"So, this is where you're hiding," Benny said after finding Bull in the mock courtroom at TAC. The psychologist was sitting in one of the jury seats with a mostly full bottle of beer on the chair next to him staring off across the empty room.
"I'm not hiding. I'm thinking."
"Brooding. I think that is the appropriate term," the lawyer replied.
"I'm not…," Bull began in protest.
"You're sitting here – alone – at your own party. I get that Ash is at home working but you could try to enjoy yourself for a while."
"Ash isn't working; she went home. Her dad's in the hospital," Bull said looking up at Benny.
"Is he okay?" Benny asked.
Bull shrugged and quickly glanced at his watch. "She's not there yet."
"Why didn't you go with her?"
"Not now, Benny," Bull said as he looked across the room.
"We would've saved you some cake," Benny replied in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.
"Not now," Bull repeated solemnly as the door to the mock courtroom opened. The lawyer turned fully expecting to see Marissa or Chunk calling both of them back to the party, but instead found himself looking at Diana Lindsay. Seconds later the door swung open again and Chunk burst in.
"Hope I didn't interrupt anything important," Diana drawled.
"I tried. She wouldn't wait," Chunk said when he saw the expression on Bull's face.
"I thought you'd be on a plane home by now," Bull said to Diana after sending Benny and Chunk back to the party.
"My flight is tomorrow morning. I'd thought maybe I could interest you in dinner and a drink; maybe some of that whiskey you're so fond of," Diana told him and reached towards the collar of his shirt.
"I have plans," he replied and stopped her hand with his own before it came in contact with his shirt.
"Your staff will be fine without you for a bit."
"I have plans," Bull repeated and steered her back towards the door.
"Do your plans have a name?" she asked with a mischievous glint in her eye as they walked towards the elevator. From a distance, Benny and Chunk watched the pair with curiosity.
"None that you need to know. Have a safe flight," Bull said as Diana stepped into the elevator. He sighed with relief as the doors shut and the elevator started its descent.
Bull walked back to the main office area of TAC and headed towards his office. Benny, urged on by Chunk, hurried after him. He found his boss putting on the suit jacket that had been immediately shed upon returning from court earlier in the day.
"What did she want?" Benny asked.
"She wanted to see if I wanted to go to dinner," Bull replied evenly. He picked up his phone from the desk and checked for messages before walking out of his office and back towards the elevator.
"And you're going? What are you thinking?" Benny said.
"I'm thinking I'm going home."
"Home?" The lawyer repeated.
"Home. If anyone needs me, call," Bull said.
Standing in the dim apartment, Bull looked around as he debated pouring himself a drink. He smiled as his he saw the worn pillow still sitting on the sofa. Instead of pouring a drink, he grabbed his coat and headed back out the door. He let himself in Ashton's apartment and flipped on a small lamp. As he wandered around the quiet house, his mind was flooded with the memories of when they had shared the space. Bull took off his jacket and made his way to the kitchen. He peered into the refrigerator and found the primavera and rugelach Ashton had mentioned. After quickly heating the pasta in the microwave, he made his way to the living room bowl in hand, flipped on the television, and settled in.
It was early evening by the time Ashton rushed into the hospital and made her way to her father's room. She steeled herself for the worst before entering. When she stepped inside, she found her brother sitting in one chair and Matt Wagner leaning against a table. They were in deep conversation with Jack Catazarro over the baseball game that was on the television.
"You didn't need to rush out here Ashton," her father admonished as she leaned in to give him a kiss.
"Yes, I did. Besides, I was planning on being here anyway. I'm just a day or two early. How are you?" she asked.
"I'm fine. Just like I told everyone before they brought me here," Jack said.
Ashton looked over at Alex for confirmation. Her brother nodded and said, "So far, everything's come back okay. They think he was just overdoing it."
"Doctor said they'd let him go home tomorrow if the rest of the tests come back okay and he promises to take it easy," Matt chimed in.
"Good thing I'm here to make sure you listen," she said with a smile.
"Ashton, I don't need a babysitter," her father protested.
Everyone laughed and caught up for a bit before Ashton ordered her brother home. Her directive was seconded by her father, who then minutes later told Ashton to leave and get some rest as well after her long drive. Ashton protested briefly but gave in and agreed to leave. She walked out of the hospital accompanied by Matt who assured her again that all her father's tests had been okay.
It took a bit of cajoling but Matt persuaded Ashton to grab a bite to eat with him before she went home. They chatted while sitting in a booth at a local restaurant and after asking a quick question about the trial, Ashton noticed he kept the conversation away from Bull and her life in the city.
When Ashton finally arrived at her father's house she tossed her bag down and sent Bull another quick message. She then went and let Loki, her father's German Shepherd, back inside from his outside pen where Izzie had put him earlier in the day. Ashton took a few minutes to play with the dog before changing into pajamas and trying to relax for the night.
She curled up on a large chair with a hot cup of tea and read Bull's texts he had sent while she changed. Despite being extremely tired and still more than a bit annoyed with him, Ashton decided to call Bull. He immediately heard the weariness in her voice and decided not to bring up the incident with Diana after the verdict nor share that she had shown up at TAC. Instead, Bull inquired about her father and informed her that he had enjoyed the primavera immensely. He then jokingly asked if she had a problem with him sleeping on her couch for the night.
"Why do I think that you're on my couch right now?" Ashton asked in return.
"Because you know me that well," he said. "I came back for the primavera and your sofa is more comfortable than the cot at the office."
"You do have an apartment – with a bed," she told him with a yawn. "Since you're already there and comfortable, stay…and you can sleep in the bed if you want."
Before ending the call, Ashton convinced Bull she was perfectly fine staying in the large house alone with only the dog and promised to text him with any updates on her father.
The next morning, Ashton was up early and sat around nervously until she decided it was a reasonable hour to call her father's room. Her father informed her that he was going to be released and Ashton headed over to the hospital after letting Alex know the news. While they waited for all the paperwork to be completed, Jack asked his daughter about the trial. Ashton gave him the short version of her testimony and then related that Bull had been found not liable.
Once they returned to the house, Ashton prepared a small lunch for both of them. Jack knew something about the trial was bothering his daughter by the shorter than usual answers she had given him at the hospital. He gently brought the subject up again while they ate. Ashton again skirted his questions, not wanting him to worry about her. To put an end to the conversation and the questions, she asked if Jack would mind if she returned her rental and used his truck while she was home. Her father immediately agreed and Ashton called her brother to see if he could meet her at the rental facility and run her home.
Ashton pulled into the parking lot and looked around for Alex's SUV. She got out of her car and headed to the rental office while pulling out her phone. She had almost reached the door when she heard her name. Ashton turned to see Matt standing there.
"I told Alex I'd pick you up. He was going to send you a message," Matt explained when he saw the confusion on Ashton's face. She looked at her phone and there was a message waiting there for her from her brother.
"I'll be out as soon as I can," Ashton said and headed inside silently cursing her luck. Although they had a nice dinner the night before, she didn't need any more things to think about.
"You're taking the long way," Ashton said as they headed back to her father's house.
"It's not like you have somewhere you have to be," he replied.
"No, but my dad did just get out of the hospital," she said.
"The long way takes ten or fifteen more minutes than the short way. He'll be fine."
"Matty."
"Ash, relax."
"Got a question for you," he said with a smile a few minutes later.
"Well," she replied and looked over at him with her grey eyes narrowed.
"Can you come in to the tasting room tomorrow? I know the party is tomorrow night but Christi had something come up and you still know the wines better than anyone. Please," Matt asked.
"I'll make it worth your while," he said when she didn't immediately answer.
"I don't need another case of wine," Ashton said stifling a laugh. "As long as dad is okay. I'll be there."
"How about I buy you dinner at somewhere other than McDonald's? Maybe Timber Stone?"
"Matty, I'm seeing someone; so are you," she said as they pulled into the driveway.
"Is he coming to the party?"
"Last I heard," Ashton told him.
"We've known each other a long time, Ash. Friends can go out to dinner," Matt said.
"Are you going to try to convince me to give you another shot?" she inquired.
"I am persistent…especially when I know I made a mistake," he told her with a steady gaze. "Talk to you later."
