Author's Note:My muse led me down a rather dark path on this story, one I completely did not expect. I honestly anticipated this would be a one, maybe two-part story, and it kind of exploded. I hope you have all enjoyed reading the journey as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Rafael's legs gave way, and he sank into a chair as he watched as his partner was dragged away on the small screen of his phone. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes before feeling a comforting squeeze on his shoulder. He glanced up to see Kenneth O'Dwyer offering him a sympathetic smile.

"You're doing great, Rafael," he said softly. "Hang in there."

He nodded briefly and glanced back at the phone. O'Dwyer could be the epitome of the objective, disconnected attorney. But he also had moments where he allowed that cool veneer to slide and the compassionate man beneath would shine through. While he may not have been Rafael's first choice to be beside him in this van, he would admit to being grateful at least someone was there.

"So, Mr. Barba, let's talk," Ryan's voice came from the screen.

"Look, Ryan," Rafael replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice, "I don't know what you want me to do. Both Lieutenant Benson and I have told you, I've been taken off the case. I don't have the authority to make a deal with you." Not that I would even if I had the authority…

"But you're a hotshot in the DA's office," Ryan shot back. "You have some pull. You can get something done."

"This is ADA Kenneth O'Dwyer," Ken said, leaning over Rafael's shoulder to talk into the phone. "I've been assigned to this case. From where I'm standing, Ryan, you've said you want to deal but you haven't made any demands. What, exactly, are you looking for?"

"Full immunity," Ryan said. "And a helicopter out of here."

O'Dwyer snorted, and Rafael rolled his eyes despite the situation. "You don't ask for much."

"You want the detective free," Andy said patiently, "then you deal." He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "I sent him back with Kelly, you know. He's been itching to put a hurting on Detective Carisi. And I'm not back there to reel him in. The longer you keep me out here talking with the two of you, the longer he's in there with Barba's boy toy unchecked."

Rafael's heart dropped into his stomach. "If you hurt Carisi, you'll only make it harder on yourself, Ryan."

On the screen, Ryan smiled. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

The call disconnected.

White-knuckle grip on the phone, Rafael blew out a shaky breath and rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand.

"Hey," O'Dwyer said. "Barba, you are doing…to say 'remarkably well' is an understatement. I don't know if I would be holding up."

"Looks are deceiving," Rafael said. "I feel like I'm about to lose my mind."

"Benson is one of the best officers I have ever worked with," Ken continued. "She's a good, solid cop. If anyone can get Carisi out of there, it's her."

"I know," Rafael said quietly. "I keep telling myself that over and over."

But will she get him out in time?

"So, Carisi, just you and me."

This time Connor had tied Carisi's wrists together, the rope wrapped around a low-lying beam in the ceiling. The door was locked, and for good measure it was barred with a bookcase from across the room. Sonny's shoulders were already beginning to ache as his arms were held over his head, but he fought to keep his expression impassive. "You know this isn't going to end well for you."

"That depends on what you mean by 'well'."

The cold gleam in Connor's eye sent chills down Sonny's spine. Casually, the man perched on the edge of the office's lone desk and gazed at Carisi like a predator closing in on its prey. "The entire building is surrounded by cops. I've already turned over evidence to my superiors. You heard Benson say they have warrants, Kelly. If you do anything to me, you're only going to make it worse on yourself than it already is."

"Have you ever heard of going out with a bang, Detective?" he asked, grinning.

A sick feeling in his stomach grew. "I have," he said, hesitantly.

"You see, from where I'm sitting, you have single-handedly destroyed our life's work." As he spoke, Connor stood and walked over to Carisi, punctuating the last word by a solid strike to the stomach. "You slithered your way into our organization." He paused to deliver another blow to Sonny's flank. "And you made it your mission to bring each and every one of us down." Connor finished up by backhanding Sonny across the face.

Stomach roiling, Sonny fought to catch his breath. He saw stars dancing in the corners of his vision and blew out shakily to fight to stay conscious. "Those girls did not deserve what you were doin' to them," he said, his accent thickening under the strain.

"Do you know what the worst part was, Detective?" Without warning, Connor grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back painfully. He glared into Sonny's eyes with a black hatred that froze him, lips just a breath from Sonny's. "All my life," he growled through gritted teeth, "I have fought to keep certain…desires to myself. You understand that don't you, Carisi?"

Oh fuck. For the first time, Sonny felt real fear as the precariousness of his position hit him like a freight train. The feel of Kelly's breath on his face sent waves of nausea washing over him. "Kelly, come on…"

"There is not a person in this entire organization–this family–who would accept that." He twisted his fingers tighter in Sonny's hair. "And here you come along with your pretty face and snazzy boyfriend and rub all of that in my face."

"Listen, Connor," he managed. "I know how hard it is. I can help."

"Yes, you can." A slow, sinister smile spread over his lips. "I told you, Detective, I can put that mouth of yours to good use." The smile widened, and he abruptly brought a knee up into Sonny's groin. "Mouth or something else."

Everything in Sonny wanted to crumple to the ground, but his arms remained stubbornly tied near the ceiling. He coughed and retched, trying to bring his knees up to his stomach as he fought desperately not to puke. "Connor," he managed. "Please, let me go."

That smile remained on his lips, and he stepped over. "Andy is dealing with your ADA out there. You and I will deal in here," he said. "You want me to let you go?" He chucked a finger under Sonny's chin, then trailed a finger down his chest and abdomen and toyed teasingly with the button on his jeans. "There's something you have to give me first." His expression hardened. "And if not?"

He abruptly jerked downward on the belt loops on one side of Sonny's hips, dislocating one already screaming shoulder. Sonny cried out as pain exploded down his arm and into his chest. "Well. I have other ways of negotiating." He leaned closer, his lips hovering just over Carisi's. "I will get what I want, Detective."

Olivia's gut clenched when Carisi's anguished cry echoed into the warehouse floor from the office. They were getting nowhere with Ryan, who would not take anything less than full immunity. O'Dwyer had made it clear his bosses would never go for that, given the scope of Andy's operation.

And there was no way she could live with herself if she gave it to him, either.

But there was also no way she could live with herself if anything else happened to Sonny. She glanced over her shoulder at Fin. He stood like a sentinel behind her, his weapon still trained on Andy. The benefit of working with someone as long as the two of them had is that you didn't always need words. In the span of two seconds, she and Tutuola came to an agreement, nodded, and fixed their gazes back on Ryan.

"No deal, Andy," she said, flatly. "And I'm done playing around with you."

Without warning, Benson and Fin both moved in. Andy let out a startled cry and began firing. Olivia ducked low, tackling his legs. One shot went wild and grazed Fin along the temple, but he kept going and didn't stop until he had connected with Ryan's torso and grabbed for the gun. Another shot fired, this one ricocheting off the ceiling and clipping the ESU squad leader on the shoulder.

Fin knocked the gun from Ryan's hand and sent it skittering across the room. "I got you, you prick," he said, wrestling Ryan onto his stomach and pulling his cuffs off his belt. "Now stay down, or I will shoot your ass." Ryan tried to shove back up, and the sergeant retaliated by shoving his face into the pavement floor. "I said down. I mean it. I will shoot you right in the ass and work my way up from there."

Liv hauled herself to her feet and stood over the pair. "You got him, Fin?"

"Yep," he said. "And if he doesn't stop moving, I'll create a new asshole for him."

"You were hit," she said, catching sight of blood at his temple.

He checked it with a free hand. "It's just a scratch. I'll be fine."

She glanced over at the ESU chief. "You okay?"

"Hurts like a son of a bitch, but yeah," he replied, rubbing the shoulder. "My vest took it."

She nodded and pointed to Tutuola's captive. "Take this piece of crap to a squad car. Fin, let's get Carisi."

Olivia signaled for the rest of the squad to follow her, and she darted across the room to the office. She tried the door, found it locked, and took a step back to glance at Fin. He nodded and heaved a mighty kick at the door. The lock broke, but the door didn't move.

"He's blocked it with something," Fin said, and followed it with a curse.

"Let me," the ESU squad leader stepped forward, signaling with two of his men. They moved in with a battering ram, and both Liv and Fin stepped back to give them room. With three mighty hits from the ram, the door flew inward.

They wasted no time and, guns raised and ready, Liv and Fin both bolted inside. They found a startled Kelly standing in front of Carisi, who was tied to a ceiling beam. Liv's stomach clenched when she saw the plethora of bruises covering her detective…and Sonny's unfastened and yanked-down jeans.

"It's over, Kelly," she said, leveling her weapon on him. "We have your boss. It's time to give it up."

In an instant, he snatched up his own gun and pressing it to Sonny's stomach. "Make a move and I will pull the trigger."

She hesitated. If they shot him, he could pull the trigger by reflex and that would be it for Sonny. Her gaze trailed quickly to her detective's bruised and battered face, and caught his eye. He nodded briefly, and she ever so slightly inclined her head.

With an incredible display of strength and a grunt of pain, Sonny pulled himself up long enough to plant his feet in Connor's chest and kick him backwards. He spun dizzyingly as he swung out of control. Connor let out a roar of frustration and fired, one shot catching Sonny on the hip. It took only a split second for Benson to dart in, kick the gun from his grasp, and plant a knee in his chest.

"Got you, you bastard," she said, pointing her gun at him.

Hands up in surrender, Kelly grinned up at her. "Aww, Lieutenant, you interrupted just when it was getting good." He glanced over at Carisi. "Your detective is feisty. I like it that way."

She leaned down, pressing her weight harder into his chest. "The DA's office will not take well to what you've done to Detective Carisi," she said, glancing over her shoulder to check that Fin was assisting their captive squadmate. "You can be sure any deals you might have cut for testifying against Ryan are off the table."

He raised a brow arrogantly. "You can't prove it was me who did it," he retorted. "My word against the detective's."

Liv's anger simmered, eyes darkening. "And we'll see which one of you is more believable." She pushed off of his chest with her knee to stand, ignoring his grunt of pain. Keeping her weapon trained on him, she called over her shoulder to the ESU squad leader. "Get this piece of crap out of my sight," she ordered.

She passed Connor off to ESU and, temporarily shoving him out of her mind, she turned to Sonny. "Hey, Carisi," she said gently. "We've got you. Let's get you down from there." Fin borrowed a knife from another officer. Together, they quickly cut the bindings around Sonny's wrists. He dropped to a heap on the floor with a pained grunt. Liv sank down, wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulders as Fin crouched in front of him.

"I'm okay," Sonny said, cradling one arm to his abdomen. "I'm okay."

"No, you're not not," Liv argued. "There's a bus with medics outside, waiting to treat the girls we get out of here. We can have them look you over, and take you to the ER." She paused to search his face. "Carisi, I have to ask—did he…?"

"No," Sonny closed his eyes and shook his head. "You got in just in time."

She exhaled and nodded. "Okay," she said, and slid an arm around him to help him up. "Let's get you to the ambulance."

"You know," Fin said conversationally, "you're the second coworker I've had to get shot in the ass."

Sonny lay on his side on the ambulance cot and smirked tiredly. He was thankful the dislocated shoulder and the gunshot wound were on the same side, so at least he could find a mostly comfortable position. Every bit of him ached, even after the shot of pain medicine the medics had given him. "You wanna kiss it and make it better?"

Fin chuckled. "I'll pass," he said. Fin had a bandage on his temple where the bullet had caught him, but the medics had confirmed his initial assessment–it was just a graze, and not serious. Sonny suspected at this point he was mostly still in the ambulance to keep him company. "Look, I know Liv asked inside, but he didn't—"

"No," Sonny said for the second time. "He wanted to, though. I'm okay, really."

"That's good to hear." Liv climbed up into the ambulance and sat next to Fin. "Because you look like absolute crap."

"I mean, almost every inch of me hurts right now," he admitted.

"The medics said you're dehydrated, and taking you to the hospital is not optional," she said. "But before that, I have an ADA who is about to pace a hole in the floor of the ops van if I don't let him out."

Sonny's eyes snapped to hers. "Rafael is here? Why didn't he come over when I came out of the warehouse?"

"Because Liv threatened to have him arrested if he set one toe outside of the van before she told him he could," Fin explained.

He blinked. "You did what?"

She smiled at Carisi. "I figured if I let him in the middle of that and something happened to him, you'd never forgive me."

"You got that right."

"I wanted to make sure you were okay before I let him see you," she explained. "That way if you weren't, I could prepare him. Let me go release Barba, and then Fin and I will go help Rollins finish processing the girls we got out of the warehouse, and find them a safe house for the night."

"Make sure you treat 'em real nice, Liv. They've had one hell of an ordeal." Sonny's voice was tired, but caring. He hated thinking about what had happened to all those girls.

Liv nodded her reassurances and she and Fin both climbed out of the rig.

Sighing, Sonny closed his eyes. He hadn't been lying when he said that everything hurt, and he indulged himself in a brief fantasy about the large bathtub he and Rafael had at their apartment. He swallowed as an image of his partner crossed his mind, and the deep longing for Barba and comfort washed over him. He had held it together as best he could through the entire encounter with Kelly–now he needed Rafael.

As if his deepest desires were heard, he felt a gentle and familiar hand on his cheek. He opened his eyes and found Rafael now sitting on the bench across from him. He was smiling, though worry glimmered in his green eyes. "Hey," he said, softly.

"I have never been so glad to see you," Sonny murmured, bringing his good hand up to rest on Rafael's.

"Liv said they got Andy and Connor."

Carisi nodded. "They did. And I'm okay."

Rafael's brow furrowed. "For 'okay', you sure look like absolute hell."

"It's been an eventful day," Carisi said. "Kelly he, ah…he had me one-on-one. It was…brutal."

Barba brushed the back of his fingers along Sonny's bruised jaw. "It's probably for the best I am off this case for now. And I should not go to the precinct while those assholes are being interviewed." He glanced down to Sonny's hip. "Fin said you took a bullet."

"Just grazed me," Sonny said.

Barba's lips twitched. "That's not exactly what Fin said."

"Fin is an ass." Carisi closed his eyes and chuckled. "But I was real glad to see that ass when he and Liv came busting in."

Hesitation filled Rafael's eyes. "Liv indicated when they found you… She said you told her nothing happened, but she wasn't sure."

Sonny looked up to meet his fear-filled gaze. He kept the terror and revulsion he felt while Kelly had him captive at bay while he was talking with Benson and Tutuola, but now he was with Rafael, and could let his guard down. "It was close, Rafi," he whispered. "Too damn close."

"Carino," Barba breathed. "I'm so sorry." He dropped to the floor between the bench and the cot and slid his arms carefully around Sonny. Sonny sighed with relief, burying his face in Rafael's neck. "I've got you now," he murmured into Sonny's hair. "You're safe."

They stayed like that for several minutes before a medic climbed into the back of the ambulance.

"I'm sorry," she interrupted apologetically. "We need to get Mr. Carisi to the ER. At the very least, I'm sure he has some fractures and a dislocated shoulder."

Barba nodded, and carefully eased a protesting Sonny back on the cot. "Of course," he said, lacing his fingers through Sonny's. "But I'm not leaving him."

It was almost midnight, and Rafael sat in a mostly comfortable chair next to Sonny's hospital bed. The detective slept, the IV in his arm sending pain reliever and fluids into his body. The doctor had confirmed several fractures, contusions, the dislocated shoulder, and dehydration and wanted to keep Sonny overnight for observation. The shoulder had been set and was bandaged and taped. The gunshot wound had proven to be minor, and little more than a graze across the hip.

The myriad of bruises that mottled his face and torso twisted at Rafael's heart.

Carisi slept restlessly, every noise in the hospital making him jump and flinch. Rafael sighed as he watched his partner, who often already had his dreams plagued by the horrors he encountered as a cop.

How much worse would this make it?

"Hey," a soft voice said from the door.

Rafael looked up to see Olivia standing in the doorway. "Hey yourself," he said, and gestured towards the chair on the opposite side of the bed.

"I'm surprised his parents aren't here," she said as she eased into the chair. "As close as the Carisi clan is…"

"I convinced them to wait till tomorrow," Barba said. "I anticipate there will be a lasagna upon their arrival."

"How is he?"

"Restless," he replied. "And sore…quiet."

She studied Carisi's sleeping face. "When we got into the office," she said quietly, "Connor had his pants undone. He said—"

"I know," Rafael interrupted her. "He told me. And he was telling you the truth when he said nothing happened." His tender gaze turned to Carisi. "He would have told me."

"It will still probably affect him," she replied. "Even if he wasn't raped, it was a violation."

Rafael studied Sonny's face with worry. "I've worked in sex crimes for long enough to be aware of what could happen." He glanced over to her. "We'll all be here to get him through it."

Olivia nodded. "We tried to get to him faster, Rafa," she said. "But we were afraid if we moved too fast, he would be killed in the process."

Rafael closed his eyes and let out a shuddering breath. "Liv, you did everything right," he said. "Sonny knows the risks of his job, and so do I. I'm not angry with you." His jaw set. "But if you and O'Dwyer don't nail these assholes to the wall…"

"They just got out of the box with Fin and Rollins," Olivia assured him. "They were pissed over what happened to Sonny, and they went extra hard in interrogation. They got full confessions out of both of them. O'Dwyer said even if it goes to trial, there is no way they will worm their way out of it."

"Good," Rafael said, satisfaction in his eyes.

A soft whimper came from the bed, and immediately Barba was out of his chair and sitting on the side of the bed. "Shhh," he murmured, smoothing Sonny's hair. "Mi vida, you're okay. You're safe."

"I'm going to go," Olivia whispered, squeezing Rafael's arm. "Give you two some privacy."

He nodded, looking up at her. "Thank you," he murmured, his hand remaining on Sonny's forehead.

As Olivia slipped out, Sonny's eyes opened, and he looked wildly around for a moment.

"Shh," Barba repeated. "It's okay. I've got you."

Sonny nodded. "I was dreaming about—"

"I know," Barba cut him off, not wanting to give Kelly the slightest thought. "But you're here with me, and you're safe."

Drowsily, Carisi looked up at him. "I wish we were home."

Rafael smiled. "It'll be a tight squeeze, but…" He trailed off as he stretched out next to Sonny, easing him back into his arms, one arm wrapped around Sonny's waist. "I've got you," he repeated. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Sonny was released the next day, under orders to take at least two weeks off work. Olivia said he had earned a much-needed vacation anyway. Rafael transferred his immediate cases to colleagues and took time off to be with him. True to their word, Sonny's parents arrived to check in on him, his mother bringing not only a lasagna, but cannoli, and a loaf of fresh-baked bread.

And once the Carisis headed back to Staten Island, they were blessedly alone.

Finding a comfortable position on the sofa was difficult for Sonny between his shoulder and his hip. He finally ended up on his side with an ice pack on each injury and his head on Rafael's lap. Sonny was quiet, his usual boisterousness and energy depleted. It worried Barba, who tried to study him covertly.

He failed in that department.

"You'd make a terrible cop," Sonny said as they tried to focus on a movie. "You give yourself away when you're doing surveillance."

"I…" He sighed. "I'm worried about you. You've been through hell, and you're quiet."

"I know," Sonny said. He shifted slightly and grimaced. "I…I keep thinking about Connor. About what happened in that office." He looked up at Barba. "Rafi, he's been struggling with his sexuality his whole life, and knows there's not a person in his world who would support him if he came out."

Anger simmered in Rafael's eyes. "Don't feel sorry for him," he said. "He assaulted you. He almost—"

"I know," Sonny said. "And no, I don't feel sorry for him. Well," he amended, "if I do start to feel sorry for him, I remind myself of my shoulder. Or the bruises everywhere."

"Or that he shot you in the ass."

Sonny glared at him. "It was my hip."

"Mm-hm, keep telling yourself that." He grinned down at his partner.

"My point is," Sonny retorted, "I came out to my parents when we started seeing each other. They were surprised, but accepted it. You. Us."

"And keep accepting me–and feeding me. You. Us."

"It's how ma expresses her love," Sonny said with a laugh. "Your mom accepted us."

Rafael nodded. "Like your parents, she was surprised. But, sure. And she loves you." He grinned. "She just finds ways to express her love that don't involve carbohydrates."

"I was just thinking, what it if had been different?" he asked. "Would I have turned out differently if they had rejected me for who I am?"

"Carino," Rafael said tenderly, "you could not have turned out like Kelly no matter what." He rested his hand gently on Sonny's chest. "You have one of the kindest hearts of anyone I know. You don't have it in you to do that to another human being." He moved the hand up to cup Carisi's cheek. "That's one of the many reasons why I love you."

"I love you too," Sonny murmured, smiling. He closed his eyes and turned his head, inhaling Rafael's scent. "I missed you so much while I was gone."

"God, I missed you," he replied. He leaned down and captured Sonny's lips in a gentle kiss. "And I can't wait until you are healed, because I plan on showing you over and over just how much I missed you."

He was gratified when Sonny shivered. "Let's, um…let's at least let the shoulder heal up some."

Barba grinned. "And the gunshot wound in your ass."

"It's my hip!"