Chapter Text
Jensen had filmed My Bloody Valentine starting on May 12 and finally wrapped three weeks later. He returned home to Dallas and rested for almost a full week before heading to Los Angeles. The criminal trial of Brett Ratner started on Tuesday, June 10 and he had been called as a witness for the Defense. He was furious and thought about not appearing but knew that he would be held in contempt and probably arrested so he had to be there. Danneel didn’t want him to go but she also didn’t want him going without her. They had been fighting more and more and him attending this trial was the cause. She accused him of still being in love with Y/F/N and that he would commit perjury rather than saying anything derogatory against her. He realized that she was probably right but said that he would tell the truth no matter what. His main goal was to make sure that Brett was locked away for a long time and couldn’t harass or hurt another person ever again.
The security was heightened because of the high profile celebrities in attendance. Each person entering the courtroom had to come through a metal detector and in some cases submit to a random search of their belongings or a pat down. Once inside, they found the courtroom and found seats on the right side near the back. Jensen hoped that Y/F/N wouldn’t spot him because he didn’t want his presence to be a distraction for her.
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You were surrounded by your team of lawyers as the press snapped a barrage of photos. You knew this would happen but it felt starkly different from the last time which was at the movie premiere. Once inside, you all proceeded toward the metal detectors while the officers checked the lawyer’s briefcases and your bag. Once through, you loaded into the next available elevator and the doors closed.
“Remember to remain calm when he’s brought into the courtroom,” Jonathan Harris, your main lawyer, advised.
“And try to stare him down, if you can. I know you tried to avoid that in the last trial but you were forced to identify him. It’s likely the defense will ask you to do that again,” the other male lawyer, Tom Roman added.
You nodded at them both and then looked at the female lawyer, Pam Ingles as she gave you a reassuring smile.
The elevator felt like it was rushing toward its destination so that it could expel you out to face your worst day on Earth. Actually, that’s not true…your worst day was the day that Brett beat and raped you. Today was going to be your second worst day because now you would have to retell what happened on that day to a room full of strangers and to people who were your friends which was worse. Would they think differently about you once they knew all the sordid details? How you had kept quiet about his harassment for weeks. How you had agreed to have sex with him in order to go see Jensen. Just thinking about him brought a stab of pain straight through your heart.
The elevator doors opened and the guys stepped out while you and Pam followed behind. You walked toward the courtroom staring straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with folks milling outside. Unfortunately, there was a set of crystal blue eyes that you knew all too well and he was staring at you intently and smiled briefly when your eyes met his. You then slid your eyes to his side where a tall, blond-haired woman leaned into his side. This must be the new girlfriend who was a model. Yeah, she was definitely a model with her sleek body, perfect skin, and high cheekbones. You reached the doors and paused briefly.
“Are you okay?” Pam asked, almost bumping into you.
“Yeah. Go on in. I want to speak to someone,” you said.
“All right but just a few minutes,” she said and then went inside.
“Hey, Y/F/N,” Chris said as he stepped in front of you.
“Hi, Chris. How are you?” you asked just to be nice.
“Okay. I wish this was already behind me and I’m sure you feel that way too.”
“Yeah.”
The woman bumped Chris’s forearm and he flinched and then remembered that she was standing there.
“Oh, sorry. Y/F/N, I’d like for you to meet Karin Capra.”
“Hi, Karin,” you said, forcing a smile and reaching out to shake her hand.
“Hello, Y/F/N. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you,” she said with a noticeable accent but you weren’t sure from where, as she shook and then withdrew her hand.
“Karin is a model from South Africa but has worked all over the World,” Chris boasted of his female friend.
“That must be exciting traveling to so many places.”
“Y/F/N,” Pam said as she appeared and you turned to her.
“I’m coming,” you said and then turned back. “It was nice meeting you as well. Chris, good luck and just tell the truth as you remember it. That’s what I’ll be doing,” you said as if telling him not to embellish or try to sugarcoat the facts of what really happened.
He chuckled but nodded. You turned and entered the courtroom and walked to the front row. You sat right behind your lawyers and was relieved to see that Tracy was already seated. You chatted quietly with her but then got quiet as you saw Mark Geragos enter and sit down at the defense table. You had hoped and prayed that Brett would accept a plea deal but it wasn’t going to happen. You knew you were stronger in body, mind, and spirit but you still had a nagging fear that the defense lawyer could rattle you just like last time and cause a panic attack. You didn’t want to be seen as weak ever again and so you sighed heavily and then stared straight ahead.
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“All Rise. The Honorable Judge Michelle Kim now presiding,” the bailiff announced. Your legal team had made a short list of judges that they hoped would be selected to oversee the trial and she was one of them. You smiled and felt that was a good sign going forward. Judge Kim sat down and then banged her gavel.
“Court is now in session. You may be seated. Bailiff please bring in the jury,” she instructed as he was already moving toward the side door and opened it. He led the jury members which consisted of 6 men and 6 women and 2 male alternates and 1 female alternate to their seats and then returned back to the same door. “Bailiff, please bring in the defendant.”
You waited with anticipation as he opened the door and then there stood Brett. Again, he was dressed in a gray suit with a light blue button down shirt and a silk striped tie with gray, a darker shade of blue, and white pattern. He strode into the courtroom as if he was the lawyer instead of the person on trial. His cockiness and arrogance turned your stomach and you glanced over at the jury to see their reactions. Most of them were stoic but a few people seemed star-struck and you made a mental note to watch their reactions when listening to the testimonies. He took his seat beside his lawyer, Mark Geragos, and the other two lawyers on the legal team.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is a criminal trial vs. Brett Ratner for Rape and Aggravated Assault. I want to make you aware that the testimonies and evidence that will be presented will be graphic and of a sexual nature. It may be hard to listen to and to see but as members of the jury you are bound by law to watch and listen attentively and if possible to not outwardly react to what you see and hear. If you feel like you need to be excused at any time, please raise your hand, and the bailiff will come to you. To the members of our gallery, I ask you to be respectful and quiet during these proceedings. Please do not react to anything that you hear or see during the testimonies and if you need to leave, please do so quietly without causing unnecessary distractions. And a reminder to everyone, if you haven’t silenced or turned off your cell phones, please do it at this time. If it rings, going forward, you will be escorted out and not allowed to return.”
A few people immediately took out their phones and turned them off and then put them away.
“I understand that the prosecution was working with the defense on a plea deal. Has there been any new developments that I need to be made aware of before we proceed?”
Your main lawyer, Jonathan Harris, stood and said, “No plea deal has been reached your Honor.”
“Then you may continue with an opening statement,” Kim said.
Harris walked over and stood in front of the jury box.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will prove by eye-witness testimony and admission of physical evidence that Brett Ratner is guilty of the charge of rape and aggravated assault by strangulation. On August 31, 2007, Y/F/N Y/L/N was violently assaulted and raped by Brett Ratner. She was knocked unconscious and while she lay there defenseless, he proceeded to rape her, until a Warner Brother’s security guard entered her trailer and interrupted him. When escorted outside, Mr Ratner then attempted to run after he charged at and knocked Chris Pine to the ground and then kicked the security guards legs out from under him. Thanks to the quick actions of Tracy Denning, who hit him in the neck which incapacitated him long enough for the security guard to again gain control over him. Ladies and gentlemen, you will see photos of the results of his actions on his victim, and they are very graphic, but I think….No, I know that you will do the job as a jury member of this trial and find Brett Ratner guilty of all charges. Thank you.”
Harris walked with determination back to his seat and sat down.
You had closed your eyes when he said your name and started describing the attack. You took several breaths to calm yourself but when he said that there were photos, you opened your eyes and stared at his profile. No one on your legal team had told you about the photos. You had no knowledge of the photos and hadn’t even seen them yourself. You were desperate to talk to your lawyers but knew that you would be out of order if you interrupted court. Pam Ingles, your female lawyer, turned and looked at you and you mouthed “Photos” and she nodded and then leaned over to her co counsel members and said something. She then turned back to you and held up one finger. You had no idea if that meant one photo or to wait a minute.
“The defense may now give their opening statement,” the judge announced.
Geragos stood and also walked toward the jurors.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I want to start by saying that you have accepted a job that carries a heavy weight. You will be deciding the fate of a man who has been falsely accused of a heinous crime. It is my job to defend him and make you believe that he is merely an innocent man caught in a woman’s deceitful web. That woman, Y/F/N Y/L/N is not the victim in this case but a woman so determined to make it as an actress that she will lie repeatedly in order to get what she wants. We will prove that in the course of filming this movie she did in fact, come onto her director, Brett Ratner, and promised him sexual favors in exchange for days off and preferential treatment on set. And as to her bodily injuries, they were merely a result of a woman who sexually desires to be choked and beaten by her partner. My client was just obliging her masochist fantasies.”
You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. You were a victim at Brett’s hand but they were trying to say that you asked for this. You were trying to stay calm but could feel yourself gasping for breath and the panic creeping in ready to overtake you. Tracy slid closer and grabbed your right hand and squeezed it and you looked over and met her eyes. Her eyes were soothing and compassionate and they were actually grounding you. You felt your body release and your breathing slowing down, back to normal. She nodded and then you did as well. She slowly released your hand as Geragos was concluding.
“And that is why you must declare Brett Ratner Not Guilty. Thank you,” he said confidently and then turned and walked back to his seat.
“Mr. Harris, are you ready to call your first witness?” the judge asked.
“Your Honor, we respectfully ask for a few minutes to confer with our client. She is visibly upset by the accusations that the defense has just presented and we would like a few minutes to discuss this strategy and prepare her for any questions that the defense may ask her.”
“It is unheard of to ask for a recess as the trial has just begun but I will admit that I was surprised by the defense’s remarks as well. I will grant the recess. Court is in recess for 15 minutes,” she said and banged her gavel and then stood up.
“All Rise,” the bailiff yelled, as the judge exited the courtroom. He then proceeded toward the jury and escorted them back to the jury room.
Harris and Ingles turned and motioned for you to follow them. You all walked quickly out of the courtroom and down the hall to a small conference room. You sat down as Pam closed the door and then sat beside you.
“Y/F/N, we’re sorry that we didn’t tell you about the photos. You didn’t know about it because they were taken by the staff in the ER when you were brought in. It’s their policy whenever a patient has been raped,” Harris explained.
“You should have told me and shown them to me, instead of me finding out in court,” you yelled.
“I agree and I told them that, but they were afraid that you would say that you didn’t want them used as evidence,” Pam explained softly.
“They’re very graphic and we didn’t want you to see yourself in that state,” he continued to explain.
“That was not your decision to make and besides I already saw my face in a mirror and looked at my side when I came out of the coma.”
“Not like this,” Pam said, touching your arm softly. “You were in a coma for over a week and the bruises had faded. And they took pictures of you on the ventilator. That can be very traumatic for you to see.”
“It is our strongest piece of evidence and we really need to use them but it’s ultimately your decision. We have enlarged the photos to make it easier for the jurors to see and Tom remained in the courtroom with them, but I have them on my phone,” he said as he started to find them.
“Do you need someone to be here with you for support while you view the pictures?” Pam asked with compassion.
“No. I can do this,” you replied.
Harris handed over his phone and you saw the first picture. You gasped at the severity of the wound on your throat. It was red, swollen, and a line was indented from the phone cord on your neck. You also could see an outline of Brett’s hands. You sucked in breath and closed your eyes. You felt Pam’s hand rubbing your back and you appreciated her support but still they had lied to you and hidden these pictures and you were still mad at them. You opened your eyes and then swiped to the next photo, which was of you hooked up to the ventilator. You could see your black eye and the dried blood on your split lip. You moved onto the next photo which was of your bruised ribs. They were black and blue and not unlike what you had seen with other bruises.
“That’s it. Three photos but they are very powerful and will help show the jury how badly you were hurt. No one on the jury will believe that you would willingly want to be hurt that badly to fulfill a sexual fantasy,” Harris said.
You handed his phone back to him and stared at him.
“You’re right but I don’t like being kept in the dark about the details of this trial. If there is anything else that you are planning to use to prosecute Brett that you haven’t told me yet, you need to tell me now. If I hear it for the first time in court, then I will lodge a formal complaint against all of you and possibly consider suing for unethical conduct,” you said, looking at him with determination and then you turned to include Pam as well.
You noticed Pam and Jonathan looking at each other and she nodded quickly.
“There’s one more thing and it will be discussed during Dr. Lewis’s testimony,” he said.
“What is it?”
“While you were in a coma, Dr. Lewis did a,” he paused and sighed before continuing, “pregnancy test on you.”
He saw your immediate reaction of fear and repulsion.
“Thankfully, it was negative. He said that is also a standard test in rape cases. If Brett had completed the act, they would have also taken any sperm samples but he was interrupted by the security guard.”
“Is that all? There’s nothing else that you haven’t told me?”
“That’s it,” he said.
You looked at Pam for confirmation as well and she nodded in agreement.
“Okay. Now that I have seen the photos and heard about the medical tests, I’m satisfied.”
“Meaning?”
“You can use the photos. I want Brett to spend as much time behind bars as the law will allow.”
“So do we. Now, I was not expecting them to try to blame you and your sexual preferences for this attack, but in order to be prepared, I need to know…..Have you engaged in any sexual activity that could be categorized as rough play?”
You immediately looked down and your cheeks blushed at having to talk to him about this. You looked back up at him and then over at Pam.
“Jonathan, can you excuse us? I think Y/F/N might be more comfortable talking to me about this.”
“Of course. Please watch the time,” he reminded Pam and then left the room.
“I can understand if there has been some form of rough activity,” she said, trying to make you feel more comfortable.
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. When Jensen and I were together, he…spanked me,” you said, as your cheeks felt even hotter.
“Okay, that’s pretty common but have you ever been tied up?”
“No.”
“What about being spanked with an object, like a paddle, belt, or a caning stick?”
“No. I don’t get off on feeling pain during sex.”
“And what about being choked?”
“No, definitely not. When Brett grabbed me by the throat and was squeezing, I..I was scared for my life. He was trying to kill me.”
“Okay, when you’re on the stand testifying, Jonathan will be sure to ask you that and you should answer that way as well. Y/F/N, I truly am sorry that we didn’t tell you about the photos,” she said apologetically.
“Thank you. Was it a situation of the guys overruling your decision?”
“Pretty much and I don’t have as much experience as them, so what I say is unheeded and ignored most times.”
“Yeah, I’ve had that happen to me, too. Well, I appreciate your thoughtfulness and always checking in with me and explaining things. It really helped.”
“You're welcome. Okay, we should get back to the courtroom.”
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As soon as court was dismissed, the bailiff moved to take Brett out of the courtroom but Geragos asked if he could remain by the table as he conferred with his client. The bailiff agreed and then stood close by.
“You do know that it’s going to be next to impossible to win this case, right? You were caught, literally, with your pants down and the security guard saw you in the act of raping an unconscious woman.”
“No, not raping…fucking her. She wanted it and she likes it rough. She just passed out,” Brett offered.
“Brett, it’s not too late to still take the plea deal. The doctor is the first to testify and he will corroborate that her injuries are consistent with other rape and sexual assault victims. And the choking looks like you were trying to kill her. You’re lucky that they haven’t added attempted murder but they might if Y/F/N testifies.”
“Relax. I doubt she will testify. If she got rattled and emotional after listening to your opening statement, she won’t be able to handle testifying and the cross examination from you. That will definitely hurt her case and make it look like she’s hiding something,” Brett said confidently.
“You can’t really believe that. And the plea deal is good right now. If it goes to the end, you could get the maximum sentence which is up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Brett said as he looked up and saw you and your female lawyer enter the courtroom. He smiled at you hoping that you would notice but you never looked his way. “See, she can’t bring herself to even look at me. I’ll be fine.”