The First Counsel

* * *

"You assigned that project to me," I tell Simon after the meeting. "I've been working on it for weeks and you--"

"I understand you're upset," Simon interrupts.

"Of course I'm upset--you ripped it away and fed it right to the head vampire. You know Julian's going to kill it."

Simon reaches over and puts a soft hand on my shoulder. It's his passive-aggressive way of calming me down. All it does is make me want to put a brick through his teeth.

"Is it because of the investigation?" I finally ask.

He feigns concern at that one, but he's made his point: Keep screwing with me and I'll take your whole life away. Piece by miserable piece. The sad part is, he can do it. "Michael, you're under a lot of pressure right now, and the roving wiretap issues are only going to add to that. Believe me, I really am worried about you. Until this blows over, I think it's best for you to take it easy."

"I can handle it."

"I'm sure you can," he says, taking obvious joy in watching me squirm. "And actually, there's this one that just came in. It concerns a woman who was artificially inseminated by--"

"I saw it. The sperm case."

"That's it," he says with a coal-black grin. "You can get the paperwork from Judy--it shouldn't take you that long. And with Bartlett's new focus on family, maybe this'll turn into something big."

Now he's playing with me. I can see the gleam in his eyes--he's loving every minute of it.

"I'll get right on it," I say, simulating enthusiasm. I'm not giving him this one.

"You sure you're okay?" he asks, once again touching my shoulder.

I look him straight in the eye and smile. "Never been better." Heading for the door, I concentrate on my Monday meeting with Vaughn and wonder if this isn't about more than just a bigshot in a gay bar. Whatever he's hiding, Simon's slowly upping the ante. And from here on in, he'll do anything to stop the bleeding.