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Phoenix coughs, his breaths wheezing as he inhales, and he pulls another tissue out of the half-full box. He’s had this cold for a few days now, but it hit him hard this morning and he’s exhausted even though he only got up a couple of hours ago. Right now, he is attempting to dust the office, but has to take breaks every few seconds, his legs wobbling and his head spinning.
He groans and rubs the bridge of his nose, his skin so clammy that even his spiky hair has gone limp. Being sick sucks.
“Daddy?”
Trucy is stood in front of him, holding Mr Hat.
“What’s he here for?” Phoenix asks, concerned by how hoarse his voice sounds.
“Oh, I was just scaring Polly,” Trucy says, smiling. Her smile fading, she adds, “But are you okay, Daddy? You look even worse than yesterday.”
“Yeah, I think my cold’s getting worse.”
“Well if you feel so sick, why’re you trying to clean? Just have a rest, Daddy. You’ll get better quicker if you rest.” Trucy smiles. “And before you say it, I can do the cleaning instead. I don’t mind. Just have a rest.”
Phoenix manages a smile. “Thanks, Truce.”
And as he lies on the couch and tries to have a nap, he hears Trucy cleaning and tidying the office and smiles; she’s such a good kid.
---
“Mr Wright, what are you doing?”
It’s the night before his next trial, and Phoenix sits at the desk in the office, flicking through what feels like endless case notes. His eyes are watery and he has to stop to blow his nose every few seconds, and Phoenix has to wonder how much worse a cold can get.
He looks up with bleary eyes to see Apollo stood beside him.
“I’m reading case notes,” he says.
“Yeah, I can see that. I mean, why’re you reading them now? It’s late and you’re sick.”
“I know, but I still haven’t finished reading the notes and I’m in court tomorrow,” Phoenix says, cutting himself off with a phlegmy cough. “I need to know everything, or our case will fall apart.”
“I agree that the defence needs to know everything, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it all,” Apollo says. “Look, Mr Wright, I know you said you’d be defending our client, but Athena and I are happy to help. And if you can’t memorise all this stuff in time, then we can read it and prompt you if you’re struggling. So go to sleep and let me do it, please.”
Phoenix looks at him, and slowly smiles. “Thank you, Apollo. That means a lot to me. But, are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Go to sleep. I’ll read it all, I promise.”
He nods, regretting it when it makes his head throb, and stands up as slowly as he can. He claps a hand against Apollo’s shoulder and says, “Thank you.”
---
As he stands in Defendant Lobby Number 2, Phoenix can’t seem to breathe. His lungs are on fire, coughing up phlegm with every laboured breath, his lungs tight and painful whenever they have to expand. His clothes stick to him with sweat, and he knows it wasn’t a cold after all. This has turned into a full-on chest infection.
Coughing again, Phoenix stumbles, and hands grip his arm.
“Careful, Mr Wright,” Apollo says, guiding him to a chair and helping him sit down.
Phoenix slumps in his seat, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Th-Thank you.”
“Are you sure you can stand in court like this?”
“Of course he can’t!” Athena says, hurrying over (his vision keeps blurring from his watery eyes, but he sees Widget flashing yellow). “You’re dreadfully sick, Boss. I don’t know how you even got up this morning. You can barely stand, let alone walk!”
“Fair point,” Phoenix mumbles, sniffing. “But I have to defend my client. I can’t let her down.”
“Uh, Boss, remind me how many lawyers work at the Wright Anything Agency?” Athena says, arms folded.
“Three.”
“Exactly. Apollo read the case notes last night, so he can be our lead attorney, and I can assist him. You stay here and rest, and if you’re feeling worse, grab Trucy from the viewing gallery and go home.”
Phoenix looks at her. “That an order?”
She nods, Widget going green. “It certainly is.”
Apollo looks a bit shocked to have this role thrust upon him, but he nods and says, “Yeah, you rest, Mr Wright. We’ll handle everything, okay?”
If he didn’t feel so utterly dreadful, Phoenix would argue. Instead, he coughs, smiles weakly and says, “Okay.”
Athena and Apollo smile and nod, and Phoenix closes his eyes. Soon, his junior lawyers exit the room to go into the courtroom, and he slumps in his seat, letting out a wheezing sigh. He feels so awful, but he’s so tired…
His last thought before he falls asleep is of how wonderful his friends and family are – and that he hopes he won’t get smacked over the head with a fire extinguisher like the last time he slept in the courthouse.