My first fic. No hating :) I know I don't have the best writing but I do appreciate constructive criticism. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own SVU or the characters, no matter how much I would like to.
Casey shot up into a sitting position in her bed. She was drenched in sweat and her heart was pounding like she had just finished running a marathon. The young ADA had just had another one of her horrific nightmares about Charlie. Ever since Casey had heard of Charlie's death, he had come back to haunt her in her dreams. He would throw her into the wall, smack her face and punch her in the ribs. Every blow was stronger and more painful than the one before. It was always the same. Night after night, for 3 long moths, sleep greeted her with one terrifying scenario after another. It had gotten to the point where Casey hated sleeping. And tonight was no exception. She had only tried sleeping because she had court in the morning. Reading the red numbers of the alarm clock on her bedside table, she deduced that she had 7 hours before she had to be at the courthouse 10 a.m. Knowing that she could either suffer through yet another day on little rest or try to go back to sleep, Casey sighed. Rubbing her still sweaty face with her hands, she grabbed her nearby cell phone and dialed the first number that she could think of. After a few rings, the young woman heard a tired voice, thick with sleep, drift through the earpiece.
"Benson."
"Hi, Olivia. It's Casey."
Slowly sitting up in bed, sleep quickly left Olivia, curious as of why Casey was calling her at 3:00 in the morning.
"Hey, Casey. What's going on?"
"I-uh-I can't sleep..."
Although Casey had told Olivia about the nightmares, she still found it hard to talk about it. Olivia understood, though, after what had happened to her at Sealview.
"Have another nightmare?"
"Yeah."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Casey sighed.
"Kind of. But I don't know if I'm ready yet."
Olivia nodded, despite the fact that Casey couldn't see her.
"I understand. I will always be here if you do want to talk."
"Thank you."
"And Casey..."
"Yeah?"
"It's not your fault."
Casey smiled.
"Thank you."
Olivia also smiled, sensing the strawberry blonde's smile on the other end of the line.
"We still on for dinner tonight?"
"Of course."
"See you then."
"Goodnight, Olivia."
"Goodnight, Casey."
Casey hung up her phone and put it back in its previous spot on the side table. Closing her eyes, she felt a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders. Before she drifted into a deep and peaceful slumber, she sighed happily. Maybe today wouldn't be so awful after all.