I know I have a couple other stories going right now but I have actually been working on this one for almost a year and finally decided it may be good enough to publish.
Alex/Olivia and Alex/Casey. Enjoy and PLEASE review!
Alex looks at her phone for what has to bhe hundredth time in an hour.
It's almost eleven PM. Olivia was supposed to be home two hours ago. Her phone is going straight to voicemail and she isn't picking up at her office.
This has been the norm lately; Olivia being late. Sometimes she gives her girlfriend a heads up and sometimes she has to call around to Amanda or Finn to find her. Time gets away from her.
But she has to know that Alex worries. Her job is dangerous and when she doesn't come home or call or text, her mind assumes the worst and all the terrible scenarios dance through her mind.
They have been together for four years. They've known each other much longer than that, but only been an official couple for four years. They have been great years...until recently.
Olivia was recently appointed Captain of her squad. Alex was and remains insanely happy for her. No one has worked harder or deserves it more.
But it's taken a major toll on their relationship. Olivia often works long into the night, arriving home when Alex is already asleep. She's on call all the time, and is frequently interrupted when they are home or out. And it's the job; Aldx understands that. She has a time consuming, demanding job as well. But sje decided four years ago that Olivia and her relationship would come first. Olivia had promised the same.
And now they barely see each other. Olivia has cancelled more of their dates than Alex can count. She hates coming home to an empty house, and hates even more going to bed alone.
Alex is just lonely and misses her girlfriend, misses the way things used to be.
She's spending much more time with her best friend Casey Novak. She always comes over when Olivia cancels on her and sometimes drags her out of the house and forces her to go do something with her. Alex always has fun.
She's been her best friend for six years. Alex doesn't know how it happened, really. She didn't even like her when she was re-hired at the DA's office. Alex thought she was cocky and bordered on unprofessional. But she kind of grew on her quickly. One day they just started talking in the elevator and it led to lunch and then text messages about douchebag defense attorneys. If asked, Alex would say that right after Olivia, Casey is her favorite person in the world.
Casey had a huge part of Alex and Olivia finally getting together. She teased them constantly about their flirting. When Alex would confide in her what she felt for Alex, Casey would roll her eyes and tell her to make a move already. She's always been supportive of their relationship.
Alex, however, have been critical of every person Casey has dated since they have been friends. Granted Casey doesn't date a lot. Doesn't seem interested in it, really. She's had three relationships since Alex has known her; all women.
Alex flat out hated Sherry. She would make Casey pay for everything and never even attempted to make plans for them. She got jealous when Casey would spend time with Alex. That relationship lasted about a month until Alex convinced Casey to break up with her.
Then there was Jen, whom Olivia really liked and tried to convince Alex she was perfect for Casey. She treated Casey very well and had a good job, but there was something about her that Alex didn't like. Because of that, she was never nice to her. They would go out on double dates and she would be extremely sweet and caring with Casey and for some reason it would just anger Alex and she would say something out of line. She felt she was phony, that her sweetness was an act. They dated for about six months. Jen ended things, and Casey never seemed to be as upset as Alex expected her to be. She always said she did like Jen, but did not love her. That had been the reason for the break up.
Her last girlfriend was well over a year ago. Elicia was her name. Alex picked apart their relationship right away. Elicia was always on her phone, always seemed like she had something to hide. She cheated on Casey. When Casey found out, Alex been angrier than she was. She couldn't believe that someone could do that to someone as sweet and kind as Casey.
Olivia always told her that she's always going to hate everyone Casey dates because she doesn't think anyone is ever good enough for her, and that she needs to back off and let her friend be happy.
Alex can't help it that she's a good judge of character. She also can't help it if no one is good enough for Casey.
Alex can't stay up any later. She has to be in court at eight AM sharp. She sighs deeply, flipping the TV off and dropping the cable remote onto the coffeetable.
She had visions of spending the night together and making up for lost time. A nice cuddle session on the couch, swaddled in their favorite fuzzy blanket. A shower together, like they always used to. And then maybe end the night with love making.
It's been weeks since they have made love. Being physical is not the most important thing to Alex, but she does miss it. She misses the way that Olivia would take her out and they'd hold hands on the way. She misses the way Olivia would lather her hair with shampoo in the shower. She misses the way that they would sleep in each other's arms. She misses everything.
Alex doesn't fall asleep easily. She never does, really, but it's worse when she's alone. Her mind wanders too far, recalls details and events she'd rather forget. When she does manage to sleep when she's alone, she is always wracked with terrible nightmares which cause her to wake crying or screaming. When Olivia isn't there to hold her and coax her back to sleep, Alex simply doesn't sleep.
But tonight she does. Tonight, somehow, she manages to make a home in the land of slumber. She knows this because she is awakened by the mattress dipping down beside her. She doesn't know how long she's been asleep; only that she's slept.
Her girlfriend is in bed beside her now. Alex is laying on her side, clutching her body pillow close to her as if she's getting the support she needs from the intimate object. She is facing away from Olivia and Olivia slides closer to Alex, planting a kiss to her shoulder.
Normally Alex would roll over and face Olivia and they would kiss deeply and spoon until they fell asleep.
But this time she stays still. She pretends to be sleep. And she doesn't know why, really. Olivia had been what she wanted all night. She had wanted her close, wanted to feel her breath on her neck and her arms around her.
But now she just wants to sleep.
Olivia shifts around in bed for a few minutes, trying to make herself comfortable. Alex lies awake with her eyes open, waiting for Olivia to stop moving. When she finally does, Alex closes her eyes.
And sleep only finds her again when she knows that Olivia is asleep.
.2
Alex wants to make dinner for Olivia. Treat her to a special night at home, just the two of them and no phones or distractions.
Her relationship needs this. They are drifting apart, and Alex knows she has do anything she can to resurrect it.
She tells Casey her plans over Chinese takeout lunch in her office. For some reason she feels compelled to get Casey's approval; as if that will cement the idea and confirm it's the right thing to do.
"So I want to do something special for Olivia," Alex tells Casey. "We've barely seen other this week."
"How is that different than any other week?" Casey asks, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
Casey has not been happy with how Olivia has, in her words, been "neglecting" Alex. And she hasn't been shy about saying so.
"That's not fair, Casey. You know how hard Olivia works. And you know how dedicated to her job she is."
"Yes I do. And she needs to be that dedicated to you."
She used to be, Alex thinks sadly. Things used to be so much different.
They used to be all over each other any free time they had. Olivia would spend weekends at Alex's apartment before they bought a house together. She would come by her office and give her a ride home every night, to make sure she got home safely. They would text each other constantly, like teenagers in love. It was bliss.
Now they are like ships sailing past each other in the night. They've grown apart, and neither can admit it.
"I know how you feel. You've made it clear." Alex clears her throat. "But I want to do something special. Tomorrow is her early night. I want to make her dinner."
Casey swallows a bite of her crab Rangoon and stares at her. "Dinner...like, as in you cooking?"
Casey's skepticism is well warranted. She's seen many a Alex Cabot cooking disasters. The grill incident of 2015. The omelette that almost made it but didn't. The time she almost dumped boiling water all over herself.
Alex narrows her eyes at Casey. "I was going to ask you to help me, obviously."
Casey nods and goes back to eating. "There it is."
"I want to get candles and rose petals and make it really romantic. Sprinkle the rose petals everywhere. I bought a new dress over the weekend. She hasn't seen it yet. I want everything to be perfect and I want to make sure she doesn't suspect anything." Alex watches as Casey leans over her desk and helps herself to a forkfull of her honey chicken. "I have to decide what to make. Will you come over and help me?"
Casey nods and waits until she swallows to respond. "I kind of have to. I really don't want you setting your house on fire. You anywhere near a stove scares the hell out of me. Let me update my insurance first then I'll surely help you."
Alex feigns insult. "Hey, I'm not that bad."
"Really?" Casey laughs. "I remember once you tried to make macaroni and cheese for us. You cooked the pasta too long and it was more like musharoni and cheese. And then you didn't know you had to add butter. Then there was last Christmas, when I had to re-boil your hard boiled eggs."
Alex can't help but laugh. Okay, the evidence is in her favor. But still. "I'll have you know I make a mean bowl of cereal and killer toaster waffles. So there. And now I'll never make them for you."
Casey laughs. "But yes, of course I will come over and help. And it sounds lovely, Alex. I'm sure Olivia will love a quiet romantic evening like that."
Casey's approval was what Alex needed. She's smiling now, the prospect of finally having a great night with her girlfriend brightening her mood.
She's planning it all out in her mind. Alex likes to make plans, figure things out and execute all the details meticulously.
She watches Casey eat and frown. "Should you be eating like this? You were out for three days with a really bad stomach bug. Do you think this much greasy food is a good idea?"
Casey shrugs. "I haven't eaten in almost four days. I'm hungry. Besides, I'm feeling better. And I like food."
Casey stays after she's done eating to run some case notes by Alex. They do this sometimes; work in each other's offices and bounce thoughts and ideas around. Alex always tells hersekr it's because they work well together. And it is. But she knows it's also because she just likes being with Casey.
Suddenly Casey grabs her stomach and moans. "That food was certainly not a good idea."
Alex shakes her head. "Don't come whining to me. I tried to tell you."
She gets up from her chair quickly. "Yep, I'm definitely going to be sick." She gets out of Alex's office quickly and Alex goes back to looking over her notes.
When Casey comes back Alex doesn't even look at her. She hands her a piece of gum from her desk and acts like she doesn't care that Casey is sick. She tries to stick to her act even when Casey moans and puts her head down on her desk.
Casey is one of Alex's weaknesses. She tries to be stern around her but always fails. Something about Casey always makes her soften. She has never been an affectionate person outside of a girlfriend, but she likes it when Casey hugs her and Alex doesn't feel the least bit shy or ashamed to hug her or show affection in another way.
Just last week Casey lost a case she poured her heart and soul into. She took it really, really hard. As soon as that gavel came down, Alex stood up and hugged Casey in front of the entire courtroom. She didn't even care who saw or what they might say.
"Allllleeexxx," Casey groans. She lifts her head and Alex can feel her looking at her. "I'm siiiiccckk..."
She says it in such a pathetic tone that Alex just crumbles. She turns and looks at her. She's resting her head on her arm and looking at Alex sorrowfully.
Alex knows it's just a virus and she isn't dying and will be just fine, but she has a desire to hug her until she's cured and feels better.
Alex makes a sympathetic face at her. Damn it, why does she always make her lose her resolve?
"Awww...I'm sorry. Maybe next time you will listen to me?" She nods slowly and Alex sighs, picking up her phone to look at the time. "It's late anyway. Why don't you come home with me and you can take a nap on that memory foam mattress you love so much? Maybe then you will feel better."
She and Olivia just bought a memory foam mattress for their guest room - AKA Casey's room, because she spends so much time at their house - and Casey loves it. She always says it's going to make her go into a coma it's so comfortable.
That particular mattress induced a fight between Olivia and Alex. Actually it was a fight about Casey, but Alex likes to say it was about the mattress because she doesn't want to admit there's any reason to fight about Casey. She's just a friend that she cares deeply about.
Casey's birthday is in a couple weeks and Alex ordered the very same mattress to be delivered to her apartment on that very day. She knows Casey will love it. Olivia felt that a sixteen hundred dollar mattress was way too expensive for a birthday gift. Normally Alex would agree. But this was for Casey, so it's okay. That's how she justified it, anyway.
As they get ready to leave the office Alex knows perfectly well that she didn't invite Casey over so she could have a comfortable place to sleep.
She invited her over so she didn't have to be alone.
.3
Homemade Alfredo pasta with grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is the winner. Because of all the options Alex laid out on the table, this is the one Casey told her she could make almost on her own. With her supervision, of course.
Alex wants it all to be perfect of course, and is very nervous. Casey can't understand why. Alex has been dating Olivia for four years. They live together. Why is Alex so nervous about tonight?
Casey decides not to define it too closely. She just wants to help her best friend make a decent dinner and try and salvage a dying romance.
The fire has gone out in Alex's eyes. Casey always loved that spark that she had, the fire behind her eyes that Olivia kept ignited for so many years.
But it's gone now, and every time Casey looks into her sad empty eyes it rips her heart right out. Olivia is her friend, but she hates her for doing this to Alex.
Casey isn't so sure this dinner is magically going to fix Alex's relationship and she knows deep down that Alex does too. But she says nothing and smiles, allowing Alex to play out this evening the way she needs to.
"Does it look okay? Does it look perfect?" Alex asks, gesturing to the table in her vast kitchen.
The red silk tablecloth is new, and Alex has sprinkled rose petals all over the table and the floor. She made a trail of them all the way to the bedroom, ending with a single rose on the bed. She has three candles on the table spaced out just so, and a bottle of Olivia's favorite wine.
Casey turns down the burner so the food will stay hot but not overcook, and takes a look at Alex's work. She admits it looks beautiful and it makes her heart lurch. Deep inside she can't help but wish this was for her. As soon as she thinks it she pushes the thought away. It's selfish and she has no right to feel it.
So instead she smiles and tells Alex its beautiful and Olivia will love it, because that's what Alex needs to hear and Casey will do anything to make Alex happy. She always does.
Alex goes to change into the dress she bought just for Olivia and Casey tends to the garlic bread so it won't burn. She's wishing with everything she has that things will improve for Alex. Not because she believes they will, but because she loves Alex and is willing to let her own heart be broken so she can feel happiness.
That's love.
Casey jumps slightly when she feels a tap on her shoulder. She spins around to face Alex. She hadn't even heard her walk back into the kitchen.
Casey's breath is taken away but this beautiful woman standing in front of her. The woman who has been her best friend, her mentor, for the last six years. The woman she's argued with, cried to and with, made fun of, and grown with. The woman she loves more than anything else in the world.
Casey doesn't know when she started to feel this way about Alex. She only knows that she can't do a thing about it.
Casey smiles. Alex looks stunning. The dress is much more revealing than anything Casey has ever seen her in before, and it hugs her curves in all the right ways. The shade of blue matches her eyes. Casey almost blushes and has to swallow and avert her eyes.
"She will love it. It's beautiful, Alex."
Olivia is due home in less than an hour. Alex gets to work setting the plates out and Casey knows it's time for her to duck out.
Casey grabs her jacket just as Alex gets a text message notification and pulls her phone out. "I'm going to head out. Olivia will love it. You guys have a great night."
Alex doesn't answer. She's too focused on her phone. She stares at the text message again, her heart dropping.
Babe - I am working late and then just going to go to bed. I'm sorry and I'll make it up to you. Love you, -Liv
Alex sits down at the table, setting the phone down and sighing. She's heartbroken that Olivia is cancelling on her again.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Casey comes over and stands beside the table and when Alex doesn't answer she touches her shoulder. "Hey - You okay?"
Alex silently hands her the phone. She's trying hard not to cry. She wants Casey to read it for herself; she knows she will break down if she tries to say anything right now.
Casey reads it, and her eyes immeaditely meet Alex's. "Alex...I'm sorry." Her heart is breaking for her friend, but at the same time she feels immense anger towards Olivia.
Alex shrugs and stands up, not wanting to let on how upset she really is. "It's okay. It's the job, you know? I understand."
She turns away from Casey and goes to put the plates and silverware away. They won't be needed now.
"Hey, wait," Casey says, and she's at Alex's side in seconds. She has her jacket off again. "Why let this food go to waste? I'm hungry. I'll stay and have dinner with you."
A smile forms on Alex's face. "Really? Don't you have your bowling league tonight?"
Casey shrugs. "They can play one game without me. Besides, you're more important."
You're more important. Alex wishes Olivia knew those words.
Alex hesitates and then grabs the plates and silverware again and brings them back to the table. Why not? They spent all that time cooking this delicious smelling food. Someone might as well enjoy it.
Alex pours Casey a glass of wine and Casey makes us each a plate. Before they know it they are both eating and laughing, having a great time like they always do.
Alex had been so upset, but Casey was quick to turn it around. She has that ability and Alex admires it about her.
"Alex," Casey says seriously. "I would have loved it if someone had done this for me. Loved it. It's Olivia's loss."
How was the first chapter?