It had been a long day for Casey Novak. She and the SVU squad had been narrowing down on a gun shop owner who had hired a neo nazi to assassinate a young boy. The squad had collected evidence and arrested the owner. Now it was time for Casey to have his ass thrown in jail.
The trial was going as well as it could with two neo nazi's as witnesses. Her first witness Star Morrison was not as to get on the stage. She practically had to have the detectives tie her to the witness chair. Even after they got in her in the chair she pleaded her fifth amendment right before saying her name. With that witness staying tight lipped her patience was wearing thin. Her second witness was a neo nazi who had shot and killed a young boy. Before he even got to the stand his lawyer, her old constitutional law professor, Barry Moredock, objected.
Casey groaned internally as she heard the objection. She had known Barry Moredock a long time. She had taken his constitutional law class back in law and school and knew him personally when he served on the bench. She had always liked the man, he had once told her she was very much like himself. Both were smart, passionate lawyers who wanted to protect the rights of everyone. Moredock however found his passion in protecting constitutional rights which meant in some instances. Much like the one happening that day, they butted heads.
She stood at the judge's podium during the sidebar listening to Moredock's reason for not allowing Brandon Redding to testify. She argues her side of why he should testify, the judge quickly agreeing with her over rules the objection. As she walked away she hard the bold words of her former professor.
"It's a bad ruling." Moredock argues.
Casey was taken aback by the bold statement the older man had just said and to the judge no less.
"You're letting your moral compass cloud your legal judgement." Moredock states.
"That's enough Mr. Moredock." the judge said giving Moredock a death stare. "Call your witness, Ms. Novak."
"The people call Brandon Lee Redding to the stand." Casey announces.
She watches as the court officers led the man wearing a large orange jumpsuit to the stand. As he was sworn in Casey prepares her first question.
"When did you meet Brian Ackerman?" Casey asks.
"Right after I got out." Redding said. "He saw my tattoos and told me about his organization. He said skinheads were all talk but his group actually did something. He said he had a taget I would specifically like."
"Who was this target?" Casey asks continuing her questioning.
She listens as he stated a derogatory term for both the child and his parents. He added that they told him where his school was and even gave him his school picture.
Before he could add anything else a voice rang out from the back of the room.
"Race traitor!"
The shout which got everyone's attention was followed by gunshots as two landed in Redding's chest. More shots followed. One punctured the judge's chest. Two hit two court officers.
Before Casey had realized she was frozen, a searing hot pain struck her. Followed by another bout of pain. She felt her knees buckle out from under her as she collapsed to the courthouse floor. Only then did it down on her that the floor was very wet. Where did all this water come from? A sinking feeling hit her as she realized it was blood, her blood. She was hit and was bleeding a lot. Breathing got more and more difficult as she lay there unable to move. The room began to sound like it was underwater. Voices and shots became muffled as her eyes began to droop. She thought she could hear someone calling her name.
She could see feet standing in front of her as the edges of vision darkend. She could hear the person shouting. She hard another distant shot and the owner of the shoes fell on top of her. That was all she could take, her eyes slid shut as the darkness took over.
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Barry Moredock had heard the first shot. He had watched as it took down Redding. He watched the second shot as it hit the man in orange again. He had watched in horror as a bullet entered the judge's chest and watched as more took out court officers. His heart nearly stopped when he saw two shots enter the ADA standing in front of Redding. As she dropped to the floor he crawled over to her.
She was laying on the floor as her own blood pooled underneath her. He tries to put pressure on the wounds while trying to keep her awake. She was fading fast. She was losing too much blood. He was more scared than he had ever been in his life. More scared than when he was drafted to Korea. More scared than when he decided to quit the bench. More scared than he was in the car accident he had when he 17. This time was different than any other time. This time he was scared for someone else.
He had known Casey Novak for a long time. He had met the girl in his constitutional law. On the very first day of class he had done tst to see just how well his students understood the rights guaranteed in the amendment. He had written the first amendment on the board and asked what exactly it meant. The first person to answer was a student that was known for being arrogant and ignorant. He had poshly stated what his opinion on the subject. Casey was the first person to challenge him. She then continue to ask him simple questions which made him angry thus giving the case to Casey.
From then on Moredock knew Casey would be a hell of lawyer and he became more than a teacher to her. He was a mentor, a friend and open ear. He had loved that girl like daughter when she needed it. Now that same spunky girl was bleeding out on the courthouse floor.
He begged her to stay with him. Ackerman stood above them his gun trained on the police. He wasn't counting on Dana Lewis sneaking up behind him and taking the kill shot. Ackerman's body fell on Casey causing her to finally pass out.
Ambulances got there the same time as backup. The paramedics took casey away from Barry. He watched as they put an oxygen mask on her fact and strapped her to spinal board. They were mumbling a bunch of medical jargon he didn't understand. He saw Olivia get into the ambulance with her.
The only thing left to do was pray.
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Olivia held Casey's hand as they rushed her to the hospital. She didn't understand a thing that the paramedics were saying She knew that they were losing her and she had lot a lot of blood but was still hanging on. She watched as the paramedics kept firm pressure on the wounds. The ambulance pulls into the hospital and Casey was whisked away.
Olivia went to the waiting room where she knew that had to make an awful to call to Casey's girlfriend. She dials the number, takes a deep breathe and puts the phone to her ear. It rang a few times before the person picked.
"This is Alex Cabot."