A/N: hey everyone! this is my first Ace Attorney fanfiction and I'm excited to share it with all of you! It was originally going to be a one shot, but as more ideas got in my head, it became longer and longer sooo I'll probably stretch this out between 3 or 4 chapters. Now since this is my first AA fanfic, chances are some characters might be OOC so please remember that. Also this is not at all a ship story. I personally don't ship WitghtWorth, but I absolutely love their friendship so yes.

Anyways enough of my rambling lol! Enjoy the first chapter!

I unfortunately don't own anything involving Ace Attorney.

He has been feeling off since he woke up this morning. He didn't know what it was, but something wasn't right. It felt like fatigue and a little bit of a cough. Nonetheless, he knew this measly cold wasn't going to stop him from doing his job. There was a lot to get done anyway…especially since he had a trial in 2 days.

He looked through a document for a murder case. The accused is Amy Stake who is believed to have murdered her friend, Doug Graves.

The cause of death is believed to be a baseball bat to the head, but Edgeworth was still waiting for the autopsy report to come through. Edgeworth was first wondering if Ms. Stake was doing some kind of self defense, but he can't say without the police investigating. Speaking of-.

BANG!

"Mr. Edgeworth!"

Edgeworth jumped, nearly dropping the document and looked up, coughing, at Gumshoe, who for some reason, thought it was a good idea to kick the door open. Edgeworth stood from his chair, looking annoyed at the detective.

"Detective. Why would you think it was necessary to kick in my door?" Edgeworth asked, annoyed, but calm.

Gumshoe sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sorry sir. Guess I don't know my own strength."

Edgeworth sighed as he rubbed near his eyes.

"Anyway. What do you want, Detective?" Edgeworth looked back up at Gumshoe.

"Well, we found some evidence for the case, sir. It's down at the police department."

The young prosecutor looked at the detective before clearing his throat and adjusting his cravat.

"Very well. Let me finish up this paperwork and I'll be down in a bit."

Gumshoe nodded. "Alright pal!" He then frowned slightly. "Also uh…are you ok sir? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," Edgeworth answered almost immediately. "Must be the lighting or something."

Gumshoe looked at him as if he was studying him, before nodding.

"Ok that makes sense."

Edgeworth proceeded to sit down in his chair.

"Now I have some documents to get through and then I'll be down to look at the evidence."

"Alright sir! Well, I'll see ya down there!"

And then Gumshoe left. Edgeworth only nodded and looked back at the document. He noticed that it said that Ms. Stake was the last person with Mr. Graves before Jewish brutally murdered. Edgeworth sighed and decided he couldn't put facts together without seeing the evidence first. He better get some of this paperwork done so he could meet up with Gumshoe.

He started to work on files, carefully putting his signature on any that he had to sign.

As time went on, Edgeworth found himself unable to completely focus on his work. He started to feel exhausted…which doesn't make sense since he got his required hours of sleep last night.

It also seemed like his cough was getting worse too. His head was feeling heavy like just keeping it up was difficult. He trembled too as he tried to write something on his current file…but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what exactly he was reading.

It was like his head was foggy and he couldn't properly think straight. Edgeworth sighed and leaned back. Maybe he just needed to give his eyes a break for a little bit. He has been staring at the files and documents for a while now.

His head really was being a pain. Not only that, but so was his whole body. It was also starting to feel very warm. Edgeworth frowned as he didn't remember messing with his thermostat. Maybe he did…

Maybe Edgeworth thought he needed to get some fresh air. Maybe it was just stuffy in here. Edgeworth sighed as he got up to leave his office. Perhaps he can go down to the police department to meet up with Gumshoe.

As Edgeworth stood up, his vision suddenly grew hazy and the world started spinning. He clenched his eyes shut from the sudden dizziness that struck him. It was pretty nauseating.

He took a deep breath and proceeded to try and walk. His legs shook as his vision began to blur and tunnel. The dizziness was only getting worse and Edgeworth didn't understand what was even happening. He just…he just had to hang onto something.

He tried to grab something to steady himself, but found out he was not near anything to hang onto. That's when he realized he somehow shakingly walked to the middle of the room. His legs continued to shake as everything around him seemed to become dark around the edges. Next thing he knew, his legs buckled beneath him and darkness took over.

Phoenix and Maya stepped off the elevator to Edgeworth's floor. Phoenix wanted to ask the prosecutor about what he knew in the Amy Stake case. He unfortunately wasn't the defense in that case since he had other cases to look at. But he was curious about what was going on in terms of it…if Edgeworth had any information right now.

"Hey hey Nick!" Maya exclaims as Phoenix looks at her.

"What is it?"

"Want to race to Mr. Edgeworth's office?"

"...seriously? Maya, we're in the prosecutor building not our office. Besides, Edgeworth will probably scowl at us for being so loud."

"Awww come on Nick! Don't be such a party pooper!" Maya smirks. "You're afraid you're gonna be beat aren't ya?!"

Phoenix sighed. "I can beat you any day, but seriously Maya we're gonna get in trouble if we make so much noise up here!"

"Well that's just too bad for you! I'm gonna beat ya!"

"Maya-!"

But Maya was already running down the hallway. Phoenix sighed and shook his head as he started speed walking to make sure Edgeworth wouldn't scold her too much for the running.

Maya ran for about 10-15 seconds before she ended up in front of Edgeworth's office. The doors were closed so she knocked. When there was no answer, she knocked again.

"Hey Mr. Edgeworth, are ya in there?"

Again, no answer. She was about to tell Nick that Edgeworth wasn't answering so he must have left already, but something was telling Maya to open the door. She knows it wasn't Mia, but something in her gut. She grabbed the knob and after a moment, she opened the door.

"Hey Mr. Edge-!" She gasps at the sight she saw.

Edgeworth was on the floor unconscious. It looked like he collapsed while walking towards the door. He was somewhat curled up with his arm sticking out in front of him. Maya quickly looked back at Nick, who was still speed walking his way over.

"N-Nick! Something's wrong with Mr. Edgeworth!"

Phoenix could see by the look on her face that she wasn't joking around. Phoenix immediately changed his speed walk into a sprint while Maya ran in the office and kneeled next to Edgeworth. She began to frantically shake Edgeworth as Phoenix appeared in the doorway. His eyes widened as he ran in the room and joined Maya on the floor.

"Was he like this when you looked in the office?"

"Yes!"

Phoenix looked down at Edgeworth before carefully flipping him over and let his head rest on his arm. Phoenix's eyes widened at the sight. Edgeworth's skin was pale and his cheeks were very flushed. His closed eyes were squinted up in pain and his breathing was shallow.

Phoenix took his free hand and put the back of it on Edgeworth's forehead. He recoiled his hand back at the heat of it and his eyes widened. He doesn't have a thermometer, but he can instantly tell that Edgeworth has a fever. A pretty high one at that.

Phoenix looked over at Maya, who was staring at the scene in front of her wide eyed…and he couldn't really say he blamed her. He's never seen his childhood friend this…small and weak looking. He didn't know what to think of any of this.

"Maya, I saw a water fountain nearby. Can you take one of the mugs he has in here and fill it up with water? He's definitely got a fever and is probably dehydrated."

Maya quickly nodded and got up, grabbed a mug from the counter, and took off out of the room. Phoenix's attention went back to the unconscious man in his arms.

Edgeworth didn't seem to be bleeding from his head and Phoenix didn't see anything wrong with his head so he assumed, for now, that he didn't hit his head when he collapsed. Besides, Maya did say he was laying in the middle of the room when she first saw him. But Phoenix knew that was something he had to worry about later.

"Edgeworth? Edgeworth!" Phoenix shook him. "Come on, wake up!"

A few moments passed before Edgeworth stirred as his eyelids moved before opening them slightly.

"Edgeworth!"

It took a few moments before Edgeworth's vision cleared and above him, he saw it was Phoenix.

"W-Wright…?"

Phoenix sighed in relief. "Oh thank goodness."

Edgeworth looked around to see he was still inside his office.

"W-what happened? What are you doing here?"

Phoenix blinked. "Well…Maya and I wanted to stop by to ask you something and well…we found you unconscious on the floor."

Edgeworth slowly came to the realization of what transpired before he passed out. Now Wright was here worrying about him. That's embarrassing! Besides, he had work to get done!

"W-well…I apologize for the scare but I'm fine. B-besides I have work to get done."

Edgeworth proceeded to try and sit up, but grunted and clenched his eyes shut as the dizziness came back. Phoenix immediately grabbed his shoulders and this time, gently laid him on the floor with his jacket underneath Edgeworth's head.

"There's no way you're able to work like this! You have quite the fever…not to mention you collapsed on the floor."

Edgeworth opened his eyes and looked at Phoenix.

"I just got a little dizzy," Edgeworth said, trying to sit up again.

Phoenix once again grabbed his shoulders.

"Edgeworth, just stay down," he sighed. "Look, Maya went to get you some water. So please at least drink some."

Edgeworth only stared at Phoenix for a moment before sighing.

"Fine. But then I really must be going. D-Detective Gumshoe is expecting me at the police station."

Phoenix frowned. "Edgeworth, you really don't-."

"I got it!" Maya exclaimed running back in with the water. "M-Mr. Edgeworth, you're awake! Are you ok?!"

She kneeled next to Edgeworth handing him the mug. He shakingly took a few sips before answering Maya's question.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry for the inconvenience for the both of you, but I'm ok. There's no reason to worry."

Phoenix narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think you are fine!"

Edgeworth looked at Phoenix. "What?!"

"You have a pretty bad fever, Edgeworth! Not to mention you're as pale as a ghost! I'm pretty sure if Detective Gumshoe saw you like this, he would send you home!"

"I don't need your-!" Edgeworth was cut off by a fitting cough he had in his throat.

"Mr. Edgeworth!" Maya exclaimed in worry.

As Edgeworth kept coughing, Phoenix rubbed his back. After about 30 seconds of coughing, Edgeworth panted as he caught his breath. After taking a few breaths, Edgeworth straightened up.

"I apologize," he said as he got to his feet before anyone could stop him. "But I really must-."

As he took a step to his desk, he found himself dizzy again and he stumbled forward but this time, he was able to grab his desk.

"Edgeworth!" Phoenix exclaimed as he rushed to him.

Edgeworth had his eyes clenched shut trying to stop the dizziness. Next thing he knew, he felt someone supporting him and guiding him somewhere. When he opened his eyes, he saw Phoenix by his side as he helped him sit down on the couch. Edgeworth leaned back to try and bypass the dizziness.

"You can't tell me you're fine when you obviously aren't," Phoenix said after a few moments. "You have to go home."

Edgeworth looked up wearily at Phoenix, his eyes suddenly becoming more heavy.

"...'m fine," not good; Edgeworth's voice was beginning to slur. "B-besides…need to…get m' work done…"

"We'll let Detective Gumshoe know you aren't feeling well. He'll understand," Phoenix assured him.

"B-but-."

"No buts," Phoenix looked at Maya. "Can you stay here with him while I go call Detective Gumshoe?"

Maya nods. "Of course!"

Phoenix nodded as he left the room, pulling his phone out. Maya looked back at Edgeworth, who looked to be on the verge of going unconscious again. She then sat next to Edgeworth and looked at him.

"Just hang tight, Mr. Edgeworth. We'll get you home as soon as Nick calls Detective Gumshoe."

Edgeworth looked at Maya.

"Y-you really don…have to-."

"Nonsense! You're sick and sick people should only worry about getting rest!"

"I…I have a trial in two days…"

"Don't worry about that, Mr. Edgeworth. I'm sure everyone else has it covered!"

Edgeworth only stared at the young spirit medium with glassy and dull eyes. He was definitely about to pass out again.

Meanwhile, Phoenix was outside of Edgeworth's office, trying to calm Gumshoe down.

"What do ya mean he collapsed in his office?!" Gumshoe exclaimed.

Phoenix sighed. "I mean Maya and I were going to ask Edgeworth something involving his case and Maya found him crumbled on the floor. Even without a thermometer, he has a pretty high fever. He's tried insisting he's fine and he's more worried about the case and meeting up with you than his well being. Even when he was trying to get up and stumbled into his desk."

"What?!" Gumshoe sighed. "Well…that sounds like Mr. Edgeworth for ya! But he really should worry about his own health right now!"

"Agreed. Besides…he started to seem more out of it after I helped him to his couch. His speech started to slur."

"Ok well…tell Mr. Edgeworth to get some rest and not worry about the case! We got it handled!"

Phoenix nods. "Will do!"

"Oh and one more thing, pal."

"What is it?"

"...please try to stay with him for a little while. He lives alone and will most likely try pushing himself."

Phoenix blinks. "Well…that was my plan anyway. No way am I leaving him alone in his condition!"

"I figured you say that, pal. Just wanted to make sure."

"Alright got it."

And with that, Phoenix hung up and walked back to the office. He walked in to see something he didn't expect. Edgeworth had fallen asleep and his head was laying on Maya's shoulder. His mouth was slightly open as his breathing was slightly shallow. His face was still flushed, but somewhat peaceful…well as peaceful as one with a high fever can get.

Maya gave a small smile. "He was mumbling about needing to get back to work before he just fell asleep on me. I didn't want to disturb him so…"

Phoenix nods. "Alright. Let's go ahead and lay him down on the couch for now and figure out what to do next."

Maya nods before she and Phoenix carefully take Edgeworth and laid him down, making sure his head was laying on the pillow. Edgeworth started to look uncomfortable again in his sleep as Phoenix frowned at him before looking at Maya.

"So…what do we do?" Maya asked. "I mean should we call for a taxi or…?"

Phoenix looked back at Edgeworth for a few moments.

"Well…he certainly can't drive in his condition. Neither of us can drive either. We shouldn't bring a sick and unconscious man onto a bus either. So a cab is probably our best option to get him home."

Maya nodded before frowning remembering something.

"Uh…Edgeworth's office is on the 12th floor right?"

Phoenix looked at Maya. Yea why…oh…"

That's right. Edgeworth usually prefers to take the stairs than the elevator. But in Edgeworth's state, there was no way he could walk down 12 flights of stairs. He could barely even stand let alone walk down the stairs.

Phoenix couldn't exactly walk down the stairs with another man on his back without the risk of tripping down a step…or a flight and somehow not break his neck. Phoenix sighed as he looked back at his sick friend.

"Well…I don't think we really have a choice," he nods at Maya. "Besides he's unconscious and as we've both seen, out of it. So…hopefully he'll stay asleep when we…get him out of here."

Phoenix feared if Edgeworth could hear what they're saying. Even if Edgeworth would be out of it, he would probably still know of his fears and possibly freak out.

"Maya, I need your help to get Edgeworth on my back. Then I want you to call a cab and meet us downstairs."

Maya nodded as Phoenix sat on his couch, his back towards Edgeworth. Maya walked over and carefully lifted Edgeworth towards Phoenix. Once in arms reach, Phoenix put his arms under Edgeworth's legs and hoisted him up; Edgeworth's arms dangling over his shoulders.

"Ok you go ahead. I'll grab his briefcase and meet you down there.

Maya nods. "Got it! See you down there!"

And just like that, she runs out. Phoenix walked over to Edgeworth's desk and slowly picked up his suitcase. He hoped none of the documents that were left out were extremely important, but just in case he'll send Maya or even Gumshoe to fix it up later. For now, he just had to get Edgeworth home.

He walked out the door and by then, Maya was already gone. He walked towards the elevator, took a deep breath, and hit the down button. He silently hoped that Edgeworth would just stay unconscious throughout the elevator ride. After about 30.seconds, the elevator door opened and he stepped in.

"Just hold on Edgeworth. We won't be here for too long."

Or well…he hoped no one would want on the elevator. There would just be too many questions as to what's going on. Phoenix was sure that Edgeworth wouldn't want to be seen as weak. He was already embarrassed at Maya and Phoenix seeing him unconscious on the floor.

"...mmmph…"

Phoenix, startled by the noise behind him, felt a bit of anxiety. He looked up to see the elevator just reached floor 6. He was hoping Edgeworth would've stayed asleep the entire way down.

"Edgeworth, are you awake?"

"...n-need…to…"

Then Edgeworth let out a sigh as he went silent again. Ok so…just feverish rambling. Phoenix sighed knowing he still wasn't conscious; which he was ok with at the moment.

Soon enough, the elevator reached the ground level and opened. After making sure the coast was clear, Phoenix made his way to the front of the building where he knew Maya would be waiting.

"W-Wright…?"

Phoenix slightly glanced over his shoulder.

"Edgeworth?"

Edgeworth glanced around before realizing he was on Phoenix's back.

"W-why am I…on your back…?"

"Oh well…you fell asleep and I wanted to let you rest. Maya is calling for a cab so we can take you home."

Edgeworth only stared into space for a moment before realization came over him. Almost immediately, Phoenix started feeling weight slightly being lifted off his back.

"Edgeworth, what are you doing?"

"D-Detective Gumshoe! I gotta…"

"It's alright. I already called him. He told me to tell you to get rest and not worry about the case. I'm pretty sure we would both get yelled at if you head over to meet him now."

"E-either way, I still have wor-."

"No you don't!" Phoenix exclaimed before sighing. "Look, you need to remember that you're still human too. You can get sick, which is obviously what you are. I know being vulnerable isn't easy for you to do, but please just…let us help you."

There was silence for a few moments and Phoenix thought Edgeworth fell asleep again. Right when the thought crossed his mind, Edgeworth spoke.

"...you're always such an…e-emotionalist…" Edgeworth's voice started to sound exhausted and slurred again.

"I don't see that as a bad thing."

"Heh…y-you're an idiot…W-Wright…"

"Says the one who's still trying to work when he's obviously struggling to keep his eyes open."

"...'m…'m not…"

"I can hear it in your voice," Phoenix bit back a smile. "Just relax alright? Maya called a cab and she's waiting up front."

"At least…let m-me pay f-for-."

"Nope! I think that fever is making you think nonsense. You don't have to worry about paying the fare."

"B-but-."

"No buts, Edgeworth!"

Phoenix continued to walk through the parking garage and out near the street, where he saw Maya standing. Edgeworth has grown silent again so Phoenix can only assume he fell back asleep. Poor guy was really exhausted.

"Nick!" Maya exclaimed, waving her hand up in the air. "The taxi will be here in a few minutes!"

Phoenix walked up next to Maya.

"How is he? I see he's still asleep!"

"Well he was awake a bit ago, but seemed pretty disoriented. This fever must be really messing with him."

"Well…he doesn't look so good either. He's really pale."

Phoenix nods, believing her word since he can't see for himself at the moment.

"Hey, can you take his briefcase?" Phoenix held out the briefcase.

"Oh, sure!" Maya exclaimed as she grabbed the briefcase from his hand. "Oh! By the way, do you know where Mr. Edgeworth lives, Nick?"

Phoenix thought for a moment. He remembered Edgeworth gave him his address once to pick up something for him. He looked on his phone and was able to find the address.

"Yes I do. It's about 15 minutes from here."

"Alright, good!"

They waited for a few minutes before a taxi arrived.

"You go ahead and sit in the front," Phoenix told Maya. "I'll sit in the back with Edgeworth."

Maya nods as they get in the taxi. As soon as they were situated, Phoenix looked at his phone and relayed the address to the driver. She nodded as she typed the address in and drove off to their destination.

A/N: annnnd that's it for this chapter! If you think this was long, imagine if I made this whole story a one shot. I was gonna end the chapter after Edgeworth fainted, but decided it wouldve been too short so yes. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed and please review anything positive or any constructive critism involving the story if you like! Byyyeeeee~