OK so firstly my sincere apologies for not posting this chapter sooner. Life, dogs and being poorly annoyingly all got in the way. By the time I did get to finish it I was undecided as to whether my two shot should become a three shot...that is up to you guys. The story can easily be left here, but of course as you can see, there is room for a little more...be interested to see what you all think...

Housekeeping of course is my apologies for any faux pas especially with life dogs and being poorly clouding the brain cells!

Rafael Barba wasn't entirely sure how the squad car supplied by an incredibly watchful Fin Tutuola, had ended up on the sidewalk outside his apartment. Well as an attorney he would have to argue to that not being strictly accurate.

The eagle-eyed Fin had noticed them moving towards the elevator, handing a uniformed officer Liv's purse, he'd dispatched her to take Lieutenant Benson home. Trying to get a cab in Manhattan in this kind of weather, especially at this time, was virtually impossibly, and Barba was inordinately grateful to the vigilant detective.

He'd asked Olivia, if she wanted a drink, his question had been met with a firm but silent nod, he suggested Forlini's, their usual place for a quiet after work drink, this had been met with the same silence, this time accompanied by a shake of the head. Perhaps she just wanted to go home, open a bottle of wine, it was usually her second choice, this suggestion was also met with another shake of her head. Barba didn't have too many options left open to him, for an attorney he decided asking questions, for once was not the way to go, he would need to make the decision himself. Thus, he found himself giving the police officer his own address, the car now stationary outside of his building, the rain still lashing down and showing no signs of abating.

It was only a short distance from the car to the door, but nonetheless in this weather, they were going to get drenched. Barba tried not to think about what the torrential downpour was going to do to the wool of his suit, he didn't really have much time to think about it, as Liv opened the door and got out. Grabbing the purse she left on the seat, he thanked the young police officer and did the same.

He fully expected Liv to make a quick dash up the steps to his brownstone apartment, but she didn't, as the squad car pulled away, she turned her face up towards the sky and simply allowed the icy rain to beat down, quickly soaking her through, and plastering her long dark hair to her scalp and face. He too, quickly became soaked; he didn't notice the chill, any thoughts for his expensive tailoring forgotten in his concern for Olivia as she continued to stand unmoving in the cold driving, yet seemingly cleansing rain. A loud rumble of thunder and bolt of lightning, spurred him into action, catching his arm about Liv he finally moved them into the dryness of the lobby and his apartment beyond.

Olivia Benson looked at the bedraggled ADA standing before her. His once light grey suit now much darkened by the rain, as he brushed some more droplets from the jacket and shook it away from his body, she noticed it had soaked right through, leaving an occasional damp patch on his powder blue shirt. After the incredibly long and stressful day she'd had, the sight before her made her smile, a pang of guilt drifting along side the amusement. This was all her fault.

"Sorry Raffa." She whispered watching droplets of rain, fall from his rather wavy hair onto his rosy face.

Instinctively she reached out to brush one away, her fingers moving from his damp cheek to his hair.

He inclined his head questioningly, a small frown creasing his brow, her fingers still brushing against his wet hair, much as you would a child.

"The rain was so cold and refreshing after today." She explained huskily.

"Cathartic almost. But I didn't mean for you to get soaked as well."

Her brown eyes dropped from his, taking in the uneven circles which had spread across his shirt, dropping lower to the cold, damp decidedly uncomfortable wool which clung to his legs.

The fingers which had been stroking his hair, moved to trace on of those uneven circles which had spread across the cotton of his shirt. Those fingers which had been stroking his hair had warranted an inordinate amount of concentration and self-control, the light touch which all but caressed his left shoulder took ever more so. Right now Rafael Barba would have welcomed standing under the icy chill of the rain. He certainly didn't trust himself to respond verbally to Liv's apology, as his struggled to maintain his even breathing.

Her hand moved almost trance like to another damp, uneven patch on the powder blue cotton, this one a fraction lower, in the centre of his chest, it was too close to his frantically beating heart for Olivia not to notice. Her hand stilled, and she placed the palm flat against him, feeling the rapid pulsing against her.

Olivia Benson touched his heart in so many ways, now she was doing so quite literally, but this wasn't the time. Barba tried not to meet those beautiful brown eyes, knowing full well, to her at least, his own would reveal too much.

"Raffa?

There was that soft husky tone again, unconsciously his eyes were drawn to hers, he couldn't help himself, wide and bright, they held the same question as her voice. He felt as if he was hooked up to a human polygraph. It didn't matter what he said, his heart would give him away.

Liv took a step closer, despite the chill and wet of the rain, he felt the warmth of her body, her hand remained firmly in the centre of his chest, his heart accelerating against her warm palm as the subtle scent of her perfume invaded his nostrils.

Still not trusting himself to speak, and what was there to say, Barba began to turn away, he'd get that drink he'd suggested. The warm palm which had been resting softly against the damp patch on his shirt, against his heart, in a deft vice like movement, grasped the edge of his jacket, preventing him from going anywhere.

Fighting to keep his emotions and his voice in check the ADA finally spoke.

"I was going to get you that drink." Despite his best effort his tone sounded a little shaky even to his own ears.

Olivia's eyes narrowed, under wisps of damp hair, which clung to her face, a neatly plucked brow rose ever so slightly, her free hand ran through the length of her wet locks pushing it back. The fingers which had grasped his jacket so tightly, returned to Barba's shirt, gently moving across the darkened patches.

"I think we should get out of our wet clothes."

The remark was innocuous enough under normal circumstances, but for some reason these no longer seemed like normal circumstances, although the ADA hadn't the remotest idea why. He tried to rein in the image she'd conjured up with two little words, we and our, but it danced in graphic colour across Barba's mind, this time his fight was to dull them to black and white. Liv's fingers seemed be in charge of the colour control, the more they moved, the brighter the image became, the more graphic it became, the gentle movements feeling so ridiculously erotic now. He censored his reply, Olivia Benson was his friend, his colleague, and one who had had a particularly rough day, who needed …

His damp jacket slid from his shoulders and slowly down his arms. In normal circumstances he would have assumed Liv was simply taking of his jacket, mothering him, but the deliberate pause as the woollen material was moved back from his shoulders, the sensual way it pushed down his arms, and the unwavering look in her chocolate brown eyes, assured the cautious ADA these were far from normal circumstances and she was certainly not mothering him.

The sound of his jacket falling to the floor was the only sound to be heard in the apartment, although Barba was convinced his wildly beating heart sounded like a bass drum, especially when Liv's fingers came to the first fastened button on his shirt. Instinctively, maybe because of the jobs they did, maybe because of the day they'd both had, or maybe just because, his fingers came to cover hers. The small round button slipped through the neat hole, Liv's fingers stilling against his own. Warm surprised brown, met questioning limpid green, Barba's unspoken question hung in the air. Liv gave him a gentle smile, as she spoke, her fingers brushing softly against his constraining ones.

"You were going to say something just now, when I suggested we get out of our wet clothes. You stopped yourself. What was it?"

The question in Barba's eyes turned also to one of surprise, although he shouldn't be surprised, Olivia had been a cop for a long time, even with her friends, she knew when they were holding back on her. Barba had felt this was not the right time, but the way he felt about Olivia and had done for some while now, was there ever going to be a right time?

His professionalism continued to fight with his instincts as a man, just as they always did. But, she was giving him the time, right here, right now, the perfect opportunity and one that he might never get again. Whatever kind of god awful day Olivia had had, she wanted to be with him, now she wanted him. He'd already assured himself whatever she wanted or needed he would be there for her. He was here for her…

"I'd said I was going to get you that drink."

Liv nodded.

"You said we should get out of our wet clothes."

She nodded again.

"I was going to say there was no reason why we couldn't do both."

Barba felt heat invade his own cheeks at his admission, a slow sexy smile curved Liv's full mouth. How different she looked from the woman he'd been watching through the toughened interview room glass. He'd seen both the tough and the soft side of her today, but the softness he saw now was something he'd not seen before, a gentle luminosity that radiated just for him.

It didn't stop that tiny little doubt nagging away at the back of his head, no that he doubted her in any way, but…

Her hand slid from under his moving to the next tethered button on his shirt, all the while her brown eyes held his.

"This isn't just about today Raffa."

There was that tone again and the Raffa, she knew him so well.

One hand returned to his face, it rested reassuringly against his cheek as she continued to speak, her eyes still glowing and sexy, but with a seriousness in the brown depths.

"Like I said earlier, it really was just another case."

This time there was no dismissiveness in her words, no pushing passed him.

"I live with those memories ever day. Today…well today,"

She didn't really want to dwell on today, but despite their beauty, she could see the concern in Barba's eyes. She didn't need to tell the ADA any of this, but her friend Raffa, perhaps he needed to hear it.

"I really have been doing this a very long time."

There was that phrase again, her warm fingers against his jaw, her soft but firm reassurance, Barba knew she really hadn't been doing it too long, it was who she was.

"It's inevitable that my own personal life and experiences will cross over into my work."

"I know" He said his own tone hushed

"It's just sometimes watching you put yourself through that, it's…"

The words caught in his throat, emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Her hand stilled against his cheek, and she took another step closer, the soft but firm reassurance this time coming from her lips as they brushed against his.

"I know" She whispered against his sensual mouth, now really not wanting to dwell on the day or those memories.

"I know Raffa…"

She felt his mouth and his body react to her own.

"Now about that drink and these wet clothes."