Episode 15 "Exposure"

Chapter 1

Author's Note: Quick recommendation – when reading the voiceover below, imagine this being heard over freeze frames of the very first paragraph below, with all of our main character's faces and their reactions ;) ENJOY!

Emily's Voiceover: It has been said that "avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure – the fearful are caught as often as the bold." With any secret revealed, there comes subjection to the opinions of others; the realization that with divulgence of truth comes judgment. But for those who can endure, their former weakness becomes a source of power, giving them motivation to continue their journey, free from fear or restraint.

The uproar that broke out in the courtroom had finally settled when Judge Waters called for a brief sidebar so she could confer with counsel in her chambers regarding Emily's admission. Emily remained on the stand, staring out into a crowd of puzzled and shocked faces, particularly that of her father's and Jack's, while Nolan looked on in understanding, having been her sole confidant for the step she was about to take. Victoria had already been escorted into the holding area by the bailiff, as her outburst nearly pushed the judge to hold her in contempt, and she had exited angrily, slinging insults as she was pulled away. When David's persisting look of bewilderment became too pressuring for her to bear, Emily resolved to look down in her lap, patiently waiting for Stevie and Margaux to return with the judge.

Meanwhile, in her chambers, Judge Waters listened patiently as Margaux argued her concerns.

"Your Honor, she cannot be admitted as a rebuttal witness!" she exclaimed, struggling to keep her cool as both she and Stevie stood before the presiding Justice, inches away from each other before her desk. "She has just publicly admitted that her identity is a fraud—this entire case should be ruled a mistrial—"

"With all due respect, Counselor," Judge Waters responded firmly. "The decision to rule the case as a mistrial relies upon me to decide, and I am not yet convinced that the witness should be dismissed." She turned her attention to Stevie, still not quite settled. "However, I do have concerns about your witness's decision to use the stand to make a public declaration of identity?"

"Your Honor, if I may speak on her behalf," Stevie replied, prepared with a strong defense. "Ms. Clarke approached the prosecution prior to today's proceedings with physical proof of her true identity," with that statement Stevie produced a folder from her briefcase which she opened to reveal Emily's actual birth certificate, and handed it over to the Judge to examine. "Not only has the witness been forthright about her relationship to the defense's leading witness, she also has been cooperative and honest in not wishing to perjure herself under oath."

Margaux sighed, rolling her eyes at the last remark while placing her hands on her hips in insolence. "This is ridiculous, she should be charged with fraud and identity theft—impersonation of a dead person!"

"On the contrary," Stevie countered, facing Margaux while the Judge continued to review the birth certificate's authenticity. "The witness has described in detail the circumstances leading to her changing her name as a protection from the public eye following her father's wrongful imprisonment nearly twenty years ago, none of which substantiates any claims for identity theft or fraud." Stevie faced the Judge again. "She was within her right to change her name, and the girl who did perpetuate Amanda's identity was speculated for extortion of the Graysons and died in a boat accident, over two years ago."

The Judge looked up at Stevie, finding merit to all the points she was making, and allowed her to continue while Margaux looked on, her face reddened with frustration. "Considering the recent ramifications brought on this court for wrongful conviction of David Clarke, in addition to the media circus that followed his reappearance," Stevie went on, treading carefully. "I think it is in the court's best interests to at least hear out her testimony."

Judge Waters thought pensively, looking back and forth from Margaux to Stevie and down again at the birth certificate before her, before returning it to Stevie's outstretched hand. "Counselors, Ms. Clarke's admission does raise some questions…" She took a moment to consider, while Stevie inhaled and held a breath, waiting for her determination. "However, being that the witness has openly admitted relationship to her father, I would venture to say the content of her rebuttal testimony offers significant value."

Stevie exhaled, feeling the win beneath her fingers as she returned the folder to her briefcase. Margaux gaped beside her, gesturing in protest. "Your Honor—"

"This trial has been delayed long enough," Judge Waters cut her short. "So we will proceed with questioning her as a rebuttal witness to clarify David Clarke's reliability and the defense," she shot a gratuitous look at Margaux, "…will have the opportunity to question her as well. You are both dismissed from my chambers and court will resume session."

Stevie thanked the Judge with a partial smile of relief, saving a side-eye glance for Margaux as she brushed past her frowning face and uneasy stance, and returned to the courtroom.

SCENE

"Ms. Clarke," Stevie began, pausing to make eye contact with Emily as she approached to question her on the stand. "Do you prefer to be addressed by your given name or your legal name?"

"Either is fine," Emily answered, remaining calm as she faced the intensely watching faces before her. Victoria was once again back in the courtroom, seated beside Margaux and echoing an anxious look of disdain as she watched the prosecution begin questioning. Stevie looked at Emily for more assurance and she finally settled on an option. "Clarke," she decided.

"Thank you," Stevie continued. "Ms. Clarke, without distracting too much from the case at hand can you for the purpose of all present summarize the admission you just proclaimed?"

"Certainly," Emily answered, taking a deep breath to address the direction of the jury and the audience. "My birth name is Amanda Clarke, but for the past 10 years I assumed the name of Emily Thorne in order to protect myself from being affiliated with my father and the crimes that he was formerly convicted of." While she mentioned her father, her eyes danced slowly over to where he was sitting, and she found herself addressing him personally as she spoke.

"As a child I was committed into a mental institution following my father's arrest," she continued, drawing the rest of the courtroom into hear her story. Even Victoria who appeared to be seething with contempt was able to still her attention and focus as Emily spoke. "I was tormented… brainwashed… lied to…all to convince me that my father was a terrorist and to never trust him again." She looked back over at Stevie, who was listening quietly with her hand to her chin. "I suffered emotional trauma and acted out my pain in the foster homes I was placed in – eventually landing me in juvenile detention. When I was released, I vowed to leave Amanda behind," she shrugged at that point, conveying her failure to adhere. "But even with a new name, I couldn't stay away from the place I knew as home."

"So you returned to the Hamptons?" Stevie replied in question, watching the defense carefully as she sensed her time was short to expound on Emily's past.

"I wanted to be close to where I grew up again," Emily answered truthfully and then glanced over at Jack and Nolan. "And the people that once cared about me. I thought that in some form, that might help me to feel like…my father was still here."

"Which brings us to recent times," Stevie quickly summed up, eager to gloss over Emily's affiliation with the Grayson clan in favor of the trial at hand. "Considering that your father was believed dead, explain how you came to be reunited with him once it was uncovered that he was held captive by crime lord Malcolm Black?"

Emily shifted with the topic change. "Once I learned of his exoneration, I sought to tell him the truth about who I was – but he didn't recognize me," she summarized honestly, prompting David to look down sheepishly. "By the time I told him, he was already engaged in a public relationship with Victoria and they were both being hunted by Malcolm Black – my father had no desire to put my life at risk so he requested I keep my distance."

"And did you comply?" Stevie asked.

Emily formed a stern purse of her lips and stared ahead as she replied, "I did – however my identity was disclosed to Malcolm regardless."

Stevie furrowed her brow, dramatizing her bewilderment at Emily's statement while Margaux appeared to lean forward in curiosity. "Do you know who disclosed that information?"

"I had my suspicions," Emily confirmed, barely opening her mouth as she formed her words. "And after I was attacked in my own home by an FBI agent, I began to question whether there were more people involved."

"Did you ever report those suspicions to the police?" Stevie continued to press her.

"I did," Emily answered, and with a mysterious look in her eye she stared directly at Victoria as she elaborated. "To Officer Ben Hunter of the Southampton Police Department."

A sudden gasp was barely audible throughout the crowd and Judge Waters looked up to see if she would need to regain control but it was quickly silenced. Margaux shifted to sit upright in her seat and Victoria remained still beside her.

"I see," Stevie accepted, allowing the information to sit in the air for the jury's benefit. "And are you aware if Officer Hunter further investigated?"

"Yes. On several occasions we spoke, one of which he mentioned an article that was found on Agent Taylor that led him to a person of interest."

"Ah," Stevie responded with a knowing look, and quickly walked over to the folder that remained on the prosecution's table. She retrieved a piece of paper from it and held it up for both Emily and the jury to see. "Is this the said article?" she asked.

Emily tilted her head with a smirk. "That's the one." She watched as Stevie turned to show it to all in attendance, revealing the photo of her with Victoria's inscription, The answer is Emily Thorne.

Margaux leapt to her feet without delay. "Objection! Relevance, your Honor? What does this have to do with the charges my client is being tried for?"

"Your Honor," Stevie plowed on, walking over to the bench. "I would like to admit this as evidence that was recovered from the victim, Officer Hunter, the night of the murder. This serves as proof of motive," she turned to face Victoria, leveling a finger in her direction. "That the defendant was aware Officer Hunter had identified her attempt to have Emily Thorne – Amanda Clarke – eliminated by crime lord Malcolm Black!"

Margaux stood in shock as Stevie revealed the direction of her questioning and waited for the Judge to make a ruling. "Overruled," Judge Waters finally stated, moving to present the article over to the bailiff for admission as evidence. Margaux sighed, slowly sinking to her seat, incredulous while Jack and David exchanged glances behind her. Victoria was growing more and more impatient but continued to bite her tongue, conscious of how she was just thrown out for contempt minutes before.

"Thank you, your Honor," Stevie obliged, returning to finish questioning Emily. "Ms. Clarke this brings us to the night of Officer Hunter's murder, and the testimony for which you are being called to rebut. Please explain how you came to be present at the scene?"

Emily nodded, growing anxious as the moment had arrived she was waiting for. "I was with Officer Hunter when he received notification of my father's whereabouts – I came to help rescue him," she answered.

"And can you confirm his version of the events that followed?"

"Well," Emily began, giving an uneasy look over to her father. "In part." Stevie raised an eyebrow her way and Emily exhaled. "While I respect my father's candid description of events, the truth is somewhat different…" She hesitated and David perked up in anticipation, ever so slightly shaking his head back and forth, as if to plead 'No' to his daughter on the stand.

Beside him, Jack nervously whispered his fears. "Stop her! What is she doing?"

David only exhaled in resignation, staring ahead at Emily while Jack panicked beside him. "I can't," he admitted. "She won't stop now…she's going to tell the truth."

"Ms. Clarke?" Stevie tactfully reminded her of the open question, followed by a reminder by the Judge a moment later when Emily still failed to respond. Emily put her head down, using the tip of her index finger to graze the bridge of her nose and massage the middle of her forehead. She finally lifted her head up and prepared to answer.

"The truth is," she continued, reiterating her last words. "My father had just been shot when Officer Hunter approached, and he would not be fully sound in mind to recall all that had happened…"

Stevie nodded, waiting patiently to direct her to a more clear answer. "We understand your wish not to paint your father in an unfavorable light, but we must uphold to the laws of justice, Ms. Clarke. Now tell us," she leaned closer. "Did you see Victoria Grayson shoot Officer Hunter in self-defense?"

The courtroom fell silent as all eyes focused on Emily and she resisted the urge to hesitate when giving her response. With a daring look at Victoria, Emily let out a shaky breath and replied.

"No. She pulled the gun from Jack's holster and murdered Ben Hunter—in cold blood."

SCENE

"Mr. Grayson, this is an exquisite body of work." Daniel's publisher sat before him, noticeably impressed by the manuscript outline that he had brought by that morning, after spending sleepless hours the night before finishing its direction.

"Thank you sir," Daniel replied softly, his lack of sleep showing in his weary demeanor. He rubbed his eyes often and tried to stay focused, but the previous day's stresses continued to follow him, unrelenting. He turned momentarily to stare out of the window of his publisher's office, the city view being a familiar sight that he had not particularly missed since he had moved in with Emily. Nevertheless, it served as a reminder of how long it had been since he had made a professional career move, and while it was empowering for the moment, he found himself eager to get out of there. He glanced around again at the office, noting the mahogany furniture, the open contemporary layout, and the wide television monitor across from the desk. He chuckled to himself, remembering the office he once had that looked the same, and how long ago that felt when he reflected on it. He had changed so much since then and it was more clear than ever that he would never quite return back to the person he used to be.

While Daniel caught himself daydreaming, his publisher went on. "Honestly, I can't imagine this lasting on the shelves for long - it has the potential to be a best seller for certain!"

"Thank you," Daniel replied modestly. "It's taken a lot for me to put everything into words…especially in light of the legacy my father left behind," he grimaced, looking away in embarrassment. "But I knew that I needed to to get closure from the things in the past."

"I'm certain that you will," his publisher confirmed, setting the script down on his desk so he could remove his glasses and give Daniel eye contact. "You've put a sincere amount of effort into being quite different from the mold." He paused for a moment and then lifted the book into his hands again, something striking him. After putting his glasses back on he added, "I will mention however, I noticed you included several references to your former wife?"

Daniel was prepared for this part. "Yes," he acknowledged. "Despite our past she's still had a positive influence on me," he paused to think, wondering if he should suggest adding her as the dedication. "Honestly, she's the reason for me even putting most of this into words."

His publisher moved his eyeglasses down his nose, watching him reflect. "Well I certainly admire you for your honesty, but I will prepare you that you might want to make her aware of your intentions to disclose personal histories together. After all, her recent announcement will no doubt serve as unintentional publicity for your book – and she may want to see credit for that?"

Daniel was not prepared for his question. His brow immediately furrowed in confusion and he looked up abruptly. "What do you mean?"

"Her announcement?" he gestured behind him, as if to imply it had happened just recently. "How long have you been off the grid working on this, it's all over the news?" In further answer to Daniel's growing puzzlement, his publisher finally retrieved a remote from his desk and switched on the news to the monitor on the wall behind him. Daniel turned around in interest to see a news coverage of Emily being sworn in at the courthouse that morning with the shocking subtitle, Amanda Clarke Lives! Hampton Socialite Admits to Identity in Shocking Twist to Grayson Murder Trial... Daniel could not twist his body any more to take in what he was watching and was out of his seat within seconds, walking closer towards the screen.

In the background his publisher continued, "You know with the coverage this is getting, you may even want to enhance this puppy with an inside tell-all - being married to the daughter of someone your father worked so hard to destroy! It would triple your sales!"

Daniel continued to tune him out, becoming more and more engrossed in the images before him. He watched as a reporter detailed the events, summarizing how Emily arrived at court that same morning as a rebuttal witness, and went on not only to take the stand as Amanda Clarke but to contradict her father's testimony with her final admission before the mid-day recess. He found himself barely able to contain his emotions, a mixture of shock and as he continued to let it marinate, a feeling of pride at her bold confession.

Suddenly filled with urgency, Daniel turned around, interrupting his publisher who was going on about the potential for his book in light of the recent events. He made his way over to the desk and seized the manuscript back into his possession, "Ah… I don't think I can do this right now… it's not finished—"

"What do you mean it's not finished, Mr. Grayson this is literary gold!" his publisher exclaimed, rising to his feet. But Daniel was undeterred.

"I think I've decided to go a different direction with it," he replied firmly, tucking it under his arm before he turned to leave. "I'll be in touch," he promised, half-heartedly and his publisher again tried to call after him to come back but Daniel was already halfway down the hallway, led as if by his subconscious, not even certain of where he was going. But his instincts told him that despite making the firm decision to preserve both his own sanity and the life of his child on the way, that his days with Emily were not yet over…

END OF CHAPTER – OPENING TITLES "reven8e"

Author's Note: And so continues the Revenge saga! I hope you enjoyed this installment and were able to picture the way it would all play out if it were a real episode in your mind! I do love a good courtroom drama for this show and I wanted Emily's spectacular revelation to be followed by even more to come! So please tell me if you enjoyed and are you as hopeful for the impending Demily reunion as I am? Tell me your thoughts and how you expect the rest of the characters to react! Updates coming soon, and as always – thanks for your support! Please follow/fav so you can stay updated when new chapters are posted! ~Love and Reven8e~ MothToANewFlames