A week later Alex was spending the evening with her mother at the opera and Casey was meeting Abbie for a drink, with everything that had happened since Casey had moved to New York the two hadn't spent much tie together, so had arranged to meet up to watch the Mets game in a local sports bar.
"So your not engaged, but you gave her the ring?" Asked Casey, taking a swig of the beer Abbie handed her.
"Yeah, I mean it was more about me showing her that I wasn't going to run, no mater how difficult things get. I love her Case, more than I ever thought possible, and I want to show her I'm not going to run." Explained Abbie.
Reaching across the table Casey gave her friends hand a squeeze."Abbie, you've been an amazing girlfriend. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay, Kim is the one struggling, not me." Replied Abbie with a shrug.
"Abbie...we've been friends for years, I know you and I can see in your eyes that you're not okay. If you don't want to talk then that's fine, just know I'm here for you when your ready. Anytime, day or night, I'm your best friend and I'm here for you always."
"I got a job offer." Replied Abbie.
"What's the job?" Asked Casey.
"Federal prosecutor, leading up a task force in Washington." Replied Abbie, peeling the label off her beer bottle.
"Wow, that's great." Replied Casey, seeing the look on Abbie's face she added, "Or not."
"How can I even think about moving to DC when Kim is the way she is?" Asked Abbie.
"Have you told Kim?"
"No, she's...she's struggling enough with...she has other things to worry about." Replied Abbie.
"You matter too." Replied Casey.
"I know, just not at the moment. Right now, all that matters is Kim and her getting better." Replied Abbie.
"But being a federal prosecutor has always been your dream, I'm sure if you talk to Kim she will understand and support you." Replied Casey.
"Maybe, but right now I'm focusing on Kim, there will be another chance at the federal job." Replied Abbie, taking a sip of her beer she asked, "How are things with you and Alex?"
Sensing Abbie wanted to change the subject Casey was happy to oblige, "Things are great, she's amazing. I honestly thought after Jennifer I wouldn't want to have another relationship but with Alex...with Alex I know she won't hurt me and I know I want to be with her for the rest of my life."
"See I told you, the two of you would be perfect for each other, so all of those threats you made, I take it...I'm now safe." Asked Abbie with a smirk.
Rolling her eyes Casey finished her beer and headed to the bar for another round, they spent the rest of the evening reminiscing about their teenage antics and their matching tattoo's before calling it a night. Arriving home Casey had just stepped out of the shower when there was a knock at the door, quickly pulling on a pair of sweat pants and her softball shirt she headed to open the door, thinking it was Alex, having forgotten her key again, she opened it without checking the peep-hole.
Recognising a familiar blonde waiting on the other-side of the door, Casey almost fell over her feet in shock, "J-Jennifer."
"Hi, I know you probably want to slam the door in my face, but I just need five minutes." Seeing Casey hesitate she added, "Please C Bear."
"Five minutes and don't call me that." Replied Casey, stepping aside to allow the blonde to pass.
"Sorry. Casey, I'm so sorry for everything that happened between us. I truly never meant to hurt you. I really did love you."
"Jennifer, I...I've moved on." Replied Casey.
"I heard." Replied Jennifer with a somewhat sad smile. "Whats her name?"
"Alexandr Cabot." Replied Casey a smile tugging at her lips from just saying the blondes name. "I love her ."
"I know, I can see it in your eyes, I just...you meant so much to me that I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me."
"I don't hate you. I did for a while but now, now I understand, we weren't meant for each other." Replied Casey.
"Alex, she makes you happy?" Asked Jennifer.
"She does." Smiled Casey, "Alex is like no one I've ever met, she's a neat freak, she is obsessive about the recycling, she is always loosing her keys. She is ridiculously stubborn and loves those trashy reality TV shows. I'm sure she cheats at chess, I just haven't worked out how yet and just saying her name makes me smile and when she walks into a room, my heart settles because I'm home. So yes, she makes me happy."
"Good, you deserve it, you deserve someone who love's you." Replied Jennifer.
"What about you?" Asked Casey.
"Me? I tok a job in Rome, I leave at the end of the week, I just couldn't leave with things...I didn't want anger to be the last thing between us."
"There's no anger, not on my part, not anymore and I hope you find happiness." Replied Casey.
"Thanks C Bear...sorry Casey." Replied the blonde, "I should go, it was good seeing you."
"Well I hope your new job goes well and you find happiness." Replied Casey, walking Jennifer to the door, they came face to face with Alex and her mother... "Alex, Mrs Cabot, this is Jennifer...my ex...she was just leaving." Stuttered Casey, suddenly realising she was dressed in sweats and a shirt, her hair wet and no bra.
Extending her hand out Alex shook Jennifer's hand torn between hating her for being attractive and having slept with Casey and wanting to jumping up and down because her cheating meant that Casey was now her's. "Its a pleasure."
"Theres no need to lie." Replied Jennifer with a smile, making Alex hate her just that bit more.
"Quite." Muttered Alex.
"I should get going, it was nice to meet you both and Casey, take care of yourself."
"And you." Replied Casey her attention still on the two Cabot women, the sound of the door closing braking her from her stupor. "H-how was the opera?"
"It was delightful, next time I insist you come with us." Answered Sophie, before giving her daughter a hug. Turning to Casey she asked, "Walk me to my car."
"Of course." Relied Casey with a small smile.
Once they were in the elevator Sophie turned to the younger woman, she could sense her nerves and having heard her words she knew Casey was truly in love with her daughter for who she was an not for the Cabot name, "You know, we heard what you said, we came in just as you were telling Jennifer about her feelings for Alex. Thank you for loving my baby-girl, it means a lot to me and whilst I might be old, I don't believe this we just clicked nonsense, but whatever happened you brought her back to us. The Alex I spent this evening with is the daughter I know and love, not the workaholic robot she became, before she...before."
Holding the car door open for the older woman, Casey replied, "Meeting Alex has changed my life, she is an amazing woman and I promise I will spend the rest of my life making her happy."
"I know you will, now get off inside." Replied Sophie with a smile, "Oh and Casey, she doesn't cheat at chess, but you might want to keep count of the pieces on the board."
"Thank you." Replied Casey with a chuckle.
Watching until the car was out of sight Casey headed back inside, she was to impatient to wait for the elevator, so took the stairs two at a time, arriving outside her apartment door she took a deep breath as she knocked lightly. As the door opened she studied Alex's expression for some clue as to what the blonde was thinking, unable to read her she blurted. "I didn't invite her, I got back from my drink with Abbie and I took a shower and then there was a knock at the door and I thought it was you and so I opened it. I wasn't sure what to do, so I let her in and we talked, thats all we just talked and..."
Her words were cut off my the blondes lips crashing against her own, "Stop! I heard what you said, did you mean it?"
"Yes, every word, I love you." Replied Casey.
'I love you too." Replied Alex, linking their hands and leading Casey towards their bedroom, where they spent the night affirming their love for each other.
Arriving at the church where the narcotics anonymous meeting was being held, Kim took a deep breath, she didn't want to be here, she didn't need to be here, she debated leaving but Abbie's words from when she gave her the ring, kept replaying in her head. Taking another deep breath she headed inside, taking a seat at the back she looked around, mildly surprised that the others people looked normal. As she listened to people sharing their stories of woe she was even more convinced that she didn't belong there, as the meeting came to an end Kim stood to leave when she was approached by a well dressed woman who looked as out of place as Kim felt.
"Hi, your new here. I'm Addison." Offered the redhead holding out a hand to Kim.
Reluctantly shaking the woman's hand, Kim forced a polite smile to her face, "Kim. I'm not an addict."
"It's okay, no one is judging you, least of all me. You look familiar, have we met before?"
"I don't think so, I'm an ADA so I've been in the paper a few times." Replied Kim.
"That must be it. You have time for a coffee? The stuff they serve here should come with a health warning and should know, I'm a doctor."
"I..."
"Come on, I'm buying." Added Addison with a smile.
"Sure." Replied Kim, the two walked in silence to a coffee shop just down the block from the church. Whilst Addison was at the counter ordering their drinks Kim subtly studied her, it was clear she was a woman with money, judging my the outfit and shoes she was wearing.
After placing their order, Addison walked back to their table, "Here we go."
"Thanks." Smiled Kim.
"So."
"So." Replied Kim.
"How about I tell you my story, you don't have to tell me anything, just listen."
"I don't have a story to tell." Replied Kim.
"Okay, so you came to an NA meeting for the coffee?" Asked Addison raising a sculpted eyebrow.
"Thought you weren't judging me? Thanks for the coffee." Asked Kim, standing to leave.
"I'm not, I promise you I'm not judging you. My first meeting I was as adamant I didn't need to be here as you are. So, please just give me five minutes and then you can leave no harm no foul."
"Five minutes." Relented Kim sitting down.
"I'm a doctor, a neonatal surgeon to be precise, the best in the country and that's not me bragging, its a fact, I was married and at the top of my profession, I had it all and then one day I didn't. My then husband is a brain surgeon and we drifted apart, we were both busy and I had an affair, he found out and well, long story short we got divorced. Although it was my fault it hurt and I started self-medication with pain killers, I didn't see it as a problem and then one day in the OR I froze and had it not been for another surgeon stepping in that woman and her baby would have died. I would have killed them." Pausing to take a sip of her coffee, Addison continued, "A friend, my now girlfriend made me realise I needed help and made me go to NA, that was four years ago. Don't get me wrong, I've slipped twice, once when my father died and once when Callie and I had some troubles, but I've been clean two years, so I know its not easy and I'm not expecting you to open up to me and tell me your life story, I just want you to know I'm here if you ever want to talk."
"Like I said, I don't have an addiction," Replied Kim.
"Okay, well when you're ready call me." Sliding her card across the table Addison stood to leave, "Kim, whoever gave you the rock around your neck, the one you haven't stopped fiddling with must love you, don't push them away, because this journey is hard and having someone to hold your hand, hold you, will make it so much easier."
"I told you..."
"I know what you said, but we both know its bull. So when your ready call me." Replied Addison, walking away before Kim could argue.
Leaving the coffee shop Kim headed toward the park, as she sat on the usual bench waiting for the guy to deliver her supplies. She gave a bitter laugh. Supplies. That's what she had taken to calling the drugs she wasn't willing to admit she couldn't function with out. Taking Addison's card out of her pocket she debated calling her, but she wasn't an addict she could walk away anytime. She jumped as someone sat down next to her, "Your late."
"I'm sorry your highness." Handing Kim the small vials he held his hand out for the money.
"I'll have to pay you next time, you know I'm good for it." Replied Kim, she couldn't risk taking anymore cash from their account without Abbie getting suspicious.
You have twenty-four hours or I'm going to take my money in another way."
Nodding, Kim left the bench and headed back to her car, starting the car she headed towards home, trying to figure out a way to come up with the cash to pay her dealer, as she stopped at a traffic light, a flashing sign above a pawn shop caught her eye. Parking she climbed out of the car, not allowing her mind to fully process what she was going to do as she entered the shop.
Bringing her hand up to the ring she had kept on the chain around her neck since Abbie had given it to her, closing her eyes she tried to will away the guilt as she reached up to unclasp the chain. Tilting the chain so the ring landed in the palm of her hand, she ran her thumb over blue stone before sliding it across the counter and excepting the notes the greasy man handed her, feeling sick to her stomach as she drove home.
It had been a week since Jennifer had visited and Casey had been called to the station to oversee an interview, as she was leaving she saw Olivia sitting at her desk surrounded by a stack of picture, since Alex had been back Casey had tried to forge a friendship with the detective and although it had been slow going they were making progress.
"Hey Liv, working late?"
"Hey Case, yeah I volunteered with Serena away at that conference I wasn't in a rush to get home."
"I know what you mean, Alex is there and the apartment seems so...quiet and strangely messy considering she's been gone less than twenty-four hours." Replied Casey with a grin. "So, what are you working on?"
"We raided a pawn shop, the owner was arrested for rape, he liked to take souvenirs so we're combing through his stuff trying to work out what is legit and what isn't in an effort to see if there are any more victims."
"Fun." Muttered Casey, dropping into the seta opposite Olivia, "I have nothing pressing this evening, you want some help or at the least some company? We can order pizza or Thai?"
"That sounds perfect." Smiled Liv.
Placing the order she handed Casey a stack of pictures and they worked in silence for half an hour, taking a break to eat there pizza, Casey was almost at the bottom of her stack when she recognised the ring in the picture. Looking up Liv noticed the worried look on Casey's face, "You okay?"
"Yeah, no. This ring, I recognise it, its Abbie's, well Kim's I guess since Abbie gave it to her." Muttered Casey.
"You think Kim is a victim?" Asked Liv standing and walking around the desk, to look over Casey's shoulder.
"No, there's a receipts and that's Kim's signature, she sold the ring, Abbie's grandmothers ring." Replied Casey, dragging a hand through her hair as she looked up at Olivia.
"What are we going to do?" Asked Liv.
"I don't know, I guess we have to tell Kim we found it." Replied Casey.
Leave your thoughts?