A/N: This is a little filler to get us to the culmination of the letters and the repercussions of what was written in them.

The River of Dreams (Billy Joel)

Chicago, April 2014

Getting Kalinda Sharma to commit to a time to sit down with him had been difficult. She was elusive, quirky, but above all, she was smart. David sensed she was wary of why he wanted to meet one-on-one.

He wasn't particularly keen on meeting her in a bar, but that was what she preferred, so he found himself surrounded by pretty, young (drunken) things waiting for the investigator to turn up. He walked to the bar and scanned the room. He felt a little out of place. Bars, cocktails and tequila shots weren't really his thing. He was more of a pint of beer and a pub kind of guy, however, he did appreciate good wine and the occasional G and T.

The bartender asked what he would like. He smiled and replied, "Gin and tonic, please." "Right away, Sir," the bartender said, placing a cocktail napkin on the bar while he prepared the simple drink. David quickly found himself cradling a chilled glass as he contemplated the conversation he was about to have with Kalinda. He suspected that whatever happened, it probably wouldn't last too long.

Kalinda stood on the pavement looking through the window into the bar. She spotted the old professor at a table in the corner and thought back to the last time she had met him: it had been at Will's funeral. He had sat next to Diane and had given a quiet, scoffing, "Hmm," when one of Will's sisters had mentioned Will was a good cook during her eulogy. She liked David Austen. He was quiet, unassuming, but honest. He was the archetypal English gent, with a little side of crazy American, that Kalinda felt had found its way into his character by way of his late Baltimore-born wife. He had been friends with Diane for many decades and, when Lockhart Gardner was in financial difficulties, had almost come on board as a silent partner. She took a deep breath and entered the bar, her boots clicking on the tiled floor.

"Hi, David," Kalinda said as she approached his table.

"Hello, Ms Sharma," he replied. "We seem to meet under the most trying of circumstances, please do join me," he added, gesticulating at the chair opposite.

"I think I'll get a drink," she said, "would you like another?"

"Tonic water please," he replied.

"There isn't gin in that?" she questioned. She was sure she could smell the perfume of the juniper-based spirit, almost like a pine tree, wafting across the table.

"Ah," he smiled, "yes, it is an old conference trick of mine. Start out with a G and T, then switch to simple tonic. Everyone thinks you are still drinking and you get to watch your colleagues become increasingly drunk, while picking up lots of juicy gossip," he chuckled.

"I prefer to drink," she added, bobbing her head and smiling at the lawyer.

"So does my daughter," he replied.

"I'll be right back."

Once Kalinda returned with their drinks, David began to explain why he wanted to meet her. "As you might be aware, I am Will Gardner's executor and one of my duties is to carry out his final wishes. These include distributing some letters that Will wrote to those closet to him," he swallowed hard and took a sip of his drink.

"Okay," Kalinda nodded. She didn't seem too surprised or question him like Diane did. He pondered whether Kalinda was already aware of the letters. He continued, "One of them is addressed to you."

Kalinda felt her chest tighten a little and took a deep breath. She realised that she was in danger of showing too much emotion in front of David as tears welled in her eyes. Unable to speak, she nodded.

David reached inside his jacket and took out a cream envelope. He handed it to Kalinda. She smiled, "Thank you," at David before running her fingers over the handwritten text: Kalinda Sharma.

David finished his drink and said, "I'll be going now. Get in touch if you want anything or even if you want to talk." He put a copy of his business card on the table. Kalinda tried to blink back the tears but it was hopeless. "Thanks," she nodded as she wiped her face with her hand.

As David stood, Kalinda grabbed his arm. "When did he write it?"

"I'm not sure exactly," he shook his head, "he originally wrote letters when Jonas Stern died, but re-wrote them many times over the years. I think he did completely new versions when Mrs Florrick and Mr Agos left Lockhart Gardner. Does that help?"

"Yes," she nodded, looking down at the envelope.

With that, David put on his coat, said goodbye to the investigator and left the bar. Outside he took a deep breath. He only had one letter left to distribute in Chicago. That would be the most difficult. From what he understood of their relationship, he felt hearing from Will would shatter what was left of the recipient's heart. He steeled himself against the cool April air, while psychologically steeling himself for the conversation to come.

A/N: OK, this was really short, but I didn't think David and Kalinda would have much to say to each other. Once she reads her letter we can move on to Alicia and some reactions…