A/N OK. The fishy thing you all love will take another chapter at least maybe two. (Sorry). This chapter we see Alicia/ Peter with Eli and Alicia/Will.
Alicia returned home feeling exhausted. Why did she do everything wrong? Will was supposed to be out of sight out of mind. Did one simple few minute encounter erase every Will- cleanse effort? How was she supposed to last days with him in the same room? Or with him sitting next to her in court? She turned on the hot water trying to clear her head, forget everything related to Will. She had made her choice. The happily ever after belonged to the movies. This was real life. She just couldn't walk off to the sunset. They were too many complications. And truth to be told, she was afraid to trust Will.
When she re-emerged, she found Peter waiting for her in the living room with Eli. They seemed to be in a deep discussion. She chose to ignore them. She couldn't handle one more betrayal.
"Thanks Peter, but you really don't have to do this. The gesture is enough. I will quit, blame Jordan, hire Elsbeth and let the judges decide." Eli said. "That was our original plan and I believe it is a good one. We, I, shοuld stick to it."
"Alicia, what do you think?"
No, Peter don't do this. Not when I am in a I want Will mode. Don't remind what a bastard you can be. Don't remind what Kalinda said. Don't make me ask who Shanon was. Please let me keep the illusion.
"About what?" she asked coldly.
"I was thinking of resigning. Eli says it is an admission of guilt and wants to try and trap Jordan. I am not comfortable to let him become a sacrificial lamb."
"I think you should do what Eli says. He is good at his job."
"Thanks Alicia for the vote of confidence."
"If you quit, you both go down. If Eli manages to pin this on Jordan he comes back right?"
"Exactly." Eli said.
"Although there is always the truth. That Jim Moody acted alone." Alicia said nonchalantly "That's the truth right?"
"Of course. But in order to prove that truth we need to open up our books." Peter said.
"And we don't want that. I mean we are not dirty, we are just not... squeaky clean." Eli finished lamely.
"I see. Well keep plotting. I am off to bed."
Alicia lied down with her wine. Her mind was running in circles. From Peter to Will, from Will to her children. She didn't try to focus. She couldn't. There was only one mantra that kept repeating itself in her mind. Her mother's words when she came for Thanksgiving. "Well at least I can say I can be happy."
She felt Peter reach for her a while later. She mumbled a sleepy no, but he knew all her buttons and soon her protest turned into pleasured moans. In her sleep and passion filled mind Will's image kept coming up more and more. So, as she was climaxing, exhausted, sated she screamed Will's name and fell asleep.
xxxxxxxxx
The next day Alicia woke up feeling tired. Today they would go to court against Will. She had never been scared of going to court, not even on her first case back, but today she was. She said goodbye absentmindedly, barely noticing Peter's cold attitude.
Will hadn't slept a wink. This was it. The end of every fantasy. He had to fight Alicia. He sighed as he put on his tie. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe Alicia was right. It was romantic, because it never happened. If they had gotten together, they wouldn't have lasted a week, right?
As he arrived in court he saw the elevators doors closing. "Hold it"
When he turned to thank the person, who had waited for him he wanted to laugh at the irony. Alicia, of course. Of all the moments to have a good timing this had to be it.
"Good morning" Alicia said quietly, feeling like a fish out of the water, wanting to talk to Will and scared of him all-together.
Will nodded tersely. "Good morning"
They rode up in silence when a loud bang was heard, the elevator shook violently and the lights went out.
A/N Cliffhanger!
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Many thanks to Bye11, StrawberrySab, Trixie, guategal for reviewing and G. for reviewing and previewing.