It had led to an argument of sorts, stressing Erin out until she’d tossed a coin, made them each choose a side and announced a winner. After that, she’d gone into her office and slammed the door, turned up her amp and played the bass for an hour.

Todd had been hurt that they’d caused her any upset, but at the same time, that little fight had released a great deal of tension. That they’d survived it and were all three still strong meant a lot to him. They could fight and it didn’t mean anything in the big picture. The realization had made him relax a bit more, even as Ben pouted so much that Erin had babied him and made his favorite breakfast that morning.

“You ready to go? You look very businesslike today.” Todd stood as she turned and grabbed her bag.

“Ready? Hell no. But I’m gonna do it anyway.” She took his arm and held on for dear life as they walked to the King County Courthouse rather than mess with traffic.

The cool morning air did a world of good for them both. She perked up, her color came back as they walked and he felt better seeing her feel better.

She hadn’t been overly specific about her own trial experience. Just that it had been horrible. He knew enough that he could fill in the details for himself.

The metal detectors loomed ahead and she froze.

He spoke to her softly, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “It’s for everyone’s safety. In the nineties a man came in with a gun and killed his wife and her pregnant friend in the hallway outside the courtroom where their divorce was being heard.” It had been a f**king horrible day. He’d been a relatively new cop and was in the courthouse to testify in another case when it had happened. It had been one of the events in his time as a cop that’d hardened his resolve against domestic violence.

She took a deep breath and straightened, walked through the metal detectors and waited patiently until she got her bag back and he joined her.

The wait outside the courtroom seemed interminable, but finally they went inside and she chose a seat near the back but on the aisle. He wanted to sit on the end, wanted his body between her and anyone who walked past but she shook her head hard, white-lipped, and he realized she needed to feel like she could get up and leave anytime she wanted.

He put an arm around the back of the bench, touching her but not holding her.

Erin hated the nausea, but she fought it. Fought it like she fought the memories of sitting in that courtroom in LA, of being cross-examined and having to relive every f**king moment of that day. She’d held on, just barely keeping from crying. She’d waited until she got back to Adrian’s and then she’d withdrawn into a world of prescription medicine and too much booze. Adrian and Brody hauled her out of bed every morning and shoved her into a shower.

If anyone deserved praise for support it was her brothers. They cleaned up her sick, ferried her to court every day, held her hand, kicked her ass and generally were her anchors in a storm that rocked the foundations of her life.

She’d been smiling at the memory until Bill walked in with his attorney. Shortly after that, Ella’s mother came in and sat on Todd’s other side.

That first morning was mainly procedural stuff, but the opening arguments pissed her off. She didn’t blame the defense attorney; that was his job. And despite the fact that Erin wanted to run Bill over with her car, she believed everyone deserved an able defense. Still, listening to this bullshit about mistakes and differences in perception really made her angry. At least Bill wasn’t claiming he was crazy like Charles Cabot had.

When they dismissed for lunch, they dismissed for the day due to scheduling conflicts, but Ella was expected to testify the following day, so at least she could be there after that.

Erin hugged Ella’s mother good-bye, shot a glare at Bill, who gave her one back until Todd stepped beside her and sent Bill the scariest look she’d ever seen on his face. He put his arm around her and she relaxed into his body.

“Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”

“No, I need to go to the café. You get to work. Really, I’m all right.”

He hustled her out and they walked back to the condo, where she could grab her car. He was stoic the whole time and she knew he was thinking on a way to get her to stay home.

Managing two bossy men like Ben and Todd was a full-time job. They always wanted to take over, to do things for her, to spare her, but she liked to do things herself. She appreciated the support, but man, did they work her nerves some days.

She headed to the elevator, and Todd got that smirky smile until she hit the P button for the garage. Then he sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.

“You know, you can give yourself a f**king break every once in a while. Is it too much to ask that you go home and rest? Why do you owe the world anything right now? You’re being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn.”

“You know, you can give me a f**king break every once in a while. I went to court today because Ella asked me to. She’s working for me right now in my café. I’m going over there to talk to her and while I appreciate your protective nature, I’m getting miffed at this point and you need to back off.”

“You’re not the only one who’s miffed, Erin.”

Oh no he didn’t.

She flapped a hand at him and went to her car, slamming inside. He moved to the passenger side and she flipped the locks. If he rode with her, they’d continue this stupid f**king fight and she’d want to shove him out an airlock.

“Erin,” he said warningly.