Episode 0: New In Town Turnabout

Episode 0-1: Meet the Family

July 21, 8:16 AM. Fey and Co. Law Offices.

Was she tired? Yes. Was she hungry? Also yes.

Had Pam found a parking spot close to the building that her brother worked at? Unfortunately, that was also a yes. Though how she did was a wonder. Pam trudged through the crowded streets like a criminal, face locked on the concrete below. A few people bumped into her shoulder. She was too tired to turn around and argue with them, so she just kept walking.

I thought L.A. was supposed to have awful traffic. Shouldn't they also have awful parking? She kicked a loose rock down the street. The stress was starting to give her a headache, and the sunshine wasn't helping. Pam rubbed her eyes, hoping her nerves would calm down. She was only a few minutes away from seeing her brother. Some detective I am. Pam bit her lip and flipped up the collar of her jacket to brace against the wind. Even though a heavy humidity filled the air, Pam couldn't seem to ward off a chill. Whether it had to do with the breeze or her own trepidation, she couldn't tell.

There was a lot to see in L.A., and she was more than happy to waste time looking at the architecture. There were tall skyscrapers, small noodle shops, and swat buildings with slanted roofs. Everything was a different color, some buildings being a horrifying green while others were drab grey. Pam was admiring a large, beautiful hotel when she realized she had finally gotten to the building her brother worked at. Pam checked the address of the defense attorney on her phone.

This is the place. I think Phee said he worked here: Fey and Co. Law Offices. I guess he works for this 'Fey' person. Pam took a deep breath, craning her neck. There were floors on top of floors, yet it still seemed like the shortest building on the block. She had to climb up a few steps to reach their office, one of many rooms in the complex. The rooms she passed on the way up were all different. Some had decorations outside their office doors. Others had free coffee set out. People of all kinds walked the halls, laughing and joking with friends and coworkers.

It was nothing like the stuffy sort of offices in New York.

Pam slowly made her way to the right office, dread filling her with every step. A small window showed the layout of the room. She could see her brother at the front desk, reading something. It must have been a pretty tough read. He kept running a hand through his hair, making it lose it's usually spiky property. There was another room farther back, probably the office of the 'Fey' person.

Her hand was about to twist the doorknob when Pam remembered her phone. She quickly pulled it out, looking up the number for the defense attorney. Even looking back on it, Pam wasn't sure why she decided to call when she was only feet away from the office door. It probably had something to do with the fear gnawing at her stomach. Perhaps there wasn't any harm in delaying her arrival by a few minutes. And a little joke never hurt anyone. For once, calling her brother didn't cause her pause. It wasn't like she could back out now anyway. She was already in L.A., after all.

She held the phone to her ear, watching as her brother jumped. She could hear the phone ring through the window and had to stifle a laugh as her brother leapt from his chair to grab the phone. Somehow, while trying to grab it, he managed to get tangled up in the wiring. He eventually got the phone off the receiver, trying to lean casually against the desk even though he was wrapped up like a Christmas tree.

"Fey and Co. Law Offices, defense attorneys. This is Phoenix Wright speaking. What can I do for you?"

Pam tucked her free hand into her pocket, watching as Phoenix tried to untangle himself. In a rare instance, she found herself smiling.

"Hey, Phee. It's been a long time." She chuckled as Phoenix, who had just untangled himself, tripped over the cords in astonishment.

"Wait a minute…Pam!? What-Why…" Phoenix paused, composing himself. He kicked the free wires out of the way, leaning against the counter. His face was practically beaming. "It's great to hear from you!"

"Took a while for you to respond, Phee," she teased. "Did I catch you in the middle of something? Where you perhaps making a fool of yourself again?"

Just like that, his smile dropped. "Now I'm kind of wishing you didn't call. To answer your question, no, I wasn't busy. What's up?"

"Well, I was just thinking we hadn't seen each other in a while. I was wondering what you would think about a visit."

She saw Phoenix nod his head. "Yeah, I haven't seen you since we left for different colleges. I guess a visit wouldn't be so bad. This is kind of sudden though." Phoenix's eyes narrowed. Pam felt the muscles in her back tense. She'd seen that look on many a lawyer and detective. Phoenix was trying to figure things out. Pam had no idea how good of a lawyer he was, but she certainly didn't want him sticking his nose into her business.

Phoenix kept talking. "Is something wrong, Pam?"

"Of course not." Pam tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Is it so hard to believe I wanted to see my baby brother? After so long?"

"You are only older by two minutes!" She quietly laughed as her brother yelled into the phone. She could hear someone else shout, though it was hard to make out. Her brother turned to the back door, so she assumed it was Fey. Guess he's getting chewed out for being too loud… While he was distracted, she began talking. Anything to steer Phoenix from the real reason she was here.

"Listen, there is one thing," Pam whispered. She watched as her brother leaned into the phone. She kept her voice serious as she said: "I wanted to show you this new…talent of mine."

"Talent?"

"Yeah. You wouldn't believe it Phee, but…" She paused, letting her phrase hang out. "I'm psychic."

Within milliseconds, Phoenix's serious manner was shattered. His shoulders slumped, and Pam freely laughed at his dejection.

"Funny joke, Pam."

"I'm not joking!" She finally controlled her laughter. "Here I'll prove it."

Phoenix sat back into his seat, rolling his eyes. "Yeah?"

"Of course. I know exactly what you are doing right now."

He picked up a pencil and spun it between his fingers. "Go nuts. Work has been slow today, so I don't think Mia-er, the Chief will mind."

"All right." Pam watched as Phoenix propped his feet on the desk. "Well, you are wearing a suit. One of your nicest ones."

Her brother rolled his eyes. "Great deduction, Sherlock. I'm a lawyer, that's what we wear."

"I'm not finished. It's blue, and you have a red tie with it." He stopped spinning the pencil for a second before continuing.

"Mia posted a picture of the two of us for her website a few days ago. I was wearing the same suit then. You could have looked that up online."

"Oh, and you are spinning a pencil in your left hand, you're holding the phone in your right, your feet are propped up on your desk, you've been running a hand through your hair—"

At this point, Phoenix had bolted upright. Even from here she could see he was starting to freak out.

"H-hang on—"

"—and you are reading a big file. By the way, you messed up your hair. It looks like a wet mop. You should probably fix that." Pam's voice was clearly teasing, but her brother didn't seem to notice. Her shoulders shook in laughter as her brother stared at the phone in awe.

"I-I can't believe it. You really are psychic!"

Pam rolled her eyes. Had he really been that easy to dupe? How did you pass the bar exam with a brain like that?

"You…are kind of an idiot, Phee."

Phoenix stared blankly at the wall. Was she seeing things, or was his grip on the phone tightening to a dangerous degree?

"I just complimented you, and you're calling me an idiot?"

"How about we use that brain of yours, hm?" She tapped her head, even though he hadn't noticed her yet. "Either I'm a psychic, or…?" She saw him scratch his head, look at the phone, and after at least a minute, he finally looked at the window. Pam waved with her free hand, smirking at her slack-jawed brother. She ended the call and stepped inside the office, right as her brother rounded the corner of the reception desk.

Thankfully, he didn't hug her too hard. Still, she felt her back pop as he lifted her off the ground. Pam sighed, hugging him back with equal ferocity. Why had she even been worried? She leaned into his hug, nose pressed so hard into his suit that she could smell his cologne. He kept his hands on her shoulders when they separated, so there was never much distance between them.

He'd grown. He was taller than her now by a couple inches, and he finally looked like a real man instead of a skinny boy. His face was pretty much the same, a bit more defined, but his eyebrows still had their shared crooked look to them. He looked much more mature in a suit. But that dopey smile he was sporting made her think he hadn't changed too much.

Not like me, she thought with relief. He's still the same old Phee. Sunny little optimist.

"Pam, I can't believe you're here. When did your flight come in?"

Pam's smile became much tighter. "Haha…about that…"

Phoenix took in her appearance. She hadn't cleaned up since she left New York, so that was 3 days without a shower. Her hair had been in the same disheveled bun since she'd gotten in her car. In general, she looked less like a detective and more like a street hobo. Turns out Phoenix was learning something from this Mia Fey after all. That, or he finally decided to use his brain. He stumbled back, lips parted.

"You…You drove here? That's…"

"40 hours," Pam yawned, sitting down on the nearby couch. "Or if you're like me and speed, 32. You know I don't do planes. Now pick your jaw off the floor before you swallow a fly." Phoenix looked at his sister as if she was some inhuman creature. He slowly sat down beside her, looking spooked.

"And you drove from New York to Los Angeles by yourself?"

"Uh…yes?"

He brought a hand to his chin, eyes narrowed into gray slits. "Just to see me?"

Pam copied his suspicious gaze. "What else?"

Phoenix hummed. He kept looking her over, up and down, as if he could find her lies with his eyes. Time for some redirection. There wasn't anything wrong with sprinkling some truth in her mountain of lies. Pam leaned back against the couch, stretching out her arms over her head.

"Well, actually, I'm looking for a job."

"Wait, did you get fired?"

"No, more like I quit. It was completely mutual, I promise." Pam sighed, shoving another loose piece of black hair behind her ear. "But I wanted to see somewhere new, and my superior and I talked it over. I'm new to the detective scene, but I had some friends back in New York. My Chief gave a letter of recommendation for the Chief of Police here, in L.A."

Phoenix scratched his head, eyes still narrowed. He didn't look completely convinced, but he dropped the subject. He managed a small grin of happiness for his sister.

"So, you're moving here?"

"That's the plan."

"That's great! You were right on the phone. It's been way too long since we've caught up." He checked the clock. It was right around noon, normally time for lunch. At the mere thought of food, Pam's stomach growled. She fought down a blush as her brother laughed. She punched his shoulder, hard enough to make him wince.

"Don't laugh," she warned, standing from the couch. "I haven't eaten a proper meal in 4 days. I'm hungry and angry, so don't test me." Phoenix stood to join her, rubbing his shoulder with a frown.

"Well, I know a simple way to fix that. It's lunch break." He broke out in a wide grin, walking over to the office door and knocking on it a few times. "We can go out to eat, all of us. I can introduce you to the best defense attorney in the country." There was the sound of someone moving behind the door. A second later, it was opened by a woman, older than either Phoenix or Pam.

The woman had long brown hair, straight as a line. She was dressed smartly, in a black coat with a white collar and short black skirt. Her defense attorney badge hung from her lapel, shining in the sunlight. She wore a strange necklace, but other than that she looked normal.

The woman looked Pam over, brow raised. "Phoenix," she said, sounding tired. "What is going on? You've been yelling your head off this entire time. Some of us are trying to work you know."

She was probably teasing, but Phoenix didn't look like he wanted to test his boss. He was rubbing the back of his not-so-spiky head, grinning like a fool.

"R-right, well, sorry." He gestured to Pam. "Chief, I'd like to introduce you to my sister. Pamola Wright. Dearest sister, this is my boss, Mia Fey." Pam held out her hand, which Mia readily shook.

"Most people call me Pam. It's nice to meet you." Pam tucked her hands back into her jacket pockets. She flinched when she touched her old detective's badge. Had she accidently slipped it into her pocket when she parked her truck? Maybe she could throw it in a dumpster on the way out. Thankfully, the other two didn't seem to notice her strange behavior. Pam cleared her throat, motioning to the main door. "I heard there was somewhere we could get some food?"

Mia nodded, grabbing a purse near her door. "That there is. There's a burger place a little down the road. While we walk, you can tell me more about yourself." She frowned at Phoenix, who was still busy bashfully rubbing the back of his head. "Phoenix hasn't said much about you."

Pam waved off the comment. "That's more my fault than his. I'm a bit of a quiet person. Let's get going. I'm starving."

Phoenix opened the front door for the two women. The group headed out, walking through the crowded streets of L.A. Pam couldn't help but shiver as she looked at the Sukiya style of the buildings. Something about this place put her on edge. Maybe she was just used to the towering skyscrapers of New York.

Mia linked arms with Pam, shocking the young detective at the contact. It seemed Mia was a friendly person. Pam wasn't so touchy-touchy, but she couldn't worm her way out of Mia's grip. The woman was stronger than she looked. Phoenix trailed behind them, doing his best to keep up in the heavy foot traffic.

"So, Pam," Mia started, "what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a detective. Just starting out, but I've gotten a few cases under my belt."

"A detective?" Mia's brow furrowed. "You're quite young. I would have never expected it. No offense."

"None taken. I think it was mostly luck that I climbed up the ranks so fast." Pam shrugged, stepping over a newspaper that fluttered by her feet. "Besides, there are people younger than me in even more complex positions. I mean, just look at Europe's—"

Phoenix was quick to butt in. "Don't let her fool you, Chief. She's pretty smart."

"Unlike my brother," Pam teased. She waved off his miffed look. "I'm kidding. I just ended up knowing the right people, probably. Saw the right things, made the right deductions." Phoenix finally squeezed himself beside his sister. He was frowning again.

"So, you were doing well up there?"

"Sure. Lot's of good folks. There's a lot of jerks too, but…"

"Well, if things were good up there," Mia interrupted, "what made you come here? L.A. is nice, but it's certainly not the Big Apple."

Pam stiffened, grey eyes staring at the concrete pavement. She made sure to keep her face blank. Still, blurred visions raced through her mind. Smoke…metal…the smell of fresh blood…Pam bit her tongue. The others were waiting for a response.

"New York is nice, but it's a bit too hectic, you know? Lots of crime going on, and the systems a little messy."

"And there's not a lot of crime in L.A.?" mumbled Phoenix. Pam ignored him and continued.

"Besides, after a while, you realize family is important. I haven't seen my brother in literal years. I thought it was time to change scenes. New place, new friends, so-so new job."

Mia's lips bent into a frown. The two women had a staring contest. Mia's cold gaze seemed to pierce Pam's soul. Pam had to pinch her leg to not crack under the pressure. Usually, she was good at hiding what she wanted, but it felt like Mia was stripping away all her protective layers with just a look. This Mia person…she knows something's not right with my story. I'll have to be more careful around her. Thankfully, her brother came to the rescue.

"Well, if you're coming here, then you must have a place to stay. You…do have a place to stay, right?"

"I was hoping you could help me out with that, Phee." Pam opened the door to the restaurant. The scent of fresh burgers distracted her for a moment, making her mouth water. The group sat down, and while Mia ordered the food, Pam turned to her brother. "I just need a place to live until I get settled around here. Could I crash on your couch until then?" A waitress came around and gave them all some water. Phoenix took a long sip before answering.

"Of course. On one condition."

Pam felt a drop of sweat roll down her neck. She gripped her glass hard enough to turn her hand white.

"Oh?"

"You tell me about your time in New York!" Phoenix was beaming, his hand squeezing her shoulder. Pam sighed in relief. Thank goodness. At least that request is easy to lie through. Phoenix continued: "It's been too long! I want to hear about everything I've missed since we graduated."

"Right, it's a deal." Pam's eyes widened a smidge as the waitress came back out with 3 plates, filled with burgers and fries. She took it with reverence. Both Mia and Phoenix laughed as she stuffed her face, practically inhaling the burger before immediately ordering another one. Pam swore that she had never eaten something so amazing.

"So, Pam, you're Phoenix's sister?" Mia asked.

Pam nodded as the waitress delivered Holy Burger number two. "His twin, more specifically."

Mia leaned on the table, completely ignoring her food. Pam noticed she was smiling—no, smirking is a better word. "I'm sure you have many interesting family stories, then, right?" Pam swallowed her food, grinning evilly when her brother began to stutter.

"N-no, Chief, she does not. If she really wants to sleep on my couch, she will keep her mouth shut." His warning came with a glare. It wasn't all that scary. Besides, he wouldn't actually leave me to the streets. His heart is too gold for that.

"Actually, I do have a couple good stories." Pam munched on a fry, shoulders shaking when Phoenix's face paled. Both Pam and Mia ignored the poor attorney, who was busy trying to butt in and stop her.

"H-hey, knock it off!"

"Chill, Phee. I am bound by blood not to spill any of your precious secrets." Pam waited for her brother to relax before continuing. "Perhaps we can share stories another time. But I've talked a lot already. How about you tell me more about yourself, Miss Fey?"

"Just Mia, please. I suppose I don't mind. You know I'm an attorney of course…"

Pam shoulders relaxed as the older woman spoke. Mia's voice soothed Pam's weary bones. Her muscles, which had been in a perpetual tightened state for at lease a month, began to loosen up. She had been on her toes for the past four days. Pam was tired. It was nice to listen to someone talk instead of being trapped with her thoughts. She didn't make friends easily, and she doubted this time would be any different. But for now, she could relax with her brother and Mia Fey. She could wrestle her own problems later.

She was sure she'd have plenty of time.

AN: Hey all, GBG here. This is my first fanfiction, so I am new to this whole thing. That being said, I am totally okay with criticism. If people like this story, I'll post on Fridays unless something comes up. Thanks, peace.