A/N: Let the games begin! :). Don't worry, this chapter is easier, I think. Sorry, if the last chapter was upsetting!
Casey ran through the cold night air into the tree line after her dog, only stopping once to look back and watch Alex drive down the road towards home. She knew the walk home wouldn't be fun in the 30 degree weather, but she had to find Jake and Alex needed to fix the issue with the window. Feeling the cold quickly seep through her jacket, Casey shivered and continued after the dog.
"Jake! Jake, come!" Casey called as she flashed the light through the forest. Hearing her dog's tags move ahead of her she flashed the light in the direction of the sound, seeing him she instantly crouched down and gave his whistle before saying again, "Jake, come!"
The chocolate lab instantly bounded over to her. Casey quickly hooked the leash to his collar and gave him a hug. "You naughty boy, how did you get out. Did Kiddo leave that window open, huh? Well, nothing to worry about Mommy and I saw you, and now we are going home."
Now that the dog was hooked to the leash, he happily followed Casey towards home. Casey tired of being so cold, decided to start jogging and quickly made it halfway down her street. As she started to near the end, she slowed to a walk to help her dog wind down, but as she reached her driveway, she frowned. Something wasn't right.
Alex always turned on lights, and there were no lights on. Her jeep was in the drive and so was Alex's car, so she was clearly inside. Jake was outside and the house has no power. As if on autopilot, Casey tore off to the neighbors house.
Reaching the door, she began banging rather uncontrollably. Seeing her neighbor, Lisa, approach the door, she stopped long enough for the blonde to open up. "Lisa, I need you to take Jake and call the cops."
"What? Why?" The blonde asked in confusion.
"Someone's in my house. Call them please, right now. Here," she said in a panicky tone passing Lisa the dog's leash. "Tell them the homeowner will be armed."
"Why, are you going back? Wait here." Lisa called after Casey.
Casey didn't stop to respond. She didn't have time to argue. She had to figure out how she'd get back into the house unseen, and if it was Nicholas inside, where he had Alex. Running to the garage off the house, Casey quickly unlocked the side door and made her way to the back storage closet. Opening the closet door, she walked inside to the large safe.
Casey had her dads old rifles and a hand gun from when she use to live in New York in the safe. They use to be stored inside a locked cabinet in the den, but Alex had asked her to move them when she and Kale moved in. At the time, Casey had thought it was a silly move, but she didn't argue, if it made Alex feel safer it was worth it. Funny part was, at this point it worked in their favor.
Quickly punching in the code and turning the lock bars the safe opened. Grabbing her Glock and loading the magazine, Casey turned and headed back to the house. She was a great shot and never missed a target. Her father had taken the time to teach both her and Owen how to handle a weapon with skill in case they ever needed to protect themselves, it was something she'd never needed, but at this moment she said a silent prayer of thanks to him. Hopefully, she still wouldn't need the skill, but if it came to it, she was prepared to protect Alex.
Making her way quietly across the yard, Casey heard a muffled scream sounding as if it was coming from their bedroom. Running towards the master bedroom windows, she carefully peeked in to see Alex zip tied laying on the floor as Nicholas stood waiting near the doorway. Nicholas appeared to only be wielding a knife which was definitely to Casey's advantage.
She figured he would want her to come in the back door, he would be ready for that. Little did he know she wanted the element of surprise. If being a military brat had taught her anything, it was the element of surprise had its advantages, and in this case she needed the upper hand. Alex's life depended on it.
Sneaking to the bathroom window, she said a silent prayer that she left the window unlocked near the tub. Trying it, she discovered she had and eased it up. Slowly, climbing inside she righted herself and quietly headed towards the bedroom. Standing just inside the bathroom, she loaded a bullet into the chamber and turned into the room stopping dead in her tracks at the sight before her.
"Didn't think I knew how you love to open the window while you are in the bath?" Nicholas smirked as he held Alex upright with the blade of his knife digging against her neck. "I have been watching you both for a while. You two aren't smart about security for sure, hiding a key under the plantar. Although, I will say the gun is a surprise. Where were you hiding that?"
"Let her go, Nicholas." Casey demanded.
"I have a better plan. Why don't you put that gun down and kick it over here, or I will slit her throat."
His grip on Alex was tight, and Casey could see how defeated she looked. Her lip was busted and she clearly looked like she was in pain and in a total daze, as if she'd completely disassociated. Seeing her like that fueled Casey with rage. "Let her go!"
"I said no!" Nicholas screamed. In that moment, Casey knew there was no negotiating with him.
As Nicholas started to yell again, he was quickly cut off by the sound of Casey firing the gun. The bullet soared through the air and connected with Nicholas's skull with a sickening sound. He instantly crumpled backwards to the ground taking Alex with him.
The second her body hit the wood floor, Alex let out a blood curdling scream. Emptying her gun of the ammunition at lightening speed, Casey tossed it to the bed and rushed to Alex's side. Scooping the brunette up in her arms she carried her through the house and out to the front porch. Holding Alex tight in her arms, Casey finally spoke, "You are safe, Lex. You are finally safe now."
Alex didn't say a word, she just clutched on tight to Casey and cried. Hearing the police sirens nearing, Casey whispered, "No matter what happens, Alexandra Donnelly, I love you and he can never hurt you again."
Alex looked up into Casey's eyes, and whispered, "Thank you." Laying her head against Casey's shoulder, she whispered, "I love you."
The next few hours passed in slow motion. Casey spoke to the police and explained everything, the paramedics took Alex on to the hospital to be checked out, and Nicholas was removed from the house. Finally, the police cleared Casey to leave seeing that it truly was self defense, and Casey rushed to the hospital.
As she reached the hospital parking lot, Andrea and Michonne called to say Alex was actually being discharged soon. Parking her jeep, Casey just sat in the seat and let the cold air overtake her senses. Finally, she couldn't handle it any longer and she burst into tears.
She could have permanently lost Alex tonight, and she was lucky she didn't. She was lucky she was such a good shot, she was lucky that Nicholas hadn't killed her before she got there, she was lucky Kale stayed at a friends house. No, they were lucky.
Wiping her tears, she climbed from the car and walked numbly across the lot to the emergency entrance. Telling the nurse that she was there for Alex, they showed her to her girlfriends room. Casey held the door handle for a moment before taking a deep breath and opening the door.
The moment her eyes caught Alex's blue ones, Casey lost her resolve and burst into tears. Walking forwards, she kept saying, "I'm so sorry," over and over. Michonne and Andrea took the opportunity to sneak out of the room, as Casey sat on the bed next to Alex.
Alex grabbed Casey's hands and squeezed, "You have nothing to be sorry for, you saved me."
"I'm sorry he ever hurt you."
"It's over now, thanks to you. You saved me." Alex said again with a warm smile.
At that moment, Casey noticed Alex wasn't crying. She seemed calm and relaxed. "You are okay?"
"Yeah, minus the busted lip, and a few broken ribs and lots of wicked bruises, but yes, I am okay, Casey, and we get to go home. Although, can we sleep upstairs till the bedroom is cleaned?"
Casey chuckled a little, "I figured you might say that. Lisa actually offered to get her cousins cleaning crew to come out and clean it tomorrow once the cops were gone. I got us a suite for the night, and Kale is sleeping over at his friends house. By the way, your mom is coming to visit this week."
Alex laughed then groaned from the rib pain. "You were busy."
"I was panicky and they wouldn't let me go until I was cleared by forensics. Luckily, they let me have my phone." Casey sighed as Alex pulled her close.
"Come snuggle with me, till they let us go." Alex whispered.
Casey sighed into Alex's neck, "Always."