Phoenix is the kind of man who thrives most when he is taking care of someone. Another person who needs him gives him direction. It gives him a clear goal: to make sure they're okay. Arguably it's not healthy on a personal level, but it's a very good temperament for a defense attorney.

He has the grace not to point out her show of emotion, though it does break his heart a little. It reminds him a bit of Trucy when he offered to let her call him Daddy. He notes with some relief that she doesn't reject his offer; he thinks he'd fret about her even if she insisted on making her own way. That dad instinct is unfortunately very powerful.

"Anything, as long as it doesn't hurt your chances of getting out of here," Phoenix says. Which basically means, nothing that he has a reasonable certainty is illegal in this place.