WITH TOM:

Tom stared at the photo of Jaser on his laptop, regarding her image for a moment. Wondering whether or not to keep this one around. He had gone through a lot of partners. Fifteen just this past year. Charles had tried to get him fired for it more times than he could remember, but the same result always came in. Tom's methods were high risk, idiotic, begged the question if he was mentally disturbed, and caused a lot of agents a lot of grief. But they got the job done, better than most. It was his old partners that were the problem. Not one of them had what he was looking for.

All lawyers were the same, they wanted to go into the courtroom, and have a nice, long, intelligent debate with the other lawyer. None of them had the mindset he was looking for. He wanted a partner who went into a courtroom like they were going to war. After three to four years of being brainwashed in law school, he wasn't sure if any of them could live up to that.

Jaser obviously couldn't either. But he needed this case done, and with Achilles as the defense lawyer, that was going to be difficult.

He'd rather go into that courtroom with Charles, even though he hated that bastard. He actually would, if Charles had a better track record with Achilles. But constant defeats spoke for themselves. Charles would likely never win against Achilles.

So after getting into that rape argument with Jaser, he decided to talk to Haytham about it. "I mean, the girl has no sense of aggression! The minute she heard no witnesses, she disregarded the rape charges. I'm telling you, fire the kid."

Haytham hummed to himself, in deep thought as he leaned back in his desk chair. "It's her first case. She hasn't learned that not everything is like they said it would be in law school. But I don't see what you mean about her not having any sense of aggression. She surely was when I suggested she was in law for the money."

"Defending herself doesn't mean-"

Haytham leaned forward, picking up a paper from his desk, "And she didn't let the rape charges rest, I have the warrant requests she filled out right here. She's trying to get a warrant for Mr. Romano's sperm."

Hickey was silent.

"I see a promising future with this girl, Hickey." Haytham said, leaning back in his chair again, arms crossed. "She's got spunk, that's something I want on my team."

Hickey's eyebrow shot up, "You're not saying-"

"Yes, I think Mrs. Chee would fit quite nicely with our... crowd." Haytham said with a slight smirk. "Let's keep an eye on her, shall we? She'll be going up against Achilles correct? It's a good first trial for her. Whether she wins or not, that's irrelevant. I'd simply like to see how she'll handle his... approach."

Hickey groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I don't know what the hell you're seeing in this girl. So far, all she's done is make efforts towards rape charges, and not even tell me."

Haytham raised an eyebrow, "I don't supposed you've given off any type of vibe telling her you want to work closely with her?"

Hickey stood up, grumbling, "Yeah, fine I'll watch out for the girl."

WITH JASER:

"Maybe I could... I don't know, get out of the case?" Jaser suggested. "I mean, it's not like Hickey wants me on it anyways."

Connor bit his lip, thinking it over. He didn't like the idea of going up against his sister in court. "No, forget it. It's your first case, it won't look good if you back out of it. We'll be fine, I mean, it's just one case, right?"

Jaser nodded, "Yeah, just one case."

THE NEXT DAY:

Jaser got into her office, ignored the cold glares and silent accusations from Hickey, and got to work. The results of the sperm test had been given, and it was with that, Jaser actually thought she had a case.

She looked up at Hickey, "Alright, the sperm is a match. I might... actually have a rape case here."

Hickey stared at her for a moment, thinking about what Haytham said the night before. Whether she wins or not, that's irrelevant. I'd simply like to see how she'll handle his... approach.

Hickey sighed, "Alright, let's get ready for court."

Jaser nodded, gathering several papers around her, "I'm ready, maybe just need to rehearse an opening statement."

"Why bother?" Tom asked, "Even Charles can't win against Achilles. I don't see you doing much better."

Jaser smirked up at Tom, "I went over the medical records on all the victims. After hearing what the ME had to say, no lawyer is going to be able to write Mr. Sato off as a family man or good friend."

Tom raised an eyebrow, "But how-"

"I've got a buddy whose into computers. I'll have to introduce you two later on."

IN COURT:

"And where do the people stand on bail?" The judge asked.

Jaser cleared her throat, her eyes darting to Connor. He sat at the desk, next to Achilles. "Uh, due to the violent nature of Mr. Sato's crimes, the groups he's involved with, and disturbing witness testimony, we think he's a flight risk. We're requesting two hundred thousand for bail."

Achilles didn't even wait for the judge to ask him his opinion, he just chuckled, "While I appreciate Mrs. Chee's input, my client has absolutely no money. He is not wealthy, he has no high contacts who are wealthy. He isn't a flight risk, and he has no past history of crime, so I'm requesting that my client be released on his own recognence."

"Your honor," Jaser protested, "His client is involved with the Yakuza. Once he's out we'll never find him again."

Achilles sighed, "Surely you're not implying my client would run from the law."

"I'm saying, that the Yakuza doesn't like their members to be alive and able to talk." Jaser corrected, "And for his own safety, your client should be kept in holding."

"I've heard enough." The judge interrupted, "Bail set at two hundred thousand. Next case."

Jaser picked up her case files, and Hickey made the first mistake in his partnership with Jaser. He left the room, not realizing he had left her alone with Achilles.

"Hello."

Jaser looked up, seeing Achilles standing there, smiling as he leaned on his cane. "Hi."

"Connor tells me you excelled in law school." Achilles said, holding out his hand, "It's good to finally meet you."

Jaser smiled back, shaking his hand. She couldn't help but respect the man, he was an accomplished lawyer. "Good to meet you too."

Achilles straightened up all he could, "He says you're a reasonable person, so I'd like to talk to you about a plea bargain."

Jaser paused. This was an open and shut case. It would save everybody time and money to just get it over with. Perhaps a plea was best. "I'll hear what you have to say."

Achilles nodded, "Fair enough, over coffee maybe?"

"Alright."

Connor stepped forward, carrying Achilles case files in a cardboard box, "We'll meet you at the Starbucks across the street."

When Jaser grimaced, Connor laughed at her. They both knew Jaser's detest for coffee.

Achilles started to walk away, and Connor gave Jaser a small smile, "How are you holding up?"

She shrugged, "First case so... nervous of course, but there's excitement underneath it all."

"Hickey behaving himself?"

Jaser couldn't help the slight frown, "So far."

Connor nodded, pulling Jaser into a one armed hug, "You're doing pretty good, you sound really professional."

Jaser smirked, "All I've done so far is request bail."

AT THE COFFEE SHOP:

"Alright, I'm ready to hear what you have to offer." Jaser said as the rain pounded outside the coffee shop. Her spot on the table didn't have anything, no coffee, no tea, nothing at all. Connor often wondered how she had made it through college and law school without drinking more caffeine than she breathed air.

Achilles nodded, "Straight forward, good quality in a new lawyer. I've spoken with my client, and we're asking for the drop of all charges, and relocation."

Jaser stared at him as he calmly sipped his tea, as if he hadn't a care in the world. Her gaze flickered to Connor, then back to Achilles, "I'm waiting for the punch line."

Achilles gave her a small smile. "That's my final offer Mrs. Chee."

"You dragged me to a glorified ice cream stand, to ask for complete freedom from a man who I could easily get locked up for life?" Jaser asked, "If this isn't a joke, then someone slipped something into your coffee."

Connor spoke up, giving her a stern look across the table, "Jaser, you haven't heard what he has to offer."

"Fine, amaze me with your contribution." Jaser said, leaning back in her seat.

Achilles placed a file on the table, "In here are over fifty names, addresses, and a list of witnessed crimes to go along with every single name. All crimes my client has witnessed himself, and I'm prepared to give this to you. And I expect him to be put into witness protection."

Jaser bit down on her lower lip, contemplating the deal. It was a good lot of information, with it they might be able to stop, or at least put a serious looking dent in the human trafficking set up.

"I'm willing to give him twenty years, minimum security." Jaser offered. "He'd have access to computers, and more comfort than a maximum security."

Achilles shook his head, "Five years."

"I'd consider five years, if we were just talking about human trafficking. But there's three rape charges along with it." Jaser shrugged, giving Achilles the most stubborn look she could manage. "Us girls tend to stick together in these matters, so I wont be backing down on those charges."

"You have no witnesses." Achilles said firmly. "You won't be able to get a conviction."

"I do have a witness." Jaser said firmly, "My partner witnessed the third rape."

"Disregarding the fact he came in after the alleged rape took place, and the brutality of his uncalled for attack on my client, Agent Hickey doesn't have the most convincing track record. A few to many black marks on his record for him to be considered a reliable witness."

Jaser couldn't say she was surprised. "So I make him out to be a rough edged cop whose fed up with the system. Jury's love a good story, you put Hickey on the stand to question his reliability, I make him into one of those protagonist characters people flood the movie theaters to see."

"No jury is dumb enough to fall for-"

"And Hickey might not have a flawless record, but he's never planted evidence, or lied in court. So forgive me for thinking that will hold up in front of this jury." Jaser stood up, "Twenty years, minimum security, the deal last's until tomorrow night."

Jaser walked out of the coffee shop, head held high as the pounding rain turned into a light shower.

LATER IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE:

Hickey frowned after Jaser explained what Achilles had offered. "Wait, so you didn't take his offer?"

"No." Jaser answered shorty, setting her case box of files into the back of the taxi she had signaled.

"Why not?" Hickey questioned, handing her the other box.

"I saw the women he raped." Jaser took a deep breath, holding the second box close, as if to give herself some kind of stability. "I want that information, but I want that bastard to pay even more. And I will get that information."

"How?" Tom asked as she shoved the other box in after the other.

Jaser slipped into the back of the taxi, shut the door and rolled down the window to continue to talk to Tom. "If he won't give me the information, I'll string up Achilles and Mr. Ramono for withholding information about a federal crime."

"And your brother?" Tom asked, "You sure you'll be able to deal with stringing him up too?"

"I have no evidence Connor knows what's in the file, or that he has access to it." Jaser said firmly. "Even if I did have him arrested, he'd be out within twenty-four hours. I'm not going to have that spot on his record for no reason."

"And because he's your brother, you'll treat him better." Hickey tested.

"No idea what you're talking about." Jaser said, rolled up her window, and the taxi drove away.

Hickey watched as it drove off, shaking his head.

"Scared her off so quickly, hm?"

Tom looked over his shoulder to see Charles standing there, coffee in hand, umbrella in the other, and a thick coat wrapped around himself. Charles watched the taxi drive away into the overcast New Jersey day.

"You wish, Charles." Hickey snorted, then spit onto the concrete steps of the front of the courthouse. "I think I might keep her around, at least for this trial."

Charles rolled his eyes, "Well, when you decide to feed your ego by humiliating her in front of the whole office, do let me know. I'd love to take that bright young girl under my wing."

Hickey nodded slowly, "Fine."

AT CONNOR AND JASER'S APARTMENT:

"I can't believe you were so rude to him." Connor groaned.

"He was trying to put a rapist loose on the streets." Jaser said calmly, turning the TV on.

"If you had listened, you would have known Achilles agreed to have an ankle monitor applied to him to keep him under house arrest." Connor said, rubbing his eyes to ward off the headache Jaser often brought him.

"Because we all know how those never fail." Jaser said, sarcasm filling every tone.

"Jaser."

Jaser sighed, knowing that tone in her brother's voice all to well. Even though Connor was only two years older than her, he had often taken on a fatherly role to her. That tone was one that always filled Jaser with guilt, and for some reason always made her listen to Connor more. She didn't know why, but she chalked it up to every dad having that tone, that granted a certain amount of power over their kid.

"He's still a very successful, very old man, and he deserves your respect." Connor said firmly. "And I want you to apologize to him."

"Do I have to?" Jaser whined.

Connor rolled his eyes, "No, but you still should do it."

"Fine." She ground out, "Now can we just watch WWE RAW and call it a night?"

"Absolutely."