Warning: Eating disorder related—may trigger.
Disclaimed: Still don't own them.
Casey's thoughts are italics… and they're only her thoughts, so I'm not going to say "Casey thought" etc. after each thought.
I'm still writing my other story too.
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Precinct1:13 p.m.
"Warrant!" Casey Novak announced, panting as she hustled into the precinct. All four detectives turned to look up at her as she ran in. She had been successful at hiding her plummeting weight thus far, but the detectives had noticed her increased fatigue; after all, they were detectives.
"Are you okay, Case?" Elliot asked with a concerned look as she dropped the warrant on his disk and slid into the chair facing him.
"Yeah, I just ran up here, I'm fine." She answered, still panting and fighting for an easy breath. In all honesty she had only run up the stairs, but her body was so exhausted it could barely handle that.
"Call me crazy, but why didn't you take the elevator?" Munch asked.
Casey scowled. "Elevators require no work. Stairs are better for your health. If you go up the stairs five times a day every day, it adds up," she explained. "Now go! Search!"
Cragen stepped out of the office once he heard the conversation. "Elliot, Olivia, go search the house. Munch and Fin, you go question the witness again. See if you can get anything else out of her. Casey, can I talk to you for a moment?"
The detectives exchanged worried glances as they prepared to tend to their assigned jobs, then left.
"What's up, Captain?" Casey asked as she shut the door to Cragen's office behind her.
"Is everything okay, Casey? You seem a little… tired," he asked, his voice full of concern.
"Oh yeah, no definitely, I'm perfectly fine. It's just been a hectic week! You know, it's a big case. I'm just looking forward to getting some sleep, but everything's good, I promise. Thanks though—is that all?"
She started to walk out without waiting for a reply as she left the precinct. Cragen sighed as he watched her slender frame slip through the door.
Shit, Casey, you're really screwing up. You need to step it up now. She sighed as she continued down the stairs.
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Elliot's Car
1:24 p.m.
Elliot and Olivia drove to the house in silence. It was about thirty minutes away, and Olivia decided to try and take advantage of it and get some much-needed rest.
"So… do you know what's up with Casey? You know, she's been… weird lately I guess." Elliot inquired, disregarding the fact that Olivia's eyes were clearly squeezed shut.
Olivia blinked open her eyes, annoyed by the interruption, but glad that the others noticed. "I don't know, El. She's probably overworking herself as usual, you know her. She has been sort of distant lately. She hasn't wanted to go out in a while…"
"You should talk to her. Just look out for her, and make sure she takes it easy, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. I'll go see her today," Olivia confirmed before closing her eyes once again and turning to the other side, hoping Elliot would take a hint.
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Casey's Office
3:07 p.m.
Olivia knocked on the door to her best friend's office holding coffees and bagels from their favorite little shop down the street.
"Come in," she heard Casey yell from inside. She pushed the door open to find a sweaty, worn out Casey in her running clothes and shoes. She looked at her curiously for a couple seconds; she was almost certain that Casey had just gone running that morning, and she couldn't figure out why she would have gone running again.
"Can you close the door? I have to change," Casey explained. Olivia nodded and pulled the door shut behind her.
"I brought stuff," she informed her as she held up the coffee and bags, which obviously contained the bagels.
"Thanks Liv, that was sweet, but I just had my lunch break. I'm already full, I had a huge lunch… thank you though! Maybe I'll save it for later?"
Olivia took a sharp breath in and gasped as Casey pulled off her loose-fitting running shirt. Once Casey had taken off the big tee shirt, she revealed a form-fitting tank top and her emaciated figure under it. At that moment Olivia finally realized that Casey had only been wearing loose-fitting clothes lately, and Olivia hadn't thought anything of it. She watched the frail ADA in horror as she could count every rib and bone through Casey's shirt. Her arms were practically sticks, and there was not an ounce of fat on her body.
Shit! I should have waited until she left, I forgot this tank top was so tight. She's going to be so disgusted. Nice work, Casey. Really great.
"So, did you find me anything that will hold up in court?" Casey asked, desperately trying to make Liv forget the sight that Casey had just revealed. She was ashamed and hoped Olivia hadn't noticed anything.
Olivia was still stunned by it, however, and Casey's attempts were unsuccessful. She stood there staring at Casey, not believing how she could have not noticed for this long. Casey had lost so much weight that it had to have been happening for a while.
"Are you dieting?" Olivia asked her with a blank look, although she obviously already knew the answer. Casey had always been thin to begin with, but she could not believe what she was seeing.
Casey shrugged. "Just watching what I eat, you know? I want to stay healthy," She explained. Olivia nodded. Unsure of how to approach the situation, she chose to answer Casey's previous question about the search instead, much to Casey's satisfaction.
"We found bloody clothes in the house. He didn't even bother to wash them, hide them or anything. They were just sitting there in plain view… um, I have to go," Olivia said as she rushed out the door. She had no idea what to do—was she just overreacting?
Casey sighed as she watched her friend leave. Great, she doesn't even want to be with you now, Casey She's disgusted. Casey sat back down at her desk and cradled her head in her hands. She sat wiping away the tears right as they formed, before they could slide down her flush cheeks.
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Casey's Apartment
10:38 p.m.
Casey stood undressed in front of her full-length bathroom mirror. She had just come out of a steaming hot 20-minute shower, and was doing her daily ritual of inspecting herself in the mirror and criticizing anything she could find.
Shit, look at all this. This is disgusting. I need to work on my arms as soon as possible, and my stomach. Oh god, my thighs are massive. This is so unfair, I haven't eaten and I'm miserable, and I'm still so fat. I can't believe this. This is bull!
She stood in front of her mirror for nearly an hour, picking at every imaginary ounce of fat on her frail body. Finally she slid down the wall behind her and let the tears that were threatening her dignity stream down her face, unable to fight it anymore.