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At the end of the day, after everyone had watched the firework show, they left to go home. The Stabler teens were in their rooms, and Kathy was in the laundry room. Casey stayed to help Elliot clean up the backyard and finished at 11:00 PM.
Casey watched as Abrianna and Eli slept on the couch in peace. She sighed.
"I'd better go wake up Abrianna and head home." She whispered to Elliot. She was so close to him, he could feel her warm breath and it sent shivers down his spine.
"You shouldn't be driving this late. Abrianna's already sleeping, why don't you stay the night?" he protested. Casey shook her head.
"I don't want to intrude…" Elliot put a hand up to stop her.
"Its fine, I'm sure Kathy wouldn't mind either. Please stay?" he asked with puppy dog eyes. Casey laughed.
"Alright, I give up! We'll stay." Elliot gave his famous smile and Casey felt herself glow.
"Great! We'd better bring Abrianna up to Eli's room." Casey nodded. She picked up Abrianna and Elliot picked up Eli, and together they headed upstairs.
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Casey tossed and turned in the guest room bed. She was wearing Aéropostale plaid boxers and a blue nova Henley Boyfriend tank top, courtesy of Kathleen. There was a thunderstorm and it was making it harder for her to fall asleep.
There was a loud crack of thunder that made her jump. Casey glanced at the clock. 3:18 AM. She slipped out of bed and quietly made her way quietly downstairs to the kitchen, surprised to see a light on.
Seated at the table with a sandwich and soda was Elliot, wearing boxers and a tee-shirt. Casey couldn't help but stare, but snapped out of it quickly.
"You can't sleep either?" she questioned, taking a seat next to him. Elliot shrugged.
"I was hungry." He said simply, handing her his sandwich. Casey took a bite out of it and her nose wrinkled in disgust,
"Wha if in dis? (What is in this?)" She asked, not yet swallowing it.
"Just some ham, cheese, mayo, and ketchup." Casey got up, ripped a paper towel off the roll and spit out the sandwich. She leaned against the counter and glared at Elliot.
"That's gross, El. What would posses you to put ketchup and mayo together?" Elliot shrugged and took a sip of his soda.
"So, why are you still up?" countered Elliot. Casey shrugged and looked down in embarrassment.
"Thunderstorms, they kind of freak me out." She admitted, waiting for Elliot to burst out laughing, but it never came. Just then, there was a boom of thunder and flash of lightning. Casey jumped, and let out a little yelp, as if to prove her point.
Elliot stood up as the lights started to flicker. He looked around.
"The faulty wiring in this place will never survive the storm." He muttered. Casey raised an eyebrow.
"Uhhh, didn't you wire the house?" she asked in confusion. Elliot nodded.
"Never said I did a good job, though." Casey laughed, but it was cut short by another explosion-like thunder and flash of lightning. She looked out the window.
"Why are you so scared of them? Thunder and lightning storms, I mean." questioned Elliot, leaning against the table. Casey crossed her arms.
"When I was around Abrianna's age, I was playing outside during a storm. I was going to go get my bag to put in the basket of my bike, and lightning struck it. All the pieces came flying off, and I even got cut by one of them on my stomach." She lifted her tank top a little to reveal a faint scar.
"Ever since then, I just can't stand them. They scare me to death. I won't even let Abrianna play outside when it's foggy because I'm so terrified for her life." She admitted, feeling relieved to actually talk about it. Elliot nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder, sending a tingling through her body.
"We'd better go to bed, or we'll be the living dead tomorrow at work." Casey winced at the thought of how early she'd have to get up to go home, shower, and get ready. She smiled a little and walked out of the kitchen.
"Goodnight, Elliot." She said in a quiet voice. Elliot nodded.
"Night, Case."
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Casey walked into the precinct the next morning with her briefcase in one hand and a warrant in the other. She handed the stack of papers to Olivia, and sat herself on Elliot's desk.
"We have so much evidence it would just be embarrassing if Hennessey even tries to plead not guilty." She said with evident pride. Elliot smiled.
"Great, this may be the easiest case we've had all month." Just then, Casey's cell-phone rang. She held up a finger to the detectives and answered it.
"Novak…yes, this is she. What?! How did this happen? Which hospital? I'll be right there." Casey snapped her phone shut and hopped off the desk.
"Is everything okay?" questioned Elliot with concern in his voice. Casey rubbed a hand over her face.
"Abrianna's bus was hit by a truck driver, and she was thrown out of her seat since it had no seatbelts. There are thankfully no broken limbs, but she has major bruising on her face, arms, and back, and she passed out from the impact, but she's awake now." Casey replied, on the brink of water works.
"I'm going to the hospital with you." Stated Elliot, grabbing his coat while standing up. Casey shook her head.
"No, that's okay…" she started to say, but Olivia cut her off.
"I can arrest Hennessey by myself, let Elliot go with you." Casey just nodded and she and Elliot left the squad room, Casey dialing Donnelly's number on her way out.
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Casey and Elliot went to the front desk of Bellvue. Elliot leaned in towards the counter. "What room is Abrianna Novak in?" The woman looked down a list.
"Room 208." She said, Elliot nodded his thanks and he and Casey rushed to the room. When they got there, Abrianna was in a bed with a bandage wrapped around her upper arm, a band aid on her forehead, and many bruises on her body. She immediately perked up when she saw Casey, who had rushed to her side. Elliot leaned against the door way, taking in the scene.
"Are you okay, Abrie?" she asked, while hugging her close. Abrianna shook her head and let a few tears slide down her face.
"It h-hurts, Mommy. A l-lot." She said through her tears. "I w-want to g-go home!" she cried. Casey nodded in understanding, feeling as though she may cry herself.
"I know. Baby, but the doctors want you to stay the night so they can make sure your okay." Abrianna buried her head in her mother's shoulder and clung on to her for dear life.
"B-but its sc-scary here, M-mommy." Abrianna rambled, disappointment evident in her voice. Casey felt a few stray tears slide down her cheek at how upset her daughter was.
"I know, Honey, but it's the doctors' orders." She said her voice cracking. She kissed Abrianna's head and stroked back her hair.
"I'm going to go talk to Uncle Elliot for a little bit, okay?" Abrianna nodded and reluctantly let her mother go. Casey walked past Elliot and closed the door.
"How is she?" asked Elliot, looking into Casey's eyes. She shook her head. "She's in pain and I can't do anything about it. I can't stand it!" she exclaimed. Elliot pulled Casey into his chest and let her sob. She cried for the fact Abrianna was hurt and in pain, the fact she couldn't do anything about it, and for feeling so useless.
Elliot rubbed Casey's back, breathing in her scent: tropical breeze. He whispered comforting words in her ear till she calmed down. She looked up into his blue eyes.
"I'm sorry for loading all this on to you." Elliot shook his head and smiled.
"I don't care, as long as you and Abrianna are fine." He whispered, resisting the urge to kiss her right there. Casey nodded and wiped her eyes.
"I'm going to go say bye to Abrianna, before I go back to the office." Elliot nodded his head and watched her walk into the room.
He then sunk into a chair, thinking over the feelings he was developing for the ADA.
.'.'.'.'.'.'
The next day, Elliot walked down the halls of Bellvue with Eli trotting along at his side. He came to a halt at Abrianna's room. He was unsurprised to see Casey already there, sitting on the bed. She was wearing jeans and a green tee shirt, which was very weird for Elliot to see since he only saw her in a dress suit or pants suit.
"Eli!" Abrianna squealed with delight. Eli ran over to her side and the two started to talk about random things. Casey got off the bed and followed Elliot into the hall. She smiled up at him.
"Thanks for bringing Eli. Abrianna was really sad about having to spend the night and I think that visit from him cheered her up." She said. Elliot smiled and shrugged.
"That's what I hoped would happen. After Abrianna get's discharged, do you want to go out for lunch?" Casey smiled and nodded.
"That sounds nice. Let me go get Abrianna changed, do you mind getting her papers?" questioned Casey, heading towards the room.
Elliot smirked "Not at all." Casey got Abrianna dressed (Eli had to cover his eyes) as Elliot made his way down the corridors.
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After lunch, the group went to the park. Abrianna and Eli stayed on the swings, since Abrianna was still sore. Casey and Elliot were seated on a bench under a shady tree.
"What's wrong?" asked Elliot, looking into Casey's green eyes. She looked down, refusing to make eye contact.
"Casey, I can tell when something's bothering you." He picked up her chin with his hand, making her face him.
"What's going on?" Casey sighed and crossed her arms.
"Do you ever get the feeling, that when something bad happens and people pass it off as an accident, you have that gut feeling someone did it on purpose?" Elliot nodded.
"All the time, do you think that car hitting Abrianna's bus was planned?" Casey shrugged with uncertainty.
"I'm not sure yet." She admitted. Elliot wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"If someone is trying to hurt Abrianna or you, just tell me and I'll give them a piece of this." He said, flexing his muscles. Casey raised an eyebrow.
"A piece of what? Your squishy arms?" she asked, laughing uncontrollably. Elliot scoffed, feigning hurt.
"I happen to work out five times a week, Counselor, which is more than I can say for you." Casey crossed her arms.
"Okay, Detective, tomorrow, you and me, at the gym at one. Let's just see how strong you really are." Elliot grinned.
"You have yourself a deal. I hope you've been working out." Casey tilted her head.
"You'd be surprised how chasing a little kid around would keep you in shape." She said playfully.
"Abrianna's been keeping you on your feet?" Casey snorted and stood up.
"I was talking about you." She said with a smirk, nd on that note, she walked over to the swings to push Abrianna and Eli, leaving Elliot again to think.
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