"Hey, is someone there?" Still no answer. "Knock, knock! Alicia?"

Cough, cough, cough. It was the only noise coming from the apartment. They were supposed to meet an hour before in the library, but Alicia hadn't shown up. It was uncharacteristic for her, so he decided to call. When she didn't answer the phone, he went over. No one answered the door, so he used the key she had given him while they were still friends.

He pushed the bedroom door open a little, "Alicia, are you there? May I come in?"

"Uhuuum." Was her quiet answer.

When he entered the room she was lying in bed with the covers all pulled up,buried under a pile of Kleenex. She looked terrible.

"What happened? Did you go see a doctor? Why are you here alone?"

"Hey, slow down. I'm sick, it's just a cold. Mary is at her boyfriend's, but she is coming back today." She said weakly.

"To knock you down it must be the superman of colds. Where's Peter?"

"He went camping for the long weekend." Her nose was clogged and she sounded terrible.

They had Thursday and Friday off, but with the mock trial due soon, Alicia and Will had decided to stay in Georgetown and prepare for it.

"How long have you been here?"

"Since yesterday. I didn't go to my afternoon classes, because I wasn't feeling well."

"Have you eaten anything since then?"

"Well…"

"What? You have to eat something. That's it. I'm cooking." After a little pause and calming down, he added more softly. "Why didn't you call me? I could've come and helped."

"I didn't want to bother you. You don't have to stay here, Mary will be home soon. Go enjoy your break, since I won't be able to work today. Wait, since when do you know how to cook?" Another Kleenex was added to the pile, which made her 'look of surprise' seem more like a muffled sneeze face.

Will stifled a laugh but couldn't help but grin. "I don't. I'm using you as my guinea pig." At Alicia's shocked expression he added "Just kidding, I can make soup." And off he went to the kitchen.

When he brought Alicia the soup, she was asleep, so he let her. A couple of hours later she appeared in the living room where Will had been going over some aspects of the case.

"Hey, look who's up. Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for your soup." She hugged herself then pulled her robe tighter trying to get warm.

"Nothing to be sorry for, it's still here for you. I'll just reheat it. Have a seat, you look exhausted."

Alicia plopped down on the couch pulling her legs up and tucked them under her robe. "Will, were you studying while I was sleeping? I thought you would be watching TV or something." She said seeing all the paper spread over the coffee table.

"Well, since you're sick, I have to work for two now, don't I? I was just reviewing some of the things we've done."

"Oh, now you're just making me feel guilty, letting you do all the work by yourself. In addition to taking care of me. Where is Mary? She should be home by now."

"She called about an hour ago saying she would be staying the long weekend at her boyfriend's. I didn't tell her you were sick because I figured you wouldn't want to make her come home early, worried about you. But if you want I can call her and tell her otherwise."

"No, no. It's fine. I want her to have fun. I can stay by myself. I even have food now!"

"What are you talking about? You're in no state to be alone. I'll be staying with you."

"Will, you don't have to. I don't want to be a burden, go have fun."

"What will I be doing alone in an empty college? Everybody went away for the weekend." Will looked serious, just enough to stop the pleading.

"Thank you. I will help you with the trial." She sighed then sneezed. Another Kleenex did its job.

"When you're not zombie like you mean?"

"Do I look that bad?"

"I mean the one syllable answers 'uhum'; 'yeah'; 'ok'."

"I think I'll be better sometime, maybe by Sunday. Not now though. Can we watch some TV? I still can't think straight."

"Oh, you don't help and you also want to distract me? Tempting me with television?"

"If I had the strength I would slap you in the arm, but since I don't, I will only send you my death-stare. Well, this way, if you're not doing anything, I don't feel guilty for letting you do all the work."

"Oh, good. It's no problem if we lose the trial; fail the class, anything as long as your conscience is clear." They both laughed.

"Will, you used to be more fun than that. You're sounding like me."

"Fine, I'll watch TV with you."

Before the end of the show they were watching, Alicia was lying on the couch, her head on Will's lap, asleep.

"Alicia, I'm sorry to wake you, but I have to head home to get some clothes for the weekend. You sleep and I'll be right back."

"Uhum." She didn't even open her eyes while answering. He wasn't sure she had registered a thing he'd said, so he left a note just in case she woke up wondering where he was.

When she heard the door open, she wanted to call out to see if it was Will, but before she could gather enough strength to do so, she heard Will say, "Alicia, I'm back!"

He tried to enter the apartment quietly, but seeing she was no longer on the couch and would probably be awake, he called for her.

Entering her bedroom he said, "I went to the video store and rented some movies. Mostly horror flicks, because you said you liked to watch those when you are sick. I still can't understand that, but you do what you got to do to get better." He shot her his sweet smile that she loved.

"Thanks, Will. I mean, really thanks. What do you want to watch first?"

"I don't know; you're the expert here."

"Ok, let's see what you've got. Hmmm… Oh, Silence of the Lambs! My favorite!" At Will's confused expression, she added "What's not to like? Two twisted serial killers in one movie!"

"It's always the good girls isn't it? They are the ones with the deep dark secrets. I haven't seen it, yet."

"Oh c'mon, you're kidding!" He shook his head "Wow. Put that tape in now. You have to watch it."

"Ok, ok."

Watching the movie was almost like Movie Night, like the previous months never happened, like they were best friends again. It made Alicia glad, to see that deep down their relationship hadn't changed. And maybe this time they could be just friends and not be weird. She also knew that was a lie, that the something more and what if would always be there, but they could were doing it well, when twomovies later they fell asleep in Alicia's bed.

The next morning she knew nothing had happened, but it was still a little weird to have him wake up by her side, so close. Shortly after, Will woke up, too.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was going to sleep on the couch, but I fell asleep during the movie. I never intended -." He said getting up and away from her as fast as he could.

"Will, it's fine, I fell asleep, too. No problem." She had to admit it had been good having him there providing heat.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"A little better, but I still feel like crap."

"Well, feeling like crap means breakfast in bed and more movies."

"You don't have to bring it to me. I think I can crawl to the kitchen."

"Don't move. I'll bring breakfast and you pick a movie. Sick-horror-movie-marathon day two."

"Thanks, Will, you're the best."

"I know."And smiled the boyish smile she also loved. Well, she loved when he smiled, in general, because it was so genuine.

By Saturday afternoon Alicia was feeling good enough to work, so they started going over some things for the trial. It all went smoothly, both having fun while still getting something done, just like they used to. Sadly they had barely time to eat when they had to make up for two whole days of doing nothing. Finally on Sunday evening when they couldn't take anymore, they decided to stop and have a proper meal. And perhaps work some more afterwards. Will suggested he make his famous hamburgers and Alicia, having her appetite back, agreed right away. The only problem was that being sick the whole weekend, Alicia hadn't gone out for groceries and the cabinets were empty. Will said he would go and get everything. Alicia wanted to go with him, but he wouldn't let her, insisting she was still sick and it was cold outside.

Alicia was left alone in the apartment and when she heard the door opening, said, "Will, you came back fast! Did you get everything?"

"Why are you expecting Gardner?" That wasn't Will. That was Peter; back early from his camping trip.

"Peter, hi! You're back early." She said with a smile on her lips.

"Alicia, why was Gardner supposed to be here? Especially while I'm out." He said in a serious tone, almost angry.

"Peter, are you suggesting something?" Alicia never liked jealous men.

"No, I'm merely asking what Gardner was doing here. A guy that you said you weren't friends with anymore. A little too convenient that he is here when I'm not. And from the look of it, he was here the whole weekend." Peter said looking around the apartment, which was filled with Will's things.

"Look, Peter, he is my co-counselor in the mock trial. We were working on it."

"Oh. To work there are libraries. Was it really necessary that he came here to watch movies with you and oh my God, sleep here?"

At that moment they heard the front door open.

"Hey, I'm back. I couldn't get yellow cheese, so I brought cheddar. I think it'll taste just as goo… Hi, Peter."

"What are you doing here, Gardner?"

"I'm helping Alicia out. Is everything alright Alicia?" He asked after seeing the looks on both their faces.

Alicia knew Will didn't like to be intimidated or accused of anything and would respond harshly, so she decided it was best to break it off right away.

"Everything is fine. It's getting kind of late, so I think we should continue tomorrow in the library."

"Ok." He turned towards the door to leave, but still looked a little unsure.

"Call me if you need anything." Looking at Peter, he added "Anything."

"Will." She called and he turned around. "Thank you for everything."

"Sure, no problem."

As soon as Will closed the door, Peter said,"'Thank you for everything?'"

"I've been sick, couldn't-get-to-the-kitchen sick and he helped me. Nothing happened; he was a perfect gentleman, unlike you right now, who are being an ass." With that Alicia turned around going towards her bedroom.

"Babe, I'm sorry. I was just surprised to come here and have you expecting Gardner after not even knowing you guys still spoke to each other."

"You have to trust me, Peter. That's the only way this is going to work, ok?" Who was she to give Peter such a speech? It was true that nothing had happened this weekend, but what about that kiss months before? But she had taken care of it. Hell, she had lost her best friend trying to take care of it. Actually, after this weekend and the whole mock trial, she thought she could have her friend back. It was definitely not too late.