Hello!
Here is chapter two. I want to thank JeffHardyfan724 and Sawyerr for reviewing. I appreciate it, and hope you continue!
I do not own any characters from L&O SVU.
2004
Carabella had asked if I would pick up Abby again, I knew she had ulterior motives, but I couldn't say no to her, let alone Abby.
I ran through the doors of Abby's school and prayed to god that she was all right. I was supposed to pick her up at three, but court ran late and it was now twenty after.
As I walked through the open door of the classroom I began apologizing, "I am so sorry-"
I blushed when I realized my panic was unwarranted as Abby sat in the blocks area with Lynden building.
"Aunt Casey, look!" she said waving me over to show me her castle.
"Wow, Abby, you did a wonderful job."
"Miss Brent helped too!"
"Well, Miss Brent, wonderful job too!" I said winking at her.
"Abby can you be my super helper, and pick up the blocks?" Lynden asked.
"I am very sorry I was late, court ran late and—honestly it doesn't matter. I'm sorry."
"It's not a problem. Abby is such a sweet girl, it was my pleasure."
Her smile seemed to ease my lips into one too. Carabella's scheming or not I enjoyed our rendezvous.
A few days later, I sat at my desk feeling overwhelmed by the mountains of paperwork that were on my desk. I was thankful when the phone rang, my mind begged for a distraction.
"ADA Novak."
"Miss Novak? This is the nurse from Lexington Elementary. I'm here with Abby and her teacher, Miss Brent. Abby has a fever. We tried to get a hold of her mothers, but neither are available. You are her emergency contact. Would you be able to pick her up?"
I was already reaching for my suit jacket, "of course. I'll be there soon. Is Abby ok?"
"Yes, she is sleeping in the nurse's office."
"Ok, thank you."
I called Carabella on my way to the school, "where the hell are you?"
"I just left the gynecologist's office. What's wrong?"
"Abby's school called me, she has a fever and they couldn't get a hold of you or Renee."
"They couldn't get a hold of Renee? She's at the office."
"Evidently not. I'm getting her now. I'll take her to my apartment, you have a conversation that is long overdue with Renee."
"Casey-" I didn't let her finish before hanging up on her.
Lynden met me in the main office, and walked down to the nurse's office with me. "She said her tummy hurt, so I had her eat snack. She barely touched it, so I put my hand on her forehead, and it was hot. I took her to the nurse, and her temperature was 100 degrees."
Abby was lying under a blanket on the cot in the office, her bangs were damp from sweat and her little cheeks were bright pink. I gently roused her and she opened her eyes obviously confused.
"Aunt Casey?"
"Hi sweetie. I'm going to take you to the doctor. Ok?"
She crawled into my arms and snuggled, "I don't feel good auntie Casey."
"I know sweetie, we're going to go to the doctor."
"Thank you," I said with a nod to the nurse, then followed Lynden out towards the exit.
"I appreciate you calling me. Please never hesitate to do so."
"Thank you for coming."
I pulled the covers over Abby, who lay on my couch and shut the light off above her. I saw my phone light up and grabbed it when I saw Carabella's number.
"Hi, I'm outside." I was mixed in my feelings of anger and sympathy for her.
I walked to the door and unlocked it for her.
She let herself in and we walked into the kitchen.
I didn't need to ask, I could tell by the look on her face that things hadn't gone well.
Putting aside my frustration, I hugged her tight. After about five minutes Carabella sighed and sat down.
"Renee has been having an affair."
I bit my tongue, knowing that saying the obvious would hurt her feelings, "I'm so sorry Cara."
"OH come on, you knew as well as I did that it was happening."
"How long?"
"A year."
I couldn't control myself, "Wow."
"I know. She told me she loved her and that she wants a divorce."
"What?"
"I know."
"Who is it?"
"Someone she works with."
"What about Abby? What about the baby?"
The dam broke and Carabella broke down completely, "She wants me to abort it."
"What?"
"She said she never wanted Abby, that it was me pushing for her. The same with this baby. She has no actual ties to Abby or," she sighed as she looked at her stomach, "this one."
"That's ridiculous. The amount of heartbreak, the amount of effort you had to put into this, and not to mention the money, for her to suggest you abort it?"
"She didn't want a family, I did. She has a ton of money, so she thinks she can make it go away with money."
I knew it wasn't my place to ask but I did, "what will you do?"
"Cassandra, you have to ask?"
The next few weeks were a whirlwind as I helped Carabella and Abby move out. I told them Cara, she could stay with me until she found a place. Renee had given Cara a large amount of money so she could move and was paying her alimony. I didn't know the details, but evidently she had offered, that didn't make her any less of an asshole in my eyes.
Throughout the whole process Carabella said little, Abby knew what was happening but talked little of it to Cara or me.
I received another call shortly after the separation, from Lynden.
"Miss Novak?"
I immediately recognized the voice, "Hi Miss Brent, is Abby ok?"
"Yes, I don't want to alarm you but I can't get a hold of either of her moms and she's not feeling well."
"Does she have a temperature?"
"No, um, she's emotionally distraught. I feel like it may be best for Abby to be picked up."
I sat up a little straighter. "Emotionally distraught, how so?"
"She was crying inconsolably for the last hour. When she was finally able to calm down she refused to let the aide leave her side. This isn't normal behavior from Abby."
I sighed, "Abby has had some changes in her home life…" I started, not sure what to even say.
"Could I come down and talk with you?"
"Of course."
Twenty minutes later I was at Abby's school. She was in the observation room, sitting with the psychologist playing. I thought it was an odd parallel to being an ADA, and watching a criminal.
"I can't believe that Carabella didn't tell you. I am so sorry. Carabella and Renee are divorcing. She moved out with Abby to my apartment until they are able to get a different place. I'm afraid that that is why you're seeing such a change from the typical Abby."
Genuine concern crossed Lynden's face, "I am so sorry to hear that Casey," she said putting her hand over mine.
I looked at her oddly, she had never called me anything besides Miss Novak, let alone grab my hand.
"Oh I'm sorry." She said catching herself.
"No, no it's ok."
"I'm sorry to say there's more," I continued, "Carabella is pregnant again."
"Her and Renee's child?"
I sighed, hard, "Abby and this child have no true biological ties to Renee, and she doesn't want anything to do either of them."
Lynden couldn't hold back the audible gasp.
"I'm truly sorry Carabella didn't tell you. I'm going to talk to her about all of this. Thank you for calling, please don't hesitate to call again."
"Good luck, Casey."
I smiled, hearing my name come from her. I picked up Abby and took her home. She clung to me as I walked into my apartment and didn't let go when Carabella met us at the door.
"Abby didn't feel well so they called me."
Cara's face fell, "why wasn't I called?"
"They said you weren't available. They tried."
She opened her mouth to say something but I pushed past her, and put Abby down in bed.
I closed her door and sought out Carabella, "where were you?"
"I went to get some things from the house," her eyes didn't meet mine.
I wasn't fooled. "You fucked her didn't you?" I wasn't in the mood to hide my disgust.
When she didn't answer I nearly spit, "you little girl was having a panic attack at school, and you were fucking Renee!"
"Casey it wasn't like that. We were trying to talk."
"How was she Cara? Could you taste the other woman she's been fucking behind your back, between her legs?"
Her jaw dropped. I walked away knowing I'd say worse if I stayed.
"I thought I could make her remember the love we once had."
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