Lawyers, Drinks, and Broken arms
-Part III-
Alex sipped her glass of wine, swirling the dark red liquid absently as she stared out into the restaurant. It was a surprisingly slow dinner rush, strange for a Friday evening. The waiters had time to dawdle, the tables only half filled. It reminded her much of her own day, which was busy, but at the same time, still allowed her to have lunch with Casey. Their lunch date was impulsive, and the looks that people gave her made her feel like she had gone completely insane. It definitely wasn't anyone else's business, so Alex had strolled into Casey's office with her usual confidence, demanding to have lunch with the redhead.
The office clerks wouldn't have made such a big deal out of it if the two were working the same cases, but it was common knowledge that both women had their dockets full with completely different criminals. Office gossip started circulating that very day, mostly about Casey and how it was hard to get away from prosecutorial misconduct once you got a taste for it.
It was an impulsive move and Alex felt bad about revving up the rumour train, but it had been too long since she had seen the redhead. It had been nearly two weeks since the E.R. incident and the Olivia incident and the two lawyers hadn't exchanged a proper conversation apart from brief exchanges in the hallways or between arraignments.
Their standing Friday night date, forgotten.
By no means were things awkward between them, but it was work. It was the overtime, the endless paperwork, and the stressful trials. Today was the first day in a long time that their evening wasn't spent at the DA's office.
The blonde glanced at the door again and down at her watch. She fidgeted with her cast, tapping the foot of her glass impatiently against the foreign material on her arm.
She was sure that Casey would never stand her up like this.
Alex sighed, knowing that she wouldn't even be here if Casey wasn't held up in court. The blonde prosecutor had interrogated the redhead's assistant earlier to get all the details on Casey's schedule, but no matter how thorough Alex Cabot was with her investigation, she couldn't do anything if the prosecutor was held up in court. From the sounds of it, the younger attorney's trial was running late because of the defense's stall tactics. It couldn't be helped. Alex knew those kinds of things happened on a daily basis.
That resulted in Alex wandering aimlessly around the courthouse, eavesdropping through the doors of the courtroom, while trying to concoct a plan to 'accidentally' run into Casey once she finished.
Obviously, that didn't work out like Alex had intended. She looked more suspicious than anything and a court bailiff had even asked her if there was something wrong. It was after that the well-respected ADA finally came to her senses.
After all, she was here now, waiting at a restaurant for an old friend who had run into her in the courthouse. He had asked her out to dinner, saying he would meet her at their usual restaurant in 10 minutes.
Looking at her watch again, Alex let out another sigh. She knew she shouldn't have agreed. That impromptu dinner arrangement was made more than 30 minutes ago.
Alex Cabot wasn't one to wait around, especially not for-
"Alex!"
The prosecutor tensed up at the sound of her name. It wasn't who she was expecting. Her heart started to pound a little bit faster, feeling more anxious as the woman neared. There was instant regret. Alex mentally berated herself. She should have waited at the courthouse even if it made her look like a nervous wreck.
"Casey! What a surprise to see you here. I thought you were still tied up in court!" Alex fought to keep a calm smile on her face, looking up to see the redheaded prosecutor in front of her. Alex's mind was full of conflicting feelings. She was happy to see the other woman, but it was also a case of bad timing.
He was going to be here any minute. Alex knew it.
"I didn't know you were keeping tabs on me! The judge got fed up and finally adjourned for the day, so I was headed home…until I spotted you through the window." Casey laughed a little too nervously, gesturing to the large window just a few feet from Alex. "You were sitting alone, so I just popped in to see if I could keep you company."
"Casey, It's actually…I-" Alex started, trying to find the words, her face apologetic.
The younger attorney instantly got the hint, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment as she realized that she wasn't going to have dinner with the blonde lawyer tonight. "Don't get me wrong, Alex. I wasn't expecting anything! I really did see you through the window just now." Casey laughed to lighten the mood, but it was getting heavy.
"I know it's not like that. I mean- I would love to have dinner with you. I was actually waiting, you see…for you…but it's… I'm just-I'm meeting someone here for dinner and-"
Casey chuckled at Alex's attempt to explain everything away. It was endearing to see the practiced prosecutor struggling to find the words to turn her down.
"I get it, Alex. There's no need to explain. My feelings don't get hurt that easily, you know?" Casey smirked, reaching over and placing a hand on Alex's shoulder before giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Alex gave Casey a small smile, relieved that at least one of them was adult enough to understand their situation.
Casey let her hand linger for a second longer before retracting it. The two shared a knowing look and they both opened their mouths at the same time to say something.
"Alex-"
"Casey-"
There was silence as they stared into each other's eyes. The understanding was mutual, a question hanging in the air. Suddenly, the atmosphere between them broke.
"Hey, Alex. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was stuck arguing for a continuance from Petrovsky."
The two women startled slightly, looking over at the new voice. It was a lanky man who sat down across from Alex, hurriedly shrugging off his peacoat as he set his briefcase down.
"Trevor, hey. It's not a problem. I wasn't waiting long." Alex glanced over at Casey nervously, wondering what was going through the redhead's mind at the moment. The blonde prosecutor caught the sight of something for a split second, an expression that spread across Casey's face. However, it was gone as quickly as it had appeared and Alex was left wondering if she imagined the jealousy she saw.
"Trevor? Trevor Langan?" Now, there was a slightly bemused look on Casey's face as she greeted the defense lawyer.
"Casey Novak." Being the gentleman he was, Trevor stood again, finally noticing Casey by the table. He smiled, extending his hand for a handshake. "It's been too long. Where have you been?"
Casey offered a neutral smile, accepting the handshake, but she could feel the bitterness well up inside her. "I just got back from a break, but I'm back working SVU again."
Questions about Casey's censure and rumored disbarment hung in the air, unspoken.
"That's great to hear. You're a good lawyer, Casey. If you're ever looking for an actual salary, my firm is hiring. We need passionate people like you." Almost seamlessly, Trevor whipped out a business card, Henshall and Langan emblazoned on the front.
"Thanks…but I think I'm good with not screwing people out of their pension plans." The redhead stuffed the card in the pocket of her overcoat, smiling politely. "It's been good to see you Alex." Casey paused, looking at Alex before turning to the man, nodding. "Trevor."
"I'll see you around, Casey." Alex smiled stiffly, wanting desperately to explain that this wasn't what it seemed like. The blonde's deep blue eyes met Casey's gold ones, pleading with her. There was a flash of something that looked like disapproval in the redhead's eyes and Alex almost recoiled.
"Have fun on your date, counselor." Casey said it in a sing-song tone, but it was nothing but cold. The younger attorney parted after that, leaving the table in silence.
Alex was still staring after Casey who walked out of the restaurant, her gaze lingering for far too long for it to be just platonic.
Alex recovered in record time, wanting to momentarily forget about Casey. "So, Trevor, I assume dinner's going on your company card, but let's cut to the chase."
As Trevor sat down again, he noticed the hint of guilt on the blonde's face. He put two and two together instantly. Alex just made it too easy for him.
The defense attorney let out the grin he was suppressing, ignoring Alex's request as he leaned in close to Alex. He whispered, "You're sleeping with her, aren't you?"
Alex rolled her eyes, scoffing. "It's none of your business." She took another sip of her glass, her mind filled with thoughts of calling Casey later tonight to explain the situation.
"Ouch. That was cold, Ms. Cabot. But I think it's going to be my business if my date for the governor's ball is rumored to be a closeted lesbian." Again, the defense attorney grinned, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Then I guess you'll have to find someone else to be your beard, Mr. Langan." Alex shot the man a glare, rolling her eyes again.
"Aw, c'mon, Alex. I was just pulling your chain. You know how hard it is to find a date that you don't have to pretend to be interested in." The brunette laughed, wondering if he had pushed his friend too far. Alex stayed silent, her attention on her near empty glass of wine. "Please? I'm sorry about what I said. How about for old time's sake?" Trevor looked into Alex's eyes, pleading.
Alex felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips as she raised an eyebrow at the man's uncharacteristically humble words. It was almost strange to go about this so normally, but it used to be a business arrangement for them both. After taking another second to ponder her thoughts, Alex shook her head, sighing. "I get where you're coming from, but Trevor…how many years has it been?"
Trevor looked up, thinking to himself. "Well, it's been three years since you got tied up in that WPP fiasco, so I've been single ever since."
"You know that's not what I meant." Alex couldn't help but grin. Had it really been that long ago?
The prosecutor shook the smile off, regaining her senses as she added, "We need to stop doing this. It's not going to benefit either of us in the future. I'm sure the truth is going to come out and bite us in the ass eventually." At that, Alex downed the rest of her wine, deep in thought. She knew she was being hypocritical, but she just couldn't stop thinking about Casey.
"Wow, Cabot. And I thought you were the biggest political bisexual of them all. I didn't know you were into fiery redheads though." Trevor paused, raising his eyebrows in genuine shock. After a few seconds, he hunched over again as he lowered his tone. "I guess you really do like her, don't you?"
Without answering immediately, Alex sighed, flagging down a waiter so they could get dinner over with.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
She definitely needed another glass of wine too.
Casey felt a long sigh escape her lips as she let the hot water wash over her. It had just been one of those days, one of those days where she felt extra…dirty. Even though it had only been a few months back on the job, some cases always hit her the same way. The redhead had tried to numb herself over the years, but in a way, she missed how emotionally taxing prosecuting sex crimes was. She came to appreciate that an emotionally taxing job was always better than no job.
Going through the motions, washing her hair, Casey let her thoughts drift off, wondering how her day could be such a rollercoaster. Her lunch with Alex had been the highlight of her week, but the run-in with Langan was more than just a surprise.
It was old office gossip, but seeing them together tonight confirmed her suspicions.
Casey was still working white collar when she heard the stories. Alex Cabot was somewhat of a celebrity at the DA's office and Langan's firm was one of the biggest in Manhattan. Rumours about those two spread like wildfire after they attended a few social functions together.
The redhead wrinkled her nose in disgust, thrusting her face under the shower head, trying to distract herself from her thoughts and her feelings. She was just being naïve.
It wasn't like she and Alex were exclusive.
Casey turned off the faucet, grabbing a towel off the rack and wrapping it around herself before walking out into her bedroom. The chill of the temperature difference hit her. She shivered and drew the towel closer.
It wasn't like there was even anything between her and Alex. They weren't sleeping together.
Sighing again, Casey threw the towel onto her bed, quickly pulling on an over-sized t-shirt and her own Harvard sweatpants from the closet. Pausing in front of her full-length mirror, Casey scrutinized her well-worn pants. The lettering down the leg of the garment was cracked, peeling. It was different from Alex's, which were next to new. The redhead was sure that Alex was never really a sweatpants kinda gal. Casey smiled at the strange sense of reassurance that gave her.
'Bzt bzt'
The young prosecutor looked over at her dresser, her phone lighting up from the text message she had just received. She picked up the phone, unlocking the screen. Her eyes widened suddenly.
3 missed calls – Alex Cabot
5 new messages – Alex Cabot
Casey swallowed, her heart feeling heavy. She kept scrolling, opening the messages she had missed while she was busy contemplating her day in the shower.
'Casey, can we talk?'
'Are you busy tonight?'
'Just give me a call if you're up for it.'
'I know I'm going to regret this, but…I'm outside your building, Casey.'
'I hope you have a good night. Sorry for sounding crazy. I'll see you Monday.'
The young lawyer glanced at the second last timestamp – 9:24 P.M.
"Shit." Casey swore under her breath. It was almost 10 P.M.
The attorney felt her heart pound as she ran out of the room. In a panic, the redhead nearly tripped on her hallway rug, but steadied herself with a determination to meet the other ADA without involving any broken bones this time. Grabbing her keys off the kitchen table, Casey slipped a pair of old sneakers on, dashing out of her unit.
The elevator ride down from the seventh floor was a long one, and Casey desperately typed out a reply, hoping that Alex was still there.
'Sorry. I just checked my messages. I'm coming out right now.'
"Oh god…please send. Please send…" Casey tapped her foot impatiently, watching her cell service bars flicker feebly between three…two…no service. "Shit." Groaning in exasperation, Casey settled on waiting for the elevator, watching the red numbers decrease.
With the 'ding' of the doors signalling her arrival on the ground floor, Casey bolted out of the elevator and dashed through the lobby. This put a look of confusion on the doorman's face. It wasn't every day that he saw the secluded Harvard lawyer from 78B run out of the apartment in her pajamas, her red hair wet and disheveled. Then again, he wasn't even sure that was Casey Novak. Tonight's Casey was quite a difference from her regular pant suits, occasional skirts, or even jogging gear. The doorman peered intently out the front doors, wondering what could have happened to make the redhead break character. As an after thought, he also wondered if she was alright.
The cool fall air hit Casey square in the face as she cleared the foyer and breached the front doors. Her eyes darted around frantically, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of blonde, but there was nothing.
Her heart sank.
Now she was sure she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Assumptions of the history between Alex and Langan still buzzed in her mind. The chance encounter tonight made her wonder if Alex was truly interested in her. All the signals pointed to yes, but she could just be delusional about the attention she got from the gorgeous Alexandra Cabot.
After all, she was just Casey Novak, the Harvard prosecutor who almost got disbarred for a stupid Brady violation.
That was her. That was all anyone ever associated with her name now. Casey wasn't sure if Alex really was able to look past the censure.
After all, if anyone could measure up to the great Alex Cabot, it wouldn't be her.
A/N: Another update! FYI, didn't cave because of all the reviews I got or anything... :P
I'm in the middle of exam season right now, so fair warning:
No matter how many reviews I get, I swear not to write until my soul draining exams are over :)
I finish on Dec 9th, so don't expect anything until after then:P
As usual, leave a review if you enjoyed it!
