Hey, everyone! Sorry it's been a little while since I've updated. My work schedule has been murdering my muse :-( Hopefully, I can get some more chapters of both my stories up before I need to go back to school in two weeks! I own nothing; if I did, you would see this on t.v!
Alex hated the feeling of doing nothing. Absolutely. despised. it. So, padding around her apartment, simply unpacking, felt like torture. At the same time, she was so exhausted from the twelve hour flight and the six hour time difference that a nap felt incredibly welcome. She could count the number of naps she had ever taken on one hand. Even as a young child, she would simply argue in her three-year-old way that naps were a complete waste of time. Once she had entirely finished unpacking, however, she gave in to her body and lay down to rest.
The nap was interrupted after fifteen minutes. She had that nightmare again, the one she had ever since she 'died:'
It started out like an ordinary day. Alex entered the old precinct, just as it was six years ago before renovations and WitSec. Munch and Fin were talking, laughing. Elliot and Olivia were hopelessly flirting with each other. Cragen was presumably in his office. However, she felt questioning eyes on her; no one came to greet her as usual.
"Hi, can I help you?" Olivia finally greeted.
"Hey, Liv," Alex replied, a question in her tone, "I just came to bring you that search warrant."
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Olivia looked completely lost.
"I've only been your ADA for the last four years," Alex replied, now slightly angry. She decided this was some sick joke, so she ended the conversation there.
"Munch, Fin – did you find anything I can use in the Richards' home?" She hoped they at least kept their sanity.
"Sorry, have we met?" Munch replied. Fin gave a confused look, evidently no clearer than Munch or Olivia.
"Should we call Huang about her?" Elliot asked Olivia in the slightest whisper.
Alex ran out, reaching her office as fast as she could.
"Hey, Eric," Alex greeted the security guard with a smile and gave her ID as a necessary formality.
"I'm sorry," Eric answered, looking at his list, "No one named Alexandra Cabot works here."
"What are you talking about?" Alex practically yelled, "I've worked here for years! I bring you a coffee every morning!"
Barry gave Alex a sympathetic shrug, indicating he wouldn't let her in.
Liz Donnelly walked by, prompting Alex to wave her down.
"Liz will vouch for me," she explained, "Liz, can you please tell Barry I work here?"
"Never seen her before in my life," Liz gave Barry a very confused expression and went into the building, leaving Alex out in the cold.
Alex awoke with a start, breathing deeply, trying to calm down. God, she hated that nightmare. Back in WitSec, she would feel anxious for hours after she woke. Sometimes, she thought about getting in her car and driving all the way from Wisconsin to New York, just to make sure everyone still knew her. She didn't care if it was completely crazy and unrealistic; it still scared the living shit out of her. Every minute she wasn't Alex scared the living shit out of her. At least now that she was back in New York, she could convince herself that everything was alright and calm down a little bit more quickly.
Her apartment telephone rang, bringing Alex out of her near panic attack. Hoping it was someone from the 1-6 to chat about dinner, Alex happily answered.
"Hello!"
"Hey, Alex," Casey started nervously, "It's Casey."
"Oh, hi," Alex quickly put on a harsher tone, "What's up?"
"Liz suggested we get together this afternoon to discuss our open cases," Casey got straight to the point, "I mean, if you're busy or jetlagged, we could always reschedule."
"No, now is fine," Alex checked her watch.
"Ok, so want to meet at the office, or –"
"You know what?" Alex interrupted, "I look like crap, and I don't feel like making myself not look like crap, so could you just come here?"
"Sure."
"Ok. I'll text you my address. Bye."
"Bye."
Alex wasn't looking forward to having Casey come into her home, but she figured it was better than making herself 'outside-the-apartment' worthy.
Thanks to Casey's cell-phone GPS, she found Alex's apartment very easily and got there within twenty minutes by subway. However, she stood outside, debating whether she should enter or run away silently screaming. She didn't want to be eaten alive, after all. She finally decided on the mature thing and buzzed for Alex to let her in.
"Casey, come in," Alex managed her best hostess smile while still being curt, "Can I get you anything to eat? Drink?"
"All set, thanks," Casey answered, "I love your apartment."
"Thanks"
Alex led Casey into her living room and curled up on the couch, reading glasses in tow. Casey was a bit taken aback by how informally the other attorney was dressed. She hadn't bothered to change for the meeting, so she simply wore a pair of grey sweatpants, a plain pink t-shirt, and short pink socks. Her hair, usually done to perfection, was simply pulled into a messy bun; pieces of her long, blonde bangs fell out and framed her face, free of any make-up. Obviously, Casey didn't care how she was dressed; just she never expected to see Alex without her power suits.
"So, what've we got," Alex became all business.
Casey handed over all fifteen files and gave Alex an excellent 'Reader's Digest' version of each one. Both women clearly worked to keep emotionally distant from one another and engaged in their work. It would have been incredibly awkward had there actually been enough conversation to make it so.
"Now, we should also talk about chairs at trial," Alex mentioned. Had Liz not specifically demanded they share first chair somehow, it would have been an all-out blood bath.
"Right," Casey agreed, "Did you want to switch chairs every other case or divide up each trial?"
"Dividing up the trials is fine if that works for you," Alex decided, "Now, which parts do you want?"
Casey silently debated how to answer. She really, really wanted to deliver closing statements. She loved spending hours silently writing her work of art. She loved how she could see a decision change to 'guilty' as she walked in front of the jury box. She loved how, no matter how solid their case, she could always make opposing council squirm. However, if Alex wanted closing as well, she knew it would mean World War III.
"You know, I'd be up for anything," she finally decided, "How about you?"
Alex silently mulled over her response. She really, really wanted cross-examinations. She loved how witnesses gave her an over-confident smile because she looked sweet, unimposing and blonde. She loved how that smile disappeared after they were interrupted with a curt, 'thank you,' realizing they just screwed themselves. She especially loved seeing opposing council after she finished. However, if Casey wanted cross-examination as well, she knew it would mean World War III.
"Look, let's not do the passive-aggressive girl thing," Casey suggested, "How about we write down one part we want, and if it's the same, we'll fight about it then."
With that, Alex neatly folded and refolded an index card until it tore in half. After handing one side to Casey, both women followed the suggestion. They breathed a sigh of relief when, upon exchanging cards, they realized they had different favorites.
"Ok, then," Alex gave a relieved smile, then switched back to business, "I'll take opening and cross, and you do direct and closing?"
"That works for me," Casey agreed, liking how it would mean one examination and one statement per attorney, "Oh, what about arraignment?"
"'The people request remand your honor. The defendant is a flight risk with no ties to the community,'" Alex deadpanned, "Want to just alternate that one?"
"Sure."
"And we should do pretrial work, motion hearings, and witness prep together" Alex suggested, "Also, we'll have to share our questions and statements beforehand; just so we're on the same page."
"You mean so I won't fuck it up?" Casey regretted letting that slip as soon as it exited her mouth.
"No, I mean so we're on the same page," Alex quietly repeated. Alex wanted to let several not-so-nice things slip throughout this meeting, but her naturally reserved personality prevented her. She couldn't decide if she admired or admonished the other attorney for her bluntness.
"Sorry. That was, um, uncalled for."
"It's ok," Alex accepted, not looking up from the file she was skimming, "Now, I think that's everything?"
"Yup, I believe so," Casey agreed, "I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"See you then," Alex mustered as quickly and with as little feeling as possible. Both women breathed a sigh of relief once Casey left the apartment, and both were glad to be done with the interesting experience.
Thanks so much for continuing to read and review :-) I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I'm enjoying writing it! Please review, I would be very, very excited to hear what everyone thinks!