Disclaimer: All Law And Order: Special Victims Unit characters and namesakes are the property of Dick Wolf / NBC.

Author's Note / Warning: This story contains an original character that plays the love interest of Casey Novak. The story deals with the relationship between Casey and my original character, and it is told from both of their perspectives. I had a very specific storyline in mind that I felt could not be realized by pairing Casey with an existing SVU character, thus the creation of Det. Seth Bauer. This is not intended to be a Mary Sue story, and I can only hope that from the writing and characterization, this proves to be true.

Chapter 5: All Apologies
September 2nd, 8:12 PM

Casey leaned forward over the stack of legal briefs on her desk, stuffing some of the paperwork into her briefcase and placing the rest in a neat pile in the corner. The sun had gone down a few hours ago, and the darkness of late evening filled her office. The mood inside was gloomy and Casey carried a sad expression on her face. As usual, Casey had not been able to get as much work done in the office that afternoon as planned. She had been late coming back from the Special Victims Unit, and was called back after Benson and Stabler had executed the warrant on Denby's apartment. They hadn't found any traces of the cat litter, but they had been lucky enough to make an arrest. Apparently, Denby had completely lost it when he returned home to find detectives rifling through his place, and he had pulled a knife on Elliot. After bringing him in to the station house on the attempted assault with a deadly weapon charge, Denby had started singing like a bird. It turned out Roger Denby had a long history of Obsessive / Compulsive Disorder, and he had gone into an especially manic craze after having his personal living space rearranged by the NYPD. Denby had been so worked up that he had been more than ready to confess on all three charges. The cool, sociopathic veneer the SVU detectives had become acquainted with was gone, replaced by a blubbering, child-like persona who blamed his victims for his actions. Denby claimed he was doing "God's work" by helping "purify" the city of all the "unclean" elements. Suffice it to say, Denby's condition had also been part and parcel to why he had left almost no evidence behind at all of his crimes scenes, and on all of his victims.

Marge Denby had high-tailed it over to the station house after one of Denby's neighbors had informed her of her son's arrest. While Denby had sat in an interrogation room spilling his guts to the detectives, his mother had promptly called in a lawyer on his behalf. Once Denby's attorney had shown up, he had of course gone through the motions of trying to get the confession thrown out. Denby's lawyer tried to argue that the police had no right to question him about the rapes and rape / homicide on the grounds that Denby had been brought in on the assault charge. Fortunately, because Denby had been read his rights and offered the information up on his own volition, Casey had no problem convincing Denby's legal aid attorney that the confession would stick. Likewise, Denby's lawyer hadn't been savvy enough to question the validity of Casey's search warrant. However, the 'cat litter warrant' wasn't something that slipped by the D.A.'s office undetected. After a decent tongue-lashing from Arthur Branch, Casey considered herself lucky to have only have received the heated monologue without any actual disciplinary action. Not that it helped her mood any. She had returned to her office later that evening even more depressed than before.

While Casey had been at the station house taking Denby's statement, Seth had been noticeably absent from the precinct. Apparently, Cragen had sensed the mounting tension between Bauer and Elliot on the Denby case, and Seth had been sent out with Munch to investigate a report of Indecent Exposure on the subway. Casey figured it was just as well that Seth hadn't been around. If they had happened to bump into one another, she doubted Seth would have had much to say to her. She also realized she was running a risk with Seth by obtaining the warrant for Denby's apartment in the first place, and that he might take her actions as "rubbing his and Elliot's noses in it". But considering how things had gone earlier in the day, Casey supposed it didn't really matter. She felt especially bad for mistreating Seth, and getting the warrant for Denby's place was the only thing she could think of to try and clear her conscience. Casey supposed the maneuver was somewhat self-serving, and it certainly hadn't helped her to feel any better about things with Seth, even after Denby's arrest. But with any luck, she had hoped it would at least benefit Seth by alleviating some of the pressure they had all been feeling from the Denby case. Elliot, at least, seemed to notice Casey's efforts, and he had apologized to her after witnessing Denby's statement.

"Look, Casey," Elliot had said pulling her aside in front of the interview room, "this case has really been eating at me and I'm sorry for what I said earlier. And I'm not just saying that because you got the warrant. You're good at your job and you always have the vic's best interests in mind."

"It's okay," she had replied with a heavy sigh. "I think we both said some things we didn't mean. We all get upset and take things out on each other from time to time. Believe me, I made myself a shining example of that after you left."

"You mean with Bauer?" Elliot had paused, considering the idea. "Yeah, now that you mention it, he did seem kind of 'off' when he came back to the car."

"No thanks to me." Elliot had seemed genuinely sorry, and Casey saw an opportunity to further rectify things with Seth. "Just promise me one thing?"

"You name it."

"Be nicer to Seth from now on."

Casey knew how passionate Elliot was about his job, and she was used to the idea that he lost control of his emotions from time to time. She had known he would apologize to her at some point, and she had felt a little better after her conversation with him. If anything, the conversation had made Casey realize that while it was okay for her and the other detectives in the squad to have words every once in awhile, she just didn't feel right about it with Seth. He seemed much more sensitive than most of the people she knew and worked with, and she had failed to fully consider how he might react to such things. It was fairly normal for her and her colleagues to get a little too personal with one another in the heat of an argument, but why, Casey wondered, was it so different with Seth? Because you think so much more of him as a person, the voice in Casey's head had reminded her.

All in all, it had been a pretty rotten day in Casey's mind. After taking Denby's statement, patching things up with Stabler, and her 'pep talk' with the D.A., she had returned to her office just as the daylight was starting to fade from the sky. She had spent the rest of the evening trying to get some paperwork done, but she hadn't been able to concentrate. Around ten past eight, she started packing up her things, calling it quits after a very long and arduous day.

The small lamp on her desk illuminated the pitiful expression on Casey's burdened face, the sad features of her eyes and mouth highlighted in the enclosed darkness of the room. Casey sorted the last of her day's paperwork and snapped her briefcase shut. Turning slightly to her left, she noticed a long, thin shadow forming in the doorway to her office, shading the light from the hallway.

"Seth," Casey said with genuine surprise, looking up from her desk. "What're you doing here?" Casey's eyes had become wide and childlike as she walked around to the front of her desk, motioning to Seth with her right hand. "Please, please, come in..."

Casey could hardly believe that Seth was standing there before her, in the very same spot where she had yelled at him earlier in the day. I wonder what he's doing back here, she thought. I guess this could either be a really good thing, or a really bad thing.

Seth walked into Casey's office with a concerned, but jovial look on his face. "So, I got back to the house after Munch and I brought in this perv from the subway," Seth said approaching Casey, "and I hear that you somehow got a warrant for Denby's place? Roger Denby - the guy who's currently sitting in a cell waiting to be convicted of raping two women and killing another?"

Casey's wide eyes stared attentively at Seth. Her heart rate had sped up, and she had that strange tingly feeling in her stomach again. He doesn't hate me after all, she thought to herself gleefully. I mean, why else would he be here now? He's not mad, and he's actually smiling! Please let this be a good thing...PLEASE.

"Oh, right...that," Casey said, beginning to smile herself. "Well, after you guys were here, I thought about things and decided that getting the warrant was worth the risk of making myself look stupid."

"Casey," Seth said in a slightly reprimanding tone, "there was really no need for you to stick your neck out like that. Really, I didn't mean to make you feel guilty about anything-"

"No," she interrupted. "You didn't make me feel guilty. I made myself feel that way, acting so horrible to you. The truth is, all those nice things you said about me made me realize that I should go out on a limb in this instance. At the very least, you deserved that much after how I had treated you. I'm really sorry, Seth." Casey felt a slight pressure in her chest, as her eyes began tearing up.

"Hey, it really wasn't a big deal, Casey," Seth consoled her. "I can be a REALLY big baby about stuff sometimes. I really need thicker skin in situations like that, and you ought to take my reactions with a grain of salt."

"It wasn't your fault that I was a total bitch to you for no reason, Seth. I think anyone's feelings would've been hurt."

"Well, I didn't mean to make you think it was some big deal. You were really upset, and I totally understood that." Seth gave her a touched look, slightly tilting his head to one side and smiling.

"Seth," Casey said in a more serious tone, "I'm really glad you came by and that you're not mad with me...it really means a lot. I was thinking about this all day and I just felt awful. You've been so nice to me ever since we started working together, and I never should've taken things out on you like that. There was just no excuse and you're the last person I'd want to hurt like that." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "Listen, this may not make a ton of sense, and it certainly doesn't excuse my behavior, but when I get embarrassed, or angry, or scared, I sometimes take it out on the people I'm closest too. You and I – I feel like we've become good friends at this point, and half the reason I yelled at you today was because...well, I guess I feel safe with you."

Casey's heart was pounding even faster now and her whole head felt electric. I can't believe I'm telling him this, she thought. But somehow...somehow, it feels right.

Seth stepped forward and put his right hand on Casey's arm, just near her shoulder, holding it there. Casey's heart swooned at his touch, and she felt as if she might melt right into the floor.

"It's really okay, Casey," Seth said, looking especially flattered. "I'm glad if you feel like you can come to me when you're upset about things. Granted, I'd rather you talked to me about stuff instead of just yelling at me, but I understand what you're saying. That's why I'm not still upset about any of this. I realize you just needed someone to lean on, and I'm glad we're able to talk about it now."

Casey felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her mind, and a warm feeling of happiness washed over her. Seth let go of Casey's arm and shifted his stance, momentarily looking towards the floor. He cast his gaze back up into Casey's green eyes and smiled. "I really like you too, Casey. Getting to know you this past month has been really great, and I'd be really upset if we weren't friends any more."

Just friends? Casey thought. Or are you saying what I think you're saying? Are you saying the same thing as I am?

"Me too," she agreed. "But I have to admit, you had me pretty worried today. I honestly thought you might never talk to me again." Casey's face bore a relieved smile and she looked hopefully at Seth.

"Wow, you're kind of basket case," Seth joked. "I am too. I think we make a good pair."

Casey laughed, her whole face lighting up. I wish I could hug him right now, she thought.

"So…we're okay?" Casey asked Seth in an innocent voice.

"We're okay."

They both drew in a deep breath, still gazing into each other's eyes. There was a moment of silence where they stood, not saying anything, just looking at one another. After a few seconds, Seth looked away bashfully. "So...anyway. I didn't mean to hold you up here, it looks like you're on your way out."

Now's your chance, Casey thought. In her mind, she kept replaying the conversation she'd had with Olivia earlier in the day. It's the right time, with the right guy, and you've got nothing to lose at this point.

"Yeah, I'm about done here for the night." Casey swallowed hard, mustering up all of her courage. "Listen, I was maybe going to get a late dinner," she said trying to sound casual. "You're more than welcome to join me if you'd like." Casey stared deep into Seth's brown eyes. A million years seemed to pass as she waited for his response.

Seth's whole face brightened at the question, and Casey's heart nearly skipped a beat. "Sure," he said enthusiastically. "That sounds great, actually."

"Good." Casey breathed a sigh of relief, beaming at Seth. She grabbed her briefcase and started putting her jacket on. "Let's go."

"What did you have in mind?"

Oh, I don't know. How about you take me right here on the desk? Sound good? "How about...Chinese?" Casey suggested.

"Sounds great. After you." Seth placed a gentle hand on Casey's back as she walked out the door. Casey had her hair up in a bun and Seth surveyed the back of her long, slender neck as she moved. A few short stray red hairs cascaded down her neckline, and he thought about how graceful and beautiful she was. He wanted badly to gently kiss the back of her neck, to feel her creamy warm skin against his mouth. A part of Seth suddenly felt deathly guilty at the thought, as the tragic events of his sorted past once again came rushing back to him. But I can't help it, he thought. I have feelings for her and they aren't going to just go away. I can't keep beating myself up over this. I've got to move on with my life.

Casey sensed something was not quite right as she and Seth walked down the hall, but she lumped those feelings into the rest of the day's bad events. After all the anxiety she had experienced over Seth, the good and the bad, she was much too happy now to let anything else ruin the day. As they walked outside the building, they began chatting idly about their respective plans for the weekend. Casey hooked her arm into Seth's, and they both smiled affectionately at one another. Seth gently squeezed her arm in his as they walked down the sidewalk into the starry night. The end of the day no longer seemed so bad to Casey, and she brimmed with inner happiness at the thought of things to come.