I was crouched on the dance floor with my hands over my ears, eyes squeezed shut when a hand under my arm pulled at me. I went up, not knowing who it was. It took everything in me not to lash out and fight. "Casey," the voice came over my body. It was a woman's voice, and I looked up. My vision blurred with tears, but I still vaguely recognized her. The last time I had seen her, she had been dressed in an Armani suit. Now, she was cat woman.

"Kale." I took her hand and let her lead me outside.

"Are you okay?" she asked as I gulped down fresh air, my body shaking. "Shit, Casey. Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yea. I'm fine. It was just too much in there, that's all. Thanks for rescuing me." I leaned against the railing, pulling cool air into my lungs in desperation.

"Casey?" a man's voice called over the night. "Are you okay? I turned around and you were gone."

Kale gave me the look women give other women, a silent question as to whether or not he was my date. Did I want him there? I shook my head in the negative and she stepped between me and him. "Can I help you?" she asked, her arms folded across her chest, tone possessive.

I watched him smile as I composed myself. "I'm just checking on Casey."

"She's fine. Who are you?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She was being short, possessive, and rude. It was a good tactic for getting people to back off.

Kevin also did not seem to know how to handle rude. "I'm fine, Kevin. Thank you for checking. I'm going to stay out here for a little while. It's too loud and hot in there." I was dismissive, but he tried to walk around Kale to me. Kale, thank God, moved with him. He frowned, not really understanding why some random woman was behaving that way towards him. Then again, I was also just some random woman.

Hoping I had read Kale right and that she wouldn't mind, I twisted and stepped up against her body line, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other at her hip as I lay my head into her shoulder. I rubbed my cheek into her neck as though leaving my scent against her skin. "Really, I'm fine." I looked up at him, Kale curling her hand around my exposed cheek. "Thank you for the conversation, but I really don't swing that way."

Kevin looked between us and frowned before turning and walking away. I could see the anger tight in his shoulders. He was not a man accustomed to being turned down, and I had not been a conciliation prize. When the door closed behind him, I pulled away from the other lawyer. "Thank you."

She shrugged and leaned against the railing. "No prob. You sure you're okay."

"Yea." I nodded to the door. "You know the owner?"

"Matty? Sure. We went to school together all the way through high school. I'm his attorney. I don't normally do client parties, but he can be persuasive." She shrugged again. "Anyway, I'm glad I did. His gigs usually turn out fun. How do you know him?"

"College," I answered. "I was a bride's maid at his wedding."

I watched Kale close her eyes and try to imagine that day so long ago. "Okay," she said. "I remember. You were on the bottom step."

"Damn." My voice was low, but I saw her smile.

"I was on the groom's side."

I laughed. "That was you? Holy shit. Half the night, I thought you were a man."

"That was the point," she said, and she laughed, too. "I hadn't embraced my femininity at that point."

I indicated her costume. "You have now."

"I learned I can still be the provider and not be the man," she said with a half hearted shrug as though there were so much more to that story. "What a small fucking world."

"Tell me about it." She paused and regarded me. "You don't really like a lot of noise, do you?"

I shook my head. "No. I was trying to be a good friend. I've kind of blown it the last couple of years."

She nodded. "Wanna go someplace quiet?" she asked. "I know an Italian restaurant nearby that even on Halloween isn't going to be loud."

"Sure."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

I sat back in the booth, eyes half closed, and listened to the soft melody cascading through the restaurant. Kale had been right. It was quiet, even when the world outside was loud and chaotic. It turned out Kale must have been a regular because despite our costume garb, the maitre d' let us in and sat us immediately much to the annoyance of some of the people sitting in the waiting area. It wasn't an insanely fancy place, but definitely somewhere appropriate for business meetings as well as very impressive dates and anniversaries. She had taken the mask off and combed her hair around her face. With nearly black hair, dark brown eyes, and pale skin, I felt like she should have the fangs.

"You were absolutely right, Kale," I said, "This place is lovely."

She laughed. "I dated the head chef for a while."

"Oh?" I sat up a little. "What happened?"

"We both had too much talent in our respective careers not to be married already to our jobs. It left little room on the side for a relationship." I nodded. I didn't understand. I had married my job to avoid the relationship. Though, now, I was thoroughly wedded to my work, and I didn't foresee anything romantic happening with me any time soon. I had too many issues to work through. "You know, you're the first lawyer to make me concede since I made junior partner?"

I smirked. "I'm just that fucking talented," I said. I picked up my glass of water and took a small sip, watching her eyes. Why was it that I was suddenly much more comfortable flirting with a woman than I was a man? Had something changed in me because I didn't trust men anymore? Or, had something merely been awoken – had I been forced to look at a part of myself that I had never actually acknowledged?

"Yea, you are." She met my eyes, and her own were dripping with sex. It was the kind of look only a woman could wear that screamed sex without actually requiring it. I had seen those eyes in the mirror in my own dilation and in Alex's.

I bit my lower lip. "I'm broken, Kale," I said. She looked at me strange. "I just got out of a bad relationship. I'm not a good one night stand, and you don't want to deal with me on a regular basis."

She smiled. "Anyone talking about security as much as you did who also has a panic attack in the middle of a crowd definitely just got out of a bad relationship. I didn't mean to spook you, Casey, but you are very attractive. I couldn't help myself." There was something in her voice that challenged, but there was something else, too, that was just peacefully there. "Can I ask what happened?"

I shrugged. "He tried to kill me. Turns out how he went about it is a federal offense." Her eyes widened. There were few attempted homicides that the feds got involved in, and I knew she drew the obvious conclusion – he had transported me across state lines. Technically, and states he drove me through had equal jurisdiction on the attempted homicide and kidnapping. Most of them wouldn't go after him since the federal government was, but if they hadn't one of them would have stepped up.

"Jesus, Casey. A true blue bad guy. I'm so sorry." I couldn't meet her eyes. "Hey, it's okay to be freaked. I would be. I don't know many people who wouldn't be." She paused and smiled at me as I glanced back her direction. "I would never consider you a one night stand, by the way."

I laughed as the tension broke. "Aren't you a smooth talker," I teased.

"I can be," she said with a smile. "You think we should head back to the party?"

I shrugged. "Should? Yea. Want to?" I looked at her.

"If it helps, I think Mr. Big Shot found some other unfortunate soul in the club and probably talked her home."

"I'm sure," I said. "Just – crowds."

She nodded. "I'll protect you from the throngs of people. We don't have to dance, Casey, but I think Terry might take offense to us dipping out so early." She was probably right, and I sighed. "You don't have to, Casey. I didn't mean-"

"No," I interrupted. "You're right. I told Theresa that I would come to her party, and I left half an hour in. For getting back into the swing of friendships, I'm starting out pretty shitty." I sounded defeated when I said it. Even I noticed that much. I kind of hated how much like a victim I sounded, just plain defeated by the world. I needed to pick myself back up and get back in the fight.

Kale smiled softly. "Casey, you don't have to. I'm sure she'll understand that you needed some space." She frowned. "I didn't mean to make you feel like an ass. I'm sorry." She reached a hand out to me as if asking forgiveness and I took it. It wasn't her fault. "Wanna just go for a walk instead?"

"Yea," I murmured. That sounded fantastic.

She motioned for the check and the waiter brought it over, handing it to her. I tried to give her my card for at least my portion, though I offered to pay the whole thing. She wouldn't take it for either. "I've got it, Casey. Let me at least treat you to dinner, especially after being so insensitive."

Since I was going to lose the battle anyway, I acquiesced. As I would expect from any attorney worth their salt, she offered a miniature smile of triumph. She had won negotiations, mostly by keeping me from the ability to pay since the waiter seemed amused at our little argument but sided with Kale. As I tucked my card back in my shoe, I noticed the glint in Kale's eyes as she watched me. "See something you like, Counselor?" I teased.

She laughed. "God, Casey, you're something else. You know that?"

I did, but I didn't.

She paid, we left, and I leaned against her slightly as we walked away from the restaurants and bars of the street. She wrapped an arm around me. "You're awfully affectionate."

"Like a cat," I purred.

She snickered. "So, you want something?"

It was my turn to laugh. "Last cat I had was usually affectionate when he did something wrong," I said with a smile.

"What did you do wrong?"

I frowned, thinking. "I flirted then turned you down," I finally said, realizing why I felt guilty.

"You're still flirting, Casey," she pointed out. "I don't mind. You're a nice person. Even if all you need right now is a friend, I wouldn't be opposed."

I stood up straight and looked at her. "Really? That easy?"

She shrugged. "I'm not a difficult person."

"You're a lawyer. That's the definition of difficult, Kale."

"Okay, okay. Take me out of my snake skin, though, and I'm a decent human being." She looked at me as I shivered in the night air. "Your costume doesn't leave much for warmth, does it?" I shook my head. She grabbed my hand and pulled me across the street. I hadn't even been paying attention to where we were going, but the coffee shop we ducked into was one of the twenty four hour shops near the police precinct. After hours, it catered mostly to cops, but tonight, it was full of cops and costumes.

The two night baristas recognized me immediately. "Casey!" one of them exclaimed. She was nineteen and in college at NYU. We often talked about her hopes of getting into law school. I had even told her that I would help her prep for the LSAT and gave her my business line for when she was ready.

"Christine," I answered back with a smile. "They've got you working tonight?"

"It's a Friday," she said with a shrug. "Raspberry white hot chocolate?" I nodded. I normally had a mocha, but with the baby, I was trying to not drink caffeine. Chocolate still had some caffeine, but not nearly as much and the doctor had said hot chocolate was alright in smaller portions. "And, your friend?"

I stepped aside to let Kale order. "What are you tonight?" Christine asked me, looking over my skimpy outfit. I flashed fang and she pretended to be terrified. "Nice. I like it. The hot vamp look is all the rage. Especially when you're already hot." I laughed. "And, cat woman. I feel like we need to have little bottles of vodka for adult trick or treating."

Kale laughed. "I'd trick or treat in that case," she mused.

"I bet you would," I said with a smirk as I looked over at her. I decided on two things right there. The first was that my ability to flirt with appropriate men sucked. Kevin was an asshole. Tony was a pervert. And, the women I flirted with all tended to be attorneys. Okay, so I had only flirted with two women and both were attorneys, but it was the making of a pattern. I frowned, though, as I watched Kale. Was I bisexual? Aristophane never mentioned anything about that.

Kale nudged me. "Hey, serious lady, why are you so serious all of a sudden?"

"Huh?" I said, shaking my hand as Christine handed me my cocoa. "Thanks, love." I followed Kale to a corner table with only one chair. She leaned against the wall and offered me to sit down. I shook my head. I was alright standing. Standing took more energy which meant I could warm up faster. At least, that was the plan. "I was just thinking."

"Yea. I noticed." She laughed as she slid into the chair. "Thinking is bad for you."

I frowned playfully. "It does yield far more trouble than it's worth some days."

We warmed up mostly in silence, but after about ten minutes, I set my cup on the table and sat down in Kale's lap, one arm wrapped around her. She didn't question it, merely wrapped her arms around me to keep me from sliding off the incline of her legs. The silence continued, but it was comfortable. Really, I didn't know what to say to her or what to ask, though I was curious about her life. I just didn't want to share mine. Tit for tat. It was an attorney's game. Then again, maybe it would be possible to simply step away from the game for just a little while, not be an attorney for the night.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kale had parked at the club that night, and I hugged her goodbye. "I just want to go in and tell Terry I'm sorry for playing hookey."

"I can wait and give you a lift home, Casey. It's a Hell of a lot cheaper than a cab." I shook my head. "Alright. Then, at least call me when you get home so I know you're safe."

I grinned. "Same to you."

Ducking back in the club, I sighed. It was about as crowded, but after the past three hours, I felt calm enough to head back in. Theresa was near the doorway hugging Mike, a mutual friend who had gone off to medical school the same year I went to law school. He was a pediatrician now, and it looked like he was enjoying his life. The laugh lines around his eyes were genuine.

Tony was not at the door, but Liam was. He, like me, had truly red hair. And, unlike Tony, he checked the list even though he knew me. Mostly, it was for show. It was barely midnight, and the clubs would only get busier over the next hour or so. He waved me in, Theresa waiting behind him once she saw me. "I nearly called search and rescue, Casey," she drawled when I was close enough to hear her. "You ducked out. Kevin said you went home."

"I went for a walk with Kale."

"Ah, you two know each other?" I nodded, not elaborating. "Where is the minx?"

"She really did go home. I guess she's meeting with a client in the morning." I shrugged. "Not Matty, I hope?"

"No. Not Matty. Besides, when was the last time you knew him to get in trouble?"

"It's not criminal trouble with Matt, Theresa, it's civil shit." I shuddered, making a face. She laughed. Theresa had her MBA from NYU and put it to good use. Between the two of them, they owned more entertainment hot spots in the city than any other family or individual did.

Theresa waved her hand. They had always been able to deal with it. Matt was in charge of the licenses, but he was also an airhead which meant that the licenses sometimes expired and Theresa was left scrambling last minute to get it all together. "I hired a secretary. So far, he's keep him glued together better than I ever could have done."

I laughed. It did not miss me that Terry had hired a male secretary. She always was jealous around other women when it came to Matt. Then again, as in love as they were, Matt had always been a flirt. "So, where's that horrible man of yours?" I frowned. "Oh, come on, Casey. You can't still be defending his honor?"

"No. It's not that." I sighed. "We split up. Last I heard, he's somewhere in Colorado." Florence ADMAX to be precise. It wasn't so much that that was where he needed to be held, but it was the best opening they had while the US Marshals and the Department of Defense went head to head before a judge to determine who got jurisdiction. Neither would bow out. If DoD got it, David walked and Alex and I were both at stake. US Marshals wanted Alex to be available to testify against Zapata and Conners if needed, and me to testify against David. But, the DoD would argue national secrets – which, depending on the judge might strengthen the case for the Marshals. I didn't believe in aliens, but the X-Files made government conspiracy look like truth. And, I wouldn't put it past the government of a major nation. What happens in microcosms happens in macrocosms just as equally.

"Good," Theresa scoffed. "They need to deploy him to Hell and leave him there." I smiled. The Southern lady always knew just what to say to put a smile on my face. "Sugar, I'm glad you finally agree."

I shrugged. Her brow furrowed. "Come on, Lady. Enjoy the rest of the night. I think Tony's still hanging out hoping you'll come back. Something about strawberry lip gloss." I went bright red and looked at my feet. That was something I was hoping to avoid. "You deserve a night of fun, Casey. Hell, we've been waiting for over a year for you to actually come out with the gang."

"Yea. I kind of got tied up at work."

"Work my ass," she said. I gave her a dark look. She let things drop. "Anyway, come on up to the second floor. It's somewhat quieter. We're revisiting college games."

"Dear God. Sam's already wasted, huh?" Samantha Stephens could down more alcohol than anyone else I knew, and in college when drinking games were suggested, she was always the last to pass out but the first to get wasted. How she did it was beyond me. I chalked it up to German genetics. She chalked it up to practice. She had been in her parents liquor cabinet since she was twelve.

Theresa giggled. "You know it." She trotted up the stairs and I followed her at a slower pace.