Disclaimer: All recognizable For the People characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners including, but not limited to ABC and Shondaland. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fan fiction story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No financial gain is associated with the publishing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: Another Littlebell pairing because they scream to be written. Set somewhere in the second season. Will be multi-chapter. -dkc
Of Prison Visits and Late Nights
Hi, I'm looking for Kate Littlejohn," the small woman said to the security officer as she glanced around the dimly lit foyer of the correctional institution.
"Ms. Bell?" he glanced up at her after having held his phone to his ear in silence for a moment. She nodded. "You can go on through."
A loud buzz was followed by an automatic gate opening for her to step through. She was new to this particular facility and found it all rather off-putting. How could it not be when it housed mere children? The oldest locked up there was seventeen.
"Kate?" Sandra walked into the room where clients met with their lawyers. "What are we doing here?"
The blonde was perfectly pressed and prepared for what was ahead. Sandra, as usual, was a bit scattered. Her eyes asked once again and Kate finally answered her.
"I have a client for you," she said. "Thank you for coming."
"You know I work for Jill, right? She assigns me my cases."
Having taken a seat next to the prosecutor, she awaited additional information.
"I have a case, a man indicted on conspiracy charges," Kate had yet to look at Sandra and seemed to be weighing her words carefully. Not knowing Kate well, Sandra was left disconcerted.
"I cannot help you with your case. It would be unethical to step into something I know nothing about and defend him at my own discretion and—"
"Please don't interrupt me."
Sandra was dumbstruck which, she had to give Kate credit, had shut her up.
"He has a son. The son is not in here for anything related to my case. They haven't seen each other in years. In exchange for a guilty plea, he asked that I please look into his son's case. Here is his file," Kate handed over a perfectly indexed and flagged folder that made Sandra inwardly smile.
Flipping through the file in the hope of absorbing absolutely anything about the case before she met the client, Sandra readied her questions.
"The D.A. wants you to see to this young man's case under the belief it will bring you a guilty plea. Okay, I think I understand."
"No."
Sandra's head swiveled as she tried desperately to understand this situation.
"The D.A. is not asking for this. There is no formal agreement in place," Littlejohn looked at her feet, she was embarrassed at her lack of ethics, but not ashamed for helping a man protect and look out for his child.
"He is asking you; you are asking me. Okay."
Sandra Bell leafed through the items in the folder, noting the crime, time served and initial sentence. Along with the case materials, there was a letter from a family friend begging the judge for leniency. There were several notes in margins that matched Kate's handwriting. When she finished skimming the summary, she found Kate's eyes on her and felt self-conscious.
"What?" she asked the shocked prosecutor.
At that moment the door buzzed and opened to allow a young man to enter. He was not cuffed and he was clearly well liked by the facility staff and the corrections officers.
"Miss Kate," the young man smiled broadly and shook the lawyer's hand happily. He glanced at Sandra who appeared a bit shell shocked.
"Mateo, this is Sandra Bell. She is a federal public defender. A fancy name for a lawyer who will be on your side," Kate spoke to him with concern and care.
"Hello, Miss—" he stopped himself before swallowing hard and continuing. "Miss Sandra, I am Mateo Rosa. Thank you for coming to see me today."
"It's my pleasure, Mateo. Tell me about your case."
And thus began the three hour review of the case. Kate remained supportive and answered questions as she could, but she allowed Sandra to lead the discussion.
"Thank you, Miss Sandra," he shook her hand warmly as the officer returned for him.
"It was nice to see you, Miss Kate," he unexpectedly wrapped his arms around the uncomfortable prosecutor. He then left and the gate closed behind him leaving Sandra grinning at what she had observed.
"What?" Kate asked, the question reminding them of Sandra saying that very thing when Kate looked at her just as Mateo arrived.
"I've never seen this side of you. It's..." Sandra wanted to say adorable but knew Kate Littlejohn would find this abhorrent. "...charming."
A slight blush colored Kate's cheeks. She tried to pivot.
"Why did you say yes to taking Mateo's case? You said yourself that you receive your assignments from Jill. There is nothing noteworthy about his case," she genuinely did not know.
"Because you asked me to," Sandra's response was self-assured and confident.
"Do you need a ride back to the office?" Kate switched gears and left the implications of Sandra's willingness to help behind.
"Sure, I took the train. Multiple trains. I didn't know this place existed."
"I don't imagine you deal with many cases involving juveniles."
They both stood, putting their notes in their respective bags and saying nothing until they had exited the building and were climbing into Kate's car.
"I didn't know that you drive. Few people around the office actually drive much less have a car," Sandra was feeling nervous for reasons she couldn't place.
"I'm not from the city. Driving was once a necessity. Rural Virginia isn't exactly known for its public transportation. This is Roger's car. Mine is in the shop," Kate pulled out of the parking lot and showed the same precision and attention to driving as she did the organization of case files.
"I don't drive anymore. The subway is my primary mode of transportation. Walking my second. Of course I drove growing up in Sacramento. Everybody in California drives."
Sandra's hands were restless and her mind busy. Being in the car with Kate was making her anxious.
"Do you get carsick?" Kate asked.
"No. Why?" she glanced at the driver's profile.
"You are uncomfortable."
The way the AUSA said things carried a weight of certainty. It was as if what she was saying could not be argued with.
"You have this effect on me," Sandra decided to try straightforward honesty as well.
"I make you uncomfortable?" she kept her eyes on the road.
"You could say that, yes. You are intimidating. Incredibly smart, professional, focused. Things I am not. So yes, you can make me uncomfortable," the smaller woman admitted.
Nothing was said in response to Sandra's admission. They continued on toward the office in companionable silence.
"I admire how personable you are with your clients. You are empathetic, without trying. It's why I called you—why I asked you to take this case," Kate's voice did not waver despite her mind being in overdrive.
Looking straight ahead, processing what she was being told, the public defender was touched by what the prosecutor said.
"Children require a rapport that I'm afraid I am not proficient at establishing."
"You and Mateo seem to have a great rapport," Sandra offered.
Kate said nothing. The defender considered this for a moment. She was not without her questions.
"There are plenty of people in my office who could handle this case, Kate."
"I didn't want plenty of people," came the firm answer.
"Why me, Kate?" she pressed.
"I told you. I admire the way you are with your clients."
Kate was not going to make this easy for Sandra. She would have to work for every crumb.
"There's something else. I know it's there and I can be very persistent."
Still with her eyes on the road, Kate maneuvered through traffic and turned on her blinker at the light before a foreign parking structure that was not the one next to the office.
"Umm...?" Sandra asked as she looked around as they drove inside. It was an upscale residential parking structure.
"Roger doesn't need his car. We can walk from here," Kate parked and turned off the car.
It now made sense.
"I asked you because I value your opinion. I asked you because I knew you would be kind to Mateo. I asked you because I enjoy being in your presence. I asked you because—"
A hand on her own stopped Kate from continuing.
"That's enough for me," Sandra smiled, leaving her hand where it was for another beat. When she pulled it away, she noticed a slight tremor in Kate's pinkie.
Stepping out of the car and grabbing her bag, Sandra couldn't help but smile. That Kate maintained complete composure at all times hardly was fair.
"I enjoy spending time with you, too."
Sandra said what she had wanted to say and then directed her focus to the walk back to work. What she didn't see was the hint of a smile on Kate's lips.
To be continued…