Raf was sitting in his office, going over their current case witness statements making notes. He finally put his pen down on the table to take a short break, this case was going to be the death of him. They had no evidence, no DNA, just witnesses, Liv and the squad were out running down some leads which would hopefully turn into good evidence. His phone started ringing, hoping it was Liv with some good news, he frowned when he saw Finn's number.

"Barba."

"You need to get down to Mercy, right now."

"What happened?" Raf could tell it was not good by the way Fin's tone was.

"Liv's been shot, we didn't see the gun, shot her in the shoulder." Fin said.

Raf froze.

"Barba? Barba? Are you still there?"

"I'm on my way." Raf hung up.

Raf got up headed out of the door, leaving his suit jacket and tie in his office.

"Carmen, reschedule my appointments, hold ALL my calls." He told her.

He rushed to the hospital, calling Lucy on the way to let her know what happened, just in case she hadn't seen it on the news yet. He got to the hospital, made his way down the hallway. He saw Fin, Rollins, and Carisi.

"How is she?" Raf asked.

"Don't know, she's still in surgery." Fin said.

How did it happen?!" Raf asked angrily.

"We don't know, we were clearing the house, we heard the shot. Lieu was down when we got to her." Carisi explained.

"Is Noah with Lucy?" Rollins asked quietly, trying to calm Raf down.

"Yes, he is." Raf said a little calmer as he sat down, letting a breath out he didn't know he was holding.

"Why don't you go home, and be with him." Fin asked him.

"No, I want to be here when she's out of surgery, besides Lucy said she would stay with Noah, she told me that Liv needed me more." Raf said, fighting back the tears.

Fin and Rollins went to sit on either side of him, Fin placed a hand on Raf's shoulder.

"If Liv survived Lewis, she can survive anything." Fin said as Raf looked at him.

"Yeah, she can." Raf gave him a sad smile.

"How long have you guys?" Rollins asked.

"A month." Raf said, looking at her.

"When you guys had that case when she had to leave Noah with me, we went to dinner that Friday night, Liv, Noah and me, we've been like a family ever since."

As Raf finished his sentence Carisi saw the doctor. They all looked at the doctor as he walked up.

"Are you all here for Lieutenant Olivia Benson?"

"Yes, we are." Raf spoke first.

"The shot was bad, I'm not going to lie, she's sedated, she's in a coma. We don't know when she will wake up. It might be 3 or 4 days. When or if she wakes up we will monitor her for a couple of

days."

"But she will wake up, right?" Raf asked.

"Not sure, it's completely up to her now, but the next 24 hours are critical. I am sorry I don't have better news." The doctor said.

"Can we see her?" Finn asked.

"One at a time." The doctor said and left.

"Barba, why don't you go to her for a few, then go home to Noah?" Rollins asked.

"No, I'm staying Noah's in good hands with Lucy."

Raf walked to Liv's hospital room. He stopped at the door, taking a deep breath and went in. Opening the door he could see Liv in the bed, she was pale and just lying there. Raf closed the door and just stared at her. He walked over to the chair, sitting down and looked at her, thinking about what if he lost her, if Noah lost her.

"No, don't think like that." He told himself out loud.

But he couldn't help it, what would happen to Noah? If something did happen. He would be taken away from him in a heartbeat, put back into the foster care system. No that couldn't happen, he would adopt Noah before they could take him away, with that thought he smiled at the idea.

"Would you let me adopt him, Liv?" He asked out loud even if she was unconscious.

Raf stayed up just staring at Liv, it was 1:30 AM before he finally fell asleep, with his head-on Liv's bed with her hand in his. Liv woke up around 5:30 AM, she didn't know where she was. She then realized she was in the hospital, that she had been shot. Looking over to see who was holding her hand, she smiled at the sight of Raf and she gently squeezed his hand, Raf woke, lifted his face to look at their hands. She could tell by his red eyes he'd been crying. He didn't look at her, just their hands, so she squeezed again and he looked at her. Liv smiled as his eyes lit up.

"Thank God, you're awake." Raf said before kissing her hand, up her arm to her neck, then her cheek, then finally her lips. The kiss was hot and filled with emotions and need. Raf broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers.

"You're not allowed to scare me like that again. Okay?"

Liv grinned and kissed him again.

"I promise."

The doctor came in a little while later. He did a few tests.

"How is she?" Raf asked and looked at Liv.

"Olivia, you are fine, your shoulder will heal in time. I was mostly worried that you wouldn't wake up. If you remain the same, you can go home tomorrow." The doctor said,

The doctor left, they sat there in silence Raf running his finger up and down her hand and arm. He was trying to decide how to bring up the idea of adopting Noah.

"Raf I can tell you have something on your mind. What is it?" Liv asked.

Raf looked her in the eye.

"I want to adopt Noah."

Liv looked at him, smiling when Raf looked her in the eye with a red blush on his face.

"We better call Trevor soon then." Liv smiled.

"Really?"

"Of Course, Rafa."

Liv looked at how tired and sore he was when he stretched and popped his neck and back.

"Why don't you go home, spend some time with Noah, give Lucy a break and you rest some too. Then you come back tomorrow?"

Raf looked like he was going to argue with her, but gave his 'you win' look.

He got up from the chair and sat on the bed. Liv leaned up so he could wrap his arms around her, kissing her temple then her lips.

"Okay, I'll be back in the morning, Noah will probably want to come. Should I bring him or leave him?"

"Leave him, I don't want him seeing me in the hospital." Liv said.

Raf got up from the bed and went to the door. He looked back at her,

"I'll be back first thing in the morning."

He walked to the door looking back at her.

"I love you, Liv."

"I love you too, Rafa."

Raf smiled, opened the door and left Liv's room. He texted Carmen on the way home telling her he was taking off the day and just text/ email him, and reschedule anything. When Raf opened the door to their apartment, he saw Noah playing with his brown and white dog. Lucy came over quietly.

"Sorry Rafael, he wouldn't go to bed till you or Liv tucked him in." Lucy said.

"It's okay you can go home. Will you be here in the morning around 7:30? I'm going back to the hospital."

"Sure, how is she?"

"She's fine, the doctor just wants to keep her in for observation." Raf answered looking at Noah, who had yet to see him.

"Mijo." Raf whispered.

Raf smiled when Noah turned and his face lit up like Christmas morning.

"Papi! Papi!" Noah came running to him, Raf caught him mid-air as he jumped to him.

"I'm going to go, night Noah, bye Rafael, I'll be back tomorrow." Lucy said then she left.

Noah cuddled into him, then leaned back.

"Mami?"

"She will be home in a couple of days, Noah." Raf said, hoping that would be enough for the little boy.

Noah looked at him and tucked his head, under Raf's head, Raf squeezed him. Raf carried Noah to bed then he showered and got into bed on his side, looking over at Liv's side. He didn't know how long he laid there till he heard something at the bedroom door.

"Papi?"

Raf turned toward the door, seeing Noah holding his stuffed dog, the one he had given him the first time he took him and Liv out.

"You miss Mami too?" Raf asked.

Noah nodded his head yes.

"Come here and lay with me in a mijo."

Noah ran to Liv's side and climbed in, immediately snuggling up next to Raf. Raf wrapped his arms around Noah, smiling when he smelt Noah's shampoo.

"You want to know something about mijo?" Raf asked.

"What Papi?"

"I'm going to adopt you."

"What does that mean?" Noah asked.

"I'm going to be legally your Papi."

Noah looked up at him.

"Really?!"

"Yes, I'm going tomorrow about it, after I go see Mami."

"Can I go see Mami too?"

"Not tomorrow, but she might get to come home the day after."

Noah frowned and snuggled back to Raf.

"Night Papi, love you."

"Night mijo, love you too."

They both fell asleep.