A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews and follows. Hope you like this short update. It is based around the events of 'Nine Hours' - one of my favourite episodes.

Chicago, December 2010

.

Accidently In Love (Counting Crows)

.

Will let his pen slide through his fingers as he watched Alicia walk past the glass wall of his office and down the corridor. Sighing to himself, he said lightly under his breath, "What can I do to make you love me?"

Not wanting to be caught staring at his junior associate, he turned his head back towards his desk and picked up his cell phone. Hitting a familiar speed dial, he held up the phone as began to ring. "Hey Hot Shot," Angela answered.

Will smiled to himself, "Arghhh Ange, I need distance, run away to Bora Bora with me," he replied.

"That good, huh," she answered.

"Just tired, need a break, and not sure where things are going with Tam, or with…" he let that sentence hang so that Angela could complete it, not wishing to say 'Alicia' aloud in his office.

"Alicia," Angela responded to his pause.

"Yeah," he said, "especially her. Tammy is, well, I don't even know. I'm not falling for her, it's casual, but well, she's sticking around," he continued, "two months, on and off,"

"Uh-huh," Angela mused, "so why are you calling me at 11am on a Tuesday, thought you were busy on a death row appeal?"

"Yeah, need to submit it Friday. Diane has Alicia, Legal Aid and some associates working on it. Should be good. I'm hopeful."

"OK, so how about answering my question?"

He chuckled, "Can I come visit this weekend?"

"Of course, you don't need to ask. Come anytime," she replied.

Laughing, Will lent back in his chair, twisting towards the window, "I intend to,"

"Cheeky!" she giggled like a Carry On star.

"That too, I can be very, very cheeky," he chuckled. She laughed. They finished their conversation, agreeing that as Angela was off at the weekend, Will would come early on Saturday. "See you soon, Janie," he said as he hung up.

Will tapped his cell against his chin and let out a deep breath staring out onto the Chicago skyline, wondering how he ended up in a virtual tangle with the women in his life. First of all, there was Tammy, the woman he was seeing. That began as a flick through his little black book, he needed a date for the Bar Association gala, and intended it to be a short-lived thing, but she stuck around. Hmm, not sure where that is going, but for now, it is fun, and good to have somebody on hand.

Secondly, there was Angela, his best friend, his Girl Friday, his go-to, his confidante, she was always there and never asked for anything. Not clingy like Tammy, but strong like Alicia, however, Angela was bolder and more independent. He knew she would never sell him out. She had seen many girlfriends like Tammy come and go, but was aware that in the background, there was the shadowy figure of his lost love, now back in his life. He sighed and closed his eyes,

Finally, there was Alicia. He'd had her on a pedestal since Georgetown. He wanted her, but it was, apart from a weak moment, unrequited. He has a responsibility to Diane, to the firm, and to Bond, so can't do anything to jeopardize it or his role. The law is his life. Anyway, he thought to himself, she has committed to Peter. She is standing by him as the good wife, at his press conference, and after all, she didn't call him back. Bad timing. Or a good decision. Who knew? He was brought back to reality by a knock on his door, he opened his eyes and spun round to see a second year stood in the doorway.

"Alicia," he stumbled over the name, "I, I, was just thinking about you," he began, "how can I help?"

She smiled, "I have a question about the habeas petition for Carter Wright," she answered.

"OK, shoot," he replied.

Hip Shake Heartbreak (Satin Gum)

.

Will is driving to Madison early on Saturday morning to spend the weekend with Angela. He phones her and they talk, before he puts music on and takes a call from Alicia that changed his weekend plans and could save a man's life.

After talking to Alicia and Diane, formulating a plan and calling many associates into the office, he briefly spoke to Angela again.

"Ange, we have nine hours to figure out what we missed or Carter dies. I'll call you this afternoon." Will was angry, but added, more gently, "I'm sorry about this weekend."

"That's OK," she sighed, "more important. Follow the law."

"Thanks, gotta go hon," Will hung up the call.

…..

Back in his office, Will reads through documents pertaining to the case, Julius enters his office.

"You had plans this weekend?" Julius asked, gesturing to the overnight bag on the chair in front of Will's desk.

"Yep," Will replied.

"With Tammy?"

"Nope." Will shuffled the papers in his hand and walked out of his office.

"Hey, Ange, quickly, I need some help, on my way to court," Will asked as he crossed the parking structure to his green convertible - not what he usually drove to court.

"OK, go on," she replied, pouring water into the back of her coffee machine.

"Sodium thiopental," he paused, "what is it?"

"It's a barbiturate," she responded.

"And, what is that?"

Putting the glass carafe back underneath the filter and clicking the 'on' button, she explained, "A barbiturate is a drug that affects the central nervous system. It is a depressant and they are used in many ways, usually as anaesthetics or to treat

Sodium thiopental is a rapid onset, short acting barbiturate used as a general anaesthetic. It is the first drug used in the three-drug cocktail they will use to end your client's life. It will put him to sleep."

Will started the car, "Thanks, love having my pet doctor on hand," he laughed, "Ange, can you message me that in case I need to read it? Getting on the road now."

"Sure, good luck."

….

"Just closing up, I'm the last one here," he sighed as he pressed the call button for the elevator with his right index finger, balancing his holdall as he did so. "Heading down to the parking structure," he paused, "should I still come to you?" he enquired hopefully, his voice raising at the question.

She smiled, "Yeah, always happy for you to come to me," responding to his question suggestively.

"Good," he replied, getting into the elevator, "need some downtime," as the doors closed behind him.

…..

Later that evening, Will is leaning against the counter in Angela's apartment, watching her pour chips into a bowl, lay out various antipasti and retrieve two cold beers from the refrigerator.

"Alicia asked to talk to me. She said, 'Could we talk sometime?' What does that mean?" he questioned, intently, "my mind started to race, what does she want to talk about, the way she said it suggested it was personal, not business," he added.

Angela focused, gave a small sigh, "Maybe she wants to clear the air now that Peter's campaign is heating up? She decided to leave it when he announced his candidacy, didn't respond to you and, well, she is in deep with him."

"I dunno. Things seem done between us, but there is something that makes me hope."

"Is that thing in your pants," she teased, handing him a beer, laughing as she did so.

He chuckled, "Seriously, Ange, I don't think we're done yet."

"I don't think you're done with her, but for now you are. Maybe next year, maybe once the election is over. If he becomes SA again, he has a prominent position and will be busy. Alicia could then legitimately leave him if she is being side-lined for his career, or feel safe in the knowledge his future is secure," she mused.

"Hmmm," Will grizzled, "you might be right," he responded. "She said we needed a moment when things calmed down, so it wasn't urgent, maybe that means it isn't the romantic declaration I'm longing to hear."

"Maybe not hon, sorry," she said, sitting down beside him.

"I had a dream about her," Will proffered.

"A sexy dream?" Angela questioned, teasing him a bit.

"Yeah," he replied, "it's not unusual," knowing that they have the kind of friendship where no subject is out of bounds and, given they regularly share a bed, dreams and fantasies sometimes came up.

"That's what Tom Jones said," she joked. He laughed.

"I've fantasised about her over the years, obviously I have, especially when we were at Georgetown, but not since I got together with Tam, so it was a surprise and I woke up confused, hot, sweaty, and, I must admit, excited," he added.

She smiled, "Maybe one of these days you will get to act it out…" she replied resting her hand on his thigh.

"I can but dream," he turned to look at her, laughing gently and rubbing the palm of his hand against the top of her hand. Feeling her interlock her fingers with his, he responded, lifting their intertwined hands, turning them over so he kissed her palm.

"It didn't feel like cheating," he said, "the dream I mean," he clarified, "not even on an emotional level."

"Unlike with me?" she questioned, looking him in the eye.

Will stirred uncomfortably, pausing, "Well, hon, Tam and I are not exclusive, and I promised not to fall in love with her," he offered a smile.

Angela smiled back, "True," she agreed, resting her head against his shoulder, "good job today, sometimes I'm really proud of my hot shot."

"Only sometimes?" he teased.

"Don't want you to get big headed," she laughed. He kissed the top of her head, "I'm here until Monday, told Diane I'm definitely off the grid now," closing his eyes, content.