Dancing Within the Flames

By: Liv-x-Lex4Ever and E. Scribbles

Chapter 2: Uninvited Guest

Olivia had just arrived home and changed into sweats when her phone rang. She knew it was going to be work. Surprise hit her when, before she'd even spoken, Casey's voice fell down the line. "The guy from the restaurant. He followed me home. He's outside and he won't go away!"

"And you called me?" she asked, rhetorically, but she heard the nervousness in Casey's voice. "Casey, take a breath. Tell me, what happened?"

Casey took a deep breath, and pulled the bed covers higher up around her. "When I got home, I was getting changed when there was a knock on the door. I thought...well, I thought it might be you. I opened it, I just didn't think to check, and he tried to barge in. I managed to slam the door, but he kept banging on it, saying he wanted to talk to me. He said he's going to stay there until I talk to him. He's just sitting there."

She could hear her almost about to cry. "Hey, hey, shhh. It's gonna be okay. I-I'll come over. Stay there."

"No! Don't. I-I don't want you to get hurt. He'll go away eventually. I was just scared."

She sighed. "But sweetie, you are scared. I have my weapons on my belt. It's my duty to protect you, no matter what happens."

Casey let out a slow breath, then said weakly. "Maybe I'll just have one more try to get rid of him. I'll reason with him. It's late, I'm sure he has work in the morning."

"Casey, quit being stubborn! He's probably already drunk off his ass! I don't want to find you lying in the street when I go to work. Men like that, you can't reason with." She heard a whimper over the phone as the pounding resumed. "Sweetie, don't, okay? Please? I'll climb the fire escape to get to you if you're so worried."

Casey suddenly let out a quiet giggle. "You know it's raining? You'd climb up a rusty old fire escape to please me?"

Olivia smiled. "Don't say it that way. It gives me the wrong idea... But yes, I w-would. Unless you'd prefer I dealt with him the hard way. Actually, that might be easier—"

"I think I kind of like the idea of your climbing my fire escape to rescue me detective." Casey suddenly gasped as there was a loud crash, then the phone went dead.

"Casey! CASEY!" she screamed, but heard nothing. Grabbing her gun, she jumped in the car and sped off.

By the time Olivia reached Casey's apartment, she was soaked to the bone. Not noticing how cold she was, she rushed past the elevator and ran up the stairs. Reaching Casey's door, her hand immediately went to her gun as she noticed the door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open with her foot, she raised her weapon. "Step away!"

The man spun around, a look of shock on his face, and he dropped his hand from Casey's arm.

"Who are you?" Olivia asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I've just come to talk to Casey. Who are you and why are you waving a gun at me."

"I asked you first," she answered. "Olivia Benson, Special Victims Unit," she answered, flashing her badge.

The guy turned to Casey, his arms immediately enfolding her once more. "I thought you said you didn't call the police. Oh god, what did he do to you?" Still upset and trying to calm herself, all Casey did was hiccup.

Olivia walked over, wrapping an arm around Casey, who looked nervous and scared. "I'm not upset. Just who is he?"

As Casey attempted an answer, the guy pulled her closer towards him. "Look detective, everything is ok here. She's too upset to talk right now, but if she decides she has anything to say, I can bring her down to the precinct."

"Answer me, dammit! Who are you?" she said, jealousy flaring and hurt evident. She turned to Casey. "Dammit Case! I told you I was coming, but you had to fall into the arms of a stranger?"

Casey opened her mouth to speak, but the man answered for her. "Stranger? Boyfriend is a more appropriate term detective."

"Boyfriend?" the detective repeated. "I didn't...since when? And I want her to answer me this time," she said, putting her gun away.

Casey pulled in a deep, shaking breath, wiping her eyes and streaking mascara across her cheek in the process. "He just came as the guy was trying to kick the door down. He scared him away. And you're not my boyfriend John, you know that. We broke up. A long time ago."

"Oh, well then thank you and I apologize for jumping the gun, but she'll be fine now," she replied as Casey pulled away from him. "You will be, right?"

Casey nodded, but the guy sat down on the couch. "I think maybe I'll stay the night all the same, just in case he comes back. That'll be ok, won't it Casey?" Feeling suddenly tired after all the emotions of the last couple of days, all she could do was nod.

Olivia nodded, hurt and anger evident. "Maybe...maybe she should stay somewhere he doesn't know. Wouldn't it be safer?" she asked, hoping Casey would agree so they could talk a bit.

Casey rubbed her eyes tired. "Maybe..."

"She will be fine here. I'll make sure she's ok, detective. Besides, we have things to catch up on don't we Case!"

Olivia could see Casey's nervousness. She really wanted her to be away from him, not just for her own petty jealousy, but from what she could see of Casey's reactions toward him. "It's her decision. Not yours," she stated. "What do you want to do?"

"...Maybe it would be better to go somewhere else for the night." She offered, a yawn escaping. "Right, ok then, I'll find us a hotel. With room service." John offered brightly, seeing Casey edging closer to Olivia

"Where do you want to go, Casey?" she asked. Then she turned to John. "Are you fucking clueless? You save her once, but that's not going to erase the signs of nervousness I see whenever you talk to her!" She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. That was totally unprofessional of me, but I still believe she has the right to choose. Don't you?"

John looked hurt, and suddenly Casey was next to him again. "I think I might just stay here. I'm sure he won't come back. Thank you for coming. Both of you. But I'm fine now."

"You're sure?" Olivia asked.

Casey just nodded, not making eye contact with anyone as she moved to hold open the door.

Olivia sighed. "Well, alright," she said, seeing John standing behind her, "if you're sure."

Casey nodded, mumbling a quiet, "Thanks for coming," as John walked out the door. As Olivia walked out, she heard a very quiet, "Fire escape." When she turned her head, Case winked.

Olivia nodded, her face set. Though she wasn't fond of going back out into the rain, the prospect of being there with her alone excited her and not in an all-sexual way. She watched as John hailed a cab and she made to get in her car as he left.

She slammed the door, then made her way up the fire escape to knock on the rain-soaked window. "Inspection!" she joked.

Casey opened the window, handing Olivia a towel and immediately reaching up to help dry her hair with another one. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't think of another way to get rid of him, and he wouldn't have left if you didn't leave. He's always been. Well, John. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of tea or something?"

Olivia took of her jacket and rang it out before throwing it over a hard-backed chair. Ignoring the question, she pulled her close. "I'm sorry I'm soaked to the bone. Do you have something I can change into?"

Casey drew in a sharp breath, immediately imagining Olivia in all the skimpiest things she owned. "Yes."Casey made no movements and there was only the sound of rain dripping from Olivia onto the carpet for a few moments until Casey spoke again. "I should get them now, shouldn't I?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes, but I'm enjoying the heat," she replied, swaying with her gently. "So there's absolutely nothing going on? He just happened by the place?"

"He accidently happens by a lot." Unable to resist, Casey rested her head on Olivia's shoulder, her lips brushing her neck gently as her heartbeat finally started to calm.

"What happened? Why were you so tense?"

Casey gave a quiet laugh. "You would be tense too when a guy who is always declaring is love for you finally comes face to face with the person you actually love." Her face suddenly became hot, and she stepped away. "I'll get you those clothes now, you must be cold."

She smiled, resting her hand on her arm. "Maybe not, but yeah I am freezing!" she said, shivering, discarding her shirt. "Blanket anywhere?"

"On the couch." A few moments later, Casey walked out with a pile of clothes and offered them hesitantly. "I haven't done any laundry lately."

Olivia smiled. "Don't worry. Where's your bathroom?"

Casey pointed, then gave another apologetic smile. "I'm not at home that often…and I'm kind of messy."

She opened the door, then leaned in the frame. "You're not messy compared to me," she said, walking in and closing the door. Olivia changed into the long, soft pajamas and hung her clothes over the towel rack above the bathtub to dry. She walked back out. "I like your style," she replied, walking out in a red lacey set and sitting on the couch, seeing Casey was making tea in the kitchen.

"They were a present. I wear them when it's really—" Casey stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, her eyes travelling over Olivia slowly, before she returned one cup of tea to the bench. "On second thought, I should bring them in one cup at a time so no one gets scalded."

Olivia smiled. "That might be a good idea, but what were you saying?"

Casey carefully placed a cup of tea in front of Olivia, then returned to get her own before sitting on the couch, pulling the blanket around herself. "I wear them when it's really cold outside. Those days when it gets into your bones and you think you're never going to warm up. They feel like a hug, a warm drink and a long awaited for kiss all in one."

Olivia smiled. "That's nice. They seem kinda skimpy though," she replied, sipping at her tea. "Makes me wonder if you have something in mind."

Casey choked on her tea, then blushed. "I haven't done laundry, I didn't mean to make you think I wanted anything. It's not like I haven't thought about it, oh god have I thought about it, I forgot what my address was on the way home thinking about it, but I didn't mean to make you feel pressured or-"

Olivia took the tea from her hands, then leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She smiled, hearing Casey moan into her lips and her hands run into her wet hair.

Casey murmured Olivia's name against her lips, moving closer to the detective, but as Olivia's hand brushed the skin of Casey's back, she pulled away. "We can't. I can't. I know you said...but...I have to be sure you're not just using me to get over Alex. "

Olivia sighed taking her hands out of her shirt. She sat up and pulled her with her. "That makes sense. It does. And, honestly, one date is a little fast for me. How 'bout you?"

Casey nodded and went to apologize, but Olivia placed a finger on her lips. The sat in silence for a while, and it was only when a small snore was emitted that Olivia realized Casey was fast asleep in her arms.

Olivia smiled, readjusting herself on the couch and pulling the blanket over them. "Goodnight, Casey. I promise I would never use you like that. Hopefully, you'll let me prove it to you," she said, kissing her forehead.

Author's Note: So what do you think?

Thanks to my Beta:Tiger(dot)Lily(dot)Weasley(dot)757

Review thanks to: E. Scribbles

Please read & review!

Liv-x-Lex4Ever and E. Scribbles