Part 2 – one chapter left to go.
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Chapter 12
Casey got to the apartment and it felt like a lifetime sine she'd gotten up, there were last nights cups in the sink, the newspaper on the coffee table and as she went into the bedroom Ally's note was still on the pillow. The small place was too quiet at that moment in time though so Casey went into the lounge and turned the TV on, as luck or misfortune would have it there was a statement on the news about the capture of the Butcher.
"And now for some breaking and I must say extremely welcome news, officials have announced that this afternoon the serial killer known only as the Butcher was involved in a hostage situation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Officials at the FBI tell us that as the rescue operation took place the Butcher was killed and a female agent was taken to hospital in a critical condition. We're expecting an official statement shortly." With that Casey turned the TV off and sat down on the couch with a large sigh. Her eyes were starting to close when the phone rang.
"Hello?" She asked picking up the cordless next to where she was sat.
"Casey it's me, how are you doing?" Olivia asked she'd only been planning on leaving a message as she'd expected the attorney to be at the hospital.
"I've been better, I just came home to freshen up and get her some things, she's going to be in for at least a few days so I want her to be comfortable." Casey replied fluffing up one of the couch cushions that lay beside her.
"Well if you need anything you know where I am, any time." Olivia offered really wanting to help.
"I know and thank you, you've been great today and Ally and I both appreciate it greatly." Casey said glad there still was a her and Ally to talk about.
"Any time Casey," Olivia said, "You'll both get through this stronger than ever, I know you will."
"I hope so." Casey finished with a sigh.
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Casey showered quickly and threw some things into a bag for Ally, stopping at the younger woman's bedside table she opened the top drawer and found a photograph of the pair of them that had been taken when they'd first moved in together and a photograph of two people she assumed to be her parents, the resemblance between Ally and her mother was breathtaking and she definitely inherited the huge dark brown eyes from her father. Casey put both photographs into the bag and grabbed some books from the side table, as she did this she discovered a piece of paper as it fell out of one of the books. Casey picked up the book, it was a legal textbook that Casey hadn't noticed before and the piece of paper was the slip on which Casey had written her number the first day they met, she had no idea the brunette had kept it and was touched, it was then that the tears started to fall. Casey curled up on Ally's side of the bed and pulled her pillow close inhaling the lavender and cinnamon scent that she associated with the other woman, she cried until her tear ducts ran dry and she felt 100 better. Ten minutes later she was fresh faced and on her way out the door back to the hospital.
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Elliot and Mary simply sat in silence watching Ally sleep, the gentle breaths she was taking was a huge comfort to the pair and helped them to relax. She was smiling in her dreams and it made both of them smile, when she sighed Elliot chuckled.
"She used to sleep like this when she was a baby." He said remembering.
"Never made much of a noise as a baby, Annie used to tell me that she'd go to bed without a fuss, wake up about 4 for a feed and then go back to sleep. She once told me she didn't know why mum always told her it was difficult to look after a baby." Mary smiled at the memory.
"Not fussing," Elliot mused, "That's sort of become Ally's motto, but I know what you mean, she was an angel as a baby. Kathleen screamed the house down all the time; I began to wonder if I'd been imagining that Ally was such a quiet baby."
"I still miss her you know." Mary said referring to their older sister, Elliot nodded in understanding. Annie's death had left a huge void and both of them had had numerous occasions over the years where they'd wanted nothing more than to be able to pick up the phone and ask for her help and advice on various things. It's what big sisters were meant to be there for.
"I bet Alexia misses them more than us though," He said using his nieces full first name, he seldom did, people always called her Ally, it was only her mother who called her Alexia. "And she's handled it better than either of us."
"Just like she handles most things." Mary sighed and so did Elliot. Each had hold of a small hand and gave it a gentle squeeze to let her know that they were both there for her.
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Casey returned looking a little refreshed and she'd brought them all coffee, Elliot took his and then told them that he was going.
"I want to call in at the 1-6 and give them an update before I go home," He told the two women before turning to face his sister, "Do you want me to drop you off on the way." Mary had been planning on staying but a look at her brother and then at Casey told her she should go home and sleep, it had been a long day and they all knew Ally wouldn't notice if they weren't there.
"I'll call you if there's any change," Casey told her and Mary was about to tell her she should get some sleep. "I'm where I'm supposed to be, it killed her when I was attacked and she couldn't be with me, at the time I didn't understand as I was in a mess and wouldn't have wanted her seeing me like that but now I understand." Casey finished and Mary nodded giving Casey a hug before walking down the corridor with Elliot leaving Casey and Ally alone.
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Casey assembled Ally's things to make the room look more homely before sitting in a chair and taking hold of her hand stroking it gently, within about half an hour the exhausted attorney had fallen asleep in the chair she was sat. At about 4am Casey awoke with a start, it took her a few moments to remember where she was and when she did she looked at Ally to find her wide awake and smiling.
"What's with you?" Casey asked suppressing a yawn and looking at her watch, she was shocked that she'd slept for a few hours.
"I'd forgotten how beautiful you looked when you were asleep." Ally smiled and Casey blushed.
"How long have you been awake?" Casey asked immediately starting to worry that Ally hadn't been able to sleep because of pain.
"About two hours, I didn't want to wake you, you looked like you needed the rest." Ally replied.
"If that's a polite way of telling me I look awful it's not, I'm surprised the nurses didn't wake me up and tell me to go home." Casey said stretching.
"They were going to but I told them not too, I feel much better around you." Ally smiled, "But now I'm telling you to go home and not to come back until the afternoon." Casey was about to protest but Ally stopped her. "I know you want to be here but I'm sure that first thing in the morning I'm going to have a barrage of visitors so I won't be on my own. You can sleep, do some tidying up, get ready and pick me up some lunch on your way in. You see I've everything figured
out." Ally smirked at her brilliance, "And the doctor is going to be coming around this afternoon to talk to me about my ankle." At that Casey nodded and stood up.
"Ok then I've been given my orders; I'll see you after lunch, with lunch." Casey said with a yawn and gave Ally a kiss goodbye. "But if there's anything you want or if you're not feeling well call me straight away and I'll be right back."
"I will." Ally nodded and Casey gave her another kiss.
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