Ex Cathedra 1/?
Title: Ex Cathedra
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG/15, Gen
Summary: Four years later. Sam’s at college and Dean’s on trial for murder. Sequel to Dies Iræ
Characters: John, Dean, Sam
Warnings: AU, Dark themes but lots less dark than before. I still haven't changed my British spellings.
“I want you all to follow the Winchester trial closely,” Professor Michaels, one of Stanford’s leading criminologists, leans forward, no doubt anxious to impress on them the importance of studying primary sources as usual. “It’s a very unique case, and some of the legal argument that may come out of it will be interesting to note.”
“How is it unique?” Someone asks; not sounding terribly interested. Sam McKendrick looks at his notebook, where he’s written Dean Winchester and stopped. He underlines the name twice.
Professor Michaels glances at speaker in her slightly melancholy way, and shakes her head. Sam watches, his stomach twisting.
“I think someone hasn’t done their preliminary reading,” she chides, gently. “Anyone?” her gaze falls on her star student. “Sam?”
“Uh,” Sam meets her eye, looks away. “Because they said it wouldn’t go to trial.”
“Yes. Anyone else know why not?”
“Because he was batshit crazy,” the guy to the left of Sam cuts in.
Sam looks at the floor, then at the professor.
“Not quite how I would have put it, Mr Roberts, but yes, Dean Winchester is said to have a range of mental health issues that have prevented a trial taking place until now.”
“Didn’t he kill his brother’s girlfriend?”
“See, what I don’t get is how he managed to do all that with agoraphobia. Was he faking it?”
The discussion takes off around the room, just how Professor Michaels likes them to work through the topics. Sam usually joins in, making what he thinks are good points for most of the time, but this week he just sits there, deep in thought. His absence from the discussion is not marked, mass murder is a juicy topic after all, and most of the class have an opinion on whether Dean Winchester killed those girls or not. And then, there’s his motive. Nobody knows why he did it, or even how. That’s the reason, Sam thinks, on why Professor Michaels pegged this trial as unique and interesting..
Most of America wants to know how Dean did it.
“Of course he was faking it,” a scornful voice cuts across Sam’s jumbled thoughts. “How did he get hold of the knife he used? And didn’t his brother say he had a gun?”
“His dad gave him the knife,” Sam says, quietly. “It was a birthday present.”
He looks up to see their astonished eyes, “I uh - I read it online,” he clears his throat, conscious of saying too much in the wrong way. “I read he was an ex-Marine. The father, I mean. Real paramilitary survivalist type.” He clamps his jaw shut before he can say anything else, reddening.
“That’s a good point, Sam,” Professor Michaels frowns. “It’s always important to keep in mind the background of any criminal case. Now, would it be correct to state that Dean Winchester had a stable family background?” There’s a pause while her eyes skim around the class. Sam digs his fingernails into his palms that she doesn’t ask him. “Denise?”
“No - I guess not,” Denise begins, hesitantly. “They said his mom was murdered in the papers, and that he dropped out of high school.”
“Yes - his mother was murdered, in 1983. You should be aware of that; it may be brought up in the trial.” The professor shuffles through a neat pile of notes on her desk. “Elroy McGillicuddy was convicted of that murder and was executed in 1987.”
“What was his motive?” Denise asks, making notes.
“It’s said he had a sexual motive. Anyway - read up all you can on the case and we’ll discuss it next class.”
They all pack up, noisily, pleased to be able to get out into the sunshine five minutes earlier than scheduled. It’s been a long morning.
“Sam? Would you mind staying behind for a few minutes?” Professor Michaels catches him before he leaves, slightly behind the others.
“No problem, Professor,” Sam manages a smile.
[2]
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG/15, Gen
Summary: Four years later. Sam’s at college and Dean’s on trial for murder. Sequel to Dies Iræ
Characters: John, Dean, Sam
Warnings: AU, Dark themes but lots less dark than before. I still haven't changed my British spellings.
“I want you all to follow the Winchester trial closely,” Professor Michaels, one of Stanford’s leading criminologists, leans forward, no doubt anxious to impress on them the importance of studying primary sources as usual. “It’s a very unique case, and some of the legal argument that may come out of it will be interesting to note.”
“How is it unique?” Someone asks; not sounding terribly interested. Sam McKendrick looks at his notebook, where he’s written Dean Winchester and stopped. He underlines the name twice.
Professor Michaels glances at speaker in her slightly melancholy way, and shakes her head. Sam watches, his stomach twisting.
“I think someone hasn’t done their preliminary reading,” she chides, gently. “Anyone?” her gaze falls on her star student. “Sam?”
“Uh,” Sam meets her eye, looks away. “Because they said it wouldn’t go to trial.”
“Yes. Anyone else know why not?”
“Because he was batshit crazy,” the guy to the left of Sam cuts in.
Sam looks at the floor, then at the professor.
“Not quite how I would have put it, Mr Roberts, but yes, Dean Winchester is said to have a range of mental health issues that have prevented a trial taking place until now.”
“Didn’t he kill his brother’s girlfriend?”
“See, what I don’t get is how he managed to do all that with agoraphobia. Was he faking it?”
The discussion takes off around the room, just how Professor Michaels likes them to work through the topics. Sam usually joins in, making what he thinks are good points for most of the time, but this week he just sits there, deep in thought. His absence from the discussion is not marked, mass murder is a juicy topic after all, and most of the class have an opinion on whether Dean Winchester killed those girls or not. And then, there’s his motive. Nobody knows why he did it, or even how. That’s the reason, Sam thinks, on why Professor Michaels pegged this trial as unique and interesting..
Most of America wants to know how Dean did it.
“Of course he was faking it,” a scornful voice cuts across Sam’s jumbled thoughts. “How did he get hold of the knife he used? And didn’t his brother say he had a gun?”
“His dad gave him the knife,” Sam says, quietly. “It was a birthday present.”
He looks up to see their astonished eyes, “I uh - I read it online,” he clears his throat, conscious of saying too much in the wrong way. “I read he was an ex-Marine. The father, I mean. Real paramilitary survivalist type.” He clamps his jaw shut before he can say anything else, reddening.
“That’s a good point, Sam,” Professor Michaels frowns. “It’s always important to keep in mind the background of any criminal case. Now, would it be correct to state that Dean Winchester had a stable family background?” There’s a pause while her eyes skim around the class. Sam digs his fingernails into his palms that she doesn’t ask him. “Denise?”
“No - I guess not,” Denise begins, hesitantly. “They said his mom was murdered in the papers, and that he dropped out of high school.”
“Yes - his mother was murdered, in 1983. You should be aware of that; it may be brought up in the trial.” The professor shuffles through a neat pile of notes on her desk. “Elroy McGillicuddy was convicted of that murder and was executed in 1987.”
“What was his motive?” Denise asks, making notes.
“It’s said he had a sexual motive. Anyway - read up all you can on the case and we’ll discuss it next class.”
They all pack up, noisily, pleased to be able to get out into the sunshine five minutes earlier than scheduled. It’s been a long morning.
“Sam? Would you mind staying behind for a few minutes?” Professor Michaels catches him before he leaves, slightly behind the others.
“No problem, Professor,” Sam manages a smile.
[2]