Thank you all so very much for the continued support of this fic. I truly appreciate it so very much and getting to read your reviews, your thoughts, what you are thinking, wanting, suspecting and everything else in between is just beyond helpful for me and truly heart warming to get to read. thank you for taking the time to do that, you are all so amazing!
Now Casey finally meets Savannah in this chapter and well, I enjoyed writing this chapter beyond words so all I can say is I truly hope you enjoy and let me know what you think, if you are so kind!
I'll see you on the other side!
Chapter 8
"George Saves The Day"
The private room of the hospital was much more peaceful than the rather frantic and constant noises that fill the treatment area. There were less pairs of eyes watching Savannah, less unknown voices to be heard speaking about her in the corner and most importantly less doctors waiting to perform some kind of test.
For Savannah, the quiet was somewhere she was not only used to but felt an odd sense of insurance in. The private room was perfect in the sense of its tranquillity but also in the fact it was surrounded by four walls. This meant safety, some form of barrier between her and the strangers, protection from whatever else this hospital may have to offer her. Within her own little room Savannah was not so exposed, she could see the only way in and out of the room and for a girl like Savannah that brought great relief and comfort.
A small, fragile and deflated shell belonging to the eleven year old girl was lying in the hospital bed five times too big for her. Savannah's brown eyes were still heavy, her power nap only going so far in recharging her batteries. With her physical condition mixed with such high running emotions and the overall lack of sleep it was safe to say Savannah's batteries had been well and truly depleted so it was going to take a lot for them to be recharged.
Now sure that Savannah has woken up fully and was as comfortable as she was going to get considering everything her poor body has suffered through and feeling the repercussions of, Alex looks over her shoulder to the doorway where Casey was stood like an obedient puppy. Hazel eyes were large and attempting not to stare directly over at Alex and Savannah like some kind of odd stalker in the shadows, she was kind of failing at that one.
Casey's skirt was just skimming the tops of her knees, her crisp blouse half tucked into the waist band and her blazer wrinkled and dishevelled. The Harvard graduate looked as though she'd run a gauntlet and in all fairness the day's activities amounted to something not too far off one. It was safe to say she was exhausted but in comparison to the other two people in the room she probably had the least to complain about.
Biting back the urge to smirk or make a sarcastic comment, Alex's blue eyes lock in on Casey through the dimly lit room. It is a look which stirred a reaction in both women's stomachs and had the slightly shorter of the two women's ruby lips tug half way up to turn into a smile. With a nod of her head Alex indicates the younger ADA should make her way over before turning back to Savannah, still somewhat leaning over her bed.
Alex tenderly strokes the girl's hand with her thumb, for a moment just admiring this young girl's strength and gains her attention. Those big brown eyes were weary and mostly hidden by the protective curtain of hair but the blonde could make out enough of them to tell the young girl was paying attention to her.
"I have a friend who would really like to meet you Savannah. You don't have to worry though she isn't here to ask you any questions or take you for any horrible tests or anything like that. In fact she actually has some gifts for you, to help you feel a little more comfortable. Is it okay if she comes over and says hi?" Alex asks Savannah carefully, after the situation with Olivia and Amanda the last thing the tall blonde wanted to do was distress the eleven year old anymore.
Savannah's large eyes open a little wider and although part of her tenses at the news of a guests, she quickly relaxes again slightly the more Alex explains. Looking into the now comforting sea of blue behind Alex's glasses, the young brunette finds a confidence just in knowing that her saviour was there with her.
'Alex is with you Savannah, she hasn't let anyone hurt you. Alex is a good person, a true good person. She doesn't lie, she keeps her promises. This… this is okay.' Savannah mentally coaches herself with the lessons she had formed rather quickly since first meeting the experienced, blonde lawyer.
"As long as you stay then…sure." Savannah answers quietly, her eyes averting the approaching person and finding something interesting to look at on the hospital blue blanket that was draped over her legs and waist.
A guilty tug pulls at Alex's stomach realising this young girl was on such high alert, of course she would be. It was rather stupid of her to think that this would not be something else to add anxiety to the eleven year old but they'd started now. Wanting to at least offer some kind of support and relief to Savannah, a larger, delicate hand quickly joins up with Savannah's in their reassuring hold which brings the brunette's head back up, just slightly to give a look of thanks to the older woman.
Tired feet trudge the small trip over to the bed and Casey suddenly feels as though there are hot coals underneath her feet. There is a knee jerk reaction to just race forward, perhaps due to nervous energy but somehow the slightly shorter woman resists and approaches slowly. Looking to her blonde counterpart for some form of encouragement, the ivory skinned lawyer gulps down her nerves and breaks into a bright smile.
"Hey Savannah, my name's Casey Novak. I don't want you to worry because I wasn't good at taking orders from my teachers as school so I couldn't possibly be a cop and I would faint every four seconds if I was any kind of a doctor or nurse. So, I promise you I am just another ADA like Alex here, completely harmless." Casey informs Savannah, hoping her humour would connect with the traumatized child who probably just wanted to sleep and not keep being bothered by all of these strangers.
Alex's crystal eyes watches Savannah closely, her little head was bowed down, her hair falling in front of her face as a barrier and body tense. It wasn't a mystery as to why this poor girl felt the need to try and hide from strangers but it didn't make it any less heartbreaking to witness.
Glancing up to Casey with an almost apologetic expression, Alex delicately rubs her free hand up and down Savannah's forearm as the small brunette doesn't respond. The little brunette was aware of Casey's presence though and sneaking looks of the new arrival all while using her long hair as cover.
'Why is she apologising with her eyes? God, if I was Savannah I would have probably… found a closet to hide in like I did earlier today.' Casey's inner voice mocks herself as she gives a subtle shake of her head towards the blue eyed beauty on the opposite side of the bed.
"Do people… have to… do what you… tell them too?" Savannah's voice asks out of nowhere, although only soft it easily captures the attention of the entire room and brings both Alex and Casey into a complete state of shock upon hearing it.
The tall prosecutor's mouth drops a few inches as her eyes grow wide hearing this traumatised child open up so willingly and quickly to someone other than herself. It actually makes her heart flutter and she is quick to stare at Casey as a silent nudge for the fellow prosecutor to respond.
'Holy crap she's talking to me. Holy crap I need to say something back before Alex throws one of her shoes at me or something.' Casey orders herself silently before shaking her head free from her thoughts and clearing her throat with a little cough.
"It.. it sure does. It's one of the reasons I become one to begin with." Casey answers sweetly, her hazel eyes glancing up to meet Alex's in the same state of amazement the blonde was.
The tired but far from stupid brunette pauses for a moment, her mind weighing up the implications of Casey's answer. A question enters Savannah's mind and with a tightness in her chest she slowly allows her dry lips to open so she can ask it.
"So…. So what if you tell Alex what to do or she tells you, who wins then?" Savannah questions with genuine curiosity, her bowed head nudging upwards just enough to get a first clear look at this new person to come in to her life.
'She's very pretty, like Alex. Do you have to be pretty to be an ADA?' Savannah's childlike side inner voice which for so long had been suffocating questions silently as it regains its first breath of freedom in so long.
That had not been something either long time serving member of the DA's office had expected to hear. Their faces simultaneously break out into massive grins and chuckles start to reverberate up from their lungs as they each contemplate their answer. As if on cue though it is the voice of the slightly more experienced ADA who gives her answer first.
"Well, in that case-" Alex's voice confidently begins her answer but only gets four words out of her thin pink lips before she is instantly interrupted by Casey.
"Me, I win. Every single time." The strawberry blonde attorney jokes, her eyebrow wiggling as she takes the seat beside Savannah's bed and dramatically leans her elbow on the side table and leans in closer to the eleven year old like it was a private conversation.
Once again Alex finds her jaw is hitting the top of her shoes and for a moment she is completely knocked out of the game all together. A very slight smirk starts to tug at her lips though as even the 'Ice Queen' finds the humour in the situation as seemingly so does Savannah.
A sweet, beautiful sound fills the hospital room a Savannah's little body bounces slightly, she was laughing, a real, guttural laugh. This wasn't just a giggle or snigger, this was a genuine laugh, one that couldn't be contained or dampened by any amount of horrendous circumstances or even pain.
Now the tall blonde is in shock for a completely different reason and she feels her eyes begin to sting with that familiar sensation of needing to release tears upon finally hearing this beautiful child's laugh. It was music to the ADA's ears and has Alex nudging at her glasses to discreetly wipe under her eyes while Savannah is distracted by Casey.
'She laughed, she actually laughed. That may be the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Oh Casey, you have no idea what you have just achieved.' Alex mentally comments as thankful blue eyes lock in on Casey's hazel ones across the bed and show just how grateful she is without a word being uttered.
Alex Cabot's unspoken words are dismissed by Casey who was refusing to take any credit for the fact Savannah had laughed. Shaking her head subtly to indicate as much, Casey just leans a little closer to Savannah but not close enough where the poor girl would feel uncomfortable. Reaching into the large plastic bag that was now at her feet, the less experienced of the two prosecutors gathers George the monkey and slowly presents him towards the young brunette.
"So, I know today has kind of sucked for you. All the doctors and nurses asking questions and taking blood and everything else so I have someone who I think will help you forget about all that. His name is George and as you can see he is a cheeky monkey." Casey reveals, her hand bobbing the stuffed toy back and forth playfully until it catches Savannah's attention and turns the young girls head to face the younger lawyer completely.
Now it was this sweet eleven year olds turn to have her mouth drop from shock. She of course doesn't dare reach out of the toy but the way she shifts to sit up a little straighter is a clear indicator she was more than intrigued by the fluffy guy.
Glancing across the hospital bed towards Alex, Casey's hazel eyes sparkle with pure joy at the fact what she was doing was seeming to have a very positive effect on Savannah. It was something amazing to see and to know that maybe, just possibly she was bringing this young girl something to be happy about felt magical.
'She is eleven years old and yet it's a cuddly toy which is exciting her and bringing her out of her shell. I never would have figured that out.' Alex mentally takes note, again praising her younger co worker as well as silently thanking her for finding all these small ways to help Savannah feel safer.
"Now George here, he loves cuddles. He is super soft and I have it on great authority he doesn't even snore." Casey continues to bluster up the hype for this stuffed animal and finds her heart warming as ever so slightly Savannah leans in for a better look.
'She is such a natural with kids. I was panicking I wouldn't know what to do, how to talk to her and here comes Super Casey Novak, child entertainer expert.' Alex jokes to herself as she feels Savannah trying to edge closer to the offered toy.
Catching herself though, the young brunette freezes and turns her head to look at the tall blonde whose hand she was still holding. Her long, dark hair moves enough from the movement for Alex to get a look at Savannah's young, innocent eyes. Alex had never seen a look of such utter happiness before but it dawns on the blonde that Savannah is looking towards her because she is asking for permission to take this gift for her own.
"It's okay Savannah, he is yours. Why don't you hold him and see how he feels?" Alex urges softly, her chest aching realising once again Savannah truly had no idea how to be any form of a child without permission and obedience.
Casey nods in agreement and stretches her hand out so Savannah didn't have to move anymore and lets the stuffed animal just sit on the hospital bed rail. Cautiously the tanned, small hand belonging to Savannah finds the courage to reach out and take George into her possession. Almost like petting an animal for the very first time, Savannah hesitates but curiously inspects the gift now it is in her hands and brings it slowly up towards her chest as her tired body relaxes back into the bed's pillows.
"He is so fluffy. Is… is he really for me?" Savannah asks in a voice which was seeking approval and reassurance but far too afraid to be anything louder than a whisper.
The eleven year old was unsure who of the two lawyers she should be asking this to so just looks back and forth between both Alex and Casey while her hand keeps George in place now sat on her lap. Savannah wasn't going to fully embrace this stuffed monkey until she could be sure that it wouldn't be cruelly taken away from her.
A tension had risen within both Casey and Alex's chests as they wait on an edge knife to see if Savannah would allow herself this very small comfort. Seeing the small hands caress and pull George the monkey, each lawyer lets out a restrained breath from relief and joy. It's because of this that it takes a few seconds for this sweet girl's question to actually register for the two lawyers, each caught in their own emotions of what they were witnessing.
Casey's heartbreaks at such a question but hides any outward reaction and gives Savannah a bright smile which causes her hazel eyes to truly sparkle. Spotting the way Casey's eyes react, Alex unexpectedly smiles fondly at this truly stunning strawberry blonde who had entered her life like a whirlwind.
"He is absolutely yours, one hundred and fifty thousand percent." Casey assures with a nod of her head.
The second the words leave her lips Savannah's arm wraps around the neck of the monkey and brings him up close to her chest and under her chin. It was a move someone much younger than her would be well versed in but for Savannah it was her very first time having any kind of toy she could call her own.
"Thank you so much Casey." Savannah strains out, her emotions apparently having caught up with her as the soft, fluffy monkey finds its new positioning just underneath her chin.
Never before had a 'Thank you' caused the Harvard law school graduate to almost cry but the most honest of words coming from Savannah brings Casey's heart up into her mouth. She has to physically gulp it back down into its proper placing before just smiling brightly at the smitten eleven year old.
"You are more than welcome. I have some other goodies in here for you too but we can worry about them a bit later." Casey explains, her eyes catching the approaching nurse and doctor just outside the hospital room window and surmising they would be making their entrance soon.
As Savannah pulls George in closer, her long hair cascades from her shoulders and wraps around the toy almost like a blanket. Although physical affection was foreign to this beautiful young girl, the natural instinct isn't lost and she places a comforting kiss to the top of her monkey's head while repositioning herself a little on the bed, after all she had company now.
A jolting knock on the room door echoes through the hospital room and causes Alex to jump slightly and turn around to see who was entering. After the events of the day it was safe to say the 'Ice Queen' was on edge. Piercing blue eyes glare with an unspoken threat as Savannah physically flinches and squeezes her small digits in to the larger hand still gripping her own.
"Oh Doctor Jennings, you startled us a little. Savannah, it's alright darling it's just the Doctor and a nurse." Alex wearily explains, just like that the beautiful eleven year old had retreated back into her shell, only this time she had a fluffy monkey to keep her company.
The doctor's eyes regretfully close for a brief moment, as she makes her way further in to the room and realises just making her way inside had put Savannah in such distress. With an apologetic nod towards the tall blonde stood beside Savannah's bed, the tired doctor looks over the chart which was now located at the foot of the young girl's bed.
'Thankfully I consider myself on good terms with Ms Cabot because if I didn't, going by her glare I would most likely be pushing up daises.' The raven haired doctor's inner voice remarks unable to ignore the slice Alex's blue eyes had made through her confidence and fear levels.
Alex shakes her head with a very subtle sigh exiting her lungs and pulls back some of her golden locks just disheartened to see the progress that had been made so quickly ripped away and sent back to square one. She gracefully turns back to Savannah and gently rubs the back of her hand which was now relaxing again slightly while interlaced with the blonde's.
The words of encouragement from Alex don't do much for Savannah and her face is once again fully hidden behind her hair as her head is bowed down and shoulders hunched up underneath her ears. It slices through Casey's heart watching the walls quickly rebuild and just like Alex had she sighs from not knowing what else to do.
Doctor Jennings begins to speak with a half listening Alex about how Savannah was doing and the fact they were likely going to keep her in for a few nights, at least until her hydration levels were back and more stable. Nodding her head faintly to indicate she is indeed listening, the experienced ADA's blue eyes stay fixed on Savannah and her retreating behaviour.
'Well at least in here she will be able to gain some strength and start the healing process. Maybe a few extra days of resting could be beneficial for Savannah.' Alex's inner voice surmises, her hand still holding Savannah's rhythmically stroking her thumb across the back of the eleven years hand.
There is a mention of CPS but in typical fashion of an overstretched government system they were running behind with little to no contact to be had so their arrival date was yet to be determined.
'CPS! Of course they will be taking custody of Savannah and… and probably move her to some kind of group home if they have the room. Oh god I didn't even think about any of that.' Alex's mind crushingly reminds the model worthy blonde within the privacy of her own thoughts as the doctor continues to speak but is basically ignored.
Casey's hazel eyes recognise and acknowledge doctor Jennings arrival but instantly the younger ADA turns her attention fully onto Savannah. The natural redhead's eyebrows rise on her forehead as she clearly concocts some sort of an idea.
"Psst, Savannah. It's me Casey." Casey dramatically whispers towards the now hunched up eleven year old in the hospital bed. For added affect the strawberry blonde was even covering her mouth with her hand so no one could tell she was speaking or read her lips.
There is a moment of hesitation from the young girl in the hospital bed, she isn't sure if she had actually heard what she had or if her sleep deprived mind may well of just run away with its self. Sitting frozen on the bed Savannah's breath catches in her lungs and every muscle tenses just dreading the fact doctor Jennings was once again in her company.
'Has she lost her mind, what is she playing at?' Alex questions her younger co worker, her attention now fully on Casey and a tense, trembling Savannah whose hand was still connected with her own.
"Psssssssssssstttttttt, Savannah. It's Casey, if you can hear me wiggle your nose." Casey tries again, she was in the same position but this time even louder and less discreet in her communication attempts with the small brunette.
The unusual noise peeks Savannah's interest more this time and manages to break its way through her defensive walls and barriers and fully gather the brunette's attention. The cogs inside her mind were turning as on whether she should respond or not but eventually her curiosity wins out and very, very discreetly her button nose can be seen to wiggle from underneath her curtain of hair. Casey had scored a touchdown.
"Oh, fantastic! I thought we had lost you in the jungle of hair. Hey, is everything okay in there? Is George behaving himself?" Casey asks playfully, she was pulling this completely out of her ass but she would do anything at this point to take Savannah's mind off of everything else.
Once again, Savannah's little shoulders bounce up and down as she more successfully this time manages to with hold a laugh. Cautiously her small, aching body leans in a little more to Casey's side of the bed and with a shaking hand points out her index finger and beckons the strawberry blonde to lean in closer to her.
Alex was dumbfounded by what she was witnessing but remains completely entranced all the same. What was currently happening between Casey and Savannah was magical and the long time prosecutor wasn't going to miss out on a single second. Her hand raises up towards a still speaking doctor Jennings and brings their one sided conversation to a grinding halt as piercing blue eyes gaze with pure admiration towards her co worker and Savannah.
No one had ever done that to the long time doctor before but for some reason the fact it was this tall, elegant and powerful blonde doing it, doctor Jennings falls completely silent. The raven haired woman was not amused in the slightest but still just waits patiently like some chastised servant.
Casey grins like a Cheshire cat and instinctively leans in like she had been silently instructed to do and presents her ear for Savannah to talk into as though it was some kind of walkie-talkie system.
"George is… fine but he is scared the doctor will take me… for more tests. Don't let her do that, please Casey." Savannah's delicate voice faintly whispers into the shell of Casey's ear and stabs through the strawberry's blonde ability to withhold her tears.
'DO NOT FUCKINNG CRY CASEY! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!' Casey's inner voice viciously screams instructions at the struggling lawyer as hazel orbs flicker over to doctor Jennings and her nurse. The image was blurred due to threatening tears but Casey managed to lock in on the medical staff all the same.
Sitting back just a little Casey settles herself with a calming breath before directing her own lips in towards Savannah's surprisingly waiting little ear. The eleven year old had even tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear for better access and in the process stole another piece of Ms Novak's heart.
"Well, you tell George he has nothing to worry about. Me and Alexandra the great aren't going to allow you to be taken anywhere else at all tonight. We're ADA's remember?" Casey informs the small child through the guise of comforting a stuffed monkey, her words spoken loud enough for the other adults in the room to hear and take note of.
Blue eyes quickly find the doctor again and Alex just gives a knowing look which the raven haired woman nods in response to before quickly jotting down what had to be put on Savannah's chart and returning it to the holder at the end of the bed. Alexandra Cabot was not the kind of person you ignored when they were staring you down like a sniper ready to take out a target.
As both Casey and Alex keep their gazes directed solely on the doctor, the raven haired woman finds herself becoming uneasy. She was more than used to high stress situations but something about these two, powerful women over watching her every move like protective lionesses, suddenly the doctor was starting to sweat.
"I just wanted to say good night Savannah, it was so nice meeting you today. I'm sorry about all those tests but you were a champion. I will see you tomorrow but I promise, no more tests okay? Sleep well. Alex, Casey I will see you both tomorrow too I am sure. Goodnight." Doctor Jennings reveals before offering a tired nod and wave of her hand as she makes her exit, her nurse following behind not wanting to risk receiving the same icy glare her boss had from one Alexandra Cabot.
Melting back into the pillows of her bed and releasing her tense muscles now the doctor had left, Savannah lets out one long, slow breath of relief. Her poor body was still trembling from her withheld tension and fear but it was lessening by the second. Her hand still holding on to Alex's tugs, just faintly and brings the beautiful blond in closer with little to no effort.
"Savannah, are you okay sweetheart? The doctor is gone now, it's just you, me, Casey and… George." Alex questions fearfully, her heart was on edge that something else may be causing Savannah's upset.
'Is she is pain, do I need to go and get the doctor again?' Alex's mind frantically panics, something the graceful lawyer was normally an expert at preventing. As a long time prosecutor and member of the Cabot family she had learnt as a young age how to work things out, how to handle situations with that apparently famous icy demeanour but never before had she faced something like this.
"Can… can I go to… sleep now please? I'm so tired Alex." Savannah pleads, her voice drowning in utter exhaustion and bubbling emotions caused from the events of the past twenty four hours.
Realisation washes over Alex like a waterfall and her already twisting stomach forms yet another knot at the eleven year olds plea. Just the fact Savannah felt the need to ask for permission to go to sleep was painful for both ADA's now either side of the young girls hospital bed and catches them equally off guard. Alex isn't entirely sure why but finds her blue eyes travel quickly over the bed to Casey's awaiting hazel ones, perhaps for some kind of encouragement as to what to say in response or perhaps just looking for solidarity knowing Casey was experiencing the exact same heart crushing emotions right now.
"Oh Savannah, you don't have to ask if it's okay. You can sleep whenever you feel you need to. Do you want me to recline the bed a little so you're more laid down flat?" Alex questions, her free hand reaching for the worn remote which held the controls to the bed.
Casey's ruby lips fight off a smirk as the slightly older woman across from her has to lean in just a little too close to actually read the worn instructions on the remote. It was something so simple, so natural and un meaningful and yet the strawberry blonde finds herself truly amused by it.
"No, thank you. I… I like it like this." Savannah responds quickly, panic setting into her voice at the thought of being laid flat again. The scars of the condition Alex found her in within her bedroom weren't confined solely to the outside of this young brunette.
Feeling a warm, little hand being placed onto her wrist has Alex's crystal blue eyes looking up from the controls and frowning slightly. Savannah's eyes were still for the most part hidden by her hair but something about what could be seen told the attorney this young girl was panicking.
A silent beat passes across the room as Alex's heart twinges with regret for having suggested the idea of laying Savannah down flat once again. She'd not given it a second thought but seeing such fear etched across the eleven year olds face was more than enough of a realisation for Alex to know she should have.
Savannah gulps dryly, her trembling little digits placed loosely around the blonde lawyer's wrist twitching as the brunette retracts her hand and visibly leans her body back and away from Alex. The motion would have been a clean jerk if not for the fact Savannah learnt long ago that was never a good idea and so instead had opted for a much slower movement, praying her back tracking would be enough to avoid punishment or backlash.
"I'm sorry, I… I… I …" Savannah begins to stutter out an awkward and un needed apology, her hand still connected with Alex's now limp but turning cold as terror passes through the eleven year olds system.
"Hey Savannah, it's cool. I don't think Alex was going to be able to figure out how the controls worked anyway. Just take a breath, please honey. It's all okay." Casey jumps into the conversation, her hazel eyes wide from concern at this child's withdrawing manner and obvious panic.
Alex feels yet another blow to her already broken and battered heart as Savannah recoils from her. It takes every ounce of strength the blonde possess but somehow Alex remains un phased and just lightly strokes her thumb up and down the back of Savannah's hand.
"Savannah, you don't have to be sorry. You did nothing wrong sweetheart, it's all okay. Can you take a breath please, just focus on me. Savannah…. Please." Alex pleads with growing emotion entering her words.
Just like she had previously with Olivia, Savannah was retreating into an unknown but traumatizing state. The young brunette was reverting back to behaviour which likely until now had in some way kept her alive and thought to be facing danger was using her programmed behaviour for safety.
Tears sting behind the glass of Alex's lenses as for the second time in one day she is witness to Savannah fighting invisible demons. The always in control lawyer was powerless to make this better and the urge to cry was becoming near impossible to fight off any longer.
"Savannah, you can feel George right? There he is, all snuggled up in your arms. Yeah, George is here and so am I and… so I Alexandra The Great. Can you talk to us Savannah, tell us what's scaring you? We can help then, it is our job after all." Casey takes over, just one glace to the more experienced ADA was enough to let the strawberry blonde know Alex needed help.
Blue eyes shut with brimming tears and a growing feeling of guilt as Alex feels Savannah's hand still barely connected with her own begin to tug back and away completely from her grasp. Savannah was scared of her, that was something Alex's heart just couldn't bear. Not wanting to add to Savannah's fear reluctantly the larger, soft, delicate hand of the ADA releases it's already loose grip and prepares to pull away completely.
Casey catches on to the slow movement and shakes her head furiously from the opposite side of the bed. It is clearly caught by Alex's newly opened eyes as all movement on the taller woman's part stops and her fingers flex, just slightly once more to intertwine with Savannah's.
The very slight action brings Savannah's head down slightly so she can look at her hand still holding an IV in the back of it lovingly held by the larger counterpart of the beautiful blonde still beside her. For a moment the daze lifts from brown eyes and the little girl lets out a strangled breath in an attempt to calm herself once more.
"I… I touched Alex when I… I shouldn't have. I.. I spoke… out of… turn… I'm sorry." Savannah's now hiccupping voice squeaks out, shocking it's owner at the fact it had made any sound at all.
Alex's lungs let out an audible sigh of relief as she just delicately shakes her head in disagreement and leans towards the calming pre teen, just slightly.
"You didn't do anything wrong Savannah. You just told me you didn't want me to touch the bed and gently touched my wrist to get my attention. There is nothing wrong with that, I'm not angry, see?" Alex assures, her heartbeat now a backtrack within her ears as it was thudding so loudly.
Cautiously Savannah's shifts her gaze, just enough to get a glimpse of Alex's face and sees the bright, pearly white teeth of the elegant lawyer showing from her bright smile. It was over exaggerated but it let the trembling child know the older woman's words were indeed true, that and the fact her blue eyes were showing nothing but honesty.
Alex's long blonde hair bounces off of her shoulders slightly as she nods in confirmation sensing some of the tension trapped in Savannah's young body release once more. For a twenty four hour period this brave little brunette had truly been put through the ringer and her utter exhaustion was more than obvious at this point.
'Oh thank you Jesus that worked. I don't think I have stopped breathing for so long in one period before.' Casey mentally comments, her relief showing by the grin she is sporting in the direction of both Alex and Savannah.
Alex's softly strokes down Savannah's arm and manages to get a proper look into the child's eyes for a brief moment as the eleven year old fully comes back from her moment of terror. There is a silent conversation between the two, one that asks a thousand questions and is answered by the softest of nods coming from the little brunette.
Breathing out another sigh of relief, Alex tenderly strokes Savannah's cheek and feels a warmth overcome her as the eleven year old doesn't flinch at the interaction. Sure, Savannah was still shaking slightly and clearly unsettled by what had happened but the fact she was just willing to allow the concerned lawyer to look into her eyes and stroke her cheek was a massive sign and move in the right direction.
"Now, do you want me to get you something to eat before you try and sleep or would you rather just rest?" Alex asks, her concern for Savannah's lack of food stemming from a maternal instinct that if she was completely honest the long time lawyer at times had doubted she owned.
As rustling sound interrupts the question however as Casey is found to be hunched over in her seat by the hospital bed digging in to the plastic bag at her feet. She was looking for something specifically and after a few moments of both Savannah and Alex watching with intrigue, Casey re emerges from her journey and pulls out one pair of the PJ's she had purchased along with her. Sitting up straight once again and flashing a smile towards a now confused Savannah, Casey hands the package across the bed to a rather bewildered Alexandra Cabot.
"Oh don't give me that look Cabot, you heard Savannah she is tired and wants to sleep. That means it's time to get in to our PJ's. Don't pout either, you are not a fish." Casey mocking teases her co worker, only doing so because a bed and sick child was in between them but still.
Just like that all of the thankful gratitude Alex had been harbouring for the strawberry blonde is suddenly flipped into only partly serious frustration and slight confusion. With a flutter of her long, slightly wet eyelashes, the older of the two women looks down to the offered packet and raises a well sculpted eyebrow in return.
'She cannot be serious right now.' Alex's inner thoughts confidently state but are instantly dashed as the strawberry blonde counsellor retrieves another two packages containing matching garments, one placed gently on Savannah's lap and the other held in her left hand by her side, clearly meant for her.
The two lawyers once again face off in a silent game of 'chicken', going by the look locked in hazel orbs Casey was deadly serious about this and was challenging the more experienced attorney to test her. Normally this would be something Alex would jump at but considering the circumstances and the fact she was desperate for a clothing change, the 'Ice Queen' found her resolve starting to slip out of her grasp.
'She is one hundred and fifty percent serious. She is out of her mind completely.' Alex's mind decides silently, almost finding this entire situation comical but of course that was a fact she would be keeping hidden, for now at least.
"Wow, are… are those for me too?" Savannah quietly and cautiously asks, her hand hovering over the plastic parcel as her tired eyes inspect the pyjamas with a mix of awe and shock. For a day which had contained such horrors and upset it had also found a way of bringing such gifts and happiness.
That was the winning shot and Casey knows it. She smugly raises her own eyebrow towards Alex before bending down a little more to Savannah beside.
"They sure are Savannah. I know how awful those hospital gowns are and I thought you might be more comfortable in these. I picked them out because well, Toy Story is amazing right?" Casey explains, her enthusiasm bringing Alex Cabot's tight lips into a fond smile as she watches the scene unfold in front of her.
Savannah stares blankly at the clearly enthused lawyer, part of her almost nodding due to the fact she was sensing saying no would in some way be wrong. However, years of backlash from the smallest of white lies keeps the brunette honest and she just faintly shakes her head.
"I… I have… never seen it. I'm sorry." Savannah explains, quick to apologise as well and flinch fearing this information could bring its own form of punishment.
Casey inwardly cringes realising this was something she should have expected but what kid hadn't watch Toy Story? One who had been through the hell this beautiful little brunette had apparently. Thinking quickly the ADA grabs her phone from her bag and furiously scrolls and taps into the screen before revealing it's magic to a cautious eleven year old.
"Well, we have to change that. Here, you can start to watch it on my phone while me and Alex get ready into our PJ's and then if you want and only if you want we can help you get into yours as well. Does that sound good to you Savannah?" Casey suggests, her eyes not leaving Savannah as the fragile child becomes entranced by the images on the woman's phone.
Bright colours capture every bit of Savannah's attention as the jumping lamp appears on the phone's screen and hooks the eleven year old in one second. Pulling George a little closer to herself the brunette child cautiously observes Casey and once she is sure it is safe she tentatively takes hold of the phone into her possession and brings it up a little closer to her face.
"Okay Casey." Savannah whispers now far too lost in the magic of the opening segment of the children's classic Toy Story. All tiredness was for now replaced with intrigue and amazement and as she settles back into the pillows of her bed to get more comfortable a very bright smile can be seen located on her young face, something which in turn brings one to both Alex and Casey either side of her.
'Out of her mind but god damn it she has a heart that makes up for it.' Alex silently makes note as her blue eyes look down to the plastic covered pyjamas now in her grip and decides to give in for once and let what will be, be.
And another end of another chapter. Next up there is more bonding between the three lovely ladies and there is a MOMENT between the two ADA's also to look out for hehe.
As always thank you so much for reading this story and I truly hope that I have written something you enjoy. If you are kind enough to leave me a review then thank you in advance, I read every single one and take them on board more than you know when creating the next chapter.
Until next time stay safe, happy and well ;;'x
