This chapter was done in the small amounts of free time i;ve had but I hope you all like it anyway, I wasn't going to post it tonight, but i got a call letting me know my L&O SVU season 11 DvD's came in today and i'm just to happy not to post it. :D
It had been a long day, and it was almost over, Asael had been arrested, it had been a lovely experience, with lots of colourful words being thrown around, mostly at Ilsa, but now he was in a cell waiting for arraignment, they hoped he would be denied bail and would spend his time in a cell awaiting trial and then of course be found guilty and spend the next however many years trying not to drop the soap in the shower. It felt good to get the bad guy at the end of the day.
Ilsa was sitting at a bar, remembering when they arrested Asael Garcia, the anger that crossed his face as Ilsa smirked at him, the clink of metal as the cuffs were wrapped around each wrist, the yelling at Ilsa as she read him his rights.
How on the ride back he sat there in the back of the car, cuffed, calling her every name he could think of, and some she was sure he had just made up on the spot, all the time he was yelling profanities she just sat there smiling.
Now Ilsa was sitting alone on a bar stool with a glass in front of her mulling over the thoughts swirling in her head, it had been a long but good day at work, but she wasn't quite ready to go home yet. She had an air around her that said 'I don't want to talk to anyone so stay away', the few that had come up to her quickly realised not matter how hard they tried Ilsa was not going to give them the time of day. This was time alone for her, time to think and time to forget.
"You know if that sign were any bigger you'd need to get it its own area code" Ilsa heard the smoky voice, though she didn't look up.
"What sign would that be Gayle?" Ilsa asked with a smile and she turned her head slightly to acknowledge her friend as she sat down on the stool next to her.
"The sign that says 'I've had a rough day fuck off or I'll bite your head off'"
Ilsa tried to hide a smile but failed "oh…" she mumbled "that sign"
"So what's the matter sugar?" Gayle asked as she brushed some hair out of Ilsa's face "You look like some one killed your dog"
Ilsa snorted "I hope that didn't happen" she sighed and rubbed the back of her neck "Just thinking that's all"
Gayle nudged her friend "About what?" she pushed
"Stuuuuuuuf" Ilsa replied stretching out the word
"Ilsa I'm old enough to have seen and heard just about anything, and hello darling! where do I work? I'm sure it's not that bad"
Ilsa sighed look down at the bar, it was true Gayle had seen and heard just about every problem out there, she tapped her fingers on the bar, Gayle was just sitting there patiently waiting to hear the problem.
"I think I have feelings for somebody…" Ilsa admitted quietly
Gayle couldn't help but grin and lean closer "So tell me who is it? Are they cute, are they good in bed? do they treat you right?" she asked in a rush
Ilsa looked confused "Calm down Gayle, nothing to get excited about"
Gayle pouted at her friend "Well why?" she paused for a minute and thought about what Ilsa had said "And what do you mean think you have feelings?"
Ilsa sighed and ran a hand through her hair "I mean I like them, they're really nice but…"
"But?" Gayle asked her friend, hoping to get some information out of her about this person she 'thought' she liked.
Ilsa folded her arms on the counter in front of her and let her head fall onto them as she let out a frustrated groan "Because we work together, because she's straight, because…"
"Because you don't like letting people in" Gayle finished for her "And how do you know she is straight?"
Ilsa turned her head and gave a weak smile "Because she said 'I'm straight' on several different occasions"
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" Gayle said with a cheeky smile on her face
"Gayle!" Ilsa groaned
"Well how do you know she isn't interested in you, once you get past the 'fuck off' exterior you are actually a very wonderful person, and anyone would be lucky to have you as a friend or lover"
Ilsa opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out, straitening up on the stool, she continued to play with the glass that had been sitting in front of her.
"Thanks Gayle" She finally said quietly "You always know how to cheer me up"
Gayle lent closer and gave Ilsa a hug "It's what friends are for right? I mean if it was the other way around you'd listen to me, you always listen to me talk about my sexual escapades or anything else, let someone return the favour sweetie"
Ilsa nodded but didn't say anything more, just retreated back into her head, ponder her friend words, It wasn't late, but Ilsa was starting to feel the day creeping up on her and just wanted to curl up on the couch or in bed, anywhere she could just unwind and relax. Gayle had bid her goodbye as she walked off to find someone else to talk to, knowing the signs and seeing that that was all the conversation she would be getting from Ilsa for now.
Ilsa was swirling the tiny amount of liquid in her glass around, she didn't notice the person sit down next to her.
"Rough day huh?" Ilsa heard the familiar voice, the one she had been thinking of but she wasn't sure if she wanted to see the woman it belonged to.
"Casey" Ilsa's voice squeaked as she shot up and turned to see the ADA sitting next to her a smiled on her face, Ilsa quickly cleared her throat hoping Casey didn't notice her voice break. "W-what are you doing here"
"A little birdie told me you might be here" Casey smiled
"Olivia?" Ilsa guessed
"Yeah she seems to know a lot of your hiding spots"
Ilsa smiled at Casey but couldn't really think of anything to say, luckily she didn't have to
"I'm uh…actually not drinking anything" Ilsa replied with a sheepish smile on her face.
"You're in a bar…but you're not drinking?" Casey asked with a confused smile on her face
"I just came here to think" Ilsa explained "If this place didn't work I know a few others…and I wasn't really expecting any company"
"Oh" Casey murmured, getting ready to leave "I didn't mean to intrude" she said quickly
"Case wait" Ilsa said reaching out and grabbing Casey's arm, the young ADA turned to look at the woman holding onto her arm "I wouldn't mind some company"
Casey smiled and tentatively sat back down "Why come to a bar if you're not going to drink?" She asked before ordering herself a scotch.
Ilsa watch as Casey took a drink from her glass, but offered only a shrug "I don't know, I have a lot going on in my head and I thought this place might be good"
"What kind of stuff?" Casey asked nonchalantly
Ilsa smiled "Oh you know, relationships, work" She gave a mischievous smile "Whether I want to quit my job as a detective and become a porn star"
Casey spluttered on her drink and started open-mouthed at Ilsa, Ilsa waggled her eyebrows and laughed "You are so not funny Couri" Casey mumbled.
Ilsa watched as Casey grabbed a napkin to wipe the drink she had coughed up, she got out of the chair and threw her jacket on "Want to get out of here?" she asked Casey
Casey look up and nodded "Uh…yeah ok"
Ilsa waited for Casey to get up from her chair before walking out into the cool night air.
"Why are we leaving?" Casey asked as she while walking next to her friend.
Ilsa just gave her a charming smile "I was feeling a little couped up"
Casey looked at her watch "I do have an early day tomorrow, maybe it would be best to head home" she said as she started to walk down the street. Ilsa quickly jogged up and slowed down when she was beside her friend.
"I don't need an escort" Casey said, but inside she was happy Ilsa cared enough to walk with her, the last guy didn't even care enough to offer on her last date.
"For my sanities sake let me walk you home" Ilsa gave her a lopsided grin
After walking in silence Casey moved closer to Ilsa and linked arms, Ilsa turned her head and smiled, they continued on like this until Casey broke the silence, 'Maybe now is a good time to ask' thought Casey "Ilsa…can I ask for some advice?"
Ilsa turned her head slightly and looked at her friend, she began to wonder what she could possibly need some advice on "I say yes, change it"
Casey opened and closed her mouth wondering what Ilsa was talking about "Change what?"
Ilsa didn't looked at her, just kept her head straight as the two women headed down the streets "Your hair" she said with a smile "Don't get me wrong I think you look beautiful, but I kinda liked you as a redhead"
Casey blushed before she gave Ilsa a friendly shove "Not what I was talking about but thank you"
"You're welcome" Ilsa flashed her a wide smile.
"Anyway" Casey said with a smile "I was wondering…" she stopped as she thought he best to phrase what she wanted to now
"Just ask Casey" The Australian said pulling her closer "I'm here to listen and to help where I can"
Casey took a deep breath, she stopped walking causing Ilsa to stop to and wait for the words to come out "I think I like someone and don't know what to do about it"
'Freaky' Ilsa thought 'I was having a convocation like this with Gayle earlier, god I hope it isn't that dick she went out with the other night'
"Ok, so…what are you confused about why you like them?" Casey nodded
Ilsa took a breath and tugged on Casey's arm and they started off on there walk again. "Well, what are they like?"
Casey sighed "I don't know" she paused and looked at the detective beside her, deciding just to go for it "They're funny…and smart and at the same time they're completely idiotic and unpredictable, in a good way though" she said as she thought about the woman she was staring at "Kind and helpful, just all around…amazing"
Ilsa smiled and turned to her friend "Sounds great do they have a sister?" she joked
Casey stared in wonder 'she hasn't figured it out…'
"No" she answered "No sister"
"Ok so why is it so confusing, from the way you describe them, sounds like you really like em"
"They're just so different from other people I've dated, or wanted to date, I've never met anyone like this before and I don't know how to send a message about how I feel, it's all really confusing"
"I think" Ilsa said still looking on front of them "You need to figure out how you feel before you can send the right message, If you think 'I don't want to be anything more then friends' but you've been sending out the opposite kind of message, it could get weird"
'How do I figure out how I feel about you when I'm scared of the answer'
"Maybe" Ilsa continued "Find out more about them, talk to them, and if you feel like you would be better friends then something more that's all good and no one gets hurt"
Casey nodded and started walking closer to Ilsa 'learn more about them…'
"Ilsa tell me something I don't know about you"
Ilsa looked at her strangely before chuckling "Um…ok" she paused as she thought what she could tell the woman holding her arm 'something she doesn't know, but at the same time something I can actually say…' "I hate seaweed"
"What?" Casey asked laughing 'not exactly what I had in mine but I guess it will do'
"Yeah laugh all you want, I hate seaweed, I don't know how people eat it, I can't eat sushi because of the seaweed, makes me sick"
The ADA stopped her laughing but still had a grin on her face "I thought you had an iron stomach"
"I do" Ilsa said "It just can't handle seaweed"
"So you're this bad tough detective and you can't handle a little green stuff?" Casey teased good naturedly
"Yes ok I, 'the great' Ilsa Couri can't eat seaweed it is my one weakness" Ilsa exclaimed dramatically, throwing in a exaggerated sigh at the end.
"No need to fear, I'll save you" Casey said back
"Oh would you, would you please?" Ilsa said sarcastically before Casey gave her a friendly shove. Casey shivered in the chill night arm and moved closer to the warm body next to her, it didn't go unnoticed by Ilsa.
"You cold?" She asked, not waiting for a response before tugging off her leather jacket and handing it to Casey.
"Thanks" The younger woman said as she slipped her arms into the sleeves, the jacket was a little too big for her, but as she pulled it tighter around her she could smell the perfume left behind by Ilsa and snuggled closer into it, after she was done she moved back to Ilsa's side and rested her head against the detectives shoulder as they walked. 'this is really nice' she thought 'been a long time since I've just been for a walk with someone, no expectations, no worries about what they will expect at the end of it…'
"So um…" Ilsa mumbled softly "Who's this mystery person you like" sounding slightly jealous
'oh how sweet, I think she's jealous' Casey thought "I don't think I'm quite ready to say yet"
"It's not that guy from the other night is it? I don't like him"
"No, although he did ask me out again…" Casey said
Ilsa took a breath "When are you meant to go out with him?"
Casey smiled, enjoying teasing her, although she had been asked out again, after the first terrible date she wasn't going to go out with him again.
"Actually tonight" Casey replied, Ilsa stopped and stared at her confused "But I found someone better to spend the evening with"
Ilsa had a kind of dumbfounded look on her face "Oh" she said "who?"
Casey couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her even if she had tried "You! You big dummy" she said giving Ilsa another shove.
"Me?" Ilsa asked confused, then slowly the confused look turned into a slightly smug smile "Cool"
"Casey?" Ilsa asked
Still with her head resting comfortably on her friends shoulder, Casey just let out a mumble to know she had heard.
"Where are we?" Ilsa asked with a smile in her voice
Casey looked around and laughed, Ilsa did the same, they stopped and looked around figuring out where they were.
"Guess I got a little distracted" Casey smiled "I was having a nice time just walking"
"Yeah me too" Admitted Ilsa "But maybe she would go in the right direction now"
Casey nodded in agreement before once again taking Ilsa's arm and leaning close, turning around they headed to Casey's apartment, the walk there filled with light conversation and flirtatious banter.
Casey saw her building coming into view and was almost disappointed that she would have to go inside without the detective. They stopped outside the front door leading inside and stood smiling at each other.
"oh here" Casey said as she tugged the leather jacket off and handed it back to Ilsa, feeling the cold air hit her.
"Thanks" Said Ilsa as she slipped her arms through the sleeves and snuggled back into the familiar feel.
"I'll see you later" Ilsa offered as she started to walk away "Goodnight princess!" she tossed over her shoulder
"Hey!" Casey shouted "If I'm the princess…does that make you my knight in shining armour riding off in the distance?"
The answer Casey got wasn't exactly the one she was expected
"Nah, if I were your knight we'd be riding together" Ilsa gave her a lopsided grin before turning back around and heading down the street "Sweet dreams!" she called out again.
End of chapter, I have more free time on my hands now so I should be able to get another chapter up soon, Please R&R and I hope you enjoyed :)