Alright, time for Chapter Six! Wow, I let time get away from me. Thousand apologies!

I don't really have anything to say about the chapter, I'll leave that up to all you reviewers out there! I hope you enjoy the chapter! You are so great! :D

Phoenix knocked on Miles' office door. In an hour, his daughter's latest magic show would begin. He hadn't missed a single one, and he planned to keep it that way. With any luck, he could get his friend to join him. I haven't heard from Edgeworth in a couple days. He must be busy with something. Wouldn't be the first time.

He waited for an answer, but none came. Phoenix knocked on the door again. "Edgeworth, it's me. I know you're in there."

"Go away, Wright," Miles answered from the other side of the door.

"I just wanted to see if you could go to Trucy's show," Phoenix said.

"No," Miles replied curtly.

"Why not?"

"I'm busy."

"Edgeworth, I know for a fact that you're always three weeks ahead of due dates. And I'm pretty sure every other prosecutor went home hours ago."

"Just go away."

"Is everything okay?" Phoenix said, sensing something was amiss.

"No, I'm being pestered by a needy toddler in a suit."

Phoenix sighed. Insults. Yep, something's wrong. The defense attorney opened the office door and stepped inside.

The darkness from outside cast shadows over everything in the dimly lit office, adding a dark shade of blue to the entire room and everything in it. A small lamp illuminated a mahogany desk with loose papers scattered all across the surface. Behind the desk sat Miles, you had yet to look up from the documents in front of him.

"You seem to have great difficulty understanding the concept of going away," Miles said, glaring at his paperwork.

"I read between the lines," Phoenix said. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I'm fine," Miles said, writing on a document.

"Then why can't you come with us?"

"I'm busy."

"Doing what?"

"None of your business."

"Edgeworth, at least look at me."

"No thanks."

"Why not?"

"I'm trying to focus, Wright."

"And I'm trying to have a conversation with you."

"I'm not interested."

"Hmph," Phoenix rolled his eyes. "I'm just offering a chance to have some fun."

"Not in the mood."

"I bet you'd go if Coldstare went."

Miles pushed down on his pen so hard he tore through the paper. He grit his teeth. "Maria won't be joining you."

Phoenix watched his friend for a moment, his expression softening. "Did something happen?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Wright," Miles said.

"Edgeworth, look at me," Phoenix said. "What happened?"

"Leave me alone," Miles said, gripping his pen so tight his knuckles turned white.

"Edgeworth," Phoenix said, taking the ripped paper. Miles grabbed the attorney's wrist.

"Give me that," Miles said harshly, still refusing to make eye contact.

"After you tell me what's wrong," Phoenix said. "Why can't Coldstare join us?"

Miles let go of Phoenix's wrist and turned his head to the side. "She just can't."

"Why?" Phoenix said, seeing that his friend was trembling.

Miles stood up, slamming his desk. "Because she's in a coma! Happy? She was attacked right outside this building, and it put her in a coma! No one knows what happened, who did it to her, or if she'll even wake up! And I have to solve this case if it's the last thing I do! So no, I don't have time to waste at a bar! Because for the tenth time, I'm busy! Alright?"

The prosecutor sunk back into his chair, raking his fingers through his shadowy hair. "Just go away."

Phoenix stared at him blanking, slowing absorbing what he just said. "Coldstare…. She was attacked?"

"That's what I said," Miles said dryly, his voice muffled from lying face down on the desk.

"Oh my gosh…." Phoenix said.

"I have to find out who did this to her," Miles said. "I know it won't bring her back, but that's beside the point. Whoever did this…. I can't let them get away with it. I owe Maria that much, seeing how I let them escape."

"This wasn't your fault," Phoenix said.

"Yes it was, Wright," Miles said. "It's because of me that she's in a hospital, half-dead."

"Did you attack her?" Phoenix said.

"No, but I'm still responsible."

"Coldstare wouldn't blame you."

"You don't know that. We may never know…."

Phoenix didn't know what to say. He looked so pitiful and defeated slumped over his desk. The tragic news saddened him as well, he considered Maria a friend. He knew it wasn't the same though.

"I wish there was something I could do," Phoenix said.

"There is," Miles said, locking eyes with the defense attorney. Steely resolve shone in his gaze. "I am going to catch the miserable cur that did this to Maria. I am going to exhaust every resource at my disposal to discover the truth behind this case. And when I'm absolutely positive I've found the right person, I will drag them to court. And when that happens, I want you to defend them."

"You…. what?" Phoenix was lost.

"I don't want there to be a shred of doubt that the person I accuse is guilty. I can't allow for there to be any chance that the real culprit got away," Miles said. "You're the only person I trust to catch any contractions in my logic. I've been wrong before. I can't afford to be wrong this time."

"…. Okay," Phoenix said, nodding. He smiled. "Whoever you arrest, I'll defend them with everything I've got. I promise."

"Thank you, Wright," Miles said. He didn't return the smile, but his stern expression lightened.

"Of course," Phoenix said. "I'll do you one better, I'll help you investigate. Anything you need, I'll do it."

"That's good to hear," Miles said, leaning back.

"So, any chance I can convince you to go out and let your hair down for one night?" Phoenix said.

"I doubt I'd be much fun to have around," Miles said.

"Not up for the being the life of the party you usually are?" Phoenix teased.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"Forget it," Phoenix said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Don't work too late, alright? I want you well rested for our investigation tomorrow."

"Same goes for you. I don't want to have to deal with you with a hangover," Miles said, returning to his paperwork.

"Heh, fair enough," Phoenix said, walking out the door.

Standing in the entrance of the Wonder Bar, Phoenix scanned the area for his group. It didn't take long to spot his brightly colored band across the room. Apollo, Athena, Ema and Larry were seated at a table, appearing to be deep in a conversation.

He walked over to the group and took a seat.

"Hey, guys. Edgeworth couldn't make it, something came up," Phoenix said.

"We know," Apollo said. "Ema already told us."

"Yeah," Ema said, taking a swig from a half empty bottle. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glazed. It made Phoenix wonder how long she'd been at the bar.

"I can only imagine how Mr. Edgeworth is taking it," Athena said.

"Not well," Phoenix said.

"No surprise," Larry said. "I remember when my Cindy died. I was a wreck."

"Who's Cindy?" Athena said.

"My ex-girlfriend from a few years ago," Larry said. "Same thing happened to her. She was murdered."

"Ms. Coldstare was not murdered!" Ema snapped, drinking out of her bottle again. "She's still alive. Partially."

"I know, Ema," Apollo said, carefully sliding the almost empty bottle out of the detective's reach.

"Well, still, it's rough," Larry said. "Poor guy."

"Yeah, he can't stop blaming himself," Phoenix said.

"He couldn't have known this would happen," Athena said. "There's no way this could be his fault."

"Tell him that," Phoenix said. "He wouldn't listen to me."

"Well…. What if he is part of it?" Apollo said softly, looking down at the table.

"What are you talking about?" Phoenix said dubiously.

"I'm not saying it's his fault or anything, but couldn't someone have attacked Ms. Coldstare because she was his girlfriend?" Apollo said, clearly feeling uncomfortable for saying it. "I remember you telling me about all the crazy women he attracts. What if one of them was, you know, extra crazy?"

"That's…. actually a good point," Phoenix said, rubbing his chin. "And he is the Chief Prosecutor…. Plus he worked a lot of high profile cases…."

"Exactly, he'd have a lot of enemies" Apollo said. "I don't want to think he had anything to do with it, but when you consider the facts…."

"At this point, anything is possible," Phoenix said. "It's a good thing to keep in mind, but there's no evidence yet. So let's keep that idea to ourselves for now, okay? No need to give Edgeworth another reason to feel guilty right now."

"Right," Apollo said.

Phoenix sighed. We'll get to the bottom of this, Edgeworth. Whoever did this will face justice. They'll pay for the hurt they caused. To Coldstare, and everyone else.