"You did what?" Benny asked Bull and stopped short in the hallway in front of the elevators. TAC's counsel had met Bull coming back from meeting with Ashton and the psychologist related to Benny his decision on the ride up to their office. When he learned that Bull had elected to not see or speak to Ashton until the civil trial had ended, Benny couldn't hold his tongue any longer.

"Ashton hasn't been called for a deposition," Bull said after Benny's initial outburst. "Diana subpoenaing my ex-wife as a witness is most likely an attempt to scare me into settling."

"You don't seem to be upset by any of this," the lawyer said.

"I don't scare easily and I know Ashton doesn't have any information that can be used against me. They don't," Bull said matter-of-factly.

"Cutting off all contact with Ashton until it's all over seems a bit extreme," Benny tried to reason.

"It's necessary," Bull said to his former brother-in-law.

"Necessary?" Benny asked with raised eyebrows.

"This way Ashton's testimony and integrity can't be called into question should she be called to the stand," the psychologist said.

"Did you stop to consider Ashton's feelings at any point before coming to that decision? I bet you didn't even ask her how she felt," Benny said.

"I know what I'm doing," Bull bristled.

"That's not what I asked you," Benny said angrily. "Diana Lindsay is bound to consider Ashton a hostile witness when Ash says she can't tell her anything."

"I'm prepared for that. So is Ashton," the psychologist replied.

"Really? Diana won't go easy on Ashton. I know I wouldn't," Benny told him.

"And your point is?" Bull asked.

"Ash is…can be…very reserved," Benny replied.

"That's your concern?" Bull asked. He impatiently turned away and headed off down the hall.

"It's a valid one. If Ashton shuts down on the stand and the jury thinks it's because she's hiding something, it will hurt your chances of winning," the lawyer said as he followed Bull.

"Ash is an introvert, not mute; she'll be fine."

"You don't know that," Benny said intensely. Upon hearing this, Bull stopped.

"Don't I? I was married to her; I think I know best," Bull replied.

Benny shook his head at Bull's stubbornness and started walking away. "I'm pretty sure that's probably why you ended up divorced," the lawyer muttered under his breath.


A few days after meeting with Bull, Ashton opened the door to her apartment to find Benny standing there with a smile. Her brother-in-law stepped into the apartment and looked around noting a man's jacket that was hanging on a hook and a pair of sneakers near the door. It seemed Bull was spending more time with Ashton than he had been letting on to anyone.

"Are you sure you're allowed to talk to me or were you sent to collect Jason's things?" Ashton asked as she followed Benny's gaze which had ended up on the sneakers.

"I wasn't at TAC when this case was being heard originally so I can't really tell you anything about it. Besides, you're family – just let anyone try to stop me from seeing you," Benny said and watched as a grateful smile spread across his sister-in-law's face.

"By the way, Bull wanted me to give this to you. He didn't say anything about his stuff, as far as I'm concerned, you can keep it," Benny continued with a wink and handed over the bag he was carrying.

"You changed your mind and told him you were dropping by?" Ashton asked.

"No, I found the bag left on a table at the office with a post-it note on it," Benny replied.

"God...I hate it when he does that. You should've left it there for another day or two; let him think he was wrong," Ashton said after a loud exhale. She placed the paper bag down on her workspace.

"That's not nice."

"Maybe not, but it keeps Jason's ego in check a bit. He needs that," she replied and looked at the bag closer. The handles were tied shut so well that she couldn't see inside. "What's in it?"

"I have no idea and knowing Bull, I wouldn't even try to guess."

"I'm surprised package delivery isn't off limits, too," she said and began to open the bag.

"You're going to open it right now? In front of me?" Benny asked. The expression on his face plainly showed concern.

"If there was something inside Jason didn't want you to see, he wouldn't have had you deliver it."

Benny watched as Ashton pulled out two boxes of instant mashed potatoes and a shoe box. Her eyes brightened and her shoulders moved slightly with silent laughter as she placed the boxes of potato flakes on the desk next to the bag. Before setting down the shoe box, Ashton peeked inside.

"Potato flakes and a shoe box?" Benny asked slowly as he looked closely at the boxes with confusion.

"Comfort food. Some people like macaroni and cheese or chicken noodle soup; I have a thing for instant mashed potatoes," Ashton explained. "Jason would always bring me a box when he was going to be out of town."

"And he got you shoes before he left, too?"

"Not shoes. Brownies," she replied.

"Brownies?" Benny repeated.

"Jason makes THE best brownies…and no, not that kind," Ashton said.

"Bull cooks?"

"Bakes. I didn't keep him around all those years because of his sparkling personality," she laughed. "Since you were nice enough to bring them, I'll give you one later and you can see for yourself."


After they placed their order at a nearby restaurant, Ashton asked Benny about his new motorcycle. Although she was skeptical with his answer regarding why he suddenly bought the bike, Ashton didn't press him further on the subject much to the lawyer's relief. When their food arrived, Benny gingerly broached the subject of Bull's civil trial. Ashton assured him repeatedly that she was very aware of what could happen during the proceedings and was prepared to deal with it.

He then steered the conversation to what the jury might think of her testimony, or lack thereof, concerning her knowledge of Bull's actions in cases. To Benny's surprise, Ashton remained composed despite his numerous questions. Finally, Benny asked Ashton about her feelings regarding Bull's decision that they shouldn't speak or see each other until the trial was over. Ashton looked down at her plate as she expressed her discontent with the situation and with Bull, though she omitted telling her brother-in-law her feelings about the prosecuting attorney. Ashton then acknowledged that her ex had probably made the right decision.

"He rarely does anything without considering all the angles and human response, and then uses both of those variables to his best advantage," Ashton said.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit."

"Benny, he left a bag for you to deliver at the office. You never told him you were coming to see me," she said slowly to let her words sink in.

"Maybe it was a lucky guess," Benny said which caused Ashton to make a face. "What was Bull like when you first met?"

"A little younger, a little thinner, but the same Jason Bull you know now. Why?"

"I'm trying to figure out him out. To cut off all contact with you is going overboard – even for Bull. Obviously, you understand something I don't because I expected you to be much more upset," Benny said.

"Jason's not that difficult," Ashton answered as Benny looked at her with astonishment. "He's thinking that if things aren't ruled in his favor he will lose everything."

"You think he's worried?"

"Who wouldn't be? Aside from his own career and personal reputation, many other people's livelihoods are at stake in this, not to mention a sizeable chunk of real estate. He'll never admit it, but it's a lot to carry," she told him.

Silence settled over them as Benny considered Ashton's statement. He knew she was right. Bull would never admit to anyone at TAC that he had a serious concern about the final verdict in his trial. The way Ashton knew Bull and could see through his bravado was nothing short of remarkable considering the psychologist's demeanor and the lawyer told her so.

"Did he say anything to you about his concerns…when he was still communicating with you?" Benny asked.

"Not in so many words."

"You know Ash, I don't think Bull ever got over you," Benny said. The lawyer had spent countless nights meeting Bull for a drink and offering a sympathetic ear when the reality of Ashton's absence set in. It had always been obvious to Benny – even if Bull didn't see it – that the psychologist walked away from something special.

"If that's supposed to be some sort of silver lining to the cloud of Jason not seeing me or speaking to me, it's not," Ashton said.

Undeterred, he continued, "It's the truth. He cried for weeks after your divorce was final."

"That makes two of us," she replied shortly. "Benny, just because I understand why he's made this choice doesn't mean I'm comfortable with it."

After dinner, Benny brought Ashton back to her apartment and visited for a while. She gave him a brownie and he agreed it was one of the best he had ever tried. When he left with a few brownies for later, Ashton made a cup of tea and curled up on the sofa with a book. She tried to read but found she couldn't concentrate. The conversation she had with Benny that evening ran through her mind a few times and then Ashton found her thoughts drifting to Bull and wondering what he was up to.

Ashton closed the book and placed it on her desk giving up on reading for the night. The unopened thank you note Bull had given her weeks ago caught her eye. She picked it up and almost placed it back down as she had almost daily since he had given it to her. Instead of returning it to its designated spot on the desk, Ashton turned it over and opened it. She took out the rather plain card and read the handwritten words inside. Although Bull had written only a few sentences, tears welled up in Ashton's eyes.