A/N: I love your reviews! And I am greatly enjoying writing this story! So enjoy!
Three weeks later, September…
Alex stands in Caroline's doorway after getting her to sleep. She smiles seeing her height measurements growing up now with Caroline's next to it and recent height measurements of her and Casey. Caroline thought since they were marking her height that they needed to update Alex's and take Casey's as well. It was a fun Saturday afternoon.
She and Casey had encountered a few ups and downs since Caroline's birthday, but nothing they couldn't seem to handle. In all honesty, Alex felt like she and Casey were closer than ever. Life is really working out for them.
Walking down the hall towards their bedroom Alex stopped at the hall table at the top of the stairs. Looking at the pictures of them it really made Alex feel like they were a family. The ones of her and Casey wrapped in each other's arms at a Mets game and ones of them with Caroline at the beach during the Fourth said it all. She loved them like family and that was enough to make it so in her book.
Entering the master, Alex freezes seeing Casey. The redhead is sitting in the bed with her current case file in her lap and a pen behind her ear with a big frown on her face. Despite her frown she looked beautiful. "The case got you down babe?" Alex asks resuming her path to the bed.
"Ugh, you have no idea. This Sweeny kid is a sadistic menace. I mean he rapes a kid with a frat paddle and I have the fraternity ledger in his writing detailing the assault, but can't use it because it was quote unquote stolen. Preston is driving me mad with this!" Casey answers closing the file and tossing it on the nightstand.
"Trial starts tomorrow right?" Alex asks with a look in her eyes as she crawls across the bed to Casey.
Casey smirks, "Why yes it does Counselor."
Climbing in between Casey's legs Alex smiles biting her bottom lip as she runs her hands up Casey's legs to her hips and pulls her down into her, "Good, because that means you need to relax, and I have just the thing in mind." Finishing her statement Alex runs her hands under the hem of Casey's shirt and quickly pulls it from her body.
Coming down from their highs, Casey and Alex lay in each other arms. Casey had her head on Alex's chest enjoying the sound of her girlfriend's heartbeat as it slowed. Pushing up on her elbows Casey looked lovingly into Alex's eyes with a lazy smile on her face.
Seeing Casey, Alex smiled, "What is it?"
"Mm, I love you. Oh, and I think we should go on a vacation somewhere romantic." Casey suggests. Alex brushes a stray lock of red hair behind Casey's ear, "When would you want to go?"
"Would end of October be enough time to plan? We could go for a long weekend? Only take a few days off?"
Leaning in to kiss Casey softly enjoying the feel of her lips Alex says, "Sounds perfect. I think I know the perfect place to go. It's a bed and breakfast about an hour and a half away. My mother and I use to go there after my father died. It's a really special place to me and I would love to take you there."
"Let's go," Casey says entwining her fingers with Alex's. "Alex, I am sorry for how difficult I have been the last couple of weeks. I have been dealing with some skeletons you could say."
Alex frowns at Casey, and whispers, "Case, you can talk to me about anything. I have told you I am always here for you."
"I know Alex, but this is internal and there isn't anything you can do to fix it. It's something I have to deal with. The best thing you can do for me is just be you. So thank you for being you and loving me through everything." Casey replies quietly.
Smiling at Casey, Alex pulls Casey in for a kiss and then says, "I will love you forever, no matter what. Although, I do want you to know that you haven't been hard to deal with we have had a few bumps the last couple of weeks, but I honestly feel closer to you now than before Casey. I love you."
"I love you too Alex." Casey says laying her head against the blonde's chest again. Listening to Alex's heartbeat again Casey feels so safe and so loved. Alex holds on tight to Casey she loves her so much that she never wants to let go. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep tangled in each other's arms.
The next morning…
Waking up to the alarm the next morning Casey stretches and nudges her blonde lover awake. "Ugh, why nudge me? I only like to wake up to kisses." Alex groans. Casey smiles as she stands and heads into their bathroom. Turning on the shower she stands in the doorway of the bathroom watching Alex approach, "I am sorry my throat is a little scratchy, I don't want to get you sick if I am coming down with something."
Alex laughs at her girlfriend. "Babe, after last night I am pretty sure that if you are coming down with something I am doomed to catch it. Come on let's get a quick shower so I can make you a cup of tea before you head to court. I will take Care-bear to school and after my motions with Petrovsky today I will bring you some chicken noodle soup while you have lunch."
Wrapping her arms around Alex neck Casey says, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"Let me ride the elevator with you," Alex says with a chuckle.
After getting ready Alex and Casey head out of their bedroom. As Alex heads downstairs to fix breakfast Casey goes to wake Caroline. She was a little surprised that Caroline was still asleep because normally the little girl would come to their room while they were getting dressed. Opening her door and walking over to wake her up Casey sees how flushed her daughter looks. Placing a hand to her head she can tell Caroline has a fever.
As the little girl wakes up she begins to cry, "Mommy, I don't feel good."
"Oh sweetheart," Casey says scooping the little girl into her arms, "Let's get you downstairs and take your temperature. Does anything hurt?"
"My head and throat," Caroline cries. As they reach the bottom of the stairs Alex comes bounding out of the kitchen hearing Caroline's cries.
"What's wrong?" Alex asks as the tea kettle starts to whistle.
"She has a fever and says her head and throat hurt." Casey starts, "I need to call Owen and see if he is working today. If not he can come over and check her out. Otherwise, I will just have the babysitter take her to the doctor. I wish I didn't have court so I could stay home with her. I have always been home with her when she is sick."
"Casey, don't call the sitter, I will stay home and watch her. I will take her to the doctor as well in case Owen can't come. If she needs antibiotics I will pick them up. If she can't have you she can have me." Alex says removing the kettle from the stove and pouring some water in a cup with a teabag for Casey and fixing another cup for Caroline.
"Alex, you can't, you have motions today?" Casey reminds the blonde.
"Casey, they are just motions. I can send someone else to cover them. I will call Abbie to cover them, she doesn't have court today and I won't be headed to court for at least a week. Caroline having one of us here is way more important than me covering motions." Alex says, quickly adding, "If we both had court that would be one thing but we don't."
"Thank you Alex," Casey replies as the thermometer beeps and Casey reads the temperature, "103. Geez, Care-bear you are super sick. Let me get you some Advil."
"Here Casey," Alex says handing her the cup of tea, "let me get her medicine and call Owen or the pediatrician you go ahead to court before you end up running late. We will be okay babe, right Care-bear?"
Caroline nods her head at Casey and gives her a hug. Casey looks at Alex and quickly places a little kiss to her cheek. "Thank you again Alex," Casey says grabbing her tea, briefcase and keys, "call me as soon as you know what she has and send me text updates. Caroline I love you sweetie and I will be home as soon as I can!"
Watching Casey run out the door, Alex picks Caroline up. "How about we go upstairs and I put something more comfortable on and we go downstairs and watch the Little Mermaid?" Alex asks while she fixes the Advil. Caroline takes the medicine and nods.
Later that morning...
Alex sits in the exam room with Caroline curled into her arms playing with her long blonde hair as they wait for the doctor. The little girl still doesn't feel any better and Alex is starting to get a little worried. Other than a popsicle, Alex has barely been able to get her to drink anything.
Finally, the doctor enters the room with a smile on his face. "Hi Caroline, and Alex I presume? I am Dr. Jason Matthews." He says holding out his hand.
"Alexandra Cabot," Alex replies shaking the doctor's hand. Going over Caroline's symptoms with the doctor, he checks her over. Looking in her mouth he nods, "I think I have found the culprit. Caroline I am going to take a swab of your throat honey. I think you have strep throat."
"Strep is really contagious isn't it?" Alex asks worried about Casey.
"It can be why? Is your throat sore?" Dr. Matthews asks.
"No, but her mother's was this morning. I haven't had strep since I was really little," Alex says. Chuckling a little she adds, "Actually since having my tonsils out."
"Well, that won't make you immune to it, so be mindful, but I will write her mother a prescription for an antibiotic as well since she is in court. We should have the results from the rapid strep test back in 15 to 20 minutes. You can wait if you like or take the prescriptions and we can call you."
"We will wait, that is if you can call in the prescription. That way when we leave the prescription can just be delivered." Alex replies.
The doctor nods and heads out. Alex sends Casey a quick text filling her in on Caroline and then sits back and reads Caroline a book while they wait. About ten minutes later the doctor comes back in the room.
"It's strep, so we went ahead and called in the prescriptions. Lots of sleep, fluids, and love along with the antibiotics and she should be feeling ship shape in no time." Dr. Matthews relays.
Alex stands with Caroline, "Thank you doctor, I will keep you posted."
That afternoon…
Casey walked back to her office during the recess for lunch. She was due back in the court room in an hour and all she wanted to do was go home and go to bed. Her throat was starting to hurt worse but she was toughing through it. Part of her wondered if it was all in her head because she received the text from Alex saying Caroline had strep, but she didn't know for sure.
Arriving at her office she found her secretary walking out. "Hey Margaret," Casey asks, "Were you looking for me?"
"Oh Mrs. Novak, I was just dropping off some soup and medicine Ms. Cabot sent over for you." Margaret answers with a smile.
Casey smiles and blushes a little, "Thank you Margaret." Walking into her office and seeing the soup container from her favorite soup restaurant and a prescription bottle Casey pulls her phone from her pocket. Sitting at her desk and removing the lid from the soup she calls Alex.
"Hey babe, did you get the soup and meds?" Alex asks when she answers the call.
"I did thank you. How is Caroline?"
"She's good, curled up in our bed with me now. We decided after some soup of our own that a nap with Bubble Guppies in the big bed would be best." Alex replies.
"Ah, I see. Well thank you baby for everything today. I ran past Abbie while leaving the courthouse. She said to tell you she nailed all of the motions." Casey relays taking a small bite of soup.
"Glad to hear it. Well, I will let you eat. I know you are probably fast running out of time. Don't forget to take your medicine."
"I will take it right now. Thank you again Alex. I love you."
"I love you too Casey."
Hanging up the phone Casey looks at the photo of Alex holding Caroline in the window at the beach. She loved that picture of them so much. You could see how much they both loved each other. Casey and Caroline were so fortunate to have Alex in their lives. She honestly didn't know where she would be without Alex.
Later that evening…
Casey had run into an issue in court that afternoon when her complaining witness had been torn apart practically on the stand. She left court and headed straight to the precinct to try and figure out something with the squad on finding more evidence she could use in court to crucify the defendant. The meeting quickly ended up with her practically begging Elliot for help which was a little humiliating. If tomorrow didn't go well in court then she would surely lose her case.
Arriving home after 8:30, Casey headed straight up to her and Alex's room. Finding her bedroom empty she walked down the hall to Caroline's room. Opening the door she found Alex asleep in the chair with a sleeping Caroline in her arms. Her heart ached with love for the blonde. Alex had clearly fallen asleep rocking and singing to Caroline.
Walking across the room, she picked her little girl up and carried her to bed tucking her in for the night. Then she turned back to the rocking chair and lightly pressed a kiss to Alex's cheek and whispered, "Baby, wake up it's time to go to bed" Alex opened her eyes with a start until she realized where she was and that it was Casey speaking to her. Smiling she stood and followed Casey out of the room.
In the hallway, Alex whispered to Casey, "Are you hungry? I still have some soup if you are?" Casey nodded yes and followed Alex down to the kitchen. Entering the kitchen Casey sat down at the table and while Alex quickly heated up the soup and made Casey some chamomile tea.
"Are you feeling any better?" Alex asked setting everything down in front of Casey.
Casey looked lovingly at Alex, "No, but I am super fortunate to have this gorgeous blonde girlfriend that spoils me and send me medicine and soup to work. Not to mention, when I come home even after she has had a long day she makes me soup and tea so I am sure I will be on the mend before I know it."
"Well, I am sure she does all of those things for you because she is crazy in love with you." Alex replies with a smile squeezing Casey's hand.
"Then I think we are both super lucky because I am crazy in love with you, I mean her too!" Casey replies with a small laugh and a cringe of pain.
"Aw babe, let me get you some Advil too. It really helped Care-bear. The doctor said after 24 hours on the antibiotic you both should feel better."
"God I hope so. Talking in court is about to kill me. I really hope you don't get this Alex."
"Honestly, I'd be shocked if I did. I use to get it nonstop as a child until they removed my super infected tonsils after that I haven't had it. My college roommate would get it but never me." Alex says returning with a glass of water and the Advil for Casey.
"I hope you are right."
"I hope I am too Casey. I would hate to be in your position. Strep throat and trying a case, ugh sounds miserable." Alex replies cringing.
"Wow Cabot, I love you too." Casey says shaking her head with a smile.
Friday night…
Alex sat in bed waiting on Casey to finish up with Caroline. Sure enough she had ended up with Strep throat at least she would be over it before Monday when her case went to trial. Watching Casey strut over to the bed she knew what she was about to hear from her girlfriend.
Climbing onto the bed and next to Alex, Casey says, "I won my case."
"You did? Wow, way to go counselor. I guess you have come to claim your victory sex then." Alex replies with a weak smile.
"I would love to say yes, but you do not look like you are in the mood." Casey answers honestly.
Rolling on her side to face Casey, Alex answers, "You would be right. Rain check? I will make it so worth your while."
"I am so on for that rain check. Honestly, I just want to take care of you like you took care of Caroline and me. No one deserves to be taken care of as much as you do Alex." Casey says running her fingers through Alex's hair.
"Thank you so much babe. If that's the case would you mind running me a bath?"
"My pleasure I will be right back baby." Casey says walking into the bathroom and starting the tub. Sitting on the edge she thought over the whole week. Alex truly had been amazing as usual. She still couldn't believe Alex put her case at risk to stay home and care for Caroline. It was the most amazing and selfless thing. Even John wouldn't have moved an elective surgery around to care for her or Caroline. Casey was seriously blessed to have Alex be a part of her life.