The meeting is possibly the most awkward moment of Kalinda's life. Nick pretends to ask her questions about the case, Kalinda pretends not to be in a room with her husband and best friend, Alicia picks up on a weird tension she can't quite place but doesn't ask about just yet and Cary simply sits there, oblivious to it all, wondering why they're even taking this case and what he did wrong in a previous life.
"Thank you for your time, miss Sharma." Nick shakes her hand - squeezing just a little too hard - and smirks. Everyone stands up, shakes hands, does things professional people do. Kalinda is halfway out the door when she realizes her notebook is still on Alicia's desk. She walks back, hoping to escape, but by the time she's grabbed it and turned around Nick and Cary are gone and it's just her and Alicia in the room. She still gives it a try, keeps moving towards the door, but Alicia coughs behind her and she knows she's not getting out of this one.
"What was that all about?" Alicia's voice is worried, still slightly cold.
Kalinda turns around, walks back, sits down because she doesn't trust herself to stand. Alicia looks at her curiously. She takes a deep breath.
"Your new client? He's my husband."
Alicia stares at her for a full minute before she can form a sentence.
"When you told me about him, I asked you, is he dangerous, and you said yes." It's a question more than a statement - she says every word carefully, slowly, not sure what to make of it.
Kalinda nods.
Alicia stares some more, wants to ask something but doesn't know what because Kalinda has never made less sense to her than right now.
"I knew he was coming. I could have run - I was going to run - but I stayed." She pauses. "He thinks I stayed for him."
Kalinda sees in Alicia's eyes that she still doesn't get it.
"That's not why I stayed."
Realization dawns.
"He can't know that. He would - you wouldn't be safe."
"You're not safe."
"You don't have to worry about me." Kalinda tries to keep her face neutral, doesn't want to show Alicia how much this terrifies her.
"Dammit, Kalinda, you can't just say that. I see the bruises, I see how distracted you are. I can't just stand by while he hurts you."
"I can handle him." She barely believes it herself.
"No, you can't." Alica's voice raises slightly, but she catches herself. "Isn't that why you came to Chicago in the first place?"
"I was alone back then. I didn't have any family, didn't have any friends." Kalinda's eyes are firmly focused on the desk. "I just need you to be my friend right now."
The room is silent for a while apart from the sounds of people walking by in a hurry carrying boxes, files, a painting Alicia could've sworn was in Diane's office until just now. But none of that matters, because Kalinda just admitted to needing someone, and that someone is Alicia, and nothing else will ever really matter again.
"I can do that."