Author's note: Thank you for the great reviews and welcome to the new followers :) Hopefully I live up to the expectations of David's appearance!
Summary: force ma·jeure noun \ˌfȯrs-mä-ˈzhər, -mə-\ 1: superior or irresistible force. 2: an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled. Alicia & Will, seven months after she left L/G.

Force Majeure

Chapter 2 – David & Dilaney

"Thou hast seen nothing yet."
– Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote

Thursday, 4:19 PM

I can't believe this is actually happening. Back in the all too familiar elevator once again. I look at my client – or Cary's client, to be precise – Sandra Dilaney, standing next to me, fumbling with her hands. She's nervous.

"I know, you were expecting Cary," I tell her. "But I know this firm and we're gonna do well in these negotiations," I say in an attempt to make her feel better.

She looks at me. "Alicia, it's not that." She brushes her long blond hair behind her ears. "It's just… I hate to say it, but George always hated women like you. Strong and professional, you know? It makes him… aggressive. It would have just been better if I'd be here with Cary. He won't like you."

"I think, he wouldn't have liked either of us," I smile. "And it doesn't matter what he likes or doesn't like. What matters is that we're here to get what you deserve. We're going to be fine. I promise."

She nods and gives me a faint smile. She doesn't buy it. And frankly, neither do I. I'm terribly unprepared, and I hate myself for it.

Luckily, this time I don't have to work with Will. That definitely didn't work out last time I was here. Or it worked out too well, maybe. Either way, the few times we had seen each other in court after that hadn't been pretty. We screwed up, we knew it and had a silent agreement never to talk about it again. And that's that. Here's to hoping I won't run into him. The less I see of him, the better.

All I know is that he won't be in these negotiations. David doesn't need him. Since David thrives on anger and performs best when he's annoyed and pissed off, today's negotiations will be magical.

Thursday, 4:23 PM

"I'm not looking forward to this," Sandra says as we sit down in the waiting area. "Do I have to sit next to him?"

"We'll be sitting on the other side of the table," I answer. "You'll sit next to me, and I'll do the talking." I look around the floor, and I realize I'm constantly checking if Will's around. I should stop that.

"He will humiliate me," Sandra sighs.

I look back at her. Focus, Alicia. "He might try to act out, yes. But it won't get him anywhere." I give her a reassuring nod.

Then, all of a sudden, her eyes grow wide. "You OK?" I ask.

"What the hell, Sandra?" I suddenly hear a low male voice behind us. I turn around, and then see why Sandra was staring. That must be Mr. Dilaney.

"Why are we doing this?" He bursts in the waiting area and walks straight over to Sandra. She leans back in her chair, but he towers over to his wife. He looks dangerous.

"You don't want this. I know you don't. Do you actually think I would let you go like that, huh? You fucked up what we had. I didn't. So why are we here? Negotiating? About what exactly?"

"Mr. Dilaney," I interrupt. "This is not the time." He doesn't even grant me a look.

"Oh, I think, this is just the time. Don't you, Sandra?"

"Mr. Dilaney," I repeat again and get up from my chair. "Please take a step back."

He gives the both of us a violent look. "You don't need to tell me what to do."

"Sir, don't make me ask again. I'll have to call security." I look around to find someone to help me. But the receptionist left her desk, and I don't know how to get security in here. Now I get what Sandra meant when she said 'aggressive'.

"George, please," Sandra mutters.

I think of what to do, but then, I suddenly hear a voice I know all too well.

"Oh, would you look at that!"

I don't have to turn around to know who just made an appearance.

"If it isn't Alicia Florrick gracing us with her presence." David Lee…only he is capable of squeezing that much sarcasm in one sentence.

I turn around. "David," I then greet him and offer him a small, polite smile.

"All grown up and independent so I see?" He says, lifting one eyebrow and given me a cynical grin.

I don't answer that one and just give him one of my stares in return.

"Ms. Dilaney," David continues and shakes Sandra's hand. Mr. Dilaney seems to have calmed down now that David joined us.

"I don't believe you've been properly introduced to my client," David then says, gesturing at the man next to him. David looks small and insignificant next to Dilaney. And Dilaney isn't even that broad or muscular himself. Instead, he has a normal posture, but there's something about him that just makes me want to back off. Dark, almost black eyes stare at me.

"Let me introduce you to Alicia Florrick," David continues. "An expert at… Shall we say… hand holding?" I purse my lips at that sneer.

David happily continues. "And since I'm an expert at well, everything else really, we have nothing to worry about."

"Good afternoon," is the only thing I decide to say in return.

Dilaney just stares at me. Barely lets me shake his hand.

"So, you're the one telling my wife what to do, huh?" His voice is cold and flat.

"I'm one of your wife's lawyers," I reply calmly.

"You put her up to this?" There's a darkness to the sound of his voice that creeps me out.

"I'm here to represent my client and her wishes," I just state in an attempt to sound professional and calm. I don't know what to do with this guy.

"Hate to interrupt your little one-on-one, but let's get going, shall we?" David leads the way to the conference room and holds the door for us.

I roll my eyes at him and walk into the room. Sandra and I sit down next to each other, David and Dilaney at the other side.

"Oh, Alicia, this is going to be so much fun," David says, crossing his legs and folding his hands together.

"It's my highlight of the day, David," I reply dryly.

"I have to say, if they had given me a heads up I'd be up against you," he continues as he takes a bowl filled with colored candies from the cabinet behind him. "I wouldn't have taken so much time preparing."

I just ignore that and get my files out of my bag.

"How long is this going to take?" I hear Dilaney ask David.

"Oh, not long I'm sure," David replies as he pushes the bowl to the middle of the table.

Then he gives me another one of his triumphant smiles.

"M&M's, anyone?"

Thank you for reading!

Preview for next chapter: Dilaney certainly lives up to his reputation.