I Can Read You

AU. Olivia and Rafael meet by chance but it's faith who seems to pull them towards one another. Barson.

Chapter 1:

It was 6:00 AM on a Sunday and Rafael was getting ready to go to the office. No rest for the weary.

He looked at his watch and sighed. His freshly made cup on the counter. He was sure his mother was awake this early.

"Mamí." He spoke slowly. "Yes, everything is fine, I've just have to go in for a few hours." Lucia didn't seem surprised by his call at all. "Yes, I'll still make it to mass."

He put down his cup on the sink and headed back to the room to get his jacket. He hoped his mother would hurry over or he'd be late. He eyed the ajar door at the end of the hallway.

He entered the room slowly, his expert feet avoiding anything he could hit and make a sound.

"Papí?"

"Shh, go back to sleep baby." Too late. A pair of matching green eyes were looking at him. "What time is it?"

"Early,"

"Oh," The little girl smiled softly as she rubbed her eyes. "You gotta go?"

"I do, just for a few hours, Abuelita should be here any second."

He sat on on the bed. "Try and sleep a little bit more."

"You got case?"

"No, just a consult," he smiled. "It shouldn't take me too long,"

"Better not, Abuelita won't like it if you miss church again,"

"Yes; don't remind me." He smiled.

"Rafi?" Lucia called from the door. "I'm here!"

"Oh sweetheart, I didn't wake you did I?" She asked when she spotted Rafael carrying the little girl.

"'No, Miss Sofia was already awake." He sighed. He put her on a chair in the kitchen.

"I was Abuelita, don't worry." She offered her a toothy smile.

"Well then, you can help me make breakfast." She turned to her son. "Do you want me to make you something Rafi?"

"No thanks Mamì. I already had something."

"Aha, and by something you mean caffeine. That is not a real breakfast Rafael, at least take a donut." She motioned at the small brown bag on the counter.

"Mamí…" he rolled his eyes. "That's really not…"

"Don't argue with me." She handed him the donut. "Now go or you'll be late."

"Fine," he smiled. "I'll see the two of you later,"

"At mass?"

"Yes." He rolled his eyes at Lucia and then saw Sofia giggling. " Listen to Abuelita, you hear me?" He kissed the little one goodbye,

"Do you ever listen to her?" Sofia whispered.

"Of course." He winked at her. "Do you?"


Olivia Benson loved Sundays. It was her sacred day. She got to spend it with Noah and her busy week was worth it just to spend it with her boy.

"Mom?" Noah sat on his chair at the table as Olivia laid down a bowl of cereal in front of him. "Do you think I'll make friends?" Oh, her sweet boy.

He was about to start first grade on Monday and he was a bit nervous about it.

"Of course you will, you just need to be yourself baby."

"Okay." He smiled and moved on to his breakfast.

"So? What do you want to do today?" Olivia asked after a moment.

Noah touched his chin thoughtfully. "We could go to the park, get ice cream?" He asked.

"Sounds perfect." She smiled. "As soon as you finish breakfast I'm going to call Amanda and see if she and Jesse are free, how's that?"

"Yes, and Sonny?"

"Fine, I'll call him too." She sighed. She found it adorable that one of Noah's favorite people happened to be her detective.

"Yes!" He said in victory. "All done, I'm gonna go get ready, okay?"

And just like that he'd flown into his room.

"Oh, I forgot." He came back a moment later and grabbed his bowl, put it on the sink and poured water over it.

"Thank you buddy," Olivia kissed his forehead sweetly. "You're such a big boy, ready for first grade."

"That's what Lucy says." He pointed out. "I'm almost all grown."

"Almost."


"Where is he?" Sofia stood on a step outside the church, her eyes searching for Rafael. "He promised!"

"Lo sé mi amor." Lucia touched her head gently. "Maybe he got caught up in something.."

"That always happens!" Sofia huffed. "How are we meant to pray as a family if Papì isn't here?"

"Is this all about tomorrow?" Her grandmother asked. "Nervous?"

"Yes."

"You're just like Rafi when he started school, he was worried for nothing. You are just as smart,"

"I am? " Sofia's eyes wondered.

"Claro," Lucia nodded offering the little girl her hand as the bells echoed behind them. "Now lets go in."

Sofia glanced back one last time before following her inside, too distracted to notice anything.

"Didn't miss much, did I?" A voice said behind her.

"Papì!" She hissed excitedly. "You made it."

"Of course I did Princesa." He touched her nose softly.

"Rafi, you two know better than that. Quiet both of you." Lucia shot Rafael a knowing look.

"Rafael, Lucia." Father Simon said with a smile as they walked out of mass. "It's good to see you. Specially you Rafi." He smiled.

"Father." He shook hands with him. "Yes, I've been… busy."

"Busy for church?" He inquired. "Ah yes, I remember your grandmother rest her soul, said you wanted to become a judge."

"I'm not…."

"Don't be modest Rafi." His mother scolded him. "He's working hard Father, that I can tell you."

"Actually we're here for Sofia. She's starting school on Monday." Rafael added in.

"First grade already?" Father Simon Knelt in front of her. "Seems like just yesterday I was in christening."

"Yeah, like six years ago," Sofia pointed out.

They all laughed.


"How is Noah doing?" Amanda asked as she and Olivia sat on a bench watching Carisi playing with the kids. "And how are you?"

"We're both okay, he's a little nervous about the kids in class, keeps asking me if he'll make any friends."

Amanda smiled. "Really?"

"Of course I told him he just needs to be himself."

"Tough huh?"

"Yes. I can't believe he's six already,"

"Well Jesse is off to Pre- K." Rollins sighed.

"Both will be alright." Olivia smiled as she heard Noah giggle as Sonny tickled him.

"And if it doesn't work, we always have Carisi."

"That we do." Olivia agreed.


"Thank you for cooking Mijo, it was delicious." Lucia said as she put her plate away.

"Thank you Papì." Sofia smiled as she drank her milk. "Don't think I can eat more."

"No problem, it was my pleasure." . Rafael smiled. " Who's ready for dessert?"

Rafael moved to the kitchen as he took out Rocky Road ice cream.

"I think I could go for ice cream." Sofia said.

"Me too." Lucia laughed. "See Rafi, you do know the secret to a girl's heart."

"Mamí." He sighed. "No empieces por favor." Sofia laughed at the look on her father's face. "I'm not talking about this."

"Fine. I still think you should try and go out with Yolanda. She's a nice girl. Has a son too, so she knows your situation,"

"My situation?" He eyed Lucia carefully. "I'm not going to any blind dates."

"Rafael…"

"Sofi, please go to your room," he turned to his daughter.

"Why?" She groaned.

"Porqué te lo digo yo." He said eyeing her. "Por favor."

Sofia rolled her eyes and did what she was told. Rafael heard the door close and then turned to his mother.

"We're not doing this again Mamí." He sighed as he began to clean up the table. "I don't even have to think about dating."

"You should make the time Rafi. Sofía's growing up, she's in need of a mother." Rafael was about to say something but she shushed him. "I know you try Mi amor, but it's not enough and you know it."


"Noah you have five more minutes of TV and then its bath time, okay buddy?" Olivia called.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes," she kissed his forehead as she reached the living room. "You don't want to be all stinky when you go to school tomorrow, do you?" Noah waved his head.

"Bath time. Five minutes."

"And then can I finish the movie?"

"Yes."


"Hi." Rafael opened the door to Sofia's room. He spotted the little girl on the bed playing with her dolls.

"Where's Abuelita?"

"She left." He told her.

"Did you fight?" The little girl asked.

"No, we had a disagreement. That's different." Rafael sat on the edge of the bed. Sofia sighed. "I'll talk to her later, I promise."

"Can we watch a movie?" Sofia asked after a moment. Rafael smiled, at least she'd let it rest for now.

His phone buzzed. It was work.

"Go set it up, I'll be right there. Barba." He watched as Sofia left the room.

Sofia eyed her father as he talked. She moved to his room and grabbed the remote. Browsing Netflix to find the movie she wanted.

"Frozen?" He asked coming into the room. "Haven't we watched that before?"

"Yes but Papì we know all the songs." Rafael smiled. "Please?" Oh that girl would be the end of him.

"I can't argue with that." He sat on the bed and then pulled the little girl back with him. "Hey, guess who got a meeting pushed back tomorrow morning? That means I can drop you off tomorrow."

"You're not going to cry, are you?" She was completely serious. "Abuelita says I'm just as smart as you, you know?"

"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of." Rafael mused as she rolled her eyes.

Soon enough he was humming to Frozen songs and putting his child to bed.

Tomorrow would be another day.

Sofia's first day of school.


"Noah? Did you brush your teeth?" Olivia had come into the room to tuck the little boy into bed.

"Yes." He said proudly, showing off a toothy smile. "And I did it all by myself."

"Good, I'm proud of you, now let's get into bed,"

"Mom?"

"Yes?" She put the covers up to his chin.

"We're ready for tomorrow, right?"

"More than ready, I'm going to take you in the morning and Lucy will pick you up." Noah's face fell a bit. "I'll try and come early so you tell me all about your big day, I promise."

"Okay, but not if you are helping someone and putting the bad guys away, okay?" Olivia smiled sweetly.

"Okay."


What do you guys think? I'm so in love with Barson! You have no idea. Title comes from Leap of Faith musical starring Raúl. Give it a listen, it's such a good one. I do hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading.

Translation:

Princesa- princess.

Porque te lo digo yo - because I'm telling you.

Mi amor- sweetheart

Por favor- please

Lo sé mi amor - I know sweetheart