Title: Honesty Between Partners

Pairing: hints Will/Alicia, platonic Will/Diane

Summary: A few days after Closing Arguments, Will and Diane talk about the future of the firm.

Author's Note: Late Response to The Good Wife Summer Hiatus Comment Fixathon

Prompt: greenbowls on June 5th, 2011 09:04 am (UTC); W/D platonic- Diane realizes that Alicia is different, Will's in love.

Words: 586

"Diane, we need to talk about the direction of the firm," Will says while barging into Diane's office.

"Will, I'm a little busy at the moment, I have to prepare for court tomorrow."

"Diane, I'm concerned about Eli Gold bringing his consultant business here."

"Will," she sighs, "where is this coming from? You didn't have any problems when we talked about it last week."

"I didn't think about it fully," Will replies rather calmly, taking a seat in front of Diane's desk.

"Right, you just saw the money that would come into the firm as a result of Eli being here."

"Yes actually, but I've been rethinking it, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Does this have to do with Alicia?"

"What?" he's surprised by her question, how could she know already, he thinks.

"By making her the liaison between law and politics, she won't have as much time to work with you. She won't be your second chair as often."

"I have no problem with that, in fact, I think you should be her mentor Diane."

Diane is both surprised and confused by Will's statement. Something is bothering him and she doesn't want to push, but as it might affect the firm, she needs to know. So she stands up from behind her desk, walks to her door and Will thinks she is going to throw him out so that she can get work done, but instead, she closes the door.

"What is this about Will?" she asks, while taking the guest seat next to him, not her usual seat behind her desk because he needs to know that she can be trusted.

"You can't let her know I told you."

"Okay."

"She's separated from her husband . . . I'm concerned that having Eli here, having Alicia be his liaison, it's going to make her martial problems part of her work. It's not fair, we're just using her.

"Alicia is a professional Will, she knows what she's getting herself into, she can handle it."

"I know, I just don't think she should have to . . . handle it. I mean, everything at home is so complicated, do we really need to bring those problems into the office and make them part of her working day?"

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"No . . . yes, I don't know."

"How long?"

"Just once, recently."

"Did she ask you to talk to me about Eli?"

"No!"

"So you're acting by yourself here?"

"Of course, I'm just trying to do the right thing here."

And that's when Diane realizes, Alicia is different. Will wouldn't be having this discussion, he wouldn't have put his love for money and new clients aside for just anyone. Will's in love.

"How long have you loved her?"

"Forever . . .and not long enough," he shrugs.

"Okay, I need to think about it but I will mentor Alicia. Also, I think we should limit the number of cases the two of you work on."

"Yes."

"I also think we should rewrite her employment contract because you can't be involved in her salary or bonus discussions."

"Yes, because I'm biased for her."

"Okay, you can leave now, I have work to do," Diane says while getting up from the guest chair and walking back to her usual seat behind her desk.

"Thanks Diane."

"Don't mess this up," she warns him without a glance.

"I'm trying not to."

And Diane hears the sincerity in his voice and knows Alicia is different.