Surrounded By Love
~oOo~
"Mom, why hasn't Uncle Rafa come to see us in like, forever? I mean, he hasn't even facetimed with us in months, and he didn't even answer or call back when I called him. I wanted to tell him about getting a big part in the New York City Ballet production of Cinderella. It's opening next week! He hasn't always come to every performance, but he's always called me back. But now… it's like he's ghosting me."
It was a Friday evening just after dinner, and Captain Olivia Benson was enjoying a rare night off from her SVU caseload by spending time with her son, Noah. That is, she had been enjoying it until her son had brought up one of her most painful experiences from the past year. What was she supposed to tell the young boy? The truth would most certainly break his heart. He wouldn't understand why his mother had taken the side of someone he perceived as practically a stranger over someone who had been a part of their lives since he was a baby. Olivia was ripped out of her thoughts by the sound of Noah's pleading voice.
"I'm sorry, kiddo. What did you say?"
"I asked what I did. Why is Uncle Rafa mad at me?"
Olivia's heart broke at the hurt tone in her young son's voice. She knew then that she couldn't allow him to keep believing any of this mess was on him.
"No, honey. None of this is on you. I'm the one who messed up. Rafa and I had a disagreement over a case and I said some things I shouldn't have."
"So just tell him you're sorry," Noah replied as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Olivia sighed. "I wish it was that simple, buddy."
"Why not? Did Uncle Rafa do something wrong, too? If he did, you should just forgive him. That's what you always tell me. Uncle Rafa would never be mean on purpose. He loves you. You're his friend," Noah insisted.
"It's a lot more complicated than that for grownups. I know your Uncle Rafa still loves you, though. I'll make sure he knows that doesn't have to change. You can still talk to Uncle Rafa as much as you want, and he can attend as many of your performances as he wants to and is able to."
Noah sighed and softly replied, "Ok."
Olivia knew that wasn't the answer her son had wanted, but it was the only one she could give for now.
"How about some ice cream?" she suggested.
Noah's face lit up. "Sounds awesome. Can we watch 'Secrets of Sulphur Springs' before bed?"
Olivia checked her watch. "I think we've got time for a couple of episodes."
The two of them dished up their ice cream and settled on the couch.
While Noah was engrossed in the show, Olivia sent a text.
'I don't want the issues between us to hurt my son. I never did, but they already have. He asked me tonight why you were mad at him. I told him it was a problem between us and It wasn't going to affect your relationship with him anymore. Please keep in contact with him as often as you want. I'm sorry if you thought I had a problem with that. ~ O.'
There was a long pause before a response came.
'Thanks for that. I'll call Noah tomorrow. ~ R.'
Olivia winced at the cold tone of the text, but she knew she deserved it. Part of her was still angry and hurt by Barba's decision to defend the monster who murdered her former partner's wife and continually harassed his family. However, another big part of her just missed one of the best friends she had and wanted him back. Barba had been there for her in many of the same ways that Elliot had. He had been her protector after Elliot had left her.
It was that part of Olivia that had the SVU Captain sobbing in her bed in the middle of the night, long after her son had gone to sleep.
~oOo~
The next day, Elliot came by the station to take his former partner out to lunch. He noticed right away that something was off.
"Liv?" he asked after noticing his best friend spacing out and only picking at her food.
The woman jolted and looked up at the Organized Crime detective as if she had forgotten he was there.
"Yes, El?"
Elliot looked at Olivia in concern. "You ok?"
"I'm fine," came the immediate response. Elliot rolled his eyes. He didn't believe it any more than he had when they were partners.
Olivia sighed in exasperation. "Really, El, I'm fine. Let it go."
Elliot smirked. "If you're really as fine as you say you are, what exactly is it that I'm supposed to let go of?"
Olivia let out an annoyed growl before glaring down at her food. Elliot remained silent. He knew Olivia and knew she would eventually talk to him.
After a minute, Olivia looked up, and Elliot felt a stab of pain in his heart at the tears he saw in her eyes.
"Liv, talk to me," he encouraged.
Olivia hesitated for just one more moment before beginning shakily. "Rafael Barba…"
"The attorney who defended Wheatley?" Elliot interrupted.
Olivia nodded. "I know you hate him for letting him walk away after what he did to your family. I was pissed too. Honestly, I still am. But El, Rafa was there for me for many years after you left. He got me through some terrible times. He was good to Noah, and those two were really close. Noah was so hurt when Rafa suddenly stopped calling him. And before you ask, no. Rafa and I were never romantically involved, but he was one of my best friends. My family. I threw that all away because he made a choice I didn't agree with. It was just like it was fifteen years ago. I ignored everything, all my good instincts because it was you. I needed to protect you."
"But he defended a monster. The very kind of person he's fought to put away," Elliot reminded her.
"I know. And that's not like him. Ethics and rules have always come first with him. Sometimes it didn't work in my favor. He quit the DA's office because he felt he let his heart rule his head during a particular case. That's why it was such a shock when I found out he took this case. He defended the man going after the man I love. He knew about our history. I felt so hurt and betrayed. But last night, Noah pointed out that Rafa would never purposely hurt me or Noah. He cares about us both too much. I know he wouldn't break his ethics code without a good reason." Olivia told him.
"You think Wheatley got to him?" Elliot inquired.
"I think it's a very good possibility," Olivia replied.
"What would the motive be?"
Olivia shook her head. "I don't know."
"You need to ask him. Barba, I mean," Elliot encouraged.
"He's too hurt and angry at me right now. Not that I blame him," Olivia admitted.
"If he's really your friend, he'll hear you out. And Wheatley's no longer a threat," Elliot pointed out.
"I wish I even knew where to begin," Olivia confessed, her voice soft and sad.
Knowing there was nothing more he could say, Elliot grabbed Olivia's hand across the table and squeezed it in silent support.
Later, after he and Olivia had both gone back to work, Elliot realized that this situation was partially on him. He knew he needed to fix things, but how?
First, he would have to find the man. This was an issue best worked out face to face. In order to do that, Elliot turned to the one person he knew that could help with that, Detective Jet Slootemakers.
"And you want me to locate the whereabouts of Wheatley's defense attorney, why, exactly?" Jet questioned.
"Need—to—know. You don't," Elliot retorted.
Jet hesitated, looking uncomfortable.
"Um, I'm not so sure I'm comfortable not knowing what I'm getting into."
"It's nothing illegal. I promise," Elliot assured the tech wiz.
The young woman raised an eyebrow. "So you're not out for revenge on the man who got Wheatley off?"
"Not this time," Elliot promised with a small smile.
Reluctantly, Jet agreed to do the favor.
A few seconds later she said, "The contact info was sent to your phone."
"Thanks, Sloot," came the quick reply, as Elliot dashed out of the building.
To Elliot's surprise and relief, Barba agreed to meet with him. An hour later, Elliot was sitting in the man's office.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Counselor."
Barba pointed to the chair in front of his desk. "I have to say, I was surprised to hear from you, Detective."
Elliot sat down. "To tell you the truth, I'm here for Liv. I'm still not your biggest fan. I don't get how you could defend that piece of scum. I know you said even scum deserves a fair trial and legal representation, but you knew how Liv felt about it and you still took the case."
"I felt like I didn't have a choice," Barba admitted.
"Was Wheatley blackmailing you? What did he have on you? Whatever it was, it's irrelevant now, since he's six feet under," Elliot demanded.
"It wasn't me I was protecting," Barba quietly informed him.
"Was he threatening your family?" came the next question.
"You could say that."
Elliot suddenly connected the dots. "He threatened Liv."
It wasn't a question and Barba saw no point in lying.
"He did. Her career and her family. He was going to dig into her past and her job history and make sure she'd lose everything. Her job, her reputation, and her son. He said had plenty of connections and he'd use them against her if I didn't represent him."
Elliot's blood was boiling. "Dammit!"
"Exactly," was Barba's only comment.
"Well, I can totally get the need to protect Olivia. I will forever regret not being here when she needed me. You were there for her when I couldn't be. I'm grateful for that. It took a while, but she finally forgave me for abandoning her. What I did was way worse than what you did. She'll forgive you if you give her the chance. Don't give up on her. She needs you, Man. Liv needs all the family she can get and so does Noah."
Barba looked thoughtful. "You really think she'll hear me out?"
Elliot nodded. "She really misses you. She just wants her friend back. Tell you what. Noah has to be at the theater an hour and a half before his performance next Friday night, so Liv and I were gonna meet at the bistro across the street for an early dinner. Why don't you meet us there before the show? I'll leave you two to talk for as long as you need, then you can come to the show with us and surprise Noah."
Barba hesitated for a moment but decided that the suggestion was a good one.
"Works for me."
The two men shook hands and Elliot left the office. Both of them knew that, though they may never be the best of friends, they could at least get along for the sake of the woman and child they both cared very much about.
Pulling some strings, Elliot was able to get an extra ticket to Noah's performance. Barba simply reimbursed him for the cost. Before they knew it, opening night had arrived.
Olivia dropped Noah off at the theater with a quick hug and kiss.
"See you after, Mom!" Noah told her.
"Elliot and I will be in the audience with the rest of his family. Your aunts and uncles will be there too, and Jesse and Billie," his mother reminded him.
Noah suddenly looked sad. "But not Uncle Rafa."
Olivia sighed. "No. He won't be there tonight, but he did promise that he'd try to come to one of the other nights."
Her young son shrugged. "Yeah. I guess. I better get in there."
Olivia hugged her son close once more. "Ok. I love you, Sweet Boy."
With a small smile, Noah replied, "I love you, too." Then he took off inside the building.
After making sure her son got in safely, Olivia headed across the street to meet Elliot. She found him already waiting for her at a table.
"Hey! Have you been waiting long?"
Elliot shook his head as he stood and kissed her cheek. "No. Just got here. I was waiting to order until you arrived."
"Thanks. I'm actually starving. I skipped lunch today."
Before Elliot could respond, another voice spoke up. "Liv. Stabler."
Both of them turned toward the voice.
"Barba? What are you doing here?" Olivia asked in confusion and maybe a bit of annoyance.
"I invited him here, Liv," Elliot admitted.
"Ok. May I ask why?" Olivia inquired, her tone laced with barely contained anger.
Elliot moved a bit closer and softly urged, "You need to talk to him, Liv. There's more behind his reasons than you know. Just hear him out."
"Since when are you on his side?" Olivia huffed.
"Just trust me."
Barba came forward. "Please, Liv. Just listen to me. I can explain. I didn't have a choice."
"I'll be sitting just over there," Elliot said, before heading to another table to give the other two some privacy.
Olivia sighed but sat down at a table and indicated for Barba to join her.
"You've got five minutes, so this better be good."
Barba nodded and began to tell Olivia everything he had told Elliot.
After he finished, Olivia's eyes had widened and filled with tears. "So you were doing all you did for Wheatley to keep Noah and me safe?"
Barba reached out and took his friend's hand. "He would have done it, too. He would have made good on his threats."
Olivia nodded. "I know all about his connections. He went after Elliot's career and he tried to destroy his family. Hell, he tried to kill me a couple of times. He covered all his bases, but we knew he was behind that car crash that broke my ankle. And the things that happened during the black out. But why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"You would have tried to stop me. I needed to protect you."
Olivia huffed in exasperation. "Rafa, I have connections too. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself and my son. But why didn't you tell me after you quit working for Wheatley?"
Barba sighed. "Well, after you walked out on me after the trial, I figured you would never want to see me or speak to me again. Then after Wheatley got out of prison, I figured you would be safer if I stayed away."
"Rafa, Wheatley was using me to get to Elliot. You were just a pawn in his sick game. I was the knight. He had to get through me to get to the king."
"Elliot." Barba realized where this analogy was going.
Olivia squeezed his hand. "Yes. And, Rafa. I don't need your protection. I never needed that. I only need your support. Your friendship."
Barba gave one of his shy smiles. "So are we friends again?"
Olivia stood and took both of his hands, pulling him to a standing position. "Always."
Barba pulled his friend into a tight hug and she melted into him, unable to stop the tears of relief from streaming down her face.
Squeezing the woman tighter, Barba whispered, "I'm sorry. For everything."
"I'm sorry too."
After another few moments, the two friends pulled apart, both of them needing to wipe their eyes. Once they had gotten themselves together, Olivia signed for Elliot to join them. There was still enough time for a quick meal before they had to be at the theater.
The ballet was wonderful and Noah had done a spectacular job. The family was now waiting for him outside in the lobby. When he finally joined them, he excitedly greeted the Stabler crew and his mom before finally turning to the rest of his SVU family. Finally, he noticed his surprise audience member standing off to the side. He took a running leap into the man's arms. Barba gracefully caught the boy and held him close.
Olivia watched the happy reunion from her place next to Elliot.
Snuggling into his side she murmured, "Thank you. For helping us get a very important piece of our family back."
Elliot pulled his best friend closer, wrapping her tightly in his arms. "You and Noah deserve to be surrounded by love. I wanted to make sure you had all of your family around. I didn't want to be the reason you lost even one piece of it ever again."
Olivia looked up at him. "You know, I forgave you a long time ago. I'm just so glad to have you as my family again."
Elliot leaned down and kissed the woman who was his entire world besides his kids. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Just then, Noah ran up to them, saying he was starving and wanted a burger and shake, so Olivia and Elliot joined the rest of their family at a nearby diner. As the group relaxed around the tables, Olivia smiled as she looked on. She knew that she was truly blessed with the most amazing family she could ever hope for. As Elliot had pointed out, she was surrounded by love.
