"Ema!" Apollo shouted from the bush he was tangled in.

"Apollo?" Ema studied her surroundings searching for the young attorney. "Where are you?"

"Look to your left – in the bush." Apollo groaned as one of the twigs jabbed his hip.

"What are you doing?" She couldn't help but smirk.

"Jake pushed me in here. Little help?" He held out his free arm. She took it and pulled. Soon he was free of the bush, dragging half the leaves with him.

"You're supposed to keep the leaves on the bush." She brushed him down. "I'm not going to ask why he pushed you."

"Good. I need to ask a favour. Will you give me a lift to St. Nicholas' hospital?"

"Sure." She pulled her car keys from her bag. "Is this where Angel's ex is?"

"I'll explain on the way."

"…So that's what the info said. That's where I'm going." Apollo finished.

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Aren't you still working?" Apollo asked and cautiously reached into the open bag of snackoos between them. He was curious as to what they tasted like – the bag said chocolate flavour. He chewed it nervously at first – making sure he kept quiet. "Hey, these things are quite nice."

"Hey!" She slapped him – hard.

"Ok, ok sorry." He groaned.

"Work will ring me if it's that majorly important right?" She snatched the bag possessively and stuffed it into the holder in the door. "Seems everyone is a fan of hurting you." She smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I hit you with a snackoo for drinking my water, Jake shoved you in a bush and I hit you again for eating my snackoos."

"Geez it was just one." Apollo smiled sheepishly.

"Close your eyes and open your mouth." She watched as Apollo did as he was told. "Here." She pushed another of her treats into his mouth. "You're not getting any more."

"Thanks Ema."

"We're here." The large modern hospital overcast them in its shadow.

*

"Hi we're looking for a doctor Neil Chambers." Apollo ran to the receptionist.

"Who's asking?"

"Apollo Justice, attorney at law." Ema spoke before Apollo got chance. "And I'm Ema Skye, a detective for the police."

"Oh my, is he in trouble?" The young girl gasped.

"No we need to talk to him about a past relationship with someone we're investigating." Apollo assured her. "May we see him?"

"I'll check to see if he's busy…" She hastily looked his name up in a folder open on her desk and dialled the number for his department. "Hello? Yes it's Katie from reception. Is Dr Chambers busy?...no?...it's just that an attorney and police officer need to talk to him about someone they're investigating."

"This is stupid. Why didn't she just tell us which department to go to?" Ema whispered in Apollo's ear.

"It kinda kills the point of her only chance to get a decent conversation." Apollo replied equally as quiet.

"He's free." Kate – the receptionist turned to the pair. "Say…do you two date each other?"

"No!" Ema barked. "Date him?" Apollo and the girl chuckled.

"Hey calm down!" The girl yelled still chuckling. "Head up to the third floor then follow the signs for paediatrics."

"Uh…thanks…" He pulled the fuming Ema's arm to make her follow.

"He works with kids huh?" The elevator rose at a painfully slow pace.

"Seems so." Apollo noticed she was beginning to lose the redness in her face.

"You're here for Dr Chambers I presume?" The woman behind the desk growled.

"That's right." Apollo smiled, her glare soon made his face drop again.

"Neil! They're here!" She roared like an ape.

"Ah, if you'd like to follow me you two." A middle aged doctor appeared.

"That hag sure doesn't seem to be impressed. Not the kind of person I'd want in a kiddie ward." Ema growled.

"I know. She can be a real hothead sometimes." He waved his hands in the direction of two chairs as he took his seat behind his desk. "Please. Take a seat."

"Thank you." The man appeared to have a kind demeanour.

"May I ask your names?"

"Yeah, I'm Apollo Justice, attorney at law. This is Ema Skye, my best friend and a detective." Ema smiled politely at the man.

"We were hoping to ask you some questions on a past partner. Miss Angel Starr?"

"That liar!" He sounded shocked. "Before I answer your questions can I ask you something Mr Justice?"

"Sure."

"I hear you and Angel knew each other in the past, is that true?"

"My care worker and her mother are sisters. It is only natural I had a relationship and link to her family." Apollo replied coolly – as if he'd rehearsed it.

"What can I help you with?"

*

"She was two timing. Me and a guy called…Marshall I think." The kind doctor finished the lat question. "Something like that."

"Thank you for your help." Ema drank the rest of her drink.

"No problem. She's quite a character, not a good one mind you." He leaned over the desk slightly. "She isn't in trouble with the law is she?"

"No." Ema replied bluntly. "It's more of a private investigation."

"Ah, ok."

"Thanks again for your help. We appreciate it." Apollo stood. "We'll see ourselves out…"

"Of course."

As they made their way back to the silver car the detective loved just as much as science.

"She was more than just a cheater. She has a sharp, acid tongue and is a poor liar." Ema summarised what the doctor had told her.

"So what now?"

"We need to try and get Jake and Lana to go out together as friends. After all, he needs someone to turn to if we're going to split him and Angel up." Ema saw as Apollo shuddered. "You cold?"

"No, I'm fine."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Hey Ema, check this out." Apollo hushed her and pulled her close to him. He was peering around the edge of the door. There was Jake and Lana.

"What are they on about?" She snuggled herself deeper into his chest, moulding herself to fit perfectly into the arm around her waist.

"Shhh, let's find out."

"Have you seen my sister?" Lana must have only got there, hunting for Ema.

"Na bambina." The cowboy replied, kicking his heels back as he leaned against a desk. "Haven't seen 'em for an hour or two."

"Oh. Ok." She sounded upset.

"Say, bambina, are we still friends?"

"Acquaintances would be a better word." She grumbled.

"Why's that?" He cooed.

"Because you and I haven't done anything friends do for a long time."

"How 'bout a drink tonight then bambina?" He took his hat off and threw it down on the desk. "Ain't gonna be no Angel. She's gonna be stayin' at the hospital for a while."

"I dunno…"

"Oh wow Apollo. We don't have to do anything at this rate." Ema was trying to hold back her giggle of excitement that was welling up in her throat.

"Hush…" He whispered into her ear, his hot breath making her feel accepted.

"Go for it Lana…" For some reason Lana must have heard the last sentence even though it had been spoken far softer than the others. She turned in the direction of the door and began to walk out to see the two eavesdroppers.

"Uh-oh quick hide." It was no good, before they had even moved they had been collared by Lana.

"Nice try." She purred. Pushing them into the room, with bowed heads she continued her conversation. "I'd love to Jake."

"Thanks bambina." He turned to look at the youngest two of the people in the room. "If it ain't the cowboy and the deputy. What can I do you for?"

"Nothing thanks Mr Marshall. We were just returning from a little outing."

"Can I talk to you alone for a second Jake?" Ema asked.

"I need to talk to you Mr Justice." Lana hooked her fingers around the back of the young attorney's collar and pulled him out the door.

*

"I know you heard all my conversation." Lana pushed him down on the staircase leading towards the Prosecutor's office. "I'm not gonna be mad either. I want you and Ema to go out with me and Jake for our little drink tonight."

"Wait, why?" He was sure he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Well, I want to make it a little more fun for a start and two…" She smiled. "You'll see for yourself soon enough. I'll talk Jake round."

"Uh…I guess that's ok." He shivered.

"Run along now, back into the office." She pushed him through the door as a devious smile crept across her face.