A/N: hm…is all I can say about this chapter. Oh well, I hope you like it. Read and Review.

For disclaimer see chapter one

"Hello?" Serena had stopped pacing to answer her cell phone. Sure Abbie had been late before, but an hour and a half was quite unusual. "Abbie?" she asked again. The blonde could have sworn that she heard the sounds of something burning in the background but she couldn't be exactly sure.

She continued to listen in wondering what the hell was going on. "Abbie! Damn it why aren't you saying anything! Where are you?" Serena was trying to keep herself together but with each second passing she became more and more panicked. It wasn't until she heard the sirens that her heart dropped into the depths of her stomach.

As the sirens got closer, Serena felt tears of fear pooling in her eyes. She could faintly hear voices in the background through the phone. "GET THAT FIRE OUT!" 'Oh my god she's still alive! I've got a pulse but it's faint! There's a lot of blood someone get over here!' and lastly "Isn't that Abbie Carmichael?"

Serena finally let her unshed tears fall. After listening to more chatter on Abbie's end of the line, she couldn't take it anymore. She found herself bolting out of her apartment and to her car praying that Abbie was still alive by the time she got there.

"I really enjoy having drinks with you" Casey told alive as she sipped her drink. Olivia smiled back at the redhead trying not to think about how dangerously attractive she was. Regardless everything that's happened, she was still with Alex wasn't she? Even though Alex wouldn't tell her where she was, or give her any indication in detail on how things were going, they were still together right? Olivia wasn't sure if she could even TELL herself that she wasn't sure.

"I'm sure she's doing fine Liv…" Casey whispered resting her hand on the detective's which startled her. "What are you…"

"Olivia I'm not stupid, I can tell you're worried about Alex with everything that's been going on, and you should be. You love her so of course you're going to be worried about her."

"How did you know that I…that we were…"

Casey smiled laughing at how flustered Olivia was becoming, "Again, I'm not stupid, I can tell how you're eyes light up whenever you mention her, or how uncomfortable you are around me for being her replacement…" Casey explained trailing off the last few words of her explanation as she had finally admitted out loud that she could tell the detective did resent her a little if not a lot.

Olivia bit her lip as she watched Casey stare sadly into the contents of her drink. Had she really done something to let Casey know how she felt about her having Alex's job? And why did Casey wait till just now to mention it. She took a deep breath as she redhead refused to look back up at her. "Casey I'm sorry…It's just that with what's been going on with Alex, and you just sort of…." 'Came out of nowhere.' Casey finished for her.

"Listen Liv, I'm not happy about the circumstances that I have this job. And I know how bad it must bother you and the other detectives for that matter. I know Alex has been with you guys a long time and how attached you all are to her, but I'm not Alex. But I do have a job to do. I can't be Alex, and all I can really ask of you is that none of you expect me to be." Casey finished, her green eyes shining with unshed tears.

Olivia reached over and took Casey's hand in her own. "I'm so sorry that I've made you feel that way. I'm sorry that I've been comparing you to Alex and I hope that…Casey?" She paused as she saw Casey's attention was now on the television that was mounted above their heads. Olivia noticed there were shots from a helicopter of what looked like a burning car.

"Isn't that the DA's office?" Olivia asked but was quickly shushed by the redhead. They both sat listening intently as a reporter came on the screen. "The causes of the explosion are currently unknown, but sources have said that the vehicle belonged to Assistant DA Abigail Carmichael who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition."

The two women stared at the television in shock until Olivia's phone began to ring. "Benson." She said as she was greeted by a very stressed out sounding Serena Southerlyn. "Olivia! Abbie she…she…"

"Rena I know I heard...do you know what happened?"

"No I don't, just can you…. come? Please?"

"Yeah sure, I'll be there in fifteen."

And with that she hung up. She turned to Casey who looked worried and concerned. "How fast do you think you can drive to the hospital?" Olivia asked. Casey smiled as she got in the drivers seat of her car, "Depends on how many traffic laws I'm allowed to break detective."

Olivia and Casey were greeted at the hospital by a red eyed Serena. "Casey what are you doing here?" the blonde asked a tad bit confused. "Olivia and I were having drinks when you called, I drove us here." she explained and Serena nodded. "Do you know how she is?" Olivia asked. Serena just simply shook her head and buried her face in her hands.

"Serena she's going to be okay, I mean, its Abbie, she's not that easy to get rid of." Olivia tried to reassure the distraught attorney. After about five minutes of silence Serena finally looked up, "Olivia…where's Alex?" she asked. Olivia frowned as she thought for a moment, "I'm not sure…I talked to her yesterday…why?" Olivia replied sounding a little suspicious.

Serena paused averting her gaze off the detective and to the floor. Casey was slowly starting to put together the meaning of the question in her own mind. Serena inhaled and began her reasoning. "I just…think it's kind of strange that the day after Alex makes bail, she disappears, and then Abbie ends up in the hospital from a bomb that was planted in her car…I mean call me crazy but doesn't that sound just a little suspicious?"

Olivia all of a sudden lost almost all the sympathy she first had for this woman.

Why does everyone think that Alex is capable of this? And even if she was, what would be her reasoning? Sure this does seem a little suspicious, but Olivia was positive that Alex was not the person behind this.
"You think Alex did this don't you?

"I was just saying that…"

"Drop it Serena, it's obvious what you were saying. I don't know why people think that Alex would do things like this, and if you think that too, you're just as stupid as they are." Olivia stormed out of the waiting room needing to get some air.

Serena and Casey at in an awkward silence before Casey finally spoke. "You know, she's only like that because she's stressed…" she offered. Serena looked at her with teary eyes, "I know that Case…it's just I'm stressed two, hell Alex is my best friend! But I'm in love with Abbie…and if she dies, and later it WAS because of Alex…..it's just best for me to assume the worst now. I mean isn't it obvious that she did this?"

Casey nodded only slightly understanding where the blonde was coming from. "Fuck, this means I might have to go back on that case…" Serena thought out loud. She caught Casey's quizzical look and realized she needed to elaborate. "I was the lead prosecutor on this case against Alex, but I couldn't take it, you know, the attachment. So I handed the case over to Abbie. Well with Abbie being blown up, and Connie…" she sighed not wanting to finish that sentence.

"Even though you worked with white collar crimes, did you ever have times where you felt like quitting?" The blonde asked. "Oh many, many times." Casey replied smiling. "How do you know when it's time? I know I've been doing this a while, but this job is beginning to get to hard. The things I see, and the people I have to convict, I don't know if I can take much more of this." Serena stated sadly trying not to cry again.

The redhead thought for a moment before settling on what to say. "I remember when I first became an ADA I ran into Abbie in the DA's office, literally. I dropped all my files, and she ended up spilling coffee all over her shirt. Well many Texan sounding profanities later, I sat in my office stressed out after my first prosecution case. She noticed I was stressed out, and I remember I asked her how you know when it's time to just give up. Well she said 'When you feel like things have become too simple and you can just kick back and put your feet on your desk, it's time to quit. But if you ever feel like your job is too hard, that means you're doing something right.' And believe it or not, that actually made some sense. So basically what I'm saying is, it's not supposed to be easy. If you didn't have a problem convicting your best friend and you could just walk in there and do it, and then do the same with any other case, then you know it's time to give up.". Serena smiled sniffing a little, "Who knew Casey Novak could be such a philosopher?" she asked. Casey grinned "I have my moments." She responded.

A doctor entered the waiting room holding a clipboard, "Ms. Southerlyn?" he asked making eye contact with Serena. "Yes doctor…how is she?"

"Well she did have quite a few injuries, but considering the circumstances, Ms. Carmichael is a very lucky woman. We were able to stop the internal bleeding, but she did obtain a concussion, a broken leg, and a few bruises and singe burns. Oh, she my also suffer minor hearing loss due to her obvious proximity of the blast."

Serena smiled a real smile for the fist time that night. "When can we see her doctor?" Casey asked knowing Serena had gone into Lala land of happiness. "You can see her now if you wish. She should be awake in an hour or so. The first time she woke up, she tried to fight the nurse. Determined woman you have there Ms. Southerlyn." The doctor winked as he walked off.

"Are you going to be okay here if I leave and attempt to find Olivia?" Casey asked after Serena squished her in a bear hug. "Yeah, I'll be okay…" Casey made it to the exit before she heard her name. "Hey Case?" she turned and faced Serena, "Yeah?"

'With what's been going on…be careful."

Alex stood against the wall outside the bar slightly buzzed. At that moment, she could honestly say she had no idea what she was going to do. That's a first; Alexandra Cabot does not know what to do. She doesn't know what to do, and she can honestly say she's cried more in the past week than she ever had in her life.

As she was about to walk down the sidewalk to nowhere in particular, she glanced across the street and could have sworn she saw herself looking back at her. "I really don't need to drink anymore." She mumbled under her breath tightening her coat as she stared at the person across the street.

She decided to stop and see how much her mind was playing tricks on her. She stared as hard as she could at the person across from her, and all she could see was herself. Her mirror reflection was smirked and winked before continuing down the side of the street away from Alex.

The blonde frowned as she tried to see where her reflection went, but she had already disappeared. "I really need to stop drinking." Alex told herself as she walked once again to nowhere in particular.

Addy continued to walk down the street smirking to herself. "Really, Alex are you that drunk to where you couldn't recognize me, or are you too caught up in mommy and daddy's lies." She said aloud. She knew she was striking fear into someone at least. She smiled to herself as she continued to stalk her next target.

"I'm going to take my time with this one." She said to herself looking down at the address she pulled out of her coat pocket. Addy leaned against the wall of the ally she was standing in across from the condos she was observing.

After about fifteen minutes, Addy spotted the specific person she was looking for. She watched as the redhead made her way to the complex handing her car keys to the valet. Once she disappeared inside, Addy knew she had to move quickly. Checking to make sure no one was around, she stealthily made her way across the street to where the valet, who looked to be in his either late teens or early twenties, was about to get into the car.

She stuck her hand back in her coat pocket only this time pulling out a cloth. She crept up behind the young boy and pressed the cloth firmly over his nose and mouth. The valet attempted to struggle but soon fell victim to the effects of the chloroform. Addy dragged him to the opening between the complex building and the café next to it.

Smirking she retrieved the keys and proceeded to the car. She got into the drivers seat and examined the interior. "Mmmm Ms. Novak, you didn't strike me as a Lexus kind of lady." She put the keys in the ignition, and sped off carrying out her plan leaving a very oblivious Casey Novak to the fact that she wouldn't be getting her car keys back.

A/N: yeah um about the car thing…I did a little homework and found the Casey rides her bike to work in the tv show…yeah no sweetheart, if you're gonna be a lawyer in MY fanfiction, you have to drive a top notch car. Just sayin'

HEY I JUST MET YOU, AND THIS IS CRAZY, SO HERE'S MY STORY, SO COMMENT MAYBE?