attorney's ample breasts with her hands, living Gabrielle breathless. She felt the taunt nipples grow harder in her palms. The judge's center throbbed as she felt the fullness and softness of the young attorney's breasts against her palms. Xena pressed her lips to the valley between Gabrielle's breasts, licking her warm flashed skin.
Gabrielle was drank from passion. She maneuvered herself so that she would straddle the judge's body. She hugged the judge's head with both her arms, pressing her against her body, arching her body against the judge's hungry and pleasuring mouth. She pressed her center against the judge's abdomen, cause she needed the sweet relieving pressure. She was oblivious to the fact that small passionate whimpers escaped her mouth and that her breathing was labored.
Xena massaged the swollen breasts of Gabrielle, revering at their weight, squeezing the hard nipples and placing wet passionate kisses and small bites on her chest and neck, stroking her back. She simply couldn't get enough. Gabrielle's muffled whimpers stoking her fire.
Then Gabrielle felt the judge's wet and hot mouth covering her right nipple, an eager tongue lashing at the hard tip soaking the bra, making the wetness pass through the material onto her burning flesh.
“Oh God,” Gabrielle moaned, feeling serge of wetness streaming out from between her lags, dampening her panties.
Both women didn't hear the knocks on the door, nor the door to the judge's Chambers open.
“Oh my God!”
Gabrielle jumped off the judge, grabbing her blouse from the floor, covering her nudity with it.
“Mrs. Prudence, what the hell are you doing here?” the judge exclaimed, nervously straightening her black robe, clearing her throat. Both she and Gabrielle totally embarrassed. By then Gabrielle finished wearing her blouse back.
“I work here, your honor,” replied the 63 year-old secretary.
“If you'll so much as breath to anyone what you've seen her, you won't.” warned the judge “Haven't you heard about knocking, before entering a room?”
“I'm sorry, your honor. I did knock”
“Xena, please,” Gabrielle whispered. “Mrs. Prudence, we're sorry. We didn't hear you knock. Both judge Lawless and I would appreciate it a lot if you kept the fact that Judge Lawless and I are…involved, a secret,”
“You're secret is safe with me, Miss. O'Connor,” the elderly woman placed a finger on her lips. Then she turned to the judge “Treat her well, your honor…she's a keeper,” the gray-haired woman grinned and winked.
“I don't believe this,” mumbled the judge. It's like she's putting a spell on people “By the way, Gabrielle, I still want to see Laura Adam's file,”
“In your dreams,” replied Gabrielle. “But I'll tell you what, your honor – Since I like you, I would try locating Ms. Adam again for you, and convince her to talk to you, good enough?”
The judge contemplated the offer for a few moments. “Yeah, ok” she said eventually. Then she relaxed and leaned back against her armchair.
Gabrielle sat opposite to the judge, on the chair at the other side of the desk. When the judge raised an eyebrow, Gabrielle replied to the mute question “Sitting in your lap gets us into trouble, your honor. Let's get to work. Is there anything new?” Jesus Christ...I can still feel her mouth wetting my nipple.
“Well guess what I have found about Willard.”
“Well?”
“His little boy was raped and murdered when he was ten years old. Apparently, it tore his family apart. He became depressed and finally it drove his wife away. They got divorced the following year. The kid's killer was never found. His kids file was sealed because at the time of the rape he was a juvenile”
“Jesus, that's terrible. What do you think?”
“I'd say the D.A has reached our number one hit list. He's the prime suspect”
“Do you think he is going out hunting for men and cutting their pines as revenge,”
“Not revenge exactly, it's more of a compulsion that was born out of rage and frustration. His kid's killer was never punished for what he had done. I believe that poor Willard is executing the punishment over and over again because he needs to punish,”
“I don't believe this.” Gabrielle drew a shallow breath, and shook her head.
“Look, before we jump to any conclusions, we'll start questioning all the people from the D.A's office and check out their alibi's. By the way, the lab test came back from my mom's house,”
“And?”
“Nothing, No prints, no DNA, no fibers, he wandered in my mom's like fucking Casper, the sociopath ghost”
“How come he left no saliva on the muffins, didn't he take a bite off them with his mouth?” Gabrielle asked.
“Apparently not. He took a piece from each of them with his gloved fingers.” The judge replied.
Gabrielle rubbed her temples, contemplating. “Xena, what if we are wrong?” She finally said.
“How do you mean?” the judge questioned and leaned forward.
“What if these killings were committed by a woman. I mean, you said it yourself, all three victims were drugged before they were killed. What if it is because a woman couldn't overpower her male victims…I mean, what do you know about women serial killer?”
“Actually, I have been giving about it some thought, Gabrielle. Well, women serial killers are different from men serial killers.”
“Deferent how?”
“Well, mostly by the way they kill. The acts of killing it self are usually less violent. Up to 80% of all women serial killer poisoned their victims, such as Margie Barfield in the 80', Martha Beck in the 50', Sister Dodfrida, a killer nun, in 1978, Mary Ann Cotton, in 19nt century Britain. Of course there were also women killers that used more violent methods like Mary Bell a sadistic 11 year-old British girl who murdered two boys, age 3 and 4. Another example would be the Papin sisters from France, who murdered their employers on February 1933. They slashed and stabbed their victims, gouged out their eyes, then hammered the bodies beyond recognition. What amazing was that they didn't ran away after the murder. They were found naked in the bed they shared. It was widely believed that the two sisters had sexual relations with one another. Most women serial killers don't mutilate corpses, which is common to a certain type of male serial killer. Mind you, there is a difference between women serial killers, who tends to be less violent, and women mass killers, who kill in one outburst of violence,”
“I see I'll have no problem falling asleep tonight,” Gabrielle murmured.
“Have you ever heard of Countess Erzebet Bathory?”
Something tells me I really don't want to know anything about her “Who?”
“Hungarian Countess Erzebet Bathory is credited as the first person on record to be murderously motivated by blood—and certainly the first woman. Legend has it that she killed approximately 650 young girls. She slapped a servant girl, got blood on her hand, and believed that it made her skin look younger. To restore her beauty, she then made a practice of bathing in the blood of virgins and having girls lick her dry. By some accounts, she drank the blood herself.
Born in 1560, Erzebet grew up experiencing uncontrollable seizures and rages. When she was 15, she married a sadistic man, Count Nadasdy. He taught her how to discipline the servants, such as spreading honey over a naked girl and leaving her for the bugs”.
I knew I didn't want to know about her. Gabrielle thought.
The judge, oblivious to her young partners slowly greening face went on, “He also showed Erzebet how to beat them to the edge of their lives, although some accounts describe her lesbian affairs with them as well. She also used them in her diabolical experiments and had a habit of biting them, sometimes to death. In 1604, Erzebet moved to Vienna. She also stepped up her cruel and arbitrary beatings and was soon torturing and butchering the girls. She sent her maids to lure children and young women to her quarters, so she could satisfy her lust. She might stick pins into sensitive body parts, cut off someone's fingers, slit her skin with knives, or break her face. In the winter, women were dragged outside, doused with water, and left to freeze to death. In a dungeon, girls were chained to the walls, fattened up, and "milked" for their blood. Sometimes they were set on fire. Even when Erzebet was ill, she didn't stop. Instead she'd have girls brought to her bed so she could bite them. The villagers could do nothing to stop her, because she had too much power.
When she turned her bloodthirst to young noblewomen, she got caught. After a murder in 1609 that Erzebet tried to stage as a suicide, the authorities decided to investigate. After finding some dead girls in her castle and another nearly drained of blood, they arrested Erzebet.”
I think I know into whom her soul reincarnated.
“There was another woman serial killer, who was a lesbian-- Aileen Wuornos”
“She's on death row, isn't she?”
“Yup. She killed 7 men with a 22-caliber gun. But you probably don't know that her mother had abandoned her as an infant and her schizophrenic father had been imprisoned for the rape of a seven-year-old. With a murder investigation on, he had hung himself in his cell. Aileen and her brother had been forced to live with her maternal grandparents, and her grandfather was an abusive alcoholic. When a friend of his (she said) impregnated her in Troy, Michigan, when she was only 14, she was forced to have the baby boy and give it up for adoption. Her grandfather then kicked her out of the house, so she turned tricks to survive. When she was 17 she was brutally raped and beaten.”
“Under those circumstances, I can almost understand her,” Gabrielle thought out load.
“There were even a couple of lesbian women, the lesbian nurse team of Catherine Wood and Gwen Graham, who had killed 6 convalescent patients in Grand Rapids, Michigan”
The judge went on, “Basically, psychopaths exhibit callousness, impulsively, shallow emotions, superficial charm, and no remorse for what they do. They're narcissistic and manipulative, and tend to seek stimulating activities like crime. They have no regard for truth, although they can evince complete sincerity, and they're looking out only for themselves. They fail to take responsibility for their deeds.”
“There was another famous case of a woman killer, however, by definition, she is a mass killer -- Lizzi Borden”
“I remember hearing the name,”
“A thirty year old woman, who axed her parents in 1892. ”
“So, women are capable of such atrocities”
After a short contemplation the judge said, “Look, only 8% of all serial killers are women and only 15% of all criminal women are violent offenders, so I suggest we finish with the men first, then if we won't find the killer, we'll check out the women. No pun intended”
“Fine by me,”
“Besides, if the killer isn't Willard, it has accord to me that the killer might be a gay man,”
“Jesus Christ, you are a homophobe,” exclaimed Gabrielle.
“Am not. Look, A lot of U.S. male serial killers were all gay: Donald Harvey claimed 37 victims in Kentucky; John Wayne Gacy raped and killed 33 boys in Chicago, burying them under his house and in his yard; Patrick Kearney accounted for 32, cutting his victims into small pieces after sex and leaving them in trash bags along the Los Angeles freeways; Bruce Davis molested and killed 27 young men and boys in Illinois; A gay sex-murder-torture ring, Corll-Henley-Brooks, sent 27 Texas men and boys to their grave; and Juan Corona was convicted of murdering 25 migrant workers. He "made love" with their corpses. And let us not forget Dahmer, who murdered 17 young men and had sex with their corpses”.
“God, you are obsessed with serial killers,”
I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
“But still, there were a lot of serial killers that killed women and were straight like Bundy, Gein, Bianchi and Buono, De Salvo, Berkowitz, Fish, Kemper, Bittaker and Norris, and the list goes on,”
“I see that someone did some homework....I'm impressed,”
“Thing is, our victims aren't women...there are man. Don't forget Dr. Straub's profile.”
“I see, so you think that the fact that all victims were drugged is meaningless?”
“Not necessarily, but do bare in mind that John Wayne Gacy, who raped and murdered 33 boys, also drugged his victims, and he was a large strong man that didn't have any problem overpowering a teenager. Drug reduces objection. It makes the victim more easy to control”
“I guess you're right,”
Aren't I always?
“What makes a person become a serial killer?”
“That is the $64,000.00 question, counselor. There is no one answer to that question. But I'll tell you this-- Most serial killers were severely abused during childhood, and were usually rejected by a parent”
After a few quiet moments, “Well, on a lighter note, if you don't mind, counselor, do you have any plans for tonight?”
“Well, first I would like to go out for lunch. I'm famished. Then, I would like to get some sleep. I've been up all night preparing for the hearing, courtesy of yours.”
“Was that a complaint I just heard?” the judge teased.
“You bet your sweet ass it was,” Gabrielle grinned and there were small cute wrinkles on her nose.
She is soooo adorable sometime I feel like I wanna eat her...not Hannibal the cannibal style “Wow, when did you learn to talk like that?”
“...And you thought you've got it all figured out about me,”
“Apparently not,” the judge said with serious expression as if she just realized it herself. “Anyway, I'm invited to Sharon and Tammy's house this evening, care to join me?”
“Sharon and Tammy, ha? They invited you over to fill you in, haven't they? They must be pissed at you for what happened last night...”
Insolent little...Pumpkin. I must be loosing it... “I'm taking the fifth counselor,” the judge smirked.
*******
“Oh what a nice surprise to see you here, Gabrielle,” that was the welcome Tammy gave Gabrielle. I seriously believed she was no longer with us.
“How are you, Tammy?”
“I'm well. As a matter of fact, we didn't expect to see you here, because of Xena's idiotic, not to mention infantile, behavior,” Tammy replied.
“I understand. Well we've talked about it after the hearing in court this morning,” Gabrielle said.
“Yeah, we've heard about the brilliant stunned she pulled today. It was all over the evening editions,” Sharon said.
“It was written in the papers?” Gabrielle was amazed.
“See for yourself,” said Tammy and handed the blond attorney the newspaper.
The headline read “Sparks in the courtroom of district Judge Lawless” Sparks again. Gabrielle couldn't help but be flattered that her name was on the paper as the young attorney who dared stood up to judge Lawless with such efficiency.
“You are bad for my reputation” the judge grumbled towards the blond, and went to sit in the living room.
Gabrielle wondered into the kitchen after Tammy in order to lay a hand.
“Tammy,”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember what you said to me once, about if I had any questions...?” Gabrielle's cheek became red. She couldn't bring herself to meet Tammy's gaze.
“Of course, how can I help you?”
“Well, umm...you know what, never mind. Forget I said anything,” Gabrielle shook her head. She began playing with her fingers.
“Gabrielle, you needn't be embarrassed about anything. I won't make fun of you, and I won't tell Judge Dread out there anything.” Tammy assured her and placed a supporting hand on Gabrielle's shoulder, in a way, forcing Gabrielle to make eye contact with her. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, I was thinking a lot lately about Xena and me...” Gabrielle began. I kicked Judge Dread's ass in court today and now I cannot ask a simple question.
“Yes?”
“Well, I'm thinking about, you know...umm...being with her”
“Yes?” Tammy asked. Gabrielle gave a helpless look towards Tammy. “Oh, I'm sorry, you mean having sex with her,” Tammy said.
Amazing how she can talk about sex the same way she talks about gardening...I should learn that from her.
“Yeah, that's right.”
“Is she pressuring you?” Tammy asked. If she is, I'll personally strap her down on the torture chair in my clinic and give her a root canal treatment she'll remember for a long time...Then I would bill her...And my bills can hurt more than anything I do...thought the dentist.
“No, no...Not at all.” Gabrielle was quick to discard Tammy's concerns.
“Oh, I see. She's hard to resist, isn't she? She is so damn sexy. I've always said I had only one regret in life -- not having sex with Xena before I met Sharon.” Tammy laughed. Gabrielle was too embarrassed to laugh. She merely grew redder. “You are hot for her, aren't you?”
“Well, yeah...as you so eloquently put it.” God it's hot in here...or is it just me? I feel feverish. I think I'm coming down with something, from talking about coming down on somebody.
“There is nothing to feel embarrassed about, you know. I think that your desiring her is a good thing.”
Gabrielle relaxed a bit and started to feel more comfortable. She knew that Tammy
wasn't being mean and embarrassing her on porpoise. “You have no idea how she makes me feel when she touches me. Every part of my body becomes alive. No one has made me feel this way...and I'm warning you, Tammy, if you tell Xena about this...Once we catch the killer, I'll ask him to do me a favor in exchange for a lesser charge or a plea bargain.”
“Chill, sweet thing. I won't tell the judge a thing. I must admit thought. You, counselor, are quite a surprise. I didn't perceive you as such a passionate,” Horny, actually “lady”.
“Well, you know what they say. Things never seen.”
“You are so lucky for going to bed with Xena. Word around the campfire is that she is a legend in bed. She's an extraordinary lover.”
'Word around the campfire'? She means there were women that actually lived to tell? I would assume that Judge Lawless kills after she mates. Gabrielle didn't say a thing. She lowered her head.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't suppose to say it?”
“No, I'm sorry.”
“What's on your mind Gabrielle. You were about to consult in me, weren't you?”
“She is very experienced, and I have never been with a woman before...I'm afraid I'll disappoint her.” Gabrielle's voice didn't registered above a whisper.
“Don't be ridicules, Gabrielle. You know she cares about you, don't you? I personally never saw her trying so hard and at the same time both to fuck up and trying to save a relationship with a woman. You won't disappoint her”
“But I wouldn't know what to do. I'll feel like a rookie, and you know her and you know how condescending she can be. She'll make an insulting remark about my performances and....”
“Gabrielle. She wouldn't dare. I know she tends to behave like a bitch at times, but trust me when I tell you that she would do no such thing. If she does I'll personally pull out her teeth for ya,”
“In any case, I don't know how to...p...pleasure a.... a woman” Gabrielle became red again.
“Well, you can see how she pleasures you and then pleasure her the same way. After all she's a master. And besides, from my experience I've learnt that women usually pleasure other women the same way they wish to be pleasured.”
“Well, I guess it makes sense,”
“If you'd like, I can loan you my 'the joy of lesbian sex' book. It's from the 70's and the illustrations are poorly drawn, but I think it'll do. They haven't invented anything new since the 70's in sex, I gather”
Gabrielle began to laugh.
“What's the matter?” questioned Tammy, both eyebrows raised in surprised.
“I never thought I would need a manual to learn how to have sex,”
“Honey, I didn't think so either,” Tammy began to laugh too.
At that the judge entered the kitchen, “What's the matter Tammy? Are we addicted to laugh gas, again?”
“Fuck you, psycho-judge. You get off from holding people in contempt,”
“And you get off from pooling people's teeth with all those mid-evil torture instruments you've got in that clinic of yours. You give BDSM a whole knew definition,”
“From what I've heard, you're the last person to scold me about BD...” the judge place a quick hand over the dentist's mouth to shut her up.
“Umm...your honor, You know that what you've just did was considered by the penal code as an assault, not to mention the depression of the fundamental right of freedom of speech. Should you take your hand off her now, I might advise my client not to press charges against you, not to mention file for disciplinary actions against you,”
“And there I was thinking you're on my side,” the judge took her hand away from Tammy's mouth.
“I'm always on the good side,” replied Gabrielle. Judge lawless with a whip and leathers...mmm...
“Xena, can I ask something of you?”
If you'll rub me, you can have even ask for three wishes the judge mused in her mind. All that talk about BDSM sprang a stream of vivid images of their sweet necking in her Chambers earlier that day.
“Xena, be nice to your friends,”
The judge rolled up her eyes.
Gabrielle mobile phone began to ring. “Hello...yes, this is Miss O'Connor...Yes, Detective, Judge Lawless is with me...Oh my God, Where?...Well, please make sure that no one touches anything. We'll be there in 15 minutes,”
“Shit,” the judge hissed from between her teeth.
“Another body was found in Goldbridge Park. It looks like our guy. Police is on the scene. They'll waiting for you.” Gabrielle could barely control her shaking hands.
The judge placed a gentle hand on the smaller woman's cheek. She gave her partner a concerned look. “Are you sure you're up for it?” She whispered.
Gabrielle nodded, “I'll be OK, thanks”.
The judge grabbed her coat and made it to the door.
“Tammy, we're sorry. We'd have to cut that visit short.”
“Yeah, so I've gathered. Take care of yourselves”
“We will. Apologize to Sharon for us, and ...”Gabrielle whispered “Thanks for the talk”
“Anytime, dearie,”
“GABRIELLE!” the judge shouted from the entrance doorway”
“I'm coming, I'm coming,” Shouted back Gabrielle,
Good for you. The judge smirked in her head.
TO BE CONTINUED....
alt fic
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