Author's Note: Finally had some time to write more! I just hope I didn't make any spelling or grammar mistakes! Thanks for all your help with the episode "Svengali."

Manhattan Morgue

Saturday, May 18

Casey barely paid attention to what the coroner was saying. All she knew was the homeless dirty ragged corpse laying on the slab was the man she was suppose to married only five years before. Casey insisted that she call Charlie's family. To no surprise they blamed her for his death.

"Why couldn't you convince Charlie to get help?" His mother had screamed.

Casey couldn't help but wonder if she was right. So many questions filled her head. Should she have tried to convince Charlie to get help? Did Charlie try to contact her when she was with Chester? Casey was positive that she heard her phone ring before she left the office. Could it have been him? Of course Charlie could have tried her cell….but the last time Casey saw him Charlie tried to throw out her cell phone. Apparently Charlie was convinced that 'spies' were tapping her cell. After leaving the morgue, Casey found herself walking the dark streets of Manhattan idly. She barely paid attention to where she was going.

As dawn approached, Casey found herself at the District Attorney Office. Being it was Saturday, Casey knew that not many people would be there….which would be ideal for her.

As Casey entered her office, she was surprised to see a note on her desk with a plain bagel, laying on a long steamed rose. Casey picked up the note.

"Judging by last night's call, I figured you had to work today too. Wanted to make sure you got some breakfast in. I'm down at the precinct, finishing up some paper work. Stop by and we can get some coffee. Hope you like the bagel!"

-Chester

Casey looked at the rose and bagel; she felt like she was going to throw up. Chester's kind gesture reminded her of one of her last dates with Charlie. He had recently been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Unlike their friends and families, Casey was ready to stand by Charlie when he refused to be admitted into a mental ward. After coming home from a hard day at work, Charlie surprised his fiancée that night with diner…and a long stem rose, very similar to the one Chester had just left her. .

Even now, years later, Casey could still remember what Charlie said to her that night:

"I can do this, Casey. I can beat this. I just need you. Always be there with me, Cas. Together, we can beat this."

Of course Casey had agreed at the time. Yet things got worse. Charlie lost his job and his Schizophrenia became worse. Soon he barely even trusted Casey. Then one night, Charlie went crazy. Casey came home late and Charlie accused her of being unfaithful. He started to throw the furniture around the room. Casey had tried to calm Charlie down with no avail. The nose became so loud, that the neighbors called the police. Although Casey was able to persuade the cops not to file a report, Casey felt she had no choice but to kick her fiancé out.

"I knew it! You betrayed me! You never loved me! You're with him! You screwed him and now you're pregnant with his baby, aren't you?" Charlie had screamed as Casey pushed him out the door, sobbing. It was the last time Casey saw Charlie alive. Casey crumbled the letter onto the floor and threw in into the trash can. In a way, Charlie was right: she had betrayed him. If only she had forced him to get help like his family wanted, maybe he would still be alive…and healthy. Instead she had given up on him.

She started to crumble and felled to the floor, crying hysterically for the man she once knew, and the chance she would never have with Charlie…or with any other man again.

16th Precinct

One hour long shower, two aspirins and a pound of make-up later, Casey Novak walked into the 16th Precinct. Casey couldn't remember the last time she was so nervous to walk into the familiar squad room. She was more nervous now then she was on her first day assigned to SVU. As tempted as she was to confront Lake on the phone, Casey knew Chester deserved better.

Looking around, Casey realized that it was only the skeleton crew on duty. She was thankfully that the other cops weren't in sight. Casey was sure that Chester's fellow detectives would tell something was brothering her…despite the pound of make-up she applied on earlier.

"Casey!" Casey turned her head to see a smiling Chester walking towards her. Casey took a deep breath, "Here goes nothing," she thought. Forcing herself to smile, Casey said: "Hey Chester."

"I take it you got my note."

Casey could only node.

"Did you like the bagel?" Chester had spent almost twenty minutes debating what to buy such a gorgeous girl for breakfast. He had considered buying her some yogurt because it appeared last night that Casey definitely ate light. Yet getting a woman a fat free yogurt might be a better choice. Agreeing, Chester got one. Being that the line behind him had gotten very long, Chester was sure the clerk was all too happy to see him go.

"It was great," Casey mumbled.

"I'm glad," Chester replied. "How about we go for that coffee?"

"Chester…" Casey sighed. She knew that if she didn't tell him now, she would lose her nerve.

Chester's eye browns started to crease. He looked at Casey's worried face. What was wrong? Could it have to do with last night's phone call?

"What's wrong?" Chester asked gently, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Despite the fact that Casey was wearing a black jacket over her red blouse, she could still feel a shiver go through her body as soon as Chester's strong hand touched her. Casey looked around and realized that she couldn't do it…not here anyway. Although most of Chester's colleagues were probably still sleeping at home, Casey couldn't find the right words to express her feelings in the middle of the room, especially with Chester's strong hand sending hot waves through her body.

"Can we go someplace quiet?" Casey whispered as she gently tried to shake Chester's hand off her shoulder.

Chester frowned. What was up with Casey? Did she not want him to show her a little public affection? Or was it because of what he was. "Come on, Chester," he thought to himself. "You are starting to sound like a paranoid teenage girl!"

Chester chuckled at the thought and answered:

"Well there is an interrogation room open."

"I'll take it," Casey answered quickly.

Chester led her down the hall to the open room. Closing the door behind them, Chester turned to Casey, crossing his arms as through he was about to integrate a suspect.

"Now, what is this about?" He asked with a grin.

Again, Casey sighed and sat down. This simple task was becoming too draining.

"I can't do this Chester." She whispered.

Chester's smiled vanished instantly.

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean this," Casey continued, gesturing with her hands. "You…me…it can't happen."

Chester's heart felt like it dropped 13 stories down.

"I knew it!" He thought to himself. "Casey Novak can't stand being around a Native American orphan!" Even though it made sense, Chester had seen Casey in court, and she was anything but a racist. Still after supposedly having a great time last night, why would Casey suddenly change her mind the morning after?

Casey could tell that Chester was in deep thought. She felt like a bitch. Couldn't she have broken up with him in a nicer way? The old 'it's not you, it's me,' approached might have worked better. Casey was about to say something else but Chester beat her to the punch.

"It is okay Casey." Chester forced himself to put a smile on his face. "I understand."

Casey looked puzzle. "Are you sure…you're all right?"

"Besides breaking my heart? Yeah I'm peachy, Casey!" Chester thought bitterly. Instead he scoffed as though nothing could be better.

"I'm fine Casey," he said, waving his hand. "It's no big deal."

No big deal. Casey pondered on that sentence. Their night together was no big deal. But it was a big deal…to her anyway.

"So…we're okay now?"

"Of course." Chester opened the door, obviously motioning her to use it.

Casey stood up and walk towards the door.

"So…I'll see you around?"

"You know where to find me." And that was that.

Casey barely got to the street when the tears started to flow. She dropped her purse and practically collapsed on the sidewalk. Her chance of happiness was now gone. Yet Casey knew that there could never be another. After with what happened to Charlie, going through the same pain again would definitely kill her.

Just to let you know, I purposely spelled Casey above as 'Cas'. to indicate that it was a nick name that Charlie gave her. "Svengali" is re-airing tomorrow night so I hope to watch it and have another chapter up this weekend. BTW, in "Fight," Chester said his cousin took the blame for a crime he committed. What did Chester do? I don't recall. Thanks again for all the reviews! The more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to write!