Happy Birthday, Scrunchy! (SN fic: Birthday Cake)

[out_there]

Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: G
Spoilers: none
Notes: Unbeta'd silly birthday ficlet.
Disclaimer: Dan and Casey belong to each other Sorkin. I'm pretty sure the birthday cake is Scrunchy's.


Birthday Cake

Casey stopped in the middle of their doorway, holding a sandwich in his hand. Dan expected another rant about cheese, and the lack of a good selection, but instead, Casey asked, "What are you singing?"

"What?" Dan replied, looking up from the newspaper spread across the desk.

"What are you singing?" Casey asked again, and then took a large bite of the sandwich. It appeared to be cheese. Apparently, Casey's mouse-like cheese obsession had been satisfied with today's offerings.

Dan paused for a second, just to make sure he hadn't been humming under his breath. He did occasionally do that, but he wasn't right now. "I'm not."

Casey coughed in surprise, nearly choking on his some-kind-of-cheese sandwich. "You're not singing?" he wheezed out in surprise and Dan decided that Casey was insane. Or needed his hearing checked. One of the two. Looking at him sternly, Casey emptied the glass of water sitting on their table. "That's harsh, Dan."

"I'm quietly reading the paper," Dan explained slowly, gesturing at the pages spread in front of him. He would have thought it was a self-evident activity, but apparently not. "I'm not sitting in here singing to myself, Casey. I'm *reading*."

"Oh," Casey replied with a sheepish grin, ducking his head as he took his sandwich and sat down on the couch. Casey was still insane. Cute, but insane. "That wasn't what I meant. I mean, what are you singing for today's birthday?"

Dan looked up quickly. "There's a birthday today?"

Casey tilted his head as he thought about it. "There's a cake in the kitchen. Normally there's a birthday to go along with the cake."

Dan searched his memory for any likely suspects. He was sure that no-one had a birthday this week. Not production staff, not the crew. "Sometimes, it can depend on what type of cake. Could be celebrating something else."

Casey grinned, and leaned back on the couch. "It says 'Happy Birthday'. I'm pretty sure it's a birthday cake."

"Good point," Dan said, chuckling.

"So, who's birthday is it?" Casey asked with half a mouthful of food. He swallowed, and then clarified, "You're the one who knows everyone's birthday off by heart."

Nodding, Dan agreed, "I've got a good head for dates."

"Who does the cake belong to?" Casey was oddly insistent.

Dan shrugged, turning back to his paper. "I have no idea."

"You don't?"

"Well, when I said I had no idea, I actually meant that I knew exactly who it was," Dan said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "I don't know anyone who has a birthday today." Casey sighed pathetically, shifting on the couch. For a moment, Dan was confused. Casey really wasn't the sort of person to worry about missing an important date. He always enjoyed the cakes more than the birthday parties. "Is it chocolate?"

"Huh?" Casey looked distinctly guilty.

Dan narrowed his eyes, watching Casey squirm. "It's a chocolate cake, isn't it?"

"Possibly." There were times when the resemblance between Charlie and Casey was remarkable. Right now, Casey looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I didn't get a close look."

"It is. It's the only reason you're interested in the mystery birthday person," Dan paused dramatically, amused by Casey's discomfit. "You're lusting after the cake."

Casey scowled. "I'm not *lusting* after it."

"Well, you're certainly craving it," Dan amended. He sniggered as Casey opened his mouth to reply, and then bit into his sandwich instead. Casey seemed very intrigued by the pattern on the carpet. "Casey?"

"Mmm?" Casey replied, chewing carefully and avoiding Dan's eyes.

"Did you realize that it might not belong to this office?"

Casey looked balefully at him. "It's in our fridge."

Seeing Casey's disappointed expression, it was hard not to feel sorry for him. Just a little. "Someone from our office might have bought it, but it might not be for anyone in the office."

"They'd buy it, put it in our fridge, and then take it *home*?" Casey sounded hurt, as if missing out on a slice of chocolate cake would be fatal. "That's kind of cruel, Dan."

"A lot of busy people work here," Dan offered with a smile. "I'm pretty sure they weren't doing it to be mean." Casey deflated, sinking into the couch cushions. "If it makes you feel any better, I could still sing..."

"It'll be Freres Jacques, won't it?" Casey asked doubtfully, and Dan nodded enthusiastically. Casey grimaced. "I've heard your *attempt* at a French accent, Dan. Thanks, but no thanks."

"Your loss." Dan shrugged and turned back to the paper in front of him. There was an interesting article on women in international politics that he wanted to finish reading.

"Dan?" Casey asked, and Dan marked his place with his finger. The comments about Sylviane Agacinski, the wife of the French Prime Minister, were very intriguing.

"Yeah?" Glancing up, he saw that Casey was smiling.

"Could you stop humming Freres Jacques now?"

Dan grinned. "Anything for you, Casey."

THE END

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[out-there.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Casey is a big kid. Whether he's pouting over the fact that he's cool, or mentioning that his calves have been called shapely (by his mom!), or demonstrating the haymaker punch that kid hit him with in the third grade... he's a big kid, but he's an adorable one.

Trust me, when you see the ep with his son, Charlie, you suddenly see the *really* strong resemblance between Casey and nine year old. *g*