I don't own The Good Wife.

Author Note time.

Hello my dear readers. Most of you have been so kind in reading and reviewing my work, and I thank you. Thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think, and any constructive criticism you give. However, I very recently had a reader message me, and said some very unkind things. There is a difference between offering constructive criticism, and being cruel. This message was cruel. I don't know what it was about my writing that warranted such a message. If you don't like my writing, that's fine. There are a million other stories you can read. There is something out there for you. So, to all my readers, please be kind. Words have the power to hurt more than you know. Use words to build up, not tear down.

Alicia tried to sleep that night, but she couldn't. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was blood. Will's blood, and him not breathing. It physically made her sick to think about a world without Will Gardner, and 2 am found her heaving the contents of her vending machine dinner into the toilet. Shaking, she stood up from the cold tile floor. She rinsed out her mouth, and washed her face before going to her closet. After ten minutes of digging around and searching, she found what she was looking for. In the back corner of her closet, buried under various items of clothing and mismatched shoes, was an old Georgetown sweatshirt. More specifically, his old Georgetown sweatshirt. Pulling it on, Alicia remembers study nights and coffee breaks. Thousands of memories from Law School and Will came flooding back to her in an instant, including the night she got his sweatshirt.

It was late fall, and they were in their last year of Law School. They had been at a bonfire, and she spilled burning hot chocolate down her shirt. He gave her the sweatshirt, so she could get out of her sticky, wet clothes and not have to leave the party early.

Looking back, Alicia realized he was always like that, when it came to her. Ever since day one of Georgetown. He was always looking out for her, wanting to take of her, be there for her. How could she have not seen it, all those years ago? Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, she cried until there were no more tears left.

The next morning, Alicia slapped some makeup on to cover her puffy eyes, threw on the same suit from the day before, and hugged her kids, who hugged back just a little longer than usual. When she walked through the office doors at the firm, she stumbled right into the arms of Cary. Pulling her in for a hug, he whispered, "Alicia. What are you doing here?"

"Working. This is my firm, too."

"I know. But, this isn't where you want to be. This isn't where you should be."

Alicia let out a shaky breath.

"I know."

"We have a light case load. Take some of the simpler cases home, and work from there, or the hospital this week. That's an order, ok?"

"But-"

"I don't want any buts. I understand. We can hold down the fort for a week or so."

"But-"

"Just say 'Thank you, Cary' and get out of here."

"Thank you, Cary."

Grabbing the files she needed for the week, Alicia was out the door in 20 minutes. She went back home, before going up to the hospital, so she could shower. She changed into jeans and the Georgetown sweatshirt, and quickly braided her wet hair so she wouldn't have to deal it. A strangled laugh came out when she saw her reflection. Looking nothing like the professional political wife she was, she touched up her light makeup. Heading out the door, she took 2 case files and the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" with her.

When she got to the hospital, she froze outside his door. Will's family must have arrived. Of course they had. She met his two sisters several times during law school, and knew they were all close. Knowing it must be harder on them, and not wishing to intrude, she quietly backed away from the door, and sat in one of the chairs down the hall, in a waiting room.

About an hour later, she had just finished a quick call to a client, when she heard someone say her name. Well, kind of.

"Alicia! Alicia Cavanough?"

Looking up, she saw the tear-stained face of Aubrey Gardner.

"It is you! You probably don't remember me. I'm-"

"Aubrey. Will's sister. I remember. And it's Alicia Florrick, now."

"Yes, right. Gosh, you look exactly the same as when you and my brother went to school together."

Laughing slightly, Alicia rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. Except for the wrinkles I could pass for 22."

Aubrey offered a small smile, before a questioning look crossed her face.

"Are you here to see Will?"

"Well, yes."

"Why didn't you say so? How long have you been waiting?"

Alicia looked at the floor.

"Not very long."

"Well come on. I am sure Sara would like to see you."

"Are you sure?"

Aubrey stopped, with questions written in her eyes.

"Why?"

"Have you talked to your brother recently?"

"Sort of. Why?"

Questioning again.

"I don't know how much you know. Shortened version. He hired me a few years back, and then I left his firm, and started my own. Things have been rough between us."

Aubrey's eyes met Alicia's.

"That's how the business world works. People branch out. He knows that. He will come around. You guys have been friends for a long time. He will come around."

Alicia felt the prickle of tears in her eyes.

"I'm not so sure."

The younger woman engulfed Alicia into a tight hug, and through her own tears,

"Yes he will. And, He will be ok. He will. I know it. We will get through this."

Aubrey grabbed Alicia's arm and pulled her down the hall to Will's room.

"Sara! Look who I found."

Sara looked up, and Alicia could tell she had spent the majority of the last day crying as well, even if she tried to smile.

"Alicia. Hi."

"Hi, Sara. How is he?"

"Steady. Breathing on his own, and showing some brain activity."

Alicia allowed herself to feel a tiny bit of relief.

"That's encouraging. Right?"

"Yes. But they don't know-"

Sara's voice cracked, and she was unable to finish her sentence.

"I know. I know. But he is so strong."

The three women sat in the hospital room, quietly talking about nothing of importance. But it was keeping them from falling apart. After a short while, Alicia asked where they were going to stay.

Aubrey answered for the both of them.

"Will sent me a set of keys to his apartment, in case of an emergency. We were planning to go there."

Sara spoke up as well.

"We might head out soon. Neither of us have slept in 24 hours. Getting showered and some sleep would probably be good."

Alicia nodded.

"Yes. That would be good."

"Would you stay with him? Just until the night nurse comes in? So that at least someone is familiar the person taking care of him? I know you have a family but-"

Alicia cut Sara off.

"Absolutely. No problem. I can stay until the nurses switch. I'll send you a text when I am leaving with the name of the nurse."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

As the sisters went to leave, Alicia gave them each a hug.

"I will talk to you later. Get some rest. He is in good hands here."

They both whispered their thanks, and suddenly Alicia was alone with Will.

"Hey Will."

"Your sisters are really worried. Maybe you should wake up."

"I'm really worried too."

"Do you want me to read to you? I brought your favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird. I think you read it a hundred times in school. You practically had it memorized."

"Well, you didn't say no. So here we go."

She read to him for over an hour, during which Peter called her three times, and she ignored him three times. She knew that was probably going to royally tick him off, but she couldn't care less.

When the night nurse came in, Alicia talked to her for minute before taking her leave. As she walked out of the hospital, she texted Sara.

"Nurses name is Emily. Condition the same."

"Thank you. Talk to you later."

Her phone beeped again, showing a text from Peter.

"I am at your apartment. We need to talk."

Sighing, Alicia knew it was going to be a very long night.