The TV was on low, a stage production of an old Sondheim play on the screen, but Rafael was only half paying attention. He had reading glasses perched on his nose and was going over a motion for dismissal line by line, biting his lip in concentration. He was feeling a little low, and had pulled on his old, comfortable Harvard sweats when he came home. His feet were bare and kicked up on the coffee table, and he had a bottle of water stuck between the cushions next to him.

"Oh fuck you, Calhoun," he muttered darkly his breath. "That is so offensive, I should be able to report it to the state bar." He tossed the motion on the sofa next to him in disgust and picked up his water. "We have DNA evidence, and witnesses. It took the grand jury approximately five minutes to indict, for fuck's sake."

It occurred to him that maybe the idea wasn't quite that bad. Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose. It was entirely possible that he was cranky and irritable because he was worried, lonely, and slightly resentful of the fact that he had not so much as spoken to his partner in over a month. "So I won't report you to the bar," he murmured. "But good God, Rita. Think."

He jumped when the doorbell rang, blinked, and glanced at the clock. It was after ten, and he hadn't ordered anything or asked anyone over. Concerned, he dropped his feet to the floor and padded over to the door. As any lifelong New Yorker would do, he peered through the peephole and was even more confused to find Benson standing in the corridor.

"Liv?" he asked as he opened the door. "It's late. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home with Noah?"

"I should," she replied. "But I brought you something."

He looked quizzically at her empty hands and blinked when she stepped aside.

And then Sonny stepped through the door.

Rafael's breath caught in his throat, and his heart skipped a beat. "Dominick," he whispered, flooded with a mixture of relief and joy.

Sonny smiled tiredly and cupped his cheek. "Hi babe," he said, pressing his forehead to Barba's.

Barba snapped an accusing look at Benson as she ushered them into the apartment. "Did you arrest them without telling me?"

"No, not yet," she said, holding up a hand. "It's not over. I'm sorry, but this is just a forty-eight-hour break." She looked at her detective. "He's had a hard couple of days, and I thought it would do him some good."

He took a moment to really look at his partner. Already thin and lanky, Sonny had lost weight. His normally coiffed hair fell limply over his tired eyes, and his shoulders slumped with fatigue. He had a dusting of the beginnings of a beard on his face, and for the first time Rafael noted that his left arm was in a sling. "What happened?" he asked, gently touching his arm.

"Sprained my shoulder," Sonny said. He sank onto the arm of the wingback chair near the door. "It's not bad. I just had it checked out at urgent care."

"Barba, he cannot leave the apartment," Benson said. "And he can't make calls from his own phone. Either one could blow his cover. He has two days to spend at home, relaxing." She squeezed her friend's hand. "Then a plainclothes will come and get him and take him back to finish the assignment."

Two days. That's all the stolen time they had. Reluctantly, Rafael nodded. "I understand."

"Carisi, take care of that shoulder," she instructed. "And get some rest." She looked back and forth between the two of them with a knowing smile before taking her leave.

Rafael wasted no time. He crossed over to his partner, cupped both cheeks in his hands, and kissed him hungrily. He felt Sonny melt under his touch, a soft moan of pleasure and need humming in his throat. His good arm reached up and circled Rafael's waist, desperately crushing him against him. Carisi trailed greedy kisses along Barba's neck, finally burying his face into his chest. "I have missed you so much," Sonny breathed, his voice catching.

"I can hardly believe you're here." Rafael lifted Sonny's chin to look up at him, and his heart nearly broke at the sheer and utter exhaustion in the blue eyes. "Carino, what happened?"

"I lost a witness today," Sonny said hoarsely. "She was twelve, Rafi. I was trying to protect her and keep her out of the ring, but…but they got to her, and…" He closed his eyes. "I don't even know who took her out. I tried so hard to keep that kid safe. Her brother is one of the guys in Ryan's organization. I failed her."

"Oh, Dominick," Rafael breathed. He wrapped his arms tightly around his partner, offering comfort and solace. "I'm so sorry."

"I owe Liv a big one," Sonny whispered. "Because I needed you tonight."

Rafael saw to it Sonny had a long, hot shower. He said he wasn't hungry, and simply wanted to go to bed. He pulled on some comfortable sweats and sank into their soft bed and groaned with pleasure. "This feels amazing," he said. "The bed in that flop the department has for me is a nightmare."

"I'll be honest," Rafael confessed as he slipped in next to Sonny, "I've been sleeping on the couch a lot. This bed is comfortable, but it's been empty without you." He traced a fingertip along Sonny's cheek, across his lips. "I want so much to make love to you right now," he murmured. "And at the same time, I want to hold you till you fall asleep."

Eyes already growing heavy, Sonny smiled. "Let's do the second tonight and the first in the morning," he said, and moved into Rafael's arms.

Barba captured his lips with a greedy tenderness, drinking in the taste and feel of his partner. He sighed with contentment when Sonny's hand crept up under his sweatshirt, his palm tracing over Barba's bare back. Eventually Sonny broke the kiss and nuzzled down, his cheek resting against Rafael's chest. "I love you, babe," he whispered, his voice thick with sleep.

"I love you too."

Rafael woke at six the next morning, more out of habit than anything. Instead of rolling out of bed and heading down to make coffee, he lay there and contentedly watched his partner sleeping. Normally Sonny was a restless sleeper, tossing and turning all night long. Barba had often teased that he believed sleeping was a full-contact sport. That night, he had barely moved. He had fallen asleep curled into Rafael's arms and was still in the exact same position hours later. Barba traced a finger along the beard-dusted cheek and wished for a moment they could just stay there and Sonny did not have to return to the field.

At length, he eased out of the bed, threw his sweats back on, and made his way down the hall to the kitchen. In short order, he had assembled omelets, coffee, juice, and toast on a tray and carried it back down the hall.

"Morning, sunshine," he said when Sonny stirred as strode towards the bed.

Eyes still closed, Sonny lifted his head and sniffed. "…Do I smell real coffee?"

He smiled. "You might."

Sonny sat up and leaned against the headboard. "You didn't have to make breakfast," he protested, but his eyes lit up when Barba set the tray down. "But I won't turn it down."

Rafael slid into the bed next to him. "Let me spoil you a little."

They spent a pleasant hour lounging in the bed together, eating, drinking he coffee, catching up, and just enjoying one another's company. Barba filled him in on what was going on with his family, with his squad, and in Rafael's life. When the food had disappeared, the tray was set aside and still they lounged together, Sonny filling Rafael in on the progress of the case.

"Sounds like you're making good headway," Rafael said.

"I'm sure tryin'," Carisi replied. He sighed and leaned back against his pillow. "These guys, they make my skin crawl. And every time they let loose with some kind of homophobic slur…"

"Be careful and don't out yourself."

He shook his head and smiled reassuringly. "It helps that I do like girls too."

Barba raised an eyebrow. "You've been checking out a lot of girls while you're away?" he asked with mock-seriousness.

"Oh, every single one I see." Sonny's eyes sparkled with real amusement for the first time since he had been home. "Keeping up appearances and all."

"Mm-hmm." In one swift motion, Rafael had slid on top of him, pinning him beneath his slight weight. Dipping his head, he kissed Carisi teasingly and tantalizingly, finishing with a soft nip on the detective's lower lip. "How about this for appearances?"

Sonny closed his eyes and sighed with bliss, his hips arching up to grind against Rafael's. "Right now, I don't care one bit about appearances," he murmured, and slid his good hand down his partner's back and over his backside. "But Counselor?"

"Hmm?" Rafael inquired as he trailed his lips teasingly along Sonny's neck.

"You are wearing way too many clothes."

They made love tenderly, Rafael taking care not to jar Sonny's injured shoulder. When they both collapsed in a tangled, sweaty heap in the middle of the bed, they still didn't get up. They remained tangled in the covers and each other, spending the day talking, laughing, and teasing one another.

Later in the day, Rafael had groceries delivered and made dinner for them both. They ate it on the floor in front of the fireplace in the living room, splitting a bottle of wine to go with it.

The next day they did get up and out of the bed, and Sonny used Barba's phone to make a lengthy call to his parents and reassure them he was okay. He had the urge to go out and eat but settled for ordering in and spending a pleasant lunch at the kitchen table.

And they made love all over the apartment. The bedroom. Their shared home office. The living room floor in front of the fire. And one particularly memorable time with Rafael perched on the kitchen counter, legs wrapped greedily around Sonny's waist.

The third evening, Sonny had changed back into his jeans and flannel, washed the gel out of his hair, and prepared to be picked up and taken down to holding where his release would be staged.

"In some ways, I owe Liv a huge debt of gratitude," Rafael said as Sonny pulled on his coat to leave. "In others, having you here for two whole days makes the separation all the harder." He was perched on the arm of the same wingback Sonny had sat on two days prior, smiling sadly up at his partner. "Reminds me of what we are missing."

Carisi touched his cheek. "It won't be forever."

He reached his hand up and covered Sonny's. "I know. I keep reminding myself of that."

Sonny bent and tenderly kissed him. "I'll send you a note when I see Liv in a week," he murmured. He paused long enough to press a kiss to Rafael's forehead. "I'll be home as quick as I can, I promise." And before he could change his mind and stay, Sonny turned and walked out the door.

Three weeks later…

"Ryan, I've got something you need to see."

Andy Ryan looked up from his computer as his lieutenant, Connor Kelly, strode into his office. "I'm a little tied up right now," he said, gesturing towards the ledgers he was working on. "Can it wait?"

"'Fraid not, Boss." Connor unrolled a newspaper on his desk. "One of the guys brought this to me. It's a big police gala several months ago."

Ryan rolled his eyes and turned back to his computer. "Like I give a fuck what the cops are doing, as long as they stay out of our business." He dismissed Connor, and resumed his work.

Connor rolled his own eyes. "Andy, you want to look at this. Check out this ADA…and his boyfriend."

"Connor, what the actual fuck do I care about some ADA and his boyfr—"Ryan cut himself off as he caught sight of the photo that had been practically shoved into his face. Squinting, he stared at it, taking in the familiar face smiling out at him from the page. "Is that…Quinn?"

"Sure as hell looks like it," Connor said grimly.

Ryan's eyes trailed over the picture, and then read the caption aloud. "Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba with his longtime partner, Detective Dominick Carisi." He swore under his breath. "Detective. Carisi. What is that, an Italian name?"

"I think so." Connor glanced towards the warehouse. "Want me to take him out?"

"No. If they have a detective planted in here, we're already under investigation. We need to cut our losses and run." Andy paused, reconsidering. "But…if he's hooked up with an ADA, he could be more valuable alive." Abruptly, Andy snarled and slammed the newspaper back on the desk. "That son of a bitch," he roared, and threw open the office door. "Quinn!" he thundered. "Get your ass in here!"

A moment later, the tall, lanky man appeared in the doorway. "Whatcha need, Ryan?"

Andy shot across the room and grabbed the startled man by the hair. "Would you like to explain this?" he asked, pointing to the photo in the paper. "Detective Carisi?"

Olivia Benson strode rapidly into her bullpen, anxiety rolling through her in waves. She paused only briefly to take inventory of the officers she had available. "Fin, Rollins," she snapped. "My office. Now."

She didn't wait around to see if they followed. She knew her detectives. They would be right behind her. Once they had filed into the room, she shoved the door shut and dropped her bag on the desk.

"Liv?" Fin asked.

"Carisi didn't make our meet this morning," she said without preamble. "I'm trying not to worry–there could be a million reasons why–but…"

Rollins went pale. "You don't think his cover was blown, do you?" she asked. "He is careful about stuff like this."

"I really hope not," she said, face grim. "I don't want to think about what that would mean for him."

"We need to get eyes down in Hell's Kitchen," Fin said. "Get someone in there to check on Ryan and his operation, find out what's going on."

"Fin, you know I can't send you." She sighed. "Do you know anyone who'd be willing?"

He considered. "I know someone over in narcotics I used to work with," he said. "He actually is Irish, so he could pass easily enough."

"Get in touch with him, ASAP," Olivia ordered. "Find out if his CO would be okay—" She cut herself off when she saw a familiar face stride into the bullpen, and a hard ball of dread settled into her gut. "Why is Jack McCoy walking to my office?"

"That's not good," Rollins said, her already pale face now white.

"Lieutenant," McCoy opened the door and stuck his head in. "I need a word."

Olivia gripped the edge of her desk. "Is this about my detective who missed his meet this morning?"

Jack studied her. "It is."

"These two are already up to speed." She gestured for him to come in.

Jack stepped into the room and closed the door. "My office just got a call," he began grimly, "from a man representing an Andy Ryan. He said that they have your detective and will let him go if they are granted full immunity and allowed to leave the country." His expression hardened even more. "He said very specifically that he was sure ADA Barba would be willing to clear him of all charges to get the detective back…in one piece."

Olivia closed her eyes and blew out a breath. "Have you told Barba?"

"Not yet, but according to his secretary he's on his way over here once he finishes in arraignment." Jack heaved a sigh. "It goes without saying, Benson, that Rafael will have to be taken off this case."

"He's not going to like that, but I agree," she replied. "And we are not negotiating with these guys. Carisi has brought in enough evidence to convict them. He was only still in to tie it up nicely." She glanced at Fin and Rollins. "We need to get Carisi out of there. I'll contact ESU and coordinate a raid on the warehouse." As she picked up the phone to dial, she glanced at McCoy. "Can your office get me warrants based off of what we have submitted?"

"I'll reassign it to O'Dwyer and get him on it right away," McCoy said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Heads up," Fin interrupted. "We've got trouble."

Striding into the bullpen, fresh from arraignment, was Rafael Barba.

Olivia swore under her breath. "Fin, go start coordinating with ESU," she said. "Tell their chief I'm meeting with the DA, and I'll call them as soon as I'm done. Rollins, you're on assist."

Wordlessly, they exited the office.

Rafael started through the door but hesitated when he caught sight of his boss standing in Olivia's office. "Jack," he said cautiously. "What's going on?"

"Rafa," Liv said, "sit down."

Slowly, he closed the door. "What happened?"

She blew out a steady breath. "Look, there's no easy way to say this," she began. "Carisi's cover is blown."

Barba sank heavily onto her couch, a vicious Spanish curse on his lips.

"Ryan's second-in-command called my office to negotiate for immunity in exchange for his safe return," McCoy interjected. "They're using his relationship with you as leverage." Jack placed a comforting hand on Rafael's shoulder. "Rafael, I have to take you off of this case."

Closing his eyes, Barba nodded. "I understand," he said softly. He looked up at Jack. "You can't give him leverage, and you can't negotiate."

"Rafael," Olivia crouched in front of him. "We are going to get him out of there. Fin and Rollins are talking to ESU right now."

"I know," Rafael whispered. "I know, Liv, you will do everything you can. I just…"

"I've got him, Rafa. I promise."