A/N: Yes, I've started another story. For almost a year, I've been trying to come up with a way to write Will's character out of the show mid-season 5 without killing him off, while the rest of the story progresses more or less according to canon. I've started a few different versions, but I've never been completely satisfied with any of them (or finished them). I've had Will transfer to the LA or NYC branch of LG. I've had him suspended or disbarred. Most recently, I started a story with him in a coma. I posted that one on a whim and then started thinking about how unrealistic and soap opera-ish that was. Now, as a result of a PM from Amynsieve (I have to give credit where credit is due) a few days ago my mind wandered and stumbled upon this idea, and I really, really liked it. So even though I had wanted to focus on The Way It Could Have Been, I just had to get started on this one.

March/April 2014

The jury had come back earlier today with their decision, ruling Jeffrey Grant acquitted. Will had defended a lot of clients that his guts told him were guilty, but with Jeffrey, he really, truly believed in his innocence. It had been a tough case, ,though and he had really been worried about what the jury's verdict would be. He was eternally grateful to Kalinda's extraordinary investigatory skills that left no stone unturned in the quest to find how Jeffrey's DNA got under Dani Littlejohn's nails. Two days ago, when he made the request, the judge had been hesitant to grant an adjournment to allow for the paramedic's testimony, but had ultimately agreed. It was somewhat far fetched, but weirder things have proven true. And since Jeffrey had never had physical contact with her himself, it was the only possible explanation. Clearly, it placed sufficient reasonable doubt in the mind of the jury that the prosecution's case wasn't the only possible scenario.

Now, his major headache was due to Nelson Dubek and Peter Florrick. The grand jury had been impaneled, and he had been subpoenaed. He had to wonder if Alicia's goodwill gesture during the Grant trial was completely altruistic or if there were some ulterior motive. He doubted her sincerity in wishing to bury the hatchet. There was a time when he would have believed her intentions were honest, but now, he knew she could be as deceitful and underhanded as anyone; and therefore, she could not be trusted.

He wasn't as angry anymore. The intense, all-encompassing, raging fire that had fueled him for months had subsided. In it's place was a sense of calm; acceptance of the situation. It was a relief, actually, to be on the other side, post-anger. He was ready to move on, but things would never be the way they were. He would never be able to fully forgive and forget. He would not consider her among his trusted circle of those who had his back and he theirs. He had learned, in life, over and over again, that you can only let people get but so close, because even the ones you think you can trust the most can blindside you.

He was surprised when he got a message from his secretary that Eli Gold wanted to meet with him this afternoon. Eli was not someone Will particularly wanted to meet with, but he was done with letting personal mix with professional, and professionally, he had business to deal with between himself and the Governor's office, like it or not.

Eli had tried to calm her by telling her that since none of them were directly involved, they shouldn't worry. It was all underlings. Peter would be fine. She would be fine. The one she was really worried about was Zach. He'd been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury. She hated that her son had been dragged into this. She didn't know anymore, nor was she sure that she cared, whether Peter was completely innocent or not. She remembered fondly how amazing Will had been questioning Zach not so long ago. It made a knot in the pit of her stomach thinking about how fast and furious her friendship with Will vanished, leaving enmity in its wake.

That gaping whole was something she tried not to feel, not to think about. She closed herself off because it was too much. She didn't have time to be weak or sentimental or to second guess herself. She had made her choice. Her relationship with Will was the collateral damage, but she told herself over and over there had been no other way. She hadn't meant to hurt him, hadn't wanted to now anymore than she had meant to back in law school. She knew she hadn't deserved his kindness five years ago when he offered her a job. She also knew she'd taken advantage of their past in order to get the position. Will's words rang in her ears, "You're awful, and you don't even know how awful you are."

She was also nervous about Will's testimony. She tried to convince herself that he wouldn't lie under oath and that if Peter were telling the truth, then Will would have nothing to say in his testimony that would hurt Peter. But she also wondered if recent history between her and Will would taint his testimony. She had handed him an olive branch the other day. She knew it was a bit dishonest to calm the waters just to potentially benefit Peter. Deep, deep down, though, she really did want this war between Will and her to end. And somewhere down deeper, she tried to hide the thought that maybe Will knew something about the voter fraud that she didn't, knew something that would incriminate Peter. Peter kept telling her he was innocent, but she had been down this road with him before. She wondered what the truth was and if she really wanted to know it. She was starting to believe that ignorance was bliss. Before she found out about the hookers, she had been happy, or so she told herself, and she had trusted Peter completely, something she couldn't say was true now. She might have been a fool, but maybe it was better to be a fool than jaded for being wiser.

She told herself, it was irrelevant. Zach and Grace deserved a complete family. Peter had always been a good father, wanted to be a good father. The kids had to deal with enough scandals, did they really need front-page headlines about the governor's wife having an affair with her boss or the governor's wife files for divorce to be with her former boss now partner, had she taken Diane's spot as managing partner? She knew that it would have just been a matter of time before she would have succumbed to temptation with Will. It wasn't an option. It wasn't. She had done the right thing. No matter how wrong she felt about it, she continued to try to convince herself that she had done the right thing.

Eli knew that the situation with the voter fraud was not looking good for Peter. He and Marilyn kept telling Peter he needed to waive attorney client privilege, but he kept refusing. Eli needed to persuade Peter to change his mind, he just needed to find a way. He made his way across the hall from his office to Peter's. Letting him self in and closing the door behind him, he walked up to Peter.

"You need to waive attorney client privilege."

"No."

"Peter, listen, if you don't let him testify, it makes you look guilty."

"I'm not stopping him from testifying."

"Not without risking losing his license."

Peter was silent, and Eli realized that Peter knew exactly what situation Will was in, and that Peter saw no reason to help Will out of it, even at his own expense. An idea popped into his head.

"I know you don't want to do Will any favors, but just hear me out."

Will's secretary knocked letting him know Eli had arrived. He nodded to her indicating to let him in. As Eli entered Will indicated for him to take a seat in the chair opposite him as he greeted him, "Hello, Eli." feigned cordiality.

"Will." Eli sat.

"So to what do I owe this impromptu meeting?" feigned sincerity.

"We have a mutual fly on our shoulder that I believe we would both like to be rid of."

"Is that so?" feigned curiosity. He glanced at his shoulder for added effect.

"And I have a proposal that will help both of us."

"And what would that be?" feigned interest.

"You and I both know that Peter did not see the actual video footage."

"I can't comment." Indifference.

"Yes, the attorney client privilege. That's why I'm here. I figure you're sort of caught between a rock and a hard place."

"Really?" he wondered where this was going and what Eli's motives were in coming.

"On the one hand, if you testify to what you know, you're breaking attorney client privilege and risking your law license. On the other hand, if you refuse to testify, you could face time in prison."

"And why exactly are you here?" He didn't exactly need Eli Gold lecturing him on his current predicament.

"The governor is considering waiving attorney client privilege."

"And why would he do that?" Will asked full of skepticism knowing that if Peter were to waive, it wouldn't be without a price.

"Because he knows that if you tell the truth, he has nothing to worry about from your testimony."

"So he wants to remove me from my position between the rock and the hard place, as you put it, out of the goodness of his heart?" his disbelief more than evident.

"He's willing to waive privilege on one condition."

"And what would that be?"

"That you leave town and relinquish your partnership in the firm."

"I think this meeting is over." Will got up and walked over to the door to let Eli out. Eli got up, taking the cue.

"Think about it Will. It's a good proposition. You'll keep your license; you'll stay out of prison. You can have a fresh start somewhere."

"Good-bye, Mr. Gold."

As much as he wanted to tell Eli to take his offer and shove it, the more he thought about it, the more he thought it just might be the best thing to take it. He sat in his apartment alone, drinking his scotch. He was tired of the politics, the games, and most of all, the Florricks. Everything here in Chicago reminded him of her, held some sort of memory, either good or bad. Truth be told, before Alicia had come to work for the firm, he had been feeling burnt out. When she came back into his life, he felt a renewed interest in the law - in life. Whenever he thought back to memories of Alicia from those first few years, he felt that old familiar feel of longing, but when more recent memories flooded his mind, he realized the woman she was now, was not the woman he longed for. That woman was no more. Maybe it had all been in his head, like a mirage, that he had seen in her something good and innocent. Something that reminded him to care more about the people his clients were and not just as the billable hours they provided. The girl he had fallen in love with at Georgetown, bright, intelligent, beautiful, caring, competitive, reserved, responsible, clever... Had she changed, or had he just not seen her for who she really was?

He thought about what Owen had said to him a few months ago about the reason why Alicia left the firm to start her own. It really didn't matter. If she had ever loved him, she had a bizarre way of showing it. And she clearly preferred her life with Peter, regardless of whether she had feelings for him. So what if she loved him, she still chose to hurt him, still chose Peter over him. What had Owen thought to accomplish? Alicia had made it clear which man she wanted to be with. She had had a choice, and she'd made it. Let her be happy with her own firm, being First Lady of Illinois. Let Peter have her. They deserved each other.

Maybe a change would be good? He finished off what was in his glass, putting it down on the coffee table and walking over to the window, staring out at the view of the city. A new place, fresh start. It wasn't giving up or giving in; it was a chance to start over.

"I'm thinking of leaving the firm."

"What?" Diane was incredulous. The two were sitting in her office late the next night with glasses of scotch in hand.

"I need a change. Start over someone new."

She sensed a finality in his voice, as if he had already decided. "Where will you go?"

"I don't know. Maybe a small town somewhere where there's less politics."

"Ha, everywhere has politics; granted Chicago might have more than its fair share." She paused for a minute. "You'll get bored."

"Maybe." He shrugged as if it didn't matter much, not enough to really be a concern.

She was somber, serious. "I'll miss you. The firm wouldn't be the same without you."

He gave her that patent Will Gardner smile with a twinkle in his eye, "You'll still have David Lee."

Diane laughed as she answered, "Seriously, Will, don't make an impulsive decision. But whatever you decide, I'll support your choice."

A Few Weeks Latter

The grand jury came and went. Peter was not indicted. Will gave his honest testimony, which fortunately or not did not harm Peter Florrick. At one point, Will would have, and did for that matter, not wanted to harm Peter just to avoid Alicia being the collateral damage. At this point, he didn't care to do her such favors.

Since the record wasn't open to the public, Alicia never knew that Will had attempted to bury the video to save her from being hurt. She never knew that Will had brought the video to Peter and he hadn't owned the decision about whether or not to take it to the judge.

Will was packing up his office. Today had been his last day. Diane was buying him out. He got a very good exit package. The firm was doing well despite the clients Florrick/Agos had taken, and Diane had been generous. He wouldn't have to worry about money in the foreseeable future. He could take his time, if he wished, finding a new firm, or start his own firm. This wasn't an end; it was a beginning - the beginning of a Florrick-free future. Peter had been a thorn in his side for way too long, and Alicia - he needed to forget about Alicia.

Kalinda watched through the glass walls. She wondered if this really had been his only option for keeping himself out of jail and licensed.

"So you're really leaving?"

"I am."

"You didn't have to cave in to Peter Florrick. You don't owe him any favors. If anything, it's the other way around." Leave it to Kalinda to figure out what was really going on.

"I know. It's a good move for me."

"Giving up your partnership in the firm? You've spent your whole career to get where you are."

"And where has it gotten me?"

"Your name on the letterhead, a six-figure income."

"I need a change."

"You're running away from the Florricks."

"I'm not running away from anything. But, yes, I'll get away from the Florricks, both of them."

"It's not going to be the same around here without you."

"You're not going to get emotional are you?"

She smiled at him, "Not a chance."

"Good." He paused, changing thoughts. "You'll need to look out for Diane."

"I know. The vultures are already circling."

"I'm tired of it. It just gets old, the games, the politics."

"That's life."

"Maybe yes, maybe no."

"Well, if you find perfection, let me know. I might join you there."

He smiled, "I'll let you know." And with that, he left the office and walked out on the life he had known for the past ten years.