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gothams3rdrobinI actually wrote this last year, but not in time for Valentines. Technically I'm late this year too - I just never got 'round to posting this in the last couple of days.
Title: Stupid Cupid
Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: G
Pairing: You need to ask that?
“Casey.”
Casey looked up from his computer to face the tiny woman who had just sat down in front of his desk.
“Natalie.” He responded evenly, wondering what he’d done to deserve such a determined stare.
“You know what tomorrow is, don’t you.”
“February 14th.”
“Otherwise known as?” she pressed.
“Um..the fourteenth day of the second month?” He knew he was making trouble for himself, but he couldn’t resist. Dan chuckled quietly from the table behind Natalie, who scowled.
“Don’t be an idiot, Casey. You know its Valentines Day tomorrow.”
“Well, if I didn’t, then I do now. What’s this about, Natalie?”
“Dana.”
Casey bit back a sigh, and saw Dan roll his eyes too. “What about Dana?” He asked, even though he knew the answer.
“It’s Valentines and she’s on her own. She broke up with Gordon over a year ago now, and Sam’s gone too.”
“She was alone last year too.” He pointed out.
“I know that!” Natalie scowled some more, “But that was by choice. She still had you on that stupid dating plan thing she never ran past me.”
This time Casey allowed himself a sigh. “Natalie…we called the whole thing off, you know that. And besides, I already have plans.”
“You’re taking Pixley out?”
“What? No, that ended ages ago too.”
“Then who-“
“None of your business, Natalie!” He glared at her irritably. Dan stared at him in surprise.
Natalie’s eyes narrowed dangerously, then without another word she rose and stormed out.
Dan chuckled, “Casey, Casey, Casey. You are a dead man, you realise that?”
“I know.” He sighed.
“You should take her out.” Dan told him, his expression serious.
“…the hell, Danny?” Casey frowned at him in confusion.
“In a way, Nat’s right. She really is alone this year and you’re probably her closest male friend.”
“But Danny-“
“I’m serious, Casey. Think about it.”
Casey got up from the desk, unable to stay in the room any longer. “I’ll be in editing.” He muttered, wishing he could slam the door behind him.
Half an hour later he knocked on the door to Dana’s office. She smiled brightly at him as he entered.
“What can I do for you, Casey?” She asked as he sat himself down on her couch. He regarded her carefully.
“I have a small problem”
“Really.”
“Yes, her name is Natalie.”
Dana groaned, “Is she trying to get you to ask me out tomorrow night?”
“Yup.”
“I’m sorry, Casey. I’ve tried telling her there’s nothing between us anymore, but she won’t accept it.”
“The thing is,” Casey leaned forward and stared at his clasped hands, “I already had plans.”
“You did?” Dana blinked, “You’ve kept that quiet – who is she?”
He ran a hand down his face before he turned to face her. “That’s just it. It’s not a she.”
Dana stared at him in shocked silence for what seemed like eternity.
“You…you’re gay?” she whispered.
Casey shrugged, “Apparently so. Or bi, at the very least.”
“Who…do I know him?”
Casey nodded and Dana’s eyes widened, “It’s Dan, isn’t it?”
He ducked his head in another nod, “Is it obvious?”
“Not really. You two have always been incredibly close – somehow it makes sense now.”
“But I still have a problem. Natalie’s on my back to take you out, and Danny agrees with her.”
“He does?”
“I think he’s doing it to be magnanimous. It’s our first Valentines together.”
Dana’s mouth twisted in sympathy, “Then you really should spend it with him.”
“But if I tell Natalie that, it’ll be spread through the building within five minutes. We’re not ready for that.”
“Want me to try again to get her to back off?”
Casey shook his head, “I have a better idea. Come out with me for lunch tomorrow.”
“What? Casey, I’m not charity-“
“No, no! Nothing like that. This way not only do I not incur the wrath of Natalie, I get to spend time with my two best friends. If you have lunch with me, I can still take Dan out after the show.” He smiled softly, “I haven’t had much of a chance to spend time with you recently – I’ve missed it.”
Dana smiled at him, “Me too.”
“So, lunch tomorrow, my treat?”
She laughed, “I’d be a fool to say no to a free lunch!”
Natalie was practically bouncing by the start of the show that night, which was really irritating Casey.
During the second c-break, he decided he’d had enough and asked her to step outside into the corridor for a moment.
“Natalie, give it a rest.” He said, the moment the control room door closed, “I am taking Dana out for lunch tomorrow but it is not – I repeat not – a date. Dana is well aware of this fact.”
“Ah, but it’s only the start!” Natalie grinned, “This is your chance to win her over, Casey – she knows now the dating plan was stupid.”
Casey groaned, resisting the urge to bang his head – or Natalie’s - against the wall. “I don’t want to win her over, Natalie. I am seeing someone else, whom I am very much in love with!”
Natalie’s response was cut off by Dana tapping on the window. She gave them the signal they had two minutes till Casey had to be back at the anchor desk.
“I don’t believe you.” Natalie said as she headed back into the control room.
“You don’t believe me?” Casey followed her, incredulous.
“I do not. You are a coward who tells lies to avoid doing what he really wants.” She sat down with determination, putting her headset back on.
“Natalie!” gasped Dana in horror.
“That might have been true once,” Casey agreed, casting a surreptitious glance at Dan, who was talking to the camera, “But not anymore.”
Feeling frustrated, he silently headed back into the studio and took his seat. As he put his mic and earpiece back on, Dan threw them to Kelly Kirkpatrick.
“You okay, man?” he muttered, not meeting Casey’s gaze. This was another source of irritation as Dan now thought Casey was mad at him for making him agree to take Dana out.
“Yeah,” he sighed, “Some people just won’t listen to the truth.”
“Hey, Pot! Have you met my friend Kettle?” Natalie’s voice rang in both their ears.
“Natalie!” Casey growled angrily, “You do not want to push me. Especially right now.”
“Take easy, Casey.” Dan reached over and squeezed his arm as the floor manager began to count them back in. Casey did his best to keep his anger out of his voice and expression as he thanked Kelly for her report and moved on to the next story.
At the next c-break, Dana stepped out into the studio. “I’m sorry Casey, I’ve had a talk to her but she doesn’t believe me either.” She placed her hand on his, comfortingly, and then did the same for Dan, who blinked in surprise.
“I don’t know what more I can do, Dana.” He muttered, mindful that they could be heard.
“The only option left is full disclosure.” Dana sympathised. Casey glanced at Dan in concern.
“Are you talking about what I think you’re talking about?” Dan asked, looking nervous.
“What do you think, Danny?” Casey asked
“Do we have a choice?” he sighed
“Yeah, in private, or in front of everyone.” Dana chuckled, “And they’ll all know minutes later anyway.”
“How about you just tell me the big secret and stop whispering,” Natalie appeared behind them, glaring, “You know keeping secrets from me results in punishment, Danny.”
“Alright, that’s it-.”
“Casey.” Dan warned, silencing him with a look. He beckoned Natalie closer, “Look, Nat…the thing is, Casey can’t get involved with Dana romantically, even if he still wanted to.”
“Why not?” She demanded
“Because if he did, he’d be cheating on me.”
Natalie’s eyes grew huge as she looked at first Casey, then Dan, then Dana who nodded in confirmation.
“You…you’re together?”
“For about six months now.”
“Oh my God…” She looked at Casey in amazement, “But what about Lisa, and the way you pursued Dana last year? And Sally?”
He shrugged, “I’m a coward who lies to avoid what he really wants. Or I was, once.”
Natalie grimaced, “I’m sorry about that. It was mean.”
“Yes it was,” Dana agreed, knowing Casey would just brush it off, “But I forgive you, and I think the boys will too.”
The matching smiles from the co-anchors confirmed this and Natalie sighed in relief.
“So you two are going out after the show tomorrow? Where are you going?”
“Casa McCall with a movie and takeout, I expect.” Dana joked. Dan chuckled in agreement, but Casey looked mildly affronted.
“No, I have better plans than that!”
“He’s just not telling me.” Dan smirked.
“That’s so cute.” Natalie sighed in envy.
Title: Stupid Cupid
Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: G
Pairing: You need to ask that?
“Casey.”
Casey looked up from his computer to face the tiny woman who had just sat down in front of his desk.
“Natalie.” He responded evenly, wondering what he’d done to deserve such a determined stare.
“You know what tomorrow is, don’t you.”
“February 14th.”
“Otherwise known as?” she pressed.
“Um..the fourteenth day of the second month?” He knew he was making trouble for himself, but he couldn’t resist. Dan chuckled quietly from the table behind Natalie, who scowled.
“Don’t be an idiot, Casey. You know its Valentines Day tomorrow.”
“Well, if I didn’t, then I do now. What’s this about, Natalie?”
“Dana.”
Casey bit back a sigh, and saw Dan roll his eyes too. “What about Dana?” He asked, even though he knew the answer.
“It’s Valentines and she’s on her own. She broke up with Gordon over a year ago now, and Sam’s gone too.”
“She was alone last year too.” He pointed out.
“I know that!” Natalie scowled some more, “But that was by choice. She still had you on that stupid dating plan thing she never ran past me.”
This time Casey allowed himself a sigh. “Natalie…we called the whole thing off, you know that. And besides, I already have plans.”
“You’re taking Pixley out?”
“What? No, that ended ages ago too.”
“Then who-“
“None of your business, Natalie!” He glared at her irritably. Dan stared at him in surprise.
Natalie’s eyes narrowed dangerously, then without another word she rose and stormed out.
Dan chuckled, “Casey, Casey, Casey. You are a dead man, you realise that?”
“I know.” He sighed.
“You should take her out.” Dan told him, his expression serious.
“…the hell, Danny?” Casey frowned at him in confusion.
“In a way, Nat’s right. She really is alone this year and you’re probably her closest male friend.”
“But Danny-“
“I’m serious, Casey. Think about it.”
Casey got up from the desk, unable to stay in the room any longer. “I’ll be in editing.” He muttered, wishing he could slam the door behind him.
Half an hour later he knocked on the door to Dana’s office. She smiled brightly at him as he entered.
“What can I do for you, Casey?” She asked as he sat himself down on her couch. He regarded her carefully.
“I have a small problem”
“Really.”
“Yes, her name is Natalie.”
Dana groaned, “Is she trying to get you to ask me out tomorrow night?”
“Yup.”
“I’m sorry, Casey. I’ve tried telling her there’s nothing between us anymore, but she won’t accept it.”
“The thing is,” Casey leaned forward and stared at his clasped hands, “I already had plans.”
“You did?” Dana blinked, “You’ve kept that quiet – who is she?”
He ran a hand down his face before he turned to face her. “That’s just it. It’s not a she.”
Dana stared at him in shocked silence for what seemed like eternity.
“You…you’re gay?” she whispered.
Casey shrugged, “Apparently so. Or bi, at the very least.”
“Who…do I know him?”
Casey nodded and Dana’s eyes widened, “It’s Dan, isn’t it?”
He ducked his head in another nod, “Is it obvious?”
“Not really. You two have always been incredibly close – somehow it makes sense now.”
“But I still have a problem. Natalie’s on my back to take you out, and Danny agrees with her.”
“He does?”
“I think he’s doing it to be magnanimous. It’s our first Valentines together.”
Dana’s mouth twisted in sympathy, “Then you really should spend it with him.”
“But if I tell Natalie that, it’ll be spread through the building within five minutes. We’re not ready for that.”
“Want me to try again to get her to back off?”
Casey shook his head, “I have a better idea. Come out with me for lunch tomorrow.”
“What? Casey, I’m not charity-“
“No, no! Nothing like that. This way not only do I not incur the wrath of Natalie, I get to spend time with my two best friends. If you have lunch with me, I can still take Dan out after the show.” He smiled softly, “I haven’t had much of a chance to spend time with you recently – I’ve missed it.”
Dana smiled at him, “Me too.”
“So, lunch tomorrow, my treat?”
She laughed, “I’d be a fool to say no to a free lunch!”
Natalie was practically bouncing by the start of the show that night, which was really irritating Casey.
During the second c-break, he decided he’d had enough and asked her to step outside into the corridor for a moment.
“Natalie, give it a rest.” He said, the moment the control room door closed, “I am taking Dana out for lunch tomorrow but it is not – I repeat not – a date. Dana is well aware of this fact.”
“Ah, but it’s only the start!” Natalie grinned, “This is your chance to win her over, Casey – she knows now the dating plan was stupid.”
Casey groaned, resisting the urge to bang his head – or Natalie’s - against the wall. “I don’t want to win her over, Natalie. I am seeing someone else, whom I am very much in love with!”
Natalie’s response was cut off by Dana tapping on the window. She gave them the signal they had two minutes till Casey had to be back at the anchor desk.
“I don’t believe you.” Natalie said as she headed back into the control room.
“You don’t believe me?” Casey followed her, incredulous.
“I do not. You are a coward who tells lies to avoid doing what he really wants.” She sat down with determination, putting her headset back on.
“Natalie!” gasped Dana in horror.
“That might have been true once,” Casey agreed, casting a surreptitious glance at Dan, who was talking to the camera, “But not anymore.”
Feeling frustrated, he silently headed back into the studio and took his seat. As he put his mic and earpiece back on, Dan threw them to Kelly Kirkpatrick.
“You okay, man?” he muttered, not meeting Casey’s gaze. This was another source of irritation as Dan now thought Casey was mad at him for making him agree to take Dana out.
“Yeah,” he sighed, “Some people just won’t listen to the truth.”
“Hey, Pot! Have you met my friend Kettle?” Natalie’s voice rang in both their ears.
“Natalie!” Casey growled angrily, “You do not want to push me. Especially right now.”
“Take easy, Casey.” Dan reached over and squeezed his arm as the floor manager began to count them back in. Casey did his best to keep his anger out of his voice and expression as he thanked Kelly for her report and moved on to the next story.
At the next c-break, Dana stepped out into the studio. “I’m sorry Casey, I’ve had a talk to her but she doesn’t believe me either.” She placed her hand on his, comfortingly, and then did the same for Dan, who blinked in surprise.
“I don’t know what more I can do, Dana.” He muttered, mindful that they could be heard.
“The only option left is full disclosure.” Dana sympathised. Casey glanced at Dan in concern.
“Are you talking about what I think you’re talking about?” Dan asked, looking nervous.
“What do you think, Danny?” Casey asked
“Do we have a choice?” he sighed
“Yeah, in private, or in front of everyone.” Dana chuckled, “And they’ll all know minutes later anyway.”
“How about you just tell me the big secret and stop whispering,” Natalie appeared behind them, glaring, “You know keeping secrets from me results in punishment, Danny.”
“Alright, that’s it-.”
“Casey.” Dan warned, silencing him with a look. He beckoned Natalie closer, “Look, Nat…the thing is, Casey can’t get involved with Dana romantically, even if he still wanted to.”
“Why not?” She demanded
“Because if he did, he’d be cheating on me.”
Natalie’s eyes grew huge as she looked at first Casey, then Dan, then Dana who nodded in confirmation.
“You…you’re together?”
“For about six months now.”
“Oh my God…” She looked at Casey in amazement, “But what about Lisa, and the way you pursued Dana last year? And Sally?”
He shrugged, “I’m a coward who lies to avoid what he really wants. Or I was, once.”
Natalie grimaced, “I’m sorry about that. It was mean.”
“Yes it was,” Dana agreed, knowing Casey would just brush it off, “But I forgive you, and I think the boys will too.”
The matching smiles from the co-anchors confirmed this and Natalie sighed in relief.
“So you two are going out after the show tomorrow? Where are you going?”
“Casa McCall with a movie and takeout, I expect.” Dana joked. Dan chuckled in agreement, but Casey looked mildly affronted.
“No, I have better plans than that!”
“He’s just not telling me.” Dan smirked.
“That’s so cute.” Natalie sighed in envy.
