A/N: I love this chapter! Thank you for your reviews!

The next morning, Casey arrived twenty minutes late to work. She hadn't meant to be late, but she and Alex had decided to shower together which had proved to be very pleasurable but very bad for her timeliness. Thinking about it caused her to blush immensely.

On her way to work she'd called her secretary to have her set an appointment with Branch. The appointment was arranged for 10am so Casey still had plenty of time to prepare. Casey was eager to get off Alex's case and hoped the meeting would go smoothly. She didn't want to be accused of impropriety be any means.

As 10am neared she was becoming just a tad nervous. She didn't know Arthur Branch all that well, and even though she thought highly of him, she was concerned he would be unhappy about her getting involved with Alex again while working on the case. The last thing she wanted to do was lessen her reputation as a prosecutor. She had worked so hard to get to where she was and she didn't want to lose it by any means.

At 9:55 she headed to Branch's office. As she arrived his secretary told her she could go on in. Walking in the door, she knocked lightly on the door to announce her presence.

"Casey, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Branch called out with his southern accent.

"Arthur, I need to recuse myself from the Cabot Vineyards case." Casey said confidently.

Arthur sat back in his seat, "Oh, why is that?"

Casey looked at him a little confused, then began, "Well, you know that Alex Cabot is my stepsister..."

"Excuse me?" Branch questions sitting up straight in his chair.

"Alex Cabot is my stepsister." Casey repeats hesitantly.

Frowning Branch replies, "I did not know that Casey. Please explain to me why you decided to even join the case since you know that is in direct conflict?"

Casey was suddenly speechless at this knowledge. "I-I tried to excuse myself from the start sir, but I was informed you were already aware of my history with Alex, and said it was fine for me to proceed because she was not the one under investigation." She admits.

Shaking his head, Branch says, "This is really bad for us Casey. The investigators found more damning information over the weekend that implicates Alex having involvement. You are off the case effective immediately. You are also on leave starting now until the case is closed out. Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

Casey bites her lip, it's a nervous habit. Quietly she says, "Alex and I are in a relationship, a romantic one."

"You have got to be kidding me. Casey, I thought you were smarter than this! I mean why don't you just burn the office down?" Branch says with a stern raised voice. Taking a breath to steady himself he restarts, "You are finished in White Collar. Once this case is closed out I will personally decide what unit you will be working in."

Casey hangs her head. She doesn't know what to say and she truthfully is afraid she is going to cry if she speaks at all. Finally she manages to say, "Yes sir." Turning around she quickly moves to leave the office.

"Novak," Branch calls out as Casey reaches the door, "If I find out you were involved in any of fraud or in trying to cover it up I will make sure you never practice law again." Casey nods and leaves.

Arthur Branch picks up his phone and places a call. "Carmichael, in my office now." He says before hanging up. He didn't know what exactly had been going through the brunette's head allowing Casey Novak to remain on the case, but he was going to find out exactly what had gone on before he made any more decisions.


Alex reaches her apartment and immediately unlocks the door. Once inside she calls out, "Casey?" Hearing nothing in return she begins to nervously make her way through the darkened apartment.

About an hour earlier she had received a call from her friend Kim informing her of Casey being put on leave. Alex had a good feeling she knew why that was and quickly arranged to work from home for the next week at least. She just sincerely hoped Casey hadn't left.

Not finding Casey in the bedrooms or office, Alex makes her way to the living room. Alex again calls out, "Casey?" Suddenly she sees the redhead sit up sleepily on the couch. Rubbing her eyes Casey looks at Alex. Alex can tell Casey has been crying and figures she must have cried herself to sleep.

Quickly she makes her way around the sectional and takes Casey into her arms, "Oh Casey, I am so sorry. Are you okay? I left as soon as I heard."

Nodding Casey tearfully she says, "Yes," although Alex knows it's a lie. Holding Casey tight Alex says, "Casey, I promise I will do anything in my power to fix this..."

Pushing off the couch Casey paces the room, "How do you expect to fix this Alexandra? You are directly involved in the fraud, at least that's what they think. So really what do you expect to do? Oh and how well DO you know Abbie Carmichael?"

Alex sighs and lays back into the couch, "To begin, I never knew about the fraud and call it hubris if you want but I firmly believe I will be cleared of all charges. Next, yes, I admit I know Abbie better than I let on and way more than she ever told you. She is my best friend Kim's wife, although, Carmichael and I are not friends. She hasn't ever really liked me and she says and I quote, 'you are no fun Alex you are such an Ice Queen.' Anyway, Kim and I met while at Columbia. Kim knows the whole story of you and I and once she realized you were my Casey she and Abbie concocted the plan to reunite you and me. However, I personally think it was more Kim's plan."

Standing and crossing the room to hold Casey in her arms Alex looks deep into Casey's eyes. "As for fixing this, I will do whatever it takes. Even if it means going to jail, selling the company in whole, or moving across the country with you so you can restart your career. I would do any of those things if they help you. Never doubt my love for you Casey, because I intend to show you in every way possible that you are everything to me, even if it means spending my life in a jail cell."

"Your friends' stunt may have cost me my career Alex. I don't doubt you Alex. I believe that you weren't involved and that you will try everything to protect me. I am just stressed and I took it out on you." Casey says falling deep into Alex's embrace.

"Listen, why don't you let me make lunch for us and then we can snuggle on the couch." Alex suggests. Casey nods and follows Alex into the kitchen.

Soon despite the stress in their lives, the Alex and Casey are lying on the couch laughing in each other's arms. Alex smiles thinking the last time this apartment heard this much laughter was the night of that Fourth. She hoped it would last forever now.

Brushing a lock of red hair from Casey's eyes, Alex whispers, "Want to know a secret?" Casey smiles bright and whispers back, "Yes."

"I love your green eyes. They are so amazing to look into. The intensity of the color is always changing. Some days they are light and other days they are dark, it's like they change with your emotions." Alex says intensely staring into the redhead's eyes.

Casey smiles and asks, "So what are they telling you right now?"

"Right now they are telling me that you are happy but sad. I am thrilled that you are happy, but I am hurting because you are sad and I can't make it go away right now." Alex answers while pulling Casey a little closer.

"Well," Casey begins, "You are right. Although, don't feel bad. I will feel better soon enough. Let's just focus on the positives, we are together and we pretty much get to spend the next week together."

"Ever the optimist!"

Casey laughs at Alex, "I try baby, I try."


The next morning, Alex decides she wants to go for a run in the park. Kissing Casey awake she whispers, "Wake up sleepy head, I want to go for a run."

Groaning Casey replies, "Then go by yourself, I want to sleep."

"But Ca-a-se-ey!" Alex whines bouncing up and down in bed. Rolling over Casey looks up at the blonde and sighs, "You keep me up all night long and now you want me to crawl out of our nice warm comfortable bed put on running clothes and sneakers and go running with you in the cold at what 8am?"

Alex kisses Casey lightly and smiles, "It's 7am, and yes I do!"'

"Oh A-lex, no!" Casey replies covering her head with a pillow. Yanking the pillow off her head Alex says, "Come on Casey it feels amazing to run in the morning. I promise if you don't have fun we never have to do it again."

Getting no response, Alex begins to beg, "Please Casey, please Casey come with me. Please!"

"Fine I will, but you will be buying me breakfast on the way home." Casey groaned while climbing out of bed.

"Yes!" Alex exclaims, "This is going to be so much fun! I promise you will have the best time ever."

"Why are you so cheery in the morning?" Casey asks pulling on her sneakers. "I think it is inhuman to be so happy without any coffee. Wait did you made coffee?" Casey asks looking up bright eyed.

"I will run and make you some right now!" Alex says finishing lacing up her sneakers.

After coffee the two women head downstairs and across the street to the park. Alex leads the way through the park and even though Casey hasn't worked out over the last few months she feels more than able to keep up with her blonde girlfriend. After running for an hour they head towards a bagel shop. Walking out with a bag of bagels and coffee they start making their way home. As they get closer and closer to a magazine stand they notice people staring at them.

"I've got a bad feeling Casey." Alex says as they near the stand.

"What about?" Casey asks looking towards Alex who has her eyes locked on the papers. Suddenly Alex pales and her jaw drops. Casey turns to see what has upset the blonde so much and freezes.

Every paper and tabloid it seems has their face on it. Every issue that does reads, "Corrupt CEO & DA, Stepsisters in Love!" Casey laughs a little and Alex turns to her in shock. "Casey, what do you think is funny about this?" Alex whispers.

"I am not the DA, I am an ADA. You would think they would check their sources better." Casey says still chuckling. Alex can't help but join her. She doesn't really find any of it too funny but Casey's laughter naturally causes her to crack up.

Buying a few copies they continue to walk back to their apartment. "Well, at least they picked good pictures of us." Alex says trying to find a positive in all of this nonsense. "To bad they didn't have one of us together." Casey says with a frown.

"Are you seriously not bothered that we are on the cover of a freaking tabloid Casey?" Alex asks incredulously.

"While I am not thrilled about my career circling the drain I am thrilled about being with you finally. So Alex, I am choosing to take all of this with one giant boulder of salt." Casey says with a smirk.

"Oh, okay, good. I was a little worried I was going to have to have you committed for insanity or something." Alex replies with a laugh.

Turning the corner to their apartment complex entrance they see numerous reporters in front of the door. "Oh my God," Alex says as Casey keeps walking right on up to the door. Turning around Casey yells, "Alex, are you coming?"

Quickly Alex runs to keep up. Trying to push past the reporters Alex keeps saying no comment to every question. Finally Alex can't take the nonsense another minute. No one will move and all she wants is for them to leave her alone and get out of their way. Looking at Casey who is fighting off her own barrage of reporters she yells, "Casey!"

Casey stops and looks back at her making eye contact. Looking in the blondes eyes, Casey smiles. She knows what Alex is thinking. So when the blonde walks briskly up to her and takes her in her arms she is completely aware for the amazing kiss that follows.

Breaking the kiss, Casey smiles as she and the blonde are still face to face. "So now who needs to be committed?" Casey says softly kissing Alex again as the reporters take all the pictures they want.