The Other Side

Disclaimer: I still own nothing! Title and any lyrics used are from 'The Other Side' by Jason Derulo.

Author's Note: your response to this story has been so lovely – I'm so enjoying reading all your reviews, and I'm so glad you're all loving little Zach and Grace as much as I am! This is a little bit more of a dramatic chapter, and as I'm sure you'll see, borrows a storyline from the show. I won't give anything more away, but I'd love to hear what you think as always!

Chapter Five

Alicia is deep into drafting a settlement agreement on the Friday afternoon after the game when her phone rings, startling her out of her reverie. When she glances at the screen, her nanny's name is flashing so she answers.

"Samantha, hi. Is something wrong?" she asks distractedly, circling a word she doesn't like with her red pen.

"Mrs Florrick, I'm so sorry to call you at work."

"It's Alicia, Samantha, and it's not a problem. What did you need?"

"It's just… I wouldn't bother you, but I just picked the kids up from Jackie's, you know she had them til five today because I had extra classes?" There's worry evident in the younger woman's voice, and as Alicia puts her pen down and starts to pay her full attention to the conversation, she hears crying in the background.

"Samantha is that Grace?"

"She won't stop crying, Mrs Fl… Alicia," Samantha stumbles over her words. "I didn't know what else to do."

"Samantha, just tell me what's happened," Alicia interrupts, her heart already racing. "Is Grace hurt? Is Zach okay?"

"Zach told me that Jackie took them to see Peter."

"You need to go downstairs." Kalinda's voice interrupts Will from his own work five minutes later, and he glances up to see the investigator standing in his doorway, concern etching her features.

"Why do I need to go downstairs?" he asks, stretching his arms above his head.

"There was a phone call and a lot of shouting, and now I think that she's crying." Kalinda says cryptically, but Will's heart starts to beat a little faster. Because he knows who she's talking about.

"Kalinda, just to be clear…" he starts, thumbing the button on his jacket closed as he stands.

"Alicia," she confirms softly, stepping to the side to let him leave.

Her sobs come thick and heavy, and she feels like she can't breathe through the anger coursing through her body. It feels like everyone is staring at her through the glass walls of her office but she couldn't stop it even if she wanted to, and her head starts to spin as the world tilts a little.

Sinking heavily into her chair, she drops her head between her legs, her cell phone dropping from her shaking fingers and bouncing on the floor.

Her kids.

"Alicia, take a breath." The voice coming from her doorway cuts through the white noise rushing through her head like a soothing whisper in the dark of night. Leaning her head a little further between her knees, she tries to suck in a deep breath but fails spectacularly until his fingers graze against her shoulder, before settling high on her back.

And suddenly, she finds herself able to pull in at least a shallow breath.

"Hey," Will murmurs softly, his fingers gentle points of pressure that start to ground her a little, warm even through her clothes. Her skin feels clammy, but her chest loosens a little as he continues. "Just try and take a deep breath, okay?"

She must manage a nod, because he falls quiet after that, the silence only punctuated by her ragged sobs.

When she manages to lift her head, he's crouching beside her chair, his face close and concerned.

"Kalinda said you were shouting at someone on the phone," he murmurs softly. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"She took my kids to the fucking prison, Will," she chokes out, the tears coursing down her cheeks again entirely of their own accord. She feels his hand tense on her shoulder when she swears, which she never does, and then she hears a curse slip from his own lips as the enormity of her words sinks in.

"Who?" he murmurs softly, his voice tight with a protectiveness for the children he's known for less than two months.

"My mother-in-law," she manages to grit out, burying her face in her hands as she sobs. "My children's grandmother took them to a prison, because she thinks I'm wrong. Grace was sobbing on the phone, Will," she adds, stumbling over her words. "She wouldn't stop crying, and Zach told Samantha he was scared…" she trails off on another sob, panic causing white spots to flash across her vision.

"Where are they now?" Will asks quietly, his fingers pressing a little firmer against her back. "Alicia," he continues firmly, moving to crouch in front of her. "Alicia, where are the kids?" His voice is uncompromising now, just like it is in the courtroom, and somehow it cuts through the panic.

"Samantha's… bringing them here," she manages quietly, covering her face with her hands as the noise keeps rushing through her ears. "I'm sorry, I just… I couldn't. I had to see them."

"It's fine," he tells her immediately, squeezing her icy fingers gently. "It's fine. Do you think you can walk?" he asks, and his voice still sounds distant even though he's close enough to touch. She nods automatically, but the question doesn't really register. "Why don't you come up to my office?" he's asking softly. "It's a little… exposed, down here, and you can wait for the kids up there."

She doesn't register much of the walk upstairs. She thinks she hears a commotion, thinks she sees her colleagues staring, but nothing sticks. Will doesn't touch her once they step out of her office, but she can feel him hovering. It should feel stifling, but somehow it reassures her. Strips a little bit of the panic away, so that by the time he's closing the door to his office and asking his secretary to tell him as soon as the kids arrive, she's able to walk over to his couch by herself, sink down and tip her head back against the cushions. He pulls some of the blinds down, affording her what little privacy he can, and when she manages to focus her gaze on him he's tugging his tie loose, thumbing the top couple of buttons on his shirt undone, sleeves already rolled to his elbows.

It shouldn't spark something deep in her belly, but it does. Maybe it's the panic coursing through her veins, but the protectiveness in his actions, coupled with his inherent masculinity… it's a little overwhelming and ridiculously inappropriate, but she can't help it. Just for a second.

Until she's assaulted by images of her children and prisons and her mind goes blurry all over again.

When he presses a cold bottle of water into her hand, she realises she was drifting again, and she drags up what she hopes is a grateful smile in his direction as he eases himself into his chair opposite her, cracking his own bottle of water.

She watches him swallow before she manages to open her own, and the icy touch of water at the back of her throat as she swallows finally seems to ground her.

"That always worked at Georgetown," he offers quietly, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees as the memory sparks in her brain.

Because Will is one of the few people who have ever seen her fall apart, and the first time it happened, he told her afterwards that getting her water was the only thing he could think of to do for her.

It's something inherently them, because no one else has ever realised that an ice cold glass of water in the middle of a panic attack is actually all she really needs.

"You remembered?" she asks quietly, lifting her eyes to his. His smile barely touches his lips, but she knows the warmth in his eyes, too well.

"I'll always remember, Alicia," he tells her quietly. A tear slips down her cheek, and she startles slightly at the feel of his fingers, wiping it away. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" he asks softly, settling back in his seat a little.

"Samantha called me," she recalls softly, closing her eyes. "Grace was… she was crying in the background. Samantha had picked them up from Jackie's, and Zach… Zach told her that Jackie had taken them to see Peter." She wipes her eyes roughly, letting a shuddering breath out. "I told Jackie I didn't want her taking the children there. I told her, and she judges me on it constantly, she argues with me about it every time she sees them, but they're my kids, Will. They're my responsibility and I knew they couldn't handle going there. I knew it. They're four and five," she whispers, her hands shaking almost violently as Will takes the water bottle from her. "They're so young. They shouldn't… their dad already got taken away from them, I didn't want them to have to see the inside of a prison," she whispers. "I called Jackie, and I… I yelled at her," she whispers. "God, I…"

"Stop," Will murmurs softly, touching her hand gently. "They are your kids, Alicia, and she did what you categorically told her not to do, without your permission. You've been everything for those children for the last eight months, you have every right to be furious." He pauses for a moment, stroking his thumb against the back of her hand. "For what it's worth, I'm furious too and I've only met the woman for two minutes," he adds, giving her a smile when she lifts watery eyes to his. "Now, did your nanny… Samantha? Did she tell you how long she would be?" he asks gently. Shaking her head slowly, Alicia forces herself to think.

"Jackie… Jackie's place is about twenty minutes out," she whispers, rubbing a hand across her eyes.

"Okay," he murmurs softly. "You'll have those beautiful children of yours in your arms in about five minutes then," he tells her, and she feels the vice around her chest ease just a little. "So you're going to go into my bathroom and wash your face," he continues. "Don't let those beautiful children of yours see that you've been crying, yeah?"

She does as he says, and five minutes later finds herself standing in front of the elevators watching the numbers rise, her eyes a little less swollen than they were before. It's stupid, but she feels like that's entirely down to the gentle swipe of his thumbs against the tender skin before they left his office rather than the cold water she splashed on her face. She can feel Will's presence even though he stopped a way back in the corridor, and it gives her the strength to ignore the prying eyes and the panic lingering at the back of her mind.

Then the elevator doors open and Zach slams into her legs before she has a chance to move, his arms winding tightly around her knees.

"Momma," he whispers, the name she used to love hearing from him as a toddler slipping out like it's the most natural thing in the world. He called her it for a whole week after the scandal broke and Peter was arrested. She curls a hand around the back of his skull, cradling him close as Samantha walks over with Grace in her arms, her baby's sobs only getting louder when the nanny whispers for her to look for her mom.

"Mrs Florrick, I'm so sorry," Samantha whispers, and Alicia can see her hands shaking as she hands Grace over. With her daughter's tears soaking her neck, she can only shake her head.

"No, Samantha, I'm so sorry you ended up in the middle of this," she tells her softly. "You did the right thing calling me."

"Do you want me to stay?" the young girl asks softly, and Alicia shakes her head again.

"There's no need, Samantha. We'll see you on Monday morning, okay?" she asks, crouching down carefully so Zach unwinds his arms from her legs. "Hey, guys," she murmurs softly, addressing them both as she strokes Zach's cheek. "We're going to go sit in Will's office for a little bit, okay?" she murmurs softly, wiping a tear off Zach's cheek. When he gives her a tremulous nod, she stands up, curling her fingers at his neck gently to guide him down the corridor.

"Hey, big guy," Will murmurs, touching Zach's head briefly as he guides Alicia into his office. She completely misses the look Diane shoots him from her own doorway as he closes the door behind them.

Thirty minutes later, Alicia has her little girl asleep against her chest with tearstains on her cheeks, and a scared little boy tucked into her side, his fingers tangled in the lapel of her jacket. Just their presence makes her feel decidedly calmer. Pressing her lips against Zach's forehead, she sighs softly.

"You're such a brave boy, Zach," she murmurs softly, squeezing him a little tighter. "I'm so proud of you, and I love you," she whispers.

"I tried to be brave for Grace, mommy," he whispers softly. "Grandma kept telling her to stop crying, but I knew she was scared so I tried to be braver for her 'cause she was so scared."

"I bet that helped her a lot, baby," she murmurs softly, closing her eyes for a moment to keep a check on her emotions. Zach turns hopeful eyes up to her, and she gives him the best smile she can manage. "You're a really good big brother. Grace couldn't ask for a better brother." His little chest puffs up, and she kisses his cheek.

"Grandma kept telling her to talk to dad, too," he continues, fingers creasing the fabric of her jacket as his grip tightens. "I told her Grace doesn't talk much anymore, but she kept saying Grace had to for dad. And then Grace wanted to talk even less. I could tell." Alicia hears Will's intake of breath from where he's sitting watching her, and she risks meeting his gaze for a second.

He looks every bit as furious as she feels.

"Your mother-in-law better hope I don't meet her again anytime soon," he murmurs for her ears only, giving her a tight smile.

"You know that Grace talks to you, buddy," Alicia murmurs softly to Zach, her attention focused on the worry in his little eyes after she breaks eye contact with Will, "and she talks to me, and to your Uncle Owen."

"And Will," Zach adds, swinging his legs as he looks across at Will. "Grace talks to Will, mom."

"I know she does," Alicia murmurs, holding him tight as he shivers.

"Can we go home, mom?" Zach asks quietly, looking up at her. "I think Grace would feel better if we were at home."

"Of course we can go home, baby," she murmurs softly, glancing to Will for reassurance. He nods quickly, giving her a smile.

"I'll drive you guys home," he tells her softly, with a quick glance at the clock. "You don't become managing partner without the odd perk here and there."

"Alicia." Will's voice is warm through the phone later that evening, and she lets her head drop back against the pillows gently.

"Hi," she breathes softly, closing her eyes.

"I'm so glad you called," he tells her softly, and she hears the sound of whatever game he's watching being muted. "How are the kids?" She lets a smile cross her face at that, because he asked about her kids first.

And that means something.

"Grace cried herself to sleep," she says softly, not even trying to hide the pain in her voice. "Zach was a little trooper for his sister, but there were a few tears before he fell asleep."

"They're in bed with you, aren't they," he murmurs, and she laughs softly at that. Because he's spot on. "Thought so," he continues, laughing softly. "And how are you doing?"

"I feel… numb," she whispers softly, looking down at her kids. She's expecting nightmares tonight, from both of them, and she's already trying to build up the strength to deal with them. she couldn't care less about how she feels.

"I wish you weren't on your own," he murmurs softly, and she closes her eyes for a moment, fighting back the me too that wants out. He gave her a hug when he dropped them off and she wanted nothing more than to sink into his arms and never move.

Hearing his voice down the phone, she wants it all over again.

"I'm not," she says instead, running her fingers through Zach's hair gently. "I've got two beautiful children to keep me company, and I called Owen. He's coming round for breakfast, and you know their crazy uncle will be able to take their minds off things." He laughs at that, and her heart jumps a little.

"Crazy is one word for it. I'm glad your brother is still as… unique, as the day I met him," he murmurs. She knows it's a distraction technique, but when he continues, it's working. "Do you remember that day?"

"How could I forget?" she laughs softly, shaking her head as the memories hit her. It had been a late summer's afternoon before the start of a new year, and the one thing she really remembers is the grin on Will's face when he first saw her after a long summer apart.

Owen had been young and impressionable and debated with Will through the entirety of the dinner her mother had insisted on taking them all out for.

"You held my hand under the table when he got particularly mortifying," she murmurs softly.

"I did," he sighs softly, and she hears something in his voice that he's not telling her. "That was a good day." It was an excellent day, but she doesn't quite know how to tell him that when everything in her head is such a mess. He speaks again before she can figure that out. "I should let you go," he murmurs softly. "You should get some sleep while you can."

When he hangs up, she finds that she dreams of Georgetown until Zach is the first one to wake her up.

It's a long night, but her dreams when she has them are sweet.

tbc