Misplaced

By: Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles

Chapter 3: Personality Flip

Casey slept all evening, right through the night and most of the morning. Worried about leaving her, Olivia called in a favor and got some time off. She fell asleep on the armchair, but woke at every sound, then after the sun rose, wandered aimlessly around the house before finally hearing Casey begin to stir.

"Hi," she said as the blankets dropped from Casey's movements.

Casey rubbed her face, drew in a sharp breath as she touched the bruised area, and looked around. "Hi."

"How are you feeling?"

"...Sore."

"That should go down soon, here," she handed her a glass of water as she sat up.

Casey sipped at it silently, still looking around, at anything but Olivia.

Olivia noticed her nervousness as she grasped her free hand. "I've...taken some time off. Would you like to order in some lunch?"

She looked down at their joined hands for a long time before offering, "I'm not very hungry. Could I, maybe, have a shower?"

She smiled, nodding. "Anything you want. Do you...need help with anything?"

"Do you have any spare clothes?"

Olivia nodded. "I'll get you some." She stood, leaving the room and returning ten minutes later with a t-shirt and sweats. "I hope these work. You can always change later."

Casey accepted them, then made her way to the bathroom, attempting the painful task of pulling her t-shirt over her head.

Olivia followed her. "Stop. Arms up."

Casey jumped, then shyly put her arms up as high as she could without causing pain.

Olivia stepped around to her back and slowly peeled the shirt away. "I'm trying to be careful."

As she removed the top, more cuts and bruises were revealed.

Olivia gently ran her hands along the others. "Do you...will you...need any—damn Casey! Why didn't you tell me?" she asked in a slight cry. "I-I wouldn't have let, but I know you don't like to tell..."

Casey turned around slowly, her lips brushing the tears from Olivia's face away with gentle kisses. "Shower with me?"

Olivia nodded, slipping from her clothes and shutting the bathroom door before turning the water on. "Has...it always been like this?" she asked, touching her shoulder gently.

Casey shivered as the water hit her, stepping closer to Olivia for warmth, suddenly making Olivia aware of how much thinner she was than when they'd started working together.

"You're...you've lost weight? Casey, when did you eat last?" she asked, pulling her to the back where the water only hit their feet.

"When..I brought you food. I don't eat when I'm stressed out." She finally felt the warmth of the water and tilted her head back, letting the water flow down over her.

"You should still eat," Olivia said, gently washing her back and being careful of the bruises.

She sighed, moving closer to Olivia. "I know, but..."

"She scares you," Olivia said simply, lathering up her hair and handing the bottle to Casey. "It's understandable from how jealous she gets."

She sighed, wincing as Olivia accidentally pressed too hard when washing her back. "..Yes, its always been like this," she answered. "I-I've never minded a bit of pain, but she-she takes it too extremely."

Olivia nodded. "Maybe she didn't understand it?"

Casey remained silent, the hot water pounding on her bruised and beaten body. Olivia's bare hands seemed to numb and soothe the pain as they caressed her, as if she was, somehow, trying to wash away the damage Hailey had inflicted on her mentally, emotionally and physically. "Olivia," she spoke softly, "you don't have to do this anymore."

Olivia's hands rested on her shoulders. "But you asked me to."

"That's not what I mean," Casey answered, placing her wet hands over hers. "I mean, you don't have to protect me anymore. Hailey's gone now."

"Not forever and you know that. You're smarter than her." Olivia said.

Casey stepped back to let her feel the direct flow of water under the showerhead. She sighed, leaning against the back wall of the shower, suddenly feeling exposed and very vulnerable, hoping Olivia wouldn't notice the other distinguishable marks on her inner thighs. She couldn't tell her. She wouldn't understand, but Casey didn't either.

She knew how dangerous it was to be with Hailey all this time. It wasn't love. Even though Olivia had said she wanted her to stay, how could she be safe if Hailey would always be after her? She would always be getting Olivia involved.

She didn't want to go back, but something always drew her to her.

Suddenly, Olivia turned around, her hair in tangles. "Do you want to wash your hair? I could get out."

Olivia wouldn't want her to go back, not in a million years. It was like she and Hailey were magnets, always attracted to one another in the worst possible way. She knew it wasn't going to get any better, not unless she did something.

Casey was aware, at that moment, that her emotions were all over the map. She felt like screaming, crying and fighting everything inside, everything that wanted her to go back to Hailey, but… She shook her head. "No," she said, stepping from the shower and grabbing a towel before drying off. She slipped into the clothes Olivia had laid out for her. "I...I need to go."

Olivia stepped out, grabbing the other towel and wrapping herself in a robe, grabbing her wrist. "Go? Go where? Casey, you can't go home. It's pure stupidity."

She tore it away. "It's MY life, Olivia! Not yours!"

"You said you wanted to stay. Casey, this is absurd! I can protect you."

She shook her head, tears shining in her green eyes. "You've done enough already. I...I can't involve you anymore," she said, shaking. "It's not right. You have enough on your plate."

"No, I haven't," Olivia said. "Look, if you want to go back, it's your choice. I can't advise it though. It's not going to get any better. I thought you wanted my help."

She nodded. "Yes, but-"

Olivia took her wrist gently. "I don't want you to be hurt again."

"I know, but I can take care of myself."

"And do what? End up with broken bones...or in a body bag? You're strong. Resilient. But, sooner or later, you'll break."

She looked past her into the steamed up mirror. Bruises littered her body under the clothes Olivia had lent her. She knew they did. "..I-I just don't want you to be involved anymore or be hurt."

Olivia nodded. "I know that, but you need help. Don't go, please?"

"I know you're right. I know, but I-I." She fell forward into her arms and was caught gently as she sobbed.

She sighed. "Casey, whenever you need me, I'm here." It broke her heart to let Casey go, but she couldn't force her to stay. It was obvious that Hailey had more control over her than she knew.

Casey pulled away. "I know. Olivia, I...I don't want to go."

"Then don't go. Stay with me."

"But she'll keep coming back! And sometime…you won't be able to protect me."

She kissed the top of her head. "I'll always protect you. The squad will protect you."

Casey stepped back. "..Can I go home and grab a few things?"

"It's your choice."

She nodded. "If I'm not back within an hour, come find me." And with that, she walked from the apartment, dread filling her being, but knowing she had to do this alone.

Author's Note: What do you think?

Review thanks to: Bkwrmchar, Tracer0403 & Kikilia14

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Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles