Disclaimer: Again, I do not own any of the characters, brands name and such. I only own my active imagination, and a whole lot of free time.

* Indicates emphasis on the word(s).

Review is much appreciated, it's my first time attempting at fiction.

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Cragen motioned for Olivia and Munch to go into his office.

"What have we got so far?" He asked before either detective sat down.

"Well so far we know it wasn't a robbery, since there was nothing valuable taken. All the perp took was a few personal items, including a brown leather-bound journal." Olivia said matter-of-factly.

Olivia's thoughts wandered. Alex had a journal, too. She'd write an entry every night before she goes to sleep. Focus, Benson. Now's not the time to daydream.

"Has CSU called back about those photos yet? Surely there's a print on *one* of those pictures." Cragen questioned the two detectives.

"They're working on it, Cap, it'll take some time since there's so many of them." Munch offered.

"Well then pester them to get it going. This is a top-priority case. Breathe underneath their necks if you have to," Cragen barked at his detectives. "Do we have any leads so far?"

Olivia paced around the room. "Not that we know of. We think it's someone that she knows, or possibly an ex-con."

"I'm not ruling out *anyone* until I get a positive match on the prints. Munch, go down to CSU and see if they've got anything for us. Benson, look up recently released ex-cons. Is she staying with you?" He turned to the female detective.

"Yeah, Cap. It was either my place or the hotel. Figured she would be safer with me."

Cragen got up and started walking when he stopped with his hands at the door. "Good, I know she's tough, but sometimes you need someone to watch your back."

Olivia nodded, her mind drifted briefly to the woman sleeping in the crib. "Yes you do, that's what partners are for."

"Speaking of partners, are you gonna be okay working without a partner on this case, Liv? I don't want you to burn yourself out midway through this investigation," Cragen asked. "Fin won't be available until tomorrow morning, the earliest, so it's just you and Munch, for now."

"It's better to burn out, than to fade away." Olivia said offhandedly.

Cragen shot her a puzzled look. "Do I want to know what that means?"

"I'll be fine," Olivia laughed as she walked out of the office. "Hey you, I thought you were gonna sleep for a week." She tried to sound as casual as possible when she saw the ADA approach Elliot's desk.

"I smelled my wake-up call." Casey smiled apologetically, tilting her head towards the coffee machine.

"Ah, I just made a new batch not too long ago. You want some?" Olivia cringed at the sight of the strains on the redhead's face.

"No thanks. I'd like some water, though."

Casey watched the detective's every move while she went about doing her work. Is it possible that she just got even more gorgeous? I have got to stop thinking about her this way. It's driving me insane. I need some fresh air.

As she stood at the front of the precinct, memories of her first day at work hit her like a wave. How seemingly cold the squad was towards her presence. How the detective and her partner was reluctant to have her tag along during their investigation. How she had found the little girl in the icebox and rescued her before it was too late. How she wanted to quit after she realized what she had to deal with on a daily basis. How her boss calmed her down and reminded her the purpose of their job.

She might've wanted to leave that day, but now, she wouldn't leave for all the riches in the world. The thought of seeing Olivia every day, together with the thought of bringing justice to those who seek out to harm others, not only motivated her but it also pushed her to work even harder.

"Casey?" Olivia called out for the ADA. Her heart started beating again when she saw the redhead standing in front of the station. "You okay?" Her eyes looked so sad, so tired, Olivia thought.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some fresh air."

"You got me worried for a sec back there." Olivia tried to sound as calm as possible. But she wasn't. When she realized Casey was no longer in the room, her heart sank. After checking the crib, the restroom and Cragen's office, she was on her way to the car when the sight of the ADA settled her racing mind.

She saw the worry in the detective's eyes, and changed to a safer subject. "How can you guys sleep in the crib? It creeps the lights out of me, and I've only been in there for two hours!"

Olivia noticed the change, but decided it was best to drop the issue. "Well, it aint the Ritz for sure, but it serves its purpose," Olivia smiled. "Besides, I doubt you'll ever need to sleep in there, again."

Neither spoke as they walked toward the squad room and it wasn't until after they've reached the squad room did Olivia broke the silence.

"I'll just pop in to Cap's office to tell him we're taking off." Olivia said as she headed towards her captain's office.

"So I see the great Detective Benson found you." Munch couldn't have come up with a better opening line, or a better timing.

"Yeah, lucky me." Casey retorted. Before Munch could think of a comeback, Olivia was already at her desk, and had packed some the paperwork to bring home with her.

"Ready to go?" Olivia could tell the ADA must've given Munch a run for his money, for he was quiet, for once.

"Yeah. I still need to look through the file for tomorrow's hearing." Casey grabbed her coat with the detective following closely behind.

"Night, Munch." Olivia waved to Munch.

"See ya tomorrow, kiddo." Munch replied while his call to the CSU was put on hold.

As the two women walked out of the room, Cragen stepped out of his office and walked towards Munch. After Munch scribbled a few things on his notebook, he ended the call.

"Talk to me." The captain asked.

"Not one complete print on the pictures." Munch replied.

"But?" Cragen asked impatiently. "Cut the suspense, Munch. There's got to be at least *something* on there that can lead us to him."

"Partial prints. Our guy was a little sloppy in handling a few pictures, the ones with the ADA *and* Olivia," The detective replied. "CSU said when they took the picture from the scene it looked as though our guy clenched it in his palm before putting it up. I think he's questioning the scope of Olivia and the ADA's relationship beyond work."

"Do we have a name?" Cragen asked, ignoring the detective's not so subtle suggestion.

"Name's Jonathan Hall." Munch didn't have much to offer his superior.

Cragen's mind started sorting out their next move. "Dig deeper, and while you're at it, get Novak in here and see if she recalls this shadow."

"I'll make some phone calls." Munch said to the closing of Cragen's door.

The drive to Olivia's apartment was a relatively short one, since she lived not too far away. After they had both settled in and Casey had put away her stuff in the guest room, Olivia went back to tackle the paperwork. Casey sat on the couch, trying to concentrate on revising her opening statements, while Olivia was just inches away on the armchair, trying to catch up on her paperwork.

Under other circumstances, this would have been like a quiet night in for lovers, just enjoying each other's company. But Casey knew better. The air around them was filled with so much uncertainty, and to a certain extent, fear as well that it was anything but. Get a grip, Casey. She's not trying to seduce you. She's just trying to be nice. Forget about it, Casey, and get back to work!

While that train of thoughts enthralled Casey, Olivia was fighting to focus as well. Images of Alex that had threatened to surface earlier in Cragen's office had begun to slip through her conscious mind. Before knowing, memories of their late-night conversations started playing in her head. The sadness that she saw in the ADA's eyes reminded her of Alex's, how she struggled to tell her the truth before the federal agents whisked her away to safety. She felt tears running down her cheek, and before Casey saw them, she quickly wiped it off.

"I think I'm done for the night. You need anything?" Olivia stood up and gathered her work.

Casey jumped at the sound of Olivia's voice. "No I'm fine. I'll feel my way around if I do need anything."

Olivia chuckled at the redhead's remark. "Okay. Good night then." Her hand was on her bedroom doorknob when the redhead called out for her.

"Um...I uh just want to say thanks for letting me stay here. I wouldn't know where to go or who to turn to if not for you." Casey said, her voice without a hint of smugness or cockiness, just honesty and gratitude.

Olivia let out a small laugh before she closed the door. As she lies on her bed, her eyes fluttered slowly, sensing sleep would come soon. However, the same could not be said of the occupant in the guest room. Casey was physically tired, but somehow her eyes just would not allow her the luxury of sleep. Every time she closes her eyes the image of her living room come crashing back. As a result, Casey lay on the bed that night awake, wondering when dawn would come.