Author's Note: Guess what? During 's technical hiatus, I went back and reread what I had posted. It's a good thing I did. Turns out I snoozed a decent chunk of this story. It should be read after Chapter 3. I have no explanation for how I missed it during posting...just that I was new at the time and who knows how I did it. I hope you'll consider rereading the story or at least rereading the effected chapters. It makes a point that otherwise doesn't get made. Enjoy!

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The next morning, Liv woke with a start from a dream. It wasn't an unpleasant dream. Quite the opposite. She ran her hand through her hair and let out a long breath. "Casey? What the hell are you doing in my dreams?"

After her particularly cold shower, she made herself some coffee. As she was getting out her mug, her phone rang.

"Benson." She mumbled as she measured the coffee grounds in to the filter.

"Hi Liv." Casey smiled on the other end of the phone.

"Casey? Hey...uh..." Olivia turned eight shades of red as various portions of her dream returned to her at the sound of the red-haired attorney's voice.

"Is everything alright?" Casey couldn't make out the tone in Liv's voice.

"Ah, yeah, sorry. I was measuring coffee. It distracted me. What's up?" Liv wasn't lying, but wasn't telling the whole truth, either.

"Benny and I were just wondering what you were up to today." Casey said.

"Oh, nothing much really. Dickie's got a soccer game at 2pm, but that's only a tentative. What did the two of you have in mind?"

"Roooouuuuuffff!" Benny barked on the other end.

"I think Benny wants to go to the park. You want to join us for a walk in Riverside?" Casey asked as she played with the floppy ears.

"Ah, yeah, sure. That sounds great. What time and where exactly?"

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As Liv approached them in the park she took in Casey. She was wearing sweatpants and her Sex Crimes softball jersey. Her hair was back in a loose ponytail. She was throwing the ball for Benny who was fetching with pouncing enthusiasm. She felt herself chuckle. Casey really was attractive. Her red hair almost glowed in the autumn sunshine. Her emerald eyes seemed to sparkle as she frolicked with her dog.

"Hey Case." Liv hollered when she was close enough.

"Wwaaarrroooof!" Benny ran over to Liv and circled her three times before jumping up to lick her across the face. His big tail was wagging at lightening speed.

"And how dare I not say hi to you, big man." Liv tousled the floppy ears and scratched the shiny chocolate brown coat.

"Hi Liv. How are you?" Casey smiled and Liv felt a little flutter in her stomach.

Liv swallowed. "Good, Case." She smiled as Casey tossed the ball.

"I'm good actually. Really, really good. Let's walk." Casey grabbed the leash and called Benny to her.

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A while later, the three of them sat on a blanket by the water.

"This is the life." Liv said as she fell backwards on to the blanket. She sighed deeply.

"You're easy to please." Casey mocked.

"It doesn't take much." Liv grinned. She looked at the sky and wondered what Casey would think if she knew about her dream. Maybe, just maybe, she might harbor some more than friendly feelings for her, too. She sighed deeply again.

"What is going on down there that's causing those sighs?" Casey looked down in to Liv's big brown eyes. Casey gave Liv a poke in the side.

"Cut that out!" Liv swatted Casey's hand.

Casey squealed as Liv went to poke her back.

Before Liv knew what was going on, sixty pounds of slobbering mutt were on top of her and barking incessantly. "Gggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaauuuuufff. Garrrrrr."

"Ok, ok." Liv pulled herself in to a sitting position and put her hands in the air. "I give, I give. But she started it!"

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