Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to 'The Good Wife' or to any other characters.
Spoilers: The promo of 3x14.
"The defense asks for a recess." Diane Lockhart gave a stern look to the judge, who gave an impatient wave of his hand, dismissing the aggravated lawyers. Will took that as his dismissal, and left the hall with Diane, adjusting his suit and keeping his gaze locked on Peter Florrick, who had such a blank expression, Will was almost intimidated.
But not quite.
Just as he left the hall, he felt footsteps behind him and started to turn. There stood Peter Florrick, who went up to Diane and whispered something quickly in her ear, ignoring the court reporter who was furiously scribbling down all of the events of the past twenty minutes. When he stopped, Diane threw Will a withering gaze and tilted her head towards a nearby hallway.
"Follow me to my office, Mr. Gardner. Feel free to join us, Ms. Lockhart." Peter gestured to a set of frosted glass doors down the hallway, and Will sighed. The interrogation hadn't even begun.
Entering the official-looking door with Peter's name proudly stenciled on the front, Will and Diane took a seat in one of the leather chairs located around Peter's desk. Waiting for his companion to be seated, Will considered what to say. Boast about it or see what Peter wants first?
"How long have you been sleeping with my wife, Mr. Gardner?"
Will gave a soft chuckle, thinking of how Alicia had planned all of their visits in the most secretive manner, avoiding detection at all costs and yet, telling as few lies as possible. Well, as few were possible when you're having an affair. Diane nudged him casually in the arm, instructing for him to give an answer to face her wrath.
Deciding to give Peter what he wanted (and not wanting to upset his only chance of surviving this trial), he answered as honestly as he could: "A month, maybe. Near the time after she separated from you"-
"She told you about that?" Peter demanded and Will raised his eyebrows. Of course she did, he thought critically, unlike your call girls, we did talk.
We just didn't talk enough.
"Of course." Replied Will smoothly, as Diane said nothing. Peter put his finger on his chin, and pondered a bit more before responding to Will, obviously trying to draw out the suspense of the moment. Will nearly rolled his eyes at the theatrics of the State's Attorney, and was only held down from doing something childish by Diane's rage rolling off of her body.
"How often did you see my wife, Mr. Gar"-
"Objection, sir," cut in Diane, curtly, and Will turned to her in surprise, "but I think at this moment we can all agree that Alicia"-
-"You will call her Mrs. Florrick, in my office"-
"Mrs. Florrick, then, no longer wanted the title of your wife, and was, at the moment that she started an affair with my colleague, looking to get a divorce. She still is looking to get a divorce, sir, and if you feel so inclined, I am sure you can hurry that process up."
Peter gave a lethal smile at Diane, and leaned closer to the partners, hands folded on his desk and his eyes mischievous. Will considered punching him then and there. "Now, why would I do that, Ms. Lockhart?"
Diane smiled back at Peter, and gave a casual lift of her shoulders, "You wouldn't want her ruined, would you counselor?"
The first article showed up when Alicia had sent both Grace and Zach to bed.
They were staying at her house this weekend, unlike the times when they usually stayed with their father, but Peter had said that he was too busy and it would be better if they both fell asleep with an adult in the house. Alicia knew it was just a way for her husband to make her feel more guilty than she already did, but she kept her head high and tried to ignore Zach and Grace's curious stares.
She had a lot on her plate right now.
Her and Kalinda had spent two hours erasing anything they could about Alicia and Will's affair. Even though both were sure it was going to get out to the media very soon, hiding any evidence of the severity of their sordid meetings would save them both in the end.
And there was a lot of evidence.
Restaurant bills, the expensive Presidential Suite, the apartment door man, the elevator tapes…every piece was like a precious memory to Alicia, all taken away by a stroke of computer keys. Even though she knew that keeping the information around would kill her and Will's already tarnished reputations, she found herself not caring. The seed of doubt had already planted, would it be so bad if the weed grew?
Yes, a voice in her head said softly, imagine Grace and Zach. How would they face a weed like that?
Everything was now gone.
Here she was because of it, though, tired and worn and wanting nothing more than some sleep. But she had to know the outcome of the trial, more than anything, so she was staying up and waiting for someone to call her.
That's how she saw the article.
A text message from Kalinda arrived, attached with a URL link to a popular newspaper in Chicago. Taking a chug of wine and a deep breath, Alicia touched the link on her smart phone screen, and waited for the loading page to deliver her verdict.
THE "GOOD WIFE" NO LONGER SO GOOD
TODAY, boss of State's Attorney's wife (Alicia Florrick) Will Gardner, who has worked with Florrick since 2008, admitted today in court under questioning from Wendy Scott-Carr, to having a sexual relationship with Florrick. The length of the relationship, or whether it is still "on", has not yet been determined.
Gardner was in court of account of bribery of judges, to which he pleaded not guilty. While the court did find him not guilty on the account of bribery, the partner of Lockhart & Gardner may not find his affair with Alicia Florrick to be such an easy solve.
Florrick has yet to admit to an affair with Gardner, and more will be announced as the days continued on in the public investigation of this scandalous affair. But the question will be raised: can we really blame her after her husband slept with a hooker over fifteen times?
Alicia inwardly celebrated Will's not being sentenced to jail, but the happiness was soon. She was entering a dangerous zone with her ex-husband, and she knew that she would have a messy divorce. She no longer had leverage; she now had to do this on her own.
"Mom?"
Turning around at Zach's voice, Alicia was surprised to see her son still up. It was way past midnight, and he had school tomorrow, and –
He had his laptop in his hands.
"Nessa texted me, and I went on to check. It's true, isn't it? You slept with Will."
A/N: I'm so, so, sorry, but I have to end it here. I need to sleep, especially since I have so many finals tomorrow. However, I will try to write another chapter. Thank you for all of your support! I appreciate it so much. Now tell me -
What do you all think?