WARNING: ADULT CONTENT!
The Secret Life of the ADA Novak
By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters
Ch. 8: All Over Again
Casey had groaned at the unwelcome intrusion of her alarm that had broken her from her dreams that morning. She'd got ready quickly and asked Olivia to drop Ben at school, giving both of them a kiss before leaving. She went to work with the biggest smile people had seen in months, her arguments now consistent and strong. Lunch time quickly approached and she waiting in her office for Olivia.
Olivia had quickly showered and got Ben up to get dressed, having cereal on the table for him when he walked out. After he'd finished, she helped him with his coat and backpack before driving him to school and herself to work.
The morning was relatively slow. As noon approached, she went to grab Chinese for herself and Casey, knocking on her door.
"Come in," Casey called, looking up from her paperwork.
Olivia walked in, kicking the door shut and sitting in the chair opposite of Casey, setting the food on her desk. "How was court?"
"Good. You and Elliot ready to be called later?"
Olivia nodded. "If need be."
"You have to go, or I'll miss you."
"Go? Go where?"
"To court this afternoon. Besides, you'll get to see my closing argument, and I know how much you love my closing arguments."
Olivia smiled. "Yeah, I do. I love how everything comes together."
"Thanks for the food," Casey smiled, "My stomach's been aching all morning."
"Maybe you were just hungry," she said, setting it out.
"Or maybe you pulled one of my muscles last night," she smirked.
"Or that. It could be that," Olivia said with a smile.
Casey held Olivia's hand as they ate, then collected her notes. "You ready?" she asked.
Olivia nodded, kissing her cheek. "Absolutely. Lead the way, Counselor."
Casey smiled, rubbing her back a little. "You really have done something," she said softly, before they entered the court and Casey took her seat.
Olivia smiled, sitting behind Casey.
The case seemed to be dragging on forever, the defense calling witness after witness, and by the time mid afternoon came, Casey fanned herself with a file, her forehead sweaty.
Olivia smiled, handing her a small paper fan as the judge was talking to the defense attorney.
Casey gave a grateful smile, continuing to fan herself. Half an hour later, her chest was clammy too and she tried to focus on her witness. "Detective Stabler, what did t... the defendant d-do when you arrested him?" she stumbled.
"He asked why I was arresting him. He claimed he did nothing wrong," Elliot responded.
"Yet he'd already..." Casey took a deep breath, trying to remember her question.
"Miss Novak, are you feeling all right?" Judge Petrovsky asked.
Casey picked up her fan again. "Side bar, Your Honor?"
The judge nodded. "Approach."
"The People move for a continuance, on the grounds..." she said, catching her breath, still fanning herself, "... that I think I need a doctor."
The judge nodded as the gavel banged. "Continuance granted. Detective Stabler, you may step down."
Elliot and Olivia helped Casey back to her office, seating her on the couch. "Can I have some cold water?" she asked, lying back.
Olivia nodded. "Elliot, can you call Melinda while I do that?" she asked, taking Casey's jacket off of her and then going to get a glass of water.
He nodded, dialing her number, moving from the room when Olivia returned as he continued to speak to her. Casey took the glass from Olivia with shaky hands, sipping the water carefully.
Olivia sat beside her, making sure she didn't spill it.
Casey handed the glass back to her after a few minutes. "Sorry," she said softly.
The detective set the glass on the floor. "It's no trouble. As long as you get to feeling be—Oh no!" she groaned. "Casey, when was your last..."
Casey's eyes filled with panic. "No. Not again..."
Olivia held her tight. "Shh. I'm with you, remember? I'm not going away. You'll have help if it is that...ok?"
"I need to pick Ben up from school," Casey said, attempting to stand, wishing this wasn't happening.
"After we see Melinda," Olivia said.
"I can't do this again," Casey replied, making it to the desk, gripping the edge as she leant forward in pain.
Olivia wrapped her arms around her. "You'll have me. I'll make it ok. I promise."
"She'll be ten minutes," Elliot said, re-entering the room, "Anything I can get?"
Olivia handed him the empty cup.
Elliot nodded, disappearing for water as Casey paced the room uncomfortably, still doing the same when Melinda arrived.
Olivia stood, walking over. "Come sit with me?"
Casey looked at her skeptically, then followed her to couch, sitting down slowly. "I'm... fine, really."
Olivia offered her hand, leaning by her ear. "Just nod or shake your head. Is the answer to my previous question 5 months?"
Casey nodded slowly, looking at the floor as Melinda checked Casey's blood pressure.
Olivia got up, closing the door before sitting back beside her, holding her hand. "Casey, then we should..."
"Should what?" Casey asked.
Melinda now finished all her vitals waiting for Casey's consent to examine her.
Olivia sighed. "Melinda, we need another test done..."
"Sure. What do you need?"
Olivia gently rested her hand over Casey's belly. "In truth, she, uh, it's been 5 months since..."
Melinda nodded, handing Olivia a pregnancy test for Casey.
Olivia handed it to Casey, as well as the full glass of water. "Casey."
Casey shook her head. "I don't want..." she managed before sitting forward, rubbing the pain in her back.
Olivia rubbed her back. "Casey, you need to take this, so you need to drink water."
Casey sighed heavily, slowly drinking the water before picking up the test, excusing herself.
Olivia sighed again, rubbing her face. "Well, isn't this unfortunate?"
Melinda nodded. "But it does happen. You know that better than anyone."
Olivia nodded, pulling out her phone, scrolling through the pictures until she came to one of Casey and Ben, handing it to Melinda. "Guess who?"
"She's got a son?"
Olivia nodded. "His name is Ben. He turned 7 a few months ago, but the irony is guess who the dad is?"
"No..." Melinda said, a little shocked, "If she is, we need to get her to the hospital because she's showing all the signs of premature labor. She'll need monitoring, not to mention a psychiatric consultation."
"Whoa! Wait! What is? How?"
"You said five months? Premature labor can occur at any point during pregnancy. I spoke to Elliot. Casey's clammy, irritable, has lower back pain as well as abdominal pain..."
"Then should we wait for her to come back or go get her now?"
As the words left Olivia's lips, Casey returned sitting uncomfortably, handing the test back to Melinda.
Olivia held her close.
Casey rested her head on Olivia's shoulder. "It's really hot in here."
Olivia grabbed a cloth, wet it in the leftover water and dabbed at her face. "Well, Melinda?"
Melinda nodded. "We really need to get going as soon as possible."
"Going where?"
Olivia helped her up, carrying her out. "We'll take my car. Unless you recommend an ambulance?"
"You'll probably get there quicker," Melinda said, following them closely.
Olivia nodded. "Should I be in back with her or should I drive?"
"If you drive I can try and ask more questions?" Melinda suggested.
"What's going on?" Casey asked.
"But she'd be more comfortable with me beside her, though if worse came to worse..." Olivia laid Casey in the backseat, getting in the driver's. "It's going to be ok Casey."
"You said if I waited for Melinda we could get Ben from school. I just want to go home."
"You can't go home, sweetie. You're in premature labor. I'll call your parents to pick up Ben," Olivia said.
"What? No, I can't be."
Melinda nodded. "This can happen anytime, but you need to go to the hospital."
Casey looked between them then nodded.
Olivia sighed. "It's going to be ok," she said, calling Casey's mother to pick up Ben from school.
It took a long time for Casey to allow anyone to examine her enough to make sure things were ok. They administered a series of drugs via an IV line at the hospital, then left the room to get a scanner.
Olivia sat beside her, holding her hand. "Just relax..."
"How can I when things are happening to my body that I don't want?"
The detective nodded. "But you didn't know. It wasn't your fault."
"I was just starting to get my life back and feel normal again."
"Yeah I know, sweetie, but it's going to be ok. I promise I'm staying here."
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