Author's Note: Hey everyone; I'm back. I'm sorry it's been so long. Anyone ever go through a major depressive episode? It's crazy how that can fuck up so many aspects of your life - even something as inane as writing one freaking chapter. I'm doing much better now and I'm nearly done with the next chapter of this. I hope you like this one; let me know!

Rafael Barba was not having a great day. Yesterday's meeting with Jocelyn Paley had hardly gone the way he had wanted. While he could tell she wasn't being combative on purpose, it didn't change the fact that she wasn't going to make this terribly easy for him. Between her book, the defendant, and how the jury was sure to perceive them both, Rafael wasn't entirely convinced this was a case he could win…at least not as easily as he would like to.

The detectives at least were confident, if a not a little more idealist than he was used to in his previous district. He had high hopes he could develop a strong working relationship with each of the members of Harris' team – for as long as Harris had the team anyway. He didn't expect Harris to remain much longer. It was only a matter of time before 1PP cleared Cragen and reinstated him as Head of Manhatten SVU.

Rafael leaned back in his chair as he continued to look over Jocelyn's files. The pictures were startling, no doubt, but Jesus…Cain had used her book as a damn manual for his attack. Convincing the jury that the book saying yes has no bearing in real life consent was going to be a nightmare on its own.

With a sigh, he straightened his tie despite knowing that it did not actually require straightening. Hopefuly Jocelyn's outcry witness would work out well. She would need every bit of help she could get. Considering the witness had apparently known Jocelyn since childhood as well, was an added bonus. It would be a huge help to have someone confirm Jocelyn was an average, down to Earth kind of woman who just happened to write fiction novels about kinky sex.

God, what a mess…

Hearing a knock on his door, Rafael looked up and smiled at Carmen. He would never admit it, but he had been thrilled when she agreed to make the transfer with him over to Manhatten.

"Are they here?" he asked, standing up and buttoning his jacket.

"Yes Sir."

"Send them in, thank you Carmen." He watched as Carmen stepped to the side to allow Rollins and his witness into his office. Raising one eyebrow, Rafael wondered why it looked as though the detective was practically dragging the woman behind her through the doorway. But as soon as the second woman looked up, he recognized that blush, that mass of red hair, and the embarrassed smile shooting his way.

"Ms. Reyes?" Rafael stepped forward, more than a little confused. Then guilt washed over him. He had told her to stop in and they would get lunch, yet there was no way he could leave now – not with him waiting on Jocelyn's witness. Perhaps Ms. Reyes – Ainsley, he told himself – would take a raincheck. He didn't want to miss out on getting together.

He had gotten such a kick out of their first meeting and how frazzled she had been. He wondered if that was how she always acted or if it was just him Rafael found himself thinking it would be preferable if that was her reaction toward him alone. Flustered, excitable, sweet. Though he highly doubted anything would come of his interest in her as Ainsley had to have been at the very least fifteen years his junior. He could just picture the jokes now…ADA with the Special Victims Unit turns cradle robber.

He shook himself from his thoughts as Ainsley gave him a small wave.

"Mr. Barba, fancy seeing you here," she replied, running one hand through her thick waves. He couldn't help but wonder if it was a nervous habit of hers. She had done the same motion several times when he had tried calming her in the Starbucks when they had first met and again at her own, rather impressive, bakery.

Rafael glanced at Rollins who had the most infuriating, shit eating grin plastered on her face. "Wait…"

"Yup," Rollins laughed.

"You mean this…" Rafael motioned toward Ainsley, who once more was turning beat red. Another nervous habit.

"Uh-huh." He was getting ready to shake Rollins for how irritating she was being.

"Well…" Rafael paused and took a step forward and held out his hand. "It's nice to see you again, Ms. Reyes, though I am sorry about the circumstances."

Ainsley nodded and shook his hand. "Yeah, uh sorry…I didn't realize you were Joc's lawyer."

Rafael chuckled and shrugged. "And I didn't know you were her friend and my witness." He watched as she bit into her lip and gave a resigned sigh.

"Come let's sit…Rollins, how are you?" he asked, suddenly remembering that he and Ainsley were hardly alone.

"Oh, I'm just peachy," she chuckled, leading Ainsley to one of the large armchairs away from his desk. He guessed she must be nervous. She shouldn't be though, this was just a simple conversation…about her friend…who was raped. Jesus…

"Can I have Carmen get you something to drink?" he asked, motioning to the now closed door. "Water? Coffee? I think we have some tea if you'd prefer." Both women shook their heads, so Rafael moved to sit a cross from them, unbuttoning his jacket once more.

"Well, again Ms. Reyes, it is nice to see you again. Are you well?" he asked. He wanted to put her at ease. It was odd; not even Jocelyn had seemed this on edge with him and she was the one around whom the case would revolve.

Ainsley took a breath and smiled, one side of her mouth raised slightly higher than the other. "Yeah I'm okay…a little nervous." She gave a slight laugh and shook her head. This wasn't exactly how I planned on coming to see you."

"So you did plan on coming; good to know." Rafael gave a smirk and Rollins cleared her throat. He could see her roll her eyes.

"But honestly, there's no need to be worry here. I just need to ask some questions about your relationship with Ms. Paley, how well you know her, as well as your version of her disclosure to you."

Ainsley nodded. He pulled his file onto his lap and grabbed a pen from inside his suit. Offering up a reassuring smile, Rafael leaned forward a bit toward Ainsley.

"As I understand it, she spoke to you less than an hour after the attack?"

"Uh yeah. She came right over afterwards."

"And what time was that?"

"Just before two in the morning."

"Could you describe the state of Ms. Paley?"

Ainsley nodded and closed her eyes tightly. Rafael looked on while Rollins reached over to hold her hand and Rafael started to wonder what kind of relationship Ainsley had with the SVU team.

"At first, I just thought she had had a bad time with Adam; maybe he was a dick or something. But when she came in, I could see she had been crying – her eyes were all red and puffy. She had a really big red stripe around her neck as if she had been choked or something. Her shirt and skirt were ripped a bit too."

Rafel nodded as he took his notes and then looked up again at the woman across from him. She had gone a bit pale.

"Okay and the disclosure itself," he continued softly. He could see Rollins'confused stare from the corner of his eye but ignored it. "Did you ask if she had been raped or did she bring it up?"

"Is that something that matters?" she asked, glancing over to the detective. Rafael and Rollins exchanged looks.

"Yeah Sweetie," Rollins explained, rubbing her hand. "If you brought it up, it could be argued Jocelyn was just following your lead.

Ainsley nodded and then shook her head. "No, I only asked her what happened."

"You're sure?" Rafael didn't need any more holes in his case.

"Absolutely," Ainsley replied, frim in her answer. "I asked her what happened and she said he wouldn't stop. I asked her who wouldn't stop. I mean, I figured she was talking about Adam Cain since she had told me she would be going out with him after the taping, but I wanted to make sure."

"That's real good, Ainsley," Rollins assured her. "What happened next?"

"Yeah, she – Jocelyn, I mean – she just said she was scared and that he kept pulling something tighter. I didn't know what she meant so I told her she was safe with me and asked her again who had hurt her."

Rafael could feel her gaze as she waited for him to catch up in his notetaking. He smiled at her to show she could continue.

"That's when she said Cain had hurt her. After that I said I was going to take her to the hospital; she was really confused. I guess she hadn't really looked in the mirror or seen her neck, but she ended up agreeing to go.

"So you left?" he asked.

"Yeah. After I got her a coat…when she stood up, there was some blood on the couch where she was sitting." At that, Ainsley looked ready to cry. Barba looked to Rollins while she composed herself.

"Did CSU get the cushion?" he asked softly. Rollins only nodded. Thank God, he thought to himself. The fact that she had been so injured she bled through her clothing would only strengthen his case as callous as that sounded. He didn't feel the need to share that with Ainsley.

"Okay and was anything said on the way to the hospital?" he asked her once he saw she had calmed down a bit.

Ainsley shook her head. "She stayed pretty quiet. When we got there, I said I wanted to call Olivia."

"Benson?" Ainsley nodded. How well did she know the SVU? "Rollins, we'll need to talk later."

"Yeah," the detective agreed with a sigh. Rafael could only hope that Ainsley's apparent friendship with the team wouldn't be seen as bias.

"Continue please, Ms. Reyes," he urged.

"Joc didn't want me to call them, but I did anyway. I figured they knew what to say more than me…they did."

"And that's when Liv and I came in; we already gave you our statements," Rollins added, turning away from Ainsley and facing Rafael.

"Yes. Well from what I'm hearing, which is very much in line with what Ms. Paley told me yesterday, you did everything just right, Ms. Reyes. Your testimony about the disclosure will be very helpful for the case, assuming your willing to take the stand?" Rafael would have expected Ainsley to immediately agree, but she paused. This was concerning.

He watched as she looked toward the ceiling and closed her eyes. Licking her lips and swallowing, Ainsley took a deep breath before once more making eye contact with Rafael. Rollins squeezed the redhead's knee as Ainsley blinked rapidly. Finally she clenched her teeth and took another breath, giving a firm nod.

"Absolutely."

"Excellent," Rafael replied with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "In that case, let's talk about your relationship with Ms. Paley. Tell me how the two of you met."