Nick sat at his desk after his blow up with Barba in the elevator and he couldn't help but feel that he might have messed up badly. For the rest of the day, Nick was unrestful but powered through it and did his work. That night when he was the last one left in the bullpen he decided to go over to the DA's office to talk to Barba.
...
When he got to the building he realized that he should probably have called ahead to make sure that the ADA was still in the office but he hadn't.
Nick: Oh well, no use in doing that now. (He mumbled to himself as he locked his car and walked towards the building)
He entered the building and walked towards the ADA's office and was surprised and pleased to see the man still in his office. He knocked before entering the office.
Rafael: Nick, is something up with the case?
N: No, uh. I just wanted to talk to you about something.
R: Pertaining to the case?
N: No, not really.
R: Okay, how can I help? (He asked motioning for Nick to take a seat)
N: I uh... I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn't have gone off on you the way that I did.
R: No, you shouldn't have.
N: Yes, I know it wasn't my place but it made me angry to see you putting yourself and your career in jeopardy for your supposed friend.
R: But I didn't, I just...
N: I know that now. (He sighed) Look, I just came to say sorry.
R: And I appreciate that but you didn't have to come all the way here to say that, you could have picked up your phone, Nick.
N: I followed you down to the first floor earlier to argue so I figured what's an extra few kilometres to apologise.
R: Well if you look at it that way. (He smiled causing Nick to smile as well) I was going to get myself something to eat, do you want to come along?
N: You don't have to invite me along.
R: I know but I want to, so what do you say?
N: Why not, I've got nothing better to do.
R: Ouch.
N: I didn't mean it in a negative way Barba.
R: Okay and since we're going out to eat and it's way past office hours maybe you can think about calling me by my name, detective Amaro?
N: I've already met harass ADA Barba, I guess that I need to get to know Mr. Rafael.
R: Keep talking and you'll be paying for your own dinner.
N: Oh, you're paying.
R: I'm reconsidering it. (He grumbled packing his papers into his briefcase before grabbing his suit jacket)
N: You work too much. (He said following Barba out)
R: The pot calling the kettle black, detective who just came from the precinct.
N: Like I said, I don't have anything better to do.
R: Maybe I don't either.
N: Mmm.
R: You're driving us by the way.
N: Oh am I?
R: Yes, I'm paying for the food. The least you can do is drive us.
N: Of course, it's the least I can do. Where are we going?
R: Italian restaurant on 5th and Central, detective.
N: Just get in the car.
...
They were led to a table situated towards the back of the restaurant as soon as they arrived and they both immediately ordered their food, not wanting to wait long after their respective days.
Once they got their food the both of them maintained some idle chatter while they were eating until Barba finally put his fork down and looked at Nick.
N: What? Do I have something on my face?
R: No, I've wanted to ask you something for a while now.
N: Sure, go ahead.
R: Why is it that the two of us never really get along? I know that the both of us have big personalities and I'm probably not the easiest person to get along with but it always felt as if you were pushing harder to not get along with me and I just want to understand why?
N: You know my father and how he was or actually still is, now he tried teaching me how to be a real man when I was younger. Always spoke about what a man is and one day he saw one of my male teachers outside the school getting kissed by his partner and he lost it. Went on about how they weren't real men because if they were they wouldn't be doing what they were doing and then he drilled it into my head that their "way of life" was wrong and disgusting and if I wanted to be a real man that I had to stay away from their type.
R: So you think I'm not a real... man? Is that it?
N: No, I believed him when I was younger because I didn't know better but I grew out of that phase and got smarter. I know he was just a bigot amongst other things but that's not it.
R: Then what is it because I'd really like to understand.
N: Even after he left, I guess a small part of me still wanted to prove that I was good enough to his ideals stuck with me even though I knew they were bogus, so I got married and I was happy got a while but it wasn't right even though I got the best possible thing out of it and then I joined the squad and met this hardass ADA who brought all that back to me but not because of who he was but because of me and the things I had to figure out.
R: And have you... figured it out I mean?
N: No, not yet.
R: Okay.
And that was the end of any serious conversation for the rest of their dinner. They spoke about anything and everything until they finished their dessert and coffee's because according to Barba you couldn't finish a meal without coffee.
R: I'm granting you the honour of driving me home detective, I'll get my car in the morning.
N: The honour he says, get in the car and shut it counsellor. (He scoffed)