Author's note: I updated chapter 14 on 3-5

Olivia sat silently in the cab, and Rafael could tell she was trying to hide her physical pain. 5 more minutes and they would arrive at Olivia's apartment, and he would get some ice on these injuries. It was cold, Barba watched as she pulled his jacket closer. He smiled, a smile she would normally notice, but didn't. Her phone rang, she jumped, and grabbed it with her left hand, and almost dropped it in the process. "Benson." "Munch", she said. "Fin called you?" He's overreacting, John don't be paranoid, please, I 've gotten much worse." "I can't say I got away without a starch, but I won't have any scars. I'm fine. John don't call the captain. I'm on my way home. Good-bye John Munch, come visit Noah soon. I'm fine, John go back to your date!" Olivia hung up.

"You Ok?" Barba asked.

"Yeah, Fin called Munch, and he was lecturing me." Olivia's phone rang again. Here we go," she said before grabbing her phone again. "Captain, I told Munch not to call you. Fin called you too? I'm fine. You know I had to. I got him. No Captain, nothing ice won't take care of. "No! She lowered her voice "No, he didn't get that far, Fin was there, Captain you know I would never have done it without backup. I have Noah now. I'm going home. Don't worry about me." She paused "Captain Thank-you." She hang up again. She looked over at Rafael, and gave him a tired smile.

"Cragen worried?" Barba asked knowing the answer. He wanted to hear her voice.

"I just got the Captain's lecture again."

"How many times has that happened?"

"Oh countless" Her phone rang again, "Benson, she answered "Amaro, you too?" How's California? I'm fine, I'm sure Nick. I'm sure, Nick, how are you? Oh that's great, tell Maria I said hello. Barba? You know, he's winning cases. I'm on my way home. I'm fine Amaro. Alone? No, not alone. Amara thanks" Again, she hung up the phone, and hoped she wouldn't have to answer it again tonight.

The cab rolled to a stop outside of Olivia's building. "Wait here Barba said softly.

"I don't need help."

"Wait here, he repeated making direct eye contact with her. He quickly opened his cab door, closed it, and made it to her side of the cab. He opened the door. She stood, and he paid the driver. "Thank-you Sir." He said handing the man money. He closed the cab door, he didn't want Olivia doing it. He wrapped his arm around her, and she found herself leaning on him for support. The heels she wore pinched her feet and her hand was hurting. In truth Barba wanted to offer to carry her, but he knew she would not allow that. After 10 minute they were entering her apartment, Barba locked the door

"Liv, what happened?" Lucy yelled when she saw Olivia.

"Lucy I'm fine, I don't want to wake Noah." She answered.

"I'm getting you ice."

"Thank-you Lucy, but I can get it myself." Lucy didn't listen, she ran to the freezer , and retrieved 2 ice packs She wrapped each one in an orange towel .

"What happened?" she repeated walking into the living area.

"Lucy don't worry about it." Olivia answered.

"Did you get to punch back? Oh hello Mr. Barba ." Lucy said giving him a nervous smile, wishing she hadn't asked that question in front of him. She didn't like the way it came out.

"Hello Lucy", he said. He was still holding on to Olivia as she made her way to the sofa. He sat next to her. Lucy handed Barba the ice.

"I defended myself." Olivia answered, Lucy smiled at the woman who was her boss, but quickly became a friend and role model.

"What are you going to tell Noah when he sees?"

"I don't know yet."

"You need anything"? Lucy asked.

"No, thank-you Lucy." Olivia said. Lucy nodded.

"Don't let her out of your sight Mr. Barba." Barba smiled, he had no intention of doing that.

"Lucy before you go" Olivia said, "remember aim for the eyes, throat, nose, groin."

"I'll remember that." Lucy replied. "Hopefully, I'll never need to."

"It's just good to know." Lucy quickly picked up and purse and left, Barba got up and locked the door behind her. Within seconds he was by Olivia's' side.

"Teaching self- defense?" Barba asked turning his body to face her.

"Always. Lucy is taking a self-defense class I recommended."

"Good". Barba answered. "Hand."

"What?"

"Let me see the hand. Olivia rolled her eyes but complied. He saw her wince, when he gently took it and applied the ice. When was your first class?"

"Oh I was so young, what I just said to Lucy, I've been saying since I can remember. My mother learned it, and made me recite it over and over. I never hit her when she hit me except for the one time I told you about. It wouldn't have been fair, whenever she did it, she was drunk. I always felt she hated me, but I was always glad she never hit me sober. I guess she thought it was one thing if she hurt me, another if someone else did."

"I understand." Barba said looking into her eyes. He took the other ice pack and gently placed it first on one cheek, then the other, He let his hand linger, and never lost eye contact. My father was an angry man."

"Describe angry?" Olivia said, hoping that what she was thinking was wrong.

"I think you already know. What did your mother do to you when she was drunk?" Olivia's eyes went wide, and welled up with tears.

"Raffa I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey, don't cry. Liv, we survived," Olivia leaned toward him. and before she knew it she was holding him, she had never hugged anyone with such urgency, with the exception of little Noah, but that was different. He held her back, they stayed that way for about 10 minutes before Olivia broke the contact.

"Will you be here if Noah wakes up?" He smiled at her, and she got up from the sofa. "I need to get out of this thing. I'll be back. She walked as quickly as she could to her bedroom and closed the door. Barba was sitting there waiting when he heard a voice, and saw Noah coming out of his room.

"Raffa" he said sleepily, walking to Barba.

"Mi amigo" He Barba replied ruffling the boy's hair. You should be in bed."

"Is mommy ok?"

"She had a hard day, but she'll be ok."

"Will you help her?"

"That's why I'm here."

"Make her smile. Noah said innocently.

"I will."

"Raffa mommy is brave.

"Yes she is."

"Raffa do you think mommy is pretty?"

"What are you doing up?" Olivia said coming up behind her son and picking him up. She was dressed in a red jogging suit, He was starting to suspect, she wore jogging suits for his benefit.

"I wanted to see you, you didn't kiss me good night."

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you", she answered as she kissed him. He looked at her. What happened to your face?"

"Um... I ran into a bad guy, and locked him up." she put her son down.

"Can Barba tuck me back in?" Olivia looked at Rafael who was once again smiling at her. "Sure."

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15 minutes later Barba made his way back to Olivia who was once again sitting on the sofa. Barba could see that she had gotten up while he was tucking Noah in because his jacket was now folded neatly on her lap. "Your son is asleep He likes to play let's make a deal."

"Oh no. you mean he can actually grow up to be a lawyer"! She said laughing.

"He reminded me I still owe him a bedtime story, but we are now up to 3. " Olivia laughed again, he loved her laugh. "Feel any better? he asked softly.

"Are you kidding?, yes, I finally got rid of these dam heels, and that working girl dress, if you can call it a dress." Rafael raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Don't look at me like that Barba. That's what I call all the customs I've had to wear undercover." I think in my closet there are only 2 dresses I wore undercover that I would actually wear myself." Barba cleared his throat. "I just mean that, the dress tonight was too much even for me. A woman should be able to wear whatever she wants and feel safe, but we don't live in that kind of world Barba. I wear the costumes when I need to use myself as bait" I knew that guy was going to chose me, but I got him. He's not hurting anyone else tonight." She paused for a long moment. "Raffa your father drank?"

"No, he was just angry."

"I'm sorry."

"Let me see the hand again. She let him hold her hand, study it, and place the ice on it. Say what you want about lawyers Lieutenant, but you need me to get your warrants", For much more than that Rafael Barba , she thought but was afraid to say." Thank-you for everything Raffa, the truth is I didn't want to be alone tonight."

"You're not Liv, but thank-you for admitting it." She laughed nervously. Barba's cell phone rang, and he answered. "Mami?" He covered the mouth piece for a moment. "You up for one more phone call? He asked.

"Barba when did you have time to call and tell your mother? What did you tell your mother?" Olivia whispered.

"She's concerned, and I called her when you were hiding in your office." Olivia took the phone, and held it carefully. "Mrs. Barba?" Lucia, I'm fine, no I really am. Mrs. B... Lucia you don't have to do that. Thank-you. good night. She handed the phone back to Barba.

"I know", he said to his mother, "good night." He hung up.

"Rafa Thank-you for bringing me home, and offering to stay. I know I said I didn't want to be alone, but you don't have to stay, I'm sure your bed is much more comfortable and if you stay on this sofa again, you won't be able to move your neck."

"Olivia I want to stay with you, and if you trust me, we don't have to sleep on the sofa." Did you ever see the movie It Happened One Night?"

"No"

"It's an old black and white movie from 1934. It's about a single man and a single woman, who end up sharing a hotel room."

"In 1934 that was scandalous." She smiled.

"You'd love it. we'll watch it tomorrow."

"Ok, I don't want to be alone, and we need to sleep. She got up, and placed his jacket neatly on the sofa."Come on Barba, she said walking to her bedroom, he followed,