Monday morning came, and Olivia felt like she hadn't slept at all as if she had blinked, and now it was time to wake up. Olivia shut off her alarm, and seen that Noah had gotten in the middle somehow, Raphael was on the opposite edge about to fall off, and she no longer had her arms wrapped around Noah and was on the opposite end of the bed. The alarm woke up Raphael as well, but Noah stayed in the middle of the bed.
"I got to get going," Olivia stated and changed back into her outfit from the night before, allowing Raphael to get a view of her before she left.
"I'm taking him home; Lucy will have him. I know you have a lot to get done." Olivia rushed.
"I do Liv, but just because I have things that need done if you need anything, you know you can call me, right?" Raphael asked.
"I know. This case it's going to be rough, I'm sure it will hit the news tonight, and I don't want to be alone." Olivia sighed.
"I'll come over tonight," Raphael stated.
Olivia just nodded her head. She woke Noah up, and he was ready to start the day. Raphael poured her a cup of coffee in a travel mug, She thanked him with a lingering kiss and dropped Noah off before going into the office.
Unlike most cases, while searching for the perp, they knew who it was. Carasi had been in the office all night running background checks exploring social media, getting everything he could think of to see if this man they picked up last night had a past. There were past drug charges he had ultimately gotten out of and one DV charge when he was 19 he was 32 now and the last ten years, he had a clean record.
"Go home Carasi, I'll call you if we find anything," Olivia stated.
"I'll be honest I don't know if I can go to sleep," Carasi stated.
"Go to the cribs, then try to rest. I know when I have had hard cases staying here, just knowing I was in the building would give me enough courage to fall asleep, if we get any more details, I promise I'll wake you." Olivia stated.
"Thanks, Leiu, I'll see you in a few hours," Carasi stated.
"Take all the time you need," Olivia stated.
Olivia walked over to the pinned-up photos holding back the gag she couldn't the night prior.
She looked at Fin who tacked up a new tweet that said something about young girls she didn't entirely understand.
"Okay, from the beginning, what do we know?" Olivia asked.
"Mom Mary Johnson went out to get groceries; she left her three kids Julie (2) Sandra (4) and Landon (5) with her boyfriend of 8 months, Steve Butler. When she came back to the home, Sandra and Landon were upstairs playing, but she couldn't find Julie or Steve. She yelled for them, and Steve came up the basement steps with blood all over him. When she asked what happened, he simply said that Julie was hurt. She ran down the steps to find her whole body covered in blood; she wasn't crying, but she was breathing and had a heartbeat. She called 911, who took the child to the hospital. They performed emergency surgery after she was found to be impaled vaginally, tearing into her stomach and bowel. She later died due to severe trauma and blood loss. Semen was found in her abdominal cavity. Mary knows he did it, but denies he ever said that he did it. Police went to the house after they realized what happened. He was sitting there with the other kids as if nothing was wrong and acted confused as to why he was being arrested. The other kids are with maternal grandma. The kids deny seeing anything but said they heard Julie screaming for a while, but they were too scared to go check it out." Fin stated.
"Alright, any reason to believe mom is in on this," Olivia asked.
"No, but her mother swears that multiple women told her and Mary both Steve was no good." Fin stated.
"I take it you got names?" Olivia asked
"Of course made a few calls before it got to late last night, and making a few more today haven't heard back from anyone yet." Fin replied.
"Okay, where's Rollins?" Olivia asked.
"I think she went home around 2 AM I told her to be here by noon. I hope that's okay." Fin stated.
"Yeah, of course. Make some calls, we need a motive, and we need to prove he had intentions on raping her." Olivia stated.
The day past by in a blur to Olivia once again they were interrogating Steve, who still states he blacked out and had no idea what happened. His lawyer has already indicated that if it goes to trial, he will plead insanity. His bail was set at 1 million dollars, nothing that anyone he knew could pay. He was charged with 1st degree Child abuse resulting in death and 1st-degree rape. If he was found guilty, he would face life in prison without parole, which is what Olivia prayed he got but knew if a deal came forward, he could be out in 20. This was an essentially open, and shut case investigation wouldn't be heavy just interviewing women in his past and talking to family. Olivia couldn't believe that a man was so insistent on getting off he killed a two-year-old by literally ripping her internal organs apart. She was so done with the day.
She walked out to see everyone else doing paperwork.
"I'm sending you all home or out for drinks, whichever you prefer, Stone that includes you!" She stated as she saw the man staring at the dead girls' pictures.
Amanda called her sitter to make sure they could stay late, and soon enough, everyone agreed a drink or 2 was an excellent idea indeed.
It was 5:30 when they made it to the bar across the street, and about 5:45 when they were all on their 3rd drinks. Even Stone was taking shot after shot, and Olivia had never seen the man drink a beer, let alone the whiskey they were all knocking back. The news came on, and of course, the headlines were "Man rapes baby causing death." The bartender put 2 and 2 together, turned off the TV as details were given, and brought a whole bottle of whiskey over.
"On the house," he stated.
None of them talked much until Carasi saw a sports score, and Fin, Stone, and Carasi started arguing about soccer teams. Olivia and Amanda just laughed at them as they continued to fight about the better teams. Water pitchers and glasses were all over the table; there were still drinks flowing but a much slower pace. They were all drunk, and Amanda pointed to the bar a man trying to ask a girl out they were betting what would happen next until the couple caught them, and Olivia quickly put the $30 in her pocket she ended up winning after the guy ordered the girl a drink she didn't like.
Olivia didn't realize how much she had been drinking. She stood up to go to the bathroom but quickly stumbled and fell back into her chair.
"Well if Liv is that drunk, there is no way, any of us can drive home tonight." Fin pointed out.
The five knew Fin was right; he was the soberest of the bunch, slowing down his drinking before the others did. Stone and Carasi were still drinking, but at a much slower pace, He knew Olivia had already had seven drinks in the past 2 hours they had been here, and he had never seen her so intoxicated before. The case all got to them, and he knew it was something they were all desperately trying to erase from their minds.
"Why don't you call Barba to get you?" Fin suggested, and maybe Rollins and Carasi. I'll take a cab, make sure Stone gets home okay." Fin stated.
Olivia looked confused for only a second, and she realized how slow she was to react to Fin's words.
He was right; they all had enough. She suddenly felt terrible for leaving Noah alone to drink and called Barba.
Raphael heard his phone ring and looked at Olivia's number. Lucy was still in the apartment, writing a paper for one of her summer online classes, and he and Noah just had dinner.
"Raf... It's Liv can you come to get me I'm at the Garden Bar, and we drank too much." Olivia yelled in his ear.
He almost laughed until he remembered what he had seen on the 6 o'clock news. He knew that the news barely gave information and knew even without details, it was a rough case.
"Yeah, Liv, I'll see you soon," Raphael stated.
"Hey, Lucy I really hate to do this to you, but can you spend the night?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, sure, what's up?" Lucy asked.
"Rough case and the team thought alcohol would temporarily make it go away. I'm going to take her back to my place. I know she wouldn't want Noah to see her like that. Raphael explained
"Yeah, of course." Lucy stated.
"Hey, you and Lucy are going to have a sleepover tonight, okay?" Raphael stated.
"Where's mommy?" Noah asked.
Raphael thought carefully about his next words.
"Noah mommy is with some friends from work Uncle Fin, and Uncle Sonny and aunt Amanda. They are really sad because a bad man did something awful. Your mommy doesn't want to come home and see her so sad. She wants you happy, so me and your mommy are going to have a sleepover at my apartment, and you and Lucy are going to have a sleepover here." Raphael stated.
"But I can make mommy feel better," Noah stated.
"I know you can Mijo, but she needs some time right now, she will be here tomorrow, and you can help her then until then you play with Lucy okay," Raphael stated.
"Okay," Noah said.
Raphael grabbed his keys and headed towards the bar
When Raphael got to the bar, the group was a sight to behold. Amanda and Olivia were talking loudly about a cute guy at the corner of the bar, who had to have heard every word. Stone was asleep in his chair, and Carasi and Fin were arguing over the color of the back wall.
Fin spotted him first.
"Sorry, man, it's been rough, and I didn't think." Fin stated.
"Hey, it's alright are you good to take a taxi, can you get Stone where he needs to go?" Raphael asked
"Yeah, man, I think we're good." Fin stated.
Suddenly Olivia noticed his presence.
"Raf, hey, you!" She stated
She walked over to him, her body flush against his, and she was giggling like a child.
"I've missed you," she stated.
"I've missed you," he stated.
Unexpectedly Liv grabbed his head and began to make out with him in the middle of the bar, and suddenly, all eyes were on them, and Amanda whistled. Raphael blushed and pulled away.
"I think its time I take you home," Raphael stated.
Olivia lazily made patterns on with her finger on his clothed chest and nodded her head in agreement. Then suddenly she was thinking about home and Noah, and it hit her.
"No, I can't let Noah see me like this," Olivia claimed.
"Lucy has him. You're coming home with me," Raphael concluded.
"Rollins Carasi, you're coming with me as well." Raphael finished.
"We get to see Barba's apartment!" Amanda screamed and tipped back her seat, causing herself to fall in the process.
Raphael picked up the chair and felt like a mother hen leading three chicks to the car.
Fin and Stone followed him out, and he watched them get into a cab before taking off to his apartment.
Olivia could barely walk through his hallway, and Raphael had a hold of her arm just in case. Amanda and Carasi were leaning on each other as they got to his door.
"Wow, look at that view!" Amanda squealed.
"Isn't it beautiful!" Olivia stated.
The 2 of them clamored over to look out the sun had just set, and the lights had come on. Carassi stood in the window next to it.
"Hey, you didn't have to do this. I should get home," Carasi slurred.
"Do have someone waiting for you?" Raphael asked.
"No nothing like that." he responded.
"Then, you're staying here," Raphael stated.
"Thanks." Carassi states and slid down onto the window seal, no longer trusting his legs to carry the weight.
Raphael looked at the three people in his apartment currently drunk and almost wanted to pour himself a drink to handle the loudness. Olivia Carasi and Amanda were now talking about the apartment once again, and Olivia had made a comment about his office and the fact he said he no longer needed it.
"I'm sleepy." Amanda announced.
Raphael was relieved in a way because he wasn't sure how much more he could keep up with them. Amand flopped on his couch and past out.
"She has a good idea," Carasi stated and sat at the other end of the couch.
Olivia looked at her Two friends and Raphael went into his closet to get extra pillows and blanket for the pair. He also grabbed a trash can just in case and set it near the couch.
Liv went back to looking out over the water.
"Why don't you go to bed," Raphael suggested.
"Nightmares," she stated evenly.
"Would it help if I was there with you?" Raphael asked.
"Probably not but I am tired," Olivia stated.
She walked back to his bedroom. Raphael found the outfit from the night before and handed it to her.
"Mr. Barba is trying to get me out of my clothes." Olivia slurred.
He laughed, and she came to him again this time, at least in the privacy of his bedroom.
She kissed him hard and pushed up against him grabbing at him and reaching down to attempt touching his length, but he moved quickly and said
"Not tonight, Liv." She looked upset but didn't say anything.
"I'm going to let you get dressed, and I will be right back."
Raphael went back out to his kitchen, looking at his two friends still slumped over either side of the couch. He watched for breathing just in case not sure how much they drank, but in 6 years, he has never seen any of them that drunk. He wasn't tired. It was barely 9 pm. He decided against cracking open a law school book. He grabbed his phone, scrolling through the stock market for a minute, and went back to the bedroom. Olivia was sprawled out, similar to Noah the night before, but she was still awake and tossing around.
"Liv, you okay?" Raphael asked.
"Not really," she stated.
Raphael understood and climbed in. She instantly clung to him, and he rubbed her back. She fell asleep shortly after and laid there a long time until he fell asleep.
Raphael woke up to the sound of vomiting and he prayed that in the hungover haze, whoever it was made it to the bathroom or saw the trashcan. Olivia didn't move; she was away from him on the other side of the bed uncovered.
He walked out of his bedroom, to see Carasi holding Amanda's hair back as she puked in the garbage can. He noticed his wall clock said it was 1:30 am.
"You guys, okay?" Raphael asked.
Carasi jumped.
"Well, that explains where the hell we are," Carassi stated.
Amanda groaned and wiped her mouth. Raphael got them both a glass of water.
"What happened?" Amanda asked.
"I came in on the tail end of it all, and brought you guys and Olivia back here," Raphael stated.
"All I remember is going to the bar and drinking a lot something about soccer and cute guy at the bar," Amanda stated.
"Yeah, you and Liv gave that man a complex." Raphael laughed.
Amanda blushed, and Carasi looked away, not wanting to hear what Raphael was saying.
"I should get back to Jesse." she stood up but bent down to puke again."
"You don't want her to see you like that; she's already asleep; let's just stay here and sleep it off," Carasi suggested.
Amanda nodded, and when she was done, leaned back into Carasi.
Raphael didn't say a word about the situation, he reminded them where the bathroom was and said to knock on his bedroom door if they needed anything. Raphael covered Olivia and pushed into her side, wanting to feel her close to him. He put his arm along with her hand and was surprised when she grabbed it and pulled it around her. He readjusted and fell back asleep.
The next morning came he was up early it was 5:30 am, and he wouldn't be going back to sleep he had nowhere to go and decided to cook breakfast for the 4 of them before they would rush off and change clothes before headed back to the office. He took a quick shower and got dressed in jeans and polo. He put on a pair of socks and walked out to the kitchen. He luckily went shopping on Thursday and had bacon and eggs in the fridge. He began to cook and heard Carasi move. He looked over Amanda was still in his arms. Raphael knew there was something up with them but wasn't sure if either of them were ready to face it. He watched as Carasi realized the world around him, and he carefully slipped out from under Amanda, who readjusted but didn't wake up.
"Hey, thanks again for last night," Carasi stated.
"We're friends. It was a rough case; you're always welcome here." Raphael stated.
He nodded his head and went to the bathroom and then offered to help Raphael with breakfast, which he was sure he had under control. He waited for the food to be done. Carasi's phone rang.
"We got something?" Carassi asked.
"Oh, okay, I'll let everyone know. Thanks. Yeah, we're all fine, yeah, bye." Carassi followed up.
"Apparently, Dodds has stated we all need to take a day Liv included," Carisi exclaimed.
Raphael put the food in the oven to stay warm and begrudgingly started a book he needed, too, but Carasi kept asking about his professorship, and he didn't even get through the 1st page. Finally, Barba hissed an annoyed sigh, and Carasi stopped. Raphael attempted to read, but his mind was on Olivia and the case that had been too much.
"Hey, I know you don't want to talk about the case, but is Liv gonna be okay?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, it was just a punch to the gut, you know, I don't know how any sicko would do that to a baby," Carasi said.
"The news didn't give to much away, and I felt sick," Raphael mentioned.
"I think the worst was the pictures, and I will never be able to get those out of my mind." Carassi cringed.
Raphael just nodded and heard movement in his bedroom, he looked at the clock it was 7:30 am
Olivia came rushing out.
"Wheres Noah?" she asked quickly
"With Lucy at home," Raphael stated
Olivia sighed.
"Sorry about last night," Olivia stated
"It's fine, come get breakfast," Raphael stated.
Amanda stretched about this time and looked around, remembering where she was walking over to the bar. Where they all grabbed a plate and ate. Carassi told the good news of a day off, and everyone was visibly relaxed. Carassi and Amanda took a taxi back to the 1-6 to get their cars, and Olivia insisted on getting back to Noah so Lucy could go home.
"I'll be over tonight," Raphael stated and kissed Olivia goodbye. He was once again alone and walked over to the window to watch the water before cracking open the book and attempted to start intro into law school.
Olivia got home Lucy was on the pull out asleep, her laptop still on and three books opened all around was 8 am, and she knew Noah would be up soon. She was exhausted, and her head pounded, so she took some aspirin and laid on the bed with the door open so she would hear Noah come out from his room. Olivia fell asleep before that happened and the next thing she knew it was 10 am and Noah was snuggled up next to her he was awake she could tell, but he was trying hard to let her sleep.
"Hey, my sweet boy, mommy's sorry she didn't come home last night," Olivia stated.
"Raphael said that you were sad and didn't want to make me sad," Noah stated.
"He was right mommy was really sad about the case, but I have the whole day with you today so we can be happy." Olivia stated.
Noah was excited and jumped on the bed in delight. Olivia's headache was gone, and she laughed as he hopped around on the bed.
"Careful," she said as he stepped over her and jumped down to the floor.
"It's time for breakfast!" He yelled.
Lucy woke up to Noah's yelling and looked around to see the books and laptop and the ¾ written paper and Olivia looking at her mess.
"Sorry, Liv." Lucy blushed.
"Don't be. Stay as long as you need, but I have the day off, so you are free until tomorrow morning." Olivia stated.
"This is due by the end of the week, only four more pages to go, so I think I am going to head home," Lucy stated.
"Thanks for staying last night," Oliva said.
"No problem, is everything okay, with the case and you?" Lucy asked.
"It will be." Olivia stated.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow," Lucy stated and packed up and left the apartment.
"Can we go to the park today?" Noah asked.
"Of course, sweet boy," Olivia stated.
"The one by Raphael's apartment?' Noah asked."
"How about in the afternoon and we can surprise Raphael, he is working at home right now," Olivia stated.
"Okay," Noah stated.
Olivia filled the day with reading to Noah and playing shoots and ladders. They played a game of Monopoly Jr. and watched the Disney channel for a bit. It was almost 3 when Olivia told Noah to get his shoes on. They went to Raphael's apartment building but went out to the park. Olivia sighted the area he could see from his window and called him.
"Liv?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, hey, look out your window," Olivia stated.
Raphael was confused but looked out and around, and then he spotted her and Noah waving at the window.
"Can you handle to break from a book, Noah insisted he checked out your park." Olivia laughed.
"Of course. I'll be right down." Raphael stated.
Raphael came down and gave a tour and pointed out the playground on the far corner of the park. Olivia and Raphael sat down on the bench, watching Noah play, and talking to some other kids. Raphael snaked his arms around her shoulder and had her lean into him.
"How far have you gotten for your class?" Olivia asked as she kept an eye a Noah.
"Ahh, it's going. The book is made by the university, about concentrations. Then there is an into a book in NY law, which luckily for me because I've already read it." Raphael stated.
"Are you still nervous about getting everything done, I haven't even asked you about anything I'm sorry," Olivia stated.
"It's fine, I'll get there, being in front of a group of 20 somethings is what has me nervous now. I was sitting in the back of the classes today, just watching what she was teaching what she was doing. I was learning for her class, her classes would have genuinely helped, and apparently, at least 1 of her classes is required for all law students, so there is that. " Raphael stated.
"Good I'm glad your taking it all in, but is this what you really want?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah, it is," Raphael stated.
"I'm glad you're happy," Olivia stated.
"Are you happy Liv?" Raphael asked.
She frowned and looked over at him and took a minute.
"With you, yes, with work overall, yes, but right now, no, but I will get there, the sooner we get to trial the happier I'll be," Olivia stated.
"You think Stone got it?" Raphael ask.
"We still have some investigation to go, but yeah, I think so," Olivia stated.
"Good." Raphael smiled, and this time he leaned back into her and watched as Noah and a new friend he made was seeing who could hold on to the monkey bar the longest.
It was fast approaching dinner time, and Olivia insisted on Pizza that she admitted she craved at least once a week. Raphael agreed and ordered from his favorite place. They walked back up to his apartment, and Noah ran to the windows people watching.
"I don't think he'll ever get over that view," Olivia stated.
"Neither can I." Raphael stated as he stared at her."
She blushed, and he reached from behind her and snaked his arms around, holding her.
"I love you." He stated.
"I love you, thanks for taking care of me," Olivia stated.
"That's what I'm here for," Raphael stated.
"But it shouldn't have to be that way, and I'm not used to it," Olivia stated.
"Well get used to it, I am sure it will come full circle, and one day you'll do the same," Raphael stated.
Olivia smiled and pulled on Raphael to walk with her towards the window, where they all stared out until the pizza came.
