Honesty in All Things

Alicia sat in the quiet of her office just as the June sun was beginning to rise over the Chicago city skyline. She would have watched the sun come up from where she sat, if it weren't for the fact that she'd kept the blinds in her office closed in the week since they had been subpoenaed. She hadn't come into the office early to work. She'd come because she hadn't been able to sleep. It felt like some aspects of he life were closing in on her. It was suffocating and unnerving to think someone had been, or still was, watching her.

The press had been all over Peter and the preliminary trial that had begun two days prior.

As far as Alicia had been able to gather Jim Moody was the one the Feds were after. Will had testified the day before pleading the fifth on all questions as Elsbeth Tascioni, Peter's chosen attorney, had told him to do. None of the questions they asked him had seemed out of the ordinary. If anything it seemed as though the apposing attorney was trying to clear Will from fault. This had settled her nerves some, but today it was her turn to testify. She'd had to sit on the stand far too many times over the past five years in her opinion. And each time no one had really been interested in the truth, they'd been more interested in the relationships she was in.

So far Diane hadn't been subpoenaed. Probably because the last thing anyone wanted to do was put a state Supreme Court justice on the stand for questioning, especially for a preliminary trial.

It had become clear to Will and Alicia over the past week that someone had been trying to keep them at odds, doing everything possible to try and tear the two apart. The plan had backfired. Will had become the only person, other than her kids, that Alicia trusted now. She didn't let on, but Will knew the thought of being watched and followed had made Alicia quite nervous. The fact had only made Alicia feel closer to him. In fact the depth of their relationship was growing and changing into something more long term. There was only one hiccup to their future in Alicia's mind, and she hadn't brought it up. As she sat pondering the whole of everything in her life at this early morning hour, she knew she had talk to Will about it before things got much further, even it meant breaking their personal relationship.

Will knocked quietly and stepped into her office shutting the door behind him. He moved behind the chair where Alicia was sat and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she said, exhaling deeply as she placed one of her hands over his.

"You're here early," he said moving in front of her, leaning against her desk.

"I couldn't sleep." She stood and walked over to the window staring at the closed blinds. He moved and stood next to her placing one arm around her. She felt so safe in his arms, so loved and complete. She didn't want to lose him, but they had to face the reality of what she was about to say to him.

"You should have let me come over after I finished last night."

"It was late, and I was in bed." She sighed again, and looked down at his hand that was around her waist now.

"You'll be fine today. Don't worry. They don't have anything on you. You haven't done anything wrong. Just tell the truth," he said, as reassuringly as he could.

"I will," she said. They stood there for a few more moments before she spoke up. She turned to face him and placed her hands on his waist looking up into his eyes.

"Will, I need you to listen me for a minute, and I don't want you to say anything right away. I want you to take some time, a few hours, a few days to think about it. I know what your initial reaction is going to be, but you really need to think about this."

"Think about what?" he said, furrowing his brow.

She inhaled deeply, her heart about to break at any moment. She was really too tired to be having this discussion, but she needed it out in the open. She felt as though she might crumble into a million pieces because she loved him so much it hurt.

"I know this isn't the most opportune time, but I need to get this off my mind."

"Okay, now you have me worried," he said, with a slight smile reaching his arms further around her pulling her closer.

"What if I can't give you everything you want? Everything you deserve?"

"Alicia." His heart stopped, he was sure of it. Was she about to break things off, he wondered?

"Will, just hear me out." The lump in her throat was huge. He could see the anguish in her eyes and it almost killed him.

"You want a family. You deserve a family of your own. I want you to have that, to experience that." She reached for the lapel on his suit jacket. "But Will, what if I can't provide you with one? What if I can no longer give you a child of your own? Your own family?"

He understood what she was saying, but he hadn't worried about it. With the loss of one of her fallopian tubes from the pregnancy, conceiving was still possible, but at her age, and with the prior condition the odds were stacked against them. He looked away from her and swallowed hard.

"Alicia it doesn't…"

"Stop, Will. Don't say anything," she said calmly. "You really need to think about this. I can't see down the road a year or two from now. Maybe we'll decide we can't make it together." He turned back to her looking hurt. He couldn't believe she would even suggest the idea. All he'd wanted for the past five years was her.

"I want us to make it. I love you so much I can hardly breathe sometimes, but I don't want you to regret the decision to stay with me ten years from now. You need to decide if never having a child of your own is going to be okay. I don't want to take up any more of your time in finding someone who can give you that, if that is what you really want."

He felt like she was trying to rip his heart right out of his body. He was ninety nine percent certain he already knew the answer to her quandary, but she was right, he did need to really consider what he really wanted deep down.

"Okay, I'll think about it,' he said, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. He turned to go back to his office.

"Will"

"Yeah?' he said, turning back around.

"I'm sorry."

He walked back over to her and took her hands. "You don't have anything to be sorry for." He looked down at the floor and shook his head, then turned his gaze back to her with a slight smile, as much of one as he could muster at that point. He reached his hand touching it to her cheek. "Nothing at all." He dropped his hand and turned leaving her alone once again.

She sighed and sat as the knot in her stomach tightened. What were you thinking telling him something like that first thing in the morning, at the office no less? Things are out of control right now. She thought to herself before turning her attention to her work.

/

Peter's approval ratings had plummeted and journalists were camped outside the courthouse as Alicia arrived. This was just a preliminary trial so anyone who wanted was allowed in the courtroom including journalists, but no cameras were allowed. There seemed to be more journalists this morning then there had been on the previous days. Word had gotten out that Alicia was testifying. Elsbeth, Peter, and Alicia were sat at the defense table. Eli, Will, and Diane were sitting behind them. The mood in the room seemed light, and though Alicia still had a knot in her stomach she managed to play it off. Soon she was called to the stand.

Elsbeth went first asking questions that were straight forward and to the point further proving Alicia had no knowledge of the ballot boxes being stuffed, in addition to the surveillance videos that had been accumulated over the months since the election.

Then it was the feds turn to question. Alicia felt confident that the questioning would run smoothly.

"You had no prior knowledge of the ballot boxes being stuffed, is that correct?" Mr. Jones, opposing council asked.

"Yes, I've already answered that question."

"Have you at any point prior to, or after the election conspired with your partner Mr. Gardner and Jim Moody to help conceal evidence of voter fraud in regards to the Governor's election?"

"No"

"Ms. Cavanaugh do you consider yourself to be an honest person?"

She had no idea what the point of the question was, but she answered anyway.

"Yes, I do."

"You and Mr. Gardner are currently dating. Is that correct?"

The eyes that had been paying more attention to their phones than these proceedings were suddenly all looking at her. She shifted and turned her focus to Will.

"I don't see how that is relevant to this case Mr. Jones."

"Objection, your honor," Elsbeth said, standing.

"I don't see how this is relevant either Mr. Jones," said the judge.

"Your honor, if you'll allow me to ask a few more questions I think you'll see how it is relevant."

Everyone at the defense table turned to Will. He shrugged his shoulders holding eye contact with Alicia.

The judge sighed. "Overruled, I'll allow, but make it quick. Ms. Cavanaugh, please answer the question.

"Yes," she replied.

Here we go again, She thought to herself, the inevitable relationship questions. In all honestly she was too tired to deal with this today.

"And for how long have you been dating?"

"Since April," she said truthfully. That is when they had started dating officially.

"You divorced your former husband because he cheated on you again is that correct?"

"Yes, he did," she said, turning her gaze briefly from Will to Peter.

"But he wasn't the only one cheating was he?" Alicia quickly turned her attention back to the attorney. Will, Eli and Peter all sat up a little straighter.

"Yes, he was the only one cheating," she said sternly, rolling her eyes.

The attorney pulled up a photo on the screen that sat a few feet away from Alicia. "Then how do you explain these? Your honor, you'll take note of the dates as I scroll through a few of these photos I would like to enter in as evidence."

The room seemed to be closing in on her, and Will began to realize that there may have been some merit to her concern about being followed. She held her breath as the attorney began clicking through the photos.

"This photo was taken the night before the election. I believe this is you and Mr. Gardner kissing in the front seat of his car. " Alicia didn't say anything she turned and focused on Will wondering how anyone had even managed to get that shot. His eyes were glued to the screen obviously thinking the same thing she was.

He clicked to the next one. Three photos popped up side by side. Two she'd seen, but one she hadn't. "That is you dancing with Mr. Gardner at the annual law gal on December eleventh of last year. The same day you filed for a divorce. That's you resting your head on his shoulder. And that is the two of you leaving the gala. The third photo there is the two of you leaving Mr. Gardner's apartment the following morning."

He clicked to the next photo as Alicia sat in stunned silence. "This is you leaving Mr. Gardner's apartment on Christmas Eve, quite late I might add. And this is the two of you at the end of March in Los Angeles," he said, clicking to the next photo. The photo was of the two of them dancing at the restaurant on their date in L.A.

"We could let that one slide since you said you started dating in April. Are you still going to deny you weren't in a relationship before April? And claim that you are an honest person?" The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as he waited for a response. Will was ready to get up and punch this guy. Alicia sat frozen on the stand unable to come up with words. The turmoil that had engulfed her body was severe. She couldn't explain her relationship, or lack there of over the past months in a few words, nor did she want too.

The lawyer smiled slyly, "You were promoted to named partner just three weeks after this gala is that correct?"

Alicia stared at him for a moment before responding. "Yes, but again what does this have to do with this case?" she said, with a slight hint of anger.

He pulled up his final piece of evidence and Alicia felt sick. It was the article the Tribune had threatened to publish just over a week ago. There were a few quiet gasps in the room. Will watched as the blood drained from Alicia's features. He shifted ready at any moment to go catch her if she were to pass out. Elsbeth and Diane both turned to Will briefly looking for some acknowledgment of what they were seeing.

"This photo was taken ten weeks after that gala. Were you promoted as named partner because you were carrying Mr. Gardner's child?"

Once again all eyes were on her. She inhaled trying to regain some sense of stability.

"No"

"Were you trying to cover up your relationship so that no one including your ex-husband, would suspect that you and Mr. Gardner were trying to hide the surveillance video from the proper authorities?"

"No"

"Why should we believe you?"

"Because it's the "truth"

"But these photos are clearly evidence that you were in a relationship before April, and that you haven't been completely honest here. It's my understanding that just last week Mr. Gardner convinced one of your clients to drop a case because he didn't want this article published."

"Objection," Will said standing. Elsbeth quickly stood and objected. Diane pulled Will back down to a seated position.

"Sustained," the judge said. "Mr. Jones this has gone far enough. Ask the question you really want answered and move on."

"Ms. Cavanaugh did you know that five ballot boxes were stuffed with votes for the Governor prior to the election?"

"No"

"Did you have first hand knowledge of the surveillance video depicting Jim Moody on the day of the election?"

"No"

"Have you at any point over the past seven months conspired with Mr. Gardner to hide evidence in regards to the voter fraud depicted in the presented surveillance videos?"

"No"

"No further questions at this time." The attorney turned and sat back down.

"Your honor if I could clarify a few things please?" Alicia said.

"Yes, go ahead," the judge said.

"Uh your honor," Elsbeth said, cutting in. "If I may before Ms. Cavanaugh continues. Where did Mr. Jones get these photos? Are my clients being surveilled the Federal government?"

Everyone turned their attention back to Mr. Jones. "The photos were given to us anonymously, Your Honor."

"And you're using them in court, as evidence?" Elsbeth let out a chuckle. "How do you know they haven't been doctored?"

"She has a point Mr. Jones," the judge said. "As far as I'm concerned, unless you can prove these photos are authentic, I won't allow them into evidence."

"Your honor," he protested.

"No, Mr. Jones prove these are real, and I'll allow."

"We can't at this time," he said, then sat back down.

'Ms. Cavanaugh you may be excused."

"Your honor I still have a few things I want to clarify." She looked from Will to the judge. "I want the truth to be on the record."

"I'll allow it, go ahead."

The room became silent once again. She turned her attention to Will again for support even though he sat clear across the room from her. "Alicia, you don't have too," he said.

"Yes, I do. This has to end." she said out loud, but really only to him. She bit her lip swallowing hard before continuing.

"I did not know about the ballot box video until it was shown to me by Marilyn Garbonza three months ago. At the time I had no knowledge that Will had ever seen the video. Neither he nor I have been conspiring to do anything, unless you count soliciting new clients to come to our firm as conspiring to help ourselves." Will chuckled a little under his breath. She kept an even flat tone as she continued.

"I did go home with him that night. I did stay at his apartment that night. But we were not in a relationship at the time. I told him to take me to his place so that I could avoid the reporters at my apartment. We've been friends for a number of years, and he was just trying to help me through a difficult time. He gave me a shoulder to cry on that night, but that was all. I'm the one that pushed things the following morning that led to my becoming pregnant." She managed to hold the tears in, but her voice rose in disgust as she continued.

"We did not try to abort the baby. I want that to be very clear to all of the journalists in this room." Diane had a tight grip on Will's arm and didn't even realize it. Though she and Alicia had grown close, they had kept her in the dark on this one. For Alicia, telling the story was like reliving it all over again. Nausea and cramping began to set in as she continued. Will just wanted to get her off the stand.

"We went to the hospital that day less than twenty four hours after the pregnancy was confirmed. It was an ectopic pregnancy, and I had begun to rupture on the drive to the hospital where we were planning on having the fetus surgically removed. That is the reason for Will carrying me into the hospital, I had begun to bleed and time was of the essence at that point. Mr. Jones if you would have checked your facts, you would have discovered this. There's been no conspiring here, just two people trying to deal with a tragedy, and build a law firm at the same time. If you don't have enough evidence to make a fair case then you shouldn't be here. None of us should be here." She exhaled as she finished, but didn't feel any better. The room remained silent. Will wanted to get up and go to her, but Diane still had a tight grip on his arm.

"Thank you, Ms. Cavanaugh. We will adjourn until Monday."

Everyone stood quietly and began to file out of the court room. Alicia needed a restroom and hurried past everyone to get out. Peter and Will followed quickly behind.

"Alicia, wait," Will called.

Once they were out in the hall and down from the courtroom a ways she stopped and turned as Peter, Will, Eli and Diane caught up to her. Will reached for her arm but she lifted it immediately and slapped Peter across the face. She was about to lose her nonexistent breakfast, but she was furious. Peter held his hand to his cheek as she spoke.

"How dare you!" she said, in a raised tone.

"How dare I what?" he protested.

"You're the one aren't you? You haven't trusted me for five years and you finally stooped low enough to have me followed. You couldn't let go after the divorce. You still had to know everything that was going on in my life, and continue to ruin it for me. Well I hope you're happy now Peter, because you just managed to destroy me. I will never forgive you for this."

"Uh, could we take this into a room somewhere?" Eli said noticing all of the staring eyes from on lookers.

"Alicia, I promise I had nothing to do with this," Peter protested.

Alicia turned and continued down the hall ducking into the ladies room, and closing the door to the stall. Will was angry. If this was true he was ready to rip Peter from limb to limb. Eli could sense the tension and insisted they move into an empty jury holding room across the hall.

"Diane, will you go check on Alicia for me please," Will asked. She nodded and headed to the ladies room. It appeared to be empty other than her and Alicia. She peered back out into the hall. Two of Peter's body guards were standing across the hall just outside the room where Will, Peter and Eli had gone.

"Don't let anyone in here for a few minutes", she told them. One nodded moving across the hall and stood guard.

Alicia emerged from the stall pale. She moved to the sink and splashed cold water over face. Diane handed her a few towels to dry with.

"Thank you," she said dabbing at the few droplets of water that were left. She placed her hands on the sink leaning over staring into the basin. She was past the point of wanting to cry. She took in some deep breaths to control the shakiness in her body. Diane began to run her hand along Alicia's back in a soothing fashion.

"Alicia, there's nothing I can do or say that will make this any easier."

"I know," she replied in pure resignation. She reached up and held her hand over Diane's that sat on her shoulder for a moment. She was grateful for the support and silence that Diane allowed her.

A good five minutes later she spoke up. "I don't know what to do Diane. I mean now, I don't know if can walk out of the courthouse and face all of the journalists to get to my car." She looked up at Diane through the reflection in the mirror hoping Diane could somehow snap her fingers and allow her to be anywhere but here.

"I'll walk with you. Do you need anything?"

"No, just get me out of here." As she went to turn and leave something in the mirror caught her eye, and prompted an idea. She reached up and removed the necklace that hung around her neck.

"Diane can you do something for me?"

"Yes, of course."

She held out the necklace for Diane to take. "I need you to give this to Will. Tell him I'll meet up with him later to discuss the waterfront beach case, and that he should check my deposition notes from the Atlantic Commerce case from last year. Tell him I think my notes will help him with this case."

Diane was confused, but took the necklace from her.

"I don't understand," she said.

"I know, but Will will understand." At least she hoped he'd understand.

"Okay," Diane replied.

"Thank you," Alicia said.

Diane returned to the jury holding room a few minutes later as Will was walking out.

"Where's Alicia?" he asked.

"She left," Diane said.

"You let her leave and walk through the mess of reporters on her own?" Will was about to leave to see if he could catch up to her.

"No, I walked with her on one side, Peter's body guard on the other. She's fine." Before Diane could get another word out Will brushed past her and was headed towards the exit.

"Will wait, I have something for you," Diane called, in an attempt to get him to come back, but there were too many people and she couldn't catch him in time. By the time he made it through the crowd Alicia was gone. When he got to his car he tried to call her several times on his way back to the office.

His calls didn't go through. Alicia had turned off her phone and removed the sim card as soon as she had locked the doors to her car. She didn't intend for anyone to be able to track her after she left Veronica's. She would have to live with the consequences if Will couldn't, or after their discussion from earlier didn't want to figure out where she was headed.

A/N; Thank you all for hanging in there! I know I keep making this worse for Alicia, but I've had the image of her on the witness stand since this story began. Things will start heading in the right direction with the next chapter, which is half written already because it was originally part of this one!