Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1

Author's Note: Hello loyal readers, thanks again for reading but please, please, please review. I am dying for feedback here, even if its one word only, please review!

Burton hummed happily to himself on his way back from the men's room. Nick was doing great, it looked like he was going to be fine, it was going to be awhile before any of their lives completely returned to normal and Nick would be in hospital for a while but thinks were looking good. It had been two days since the fire and Burton was feeling much more relaxed. He'd even left the hospital to change out of his bloody clothes and to get more supplies for Anne and AJ, who'd been stuck in the hospital with Lulu and himself for two days.

Nick was awake now and needed the oxygen mask less, Lulu was helping him eat some lunch. Burton was both surprised, touched and annoyed that she was so concrned for him. Surprised as they hadn't been dating as she hadn't forgiven Nick, touched as it would make Nick happy as he still loved her and annoyed because he personally didn't like her, especially since she'd made Nick take drugs again and turned his life upside down.

"Damn!" Burton turned and saw a young woman scooping up some files she'd dropped. Burton went over to help her and suddenly recognized her, Emily something. She was a lawyer at LSP.

"Hey, Emily," he said kindly after they finished picking up the files.

"Hey, Burton,"

"Are you here to give Nick those files?" She looked slightly guilty as he asked this.

"Yeah, or Lulu. I know it sounds cruel but we are snowed under with cases, I'm doing my best but I can't physically be in different court rooms at once," Burton glanced through the glass at Nick, he and Lulu were laughing at something, he felt his heart soften.

"Do you have too bother them, they look so happy. Nick actually died two days ago, he really should rest. And Lulu just wants to be there for him... for some reason," Burton couldn't help but add that last part, Lulu's behaviour still puzzling him, it wasn't fair on Nick for her to play games with his heart, women!

"Unless you can find me another lawyer, I've got two cases both with unrescheduable hearings at the same time and everyone else is busy or sick,"

"Another lawyer? Like who?"

"Someone qualified in law and willing to take on a case in-" she glanced at her watch, "-half an hour,"

"I'll do it," Burton offered and they both laughed, then he thought why not? I am a lawyer and it can't be that hard.

"Are you serious?" she asked as she realized he's stopped laughing.

"Yeah, yeah I am," Emily smiled.

"You'll do then come on,"

*****

"So what's the case?" he asked her in the car on the way to the courtroom.

"A girl Christine Fullton, 9 or a boy Howard Trafford, 5. I'd rather you have Christine as I've been Howie's lawyer for almost a year, and I think it's important for him to trust me,"

"Sure, so what's her deal?"

"Mother died last year in a car crash, teacher noticed strange marks on her and she admitted her Dad hit her. Social services investigated and found Mr. Fulton's house a wreck and Mr. Fulton, a drunk. She's been removed from there, and has a custody hearing to decide where she should go. The social worker, Natalie Bedford will fill you in more when you get there,"

"So...errr...what do I do exactly?"

"She has an uncle and grandparents who want custody, ask her what she wants and try make it happen," Burton nodded nervously as she parked the car and got out. She quickly gave him the correct file and hurried in Burton at her heels.

"Burton Fallin meet Natalie Bedford, Natalie Bedford meet Burton Fallin," Emily said introducing a pretty red-head to him, they politely shook hands.

"Okay, good luck," and with that Emily hurried off.

"Nick's Dad, right?" she smiled at him as he nodded, "I wish I could say Nick talks about you, but he doesn't usually talk much," Burton laughed at this, typical Nick. he told her as much.

"So where's the kid?"

"Potty break. By the way, can you tell Nick thank you, for saving Laurie's life and those kids. It was pretty heroic of him, my husband showed me the footage on the news. I was glad to hear he was doing okay,"

"You weren't there then?"

"No, I was in court. Thank god,"

"I'm back," said a little voice, Burton looked down and saw a young girl, he assumed Christine. She had long brown hair, eyes and wore a frilly pink t-shirt, Burton could clearly see a bruise on her arm. Bastards, how could anyone hurt a child? He'd never dream of beating Nick, even if he was being difficult.

"Hi Christy, this is Burton Fallin. He's your lawyer," she looked at him and nodded.

"Do you know Nick Fallin? I saw him on the news saving that woman, that was so cool," she said excitedly.

"Yeah, he's my son," just how many people had seen the news anyway?

"Cool!" she said again.

"So, this court thing. Who do you want to live with, your uncle or your grandparents?"

"My Dad," she said without hesitation.

"Errr... you can't go with your Dad, sweetie. It has to be your uncle or your grandparents I'm afraid,"

"Why, is it because he hit me? He didn't mean it! He was just feeling weird because of drinking too much daddy beer," Burton pitied her and himself, what do you do when your client is child who wants her Dad?

"You have to pick,"

"No! I want my Dad, please, I want my Dad," she looked ready to cry. Burton felt a pang of guilt, was this how Nick had felt after his mother had died, when he'd sent him to boarding school?

"How about this, if you pick one, I'll make sure they only get temporary custody,"

"What's that mean?"

"It means if your Dad stops drinking daddy beer, he can get you back," he saw her face light up.

"Okay, I pick uncle Willie. He is really cool, he even has a attic! We had to go to his wedding to auntie Cynthie last month. She is really nice and smells pretty," she was positively beaming now, "and I can really go to my Dad if he's good?"

Burton nodded.

"Come on. we're up next,"

Burton entered the courtroom led by a smiling 9-year-old. He hoped he could win...

Author's Note:Hope you liked it, alot of dialogue. Now please review, you know you want to.