The Secret Life of the ADA Novak

By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters

Ch. 6: Birthday Cuddles

Casey nodded, taking several deep breaths outside her door, before turning the key in the lock. Entering the familiar surroundings, she felt more comfortable. It was still early so she expected Ben to be sleeping.

Olivia walked in behind her, closing the door quietly. "To bed?" she whispered.

"I need to check on Ben."

The detective nodded. "Do you want me to come with or wait here?"

"You can come with me if you like," Casey said, walking towards his bedroom. She watched him from the doorway for a couple of minutes before entering, perching on the edge of his bed. She reached a shaky hand to stroke his forehead. "Mummy's home," she whispered.

His green eyes opened sleepily. "Mommy?" he asked, holding her hand. "You were gone a really long time."

Olivia stayed in the light of his window.

"I know, and I promise never to go away again. I promised I'd be back for our lunch date," she smiled.

He smiled, sitting up and hugging her. "I missed you, Mommy."

"I missed you too. So, so much," Casey replied, hugging him tightly.

"Me too, Mommy," he said, noticing Olivia. "Hi Olivia. Did you bring Mommy home?"

Olivia smiled, walking over and ruffling his red mop. "Yes I did, bud."

"Thank you," he smiled, standing to race from the room, "Mommy wait there!"

Olivia sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "Do you mind if I stay here to make sure you're ok for a few days?"

"It's ok," Casey replied as Ben rushed back in with a present and Casey gave a confused expression.

Olivia removed her arm. "What's this?"

"Happy birthday, Mommy," he smiled proudly as Casey quickly pulled him into a tight hug, a single tear running down her cheek.

Olivia smiled, wrapping an arm around Casey again. "Yes, happy birthday. Why don't you open it?"

Casey nodded, wiping her cheek as she opened the box carefully.

Olivia looked in it.

"I made it myself," Ben said proudly.

"I can see," Casey smiled, looking at the photo frame he'd decorated with Casey's favorite photo of the two of them at the beach in it, "I love it. Thank you."

He smiled, hugging her again. "Grandma said you'd like it. I think she wants one for her birthday. Will you help me make one?"

"Of course," Casey smiled, "It's still early, and I haven't had any sleep, so why don't you get some more sleep and come find me when you wake up again?"

He nodded, scrambling back under the covers. "I love you, Mommy."

She gently kissed his forehead. "I love you millions," she smiled, before leaving the room. She pulled the door to and felt herself crumble.

Olivia held her, gently. "Come on, let's get you to bed, ok?"

Casey nodded, laying down in bed as soon as they got there. She ached all over and was too tired to change. "Stay," she said weakly.

Olivia nodded. "Don't you want to change? I'll help you."

Casey looked at her hands, then her arms at the patches of blood. "I need to shower."

"You..could have a bath? I could help you."

Casey thought for a moment before nodding, allowing Olivia to run a bath, asking her to leave so she could get undressed. When she'd stepped in the bubbly water, she called out to Olivia once again.

Olivia walked in. "Hi," she said with a smile, slowly stripping her clothes. "Can I sit behind you?"

Casey nodded, sliding forward.

Olivia carefully sat behind her, pulling her back into her lap. She grabbed a washcloth and wet it. "Where first? Your pretty face?"

"Please don't compliment me. I'm far from pretty right now."

Olivia shook her head. "Ok, but I'll always think you're pretty, no matter what."

Casey found Olivia was extremely gentle, only tensing when she reached certain points, allowing Casey to take over. When they were finished, Casey dried herself, allowing Olivia to dress her and help her back to bed. "Will you lay with me?"

Olivia nodded, turning down the covers as she laid in bed, opening her arms for Casey. "I'll lay with you all day and all night."

Casey moved into her arms carefully, falling asleep almost instantly, physically and emotionally exhausted.

It was an hour before Olivia's phone vibrated in her pocket as it rang.

Sighing, Olivia crept from bed, answering. "Benson."

"It's Cragen. We need Casey in again."

She sighed. "Now? We just got here..."

"We can come to you?"

She walked into the bathroom, closing the door. "What's going on?"

"Statement discrepancy."

"Because...?"

"He's admitting the rape on Casey. But he tells a slightly different story so we just need to double check what Casey's told us, that's all. We'll be there in half an hour."

Olivia nodded. "All right." She hung up, walking back out, sitting beside her. "Casey?"

She stirred slowly, then looked up at Olivia. "What's wrong?"

Olivia sighed, repeating what she'd been told.

Casey gave a heavy sigh, letting Olivia help her to the living room. Half an hour later there was a knock.

Olivia answered it.

"Sorry to intrude, Casey, we know you must be tired," Cragen said, sitting opposite as Elliot stood with Olivia. Casey gave a nod before he continued. "Garcia has admitted to everything that happened, but we just need to sort out a minor discrepancy. You said in your statement that he grabbed you and placed his hand over your mouth, then took you to the basement. He says he grabbed you, placed his hand over your mouth, gave you a choice in the corridor and then took you to the basement. Which is it Casey?"

"I... I... He..." Casey stammered.

Olivia walked over, sitting in front of her. "I know you don't want to think about this anymore tonight, but we just need this little detail. Try and think. Take a few minutes ok?"

"We stepped into the corridor. He said..." Casey managed, before Ben called out for her from the doorway then ran over to her and she wrapped him in her arms tightly, "Go through to Mommy's room, I'll be there in a few minutes. I just need to finish talking to Elliot and Cragen. Hmm?"

Elliot smiled. "He's cute."

Ben nodded, running back into her room.

"Thanks. His name's Ben. He'll be seven in a few months. Ben would say his favorite thing is cuddles with his mother on a Saturday morning," Casey smiled. Ben was her favorite subject, her pride coming through.

He smiled.

Olivia nodded. "We need that information, Casey."

Casey sighed. "He said I could choose. Happy now?"

Cragen nodded. "Yes."

Elliot sighed. "Does he have a father?"

"Not one that's involved and I don't want Garcia to be, alright?" Casey said with a heavy sigh as she stood, not realizing what she'd revealed.

Olivia nodded. "All right. Go back to Ben. I'll be there in a few minutes to check things out."

Casey nodded, moving to the living room door before turning around. "He asked me to pick whether it was Olivia or me he took to the basement," she said softly, before leaving to be with Ben.

Olivia nodded, sitting beside Cragen. "I should've known he was the father by how she explained what happened. But, technically, since he's 6, that statute of limitations has run out."

"But he doesn't know that. And we could use it to establish pattern."

Olivia nodded. "Is there a chance of keeping him a secret though, once this gets out? I know Casey doesn't want many to know, including Ben."

"We can try. The only other problem is, although he's pleading guilty to Casey's rape, he's still saying he didn't commit the others, so it may go to trial and Casey may need to give evidence."

"Evidence meaning...Ben?"

"Possibly. Branch is going to see if he can swing it for Donnelly to get the case. We figured Casey would be more comfortable."

Olivia nodded. "Ok, but let's say she does. Ben shouldn't know anything about this. I'm sure Casey's never told him. He's too young."

"We'll protect him unless it's absolutely necessary. We'd better let you check on them. I'll call you."

Olivia nodded again. "Thanks," she said, walking back to the bedroom. "Hey, you guys ok?"

Casey gave a small nod, a few tears running down her cheeks as she held Ben close, reaching a hand for Olivia.

Olivia slid into bed on her other side, holding her close. "Shh, it's ok now."

Casey slowly relaxed enough to sleep.

Ben looked up at Olivia when he knew Casey was asleep. "What happened to Mommy's face?"

Olivia woke to his voice. "She fell on a sharp rock, buddy. She'll be ok," she said, rubbing his back, "just sleep."

He nodded, putting his head back down, stroking Casey's cheek until he fell asleep.

Olivia smiled, leaning over and kissing his head before moving back and kissing Casey's lips softly. "I love you, Case," she whispered in her ear.

REVIEWS: tummer22 & TKR.87