FIC: Mixed Signals 1/5
Title: Mixed Signals
Pairing: C/O eventually
Summary: Casey gets all sorts of mixed signals from Olivia.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned them but unfortunately I don't. Dick Wolf does. Take it up with him.
Author's Note: After a lot of getting mixed signals myself when I originally wrote this, I decided to take out my frustration on Olivia and Casey. This fic is from Casey's POV. For those of you who read this on Yahoo, I have done some editing to this story. Enjoy!
DOINK DOINK
Once again, I'm here at the office. At midnight. Why? Because Olivia asked me to get her a warrant on very shaky evidence earlier and for some reason, I cannot say no to her. They're serving the warrant now, so there is no way I'm leaving until I hear how it went. I lean my forehead against my desk. It's just been one of those days. You know the ones. The kind where the only cure is a screaming orgasm at the hands of a great lover or in my case, favorite vibrator.
It all started this morning. Olivia stopped by my office just as I was leaving for an arraignment. I was wearing my black skirt suit with a pale pink scoop necked shell underneath. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared blatantly s she raked her gaze oh so slowly up my body and stopped at my chest. "Is there something you want detective?"
"What I want, I know I can't have." she muttered. Then it was like she realized what she'd just said because she started back-pedalling. "I mean, we got more evidence on the Rodriguez case but you're gonna say we can't get the warrant." I merely raised my eyebrows, not trusting myself to say anything at the moment. That wanton look on her face as she tries to avert her gaze and keeps failing is causing me discomfort in some very private regions. Her voice is low and husky now, like she's almost out of breath. "I'm just going to go. Good luck today, Case." Oh God. The way she says my name. She pulls her poofy black coat tighter around her body. I miss the leather jackets she used to wear.
Later, I had to witness their interrogation of the perp. She was wearing a lavender button down shirt with the top three buttons undone. Munch was in the observation room with me, so I tried really hard to remain professional. I really did. But when she leaned down to get to eye level with the guy, both the perp and I tilted our heads to get a glimpse of that cleavage. Munch had the audacity to laugh. "You oughtta just ask her out, Casey."
"None of your business, Munch."
"I could talk to her if you'd like."
I look into the interrogation room where Stabler stands against the far wall with a look that I'm sure mirrors mine. I nod my head to the former marine. "I don't stand a chance against her partner, John." I said very quietly.
"So you're giving up without ever giving it a chance?"
"As long as I can just be near her, I can live with it." I pick up my coat and briefcase. "Tell them I went to get that warrant."
That was three hours ago and I haven't heard anything yet. What the hell is taking so long? I lightly thump my head a few times against my desk. Why. can't. I get. over. this stupid crush. on her?
Her voice startles me and I jerk my head off of the desk. "Take it easy on that head of yours, Case. It's not quite as hard as it used to be." She falls into the chair nearest my desk. Her legs are spread wide and her arms dangle over the sides of the chair, causing her shirt to gape slightly over her chest. Is it just me or have they gotten bigger in the past few months? "Why're you beating your head against the desk in the first place?"
Crap. I can't tell her this. She'll flip! I shake my head. "Long day. How'd the search go?"
"Found his panty stash. They're with Warner now getting processed. Should know by morning if the DNA matches any of the vics." I merely nod in response. We sit there quietly for what seems like an eternity before she speaks again. "Have you eaten? I'm starved."
"I could eat." I smirk slightly. She doesn't need to know what I'm really thinking of eating. Bad Casey. Bad bad Casey. She gives a small laugh and her smirk matches mine.
"There's a place around the corner that has the BEST Banana cream pie." She says standing.
"I LOVE Banana cream pie." I push away from my desk and get to my feet.
She meets me with my coat. It's these gentlemanly gestures she sometimes does that really confuse me. "I can think of better uses for whipped cream." she murmurs suggestively. She clears her throat. "But pie will do for now. Besides, I need another woman's perspective on my latest dating fiasco."
And there it is. The "friend" card. I paste a fake smile to my face. "Sure. Lead the way." I follow her out of my office, watching the confident swagger of hers. God, Novak, you're in for a world of heartache here.
At the diner, she has this jittery, nervous energy about her. Neither of us have spoken for several minutes, other than to the waitress. Finally, she fixes her deep coffee colored eyes on me but still says nothing. Her eyes are speaking volumes though. Her eyes say "God, I want you right now." but her posture says she's too scared. Then she speaks, "I've got a problem with Elliot."
Shit.
***************************
I sit there for a moment, trying not to be stunned. My worst fears have come true and it's been staring me in the face the entire time. Christ, Novak. You've been through this before. Why oh why must I keep falling for straight women? I lift my coffee mug to hide my disappointment. "And? What else is new? You and Elliot are always having problems."
She shifts uncomfortably. "It's just... ever since he and Kathy separated, it's like he's in limbo between married and single life."
I don't want to hear this. Truly I don't. I've gotta do something to stop her. "Liv, I don't think I'm the best person to talk to about this." Olivia appears hurt by this comment, so I continue. "Listen, not many people know this about me, so I'm going to be blunt. I'm a lesbian, Liv."
"So? Do you want me to throw you a party or something?" she says with a laugh.
"I'm just saying that when it comes to romantic relationships with men, I'm not..."
"Listen, Casey, I just need a sounding board right now." I nod and she continues talking about her problem. Elliot is acting like a schoolboy with a crush and she feels "something" for him but she's not sure if it's romantic or just friendly. I sit there giving a nod in all the right places or a sympathetic frown, all the while considering all the ways I could kill him and get away with it. Suddenly, she leans back in her seat. "What's going on, Casey? I'm not convinced you heard a word I just said."
Thankfully, the waitress appears with our pies. I breathe a sigh of relief. That is, until she just looks at me expectantly. "I've just had a lot on my mind lately."
"You listened to me, so it's not a problem for me to return the favor." I shake my head slightly and take a bite of pie, trying to dodge the subject. "Ok, then. Tell me about your relationship issues."
I stare at her quizzically and finally give in. "That's the problem. There is NO relationship."
"What's holding you back?"
"She doesn't realize I exist, unless she needs something."
"Uh huh." She crosses her arms loosely across her chest, causing her breasts to strain even more against that damn shirt. "I think I need the back story here. To get a better idea as to what the problem is."
I groan loudly and motion for the waitress. "I need more coffee. and just bring over the entire pie." I look at Olivia. "This could take awhile." I tell her about my college years, my failed engagement to Charlie, my horrible breakup with Serena, then finally, in the vaguest possible way, I talk about her.
She gives me a confident, knowing smirk. "Is this your way of saying you have feelings for me, Casey?"
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. She's got the whole Elliot thing going. So, I try to laugh it away. I smile at her and respond. "What if it is?"
She leans halfway across the table and looks deeply in my eyes. "You had me from hello."
Great. Now she's quoting country songs. Two can play this game. I lean forward. Our faces just inches apart. I grasp her hands and whisper huskily. "Let's quit this on again off again bullshit and be on again tonight." We both move as though we're going to leave, but then she releases my hand and leans back in her seat, chuckling softly.
"Man, I haven't done the girl flirt in ages!" she gasps, wrapping her arms around herself. "Not since Alex left." A piece of my heart breaks now that she mentions the ever present elephant in the corner.
I stab my pie and fork up a large bite, which leaves a bit of whipped cream on my upper lip. "What was the deal with you and her anyways?"
She leans across the table and wipes my lip with her thumb. Her gaze locks with mine and she sucks the white confection from her thumb. "Just some flirting. Nothing more."
I can't take this anymore. My hormones are on overdrive. These mixed signals are driving me crazy. I need to get out of here before I make a spectacle of myself. I glance at my watch. "Wow! Where did the time go? I have to be back at work in four hours."
We both get up and start donning our coats. "I had a lot of fun tonight, Casey." We stop at the curb outside of the diner.
I smile broadly. "Me too, Liv. We should do this again sometime." Yeah, Like that will really happen.
She gives me a small secretive smile. "We'll see what happens." With those final words, she swaggers confidently down the sidewalk.
I groan loudly as I begin my walk in the other direction. The words and actions flood through my mind. What in the hell have I gotten myself into?
****************************
It's been almost a month since that night in the diner. We've barely spoken in that entire time. Yes, I go down to the precinct to get the scoop on the latest cases and she still testifies for me in court. But if she needs a warrant or has a question about a case, it's always one of the guys on the phone. I miss her visits. This is why you should never fall for straight girls, Casey. They always flip out and pretend you don't exist.
Grrrrr.
My secretary walks in and hands me a note saying I'm needed down at the precinct. Lovely. More torture of seeing Olivia practically falling all over herself to flaunt her chest at Elliot. I grab my coat and briefcase and head out of the office. Why can't I get over her already? Other fish in the sea and all that horseshit.
It doesn't hit me until I reach the sidewalk that I've worn a very thin shirt with my skirt ensemble today. Damn cold weather. Great. Now I'm drawing unwarranted attention to my boobs. I decide that regardless of how hot it is in that squad room, my coat is staying ON.
I pull open the door only to be met by tropical heat. You've gotta me kidding me. I'm only in the doorway and I'm sweating profusely. "What's the deal with the heat?" Odafin's not around, so I place my briefcase on his desk.
John Munch looks up from his desk. His tie is off, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and the shirt mostly unbuttoned. "You're a bit overdressed to be visiting us, don't you think, Counselor?" he stares at me over the tops of his glasses.
I slowly unbutton my coat but leave it on. "Hey, you guys called ME down here. So, what's the problem?"
"The problem is Elliot got pissed and punched the thermostat. In doing so, he reset the temp and maintenance is waiting on a new part." comes Olivia's voice from the doorway to Cragen's office. She shoves away from the doorjamb, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. In my mind, my jaw drops as I notice the Levi's that hug her butt just right and the way that deep red tank top follows those voluptuous curves. I think I've died and gone to heaven.
No. This is definitely hell. Too hot not to be hell. I toss my coat over my briefcase.
"Well that answers the heat issue. I can't do anything about that. What else?" I look back and forth between the two detectives.
Cragen emerges from his office. "Counselor, it's about time you showed up. Have Benson or Munch filled you in yet?" both shake their heads. He shakes his head at the pair. He motions his left index finger in a circle to indicate the three of us. "Gurney was picked up in San Francisco. You three are going to take care of the extradition."
Olivia faces her captain and frowns in confusion. "I thought Gurney was Elliot's case."
"Elliot's suspended pending completion of anger management courses as a result of today's thermostat incident. It's already done. You three are going to California. Be at JFK in two hours for your flight." He turns to go back to his office.
I can't go on this. Three days with Olivia in one of the cesspools of gay culture. I'm sooooo gonna die. If not from frustration, then because Olivia decided to shoot me for coming on to her. "Well, I guess I better go pack." I lift my coat and briefcase off of Fin's desk. I turn away from the detectives and head for the door.
"Hey, Case, wait up. I'll walk out with you." Olivia's voice stops me in my tracks. A part of me wants to be immature and keep walking while a bigger part of me wants to be as close to her as possible. My need for her is too strong to deny so I wait for her to gather her things. She quickly walks up with a broad grin as I hold the door open for her. "I feel like I haven't talked to you in ages."
"That's because you haven't." I say through clenched teeth, looking straight ahead at the crowded sidewalk before us. "Although I see Elliot's doing great." I mutter sarcastically.
Her dark brown gaze bores at me, as though she's trying to figure out what's going on inside my head. Fuck her. I don't need this. "Got something on your mind, counselor?" she questions.
Yeah. You. You're always on my mind. Great. Now I'm channeling Willie Nelson in my every day thoughts. I give her a half smile that's totally fake. "I'm just fine and dandy." Dammit now Dolly. I need to quit listening to country music when I can't sleep. Maybe I should quit listening to country at all.
She quirks her lips to stifle a laugh. "You lie."
I continue the chorus from the Reba classic. "You don't wanna hurt me." Neither of us can contain our laughter at this point. Finally, I sober and continue walking.
A hurt look crosses her face. "You're seriously not going to tell me?" I close my eyes briefly and shake my head at her. "You realize, of course, that we have an eight hour trip in which I will have nothing better to do than to interrogate you?"
"You can try all you want but you'll be interrogating a sleeping person and the rest of the plane might mistake you for a mental asylum escapee."
"You're going to sleep the ENTIRE trip?"
"Well for at least part of it. I also have my ipod and a briefcase full of files to review."
She stares at me contemplatively. "We'll see about that."
Without another word she hails a cab and is out of my sight. What am I gonna do about you, Olivia?
Grrrr. Stupid country song lyrics.