Disclaimer: "The Good Wife" belongs to a bunch of people who aren't me.
Spoilers: up to 3x13.
A/N: To those that noticed that I removed this story, first, I'm sorry. Second, the reason I did it is because I didn't like the way it was. With that being said, I'd hate to leave it unfinished and there are some elements in it that I do like. So I made a few changes: I rewrote chapter 2, made slight adjustment in chapter 3 and added chapter 4. Also I know pretty much where this is going. Another 2 chapters after chapter 4 I believe, and I should be able to finish by the end of next week, the week after that at the latest.
Hope you enjoy it.
Alicia is on her way home when Courtney tells her Diane wants to see her in her office before she goes. Alicia sighs, she had a very long day, they lost a case they've been working on for 3 months, making Cary gloat as a result, and she was already late for her weekly family time with the kids. Nevertheless, she passes through Diane's office, knocking lightly on the door before she enters.
"Oh, Alicia, good that you stopped by, I need to send you on a special task".
"Sure", Alicia says as she takes a seat, "What is it?"
"Well, we need to get few depositions for the Edmond case, it's out of town, and it's probably going to take 4 or 5 days, so you need to make arrangements", Diane starts to explain, "but it is a high profile case and I think it exactly the kind of thing that we talked about that could take you to the next level". She looks at Alicia and smiles: "So, you think you up to it?"
The truth is a trip out of town is quite likely the last thing Alicia wants right now, she has enough things to handle right here, and a week away from them won't make them go away but rather pile up. Still, Diane is right, and career wise the smartest thing to do is to accept, so she forces a smile on her lips and answers: "of course, I'll be happy to".
"Great, that settled then", Diane gathers her things as to signal they are done, "I trust you can finalize all the necessary details with Kalinda? But I want you to go soon, no later than Tuesday".
Alicia is taken by surprise, "Kalinda?" slips out of her mouth before she can stop herself.
"Yes, I need you to deal with the legal side of things, while Kalinda tries to tie up some loose ends", she looks up behind her glasses when she senses Alicia's discomfort: "Is there a problem?".
Hell, yeah, there is a pretty damn big problem, is she supposed to be alone with Kalinda for 4 days after what she did, to work with her like everything is okay? But being Alicia Florrick she isn't going to tell Diane that.
"I could ask some…", Diane starts to say when Alicia doesn't react for a few seconds.
"No, no", Alicia Quickly replies, "I'll do it, no problem".
She's no going to let Kalinda ruin this opportunity for her, she's done with being the one to back off, for once she is going to do what's good for her, for her career, and the world be damned. (True, it won't be pleasant for her to be in the company of Kalinda alone, but she will manage. Kalinda is the one that should feels uncomfortable; she's the one that slept with her husband, not the other way around. If Kalinda wants to, she can be the one not to go, she herself is going to go through it, no matter how awkward it may be).
"Fine, tell me how it goes and if you need anything".
"Okay, thank you, Diane", Alicia gets up, "for letting me do this".
"Good night Alicia", Diane walks her to the door, "don't let me down".
"I won't", Alicia promises.
Diane smiles to herself as she watches Alicia go, "if this won't solve it, nothing will".
She noticed something happened with Alicia and Kalinda a while ago, it was hard not to, actually. Before they always worked together, even when assigned to different cases they somehow found themselves working on the same one. Lately, it was the exact opposite, like they were doing everything in their power to avoid each other, and when all else failed, to keep their interaction to a minimum. At first she ignored it, thinking it was just some silly misunderstanding and everything will be back to normal soon, when it didn't, she told herself it was none of her business and that she needs to give them time. But the truth was it was starting to take effect on her firm, and she couldn't have that. Kalinda and Alicia were at their best when working together, and their insistence to not do so was hurting both them and the firm. She tried to tell them to work it out, but that didn't do any good. So, at last, she came up with this idea; sending them to spend a week alone together, they bound to have some interaction, hopefully get things straight, and come back to what they were. If not… well, she was always an optimistic.