Episode: Shelter

[Ginne]

Meanwhile, back at the clinic . . .

Nick comes in on an already-in-session meeting in which Lulu, Alvin, Laurie, and I think Kate from Pittsburgh Childrens' Project are discussing the case.

Lulu explains that Jeanette is a runaway, but that her mother lives a couple of hours away.

Alvin turns to Nick, who is representing Danny, and Nick tells them that Danny is an orphan, and has been living on the street.

Lauries says that the baby will probably stay in foster care unless the grandmother is willing to take him in.

As the meeting is breaking up, Lulu, then Nick emphasize that both the parents want to stay together, and that they want to raise the baby. No one leaves happy.

[Ginne]

Now we're in the courtroom, where Lulu has just stated that Jeanette is a runaway living on the streets until the birth of the baby the day before.

Laurie, when asked, explains that a place has been found for Jeanette in a girls' shelter, and that the baby will remain in foster care.

As they leave the courtroom, they see Danny and Nick. Danny takes Jeanette in his arms, and asks her to marry him. She tearfully (happy tears) agrees.

Back in the courtroom, Nick pleads that Danny wants to marry Jeanette and make a home for their baby. The judge says that for the moment, Danny will also be placed in a shelter.

[Ginne]

Back at F&A, Nick is going throught negotions with the attorney for a company that his new client wants to aquire. They whittle away the "deadwood" of the company (corporate apartments, jet, art) in order to get the price down.

As the guy leaves, Jake chats with him in the hall. He then enters Nick's office for a heart-to-heart. He says that if Nick takes over for Burton, he will back him completely. He also says that Nick needs a good right-hand-man to depend on, and he wants to be it. He tells Nick "Your people skills suck," and that he could do the schmoozing of clients for Nick. He then leaves Nick to think it over.

[Ginne]

Nick goes back to the clinic, where he and Lulu say nothing more than a polite hello, until the phone rings. It's the young parents, and they want Lulu and Nick to meet them over at Lulu's house.

Nick and Lulu head over. When they arrive, Nick goes to check the rooms, while Lulu lights the candles on the mantle. Thus ensues the :drool:able scene from the clip, where he talks about the beauty of the house, all while looking at her in such a way as would make any woman's knees turn to putty!! :drool:

Just as the speech ends, you hear the baby outside.  It turns out that Danny and Jeanette were visiting the baby at the hospital, when they realized that at the end of the hour the baby would be taken away from them. So they took the baby and ran. Nick and Lulu then help them take the baby back to the hospital (we see them leave the house).

[Ginne]

Back at F&A, Nick is explaining to his new client that they reached an acceptable price with the other company by trimming off all the "non-essential assetts." The client is very unhappy, and walks out looking for Burton, leaving a bewildered Nick wondering what the heck just happened.

[Ginne]

After Meyer leaves, Burton calls Nick into the office. Nick asks what happened saying, "I put together exactly the deal he wanted."

Burton says, "Son, you cut out exactly what he wanted."

It turns out Meyer was after the plane. As a CEO, not an owner, he can't buy his own plane  , so he wanted this deal so he could get the plane.

Nick, very understandably, is upset, but goes back to rework the deal.

[spunkymungbeans]

Then why the hell didn't he say so to Nick?

[Ginne]

Next we see Nick and Lulu at one of the shelters talking to Danny and Jeanette. They are explaining to the kids that just because they get married doesn't mean that they will necessarily get to keep the baby.

Then Jeanette and Lulu go off to talk together, leaving Nick and Danny alone. Nick starts asking Danny who hooked up the electricity and gas to the old house. When Danny confesses that he did, Nick asks him how he did it, pointing out that it was illegal. When Danny explains it to him, Nick says, "I might just be able to get you a job. I'll make some calls."

Meanwhile, Lulu is asking Jeanette if she is sure that getting married is what she wants to do, as she is only fifteen. Jeanette says yes, explaining that even if they don't get to keep the baby, she and Danny want to be together. She says that they would die without each other.

[Ginne]

Back in the courtroom, Nick and Lulu bring three petitions before the judge--one to emancipate Danny, one to emancipate Jeanette, and one to allow them to marry, as she is under 16.

Nick explains that Danny has taken a job as a handyman at Riverbrook Country Club. The job pays $7 an hour, and includes housing and 2 meals a day.

Lulu then states that Jeanette is enrolled in a new charter school which provides daycare for young mothers, as well as parenting classes in addition to the regular curriculum.

The judge grants both emancipation petitions, much to Laurie's disappointment, and also agrees to the petition that they be allowed to marry. She does point out that that does not mean that she will decide to let them keep the baby in the custody hearing for the baby the next day.

[Ginne]

I forgot to mention that Alvin and Laurie had a chat before she left Legal Services earlier in the ep. He asked if he had done anything to upset her. She explained that she really wasn't interested in a relationship--she had her two grown children and a grandchild, and preferred to spend her spare time with them.

When he pushed her, she went on to tell him that her job was extremely important to her, not just as a job, and she is afraid that if the two of them dated it would ruin their working relationship.

[spunkymungbeans]

Nick finds Danny a job.  Isn't he wonderful.  Sign.  I love it when he is gallant!

[Ginne]

We now switch back to F&A, where Burton is explaining to Nick that basically Jake was able to save the client by brokering a different deal which accomplished everything, including getting the jerk a plane.  

Burton goes on to tell Nick that he wants Nick to be into not only work part of the firm, but the social part, meaning that he always schmoozed the clients to make them feel comfy, which Nick hadn't really done.

Nick does not look happy throughout all this--we see his clenching fist, the set of his jaw, the anger in those gorgeous blue eyes :drool:. We get lovely shots of those eyes! :drool:

[spunkymungbeans]

Did Jake take over the deal behind his back!!!  That's a bit low.

[Ginne]

At the custody hearing for the baby the next day, Children's Services has asked that Denny (not Danny as I thought  ) and Jeanette's parental rights be terminated.

Laurie makes her case, as does the PCP lady, who says that the baby would be better off in foster care than with parents who are little more than children themselves. Laurie then states that she has 44 families in the Pittsburgh area waiting to adopt babies, so time is of the essence (if the case drags on, the baby will be harder to place because he is older.).

Nick and Lulu then say their bits about Denny having a job and housing and Jeanette taking parenting classes.

The judge decides not to terminate Denny and Jeanette's parental rights, but does not grant them custody at this time, but states they will have visitation rights, and the case will be reviewed in 60 days.

[Ginne]

Sorry I haven't answered any questions--I'll cover them all at the end--but keep posting them!

Anyway, outside the courtroom, Denny and Jeanette are thanking Nick and Lulu. Lulu explains that they will talk to them sometime before sixty days are up to discuss the case, but to feel free to call them at the office.

At this, Denny and Jeanette announce that they have one more favor to ask. The registry office is on the ninth floor of the courthouse, and they would like Nick and Lulu to be their witnesses.