Wright Anything Agency

September 3 8:30 p.m.

He came home from Athena's apartment. Athena had an extreme episode between the courthouse and the way to her home. She was constantly shaking and trembling to the point that he had to carry her. Trucy and Apollo stood by her side trying their hardest to comfort her. She was whimpering the whole time as she laid in her bed.

Apollo tried really hard to accommodate for his friend, but was failing miserably. She was clattering her teeth and thrashing against the blanket. They suggested going to the hospital, but she shook her head vigorously. "NO! I'm not going!"

"Please Athena, just tell us what's wrong?" Phoenix asked in the most fatherly concern.

"Th-Th-THhhhh-at t-tt-trial!" her words were hard to read.

Apollo looked at Phoenix, "She's been like this since almost the beginning of the trial… I didn't notice until she began shaking really hard…"

"Daddy? Polly? She's scared. She's terrified." Trucy interjected softly.

Phoenix couldn't help but think that it had something to do with his client. He shuddered when he remembered what she said before he blacked out. 'A Lawyer is someone who smiles no matter how bad it gets...'

Along with the smile she gave him. He noticed that his eyebrow began to twitch. 'How did she know about that? The only one person who told him that was… Mia…'

His once adoring mentor. The anniversary of her loss was coming up, but he knew only being sad about it wouldn't make him feel better. He was proud to have known her, to be taught by her, to aspire to be like her. And he was more than sure, that she would be proud that he had gotten his life back together, his badge back on his proud lapel, and two more colleagues to bring down this "Dark Age of the Law."

But right now, his concern went back to Athena, shivering, but slowly calming herself to a halt.

"Trucy… Apollo..., would you stay with Athena until I get back?" Phoenix asked promptly.

"Why? Where are you going Mr. Wright?" Apollo asked with dire concern.

Phoenix looked up at his younger cohorts, "My clie-..." He paused. Her thought quickly to re-word himself to not remind Athena of his client. "I'm expecting a visitor later in today and I need to finish up paperwork."

"NO! Please! Pleeeeeaaaasse!" Athena shouted. She fumbled out of bed grabbing her boss by his blazer. "Don't go!"

He was in shock by her pull and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Athena… please… I need to do this."

"No! Stay here! I don't trust…" she stopped. Her hands quivering hard onto Wright's blazer. Her eyes were blood-shot with fear and puffiness. He gave her a sincere look and nodded. "I will…"

She gave him a faint smile and released his now crinkled blazer. "I-I'm sorry…"

She stumbled weakly back onto her bed while Trucy tucked her in. Phoenix began exiting the room ushering Apollo to tag along.

"Where are you going?!" she yelled. Phoenix and Apollo looked back at her. "Don't you worry, we'll be in the other room. Apollo and I just have to talk about something."

She stared back and gave a slight nod.

Phoenix closed the door and stood near the living room. He stared at Apollo. "What happened?"

"I don't know, Mr. Wright…. During most of the trial she was shaking."

"Do you know why?

"I'm not entirely sure, but she kept staring at you. And sometimes looked at that woman, well, your client."

Phoenix's face became concerned. "Then what?"

"Well, it happened near the time where you were talking about the security footage. She screamed at first then had a panic attack."

"I don't understand. Could it really be my client? She barely spoke. But I do have to admit it. She is fairly… sketchy, but innocent."

"I think… it may have dealt with you, boss."

"Me?!" Phoenix gave a startled look.

"She did say you were… different. You did act different Mr. Wright."

"I won't lie to you, Apollo. I don't remember much of what I said."

"You don't?!" Apollo yelled. "Sir, you were acting sort of violent. Very out of character if I admit."

"I was?" Phoenix looked down. "How?"

"Well, you sorta, yelled more loudly and more fierce in your actions… And you also looked like you wanted to throw prosecution into the next courtroom…"

Phoenix blinked rapidly. "I… don't remember…"

"In a way...I kinda felt bad for Payne…"

"No way Apollo! Now you're exaggerating!" Phoenix chastised.

"I'm serious!" Apollo responded. Chords of Steel almost in tone.

"Speaking of him, where did he go? I didn't see him across the prosecution bench. Unless he was under it?"

"Sir… he ran out of the room after you... growled at him…"

Phoenix was dumbfounded by this news. "Ugh… no wonder she's scared…" Phoenix shot a look of regret.

Phoenix walked to the couch with his head in his hands. 'How could I have been so rough?'

"I have to apologize to her," Phoenix's voice lowered.

Apollo looked down at his boss. "I think it might make her feel better!"

Phoenix shot his head up at Apollo. "Yeah…"

He marched towards Athena's room and opened the door. Trucy was patting Athena's shoulder and was whispering words of encouragement in her ear. Wright approached the bed and sat near the edge. "Athena…?"

Athena and Trucy looked at the man at the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry…"

"For what boss?"

"I was too rough in court today. And because of my carelessness… I scared you. I'm sorry."

Athena gave him a sympathetic look and removed herself from her confined blanket. She sat up next to her boss and looked at the man, whose gaze was on the floor.

"Mr. Wright, it wasn't you…"

Phoenix looked at Athena, her eyes beginning to look lighter. "It wasn't you. I'm not scared of you, Boss. It was that…" she looked down, "woman…"

"Why's that?"

Athena mustered enough strength to speak, "She has death to her voice. I've never felt such…"

Phoenix shuffled his position to look at her, "such what?"

"Power…"

The room stood silent. The only audible noise was the sound of their breathing until she spoke again, "It threatened me even though it wasn't directed to me."

They stood silent. Phoenix didn't know what to say. He felt ashamed of it. He was the eldest, he should be able to bring up encouragement to his coworkers, but was slightly stunned himself.

The words he was looking for finally came out, "It's almost done Athena. Let me just finish my paperwork and my errands and she will be gone for good from our lives."

She looked at him with a glimmer of hope in her teary eyes, "Okay…"