A/N: I love your reviews! They seriously get me writing so much faster. :)
Alex Cabot looked up to see a beautiful redhead staring at her. She started to smile when she noticed the elevator doors begin to close. Quickly she calls out, "Wait hold the elevator." Suddenly, as if the redhead was lost in a train of thought she jumps into action and tries to stop the elevator.
Trying to run in her heels to catch the lift was proving futile, but finally the redhead thought fast enough to stick her hand in between the doors to cause the doors to reopen. Slowing down Alex enters the space with the redhead. Leaning against one wall Alex catches her breath before saying, "Thank you, I am running so late this morning and I can't take the stairs fast in these heels."
Casey watches the blonde. She is feeling quite inadequate standing next to her, and is mentally swearing that she is going to make Kim go shopping with her this weekend. Realizing that the other woman is staring intently at her obviously waiting for her to speak she says, "I am sorry. My mind is a jumbled mess this morning. My name is Casey Novak. I am the new ADA for Sex Crimes." Finishing she holds out her hand to shake the blondes.
The blonde smiles and takes her hand shaking it. Casey feels breathless suddenly touching this beautiful woman which instantly makes her feel sick at the same time. "Nice to finally meet you Casey, I have heard an awful lot about you," the blonde replies as the elevator reaches their floor.
Casey realizes the blonde is exiting the elevator and she still doesn't know who she is, how perplexing. "Casey, are you coming?" Alex replies with a smirk. She finds it fascinating how easily distracted the redhead is by the littlest of things.
Shaking her head clear Casey realizes that she is at Branch's floor. Frowning Casey wonders what has gotten into her and what keeps causing her to have these little mishaps in the presence of this blonde. Needing to redeem herself quickly, Casey follows the blonde since she is headed in the same direction as Casey. "Are you going to introduce yourself?" Casey asks.
The blonde stops and turns towards Casey thinking that 'maybe the Casey isn't the only one distracted.' Grinning she looks directly into Casey's eyes and says, "Do you want to know just yet or would you prefer to be shocked?"
"Excuse me?" Casey asks glancing at her watch and realizing she doesn't have time to waste.
Smiling again Alex holds out her hand again to Casey who perplexedly takes it and shakes it again, "Casey, I was trying to be funny. I am Alexandra Cabot."
Casey's eyes go wide and she nods her head understanding now. "So you are going to Branch's office as well, hence the shock part." Casey starts as she continues with the blonde down the hallway.
"Yes, sorry my mind seems to be a bit jumbled too." Alex admits.
Casey laughs, "I just need some coffee and I think I will be much better. I spent so much time this morning hating my clothes that I never got a chance to enjoy a cup."
Arriving at the DA's office, Alex quickly speaks to the receptionist and turns back to Casey, "Well maybe after our meeting we can go get some and get properly acquainted?"
"Sounds nice. Thank you." Casey replies taking a seat to wait on the district attorney.
The meeting with Branch went smoothly. He explained that Casey would help Alex on a few cases while she got her feet wet in Sex Crimes and once Alex felt confident that she could go it alone she would split the case load with Alex. Casey acknowledged that she understood and was free to leave with Alex.
Walking out of the office, Alex leads Casey back to the elevator and down a floor to show her where their offices are located. Casey enters her office and is immediately surprised. "This whole office is mine?" Casey asks. Alex nods yes as she leans against the doorframe and watches the redhead's amazement.
"It's so big, it makes my old office look like a broom closet," Casey says in amazement.
Alex laughs, "Yeah, well it is all luck of the draw around here. Usually once you settle in an office you don't want to leave it. Mine is a little smaller, but I wouldn't move even if I became DA."
"It's just wow, that is literally all I can say, wow." Casey chuckles.
Alex finds that she is surprised by how remarkable she finds Casey. Things that Alex would normally find silly about a person she finds intriguing in Casey. "So are you still up for the coffee before going to meet the squad?" Alex asks.
"Yeah, some coffee would be nice."
"Great, let's go. We can stop by my office on the way so I can drop off my bag and then I would be happy to drive…" Alex begins to offer but is cut off as Casey blurts out, "I'll drive." Alex nods remembering Casey's husband's accident feels the need to remedy the situation when she notices Casey begin to blush.
"Thank you Casey that would be really nice. That way I can write down some notes I have for the detectives before we reach the precinct." Alex replies. She inwardly smiles knowing that her notes are already complete, but at least the redhead feels comfortable again.
The two women quickly stop off at Alex's office and head to Casey's car. While driving they talk about work and open cases. Casey takes mental note of the fact that Alex isn't writing anything down for the detectives but she doesn't let it get to her. Instead, she remembers Kim's words that Alex is a really nice person and it makes her feel more at ease. Arriving at a little diner down from the precinct, Alex leads Casey inside and to a table while waving at the waitress who seems to know her. Casey smiles seeing how confident and at ease the blonde seems with everything.
"So I know you have a little girl, how is she handling the move to the city?" Alex questions. Casey instantly frowns at the question and Alex feels bad having asked it. Before Alex can say anything else the waitress arrives at the table and takes their coffee orders.
As she walks away Casey answers, "I guess she is handling the best she can. She's only three and will turn four in September but still everything seems to have affected her more than I would have imagined. She used to be very happy and outgoing, but after my husband died she seemed to withdraw into herself a little, and now with the move she seems even more shy and quiet. Although, it only seems to be that way around strangers, she does act normal around my family and me."
Alex quirks and eyebrow, "Do you have a lot of family in the city?"
Casey shakes her head no, before correcting, "No, my dad is in a home just outside the city, he has severe dementia, and my mom died a few years back, so it's just Owen, Kim, Caroline and me."
Nodding Alex says, "That's a lot to me. My dad died five years ago and my mom passed a little over a year ago. So it's just me and my Uncle Bill."
"I am sorry Alex," Casey says squeezing the blonde attorney's hand.
"I am sorry to Casey," Alex says returning the squeeze.
Casey arrives home that evening around 6pm with a very unhappy little redhead in tow. "Mommy, you worked to long!" Caroline bellowed at her mother as they entered her brother's apartment.
Seeing Kim, Caroline squeals in delight and runs and jumps in her aunt's lap. "Hey Care-bear, did you have a good day at school?" Kim asks the little girl.
Crossing her arms, Caroline stares angrily at Casey and replies, "No, I am angry."
Kim purses her lips as Casey sighs and falls into a nearby chair. Casey is spent and after the car ride home with the little angry one she feels the bottle of wine in the kitchen calling to her. Kicking off her heels next to the chair Casey props her feet up on the table.
Kim senses Casey's frustration. Brushing her hand through the little girl's messy hair Kim asks, "And why is that Caroline?"
"Mommy worked to long." Caroline repeats her earlier statement.
"Oh, I see Caroline." Kim said nodding as Casey sat up knowing where Kim was going with this. Kim replies, "Well Caroline, did you think that maybe Mommy was just as upset about working so late because she wanted to come home to play with you?"
Caroline quietly says, "No."
"I think maybe you should go give your Mommy kisses and hugs she needs them right now." Kim whispers to the little girl. Quickly Caroline hops off Kim's lap and jumps into Casey's arms. Feeling the little child bury her head into her shoulder, Casey mouths thank you to her sister-in-law. Kim nods and stands, "I am going to get dinner started."
"Alright," Casey replies looking into Caroline's eyes she says, "Why don't we go get a bath and get our pajamas on before dinner?"
"Okay Mommy." Caroline says brightly. Walking the little girl down the hall to their room Casey smiles at least Caroline doesn't hold grudges too long.
After getting Caroline to bed, Casey sits out on the couch with Kim enjoying a glass of wine. "Serena mentioned today that she and Abbie want to get together this weekend at least for dinner." Kim states. Casey nods taking the information in before responding.
Finally Casey says, "Yeah that's fine. We should invite Alex too."
"Ah, day one with Cabot went well I take it." Kim says laughing.
"Yeah, she was nice. We kind of had an awkward introduction, but I had a good time getting to know her today." Casey replies with a grin that Kim doesn't miss.
"Casey, do you like Alex." Kim states firmly.
"Didn't I just say I did?" Casey asks confused as she pours another glass of wine.
Kim shakes her head taking the bottle and pouring more for herself, "That's not what I mean Casey. I mean do you have feelings for her?"
Casey's jaw drops. "What no! Oh my God Kimberly, John hasn't been gone a full 6 months and you think I have feelings for my new superior? No!" Casey exclaims.
"Whoa, Case calm down. You just had this really big smile come across your face as you were talking about her. It's no big deal." Kim says trying to fix the problem.
"Well, it's a huge problem for me Kim. Forget I mentioned inviting her. I am going to bed." Casey replies walking into the kitchen, dumping her wine down the sink and putting her glass in the dishwasher.
Kim attempts to follow the angry redhead, "Casey, come on I am sorry. Please don't be mad at me."
Casey turns to face her friend, "Its fine Kim, I am just tired and need to get up early tomorrow to get Caroline to school before work. I will see you in the morning."
"Ok, night." Kim says not getting a response. As she sits back down on the couch she picks up her phone. She doesn't really know why she is doing what she is, she just feels like she should. Almost as if she is possessed or something she sends Serena a message.
Please invite Cabot, if asked it was your idea. :)
Lying in bed that night, Casey begins to wonder if Kim is right. Does she have feelings for Alex? The thought again makes her nauseous which she doesn't really understand. It's not like she doesn't like women, she was openly bisexual before meeting John. Then it sinks in its John. Thinking of him makes her tear up as she rolls over and faces their little girl. She wished she saw more of him in Caroline, but at least Caroline has his strikingly blue eyes.
Casey thinks Alex has striking blue eyes as well which only makes her cry harder.