"Damn it," Ellie grumbles, tossing the empty cup across her desk.

The squad has been spending days - and nights - combing through the case against Brown, but they've produced little reward for their effort. With every potential lead, came a solid brick wall. Yes, there are plenty of holes for the defense, but none are too big that they can't be legally stitched together with the argument that they're circumstantial.

"Something wrong?" Jolted by the familiar voice, Ellie spins around in her chair, meeting the steady green gaze of their ADA. He's wearing a darker suit today, one that contrasts pleasantly with his colourful tie.

"Coffee," she answers simply, not having the energy to form a full sentence.

He flicks his attention to her messy desk, strewn with loose files and scattered with piles of empty cardboard cups. "Might be best to try and not get a caffeine overdose," he says dryly, quirking a brow in amusement. Plopping down in a nearby chair, he places his briefcase and neatly folded coat on the empty desk beside hers. "Any progress?" He gets straight to the point.

Carding stiff fingers through her tousled mane, she shakes her head. "With what we have right now, he'll be walking away a free man. Again," she says, the frustration evident in her voice. "He wore gloves - no fingerprints. He used a condom - no semen. The victim was blindfolded, so she never actually saw his face, which then means she can't actually identify him - at least, not in the way a jury will accept. And, of course, no murder weapon was found. I mean, at the top of my head, I can think of ten different ways the defense could and will use to discredit everything we have - which, at the moment, are two very weak witness testimonies," she finishes, rubbing at her temples with increasing vigor.

"Okay," Barba nods, "so, the guy's smart. But he has to have messed up somewhere - they always do," he says confidently. Ellie would have thought he was unaffected by the stress of their case if it weren't for his tapping fingers and the slight slump in his shoulders.

"That's what we're counting on. Liv is with Hailey now, and Nick and Rollins are talking with Matthews again. Fin is," she pauses, "I don't even know," she breathes, bringing her forehead to rest against the cluttered desk. "You wasted a trip."

Glancing at his watch, he bites the inside of his cheek, caught in a moment of hesitation. Having made a decision, he stands up, putting on his coat and gripping his briefcase. "Come on," he clears his throat, "we could use a break. When's the last time you ate?" He asks, already sensing the answer. At her muffled response, he rolls his eyes. "I'll buy you the best coffee in town."

Before he even finishes his last sentence, she's up and reaching for her jacket. "You should've started with coffee," she says, a tired smirk tugging at her full lips. "Well," she prompts, amused at his unimpressed expression, "let's go."

AN: It's been a while since I updated but, in all honesty, I was contemplating an indefinite hiatus. I'm quite busy with school and so I'm unable to write really detailed, quality chapters - something I thought was unfair to you readers. I don't know if you guys are enjoying the story, but I thought I'd at least try to continue. I appreciate reviews!