"I can't believe they kicked us out." whined Axky as he, Paula, Brielle and Jack strolled out of the British Embassy and sat down on the benches at the bus stop. It was the wee hours of the morning and there was hardly any one around.

"You tried to have sex on the office floor, I think they were kind not to lock you up for public indecency." drawled Jack, quickly shutting him up.

Paula let out a nervous laugh as Brielle tried to dispel the tension.

"So are you guys hungry?" asked Brielle holding up the enormous grocery bag. "I got pizza. Lots of it."

Jack turned suddenly and kissed her full on the mouth. "I love you so much." he said grabbing the bag. "I am so hungry right now, I can probably eat all of this."

Brielle giggled as she pecked his cheek. He was so sexy right now, with his hair disheveled and shirt crumpled. If she didn't know any better, this qualified as a sexy-just-out-of-bed look. She couldn't wait to get home and have him all to herself.

Axky snorted from behind them. "Yeah right. You eat any of that and lose your abs." he said snarkily. "It's better if you eat a low fat diet and leave this greasy stuff to us lesser mortals---"

"Axky?" said Jack menacingly. Brielle knew that if he ever looked at her like that she'd be running far away, arms flailing. Her eyes met Paula's and both women smiled in mutual agreement.

"Yes, Jackie bumpkins?" asked Axky patronizingly, enjoying himself. He was really pushing Jack's limits today, but for some reason Jack didn't get riled up at all.

"Aren't you going to tell Brielle why you left her behind?" asked Jack innocently.

This stumped Axky. His eyes darted towards Brielle and Paula and then back at Jack. "I---it can wait." he said quickly.

"No it can't." cut in Brielle anger flaring in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me anything? I had been searching non stop yesterday for Paula and you neglect to tell me if you found something?"

Axky held up his hands in surrender, as he backed away a few steps. Jack thought it was a prudent time to start on the pizzas. He opened up a box and took out two large slices. He handed a piece to Paula and bit into the other one.

"This is good." said Paula reveling in the saucy, cheesy deliciousness. Jack nodded contentedly as they both looked on at the scene in front of them.

"Paula means a lot to me too you know!" shouted Brielle in frustration.

"Really?" asked Axky skeptically taking a step closer to Brielle. His own anger was rising now. If Brielle didn't know why he left her behind, she didn't need to know anything more about him and Paula anymore.

"Of course you idiot!" said Brielle irritably stepping closer too. She was not going to back down just because Axky had no answer for her.

"Fine." said Axky slowly. "Then tell me what is Paula's favourite colour?"

"You never tell me anything, you're always ignoring me----what? Favourite colour?" said Brielle stopping to think. She didn't know that. How could she, when all they ever spoke of was : Brielle this and Brielle that?

"I-I don't know." she confessed.

Jack sighed as he looked at Paula, to see ho she was taking it. The woman didn't look in the least upset. She was smiling to herself as she ate her next pizza slice.

"How do you think you would have reacted if I brought you here, and Paula told me about her biggest fears?" demanded Axky. He was close enough to Brielle to speak in a low voice, so only she could hear him.

Brielle looked at the ground, shame and self loathing hidden in her eyes. She spoke quietly as well, there was no point letting Paula hear them. It would hurt her unnecessarily.

"I would have snapped." she admitted. "I would have told her that she was selfish and judgemental for leaving like she did. I'd call her an idiot for thinking that you would even care about her ability to have kids. I'd tell her how much you love her and if she ---if she left over something as stupid as this, I would never forgive her."

"You think so?" asked Axky his gaze softening. "You'd take my side?"

"Of course I would." snapped Brielle. Axky stood quietly praying that Brielle would get it.

"Oh." she said finally, realization dawning on her. She would choose Axky over Paula any day, how did that make her a friend to Paula? Brielle couldn't stop the hot tears sliding down her hace as she berated herself: what kind of person differentiated between her friends? she was the most superficial, inconsiderate, selfish---

"That's why." said Axky quietly. It made him uncomfortable to have to be so harsh on Brielle. But then again, when did the whole truth ever appear gentle?

"I didn't know I was so prejudiced," she said, her voice breaking a little, as tears started to slide down her cheeks.

No, he couldn't have that. Axky pulled her into a warm hug, wiping away her tears with his thumb. It was a good thing Jack couldn't see her face or he'd send Axky flying back to Thailand on his ass.

Jack spit out his pizza. "Hey get off her!" he yelled. Possessive much?

"This is what a platonic hug looks like you moron!" yelled back Axky, as he reluctantly let Brielle go.

He turned back to Brielle, happy that she wasn't crying anymore.

"It's only natural that since you've known me better and for longer that given a choice you'd prefer me over Paula." said Axky gently. "And in doing so, you might hurt her more than ever. I needed you to think clearly before you met her. That's why I left the brown envelope for you to see. I supposed it was prudent to give you some time to cool off."

Brielle sighed. Axky was so right, it hurt.

"I'm sorry Axky. I misunderstood." she said sadly. She brightened up when she looked up however, and Axky was glad to see her smile.

"I'll do my best to get to know her from now on." said Brielle brightly.

Axky smiled. "Thanks Brielle."

She looked at him like he'd sprouted wings and started playing the banjo.

"You called me by my actual name!" she said jumping backwards. "Who are you and what have you done to Axky."

"Hey, I thought you hated me calling you nicknames." said Axky with a smirk.

"I do, but this is abnormal. It is creepy. Don't do it, it freaks me out." said Brielle loudly as Axky laughed. The sun was rising and a few people were starting to venture onto the streets. It seemed they weren't so alone anymore after all.

"Okay." said Axky equally loudly, digging his hands into his pockets. "Let the jury know that you consented to be called names for the rest of your life."

"Jury hears ya!" called out a passerby as he crossed the road.

Brielle blushed a deep red in embarrassment.

"Come on Sulking Tomato, lets go before our fiances eat everything." said Axky dragging her to the benches.

"Sulking Tomato?" repeated Brielle horrified that he could even think of something so terrible. "That is horrendous---I think prefer Pouting Prissy."

Ted hated working on weekends. Ted hated working at night. Ted hated working when he couldn't bill the client. Ted hated missing his beauty sleep. Ted hated missing his breakfast.

And guess what? Ted had to do all of that in the last couple of days.

He hated Axky for dragging him into this. He hated Claire for being such a bitch. He hated himself for his sense of justice. He hated the whole goddamn case.

But what was this?

This little folder he found? The rugged piece of paper had a stamp and a signature that looked eerily like---

Ted almost dropped his evidence in surprise. His lips curled into a smile, as though he had finally cornered his prey and was moving in for the kill.

He rubbed his hands together eagerly as he set about preparing for trial that was a week away.

A/N: Hi guys!

Sorry for the shorter chapter this time. I'll try to make up for it in the next.

We are close to finishing this story. Two more chapters to go.

I might release some important details soon, make sure you are following me and have added this story to your reading list to get updates.

Thanks and lots of love,

Andy