Ch. 3
Months had passed since Casey started working with Alex. Despite their initial differences, the two worked well together. Alex would even say she was pleased she had been paired with Casey. Though she would never admit it, Alex admired Casey's intelligence and found working with a partner as smart as her very appealing.
As Alex was just finishing up the last of her paperwork, someone knocked on her door.
"Come in."
"Hey Alex, I was wondering if I could ask you about this deal I'm going to offer the defense…" As she began explaining, Alex wasn't paying attention to her words, but her lips. She felt nervous being around Casey, but anxious being away from her at the same time. She found Casey intriguing, but still couldn't place her feelings about the younger attorney. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name.
"Hello? Alex? Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes. I am. I'm sorry Casey, it's just been a really long day. Could you run that by me again tomorrow morning? I really need to get out of here."
"Ok, sure." Casey stared at Alex after she said this, as if debating to delve more into the fact that Alex admitted something even slightly personal to her. Before she could speak, Alex caught her off guard by asking "I'm actually going to get a drink before I go home, do you want to join me?"
Casey felt her heart skip a beat when she heard this. Alex had constantly been on her mind, but the only times they interacted were in a professional manner at work. She had never been with a woman before, let alone had feelings for one, but Alex seemed to be sort of an unwanted exception. As hard as she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about the blonde. Of course she knew Alex wasn't asking her on a date, just for drinks as colleagues, but she couldn't help but think that Alex doesn't ask many co-workers out for drinks.
"Sure, that sounds great," she responded trying not to sound either too interested or too nonchalant. "I just need to drop these off in my office," she said, motioning to the papers in her hand.
"Ok, well I'll wait for you outside then," Alex stated coolly before grabbing her coat and scarf.
On their way to the bar Alex found herself comfortable making small talk with Casey. She was surprised at the ease in which the two could share a conversation, and found that even when they didn't have things to talk about, the silence wasn't uncomfortable. As much as she was enjoying Casey's company, she was hoping that some of her other coworkers would be at Ryan's, the bar they all frequently went to after a long day. It wasn't so much that she didn't want to be alone with Casey, she just didn't want to come across as too welcoming…it was much easier to keep up her ice queen façade with others around. When they walked in the bar, Alex smiled to herself at the familiarity and comfort she felt in the dusky bar. It was so uncharacteristic of her to be fond of a dirty bar, but then again so was her interest in Casey. To her disappointment, no one from SVU was anywhere in the bar, so she and Casey made their way over to two empty bar stools.
"Whiskey," Alex said to the bartender as she sat down. Casey gave her a surprised look before asking for a shot of tequila. "What?" Alex asked Casey. "Nothing," she replied smirking. "You just fit the stereotype well, that's all."
"And what stereotype would that be?" Alex wasn't sure whether to be insulted or not by Casey's remark. During the time she'd known Casey, Alex hadn't any conversation with her on a personal level. She knew Casey was a smart ass, but sometimes her level of sarcasm was hard to pick up on.
"Oh you know," she began "Harvard grad, moved to New York to pursue a political career, moving up ranks in the DA's office in the meantime…practically lives at work, and sulks with a glass of whiskey in a bar after a long day…" Casey took her first shot and glanced over at Alex after she said this who only corrected her by saying "I don't sulk," and glared at her with empowering blue eyes.
"You're right about the other things though," Alex admitted sipping her whiskey and swallowing hard as the harsh liquor hit her throat.
"I know I am. That's all I really know about you though Alex…" she trailed off as if expecting Alex to offer up her life story.
"What else do you need to know?"
"Well I guess I don't really need to know anything, but we have been working together for several months now and I don't even know where you're from?"
"Pennsylvania," Alex said barely audible and not making eye contact.
"That's funny, I'm from Philly. Did you not like it or something?" Casey watched Alex sip on her whiskey and look at the bar as she asked this. When she didn't respond, Casey asked "What about your family? Do they still live there?"
At hearing this, Alex gave Casey a look that told her that subject was off limits. Casey sighed and took another shot before changing the subject.
Throughout the night Alex found herself becoming more used to Casey's personal questions, and the more she drank the more she began answering them.
If Alex didn't find Casey so appealing, she probably would have found her interrogation annoying. Her questions ranged anywhere from what was Alex's favorite color to which classes she took in law school. Alex wondered if Casey hoped she would reciprocate and ask her as many questions, but Alex only answered.
At around midnight Alex finished off her glass of whiskey and stood up to leave only to realize how drunk she really was. She felt her head spin and had to grab onto her chair to keep from losing her balance. Her attention focused when she heard Casey laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"I just never though I'd see you like this, you're usually so…put together," Casey stated.
"Well don't pretend like you aren't drunk too."
"Ya, but three shots and a glass of wine aren't five glasses of whiskey."
Alex just rolled her eyes as she stumbled towards the door.
"…do you want to split a cab?" Casey asked.
"No, my apartment's just a couple blocks away. If you want, you can walk with me and just crash on my couch?"
Casey wasn't sure what Alex was insinuating. Maybe she was just looking too much into it because she'd had too much to drink…and maybe that's why Alex had offered that…because she'd also had too much to drink. Either way, Casey was too tipsy and intrigued to pass up Alex's offer.
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose or anything…" She was trying to get more of an explanation out of Alex, but as per usual Alex responded with the simplest answer that revealed nothing.
"No, I don't mind at all, I wouldn't have offered if I felt you'd be imposing."
Alex led the way as they started walking towards her brownstone. Casey was beyond freezing and every time Alex looked at her with those icy blue eyes, she felt even more chills throughout her body.
"Are you cold?" Alex asked sarcastically.
"Is it that obvious?" Casey threw back through chattering teeth. When Alex looked over at Casey as she said this, she realized how bad she really wanted Casey. She pursed her lips in thought and kept walking, mulling over her feelings. Maybe she's just had too much to drink? After all, it wouldn't be the first time she had a drunken interest in someone…
Alex's thoughts were interrupted when they reached her apartment. Finding her keys and opening the door seemed like impossible tasks in her state of mind. When she finally got the door open, she threw her bag down and went to get a glass of water. She almost forgot about Casey entirely until she heard her taking off heels. Feeling overwhelmed about her feelings towards Casey, Alex took a bottle of wine from her fridge and two wine glasses over to the couch where Casey was sitting.
"Want some?" Alex slurred, sitting down and pouring herself a glass of merlot.
"Just some."
"Had too much?"
"Apparently my tolerance isn't as high as yours."
Alex laughed at this, thinking to herself that she hadn't even had that much to drink.
"Why do you still have your coat on?" Casey asked.
"Oh, I wasn't even thinking about it," she said as she stood up to take it off. Casey stood up at the same time and awkwardly asked if she could have a glass of water. "Sure…" Alex's thoughts were lost as she found herself face to face with Casey; her green eyes staring directly into Alex's blue ones. Without even thinking, Alex leaned into Casey and kissed her, her lips just brushed Casey's at first, but then Casey began kissing her back.
Even though Casey had hoped for this to happen, she couldn't believe how surprised she felt. As nervous as she was, she tried to just relax and take it all in. Alex tasted like mint and whiskey and her lips were incredibly soft. Casey never envisioned herself enjoying kissing a woman, but Alex's lips felt amazing against her own.
Mid-kiss, Casey moved her hands from around Alex's waist to under her coat and blazer to slip them off her shoulders. Alex broke away for a second as Casey started to pull her closer and immediately stepped away.
"Alex, what's wrong?" Casey asked, confused.
"I'm so sorry." Alex stood with her hand touching her lips staring at Casey. She was surprised at her own actions and worried that Casey wasn't even interested. "I don't know what got into me. I'm so sorry."
"Alex, you don't need to be sorry." Casey reached out and pulled Alex in to kiss her again and Alex felt confused and surprised that Casey was reciprocating. She wanted more, and she could tell by the way Casey was kissing her that she did too. Breaking away from Casey and smirking, she led the way to her bedroom.
