I apologize for how freaking long this is (as it is it's going to be at least two chapters) But anyway enjoy!
Colton sat quietly on a wooden bench just inside the court house his blonde hair smoothed down wearing a little black suit. His little feet didn't reach the floor as they swung back and forth trying to calm his nerves. Dean, Renee and Seth were stood by the court room doors talking with Kayla the trial was set to start in less then 20 minutes. Dean's eyes flicked over to Colton and then to the clock silently hoping that his surprise came through.
Five police came down the hallway dragging Haley, Ron and Jay along with them. Jay grinned over at Colton who flinched and ran for Dean's leg. "There's my little punching bag, you've gotten bigger. See what happens when they feed ya when you want? You get fat" Dean snarled and went to lung for Jay but Colton dug into his legs and whimpered and Seth gripped his arm and glared over at his father who just stared blankly back at him.
"Shut you mouth" One of the officers snapped at Jay dragged him into the court room. Dean could feel the tears against his pants and bent down scooping him into his arms. "It's okay, I wont let him touch you"
Just then the court house doors swung wide open and Dean's surprise was coming to life. Hunter and Stephanie, Kevin Owens, Jimmy and Jey, Daniel Bryan, Roman, Big E, Kofi, Cesaro, and Xavier flooded into the hallways and surrounded Colton in Dean's arms.
"You're back up has arrived" Hunter grinned patting Dean on the back and ruffling Colton's hair. His green eyes were wide as he took in all the big strong men surrounding them. "We're here to keep you safe Colton" Stephanie smiled watching as his little mouth fell open. Daniel leaned over and kissed his head "We love ya kiddo" Colton whimpered and dug into Dean's neck at the sudden show of affection. Before his own mom didn't even tell him that she loved him and now there was a group of people all here because they cared.
"You deserve it baby" Renee whispered brushing the hair from his eyes. Today was going to be awful for them all but she hoped that Colton knew he was loved. "Glad your boy isn't here for this? Cesaro asked nudging Seth who nodded immediately. "He's with grandma and momma" Rhys had been allowed to travel if he continued his medicine. He was slowly becoming his happy hyper self again and Seth was loving it.
The bailiff motioned for everyone to enter the court room, the wrestlers sat behind Colton, Dean, Renee and Seth. Haley, Jay and Ron sat on the other side with their lawyer. The judge was an older man with slicked black hair and a mustache he smiled warmly at Colton who was huddled into Renee as close as he could be. She kissed his forehead and smoothed his hair whispering that she loved him and everything was going to be okay.
Kayla sat next to Todd at the table both were worried about Colton being on the stand. Jay's lawyer was known for being a prick. They went through the proceedings explaining the case to the jury. The first witness was Seth who glowered at Haley as he walked to the stand.
"Alright Mr. Hastings you have your witness" The judge murmured gaze fixed on Seth.
"Mr. Rollins you were called by a federal agency to come and pick up your one year old son due to negligence and abuse correct?"
"Yeah that's right they said he was in and out of foster homes and that he couldn't be left with his mother" Seth glared at Haley who refused to look over at him.
"And did Rhys show signs of abuse?"
"Yes, he was easily frightened and had bruises and marks all over his body. He was also small for his age and developmentally behind."
"We have photo evidence of the abuse Rhys suffered" Kayla murmured gesturing to the screen. Dean wrapped his arm around Colton who pressed his face into his chest. He knew what happened to Rhysee, he didn't want to see it again. Seth watched as the jury gasped in shock at the pictures of Rhys as an infant. He was glad the screen was faced away from him, the idea of even looking at them made his stomach turn.
Todd sat down and Jay's lawyer Peterson stood up walking over to Seth. "So, Mr. Rollins you didn't know about your son?" Seth glared across the stand "No Haley never told me she was pregnant"
"And yet your criticizing her parenting when you didn't involve yourself in your sons' life? If you believe he had such an awful childhood don't you think you should have intervened. I imagine it's not easy raising two small boys on your own."
"I didn't know he existed" Seth snapped slamming his hands down on the wood stand. The judge raised his eyebrows "Mr. Peterson I will find you in contempt if you keep it up. Mr. Rollins didn't know the child existed. Enough" Peterson mumbled an apology before sighing that he'd questioned Seth enough. He hadn't even wanted this case, he knew he was going to lose.
"The court calls Dean Ambrose to the stand" Todd murmured watching as Dean untangled himself from Colton who latched onto Renee. He dropped heavily into the seat swearing on the book before glaring at Jay who looked right back at him. Dean had no respect for his own father and the way he was raised but if it was possible he hated Jay more.
"So, Mr. Ambrose you and Mr. Rollins found Colton left alone at his home in Las Vegas correct?" Todd asked walking around the table towards Dean. He was hoping by asking questions to each father that the jury would see how much the boys were cared for. How each father cared for their little boy.
"Yeah that's right"
"And was the environment suitable for a young child?"
"God no" Dean muttered "No food, no water, completely alone locked inside the back deck. Covered in bruises and marks. I wouldn't even leave a dog like that"
Todd glanced over at Renee, Colton was tucked into her neck but he knew he could hear everything. Digging his thumb into the wood grain bench he sighed "Do you find any permanent damage from the abuse?" Renee wished she could cover Colton's ears at this point because she wasn't sure she wanted him to hear Dean's answer. Colton was damaged but he didn't need to hear his father confirm it.
"If the scars on his body weren't bad enough the mental ones are worse" Dean said softly glancing over at Colton.
"Do you think his mother and step father should ever be allowed custody?"
Dean leaned over the table his eyes fixed on Jay's the snarl on his face eerily reminding Seth of his Moxley days. "Over my dead body"
Peterson gulped when it was his turn to question Dean, the man seemed…. unstable. "Mr. Ambrose do you know that you and Mr. Rollins were breaking the law by trespassing on the property?" Dean snorted and leaned back in his chair staring the lawyer down. "You really think I give a fuck about that?" Peterson's gaze flickered to the judge who was smirking "I'm not charging either of them with trespassing so don't even bother"
"Alright well how are you certain that what Colton went through wasn't discipline? Weren't you disciplined as a child?" Renee's mouth dropped open and Roman and Seth groaned from their seats as Dean's face fell into a darkness.
"Discipline is not beating a child or locking them outside like a damn dog. Are you trying to tell me you condone bashing his head against the wall? Telling him he's worthless!?" Dean's voice was raising and Colton began to shake in Renee's arms. "Don't you ever imply that he deserved it"
Peterson quickly ran back to his seat and the judge excused Dean from the stand. By this point he was shaking he was so angry and Jay's smirk wasn't helping. Colton jumped into his arms when he sat down clinging to him because he knew what was next.
Haley and Jay straightened up in their seats hoping to follow through with their plan of glaring at Colton and scaring him so he couldn't speak. Todd called Colton up who shuddered when Dean rested his feet on the floor. "We're all right here okay? They can't hurt you" Dean murmured and Colton glanced behind him. Hunter and the rest all gave Colton thumbs up and a smile making him feel better and head towards the stand.
The judge watched the little boy crawl up into the seat and the way Haley and Jay glared at him. He was fuming at this point he knew they were guilty but the fact that Colton had to do this made him very angry. "Colton buddy I want you to look at me when you talk okay?" Those two weren't going to intimidate him if he had anything to do with it.
"Hey Colt" Todd grinned at his youngest client who looked wide eyed back at him. "I'm gonna ask you some questions ok?" Colton nodded and gripped the sides of the chair, he was terrified. Dean and Renee smiled at Colton trying to reassure him.
"Were your mommy and daddy very nice to you and your baby brother?" Colton's teeth sunk into his lip as he thought about living with them. Rhysee crying all night because he was hungry and being hit and yelled at all the time.
"No, they weren't, they hurted us all the time" His little eyes were fixed on the judge as he spoke making Jay snarl under his breath in annoyance.
"Did they hit you and Rhys?"
Colton nodded his head and Hunter growled quietly, he couldn't imagine doing such awful things to do helpless little boys.
"Did they do anything else to you Colton?"
His whole body shuddered when he thought about it, things he'd never even told Dean and Renee about but he knew if the judge was going to put Haley and Jay away he'd have to tell them now.
"If I was a bad boy I'd get burned with the cigarettes and if I didn't do a good job cleaning up I didn't get supper" He gulped and Renee desperately gripped onto Dean in hopes of keeping him seated.
Todd felt his stomach roll at the cold look in Colton's eyes. "Colton what happened when you and Rhys were taken"
Subconsciously rubbing at his arm Colton looked over at his Uncle Seth. He'd saved Rhysee and he'd do it again. "They hurted my mommy and they took us to a house and we eated a little bit and then Uncle Seth's daddy and mommy and Jay came into the room and they was yelling. Then Jay got mad at me and hurt me and Rhysee got upset so he went after Rhysee and I made him stop so he broke my arm"
Kayla flicked on the screen bringing up pictures of Colton showing his scares and bruises. The jury gasped loudly this time seeing the burns that littered his back and chest.
Todd excused himself fearing his temper and allowing Peterson to come up to the stand. Colton gulped and whimpered flashing a pleading look at Dean who balled up his fists.
"So, Colton did you always listen to your mommy and daddy?" Peterson glared at Colton trying to intimidate him. Dean jumped from his seat only to be hauled back down by Seth and Hunter. The judge slammed the gavel down on the stand "Do not imply anything Mr. Peterson or so help me"
"I tried I wanted to be a good boy" Colton mumbled quietly grabbing the adults' attention. "I wanted mommy to love me and be proud of me"
The jury murmured quietly at the sullen look on Colton's little face his eyes glaring down at the floor below him. He knew he was a bad boy, and he did deserve what happened to him. "Rhysee was never ever bad and they hurted him to"
Peterson huffed and sat back down allowing Colton to practically run from the stand and into Renee's arms. "You did so good baby" She whispered kissing his cheeks and head. Haley watched as Colton clung to her his face pressed into her chest. He never did that to her even when she did hold him in her arms.
"Alright we'll take a 2-hour break and then hear from the defendants" The judge murmured. The officers dragged the three away allowing Colton to lift his head and glance around the room. "C'mon time for lunch" Dean rasped.
The group headed for a local restaurant eating and carrying on in hopes of bringing the mood up. Colton was snuggled into Dean's chest having eaten his lunch and was falling asleep. Renee had her forehead pressed against Colton's still trying to wrap her mind around what he had told Todd. The marks on his little body making perfect sense, they were cigarette burns.
Seth, Dean and Renee drove to the hotel to check up on Rhysee and drop Colton off seeing as his part was done and he was exhausted. Seth was stood in the hotel room Rhys curled tight against his chest. After being so close to those awful people he needed to know his little boy was okay. Rhys mumbled into Seth's chest his little fists clutching at the fabric of his dress shirt. "I love you baby" Seth whispered when Rhys lifted his head.
"Alright buddy we're gonna leave you with Sasha and Holly okay?" Dean murmured gently laying him down on the bed. His sleepy eyes snapped open and he dove from the bed scrambling back into Dean's arms. "No daddy no don't leave me please daddy please" Dean shot Renee a pleading look walking over to her as Colton clung to him.
"Baby you're exhausted and you don't need to be there anymore. We'll come back tonight. You and Rhys play together while we're gone okay?"
Colton shook his head pressing closer into Dean, "no mommy" he mumbled. Rhys was watching his big brother closely now pushing against Seth to get down. He toddled over to Dean lifted his arms for Renee to pick him up.
"Bruder pay" Rhysee mumbled reaching out and patting Colton's cheek and flashing a drooly smile. "Toy toy toy"
"Keep Rhysee company okay? We'll come back later tonight and we'll have supper and play. Maybe we can go swimming but buddy it's not a good idea for you to be there anymore then you have to be" Dean said kissing his head. A heavy sigh left his lips as Colton nodded and climbed down onto the bed dragging his blanket over him.
"We love you" Renee whispered brushing the hair from his face and kissing his nose. Dean kissed his head and tucked the blanket around him. "You're coming back right daddy?"
"Always"
Seth tucked Rhys in beside him kissing his head and tickling his belly. "Love ya champ" Grabbing Sasha he kissed her lips and swung her around. "Love you baby" She smirked poking his ribs "Love you to Rollins"
Once the boys were put down they headed back to the court house for the final part of the trial. "I'm not sure if I can sit and listen to them try and justify beating those kids" Seth growled fixing his pony tail. Renee nodded her head rubbing the back of Dean's neck as he drove. "I'll listen to just about anything as long as they end up locked up"
Arriving back in court everyone got seated as the judge called Haley to the stand. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat gaze flickering anywhere but where Seth and Dean were seated.
"Alright Ms. Carter, you've got a lot of explaining to do"