A/N: Glad you like the update… here's another little one.

.

Chicago, Fall 2009

.

The morning passed quickly in court. The ASA was particularly keen to convict Colin Sweeney so her opening argument was succinct and allowed Alicia and Will to open their defence before the lunchtime recess. As they tag-teamed their argument and interjected ASA Cary Agos' case, Will felt they were in sync and hoped he was the only one that sensed an extra sharpness in their teamwork. He knew they worked well together – he had known that for over twenty years – but today the frisson of sexual tension between them only heightened their connection. It was like they could read each other's thoughts, and, every now and again, when they would hand over to each other, the slight turn up of a lip, or gaze that was perhaps a second too long, might alert the rest of the court to it. At one point, after Alicia turned back to the defence table from addressing the jury, she glanced at Will and smiled; he was sure she didn't just glance at him, but flickered her eyes over him, taking in his face and chest with more than a passing interest, almost as if she was checking him out. He didn't mind, and although he wasn't aware of it, he gave out some non-verbal signals to indicate so. He ran his hand down his tie and coughed gently. When Alicia sat back down beside him, just ever so slightly closer than she had been, she whispered, "You OK?," in his ear and feeling her warm breath on his face sent a shiver down him for the second time that morning, "Yeah, sure," he responded, quickly running his hand through his hair. "Of course you are, you fox," purred Sweeney from the end of the table, indicating that their connection had not gone unnoticed by the accused.

When they left the courtroom it felt to Will that he had been released from a cage, he needed to breathe, and more importantly he needed to remove himself from the view of Colin Sweeney. He walked quickly, through the lobby, into the Fall sunshine. Drinking in the cool air, he sighed as he took his cell phone from his pocket. Turning it on, he felt a hand touch the small of his back. The small, warm hand of Alicia Florrick surprised him as she came to his side, "You ran away," she teased. "Sorry, yes, I was hot, and needed to check my 'phone, see if the kids are OK," he responded. This was only partly true; yes, he was hoping his kids were fine at school on his first day back at work, but basically he needed to get outside, to refresh himself and to break the electricity between Alicia and him before it jeopardized the case. "And are they?" she queried. At that second, his phone buzzed as a text from his eldest came through – unlike her father, Cathy always had good timing – "I hope so," he replied, waving the phone at her. Alicia smiled and pulled her hand away, but not before she traced a line down his spine, stopping just before the belt in his trousers. "I'll see you over there," she said gesticulating at the coffee shop they had visited only days before.

Sweeney's earlier comment about 'love birds' haunted him, just like he had in the coffee shop. Will realised that Sweeney had him made and, as a result, could, and probably would use it to his advantage over his lawyers, even if it was just to have a little bit of fun. He didn't want to make trouble for Alicia, and, if he was honest, for himself too. Although he was aware of his long-held and hidden feelings for Alicia bubbling to the surface, he was a married man and despite his wife's actions, that still meant something to him. He was reasonably certain his feelings for Alicia were not unrequited, but he was certain he should not act on them. At least, not yet. Flirting was different, it was fun and, he hoped, harmless. But there was a line and he was concerned they were about to cross it. When you cross a line: in life, in the law, or in love, somebody always gets hurt. That thought stung him, and he opened the text message from Cathy.

Tapping out a response to Cathy and pressing send helped to ground him and take his mind off Alicia and what might have been, or more dangerously, what could be. His mind kept drifting to the pencil skirt that skimmed her figure, wondering whether underneath she wore pantyhose, or, what many men desire: stockings and suspenders. Stop it! He said to himself as he took a deep breath. He pocketed his cell phone and was about to move towards the coffee shop to meet his co-counsel when a voice called out to him: "Will Gardner! I heard you were back in town."

Will turned around to see the State's Attorney holding out his hand towards him, "Peter, good to see you," he replied.

A/N: Another short one, will try to update soon... what do you think should happen now?