Hi guys,
I sincerely apologize for the lack of a new chapter in a while. I've been extremely busy, and I had a little bout of writers block (didn't know if I should change some things, etc). That being said, with graduate school starting to pick up again for the next few weeks, I'll post chapters when I can. Don't worry. I have NO plans to abandon this fic anytime soon. :D
I may do a few one-shots so watch out for those.
There is no Huddy in this chapter but never fear. :D It is largely Wilson/John (and Chase!)
Also, I just want to thank all you guys who stuck by me throughout this long hiatus. You guys keep me going. You guys are the best! Also, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Check out all the Huddy fics out there! There are some excellent writers out there and a few of them follow this fic, so check them out **cough,cough**JLCH** cough* :D
Chapter 59:
Friday evening after the pre-trial conference had taken place, John Greene was in his car, driving to New York for a retirement party for one of his old colleagues that he used to work with.
Greene & Perry, the firm John was partner of with his high school friend Nick Perry, up until very recently, had two offices: one in the heart of New York City, the other in West Chester County in upstate New York. Tonight, the party was at the Manhattan office on Park Avenue.
"My apartment is about five blocks from the office," John Greene told the man who sat in the passenger seat of the car. He glanced at the clock as he drove the streets of Manhattan.
The clock read 7:09 P.M. They were about an hour late.
"Are we going there first or…"
"Probably after. I'll park on the street. Still have a parking permit. And then we'll walk over."
"Sounds good," Wilson told him.
Ten minutes later, John parallel parked on East 50th and him and Wilson stepped out of the car and began the walk in the cool, night air.
Pointing out his apartment on the way, John joked, "Ain't it a beauty?"
"Your apartment probably misses you," Wilson said with a smile.
"Nah," John said, "but your house is probably sick of me."
Wilson smiled shyly. "Yeah, but I'm not."
John stopped him and placed his palm on the man's cheek. Staring into his partner's eyes, he touched his lips to the other man's and kissed him softly.
"I love you James," he whispered.
"I love you too. Now, are you going to fuck me on the sidewalk or do we have a party to get to?"
While John and Wilson were in New York, two men in orange prison garb jumpsuits and sneakers were playing a game of evening pick-up basketball at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
"One more point for Clayton," one of the two men yelled, as the ball swooped through the hoop net. He caught the ball on its way down and passed it to a fellow inmate with wavy blonde hair.
Catching the ball from Clayton Rivers, his fellow inmate who he had gotten to befriend, Robert Chase pivoted on the spot and tried a bank shot, but missed.
"Gotta work on that bank shot, Rob," Clay told him as he took the ball and dribbled.
"It's all about where you aim. See, you aimed at an angle. Make the ball hit the top corner of the backboard and bam, should go right in."
Sure enough, it did.
"You make it look easy," Chase joked.
Clay shook his head. "Nah, just practice. That's all it is."
"Yea, still, you make it look easy."
Clayton and Chase made their way to the side of the pavement, sat down on the steel bench that was adjacent to the asphalt court.
"So," Clay finally said, after taking a swig of water from his water bottle and wiping the back of his neck, "How'd it go?"
Chase exhaled. "I assume you are talking about this morning? It went okay. I don't think I stand a chance-"
"Oh come on, Rob. You're not going to be in here forever. What about your job? Don't you work for some brilliant doctor or whatever? Oh wait, he's pissed at you."
Cocking an eyebrow, Chase did not comment.
"I don't know what's going to happen until the trial," he finally said, lamely.
"Hey, as far as you're concerned, you'll get out soon. You didn't murder anyone or anything like that."
"Thanks for the enthusiasm," Chase responded, airily. "Savoy and I talked after. He thinks he can use the impairment of alcohol as a case for it not being my fault. But it IS my fault. I ran through that red light. I hit my boss's boss-"
"Shut up," Clay interrupted.
Chase cocked a blonde eyebrow at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Never admit straight off, even if it's true. These lawyers are looking for a show. Let your lawyer play his game," Clayton told him, "Just because you know it's your fault does not mean you should let the other side win. Let Savoy fight for you. He's a good lawyer from what I've heard, sleezy but good, although I haven't heard much," he finished, hastily.
Chase thought for a moment. Yes, Savoy did seem like a sleezy lawyer but he was told Savoy was the best. He tried not to be too disgusted at himself as he thought about the deal he cut with the lawyer.
Or rather, the deal Savoy cut with him.
"Listen," Chase told him. "I'm obviously not working right now and I've used my savings to pay off debt." He left out the part of being cut out of his inheritance. The lawyer didn't need to know that.
"Robert," Steven Savoy answered, "obviously I know you won't screw me over, being a doctor, working for one of the best doctors in the world. I'll tell you what. Pay me half now, and if I win your case, don't worry about the rest. If we lose, however, you only pay me 30% of the remaining half."
And without knowing any better, Chase agreed.
On the 13th floor of one of few lighted office building on Park Avenue, the law office of Perry & Associates looked anything except a law office. A makeshift bar sat on the receptionist desk in the foyer. Booze and mixers littered the surface while a metal ice chest and glasses sat adjacent. Tons of men in dark suits and ties flocked around it with drinks in their hands, conversing with one another, along with a few women.
When Wilson and John walked in the door, John only had the chance to cast a quick glance around the room before a loud, booming voice called his name.
"John!"
Nick Perry, a muscular, blonde-haired man in his late 40s waved over at John, who grabbed his partner's hand, making his way over to where his ex-business partner stood.
When the two men had walked in the door, a group of four women were chatting off to the side of the bar. One of the women who had a slender figure and shoulder length black hair choked on her drink as she looked up, hearing Nick call out John's name.
"You okay, Stacy?" one of the woman asked, thumping the woman on the back gently.
The black-haired woman nodded, her eyes never leaving the face of the man who had walked in with John Greene.
Her mind was racing in all different directions as her eyes shifted to John, who looked relaxed and even happy.
Determined to talk to both men later on, Stacy Warner tried to push he thoughts aside as she listened to her co-worker talk about his plans for the upcoming weekend.
"I've heard so much about you, James," Nick Perry exclaimed, as he and Wilson shook hands, after John had introduced them.
"All good things I hope," Wilson joked, as he released the other man's hand.
John smiled. "Of course."
Nick laughed. "So you're the reason I lost my best law partner," he kidded.
Noticing the look on Wilson's face, Perry dismissed it with a wave of a hand. "I'm kidding." He took a sip of his drink.
"So John tells me you are a doctor."
"Yes. Oncology."
"I applaud you. That has be a rough job sometimes I bet."
"Yes, but someone has to do it," Wilson told him.
Nick agreed. He turned to John and the two men talked about changes in the firm since John's departure not too long ago. John told Nick about his new job to which the lawyer was simply thrilled about.
A few minutes later, John and Wilson were pointed in the direction towards the alcohol and both men went over to fix themselves each a drink.
While they were clinking glasses together, a voice interrupted them.
"James Wilson?!" exclaimed a female voice.
Upon hearing his name, the oncologist turned around and his mouth almost hit the floor.
TBC...
I thought long and hard about bringing Stacy into this fanfic and in the end, I decided to do it. She won't be a major character but further down the road, she may play a role in something...