A/N So here's the trial. A quick warning. I wrote this chapter a bit diferently than the rest of them because it felt better like that, and I wanted to stay away from too much angst and the legal things I'm not really familiar with.
As usual I own nothing and I hope you like this enough to drop me a review.
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"Has the jury reached the verdict?"-the tall, blonde woman in a black robe asked from the judges stand. Reed thought she looked a bit like his mom. It calmed him down for a moment.
"Yes Your Honor, we have."-the man in an unfortunately wrong colored shirt answered her, while handing the police officer a piece of paper with their decision written on it. The burly looking cop handed the paper to the judge and she unfolded it skimming her eyes over it.
Nothing. Reed saw nothing on her face as she read it. Not a single muscle twitched and his insides turned with anxiety.
She folded the paper back and spoke once again.
"What say you?"
"After seeing all the evidence and listening to all of the testimonies the jury has unanimously agreed that the defendants Kevin Ailly, Brian Carson and Marcus Fletcher are…"
Reed's mind swirled inside his head as he realized that was it. When the dramatic pause ends he will know if his nightmares will come true or stop once and for all.
He felt like fainting and screaming and begging somebody to turn back time because he just realized he barely remembered anything that happened during the days of the trial. His brain did a quick inventory of the things he did remember.
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"All rise!"-a confidant, but still responsible and trustworthy looking woman entered the room and after being introduced as judge Bolton, she sat in her chair turned to the crowd in the court room and banged her gavel asking everyone to sit down and stay silent. Reed was reminded of Wes and his crazy gavel obsession.
So he remembered the beginning of the trial.
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"…essentially these three boys sitting in front of you are either guilty or innocent in your eyes. But that's not the most important part. In the eyes of Ethan, Nathaniel and Reed, they will always be guilty. Think about that."-his lawyer's opening statement was powerful, determined and precise.
He started stating the facts so clinically Reed thought it had all happened to someone else. The dates, the medical records, the witnesses. It was hard to believe it was all real.
Next to him Ethan and Nathaniel were quiet, somehow more relaxed. Maybe because it's been longer since it happened to them. Maybe because it wasn't as bad for them. Reed didn't know.
The second part of the statement consisted of describing the three of them and their relationship to Marcus and his friends.
Reed zoned out. He thought he'd be strong enough to listen to it, but hearing his own story from someone who had nothing to do with him was just weird. So he observed.
He remembered parts of the opening statements.
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"The defense would like to call Mr. Marcus Fletcher to the stand."-he was the last one of the three boys to testify.
Reed's breath hitched and he clutched his armrests tightly, until he saw his knuckles turn white and tingles fly up his arms from the exertion.
Marcus climbed the two small steps and stood in front of the guy with the bible repeating the oath to tell the truth after him.
He sat down in a black, comfortable looking chair and Reed almost snorted thinking how the seat of the chair should be made of knives or needles for Marcus to sit on it.
"Can you please state your full name and age Mr. Fletcher?"-Marcus' lawyer asked him after he was settled down in the witness stand.
"Marcus Daniel Fletcher, 18 years old."-he answered in his usual, calm voice that made Reed cringe in his seat. He could feel his skin prickling and his eyes misted as his lungs worked hard to keep the oxygen flowing. He could feel the start of his panic attack.
His hand started shaking and he leaned back into his chair to prevent himself from curling into a ball in the middle of the court room.
He was about to start gasping for air when a gentle hand brushed across his neck and back sending warmth, and love and comfort through him. Shane.
Reed knew he was sitting right behind him but he didn't feel the need to check if Shane could touch him. But, as always, the older boy thought of everything and now his long fingers were stroking the curls on the back of his neck and his breathing slowed down, his lungs relaxed and his hands released the death grip on his chair.
A soft hand squeezed his shoulder and he lifted his own to twine their fingers together just for a second before he had to let go. But the strength Shane gave him with a simple touch was more than Reed could ever ask for as he took a deep breath and turned back to the front.
Marcus was there, answering questions with horrifying determination. He was lying and he had no problem with it. Reed felt sick.
He looked up and forced himself to listen to the questioning.
"So what you're saying is that Mr. Van Kamp never said something against having sex with you?"-his lawyer asked in a voice that sounded so rehearsed and fake Reed thought everyone could hear it.
He was angry and scared and ashamed because the boy that he loved was there, listening to someone saying lies about him. He wished with all his heart Shane's hand would return. Just to make sure he was still his…his Bambi.
"That's exactly what I'm saying."-Marcus said with a cocky tone of voice and turned to Reed, locking eyes with him and smirking.
And sometimes Reed thought that Shane could read his mind because the second the shiver from Marcus' look raked through his body, there was a strong hand on his shoulder again and he melted into it, allowing Shane to take care of him like he always did.
He thought back to the first time he saw him, and ran away from him. He felt sick at the thought that he reminded him of the monster sitting on the witness stand lying with every word he said.
Marcus' eyes were stony brown and it felt like every time he looked at anyone a piece of kindness and warmth left the body of that person. Like he could single handedly destroy all the happiness and innocence someone had.
And the boy, whose hand was still there, had the warmest, kindest eyes in the world. The kind he imagined all of the saints and angels had. Liquid gold and sweet chocolate swirled together making the most comforting, loving and kind painting in the world.
Marcus had a smile that could make you trust him. Reed knew that. With his full lips and toothpaste commercial teeth he could make you think he was honest. But if you knew where to look you could always catch the undertones of it. The lines of a wicked, perverted and twisted mind. The way his eyes wouldn't smile along, the way the corners of his mouth would twitch as if the mere attempt at such a positive gesture was painful to him.
And Shane…Shane was so quick to smile. So happy and pure and joyful all the time. It seemed as if every room would get brighter just because he was in it. People seemed kinder when he was around, the food tasted better and the air smelled sweeter when he smiled. His smile brought out the best in people.
Marcus reached for the water glass and Reed's eyes fell on the hands that caused him so much pain. But that was not something he wanted to think about.
The bruises from those fingers were replaced with new, unblemished skin and feather light touches of the most perfect person he had ever known.
The hands that caused him pain and brought nightmares were nothing like the hands that held him at night, that brushed his hair off his face and traced his lips lovingly.
And the voice…the thing that haunted his dreams, the icy, sharp, sadistic sounds that kept escaping Marcus' lips as he answered the questions…it was nothing like the melted butter that sang him to sleep every night. It was nothing like the musical laughter and soothing words and everything that was right about the world.
Shane was everything.
Marcus was worthless.
"Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. You may step down."
So Reed remembered Marcus' testimony.
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"..would like to call Reed Van Kamp."-Reed just sat there trapped in his own thoughts not hearing his name being called.
"Reed!"-his lawyer repeated and the small boy snapped out of his haze, standing up and walking to the witness stand. He took his oath and sat down feeling his body tremble with fear of being so exposed in front of everyone.
He remembered what Shane told him the night before:
"If it gets too hard being up there…if you're scared or feel threatened or just out of place, look at me. Just find me and I'll be there, Bambi. I always will."
"State your full name and age please Mr. Van Kamp."
Reed trained his eyes onto Shane's and took a deep breath.
"Reed Samuel Van Kamp, 16 years old."
"How long have you known Mr. Fletcher and his friends?"
"I met them my first day of high school."
And the questions just kept on coming. Irrelevant in Reed's opinion. What they did for fun, did he drink or smoked or did drugs, did he have a boyfriend, does he have one now, and so on and so forth. It was never-ending.
Reed felt like his own suit was trying to strangle him as it became tighter and warmer and he felt dizzy and tired and just wanted to curl up in Shane's arms and let him take everything bad away.
"Can you describe to us what happened after you entered the guest room while at the party?"
And that was the question Reed dreaded the most. He had no way to hide, no way to keep the details to himself. He had to tell every little thing they asked…and Shane was there.
Still afraid he would lose him Reed looked up through his lashes and caught the taller boy's gaze.
Shane seemed to understand the fear in his eyes because he just nodded slightly bringing his hands up and connecting his fingers into a small, crooked, heart shape.
He shuddered at the gesture and nodded back, taking a deep breath and telling them everything.
He ignored the pained gasps of the people in the court room as he described how they held him down and ripped his hair out making him bleed, he refused to see the horrified expressions as he told them how they ripped his clothes and forced him down on the bed.
He avoided Shane as he answered the questions about the bruises, the bite marks and the scars the dancer didn't know off and he had never seen them.
He didn't cry. He surprised himself but he remained seemingly strong as he finished his story with waking up in the hospital days after.
After a few questions about his life after all of it (Reed admitted having nightmares, flashbacks, the changes in his art, he told them about his therapist) they decided they had everything they needed.
They allowed him to go back to sit between Ethan and Nathaniel who answered their questions earlier that day.
Reed felt terrible when he realized that Ethan was beaten up pretty badly, and Nathaniel was forced to…well to use his mouth on them…but none of them had it as bad as he did, and he felt terrible for feeling a tinge of jealousy. He hated himself but he couldn't help it.
Sitting down to his chair again was immediately followed by Shane's gentle touch on his back and relief flooded him.
He did what he could.
He remembered his own testimony.
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The closing statements were a blur.
He can distinctly remember wanting to murder Marcus' lawyer after he said that all teenage boys want sex and if it got a bit out of hand and ended up being a little rough it's just kids these days.
He can also remember his own lawyer brought tears to the eyes of jury after telling them how the three boys were fighting to get their lives back in order and how much work it took to trust in people again.
Reed knew it to be the truth.
He had learned how to be around people but he still had a hard time believing they wouldn't hurt him or make fun of him. He was a work in progress and he knew that.
The statements were delivered and the jury was sent to discuss everything.
It was over.
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"…we found the defendants guilty of all the charges. Sexual assault, physical harm, and in the case of Reed Van Kamp, attempt murder."-the man folded the paper down and took a seat with a look of pride in his eyes.
Reed stood frozen when the room exploded in a fit of laughter, congratulations and joyful screams.
People were hugging and kissing and downright singing before the judge banged her gavel.
Reed winced at the loud sound as she addressed the crowd.
"Settle down please. Before we wrap this up I have a few things to say. Firstly now the jury has decided I am allowed to state my opinion on the matter. I must say I agree completely with their decision. I've been a judge for almost 20 years now and I have never heard or seen anything like this. During the trial I gave it a lot of thought about the sentence if you were found guilty. And being the mother of a 14 year old boy I have to say this decision will make me sleep better at night. Therefore I will name your sentences right away. Kevin Ailly and Brian Carson you have been found guilty of the crimes of physical violence and helping the crime of sexual assault. You will serve 25 years in a maximum security prison. You can petition for parole in 15 years. "
The two boys sat down without a single word.
"Marcus Fletcher, you were found guilty of physical assault, sexual assault and attempted murder. You will serve 50 years in a maximum security prison with no possibility to petition for parole. Court adjourned."-she banged he gavel loudly.
Marcus gapped at her with such hate and ferocity in his eyes that the woman winced for a second but the boy was cuffed in a matter of minutes and she turned to him smiling.
"And now that I'm off duty I can tell you that where you're going, they don't really like rapists. So have fun, and whatever you do, don't turn your back to anyone."-she winked at him and left the room.
People exploded with laughter and cheering. They were hugging all over again and celebrating their victory.
Reed was just strangely numb.
They left the court room and Ethan and Nathaniel turned to say goodbye to him. They smiled awkwardly and promised to stay in touch. But they all knew they wouldn't. It hurt too much and they would be constant reminders to each other. They were there for each other when it counted. But they weren't friends. They hugged and went their separate ways. Most likely for good.
His hazy mind registered someone's arms around him as they went back to the car avoiding the press. He felt gentle kisses on his temple as he sat in the car, unable to speak or think or react in any way. He knew he should celebrate and be happy. And he was. He just needed the time to wrap his mind about everything.
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They arrived to an unfamiliar house.
Nobody seemed fazed, including his mother who chatted happily with Kurt who wore an expression of pure bliss on his face.
It was the first thing that got to Reed and he smiled gently.
"I just hope the damn fucker drops his soap in the shower."-Cam yelled and Jeff doubled with laughter.
Cam's voice was the second thing that reached to him through his haze and he chuckled silently.
"Bambi…"
And that was what finally snapped him out. Shane.
He looked up to find himself wrapped up in the tall boy's arms the way he liked it the best. With one of Shane's hands tight around his waist and the other cradling his head to his chest.
"It's over baby. He's gone. He can never hurt you or anybody again."-Shane said with a twinkle in his eyes and Reed honest to god laughed loudly at this, throwing his arms around Shane's neck.
He kept laughing as Shane picked him up and spun him in circles.
He kept laughing when a bunch of other hands joined in and he found himself in a Warbler group hug (and apparently that was a real thing).
His smile never left when they told him they were at David's place where they will be having a "sending bastards to jail" party (apparently that was also a real thing…they had cake and all).
He was talking to his friends, even dancing a bit even thought he was still Reed so after a glass bottle shattered on the floor and an expensive looking vase joined Shane scooped him up and placed him onto his feet.
They glided across the room easily and Reed never felt more graceful than he did just then in Shane's arms.
It was like locking Marcus up had unlocked the real Reed.
He was funny, and sweet, and for a moment he did talk more than a few lines at once and they all loved him even more.
Hilde excused herself around midnight but after a lot of begging she allowed Reed to stay (mostly because she knew Shane was looking after him…she really liked that boy).
There were movies and karaoke (where they found out Reed actually sang like a proper little angel he was), and board games and food and just enjoying the company of good friends.
Going to sleep didn't even cross their minds until Jeff just slumped in Nick's lap and started snoring.
Shane took his hand and they found the room together, got ready and snuggled together under the covers.
Reed turned to Shane and locked his eyes with his. He knew what he wanted.
"Shane…"
"Yes Bambi."
"Remember how you said to ask if I want something?"
"There's no need to check every time beautiful. I meant it. What is it that you want?"
"You…"
Shane's eyes went wide at this and he blinked a few times sure that he just misunderstood.
"You already have me baby."-he said pecking his silky lips again.
"Not what I meant."
"Then…what."
Reed blushed fiercely and bit his lip, but he looked up through his lashes shyly.
"Will you make love to me?"