My first Boston Legal Fic so please be kind. I've always loved Alan and Shirley as a couple, my pairings are strange at the best of times but they make me happy. It's a vulnerable Shirley and a protective Alan so if you don't like the idea of this then you are free to leave now, slight mention of abuse but nothing graphic, just warning you all xxx

Boston Legal

Alan/Shirley

Chapter 1

Alan Shore looked up from his conversation or rather flirting with one in a long line of young receptionists that had come and gone through Crane, Poole and Schmidt in recent months. Between Alan and Denny's constant flirting, the young Women never stayed around long enough to collect a pay check. When Alan raised his head to see one of it's Partners Shirley Schmidt walking his way, instead of his usual sexual suggestions that he would normally throw her way, something in her features stopped him from doing so. He gave her a polite nod of his head as she rushed past him and for once he began to feel a tight knot in is stomach at the way she looked, withdrawn, tired...dishevelled. A look that was in no way associated with Shirley on any normal day. He chose to ignore it and decided it was just his imagination until later in the day when Denny had showed up at his office.

"Denny, what's wrong?" He asked, noticing the worried look on his best friends face.

"She didn't give me a witty comment."

"What, who didn't?"

"Shirley, she always gives me a witty comment or insults me when I make a move on her and today…nothing."

"Maybe she's just busy Denny."

"Have you seen her today?"

"When she arrived this morning…why?"

"She's not herself, she's distant, quiet…not Shirley."

"Perhaps she's just having an off day, we all have them Denny."

"Not me….I'm Denny Crane."

"Didn't you try to shoot a Police Office with a beanbag gun last week."

"He shot at me first." Denny stated.

"Yes…because you were carrying a large gun…in court."

"Wasn't me, it was the mad cow."

"Of course it was Denny."

"You should go talk to her."

"Why me, we don't get along at the best of times."

"Yes but she listens to you and besides, I know you have a thing for her."

"We all have a thing for her Denny, she's the goddess that is Shirley"

"Talk to her Alan, I'm worried." He pleaded.

Alan looked up and saw an expression on his best friends face that he very rarely saw, he let out a soft sigh and nodded in agreement.

"Alright Denny, I'll talk to her."

"Thank you Alan, right…I'm off to fish."

"Fish…where?"

"The sidewalk of course."

Alan smiled as Denny walked away, theAlzheimer's may be slowly killing him but Denny was determined to fight it all the way.

Alan got up from his desk and made his way over to Shirley's office, her door was slightly open and he could see she was on the phone with someone. Who ever it was, Alan determined it wasn't a happy conversation. The more he listened, he could hear the emotion making its way out as she spoke. He couldn't remember her ever sounding as upset as she did right now, he was torn between walking away and going in to comfort her…perhaps the latter she wouldn't accept but he couldn't just leave her like she was. When he was sure she's hung up the phone, he gave a gentle knock on the door waiting for her response.

"Yes what is it." She said, as she attempted to wipe her tears away.

Alan opened the door further and stepped inside to see her eyes red as she quickly turned away from him.

"I just wanted to pop by and check you were okay." He said.

"Concern…from you, I'm shocked." She sniffed, trying to act normal.

Alan moved to close the door behind him and locked it so that they weren't disturbed.

"What are you doing Alan, unlock the door please."

"Soon, but right now…we need to talk."

She watched him as he took a seat on her couch by the door and sighed as he patted the empty space beside him, inviting her to join him.

"Come sit down Shirley."

"I really don't have time for this Alan, I have a…."

"Please Shirley." He pleaded.

She did as he asked and walked over to join him, she immediately felt uncomfortable as she sat down, not really sure as to what he was even doing here. She tensed a little as his hand suddenly came into view and he took hold of hers with such gentleness.

"Alan, what are you…"

"What's going on with you Shirley?"

"Sorry, I don't know what you mean?"

"Denny's concerned about you, as am I."

"Denny doesn't do concerned and god knows you don't."

"We do when it matters, when certain people matter, certain Women. You weren't yourself this morning when you arrived."

Shirley quickly removed her hand from Alan's grasp and went to stand by her window that looked down over Boston. Alan was quick to follow her motion.

"Shirley I…"

"Alan please, just go."

"I can't do that."

"I'm ordering you to leave my office." She turned to face him, doing all she could to keep her tears hidden.

She looked into Alan's eyes and saw a genuine concern in them, something she'd never witnessed before. He reached up and lay a gentle hand on her arm and immediately saw her flinch.

"What is is?" He asked.

"Nothing, it's nothing."

"Shirley…"

"Alan, I'm alright…really."

She could see he wasn't buying her story as he moved a little closer and gently pulled the sleeve of her Armani Jacket up just enough to reveal a dark bruise on the side of her arm just above the elbow. He couldn't suppress the gasp that escapes his lips when he saw it.

"Shirley, what happened to you?" He asked, concern etched in his voice.

"It's nothing, just a silly accident."

"This is not an accident, who did this to you?"

"No one did this to….."

"Don't, don't stand here and lie to me to my face. I'm not an idiot Shirley, someone hit you or at the very least grabbed you with immense force."

She stood trying to remain focused on him, on his face but it was becoming harder with every passing second. She felt her eyes fall to the floor at the shame of what happened. Alan moved closer and gently placed two of his fingers under Shirley's chin and forced her to look back up at him.

"Please tell me who did that to you."

"What does it even matter, why do you care."

"I'm not a complete jerk you know, of course I care…especially where you're concerned. Shirley, who was it?"

Shirley could feel the tears that threatened to fall again, of all the people she hadn't wanted to cry in front off, it was Alan Shore…even Denny would have been a better choice.

"Ivan…" She whispered.

"Your Ex Husband did this to you?"

"Yes."

"Why."

"Alan I…"

"Why did he do it?"

"Why…because I wouldn't go back to him. He wanted us to try again and I refused."

"So he hit you."

"He was drunk, he had too many Jack Daniels and he lost control."

"Has he done it before."

"What, why does that even matter."

"It matters, has he ever hit you before, either recently or when you were together?"

"A few times when we were married, that's why we divorced…well that and that fact that he was a womanizing ass…much like yourself." She tried to joke.

"I maybe a womanizing ass, as you call it but I'd never hit you."

"No, no I don't think you would." She smiled.

"You shouldn't be here today, you should be at home."

"What can I possibly do at home, nothing productive that's for sure."

"Have you done anything productive here today, all I've seen is you lost with your thoughts."

"Fair enough."

"Let me take you home."

"Alan." She warned.

"As a friend Shirley, I have a Friend who can take a look at your arm."

"I'm fine really."

"Do it for me, ease my concern…please."

She looked at him and saw the pleading eyes watching her and she hesitated for a few moments before finally agreeing to allow him to take her home.

To Be Continued…