Rafael had just gotten off the phone with Liv. He looked over smiling softly at Noah, who was staying the night since Liv and the squad were pulling overtime on a case. When a knock came on his door, he got up walking over to the door, looking through the peephole seeing someone.

"Miguel?" Raf said, surprised, opening the door.

"Rafa help me please?"

Raf looked up and down the hall, as he let Miguel in.

"Where's your mami? Is papi doing it again?" Raf asked, he and the neighbors have been trying to help get Miguel and his mother away from his abusive father for months.

Miguel nodded, tears running down his face. Raf looked at him, realizing he was only wearing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. He then noticed that there was blood on both items of clothing and on his lip.

"Did he leave?"

About that time Noah woke up, seeing Raf and Miguel standing by the door.

"Yes."

"What's wrong Papi? What's going on?" The 9 year almost 10 year old asked.

"His mami needs my help. Can you stay with Miguel, Noah?"

Noah nodded. Raf then dialed 911. After hanging up with 911, he got a blanket and wrapped Miguel up,sitting him beside Noah.

"Noah, stay here. Lock the door as I go out."

Noah nodded. Raf went to the door, grabbed his keys, opened it and waited until Noah locked it. Raf called Liv, as he walked to Miguel's apartment.

"Rafa, what's wrong?"

"Need help, my neighbor's kid came over. I think he and his mother have been hurt. I called 911, I think you should come." Raf whispered.

"Are you and Noah okay?"

"Yes, Miguel and Noah are locked in my apartment, the dad left. I'm checking on the mom."

"Rafa, go back to your apartment."

"I'm okay." Raf hung up.

About the same time the police showed up,

"Barba? What are you doing?" One of the officers from the precinct asked.

"I live in the building, and my neighbor's kid came to my apartment. I call it in." Raf explained.

The officer nodded.

"Which apartment?"

"That one. The kid said the dad left." Raf said, pointing.

"Okay, stand back."

Raf did, and the officer broke down the door. Raf stood outside until they said clear.

"Mom's DOA. Signs of sexual assault. You need to go back to your apartment." the officer said

Raf nodded.

"I'll be in my apartment with the kid and my son."

Raf left, going back unlocking the door. Noah and Miguel were watching tv, Miguel jumped up running to him Raf bent down hugging him.

"She's gone isn't she?" Miguel whispered, brokenly.

"I'm sorry." Raf whispered.

Miguel had cried himself asleep in Raf's lap in a matter of minutes. Noah had gone to the kitchen, wanting a snack Raf didn't have the heart to tell him no. Noah went to his room when there was a knock on the door Miguel woke up,

"Papi?" The boy asked and curled into Raf.

Raf got up, calming the boy, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"No, people to help you and your mami."

"Mami's dead, no one's going to help her." Miguel said sadly.

There was another knock on the door. He quickly opened the door, Fin was on the other side of the door.

"His mother is in 2120."

"Thanks." Fin said.

Paramedics were behind him,

"How is he? Is he hurt?" The paramedic asked.

"He seems stable, but I think he needs a doctor to look him over.'' Raf said, letting her in.

"Rafa!"

Raf looked up seeing Liv, walking down the hall.

"Hey. How is he?" Liv asked.

Raf opened his mouth but Miguel answered for him.

"Papi hurt me but I'll be fine, especially now Rafa is looking after me." He said, looking up at Rafa beseechingly.

"I don't have to go to hospital, do I? I don't like them, they're scary."

"Miguel, I'm sorry but you need to go. We need to make sure that your papi didn't hurt you more than you realize."

"But I told you I'm fine, nothing that hasn't happened before. I never went then and I don't need to go now, there's nothing wrong with me but a few bruises."

"Miguel, someone can be badly hurt inside but not know that it's any worse than just bruising. We just want to make sure that isn't the case, okay. If they give you the all clear then you can come straight back here. Deal?"

At his reluctant nod he continued,

"This nice paramedic will take great care of you."

"I will honey."

"Rafa go with me?" Miguel asked, pleadingly.

Raf looked at Liv, she smiled and he nodded.

"You bet I will. Just give me a minute okay?" Raf held up his pinky, Miguel took his.

Raf pulled Liv into his apartment.

"Noah's in his room, I can have mami stay with him. He will just be alone until she gets here."

"Okay, he will be fine. There's at least 10 or so cops around I trust."

Fin came up as Raf was leaving.

"What have we got?" Liv asked.

"Homicide looks like dad raped mom, then smashed her head in." Fin said.

"And possible molestation of an 8 year old. He had just boxers and blood on his legs." One of the paramedics that stayed to help with Miguel's parents said.

On the way to the hospital

Both EMT's were quiet, Miguel was quiet. Once they were at the hospital and in a room, after the doctor had just done a rape kit.

"Name?"

"Miguel Montoya."

"Age?"

"12."

Raf had been texting Liv, when he said that and looked up in shock. Miguel met his eyes.

"I thought you were 8, you.. You.."

"Papi wouldn't let mami feed me every 3 weeks."

"When was the last time you ate?" The doctor asked, the nurse going out the door.

"Uh, I think a week and a half. I get some food when I go to school. But since Christmas break is now." He shrugged.

"Mr. Barba, a word outside please."

Raf got up to follow but Miguel grabbed his hand.

"I'll be back, buddy. I'll just be right outside. Okay? Pinky swear." Raf whispered, holding his pinky out.

Miguel held his own out and they wrapped around each other. Raf moved outside the door, with the doctor.

"You're the neighbor he went to get help for his mother?"

"Yes, I keep him sometimes but the last 4 months I've not been around for him. I've semi-moved in with my fiancé and her son." Raf looked down.

"Lieutenant Benson is out in the waiting room, waiting on an update."

"She's my fiancé, will you stay with him while I go get her?"

The doctor smiled.

"Of course."

He walked out immediately seeing Liv, walking up to her. Liv smiled sadly.

"What do we know?"

"Looks like dad raped mom, then smashed her head in. I've got people canvassing."

"Damn." Raf looked back toward Miguel's room.

"How is Miguel?"

"Uh, malnourished, raped they found the normal tearing, fluids."

Liv nodded.

"Could you uh.. tell him? He knows about mom. I'll be in the room, I just can't tell him about his dad."

"Of course, let's go." Liv grabbed his hand, he led her to Miguel's room.

Raf knocked, opening the door slightly.

"Rafa." Miguel smiled.

"Hey, I brought my friend Olivia, can the three of us talk?"

Miguel nodded, Raf opened the door, Liv following.

"You found my dad?"

"Not yet. But we are searching for him, Miguel."

Raf sat down on his bed, Miguel immediately launched into his arms crying.

"Papi finally did it! He finally did!" He bawled.

Raf held onto him leaning back so he could pull Miguel into a hug. Miguel calmed down after a while, just laying in Raf's arms staring into space. Raf rubbed soothing circles into his back, the same as he did with Noah when he got upset.

"What's going to happen now?" Miguel asked.

"Do you have any relatives we can get in touch with?" Raf asked.

Miguel sadly shook his head.

"Then you'll stay here until you get discharged and child services will find you a place to stay. " Liv said.

Miguel just burrowed closer into Raf at that. The doctor came in, as Liv stepped out to call DSS. The doctor needed to change the dressings, so Raf stepped out, leaning against the wall beside the door.

"Rafa…"

"Liv, I know I'm too close to this."

Liv nodded, coming up beside him.

"Is there a chance that I…..."

"Rafa, it's only been eight and a half months since…."

"I know Liv, you don't need to remind me of my fuck up with Drew Householder. I thought we were passed it."

"We are. I am, but getting custody of him is going to be hard."

Raf turned looking through the glass in the door, smiling as he watched the doctor changing the dressing. Liv smiled as she watched him, maybe this is what Raf needed to redeem himself.