Tuesday February 2nd
Las Vegas County Courthouse
No rest for the wicked. As the saying goes. Inception was just two nights ago and although O’Malley didn’t walk away on the winning side, he was hoping for a different outcome today. Why today? What is the significance? Well, after almost two months, the custody battle for his son Owen finally continues. And word from his attorney is that it wouldn’t continue past today.
Almost everyone has arrived on time and is patiently waiting for the judge to arrive. O’Malley and Darcy are seated at their table with Mahreen Omar, while Andrew and Colleen Waters are seated opposite them. The courtroom is relatively quiet, as everyone is a ball of nerves wondering which way the judge will go with his decision. As Mahreen quietly speaks to O’Malley, his brother Alistair suddenly approaches them. O’Malley frowns but doesn’t bother to speak to him.
Mahreen: Mr. Adams. Is there something I can help you with?
Alistair flashes a cheeky smile and folds his arms.
Alistair: Ms. Omar. Yes. As the judge has yet to arrive, I was wondering if I could have a word or two with my brother?
O’Malley: I’ve got no int—
Darcy: O’Malley...just talk to him. He’s not going to give up unless you do.
O’Malley stares at Darcy, jaw slightly dropped. He then looks to Mahreen and she sighs before waving her hand but giving him a quick warning.
Mahreen: Make it quick, Mr. O’Malley. The judge should be here any minute.
O’Malley nods and pushes himself away from the table. He and Alistair walk a few feet away and O’Malley folds his arms, refusing to speak a word. He’s waiting to see what Alistair wants.
Alistair: Has anyone ever told you that you act like such a child sometimes, Shane?
O’Malley: Not really. If ye didn’t get the message clear enough last time, I told ye to stay out of me life. I don’t know why ye bothered to show up here today.
Alistair: Because you’re my brother. Your son is my nephew and I have every right to be here whether you think I do or not. I know you think I didn’t get you the information you requested from that casino, but I did. Perhaps after you get your son back today, we can sit down and I can fill you in.
O’Malley laughs and shakes his head in annoyance. He lets his arms drop and stares at Alistair.
O’Malley: Shove it, Alistair. I don’t need the information anymore. The match against Jack is done and over with. Lucky fer me he didn’t win, but neither did I. Now, if that’s all ye’ve gotta say, I’d really like to wait for the judge.
Alistair: That’s not all I’d like to say, Shane. I really don’t want you to be angry with me. I want the chance for us to be brothers.
O’Malley laughs and just as he opens his mouth to respond, the bailiff announces the judges arrival. O’Malley quickly heads back over to his place between Mahreen and Darcy, while Alistair takes walks over to a seat behind them. Everyone is on their feet in the courtroom as the judge makes his way out of his chambers, and to the stand at the head of the room.
Judge: Everyone may be seated.
As ordered, everyone takes their seats and all eyes are focused on the judge. He is looking down at some papers in front of him, and O’Malley grips Darcy’s hand tightly, both more nervous than anyone.
Judge: In the custody matter regarding Owen Andrew O’Malley, I have taken a little bit longer to go over all of the information and the paperwork. I’ve discovered some very disturbing information during this process, and I have a decision made. However, I’d like to take today to hear from both sides regarding this matter before I tell you all my decision.
O’Malley and Darcy both look to Mahreen. She shrugs slightly, just as intrigued by this information as they are, but the judge looks towards Andrew and Colleen Waters first.
Judge: Mr. and Mrs. Waters…
They, along with their attorney, both stand. Their faces seem full of regret as he begins to address them once again.
Judge: First and foremost, I want to express my condolences over the loss of your daughter, the child’s mother. My condolences also go to the child, because losing a parent at such a young age, they don’t quite understand what is going on. That being said, I want to know what the both of you have to say for yourself regarding the fact that you altered the child’s last name on legal documents when the change in name wasn’t even properly processed? And aside from the circumstances surrounding how you came to have custody of Owen, why you feel the need to now keep him from his father?
O’Malley and Darcy turn and look towards Misty’s parents. They don’t say anything at first, and for a moment, it looks as though Andrew is going to speak first. But, Colleen stops him, and instead, she speaks for the both of them.
Colleen: Nothing I say could possibly begin to make up for what we did, judge. I understand that now. But we had one reason and one reason only. Owen. What my family has had to deal with over the years because of that man..well, anyone would have made the same decision we did. I could go through the whole story of everything he put my daughter through while she was pregnant, but it would take longer than I have. And then, after she dies instead of trying to use us as support as I had hoped, he abandons Owen. Lets him cry for months and months while he’s off getting married to another woman in Ireland. And then he stays gone for two years.
She turns and glares at O’Malley and Darcy, but neither of them are looking at her any longer. They understood how their marriage so soon after Misty died looked, but nothing they said could make anyone understand it.
Colleen: We did what we had to do to protect Owen at all costs. And we’ll continue to do so, despite what your decision may be. I won’t feel sorry for protecting my grandson.
The judge nods with a stern look on his face and he turns his attention to O’Malley. Colleen and Andrew take their seats again, and O’Malley now stands along with Darcy and Mahreen.
Judge: And you, Mr. O’Malley? Do you, or your wife, have anything to say for yourself?
O’Malley nods.
O’Malley: Yes, yer honour. I want to thank Colleen and Andrew fer doin’ exactly what I knew they would when I left Owen in their care. After Owen’s mother died, a part of me died as well, an’ I knew that I wasn’t capable of bein’ the father that Owen needed me to be. An’ I know they’re angry with me fer gettin’ remarried, but Darcy and I...we have a history. It wasn’t as if she was a complete stranger. She brought me back and saved me, and once I felt I was ready...I knew I had to do what I could to get me boy back. I need me son, judge. I need me boy back, and I hope that if ye grant me custody, ye’ll also be lenient on Colleen and Andrew, because they were doin’ what they thought they had to do.
Not only does the judge seem surprised by O’Malley’s last request, but Colleen and Andrew do as well. O’Malley, Darcy and Mahreen all take their seats again as the judge looks down at the papers in front of him for what seems like ages. The courtroom remains anxiously silent until the judge looks back up, ready to reveal his decision.
Judge: After reading all of the documents, and hearing from both sides, as well as hearing from Mr. and Mrs. Waters previous attorney, Alistair Adams…
O’Malley’s head snaps up and he quickly looks behind him. He and Alistair make eye contact for a brief moment until Darcy and Mahreen urge O’Malley to focus on the judge.
Judge: I’ve come to my decision. Sole physical custody of Owen Andrew O’Malley is hereby granted to the child’s father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley. I simply see no other reason or evidence to keep the child from his father.
O’Malley and Darcy share a celebratory embrace as those on Colleen and Andrew’s side shake their heads and shed a few tears in reaction to the judge’s decision.
Judge: That being said, I am giving Mr. and Mrs. Andrews one week to turn the child over to his father. Counselor Omar, I know you are about to object, but save it. The child needs to be prepared for the transition, and this should be sufficient time to do so. In regards to the altered legal documents, I am not moving forward with an judgements against Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, but Counselor Hampton, I suggest you and your firm prepare yourselves for the consequences you, as lawyers, will suffer. Case dismissed!
The judge bangs his gavel and all parties are on their feet as he leaves the courtroom again. O’Malley and Darcy smile and thank Mahreen profusely, and when O’Malley turns to find Alistair, he’s gone. His brother had quietly left the courtroom leaving O’Malley to wonder just what he had said to the judge. He would, however, save that discussion for another day. Now was simply the time to celebrate a huge victory in his personal life, and hopefully...the victories in SCW would soon follow.
Inception IV has come and gone, and it didn’t exactly go in me favor. I worked me arse off and think I did a pretty damn decent job of proving to everyone watching, and even to Kris and Jack, that I deserve to be the World Heavyweight Champion. And sooner rather than later, it’s gonna happen. Kris Ryans will probably deny it until he’s blue in the face, but the fact is that I pinned him in that match, and I’ll damn sure do it again.
But these next several weeks leading up to Blaze of Glory we got the Blast From The Past tournament kickin’ off. It ain’t no secret that I didn’t sign it fer it this year, and there is one reason in particular fer that. Well, several, but the main reason bein’ I had a gut feelin’ that third time wasn’t gonna be the charm fer me with this tournament. First two times me and me partners got knocked out the first round, and I ain’t about to go through that again. Besides...this now gives me the opportunity to finish what I started. And that is takin’ that World Heavyweight Championship from Kris Ryans. Point. Blank. Period.
Now don’t let the fact that I didn’t walk out as the new champ fool ye. I may not have won, but I certainly didn’t lose, and I ain’t givin’ up. I ain’t startin’ right back at the bottom because after that match, my momentum is gonna continue pushin’ forward. With that bein’ said, that brings me to this week, and the fella they booked me against right after the biggest match of me career. Alex Jones.
Now, I could pull a Jessie Salco and say that I’ve gone from the World Heavyweight Championship to sayin’ somethin’ to put down Alex Jones and just what the match is. But I ain’t gonna do that, because I know exactly what this match is and what it’s meant to do. And I’m nothin’ like Jessie Salco, obviously.
Alex Jones is a former World Heavyweight Champ in his own right. He’s also a former Mixed Tag Team champ, which I can’t technically ignore either. Simply put...Alex Jones is one tough opponent. Or, at least he is meant to be. He’s meant to be a challenge. A test. I mean, if I can beat Alex Jones, surely that’ll be a huge step in my right to get a one-on-one shot against Kris, right? You’d think, but here’s the thing…
Alex Jones...he ain’t anythin’ special. He might have won that World Heavyweight Championship, but the fact is, if Griffin Hawkins hadn’t dropped the ball, it never would have happened, and there’s a damn good amount of people who will agree with me. Alex Jones’ title win was a feckin’ fluke, and it’ll never happen again. And here’s the thing. Alex Jones...he now wants ye all to believe that he’s the good guy just because his buddy Austin has gone rogue and shown his true colors. He claimed he wanted nothin’ to do with that match against Fenris when Austin was bein’ a scared little prick, and all but cost himself the match as “proof.” It’s a bunch o’ bullshite.
Alex Jones has a God complex, and this new attitude he has, it’s all a feckin’ act. It’s what Wolfslair does best, and if ye ask me, he’s just tryna get close to Fenris so this feud Austin’s got goin’ with him will go their way. They wanna outsmart him, but I ain’t stupid enouh to fall fer that shit, and sooner or later, Fenris will realize it too. Plain and simple. Alex Jones is no better than Austin or the rest of his Wolfslair arseholes. And he never will be.
I know how this week is gonna go. I can already feel it. Alex Jones won’t say a single positive word about me or what I’ve done in SCW, and he’ll spout off a bunch of shite about wantin’ to get back what he lost. This match is his shot to do that, right? I mean, the match announcement all but said it. The result of this match could send either, or both of us, to the upper echelon of SCW. Nevermind the fact that’s where I’ve been fer quite some time and I’ve been fightin’ tooth and nail to get a one-on-one shot against Kris, and the World Heavyweight Championship. They can use this match as a way to try and build Alex back up all they want but the fact is, it won’t work.
So here’s how it’s gonna go. I’m gonna walk down to that ring. Maybe have a little staredown with Alex. Maybe trash talk a bit, because we all know he likes to do that. And once that bell rings? I’m gonna unleash hell on him, because I have to. I came close to walkin’ out Inception a winner, but not close enough and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let this be the start of another losin’ streak. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let a guy like Alex Jones hold a win over me head and screw up me chances at keepin’ me momentum goin’. I’m either gonna pin him, or I’m gonna make him tap. Preferably the latter because there’s nothin’ like enjoyin’ when someone taps out. Am I right?
Ye hear that Alex? Not just me words, but the sound of your back breakin’ beneath me as I lock in the Celtic Crush. Ye’ll fight and fight and fight but ultimately ye’ll have no choice. And ye know what that will do, fella? The sound of yer hand slappin’ against the canvas? It’s the sound of ye admittin’ that I’m better than ye. I know it’s a hard pill to swallow, because ye Wolfslair arseholes think yer better than everyone else, but it’s the cold hard truth.
And then, ye’ll get to watch as I move forward and fight fer the title that ye couldn’t even hold longer than a month. Ye lost on yer first defense, just like Griffin did, and that’s what proves ye just weren’t ready. And ye’ll never be ready. Maybe once I’m through with ye on Sunday, ye can move on to face Brother David fer the Roulette Title, but then again...ye’d fail then, too. I may not like the fella much if at all, but he’s whoop yer arse, too.
And let me send out a warnin’ to ye, fella. If ye go and prove me right and ye and Austin try and do somethin’ to get at Fenris, or worse, ye go and try and get at Aron again, ye’ll not just have an even bigger problem with Fenris, but ye’ll have one pissed off Irishman our fer yer blood, too. I may not be on the best of terms with Fen, or even many of the other GO Gym graduates, but I’m out to change that. And I ain’t about to let you and your Wolfslair pack continue walkin’ around like yer hot shite when the lot of ye is fallin’ further down the ladder than anyone else. Yer not deservin’ of the pedastal ye put yerselves on and I’m gonna prove it this weekend.
Ye can’t bring me down, Alex. I’m feelin’ better than I have in quite some time, and it’s time fer me to get back on the winnin’ track. I’ve already done it outside of SCW, and that’s proof enough that 2021...really is me year, fella. And I think that slowly but surely, everyone else is startin’ to believe me when I say it. People are startin’ to believe in me, and beatin’ ye? That’s gonna be just one more step further, fella. Get ready, Alex. Because this is one Irishman ye can’t beat.
See ye Sunday, fella!
