This is a song fic to "Don't You Wanna Stay" by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. When I heard this song, I thought their voices fit together perfectly on this song and it's a beautiful tribute to a reluctant goodbye and a possibility of making that goodbye into a new start. And then I thought of SVU. I know Munch/Casey doesn't have a huge fanbase like Elliot and Olivia do, but I think they deserve a few stories. Enjoy!
The moment the squad room doors opened and the beautiful blonde walked through them like she was a regular visitor to the SVU, Detective John Munch knew he was a goner. The face that he hadn't seen except in his dreams assaulted his eyes and it took all of his willpower not to rise from his chair, walk straight over to that woman, take her in his arms and never let her go. And did he mention kissing her? Yeah that was definitely on the agenda.
All he could do in his shocked state was watch his former ADA Casey Novak walk towards Captain Cragen's office. He would have figured she was back for a visit except 1. He knew Casey Novak very well and 2. That look on her face and the way she was dressed screamed that she was a lawyer working on a case. He hoped she had gotten her license back and that there was a slight possibility that she would be working with SVU again.
Later he was at the coffee station when Olivia came up with her mug. He only had to give her a look before she walked up the stairs and Munch quickly followed her. "Casey?" He asked, nearly begging for details. And John Munch wasn't a man who begged very often, if at all.
"She's got her license back and she's working with me and El on our case. She called it her 'test' or something, to see if she can still do her job and do it well."
"She can. She could before." Munch stated, and Olivia nodded.
"I agree. But I do have to say something," When he raised his eyebrows she continued, saying quietly, "Don't let her go this time."
Munch just closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands as Olivia got up, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder for a brief moment and then walked down the stairs to leave him alone with his tangled thoughts.
I really hate to let this moment go
Touching your skin and your hair falling slow
When a goodbye kiss
Feels like this
As he closed his eyes, he could see the last time he had seen Casey. It had been at his place where she had come to say goodbye. She was moving to Philadelphia to regain her confidence as a lawyer and bide her time until she could get her license back.
Before either of them could think a rational thought, John had his hands in her hair and she had her hands on his face, their lips meeting on his doorstep. Somehow they made it to John's bedroom and as their clothes disappeared, John swore he could feel himself falling in love with her.
When he heard Casey getting dressed, he opened his eyes and pulled himself upright. "I've got to go, John, my flight leaves in a few hours," She said quietly, buttoning her shirt. John stood up and walked her to the door, swallowing the words he so desperately wanted to cry out. Words like 'stay' and 'don't leave me' and 'I love you'.
She turned to face him and he put his hand on her cheek, wiping away the lone tear that had been sliding down her pale face. He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers in what he knew was their goodbye kiss.
"Goodbye, John," Casey said in a thick voice and she turned and fled before he could say the words that would make her stay.
"Goodbye Casey," He murmured, watching her until she was out of sight. Out of sight, but most definitely not out of mind. She would remain in his mind and in his heart for months to come, sliding into his dreams and popping up in his thoughts.
Don't you wanna stay here a little while?
Don't you wanna hold each other tight?
Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?
Don't you wanna stay here a little while?
We could make forever feel this way
Don't you wanna stay?
That night was the standard SVU night out on the bar, and they were all crowded at the same table. All of them had their favorite drink in their hands, except Cragen who was nursing a plain Coke. Occasionally people gave him funny glances for it, but they were stared down by a team of tough-looking cops and said people quickly turned the other way. Olivia, Elliot, Finn and Munch were as protective of their Captain as he was of them.
But that night a blonde walked up to their table and squeezed in between Olivia and Cragen. It was all Munch could do to not to stare at her. She immediately started bantering with Elliot and she had the same drink Olivia had. Pretty soon she and Olivia got up and moved to the dance floor.
"Good God, John, stop drooling and start dancing," Fin muttered to his partner, and Munch immediately tried to fake like he didn't know what Fin was talking about.
"Oh, you know damn well what he's talking about," Cragen said dismissively and Elliot nodded, adding his two cents,
"Get out there and boot Olivia out of your place. Don't screw it up this time,"
"Does everyone at this table know more about my love life than I do?" Munch questioned, feeling like he had been blind-sided.
"Probably. It's always easier giving advice about other relationships than taking it about your own," Cragen said practically, and Elliot nodded his agreement, chugging his beer.
"Why do you think she came back, John?" Fin asked gently, and when Munch started to say,
"Her license – "
"Oh, bullshit. She came back for you, yeah the license is a good cover but she could've done her reinstatement test or whatever it is in Pennsylvania. You were here, that was the whole reason."
"And how would you know that? Did you have a heart-to-heart chat with her?"
"No. She called me before she came. Tried to be casual about quizzing me about your love life. Nearly threatened me if I didn't tell her if you were dating anyone." Fin told him.
Munch suddenly rose to his feet as the feeling of hope burgeoned in him. He headed over to where Olivia and Casey were dancing and when Olivia saw him coming, she quickly stepped over and gave John room to tap on Casey's shoulder just as a slow song came on.
"May I have this dance?"
Let's take it slow, I don't wanna move too fast
I don't wanna just make love, I wanna make love last
When you're up this high
It's a sad goodbye
Casey gave him the beautiful, blinding smile that he had been craving for months. "You may," She said graciously and he pulled her into his arms. She settled in his embrace comfortably and John closed his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind that he was in love with her, and that he would do anything, anything to keep her with him.
John gently touched her hair and she closed her eyes as they swayed back and forth. "I missed you, Casey," He admitted in a hoarse voice, and she drew back just enough to look up at him and see the look in his eyes.
"I missed you too, John,"
He was content with that for the moment, and they continued their turn around the dance floor. As a loud, fast tempo song came on, John held out his hand. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question and she nodded, taking his hand. They walked out the door and John led her over to the side where patrons coming and going from the bar wouldn't notice them.
"Confession time, Casey," He warned her, and then took her hands, staring straight into her eyes and saying honestly, "I've been going crazy without you, Casey,"
She started to say, "John…" but he cut her off and continued.
"I haven't been able to look at another woman, let alone strike up a relationship with one. They've got nothing on you, Casey, and that's the truth. You may have left New York, but I swear, you still manage to show up in my thoughts and dreams. I can't stop thinking about you."
Again, she started to say "John…" more urgently this time, but he still shook his head and kept talking, needing to get it all out before he lost his nerve.
"I know it's too soon and it's moving too fast and all of that, but you need to know something. You need to know that I love you. Believe me, it's taken all these months and the moment you walked in to the door to wake me up to that fact, but I do. When you strode into the precinct this morning, I was blown away by this feeling in me. I don't do well with feelings, but I know what this one is. It's love. I love you so much, Casey," He broke off, taking a moment to catch his breath and fight back the emotion that threatened to swamp him completely.
"Can I talk now?" She asked, tapping her foot. When he nodded she simply said, "Take me home, John,"
The end…of this chapter! I usually try to leave a good cliff-hanger, but this one is only semi-good. Maybe not even that. Casey could mean take her back to her hotel or back to John's house, which one? Haha yeah it's not even a semi-good cliff hanger. But thank you so much for reading and I'd appreciate your thoughts on what I've written!
