Temptation's Game
By: Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles
Chapter 8: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Olivia sat on the bench, scratching under her collar, wishing she didn't have to wear such formal clothes to funerals. As if they weren't uncomfortable enough. She was still sitting there, thinking, when her phone rang with the news she prayed she'd never hear again.
An hour later, she was at the hospital, trying to calm Casey down. "Casey! Calm down!"
Casey just shook, sobbing uncontrollably. "Bu-but its my fault! If-if we'd just come home yesterday...God, what am I gonna do!"
"You said she's going to be ok. Is she going to be ok? Can we see her?"
She thought a second. "Yeah, it was just in her arm, but there was so much blood! I-I could barely keep her conscious!"
"Ok. So she's going to be ok. Calm down and take a deep breath. I'll go and speak to the doctor. You take a sip of water and then we will go and see her."
Casey nodded, grabbing the cup of water Olivia handed her. She sipped at it slowly, but it did nothing to calm her down.
A few moments later, Olivia led her into Alex's room. Alex lay in bed attached to a drip, her eyes closed, her injured arm in a sling.
Casey walked over, shaking, and took a seat beside the bed. She pulled Alex's uninjured left arm out from under the sheets. "I guess that ring really does match mine."
"What do you mean?" Alex spoke, making Casey jump.
"A-Alex? Sweetie, you should be sleeping."
"Are you ok?"
Casey nodded. "Yes, but...you're not and it's my fault! If we'd just come home yesterday like you said..."
"Did they get him? Olivia, is he in prison? Have they got him?"
Olivia nodded. "Elliot's working on it. Alex, if you're going to talk, can you open your eyes and look at us?"
"I thought they grabbed him at the airport." Her eyes flickered open.
Casey kissed her hand. "They did, but he grabbed one of their guns..."
Alex struggled to sit up. "Are you sure you're ok?"
Casey scooted closer. "Yeah, he only got you. The only blood I have on me is yours from when I tried to stop the bleeding. Alex, what did he say? I couldn't hear him over the engines."
"I need to talk to Elliot." She attempted to pull out her drip.
Casey pulled her hand away. "No, don't pull. I bet Olivia would get him down here if you asked."
Alex looked towards Olivia who nodded, then whispered to Casey. "They've given her something to calm her down, should kick in soon. Alex, I'll go call Elliot right now, Okay?" Alex nodded, sitting back a little.
"O-kay. Casey, w-will you stay?" she asked groggily.
She nodded. "Of course I will," she said, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
"Are you ok?" She asked again.
"Yes, my girl, I'm fine, now go to sleep, ok?"
Alex shook her head. "Need to stay awake. I have to speak to Elliot."
Casey sighed. "He's busy at the moment. We'll try again later, ok?"
"I'll talk to him...on the phone. I need to talk to him. Are you ok?'"
Casey ran her hand along her arm. "You need your rest."
"If they take me away again, you will come too, won't you?"
She nodded. "Promise."
Alex's eyes began to flutter shut. Every time someone came past the room, her eyes would open again and search for Casey then drift shut once more.
"Sshhh," Casey whispered in her ear.
Olivia walked back in quietly half an hour later with Elliot in tow. Alex was asleep, her hand still holding Casey's tightly.
Casey looked over, hearing footsteps. "Oh, hi," she said, yawning and stretching.
"I see you got our ADA shot again." Elliot was the first to speak, followed by a quiet warning from Olivia to him.
Casey really wanted to move, but Alex needed her rest. "What did he say?"
Olivia spoke up, glaring at Elliot. "Nothing. Did she give you any idea what she wanted to talk to Elliot about?"
Casey shook her head. "Not really, but before she was shot he said something to her. I couldn't hear it...that's when she started asking for you."
"Has the doctor been in to say when she'd be allowed out?"
"Not yet, but I suspect she'll be here for a few days. Hey, Olivia, about what she said about going away and have me going with her...what was she referring to?"
Olivia opened her mouth to reply, but Elliot was the one who answered. "Gee, I don't know Casey. Probably Witness Protection, the place she was stuck for years after being shot. The reason you were employed."
Casey rolled her eyes. "Hit him for me? I can't move and he's being a bit of a sarcastic ass."
Olivia hesitated, but didn't move, lowering her eyes.
"Something to add, Olivia?"
"Alex means a lot to all of us..."
She nodded. "Yes, and? Wait a second, y-you're not blaming me for this?"
"She's been scared for a long time about having to go away again...of guns..."
"That makes sense, but I didn't do this! For God's sake! He stalks me, tries to rape me, shoots her and it's my fault?"
Casey's slightly raised voice woke Alex and she sat up a little. "Casey?"
Casey turned around. "Alex? I-I'm sorry, go back to sleep. Our friends here were just in the middle of blaming me for this."
"I was trying to save her because I love her, it wasn't her fault." Alex struggled to get out of bed again.
"Alex, don't-don't try to move much, sweetie. Your arm is still..."
Olivia approached, putting a calming hand on Alex, and Casey felt a ping of jealousy as Alex relaxed.
Casey sighed. "If you think she should be here 'because you trust her more' say so."
Ale's eyes flickered to Casey, but Olivia was the one who replied. "Alex's doctor said she was asking for me because she wanted me to look after you. How about we go out and get some coffee while Alex talks to Elliot?"
Casey looked down at her ring, then nodded as she stood, walking out with Olivia.
Olivia led Casey down to the canteen. As they stood in line for coffee she asked, "So, ah...good trip? Aside from all the bad stuff."
She shrugged. "I guess, yeah, wasn't there long, but I did enjoy a few luxuries, you could say."
In her hospital room, Alex struggled against Elliot until he let her sit up, legs hanging from the bed. "He said, 'If I can't have you, no one can.' He's going to come after her. Again."
Elliot pushed her back into bed. "Alex, calm down, okay? If I find them, promise me you'll stay in bed? I think I know where they went. Just please stay here."
"Olivia has her gun on her, doesn't she? We need to find them."
Elliot pulled out his phone. "Liv, get Casey back here now, no stops."
A few minutes later when they re-entered the room, Elliot was standing by hopelessly as Alex attempted to get dressed.
Casey walked over. "Alex, get back into bed."
"You don't understand. He'll know we're here!"
"She said he said 'If I can't have you, no one can.' She's worried he's coming after you."
Casey sat her on the bed. "Alex, I know you're worried, believe me, but they'll catch him."
"How long will it take though? Three years? I can't wait that long again."
Casey wrapped her arm around her. "I'm staying with you, no matter what."
"...Sometimes, you don't have a choice."
Casey nodded. "That's true, sometimes you do."
Alex seemed to relax a little and allowed Casey to lead her back to the bed, sitting down then resting against the pillows.
"So," Casey began, "are you close to catching him or not?"
Elliot glanced to Alex, making sure her eyes had closed before shaking his head.
"What's going on?" Casey asked.
he was planning," Elliot spoke softly in the hope that Alex wouldn't hear.
Alex rubbed her temples. "How elaborate, Elliot? Was his ADA status was fake too? This involves me too, no matter how much I wouldn't like it to," she replied before anyone could object.
Casey sighed. "Alex, you should just rest and focus on getting better."
"You want me to lie here and relax while some guy is planning to get you? Would you do that if it was the other way around?"
Casey squeezed her hand. "I...I understand, I do, but Alex, you-you were shot. I know you want to help, but, in reality, now much can you do now? I want you feeling better. If I have to sit her all night to do that, I will. Leave the heavy lifting to them for now. I have a feeling we'll get our chance."
Alex studied Casey's face and was about to speak again when Olivia whispered in her ear. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded and closed her eyes.
Both Elliot and Olivia stood. "We're posting a guard outside, just to be on the safe side, but we don't think he'll come here. Liv or I will come back later to check on you. Get some rest, Alex." Elliot gave Casey a curt nod before leaving.
Casey brushed a hand across Alex's cheek. "Am I wrong? With an injury, what can you do?"
"Nothing. I'm going to try and sleep now."
Casey laid a hand on her cheek. "I know you want to protect me. You do and you are right now. But you're important to me too. I need to help you. Can I, maybe, sit next to you or something? Look, I'm sorry if I was out of line, but in this situation...where I feel responsible, what do you expect me to say? That I want you to go to work and risk being killed?" Casey looked away. "I'm sorry I'm not as strong as you are."
Alex's eyes flickered open and she reached out a hand for Casey's. "And what do you expect me to say? I'll lie here all useless while someone out there wants to harm you? Olivia put a gun under my pillow. She didn't want you to know incase it scared you. Now, will you come and sit closer to me, I need a cuddle."
Casey smiled, sitting on the opposite side, so as not to hurt her arm. She wrapped her arms around her. "I want you to just focus on me and my expert cuddling skills, okay? I feel safer around you no matter what, but I am curious. Olivia and Elliot said you'd been afraid of guns for a few years, so why...?"
"...I'm more afraid of you being hurt than I am of guns."
Casey snuggled into her. "I'm glad, but why are you so afraid? We've been together three years. This fear has never surfaced. Please tell me."
Alex looked hesitant to answer, but seemed to find reassurance as Casey's hand continued to stroke her hair. "I've just...The first time it happened, I had no idea what was going on, I couldn't work it out. I just felt so much pain and people were yelling...On and off, I still have dreams, nightmares about it, only this time you were there, you were are the one yelling, and I know that when I wake up I'm going to have disappeared and you're going to think I'm dead so I'm trying to stay awake but I never can. I never talked about it because I thought it was just a dream...but now...now it could be real. And this time I will stay awake. I'm not going to leave and I'm not going to let you go."
Casey hugged her tighter. "You're not going anywhere, at least, not without me. He tried to shoot me. You were in the cross-fire. If...you had to leave there would be just as much reason, if not more, for me to come with you."
"But...He loves you Casey. He feels something for you. He thinks I am the one getting in the way of that."
Casey leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. "I don't care what he thinks! Alex, he tried to rape me! How is that love? I love you, not him."
"I know. I know that, Casey. I never thought you didn't love me. That's not what I mean." Alex held onto her tighter. "I'm not saying what he thinks is right, it's not rational, but it's what he thinks, Casey!"
Casey laid on her side, holding her tighter. "Why does it matter what he thinks, Alex? He's not going to walk for this. It's not possible."
"You and I both know anything is possible." Alex's voice faded, her head lolling slightly to rest against Casey.
Casey nodded, rubbing her back. "Yeah, that's true, but I'll fight with everything I have to keep you with me, I swear," she said, kissing her cheek. "You're safe. Rest now, my girl."
Alex's head only lifted slightly when Liz marched into the room moments later, but was too knocked out by medication to even register who it was. She mumbled a random word before resting against Casey once more.
Casey readjusted herself with Alex against her. "Hi, how are you?" she asked as Alex hugged her tighter.
"Don't go!" she whimpered in her sleep.
Casey stroked her hair. "I'm right here."
"You two really like causing me trouble, don't you?"
Casey stiffened a bit. "It...seems to like to follow us everywhere. Look, Liz, she was trying to protect me and threw herself into the shot. I would never wish for any of this."
Liz waved her hand. "I know, I know. But now I'm 3 ADAs down."
Casey sighed. "Yes, and that's...never good. Alex isn't going to take it lightly if either of us has to leave. What do you want me to do?"
"Right now, I need you back at work."
Casey sighed. "I figured as much. I'm not going to say I like the idea, or that Alex isn't going to give you a thousand reasons why I shouldn't... but is it okay if I tell her? You can...give specifics."
Liz sighed, but nodded her head.
Casey shook her a bit. "Alex! Alex, wake up!"
Alex woke, looking panicked. She tried to sit up, and it took both Casey and Liz to keep her in the bed.
"Alex, it's okay. We're okay. Liz...needs me back at work. She's 'down 3 ADAs' as she puts it. I need to be there."
This did nothing to ease her panic as she held tightly to Casey. "You can't. You need to stay here. Or I'll come with you."
Casey sighed. "I have to! You guys, you all need me to. And you're not in any shape to go anywhere now." She looked at Liz. "Once she's released...?"
"We need you now, Novak."
"She NEEDS to stay here! I need her..."
Casey hugged Alex tight. "I know you're terrified, but...I need you to feel better. Alex, this is anything but easy. Like being between a rock and a hard place. If I go with Liz, chances are, we'll find the bastard quicker and neither of us will have to worry about him anymore. I don't want to leave you. Can't you see that? You'll be okay. You'll heal quicker here. I'd give anything to be able to be in two places at once. You know how much my getting this job again means to me," she ran a hand through her hair, "how much you mean to me."
Alex looked at her, something shining in her eyes that Casey had never seen before. After a few seconds of silence, she rolled away from her and closed her eyes.
Casey sighed, hugging her once more from behind. "I'll be back tonight. Nothing will stop me from seeing you," she said, kissing her cheek. Then she stood up. "What do I need to do?"
"I'll drive you to the office. There are more...appropriate clothes waiting for you there." Liz picked up her bag. Alex kept her eyes tightly shut.
Casey leaned over, whispering in Alex's ear. "I'll always come for you, my girl. Don't forget that." She walked out with Liz.
As soon as Casey left the room, Alex wiped the tears from her face and sat up, unsteadily rising to her feet to get dressed.
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Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles