Chapter Seven- Pray for Me

Casey paced around Alex's office while Olivia and Alex were at Whitaker's sentencing. She waited and waited. The only reason they went straight to sentencing was because the judge on the case ordered it. He confessed in open court. If Olivia, Alex, and Casey were happy, then Martin Bradley was ecstatic. She left the office for a brief moment to get some of that air that filled Hogan Place. She missed it. She missed the air that was the District Attorney's Office, but she coped well. She caught Bradley leaving. "Hey!" she called out. He took a quick glance and then moved his head back to its original position. "Look, I'm sorry about all of this-."

"This isn't your fault, Miss Novak," said Bradley. "It was a set up. It was always a set up. I was beginning to wonder why an expensive defense attorney was offering to defend me for free."

"It didn't seem like he was putting his all into the case," observed Casey.

"Well, coming from an ex-ADA," he began, "that's an accurate observation. He wanted to get away with it."

"Yeah, well, take care of yourself," she ordered, smiling. "No more porno."

"I think I learned my lesson," he smiled, entering the elevator. "Don't read porn unless you want to get charged with rape." Casey laughed and turned her heal back to where Alex and Olivia were.

Alex and Olivia were standing in the office. They waited for Casey. It seems that she stepped out for a minute to clear her head. They watched as the door opened and the redhead walked inside. Clearly, she did not expect anything to happen. "Well?" she asked. "What did he get?"

"20 to life for Rape One," said Alex proudly. Casey pumped a fist in the air, smiling again. She was safe. The streets could be walked on again. Tears of relief flowed from her eyes, and, before she knew it, she was hugging Alex and Olivia. Olivia let tears of relief run from her eyes, also. One of her very few friends just got justice, and that made her happy. "What do you say we celebrate?" Olivia and Casey gave nods of agreement as they exited the door.

They sat at a bar stool, downing a pitcher of beer and talking. They mostly got to talking about what Casey was going to do after this. Alex and Olivia already knew what was going to happen to them. Another chase, another case. Maybe something along the lines of the occasional creeper.

"What will you do, Casey?" asked Olivia with unconcealed wonder.

"I'm thinking of becoming a social worker," responded Casey. Olivia and Alex stared at her. She smiled. "What, I can't go back to helping people? This trial was the reason why I became a prosecutor in the first place." Alex smiled.

"Same here," she said. "I just didn't get disbarred," she added with a smirk.

"Hey, come on," said Olivia, "no wise cracks. I had to listen to Munch all day." The three women laughed, knowing how crazy Munch can get, especially with Fin egging him on instead of shutting him up. They had a friendly chat together, and then left. It was a good rest of the night.

After dropping Alex off at home, Olivia and Casey drove back to her apartment. They stopped and parked right in front so Olivia can get out and give a more personal good-bye. "Well, you take care of yourself," ordered Olivia.

"Ditto," responded Casey, much to Olivia's amusement. "I can't believe I might not see you again."

"You will," reassured Olivia. Casey smiled. "Social workers often work with Special Victims, as you can recall."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Well, I'll see ya." Olivia began to turn around to go back home. She was tired after a long night of drinking (she drank less than the other two women). Before she could do that, Casey grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight squeeze.

"Thanks Liv," she whispered. Olivia tightened her grip on Casey for a few minutes and then let go. "I mean that."

"I know," whispered Olivia, pulling Casey in for another hug. They said good-bye, and Olivia went home.

Sometimes friends require the attention of one's professionalism, not just their attention as a friend. Casey got that, and it made her feel more at ease. Maybe some things such as friendships are made to last, and that they were there to save her.

Olivia's car remained outside of Casey's apartment to make sure that she got inside safely (a friendly gesture from one friend to another), and Casey turned on a lamp and looked out the window. She watched Olivia pull away.

"Thank you for saving me," whispered Casey. She turned off a light and went to bed. She didn't have nightmares for the first time in weeks.