Summary/ Author`s note: The second week of Courtney trying to fix what we all want fixed... I would love to hear what you think!

Week 2

7th of May (Tuesday)

Courtney squinted while she was watching her computer screen, not because she had trouble seeing, or because she actually needed the glasses she never wore and always remained hidden in her bag, but because she was actually witnessing the interaction between Will Gardner and a certain investigator. She usually didn`t have any particular feelings towards the man who had given his name to the company where she worked. But now she sure did, and they weren`t nice ones!

She would have to leave in a few minutes and he was still there, yapping away… The only good thing was that, Courtney noticed, Alicia looked up every few moments, and casted a glance at the two. She was quite certain though her boss was telling herself she was watching Mr. Gardner… She knew the two had had a short affair after everything had gone down, there was not much that escaped the assistance eye. But she also knew it was already over for a while.
Oh, if Alicia would just open her eyes already!

Since Diane had mentioned, about a week ago, that the two women should `make it better` Courtney had thought, at first, to see some improvement. But every step these two seemed to take towards each other, they also each took 2 steps back… Maybe, she had thought, she just had to, literally, force them together. So she had made sure Alicia had a lot of work tonight, and she knew, from experience, Kalinda wouldn`t leave until her boss was safe in her car.

She may or may not have thought, maybe, alcohol was a good catalyst. May or may not had sacrificed her lunch break in order go out and buy the sixpack. May or may not have left, in a stolen moment, 2 bottles at Kalinda`s desk.

But now Will Gardner was there, talking to Kalinda, stealing the attention Alicia should be giving the investigator. She had already given up this day, this plan, when she saw Kalinda offer Will a beer, and got up to gather her things. Then, as she noticed rapid, but tentative clicking of heels in her direction, she looked up. For a moment, her eyes glanced from Kalinda`s tense face to Will`s encouraging smile and Courtney felt her earlier annoyance be replaced by the urge to take the name-partner in her arms and convince him to join her in a happy dance.

The two beers dangled in Kalinda`s hand and she strode past her and towards Alicia.

Courtney and grimaced as she lifted her bag, which may or may not be containing 4 beer bottles, and, with a little wave to Mr. Gardner, the only one, seemingly, who had noticed she was still around, she found her way to the elevator. She sighed. She should have known. Being subtle sure was heavy work.

8th of May (Wednesday)

Courtney`s eyes were immediately drawn to the bottle that was sitting on her desk. She was early, she knew, but she had been so curious to find out what had happened the night before, she had offered to give her brother, whose working day started at 7 am, a ride. The sight of the bottle gave her an uneasy feeling and when she picked it up and found it almost full, the sensation in the pit of her stomach intensified.

After she had cleared away the `evidence`, Alicia -much too early- entered, looking as if the night had not given her much rest. Not much later, Will Gardner arrived. His 6 months of not being allowed to practice law were going to be hard on the firm, Courtney knew, but maybe, for her personal cause, it wasn`t with the worse timing. For a moment she contemplated the idea that Will and Alicia had arrived together, but she rejected that option, when she saw them interact. The last time those two had been sleeping together, they had been so awkward with each other it was painful. They were so obviously just attracted to the idea of what could have been between them that, when they really got to act on the attraction, it had and could have been nothing more than fleeting. Courtney was glad they had remained friends, and was surprised by how easy their interaction had become again, despite several pining looks from Will`s part.

Alicia, however, did look pained. What had happened the night before? Obviously not the reconciliation she had hoped. That thought was confirmed when Kalinda, sporting a big pair of sunglasses, entered. Her mouth, the only expressive part of her face left free by the dark shades, was a thin line of tension (or sadness?). Courtney swallowed when she saw the investigator halt in her step when she saw Alicia, and, without a moment of hesitation, turn around and move to the opposite direction. Something had gone terribly wrong… Angrily Courtney looked at the beer bottle she had emptied, that was staring at her from the waste bin. She knew she should have gone with tequila…

Her next glare was directed at her boss… Why oh why had the woman done whatever she had done? Whatever had made Kalinda flee at the sight of her now?

The day was so busy, that Courtney had to cancel the lunch she had planned with her brother. The annoyance she had felt towards Alicia weakened a little when her boss, after several clumsy actions, finally knocked over a coffee cup and burned her hand. She looked like she was about to cry. While Alicia was in the bathroom, rinsing her reddened skin, Courtney printed, again, the papers that were ruined. She looked up in surprise when she heard Kalinda`s heels. The boots made a very particular sound she had learned to recognize early on. The investigator smiled and they had one of their typical non-interactions before Kalinda moved forward to the elevator.

It took Courtney some time to identify the little tube of ointment that was left on the corner of her desk. She took it, and slowly turned it around in her fingers, sighing deeply, and looked in the direction of the elevator before she brought the burn-lotion to Alicia.

Obviously, she wasn't the only one who was practicing the art of subtlety. Courtney swallowed hard, when Alicia, squealing, thanked her.

She may or may not have waited till after hours, to find her way to Kalinda`s office. She may or may not have found there, in the trash, the box that had covered the medicine, the name of the person it had been subscribed to still clearly visible. She may or may not have placed the piece of carton safely in her bag.

At home, she stared at a typed-out name for a long time, a heavy feeling in her chest. She should have known. Sometimes being subtle sure was sad work.

10th of May (Friday)

'She is still here you know…`

Courtney casually stated with her hand on the doorknob. She had just asked if there was anything more she could do for Alicia, who was, once again, burning the midnight oil.

`Who?`

The fact that Alicia spoke the word sharply and annoyed made Courtney suspect she knew exactly who she had been talking about. Choosing to ignore the tone, Courtney held on to her own casual one as she answered.

`Kalinda… I mean, I could send her over on my way out. It looks like you could use some help with… THAT.`

She indicated the thick file, which she may or may not have held a little longer than necessary in order to create this situation. She almost felt guilty as she saw the emotions cross over Alicia`s face…

`I`m fine!`

Again the sharpness, that indicated quite the opposite of the words uttered. Courtney shrugged and smiled, turning once more to leave.

' Courtney?`

`Yes?`

' I guess it`s ok… Well… If you run into her… and… she is not doing anything…'

`I`ll ask her`

The smile kept lingering on Courtney`s face, and she only, shortly, suppressed it when she found the investigator and gave her the message. The surprised twinkle in Kalinda`s eyes almost made the smile appear again, but she managed to keep it hidden until she entered the elevator.

She may or may not have lingered around Alicia`s car. May or may not have looked up some things on internet the night before. May or may not have used that new-found knowledge to unplug just the right cable.

She sighed and looked at her hands. She should have known. Being subtle sure was dirty work.

To be continued