The next few days pass rather uneventfully.

Returning to work on Monday following a good relaxing weekend with her fiance was hard, but Alex throws herself into work as usual and before she knows it, it's Wednesday already.

She's about to wrap up her work for the afternoon and go grab lunch when her office phone buzzes. Slightly annoyed, she hits the speaker button and the voice of her assistant can be heard.

"Miss Cabot, District Attorney McCoy is here to see you."

Alex frowns, wondering what could possibly bring him here in the middle of the week. As far as she knows nothing is going on; the office isn't handling any huge profile cases at the moment, and she doesn't know of any of her colleagues who would be in trouble.

As an executive assistant district attorney, it's Alex's job to handle case assignments and any ethical or professional issues that may arise with the prosecutors under her. It's been awhile since she's had to take any disciplinary actions against any of her prosecutors, and even longer since she's had to take anything to McCoy.

He hadn't said anything to her on Monday when she met with him for their weekly meeting.

So what is he doing here?

Alex abandons her lunch idea and sits back down at her desk, telling her assistant to let McCoy come in.

He comes in with his usual arrogant air about him. Alex likes and respects John McCoy, but even she has to admit he carries himself with a lot of arrogance. Much like she used to do years before.

"What brings you here, John?" Alex is on a first name basis with practically everyone in the legal circuit in Manhattan.

She motions for him to take a seat in front of her desk, which he does without hesitation. They do their usual back and forth small talk before McCoy gets down to business and reveals why he's come to visit Alex.

"Alex, I've known and worked with you for many years. You're one of the best - if not the best - prosecutors that has served under me. You are certainly aware that you're next in line to be district attorney."

Does she know that? Yes. Alex has wanted that career advancement for many years. She's strived for it, put in her time as an assistant district attorney until she worked herself up to executive assistant district attorney, which is basically the right hand of the DA. It's the natural stepping stone to the top office.

Alex doesn't like to boast but she is well aware that there is no one else currently serving the office that is more qualified than her.

McCoy cuts right to the chase. "I'm resigning my position effective in thirty days, and I'm appointing you as my replacement."

Alex isn't sure she heard correctly; McCoy is resigning? When did this happen? He has never expressed any desire or need to step down.

Alex stares at him for a moment, a bewildered expression on her face. She's an expert orator and usually has no trouble stringing words together but right now she can't seem to form any coherent sentences.

"I'm not sure how to take that expression on your face, counselor. Is that a yes or a no?"

Alex snaps out of her daze. "I'm sorry, I'm just...this is definitely not what I expected to hear." She feels her heart rate increase. "Is everything all right, John? May I ask what the reason is for your resignation?"

She's asks out of courtesy; the reason doesn't matter. She knows she will take the job on the spot no matter what he tells her.

"Personal reasons. That's all I can say right now. But I'm not here to discuss me. I'm here to discuss you."

Alex feels a smile forming on her face. It's a rare occurrence that one appear at work, yet here she is, smiling like she's just won the lottery.

"I'm honored. Truly honored," she finally says, trying her hardest to sound humble. As if anyone else had a chance anyway.

"You'll take the position in thirty days," McCoy tells her. "You've already been groomed for this job but there are things you will need to be trained on and things to discuss. The transition should be easy for you."

This promotion means a bigger office, bigger paycheck, bigger responsibility, more visibility, more hours. It's going to be an adjustment to home life and something she is going to have to discuss with Olivia. But she has no doubt they can do it, and she does not hesitate to accept McCoy's offer.

They speak for awhile longer, and as McCoy gets up to leave, Alex asks, "Who will my position then go to? The executive ADA position? Do you have someone in mind or will I be in charge of deciding that?"

McCoy hesitates and then saye, "Casey Novak was my choice."

Alex is again taken aback. Casey is the last person she expected McCoy to name. Casey has butted heads with him on several occasions, and McCoy was never shy about hiding his disdain for her. Alex expected to hear the name Kim Greylek tumble from his lips, not the name of her best friend.

"Casey?"

He nods his head. "I know you two are close. Be completely honest with me, Alex, see past your friendship - can she handle it? Would she be a good second?"

Alex doesn't even hesitate. "Yes. She would be a great choice. My personal relationships have no impact on my professional ones, and I would tell you if I thought Casey couldn't do it. But I think she's a great choice."

Alex doesn't play favorites at work and isn't saying that only because Casey is her friend. She admires Casey and finds her to be one of the best prosecutors she has ever worked with. Her conviction rate rivals her own, she's tenacious and does what is necessary to get the job done. Alex couldn't think of a better person to put in that position.

McCoy stands, signaling the conversation is over for now. "We will get the wheels in motion and I will make the official announcement within the next couple of days. I assume I can trust you to keep this between us?"

Alex nods. "Have you gone to Casey yet?" He shakes his head. "Do you mind if I do?"

"If you think that's best, go ahead. Make it clear this is not to be repeated to anyone."

After McCoy leaves Alex sits back down, her mind turning over everything she's just heard. She is elated yet nervous at the same time.

This is what she's wanted for a long time but it's coming so quickly without warning. Alex is a person who always likes to plan ahead and strategize. But she also knows sometimes life throws curveballs and surprises and you just have to go with it.

She can't wait to tell Olivia. She wants to call her, but this is a conversation best saved for face to face. She figures she will go down to the precinct and surprise her for lunch and drop the news then.

But before that happens, she has somewhere she needs to be. She quickly texts Casey and asks if she's in her office. Casey answers almost immediately with a yes, and Alex tells her to stay there because she needs to talk to her.

Alex doesn't knock; she knows if Casey is truly in 'do not disturb mode' she will have the door locked. She opens it and goes in to find Casey sitting on the sofa by the window, her iPad in her hands and papers strewn out on the cushions next to her.

Casey turns her head and smiles. "Hey."

"Hi. Sorry to interrupt." Alex goes over and sits in the chair across from the sofa. She watches as Casey quickly tries to tidy up.

Casey sighs and looks up from the iPad, her green eyes meeting Alex's blue eyes. "You're not. What's up?"

"I have something to tell you. And before I do, I want to ask you not to freak out, okay?"

Casey's eyes go wide. "Conversation starters like that don't usually lead into anything good…"

Alex shakes her head. "This is good - I promise. But even so, I needed that disclaimer because there's still a possibly you may be inclined to freak out. Just slightly."

Casey furrows her brow and looks at Alex in confusion. "Okay…"

"John McCoy is resigning his position and he is appointing me to take his place."

A smile instantly forms on Casey's face and she gets up and excitedly hugs Alex. "Alex! That's great news! You'll be fantastic and it's what you've been working for!"

When they break the embrace and they sit back down, Alex finds herself smiling as well. She really is happy to have the opportunity.

"Why is he resigning?" Casey asks.

"He just said personal reasons. I didn't press it."

Casey nods, still smiling. "It's the best news I've heard in a long time. And why would I freak out over that? I'm proud of you."

Alex meets her gaze and holds it. "There's more, Casey."

Casey gets a puzzled look on her face. "What?"

Alex hesitates a moment, and then says, "And you're going to be taking my place - as executive ADA."

The look of surprise on Casey's face is almost comical. She doesn't say anything at first, but opens her mouth like she wants to.

"Excuse me, what?" she finally comes out with, and Alex repeats exactly what she just told her. Casey then shakes her head profusely. "No, Alex. No way in hell."

Alex sighs. She had expected this opposition, which is why she wanted to come to her instead of McCoy. She can talk her into taking it. She would just flat out refuse if offered by McCoy.

"You'll be great, Casey."

Casey shakes her head again and looks back down at her iPad. "I don't want the job, Alex. No. I'm sorry."

Alex doesn't give up easily. When she wants something she usually gets it. Persuading Casey to take this opportunity is no different.

"Why don't you want it?" Alex asks, a stern look on her face.

Casey sighs and meets her eyes again. "Seriously? You're asking me why? Because I'm me, Alex. People don't respect me. Our colleagues would never listen or accept me being in charge of them."

Ever since Casey came back to the DA's office five years ago following her suspension she has had a serious lack of self-confidence. Alex has watched it get better over the last few years but she's still not the confident attorney she used to be.

But Alex knows she can be again and this is just what she needs to realize that.

"You're wrong, Casey. You're the only person who still cares about your censure and suspension. Barely anyone you worked with at that time is even still here."

"You cared about it. You cared about it a lot when I first came back. You had some things to say," Casey reminds her.

Alex remembers how unfairly she treated her, how harshly she judged her until she got to know her.

"You're right; I did. And I was wrong." Alex laughs lightly. "You know I don't say those words often!"

Casey intertwines her hands nervously in her lap. "Everyone is going to say you gave it to me because I'm your best friend."

"Maybe. But it wasn't my decision; it was McCoy's. He had chosen you."

Those words cause Casey to look back at Alex in surprise. "Really?"

It's the confidence booster Casey needs, and Alex takes it and runs with it.

"Yes. I asked him if he had anyone in mind; he said you. And I agreed. Not because you're my friend - but because you deserve it. You can do it. I know you can."

Casey looks away thoughtfully, wringing her hands together again. "What about Kim Greylek?"

Kim Greylek is a McCoy favorite. An exceptional brown noser, and considers Casey to be her main rival. She tries to take Casey down at every opportunity and has tried to use her friendship with Alex to get her transferred.

"What about her?" Alex asks.

"I just can't believe that McCoy didn't pick his golden child."

Alex shrugs. "You're way more qualified. Smarter. Easier to get along with. No one likes Greylek. You're way more likeable. Everyone likes you." Alex laughs again. "Well, almost everyone…"

Casey laughs. She is finally more relaxed, and appears more receptive to the idea.

"I just don't know, Alex…"

"You don't have to answer right now." Alex leans forward and touches her knee. "Think about it. But you know I'll help you out. You'll be my right hand woman. And best of all? Greylek's boss."

Casey smiles at that. Knowing that John McCoy chose her really does boost Casey's confidence but she still doesn't want to give an answer right now.

Alex looks at her phone. "I have to be going. I'll check in with you later, ok?"

Casey nods and picks her iPad back up as Alex heads for the door. "I really am happy for you, Alex. You're amazing."

Alex smiles. "So are you."

Alex stops about halfway to the door, something across the room catching her eye.

There's a bouquet of flowers sticking out of the garbage. Alex frowns and immediately approaches the can. "Someone sent you flowers? Why did you throw them away?"

Casey looks away, as if embarrassed. "You know I hate flowers."

Alex leans down and grabs them out of the garbage. She looks at the card and immediately understands why Casey is reacting the way she is.

The flowers are from Charlie.

Alex wears a serious expression now. "Charlie? Has he been harrassing you?"

Casey shakes her head but doesn't say anything. She gets up and walks across to stand in front of Alex. As

"Tell me the truth, Casey."

Casey meets Alex's eyes again. Alex is one person that Casey can't lie to. She's tried. Alex can see right through her and knows when she's lying immediately. So there's no use in trying now.

"I haven't seen him since the theater," Casey says. "I've moved and changed my personal number since we've been together. He doesn't know where I live. But he knows I work here, and he called me here a couple of times. I didn't talk to him either time." Her eyes go to the garbage. "The flowers came today. I tossed them right out."

"Why didn't you tell me he'd been calling?" Alex asks, a hint of hurt in her voice. She and Casey have always been able to tell each other everything.

"You've been busy all week...I've been busy. I wasn't trying to hide it, really. I just never really had the opportunity to tell you."

"I'm never too busy for you; ever," Alex says. "You can talk to me anytime. I thought you knew that. I don't care what I'm working on; I have time for you. Just don't answer his calls and hopefully he will get the message. If not, I'll ask Olivia to go talk to him."

Casey nods. She can't bring herself to look at Alex - she's embarrassed. She doesn't know why; she's done nothing wrong. But somehow Alex knowing what Charlie did to her and finding the flowers the way she did makes her feel small.

"Hey," Alex says, touching Casey's shoulder and causing her to finally meet her gaze. "It's not your fault, ok? Don't let him do this to you again. You're strong. If he comes around here we will take care of it."

Casey is beyond grateful that she has at least one person who thinks she is worth something. She always doubted herself, doubted that she was good enough. On the outside she put on a good, solid facade to hide how unworthy she always felt inside. She knew deep down a lot of her self-esteem had to do with her past with Charlie.

But Alex did something to her. She made her realize she isn't that person anymore,. That she doesn't have to be ashamed of the person she was, nor afraid of the person she really is.

Alex went through so much in her life and though she needed help, she never gave up on herself. She spent hours in therapy, took medication she didn't want to take, suffered panic attacks in silence. If anyone knew what they were talking about, it was definitely Alex.

All the times they talked about Charlie - the things he did to Casey, how much she really loved him, how guilty she felt about leaving him - Casey would always come away from the conversation feeling better about herself. Alex just had this way of getting through to people who wouldn't listen to anyone else.

Alex never really had friends. She considered people either "colleagues" or "acquaintances." Olivia was the first person Alex truly considered a friend, and then it turned into more. And Casey was really the only other person that Alex cared enough about to give the title to.

Casey always felt special that Alex liked her and wanted to spend time with her. The girl everyone described as

cold and earned the nickname "Ice Queen" was really anything but when you peeled her layers away. As Casey got to know her, she realized that professional Alex and private Alex were two very, very different people and she was privileged to know and love them both.

As Casey watches Alex leave her office, she knows she is going to take the job opportunity. How can she not? Yes she's scared to death, but when you have someone who believes in you, you can do anything.

.2

When Casey gets home from work that day, she can't settle her mind. It's running at a million miles per hour and has been that way since she popped in Alex's office and told her she'd she would accept the job.

Every time Casey gets antsy like this she either goes to the batting cages or goes for a run. It helps her keep herself occupied and helps her think. Keeping active is how Casey deals with stressful situations.

She sits down on her couch and laces up her running shoes. She hasn't been running in at least a week and feels sluggish and out of shape. She needs this more ways than one.

Casey usually avoids Central Park on evening runs because of the amount of people, but tonight she feels like taking the running trail out over the water. The bench at the top has a perfect thinking spot.

It's not far from her building and she decides to walk there. The sidewalk is crowded as usual, and she's lost in thought and absorbed within herself that she doesn't notice someone walking nearly beside her until she gets to the crosswalk and has to stop.

She stands with the group of people and waits for the walk light to signal, and suddenly a voice calling her name startles her.

Casey turns towards the voice, and feels all the color drain from her face when she realizes it's Charlie standing behind her.

The walk light signals and everyone except Casey and Charlie cross the street. Casey takes a few steps backwards, slowly inching away. "C - Charlie?"

He's wearing black pants and a uniform shirt from the movie theater. He smiles at her tentatively and reaches out to touch her arm. Casey instinctively flinches away, and demands that he not touch her.

"Why are you afraid of me? I won't hurt you," he says sadly.

Casey can feel her heart rate increase and she's definitely scared, but something about being on the sidewalk with hundreds of people around makes her feel somewhat safe.

"You have hurt me, Charlie. Several times. You've hurt me badly," she tells him. "And you're not supposed to be around me. You know that."

"Every since I saw you at the theater I couldn't stop thinking about you. I didn't know if you were still in the city." Charlie hesitates and takes a step towards her, which causes Casey to take a step back. "Who was the blonde you were with? Your girlfriend?"

"Yes," Casey says, without hesitation. It's a blatant lie and she usually avoids lying at all costs, but she thinks if Charlie thinks she's in a relationship then maybe he will back off. "Yes, I'm with someone. I've moved on."

Something in his eyes changes when she says that. Before it was sadness, maybe even regret there. But now as she looks, she sees jealousy and anger. Familiar looks that used to terrify her and make her feel things she never wanted to feel again.

"I waited outside your building to see you and you're not even happy to see me."

Casey is filled with dread. How did Charlie find out where she lived? "You shouldn't have done that. I'm not happy to see you. How did you find out where I'm living?"

Charlie doesn't answer. He just stares at her.

Suddenly Casey has lost her motivation to run. She just wants to go back to her secure building and go to her apartment where she knows Charlie can't get to her.

She starts to walk past him, and Charlie turns around. Casey holds up her hand. "I want you to stay away from mfrom. You understand? You can't do this. The next time I see you outside my building or see you anywhere else, I'm calling the police."

She hurries back to her building and is relieved when Charlie doesn't follow.

But when she turns and looks one last time before going into the lobby, he's still cemented in place staring after her.

What do you think? Things are going well for Alex...not so well for Casey. Next chapter things start to change. Stay tuned, will try not to keep you waiting too long.