A/N: Here we go again! I hope you enjoy this start. It is going to be a journey for sure! We can all thank Blitz for this inspiration! :)
Casey Novak stood in her office at the DA's office. So much had changed over the last twenty four hours and she didn't know how to handle the tumble of emotions coursing through her every vein. One moment she felt like she couldn't breathe, the next it was as if she was going to burst back into tears. Right now, she focused on the rain. As if watching it fall upon the streets below, watching it wash the filth from the city it could also take all the feelings from her that she no longer wished to feel, the pain, the uncertainty, and the question of whether or not she would ever truly be loved again.
It seemed like not too long ago she stood here in a similar situation, only then it was after her parents' death. Both of them being taken from her far too early in life in a tragic car accident driving up the east coast heading home after a cruise. Normally, they would have flown, but that time they'd decided to drive and take little stops along the way. In a way, it was a celebration for her father's retirement from being a federal prosecutor. She'd been left alone in the world without even a shoulder to cry on, a curse of being an only child.
Life had seemed so unfair at that moment. She'd broken up with her college sweetheart just weeks before knowing that they were headed in to different directions in life, moved to a new city with no friends, and then got the call from the Georgia state troopers of the accident. The awful moment seemed so clear in her head, like it was yesterday. That was the day that changed everything. It was the day she fell in love with Alexandra Cabot.
A year and a half earlier…
Casey stood at the windowsill trying to win a futile battle of fighting back her endless tears. It had been surely been the worst day of her life. She'd just finished her first case for Sex Crimes. It was a nightmare and if that was how she lost her Sex Crimes virginity she did not think she even wanted a repeat experience. Then after begging her boss for another transfer even if it meant going back to the misery of White Collar and being turned down, she returned to her office to receive a call from the Georgia State Troopers. They informed her of her parents' death. A tractor trailer blew a tire causing a major pile up, one of the worst in a decade for the state. Nine people injured and five fatalities, her parents were amongst the causalities. A wracking sob escaped her lips as reality sunk in…she was completely alone.
Falling to her knees her hands clutched the windowsill as she tried to draw strength from the hardy wood, as she tried to will the tears from her eyes. She needed just enough strength to make it home that was it, just enough to make it home. Then she could crawl to the bathtub with a bottle of wine and the bottle of…
"Oh my God, Casey?"
Casey heard the newly familiar voice across the room. The blonde ice queen found her. God, why did Alexandra Cabot have to find her right now? She was surely coming to harass again for something, and now she was caught in her biggest breakdown ever. It only made the red head cry more and lose her grip on the windowsill collapsing into herself.
Suddenly, she felt the blonde's hands on her pulling her into a hug. "Casey, I am so sorry. I should have prepped you more. You will be okay. I know how hard it can be." Alex soothed holding the redhead tight. Casey couldn't speak, all she could do was shake her head no.
Alex took a deep breath and pushed Casey back some to look into her glassy tear filled green eyes. "It will be okay Casey, I promise. You'll learn to cope with the horrors. I can help you if you need it. My best advice at this point is stay away from crime scenes unless you are called directly to them by Cragen, that will help immensely."
"Alex, it's not the case." Casey forced out before sobbing again. Alex's eyes went wide, realizing something else terrible had happened to the redhead. Shaking her head clear, Alex whispered, "Then what is it Casey?"
"My parents…died today." Casey forced out.
"Casey," Alex began then aborted and just pulled Casey close into a tight hug. She held the redhead until her tears ceased then helped her up and took her home. She stayed the night on the couch and the next morning helped Casey make arrangements for her parent's funeral.
Casey never had to ask for any help; Alex was just there for her. The blonde helped her every step of the way and held her hand through the service and supported her at the after events. Casey was able to see a side of Alexandra Cabot that no one ever saw while Alex saw and listened to the weakest points of Casey's life. The redhead never stood a chance, she fell fast and hard for the blonde.
Six months later…
"Seriously Casey, why do you waste your time pinning over that Ice Bitch?" Abbie Carmichael blurted out.
"Okay, on that note I am heading back to my office," Casey said standing to leave.
"Sit down!" Kim Greylek barked at her best friend. "You have avoided this question time and again, and Abigail and I have been very patient, but you are going to spill and you are going to spill now."
Casey lets out a loud sigh as she throws herself down on her friends sofa. "Fine, what is it you want to know, ask?"
"Okay," Kim starts, "Why is it that you are so in love with Alex Cabot? She treats you like her slave even though you are her co-chair, I mean she just generally isn't very nice to you Casey, we don't get it."
"Well," Abbie adds, "she isn't nice to anyone, hence the Ice Bitch nickname."
"Don't call her that!" Casey snaps, "Listen, Alex was there for me when I really needed someone. She has a really sweet and genuine side. You all just haven't seen it. I am seriously going to marry her one day. Her bitchy girlfriend just needs to hit the road already."
Shaking her head, Kim picks up her cup of tea, "Casey, you are crazy. I think your total flower child mentality has you seeing rainbows and sunshine in the least likely of places."
Casey stands again and smiling at her friends says, "Then let a girl dream." Walking to the door she turns and smirks at her friends, "But, I will be doing the 'I told you so' dance one day."
"Your insane!" Casey heard Abbie yell as she exited into the corridor.
Walking down the hall she headed to the blonde's office. Knocking on the door, she hears a slightly annoyed "Come in," yelled from the direction of the desk. Entering the office, she walks to the desk to see Alex Cabot on the floor battling with the floor vent and what looked like an eye glasses repair kit screw driver.
"What are you doing?" Casey questions the blonde.
Looking up at the redhead, Alex sighs, "Do you ever wear anything appropriate for court?"
"That wasn't an answer Sweetheart. What did you drop down the vent?" Casey asks again bending down to take a look.
"I dropped my earring. Its right there, I just can't get this thing off. I need a real screw driver." Alex sighs again. She feels annoyed by everything today. First she and Audrey had another major fight and then Casey and her were called to a motions court at 1pm, and now this her favorite earring in the air vent and Casey is dressed like a slut to go stand before a judge. What God did she piss off without knowing it?
Watching the redhead pull a dime out of her pocket she is amazed to see Casey free the screws and quickly retrieve the earring. Passing it to Alex, the redhead whispers, "All it costs you is a drink tonight."
"Seriously Casey," Alex says taking the earring with an eye roll.
"Come on Alex, let me take you out tonight. I will make sure you have a good time." Casey says with a wink.
"No Casey!" Alex says crossing the room, "Give it a rest already." Packing up her things for court she notices Casey pick up her stress relief ball and begin to play catch with it. Sighing she says, "Casey seriously, do you ever act like an adult?"
"Nope, and if I start to please put me out of my misery," Casey answers with a smirk.
Grabbing her bag, Alex heads to the door, "Come on, if we leave now we can get coffee before court." Walking out into the hallway she doesn't miss her younger co-chairs words.
"Score! I knew I'd get you for a drink one way or another!"