A/N: Alas, 'tis the last chapter! So, my beloved readers (I do adore you, really), "Serendipity" has come to an end. Thank you so much for those who've been following this story, for each and every follow/favorite/review. They mean the world to me, truly.

For all of you women loving women (wlw) who have tumblr/watch the 100, you've probably seen and/or felt all the negative and overall bad feeling our community has been wrapped around in lately. On this author's note I'd like to say that it's very sad and tragic that once again the big media has let queer women down and fed them false expectations, but we shall stand despite of those who try to ruin our stories and dismiss our affection. Don't let it get to you. We deserve all the nice stories - if they only come from fan creations, so be it.

That being said I'd like you to know that unlike those sort of stories, "Serendipity" ends on a positive note.

I have every intention of doing a follow up for this story - that would be: about the development of Olivia and Casey's relationship after 5x05, as Casey becomes their ADA - but I won't get your hopes up on it coming so soon. I've been working on another Olivia x Casey story, but it's unrelated to this one. If you're interested in more of this pairing, let me know, it sure will help me get motivated, because lately I've been very stuck. Also, I accept ideas/prompts.

Again, thank you so much for reading! And please leave a feedback!

Chapter 11

She drove around the city like a roaming tourist, at first counting the light poles (thirty seven) until she started feeling completely ridiculous, wondering if the happenings from these last weeks had drained her of her sanity. Casey then decided to confront all the doubts she had in mind, starting by the look in Branch's eyes: was he totally mad in believing she was capable of handling the work at SVU?

She didn't believe he was correct on his notions that she was the right person for the job (being tough at white collar while nailing petty criminals who dealt with forgeries and grand larceny was absolutely nothing compared to what he expected her to do well, and she just couldn't conceive how he could put these two ideas side to side), but he wasn't so wrong about her wanting it. Despite not feeling able to cope with more cases like the last one, she felt passionate about the cause, about maybe making the difference to one victim, to put a disgusting low life like Nestler away. But was it worth the toll it would take on her life? Olivia herself, as successful on the job as she was, talked about how extenuating it was on relationships - and Casey could pretty much feel that the friendship circle the detectives had was limited to that squad room. Not to mention the worst part: the flashes she had at night before sleep of all the case details; the feeling of never being safe - always watching over a child that walked down the streets alone, always worried about going out late, or drinking too much; thinking about the victims' future (would little Courtney ever trust an adult again? Would she flinch every time a male teacher asked her a question? Would she ever be able to go inside a small space?) or about the future victims.

The loud cellphone ringtone interrupted her waterfall of thoughts, her emerald eyes focusing on the number plastered across the screen as a frown took over her face. She decided to answer it before it hit the voice mail.

"Casey Novak", she spoke politely.

"Hi, Novak. It's Olivia", she paused, clicking her tongue before completing, "Benson, from SVU".

Casey smiled, amused at the idea that Olivia would think she wouldn't recognize her voice, or know which Olivia was calling.

"Hi, Benson", she replied, still smiling, "Is there something wrong with the Nestler case? Or with Courtney?", her tone changed, now aggravated, as she realized the call had to be about something work related - and in that case, nothing remotely nice could come out of it.

"No, no. Calm down. Everything is fine. I didn't mean to alarm you", Olivia apologized.

"It's alright, I just assumed it was something about the case", Casey said vaguely, hoping Olivia caught what she meant to imply.

"But it is about the case", she said shyly, glad technology didn't allow Casey to see her now.

"What is it?!", Casey anxiously tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she watched young lovers coming out of the restaurant where she had just parked.

"The case ended well, so I guess you and I have a drink to grab", Olivia said with a smile.

"Oooh", she laughed, biting her lip, "It's true. Didn't think you'd remember it though", she confessed.

"I always keep my promises. Even the ones I make informally. Are you free now?".

"I'm glad to know", Casey teasingly replied, "Yes, I'm free now".

"How about we meet, say, half an hour from now? It's okay if it's in the bar near the squad?", Olivia carefully asked.

"Half an hour is great, it's about the time that will take me to get there", she agreed, remembering her roaming had left her nowhere near the 16th precinct, but it was late and the traffic was light, she surely could make it in half an hour.

"Okay", Olivia confirmed, wondering what was it about Casey that made her feel at a loss of words sometimes.

"See you in half an hour, Benson".

The detective muttered a reply before the call was disconnected. For a few seconds she stared at the cellphone on her hands, her mind vaguely wandering through scattered thoughts, then she put it back inside her coat's pocket before picking up a pile of files that laid on her desk and rapidly rising up from her seat.

"You gonna meet up with someone tonight?", Elliot asked from across his desk, where he too dealt with paperwork.

"Not exactly", she dismissively answered.

"Come on, Liv. It's okay if you're going out on a date", he teased her.

"I'm not going out on a date, El", Olivia said irritatedly, turning towards him, "I'm just going out for a couple of drinks with the A.D.A., Novak".

"Novak?", he asked with a frown, astonished, "I thought you hated her guts. But she did earn some respect for having the idea of searching in the cooler, and rescuing the girl".

She nodded dismissively. Something about Casey put her off from the first moment she laid eyes on the woman, something scared her about the redhead, but she could never hate Casey Novak. In fact, she could never actually dislike her. Olivia didn't know what was it that made her want to smile, all she knew was that Elliot was dead wrong on his assumptions and it definitively amused her that he got something wrong about her.

Elliot watched her in expectant bewilderment, trying to wrap his mind around what could possibly be going inside her head.

"She's growing on me", his partner stated, before turning her back to him and smiling to herself.