Olivia Benson was kissing Rafael Barba. She couldn't believe it! She felt the urge to pinch herself. For years she had dreamed of kissing him. She dreamed of studying his body, and kissing all of his parts in different physical locations, Sometimes they were in her bedroom, sometimes his, sometimes in public places. Now, in reality she was kissing him in a bathroom close to a sink, and toilet, but she was kissing him. Her heart dropped suddenly when she realized that he wasn't kissing back. Her lips left his, and she pulled herself away at lighting speed. "Rafa, I'm so sorry." She backed away from him.

"Liv, '' he was able to say, before he was interrupted by the loud ringing of his cell phone, "Hello", he answered, much louder than he wanted to. He walked quickly out of the bathroom. leaving Olivia alone in the bathroom, and he hated himself for it.

"Barba," Fin answered. "We couldn't find him."

"What do you mean you couldn't find him?" He said quietly, his anger still evident in his voice, as he made his way to the couch. "I don't want to hear

that!"

"Calm down Barba, I know. I went to the house of his office assistant. She told me that Dr. Taylor hadn't shown in weeks. She said a lot of people are mad at him, including her, because he was supposed to be filling in for Dr. Lee."

"Dr. Lee still isn't back? Speak to her."

" I'm trying to locate her, I made some calls. I showed up at Dr. Taylor's residence. I spoke to his landlord. She says she doesn't know where he is.. One day he just left out of the blue. I checked,counselor, the doctor wasn't there."

"Find him, Fin." Barba replied, in his toughest prosecutor voice. Without another word, he hung up his cell phone. As he walked to a kitchen counter to place the phone on it's charger, he heard Olivia's footsteps returning to her room, and closing the door.

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Rafael sat on the couch unaware of how much time had passed, since Olivia's lips had touched his, and Fin's phone call. He was nursing his first scotch of the night, the truth was he wanted to drown in it. His front door suddenly creaked open, he got up from the couch, and placed his drink down. His heart was pounding in his chest. Seconds later, his green eyes focused on the face of his mother. "Rafi, are you OK?"

"No, mami. I'm an ass."

"A real ass would never call himself an ass." Lucia replied, now watching her son sip a scotch. "How many have you had?"

"Only this one. but that can be easily remedied."

"Olivia needs you."

"She told me what happened to her", he almost whispered.

"Good. The person who hurt her was the man she was dating?"

"Yes." He answered, bitterly. "She thought he could give her a white picket fence. He hurt her!" Fin better find him before I do."

"I know you're angry, but you're not that kind of man."

Rafael sighed, and rose from his seat with his drink in his hand. He took a big gulp of it, and the liquid was gone. He moved to the kitchen, and washed the glass. "Don't wait up."

"Where are you going?" Lucia asked, alarmed.

"I'm going to find the prick." He said, moving to the front door.

Lucia ran to her son, and touched his arm. "No. Rafi. What good would that do Olivia?"

"He wouldn't be on the streets! He wouldn't hurt anyone again!"

"Olivia deals with people who have impulse control issues all day, for most of her life. She doesn't need you to be a hot head. She needs to be able to lean on you now. She needs you to be smart. She needs you to be the man I raised you to be, the man you are. Going after this doctor is the stupidest idea you ever had. Remember that." Lucia pleaded.

Rafael, took a deep breath, and began to calm down. The name of a friend who might be able to help him gather information about Dr. Taylor popped into his mind. He would make a phone call later. Now. he needed to check on Liv. He walked to her bedroom door, and touched the knob. It was not locked. He knocked 4 times, but there was no answer. He opened the door, just a crack, and saw she was sleeping on the bed, her breathing soft. "Good night Liv." He whispered, closing the door, and going to his own room.

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Olivia covered her eyes with her hand the next morning ,as blinding sunlight suddenly invaded the bedroom. "Get up, sleeping beauty." Lucia ordered, as she opened the blinds even more. Olivia rolled over, her eyes still covered. "Lucia?"

"Have you found me being here helpful?" Lucia asked, as she opened the blinds even wider.

"Yes Lucia, I appreciate it, I told you that so many times. I feel terrible when you miss work for me." Olivia uncovered her eyes and sat up in bed. The older woman's eyes were glued to her.

"Rafi, asked me to come here. but I wanted to. I'm happy to help you Olivia, and I'm glad that me being here didn't make your recovery harder. It's very important to Rafi that you're comfortable. He wanted me to help you with sensitive things like showering if you needed it. Olivia,he wouldn't mind doing these things for you, and more, but they are very intimate things. He didn't want you to feel like he was taking advantage of the situation. He didn't want you to worry, feel pressure of any kind, or feel embarrassed. Again. and I can't stress this enough, he wants you to be comfortable, always"

"I thought that..."

"That my son had me here, just to ease the burden." Lucia, finished the sentence. "No, and you're not a burden.

"It's a lot of work to take care of someone."

"You're not a burden!" Lucia almost screamed. Since we have both been here with Rafi, I feel like we have gotten close. so I'm going to tell you some things I wouldn't discuss with just anyone. I may seem very put together to you, and I always seemed that way, but what nobody knows is that when I was younger I had no self-esteem. Rafi's father was charming, when I met him he seemed so kind. On my wedding night he beat me for the first time. It took me years to leave him, and I didn't do it for myself. I did it for Rafi, I kept men away from him, I just now am giving Felipe a chance, but if I'm being honest I could have given Felipe a chance a long time ago."

"Don't beat yourself up, you're a wonderful mother, you were being cautious."

"Everyone sees my son's brilliance. You see his heart, Olivia."

"I do." Olivia almost whispered.

"He is naturally good, you made him even better."

"I didn't Lucia."

"You did, and you do. You inspire him to be even better. I've not only heard Rafi's stories about you. I've seen the 2 of you together, you make a fantastic team."

"I know." Olivia whispered. She felt her cheeks heating up, and Lucia's eyes staring at her.

"He would never knowingly hurt you Olivia, and if he ever did anything to hurt you, he would spend everyday making it up to you. Olivia."

"He's my best friend Lucia. I know people throw the term best friend around, but I mean it. No one, she said her voice cracking, "has ever treated me as well as he has. He not only respects me, he encourages me in a way that makes... that makes me... feel like I can accomplish anything, and there is no dream too big. I never had that. Your son is one of a kind Lucia. He took me in, no one I know would do that, and at the same time think about my emotional needs, and comfort. "

'You're also one of a kind Miha. You belong with my one of a kind son."

"What? No, Lucia."

Yes. I don't consider myself a romantic, but I know destiny when I see it. You are destined to be together. Every lid has a cover Olivia. My son is yours."

Lucia no". Olivia said weakly.

"Olivia, he's in love with you! I wanted him to tell you, but there it is. You're so blind. You love him, and he loves you, and you went out with that disgusting man to get away from it!" Olivia was silent for a long time, before she sighed, and spoke again.

"I'm terrible with relationships., and he doesn't want me, Not in the way you're saying."

"Don't give me any of that. Rafi would be here with you right now if he didn't have to be in court."

"I know, but he's not in love with me." Olivia replied. Olivia saw Lucia's face fill with a combination of anger, disappointment, and sadness. Olivia's heart dropped. Lucia opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it, too upset to speak. She quickly left the room without looking back at Olivia.

Olivia got out of bed. She made the bed, like the good guest she tried to be, and dressed as quickly as possible. She grabbed her cell phone, dialed , and put it to her ear. "This is Rafael Barba, please leave a detailed message with your phone number, and I will call you back as soon as possible." Olivia heard the familiar outgoing voicemail message. She took a deep breath, and waited for the beep.

"Rafa, it's Liv. I just ... I need to get Noah, and... go home to my apartment. I just didn't want you wondering where I was. I'm packing my bag now. Thank-you, Rafa, for everything. Thank-you for letting me into home, I would do the same for you. you know my number, and where to find me." Olivia hung up the phone with tears in her eyes. She refused to let them fall.