The alarm bleated insistently as Casey opened her eyes. She groaned and covered her face with a pillow before conceding it was time to get up.
She staggered down the hall with one hand shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun striking through the window of her apartment. Usually Olivia would be up by now making coffee, scolding her jokingly for getting wasted on a work night but Olivia had been undercover for nearly a fortnight. Casey recalled the moments before her sudden departure - the hurried explanation while she packed. Casey had been angry and the
parting had not been pleasant. She'd ignored Olivia's attempts to kiss her goodbye which made the weeks without contact even harder to bare.
The only good thing about Olivia being gone was Casey could smoke in her apartment again which she took up enthusiastically. Lighting one up the redhead slumped on a kitchen stool in her underwear waiting for the water to boil. As it turned out making coffee was too much effort and she was running late anyway so Casey stubbed out her cigarette, slowly dressed and headed to the precinct.
Stepping from the elevator, Casey realized how horribly hungover she was and paused to rub her temples when a tall blonde woman collided with her. Hair pulled back with a haughty expression she glared at Casey then moved past her into the elevator. Walking close behind was Elliot who gave her an apologetic smile and mouthed "new partner" as the doors closed.
Casey frowned and weaved her way to Cragan's office.
The woman's name was Dani Beck and she was insufferable.
The sound of her voice caused Casey to grind her teeth and Liz was getting tired of her complaining during their bi-weekly lunch dates.
"Casey you can't assume Dani will immediately be the dream SVU officer, these things take time."
Casey sucked angrily on her cigarette "She's just so incompetent Liz! You should see her with the victims..."
"You need to stop measuring her against Olivia."
Liz sipped her coffee and continued "have you heard from her since she left?" She asked with a sympathetic pat of Casey's hand, who shook her head and took a swig of coffee.
"There's always a warm bed at my place!" Liz winked playfully,
"Why Judge Donnelly, this behavior is completely inappropriate!" Casey teased, Liz smiled wistfully "do you ever think about our time together?"
"Of course! you taught me everything I know Liz, I could never forget that."
"Well enough of this maudlin chatter," she said brusquely, "I've got a murder trial to oversee. Need a lift?"
"No I have a case to prep with Finn." Casey stood up and allowed Liz to kiss her lingeringly on the cheek before jumping on her bicycle.
Casey fell back onto her pillow with a hearty sigh. Unusually sober she found it hard to drift into sleep without Olivia's tanned arms wrapped around her naked body, and listened to the sounds of the city while she reflected on the day's events. Dani seemed to be subsiding into a mildly competent SVU officer, Casey's eyes were often drawn to her whenever she was at the precinct - the way she smiled was particularly beguiling. when Casey caught a direct hit (which wasn't very often) her stomach flipped inexplicably and she had to look away.
She arched her back into a languid stretch before brushing her pale fingers down her stomach then slipping them between her silky lips. running a finger over her swollen clitoris she savored the sensation and imagined Olivia's long fingers bringing her to ecstasy. Eyes closed she rubbed herself slowly as her mind began to wander. Release came quickly which left Casey gasping as she felt herself contract. She rolled over vaguely perplexed - it hadn't been Olivia on her mind at the climax, it had been Dani.
Week four with no word from Olivia. Casey sat at the bar nursing her whiskey on the rocks, warming up for another night of oblivion when Dani pulled up the stool beside her.
"Didn't pick you for a whiskey girl."
"I thought you were a detective" Casey replied coolly.
Dani shrugged "suit yourself," and signaled at the bar tender. They sat in silence for some time before Casey cracked. She look a deep breath:
"Look I'm sorry, its been a hard few weeks - for all of us."
Dani took a swig of her beer. "You don't like me much do you?"
Casey was throw off balance by her frankness "No that's not it...well not anymore."
The blonde woman's face broke into a genuine smile making her eyes twinkle
"I'm kind of glad about that. Shots?"
The redhead laughed "Sure why not?"
Casey pulled a face as the shot burnt down her esophagus "Oh Jesus I forgot how bad vodka is!"
Dani laughed "it helps if you have a beer chaser." She held her half empty bottle to Casey's lips and let the cool liquid dribble into her mouth. Their eyes locked and she felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach before Dani inadvertently poured too much beer in her mouth. Unable to help a sympathetic chuckle she patted Casey's back as she coughed and spluttered
"I think it came out my nose..."
"I have the cure for that."
"Oh boy do I want to know?"
"Sambucca!"
"Detective, if I didn't know better I'd think you were bent on getting me wasted."
Her answering grin was as wide as the Cheshire cat: "why would I want to do that ADA Novak?"
As the evening degenerated into a blur Casey felt a twinge of guilt as she flirted with the blonde detective. In many ways she was nothing like Olivia but the strength of character and subtle masculinity was enough her type to keep her more than interested.
Dani seemed to be responding with similar ardor, Casey thought as she blinked owlishly at the hand caressing her thigh. She looked up, Dani leaned forward and kissed her. The redhead opened her mouth in surprise which Dani seemed to take as an invitation and moved her tongue to caress Casey's. Her mouth tasted of stale beer and hard spirits - kissing her was nothing like kissing Olivia, nonetheless Casey responded enthusiastically as through the alcoholic haze she felt herself grow wet. after several minutes they pulled apart and looked around;
"You want to get out of here?" Dani asked breathlessly,
"Uh sure...I think my place is closer."
a warm feeling below her belly accompanied them as the tab was paid; the street was cold and Dani pulled Casey close as she shivered "it's only a couple of blocks" she said apologetically as they stumbled down the street.
After what seemed like an eternity they were outside the apartment she shared with Olivia. Stumbling through the dark Casey guided Dani to the bedroom, where she was pushed onto the bed. The detective pinned her arms above her head and teased with her tongue. the redhead was too drunk for teasing, twisted impatiently she freed a hand to grab Dani by the hair "Just do it - fuck me."
Casey awoke with a groan. Her mouth tasted like something furry had slept in it, and a pounding headache began to make its presence felt at her left temple.
She opened her eyes and squinted at the alarm clock which ticked over to 08:17, and pulled herself into an upright position which is when Casey realized she was naked. A hickey marred her pale breast like a brand and a flicker of fear struck her as she stared at Dani Beck tangled up in the sheets, strip of pubic hair made dark from the previous evening's exertions.
She quickly leapt out of bed and wrapped herself in a satin nightgown. Softly padding to the kitchen she stood over the sink "fuck fuck fuck!"
"Casey?"
She turned with a fixed smile "Good morning, coffee?"
Dani leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe without a shred of clothing on "I thought you might want to come back to bed..." her eyes narrowed seductively.
"Ahhhh I'd love to but I'm so hungover - I could puke at any moment."
The blonde grinned "come to think of it, I don't feel so great myself. Did you have any plans today?"
"Actually I have to meet Judge Donnelly for lunch so I'd better be getting ready..."
"Casey, it's not even 9 in the morning."
"Oh! did I say lunch? I meant brunch - 10am sharp!"
She walked quickly into the bathroom and locked the door.
Twenty minutes later Casey mustered her courage and left the bathroom to find Dani thankfully clothed, examining a framed photo on the bookshelf. She looked up and solemnly held the redhead's gaze "I see."
Casey felt the blush creep up her neck - it was a picture of her and Liv kissing.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be." Dani said curtly and stalked toward the door. She paused "That's Olivia Benson right?"
Casey nodded mutely.
The blonde opened the door before turning to deliver one last missive: "Don't worry, I won't out you." And she was gone.
Casey slid down the wall and watched her hands go blurry, eyes filling up with tears.