A/N: I am excited to see you all like this story already. :) Thank you for you awesome reviews. Enjoy! Again, this is from my cell phone so sorry about any typos!

Two Weeks Later...

Alex Cabot stormed into her best friend and predecessor's office, "Abbie, I can't do it! Take it back, I don't want Major Crimes anymore. Take it back, and you deal with her." Alex sighs.

"Oh come on, Alex. Sharon Raydor, isn't that bad. I mean she's got her way of doing things, but she isn't terrible." Abbie laughed leaning back in her chair.

Alex's eyes went wide at her friends statement. "Not that bad!" The blonde exclaimed, "Abbie, I will be lucky if I ever see a courtroom again. All she does is make deals! She wants to get a case, catch the guy, and lock him up and throw away the key. I am just there to bargain with criminals not assess the case and take it to trial. Believe it or not, I became a lawyer to spend time in the courtroom, not the police station."

"Okay, Alex, I know I am your friend and all, but you don't get the friend speech today, you get the Bureau Chiefs speech. Are you ready?" Abbie asked waiting for Alex to nod. Seeing Alex nod yes, Abbie continued, "Sharon, Branch, and the police chief devised this plan, and you know what, it works. Catch the criminal and make a deal with them. Most of the time hardened criminals get locked up for way longer than they would if you took them to court. Oh, and let us not forget those awful cases we get and the degenerate gets off. So, in my eyes it's a giant win. Plus, it's all politics. You get your convictions, and learn how to play a different form of hardball. It will make you a better stronger prosecutor and a better candidate for DA one day. You know, saying you could ever beat out me."

"Fine. But, I am telling you right now Abbie, this woman has it out for me." Alex sighed plopping down on Abbie's couch and putting her feet up.

"Well," Abbie starts scowling at Alex's relaxed position on her furniture, "If you treat her office anything like you treat mine it's probably well deserved."

"I am so sorry," Alex laughs, "I didn't realize that my best friend had stepped up her standards so much since her promotion."

"You are so frustrating." Abbie laughs throwing her stress ball at the blonde.

Sitting up, Alex leans forward and tosses the ball back. "Yeah well you love me anyway. So, answer me a question."

Abbie quarks and eyebrow at her friend. Alex's normally casual and laid back sense had turned slightly serious which greatly intrigued Abbie. Not to say that Alex wasn't a serious and strong woman, she just was usually more laid back and playful with her friends and especially when not in the office. So, this particular seriousness in her tone was surprising, even when venting about Sharon Raydor a minute ago she didn't sound so serious. Taking a breath, Abbie replied, "Okay..."

"What do you know about Casey Novak?" Alex asked. The slight smile that tugged at the corners of Alex's lips at the mention of the redheads name wasn't missed by her friend.

"Why Alex?"

Alex sat back at the question and frowned at her friend. Abbie clearly had on her Texas glare, which meant she was suddenly trying to read Alex's mind, something Alex didn't enjoy. Giving Abbie a equally fixed stare, Alex replied, "Because Ms. Bureau Chief, ever since you gave a White Collar Newbie my old unit I have been having to help her find her footing. I am not sure about her or her qualities for running Sex Crimes."

Inwardly laughing, Abbie shakes her head. She knows her friend has a crush on the redhead, which clearly means Alex hasn't been told or realized that Casey is Sharon's daughter. What is even funnier is Alex is in denial or at least trying to hide her attraction for Casey. Smiling, Abbie replies, "Well, first off Casey has a phenomenal conviction rate, so I wouldn't call her a newbie. Second, it was Branch's call to put Casey on Sex Crimes, not mine. Now, if she is becoming a burden for you to help while she settles in, I can take over for you."

"No, no!" Alex exclaims eagerly, before settling her voice back to a cooler level, "What I mean, is I don't mind helping her. I just wondered if you knew about her background is all."

"What about her background, Cabot?"

"Oh, nothing, she just doesn't talk about anything but work is all. I just found it curious is all. Anyway, I am meeting her for coffee in 10, so I better go." Alex says standing.

"Coffee, huh?" Abbie says with a knowing grin.

Shaking her head, Alex sighs, "No Abbie. I don't like her," leaving the office.

Walking down the hall, Alex thinks about what Abbie was implying. She didn't like Casey. Casey was just her successor and needing help right now. That's all Casey was to her. Just someone for her to guide. She did not like Casey Novak that way. Plus, she didn't know anything about Casey.

Despite her continued denial of her feelings, Alex couldn't stop thinking about the redhead the whole way to the coffee shop. Walking across the street she caught sight of the redhead standing in line looking at the door, clearly looking for her. The realization made Alex's heart beat a little faster. When Casey looked out the window and locked eyes with Alex as she walked down the sidewalk, the redheads wave made Alex feel like she had a stomach full of butterflies. Only then did Alexandra Cabot admit to herself that she might like Casey Novak.

Walking into the coffee shop, she joined Casey. "Hey, I hope you haven't been waiting long for me?" Alex said rather quickly, mentally reminding herself to slow down.

"No, not at all. I just got here. Thank you so much for meeting me. This case is really stressing me out and I really think the squad hates me." Casey replied, a tone of sadness lacing her voice.

Placing a hand on Casey's shoulder, Alex firmly said, "The guys in the squad hate change. They also hate being told what they have to do, and being told no. Basically, think of it as hazing. They are going to be a pain in your ass until you prove yourself. Got it?"

Casey nodded, "Yeah, I guess. I just hate being looked at like I am an idiot. I showed up to one crime scene and actually pointed out something useful and they treated me like I was a bothersome child."

"Oh Casey," Alex sighed, "You showed up at a crime scene. No wonder they hate you. They probably think you are trying to tell them how to do their jobs. Okay, rule number one, don't go to a crime scene unless they ask you to show up. Got it?"

"Got it."

As they broke apart to order, Casey gave Alex's hand a little squeeze of thanks. It was meant as a harmless gesture, by neither woman missed the feeling of butterflies that rolled through their stomachs at the small touch. As Casey ordered, Alex couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to kiss the redhead. If a small touch affected her like that, how would kissing her feel?

Shaking her head clear, Alex stepped forward to order. As they received their drinks and sat at a table, Alex could see that Casey had settled some and seemed more comfortable talking about her current case. Alex really hoped this case went well for her, having an easy case out the gate would help build the squads confidence in the redhead.

"So now that I have vented, tell me how you are liking Major Crimes." Casey asked Alex.

"Well other than the fact that Captain Raydor is a complete pain in the ass, it's okay. The rest of the squad is nice. I don't know how anyone puts up with her." Alex spits out while fixing her coffee. When she looks up at Casey, she visibly sees a change on the redheads face. "What?" Alex asks looking behind her, thinking Casey must have seen something upsetting.

Casey shakes her head, her expression softening, "No one has told you yet, have they?"

"Told me what?" Alex asks hesitantly.

Casey reaches across the table and takes Alex's hand for reassurance, "Sharon Raydor is my mom."

"Oh my god, Casey I am so sorry. I am absolutely mortified. If you never..." Alex was quickly cut off by Casey pressing her finger lightly to Alex's lips to shush her.

"Don't worry about it Alex. My mom can be a hard ass at times. You'll learn to love her for it eventually. Everyone in her squad hated her originally. Just look at it this way, you help me and I will help you." Casey said with a beautiful smile as she pulled her hand away.

"Thank you, Casey. I am seriously embarrassed though about talking so off the cuff about your mom."

"So, what are you saying? If you had known she was my mom you'd just have talked bad about her behind my back." Casey questioned with a firm stare that actually matched Raydor's interrogation stare.

"I, uh, no. N-no, never, I-I don't know." Alex blurted out turning a whole new shade of red.

Seeing Alex blush so hard while losing her words caused Casey to burst out laughing, "Oh my Alex, I am just teasing you!"

"You are so mean."

"That was so worth it though," Casey said patting Alex's hand again, "Seriously though, don't worry, my mom is a little hard on everyone till she knows there work ethic. Once she figures you out, she'll love you just as much as I do." Alex couldn't help but focus on the last sentence Casey spoke.

The rest of their coffee break went smoothly, with Casey giving Alex tips on how to deal with her mom, and Alex giving Casey pointers on Sex Crimes. As they finished and stood to leave, Alex didn't want to part with the redhead, but knew it would be inappropriate to ask Casey to for more of her time. Their slow walk back to the office filled with small talk. It pained her to say goodbye, but alas she did and turned to walk towards her office.

"Hey Alex!" Casey called down the hall to the blonde.

Alex smiled and turned to face the redhead, "Yes, Ms. Novak?"

"Have dinner with me tonight?" Casey asked with a bright smile.

Alex blushed lightly and said, "I would love too. I will meet you in your office after court!"