(Taylor's version)

Barba genuinely killed a baby and faced more loyalty than Casey Novak ever got for bending a rule. Peter Stone had a schizophrenic sister and Olivia never once used it as leverage against his judgment the way she used Casey’s ex-fiancé against hers. Stone’s personal history was treated as context, while Casey’s was treated as a liability.

Which makes the male ADA thing make more sense too—Barba and Stone both had moments of being her person. When you’re in her orbit you’re protected. When you’re not, you’re on your own. And the female ADAs never really got to be her person the same way.

Casey especially—their relationship always had this undercurrent of Olivia not fully trusting her, questioning her, and the second Casey’s personal life created any friction it became ammunition. Whereas with Barba it was like. Oh well.

And it’s worth noting that while Cabenson is one of the more popular ships in the fandom, Olivia was always too consumed by Elliot, his approval, his absence, and his return, to have real sustained relationships with the women around her. The female ADAs needed an advocate inside the squad and instead they had someone who was emotionally checked out the moment elliot walked back into the room. Alex never got the potential, the loyalty, that partnership that the fandom wished for. Casey didn’t get it either. The version of Olivia who would have gone to bat for them the way she went to bat for Elliot simply didn’t exist on screen.

Sonya Paxton died for the job. Alex Cabot “died” for the job. Casey Novak dismantled her entire career for them.

I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you (I try) 3.3k words. 1 Chapter. Rated E

Casey sits down in the chair across from Alex’s desk all business, crosses her legs smoothly–more than a little distracting, what can Alex say–and then opens her mouth without preamble or greeting.