The Art of Warfare: Chapter Three
See Disclaimer in Chapter 1
It was nearly nine pm when Casey's cell phone rang. Casey was half sitting, half lying on her couch and the interruption from her reverie almost caused her to flip off the couch.
"Novak," she snapped into her phone, not bothering to read her caller I.D and simply wanting to go back to her daydream.
"Hey, you." Olivia's voice was smooth and Casey instantly regretted her harsh tone.
"Hi. I'm sorry, I didn't even look to see who was calling. How's the case going?"
"Going, gone. The mother confessed. Wrote up a statement right there. We're sending the little one to foster care for the night, get details in the AM."
"Can I do something?" Casey felt suddenly out of the loop. Jealous of the people who didn't get a Saturday off. That's sad, Novak.
"Tomorrow. We're calling it a night as soon as the foster parents come to pick up Nakoma."
Casey's mouth was instantly dry. She could hear the question in Olivia's tone but had no idea of the answer. Luckily, Olivia took care of the problem.
"Want some company tonight, Case?"
Jesus, Casey thought, that voice should be illegal.
"Always, Detective. Come on over when you're through, I'll be here."
"I'll be there within the hour. See you soon, Casey." Olivia clicked her phone without waiting for a response. Police habit, Casey supposed, clicking her phone shut and diving from the couch to first see what she had in her refrigerator and then to do something with her hair and face.
As she pulled up to Casey's apartment, both thankful and surprised at the parking spot available for her, Olivia's heart attempted to leap through her chest. She quickly walked up the steps to Casey's apartment, trying to maintain her outer calm. As a detective, it was her job to manage a collected exterior while interviewing suspects and witnesses, but something about Casey made it difficult for Olivia to keep that wall in place.
Casey's door opened the second before Olivia raised her hand to knock.
"Hi." Casey said simply, not hiding the fact that she had clearly been waiting for Olivia's arrival.
Olivia smiled for what seemed like the first time since she'd left Casey's that morning. Without thought, she leaned forward, wrapped her arms around the back of Casey's neck and pulled the attorney in for a searing kiss. Casey's hands tangled in Olivia's shorter hair, holding the detective to her. Casey teased Olivia's lips with her tongue until Olivia's mouth opened, allowing her entrance. Casey's tongue trailed lightly over the other woman's teeth and moved smoothly to blend with Olivia's tongue. She heard a soft moan but couldn't tell if the noise came from herself or her partner.
Olivia's hands released Casey long enough to trail long fingers down her sides, to the waistband of Casey's jeans. She teased there for a moment, sliding her finger along the sensitive skin just under the waistband and smiled as she heard Casey swallow back her moan. Olivia's mouth moved to the smooth patch of skin right beneath Casey's ear and this time, Casey couldn't hold in her soft moan.
"Olivia…" she managed, "Olivia, please."
"Please what?" Olivia smirked, running her tongue gently up the slope of Casey's neck.
"Please…" Casey's voice trailed off as Olivia's teeth nipped her delicate earlobe and one slim hand glided towards the button on Casey's fly.
"I missed you today, Casey." Olivia's voice was husky and warm, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. How good it felt to be in your arms…to wake up with you. Casey, I want this."
Casey took a deep breath and pooled her resources, placed both her hands on Olivia's hips and took a small step back. Olivia looked at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry…Casey, did I say something wrong?"
"NO! No…no, Liv. Nothing wrong. I just…I want this too. But what is 'this'? Is this friends with benefits…coworkers releasing tension…something more?" Casey gritted her teeth against the slow ache between her legs and stared at Olivia, "Am I a replacement for someone you can't have?"
"Casey. I…how could you think that?"
"Think what? That if Alex were here, I wouldn't have a shot? Hell, I probably would never have met you if Alex was still here and then it wouldn't matter anyway. If she was still here, you'd still be with her!" Casey knew her mouth was rambling, again, separate of cerebral function.
"How could you say that? You are anything but a replacement for Alex. Casey, where on earth did you gather the idea that Alex and I were together?"
Casey felt the familiar heat of a blush color her neck and face in several agonizing seconds, "You weren't with…"
"With Alex? Alex, like my sister Alex? Casey, no…oh Honey. I'm so sorry we did this to you." She stepped closer to Casey, resting her palm on Casey's cheek.
"Did what to me?" Casey said, trying vainly not to lean into the warm hand.
"Alex wasn't perfect, Casey. And she couldn't do anything different than you can. Laws are laws Case. We missed her and we put her up on a pedestal…"
"That's bullshit, Olivia. You don't need to lie to me. Alex had five years of experience on me and she could do more than I can. But I thought I was doing better and then in she walks…a walking ghost for all I was told. She was brilliant. She talked that little boy into testifying, she did everything I couldn't in that court room…" Casey's voice trailed off as her brain finally managed to finagle control over her vocal cords.
"Casey." Olivia's voice was soft, "Casey, look at me." Tear stained eyes made contact with hers, "I am here with you, in your apartment, because I choose to be here. I choose to be here with you over anyone else I could be with. I will not deny to you that I miss Alex. I will miss Alex every day for the rest of my life. Please don't make me miss you, too." Gently, she brushed her lips against Casey's soft mouth.
Casey finally allowed the sob that had taken residence in her throat to come out as she wrapped her arms around Olivia and buried her face in the softness between Olivia's neck and shoulders, "This is just so new, and unexpected. Olivia, I know it's soon, but I don't want to lose you."
"You aren't going to, honey." Olivia smoothed her hand down Casey's back, for the first time noticing the sheer cream camisole she was wearing, "You are not a one night stand, you are not simply a coworker and you are most certainly not a replacement for anyone."
Casey allowed her body to mold to Olivia's, regretting running her mouth and ruining what might have been, but relived to know where she stood with Olivia.
Right where she wanted to.
Casey stepped back into the living room, carrying a huge bowl filled with popcorn and balancing two cans of soda. Olivia, sitting on her knees and leaning on the armrest, accepted the soda and raised her arm in invitation. Casey set the popcorn on the floor and snuggled into the crook of Olivia's arm, resting her head on her chest.
Chicago was playing softly in the background and if Casey listened close enough, she swore she could hear Olivia singing along with Catherine Zeta-Jones. Slowly, her eyes closed as she snuggled in closer to Olivia.
She woke two hours later to snow on the TV and Olivia's gentle snoring.
"Hey, Liv." She whispered, "Olivia, baby…wake up."
"Hmmm…five more minutes." Olivia said, burrowing her face into the back of Casey's couch.
"Liv, it's Case. Wake up."
Olivia's eyes opened, "What, honey?"
Casey moved her eyes to the TV, "Movie's over, popcorn's cold and soda's warm. Time to move off to bed."
"Oh." Olivia's voice seemed tinged with sadness, "Okay, Case. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow…we have to get going on Nakoma's –"
"I fully intend to see you bright and early tomorrow, but before work. Come to bed, Olivia. You can borrow something to sleep in and…are you blushing?"
"Of course not. There is only one of us here who blushes." Olivia paused, "Just let me run down to my car and get my overnight bag. I brought clothes for tomorrow. I may be able to get by with the same outfit two days in a row, but three is just not okay. What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You brought an over night bag." Casey grinned.
"Well…I didn't bring it up. I didn't know. I just thought…"
"No explanation necessary. Go fetch and I'll take care of the popcorn and cans."
Olivia obediently rose from the couch, and headed for the door, "I'll be right back."
Casey just smiled as she brought the soda cans into her kitchen, rinsed them out and dumped the stale popcorn into the trash bin. She quickly made her way into her bedroom, trading her shirt and jeans for her favorite nightgown. A quick glance in the mirror told her that her bed hair wasn't completely out of control.
Olivia paused in the doorway to Casey's bedroom as Casey slipped the silky nightie over her head. The pale fabric only reached to mid-thigh and hid little from the naked eye. She smiled as she watched Casey peer into the mirror, and run her fingers through her hair.
"I'm back." Olivia announced, setting down her black leather bag and moving towards Casey, "You are beautiful."
Casey looked at the ground, shyly, and didn't answer.
"Just let my put my pajamas on...I'll be right back." Olivia said, picking up her bag and moving to the bathroom.
She emerged minutes later with only an oversized NYPD shirt and her face void of makeup. Casey thought she had never looked more beautiful.
"I suppose we should get some sleep." Casey said, almost nervously, "We both have work to do in the morning."
Olivia nodded, slipping under the sheets and curling her body around Casey's. She snaked her arm around Casey's slim waist and pulled her close. Casey snuggled back, pressing her body against Olivia, who kissed Casey's cheek gently.
"Goodnight, Casey." Olivia whispered.
"Night, Liv."