A/N: I apologise for the delay in getting this out; real life has been a bit hectic recently. But here it is, my post-ep for 19x02: Mood. This takes place in the same universe as the first post-ep. I think I'm going to continue connecting the post eps unless something in canon directly contradicts what I have written.
Not 100% happy with this, but I just couldn't look at it anymore. I have an idea for 19x03 too, so I'll get on that as soon as possible, and hopefully 19x04 will provide me with suitable Barson inspiration too.
Laughter echoed around Olivia's apartment as Rafael emerged from her bedroom, dressed in sweatpants and his favourite Harvard sweatshirt, towelling his hair. He smiled at the sound. Olivia hadn't had much cause to laugh over the last two weeks, with this child abuse investigation hanging over her head. Even their blossoming relationship, amazing and life-affirming though it was, had been overshadowed by the spectre of uncertainty.
He had hoped that after her interview, his colleagues at the DA's office would have seen sense and dropped the enquiry but they had yet to hear anything conclusively. It was taking all of Rafael's willpower not to storm down to the third floor and give Michelle Morrison and Brian Cassidy a piece of his mind. Olivia had made him promise not to though.
"Sounds like you two are having fun," he commented as he moved further into the living room. Olivia and Noah turned to face him and he burst out laughing at the sight of them. They looked quite ridiculous, both with ice cream on their noses. "You do know you're supposed to eat the ice-cream, right?" he asked.
Noah giggled and shook his head. "Raf, you're silly!"
"Yes, yes I am," he agreed, flopping down next to Noah on the couch, discarding his towel and turning to Olivia. "Thanks for letting me use your hot water."
A pipe had burst in his neighbourhood and he had been without water when he'd woken this morning. A phone call to the water company that afternoon as they were leaving courthouse had confirmed that the problem had still not been resolved and that it could be the early hours of the morning before full service was restored. On hearing of his predicament, Olivia had offered him the use of her shower. So after a quick trip home for some spare clothes and toiletries, he'd arrived at Olivia's for a shower, a home cooked meal and quality time with two of his favourite people.
Since their kiss two weeks ago, they'd been taking things slowly. Drinks after work, a trip to the park with Noah on Saturday morning, followed by an intimate dinner just the two of them that same night. They'd shared several sweet kisses too – and one rather heated one as he'd dropped her at her door after their date - but there'd been no declarations or even discussions. Both had been content to let this new facet of their relationship develop at its own pace.
"So, mi amigo, what are we watching?" Rafael asked Noah, ruffling his hair.
"Ding Dog Daddy," Noah informed him. Rafael was still none the wiser, so he turned his attention to the screen to try and work out what was going on. He quickly became engrossed in the storyline and the ridiculous antics of the hero, so much so that he missed the mischievous look that Noah and Liv shared. He also missed Liv passing a spoon of ice cream to the boy.
The first he knew about their nefarious plan was when the cold dessert landed on his nose. "Hey!" He snatched the spoon from Noah, as the little boy collapsed into giggles against him. He eyed Olivia suspiciously.
Olivia bit her lip to stop from laughing. "Sorry Counsellor," Liv offered with a shrug. "Couldn't resist."
"Hmm. Well, two can play at that game Lieutenant." He turned towards her, spoon in hand. She noticed the glint in his hand a moment too late and before she could react, he smeared ice cream down her cheek.
Noah guffawed; it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen.
Olivia raised an eyebrow at her son. "Oh, you think that's funny do you?" She dipped her hand into the bowl and scooped out some more of the sticky dessert.
Her hand moved towards Noah. "No Momma, no!" He tried to duck out of her way but Rafael held him still. Noah shrieked as Olivia's hand connected with his skin and the ice cream began to dribble down his face.
Noah reached to retaliate but a knock at the door distracted them.
"You expecting someone?" Rafael asked, pulling Noah onto his lap.
Olivia shook her head. "Could be Fin. He called while you were in the shower, but I let it go to voicemail." She stood and moved towards the door. "Do you think you could… maybe…" She indicated towards her ice cream covered son. She was hesitant to ask too much from Rafael, not wanting to appear like she was forcing him to a father's role if that wasn't what he wanted. If their relationship continued, as Olivia hoped it would, it would be something that would need to be discussed, but for now, she was still being cautious.
"No problem. Come on mi amigo, let's get you cleaned up while Mami answers the door." He stood, picking Noah up as he did so, and headed through to the kitchen, leaving Olivia to deal with her visitor.
Peeking through the spy-hole, Olivia sighed before flinging the door open. "What the hell are you doing here?" she spat.
Brian Cassidy had the decency to look contrite. "I wanted to explain."
"I don't want to hear it, Brian. I'm being investigated because of your big mouth!"
"Look, I didn't m-" Cassidy was distracted by Rafael rounding the corner, holding tight to Noah's hand.
"Liv, that ice cream's everywhere – even in his hair. I think a bath might be-" Rafael's gaze darkened as he spotted who was at the door.
As Cassidy looked from Olivia to Rafael, noting his bare feet, casual attire, damp hair and clear familiarity with Noah, several things clicked into place. "Didn't expect to run into you here, Counsellor?" he said with a smirk.
"I could say the same about you," Rafael shot back, before turning to Olivia. "Do you want me to run him a bath?" he asked.
After only a moment's hesitation, Olivia shook her head. "No, I'll do it. She reached for Noah's hand. "Come on, my love. Let's get you cleaned up." She led him to the bathroom, not sparing another glance for the men currently facing off in her doorway. She wasn't sure what she was thinking, leaving Rafael alone with Cassidy; he'd been quite vocal in his opinions of the man since finding out he was one of the reasons the investigation had gone as far as it had. She'd discouraged him from going after Cassidy, but this was different. Cassidy had come to them. He'd visited her home and disturbed their peaceful night in. So, if Rafael wanted to defend that, and her, then she was inclined to let him.
Rafael's nostrils flared as he faced Cassidy once more. "What the hell do you want?"
Cassidy smirked. "You might want to think about being a bit nicer to me Counsellor. I'm sure the DA and 1PP would be very interested to know about this development in yours and Liv's relationship."
"Who's to say they don't know already?"
"I'm an investigator. Give me some credit."
"Liv and I have nothing to hide," he declared confidently. "Now, I asked you a question. What do you want?"
"I came to explain..."
"Oh, this I can't wait to hear!"
"Look, Michelle and I work together. It was just an innocent conversation between colleagues."
"You gossiped about Liv's past, shared some of her deepest, darkest secrets. That's bad enough, but to do it with the person who was leading the investigation! Jesus. You fell right into Morrison's little trap."
"What are you saying?"
Rafael rolled his eyes. "You really are a moron." After Rollins had told Olivia what she'd found out about Cassidy's part in the investigation, Rafael had had Carmen do some digging. That woman knew everybody in the DA's office and, consequently, could get to the heart of the gossip and rumours in double quick time. It turned out that, before the allegations against Olivia, Morrison had been vehemently opposed to Cassidy's appointment, given his chequered past. But as soon as Olivia's name had come up in a child abuse investigation, she'd become his new best friend. "You were played, Cassidy. She may come across as sweet and innocent, but Michelle Morrison is an ambitious little snake. She's got her sights set on the top job in that department – has for years - and exposing a child abuse scandal in the NYPD, even a fictional one, would no doubt help her get it."
"How would that help her?"
"The mayor is fed up of scandals coming out of the DA's office, NYPD, DoC. He wants a full and thorough clean up. Morrison saw the allegations against Liv and, knowing of your past relationship, used you to get dirt on her. Surprising what people will do to get ahead; less than a month ago your name was mud as far as she was concerned, now you're her little lap dog."
Rafael watched as realisation dawned on Cassidy's face. "Shit."
"Quite." Rafael almost felt sorry for him. He seemed genuinely surprised by his part in all this, but at the same time, he'd broken Olivia's confidence, something that Rafael couldn't forgive. The mere thought of someone betraying her like that made his blood boil.
"What can I do?" Cassidy asked. "I want to make this right."
Rafael fixed him with a hard stare. "Stay the hell away from us and don't tell Morrison anything else about Liv."
"I…" sighed Cassidy, running a hand through his hair. He'd seen the look on the ADA's face before during cross-examination. He meant business and you did not want to cross him. "Will you at least tell Liv I'm sorry? I honestly had no idea."
Rafael nodded. "I'll tell her. But I don't know that she'll ever forgive you." He certainly wouldn't.
Cassidy nodded in understanding. "Take care of her, Counsellor."
"I'll take care of them both," Rafael clarified. It was another difference between the two men. Cassidy had wanted Olivia but the thought of having a family with her, of having to share her with someone – even their own child – had appalled him. For Rafael, it was the opposite. He accepted Noah's part in Olivia's life and fully embraced it. He enjoyed spending time with the little boy and he didn't resent that he would always be his mother's priority. For the first time in his life, Rafael saw himself in the role of a father – but only with Olivia and only with Noah.
As Cassidy turned away, Rafael closed the door on his retreating form and made his way through the living room, picking up Noah's discarded toys as he went – something that was quickly becoming second nature. He entered the bathroom to find Noah sat happily in the bath, pushing his toy boat across the water.
Olivia looked at him enquiringly, as he knelt next to the bath and took control of another of Noah's toy boats, chasing his around the tub. Neither of them wanted to discuss Cassidy's visit in front of Noah so, like Olivia's wordless enquiry, an almost imperceptible nod was Rafael's reply. He was okay and the conversation was shelved, for now.
Noah fell asleep quickly, the unexpected bath having extended his bedtime by almost forty minutes. As Olivia approached the couch, Rafael lifted his arm. She sat, curled her legs up next to her and leaned into him.
He placed a gentle kiss on her temple. "You okay?"
"Mmm-hmm." She reached for his free hand. "I just wish this nightmare would end."
"It'll be over soon. There's no case here; they're pissing in the wind."
"As your hand isn't bruised, can I assume you refrained from punching Cassidy?" Olivia asked, stroking his knuckles with her thumb.
"I would have loved nothing more, but if I'd so much as tried, he'd have put me on the floor," scoffed Rafael.
"Don't sell yourself short. You grew up in el Barrio, did you not?"
"Yeah, with Eddie and Alex to protect me. Trust me Liv, I am not a fighter, which you very well know, or you wouldn't have left me alone with him in the first place."
"So… if you didn't punch him…?" she pressed.
"I told him the ugly truth, that Morrison played him. She used him to get what she needed. He seemed surprised. He asked me to tell you he was sorry."
"Sorry isn't enough. The things he told her… they were private."
"I know." He ran his arm gently up and down her arm. They sat listening to the sounds of the bustling city outside the apartment, Rafael tracing patterns on the bare skin of Olivia's upper arm. "He never deserved you," he whispered.
Olivia raised her head and met his gaze. His eyes full of care and adoration. There was no judgement from him on the failed relationships from her past. "Looking back, I don't really know what I saw in him if I'm honest. We had fun together and he was there for me during the worst time of my life. I'll always appreciate that but it was never going anywhere long term. We had different dreams."
Olivia's eyes flickered to the mantelpiece, resting on a recent photo of her and Noah. Rafael followed her gaze and smiled. "You realized your dream. You did it Liv, and no-one, not Michelle Morrison or Brian Cassidy, is going to take it away. We're going to fight this. You and me."
"Just because we're," she gestured between them, "whatever we are, doesn't me you have to be-"
He cut her off with a searing kiss. "Don't! I know this is new and we've not had a proper chance to talk about where this is going, but I need you to know. The way I feel about you… this is it for me Liv." He didn't want to utter those three little words just yet, not so soon and definitely not while the cloud of this investigation was hanging over them, but she needed to know he was committed to her. To them. To Noah. "I can't do this half-way. I need to be all in. You, me and Noah."
Olivia reached up to cup his cheek. "I can't do half-way either."
"So, all in?" he confirmed.
She leaned into him and brushed her lips against his. "All in," she whispered as she pulled back. "So, does this mean you'll stay tonight?"
As morning came upon them, Rafael woke with Olivia pressed against him. They had talked into the night, ignoring fatigue and leaving no question unanswered. It was important to make sure they both knew what the other wanted and where they wanted this relationship to go. When they'd exhausted all their worries and questions, Olivia had taken his hand and led him to her room. They'd made love in the early hours of the morning, exploring and learning each other's bodies, before falling asleep snuggled together.
He felt her shift next to him, beginning to wake. He smiled at her and leant down to steal a quick kiss. "Good morning,"
"Mmm," she replied sleepily. "Morning Rafa."
He scrunched his face up at the nickname. "Rafa? Really?"
"Yeah. You call me Liv, so why not?" She pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Unless you'd prefer something more mainstream like 'babe' or… I know, honeybun?"
"Don't even go there."
"So, you're okay with Rafa then?"
"I'll get used to it," he conceded with a shrug. "But only when we're alone. The last thing I need is for Carisi to latch onto it the same way he did when you started calling me Rafael."
