A/N: I love your reviews, thank you so much! Oh, and I love this chapter…


The next morning Alex found her mind wandering to the beautiful redhead repeatedly while she got ready for work. She thought about her so much that she stopped off at a Starbucks on the way to work to pick up two venti coffees, one for herself and one for Casey. Remembering how Casey fixed her coffee the day before at the diner she fixed one the coffees the same way and then headed to the office. Pulling into the garage she smiled when she saw the redhead's car.

A few minutes, later Alex found herself knocking on the redhead's door frame announcing her presence. Casey looked up from her desk and smiled, although Alex noticed the smile quickly faded when Casey realized it was her. That realization quickly had Alex feeling uncomfortable, a feeling she wasn't use to having around women.

"I picked up coffee this morning and grabbed you some too." Alex said offering the coffee to Casey.

Casey wanted to take the coffee, and was really moved by the blonde's generosity, but Kim's words from the night before rang through her head. "Thanks for the offer, but I am good," Casey answers looking back down to her work.

"Oh," Alex said a little dejectedly. "Well, what if I leave it with you for later," Alex says trying again.

"Alex, what is your deal, I don't want the coffee." Casey snaps and immediately regrets taking her frustration out on the innocent blonde.

"I don't know Casey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to bother you." Alex turns and walks out the door. Casey watches the blonde through the windows of her office and sees as Alex drops the coffee she offered her into the trash can. Closing her eyes Casey rests her head in her hands. She realizes Alex must have fixed the coffee for her, and Alex likes her coffee black. She sat there for a minute wondering, why was Alexandra Cabot so nice to her?

Feeling like an enormous ass, Casey stands and heads towards Alex's office. Passing the trashcan, she confirms her assessment on the state of the coffee as she hurries past. Reaching Alex's office she suddenly doesn't know what she is doing there, nonetheless what she is going to say.

Before she can find her words, Alex opens the door and comes face to face with Casey. "I'm sorry for being a bitch." Casey quickly says without thinking her words through. Alex laughs at the obviously distraught woman.

"Okay, but I murdered the coffee with the trashcan. So, sorry, you are out of luck if you changed your mind." Alex replies.

Casey smiles, "No, I didn't deserve it after my performance just a bit ago anyway. I just wanted to apologize. I was frustrated about something else and took it out on you."

"No worries Casey, I was coming to get you though, we are needed at the precinct."

"Okay, let me grab my briefcase and I will meet you at the elevators." Casey responds leaving the blonde in her office.

Alex watches Casey turn the corner. She was starting to realize she really liked the redhead, and in a much more intimate way than her usual one night stand manner. Casey seemed special and unique, like someone really worth knowing, and Alex really wanted to get to know her.

Meeting Casey at the elevators, Alex smiled noticing that she seemed a little nervous. "Would you like to drive again?" Alex asks Casey as they stand awkwardly at the elevators.

"Yes thank you," Casey replies. A minute ago everything seemed easy again with the blonde, but now it seemed difficult again.

The two rode the elevator in silence but as they climbed into the car Alex found her nerves making her unusually chatty. "So what were you frustrated about?" Alex asked immediately wanting to kick herself for such an intrusive question.

"My sister-in-law said something that upset me last night and then kept trying to fix the problem this morning by trying to re-ask the question." Casey answers hoping Alex won't pry any further.

Alex chuckles a little, "I always forget Kim's your sister-in-law, probably because you took the name Novak."

Casey is thankful for Alex's train of thought. "So why does that make you forget? Kim didn't take the name Hunt."

"I guess because I know Owen and changing your name just because you marry someone seems a little archaic to me," Alex mumbles feeling a little odd, "I hope that didn't come out offensive since you took your husband's last name." She really doesn't like how she is becoming a less than eloquent speaker around Casey. Alex has always prided herself in always knowing the right thing to say but right now she feels like she is making a constant idiot of herself.

"No, it's fine. Honestly, I took John's name to appease my nagging mother-in-law. I second your opinion of it being an archaic notion. However, now I am happy I did because of Caroline." Casey answers hoping to end that conversation as well before she begins crying.

The rest of the drive is spent in relative quiet. However, the precinct is anything but quiet. They are in need of two deals so Alex looks over one set of information while Casey looks over another. After about ten minutes they switch and ten minutes later agree of their terms before rejoining the squad. An hour and a half later they are headed out of the squad room when Alex hears Olivia calling her name.

Alex turns to see what the detective needs. "Hey Liv! What's wrong?" Alex asks while Casey waits near the elevator.

"I just wanted to say nice job in there. The new ADA seems to really know her stuff." Olivia says with a smile.

Alex looks towards Casey and grins, "Yeah, she really does, doesn't she. She has a way of surprising me at every corner."

"You like her!" Olivia whisper exclaims.

"No I don't hush, she might hear you!" Alex whispers back.

Olivia grins and shakes her head, "Yes you do. You can't lie to me Alex I am a cop remember!"

"Fine detective, maybe I do. Now drop it. She is newly widowed and I don't want to make her uncomfortable." Alex concedes.

"Wow, you really have serious feelings. Good for you Alex. I hope it eventually works out for you." Olivia says patting Alex on the shoulder and walking away. Watching Olivia return to her desk Alex doesn't really know what to think of the brunette's parting words. Shaking her head Alex thinks she might need to talk to Abbie later about all of these strange feelings.

As Alex joins Casey at the elevators the redhead asks, "What was that about?"

"You," Alex says nonchalantly with a smile.

"What? What about me?" Casey inquires.

The elevator arrives and they climb in and head down to the parking garage. "Olivia wanted to say that she thought you did really well in there and I agreed. That's all." Alex states.

"Oh okay. Hey, do you want to get an early lunch Alex?" Casey asks smiling brightly.

Alex loves how excited Casey seems and can't imagine enjoying lunch with anyone else. "Sure Case, I know a deli near the office we can eat at if you like salads, soup and sandwiches." Alex offers. Casey nods and replies, "Yeah, that sounds great," as they head to her Lexus.


Saturday Evening…

Casey stood in front of Kim's floor length mirror admiring herself in her sister-in-laws dress. The two had spent the whole morning and afternoon looking at apartments and not had time to go shopping. So first, she had nothing she wanted to wear tonight, and second she was falling into a rapid bad mood about not being able to find a single place she wanted to live. She was quickly beginning to regret her choice to move back to the city which was a huge change of heart for a mere six hour time frame.

"So how do you like it Casey? I think you look great." Kim says referring to the sleeveless black dress that she was wearing. In all honesty it was a pretty dress, rather flowy and had a nice v-cut neck line and ended at the knee, but Casey was really not feeling like going out.

"It's pretty Kim, but I really think I would rather stay in tonight." Casey admits.

Before Kim could answer, Owen entered the room shaking his head while saying, "Not a chance, you are going out."

"Excuse me? Who made you my keeper?" Casey questioned defensively.

Owen grinned, "Our parents providing me with a little sister made me your keeper. I am just looking out for you and right now you need to go out and have a fun night." Casey frowned at her brother and sat on the end of his bed to listen. "Casey come on you have spent the last five months grieving and doing everything to make sure Caroline is happy and well provided for, you of all people right now deserve to go out and have fun. So go and have some fun."

Casey took a deep breath, letting it out she said, "Fine, okay Kim I am ready, let's go."

Saying goodbye to Caroline after hearing all about the fun the little girl and Uncle Owen were going to have for the night made Casey feel much better. Owen was right Casey did deserve to have a little fun. It was just a hard pill for her to swallow sometimes. She loved her little girl and only wanted her to have the best life after surviving such tragedy so early on. It was one reason why she was so unhappy with all the apartments earlier in the day. She knew she would eventually find the right one though, and she would eventually learn to enjoy life again.


Arriving at the restaurant, they were immediately shown to a table for five. Abbie and Serena were already at the table in a heated discussion about a case they were working. Sitting at the table Kim immediately interjected, "Stop you two. I brought Casey out for a night of relaxing fun, not a night of hearing you two argue about a case, so kiss and make up already so we can have fun!"

Without further instruction Serena pulled Abbie in for a lip locking kiss. Smiling into the kiss after a few seconds Abbie says, "I think we need to talk about work more often around Greylek."

"Enough!" Kim states, throwing a balled up napkin at Abbie. The two women break apart still smiling. The whole scene made Casey feel like life could be normal again.

"Well, it's good to see old Red here out with us tonight, so here's to Casey for finally getting out!" Serena says holding up her mixed drink and taking a swig.

"Serena, we all need a drink to cheers someone." Abbie says in her Texan accent with a laugh.

Serena smiles and replies, "I know, but I was trying to break the ice a little Abb's."

Abbie makes and 'o' with her mouth and nods picking up her beer, "Then here's to Casey for joining our group for a night out."

"Thank you two. So there are five seats. Who else is joining us?" Casey asks.

Abbie answers, "Oh we invited," she pauses seeing the person of interest approach, "well here she is," Abbie finishes holding out her hand to reference the quickly oncoming Alex Cabot.

Seeing Alex, Casey's eyes go wide as she bites her bottom lip. Alex is dressed in a beautifully tailored orange dress that ends at the knee and is wearing her black glasses. Casey can't help but stare at the blonde's beauty which doesn't go unnoticed by the other occupants at the table. Kim sends Serena a knowing nod, while Abbie sends Alex a dirty look.

As Alex pulls out the chair to sit she notices how Casey is biting her lip and smiles at the redhead. Casey always has a way of going from so demanding and firm to equally vulnerable and Alex finds it as attractive as the redhead herself. "Casey," Alex begins, "I didn't know you were joining us."

Casey shakes her head clear and replies, "I didn't know you were joining us either Alex." As Casey finishes she shoots Kim a look that says she doesn't appreciate the surprise. Catching the look, Kim just smirks and starts talking with Serena.

Turning back to Alex and Abbie, Casey asks, "So what do you all usually do when you go out on Saturday nights?"

Abbie smiles and answers, "We eat dinner and drink."

Alex laughs, "And on really fun nights we end up at the karaoke bar down the road. Carmichael here likes to sing Garth Brooks songs to her blonde lady."

Casey laughs imagining a drunken Abbie serenading Serena. "Sounds lovely. What do you end up singing Alex?" Casey questions.

Abbie answers for the blonde in question, "She likes to serenade whatever poor unsuspecting women she is after for the night."

"Ouch Carmichael." Alex mutters as the waitress arrives and takes their drink and food orders.

The rest of dinner goes smoothly with everyone enjoying their drinks and food. After having their fill of the restaurant they decide to make the trip to the karaoke bar to show Casey what their fun was all about. Before making the trip, Casey, Kim and Serena stop by the bathroom leaving Abbie and Alex at the table.

"What the hell was your earlier statement about Abbie?" Alex questions clearly frustrated.

"I am a little tipsy. You'll have to clarify Cabot." Abbie replies.

"The one about how I only serenade my sex partner for the night." Alex states flatly.

"Yeah, well I have been watching how you have been eyeing Casey all night and you need to back off." Abbie snaps. Taking a breath to calm herself she continues, "Casey just lost her husband, she doesn't need to become another notch on your headboard. Plus she isn't a one night stand kind of girl Alex, she's the kind of girl you romance and take home to your parents."

"Okay, first off I know that. Second, I want to get to know her and I find her special and I respect the fact that she just lost her husband and is still grieving so you don't have to be so protective. Got it?" Alex declares with a frown at her best friend.

"Got it, but you better not hurt her." Abbie finishes.

"Good God Carmichael let me dumb it down for you alright. I don't have to be a whore, I choose to be a whore, there is a difference which is if I find someone I like I can be in a completely healthy relationship. I just haven't found anyone." Alex exclaims. Seeing Casey head towards the table, Alex adds in a whisper, "Until now."