A/N: We are nearing the end! It looks like we have a few more chapters left, and then our characters get to ride off into the sunset until I pull them out to play again

Inspired by "Night," season 6, episode 20.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Law & Order: SVU, its characters, or storylines. I make no money from this work of fiction, that is inspired by an episode, but otherwise created from my own mind. Any relation or resemblance to another story or a real life instance is purely coincidence.

Recovery

Chapter 16

kateandharvey

"Casey," the detective put her hand soothingly on the young woman's knee, "it's okay."

Fin had left hours ago, assuring the women that while there was an added level of danger, the team still strongly believed they were safe where they were. Since the male detective's departure, however, the ADA hadn't spoken a word, only sitting on the couch, legs pulled up to her chest, unmoving. With glossed over eyes, she stared off into space at an unidentified source.

Olivia had been trying to give her space, understanding that the information revealed to them was heavy, and knowing that she needed some space of her own, too. There came a point, however, where Casey's demeanor seemed to be less about thought and shock and more about complete detachment. It was after the brunette felt she'd given enough space to the ADA that she intervened and addressed her, attempting to pull the woman from her thoughts.

The hand on the redhead's knee began small, comforting strokes, and Olivia repeated, "It's okay."

Green eyes snapped to brown and the counselor said, her voice cracking with suppressed emotion, "It's not okay." She sighed, lowering her legs to better face the detective, and casting her eyes downward. There was a moment of silence before she said, "I'd forgotten."

It was the quietest of whispers, littered with the slightest hint of self-shame. "Forgotten what?" The other woman asked.

"On the couch with you," both sets of cheeks grew warm, "everything felt so normal, so right. I let myself forget why we were here and what was happening." Her pale hand reached for Olivia's, and she grasped it gently. Her eyes found the detective's again, "Then those pictures of us…" Tears welled up in her eyes, "It took me so long to realize what we had and how I felt about you." She shook her head. "Knowing that he saw it before I did makes me feel so… so stupid and so violated."

Olivia nodded in understanding. "I feel the same way." She said, "I feel like it took me so long to get here. The last thing I wanted to do earlier was stop," the heat quickly returned to her cheeks at the admission, "and seeing everything laid out on the coffee table was… surreal." The counselor nodded, "I'm so… angry. Angry that it took me so long to see what was right in front of me," she squeezed the hand in her own, "Angry that I was finally in the only place I want to be and we were interrupted, angry that we are stuck here in such inconvenient circumstances, angry that I couldn't protect you." She took a deep breath, "Most of all… I'm angry that it was so clear, looking at those pictures today, that I was watching myself fall in love with you and that bastard Anderson got to see it first."

Casey's green eyes, filled with emotion, shot to Olivia's and she held her gaze. "You… you saw yourself falling in love with me?"

Olivia nodded, smiling at the ADA and thinking about how beautiful she was when she was this version of herself, the Casey that was unsure and self-conscious. It struck the detective how the other woman most certainly didn't know how amazing she was, and she was filled with a new appreciation for the person next to her.

The tears began to fall from Casey's eyes, and she smiled. Immediately, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms tightly around the detective. "Please don't run anymore," she mumbled into the brunette's shoulder, "don't run from me."

"I won't," came the reply. The other woman pressed a kiss to the redhead's cheek, wrapping her own arms around her back and pulling her close. "I won't. I'm sorry I ever did."

Casey pulled back, wiping at her still-damp cheeks. "I love you so much," she whispered, overcome with emotion and pressing their foreheads together, "I don't want you to doubt how much I mean that, and how much I want to explore this with you."

After a second, Olivia asked, "But?" Her palms ran up and down the counselor's arms comfortingly.

"But," She began, growing serious, "I want to take you to dinner, be your date to next year's Chief's ball, and sit too close at the movies." She sighed, "I can't do that unless we keep ourselves safe."

The brunette nodded, "We have to be on guard."

"I can't lose sight of what's happening around us." She shook her head, "Not again. Not like I did earlier."

Accepting this as an intelligent thought, Olivia agreed. "That's fair." She wasn't happy about it, but it did seem like the safest decision they could make. Smirking slightly, she asked, "So are you telling me to keep my hands off of you?" She pulled back to see the green eyes of the ADA, and halted the movement of her hand's on the other woman's arms.

"Let's not get wild," the other woman smiled, "I'm just saying we have to be more mindful."

Feeling more comfortable than she ever had, the brunette wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "No more 2nd base?"

While still in a whirlwind of emotion from both the love confession she'd received and given along with the worry of the madman still out and searching for them, Casey could not deny herself the happiness of this moment. She let herself throw her head back, a deep laugh exiting her throat. "I cannot believe I just heard Olivia Benson say 2nd base."

She shrugged, "That's what I get for trying my hand at a softball player." She smiled, enjoying that the change in their type of relationship had not affected their ability to tease one another.

"You haven't tried your hand yet," the younger woman winked, leaning in to rest her head on the detective's lap. "And you won't have the opportunity until this mess is over."

The brunette's jaw went slack at the blunt response, and after a moment she sighed. "Alright," she lifted her arm, wrapping it around the back of the redhead. Pretending to be deeply affected, she said, "I suppose I'll survive."

"You will," Casey agreed, "but if you think you aren't sleeping in my bed tonight, you're mistaken."

The other woman chuckled, "Pushy, pushy!" She squeezed the redhead closer, "You're my kind of woman."

Casey had gotten herself cleaned up and ready for bed rather quickly. While she'd told the detective that they needed to keep their hands off of each other for the time being, she was truly looking forward to sharing a bed with the stunning brunette for a second time. She'd found herself, while performing her nightly routine, rather giddy. When she came up from rinsing her face in the sink, she barely recognized the woman she saw. If Casey Novak were a romantic, she would say the face in the mirror was positively glowing. Clear face, sparkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and a coy smirk was what she saw in the mirror, and there was no doubt that it was the image of a woman romantically satisfied. Pushing this thought out of her mind, and shaking her head at her own ridiculousness, the redhead dried her face and exited the bathroom.

She'd climbed into bed just as Olivia darted down the hallway, dashing into the bathroom for her own nightly routine.

In the shower, the detective was pummeled by thoughts. She prided herself on being a damn good detective, and how she'd missed her growing feelings for the counselor flabbergasted her. Seeing them laid out had been difficult, and even though Fin was one of her closest colleagues and one she would call a true friend, she found herself feeling quite exposed.

Now, as she prepared to join the other woman in bed, she wondered where they would end up. The day had been rather heavy, with a lot said, and she was anxious to see the affect on their own actions around one another.

While she knew the plan was to keep their hands to themselves, it didn't erase the memory of what had happened earlier, and the burning desire the detective still felt. Further, Olivia couldn't remember the last time she felt so aroused, so trusting, and so comfortable. Everything seemed to be falling into place, and even she was surprised by the ease at which she was able to confess her love for the ADA.

As the night drew closer, she had not a shred of doubt or worry and that itself caused her concern. She was admittedly nervous about sharing the bed with the redhead again, and found herself anxious at her lack of concern about anything else.

"I'm worried that I'm not worried," she shook her head, laughing at herself, and turned off the water to the shower. She moved slowly as she dried off and got dressed, subconsciously prolonging her inevitable joining of the woman in the other room.

She had just finished pulling her tee shirt over her head when there was a knock on the bathroom door, and Casey called, "Liv?" Before the brunette could respond, she added, "Stop overthinking."

Laughing, the freshly showered woman opened the door, rolling her eyes at the redhead. "Strangely enough," she said, turning off the light and stepping into the hall, "I wasn't."

Casey lead the way to the bedroom, the older woman following behind. "Sure," she shrugged, reaching the room and hobbling toward the bed, "That's why I had to come and get you." She slowly deposited her cane and climbed into bed yet again, situating herself comfortably under the covers. Not giving the other woman a chance to respond, she patted the bed next to her. "C'mon," she said, "Lay with me."

Nervously, Olivia's feet moved closer to the bed, pulling back the covers and getting in.