Disclaimer – all characters depicted herein are Capcom's not mine.

Author's note – This one isn't slash, although if you want to interpret it as pre-slash or containing sublimated slashy feelings then I suppose that interpretation works. I was aiming for friendship and hurt/comfort. I like friendship stories and writing slash where the protagonists' eyes meet over a vomit basin is just a bit too ridiculous even for me.

The 'Demon Prosecutor' didn't look nearly so imposing collapsed on his knees in the gents and praying - vigorously - to the porcelain god. Dick Gumshoe considered it lucky that it was he who had stumbled upon this sight rather than anyone else, seeing as he was one of the few people around who wouldn't gloat to see the haughty lawyer so miserable. Gumshoe had actually been looking for Edgeworth anyway, having fled the police station to help the man because Police Chief Gant had been playing his organ again. He was actually fairly good, but it was very loud.

Edgeworth had straightened up to kneel upright and Gumshoe stepped forward into his line of sight. Edgeworth's cravat was askew, his pale face was drawn and sweaty and his hair was dishevelled. The poor guy looked utterly miserable. 'Can I get you a glass of water, Mister Edgeworth?' He asked quietly. The shorter man managed to nod vaguely, catching his breath before his stomach rebelled again. Gumshoe retreated hurriedly in search of a clean glass.

By the time Gumshoe returned Edgeworth had apparently exhausted himself and his stomach's contents and was in the process of dragging himself onto his feet. Gumshoe put the glass down and solicitously aided him, placing gentle hands about Edgeworth's ribs and practically lifting him up. He couldn't help but notice that the expensive shirt under his palms was cold and clammy. 'I think ya need to go home and rest, sir. Do you mind if I give you a lift there?' He bravely asked as Edgeworth sipped the proffered water grimly.

Edgeworth considered the detective's words and his jaw tightened with some strong emotion. Pride and practicality battled in his eyes and Gumshoe decided to stick his neck out, giving one last verbal push. 'If other people see ya sick they'll gossip and think you're weak. If you go home and rest you'll get better quicker and then you can prove to 'em that you aren't.' He saw the persuasive argument strike home. He might not seem like the brightest of guys, but Gumshoe considered Edgeworth a friend and knew him better than most. Miles Edgeworth was a proud man who abhorred being seen as anything less than the fearsome clever lawyer he was. He especially hated to be seen as weak, knowing that it would only be exploited by others. He meekly nodded his acquiescence. Gumshoe helped his friend into his pink suit jacket and watched as Edgeworth quickly tidied up his cravat and hair, looking almost entirely as he usually did.

Together they walked down to the car park; fortunately since it was midmorning everyone else was hard at work and thus did not notice them leaving. Gumshoe held the passenger door open, then shut it behind Edgeworth and was surprised to hear a very rarely used chuckle from the other as he took his place behind the wheel. At Gumshoe's questioning look Edgeworth explained. 'You are being so solicitous, taking care of me like a mother might. It is a difficult concept to reconcile with your size and very masculine demeanour.'

That innocent remark drew a blush, even as it made Gumshoe's heart ache in old pain. Neither of them had mothers, Edgeworth had never known his as she'd died when he was tiny and Gumshoe's own mother had died some fifteen years previously. Neither had much in the way of support in the even of illness, Edgeworth's mentor despised weakness with a passion and Gumshoe's police buddies were more drinking companions than anything deeper. Gumshoe looked over at Edgeworth, noting the shadows of tiredness about his eyes, made more obvious by his unusual pallor. Everyone needed someone. The rest of the drive was completed in companiable silence.

Arriving at Edgeworth's house Gumshoe was impressed by the immaculately kept front lawn. Given the man's workload and nature the detective inferred that he had a gardener. A barking sound started up as they walked up to the front door. 'Oh do be quiet Pess.' Edgeworth snapped irritably. Amazingly the noise stopped at that rebuke and Gumshoe was again impressed.

A large dog was waiting directly behind the front door and she hovered around Edgeworth, not leaping up at him, but following him closely, content to press her heavy body close against his legs. Greeting completed to her canine satisfaction she turned to Gumshoe, sniffing him over, then nudging his nearest hand with her snout, demanding he scratch her ears.

The pair followed Edgeworth and watched as he reached the sitting room and promptly collapsed onto the sofa with a groan. Evidently it was not unheard of for him to fall asleep on the sofa as there was already a soft blanket slung over the back of the sofa. Gumshoe resisted the urge to help settle Edgeworth and instead followed the directions to the kitchen for another glass of water and a basin, just in case. Pess settled down with her master quite happily.

'I guess I oughta get back to work, Mister Edgeworth. Uh, get better and get some rest please, sir.'

Edgeworth's thin lips curled upwards in a rueful smirk as he looked down at himself. 'I think I can manage that, Detective.' He heard the door shut and stripped off his suit jacket, cravat and waistcoat. He lay back, stroking Pess' fur and he closed his eyes just for a moment as he thought fondly of his detective friend, mentally blessing him for his mother-henning. Despite his haughty manner and strict upbringing by Manfred von Karma, Miles Edgeworth still retained a capacity for loneliness, and it was strongest when his health failed.

Gumshoe decided to push his luck and stop off at Edgeworth's house on his way home from work, just to check that the guy was in fact resting, and hadn't found some work to do despite his condition. He stopped off at the local Jewish deli for some proper chicken soup and then headed over.

It took several moments for Edgeworth to come and answer the door, and his rumpled state when he did arrive reassured Gumshoe that he'd been sleeping, not poring over legalese. 'Uh, hi Mister Edgeworth. I brought soup.' He thrust it out as if to placate his sleepy-eyed superior. It was met with surprise and gratitude. Not that anyone who didn't know Mister Edgeworth very well would know that. His expression was it's usual impassive mask, but his eyes had widened just a little and he'd not been able to fully suppress the movement of his mouth into a reflexive smile.

They ate together, Gumshoe chattering excitedly about a new case that was coming in, Edgeworth nodding and humming at the appropriate places. Gumshoe blushed slightly as he had a second bowl of the delicious soup, but Edgeworth was at least eating and he didn't seem put out by the detective's appetite. Eventually though he had to give Pess one last pat on the head and go back to his own accommodations.

The next day Gumshoe was waist deep in paperwork when the telephone rang. 'Gumshoe, I need copies of everything you've got on the Mason file faxing over to my office as soon as you can. This is going to be a tough case, so anything you can dig up will be useful.'

A grin spread across the scruffy detective's face. 'I'll get right on it sir!'