Olivia emerged from her bedroom 5 minutes later. She held the shawl in her hand, and she wore black flats. She draped the shawl over the sofa. Rafael thought she was going to sit back down with him, but instead she stood next to the sofa. Barba looked on the coffee table, sitting there was a file. He picked it up. "Reading material for your hot date?"

"I don't have a hot date, and I wasn't going to bring the file with me."

"Oh, how romantic to go over the details of a rape right before a date. You always do that?"

"What can I say I'm a workaholic, you know that. Don't judge me, I'm sure you've been tempted to bring work on a date."

"My work has always been more entertaining than the date until recently."

"See?"

"I haven't been dating officially for a very long time" How come I didn't know about this hot date? Why didn't you mention it? "

"Because it's nothing, I knew it would be nothing. I don't have a hot date, it isn't even a date. Besides Fin wouldn't fix me up with someone on the job. It's not something I would even have to disclose. A girl has to eat, that's all. Fin got a girlfriend, I told you that, and all of a sudden he wants to be a matchmaker. The only thing funnier than Fin being a matchmaker is Munch being a matchmaker."

"You know if you didn't agree to a "date" sometime people would start to talk." Rafael got up from the couch and stood in font of her, he saw she backed up a little. "You're right a girl has to eat, especially if she didn't eat all day, and she hasn't had her coffee."

"I didn't tell you that." "Fin!" Olivia said, her brown eyes going wide.

"I was here at 9 Olivia, before 9, I'm not rude, and no one stood you up." Rafael said, the same determination in his voice as was in his eyes. She turned away from him and began to pace.

"How long has he had this planned?"

"Not long, I don't think. When he first spoke to you, he had someone else in mind, but he thought better of it."

"Oh, he thought better of it! He had no right!" She ran to her phone and started dialing.

"Olivia please, don't call him now. He was looking out for you. If you call him now, you will say something you'll regret. I know you. At the words I know you she stopped dialing her cell phone, and dropped it gently on the counter. She turned to face him, but didn't speak for a moment her eyes were locked with his. "Fin couldn't do this on his own. You! You agreed to this! Why did you agree with this plan, this set-up? You didn't need to do this, you didn't need to set me up!"

"I needed to speak to you, and you wouldn't have picked up the phone."

"Maybe not today", she admitted turning away from him again and pacing.

"Why not today Olivia? The note?"

"I'm not talking about that note now. I'm sorry I left it. You have no idea."

"Fair enough. "My mother asked you if you knew anyone at work you could fix her up with. You said, and I quote, you don't want to date a cop why?"

"Oh you're good, you just asked another question to get the answer to your first question".

"Thank-you, now please answer."

"Ok fine. because we're messes, all of us cops, all of us SVU cops are messes. Your mother does not deserve to deal with a mess of a man. I would think you would agree with me on that. I'm done answering questions, I'm not a witness on the stand right now!" She stopped pacing, and looked in his direction, careful not to stare into his eyes.

He was glad she stopped pacing, and slowly he walked toward her. He stood in front of her, and she didn't move to escape. "Olivia" he said gently with conviction. "If you talked to me this morning I would have been able to tell you. I'm glad I was there. Never be sorry with me Olivia. You didn't talk to me through, you ran."

"I didn't, I had to get Noah off to school, I had no time." She answered quickly.

"Don't do that, don't use Noah as an excuse."

"He's not an excuse, he's my son."

"I know and understand that, but when it comes to me, you use him as an excuse. You have for years."

"I don't do that. I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm sorry if it appears that way..." Rafael didn't say anything for a long moment. He just stared at her as though he was looking deep into her soul. Was this going to be the moment he walked away? Was the moment coming when he would say, you and I are done talking and mean it? She took a breath in, and then she heard his voice.

"Did I hurt you?"

"What?"

"I need to know if I hurt you in any way."

"No, no Raffa."

"I didn't think so, but I had to ask."

"No you didn't hurt me."

"You laid on top of me, and in my arms all night, I held you. Nothing physical happened between us. I would never try to take advantage of you. You could have woken me up, you know by now I'm a light sleeper. It took you more time to write that note than it would have to talk to me. What were you afraid of Olivia?"

"I'm not afraid." She answered softly. She wanted to run away from this conversation, but she was so relived he was speaking again. "I didn't wake you because I didn't want to have this conversation. I should have woken you, but I was ashamed."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of?"

"Before I showed up at your office, I was almost sure if I closed my eyes, I would have a nightmare. I felt it coming on. I felt it in my gut. So I went to your office seeking you out, knowing you would be there if it happened, if I was right, and I was."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"I came to you knowing that I was a mess. I don't want you to always see me falling apart. It's not your job to deal with me, it's mine."

"Hey don't do that."

"What?"

"You know what. Deal with you? You make yourself sound like a listen to me, you are not falling apart. You didn't wake me because you didn't want to be comforted? You didn't want a conversation like this?" Rafael rolled his eyes "Ay, me vuelves loco mujer." He mumbled under his breath. Olivia understood what that meant, you drive me drive me crazy woman.

"So I've been told." She almost whispered. He stepped closer to her, he was almost touching her.

"Olivia" he said softly, almost seductively "Why have you been avoiding me?" She backed away, and ran to the kitchen, happy she no longer had heels on. He watched as she prepared coffee, looking intently at the coffee maker. "Please answer the question." He said after a moment

"I did", she answered, looking at the coffee maker. "I said I don't use Noah as an excuse. You just rephrased the question."

"Happy you noticed."

"You know Counselor I can interrogates you too."

"Go ahead Lieutenant, I'm an open book to you, so I don't think it would be much of an interrogation. You know I'm going to keep asking until I get the truth. Why did you avoid me today?"

"That I was very clear about. I told you I didn't want this conversation. I felt embarrassed."

Yes, but you're holding something back, and you know it."

His eyes were on her, following her every movement as she opened an upper cabinet, and retrieved a bottle of familiar liquid. She placed it on the counter in front of her, closed the cabinet, and opened another. She could feel his intense stare and she knew she would have to look at him some time. She moved slowly, taking out a glass, and closing the cabinet, it had been in. She slowly placed the glass next to the bottle. He watched as she exhaled. "Do you want some scotch?"

"Olivia." He almost growled.

She turned to face him. "We're getting too close alright!"

Relive washed over Rafael Barba at her words and her tone. He didn't remember feeling this much relief in his life. He wanted so badly to smile at her, but he knew now was not the time. Now. he had to be the smart, and collected man he was in the courtroom, there would be plenty of time for smiles. He knew if he lightened the mood now, it would take even longer for him to express his heart. He couldn't let her off the hook. He understood more now what was going on with her. "You don't drink scotch."

"I know I don't." She looked away again, took the bottle and poured some scotch into the glass. "You do. I stopped at the store before I came home, and picked some up."

"We're not getting too close."

She quickly turned her head, and her eyes briefly met his. She left the kitchen, she didn't care about the coffee, she needed space away from those soulful eyes. She ran to the sofa. He slowly followed. "Yes we are!"

"No we're not" He said getting closer to her.

"We're walking a fine line Barba, we're getting to the point where we will have to disclose something, and I don't even know what we would disclose!"

"Since I've known you, you never had a problem getting close to people you work with." He regretted the way the words came out, he was trying to make an important point. She stared at him, her month was slightly open

Her phone rang at that moment and she ran to answer it. "Benson" She said into the phone. "Munch is Noah in the room with you? He's brushing his teeth. Good. John Munch you knew about this didn't you? Don't give me that, you know what I'm talking about. You said you wanted to babysit, but I should've known there was a reason you insisted on tonight. No I won't relax. When have you ever known me to relax John? No, I'm not putting you on speaker phone. Again, Munch I will not relax Why did you have to go work with the DA's office? John I'm fine, no I don't need to relax. John Munch I'm not asking Barba that. No, I'm not letting you ask Barba that question!"

"Is Noah done brushing his teeth?" Thank-you."

Barba's eyes never left Olivia, and she felt it. She nervously shifted from one foot to the other as she waited for her son to come to the line. "Noah" she finally said. "Are you having fun with Munch? I'm so glad! You saw Ken's baby. "Cool! Barba? Noah I love you, you need to go to bed soon ok?" Olivia sighed. "Hold on my boy. She walked back to Barba, and quickly handed him the phone. "Noah wants to talk to you." She said softly, trying to keep her voice light, and calm.

Barba took the phone, he tried to meet her eyes but she wouldn't let him. She walked slowly across the room. "Noah, Mi amigo! She's alright, I promise. I'm trying to make her smile. Yes, we'll finish the book and I'll help you with the train." Barba saw Olivia's eyes were on him. He could tell she wanted to grab the phone from his hand, but she didn't move. "Yes I'll teach you. Good night Noah. Barba paused, and Olivia knew he was listening intently by the look on his face. "Buenas noches. Ok"." He said listening for a moment. "Munch How are you?" At the sound of these words Olivia moved quickly toward him, her right hand was raised. She held herself back from grabbing the phone, and he was happy she was standing close to him again. "Yes, I will." He saw Olivia roll her eyes. "I know." He continued. "I know. I understand completely. He said making eye contact with Olivia, who looked away. I'm handing the phone back. Her eyes met his again and she took the phone from his outstretched hand.

"Munch?" she asked quickly walking farther away from Barba. "What did you say? Yeah, don't give me that. "What did you say?" She whispered. "You're not going to tell me. "Good night Sergeant." She answered sounding betrayed. She sighed. "See you tomorrow Sergeant Munch. She continued her voice softening. "Thank-you for taking care of Noah." She hang up the phone.