*So sorry for the delay on this one guys- This one is short but I promise there will be more frequent updates in the coming weeks.*
In Interrogation OneOlivia is in shock.
She trusts Barba- as much as she's ever trusted anyone- maybe more. She knows he didn't do this- but proving it was getting harder by the second. No matter how much they disagreed about how to go about something- he'd always stood beside her. He was the only person in her life- aside from Fin- who hadn't abandoned her- no matter how tough things got. He'd risked his career multiple times to fight for her- and now it was time to return the favor.
She finally breaks from her stunned silence. "Get him out of there. He's not answering anymore questions." She starts to hurry towards the door. Fin stops her.
"Liv, at this point- if he didn't do it- the only chance we have to find out who did is him telling us what happened in that apartment."
"Alex did this Fin. He's setting Barba up!"
Fin tries to be as calming as possible. "And if that's true- we'll figure it out. Look, between you and me- I don't think he did it either. But you know we have to investigate like it's any other case. And right now we have enough to arrest him."
Olivia takes a step away- desperately trying to figure out how their life could unravel so quickly. He looks to Fin- pleading. "Can I see him?"
Fin nods. They both walk into Olivia's office from the interrogation room- just as a down-trodden Carisi is leading Barba out. They've at least had the decency not to cuff him. Fin signals to Carisi to give them a moment alone.
Barba and Olivia stand in silence in her office as Carisi and Fin exit. He seems incapable of looking her- realizing that she probably knows now about the knife.
He draws a deep breath- steeling himself, "'Livia- I know how this looks-" He finally meets her eyes- his own eyes pleading with her. "I swear to God I didn't do this" he nearly whispers.
She quickly closes the distance between them- pulling him into a hug. Relief floods over him- he nearly collapses into her. "I know you didn't. They're going to get him Rafi." They stand there for a moment- just holding each other. He honestly can't believe she trusts him so completely- but he thanks God she does. He can't get through this without her. The realization that he's come to need her so much is terrifying.
Eventually, they pull away from each other- she takes him by the shoulder- looking him the eye, "We'll figure this out." He nods- unconvinced. "Rafi, I love you." Her words draw his eyes back to hers- silent tears still spilling down his cheeks. She leans into him- placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
There's a tap on the door and Fin pokes his head in. "Sorry, Liv. I gotta take him."
Arraignment did not go well. O'Dwyer asked for, and was granted, remand thanks to the heinous nature of the crime.
As he was led out of the courtroom- Olivia saw something she rarely ever saw on Rafael Barba's face- Defeat.
