I Can Read You
AU. Olivia and Rafael meet by chance but it's faith who seems to pull them towards one another. Barson.
I own nothing .
Chapter 3:
"Okay Sofia, why don't you take a seat over here and we'll begin soon." Mrs. Pearson said with a smile as she led the little girl to her classroom for the first time. It was a new school so she clearly didn't know anyone, not that she was shy or anything. She eyed the children for a moment, she remembered Katie telling her she needed to smile in order to get someone's attention. The rest would be easy.
"What are you looking at?" A small voice said. She looked up to see a little boy curiously glancing at her. "Do you miss your mom?"
"I don't have one." She told him. The little boy blinked a couple times.
"Oh." He said. "I don't have a daddy, do you have one?"
"Yes." A smile formed on her lips. "He's the best dad in the whole wide world."
"I'm Noah," He gave her his hand. "Sonny you have to shake hands with people," Sofa looked at him.
"I'm Sofia." She smiled, taking his hand. "First time?"
"Yeah, never been to first grade, that's for sure, there's a lot less toys here." Noah noted glancing around the room. Sofia imitated him.
"You're right" Sofia put her finger to her chin. "I guess they're keeping them somewhere for now, Papi says you always have to put your toys away once you're done with them."
"What's Papi? Is it a Spanish word? My Uncle Nick talks like that sometimes." Noah said. Sofia looked at him for a moment. "He's fun, not so much as Sonny though, he's the best with me and Jesse."
Sofia stared at the boy. Unamused.
"Yes, it means daddy, but I call him Papi because he's Cuban." Sofia explained. "Sometimes when he's mad, he'll start yelling in Spanish, mostly to his phone" Noah Smiled
"My mom talks a lot on her phone too. She chases bad guys. She's a superhero." Noah said proudly. "What does your daddy do?
"He's a lawyer." She said simply. "He puts bad people away too."
"Oh, bet they could do it together." Sofia bit her lip. "My mom knows Spanish too, so maybe they could be friends. "
Sofia was about to say something when they heard Mrs. Pearson.
"Okay guys! Gather around, class is about to start!" Mrs. Pearson called. Sofia and Noah turned around instantly.
"Come on." Noah told her. "Want to sit together?"
"Sure."
"Hey Katie. How's school?" He had just been given half an hour recess.
"Same. Boring. Tons of homework. How did it go today? Did she cry? Did you?"
"No." Rafael said neutrally. "I didn't."
"Liar." She mused. Rafael laughed. "You still need me to pick her up?"
"Yes, I wanted to surprise her but they're not going to let me out of here on time. Jury's taking their time."
"I'm guessing you haven't worked on the wife? She doesn't know what she's in for." Katie added. "Did she really kill him?"
"That's what I'm trying to prove, yes." He said with a sigh. "Speaking of which, I have to get back. See you tonight?"
"Yeah, see you later, kick butt."
"You doubt me?" He smiled. "See you kid."
"Hola, me llamo Noah." He'd done it. It had taken him all day but he had finally managed to let out his first sentence. Sofia clapped. "I did it!" She had offered to teach her new friend a bit of Spanish so he could surprise his Uncle Nick.
"See? Told you it wasn't that hard." Sofia said. "But maybe we should stick to words for now. It'll be easier."
"Okay." Noah smiled. He sat back down on swing next to Sofia as they began to see parents arrive for pick up. "Tomorrow?"
"Same time, same place." Sofia smiled. She spotted Katie in the crowd. She grabbed her bag and waved at her nanny.
"There she is. My first grader." Katie made her way over the swings. "Look at you. Seem smarter." Sofia laughed. Noah stared at them, he'd somehow followed Sofia. He tried to practice his newly found language but failed. He should have said it slowly.
"Katie, this is Noah."
"Mucho gusto." Katie said with a smile. Noah looked at Sofia for support. She leaned to whisper something in his ear.
"Today was his first lesson." She pointed out.
"I see." Katie said. "Well Noah, it was really nice to meet you, maybe you can come over for a play date soon."
"Okay." Noah smiled. "Oh there's my mom." Sofia turned to see the lady who was waving her new friend hello. Olivia had managed to relieve Lucy and come pick up Noah herself .
"There you are sweet boy." Olivia was quick to hug her son. "How was your day?"
Noah shrugged. "I learned Spanish."
"You did? Wow." She wasn't sure that was part of his class but they lived in New York after all.
"Yeah and have a new friend, her name is Sofia. She's over there."
He pointed at Katie and Sofia. "Hey Sofia!" Olivia moved to say hello to the little girl.
"Hi sweetheart." Olivia said with a smile. "I'm Olivia, Noah's mom."
"You're pretty." Sofia pointed out. Katie glanced at her.
"Well thank you, you are too. Is this your mom?"
"No, the nanny. I'm Katie." The younger woman said. Suddenly, Benson's phone buzzed.
"Excuse me." She said kindly. "Benson."
"She's just like Papi the office calls." Sofia muttered. Katie laughed.
"Bet you she's a lawyer too."
"She doesn't look like one." The little girl pointed out. "But she puts bad guys away like Papi."
"I'm sorry, we have to run." Olivia said. "It was really nice meeting you both and we'll definitely will get together, play date?"
"Of course." Katie said. "Bye Noah."
The little boy waved goodbye until they were out of sight.
"So…"
"So…" Sofia repeated. "What did Papi say about dinner?"
"Just that Lucia is coming over." Katie told her. "Did they fight again?"
"Had an argument." The little girl said. "Papi says so."
"Of course he does."
"Papi has to have a girlfriend, I wasn't meant to hear them but I did. Abuelita says I need a mom." Her face fell. They kept walking in silence for a moment. "I'm not sure I want one. I have you" Katie really felt for her and Rafael. They were like her family. She remembered when she'd been sent juvie and Rafael had been set up to represent her. He'd just had Sofia and something between them just clicked.
She was a mess, a 13 year old orphan girl, without any path whatsoever and she was now in college. Building a life for herself. She wasn't sure she was the right person to tell Sofia how to feel.
"But I don't Papi to be alone." She told her. Katie knew Rafael all too well. She was sure he'd never loved anyone as much as Sofia's mom.
"Mija tell me all about your first day." Lucia said as soon as she walked through the door. Sofia was watching as Katie made dinner.
"It was okay Abuelita. I get to sit next to two other girls, they don't talk much." Lucia smiled.
"I'm sure you'll be making friends in no time."
"She already does." Katie said. Lucia glanced at her granddaughter. "His name is Noah. Cute kid."
"Oh, Sofi, that's great news Mi amor. "
Suddenly the door clicked open, "Papi!" She was down the stool, anything to get away from Lucia's inquiries.
"Whoa." Rafi was able to put his case down before it flew to the other side of the room. "Hola Enana, what's all this?
"I missed you Papi." She held on to his neck as Rafael balanced his weight and carried her along.
"I missed you too princesa." He said sweetly. "Was school fun?"
"I guess, Mrs. Pearson is really nice, I learned a lot." She bit her lip. "Helped Noah with his Spanish."
"Who's Noah?" He asked curiously.
"Sofi's new friend." Lucia said kissing Rafi's cheek.
Sofia's first friend, a boy? Okay. He could live with that. Right?
"Noah, my man!" Nick said as soon as he spotted the little boy.
"Hi Uncle Nick, guess what? I know Spanish now." He said proudly. He didn't see Zara much and as far as he knew she knew a bit of it too.
"Oh." Nick glanced at Olivia. "Alright, let's hear it."
"Hola, me llamo Noah." He babbled.
"Very good bud, are they teaching you that at school?" He asked.
"No, Sofia is."
"Sofia…." Nick raised an eyebrow.
"Her dad is from Cuba, are you from there too Uncle Nick?"
"Well, my parents, grandma, I wasn't actually born there." He explained. Nick was amused at his sudden interest, he'd never been too interested before, apart from a few words.
"Oh," Noah said. "Sofia said she'd teach me more tomorrow, so I'll show you?"
"Come on baby, you're on desk duty with Fin until Lucy gets here to take you home." Olivia told him." She led him to her office. "I have to go, alright? Lucy is on her way, I won´t be long."
"Kay." Noah put on his headphones and clicked on the screen of the iPad Olivia had handed him. "I love you mommy."
"I love you." She kissed his cheek. "You're now active Sergeant, so keep an eye on Fin and Amanda for me?" Noah nodded with a smile.
Her boy was so big now. No longer a baby.
Rafi doesn't like the idea of Noah? Nah, he's just being Barba. And Olivia is having mixed feelings, also we have Dodds and Nick here! Yes!
Translations:
Hola me llamo Noah- Hi, I'm Noah."
So? I love writing this so much! I hope you're enjoying it as well! Thanks for the follows and reviews, they make me so happy
