UPDATE: So sorry about the messed up coding. No idea how you guys still read it. FF messed something up with my copy-paste. Anyway. I removed all the strange code! Thanks again for the support!

A/N: Thanks for all the reads! This one will be a transitional chapter. I finally have an outline as to where I want to take this story, and elements/scenes I definitely want to include. Warning: it is going to be a long story. Again, I really appreciate the follows and reviews - definitely helps with the writing process. Keep 'em coming!

Jared and Peter walked towards Ellen's office. They noticed a tall, dark haired overly muscular man sitting across from the blonde lawyer. The two were chatting, and she seemed to be smiling more than usual.

"So that's Swatello's type," said Peter.

"Used to be her type. I mean she's not engaged to the guy anymore."

"God, can you even imagine that? Swatello? Engaged? Like acting all lubby-dubby with someone? Going all crazy about planning her dream wedding?" Peter started, but then quickly stopped when he noticed the look Jared shot him. "Or, you know, don't imagine it."

Ellen noticed them and got up from her desk. She lightly touched her guest on the arm, and led him out of her office to meet the lawyers.

"Jared Franklin. Peter Bash. This is James Pratt," she said with a softer voice than usual.

"Hi James," said Peter as he shook hands.

"James," repeated Jared while doing the same.

"It's so cool to finally meet you guys. I've heard so many stories," said James with the widest smile. "Ellen told me so much about you two."

"She did?" said Jared, shooting a cocky grin towards Ellen.

She, as usual, tried to mask her discomfort with a remark that made her look like a professional. "Yes. I want James here to know how competent his lawyers are."

"And competent we are," agreed Jared.

"Actually we are much more than competent. We're the best defense lawyers in this firm…"

"Or city…"

"Maybe even country…"

"or..."

"Yes, as much as I hate to interrupt these modest introductions, we better take this to your office," said Ellen with a smile.

"Sure," said the two guys, starting to walk towards their office.

"About that. Elli, I know you care a lot about me, and the trouble I gotten myself into, but I don't want to overburden you with all of this. You've already done so much for me. I really prefer if you stay away from the case."

"James…" started Ellen.

"Elli?" whispered Peter to Jared.

"I don't know… she never lets me call her Elli. Trust me I tried."

"You would."

In the meantime, it seemed like James talked Ellen out of being there for the meeting with his new lawyers. She touched his arms again and wished him good luck. Then she looked at Peter and Jared:

"Your whiteness." As they let James walk into the office first, Ellen turned to the lawyers again: "And I swear, if you guys screw this up, I will come after you and kill you with my bare hands."

Peter and Jared shot a concerned look at each other and walked into their office.

"So you and Ellen used to be engaged I hear," said Jared as he took a seat across from James.

"Dude!" Peter looked at him with disapproving eyes.

"No, that's alright. You guys should probably know everything about me. It was before she went to law school, during her undergrad years in Boston. She was majoring in biology and I was in psych. We met at a party, and it was love at first sight. After a few months we got engaged, but then we soon realized it wasn't going to work out, so we broke it off and stayed friends ever since. This all happened over a decade ago."

"She majored in biology? That's so cool, I majored in biology!" said Jared with excitement in his voice.

"I think what my partner is trying to say is, can you explain what happened that got you here?"

"Sure. My neighbor was shot… and they think it was me."

"Yikes. Why is that?" Peter asked.

"Well… First of all, he was shot with my gun. And a couple of people from my building heard us argue all the time. He would just never take the garbage out and he would leave it in the hall. Like who does that? Then if all of this isn't bad enough, there's also the fact that I was home sleeping alone, when this whole thing went down."

"Motive, means and opportunity," Jared looked at Peter concerned. This was definitely not an easy case.

"Did you report the gun stolen?" Asked Peter, afraid to hear the response.

"I would have but see here's the crazy thing – the gun was still in my apartment."

"Hold on. So what you're saying is: someone broke into your apartment while you were sleeping, took your gun, shot this guy, and then broke in again and put the gun back in its place?" Jared said. Both lawyers were concerned now.

"It's crazy, right?! Look, I know what this looks like… But guys, trust me – I didn't do it. I would never shoot someone because of garbage." James' voice was steady as he looked at the two skeptical lawyers.

"But you would shoot someone?" asked Jared, trying to mask the unease in his voice.

"Guys, I grew up in a conservative family. We believed that guns are for protection, and we all have the right to use them to defend ourselves and our loved ones. However, I would never be so irresponsible to try to settle arguments with a gun."

The two lawyers didn't seem convinced.

"So you're sure there is no one who can attest to the fact that you were sleeping at the time?" asked Peter, already knowing the answer.

"Like I said, I live alone…"

Jared took his cell phone to his ear.

"Oh, hey. Yes, yes, Peter is here too."

He covered the microphone with his hand and looked at James.

"Will you excuse us? It's a big case, and some new evidence turned up. If you can wait outside Peter and I will be with you in a sec." James nodded, got up and walked out. "Yes, yes Johnny, I'm listening…"

"He's out," said Peter.

"There is no way in hell we can take this case," said Jared.

"Agreed. Even if the guy is innocent we have no shot at proving it," nodded Peter.

Silence fell on the office for a few seconds.

"You're the one who has to tell Ellen…" said Jared.

"Tell Ellen what?" said Swatello as she walked into the office.

"A knock would be nice," said Peter.

"Not when you're pulling a fake phone call on a client that happens to be someone I care about."

Jared cringed at the 'I care about' part, but shook it off quick.

"Look. Ellen. It's not that we don't like the guy…"

"Cause we do… Honest…" Peter took over.

"Did you figure that out in the two minutes you spent with him?" said the blonde lawyer.

"Actually, we did… and during those two minutes we also found out that, well, there's nothing we can do for him, really," said Jared.

"You'd probably be more useful than we are. Maybe call in a few favors at the D.A.'s office. Get him a good deal. There's nothing that the two of us can do."

"He can't plead guilty. He hasn't done anything." Said Ellen slightly raising her voice.

"Ellen you're a good lawyers. And, as much as it pains me to say this a pretty smart person. You know what the evidence shows." Said Peter with a faint smile.

"Look, he didn't do it," she saw that the two had already made up their minds. She took a deep breath and continued "All these years, I've watched people come toyou for help. You told them you got their backs. This is not the first hard case for you guys. If it was a Karp or any one of those lawyers, I would get why they would turn down this case. But it's you two. And as much as it pains me to say this: you two are one of the few lawyers that not only believe in their clients, but go above and beyond to prove their innocence, when everyone else had already given up on them. What happened to you guys? Where is that Franklin and Bash now?"

Both lawyers seemed uncomfortable. It appeared as if Ellen's words got to both of them.

"We'll take his case," said Jared. Peter nodded.

"Thank you, I'll go tell him" said Ellen with a genuine smile as she got up and walked out of their office.

"She's right you know. What happened to us?" said Jared looking at Peter.

"I don't know... Maybe running this firm alone wasn't such a good idea after all."