Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Law and Order SVU characters. However, Danielle is a character that I created, and I'd appreciate if no one took her.

Warning: Most of the books in the Casey series have self-harming material. Since I am a recovery cutter, I know that some of the material can be triggering. So this paragraph warns the reader that there is self-harm material in this book, and that you should be cautious about reading this book.

Hope you enjoy. :)

-blueskies723

December 25th, 2004

So after so many years of not seeing my sister, I'm finally able to visit her.

I was born on July 23rd, 1989. Casey was 12 years old when I was born, and she absolutely loved being my sister from the very beginning, if only I can say that for some people. A few days later, for some reason, my mother left. Casey told me that our parents were arguing and that my mother didn't want another child and that she can't handle a 12 year old and a newborn. So she left me, Casey and my dad alone.

Casey left for law school when I was 5, and I could honestly say that I was very unhappy for almost a week. She always babysat me when I was younger and when she was in middle and high school. Even though we have a major age difference, we were so close. We still are, when she gets around to calling me. She's busy with working at the SVU unit; she couldn't call me last year in October when she started and I was really sad about that.

My dad found someone new since Casey left for college, but I can also say that my step-mom is a real bitch. My dad may have served for our country, but the step-mom runs the house. She stresses me out so much; she always tells me that I'm not good enough and I should be getting straight A's. Oh, and I forgot to mention that she beats me sometimes too. But I don't tell Casey, I don't want her to worry.

Besides, I have another way of dealing even though it's not a healthy way to deal: I cut myself. You would think that everyone would freak out and worry about me, but no one in this house notices, ever.

I leave tomorrow for New York City to stay with Casey until January 1st, and then I'm back at this horrible house. Hopefully, Casey doesn't mention any of my self-inflicted cuts, but she can be very observant.

"Danielle, wake up! We're almost at her apartment"

Danielle slowly opened her eyes and saw the large buildings. She sat up and started looking out of the car window. She has been in New York City before, and she also tried to wander off and find Casey at work, but her plan failed. Danielle was excited, and glad that she was staying with her sister. Her dad paralleled park and turned off the car.

"You ready to see your sister?"

"Yep"

Danielle got out of the car and grabbed the bags that she needed for the next week in New York City. Her dad got out and shut the door. Danielle ran up the stairs to the apartment complex, with her dad 

following her. She opened the door, and realized she didn't know where she was going. She waited for her dad to lead the way. He did and walked up one flight of stairs and went down the hallway. They stopped at the door that said "2C" and her dad knocked on the door.

"Hold on! I'll be there in a minute!" they hear Casey yelled.

A minute later, the door opened and the both of them saw an exhausted, but excited Casey.

"Danielle!"

"Casey!"

They embraced in a hug. Danielle decided that it felt good having Casey in her presence.

"Hey, how about me?" their dad said.

"Now why would I forget you, dad" Casey said as she gave him a hug.

"How are you doing with your new job?"

"It's exhausting and emotional, but I've been getting through it" Casey said.

"That's good. Well, I need to get back home. We'll keep in touch" their dad said "Have fun, Danielle."

Danielle gave him a goodbye hug.

"Goodbye dad"

She let go and their father walked down the hallway and down the stairs.

"Well, come on in!" Casey said, opening the door to her apartment all the way.

Danielle walked in and saw that the living room area with the couch was a mess, but that's how Casey worked. Danielle could remember how Casey's room was always a mess and how she would have a hard time finding her homework for the next day. But the rest of the apartment that was in front of her looked clean.

"So, you can see the living room and the kitchen"

"The living room is a mess" Danielle said.

"You know me. Follow me, I'll show you your room."

Casey walked down a very short hallway and walked into a bare room.

"This is your room. And the bathroom is right next to my room."

Casey's cell phone started ringing. She took it out of her pocket and saw the number.

"Oh Geez, I told them that you were coming..."

She flipped open the phone.

"Casey Novak. Yes, I gave you the file...well, my sister just came.Fine, I'll be there in a few minutes. Bye."

She flipped the phone shut and looked at Danielle.

"I need to go back to work for another hour, but I promise that we will catch up when we get back" Casey said "Besides, I got you a Christmas present."

December 26th, 2004

I know I should be patient because of Casey's job, but she left at 4 and it's 8.

I've been so bored since I got here. I unpacked, but after that, I have nothing to do around here. I'm not going to lie, but at one point I sneaked around in that mess in the living room. They're case files from work! Some of them were interesting, but most of them weren't, so I gave up on that. Luckily, she had food in the fridge and I was able to make a sand which.

And now I wait. I should see what's on Tv, but I'm not sure if there's anything good on.

Maybe I'll take a nap.

Casey unlocked the door to her apartment and saw that the lights were off everywhere. She turned the main light on, threw her work bag on the couch, and walked to Danielle's room. She saw that she was sleeping, and she knew that she disappointed her little sister. But then again, it wasn't the only time.

She walked back into the living room, moved her work bag, and sat on the couch. She had to finish reviewing cases by tomorrow. She turned the Tv set on, turned down the volume, and started to read.

A few minutes later, Danielle was woken up by the Tv set. She got up from the bed and walked out of her room to see Casey on the couch. Danielle glanced back at the alarm clock; it was 10:30.

Danielle walked out of the hallway and entered the living room.

"I didn't think you were coming home at a decent hour."

Casey flinched and looked up.

"Geez, You scared me Danielle! I thought you were..."

"Asleep? Yeah, well your Tv show woke me up."

"I'm not even watching it" Casey said "I'm reviewing case files"

"You do that while the Tv is on?" Danielle asked.

"It's a new habit since I was in college."

"I see."

"Oh! I almost forgot about your Christmas present."

Casey got up from the couch and started searching for Danielle's present.

"And my present is in this mess?"

"Yeah, I know. You know how unorganized I can be" Casey said. "Oh! Here it is!"

Casey picked up a small box that was somewhat nicely wrapped in penguin wrapping paper and gave it to Danielle. She sat back down on the couch and gave Danielle the wrapped present.

"I know how much you liked penguins."

"Dad told you. Classic" Danielle said.

Danielle tore some of the paper off the box. She knew it was jewelry since the box was small and flat. She opened the box to find a sliver heart locket.

"Wow..."

"There's more" Casey said "Open the heart"

Danielle slowly opened the heart, and saw a picture of her and Casey. But it wasn't an ordinary picture. It was a picture of Casey with Danielle on her shoulders after she graduated from high school. Casey looked at Danielle and knew that she was close to crying.

"Casey, I love it" Danielle said quietly as she looked at her "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

December 27th, 2004

I absolutely love the locket she gave me for Christmas. I even wore it to bed last night, that's how much I love it.

Danielle woke up a few minutes before ten. She didn't want to wake up, but she didn't have a choice. So she got up, left her room and walked into the kitchen. She was making a bagel when the apartment phone rang. She knew it was Casey, so she walked to the phone and picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Danielle"

"Hey Case"

"Did you just wake up?"

"Yes" Danielle said.

"It sounded like it" Casey said "Listen, I talked to my boss and she said I could leave at noon for the rest of the day."

"Okay, sounds good."

"All right, I'll see you then. Bye."