A/N: Short chap, sorry! I will update again tomorrow!
True to her threat, Casey called Arthur Branch and used her seldom-failing arguing tactics or, as she sometimes referred to them, her uncanny ability to be a pain in the ass, to convince him to let her take the Rogers case the following day.
"The second you feel lightheaded or anything, you stop," he commanded her sternly.
"Right."
"You might get sympathy support from the jury. Maybe we should give you new 'injuries' for every case."
"I'm sure that wouldn't arouse any suspicion." There was a silence, so Casey started to say goodbye before Branch cut her off.
"I'm glad you're alright, Casey."
"Thank you," she said in mild surprise. She knew Branch was fond of her, but such an open display of sentiment was unexpected.
She hung up and immediately called John to tell him. He picked up on the third ring.
"I told you not to call me here, what if Casey dumps my phone? Oh, Casey…it's you."
She grinned. "I was actually trying to find Fin. Will you ask him if we're still on for tonight? And remind him to bring his handcuffs. The ones I bought were too flimsy, they broke after only a couple-"
"Anyway," John interrupted, but Casey could tell he was amused, "how's it going?"
"Great. I'm going to kill that bastard tomorrow."
"You'll have to be more specific. With our jobs, there are hundreds of bastards, and lots of merits for killing them."
"Rogers. Branch is giving it back to me."
"I won't even bother telling you that you are moving too fast."
"Good." She paused, twirling the phone's cord around her finger. "Also, I want to talk to Charlie tomorrow."
"Casey," he protested, "that's too much stress for one day. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Probably not, but when has that ever stopped me?"
He sighed, smiling in spite of himself. "You're so stubborn." His voice grew more serious. "Can I watch through the two-way?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," she said, echoing him. "It will just make you mad, and there's nothing you can do about it anyway."
"I want to protect you."
Casey smiled, wishing she could hug him that instant. "I know you do." She really did not want him to be listening, for lots of reasons…including that fact that it would be awkward to talk to the man she used to love in front of the man she currently loved. On the other hand, she did not want to make John think she did not trust him. "Fine. But will you bring one of those stress balls or something?"
"Sure," he replied, chuckling.
Casey sighed softly, and then she overheard Fin say, "John, we gotta go."
"We have a case," John said to her. "I have to go. See you tonight."
"Ok."
"I love you."
"You too." Casey hung up and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling, apprehensive about the next day.