Thanks for the review! Um, I haven't seen 'Ghost' since I was eight. So I'm just going to skip over the trial and go after Liam Conners was convicted.
Chapter 5
"Thank you... so much, Casey," Olivia told her girlfriend as she embraced her tightly. "I know you don't like Alex, but you brought her shooter to justice. Thank you so much."
Casey smiled at Olivia and squeezed her again before stepping back from the hug, keeping an arm wrapped around Olivia's shoulders. "It's my job, Olivia. It doesn't matter who the victim is." Olivia smiled at her again before drinking the rest of her champagne.
The whole squad had gathered together in a bar for a celebratory drink after Casey had gotten a conviction on Alex's case. But Casey could tell the detectives weren't entirely focused on celebrating tonight... not that she was surprised. As much as she disliked Alex, she knew the squad would never forget her, and they didn't like the fact that she was going back into Witness Protection. But she knew they wouldn't talk about it while she was there.
After a moment of hesitation, she got to her feet and said, "Sorry, but I've got to go- have some stuff to finish up at the office. Bye, you guys."
Olivia, ever her knight in shining armor, asked, "You want me to come with you? I could keep you company."
Casey shook her head, unable to hold back a smile. "No, that's okay. I'll see you all tomorrow."
Everybody nodded and said their goodbyes as Casey left the bar. They were all slightly relieved to see her leave so they didn't have to pretend that they were thrilled about this. When Casey was gone, smiles faded and they all returned to their drinks sullenly, basking in memories and stories about Alex.
Olivia's cell phone vibrated- a text message from Alex. She frowned in surprise. Olivia would of thought the former ADA would have been on a flight to Wisconsin or wherever the feds were stashing her next by now.
Liv, I'm in New York until morning. It's my last night as Alex. Can you please come over? I don't want to be alone.
Olivia hesitated, biting her lip. She knew Casey wouldn't be happy about it... but this was going to be Alex's last night home, as Alexandra Cabot, for who knows how long. She deserved to be with her friends, rather than alone. It didn't help that she still blamed herself for not keeping Alex safe last year... if she'd only protected her, Alex would still be home.
She sighed helplessly before texting Alex that she was on her way and getting up to leave, mumbling an excuse to the guys on her way out.
Olivia slipped silently into Alex's hotel room to find the former ADA in tears, curled up into a tiny ball on the couch, sobbing violently into a pillow. Olivia knew what she was upset about, and the sight of her broke her heart. "Oh, Alex..." she said softly, taking a slow step forward.
The blonde looked up at her with tearful eyes before shooing the detective out the door. "Go, Olivia. Go be with Casey. Leave me alone," she cried.
"Not a chance in hell," Olivia said as she rushed forward, gathering Alex in her arms. "Alex... I'm so sorry."
"I don't want to leave!" Alex exclaimed, burying her head into Olivia's shoulder. "I want to stay here!" And while Alex was never a woman to let someone else see her cry- what was the point of staying strong now? She was never going to see Olivia or any of her friends ever again. For once, she was in the middle of a breakdown and Alex couldn't muster up enough pride or strength to stop it.
Olivia rubbed small circles into her back, wishing she could say something to comfort her. "I know, sweetie, I know." She held Alex tightly in her arms for the longest time, wishing that, by holding her tight enough, she could keep her in New York.
Alex remained in Olivia's protective embrace, but not even that was making her feel better.
One thing would- and that was Olivia. Not just her presence, but with her, inside her… loving her. She needed this. Her last night in her old life… that would make the perfect ending, and those memories would sustain her in the witness protection program as long as they had to.
Her mind made up, Alex finally pulled back, keeping a tight grip on the detective's shoulders. "Liv, please," she begged. "Just do one thing for me."
"Anything, Alex," she promised instantly. Anything to make her feel better. Anything to comfort her friend, because soon she was walking back into the dangerous, lie of a life, and it was all her fault for not stopping Cesear Velez from hurting her. "Anything."
"Sleep with me," she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks, her normally icy blue eyes red from crying, her arms shaking as she held onto Olivia tighter. "Sleep with me tonight, and I'll be gone tomorrow. The perfect one night stand."
Olivia pulled back from her grip, distraught. "Alex, I... I can't do that. You know I can't. You know why."
"Please, Olivia! I... I'm never going to be able to come back here again, to be me again. I want my last night as Alex Cabot to be perfect. I don't want to regret- just, please, Olivia. Please, I'll do anything," she begged. That, more than anything, got to Olivia. Alex Cabot was not a beggar. No one could knock her to her knees and make her desperate enough to beg.
"I... I'm sorry, Alex. I'm sorry. And you could come home, Alex, I promise, we'll get Velez on something and we'll bring you home."
"You don't know that!" Alex sobbed, still without letting go of Olivia. "You don't know that you'll ever find him- and I don't want to... I just- I-" she struggled to find the right words, unable to stop the tears. "I want to be able to remember you, Olivia. I don't want to forget you, and I don't want to forget who I am, when the feds have shuttled me off to some small town in Wisconsin with a new name and a new life. Please."
"Alex, I can't!" Olivia exclaimed, pleading with her to understand. "I don't love you, and Casey- I can't betray Casey."
Alex's gaze darkened at the mention of Casey, and she let go of Olivia like she'd been burned. She got up and started pacing back and forth, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Finally, she said softly, "Olivia... I know it doesn't mean you love me. It'll be what I want, what I need, and... it will just make you... lucky."
"Alex, I have Casey," Olivia repeated weakly. "I can't betray her."
"Please," she repeated. "Please. Casey doesn't have to know," she said before stepping forward and kissing her softly, her tears staining Olivia's cheek.
Olivia stepped back, her heart breaking as she said, "I don't want to keep secrets from her, Alex. I don't want to betray her."
"Do it," Alex enticed, closing the distance and kissing her again. "For me."
Olivia's body wanted Alex, and her mind felt too guilty about Alex's current predicament to refuse the teary-eyed woman anything. She knew Casey would hate her, but maybe, if she did this for Alex, the rest of her life wouldn't be quite so horrible, living a lie, away from her friends and family, in fear for her life.
Alex lay in bed, her arm draped across the still warm, yet empty space that had so recently been occupied by Olivia. It's not like she had expected Olivia to stay. And it was easier this way. If she had stayed, Alex probably would of begged Olivia to reconsider her- made a fool out of herself, yet again.
As she rolled over to start pulling clothes off the floor, she caught sight of her laptop in the corner. The flashing red light that meant her webcam was on.
That by itself wasn't nearly enough to give Alex the incentive to do anything. But it was the fact that Alex had looked forward to this for nearly a year now… but that wasn't what she wanted.
Yes, she wanted Olivia… but last night shouldn't of happened. She didn't regret it; not at all- but it made her want Olivia even more because she didn't want a one night stand, not with her. She wanted a night that meant something to the both of them… not this.
And that realization didn't just spark sadness… also anger. And it was all directed at Casey.
This was Casey's fault. If Olivia had never met her, than Olivia wouldn't be stuck with her when Casey clearly made her miserable. Then, perhaps, Alex and Olivia could have been a reality, if only for one night- not just the cheap facade that took place in this bedroom only several hours previously.
She wanted to hurt Casey. Not physically, because that would heal. And taking Olivia from her would do just that.
Casey was getting ready for work the same morning Alex was leaving for Wisconsin. Since she had turned in early the night before, she was wide awake for once, and in a particularly good mood. She and Olivia hadn't talked much ever since Alex had come back, but after that first fight, it seemed as if they were closer than before. After all, Alex had confessed her eternal love for Olivia- all Casey could offer was that maybe, someday, she would love her, but she didn't yet- and yet Olivia had still chosen her. She smiled at her amazing good fortune, buttoning up her blouse and reaching over for her cell phone, then frowning when she saw she had a voicemail. Shrugging, she flipped open her phone and started to listen to it.
"Casey, it's Alex Cabot," the icy voice greeted her. "I'm boarding a flight to an 'undisclosed location' in five minutes, so you won't be able to call me back. You can just check the email I sent you for confirmation. But Olivia and I slept together. I didn't trick her, I didn't get her drunk. So don't think of just accusing me when she played an equal part in what happened. Yes, I'm telling you this because I want Olivia, not because I give a damn about you. But I didn't want to come back to find her trapped with you, especially if she never told you about what happened. But hey, don't believe me. Check your email for confirmation."
Casey stood there in shock for at least five seconds before, panting, she dashed over to her computer, frantically turning it on and logging into her email. Alex was lying. She had to be lying. Olivia would never, ever cheat on her. Alex was just jealous and heartbroken and confused and she was lying. Olivia wouldn't of had sex with her.
There was an email from an unknown address waiting for her. Nothing to be afraid of, though, it could just be spam, or work, or anything but Olivia cheating on her. She clicked it, and the only thing in it was a video.
A video of Alex and Olivia having sex.
She got ready to work slowly, robotically, trying to remain apathetic. She didn't want to have emotions about going to work today. She froze when she found her hands gripping the low cut sweater Olivia had given her. Olivia had said that she had been window shopping and that, when she had seen it, she had thought of her. She closed her eyes tightly, biting her trembling lip, then ripped the sweater in half and threw the pieces in opposite directions. "Probably was one of Alex's things," she muttered under her breath. "Gave it to me so she could fantasize about Alex. Alex, Alex, Alex. Alex this, Alex that. When's it gonna be Casey this Casey that? Hell, I'd settle for her remembering me every couple of weeks. Even her seeing me as anyone other than the god damn replacement or the whore to use for her viewing pleasure."
Casey knew her rambling thoughts weren't making much sense, but then again, there was no one here to hear them. She sat on her bed, looking at the clothes strewn across the floor. Should she dress to entice Olivia, make her jealous? Or cover herself up so Olivia wouldn't have the viewing pleasure?
Jealous, she decided, jealous was her best bet. She wanted it to hurt when she walked away, since all Olivia seemed to care about was a good fuck anyway. When she finally had chosen what to wear and gotten dressed, she surveyed her reflection in the mirror proudly. She had done her hair up just the way Olivia liked it, the shade of lipstick Olivia liked- all the jewelry that she loved. The black, low cut dress that just barely was long enough for court, her knee high leather boots... she wanted to make her jealous. She didn't want to give Olivia a choice between her and Alex. Olivia had already chosen that when she didn't pull away from Alex. When she had stayed the night with Alex. When she never called or answered her own calls. When she had had sex with her. One night of heaven in exchange for what might have been a lifetime with her.
Casey swallowed nervously, glaring at her reflection now. She wasn't like this. She didn't want to use the way she looked to get anything. That wasn't something she had ever done before Olivia. "What the hell does this woman do to me?" she muttered under her breath.
Blushing furiously, Casey crossed her arms tightly and headed out the door. Whether or not she was proud of it or not, she wanted to make Olivia hurt for doing this, and this was the only way she could. Olivia clearly didn't give a fuck about what she said, so physical urges would have to do.
"Wow. Olivia, I don't know what you did for Casey last night, but it must have been amazing," Elliot said as he caught a glimpse of Casey approaching the squad room. He couldn't see her expression, only what she was wearing, but it certainly made him jealous. Olivia jerked shakily, smiling weakly at him and shrugging before realizing what he had said and whipping around in her chair.
She smiled involuntarily, knowing she did not deserve Casey to be wearing the most beautiful, sexy outfit in front of her and walking seductively towards her. Shaking her head, she quickly looked away, feeling wrong for staring at the woman she'd betrayed. She was going to take Casey aside, explain what she had done and the reasons, and pray this amazing woman didn't kick her out of her life entirely.
Casey didn't say anything, just dropped a box of stuff on Olivia's desk and watched her expressionlessly. Olivia frowned, then looked inside- it was full of every gift she had ever given her, including the ones from before they'd started dating- even a sweater ripped in half. "Casey?" she asked in confusion. "What is this?"
Casey replied in a deadly quiet voice, "Stand up, Olivia."
The detective was confused but did as she asked. "Casey, what-" she was interrupted by a stinging slap to the face, Casey's sharp, cold gaze never wavering.
Elliot immediately got to his feet, reaching up to restrain Casey, but she held her hand out to stop him. She had eyes only for Olivia as she said, "You kissed her. You spent the night with her. And then you slept with her. You slept with her. You slept with that whore!" She slapped Olivia again, fire lighting up in her eyes as she screamed, "You cheated on me with that filthy whore! You said you didn't love her and you lied!"
Stunned, Olivia started with, "Casey-"
"No! Don't you deny it, Olivia! I saw a video of you having sex with that whore! I saw you screaming her name! I saw you on top of her! So don't you dare try and say you never had sex with Alex Cabot, you bitch! That box is full of every single thing you ever gave me because I don't want anything left of you in my apartment! I don't want to see you ever again unless it's for work. You never call me unless its for work, never come to my office unless its for work- and if you ever dare show up at my apartment again, I'll greet you with a baseball bat." With that, Casey turned on her heel and stalked out of the squad room, slamming the door on her way out.
The two detectives stared after her for a moment before Elliot turned to Olivia and asked, "You didn't- Liv, you never slept with Alex, did you?"
Regretting her decision to ever say yes to the blonde, former ADA, Olivia nodded shamefacedly and collapsed into her chair, tears in her eyes. Elliot stared at her for a moment before shaking his head in disgust and taking off after Casey.