"You think you'll ever get the second star?" Emmett asks, glancing across the table at John. They're sitting on the verandah, and the weather couldn't be better - D.C. spring in all its glory.

"Yeah," John says, lifting his beer to his lips. "Right after the monkeys fly out of my butt." He drinks, then nods consideringly. "Then again, I never thought I'd make it past Major, so what do I know?" He glances toward the apartment. "Is Julian going to be okay?"

Emmett smiles. "He's just nervous about going in front of the Court on Monday. It's a big deal to him, since he clerked there."

"His first time?"

Emmett nods. "He'll do fine. They won't know what hit 'em."

"Why's that?" John asks, drinking more beer and stretching his legs out.

"The last time the Justices saw him, he was an obsequious weasel with a stick up his ass." Emmett smiles into his own bottle.

"And now?"

"He's an obsequious weasel with a stick up his ass and Rodney McKay for a coach. The Federal judiciary is doomed."