A/N: This is my second fanfic! I absolutely adore Barson, so I just had to write about them. I have a plan for the next chapter, but I would absolutely love your input! Also, SVU doesn't belong to me, if it did, Olivia and Rafael would be together already! Enjoy! -Ellie

Rafael Barba was sitting on his couch, drinking scotch and watching the 11 o'clock news. He was distracted listening to the sound of the rain pelting off the windows to his condo. He felt empty inside, something was missing from his life. He wanted a family. Rafael married the job straight out of law school, and hasn't let up since. He still wants to run for DA, so he can't let up now. But he wishes he had a personal life. Someone to hold after a long day, to take out on weekends, to talk about things other than work with. He wanted to be happy.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a knock at his door. He opened it, only to find a soaking wet Olivia Benson nearly falling through his door. He caught her and stood her up straight.

"Sergeant Benson, are you alright?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

She looked at him, eyes glassy, and said "Rafael I can't anymore" and tears welled in her eyes.

Instantly his heart went to the worst place, and he spoke softly and gently, taking the woman's hands, "You can't what, Olivia?"

"It's too much. I can't." She slurred her words. "I can't handle any of it. Rafael my life it's out of control."

"Shh, Liv, it's gonna be okay, come on, let's get you warmed up before you get sick. How does a hot shower sound?" He asked, his heart breaking for the woman in front of him.

"You don't have to take care of me, I don't know why I came over here." She sheepishly said, feeling small and embarrassed.

"I know I don't have to, I want to. Let me take care of you Liv, you deserve it. Now come on, let's get you in that shower, okay?"

"Thank you, Rafael. You're a good man. No matter what anyone says about you. "

He led her to his bathroom, and turned the shower on for her. Luckily, his shower has a built in bench, since he was worried about her falling with how much she had to drink. He left her to go get a pair of his sweatpants and a tshirt for her, as well as warming a towel. He came back to find Olivia fast asleep, sitting on the bench in the shower, her clothes still on. He laughed to himself, thinking "this woman is too much. I just wish she weren't so sad." He took off his shirt so he could reach in the shower to rouse Olivia.

"Liv" he called gently shaking her shoulders. She began drunkenly screaming, sloppily flailing her limbs, trying to fight him off.

He went fully into the shower, dodging her limbs, flipped the shower off and continued to call to Olivia. Finally she opened her eyes, and cried when she saw Rafael in front of her, soaking wet, nose bleeding.

"Rafael did I hit you? What's going on?"

He looked at her and chuckled, but heartbroken for the woman in front of him and said,

"You got in the shower with your clothes on and fell asleep, and I tried to wake you up and you started having a nightmare."

Crying harder, "I'm so sorry, Rafi, I'm so sorry"

"Shh, Liv, it's okay, don't worry, I'm okay, you couldn't help it. Now, seeing that you are thoroughly soaked, let's try this shower thing again, but I'll stay here in the bathroom with you. I brought you clothes and a towel okay?"

"Why are you being so nice to me? I'm sure this isn't what you had planned for tonight. I'm sorry for coming over." She was sobering up a bit.

"Olivia, you're my friend, why wouldn't I take care of you? Now stop being silly and let's get you in the shower okay? I'll step out so you can get undressed. "

"No, stay with me." She asked, her eyes pleading him not to go.

He took her hand, looked her in they eyes, and said "I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

He stood, facing the door, so she could undress in privacy. She was grunting and jumping and was still intoxicated, her now dripping wet clothes glued to her body.

Sighing, she asked, "Rafael, can you help me?"

Still facing the wall, he asked, "Help you with what?"

"I can't get any of my clothes off, they're stuck since I'm soaked."

He turned around and looked at her, confused, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm freezing..."

"Okay, why don't you sit down and I'll see what I can do."

She followed his directions and sat down on his toilet seat. He walked over to her and hesitantly took the hem of her sweater. Slowly, he pulled upwards, peeling the drenched garment from her body. Once he removed the sweater, he instructed her to stand up, so he could attempt to get her already tight jeans off. Looking cautiously at her, as opposed to where his hands were, he popped open the button and unzipped her jeans. He tucked his hands inside her waistband, to attempt to get a grip so he could pull them off. Olivia brought her hands to his wrists, stopping him.

He looked at her, quizzically, "I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?"

She just laughed, leaned forward, and brushed her lips to his. She wrapped her arms around the ADA, and ran her hands up and down his back. Rafael froze. He was completely unsure of how to respond. He thought Olivia was absolutely gorgeous, and feeling her body against his, since she was clad only in a bra and jeans, and he in a pair of sweatpants, it felt so right. But she was drunk, and clearly not in a good mental state. So he grabbed her arms and pushed her off.

"Olivia, what's going on?" He asked, sitting her back down.

"I- I'm sorry, Rafael, I just." She sputtered, tears again forming in her eyes. It broke his heart to see Olivia cry.

"Hey, Liv. It's okay. I'm not mad. I'm flattered, really," he said with a big smile. "I like you, Olivia, and I care deeply about you. And I would be open to a relationship with you." He confessed. "But not like this, hon. You're drunk, and I don't want this to turn into a one night stand, Liv. I can't do that with you."

"You like me? But I'm broken... You deserve so much better, Rafael."

"Now stop being silly, and look at me" he tilted her chin up, and crouched so they were at eye level. "Olivia Benson, you are many things. Broken, is not one of them. You are strong, and beautiful, and brilliant, and funny, and caring and compassionate, you have the kindest heart I've ever seen, and even though you build these huge walls around it, I know it's there. You have been tested, and you did not break, and you are stronger because of it. Do not ever let anyone tell you that you are broken, because you're not."

She found herself crying at his words, "Thank you, Rafi, for seeing all of those things in me when I can't. And I like you too. And I know I don't date lawyers, but I would make an exception for you." She smiled "Now, could you please help me get these soaking wet jeans off?"

She stood back up, Rafael nodded, and placed his hands back in her waistband, and pulled down. To his surprise, the jeans slid down over her perfect ass, but were stuck on her shapely thighs. Olivia sat back down, and Rafael pulled at them once more, making more progress. Once they finally reached her knees, they slid right off. He drank in the sight of Olivia before him, her toned body in just a black lace bra and panty set. She had such a wonderful figure that was well hidden under her work clothes.

"Rafael?"

He snapped out of his thoughts, and blushed, "yes?"

"One" she chuckled, "you're staring, and two, could you please turn the shower on?"

"Absolutely." He turned the shower on, and headed for the door.

"Is it okay if I go? I want to change my sweatpants, and I'll wash your clothes."

"Yes I should be okay."

Rafael put on a well fitting blue Ralph Lauren tshirt, and a pair of gray lounge pants. He went and put their soaking wet clothes in his washing machine, and sat back down to his scotch. He was trying to process what just took place in his bathroom. How could anyone hurt Olivia so badly that she had walls like this? That she couldn't see the light inside of herself? Who ever did these things, Rafael was determined to make sure he broke her walls down, and showed her the light that was inside of her. He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear her come walking into his living room.

Olivia sat down at the chair across from him, and the two sat in silence for some time. Finally, it was Olivia who spoke.

"What's going on in that head of yours Rafael? I don't think I've ever seen you this still or quiet."

"You wouldn't want to know. Trust me." He responded quietly, a look of hurt in his green eyes. Olivia got up to join him on the couch, and placed her hand on his knee.

"Rafael, you can tell me anything, you know that. You're very special to me, so whenever you want to talk, I'll listen, okay?"

"Thank you, Liv. Maybe tomorrow, we'll see how bad of a hangover you have. But for now, let's get you to bed."

He took her to the guest room, and brought her water and aspirin for the morning. "I'm right across the hall if you need anything, just come wake me." He turned to leave.

"Wait, Rafi," she asked, and he spun around

"Yes"

"Um, I get nightmares when I'm in new places, and um, you know what never mind." She quietly trailed off. Rafael sat next to her on the bed.

"Liv, what do you need, how can I help you? Anything, just ask."

She sheepishly looked into his green eyes, full of concern and compassion for his dear friend. "Will you stay here, with me?" A few stray tears fell down her cheeks.

He pulled her into a hug, rubbing her hair, "Of course I'll stay Liv." He kissed the top of her head, then leaned back and wiped away her tears.

Rafael pulled back the covers, letting Olivia get in the king sized bed. He proceeded to tuck her in, then went to the other side and got in. He slid up behind her and spooned her. He whispered in her ear, "Te amo, Olivia, y siempre te protegeré."

Translation: I love you, Olivia, and I will always protect you.