Rafael was trying to hide the hurt on his face at the fact that Stone was there with them. He hadn't expected the squad to be treating Stone like family already as it had taken them some time to warm up to him.
He walked over to the bleachers with Olivia, walking close enough to her that their shoulders would brush against each other.
Stone spotted how close they were walking together as he looked at the squad. "So, were the rumours true? Were they more than just friends?"
Fin looked at Stone. "We may be family, but we try to stay out of that part of each other's lives. If there was something Liv wanted us to know then she would tell us."
Rafael let Liv walk up the bleachers in front of him first, as he was trying to still an extra minute to calm his nerves. He had no idea how the squad were going to treat him today. The thought of it had kept him awake all night.
They had saved enough room for both Rafael and Liv to sit down beside each other, in the row in front of the squad.
Carisi patted his shoulder. "So, Councillor, you going to tell us what you have been doing the last three months?"
Stone gritted his teeth. "I think you'll find I'm the one that's Councillor now to you."
Rafael tried not to roll his eyes at Stone. "Give them a break, Stone. They really just aren't sure what to call me anymore." He turned his head to look at Carisi as he narrowed his eyes at the detective. "And don't even think about calling me Rafa. That is for Liv and Noah only."
Fin and Rollins were trying so hard not to laugh at Carisi's expression.
"Remind me why I missed being around you, Barba," the blond detective said.
Rafael chuckled softly as he looked at Liv before Carisi again. "Because you loved running your crazy law theories by me. To be honest, Carisi, I'm surprised I survived you shadowing me in court over that Thanksgiving period."
Liv started to laugh, the first genuine laugh and smile her squad had seen from the day that Rafael left.
Rafael poked her in the side gently. "Hey, I don't know what you find so funny, Lieutenant. It was your fault and don't think that I have forgotten that." Rafael raised his eyebrow playfully as he nudged his shoulder against Liv's gently, the nerves slowly starting to Liv his body. She always had that effect on him, as long as she was close to him there was nothing that he couldn't take on.
Stone looked at the squad feeling a little uncomfortable and he stood up. "I'm going to grab some coffee. Does anyone want some?"
The squad shook their heads but Liv looked at Stone. "I'll take a large coffee please Stone if you don't mind."
Stone smiled thinking that he was getting Olivia on his side. "Of course not, Olivia. What way you take your coffee?"
Olivia was surprised when he used her first name as that wasn't something that they did. She went to answer him but Barba jumped in before her. "Cream, two sugar, and ask for plenty of cinnamon." He didn't even lift his head to look at Stone and Liv smiled hearing Rafa.
"So, you haven't forgotten how I take my coffee then?" she smirked playfully.
Rafael raised his eyebrow. "You really think that after basically being your coffee supplier for six years that I would just forget in three months? Your words wound me, Lieutenant." Rafael dramatically put his hand over his heart pretending her words had visibly hurt him.
Stone cleared his throat. "You want anything, Barba?" He almost spat Barba's name.
Rafael just took it in his stride knowing that was annoying him more. "No, I'm good. I'll just steal some of Liv's if I want some."
Olivia slapped Rafael's arm playfully as Stone just shook his head, walking away from the squad and towards the coffee cart.
Rafael waited until Stone was out of earshot and he looked at the squad. "So, he really doesn't like having me around then, huh?"
Rollins looked at Stone and then to Rafael. "I think he's fed up of us comparing him to you. And then there's the fact that we have maybe told him on a few too many occasions that you would have things differently."
Fin looked at him. "Yeah, Barba man. C'mon, can't you come back to the squad and save us from trying to break this new ADA in? It's just taking too long."
Rafael couldn't explain the flutter he got in his heart hearing them defend him so much after everything that he had done with baby Drew. He looked at the squad that he realized had become his family too. "Guys, go easy on him. Settling into SVU isn't an easy task, and especially not to a unit that is as tight as you guys are. He knows you guys are family to each other. He will get the hang of it, he just needs some more time."
There thankfully wasn't a line at the coffee cart and Stone was back in time to hear Barba saying someone would fit in with the squad. "I don't think Jack is just going to let you have your job back, Barba, after what you did." He handed the coffee to Liv smiling at her and he then stood a little too close to her.
Rafael looked at Stone. "I don't want my job back, Councillor. Relax. Trust me, we both know Jack would send you back to Chicago if I told him I was back for good."
Stone looked at him. "You won't work in this town again as a lawyer, Barba, and especially not in the D.A's office. You need to accept their no longer your team, and no matter what you do, that won't change."
He looked at Fin. "Wow, okay, if that's what I was like when I first joined SVU then your right - calling me an asshole was being way too nice to me."
Stone looked at Rafael. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?" He had raised his voice a little at Barba who was doing his best to keep his temper in check for Noah's sake.
He looked at Stone. "I was telling the team to go easy on you and give you time to settle in, that it's tough to settle into SVU."
Stone fake laughed. "You trying to help me? I am pretty sure that's the last thing you would want to do since I've taken your place."
Rafael stood up, laughing. "You might have taken my job, Stone, but that's it. You haven't taken my place in any other way and don't be trying to fool yourself into thinking differently. And, if you want to keep raising your voice at me because my being here threatens you then I suggest you leave, We don't need you causing a scene at Noah's ball game." He sat back down beside Olivia as Noah waved over at them with a huge smile on his face
Stone went to argue back and Fin stood up. "I think its time you call it a day, Councillor. Whatever you came to talk to us about can wait until we're back on duty."
Stone sighed in frustration and stormed off and Rafael leaned in closer to Liv. "Is he always such an ass or do I just bring out that side in him?"
