AN: Here's the 2/4 of the epilogues. Would have come out faster, but - never tempt your schedule, you get volunteered for things. *sigh*
AN2: And... i'm gonna post it without really checking it, or I'll get even more behind... so, forgive the typos that i am sure are there...?
.Epiloge 2/4
.
Alex woke up from her dream gasping slightly. She was used to waking up from these things alone, but at least Casey was here. And her warm, solid presence was so very tempting. She knew she could just reach over, seeking the comfort that a part of her wanted, maybe needed.
But then Casey would wake up too, and stay awake with her, and she knew the woman was similarly exhausted.
.
It was rare that Alex woke up first. It was even rarer that Casey would be out so hard that Alex could slip out without rousing her.
Her insomnia was unpredictable. It wasn't regular, it wasn't cyclical. It didn't necessarily come when she was the most stressed or worried; it could come when she was calm or even happy.
It was not an unfamiliar companion.
The dream that woke her was fading quickly, but heart was still beating faster than she'd like. It had been a stress dream, nearly a nightmare. And now the it was over, she could tell she was going to be awake for a while.
A part of her wanted to stay there in bed and listen to Casey's soft breathing, but she knew she should get up, walk out her remaining shakes, and get a glass of water.
She ended up sitting on the couch facing the window, watching the snow fall, telling herself that all was well. She'd long ago learned to let go of her paranoia, albeit slowly. Now and again, she just had to remind herself that everything was fine, good even.
Really good, if she were willing to admit it to herself.
She thought about Casey's poorly worded note from the morning, almost gleefully. She knew it was going to stun her when she gave her the envelope.
When it came down to it, Casey wasn't afraid of very much at all. She'd proven again and again that she could hold it together. Handle the cases, herself, and whatever else life seemed to throw at her. Alex nudged her along when she had to, but Casey had come back to herself and shone with sparks of confidence.
Except in one area.
She never pushed Alex.
Alex sometimes wondered if Casey was indeed afraid to push her, or was just patient with her; she rarely made any overt demands of their relationship.
The thought gnawed at her at times like this.
.
At least it was snowing. She'd always loved snow; the quiet of it, the crispness in the air.
She didn't feel like working, reading, or watching tv. She thought about waking Casey up, again, but instead settled for wrapping herself in Caseys robe, and watching the snow.
It was beautiful and tranquil, and she watched for quite a while before she heard a light shuffling and felt eyes upon her.
.
Casey came up behind her, and wedged herself between Alex and the corner of the sofa, spooning her completely from behind. She sat there for a while, just holding her, leaning back against the couch, cuddled into her, and so still that Alex wondered if she had fallen back asleep.
Alex waited until Casey shifted again to talk.
"I'm sorry if I woke you," she said.
"Mmm, I missed you," Casey said softly against her, so softly that Alex felt it more than heard it. "I wanted to make sure you weren't overworking yourself." She pulled Alex even closer to her, luxuriating in every place their bodies touched and nestled together.
Casey knew her so very well. She looked after her in a thousand little ways. And she didn't wait anymore, for Alex to come to her, like she did in the beginning of their relationship. She just came to her whenever she needed it, whenever Alex needed it.
And she always came to find her.
Alex loved that about her. She wanted to tell her. Wanted her to know how much she saw, the thousand things she loved about her, she opened her mouth to try and explain it all but it only came out as, "I love you." More than she ever thought possible.
Casey pulled her tighter, and even now Alex could feel the smile behind her. Hearing that seemed to be something that never seemed old for her. Eventually, Casey replied. "I like you okay too."
They stayed that way, nestled together, until Casey had almost fallen asleep against her and they dragged themselves back to bed.
.
.
In Casey's defense, when she asked for a key, she hadn't really meant she was asking for a key.
.
She really didn't mean she needed her own key to her girlfriend's apartment.
She would never jump at Alex like that. The woman could flinch a little hard, now and again, for Casey to just ask for something like that.
But she really hadn't been paying all the much attention that morning, trying to make as little noise as possible, and getting dressed in the dark.
She made sure to leave a note every time, but it was dashed off rather quickly...
The week had been busy, with precious little time to indulge in each other. Alex was sleeping so peacefully that Casey wanted to do everything she could to let her sleep in, but she was wide awake.
It was easiest to slip out while Alex was at her most-difficult to wake, when the light was only beginning to show in the sky. So, first thing in the mornings when she woke up with Alex, she would go on her runs, finish errands, come back, take a quick shower and slip right back in bed.
It was so easy, and lovely, that it was becoming her favorite thing to look forward to, even if she got a little ribbing from it.
.
"Hey," Amanda said, breath puffing out into little fogs as she stretched. "I was so sure you'd beg off and I'd be stuck trying to catch up with the speed twins all by myself this morning."
Casey cocked her head a bit, lowering her eyebrows in question, and then turned and mimicked the stretch. "I said I'd be here."
"Yeah, but, you made it yesterday, so, I wasn't so sure about today." Amanda gave a huff of a laugh. "The way you were bitching all week about how you haven't been able to see your girlfriend-"
"-I was not."
"Complaining then?"
"-Come on."
"At the very least you've been grumbling about it all week- I really didn't think we'd be able to drag you out of bed."
Casey fought a blush and turned a bit to hide her smile, but said, "I know… and it is Sunday, and I was seriously tempted to stay, but she's sleeping hard this morning. I should be able to get this run in and get back and maybe make breakfast before she wakes up."
"So, you sneak off on your boo in the dark, freezing cold of the morning?"
"I do not call that," her voice was higher than usual, and Amanda snorted.
"She's really doesn't like pet names,"Casey mumbled.
"Yeah, she doesn't seem the type," Amanda raised her eyebrows. "I would pay good money to watch you to say it to her face though."
"No way," Casey shook her head. "I would like to stay on her good side, thanks."
"My god, you are so smitten."
Casey ignored the comment. "Anyway, I left a note."
"Seriously, you are in deep," Amanda shook her head and pulled her gloves out of her pocket and put them on.
"Because I want to let her sleep-in?" she protested.
"You what I'm talking about and you know it's true, you are down for the count," Amanda said, scoffing a bit. "But, at least it looks good on you."
"Yeah," Casey agreed and a nearly sickening smile took over her face.
"Anyway, it's just as well we're starting early if you have to go crawling back to bed." She motioned to the two State's Attorneys warming up ahead of them. "They dusted us in the half-marathon, even if we just try to keep up we're probably going to be hurting later."
"True," Casey said. "You do know that Abby was a college track star, don't you?"
"I didn't know that." Amanda looked over at Abby stretching out legs too long to be legal. "I'm not surprised though."
"Well, it's not like she brags about it or tries to show off… I only know because she's a friend of Alex. But, it's good to run with people faster than you. It'll help kick up our pace. Just don't try to challenge them."
"Believe me, I won't. I just want to smoke Homicide in the next 10k. Those smug third floor pricks think they're iron-men."
"Well, I'm with you, but you have to fill-in on the softball team when we need you."
Amanda wrinkled her nose.
"I know you can play," she said.
"I guess I owe you."
"Damn right you do," Casey smirked.
.
.
"Hey, you're awake," Casey said, smiling, coming back to the apartment for the second time this morning. She was rosy cheeked from the cold outside and happy to see her as she walked by with a dry cleaning bag on the way to the bedroom.
Alex marveled at morning people.
Casey always woke up first. Bright, and alert, she could never linger in bed too long. It was common to find her reading the paper or working or making breakfast by the time Alex rose. She had rearranged her workout schedule to let her have rest days when their schedules magically allowed them time together, but it didn't take long for Alex to suggest she just go exert herself and come back, rather than go stir crazy and try to further clean Alex's already tidy home.
Some mornings, if Alex was really sleeping in, Casey would go on post-workout errands for her. She seemed to be making a game of it, trying to get things done and crawling back into bed before Alex woke up.
Casey returned to the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee and topped off Alex's mug.
"I know you didn't sleep well, do you want me to make you something light for breakfast?"
"Maybe in a little while," Alex said.
Casey stood behind her and swept the hair from her neck, placing a few kisses there and at the base of her shoulder before placing a final one on her cheek, and taking a seat next to her at the table, smiling.
"You're in a good mood this morning," Alex said, turning to the crossword section of the paper, and handing the rest across the table.
Casey continued grinning. "Of course I am," she said leaning over to read the crossword clues upside down. "I love Sunday mornings. Especially when they're slow and we're both free of any committments."
Alex arched an eyebrow at her for tempting fate to interrupt their weekend, but softened her look with a small smile, and looked down to write the answer for 3 across.
"I especially love them with you," Casey said, and continued looking for crossword-answers.
Alex went still for a moment, and looked up again to gain Casey's attention.
"Well, then," Alex said, smiling, and now fighting off a little smirk at what she knew was coming next. She stood and retrieved a small package from a nearby kitchen drawer and placed it on the table. "This will come in handy in the future."
Casey opened the envelope to reveal a shining silver keychain with a key and security keycard attached, unmistakably meant for her, as it was engraved with her initials on one side, and Alex's on the other.
"Alex," Casey said, then stopped as she caught her breath. She stared at the key in her hadn't, and then at Alex with unmasked surprise.
"I admit, the idea startled me at first," Alex said. She placed the poorly written note from yesterday on top of the envelope on the table, willfully misunderstanding Casey's latest attempt to let her know she was borrowing her keys yet again.
"I was a little unsure at first," Alex continued. "But I spent half the day thinking about it. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. So, I called the Super."
"Yeah?"
"Yes," she said. "When I realized there was a chance of you being around more," she smiled softly again, "I really liked the idea."
"You see, that's not fair," Casey said, trying to maintain composure but her voice cracked. "You say things like that, and you make me fall in love with you that much more."
"When did I ever claim to be fair?" She reached over to caress the side of her face. "When I have ample reason to keep the odds in my favor." She stood and pulled Casey up into a kiss that Casey deepened instantly.
"Unless it's not something you want.."
"It is," Casey said quickly, and kissed her again.
"Good then," she said, and then laughed as Casey disentangled herself and reached for the crossword puzzle, filling in an answer before Alex could.
She shook her head and sat down to finish her coffee, enjoying the feeling, and the happiness, as it came.
