Bull walked into the TAC offices earlier than usual the next morning since he couldn't sleep. In the dimly lit office, he sat down at his desk and found himself replaying the events of the previous evening over in his mind. Ashton had surprised him with her kiss and ensuing advances which he enjoyed – a fact belied by his swift getaway.

Shortly after leaving Ashton's apartment Bull realized that he had forgotten his glasses and he almost turned around and went back. In the end, logic won out over feelings and Bull went home. He regretted leaving her as soon as he entered his silent, dark apartment. Despite his regrets, he didn't call or text Ashton regarding the glasses and their return, thinking she would call him when she noticed them.

As he sat lost in thought, he pulled out the thank you card from a jacket pocket that he had forgotten to give to Ashton the previous evening. He turned it over and over in his hands before setting it down. Bull then decided to give her the card when he got his glasses back and resolved to call her later in the day.

"Bull's not here. He went out to get some air," Benny told Ashton as she got off the elevator at the TAC entrance. He had been walking through the hallway and paused as the elevator door opened thinking it was Bull returning.

"Time to get an analyzation fix in already? You guys aren't doing your job," Ashton said with a grin as she glanced at her watch. "I'm here to see you anyway. That is, if you can give me a few minutes?"

"For you? Of course," he said and led her to a small room. "You don't really think he's out there analyzing people, do you?"

"Of course he is. Jason can't help himself. He'd even slip up with me on occasion even though we had rules," she told him evenly.

"Rules, huh?" the lawyer asked and looked at Ashton thoughtfully. He had never really considered that Bull was constantly analyzing everyone, even those people he knew well.

"Yes, kind of a check the psychologist at the door thing. It can be hard to relax when you know your every word and action is being observed and processed," Ashton explained. "When he was home, he did his best to shut it off."

Benny nodded and smiled. "So, what do you need me for?" he asked.

Ashton explained why she stopped by to see the lawyer. "Ash, healthcare directives aren't my area," the lawyer told her.

"I know. We're going to see my dad's lawyer after he gets home. I just wanted to run my questions by you and see if there's anything that I might have overlooked," she replied.

The pair spoke for a short time. As Ashton thanked him and stood up to leave, Benny said, "If you need anything, all you have to do is call or text. I think I'd be correct in saying anyone here will help any way they can, especially Bull."

Ashton nodded silently and looked out the clear glass wall into the main office area. She was always amazed to see how TAC had grown. Ashton then reached into her bag said, "Speaking of…can you give these to Jason? He stopped by with dinner last night and forgot them."

Ashton had noticed the glasses when she got up from her desk the previous evening and decided to try to get some sleep. She immediately picked up her phone to send Bull a text to let him know he forgot them. Just as quickly, Ashton put the phone down and changed her mind. After the evening's events, the last thing she needed was an inkling – even if it was imagined – that Bull was trying to figure out a motive behind her call aside from his glasses.

Benny took Bull's glasses from her hand and tried to decide if he should say what was on his mind. He had seen Ashton and Bull's relationship up close for years and been somewhat envious; their divorce had been a shock to him. After learning of their recent meetings from both Chunk and Bull himself and now hearing about dinner, the lawyer shook his head. Mind made up, Benny finally said, "You two never should've got divorced. I say that as someone in the unique position of friend and family."

"I tried, Benny. When I wanted to go to counseling, Dr. Jason Bull already knew what they were going to say, what they would suggest, and so on," Ashton said with a rueful smile.

While he assumed the divorce wasn't a snap decision, the lawyer hadn't expected that answer. Ashton tended to be extremely private and rarely shared anything she deemed too personal. Even Benny's sister, with whom Ashton was close to, didn't know all the details surrounding Bull and Ashton's divorce.

Benny was at a loss for words as they walked towards the elevator. "I…I didn't know," he stammered.

As far as Ashton was concerned, she had said enough on the subject and only gave Benny a consoling look and slight nod in return. When the elevator doors opened Ashton said, "Thanks for your advice. Don't forget your nephew's birthday is in two weeks."

"I see you got your glasses," Benny said as he came up to where Bull was standing. The psychologist was staring up at a large screen depicting jury information wearing dark-framed spectacles instead of the wire-rimmed pair he had showed up in that morning.

"Yes. How did these end up on my desk?" Bull asked. He had been planning to get in touch with Ashton that afternoon regarding their return.

"Ashton stopped by with them," the lawyer said deliberately not telling Bull the reason she had come to the office. "I see you've progressed from lunch to dinner – and forgetting your glasses at her place?"

Bull looked at Benny with an amused expression on his face but refused to take the bait, "I promised her father I'd keep an eye on her."

"You've spoken with her father recently?" the lawyer inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I stopped by the hospital yesterday afternoon. I like Jack," Bull replied evenly.

"You like Ash, too, or are you still not ready to admit that out loud?" Benny countered.

"She's going through a difficult time right now and doesn't need me in her life confusing things," the psychologist told him.

"She may be upset right now, but Ashton is not and has never been confused," Benny stated. "If she didn't want you in her life she never would've sat down and had coffee with you."

"It's not that easy," Bull argued.

"It's not that difficult either. Why do I suddenly feel like the psychologist?" the lawyer said earnestly with a loud exhale. "The two of you have already been through the good, the bad, and the ugly – probably more than once."

"I can't just pick up where we left off," Bull told him.

"Why not?" Benny pressed. "Stop trying to figure out what Ashton's next move is and be surprised."

"The last time Ashton surprised me, I was served with divorce papers," Bull replied with a pointed look.

"She can't divorce you again right now," the lawyer stated smoothly.

"I need to figure this out," Bull said in a half-hearted protest.

"You'd rather sit here and at home – alone – than spend time with an intelligent, funny, and beautiful woman?" Benny asked. He knew how much pain the divorce caused Bull and could understand his hesitation but Benny also knew the situation had deeply hurt Ashton as well, yet she seemed willing to try and repair things. "How long do you think Ashton'll wait for you to figure things out?"

The psychologist then admitted, "I was hoping to see her again when I got my glasses."

"Looks like you missed your chance. By the way, she was here to see me, not you," Benny told him with a mischievous grin as he walked away leaving Bull staring after him in disbelief.

Later that afternoon, Bull decided to forge ahead with his plan and phoned Ashton.

"You must have gotten your glasses," Ashton said into her cellphone when she saw who was calling.

"Hello to you, too. And yes, I did," Bull replied. "Can't I just call to say hi?"

"Of course you can," she told him surprised that he wanted to chat.

"I forgot to give you the card again," Bull admitted.

"You were in a bit of hurry to leave," Ashton reminded him.

"Quince, about that," he began in explanation.

"Jason, I'd rather not talk about it now," she said hoping to stop him before he could get started. She knew neither one of them had the time to seriously discuss anything at that moment and she didn't want to end up in an argument with him.

"I was…," Bull said trying again.

"Jason, we're both working. Not now," Ashton stated and effectively shut him down.

Bull knew she was serious and that broaching the subject again would not go over well. Not wanting Ashton to hang up, the psychologist changed the subject. "Benny mentioned you stopped by the office?"

"Mm-hmm. I had your glasses," she replied playfully, glad that he had acquiesced to her request. Ashton was curious as to what exactly Benny had said to him.

"If that's all you wanted, you would've called me," Bull told her.

"You know me so well, Jason Bull," she responded.

"Yes, I do," he said smugly. As she sat at her desk, Ashton shook her head and chuckled to herself glad that Bull couldn't see her face.

After a short pause, Ashton answered, "There were some things I wanted to talk over with Benny."

"If you need anything, Ash, all you have to do is ask. I'm also able to listen impartially," Bull bristled as he wasn't entirely sure what she had spoken to Benny about.

Ashton found herself pleasantly surprised to hear that he sounded a bit jealous. "In answer to both your statements I know and you would be the first person I would turn to," she replied. "It was a professional call and – unless I missed something – you don't have a law degree."

"Not officially," he said with a smile.

Ashton laughed. "As much as I'm enjoying this, Doc, I've really got to get back to work."

"I should do the same. We'll talk later?" he asked with an uncharacteristic slight hesitation. Bull knew Benny was right in saying that Ashton wouldn't wait long for him to comes to terms with the situation.

"Sure. You know how to find me," she told him.

#####

"Hey Dad," Ashton said as she entered the hospital room.

"Ashton, you're not going to get anything done if you keep coming here. How many times do I need to tell you I'm fine on my own?" Jack Catazarro protested.

"I'm getting stuff done; it's all good," she assured him. Although she had initially thought that she would be far behind with work between her father being in the hospital and her current status with Bull, Ashton had been able to get more done than she had thought. In addition to finding time during the day to complete projects, not being able to sleep also contributed to her productivity.

"You should be getting some sleep, too," Jack added.

"Dad, I'm fine," Ashton told him and made a mental note to remember to put on some concealer before leaving home. "Besides, you're going home in a couple of days so I won't be running here. That should make you feel better."

"It does," Jack admitted and then told his daughter, "Jason stopped by again."

"That was nice of him. He said he might – wanted to save you from the dreaded seek-a-words," she answered with a smile.

"I think there's a bit more to it than that," her father replied noticing how his daughter's eyes had brightened when she replied.

"You were the father he didn't have," Ashton reasoned even though she was certain her father was trying to see how she felt about her ex.

"He's a good kid – once you get past the smug exterior," Jack stated as he recalled his first encounter with Jason Bull.

Ashton laughed, both at her father referring to Bull as a kid as well as his statement on the psychologist's personality. She had always likened Bull to a hedgehog. Once you got past the prickly exterior, he was kind of cute and could be surprisingly endearing; it was a comparison Ashton shared with few others.

"I know that; I did marry him," she reminded her father.

"You divorced him, too, although I think both of you regret it more than you're willing to admit," Jack told his daughter. "I take it you two are talking these days?"

"Dad, we never totally cut off all communication," Ashton pointed out.

"Excuse me, talking more," her father said solemnly while his eyes twinkled.

"Yes. And?" she replied with a grin.

"Your psychologist ex-husband isn't the only one who can read people," Jack informed Ashton. "You, I know all too well and Jason gives away more than he thinks sometimes."

"And all these years I thought you only made wine," Ashton marveled with amusement.

"Spending some time apart may have done both of you a world of good," her father remarked.

"Maybe," she conceded after pausing to think. "Every time I think I have it all figured out, I get thrown a curve ball."