Sitting on her sofa, Cecilia lounged back as she balanced her laptop on her knee, the bulky object heavy as her fingers clicked on the buttons. Sitting next to her, Jimmy kept his arm draped over the back of the sofa, one hand holding onto the remote as the TV played out a repeat of the news. His eyes would sometimes glance down onto the copy that she was writing for the paper before going back to the TV.

He found himself watching her a few times, noticing how her little face scrunched up slightly as she concentrated. She would bite down on her lip and roll her eyes whenever she wrote a sentence she didn't like, deleting it instantly. Wrinkling her nose, she finally clicked save and shut the lid on the laptop. She placed the item down on her coffee table, handling it haphazardly before leaning back against Jimmy.

"Done?" he asked her as he felt her weight press against his side. Her back rested against his side and she rested her head on his shoulder, nodding as she did so.

"Done," she echoed back to him and he dropped down to kiss the top of her head as her hair tickled the side of his neck. "You know, I've been doing this job for years now, but you sometimes run out of words on how to describe public intoxication that ends up in public indecency."

"Public indecency?"

"He was running around the streets with whipped cream on his dick after a dare," she said crudely and Jimmy chuckled at hearing that as he heard her snort. "I mean, try typing that up without wanting to be sarcastic or too punny."

"Hey, your job is to write," Jimmy said to her. "I can speak better than I can write."

"And that's how you get all these shady clients off the hook," Cecelia responded and she moved so that she was looking up to him, her head on his chest as he looked down to her, a hand going to the back of her head to support it slightly. "Anyway, I didn't see you in the courthouse today."

"I had a meeting with some potential clients," Jimmy informed her.

"How did it go?" she asked and he could almost hear the optimism in her voice. He shook his head and she managed a smile for him, sitting up slightly and kissing him chastely. "You'll do it, Jimmy. You just need to keep trying."

"I don't know what it is," Jimmy said to her as he went to push her hair behind her ear and she moved herself, swinging her legs over his and straddling his lap as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm not a bad lawyer, Ce."

"Hey," Cecelia urged from him, squeezing his shoulders as he grasped her hips in his hands, rubbing her skin through the long grey top she wore over her sleeping shorts. "Jimmy, I know you're not a bad lawyer. I've watched you get guys off of ridiculous charges or have their sentences reduced. I've seen you work miracles in that courthouse. I know you are a good lawyer…but maybe that is the issue."

"What? That I am too good?" he asked and he managed a small smile at that as she continued smiling at him and squeezed his shoulders tightly once more. It was another moment before she spoke again, wanting to think before she spoke, wondering if it made any sense.

"That you are too good at defending the guilty," Cecelia said to him. "When people want a lawyer, they want someone who sticks up for the innocent party, right? They don't want the guy who usually is against them."

"So what do I do?" Jimmy asked. "The only money I am making is from public defending. I can't stop doing that."

"Okay," she agreed with that, knowing he had a point on that one. "So, we think of something to change your image."

"Like what?"

"Well, firstly you need publicity," she said to him. "I mean, I never see an ad with your name on it in the paper or out and about."

"Ads cost money."

"Luckily you know someone who works for the local paper," she reminded him and Jimmy looked at her, shaking his head as she arched her brows on her forehead.

"Ce…I…I don't want to use you like that."

"It's not using me," she scoffed to him. "It is letting me help you. You'd do the same for me, right?"

"The only way I can help you out is in the bedroom," Jimmy said to her and she ran a hand against his chest as she smirked at that and he watched her.

"Then I suppose it is a good job that you are such a good lay," she responded to him and he chuckled at that as she leant forwards and kissed him once more. Pulling back, she let her forehead rest against his as she took hold of his forearms that were wrapped around her. "I am serious, Jimmy. If you want to make this work then I will help."

"God, you're something else, Ce," Jimmy said to her, kissing her once more, lips pressing to hers as she did her best not to feel too emotional at hearing him. He sounded so breaking. He just needed a break and she was going to help him get it. He pulled back after a second and reached down to grab hold of her thighs. He somehow managed to stand up, letting her wrap her legs around him as she shrieked at the motion.

"Where are we going?" she asked him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Well, if you're doing me a favour then I owe you a favour," he responded. "Besides, all I've been thinking of is seeing that red underwear I know you're wearing because you put it on this morning."

"Hmm," Cecelia hummed as she kissed his neck and he moved into the bedroom. "Ulterior motives? Definitely a lawyer."

…..

Looking at the advert in the paper, Jimmy had to admit that Cecelia had done a good job. She had designed it over the past couple of days while on her lunch break and had told her boss that she would pay for it to be included out of her wages. Jimmy didn't need to know that she was paying for this. He assumed she worked in a newspaper and that she could do the ad for free. But she wanted to help Jimmy. She wanted him to be happy at work.

Jimmy was sat in the waiting room of HHM, lounged back on the sofa with the newspaper in his fingertips. He was about to meet with Howard about Chuck. A part of Jimmy had considered skipping the meeting after his previous conversation with Chuck. His brother hadn't made contact. They hadn't spoken or apologised over what had happened. Jimmy was beginning to feel angst about it, but he was determined not to make the first move. Why should he?

"Jimmy."

Looking up, Jimmy closed the newspaper and tossed it onto the coffee table as he saw Kim stood above him, dressed in her form fitting dark navy suit. Her hair was pulled back in its ponytail, as usual when she was working.

"Kim," Jimmy responded and moved to his feet, looking to her as she watched him move to his feet. "How are you?"

"Really well," she responded with a nod of her head. "Busy on cases, you know. What brings you here?"

"Howard asked to see me," Jimmy said to her. "I think it is about Chuck."

"You don't know?"

"Don't know what?" Jimmy asked her.

"Chuck hasn't been into work in weeks," Kim said. "Everyone is becoming worried about him. He hasn't been the same since Rebecca left. We're worried that he is…well…deteriorating."

"How so?"

"Jimmy," Kim said, her voice slightly concerned as she watched him, hands on her hips. "He is your brother. Why did you not know this?"

"I haven't spoken to him in a while," Jimmy admitted to her. "We've had arguments and he…well…things have been tense and I haven't wanted to go and see him."

"Maybe you should," Kim said to him. "I know that things might be strained and I don't want to get in the middle of it because he is your brother, but I think he might need you."

Jimmy nodded his head at hearing that. He dropped his hands to his hips as Howard's face came into his vision from behind Kim's shoulder. Kim followed Jimmy's gaze and turned around as Howard nodded at her. She looked back to Jimmy and squeezed his upper arm.

"I'll see you later, Jimmy," she said and walked off.

Moving over to Howard, Jimmy shook the man's hand as he held his own palm out towards him. Howard's grip was stiff as he let go and then let go, urging for Jimmy to walk into his office first.

"Jimmy," Howard said as he closed the door and went to sit down behind his desk as Jimmy took one of the seats on the other side of the desk. He folded one leg over the other and leaned his head back as he placed his hands on his stomach.

"How are things going?" Howard asked and Jimmy looked to him with a stoic gaze. He wasn't entirely certain if he trusted Howard. He certainly didn't like him after he blocked Jimmy from working at HHM. Perhaps Jimmy might be in a better position if he was at HHM? Maybe he wouldn't be worried about making ends meet?

"You know," Jimmy shrugged, trying to be upbeat, "public defending has its perks."

"I wouldn't know," Howard said with a smile. "Anyway, it is good to see you, Jimmy, but the circumstances are quite worrying, I think."

"If this is about Chuck then it isn't my issue," Jimmy said to Howard. "I haven't seen my brother in weeks. We had an argument and he hasn't bothered to apologise or even make contact with me."

"I'm worried that he is becoming a recluse, Jimmy," Howard said to him. "I went to see him and all the curtain were shut…every single plug was unplugged and he said that electricity was giving him a headache."

Jimmy shrugged once again. "I don't know what you want me to do. Every time I see him we argue and he pushes me away."

"He is your brother, Jimmy," Howard said and Jimmy snorted.

Moving to his feet, he began pacing, hands on his hips as he thought about that. His brother. Chuck was supposed to be his brother. He was supposed to look out for him. They were supposed to look out for each other. Jimmy had been happy when Chuck had married Rebecca. He had made an effort with Rebecca. But Chuck could never be happy for Jimmy.

"My brother," Jimmy said in a slow drawl.

"I know you have had your issues," Howard said, hands on his stomach. "Chuck told me about your…well…girlfriend…"

"She isn't my girlfriend," Jimmy said. They hadn't agreed what they were.

"Well, he told me about Cecilia," Howard said. "Don't let her come in the middle of you and Chuck, Jimmy."

Jimmy frowned then, narrowing his eyes and looking at Howard. "What is that supposed to mean?" he demanded from him. "She isn't coming between us. She tried to get me to go to talk to him. It is him who is putting her between us."

"I don't want to get involved in this," Howard said with a shake of his head. "I just wanted you to know what has been going on with Chuck. You deserve to know."

"Well, thanks," Jimmy said. "I've got to go, Howard."

"Jimmy…it was good to see you," Howard said and Jimmy nodded, waving a hand as he left the office.

….

Cecilia remained perched on Jimmy's desk, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Was this moving too fast? She wasn't going to ask him to move in with her. She didn't want that just yet. She didn't want to move too quickly, but she knew that it wasn't healthy for Jimmy to live in his office. He had told her about Chuck as he sat on the sofa, tie halfway down his chest and top button undone.

"Maybe Howard has a point?" she asked him. "Maybe it wouldn't hurt to talk to Chuck?"

"You said that last time and look what happened."

"Hey," she shrugged to him, "I was trying to help."

"I know, I know," he replied and moved to his feet, eyes closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He went to stand in front of her, stepping in between her legs and holding her waist. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," she responded to him, giving a tight smile.

"I just don't like the way he spoke about you," Jimmy said. "He…I just want him to be happy for me, Ce. I just want him to be happy because I am happy and it is like that is too much…like he is determined for us to fail just to say 'I told you so'."

"Then let him think that," she responded with a shrug of her shoulders, taking hold of his hands. "Let him think that and we will just keep doing what we do. Besides, he will probably get exhausted eventually."

"I'm sorry about all of this. You probably didn't sign up for all of this when you agreed to be with me."

"I signed up for you," Cecilia said, squeezing his hands in hers. "And whatever you come with…well…it is a package deal. Besides, I did have something I want to give you."

"Please tell me it is under that dress," he said, burrowing his head against her neck as she laughed and ran her hands down his back as he kissed her neck loudly.

"Unfortunately not," she said and reached behind her for the newspaper. She moved to push Jimmy gently from her and she placed the newspaper on her lap. Looking down to it, she watched Jimmy's gaze follow hers.

"A newspaper?" he asked her.

"Open it?"

"I've already seen the ad," Jimmy said, pulling the newspaper open. "It is great, by the way. I should have said that as soon as I saw you. I…"

He trailed off as he opened the newspaper and saw a glistening object on the page. Furrowing his brows together, he picked it up from the newspaper as she moved it from her lap, tossing it onto the side of his desk as he held the key in his hands.

"What is this a key for?" he wondered from her.

"My apartment," she responded, voice soft and small. "So that you can let yourself in whenever you want to. Hey, maybe you can cook for me when I get home from work?"

"Ce…this…"

"It's just a key," she said, trying to downplay what was happening. She didn't want it to mean anything big. She didn't want it to be some declaration of their relationship. She just wanted him to feel comfortable coming to her apartment. "You're at mine about five days each week so you may as well have one instead of relying on me to buzz you in."

"You're sure?" Jimmy asked her. "Kind of feels like a big deal."

"Well…it…I mean…it is a key, Jimmy."

Jimmy sensed her reluctance to discuss what this meant for them. Did it mean they were officially dating? Was she technically happy for him to call her his girlfriend? He didn't know and he didn't push it. Instead he pulled out his keys from his pocket and placed her key onto his key ring.

"There," he said, "safe and sound."

"Well don't lose it or I'll have to change all the locks and that could be expensive," she joked with him, kissing him once again. "Come on, let's go for dinner so I can nag you about talking to your brother."

She hopped off the desk and took hold of his hand as Jimmy groaned. "Can't wait."

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think!