Olivia sighed as she walked into the house, letting her bag slip from her hand and crash to the floor. She leaned back against the front door and closed her eyes, letting the peace and silence of the house wash over her. The calendar-year-end with meetings always left her with a raging headache. A small part of her hoped that this year, with her still working most the week from home, she could attend remotely. She had already been looking forward to leaving her end of the conference call muted. But, the Chief had other plans for her participation. "Bloody front and center," she muttered as she gently massaged her temples. Her head still pounded from everything he rattled off during their discussion.

"You okay Liv".

She opened her eyes and saw Lucy at the base of the stairs. With another sigh, she pushed away from the door and shook her head. "Just a…very long meeting." Lucy nodded. "Is Noah playing?"

"I'm not sure." Olivia's brow furrowed as she followed her up the stairs, a question dancing on her lips, as Lucy continued, Peter is with him."

"Peter's home?" she asked, peeking down at her wrist. Her slim white gold watch showed it was just after one. Peter was rarely ever home this early. Her frown deepened as she stepped onto the floor, passing Lucy. He was thrust into his role seemingly overnight. She had lost count of how many international trips Peter had made in the last few months. Not to mention, he was still seeing through several open cases that he had taken on prior to the promotion.

Her steps slowed as she neared Noah's room and heard his voice. He was singing. She came to a complete stop, her hand dancing against the door jamb, as her ears strained to listen.

I like every second

So long as you are on my mind

She folded her arms against her chest as she leaned against the wall. His voice was low and she knew instantly that Noah was asleep in his arms. Slowly and quietly, she peered around the door jamb. Peter was on Noah's bed, gently gliding back and forth as Noah slept soundly against his chest. With tentativeness, she stepped into the room and quietly neared them. The floor was carpeted, but he still looked up as if he heard her footsteps. She inhaled sharply when she saw the expression on his face. The deep lines of exhaustion were a sharp counterpoint to the soft and soothing sound of his voice.

"What were you singing to him?" she asked softly, letting an easy question give him the moment she knew he needed to gather his thoughts. Peter's voice transitioned from singing to humming as she kneeled next to him, her hand on his forearm. It wasn't an accident he came home early and immediately sought shelter in their child's room. Something happened. Something he needed to let their child distract him from dealing with right away.

"The Who," he murmured as he turned back to Noah. The boys cheeks were tinged rosy as he slept against him. She rubbed his arm with one hand as her other reached out, tucking the receiving blanket around her baby boy. She looked up, finding his eyes heavy and exhausted, as he continued, "Everyone likes the Who."

With a small smile, she nodded and took his hand. "You're home early," she whispered.

He nodded and squeezed her hand as he turned back to Noah. Slowly, he leaned forward and pressed a kissed to his forehead. A moment later, he stood slowly. He turned back around and sighed into his palms as he rubbed his face. "Darling?" she murmured as he took her arm and led her from the room into the hall.

He closed the door to the nursery and turned to her. "Travis Jordan was taken off life support this morning." Her jaw dropped as he looked up and explained, "He died less than hour later."

"Oh, Peter." She said. She frowned, her headache elevated with a new level of stress as he sighed again. "What does this mean?"

He sighed deeply as he reached for her hand. "The District Attorney will get a continuance so they can add a second murder charge."

She shook her head and reached out, wrapping her arms around him. The dead girlfriend's mother had been an almost daily fixture on the New York news stations. Now, with the little boy's death, the firestorm would only kick up. She felt him grip her back and felt the deep exhale which went through his entire body. "Can you get out of it?"

"Olivia…" he sighed as he pulled back slightly and shook his head.

She closed her eyes and hugged him closer. The stubborn part of him would insist on seeing the case through to the bitter end. The victory-seeking part of him would insist on achieving a not guilty verdict for his odious client. She shivered, wondering about the type of person who could beat their child into a coma. She and Peter had seen many things during the childhoods but they had never been that. They had never crossed the unforgiveable line of violence against Noah.

But, Peter knew that line. He knew what it had been like to be the little boy with a violent father. This case was too close to his childhood with his stepdad. He should never have taken it. With her cheek pressed to his, she whispered in his ear, "Recuse yourself."

"Liv-"

She knew that tone of voice. She knew what was coming next. He wasn't a quitter. "Peter, that man beat his child." She pulled back and opened her eyes. He watched her carefully, his poker face masking any reaction he had. "What if it was Noah-"

"It wasn't Noah's fine," he murmured, cupping her face.

She shook her head, reaching up for his hands. "You aren't on his side." He stiffened and she felt his fingers tremble against hers. "You're on that little boy's." His eyes flickered and she squeezed his hands. "The little boy whose father beat into a coma. The one who couldn't protect himself." She held her hands over his heart as she whispered, "The little boy who could've been you." He inhaled sharply and she reached up, her palm against his cheek. "You wouldn't be this upset if you weren't furious."

"Olivia, I cannot just walk out on my client. It doesn't work like that."

She shook her head, her fingers combing through his hair. "You'll think of something. You always do." He sighed and glanced away. She pressed against his chest, letting his arms go around her. "That horrible man doesn't deserve you. But, that little boy- that little boy does."

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