It was easy to find Kate's hospital room, one just had to follow the trail of hysterical reporters. Of course all the good luck ended when two armed guards barred the way to her room. Private security from the look of their armament, prepared for war and rightfully so.

No matter how many times Will argued, the two no nonsense guards wouldn't budge. It was a good thing but also frustrating.

He was about to give up when the door opened and a well built man poked his head through with a cocky grin. "Well if it isn't Gardner."

"You know him, sir?" The guard on the right asked.

"Let em' in boys, he's a friend of Kate's," the man said, clipping the strap over his holster closed as it disappeared beneath his leather jacket.

He didn't know this guy but he didn't seem like a threat, especially if he was letting him near Kate. Biting back his questions, he cautiously stepped through, eyes softening on Kate when she smiled at him through a heavy bandage over her forehead. A thick cast ran from the elbow of her right arm and over her wrist. Her left leg, also in a full white cast, was suspended by some hospital equipment.

"Will, it's good to see you," she said, sounding surprisingly strong even though she must've felt anything but right now.

"Talk about giving it an arm and a leg," Will said, happy when she laughed lightly. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been in a car accident," she said, before looking to the other guy. "I'll be okay, Liam. Give us a moment."

"Wait, Liam the witness," Will asked, rounding on him. "You were supposed to testify!"

He backed away with open palms. "Long story there, Gardner. I'll be leaving that one for the queen bee to explain." He smiled at Kate before stepping out.

"Queen bee?" Will asked, looking at Kate as he sat down.

She shook her head gingerly. "Long story. Did Jeff manage to stop Dominic?"

He didn't say anything, what could he tell her that she couldn't already deduce from the careful way she studied his face.

"Dammit," she said softly, reaching out to cup his lightly bruised cheek. "Don't tell me he did this?"

"Tried to stop everyone in his path? Yeah, he did that too," Will said, moving away from her touch but not leaving all together. There was still that watch evidence he needed to grill her on. "You never told me about the watch."

The brief flame of confusion died when she realized what he was talking about. "I take it Dominic got the watch?"

"And you were going to use that to go after me?" Will asked, not sure he really wanted an answer right now but seeing no other way of getting a truthful one.

Kate sighed before shifting to get up. Some part of him still cared, and helped her settle into a sitting position with her back against the headboard. As soon as he saw her knowing smile he wanted to kick himself, this was another test and he just told her he still cared.

"Will, I will admit. When this whole operation began Dominic was our target but our orders were to move in on you if we found any evidence of you being connected to Cosmo." Her green eyes searched his for forgiveness. "But our operation was shut down before we ever got to that stage. What I recorded, I did out of curiosity than any real intent of putting you in jail. I know what you did for him and I told you, you have nothing to worry about." She said, searching his eyes. "Please believe me."

Will hesitated before reaching out to take her uninjured hand and look her in the eye. "I don't know who to believe anymore, Kate."

She nodded as a look of pity and understanding settled in her eyes. "My real name is Katherine Price, although it might as well be Kate Meyers now." The glint of an engagement ring brought a smile to his face. "I grew up in London but lived on the move since joining Interpol ten years ago. I have no relatives to speak of and both parents have passed away. As of yesterday I've officially been relieved of all Interpol duties and have no intentions of clueing them into your affairs. As far as Interpol is concerned you're a successful lawyer with no ties to the Sicilian mafia or otherwise."

Her sensual smile made it difficult not to reciprocate. And even though he still felt uneasy, something told him she was telling the truth. It wasn't like he could compare notes at the moment anyways, the one guy who could've made sense of this mess was gone and likely controlling a criminal empire now.

Kate seemed to read his thoughts and squeezed his hand lightly. "I'm sorry about Dominic. It can't be easy to accept that from a friend."

"It's not." Will shook his head before changing topics. "So what are you going to do next?"

Gently tilting her head she chuckled softly as she looked around. "First things, physio. The doctors say I'll be fine in about four months or so but I'm determined to cut that estimate in half. As for work...I'm not sure. As corrupt as Interpol has become, they still give a decent severance package. It should be enough to start my own counseling practice and put that psych degree to better use I suppose."

Smiling without hesitation Will said, "You're smart, observant and can get anyone to do anything. You sure you don't want work as a PI instead?"

Kate laughed lightly. "My days of espionage are over, Will. I'm tired of spinning tales and gaining people's trust only to shatter it. I'm looking forward to building real relationships with people for a change." Smiling to herself she added, "But if I ever get bored...I take it your offer will stand?"

"You bet," Will assured, glancing to the door when he heard a sound. It passed just as soon as it started when Liam's voice cut in to solve whatever dispute was out there. "So what happens to Liam?"

"That idiot. Great partner but takes stupid risks. When Jeff told me he was going on the stand and fabricate a story I wanted to kill him myself. If Interpol ever found out we'd both land in jail, so I took his place and told the real story, using my testimony and of course blowing any chance of using Dominic as an asset in the future by tipping him off to the status of our investigation." She shook her head as her eyes fluttered with exhaustion. "He's a good investigator, a bit ambitious and stubborn, but good when it counts."

Placing a hand on her shoulder he steadied her. "You need to rest."

"I'm alright," she said, fighting sleep and stifling a yawn and sobering quickly.

"Thanks for telling me everything and coming clean," Will said, watching her carefully and ready to help her lay down when exhaustion won over. "It's just...a lot to process right now."

"I understand," she said, patting his hand and letting go. "But Cook County seems to be my new home and I'm not going anywhere. If there's anything I can do to alleviate your concerns or clear this mess up, don't hesitate to talk to me."

Accepting everything at face value would mean choosing to believe Kate over his best friend. But Kate was still here while his so called best friend was not and although it'd take time for all of this to clear up, he knew one thing that never would. His friendship with Dominic was over but he gained a new one in return.

"Okay," he said finally to Kate's relieved expression.

That's when the door creaked open and Liam walked in, followed by Jeff who shot him a scathing glare. Aside from an icepack on his hand, there was no trace of a fight on Jeff's well groomed hair and wrinkle-free suit making Will feel like a scrapper.

"What's he doing here?" Jeff asked Liam, as he strode over to his fiancée's side and took a seat.

"Kate could you please tell your boyfriend to pipe down before I have to wreck his pretty face," Liam said before disappearing through the door.

Left without a target, Jeff's anger shifted to Will but not before Kate's soft hand found his cheek and his eyes softened her way. "Hey, how're you feeling?"

"Good, although I'd be much better if you didn't go biting people's heads off." Taking his bruised hand in her own, she examined it carefully and shook her head. "What—"

She didn't get to finish that sentence as Jeff leaned in and kissed her softly. Her hand tangled in his hair, just as glad to see him as he was to see her and Will took that as his cue to leave.

Silently padding out he smiled and closed the door on the happy couple.

"A real Romeo and Juliette, let me tell ya," Liam said from a nearby bench.

Moving past the two guards, Will strode down the hallway towards him. "You have one hell of a partner. Take good care of her."

"Will do gov'," Liam saluted as Will passed.

The tasty glass of wine wasn't doing its job. One glass usually calmed her, a second was enough to numb the reality of being a lawyer and a third guaranteed dreamless sleep. It was a great routine which is why she stuck with it so long. But lately that one glass was turning to three if she wanted the same effect. No wonder Grace thought she was an alcoholic.

Setting her glass down she looked at it quizzically.

It's what mom did back in the day. But she was too young to understand what feelings her mom tried to dull. Now that she was older and alone on the couch with nothing but her cell phone, debating her tenth try for Will's answer... she understood.

Love was stupid. So many physiological reactions accompanied one emotion, it was a miracle people were able to function when they fell in love. But what amazed her most of all was how raw, feral and new the whole thing seemed. She loved Peter, sure she did, they had kids, a family, stability, but it was never like this.

She remembered their times out, when they'd fool around and much of it felt...safe. She never had to worry because Peter wasn't 'one of those guys' who came home late. She smiled at her foolishness, he was exactly one of those guys but without the excitement or the warning of being one. She knew she could sit here and blame him for ages, but the truth was she let him get that way. He projected safety and she just went for it. The poor girl from an influential yet broken family needed safety and allowed herself to be blindsided. It was embarrassing and now here she was drinking a glass of wine trying not to listen to these thoughts and go back to being safe.

Her phone didn't get any new calls and Will didn't return any of hers to the point where she was starting to get worried. When Canning announced that Dom and his guard weren't pressing charges she raced out of holding ready to sit down and ask both of them to clue her in. But they were gone and with Kate's accident looming over her head, she didn't want Will in the same room with Dom.

It was getting colder now and she half expected the kids to return home already, but they sounded just fine on the phone, having fun with dad and enjoying the last bits of their long vacation and ready to come home on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Owen was back with Ben, picking up right where they left off. That meant she was alone tonight and if Will didn't answer his phone she'd be cold too.

The doorbell rang and she practically flew to the door, throwing it open to see Will on the other side. Light stubble speckled his jaw and the wind had some fun with his hair, but mainly the light bruise on his cheek and small spots of blood on his collar from the fight told her he didn't even get a chance to go home yet.

"Can I come in?" Will asked nervously after a moment of her just taking him in, assessing the damage with her eyes and not just the physical as his red eyes revealed.

"Yeah, yes of course." She tugged him in but found herself pinned in his arms before she could even close the door. Relaxing, they stood like that, each breathing the other in both knowing the worst was over now. Will kicked the door closed when she walked them backwards towards the living room.

The news stations continued to milk the story of Mezzogiorno's CEO late into the night. Every damn channel said the same thing and yet they felt the need to repeat it every half hour with obnoxious not guilty stamps splayed over footage of Dom's body guard getting punched. Any other day it wouldn've been a media nightmare, but the more Will watched with dead eyes the less it seemed real. As if all this was happening to some big shot with an expensive lawyer not two friends.

Pictures of Kate littered the screen as some analysts talked about her involvement with the case. Next a messed up wreckage of twisted steel and tires from the accident. Running both hands over his face he sat up when Alicia returned, tearing his gaze from the gruesome images when she hit the mute button.

They sat in comfortable silence, a better mood surrounding them than the depressing one back in court. If nothing else, at least this nightmare was over.

"Congratulations, Dominic is free," Alicia said but dropped her light tone presumably due to his pained expression.

He never told her the link between him, Kate and Dominic. Now he debated if that was even a good idea.

Thankfully Alicia didn't wait for an answer and slipped her hand into his. So soft, caring and the only innocent thing left in this mess of a case. Covering it with both of his own, he lifted it up to brush his lips against the silky skin.

"I'm sorry about Kate," she said, shattering his assumptions. She looked contemplative for a moment. "She was close to Jeffrey."

"Jeffrey?" He asked in amusement, wondering when she started using his first name.

"Meyers," she added, caressing his cheek, trailing the light bruise. "You need ice."

"It's fine," he whispered, smiling.

She started to get up but he gently pulled her down into his lap. Her arms wrapped over his shoulders held him close, signalling the end of her resistance. Will breathed her in, holding her tight as his body succumbed to her soft massage.

Alicia always cared about other people, it was one thing he loved about her the most. Unfortunately that meant she'd work herself to the ground, skipping meals and bending over backwards just to make sure the world kept spinning. He could feel the tension in her own body as he ran soothing hands over her back and sides. This case hit her harder than he thought, she felt lighter under his touch and the smile he found so alluring rarely made an appearance since their first night a while back.

Leaning back but still holding her securely, Will looked up to the woman who owned his heart. She was smiling down at him, that sexy one reserved just for him and it was hard to bite back on what he wanted to do, but he had to if he was going to say this right.

"Alicia," he began, stopping when her hand slipped into his hair with a silk caress. Allowing himself to enjoy the moment, he continued right away, "come back to Lockhart Gardner."

She stilled and he could feel the unease return to her body along with all the tension he tried to coax out earlier. Alicia didn't say a word as she stared down at him. He could see the gears start to turn as she analyzed this proposal, probably thinking of how many bridges she's already burnt, blaming herself a hundred different ways.

"We need you—"

"I can't." Pausing she looked for a way out but he only held her closer.

"Why? Is it money? I can match Canning dollar for dollar now," Will said, trying to assure her. He wasn't going to let her go.

"Will, how can I ask you or Diane to trust me after the way I left?" She said.

Here it was, the loyalty argument that all lawyers swore by but Alicia actually took seriously. He tried to stifle a smile when her curious eyes landed on him. "Alicia, you did what you had to do. Diane and I respect that."

"You needed me and I left," she said sadly.

He wasn't sure if she was talking about the grand jury or the financial crises that nearly ended the firm before Dom showed up, but he didn't care. All that mattered was getting that guilty look out of her eyes and getting her back. "We were a sinking ship, Alicia. No employer expects their best people to sink with them, it's selfish."

"You were on trial—"

"And that's not your fault," he said, running a comforting hand up her arm to rest on her shoulder. "It's over now. The firm's doing better than ever and we need you." Eyes dipping dangerously low, he added, "I need you."

The hand on her shoulder slid along her face, coaxing her to meet his eyes. Sitting up and keeping her firmly in his lap, Will brought his lips to hers, light, methodical and with a touch of blind need to prove that he wasn't letting her go. Not this time. Alicia seemed to be on the same brain wave as she submitted without surrendering. Her hands found the base of his neck and brought him closer as they explored each other's mouths, slowly, thoroughly, completely ignoring the rest of the world.

"So," he groaned, leaning back against his will.

"So," she echoed, grinning, keeping her lips close to his.

"My offer," Will said, smiling as he tried another slow, sensual, seductive kiss which Alicia willingly returned.

"You make a good argument," Alicia said in-between, gasping when his lips found that sensitive spot on her neck. He felt her fingers dig into his hair once more and knew he had her. "I...might..." He tried to draw back and see the answer in her eyes but she kept him still. "Don't move. Don't move..."

He didn't need more encouragement as he worked the spot. Keeping her distracted was easy and the little whoop of excitement when he suddenly lifted her up had them laughing all the way to the bedroom.

Morning came too soon when the sun rays hit her eyes. And yet it wasn't so bad at the same time. The warm body spooning her back and tingling her skin with soft puffs of air made this particular morning a great one.

Moving carefully so as not to wake him, she turned in his arms only to find chocolate brown eyes already taking her in.

"Hey," she said, stifling a yawn.

He replied with another one of those kisses that melted her heart. When they broke apart, resting their foreheads together he whispered a 'hey' back.

Last night was another turning point. They managed to get a whole conversation out before hitting the mattress this time and talked through most of the night, interspersed with some exercises he managed to tell her about Dom and Kate. While she knew there was something between him and the mysterious woman she didn't bother pushing it. What would be the point now that she was engaged to Jeffrey? It would only put him back in that dark place and she was enjoying that boyish smile too damn much to do that to him.

The only parts of the story she really wanted to understand was Dom's motivation. Dominic was always a level headed guy who did the right thing regardless of what anyone said. But at the same time he had an almost cult like bond with his family. She didn't want to think of what possible influences made him do what he did to twenty innocent people.

"What's up?" Will must've noticed her spaced out look.

"Nothing," she tried to assure as she stroked the faded scars on his neck. They were basically healed now and she knew she owed Kate big time for that. The reminder made her want to flush all her jewels down the toilet.

Will snagged that hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. "I can hear the gears turning, Alicia."

She smiled, loving the way light stubble felt on her palm. "I'm just thinking about Dominic. He's gone now," she said, hating how vulnerable she sounded but couldn't help worrying about a friend.

"With good reason," Will added. The sharp edge in his tone only piqued her curiosity. He told her about the fallout but never what started it in the first place. And although she could believe Dominic had something to do with the death of twenty people, she found it hard to think Will hated him completely. You couldn't just write a friend off in the span of a day, or month, or hell even a year as in her case with Kalinda.

"What happened between you two?" She asked, searching, trying to get past his hastily erected poker face.

"It doesn't matter now. He's gone, let it go." Another kiss to her wrist made her eyes flutter. Knowing she'd need to put distance between them if they were ever going to have this conversation she started to move only to feel his arm tugging her back. "No don't," he almost pleaded.

She stilled, looking down to him seriously even as her heart nearly broke at the way he pleaded. "Then tell me what's going on. I'm not doing secrets this time," she said, reaching out to smooth his stray hair. "You lost your best friend. I want to know why?" She pushed memories of Kalinda down hard as she said this. That was different, they weren't...it wasn't pertinent now.

Will avoided her eyes before sinking back into the pillows. She stayed propped on her elbows, looking down at him as that haunted look returned.

"When I first started practicing, Cosmo was in the process of bringing Mezzo stateside." Taking a calming breath he met her eyes. "He wanted my help and I jumped at the chance. I'd bring major business to the firm and I'd be working next to a mentor. It was picture perfect." A sad look crossed his face but he continued, "I tied the deal to our firm and Cosmo became a partner. That's when he began acting weird. He wanted access to our charge account and I caught him trying to get authorization from accounting."

Alicia frowned. Generally partners needed the authority of two other partners if not the whole board before they'd get access to accounting. The fact that he went at it alone would set off alarm bells. "You took this to your partners?"

"No," Will said, shaking his head regretfully. "I confronted him. Owed him that much for bringing in big business. That's when he broke down and told me what bringing the business to the states was really about. The stores were money laundering fronts for his friends in the Sicilian mafia."

Letting that sink in, Alicia took a shaky breath. All those days at Dom's house suddenly made sense. Cosmo's office was a revolving door with men in suits visiting on a daily basis, they always thought it had something to do with the business and now they knew which one. "What did you do?" Alicia asked, rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to ease some of that regret.

"I listened. He told me how they approached him with an offer he couldn't refuse and it was basically do or die back home. They were going to run him out of business if he didn't agree and help expand their money laundering operations."

"So he expanded thanks to blood money," Alicia concluded.

"Right," Will said. "I wanted to blow the whistle but then he told me he was dying." Alicia perked up, finding that a little too convenient. "I know, that's what I thought." Will said, reading her expression. "But it turned out to be legitimate. He needed money for treatment and couldn't use his own funds because they were now being siphoned through the mafia. He couldn't let them know he was weak, they'd take him out and replace him with someone who wasn't."

"How much did he need?" Alicia asked.

"Forty-thousand dollars for a private doctor in Switzerland who was doing clinical trials with an experimental drug."

Now everything made sense, why he endured the grand jury, why he covered the money trail, why he didn't want her involved.

He took her hand and laced their fingers together.

"He promised to pay me back the minute he got his cut from the mafia. It took two years but they finally gave him a clean cut that I was able to put back into a client's account. He made me promise never to tell Dom what he was part of or what he did." At this point Will crumbled, all the years of holding this in finally washed over him as he choked back emotion and tried to get up. But Alicia held him back, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and drawing him into a sideways hug. "I had to tell him..."

"Shhh," she soothed, running comforting circles over his side.

They stayed like that for a moment, neither willing to let go as the ramifications fell down around them. Years of carefully built but ultimately wrong decisions finally washed away.

When he was under control again, he continued, "he returned the money, but I screwed up. I got caught trying to put it back and it spooked him and his people enough to back out before anyone could make the link. I basically killed him. Dom's with them now because I screwed up."

"No," she said, holding him tight. "He's with them because he chose to be with them. Will, you didn't make the best decision but I'm glad they caught on." At his confused look she explained. "What do you think would've happened when the stores got busted for money laundering? How different do you think turtle's life would've been?" At his silence she continued, "he wouldn't be here walking like he owns the world."

"Twenty people would still be alive," Will said.

"Yes," she said, trying to get him to see that it was not his fault. "But that's on Dominic, not you. You put yourself at risk to help his father, you did more than any friend would have done. Cosmo had no right to ask you to keep this from Dom and place that burden on your back but it's over now."

Some of her words looked like they stuck. And even though she knew it would be months before he could properly forgive himself, she knew that being honest with her was a start. She wasn't going to let anything this convoluted get between them again.

Dipping his head he caught her lips again in a gentle kiss that conveyed more than his thanks, but a promise.

She couldn't help but make it verbal when they broke for air. "I want this. So no more secrets, okay?"

"No more secrets," he replied, with hopeful eyes and kissed her again.

Lockhart/Gardner hadn't changed much since her year long absence. Everyone was still there and the large volume of new faces allowed her to start fresh. A few people from her days were there, third years now, just like herself. The weird animosity and cloak & dagger competitive vibe was gone now that they were higher on the food chain. Requests for drinks still came her way and even though she politely declined, nobody seemed to take it personally. It just wasn't her thing and they really didn't want to change their routine anyways.

She was back and loving it. The only real change was her new office on the forty-second floor, with the rest of the third years. It had a nice view and put her closer to Will.

Diane knocked, bringing her out of her thoughts. "Alicia, sorry to throw you in so soon but we're meeting for the Trey deposition in five minutes."

"I'll be right there," Alicia said, diving into her papers. When Diane didn't move she looked up again.

"It's good to have you back, Alicia," Diane said, giving her a genuine smile.

Relief flooded through Alicia. She wasn't sure how Diane would take her moving back, but the business was so good that it looked like any bridges she burned weren't beyond repair. "Thank you. It's good to be back," Alicia replied.

Diane walked off to join the others and Alicia took another look around her office, making sure she had everything.

Another knock sounded.

"Almost there," Alicia said without looking up. They weren't kidding when they said she'd hit the ground running.

"Actually, I was wondering if you could spare a sec."

That voice with a hint of Irish brought her face to face with Liam. The illusive witness that Meyers practically dangled in front of her only to pull away at the last moment looked better now. Clean shaven and dry eyed he looked a lot more respectable in that leather jacket than that time it was paired with workman's pants.

"Actually," she began, hesitating. There was so much she wanted to know, but this was not the right time. "I need to go. We can talk later."

"I was hoping now would work better. I'd really like to get something off my hands before the hounds come for it," he replied, shifting on both feet, clearly uncomfortable.

This was her first day back and making the right impression was life or death right now. She could see people settling in at the conference table.

"Can I help you?" a voice beside him asked.

Alicia's eyes settled on Kalinda as she stopped at his side. And some things just didn't change. Forcing her look of contempt down, she had no choice but to let her intervene as the conference room filled.

"Kalinda Sharma, next best thing I guess," Liam replied, taking both women for a shock.

"Look, you two can talk...I need to," Alicia said, trying to extricate herself.

"I got this," Kalinda said, keeping sharp eyes on Liam, echoing the confrontational attitude that she had with Blake but coming with more curiosity than cautiousness.

Taking her seat next to Will she watched them from the corner of her eye as they waited on opposing counsel to get there.

"Is that Liam?" Will asked, leaning over to her.

She looked to him with surprise. "Wait, you know him?"

"Sort of," he said, watching carefully as Kalinda led the man away to her office. "What did he want?"

Alicia shrugged in answer as opposing counsel walked in.

Will sat behind his desk, forming a steeple with his hands as he looked between the pictures and files on his desk and Liam, the man who brought them over.

Kalinda, perched on the corner of his desk had an unreadable expression, but kept a close eye on Liam. Alicia stood between them looking unsure, worried and nervous all at the same time. He could feel her tension mix with his own. This was huge.

"I don't understand. You worked with Kate, why didn't both of you just take this to your higher ups at Interpol?" Will asked.

"You saw what happened at your trial. We're a corrupt department, Mr. Gardner," Liam replied, eyes darting between him and settling on Kalinda. "Course', you'd know all about that."

"They pulled the investigation, but Kate and Liam continued it on their own," Kalinda offered, eyes still on Liam.

"You were going to testify," Alicia said, not caring about the weak ethics of disclosure for this. "What happened?"

"Kate happened. I offered to go hostile but she told me to keep my head down and took my place." He shrugged, "Gotta admit, she was more involved than I was."

"Your scars tell us otherwise," Alicia said. Kalinda and Will both looked at her questioningly. "When you met with Mr. Meyers and me, you showed us scars inflicted on you by Mr. Turelli. We could have opened an assault maybe kidnapping case against him but you went hostile."

Liam grinned, shifting deeper into his seat as he watched her carefully. "We had to convince you to put me up on the stand, but I couldn't risk looking like I was helping you. Bosses were watching. But she always said you had a way of connecting with abused clients. Glad the scars went to good use."

"What?" Alicia asked as the feeling of being used washed over her.

"Staged, sorry sweetheart those scars weren't gifts from Turelli."

"Don't call her that," Kalinda and Will said coolly at the same time, creating some awkwardness in the room for Liam to revel in.

"The events happened but the man in question is dead and no body's been found. I just took his identity, that's why Kate had a fit about it," Liam explained.

At this point Will didn't know where legal ethics began and where they ended. Technically he should report this, but seeing as how this wasn't their case anymore he could sit on his thumbs without reprimand.

"What do you want us to do with this?" Will asked after a while.

"Anything you can. Interpol burns me tomorrow and with that they'll take my work and bury it," Liam explained as a pained expression came over him. "Everything me and the queen bee worked for will disappear. We know it."

The documents he brought listed years of detailed systemic fraud. While it wasn't enough to pin Dominic to any serious charge, it would make it harder for him to expand internationally.

Picking a picture of Kate's look of forced control as she drove down the street, he made his decision. Reaching into his desk, he pulled an old notebook, found the card and gave it to Liam.

"Patrick Benjamin. He's clean and he tried turning me against Cosmo Turelli's years ago, give him a call and give all this to him."

Liam accepted the card but didn't seem convinced. "Hang on now. You don't want to do anything?"

"If we sue now, he'll get away with fraud. He'll manipulate the system any way he can and we'd get a repeat of my trial. Take this to Patrick, he might even offer you protection."

Liam seemed to consider arguing, but the three determined faces kept his mouth shut. Gathering his evidence he stood.

"And Liam, when this is all over, consider working for us sometime," Will said, ignoring Kalinda's surprised look. "You and Kate did one hell of a job."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said before leaving.

Alicia looked like she wanted to stay, but a calm glance from him got her moving. Kalinda wanted an explanation but he really wanted to talk first.

When the door closed she rounded on him. "Looking for a new investigator?"

"A second one," he replied, looking at her carefully. She was withdrawn, even more so than usual and that spark of energy was slowly dying out. At first he thought it was because of the case, but even now he realized it was just too much work for one person. "You need a second pair of eyes, K. I barely saw you when we were working the biggest case of the year."

She seemed to consider his words but replied, "I can handle it."

"I know you can. That's why you'll be hiring and you'll be the supervisor," Will said, smiling at her deer in headlights expression. "This isn't punishment. You're brilliant and I've been working you too hard."

She nodded in understanding and even let a small smile slip. "Thanks."

With that she was out the door.

Alicia caught up with her in a heartbeat, slipping into the elevator. At first she didn't want to say anything, after all she was the one who recommended they don't say anything, but that was a long time ago. Too long.

She could feel Kalinda's unease and it hurt to know that she was the cause.

"Look, I just want to say it's a new day," Alicia began, as she reached over and pressed the button for the ground floor. "I want to start fresh."

Kalinda watched her thoughtfully and Alicia was sure their friendship was done when she didn't say anything for the longest time. Then her shoulders relaxed and...was that nervousness? "I'd...like that too."

The admission, while small meant a lot and the tension in the tiny car eased when the doors opened on the ground floor.

Feeling courageous Alicia turned back to see Kalinda was still watching her, nervous, waiting to see if this was real. "There used to be this tradition of Tequila shots around here."

"I don't think it left," Kalinda offered, smiling only when Alicia laughed and led the way out.

It was well past midnight at Will's place and he was alone. Today marked the end of a saga and return to normal ground. He was happy to put all this behind him and ecstatic to have Alicia back, but the bitter taste of putting the final nail in Dom's looming coffin didn't sit right with him.

At the same time, Alicia's words urging him to let it go echoed in his head. He smiled at the thought of her. It was late but he knew exactly where she was by the frequent drunk texts coming his way from both her and Kalinda, urging him to come down and check out the vacancy.

He wanted to, but there was something about hotels he wanted to avoid, so he sent her the invite to his place instead and regretted not taking her up on the offer instead, as he brooded in the apartment alone.

The sloppy entrance, mixed with the clatter of keys and a laugh let him know she was home. He smiled, liking it, home.

She stumbled into his arms and they both sank to the floor, laughing at the scene.

"Hey," she said, lazily, cradled against him.

"Hey yourself," he replied, "had fun?"

"Tequila," she answered, with a sigh. "Fixes everything, you should've had some."

"Maybe next time," he said, smiling as he started to pick her up. "Bed?"

"No." She stopped him with a hand over his heart and studying him through the haze. "How are you? I mean...Dom...the evidence...Liam...office? You okay?"

Will smiled at her slurs and attempts to make sense. But knew she wouldn't move without an answer. "I didn't want to do it. But I'll be fine."

"Yeah?" She inquired, looking sober and thoughtful.

"Yeah." Distracting her with a kiss he picked her up and headed for the bedroom, unable to stop a chuckle at her relieved expression.

"We'll be fine," she whispered, passing out as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Taking off her shoes and as much else as he could, he curled up beside her and held her close. "We'll be fine," he echoed before drifting to dreamless sleep.

The End

A/N: And that's a wrap folks! This has been my favorite fandom to write for; I've never received such structured and well put together reviews before. Thank you for making this process as fun for me as it seemed to be for you. I look forward to writing more Good Wife fics!

So what do you think? Loved it? Hated it? I'd love to hear your thoughts but you already knew that ;D