It only took another split second for everything to be over.  The cop advancing on him had seen him jump and whether by perception or instinct had realised Sam wanted that gun.  The cop went to draw but either due to nerves or fear he fumbled the weapon as it clattered to the floor, somehow in the process cuffing himself.

He heard his father's words of hate scream from the dock and he wanted to kick, punch, fight his way over, fight through these men and women before him but he paused, and instantly took a step back.

He was here for justice.  Not just for Brooklyn, but for everyone.  It hadn't been served but his father wasn't getting out.  If he continued the only place he would be was jail too.  He recalled that feeling of pure white love that came over him in the cell that morning weeks ago when he promised to move on.  He felt an immense need for restraint, to see his son, to move on.

"You're right Dad," he said holding up his hands and backing away to the wall to allow the officers to restrain and remove him.  "I am not going to murder you, I don't want my boy to grow up not knowing me, like I did with you.  And yes, I am a coward.  The people I love are what matters and if I give in to rage now, I'll be no better than you."

As Sam was ejected from the courtroom to a small ante room to cool off - luckily he hadn't yet committed a crime (unless the judge was particularly harsh) he shouted over.  "I know you killed her Dad, this room knows what you did.  Rapist."

[hr]

Sam sat in the room, drinking water out of a plastic cup.  His father had been sentenced to eight years.  It was a long sentence the lawyer for the prosecution said, reflecting on the intent of the crime and his previous conviction.  The Judge was certain that a vendetta had been carried out both against his own family but that of Brooklyn's too.  The Judge had also warned Sam about how close he was to being arrested himself.

"I'm not him," he said, staring at the wall.  "I'm a good person, a good father.  I'm hurting because I know he did it.  He took Brooklyn away from her parents, from Louis and from me.  I don't need revenge, but I do want justice."

Sam dried the tear forming in the corner of his eye.  He needed to get home to his son....

[hr]

Sam returned home and he tried to process the shock he was in.  Not only at the conclusion of the trial and the verdict regarding Brooklyn, but also the fact that it was over.  He had learnt the terrifying truth the last few months about his father and his evil had killed the most innocent person there was.  He sat on the couch whilst Louis gurgled.   He picked up his son and held him tight.  Whichever way there lives would go they would go there together.  Sam would make sure that Brooklyn's memory would live on always.  Louis would know everything there was to know about his mother and Sam would raise Louis so she would be proud of them both as she looked down from heaven.

[i]There is a light that never goes out....[/i]