"Veronica? It's Ella, Lincoln and Michaels' friend. I know it's late. Could you open the door?"
"Sure. Just give me a minute."
Veronica rushes over and shakes LJ awake.
"Go to the bedroom."
LJ grumbles, gets off the couch and heads to the bedroom. Nick walks out of the bathroom drying his hair with a towel.
"What's wrong?" He asks seeing Veronica's expression.
"She's outside. That girl- Ella. I don't trust her. I don't think we should let her in."
"She brought us evidence that may get Lincoln out of prison; I honestly think she's on our side."
Veronica hesitates before heading over to open the door.
"Hi." Ella says as she walks past Veronica holding a black bundle in her arms and wearing a backpack on her back. "Lincoln needs to speak to you tomorrow morning. I have already arranged for the three of us to see him."
"What does he need to see us for?" Nick asks.
"Not you. Just Veronica, LJ and myself. It's personal."
"What makes you think it's safe for LJ to go to the prison?" Veronica demands.
"What makes you think you're the ones keeping him safe here?" Ella replies.
"He's not here." Nick answers.
"Bullshit." Ella Laughs. "You are both really bad liars. And if you think I'm the only one who knows he's here your more foolish than I gave you credit for. I have something for you." Ella unravels the bundle to reveal three black Kevlar vests. "A gift from me to you. All three of you should wear these under your clothes at all times. I mean it, inside or out. Have them on under your clothes. I have round the clock protective details surrounding your apartment and trailing you, but someone could get a lucky shot off and a bruise is better than a bullet wound, wouldn't you agree, Nick."
"Who are you?" Veronica asks.
"I'm a friend. Look, Lincoln really needs to see his son and you will be safe, I promise."
"So what are the vests for?" Nick retorts.
"Extra precautions. It's the seven P's." Veronica and Nick look quizzically at Ella. "Proper prior preparation prevents piss poor performance. I don't intend to let anyone get shot on my watch, it would reflect badly on my performance. Here's the itinerary for your trip to the prison tomorrow. Don't be late."
"I don't think it's safe…" Veronica starts but is interrupted as Ella sighs and rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"I don't care." Ella snaps, then seeing the startled expression on their faces she continues. "I'm sorry; it's been a long day. I have another errand to run and I need somewhere to get changed, so why don't the three of you talk it over and I'll borrow your bathroom for a half an hour." Before either of them have a chance to protest she walks into the bathroom and closes the door.
"It's been two hours; do you think we should knock? I really need to go." LJ shifts back on forth uncomfortably by the bathroom door. Veronica shakes her head and continues talking.
"So it's decided then. LJ and I will go to the prison tomorrow."
"Great." Ella says as she strolls out of the bathroom. "How do I look?" She addresses LJ as she does a little spin.
"Uh…Good." LJ replies staring at Ella.
"Just good? Oh well, pink isn't really my colour." Ella jokes as she stuffs a black towel into her backpack. LJ continues to stare at Ella as she moves into the kitchenette and helps herself to a glass of water.
"I thought you said you had an errand to run?" Veronica snaps, noticing Nick's gaze following Ella around the apartment too. "What are you a stripper?" She quips staring at Ella's outfit of knee-high boots, fishnet stockings, a mini skirt and a backless pink top.
"Cute." Ella retorts, allowing herself to get sucked in by Veronica's attitude. "No I am definitely not a stripper, I am meeting someone at a club near here, and I'm late."
Ella's expression softens as she looks at LJ. "Get some sleep it's an early start tomorrow and don't forget to wear the vests." Ella says as she walks out the door, leaving Veronica irritated and Nick and LJ staring at the door as it closes behind her.
"Who is she?" Nick asks.
"I don't know, but I think I should go to the prison tomorrow and find out from someone who does." Veronica says.
"What about LJ?"
"I want to see my dad." LJ interjects. Nick continues.
"She knew he was here and I think if she wanted to hurt him she could have."
Veronica shrugs. "Then we both go tomorrow."
Ella smiles as she looks through the glass window in the door to the visitation room and sees Lincoln nervously twisting his hands together. She opens the door and walks across the room to the table where Lincoln sits. He is so preoccupied that he doesn't even notice her until she is standing before him.
"Nervous?"
"Can you tell?" Lincoln replies.
"Kinda." Lincoln stands and Ella wraps her arms around him and kisses him. "Don't be. I saw LJ last night and he really wants to see you." She reassures him as she takes a seat next to him.
"How was he?" Lincoln asks.
"See for yourself." Ella points towards the door as Veronica and LJ are escorted into the room by a guard. As they walk over and stand on the opposite side of the table, Lincoln stands to greet them.
"Sit down, Burrows." A guard barks from across the room. Reluctantly he sits, tucking his hands in his lap to hide his cuffed wrists from sight, as Veronica and LJ take a seat opposite him. Lincoln cannot take his eyes off LJ.
"How are you? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, dad. I'm fine." LJ replies. Ella notices the nervous tension between the Lincoln and his son and puts a reassuring hand on Lincoln's hands. He intertwines his fingers in hers and she squeezes his hand gently for a moment. One look at Lincolns face and Veronica can tell there is something bothering him.
"Hi Lincoln."
"Hi." Lincoln replies not knowing how to begin to tell them about Ella.
"It's good to see you. How have they been treating you?" Veronica takes the lead, trying to put him at ease.
"Fine. I'm fine."
Impatiently Veronica prompts him, knowing there is something Lincoln wants to tell them but can see he is struggling to get up the gumption to say whatever it is.
"I took a big risk bringing LJ here…"
"I know." Lincoln interrupts. "There's something I needed to tell you both and I wanted to do it face to face. You've both met Ella." He gives Ella a sideways glance.
"Hi LJ. Veronica." Ella finally speaks.
"Hi." LJ answers in return but Veronica ignores her, instead she presses Lincoln further.
"Lincoln, what is this about?"
"Um…I wanted to tell you both…" Lincoln pauses and Ella prompts him to continue with a slight squeeze of his hand under the table. "Uh… This is Ella. My wife."
LJ's reaction is one of hurt and confusion where Veronica is clearly angered by this new revelation.
"You're what?" She hisses.
"My wife." Lincoln repeats, his hand tightening around Ella's. Ella can see he is struggling to cope.
"This girl is your wife? How old is she? Nineteen?" Veronica continues her voice getting louder. Ella squeezes Link's hand and lets go.
"Um, maybe LJ and I should go get a soda and leave you to talk for five minutes." Ella stands. "Come on LJ."
"No, he's not going anywhere with you!"
"I really think you both need some time alone to talk. We'll be right outside." Ella graciously replies, then bends down, kisses Link on the top of his head and looks at the stunned LJ. "Come on, Poppet, I'll shout you a soda." She says as she gently pulls LJ up by the elbow and leads him from the table.
"It's okay. I'll see you in a few minutes." Lincoln reassures LJ. Veronica's voice carries to them as the head out the door.
"Who is that girl? You just let her go off with LJ, just like that." The door closes behind them and thankfully LJ can no longer hear Veronica's ranting. Ella leads him to the end of the corridor where a vending machine stands sentry.
"So what's your fancy?" Ella says, pulling a huge role of notes from her pocket.
"What?" LJ asks looking back towards the door.
"What would you like? My shout."
"Um… Cola." Ella feeds a note into the machine, selects a cola, collects it and gently pushes it into LJ's hand, snapping him back to attention. She gets a raspberry soda for herself and sits on the concrete besides the machine, facing the door at the far end of the corridor. She pats the spot next to her, indicating for LJ to sit.
"Veronica looks pissed." She says to LJ as he moves to sit next to her.
"Yeah. Are you really my dad's wife?" LJ asks in disbelief.
"Yeah. I know it's weird and a big shock." She pauses. "Look, I'm not one to beat around the bush, so let's get through the hard stuff."
LJ nods. "Okay."
"Okay. First I don't want to replace your mum. I'm not exactly a good role model and I think I am far too young to be a mum. Plus I think Veronica will do fine filling that position." Ella smiles and LJ returns a weak grin. "This isn't exactly easy for me either, it's a complicated situation. The only thing I know for sure is that we all care for your dad and want to see him free."
LJ doesn't say anything as he stares at the floor in front of him.
"How long have you been married?" LJ tries to wrap his head around it. "Where have you been all this time?" Confusion giving way to his building anger.
"We were married nearly a year ago. I was in Australia. I was very sick and didn't know what had happened to your dad until a few weeks ago." Ella pauses again and looks at the pain on LJ's face. "I think maybe you should hear this from your dad when we go back inside."
They sit drinking their soda in silence for a few minutes, each seeming lost in their own thoughts.
"It's a big thing to get your head around, but if you could try for your dad's sake, I would appreciate it." She watches as LJ places his hands on his head, just like Lincoln does, which makes her smile.
"LJ, I know you love your dad. I could see it in your eyes when you looked at him just now, but you don't know what it's like to be locked up, to have your own life taken out of your control. It's been really hard on him being in here, away from you."
"And you know what it's like to be locked up, do you?" LJ snaps.
"Yes, I have an idea of what it's like." Ella goes quiet for a moment, looking down the corridor. "I think Veronica should be winding down by now, let's go back inside, okay."
She stands and offers a hand to pull LJ up, but he doesn't take it. They walk in silence back to the visitation room and stop just outside.
"I promised your dad and Michael that I would do what I can to protect you, and I don't intend to break that promise." Ella tugs at the collar of the vest showing from beneath LJ's t-shirt. "You know not every step-mum gives her son a light-weight state-of-the-art Kevlar vest."
She winks and smiles at LJ.
"Step-mum sounds bad, doesn't it?" She asks, half joking half worried. She stands in front of the door thinking for a minute. "Hmm…Every kid needs a sibling, and you seem like a bratty younger brother type to me. I could use a younger brother and I think you need a protective older sister. What do you say?" She gently nudges him with her shoulder.
"I guess it's better than a step-mum." LJ concedes, less than enthused.
"Gees, don't sound so excited." She replies playfully. "You know older siblings are good for all kinds of things. Free rides, buying alcohol for under-agers. I could go on, but I can tell you are already stoked by the prospects. So how about it?"
"Yeah, okay." LJ replies looking amused and slightly confused. "How about buying me a bottle of Jack, then?"
"Not while you under the watchful eye of mother Veronica." Ella points through the glass window and LJ sees Veronica watching them like a hawk from inside. "Let's go poppet." Ella says as she opens the door and gently pushes LJ inside. LJ smiles as Ella follows him back to the table.
"Do you know where your wife was last night?" As they sit down Veronica starts up again.
"She had some errands to run." Lincoln replies, giving Ella a suspicious sideways glance.
"I wouldn't call clubbing an errand, would you?" Veronica accuses bitterly.
Ella sighs, reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small white envelope which she slides across the table to Veronica.
"I was doing some recon. You drew Judge McKenzie for Lincoln's appeal. His daughter is a little wild and I thought we could use some leverage just in case things don't go our way."
Veronica looks shocked as she picks up the envelope.
"I wouldn't open those in here, or in front of LJ for that matter, some of the photos are a little graphic." Ella continues to stir Veronica. "I'm especially proud of the third one. You can see everyone's faces very clearly." Lincoln puts a hand on Ella's knee to stop her.
"Put it in your pocket." Lincoln says to Veronica.
"I don't think blackmail will help Lincoln's case…"Veronica starts but is interrupted.
"But a bit of leverage can't hurt. We are all trying to help Lincoln anyway we can. I'm sorry you don't agree with my methods, but at least I'm trying to help." Ella interjects.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ella is stopped again by a hard squeeze on her thigh before she can reply. She decides to let it go and turns to address Link.
"I might give you some time with LJ. He has some questions and he should hear the answers from you." She winks at LJ and stands to leave. "I'll see you this arvo." She kisses Lincoln on the cheek and as she walks by she squeezes LJs' shoulder before leaving the room.
"I can't believe you're married to that girl." Veronica says.
"She's nice and she's trying to help." LJ interjects.
Veronica stares at LJ in stunned silence and Link just smiles. He wonders if there is anyone Ella can't talk around.
"What's an arvo? And what does stoked mean?" LJ asks his father. Lincoln rubs the top of his head and smiles.
"I don't know. I think arvo means afternoon in Australian. I have no idea what stoked is." He replies.
"Dad?"
"Yes, LJ."
"Ella's great and all but sometimes I don't know what she's saying." LJ confesses.
"Me too." Link responds, laughing.
"Oh great." Veronica sighs.