Three days earlier…

Casey Novak found herself stretched out in the grass. It was an unseasonably warm day in late April. The park was full of people who had the same idea she did. She watched the people around her, soaking in the anonymous nature of the city. With eight million people surrounding her she could be invisible, she could be no one.

It had been almost a year since she lost her license to practice law. It had been a year since she lost who she was. In that time, she'd caught up on the shows she'd missed and was almost done with her list of books she wanted to read. Part of her still hated herself for being so stupid, the other part told her it's good that she's out. That was the same part that had been telling her to get out, take a vacation, put in for transfer, anything. She was getting too caught up, she wanted it too much.

"Casey?" The familiar voice shocked her out of her thoughts.

Casey looked up to find Alex Cabot standing over her. She was dressed in running gear. "Alex." Casey started to get up when Alex sat down next to her.

"How have you been?" Alex asked.

Casey let out a sarcastic laugh. "That's a loaded question."

Alex crinkled her nose. "I know. I'm sorry."

"So, you're back in Special Victims?" Casey asked. She already knew the answer. But as an attorney she could never ask a question she didn't already know the answer too and found herself falling back into that old habit. She wanted to kick herself.

Alex nodded. "Yeah, when Greyleck went back to DC I got pulled back into it."

"Well, look at it this way," Casey said, "you don't have to break in a new set of detectives."

Alex smiled. "I'm used to Elliot's brooding and Munch's random conspiracy theories. Fin, I can't ever figure out. Olivia-" Alex sighed. "Olivia's just nice to look at."

Casey smiled. "I'd have to agree with you."

They were both quiet for a minute, both watching the movement of the people around them. Alex was the first to break the silence. "Can I ask you something?"

Casey looked at her. "I suppose."

"You spent more time in SVU then I did," Alex said. "How did you forget?"

Casey shrugged. "A lot of distraction."

"Distraction is good," Alex said.

Casey smiled. "Yeah, well, if you ever find you need one, you know where to find me."