A/N: Okay, I wasn't going to start a new story until Closer to Fine was finished, and I am not! This is just a sneak peek that you can thank Blitz for, as she convinced me it was okay to let you all have a sneak peek! So, this will not be updated until Closer to Fine is complete, which should be by the end of this weekend if all goes to plan! In the meantime, enjoy and let me know what you think!

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The blonde sank below the warm water, letting it engulf her for a moment before surfacing. Coming up for air, she let out another silent sob. She didn't want to be caught, not by them.

Picking the bottle up from the floor, she shook out the pills. Looking at them for only a moment, she took every one of them, fighting her gag reflex at the bitter taste. Picking up her bottle of scotch she drank till she couldn't drink anymore.

Laying her head back against the porcelain tub, she tried to think of happier times, times with her. Feeling her head start to spin from the liquor and barbiturates, she let herself sink a little deeper in the water. Finally, she felt better, she finally felt like the pain was starting to ease off. She'd be back in the arms of her love soon, then everything would be okay again.

Present day...

"Arthur, with all due respect pick another ADA, or better yet let me pick, it's my unit after all." Alex Cabot stressed pacing the unamused District Attorney's office. Despite knowing that she was overstepping greatly, she couldn't help but argue the potential transfer of her new assistant district attorney. She'd built and molded her unit into a powerful winning team, she couldn't have someone subpar working with them.

The balding white haired man stood quickly with a look of disdain on his face, "Sit down, Alexandra." Without needing to be told again, the blonde quickly sat, a slight look of fear falling over her face. "You may have forgotten, but you work for me. Therefore, your unit is my unit, and I get to make all the final decisions...don't make me show you how far that control goes..."

Sitting himself he continued, "Casey Novak, is a great ADA. She is driven, and relentless. She will be a great asset to your team, you should be happy."

"I'm anything but happy. She is also cocky, bold, and stubborn. Those traits don't make for a good team player. It also doesn't make her a good candidate to talk to victims..."

"You better watch yourself, Alexandra!" Arthur Branch exclaimed as he stood again, "Don't make me regret making you the Executive Assistant. I promise I won't hesitate to remove you if need be. Casey Novak is coming to your team and you need to be prepared, because she is going to be working Manhattan...and before you balk again, I want you to remember all those traits you just listed off about her are winning traits of your own..."

The blonde could only close her mouth and stare defiantly at her boss. She wasn't happy with his decision, but there was little she could do to argue with him. There was no changing his mind at this point. Finally succumbing to his decision, she stood and walked to the door, holding the handle firmly she gritted, "When does she start?"

"Tomorrow. Try and make her feel welcome, Alexandra." He sighed watching the tall blonde roll her eyes and walk from the room. As he sat back in his chair, he could only shake his head. He knew the two women would make a powerhouse out of Sex Crimes, and that in time, Alex would too, then she'd be back to thank him.

Pressing a button on his phone he paged his assistant, "Jeanie, get me Casey Novak on the phone."

Casey Novak paced her best friend's office. She had just been informed that her transfer request had been approved, but the transfer was less than desirable. "Kim, how the hell am I supposed to work with her? She's impossible! And I am fairly certain she hates me already!"

Leaning back in her chair while pinching the bridge of her nose, the brunette sighed, "Okay, first, can you stop pacing? You are making me nauseous doing that. Two, how the hell is it that she already hates you, when you two have never worked with each other?"

Collapsing in a chair opposite the desk, the redhead smirked, "Well, so I may have been at a softball game last spring, when my detectives called me needing a warrant immediately. They'd gotten a tip from an employee that documents were being shredded. So, I immediately made my way to the courthouse, outfit and all. When I got there it was ten to six, and well, needless to say, I ran the whole way to the elevator, and as I reached it Cabot was on her way up too..."

With this knowledge, Kim sat up straight in her seat, "And..."

"And... Petrovsky was the only judge working..."

"Casey! You didn't!"

"I did..." The redhead said with a big smile on her face, "I could see the panic in her eyes. She asked if I was there for a warrant and I said yes. Instantly she started pleading out her case, she knew,, just like I did that Petrovsky would leave at six on the dot and she'd be stuck with Donnelly who'd be less sympathetic...I just grinned at her and she kicked off her heels knowing what was going to happen..."

"Oh god, Casey..." Kim groaned as she closed her eyes knowing exactly where this was going.

"The second the doors opened we took off running down the hallway...she never stood a chance, as we neared she had to slow, but I just slid along the floors straight to the door thanks to my cleats." The redhead was all smiles telling the story dramatically with her arms. "It was epic! The look on her face was priceless and so worth it."

"You should be ashamed of yourself, taking a warrant from Sex Crimes!" The brunette scolded.

"Nope, that was the best part, I got her the warrant." She beamed.

"How!"

"The judges bet on the softball games. I gave Petrovsky inside information for the favor," Casey laughed, "So, here we walk out of chambers, laughing, and Petrovsky bids us goodnight not even entertaining Alex's pleas. Cabot, turned on me so fast! She was furious, and I just handed her the paper with a bold grin. Her jaw was practically on the floor. I could only smirk and tell her she officially owed me dinner."

"She's going to wipe the floor with you." Kim sighed shaking her head.

"Yep," Casey replied letting her head fall back as she looked at the ceiling...knowing the blonde was in the office directly over her. "I am fairly certain of that one..."

Two weeks later...

Saying work had turned into a nightmare would be an understatement...work had become a living hell for Casey. Every morning, she forced herself out from her fiancé's warm embrace and into the shower an hour earlier than normal. Working under Alexandra Cabot was exhausting.

Sitting at her desk, Casey stretched thinking back over to their discussion, well more argument, in the hallway earlier. The blonde hadn't been pleased with how she'd handled a line up, and promptly questioned where she'd learned such shoddy personal skills in front of a hallway full of people. Casey simply smirked at her, full on ignoring the crowd of people, before asking where the blonde had learned to be such a stuck up bitch. The look on Cabot's face had made it a well-used statement. She'd effectively sank the self-righteous attorney's battleship and felt damn good about it.

Standing, Casey made her way to her coffee maker, flipping it on, she looked out the window at the busy streets below. Watching the people move around like ants, she couldn't help but wonder if the blonde was trying to push her to resign. She knew Alex was known for being an ice queen, but had never known her to be so cut throat. As her coffee maker beeped, Casey fixed a cup and made her way to her office couch to work on the mounting paperwork so nicely provided by her higher up.

Hearing a knock at her door, she sighed, she was in no way ready for more harassment. "Come in!" She called out, muttering, "If you must," under her breath.

"Ms. Novak," Quinn, Casey's brunette assistant, began, "Branch's office just called down. He wants to see you right now."

"Shit, Serena must have said something to McCoy." She muttered rubbing her hands through her hair, "Thanks, Quinn, I will head right up." Watching the woman turn to leave, Casey quickly asked, "Hey wait, tell me did Ms. Cabot get called up as well?" The young woman turned and nodded yes, before exiting.

Casey stood and brushed her pants suit smooth. This was not how she planned her day to go at work. Fighting with her superior, being overloaded with paperwork, and getting called to her boss's office for a lecture wasn't how she wanted to spend any day. Sighing deeply, she headed out of the office and down the hall to the lift. Stepping inside, she pressed the button to the fifth floor, but before the doors could shut she was joined by Alex.

The blonde stared at the redhead. "Branch?"

"Yes," Casey sighed.

"Serena?"

Casey smirked, "Yeah, I think so. Abbie always says she can't help but share a juicy secret."

"It's true," Alex sighed, "Of course the hallway was pretty packed."

"Yep, maybe next time you could wait till we were alone to tear into me."

"Me? What about you?" Alex snapped.

"About me...hmm...I like long walks on the beach, Broadway plays, Times Square at New Years, the Macy's Day parade, snow, pepperoni pizza and cold beer..."

"You're a smart ass, Novak." The blonde chastised as the elevator came to a stop, "That's what I don't like about you."

"Really? That's it? Then why do I feel like there is so much more to it?" Casey said softly as the doors opened. Walking out ahead of the slightly dazed blonde she turned, "And for your information, I'd prefer there never be another time."

Alex stood stunned until the doors began to close. Jumping to stop them and exit herself, she wondered what it was exactly about the redhead that drove her so mad. She hated to be showed up and Casey had an amazing ability of doing just that. The redhead was quick on her toes both figuratively and literally and Alex couldn't stand it.

Reaching Branch's office, they were immediately ushered inside. Walking in, Alex knew they were in for a tongue lashing. The District Attorney looked furious.

"Take a seat, ladies," he commanded as he moved to close the door behind them. "Would you two like to explain why I got a call from numerous people this afternoon regarding the screaming match you two decided to have in the hallway?"

"I wouldn't really call it a screaming match," Alex began only to be cut off.

"This isn't your moment to defend yourself, Ms. Cabot. I want to know what you two were yelling about."

"She was upset with how I chose to handle a victim." Casey interjected ready to move this meeting along.

Branch scowled at the blonde, "And you thought the middle of the hallway was the place to conduct this discussion?"

"No, I was trying to talk to her in the elevator, but she didn't want to talk to me."

"Because you've been nothing but overbearing and rude since I joined your team." Casey snapped.

Holding up his hands, Branch interjected, "I've heard enough. You two need to work this out and that's the big and small of it. I don't know why you two are so hostile with one another, and frankly, I don't care. So, I am going to tell you how this is going to go down. You two are my best ADA's and that's why I have you working the positions you are in, so if you'd like to keep your jobs then I suggest you start learning to like one another."

As he looked the women over, he took pleasure in the fact that they both looked mighty sheepish. "So, I suggest you two take some time to get to know one another. Now I'd like you two to stand and shake hands."

Alex cringed at the ridiculous request, but stood with Casey anyway. Looking into the redhead's emerald eyes, Alex smirked, holding out her hand. However, as the redhead took it, she felt something remarkable...she felt an instantaneous warmth surge through her. A warmth that made her cheeks flush a little and her heart rate speed up, along with an odd sense of something she couldn't quite yet place.

Quickly shaking Casey's hand, she let go. The moment the contact was gone, Alex wanted it back. She wanted it to such a degree that she contemplated pulling Casey into her arms, before getting a grip on herself. Branch continued to speak to them for a few more minutes, but all Alex could think about was Casey. There was something about this woman and she just couldn't place it, and what she found even more concerning was how sudden this feeling seemed to be to her. She couldn't help but realize that it occurred when she'd touched the redhead, which only made her wonder if she had touched Casey before, but she couldn't exactly remember.

Casey tried to listen to her boss, but she couldn't, her mind was full of Alexandra Cabot, and she didn't know why. A simple handshake, that's all it was, all it was supposed to be at least. Yet it wasn't, it was so much more. The sensation she felt when she's taken the blonde's hand was unbelievable. Warmth coursing through her veins...she'd never experienced a feeling like that before in her life.

"So, please continue to work on your office relationship. I'd hate to replace both of you," Branch finished. Noticing both women looked slightly glazed over, he shook his head, "Are you two even listening to me?" Both women slightly shook their heads clear. "You two may leave," he sighed.

The women didn't wait to be told again, both leaving rather quickly. Neither woman went the same way when they left the office, Alex took the elevator and Casey the stairs. Even though, they'd never admit it, they both were a little nervous by what had just occurred, and as a result, they didn't wish to be in close quarters again so soon. Mostly, because neither knew what may happen if they were alone together.

As Casey made it back to her office, she packed up her paperwork and notified her assistant that she would be working from home the rest of the evening. She needed to go home and clear her mind. However, her ride home was little but mind clearing since Alex called to arrange breakfast for the flowing morning. After that, all she could think about was the blonde.

Alex's bright blue eyes and how they seemed to change color with her moods. The shape of her lips and how she'd purse them when she was deep in thought. Her blonde hair and how it always looked perfect, followed by her long endless legs.

By the time, the cabbie told her she was home, Casey was flushed and breathing a little shallower. She couldn't figure out what was going on with herself. Before being in Branch's office, she found Alex cold and undesirable, however, now she felt as if she was in infatuated with her or something. The whole situation was mind boggling.

Walking into her building, she waved to her doorman, and headed straight to the elevator. She would open a bottle of wine when she reached her apartment...a glass of wine and a long hot bath could do wonders for a confused mind. Then she'd sit back and wait for Michael to come home.

However, as she unlocked her apartment door, she realized her fiancé was already home. Walking down the hall, she passed the table where their engagement picture sat before entering the living space. Seeing Michael sitting on the couch taking notes on the baseball game, Casey sighed. She'd be working in the bedroom or at the counter later.

"Hey babe, I thought you were working late," Michael questioned.

"No, Alex and I got in trouble for acting up again today," Casey replied as she set her bag down on the armchair next to him.

"Again," he questioned, "when was the first time?"

Casey caught her slip up and frowned, "We haven't."

"Are you sure? You seem a little confused on that fact."

"Yeah, it's nothing. Today was the first time," she mumbled walking into the kitchen and opening the wine. Her head seemed to be spinning. All she could think about was Alex and it was driving her nuts.

Pouring a generous glass, the redhead walked to the bathroom, drawing a nice hot bubble filled bath. Sinking in, she relished the feel of the warm water. Taking a long sip of wine, she tried to let the water ease away all the stress of the day.

Setting the glass down on the table next to her, she let her head fall beneath the water. The quiet as she let the water engulf her in its warmth was intoxicating. It reminded her of Alex's touch, Alex's mystery touch that set off a chain reaction inside of her. The chain reaction that caused endless images of her and the blonde together in different situations.

Surfacing from the water, Casey pulled her knees to her chest. She couldn't stop the images and feelings coursing through her body. What did all of it mean? What was she supposed to do now?

Finishing her wine, she climbed from the tub and slowly dressed. She wanted nothing more than to go to bed. Maybe she could sleep off all the conflicting feelings in her body.

Walking out of the bathroom to get into bed, she ran into Michael. The brown haired man smiled at her with his blue eyes shining, "Hey, my game is over. I was coming to join you."

"Yeah, I am just going to bed." Casey mumbled trying to push past him.

He held her gently by the shoulders, looking into her eyes, "Case, what's going on?"

"I, I just feel sick." She said pushing past and walking to the bedside.

Letting out a long sigh, he shook his head, "Did something happen at work? Something worse than you are letting on?"

"I don't even have words to explain any of it..." She mumbled pulling back the bedsheets. "I'm going to bed."

"I thought you had paperwork to do."

"Why are you harassing me?"

"Excuse me?" He asked, his eyes wide, "What is going on with you?"

"I don't know, please just let me be...please." She mumbled falling back onto the plush bedding.

"Casey," he said moving closer, "We are getting married baby, you can't lock me out."

With this, Casey sat up in bed and took one of his hands. It didn't affect her the same way Alex's had. In truth, he didn't affect her the same way at all. The knowledge was causing a whirlwind of confusion in her mind. Clutching his hand tighter, she looked into his eyes. "We need to talk..."

Meanwhile, four blocks down, Alex Cabot climbed into her bed. She'd had the world's longest day and all she wanted was to go to sleep. Pulling her cool percale sheets up, she let out a long sigh. Quickly sleep started to overtake her, and in her sleep addled brain, she whispered, "Casey, can you hold me?"

Shooting up in bed, the blonde scanned the room. In her head everything seemed so real, Casey was here and they were going to sleep, like every other night of their lives...their lives. She couldn't help but wonder where that thought had come from...their lives...