Challenge fic: Back Up
Author: eponinesghost (EppieG)
Title: Back Up
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Notes/Summary: Missing scene from "The Abominable Showman." Written in response to a challenge posted on The Ladies of LAO: Trial By Jury LiveJournal forum.
At first, Kelly wasn't sure she'd heard Tracey correctly when she'd suddenly stated that if they lost the Lasher case she'd resign. Then she realized it was just her own wishful thinking. Tracey couldn't have been more clear. In all of the tempestuous tangles they'd had with Branch, this was a line that had never been crossed. At least with Kelly present. She was too stunned to interrupt.
Either Branch was unimpressed with Tracey's conviction or he had dismissed it as bravado, but he hadn't taken the bait. Instead, he'd abruptly ended the conversation without giving them specific direction. Maybe that had been Tracey's goal all along. Neither of them had spoken since they'd left his office. Tracey seemed miles away even as she walked next to her.
"That was an awfully bold statement to make ... on a case you're clearly worried about ..." Kelly wasn't sure how to approach this conversation.
"He's guilty, Kel. We both know it."
"Yes ... but you said it yourself ... to Mrs. Blalock from the beginning ... knowing and proving are two very different things."
Tracey stopped suddenly, leaning back against the wall in the corridor. The stress of the past few weeks and the frustration of their weakening case clearly etched on her face. "Yeah well ... I meant it ... I understand it ... but dammit the thought of him just walking away ... getting away with it ... because we're too worried about preserving our conviction rate ... covering our own asses. Sometimes, it just ... " She exhaled slowly. "I'm not just going to drop it. Branch will have to force me to."
"So ... you weren't bluffing back there?"
When Tracey didn't answer, Kelly stepped closer. "Trace ... there are no guarantees in this ... even when we have a slam dunk, a ton of unimpeachable evidence on our side ... we both know that a conviction is never a certainty .."
Her head rolling slightly toward her partner even as it pressed against the wall, Tracey smiled faintly. "When we have that kind of case, we don't need to threaten Branch in order to maintain his support. Those are the kind he rallies behind, relishes ... waves around in public."
Returning the small smile with her own, Kelly offered, "I don't recall hearing anything resembling 'support' coming from him even after your declaration."
Tracey pushed off of the wall and started walking once again. "He didn't order us off of it either. We're pushing ahead. I believe we still have a pretty good shot."
Falling in beside her, Kelly took a deep breath. "Let's hope it's more than a pretty good shot ... I hate job interviews."
Tracey turned toward her with one eyebrow raised, "You think you'd have to interview for my position?"
Shaking her head, Kelly met her gaze. "Absolutely not ... if for some asinine reason Branch were to actually accept your resignation ... he'd have to accept mine too."
When Tracey started to protest, Kelly placed one hand on her arm. "And ... despite the obvious challenges ..." She winked meaningfully at her partner. " ... I happen to like my job ... more than I have any right to."
Her eyes smiling for the first time in ages, Tracey nodded in the direction of their office. "Then let's get the bastard."
end
thanks for reading!