To those who still read this, I am so sorry it took me so long to update. I had this chapter about half done when 5x15 came out, and then I just couldn't make it work. That episode really threw me off. But here this is!

I don't own The Good Wife,


Alicia tapped impatiently at the window. She was in a taxi on the way to hospital, and every second seemed to take longer than the last.

"I just need to see my daughter." Was all she could think. Her phone had died, and she couldn't even get in touch with Will to check on Grace. When the cab finally pulled up to the hospital entrance, she paid quickly and practically sprinted into the hospital, and asked the reception desk where her daughter was. Once she was on the elevator, the panic started to seep back into her. What if Grace wasn't going to be ok? What if they couldn't fix her baby girl?

Shaking herself, she got off the elevator and started to head the direction of Grace's room. As she passed a waiting area, she glanced at the three people there. Doing a double take, she realized that the three men sitting together were the three most important men in her life. Will was sitting in the middle with his head in his hands, Owen fidgeting in his seat, and Zack drinking what she assumed was coffee. Her son saw her first.

" Mom!" He was out of his chair and hugging her faster than she could process it. Wrapping her arms tightly around him, she looked to where Will and Owen now stood.

Releasing her son, she spoke. "How is she?"

Will answered. "She is stable, but she has a long road ahead of her."

Nodding, Alicia then questioned. "Why aren't any of you in there with her?"

All three of them exchanged glances, then spoke at the same time.

"Peter didn't really want me in there-"

"Your bastard of an ex husband kicked Will out-"

"I guess dad didn't want Will near Grace, and you know our relationship isn't that great-"

She should have known. Peter. She turned on her heal and headed to her little girl's room, with the three men trailing behind looked up when he saw Alicia enter the room and his greeting died on his lips. She was fuming.

"Peter."

"Alicia."

"We. Need. To. Talk."

Following her out of the room, he rubbed his face, not really knowing what to expect.

"What is wrong with you?!"

Well, he wasn't expecting that.
"What do you mean?"

"How can you just show up, and start making decisions for our daughter? How could you kick Will out of her room?"

"I was just protecting her! How do you know this isn't his fault?"

Alicia was seething.
"His fault? Absolutely not. Will has been more of a father to Grace in the last couple months, than you have been in the last several years."

Peter gaped at her. Before he could respond, a cry came from Grace's room.

"Will? Will? Where are you?"

Will, who had been standing awkwardly off to the side with Owen and Zack, was by her bed in three seconds.

"Right here, baby. I'm right here."

"You were gone. You said you wouldn't leave, and you were gone." She was crying, and she was terrified. He could have kicked himself for allowing Peter to kick him out.

"I know baby girl. I'm sorry."
He smoothed down her hair, and held her close.

Alicia, watched the scene for a few seconds, before interrupting softly.
"Hi honey."

"Mommy!"

Will released her so Alicia could hold her.

"I'm so sorry mom. I am so sorry."
She sounded so broken.

Alicia hugged her tighter.
"No. Don't apologize. I'm sorry I wasn't here."

They held each other for a few moments before Peter spoke.

"Hey Gracie."

She looked up at her father.
"Dad. Hi."

"How are you feeling?"

She raised her eyes at him.
Was that a real question?

"Not very good. But Will promised that everybody was going to help me."

He stiffened a little at the mention of Will and his daughter's somewhat cold response.

A doctor came in at that moment, to check on her. He mentioned they needed to run a few tests, and that Grace really needed rest, so could some of them come back to visit later? Zack and Owen hugged Grace, and promised to be back in a few hours. Alicia sat on the bed holding her, while Peter and Will stood there, neither wanting to be the first to leave.
When Grace drifted off again, Alicia stood up, and gestured for them to follow her.

"So, what do we do first?" Alicia questioned.
Both men answered simultaneously.

"The doctor mentioned they had a good rehab facility here, that she could check into. If we thinks that's best."

"Well, I will have to release a statement to the press..."

Will and Alicia snapped their heads towards him, and spoke at the same time.

"What?"

"Well, the press is going to be all over this. The first daughter of Illinois in rehab? Can you imagine the headlines?"

Alicia stared at him.
"No. I can't and I don't want to. You will not release a statement. No. You are not going to put this in the spotlight. She doesn't need that. No."

"Well if I don't say something, it will start rumors."

"Peter. You cannot do that to her. Don't you think she has enough to worry about?"

"What about me? Don't you think I have enough to worry about without this being thrown into it?"

Without warning, Alicia slapped him.
"Don't you dare make this about you. Don't you dare."

She turned on her heel and went back to Grace's room.

While he stood there rubbing her cheek, Will said,

"Peter, just-just think about what is best for your daughter. Not you. Her. Ok? Right now she needs support. Not pointing fingers, and certainly not a statement from you released to the press."

Will followed Alicia, leaving Peter standing there alone.


Peter had left to go back to the office and work. Owen and Zack had come back, bring Grace a couple of things from her bedroom, her tooth brush and hair brush, her favorite blanket, and giant teddy bear and flowers they picked up from the gift shop. Veronica had stopped by bringing her an odd assortment of gifts, that brought a smile to her face. Sadly, that smile was gone when Jackie showed up. Peter had called her.

"Hello Grace. How are you feeling?" she had asked.

Again with the dumb questions, Grace had thought.

"I am not doing so well, but I am going to try to get better."

They continued in awkward small talk for awhile until,

"Well, let's just hope that this "recovery" doesn't make you fat."

Grace immediately burst into tears, while everyone else simply gaped in shock at the older woman. Will was the first to respond.

"How could you? Why on earth would you say such a thing?"

She looked at him with an intense look of dislike.
"Well, I was just being honest. She looks the best she has looked since she was 11 years old. I just don't want her to be 'heavy'."

It took every ounce of willpower he had not to shake the woman.

"If I EVER hear you say such a thing to my daughter ever again, I swear-"

"What? You'll do what? And, she's not really your daughter, is she?"

Alicia snapped out of shock and icily answered.

"Well, she is mine, and nothing gives you the right to say anything like that to anyone, especially your own granddaughter. Get out Jackie."

"When I tell Peter,"

"What? That you insulted his daughter when she is most vulnerable? Oh yeah, he will just love that."

Jackie huffed, rolled her eyes and stormed out. Will looked around the room at everyones indignant faces. He could not believe the nerve of that woman.

Zack was hugging his sister tightly. Owen was holding his mother's arm, to keep her from going after Jackie. Alicia just simply looked drained.

To get everyone's mind off the current situation, he asked if they wanted to play charades. It worked, and brought many laughs, especially to Grace. It was good to hear her laugh.


Later that evening, when Grace had fallen asleep again, and everyone else had headed home for the night, Will and Alicia had time to talk for the first time.

"So, what are we going to do?"

Will looked at his wife. "We are going to fight this with her. She is going to get through this."

Meeting his eyes, she whispered.
"How?"

"Just like you, recovering from the scandal. With her head held high, and her steadfast perseverance. That's how. Plus our support."

"What if it isn't that simple? What if she- what happens if she-"

"It isn't that simple, but we are going to fight this. It will be harder than any court battle, but we can do it. Together. And she is going to make it. Because she has had a great example to look up too when things get tough."

Alicia's voice was barely audible.
"I'm terrified. I don't want to lose her."

Will shushed her, and wiped away the tears that escaped from her eyes.

"We won't. We won't."

Alicia drifted off into sleep, with her head in his lap, and his fingers running through her hair.
He was going to help his family, his family, through this. He was.


Review please? Should I keep going?