"Liv!"

Captain Olivia Benson, clad in her bulletproof vest and a light jacket stood next to a squad car parked in the middle of the street. She had cordoned off a one-block radius to clear the area for officers to respond to the scene that had erupted in the family courtroom, and was reviewing the situation with the ESU captain when she heard a familiar voice call her name. She spun around to see Detective Elliot Stabler jogging in her direction, a dark-haired younger woman following close behind. Benson recognized the woman as one of his squamates with the Organized Crime Bureau, computer genius Jet Slootmaekers.

"El," she greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"I was nearby and heard what was going on," he replied. "How did you catch this one?"

"Rollins and Carisi are in there," she said, nodding towards the building. "They had a personal interest in the case being heard today."

"Carisi?" Stabler's brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought he was an ADA?"

"He is…now. He used to be one of my detectives." She glanced back towards the building. "He and Rollins were partners and the arresting officers."

Elliot nodded. "I have terrorism experience," he said. "I thought maybe I could help."

"She's not a terrorist," Olivia said quietly. "She's a scared kid who doesn't have a clue what she's doing. And she's taken a whole courtroom hostage."

"Do we have eyes in there?"

"Working on it."

"You got a computer?" Slootmaekers interjected.

Liv looked from her to Elliot. "In my car…?"

Wordlessly, she held out her hand.

"Do it," Elliot assured her. "I've never worked with anyone who can make a computer talk like Jet."

"Aww, thanks Stabler," the young woman replied with a smirk. "You're not so bad yourself."

Olivia retrieved her laptop and passed it to Jet. "I'm going to try and patch into the closed-circuit television system in the courthouse," she said, her fingers furiously tapping on the keys. "Then we can at least see what's going on. If I'm really lucky—" She cut herself off and frowned at the screen. "Man, whoever set this network up needs to update their router security. Anyway." She glanced briefly up at Benson. "If I'm real lucky, I might also be able to get us audio."

"Where did you find her?" Liv asked Elliot in wonder.

"I know, right?"

"There," Jet said with satisfaction. "We have eyes."

"Thank God," Olivia said, and peered over her shoulder at the screen. It was grainy, but they could make out the courtroom and the trembling Perry Gilbert holding a gun in the middle of the room. Judge Linden and the court bailiff were talking to her from a safe distance, and Perry's mother, Barbara, was crouched in a corner and obviously crying. But it was the pair huddled in the benches of the gallery that made Benson's blood run cold.

Rollins was on the floor with Carisi's head in her lap. He was clearly bleeding, but from this vantage point it was impossible to tell how severe the wounds were.

"Carisi's down," she muttered. In her mind, she heard Barba's anxious voice from his call just a short while before. "We don't have time to mess around. We need to diffuse this situation and get him out of there ASAP."

"I'm working on getting ears in there, Captain," Slootmaekers said, her eyes fixed on the screen and fingers a blur on the keyboard. "Just give me a minute to patch in."

"Do what you can," Olivia said. She started to turn to Elliot and speak, but another voice behind them caught her attention.

There was Rafael Barba, disheveled and worried, arguing with a patrol officer who was holding the blockade. "I need to get in there," Barba was saying. "I have family—"

"Shit," Olivia muttered under her breath.

Next to her she felt Elliot tense. "What the hell is he doing here?"

She winced, remembering the trial from months earlier when Rafael had defended the man who had ordered the hit that killed Stabler's wife. There was no love lost between the two men, both of whom she cared about. Olivia lifted a hand and rested it against Elliot's chest. "Carisi is his partner," she said quietly. "He knows he's in there."

"Partner? What do you mean partner?" He looked down at Olivia in confusion. "Barba's not a cop, and you said Carisi isn't anymore, either."

"Domestic partner, Stabler," she said witheringly. "They've been together for years."

Elliot looked up sharply and glanced briefly at the computer screen Jet was still typing away at. "Shit," he echoed.

"Exactly." She held up her badge for the patrol officers and stepped over. "Let him through," she said. "Come on, Barba."

"Thanks, Liv." Rafael flashed her a grateful smile and pushed through the barricade. "What the hell is going on in there?" He started towards the patrol car and froze halfway there, staring daggers at Elliot. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"Now's not the time, Rafa," she said, and began striding back to the car. "Perry Gilbert managed to snatch a gun from one of the bailiffs today and is holding the courtroom hostage. We have eyes in the courtroom, and I'm working with ESU to figure out how to get in there and diffuse the situation."

As they approached, Elliot stepped in front of the computer, and she caught his eyes with a question in her own. Subtly, he nodded at Barba and then shook his head. Despite the situation, her heart swelled. He may not like Barba, but he was willing to do what he could to protect him from the sight of Carisi in the courtroom.

But Barba knew her almost as well as Stabler did. He met her gaze searchingly. "There are CC cameras in the courtroom," he began.

Benson nodded. "And we've patched in."

"What aren't you telling me, Olivia?"

She glanced at Stabler, a silent conversation passing between them.

"Liv," Barba said. Despite all her anger and frustration with him the last few months, her heart twisted for her friend when she heard the catch in his voice. "What is going on?"

She took a deep breath. "We can't say for sure," Liv began slowly. "But it looks like Perry opened fire."

Fear crept into his green eyes. "And…?"

She stepped closer to him and squeezed his hands. "From what we can see, Carisi was hit."

They stared at each other for several moments before Barba wrenched his hands away. "We have to get in there, Liv," he said. "Now."

"We don't have to do anything," she shot back. "You are going to stay right here and let us do our jobs and get him out of there."

"But—"

"No 'buts', Rafa." Benson's tone was sympathetic. "I know you're scared. But Rollins has him, and you know as well as I do she would step in front of a bullet herself before she let something happen to Sonny. Let us do our job."

Biting his lip, he nodded reluctantly. "Please, just get him out of there."

"Jet," she called. "Where are those ears?"

"Almost there, Captain." Slootmaekers's brow furrowed. "Why doesn't anyone ever change the damn default password?" she muttered to herself.

The ESU lieutenant jogged up. "Captain, we're ready to go in."

"We have eyes in the courtroom," Olivia said. "This is no brilliant mastermind. It's a kid, and she's obviously terrified. I'm afraid if we go busting in there she'll be startled, and we could have casualties. We need a softer approach."

"Captain," Jet called over her shoulder. "I've patched into the phone systems in the courthouse. I can dial the courtroom and send it through to your cell phone."

Olivia stared at her. "How do you do that?"

"Magic fingers," Jet replied, waiving her fingers tantalizingly in the air.

Olivia shook her head. "Do it," she said, pulling out her phone.

"Easy, Carisi," Amanda murmured. "Try to relax."

Head in her lap, he grimaced. "I'm tryin' Manda," he managed through clenched teeth. He was curled up, one hand over the wound on the right side of his abdomen. Amanda had made a makeshift bandage out of one of his shirt sleeves, but she could see the blood was already seeping through it. Biting her lip, she glanced up at the pacing and anxious Perry and then back to Carisi.

We need to get him out of here, she thought desperately. It wasn't just his side, but his shoulder too. Carisi's normally pale complexion was even more white from blood loss.

"Hey," she said soothingly, smoothing his hair off his forehead. "You promised Jessie and Billie you would take them to the park on the next nice day." She smiled. "And if I let anything happen to you, Barba will never let me hear the end of it. So hang on, Sonny." She continued to stroke his forehead. "I'm sure Liv is out there, trying her best to get us out of here."

"What are you two talking about over there?" Perry suddenly barked.

"I'm trying to keep him conscious," she said, her tone quiet. "Perry, let us get Carisi out of here so he can get medical attention. The rest of us will stay, I promise. And we can work out this whole situation. But he needs help. Now."

"No." Perry once again began pacing the floor. "No one is fucking getting out of here. I just need to think and figure out a plan."

Amanda blew out a breath and glanced back down at Sonny. A cold sweat was breaking out on his forehead. She squeezed his hand encouragingly and was alarmed to find it clammy. Don't go into shock, she silently pleaded with her friend. Stay with me, Carisi.

A shrill ringing echoed through the courtroom, bringing everyone to a stop. Perry looked wildly around. "What the hell is that?"

"It's the courtroom phone," Judge Linden responded, pointing to the court clerk's desk next to the bench.

The girl stared at the ringing phone for several moments, as though debating what to do. Finally, she crossed the room and snatched up the receiver. "Who is this?"

Amanda watched her, all the while smoothing Sonny's forehead. "Come on, stay with me," she murmured.

"Manda," he murmured, his breath starting to come alarmingly fast, "I feel sick."

"Don't you dare puke on me, Carisi," she retorted, struggling to keep her tone light and worry free. "These pants are brand-new."

"Benson?" Perry said into the phone. "I don't know a Benson." She paused to listen, and her eyes fixed on Amanda. "Yeah, I've got your cop and your attorney here. And no, I'm not letting them go." The eyes blazed brighter. "I don't care if he needs medical attention. He can sit here like everyone else while I come up with a plan!"

Sonny cried out and curled tighter into himself.

"Shhh…" Amanda soothed, feeling very much like she did when soothing one of her children when they were sick. "I've got you, Sonny, but you need to stay with me. She's talking to Olivia now. We're going to get you out of here, and to the hospital." She gently patted his cheek and was relieved when he opened his eyes to look up at her. "When you get there, Barba will be waiting for you."

"Rafi," he murmured in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, Rafi." She looked up anxiously and found that Perry was still engaged in her argument with Benson. "Come on, Liv," she whispered. "I don't care about me right now but get Carisi out of here."

"Perry's not negotiating," Olivia said as she hung up the phone.

Barba fought for control, pacing anxiously nearby. "Can you send in ESU?"

"I can, and it may come to that," she replied. "But I'm afraid if we startle her it will end up with more cas—" She caught herself and looked at him with sympathy that sent a hard ball of dread into his gut. "…with more injuries."

"Liv, how bad is he hurt?" Rafael asked quietly.

"I don't know, Rafa," she answered just as softly. "Perry did confirm that the gun went off and he was hit, but she doesn't know how bad the injuries are. It didn't sound like it was intentional."

"Like that matters!"

"Rafa," she said, holding up a hand. "I know you're scared for Carisi, but take a deep breath. Perry did say Amanda is with him." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Let me go talk to the ESU lieutenant again," she said, and jogged off.

Barba stood and stared up at the courthouse, willing Sonny to feel his presence from outside. He knew his partner was hurt, but he had no idea how badly. Blowing out a breath, he strained to see the computer screen on the hood of Olivia's car. To his frustration and anger, Elliot Stabler repositioned himself between Barba and the screen.

"Look, man," Stabler said, quietly. "I know you and I didn't get off to a great start, and we have plenty reasons to dislike each other. But I also know that we both trust Olivia without hesitation."

Slowly, Rafael nodded.

"She takes her job seriously, and she cares more deeply about her squad – and Carisi is part of her squad, cop or not – than almost anyone. She'll do what it takes to get him out of there." Stabler's expression was uncharacteristically gentle. "And I'll do everything I can to help her."

Barba met his gaze. "Why?"

"Because I'm a cop. It's my job." He smiled. "And what matters to Liv matters to me."

"What's going on?" Fin Tutuola jogged up, and stopped when he saw the two men facing off. "Fellas, don't make me bust up a brawl right here on the street. We've got enough on our plates without you two adding to it."

Stabler's gaze never left Barba. "A kid named Perry Gilbert is holding the courtroom hostage," he said. "She's already opened fire once and hit Carisi. We're working on a plan to diffuse the situation without startling her and causing further injury."

Fin looked back and forth between them. "Barba," he said. "There are few people I would rather go through a door with than Stabler. He's solid."

Rafael closed his eyes and exhaled. "Just get Sonny out of there."

"Stabler," Olivia called. "Fin. We have a plan. You two are with me."

Both of them checked their weapons to ensure they were ready, and fell in step behind Olivia.

With Stabler gone, Barba took the opportunity to step closer to the car and look at the screen. Even with the activity going on in the courtroom, his gaze fixed on the bleeding form of his partner curled on the gallery floor. He's moving, he pointed out to himself. So he's still alive. Please, God, keep him that way.

"Hey," Jet said. "Benson said Carisi's your partner?"

Wordlessly, he nodded.

Jet looked back and forth between Barba and the screen. "He's in the best hands," she said, confidently. "He'll be okay." She paused and clicked a few buttons on the screen. "You want ears in there too?"

He blinked. "You can do that?"

"Magic fingers," Jet said, and furiously began typing.

Within seconds, tinny sound from the courtroom came from the speakers. "Perry, this has gone on long enough," her mother was saying. "At the very least, let the attorney go."

A loud siren cut off the sound, and Rafael looked up to see an ambulance pull up to the curb. "They're getting ready to go in. The ambulance is standing by for your partner," Jet explained, and gave him an encouraging smile.

Barba took a deep, steadying breath and nodded.

It all happened fast. Olivia, Finn, and Stabler burst into the courtroom like Wyatt Earp and his posse. "Drop the gun, Perry," Olivia said, coming at her head on. Stabler circled to the side and positioned himself between Perry and the gallery, blocking the girl's path to Carisi and Amanda.

Barba breathed in sharply. Stabler was protecting Sonny.

"You drop it!" Perry roared back. "You will NOT take me back to that godforsaken place!"

"Little girl, if ADA Carisi dies—" Fin began.

Rafael's heart froze at the very idea.

"…the psych hospital will be the least of your worries." The sergeant pressed forward. "I don't like shooting kids, but I won't let you hurt anyone else, Perry. So you give Captain Benson that gun and this ends without us having to either drop you or haul you to real jail."

"Listen to Tutuola," Stabler called, watching her down the barrel of his gun. "I worked with him a long time. He means it when he says he won't hesitate."

Frantically, the girl's eyes shifted between the three cops, now coming at her from different directions. "Stop," she ordered, hand shaking on the gun. "Give me a minute to think, dammit!"

Without warning, Fin shot forward and swept one leg out from under her. Startled, she flung her hand wildly and Olivia ducked in and grabbed her wrist, wrenching the weapon from her grasp and shoving her forward. As if it were a choreographed dance, Stabler then dropped forward and caught her around the waist to knock her to the floor and pin her arms behind her back.

"No!" Perry shrieked. "No, no, no! I can't go back there! I can't!"

Fin darted over to and dropped by Amanda's side, pulling his radio out as he went. "This is Sergeant Tutuola," he said. Rafael watched anxiously as he pressed a finger to Sonny's neck. "We need the bus in here ASAP. We have an ADA down with two gunshot wounds."

Rafael's stomach dropped. Two wounds.

Amanda snatched the radio away from him. "This is Detective Rollins. He has symptoms of shock," she added. "Clammy, nauseous, short of breath. He needs medical attention now! Move it!"

Rafael looked up to see the medics were already entering the building. "Go," he heard Jet say, and sprinted after them.

He was caught at the courthouse door by patrol officers. "We can't let you in there, sir," the larger of the two men said firmly.

"But—"

"We cannot let you in," he reiterated.

It was the longest two minutes of Barba's life, pacing and waiting for the medics to exit the building. It felt like a lifetime. His heart caught in his throat when he saw the flash of Amanda's blonde hair as she ran beside the stretcher.

"Sonny," he breathed, and dashed towards them.

"Sir, we need you to—"

"It's okay," Rollins cut them off. "This is his partner. He needs him there."

Sonny had an oxygen mask over his face, eyes glazed and blood-soaked bandages on his shoulder and side. His face was white, and a cold sweat lingered on his forehead. "Dominick," Rafael breathed, running alongside. "Hey, it's me. I'm here."

Blinking, Sonny looked up at him and managed a smile. "Rafi," he murmured.

Rafael bit his lip and smiled. "I'm right here and I'm not leaving you." He squeezed Sonny's hand. "You need to hang on, mi amor, and let us get you to the hospital so they can take care of you."

Sonny's words began to drift. "Yeah…" he mumbled. "Hospital…"

The medics loaded the stretcher into the back of the ambulance, and Rafael jumped up in afterwards. He once again found Sonny's hand, and with his other hand reached up to brush the back of his fingers along Sonny's jawline. "You know, this is a hell of a way to get out of a fancy dinner."

Dazedly, Sonny gave a weak chuckle. "Not really hungry now…"

"I know," he said, biting his lip and fighting back tears. "And when I get you home, I promise we can order whatever bad food you want. But Dominick, you need to stay with me."

An alarm went off near Barba's head and he looked up. "What's going on?" His gaze flew to Sonny's face. The blue eyes were drifting closed.

"He's bradycardic," one medic said to the other.

The second gently nudged Barba backwards. "Sir, we need room to work." The woman looked up and met Rafael's gaze. "I know you love him, but you need to trust us to take care of him now."

Stunned, Rafael sank back on the bench and, heartsick, fixed his gaze on Sonny's face as his partner slipped from consciousness.