Episode 21: Blood In, Blood Out

Simultaneously facing a partner’s vote on his future at Fallin and Fallin and the end of his community service at LSP, Nick heads to the Manko Juvenile Detention Center to see two new clients - Kevin Brown, a 16-year-old awaiting trial in the rape of his girlfriend, who wants to stop her parents from terminating his parental rights and putting their baby up for adoption, and Chris Rapp, a teenager accused of molesting a nine-year-old girl, who wants out of Manko, certain that he’s been marked for attack. Then, after Jake tells Nick exactly why his partners want him out, having agreed to run the office while Lulu is on maternity leave, Alvin takes on the death penalty appeal for Taliek Allen, the man convicted in the murder of LSP lawyer James Moody.

As he and his dad try to assemble the votes they need to save his partnership, Nick recommends that Kevin relinquish his rights in exchange for a chance to see his daughter. However, when he and the baby’s grandfather agree to the deal, Kevin’s chances to meet his daughter are dashed when Mrs. Glass objects. After announcing his engagement to Kate Shaw, Jack interprets Nick’s congratulatory gesture as an implicit threat to reveal his homosexuality. So, to keep the marriage on track, Jake tells Kate about the sexual assault at the motel. But when Kate becomes suspicious that there’s more to the story, Nick refuses to say anything. Meanwhile, after taking Nick’s advice to stop hiding in his cell at the detention center, Chris is beaten by his fellow inmates. So, with Kevin losing his chance to see his daughter and Chris getting beat up, both boys turn against Nick.

Finding no one who will support his fight to spare Taliek’s life, Alvin prepares to argue his appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. Just hours before the partnership vote, Nick heads to Manko to see Kevin and Chris. After giving Kevin a picture of his daughter, Nick is distracted by the commotion it has caused just long enough for Chris to stab himself repeatedly with a pen – a family heirloom that Alvin gave to Nick as a gift. So, because he was delayed at Manko, Nick loses the vote when he fails to make the partner’s meeting. And while Taliek is prepared to give up the fight to spare his life, Alvin insists that he keep trying.