Casey paced in the lobby of the courthouse, muttering her opening statement to herself. She could not remember being more nervous for a case, even though the one she was about to try would be one of her easiest in quite some time. There was just so much hinging on it. It went beyond just getting justice for the victim; somehow, Casey felt that she had to prove herself. She hated that she was letting Charlie's words get to her, but they were. She felt guilty about the way he turned out even though she tried to tell herself it was not her fault.

Taking a deep breath, Casey held her head high and stalked into the courtroom, shooting a condescending look at Rogers who responded by smirking at her, his eyes fixed on the stitches on her temple. She did her best to ignore him, and her best was impressive.

The trial took very little time, as Casey had expected. Rogers was indicted on the counts of rape and violating a protection order and was given the maximum sentence for his crimes. When her work was done, Casey gratefully sank into her chair, her head spinning. She had been staving off nausea and dizziness practically the entire time, not willing to show any weakness to Rogers, the opposing counsel, the judge, or the jury.

She grudgingly admitted that John had been right, and it probably was too early for her to have taken a case, but there was nothing she could do about that now. If she had aggravated any of her injuries, she would just have to deal with it.

She rose shakily to her feet, grimacing at the pain in her ribs, and turned to find John standing behind her, an 'I told you so' expression on his face.

"Don't say it," she said, gathering her papers together and forcing her features into a neutral expression that she hoped would not convey the pain she was in.

"I knew you were going too fast."

She glared at him, pausing in her organizing. "Did I not just tell you not to say that?"

He regarded her seriously. "You told me not to say 'it'. I didn't. Ask the court stenographer."

Casey stared at him for a second, trying not to smile, and succeeding, for the most part. "You are such an idiot," she said finally, unable to stop herself from smiling. She ducked her head so he would not see.

She continued packing up, feeling his eyes on her but refusing to meet them. She glanced sideways at his bruised and bandaged knuckles. "Men are ridiculous."

"When we're in love, yeah."

She finally looked at him. "Why'd you come here?" she asked softly, allowing him to take her hand.

He smirked at her. "Seeing you in court turns me on."

She smiled back. "Hold that thought. I don't think I could handle it yet."

"I'm a lot to handle," he said suggestively.

"In that annoying little kid kind of way, damn right you are." She brushed her hair off her shoulder, surveying him magisterially. "Sorry to rain on your parade. And blow up all the floats."

His eyes widened. "How the hell do you know about that?"

"Olivia told me."

He nodded, looking satisfied. "Glad to know that my razor-sharp wit is legendary."

"Notorious." She snapped her bag shut and slung it over her shoulder. "Don't you have work to do, detective?"

"No cases. Slow day."

"Oh." She walked beside him out the doors and down the stairs. She could tell from his expression and the way he kept halfway reaching for her only to withdraw his hands that he was worried about her falling down the stairs in her weakened condition. "I'm not a damsel in distress, John," she snapped, not really mad.

"Ok," he conceded, but he did not change his behavior. Casey rolled her eyes.

She wrapped her coat more closely around her, smiling when John added his arm around her shoulders for warmth. "You're not slacking on any paperwork you owe me, are you?"

"Don't I get any benefits for being your knight in shining armor?"

Casey snickered.

"What?" John demanded.

"Funny image." She hailed a cab.

"What, you just assume I didn't drive?"

She stared at him, raising her eyebrows. "Munch, do you ever drive?"

"You should talk. Have you ever driven?"

"What a pair we make." She slid in after him and sighed tiredly as John gave the driver her address. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he ran his fingers through her hair, occasionally kissing the top of her head.