The Secret Life of the ADA Novak

By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters

Ch. 1: Struggle like You Mean It

It had been a long day and Casey wanted nothing more than to go home, her favorite part of the day. But here she was, at the precinct whilst she waited for Elliot to come out of interrogation with more evidence to get a warrant. Sighing, she got herself a coffee and stood by the doorway to the office, watching as Olivia approached her.

Olivia was at her side in less than two minutes. "Casey, what are you still doing here? This is an arrest for an accusation of rape at a strip club, not something you'd generally be interested in."

"Elliot said you might need a warrant..."

"Yeah, for other accusations. So we can question the girls. The club, his place and vehicle have already been searched. Other than looking like he could easily take advantage of most women who work for him, we don't have much," the detective said.

Casey nodded as the door to the interrogation room opened, Elliot starting to escort the manager from the room as she stared for a moment, lowering her voice, Casey turned to Liv, "Don't ask why, but I need you to grab my wrist and pull it behind my back like I'm resisting you escorting me through. Please?"

Olivia wondered why she would ask such a thing, but something in her eyes said she needed it. Pushing her in front of her, she twisted Casey's arm behind her back, as well as her other hand on her shoulder. "Struggle," she whispered. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

Casey kicked her legs as she struggled against Olivia's hold. "Let go of me, bitch!"

Olivia turned, shoving her against the glass. "That's detective!"

"I'm going to have you done for assault! This whole thing is police brutality!" she shouted, hoping Cragen wouldn't appear from his office as the manager stared at Casey. She looked at him and said, "Did you see what she did?!"

He nodded sending Olivia a steely glare. "Let her go!"

Olivia shook her head. "Nope, maybe you don't realize it, but women can be just as brutal," she said, pressing right up against Casey. "Stop moving!"

"No!" Casey continued to struggle, attempting to run as she broke free, except for her wrist, knowing he had recognized her.

Olivia pulled her back. "Detective Stabler, take him out of here."

"Ow!" Casey over exaggerated, Olivia having pressed her face against the glass as Elliot took the man away.

Olivia pulled her from the glass as soon as they were out of sight. "I think I have a right to ask this: what the hell was that about?" she asked releasing her.

Casey didn't reply, having bent over the nearest bin to throw up.

Olivia walked over, holding her hair back as she rubbed her back. "It's ok."

"I've got to go home. It's late and I need to be with..." Casey stopped herself.

Olivia nodded, handing her a cup of water. "Do you want me to drive you home? We could pick up some food on the way."

"I... Ok," she replied, reluctantly. She really wasn't in a state to drive.

Olivia nodded, escorting her into the bullpen as she grabbed her jacket and walked her out. "What would you like?"

"Pizza?" Casey suggested, not sure how much of it she'd keep down, rubbing her wrist as she got into the car.

Olivia nodded. "Sorry about your wrist. To go? You said you needed to get home."

"It's alright, I told you to. And yes, to go."

Again she nodded, driving. "Sometime, will you tell me what that was about?"

Casey nodded, sighing heavily. "Maybe sometime. You mind if I wait here whilst you run in?"

Olivia nodded. "Any type of pizza or drink you want?"

"Double pepperoni, and whatever to drink."

Olivia nodded. Walking in, she ordered two double pepperoni pizzas and a couple sodas, walking out twenty minutes later and getting back in. "Here, hold these."

Casey took the pizzas placing them on her lap, shivering as they warmed her cold body, giving Olivia her address, remaining quiet.

The detective wrapped a blanket around her as they drove off. Olivia was curious about how Casey was acting, but it was late and they both wanted to get home.

As soon as they got to Casey's, she pulled out her purse, handing some money to the lady inside, thanking her for waiting because she was late. She slipped out of her coat, taking the food from Olivia, placing it on the counter. "I'm home!" she called, slipping her shoes off, as she watched Olivia walk into the room.

"Mommy! You're home!" A little boy who looked to be about six ran over and hugged her legs. He had short red hair and green eyes. "I missed you!"

Another woman came into view, she had black hair that was tied up in a tail, a red t-shirt on and black jeans. She looked to be maybe 18. "Ben, I told you it's late. You need to be in bed."

"No!" he said, clinging to Casey. "Wanna see Mommy!"

"Its fine, don't worry," Casey smiled at her, handing her some extra cash, kneeling down to hug him as she left, not having seen him the previous two evenings, "I missed you too! Want to stay up with me and Olivia for a bit and have pizza since its Friday?"

"Uh huh!" he said, hugging her tightly. He looked to Olivia. "Mommy, you work with her?"

Olivia walked over slowly.

"Yeah, you remember me telling you about her?" Casey smiled as he nodded, lifting him into her arms.

"Hi Olivia," he smiled, just like his mother, as she lifted one of the pizza boxes in her hand.

Olivia smiled, taking him from Casey so she could get the table ready. "Hi buddy! What do you like to do?"

"I like drawing and dinosaurs and trucks and baseball and watching TV," he said without breath.

Olivia smiled. "What's your favorite dinosaur?"

"Triceratops. What do you like to do?" Ben asked as Casey placed the last of the things on the table.

"I like to watch movies when I get a chance," she said.

"I like you, you have nice eyes, just like mummy said," Ben smiled.

"Alright, enough talking. Time to eat," Casey said, taking him from Olivia, sitting him at the table before joining him.

Olivia sat on the other side. "What else do you like to do?" she asked Ben.

"Cuddles with mummy in bed on a Saturday morning are my favorite thing to do."

Casey blushed.

The detective smiled. "I bet you do. She seems very...cuddly and soft," she said with a blush.

"She's the bestest in the world," he grinned as Casey looked up, smiling at Olivia.

They quickly ate and Casey settled Ben to sleep, returning to the living room a short while later. She sat next to Olivia on the couch. "Sorry about him, he's a bit... chatty."

Olivia shook her head. "It's ok. He's...he's cute Casey. He looks just like you."

"Thanks," Casey smiled, "Sorry about earlier too."

The detective nodded. "So...how do you know him?"

Casey sighed heavily. "You'll find out anyway if you look into... I used to work for him. But you can't tell anyone, Liv. Not unless you have to."

"I won't tell. Why would you work for him? Was this something before becoming an ADA?"

"You think I could afford to pay for a baby and my law degree on my own?"

Olivia sighed. "So...was he...?"

"What?"

She hesitated. "...Consensual?"

Casey's eyes broke from Olivia's the second the word came out of her mouth. "It's late. You should probably get home..."

Olivia scooted closer, hugging her tightly. "Yeah, you're right, but if you need anything, you have my number," she said as she stood.

Casey nodded. "Thanks for the pizza."

"You're welcome," she said. "Oh and if you ever want to explain, I promise I won't tell."

Casey offered a smile. "I know," she said, standing to see Olivia out.

It was Monday morning far too soon, and Elliot sat across from Olivia going through the names on the employee list. "What happened with Novak on Friday?"

"Oh, she was just tired. Long week," Olivia said, sipping a coffee.

"I meant the role play... why is her name on this list?"

"What list?"

"The employee list from Garcia's club."

Olivia sighed. "How should I know?"

Elliot frowned. "Cragen wants to send someone in there..."

"I'll do it," Casey replied from the doorway before entering.

"Casey. You don't have to do this," Olivia said.

"No one wants to nail that bastard more than I do. You can't change my mind."

Olivia nodded, walking over. "But it could take days," she said before whispering, "what about Ben?"

"I've done it before. My parents can have him. Besides, he doesn't know what I do now. I'm your perfect chance."

"Well, yeah, that's true. He looked really surprised to see you, but Casey... I..I just don't want you to be hurt."

"I won't be," Casey reassured her, "do you want me to go and see if he's got any work or not?"

"I don't know. You'd have to ask Cragen," Olivia said.

Casey walked in the direction of his office. "Fine, let's ask him."

Olivia nodded, wrapping an arm around Casey as they knocked on his door.

He called them in and watched them both enter. "I want to go undercover at Garvia's club," she said.

Cragen looked at Novak surprised as Olivia closed the door. "You? Casey, I'd be more comfortable sending Olivia. Why do you want to go?"

"He saw her here on Friday. I... I used to work there. He doesn't know what I do now and he trusts me."

Cragen sighed. "You worked there? I would've thought you'd have no need to be in a place like that."

"It's not one of my finest moments," Casey said with a sigh. "I can get down there now and see if he had any jobs going?"

Cragen sighed. "Fine, but I want Olivia to go with you."

Casey nodded, leading Olivia out. "We should get going."

Olivia nodded. "Follow me," she said, leading her to the locker room, shedding her jacket for a wrap that was in her locker as well as a purse that matched it, which she slipped her gun, badge and ID in. Then she set to work applying a thick coat of makeup. She turned back to Casey, pulling her hair back. "What do you think? Recognizable?"

Casey suddenly felt a little breathless. "I... No... Follow me, Rachel," she replied, knowing her usual undercover ID.

She nodded, taking her arm. "Let's go."