Mary's Note: Thank you so much for all your reviews! The more detailed reviews I get, the more motivated I am to write!

Memorial Hospital, Room 12

Manhattan

Tuesday, October 16

Chester Lake threw another card into the toilet pan.

Couldn't just leave it alone, could you? He thought bitterly. No you had to have some of that pizza didn't you?

Now he was stuck in this hospital and Detective Lake hated hospitals. He visited them too often in his youth. All he wanted to do now was leave.

"Good, you're awake,"

Chester looked up to see Casey Novak enter the door holding a shopping bag.

Chester was beyond surprised to see the ADA in his hospital room; in fact he was rather embarrassed. All he was wearing was a light hospital gown. Quickly, Chester covered himself up with the sheets; hoping Casey didn't notice.

Casey smothered a chuckled as she walked in. "I thought for sure you would be asleep," she stated.

Why the hell would I be asleep? Chester thought to himself. As though Casey could read his mind she added:

"I thought those pain medications would have knocked you out."

"Nope, they just make me fell like hell," Chester grumbled. "I'm surprised you're here, though."

Casey looked taken back, and Chester immediately regretted his last sentence. Just because he felt like hell didn't mean that he had to take it out on Casey.

Casey forced herself to smile, reminding herself that his comment was well justified. After all, she had broken the relationship, not him. "Actually, I wanted to make sure that you got some proper food," Casey replied. She reached into her shopping bag and handed Chester a plastic box. After the day he had, Chester was hesitated to open it.

"Don't worry….it's safe, I promise," Casey reassured him softly. Chester's face became red, embarrassed that Casey could see through him so easily. Chester opened it up quickly to reveal pasta….the same type of pasta he had on their first (and last) date.

The first time that day, Chester forgot that he was in the hospital. "Hey, thanks!" Chester said with a smile.

"My pleasure," Casey replied.

For a minute, both were silence.

Casey then cleared her throat and said: "Well I better go. I have some paper work to finish up."

Chester nodded, sad to see her go.

"Okay. Thanks again, Casey. It was good to see you."

Casey nodded. Should she tell him that when she heard he was in the hospital, she almost collapsed? Or that she ended their relationship only out of fear and had regretted it everyday since then? Instead, Casey just replied: "I'm glad you are okay."

With that, she left the room in haste, never looking back.

District Attorney's Office

Tuesday October 23

Manhattan

11 Pm

Casey looked at the bunch of notes scattered on her desk. At the moment, the case against Cecilia Strayer was all a blur. She couldn't understand what power Robert Morton had over Cecilia or the rest of his devoted admires. Because of him, Tina Snow was dead and Chester could have been next. Casey shuddered at the thought of Chester laying in the morgue. To make things worse, Casey knew that she needed Morton to win her case.

"Working late again, huh?"

Casey turned around to see Chester at the door, holding two cups of coffee. Even if the marks that still covered his face became scars, Casey knew she would always consider Chester extremely attractive.

Casey smiled. "I'm always working late these days," She said.

"I know. That is why I decided to return the favor from last week." Chester put the coffees on the table.

Casey grinned. During the last week, Chester had become friendlier towards her. Even if they couldn't have a relationship, Casey was thrilled to have him as a friend.

"Thanks. You didn't have to do this," She said softly.

"I know." Chester replied. "But I wanted to." He glanced over at the pieces of paper strewn a crossed Casey's desk. "Besides, how else are you going to be able to stay awake?"

Casey chuckled. "Good point."

"I heard you got beat in court today."

Casey nodded. "Yeah. The defense is doing a great job trying to portray Celia as the victim." She motioned for Chester to sit down.

"So what are you going to do?" Chester asked as he pulled a chair out, sitting a cross from her.

"I'm going to get Robert Morton to testify. "

Chester whistled. "How on earth were you able to convince him? He is serving eight life sentences. It's not like a subpoena would scare him."

"I agreed to move him to a federal prison."

Chester's eye's widened.

"I didn't have a choice!" Casey protested.

"I know you didn't," Chester replied softly. Without thinking, he grabbed Casey's hands into his own. Chester wasn't trying to make a move on the troubled ADA; rather Chester just wanted to comfort Casey, and make her feel safe

"That is why Branch put you in this office," Chester continued, never letting his dark eyes' drift away from Casey's green eyes.

"You are the only one strong enough to make the right decisions."

Casey stared at his eyes, completely speechless. She couldn't remember the last time she received such a warm compliment.

"I'm….I'm trying to find a loophole." Casey sputtered. Despite Chester's rough hands, they felt warm against her soft, pale fingers and palms. It made her feel safe and secure, as though nothing else in the world mattered.

"And I have no doubt in my mind that you will." Chester replied. All of the sudden, Casey wanted to tell Chester everything; her relationship with Charlie, the reason she broke it off with Chester, the whole story. "Chester," Casey rasped.

All of the sudden, Chester's phone started to vibrated. Sighing, Chester dropped his hands and checked his phone. Quickly, he read the text message, and cursed.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but Fin needs me at a crime scene."

"Oh, okay," Casey said softly as Chester stood up. He raised his eye brown's slightly. Was that disappointed that he heard in her voice?

Chester's hand was at the door when Casey said: "Chester wait!"

Chester turned around.

"Um…Thanks for the coffee."

Chester hid his disappointed with a smile. "Trust me, Miss Novak, this time the pleasure was all mine." With that, he closed the door, leaving Casey more depressed than ever.

Am I portraying the character's personalities right? If you have any suggestions, let me know! Next up will take place after "Blinded" or after "Signature."