An Honest Choice

Title: An Honest Choice
Author: Rosie Cruz
Pairing: Casey/Olivia
Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC. I just like to play with them. The story however is purely a creation of my imagination.

2007 © ROBC. The characters of Olivia Benson, Casey Novak, Elliot Stabler, John Munch, Fin, Cragen and Kathy Stabler belong to Dick Wolf and NBC. The story however is mine. All rights reserved. Copies of this may be printed for personal use only. No part of this story may be reproduced or reused for any other purpose without prior written permission.

Chapter 10

When Kate and Jordan said their goodbyes the next morning, Kate told Casey that she could count on Josh to "check in on her". Casey had laughed at that. She hardly knew him. He was always fun, but it was ridiculous to think he would "check in on her" as Kate put it. She thought it was a joke, but Josh did not disappoint and over the next couple of weeks he and Casey became close. He was no substitute for Kate, but in his own way he had been helpful. Unfortunately, he called her today to tell her that he was on call and could not make the gang's weekly Friday night bar bash which he had happily joined for the last two weeks. She had to admit it was great having him there. She could now go to O'Malley's and not feel panicked. She had even worked up the nerve to sit with the guys when she went, even with Olivia there. She never would have stayed if Alex had shown up, but she had yet to see Alex there.

Josh was a good guy and she knew she would miss him once his fiancé came home. She didn't mind. That's the way it should be. She would miss him tonight though. She briefly considered skipping O'Malley's and going straight home. After all it wasn't a requirement that she go to O'Malley's on Friday nights.

A knock made her look up from the papers she was trying to organize before packing her things for the night.

"Hey there," said Elliot as he walked in.

She smiled at him.

"You coming to O'Malley's?" he asked.

She blinked. "I don't know. I was thinking about it. Josh won't be there though."

Elliot took a seat across from her.

"That's too bad. He seems like a nice guy."

She finished the pile of papers she had been working on and turned to lock them in her file drawer.

"Yeah he's fun," she said as she shoved the files in and locked the drawer.

"So what will it take for you to come? And don't give me that, if Josh isn't coming, I won't come. I won't accept that. I don't take it from my kids and I won't take it from you." He smiled again.

"Will, um…Alex be there?" She looked up at him, all traces of humor gone from her face.

"No, I don't think so. You know she doesn't come out with us. It's not her thing."

His feet somehow found themselves perched on her desk as he continued to stare at her.

"Besides," he continued, "I think most people would prefer your company to hers."

"Not everyone."

She tried to smile as she said that, but it came out looking more pained than she intended and she knew it.

"I don't know about that," he responded. "I wonder sometimes."

He eyed her trying to gauge her response, but she immediately averted her eyes; suddenly searching for her bag seemed of the utmost importance. He maintained his seated position.

"Casey"

"Yeah, I'm ready. Look I'll go for a drink okay, but can't promise more than that."

"Casey"

"What? I'm ready!" she said her bag hefted over her shoulder as she stood by the door.

He debated whether to maintain his position and ask her the question he wanted to ask or risk her not showing up at O'Malley's by doing it on the walk over. Fuck it. He removed his feet from her desk and stood.

"Okay, here we go," he said as he held the door open for her.

They engaged in some miscellaneous small talk about cases as they walked to the elevator. It was late and while there were still people milling about they were the only two people on the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, he turned to face her.

"Casey I would never get in your business, but as the honorary big brother here it's my duty to…"

"What?" She tried to sound incredulous, but knew she had failed. It was funny and endearing and ultimately sweet that he saw himself as her big brother. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to laugh, but knew he wasn't kidding or teasing, he was being serious.

"You know you're like a sister to me. I take that very seriously."

"Thank you, Elliot. I…appreciate it."

His faced remained serious as the elevator doors opened. They made it out the front doors, before he continued the conversation.

"As I was saying, as your big brother, I need to know if you're…" he hesitated for a few seconds. "If you and Josh are you know…"

Casey looked confused.

"If we're what? You're not making any sense Elliot."

"Are you sleeping with him?"

"What?! Hell no! Jesus where would you get an idea like that? That is the most ridiculous…I mean eww. First he's a guy and second, eww, he's Kate's brother and third and most important, he's engaged!"

Elliot looked dumbstruck. "Oh" was all he managed.

"God, Elliot what would make you think that?" She was walking fast now.

"Come on, Casey," he said as he tried to catch up. "He's been coming to the bar to see you Friday nights. The dancing. Come on it's not that much of a stretch, even if he is a guy."

Casey was still recovering. "Whatever." She stopped. "Is that what everyone thinks because if that's the case, you need to set them straight, okay? I will not have the squad thinking that…that…eww gross. Really gross, Elliot." She started walking again.

"Jesus Casey, the guy's not that bad," he yelled after her.

She glared at him. In fact she continued to glare at him the whole way there, but he didn't care. He had good news to share with Olivia.

They remained quiet for the rest of the short walk to O'Malley's, both lost in their own thoughts. Elliot could not stop smiling. While it wasn't common knowledge, he knew that Olivia and Alex's relationship was almost non-existent. Alex had found her own place after staying with Olivia for a week – a week in which Olivia had determinately never spent the night at home. She had finally admitted that to him the previous night over beers in his backyard.

They had not technically broken up, but they were also not exactly a couple. He was mostly confused by Olivia's explanations and wondered if the beers contributed to his inability to understand what she was saying or whether they had made her say things that didn't make sense. Ultimately, it didn't matter. Things were not good between them. Olivia even admitted that she wanted out, but didn't know how to do it. And now the knowledge that Casey was not seeing the dancing doctor might just be the nudge that Olivia needed to finish this stupid trip to fantasy island that she was on with Alex and get back to where she belonged.