Meeting Rafael is the best and worst part of her week. She gets to spend time with her best friend and she gets to wish that she could go home with him. (That's the worst part as she is with Ed)
She really likes Rafael, probably bordline loves him, but being with Tucker is safer and easier and less of a hassle as her job doesn't get questioned. He is a nice guy. A nice guy who is currently just about to give her the takeaway he bought. He gives her the plate and they sit and eat. She thinks back to her evening with Rafael as she eats.
"I thought you'd be with Tucker." Rafael says and Olivia looks at him before sipping her wine.
"No. I was working on paperwork. I just couldn't be bothered going back home yet." Olivia says and Rafael looks at her. "Is there any reason why you wanted to take me out tonight?" Olivia asks and Barba smiles.
"We had a rough case." He says quietly. Olivia thinks that there is more to it but doesn't say anything.
"Liv. Are you okay? You've stared into space for the last few minutes." Tucker says bringing her out of her daydream about a certain handsome ADA. She looks at him and smiles.
"Yeah. I am not feeling too good. I'm going to go to bed." She lies.
Really Olivia. There's only so many times you can pull that one on him.
"Okay." He says.
She gets up after her food and takes her plate into the kitchen with her. She takes some water to bed with her and gets into some comfy clothes before getting into bed and reads her book. Her phone bleeps and she looks to see a text from Rafael.
9:32pm: Can i call you?
Olivia gets up and shuts her door. She calls Rafael. "Hey." She says.
"Are you okay? You seem really tired." Rafael says. His voice is soft and Olivia seems to relax.
"I'm okay. I told Ed that I am not feeling well." She says.
"Do you want me to go?" Rafael asks.
"No. What did you want to call about? Please tell me I don't have to come in." She says and Rafael laughs.
"You don't." He says with a laugh. "No I wanted to talk to you about something else but if Tucker is there you won't want to." He says.
She sighs. "Rafael he isn't in the same room as me..." She says.
"There's a family thing in a few weeks. My mother asked me if you would like to come as my plus one." Rafael almost stutters. The redness in Olivia's cheeks begins to show almost instantly and she smiles and sighs at the same time when she hears him say, "she will understand if you are busy."
Before she can answer Ed walks in with a warm drink and a hot water bottle. "Hey. Seriously Olivia working... Dam you are really burning up."
If only he knew. Actually scrap that. Olivia doesn't want him to know.
She takes the bottle from him and Ed says something about bringing her some flu medication when he next comes in. He leaves and Olivia sighs. "Sorry." She says quietly.
"It's okay. Like I said you don't have to come."
"No Raf. I do." She says quickly.
"Raf... you haven't called me that in a long time." He mutters.
"I'll call you tomorrow. Send me the details and let Lucia know I'll come." Olivia says.
"Okay. Goodnight Olivia." Rafael says and Olivia feels her heart beat quicker than usual at him saying her name.
The next day Olivia convinces Tucker that she is fine and goes into the office. Upon entering the squad room she looks at Fin who looks stressed. She goes to him and he looks at her "do you want the good or the bad news?"
"Good morning to you too. What's going on?" Olivia sighs and Fin shows her his screen. "Shit... Really... Okay thats the bad news I assume."
"Yes. Carisi is out with Rollins getting breakfast." Fin says and Olivia smiles.
As if on queue Carisi walks in but not with Rollins... It's Rafael. "Barba has yours Captain." Carisi says with a smile.
"Where's Amanda?" Olivia asks and Carisi looks at her and sighs.
"The dog walker rang. Her dog vomited blood and a lot of it. She said she will call you."
"I'll text her. Look I have a meeting with Dodds in a couple of hours. If anything happens pass it to Fin okay?"
"You got it Cap." Carisi says. Olivia turns to Rafael who hands her the breakfast and she smiles.
"Do you have a minute?" Rafael says and Olivia nods. They walk through to her office. She puts her bag down and unwraps her sandwich. "Olivia do you remember last time we went to a family gathering with my family?"
"Yes." She says beginning to laugh.
"My family, expect my mother, still think I'm in a relationship with you. after we told my cousins so they wouldn't ask if I was at Manu's wedding."