Chapter 18
Three months passed by quickly for both Mikaela and Sam. True to his word, Sam picked her up from Rhea's every morning and took her to his house for the entire day. It was as if Mikaela had never even left the Witwicky's house. Sam and Mikaela's relationship was better than ever and Mikaela knew she wanted nothing else than to spend the rest of her life with Sam.
However, the court date was coming closer and just one day away from it, Mikaela was getting nervous. The night before the day they were going to court, Mikaela stayed extra long at Sam's house talking to him about how she felt about the situation. Of course, she knew she was doing the right thing and she was coached as much as she could possibly be coached about it in three months, but that didn't stop her from having apprehension about the entire thing. It also didn't stop Sam from being right next to her throughout the entire ordeal. Mikaela lay in bed that night trying to get some sleep but having no luck. It took her a few hours to relax and tell herself that she would be fine the next day and she then fell asleep.
Mikaela was picked up from the foster care facility at eight o'clock that morning and was taken to the Rhea County Court House for the court hearing. Accompanying her to court was Sam (of course), Judy, George, Melissa, an attorney, and the two detectives who had coached her on what to say in court. As they walked into the courthouse, Mikaela had memories of being here when her father was convicted of grand theft auto a few years back. It hurt her to see that she was back again, but this time, she was involved as well. The courthouse was large with mostly wooden benches and walls. Mikaela sat down on one of the benches next to Sam. Melissa had told them that they would be called in shortly and that they should wait in the hallway.
"Where is my father?" Mikaela wanted to know.
"The attorney just went to talk to your father's attorney and he said that they are down the hall in another room. Don't worry, you don't have to see him before or after the hearing if you don't want to." Melissa told her. Mikaela breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried she would have to see her father and not know what to say to him.
Half an hour later, Mikaela's case was called and the group walked inside. The Witwicky's, detectives, and Melissa took a seat in the pews behind Mikaela while Mikaela and the attorney took a seat before the judge's bench. A door opened on the other side of the room and in walked another attorney and then Mikaela's father. Behind her father were Victoria, Alison and Jake. Mikaela drew her breath in sharply. She never realized that seeing her father would make her so nervous. Let alone seeing Victoria and her two children. Mikaela's attorney reached over and patted her arm.
"Don't worry Mikaela. You'll do fine." He told her and that was all Mikaela needed to hear. She felt her confidence come back and she straightened up and looked forward as her father walked by her. He took his place on his side of the room and seconds later, the judge was announced and everyone stood.
"Judge Lewis presiding. Everyone rise!" the bailiff announced to the court room. Everyone stood as the judge walked through the doors to the courtroom. Judge Lewis was in his fifties with slightly graying dark hair and medium build. He had a straight face on so Mikaela couldn't tell if he was kind or strict. Judge Lewis took his seat and motioned for everyone else to sit as well. And so the court session began.
Court lasted for about two hours before Mikaela was even called up to the stand. She walked up with confidence although she could feel butterflies in her stomach again. Mikaela's attorney was the first to ask her questions.
"Mikaela, is it true that your father has physically abused you and if yes, can you please describe the abuse." Mikaela knew this question would come up and she was prepared to answer it.
"Yes, he did physically abuse me. He would punch me and kick me, sometimes until I passed out on the floor. He verbally abused me also." Mikaela told the jury.
"Can you explain the verbal abuse?" the attorney asked.
"He would call me a mistake. He would say that no one wanted me or loved me and that I would be better off dead. He threatened to kill me too." Mikaela told the attorney. This shocked the people in court room. Some whispering erupted and Judge Lewis called for silence in the court room. He nodded his head for the questioning to continue.
"Okay Mikaela, I have one more question for you. Do you believe your father deserves to go to jail for what he has done?" Mikaela thought no more than one second about it.
"Absolutely. I love him and even though he is my father, he hurt me and he needs to be punished for it." Mikaela answered.
"No further questions." Her attorney stated and then he walked back to where he was standing. Her father's attorney stood up to question Mikaela next. Mikaela knew she was halfway through with the questioning, but she had gotten the easy part done with first.
"Mikaela, is it true that your father has been abusing you for months, yet you didn't say anything about it until just recently?" the attorney asked.
"Yes, that's true." She answered.
"And is it true that you could have just as easily made up the verbal abuse that you say you endured from your father? It could have just as easily been administered by your boyfriend." The attorney said.
"Yes I could have made it up but I didn't. I would never make something up like that or blame someone else for doing it." Mikaela said.
"Okay Mikaela. One more question. How is it possible that your father had enough power to knock you out so you say for hours, but there is no physical evidence of abuse internally?" Mikaela had no answer for this one.
"I don't know. All I know is that he would beat and kick me until I passed out in my room. I don't know why there isn't any internal damage, but like you, I'm glad that there isn't." Mikaela almost snapped at the attorney. She was warned to keep her temper in check during court but she couldn't help herself. The attorney wanted to know why she was "making up" a story when there was evidence that it happened right in front of him.
"No further questions." The attorney walked back to his place. Mikaela was allowed to walk back to her attorney as well.
The court session continued for hours with very few breaks in which Mikaela was only allowed to be in a room with her attorney and not allowed to talk to Sam or anyone else. Finally, the jury had come to a decision as to whether or not Dave Banes was guilty.
"We the jury find David Banes….guilty of physical and verbal abuse." Mikaela could have cried she was so happy. There were a few cheers in the back of the court room but no one could be happier than Mikaela.
"David Banes, you are sentenced to 25 to 50 years in federal state prison. Court dismissed." The judge stood and walked out of the court room and finally Mikaela was allowed to rejoice with the rest of the group. She immediately ran over to Sam who picked her up and spun her around. She hugged him tightly not wanting to let go. She was glad he was here to enjoy this moment with her.
