Edgeworth glanced up. "Ms. von Karma," he said, a bit surprised. "It's been quite a while since you actually came into my office."

"I told you that the only time you would ever hear of my feelings again was when they changed," she said, pulling her whip taught. "Well, they haven't."

Edgeworth looked straight at her. "And?"

"I have simply misinterpreted them," Franziska said. "I felt these churnings in my stomach when I saw you and foolishly thought them to be love. I thought the need to tell you about every case I've won was my subconscious trying to impress you. And now I realize these feelings for what they truly are."

Edgeworth waited patiently as the corner of Franziska's mouth turned up.

"I now realize that these feelings were not love, as I once foolishly perceived. They are actually just feelings of deep detestation." She whipped his desk once and smiled.

"And this is the truth?"

"The absolute truth, Miles Edgeworth." She smiled broader. "The very absolute truth."

Edgeworth nodded. "Very well, then. Then I won't feel very guilty in asking you to please get out of my office."

Just then the door banged open. Edgeworth leapt to his feet as Nicky stumbled in, soaked to the skin. She was wearing that thin jacket she had worn in the park that day and her work uniform, which was at least three shades darker than it usually was. Did she run here? he thought frantically. His heart kicked into overdrive. She was sobbing. Edgeworth's stomach clenched tightly at how hysterical she looked.

Franziska coiled her whip up. "What—?" she shouted.

"Nicky!" She was sobbing uncontrollably. Edgeworth came around his desk toward her, forgetting about the past two weeks. It was hard to see if the water on her cheeks was rain or tears. "Nicky, what happened? What's the matter?" He reached for her, thinking only of ways he could help her.

"No, no," she yelled, recoiling. "I don't—wanna mess up your suit—"

"I don't care about the suit!" Edgeworth shouted. She was babbling some type of gibberish now, keeping up a steady stream of it. He reached out and grabbed her wrists. "Do you hear me, Nicky? I don't care about the suit! I only care about you! What happened? What's the matter? Nicky! I don't care about the suit. I only care about you; I only care about you!"

Nicky stopped speaking gibberish but continued sobbing. Franziska stood by Edgeworth's desk, thunderstruck. "What?" Nicky asked Edgeworth faintly. Her voice seemed to be fading. She seemed to be struggling to keep her eyes open—she was also struggling, however, against Edgeworth's embrace.

"I said, I only care about you! Tell me what the matter is, please!" Edgeworth's tone was tinged with desperation. "What happened?"

"Robby," Nicky choked out. "In the storage room. Blood is everywhere. Blood is…" She trailed off. "You only care about me?"

"Yes, you, only you," Edgeworth told her. "Only you, Nicky, only you!" He felt the need to shake her, but he didn't.

She swayed on the spot and then collapsed suddenly. Edgeworth stepped forward quickly to catch her. "Franziska!" he cried, holding Nicky up. She was unconscious. "Can you find her some dry clothes? I have some towels in that cabinet over there."

"Why do you have towels in here?"

"In case I get wet somehow! Now please, can you find her some dry clothes?" Edgeworth looked a little crazy. His eyes were bugging out like they did when Phoenix Wright made an especially good point.

Franziska nodded and ran out of the office. She returned later with a T-shirt and some sweatpants. "I keep these in my office."

"Are they clean?"

"Of course," Franziska scoffed, handing Edgeworth the clothes. Edgeworth shook his head.

"No, I can't do it. You must redress her. It would be…indecent of me to do it myself."

With a sigh, Franziska helped Edgeworth lay Nicky on the floor. Edgeworth left his office and paced up and down in the hallway while Franziska removed Nicky's wet clothes.

"If he knew I was a lesbian, he probably wouldn't have asked me to do this," she muttered under her breath as she gently toweled Nicky off. She dressed her in the shirt and sweatpants. "All clear," she called.

Edgeworth came bounding inside. "You just left her lying in the floor?"

"I cannot lift her," Franziska retorted, picking up Nicky's wet uniform and hoodie. She cleared out the pockets carefully, setting Nicky's belongings on Edgeworth's desk. "I will go to the Laundromat down the street and wash these things. Will that be satisfactory?"

"Yes, thank you," Edgeworth grunted as he scooped Nicky up and carried her to the couch. He laid her down and removed his suit jacket, covering her with it. He grabbed another towel out of his cabinet and put it under her head. "Nicky," he breathed, leaning over her and brushing his lips against her forehead. It was cold. "How could I have let this happen?" He smoothed hair back from her forehead, not caring that his fingers came away wet. She looked so peaceful there, her eyelashes curving against her cheeks, her pink lips softly parted. "Nicky," he muttered.

Edgeworth stood and went to his office phone. He dialed his doctor's number and argued with a secretary until the man actually came to the phone. When he did, he described Nicky's condition and demanded the doctor help.

"It's not too serious," the doctor assured him. "It sounds as though she's fainted from fatigue. Just let her rest and keep her warm."

"So, if I wanted to take her to her home, I could move her?"

"Yes. It would be safe to move her."

Edgeworth thanked the doctor and hung up, running a hand through his hair and sighing. His door banged open again.

"Please, get out!" He turned to face Larry Butz, who seemed considerably drier than Nicky, probably due to the umbrella he was carrying. "Oh. It's you."

"What is your problem?" Larry exploded as his eyes fell on the unconscious Nicky. "What have you done?"

"Please don't yell," Edgeworth told him. "She fainted from fatigue, and she just needs some rest."

"To hell she does! Why isn't she in the hospital?"

"I just called a doctor. All she needs is rest and warmth. Please, Larry, do not yell."

"And why should you be the one to give her warmth, huh, Edgey? Why? It's your fault this happened!"

Edgeworth faltered. Larry crossed the room to get to Nicky's unconscious form. He kneeled beside her and pressed the backs of his fingers against her forehead. "She's so cold," he muttered, before standing and whirling on Edgeworth again. "And you hurt her! You drove her to this! She ran here in the pouring rain, claiming that she needed you!"

"She needed me?" Edgeworth said quietly, glancing over at her. He then shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Larry! Please lower your voice."

"Why should I?" Larry bellowed.

"Because what if she wakes up and hears you yelling?" Edgeworth asked him angrily. "She considers you one of her closest friends. It will make her condition worse if she hears you."

Larry pursed his lips. "I should take her home. You're not good enough for her. Look what you did to her…she's been in hell, Edgey, all because of you." He bent as if to pick her up, but Edgeworth blocked his way.

"No. I…I know this is my fault, Butz. I do. And I want to make it up to her. I want to apologize. It's not as if she's the only one who's been in hell lately all because of me." He looked down at his feet and ran his hands through his hair. "These past weeks without her made me realize how much I lo…" No. He couldn't say it, not to Larry. If anyone should hear it first, it should be Nicky. "…how much I loathe myself for doing this to her. She deserves better, and I intend to give her better."

Larry walked briskly to the door. When he got to it, he turned back to face Edgeworth. "What are you going to do with her?"

Edgeworth leaned down and gently traced his fingers over Nicky's cheek. "The weather report said that the rain isn't going to last all day. When it lets up, I'll take her to her apartment."

Larry nodded. "Fine, Edgey. But don't ever hurt her again."

Edgeworth took in a deep breath. "I don't think I ever could," he said softly, not looking away from Nicky's face. Larry watched for a moment. There was such a look of concern on old Edgey's face. He was murmuring things to her as he ran his fingers over her cheeks. Larry was struck by a sudden realization. They are perfect for each other…but neither of them knows it yet. He left the doorway, hurt but happy at the same time.

Thanks much to all reviewers!!

Tiger-the-great-Xtra (Thanks so much, Tiger. You are a great friend and reviewer. TIGER IS GOING TO COLLEGE AND I WILL MISS HER SO MUUUCCCHHH!!!)

nick nd maya 4EVER!!/4EVA!! (I'm very sorry to tell you about this, nick nd maya, but...I am not a nick/maya shipper. Maya, to me, seems way to innocent to be paired with anyone. I usually like the Phoenix/Iris situation...if you don't know who Iris is, she's in Trials and Tribulations. So I'm sorry, but it goes against my principals to make a Nick/Maya chapter. :( Sorry to disappoint!)