A/N: Set in S03E03.
Clive finds Martha in the silks' robing room. "Are you alright?" He had seen her client slap her from across the hall, had to restrain himself from rushing over to her as she mouthed I'm okay at him.
"I'm fine. It was just a slap." Her pale face is red on one side.
"She shouldn't have done that."
"She's going through hell. I put her husband through the ringer on the stand. It was understandable." She smiles at him. "Thanks, though. For minding."
He nods. He can't put into words how seeing her under attack like that made him feel, like when Gary Rush had pinned her against the wall and he had ran to protect her, but not quickly enough.
"I had a letter from the parole board," Martha says suddenly, as if reading his mind. "Gary Rush is being released."
Clive feels a surge of useless anger, which he pushes down. This isn't about him. "How do you feel about that?"
Martha shrugs. "It's been three years. He did the crime, he did the time. Can't say fairer than that." Seeing Clive's face, she adds, "I'm a defence barrister, Clive. I can hardly say lock him up and throw away the key, can I?"
"For the record, I wish they had thrown away the key."
Martha smiles. "Thank you."
"Do you want a hug?"
"Not here. We're supposed to be against each other, remember?" Clive gives her his best puppy dog eyes and she says, "Maybe after the trial."
"I'll hold you to that."