Timeline
Alternate ending for episode "Ghost", 6x16.
Takes place 16 months after Casey Novak joined SVU (her first appearance in Serendipity is dated 8 October; trial in Ghost where Alexandra Cabot comes back to testify takes place on 17 February, 4 months seems too short for over a season in SVU)

Author's note
Yet another story I couldn't get out of my head. Ever since I watched this episode, this storyline has been running into my head. Therefore, I thought I might as well share it.
It's in progress and so far is 129 pages long. So that'd keep us busy for a couple weeks :)
As usual, reviews, ideas, good or bad, warmly welcomed.

For this story to make sense, I need the readers to assume a few things:
-"Ghost" (6x16) took place two months after "Night" (6x20), instead of the other way around,
-"Influence" (7x22) already took place.

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New York Mercy Hospital
17 February - 4:15 pm

- "What the fuck is wrong with you?!", she shouted in her face, her tone razor sharp.

Alexandra Cabot was taken aback by Olivia Benson harsh words and even more upset by her attitude towards her only.
Never in their working relationship had she seen the Detective that upset.
Squaring her shoulder, she took a step forward, returning the angry glare.

- "What are you barking about?", replied the blonde on the same malicious tone.
- "That!", she yelled pointing towards the ER two ways doors.
- "And just what are you implying Detective?"
- "You know full well what I imply, ex Counselor Cabot!"
- "I sure as hell don't! Don't hold me responsible Detective; security was not in my care!"
- "But making Liam Connors tick certainly was! You agitated a red wrap right under his nose!"

Olivia saw realisation cross the blonde's features, finally she was seeing it, that all this mess was her fault only. But it was gone in a flash.

Fuelled by anger and fear, she didn't step back, invading Alex's personal space even more.

- "Get it now? You did a great job Alexandra Cabot by getting her killed!"
- "She's not dead!"
- "Oh that's right but her chances are quite low."
-"No one asked her to play the hero!"
-"She fucking saved your sorry ass! And it's all because of you!"
- "It is not!"
- "Oh yeah? And whose life is on the line right now? Yours or hers? Who's fighting to stay alive here?"
- "Casey certainly is; and so have I been, for the last 18 months!"
- "You were shot in the shoulder and played dead, this is different!"
- "But I was the target here Olivia", she countered angrily.
- "Yes because you were so damn stubborn back then to just back off. Now you are even more by not taking responsibility!"
- "Oh I'm sorry Miss Perfect for being the target of Colombian drugs' dealers"
- "You were because you chose to!"
- "I chose nothing! I was just doing my job!"
- "That's not true; you wanted to nail the guy that's all. Another one of your political goose chase! Everything you ever did was political!"
- "Because you think my replacement is any different?"
- "She is different, she wants justice for the victims"
- "My poor Olivia, you can be so naïve at times, she's exactly like me"
- "Like hell she's not! She cares about the victims"
-"That's what she makes you believe. She's without doubt not the right person to handle my job! I heard about her long before she took my job. The shallow, insecure, incompetent Ice Queen from Felonies"
- "How dare you? You only met her! Her convictions' rate is as good as yours! You …", Olivia wanted to respond but her voice caught in a suddenly very dry throat.

Elliot decided it was the right time to step in before both women strangled each other. Stepping between them, he laid a hand on each woman's shoulder, squeezing firmly, making sure he had their full attention. As an ex marine he didn't wish to be some kind of collateral damage if they took this into wrestling.

Short of breath, both women stopped in their quarrel, turning their icy glares towards him instead.

- "Ladies, all this won't get you anywhere. Liam Connors is the only responsible for this situation. This useless argument stops right here", he stated very matter of factly.
- "You know what Alex? You disgust me", whispered Olivia, tears welling in her eyes.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing from Alex. Not only was she bashing about Casey, but she didn't even acknowledge that she just saved her life!

Spotting a deserted chair, she lowered herself wearily in it, not caring what the rest of the group was up to.
Pinching the bridge of her nose tightly, she sighed heavily, prying for some tension to leave her aching body. She was sore all over, not physically but emotionally drained.

The shooting in the courthouse had taken a lot on them, on all of them.
When they went after a perp they could expect some resistance, but in this case they didn't. None of them did. None of them could expect that; not with all the marshals, cops, security officers gathered in the courtroom.

But yet it happened: Liam Connors grabbed the gun from the cop who tried to restrain him and aimed it at Alexandra Cabot, the woman he failed to kill sixteen months ago. The woman who belittled him with the accusations she yelled at him a minute ago.
But somehow, she'd seen it and she shielded her.

Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak took a bullet meant for Alexandra Cabot, and she might not come out of it alive.

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To be continued ...