John turned toward Brandon as they all sat down, waiting for Dani to be called to the stand.
"We're all right here," he whispered, grabbing ahold of Brandon's hand.
Brandon nodded, squeezing John's hand, seemingly at a loss for words. John turned and nodded at the rest of the family; Brandon was the furthest inside the row they were sitting in. Jude and Connor were holding hands, and Jude grabbed onto John's free hand as Dani was sworn in and Wilson approached the bench.
"Thank you for agreeing to testify today, Dani," Wilson said in a soft voice that didn't belong to a man trying to persuade a jury that five teenage boys had lied about being raped by Dani.
"I just want to give my point-of-view from what happened on those nights," Dani said.
When he heard her speak, Brandon tensed. John tightened his grip on Brandon's hand, who squeezed it harder in return.
They all listened as Dani testified to her relationships with each of the boys. She claimed all of them were loving, consensual relationships, and she insisted she did nothing wrong. Brandon started shaking when she talked about him and Mike, but John kept his hand held, and Brandon held on as if his life depended on it.
"Thank you, Dani," Wilson said. "Your Witness," he said to Haden as he walked back and sat down at the defense table.
Haden stood up after he and Cabot exchanged a glance. "So, it's your testimony that each of the five boys who have stood up here and testified to you having sexual relationships with them is false?"
"That's right," Dani said as Haden closed in on the witness stand.
Haden appeared baffled. "Really? Five boys, none of whom knew each other prior to this trial all conspired against you to claim that you raped them, is that what you're saying?"
"Objection!" called Wilson.
"Sustained," said the judge. "Find another way, Mr. Haden."
"Miss Collins, why would these five boys claim that you raped them and be lying about it?"
"I have no idea," Dani said in a soft voice. "Maybe they thought we had done something wrong, and so they came to the police."
"You do realize that having sex with a minor is a major offense of the law, Miss Collins?"
"Yes —" Dani started.
"And are you also aware that anyone who is found to have sex with a minor under the age of 17 is, by legal definition, a rapist, Miss Collins?"
"I didn't rape them…"
"No? Did you have sex with these five young boys, Miss Collins?"
Dani hesitated, glancing toward Wilson. Haden moved in front of her to block her view.
"Your Honor," Haden said to the judge.
"Answer the question, Miss Collins," the judge said in an angry tone.
"Yes, I did have sex with them."
"So, you admit to raping them," Haden said.
"No — "
"So, you didn't have sex with any of these boys, Miss Collins? You don't get to have it both ways, Miss Collins. Need I remind you that with Billy Lee, Nathan Potter, Chris Daniels and Brandon Foster you had sex with them while they were drunk, and for two of those assaults, you yourself were also drunk."
"Well, I'm a recovering alcoholic, yes," Dani said.
"Ah, but being drunk is not an excuse for rape, Miss Collins. Surely you knew that."
"Objection," started Wilson, but the judge held up a hand, motioning for him to be quiet.
"And while you were in New York, Miss Collins, you also had a sexual relationship with Joshua Lowry, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"But, in this case, you were not drunk during the sex you had with him, is that right?"
"That's right. We had a loving relationship."
"A loving relationship with a 15-year-old?" Haden asked, sounding like he was baffled by Dani's admission. "Miss Collins, you do realize that this young man wasn't even born yet when you could legally drink, don't you?"
"Age has nothing to do with love," Dani said, her anger rising.
"Of course not," Haden said, nodding with sarcasm. "We should just let anyone date whomever they like, regardless of age difference, and regardless if it's an adult wanting to have a relationship with a child. Is that what you're saying, Miss Collins?"
Dani remained silent, the fury clearly evident on her face. "I see," Haden said. "So, it's OK when you decide to have sex with five teenage boys, but for everyone else it's wrong."
"Withdrawn," Haden added, sensing that Wilson was going to object.
"One last question, Miss Collins. Did you honestly expect these boys to keep silent about what you did to them?"
"Yes."
"You must not be as smart as you think you are, Miss Collins. You brutally raped five innocent young men. You took away their childhood, their right to say 'no,' their sense of security, their well-being. It must feel pretty good." When Dani didn't say anything, Haden started to walk back to the prosecution table. "You know what you did, Miss Collins. Even if you were drunk and don't remember. I would feel sorry for you battling alcoholism, if you weren't the scum of the earth."
"Objection!" yelled Wilson.
"Sustained," the judge said. "The jury will disregard Mr. Haden's last comment."
"No further questions," Haden said as he sat down at the table next to Cabot.
"Your Honor, the Defense rests," Wilson said.
"Very well," said the judge. "You may step down, Miss Collins," she said to Dani, who stood up from the witness stand and took her spot next to Wilson. "Mr. Wilson, you may begin your closing arguments."
When Wilson had finally finished his remarks about how each of the boys had a hole in their story, Cabot stood up to give the closing arguments for the prosecution.
"Dani Collins may be an alcoholic," Cabot said in a soft voice. Her speech grew louder with each word she spoke. "She may have been drunk every time she engaged in sex with these boys. She may not even remember having sex. But, by her own admission, she did have sex, with all five of the young men who testified before you in this trial.
"But what she won't admit is the terrible truth. That Dani Collins took away the innocence of these five young men when she had sex with them. By having sex with these boys, she not only committed a crime, but like Mr. Haden said, she took away their sense of security, their right to say 'no' to having sex, she damaged their mental health. Just look at Chris Daniels, he was so affected by what Miss Collins did to him that he shot another person to try and get someone's attention because nobody would believe him about what The Defendant did to him. She ruined the lives of five young men and their families. Regardless if she knew what she did was wrong, and regardless if she remembers engaging in sex with these young men, you must hear her own words. She admitted to having sex with each of these boys. That is a clear admission of guilt. Dani Collins committed a crime.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you must find her guilty of this crime. If you don't, you may further damage these young men's lives. They don't need that. What they need is closure. And you can give it to them by finding Dani Collins guilty of each count of statutory rape."
Cabot turned and sat down.
"The Jury may begin deliberating," said the judge. "We are in recess until the jury is finished," she added, banging her gavel. Haden and Cabot stood up, shaking hands while Benson, Amaro and Rollins approached them.
John turned to Brandon, who still had a tight grip on his hand.
"You OK?" John asked.
Brandon nodded. "I'll be fine," he said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, you will be," said a voice from in front of them. Olivia had walked over to them, unnoticed by any of them.
Olivia walked over to Brandon and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"You're a strong person, Brandon," she said in a soft voice. "You've gotten through the trial. I know the waiting for the verdict can be hell, but once you hear it, everything will be over."
"Do you think she'll get away with it?" Brandon asked as Olivia lowered her arms.
"I don't think so," Olivia said, shaking her head. "It's five statements of abuse against one claim of consent. She even admitted to the sex. She just proved that she's guilty. But, we have to wait until the jury comes back. One step at a time."