Long Way Home, Ch. 1
Rafael x Reader. CW: angst, gun violence, death of a loved one. Eventually language & smutty goodness. AU The Good Wife - for background - for those who didn’t watch, all you need to know really is that the amazing Josh Charles played Will Gardner on the Good Wife and he was killed off in season 5 (WAH!) He was a name partner at Lockhart Gardner, and the show was set in Chicago.
You sighed, taking in the empty apartment before you. It seemed so different empty.
“Mrs. Gardner? Anything else?” the burly mover asked interrupting your thoughts. You looked at him blankly before shaking your head, back into reality. “Ms. Y/L/N,” you corrected gently.
“Sorry, ma’am,” the mover apologized, taking note of your ring-less left hand. “Must’ve been a jerk.”
You hummed again, neither agreeing or disagreeing with him before turning to face the empty apartment once more. A breeze entered through the sole window that was open and you shivered. The necklace with your deceased husband’s wedding band felt heavy and you felt the weight of the world on your shoulders.
You dug into your jeans and pulled out the key to the apartment you shared with your husband - correction - dead husband- ‘was there a term for that?’ you wondered. You placed the key on the breakfast bar and shut the door.
“Goodbye Chicago,” you whispered. “Goodbye Will.”
****
About three and a half hours later, you were thrust back into the hum-drum that was JFK International Airport in Jamaica, Queens. ‘Home,’ you thought. Well, it had been for a long time until you decided to go to Northwestern University for undergraduate studies. You settled in Chicago after graduation, working at various agencies before getting your JD at Pritzker. It was after you received your degree that you started at Reddick, Boseman, & Kolstad before meeting the charming Will Gardner while being deposed as opposing counsel on a case you were investigating. Five years later, you two were happily married - both unaware of the tragedy that would befall just months later.
After grabbing your bag from the carousel, you decided to take the commuter rail to the subway, cutting your trip to Manhattan proper by an hour. Observing the outside world passing you from your seat, you felt very much like a tourist rather than a native. Chicago, like New York City, was very much an active city - but the vibe was very much different.
Hopping on the subway headed downtown, you wondered if anything would change. Your heart was heavy, and you recalled the events that occurred just two months prior.
*****
You furrowed your brow at the phone call coming through. It was Diane Lockhart, the co-managing partner of your husband’s firm.
You hit decline surreptitiously as you were in a meeting. The phone buzzed again and again, you saw Diane’s name. You hit decline again, trying to focus your attention back to your meeting. A few minutes later, you saw your assistant through the glass partition and you sighed. You motioned her to come in and you could see she was visibly upset.
“Y/F/N - Diane Lockhart is on the phone.”
“I can’t,” you began but your assistant shook her head.
“You need to take this call. It’s about Will.”
Excusing yourself, you took the call. You felt the floor give way and your wails filled the office.
*****
Blinking back the tears that brimmed your eyes, you focused back to the present. The subway lurched to a stop, and you realized you were at your stop. You bounded up the stairs back to the city before you and headed towards your new apartment on Broome Street.
Your phone buzzed and it was your sister-in-law - former, sister-in-law, you corrected yourself.
[Audrey, 3:44 PM: Landed safely?]
[Y/N, 3:46 PM: Yes. At new place]
[Audrey, 3:47 PM: Okay. Let’s talk soon. I miss you.]
You began to reply, when another text popped up.
[Audrey, 3:48 PM: Did you change your name on Facebook?!]
You groaned, feeling your head begin to pound. Instead of finishing your text, you deleted it and shoved your phone back into your bag.
After meeting with the building owner and getting a tour of your new apartment and its amenities, you decided to head back outside in search of food.
As you continued to walk, you heard the voices of children shrieking and laughing. Seeing that you were at a park, you entered, looking for a change in scenery while you continued hunting for food. You watched some children swing, while others ran around the elaborate jungle gym.
You leaned back against the chain link fence, wistfully watching the pure innocence in front of you.
“Ow! Ow!” A small boy began to wail, and instinctively you rushed over.
“Are you okay?” You questioned kneeling down, giving him a quick once over. “Where are you hurt?”
“My knee,” the boy sobbed. You looked at his knee that had a surface scratch and a goose egg developing.
“You’re okay,” you consoled him. “Just a small scratch. Are you alone? What’s your name?”
Just at that moment, a man clad in a suit jogged up to the two of you. “Noah! Are you okay?”
You looked up at the man in the suit. You stood and threw your hands up, automatically in defense. “Uh, your son fell. He’s okay.”
“Rafa’s not my dad. He’s my uncle,” Noah replied looking up at you with a toothy grin. “I’m fine,” he continued, forgetting about his injured knee. “Can I go back to playing?”
“Oh,” you replied. “Well, I think you gave your uncle quite a scare.”
“He did,” Rafael sighed, pressing the bridge of his nose. “Five more minutes Noah - ten cuidado!”
“I’ll let you get back to him,” you trailed, hitching your purse back onto your shoulder.
“Rafael Barba.”
“I’m sorry?” You replied, facing Rafael.
“My name. Rafael Barba.”
You gave him a small smile and rocked on your heels. “Y/F/N, Y/L/N. Nice to meet you.”
You watched Noah climb the monkey bars with ease. “Sweet kid you’ve got there.”
Rafael smiled. “Thanks. He had a tough start.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” you replied, shoving your hands into your pockets.
A quietness fell over the two of you as you watched Noah. You reached for your cellphone again, and your keys clattered on the ground. Rafael picked them up and handed them to you, but not before running his thumb on the keyfob from Lockhart-Gardner.
“Lockhart-Gardner,” he murmured. “Great firm. A shame what happened to that lawyer.”
Your breath hitched. It hadn’t dawned on you that news of the shooting would make it all the way to the east coast. “Uh, yeah,” you replied quietly.
“Are you a lawyer?” Rafael inquired.
“In-house investigator,” you replied. “Or was,” you corrected. “Know anyone hiring?” You continued half joking.
“Actually,” Rafael replied, “I am.”
“Come again?” You asked. “You’re hiring an investigator?”
Rafael fished out his business card and handed it to you. “I am an Assistant District Attorney. I work with the Special Victims Unit, and I am in need of a new legal investigator. Call my office and speak with Carmen, my paralegal.”
“Thanks, will do,” you replied, placing his card in your purse back with your keys. “I better get going.”
Rafael smiled at you and you began to pivot, but you turned back around. “Sorry, do you know a good place to eat around here?”
Rafael’s brows furrowed. “Anything in particular?”
“Anything,” you replied.
“There’s a great sandwich shop two blocks over. Chipilo. Get the Italian sub.”
You nodded. “Thanks again.” You gave him a small wave. “Have a great day.”
Rafael nodded. As you walked away, you heard him call out. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
You looked behind you and gave another small wave before continuing on your way.
{TBC}











