See part 1 for disclaimers

See part 1 for disclaimers.

Archive only with permission of author.

MISchief Part 2

(story 3 in the MIScommunication Series aka It Sucks To Be You Series)

By cnrocks/CaseyROCKS

Somewhere in Greenwich Village

Sunday 10:35am

"Hey, where are we going in such a hurry?"

Casey Novak hopped on one foot as she attempted to tie the sneaker on the other foot while still moving forward. She snuck a peek at her walking companion. Liz Donnelly was several yards in front of her and still moving rapidly forward.

"Liz! Liz, will you hold up a second?"

Casey noticed that the Judge didn't even hesitate a half step, nor did she turn around at the plea. Hurrying to tie the shoe, Casey hopped a couple of times more and then proceeded to practically run to catch up.

"C'mon, Liz, you can't stay pissed all morning. I told you it wasn't my fault."

Liz stopped and turned toward the ADA. Casey caught up and she leaned over with her hands on her knees and sucked in a few deep breaths.

"What exactly is not your fault? Leaving half my tires in front of your apartment building? Scaring the hell out of me with the way you drove? Running the red light? Flirting with the cop so that you didn't get a ticket? Which one is not your fault?"

"Well, when you put it that way... okay, they are all my fault. But it's not my fault we were thrown out of the cab eight blocks ago."

"Are you proposing that it was my fault? My fault?"

"Let me think about that." Casey paused for a second. "Yes," she replied emphatically. "When we got into the cab, you were in the process of hitting me with your purse. The driver had to ask you to stop. Four times. Then you were muttering something about burying another body in Central Park. Waitaminute... another body?"

Judge Donnelly evilly grinned. "And I suppose you don't think I would do it?"

Casey looked into the glaring brown eyes of the Judge and then looked quickly away. "I'm sorry, Liz. I shouldn't have used your car like that. I just got so excited. I'll pay for any repairs you think are necessary." She paused and smiled. "It was really cool how I got out of the ticket. I didn't even flash my ADA badge." Casey saw the disapproving look the Judge was giving her. Umm, not that I would have... because that would not be a good thing to do." Then quietly she added, "Again." She smiled sweetly at Liz. "I'll shut up now. But wasn't it cool? That young cop was putty in my hands."

"Oh, so you admit you were flirting? Hold that thought." Liz looked around quickly, then rolled her eyes. "Let's go in there." She pointed to a small café. "We need to talk." Before any objection could be voiced, Liz grabbed Casey's arm, pulling her off balance enough to cause her to stumble a step, and dragged her toward the coffee shop.

The café had an outdoor seating area and they chose one of the small bistro tables and sat down. It didn't take but a moment for a waiter in a medieval costume to make his way to the table.

"Well hello, lovely ladies," he bowed and put a couple of beverage napkins on the table. "Welcome to Caffeine Castle where coffee is king. I am your humble servant Merlin, the Java Magician. Your every wish is my command." He winked at Casey.

"Is your name really Merlin?" Casey asked. She rested her head on her hand and looked up at him through her eyelashes.

He turned a chair around backwards and straddled it, his arms crossed on the back of the chair. "Nah, it's actually Irving, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do to make a buck, y'know?" He leaned closer. "But my fingers are magic." He waggled his eyebrows and his fingers.

Liz snorted.

He glanced over at Liz and then back to Casey. "So what will you," he paused for a second, "and your mother be having?"

"Why you little..." Liz muttered.

Casey started to answer but was interrupted by the waiter.

"No, wait... let me see if I can guess what you both will be drinking. I'm pretty good at this if I do say so myself." He looked first at Casey and then turned and looked at Liz. "I got it. You, my dear lady," he addressed Casey, "are hot and a little spicy. So I think a skinny quad venti two pump gingerbread mocha half caff with extra whipped cream is perfect for you." He turned back to Liz. "Now you on the other hand, give me the impression of someone who is too cold... I mean cool for words. Straight and to the point. I think a vanilla bean frappe fits you."

He looked back and forth between them. "So ladies, how did I do? Am I right or am I right?"

Liz looked at Casey and Casey looked at Liz. They both turned to Merlin and alternately answered his inquiry.

"Coffee."

"Black."

"Large."

"Now."

Merlin got up and turned the chair back around. "You have got to be kidding," he said, a bit disgusted. "We have over 200 different coffee combinations and you want yours black?

Liz tilted her head and looked up at the waiter. "Ir-ving?" she said, drawing out his name a bit. "Let me put it this way... coffee, black, large, now OR tip, green, non-existent, later. Understand? You said you have magic fingers - do you have magic feet too? I suggest you find out and get us our order."

Casey raised her hand to her mouth to hide the snicker. Merlin decided getting the order would be in his best interest but not without one last pleading look at Casey. She just waved him off with a shooing motion. Liz then turned her attention to the young ADA.

"Casey, we need to talk," Liz, checked her watch and sighed quietly. "I want you to answer a few questions first though."

"Oooh, an interrogation. Do I get handcuffed and frisked?" She said sarcastically.

"Did you bring a pair? Because I don't usually carry mine with me," Liz replied drolly. "This is serious."

Casey straightened up and listened intently.

"Yesterday, the behavior of the so-called 'Order' team was anything but orderly. Every one of you acted like a spoiled child. It was, frankly, appalling and embarrassing."

"Liz, I didn't..."

"Yes, you did. Casey, I spent many, many years where you are now. I had to fight tooth and nail for any respect, even grudgingly given, because I was a woman in a man's job." Liz made quote marks in the air. "You, Alex and Abbie acted like children fighting over the same toy."

"Olivia?"

"Olivia."

"But she did..."

"Did what, Casey? Think about this. You spent more time flirting..." She paused while the returning Merlin placed their coffee on the table.

"Will there be anything else ladies? A pastry or cookie?" He looked between the two. "A plain cracker?"

"Watch it, Coffee-boy," Liz growled.

Merlin took the hint. He bowed again and left to wait on another customer.

"As I was saying, you spent more time flirting with the cop and Irving here than she did all of yesterday. Why are you even mad at her?"

Casey thought for a moment. "She kissed Abbie."

"Abbie kissed her."

"She, she..." Casey's voiced trailed off as her mind ran through all that happened the day before. She sat back in her chair and sighed. "She really didn't do anything."

"Congratulations, you managed to pull your head out of your butt. Today is now looking up."

"Okay, so I am not really mad at Liv. I'm still mad at..."

"Don't you even..."

"No, I'm not really mad at you either. Can't I be mad at Alex and Abbie?" Casey questioned.

"Why? What did they do?"

"They flirted with Liv."

Liz cut her off. "And Liv didn't flirt back." She took a sip of her coffee.

"They implied some things..."

"About you and Benson? Yes, that they did. You let Alex and Abbie push every one of your buttons and drag you down to their childish levels. Then you got mad and took it out on the one person who didn't actually do anything to you."

"Olivia?"

Liz nodded her head.

"I'm more mad at me. I was... jealous." Casey admitted quietly.

"Why? Think about this, Casey - who is Liv with? She came home to you. Even after all the humiliation she put up with yesterday. She lives with you. She never lived with those other two. She loves... you."

"I'm such an ass. I've got to go home." Casey slid her chair back and began to stand up.

"It's apparently going around." Liz grabbed the ADA's wrist. "Sit down, Casey. You aren't going home just yet."

"Liz, I appreciate everything you did and this chat but I need to talk to Olivia." Casey pulled her arm free and picked up her purse.

"Casey, sit down." Liz looked up. "Please?"

Casey sat back down.

"Yes, you do need to talk to Liv, but not right now. She is at your home, right now, trying her best to make up with you even though she didn't do anything. She is trying to prove to you just how much she really loves you. And you are going to give her that time."

Casey put her head in her hands. "I feel horrible."

"Good. More progress."

Casey looked up at Liz. Her eyebrow arched.

"Today, you and I are going to go meet with Alex and Abbie. And we are going to bond. We are going to go out and have a pleasant afternoon and we will work out any problems."

"Objection!"

"Overruled."

"But Liz..."

"No. Just think about something here, Casey. There is more involved here than just you and Liv. You three completely annihilated any inherent respect to the public positions you hold during yesterday's free-for-all. Was it worth it? Do you know how hard it is going to be, if not impossible, to get it back once the show airs? Do you realize the scrutiny you will be under in the press? The credibility problem?"

Casey hung her head and sat silently.

"By the end of the day, we will either be friends or I will be looking for a new spot to bury some bodies in. Understand? Any future dealings between the three of you, whether public or private, will be handled with mutual respect. I will not risk another public spectacle to the office and to the profession I love."

Casey nodded once.

"Get it."

"Got it."

"Good. Now let's see if we can get Irving here to bring us the check." Liz looked at her watch and frowned. She began to stand up and Casey rose too. The Judge waved the waiter over. "We only have twenty minutes before we have to meet with Larry and Curly."

"Does that make you…?"

"Watch it, Casey Moe-vak."

DOINK DOINK