Hi all! Thanks for coming along for the ride with me! Here is the 7th installment!
Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing, this is unbeta'd and I hope you all will review.
On a slightly more serious note, I have received several anonymous reviews aggressively asking me to update this story, while I do love to get feedback, I have to ask you not to passively aggressively message me requesting updates and not only on this story but on my other work - which have nothing to do with this story. I have deleted the reviews but it was done in bad taste and I must ask you not to repeat it. Unfortunately as a writer, I cannot always post a new chapter when you want. Some days are hard and I would rather wait a few days and post something good than post something mediocre and I hope you'll all respect that.
Anyway, no more drama, I hope you all enjoy!
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"Diane, get off the phone, the foods getting cold!" Will bellowed from the couch in her office. Diane sat behind her desk humming yes and no lowly, her phone pressed against her ear. Glancing up at him, she was met with a cheeky smile and she shook her head.
"Listen Kalinda, I've got to go, but keep up the good work and you can brief us tomorrow. Okay, yes, thanks." Placing the phone back in its cradle she glared over at Will. "Your patience level leaves something to be desired." She commented with a raised eyebrow as she moved toward the couch. Will merely laughed offering her a box of Chinese food and some chop sticks.
"Thanks," She murmured around a mouthful nodding to her partner. Will grinned, resting his food on the table amongst the sea of files and picking up his beer. Taking a long pull he looked down at the work laid out in front of them.
"I don't know how we're going to win this," He admitted in a sigh and Diane let out a long breath. Leaning over, she snuck her chopsticks into Will's food, blushing slightly as he caught her with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry," She mumbled not really meaning it. Will shook his head with a chuckle, picking up his box and offering it to her. "Thank you," Diane smiled happily, tasting his food once again and offering hers to him. After a few moments spent in silence enjoying their late-night dinner, Diane reached for a beer of her own. Will grumbled running his hands over his face.
"I'm think we're going to lose," He said honestly, picking up a document showing DNA results.
"I know," Diane agreed sombrely taking another sip of her drink. Will leant back into the couch gulping down the last of his beer.
"McVeigh is doing a good job making us look like fools." He admitted glumly and Diane sighed, she agreed with Will, Kurt was making fools of them in court, just like he'd made a fool of her in private. Slipping off her heels and curling her legs beneath her on the sofa, Diane rolled her aching neck.
"What do we do?" She questioned after a long silence, looking to Will who merely shrugged.
"I don't," Will replied, leaning forward to search through the mess of papers. "The jury is with him."
"What about the unknown DNA?" She questioned, finishing off her beer. "Kalinda is working on a lead with it?" Diane offered, nodding her head when Will held out a second beer.
"I don't know if it'll be enough," He grumbled.
"We can't just give up, Will." Diane implored sadly. "Claire's mother-"
"-I know!" He cut her off aggressively. Diane's eyes widened her expression wary. "I'm sorry," Will apologized and Diane smiled slightly, resting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing it. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he lay it on top of hers, accepting the comfort.
"There has to be something," Diane said finally, uncurling her legs and leaning forward. "but, we're not going to find it now," Picking up each of the documents on the coffee table she shuffled them into a neat pile. Turning to her partner, she grinned. Will sighed loudly, before he broke into a small smile himself.
"Let's just take a break," She offered and Will agreed, lifting his feet up and planting them on her glass table. Diane relaxed too, shifting into her previous position in the corner of the couch, her stocking clad feet curling under her again.
"I can't remember the last time we did that," Will replied with a smirk.
"2005," Diane joked and the pair both laughed.
"Things were much easier then," He said, taking a sip of his newly opened beer; the bubbly liquid floating carelessly down his throat. "You, me and Stern." He grinned.
"We had no idea what we were doing!" Diane scoffed out a loud laugh.
"Absolutely no clue."
"And you were so young!" She smiled fondly, pulling on the beer bottle.
"So were you!" He replied with another smirk. Diane rolled her eyes with another short laugh.
"Well at least I wasn't cocky!" She fired back and Will's mouth dropped open aghast.
"Hey! I wasn't cocky!"
"Oh please!" Diane chuckled throwing her head back. "You were the worst!"
"I was not!" Will responded feigning hurt; his hand going to his chest in mock outrage.
"Uh-huh!" She agreed sarcastically and Will's jaw dropped again.
"Well, at least I wasn't stuck up!" He shot back petulantly and Diane scoffed. "We were worried we'd have to surgically remove the stick from your ass!" He continued and it was Diane's turn to gasp in surprise, her eyes comically wide. Will broke into a grin as she lunged forward slapping at his arm.
"You're awful!" She laughed, shoving him. Will flinched, recoiling from her.
"Okay! Okay, I take it back!" He surrendered his arms up blocking her attack. Diane's eyes thinned at him darkly and Will merely pouted. Shaking her head she let out a loud laugh which Will joined her in.
"You are-" Her sentence was cut off by a knock on her office door. The pair spun round, both startled by the sound. Diane's blood suddenly ran cold as she met the eyes of their visitor. Kurt McVeigh stood awkwardly at the entrance to her office. His left hand clasped something orange and his other rested casually in his pocket.
"Mr. McVeigh?" Will recovered first, moving his legs from the table and scooting to the edge of the sofa.
"Hi," Kurt said, his eyes darting between Diane and Will. His gaze sent electric shocks through Diane and she swallowed. She'd barely said two words to the man since he betrayed her trust by reading her texts over a week ago. Sadly, her anger at him wasn't enough to stop her body from reacting to his presence. There was just a natural chemistry between them; they gravitated toward each other like magnets. Kurt nodded to Will in lieu of a greeting before explaining his visit.
"I didn't mean to interrupt, there was no one in reception," The visitor offered his dark eyes lingering on Diane's curled up form for a second too long. "I, uh, I just came to return this," He presented the orange scarf to the pair and Diane's heart fell through her stomach. She knew the garment all too well, she'd worn it the night before the David Irvine fiasco and left it in his hotel room. After their fight last week she'd written off the Hermes item as a casualty of their affair; not expecting to ever see it again. "I think you left it…" he said and Diane's eyes widened; fearful Kurt was about to expose them. "…in court today. It was on the floor." He finished and Diane let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.
"Oh," Diane said after a beat, standing up from the sofa and moving toward Kurt. "Thank you," She supplied stiffly, reaching for the scarf he held out. Their fingers brushed ever so slightly and Diane gulped her heart racing at the explosive contact. Will stood too, watching the exchange casually, his beer in one hand and the other hanging loosely. Diane moved to place the garment on her desk, turning away from Kurt.
"Well," Kurt began awkwardly with a small shrug. "I just wanted to see that you got it, have a good evening."
"Thank you,"
"Would you like to join us?" Will and Diane said at the same time. Diane's eyes shot a deadly glare in Will's direction. What the hell was he doing? Will shrugged his shoulders, his eyes locking with hers and admonishing her.
"That's okay, I should get going" Kurt said with a glance between the partners; sensing the tension. Will's eyes widened meaningfully, berating Diane with their gaze. Diane closed her eyes with a small sigh.
"No, please stay," She sighed dejectedly, her smile overly bright and completely false. Kurt hesitated, unsure of what to do. "Have a beer with us?" She asked.
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Kurt replied his eyes latched onto hers and completely ignoring the other man in the room.
"No, join us! No shop talk, I promise. " Will spoke up with a smile and Diane nodded at Kurt letting him know it was okay. Awkward and possibly torturous, but okay.
"Okay," Kurt replied, a small smile sneaking out from under his moustache. Diane moved to push one of her visitor's chair round to face the couch while Will offered Kurt a beer.
Will and Diane moved to take up their respective seats again. Diane's eyes struggling not to meet Kurt's; her heart was pounding ridiculously and she was worried her eyes would betray her feelings toward the man.
"You used to work with Mark Lyman, right?" Will asked interested and Kurt nodded.
"Yeah, was with him for about 6 years, good man." Kurt nodded taking a pull from his beer. His posture was stiff, he was clearly uncomfortable, being it because he was drinking with the opposition or because of her, Diane couldn't tell.
"He was my professor for a semester," Will said smiling. "Brilliant but crazy." Will's eyes widened as he recalled the man. "He once refused to teach a lecture because one student had been chewing gum," Will told Diane with a laugh and she couldn't help chuckling too.
"You're kidding!" She said, looking over at Kurt finally.
"Nope," Kurt said, trying to glance between the pair equally. "He was insane. Did he ever tell you about the Oliver Brown case?" The older man question and Will laughed loudly, his eyes sparkling. Diane smiled curiously at her partner.
"The one with the Judge in Connecticut?" Will confirmed with Kurt and the men shared a laugh as they both recalled the story. Diane frowned feeling a little left out.
"The Judge in Connecticut?" She prompted after a beat, her eyes locking with Kurt unable to look away as he grinned at her.
"Diane, it was brilliant!" Will exclaimed, taking a healthy sip from his drink before turning to her. "He was working a murder trial and the Judge turned out to be sleeping with the defence's lawyer," He began the story and she gulped. Her blue eyes darted to Kurt's nervously. Kurt shook his head, silently reassuring her; this was nowhere close to their story. Diane unwillingly took comfort in Kurt's wordless message; she really wished she hadn't let herself get this deeply involved with him. How was it possible for her to feel so betrayed and hurt by him and yet still seek him out for comfort? What a cruel juxtaposition!
"Anyway, they were sleeping together," Will continued and Diane still felt slightly uncomfortable at the words 'sleeping together', her mind traitorously racing back to Kurt and herself. "and court was called, so this Judge-" Will looked to Kurt with a frown. "What was his name?"
"Um," Kurt's eyebrows knitted together. "Rogers?" He offered, unsure himself.
"Yeah, maybe," Will agreed turning his attention back to his partner. "So anyway, court is called and this Judge, Rogers comes tumbling out of chambers, trips on his robes and ends up falling flat on his face, his gown over his head." Will laughed loudly and Kurt smiled wryly; sipping on his beer.
"I don't get it," Diane puzzled, curling her fist around her beer bottle and glancing between the men.
"He was in too much of a rush to get changed," Kurt supplied with a smirk. Diane only frowned deeper, not enjoying the confusion she was currently feeling.
"Oh my God!" She gasped after a moment and Will let out a loud laugh.
"Lyman won the case solely because the Judge was so embarrassed he expedited the process!" Kurt nodded happily as Diane let out a small chuckle.
"He loved that story," Kurt continued and Will agreed. "Did he ever talk about his wives?"
"Wives?" Diane asked her mouth slightly agape.
"Oh yeah," Will chuckled and Diane cocked her head intrigued. "Plural,"
"He had six," Kurt began resting his elbows on his knees as he turned to Diane. "Five divorces, one death."
"Oh my!"
"He was something else with the ladies," Will sighed wistfully and Diane smirked out a laugh; that comment was rich coming from this man.
"How old was he?" Diane couldn't help but ask, suddenly desperate to know more about this man.
Will laughed looking to Kurt.
"That's the best part," Will laughed, offering another beer to Kurt and popping one open for himself. "He had to be at least 75," Diane's eyes widened in shook.
"Nah, I covered his last divorce and he was 84, and that was years ago." Kurt supplied, taking a long gulp of his new beer. Diane gasped her smile one of pure disbelief. She watched his throat as he swallowed and pressed her thighs tightly together, how could something so innocuous be so attractive when he did it?
"Oh my god," Diane said after a beat. "How the hell did he get it up?" The vulgar words fell from her mouth before her brain could stop them, causing both her companions to laugh. Diane blushed slightly, shying away from their chuckling and placing her beer to the glass table; she'd clearly had enough.
Kurt's laughter died down first and he was left staring at her. Diane gulped looking away and tucking a golden curl behind her ear self-consciously. Kurt shot her a smirk as he sipped his beer.
Diane breathed deeply, her hands shaking in her lap.
"He was a good man though," Will said breaking the connection between Diane and Kurt.
"That he was," Kurt agreed raising his bottle slightly.
"Do you know he refused to represent anyone who he didn't believe was innocent?" Will laughed meeting Diane's eyes.
"Oh Gosh!" Diane joined in on his laughter. "That's insanity!" She gasped her eyes wide at the idea.
"Why?" Kurt questioned with a frown, the laughter in the room suddenly dying down as the two partners exchanged a look.
"What do you mean?" Diane asked turning to face Kurt head on.
"I mean, what's wrong with only taking cases that are true?" He queried, cocking his head to the side. Diane turned to Will; his expression just as puzzled as hers.
"Because it's ludicrous!" Diane exclaimed with laugh.
"Why?" Kurt repeated.
"Are you serious?" She asked him, aghast. Will and Diane shared a look before turning back to Kurt. "It's implausible. How the hell do you decide if you represent someone?"
Kurt shrugged, placing his empty beer on the table in front of him. "Ask." He said simply.
"You can't-" Diane huffed out a laugh, only to be cut off by Will.
"Client's lie." Will commented. "They lie, all the time, so how do you decide?" He questioned his eyebrows knitted together.
"I look at the evidence." Kurt responded casually and Diane's mouth practically hit the floor.
"You?" She asked incredulously, turning to Will she found the same look of horror on his face.
"Yes"
"You only take on clients you believe are innocent?" Will confirmed, leaning forward on his knees. Diane looked to Kurt again, hoping he'd stop; hoping he was joking.
"Yes." Kurt nodded.
"And what if you find they're guilty during trial?" Diane queried in awe.
"I quit."
"What? You quit?" Diane exclaimed loudly, Will reaching over and touching her hand. Turning to him Diane's blue eyes met his. He shook his head slightly and Diane gulped, understanding his meaning. "I'm sorry," She amended looking to Kurt. He merely nodded, accepting her apology with a small smile.
"It's okay," He said kindly, moving to stand. "I should get going,"
"Oh, no, please-"Diane began only for Kurt to cut her off with a raised hand.
"It's not you," He offered with a grin. "I need to get home anyway."
"Right," Will replied, standing to shake Kurt's hand. "See you in court tomorrow." He said with a smile. Kurt nodded, turning to look at Diane who was now standing too.
"Miss Lockhart," He acknowledged with a nod and she was glad he didn't try to touch her; knowing she'd battle to hide her feelings in front of Will.
"Goodnight," She said as Kurt turned to leave with a small wave. The pair watched him go in silence. "That was insane!" Diane hissed as soon as Kurt was out of sight. "He's like something out of a fairytale!"
Will laughed, moving to take up the chair Kurt had vacated as she curled into his side of the sofa.
"You hid your shock well," He mocked and Diane shot him a dark look.
"Oh come on! Like you weren't just as surprised." She laughed with a large grin.
"I was, but I wasn't the one who called him out for it-" Will smirked folding his arms across his chest with a pleased expression.
"I did no such thing!" She cut him off in a huff, reaching for her abandoned beer and taking a large sip. Will laughed lowly as she spilt her drink on the collar of her silk blouse in her vigour. "Damnit!" She cursed, reaching for a few serviettes to dry her shirt. "And this is a new shirt too," She moaned sadly, throwing the spoiled napkins carelessly onto the table in front of her. Flapping the fabric slightly back and forward trying to dry it, she looked up.
"What's wrong?" She asked her gaze following his gaze to her chest. "Will?" She asked, pulling her shirt closer together, suddenly feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
"Your necklace," He supplied distractedly, his eyes locked on the small diamond hanging from a dainty silver chain.
"Oh?" She replied with a smile, touching the diamond fondly, no longer concerned or self-conscious under his gaze.
"Is it the one I gave you?" He asked still dazed and watching her fingers twirl her necklace, his mind racing.
"Yes, for Christmas." She said with a smile. Will's eyes darkened and he shook his head slowly.
"I've been so blind," He shook his head in a whisper. Diane moved from her spot to sit on the glass table in front of him.
"Will?" She asked worriedly, her eyes meeting his and her hands reaching for his. Will stared at her, his expression thunderous as he recoiled from her touch. "Will?" She said again, her heart beating rapidly against her chest. Will shook his head slightly, his mind slowly putting things together. Glancing over to her desk he spotted the orange garment Kurt had returned.
"I recognized it," He said and Diane frowned not following. "Your necklace, I recognized it this morning."
"Okay?" She replied still confused.
"When you walked into Court today, I looked it and thought, hey, that's the necklace I got her." Diane's eyes were wide, unsure of what to say or do.
"Will?" She whispered fearfully.
Will pushed his chair backward, moving away from her and standing. Looking down at her; Will's face hardened.
"Diane," He began his voice low and gruff. "You weren't wearing a scarf this morning." He said steadily. Diane sucked in a small breath, her blood running cold.
"What?" She whimpered and Will glowered at her.
"Don't lie to me." He said lowly and Diane shrunk into herself, gulping before she turned to look up at him.
"Will-" She started softly. Will let out a low chuckle and set his jaw in anger.
"How long has it been going on?" He demanded raising his voice as he raked his fingers through his hair.
"Will-"
"How long has it been going on?!" He repeated, yelling louder this time; his face reddening in anger. Diane gulped, she didn't like been yelled at, even less so being yelled at by Will.
"I don't think that's any of your business!" She spat back suddenly angry at his hypocrisy.
"The hell it isn't!" He bellowed gesturing wildly.
"Come off it, Will!" She stood rapidly her fists clenched in fury, tears filling her eyes. "As if you haven't done exactly the same thing half a dozen times?" Will let out a low chuckle as he shook his head and blew out a heavy breath.
"Diane, I see the irony of this conversation, I know how it looks coming from me, I really do!" He started, laughing as he went. "But don't stand there and tell me this" he gestured to her, "is the same thing!"
"It is! Will-" She shouted, her brow knitted together.
"No," He cut her off pointing angrily at her. "You promised me, you gave me your word!" He spat out, breathing heavily. Diane hung her head slightly, biting her bottom lip. "And for the record, whenever I was involved with someone on the opposition, I told you." Diane swallowed hard, the tears in her eyes blurring her vision. "I always told you!" He whispered the sound echoing in the empty office.
Diane sat back down covering her mouth with her hand, shaking her head.
"Do you know how big of a liability this could be? If it gets out?" Will questioned in awe. What the hell had she been thinking?
"It won't get out," She offered timidly, her own conviction wavering.
"You don't know that!" He said bitingly. Diane closed her eyes slowly, biting her bottom lip; he was right. Will let out a growl of anger and paced over to lean against the glass of her desk. The pair sat in silence for a long while, neither knowing what to say.
Diane took a shuddering breath.
"It's over," She murmured, her head dropping to her hands which lay in her lap.
"I could care less." He replied. "I don't understand why you didn't just tell me!" Will remarked and Diane lifted her head to meet his eyes. Will crossed his arms, pressing his lips tightly together.
"It started before the trial-" She tried and Will's jaw dropped.
"I can't believe you," He sighed out shaking his head in disappointment. Diane took another shaky breath, squaring her shoulders.
"Will-"
"Just-" He held up a hand, requesting her silence as he thought for a moment. After a long silence, he looked up at her. "David Irvine," He said and Diane swallowed hard; knowing exactly what was coming. "You're how they knew about him?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow. "He read my message?" Diane shut her eyes nodding.
"I was asleep and-" Will cut her whisper off again and shook his head.
"Jesus Diane!" He yelled again.
"I'm sorry," She sighed softly, her eyes big and watery as she begged his forgiveness. Will knew what it took for her to say those two words; he knew how hard it was for either of them to apologize. And if the situations were reversed he wasn't sure he'd be able to do the same. But none of that mattered now.
Will sighed deeply, rubbing his hands over his face.
"I'm going to go," He said and Diane looked over to him worriedly.
"Will-" She attempted.
"Diane, I just, I need some time." He said pushing off her desk and walking toward the door. Diane watched him go, supressing the urge to release a sob. Will paused as he reached the door jamb, turning back to look at her.
"I don't think you should come into Court tomorrow." Will announced without actually making eye contact.
"Will, no-" She gasped, rising from her perch on the coffee table.
"Diane, just," He stopped not knowing what to say. "Just give me a day to figure everything out." He finished dejectedly, finally looking her in the eyes.
"You'll cover the DNA results?" She asked quietly and Will nodded.
"Yeah,"
"Okay," Diane replied, nodding sadly as Will walked away. Once her partner was out of sight, she gasped holding her chest and released a heavy sob; the tears she'd been holding back spilling down her cheeks. Lowering herself to the glass table once more, Diane leant her elbows on her knees; resting her face in her hands and crying quietly. How the hell was this her life?
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