A/N: Ok, we're getting down to it! This story will be coming to a close in the next chapter or two! I hope you guys like this chapter and I look forward to hearing some feedback if anyone is still interested in it! I don't own SVU or its characters. Enjoy!

Tuesday – 8:45 a.m.

As soon as they stepped foot into the airport, Olivia immediately felt on edge.

It didn't matter that there were armed officers trailing ahead and behind them. She couldn't help but look around and take in every passing face that dared to look at her or her son, or anyone in their group for that matter.

Her hand tightened on the handle of the suitcase and her other pulled Noah in closer to her side. He was still sleepy, and she felt bad that she was all but dragging him along, but the private plane needed to leave in fifteen minutes. Her heart sunk in her chest, knowing that she only had fifteen more minutes with her son until they would be separated again, but at least she knew where he would be. Safe. Back in the city with Lucy and a unit stationed outside her apartment door until she got back.

Dodds had finally managed to get a message through to her, and she let him in on what was happening. He didn't fight her when she told him she needed the unit and he only questioned her a little when she told him she was staying behind in Cabo until they found Rafael. He understood that she wasn't backing down on her decisions. They were firm and set in place.

Her son was safe. She had no idea if Rafael was. She couldn't rest until he was back safe in her arms, too.

"Liv."

She glanced over her shoulder to see Finn catching up to her and she shook her head.

"Finn, seriously. I need you back in the city."

"I understand. But you guys need me down here."

"Finn. SVU is dying up there with temp detectives. I need you back in the unit and taking care of business for me. Dodds already knows. You have full control. I don't think Rita needs to be alone either, especially after what she went through."

She could see him sighing, slowly resigning himself to his fate.

"Also," she said, "I feel more comfortable knowing you're in the same zip code as Noah and Jesse. I trust Lucy enough to take care of them both, but knowing you're there brings me some peace of mind. Plus, the FBI is all over this. Chances are, they're going to want the full story and I know you can set some of the news outlets straight."

She woke up that morning the news playing softly on the hotel television, seeing some expert witnesses weighing in on the situation happening down there. Finn would let them know what the truth was, if the government allowed him to.

"Only if you're sure."

"I'm positive. Trust me."

She could feel the apprehension rolling off him in waves and she didn't blame them. They all just had a near miss, and they were banged up from it, but he would follow her orders to the T if she gave them, unlike Carisi and Amanda, who were staying to fight. Despite her threatening write-ups and desk duty for eternity, they refused to leave. It annoyed her, but she was glad Finn was at least listening.

They all walked in silence until they hit the tarmac where the private plane would board and set off amongst the Boeings flying in. The sounds of engines mesmerized Noah, who had a growing fascination for them ever since he learned they would be taking one to California to board the cruise. He stared up as one passed over them, flying low enough to see the wheels and he pointed at it excitedly.

He was blissfully unaware of what was about to happen, and she wanted to keep it that way. Not until she reached this point did she realize she was putting herself in harm's way, yet again. She smiled at his excited face, feeling her stomach churning at the idea of never seeing her boy again. It was a thought she had had experience with, unfortunately, within the past few years of him being with her. Sometimes, she wondered if putting her life on the line for her job was worth it when she had someone to come home to at night.

SVU had been a part of her life for almost two decades now, and at one point, it had become all she thought she would ever know. But having Noah? Coming home to an unconditional love that never failed to make her heart smile, even in the most harrowing of times, made her think differently.

Rafael also lent to that. The man who was all work and barely any play had shown her there was life outside of fighting crime and she had been desperate since his departure from their team to recognize that. The only problem was that she needed him to do so.

Her smile fell from her face as she thought of him. Her heart ached in her chest at the thought of him being hurt and alone somewhere. Bruised. Bloody. Was he in pain? She saw the videos. He looked terrified and out of sorts…so unlike the man she loved. They wouldn't break him, she knew. But, how far would they push him to reach the precipice?

She had lingering thoughts all through the early morning hours and the car ride here that maybe, it was time for this to be over. Maybe it was time to stop putting herself in harm's way. Her and Rafael had only started, and she wouldn't let it be taken from her. Maybe…after she found him and kissed him and touched him again, they could head back to New York and start fresh? It was a tempting thought, especially now, as they reached the sleek jet and two heavily armed agents standing outside by the steps.

Noah looked at her expectantly as he stopped on the second step. Amanda stood behind them, cradling Jesse in her arms, who was fast asleep. Finn and Rita stared down at her from the entrance.

"Ok, baby. Mommy has to stay here and wait for Uncle Rafa to come back."

"You're not coming with us?"

"No," she shook her head and moved some curls out of his face. He looked confused and glanced back at his Uncle Finn, who reached down at ruffled his hair. "I have to stay here."

He looked unsure and his fingers gripped hers harder. She forced a smile, "Lucy is going to watch you and Jesse while I'm gone. You guys get to have a sleepover!"

That perked his attention and he looked over at Amanda, who wore a sad smile. Liv nodded at her before she turned back to her son, who was seeming to come to terms with the fact that she wouldn't be going with them. She was relieved. She was relieved he didn't seem to be too traumatized from what had gone on. After a few hours of being back with her, a meal, a bath and another nap, he was almost back to normal.

She wasn't naïve to think that he wouldn't ask questions about what happened and that all was forgotten. He brought up Sheila from time to time, and even if she wouldn't give him any sort of legitimate explanation until he was older, he knew she did something she wasn't supposed to.

Rafael being with him had comforted him, she was sure. Perhaps, that was why he didn't seem so scarred from the event just yet.

"But where's Uncle Rafa?"

She bit her lip as an unexpected onslaught of tears built up in her eyes. She sniffed loudly and blinked them back, clearing her throat of the sob she had been keeping held inside.

"We don't know, honey. That's why I have to stay here. So, I can find him and we can bring him back home. Do you understand?"

Noah nodded, albeit sadly. He looked down at his shoes, examining the laces he had yet to completely learn to tie by himself.

"I don't want Uncle Rafa to get hurt."

Liv smoothed back his hair, "Don't worry, babe. I won't let anyone hurt him."

She wouldn't. That fierce protectiveness she felt for those she loved was in overdrive, along with her emotions. The overwhelming sadness from earlier had been replaced with overwhelming anger within seconds.

"I know you won't mommy. Can you tell him something for me when you find him?"

"Yeah, sweetie," she said, and leaned forward when he waved her. He cupped his hands around her ear and listened, smiling at his whispered voice. Her heart soared with love for her little boy at his words and she leaned back, promising she would tell him.

"Let's get you on the plane."

It took another ten minutes to get Noah settled in a seat next to Finn, and Jesse carefully placed in a seat next to Rita, with it reclined so she could stay sleeping as long as possible. Amanda preferred to keep it that way. Listening to her daughter cry for her as she left wasn't something she couldn't handle at that time.

The plane took off a little after 9:10 a.m., and from there, they were silently escorted into a large black car, comfortably shoved between a few DEA agents as they drove them back to the hospital room where Cruz was recovering, awake and needing to speak with them.

Liv, who was crammed into the door, rested her forehead against the window, and closed her eyes, trying to keep her focus.

They had work to do.

Tuesday – 9:30 a.m.

Rafael woke up just in time to catch himself from rolling off the bench after the boat rocked a little too violently for his liking.

He sat up, narrowing his eyes into slits as the bright sun beat down on him. He was sweaty with all of the clothes he was wearing, but he wouldn't dare try and shed any of them. Not when Juan was sitting across from him, slicing in apple with a switchblade.

Rafael watched as the apple disappeared into the man's mouth and he felt his grumble in response. He didn't remember when he ate last, but he had a feeling it had been too long the way his muscles twitched and his body felt weak. Juan seemed to be able to sense this, and reached for another apple in a cloth bag that sat beside him. Rafael caught it before it could go sailing by his face and easily bit into it, savoring the juice exploding on his tongue.

"Where are we?"

Juan eyed him as he took another bite, "We have another eight hours to go."

They had left land sometime in the early morning hours, but he had no idea when and what time. Another thought came to mind. He clutched the apple in his hand.

"What about the kids?"

Juan fished his phone out of his pocket after casting a fruitive glance up to the front of the boat. Rafael could see the driver's head, but he was intently focused on the sea rather than what they were doing back there. Juan tapped a few times on the screen and then leaned over, flashing the glaring bright phone screen in his face.

Rafael felt his heart both lift and plummet at the grainy, zoomed in picture of the unmistakable forms of Liv and his friends near a jet, spotting both Noah and Jesse easily amongst them. He felt a relieved breath escape his throat. At least they were safe. Juan had kept his word and the weight of the kids' fate was now off his chest. They were safe and with their mothers. He couldn't ask for more than that.

But, that also meant that they had left for the states, and although he understood why they needed to leave, he couldn't help but feel helpless and lost. They had to still be looking for him, right? They didn't forget about him, did they? He swallowed the lump of fear and hopelessness to save some sort of face. Just in time, as the door that lead to the cabins opened and the man from the night before appeared shirtless, silver hair a mess, with a cigar between his lips and tumbler of whiskey in his hand.

Rafael bit into his apple again, watching the mysterious figure stretch and bask in the sunlight before he slid down on to the same bench as Juan and rifle through the bag. He noticed Juan sitting up to attention and the small curl of his lip.

"Sleep well?"

Rafael didn't say anything. He just continued to chew on his apple. The older man popped a few grapes in his mouth and leaned back, closing his eyes and letting his face capture the sun for a few quiet minutes. Rafael finished off his apple and, after a second, threw the core over into the water, like Juan had done.

The silence was awkward and deafening until the man spoke up, eyes still closed facing the sun, "Barba…is that Cuban?"

Rafael felt his blood run cold at the mention of his surname, but he stuttered out a quick affirmation after Juan nodded at him, urging him to speak.

"The news says you're a lawyer."

"I am."

"How good are you?"

"Good enough."

The man barked out a laugh and looked at him, blowing smoke out that dissipated in the air they breezed through. Juan didn't flinch when he clapped a hand on his shoulder. He just kept his eyes on Rafael the entire time.

"Do you know who I am Rafael Barba?"

"No," he answered, forcing himself to grow more comfortable with whoever this guy was. Rafael had a feeling he was important. Enough so, that not even Juan would dare to say or do anything to piss him off. He had been helping Rafael the majority of the time, so he felt the need to trust him.

"My name is Rolando Marquez. Notorious. I have more money than God and more drugs than you could begin to imagine."

Rafael supposed he was to be impressed by the grandiose way Rolando said his own name, but all he could do was suppress and eyeroll. He didn't care to know this man or what he had done or what he was planning on doing. All he wanted to know was his fate.

"So, what do you want with me?"

Rolando leaned forward, elbows on his knees and switched his cigar between his fingers. They all braced themselves as a particularly rough wave rocked the boat for a solid minute before it calmed down. They were moving pretty fast and Rafael wondered just how long this eight-hour time frame was going to take.

"We have a deal to make in San Diego. Since my trusted associate was taken into custody by your American agents, well, we don't have anyone else to accompany myself, or Mendoza here, on our excursion."

Rafael knit his brows together, "And you expect me to take his place?"

"Yes. Your friends are the reason why he was taken into custody after all. Interrogated for hours. Thrown in a jail cell to rot."

Rolando's demeanor had quickly shifted from somewhat light-hearted smiles to dark, cloudy eyes and a frown. He squinted as the sun bared down at him over at Rafael and held up his hand. Rafael gulped when Juan plopped the switchblade into his palm and Rolando's large hand closed around it. He brought the blade down his fingertip, pressed it lightly into the skin. Rafael bit the inside of his cheek, watching the movement with cautious eyes.

"In fact, your friends have cause me quite the headache, Rafael. Had Juan here not pleaded for the children to be safely returned to appease them…I would have killed them right in front of you. Two lives for my poor nephew, who won't see the light of day again."

Rafael tried to stay calm as Rolando stood and took a few steps towards him. The boat was unsteady as it raced through the water, but he didn't seem fazed. In fact, he seemed to have enough practice walking along a boat that was rocking along the water.

Rolando came to a stop in front of Rafael, knees knocking against each other uncomfortably. Rafael tried to push himself as far into the seat as he possibly could when the switchblade was pressed against his temple and ran down his cheek, stopping when it came to rest on his jugular vein.

His heart thudded wildly in his chest and the blood rushing in his ears drowned out the noise of the whistling wind and rushing water underneath him. Rolando bent over him, forcing him to tip his head back until it touched the metal bar, where the man had planted his hand for balance. The smoke from his cigar swirled around his face, making his eyes water.

"You owe him your life," Rolando spit out. His face was just inches from Rafael's and he could feel his breath fan over his nose and mouth. "Do everything I tell you to do, and you just might make it out of this alive, mí amigo. If you don't…I'll make sure the world see's just how brutal I can be."

Rolando leaned back and withdrew the switchblade that came precariously close to cutting his skin. Rafael only dared to breathe when the man had turned his back and handed Juan the switchblade back. He took two last puffs from his cigar before he threw it into the ocean and descended down the stairs and behind the doors where the cabin was.

Rafael, still shaken, looked over at Juan, who stared silently at him. He didn't say anything as he stood up and walked back up to the front of the boat, but Rafael felt like Juan had done something more than saved his life from Rolando Marquez.

Tuesday – 10:12 a.m.

Cruz took more damage than they had, but he was a tough man.

He was wrapped in bandages, but he was sitting up in his bed despite the numerous wires and monitors attached to him, with a laptop in his lap and a few officers talking to him in hushed tones. Liv, Carisi, and Amanda filed in behind an agent and greeted him when he acknowledged their presence.

"How are your children?"

"Safe," Liv stepped forward, "They're on a flight back home as we speak. Thank you, for the plane. We heard you had it organized as soon as you woke up."

"Glad they're ok. Now, we need to worry about your friend."

Cruz turned the laptop towards them and displayed the screen that was black, with a play button in the middle. Liv's stomach sunk when he pressed the space bar and Rafael's unmistakable figure was hunched in the back of a truck, with a hood over his head and his wrists roped behind his back. The audio consisted of his heavy breathing, the crunch of rocks and dirt underneath the camera man's feet and the eerily noisy sounds of late night desert bugs and animals.

The video was only seconds long, but Liv felt her stomach churning again, "When was that posted."

"Around four this morning. Six hours ago. It's a good time frame."

"He's being moved," Amanda said, face hard as she looked to Cruz for answers. He nodded at her, dark eyes moving along the faces of the three of them. He pursed his lips, almost as if he didn't want to say what he was going to say. "Our contact confirmed they were headed back to the states."

"Contact?"

He nodded at Carisi, "We have an informant within the group. He's kept us posted as much as he could. As much as we will allow."

"Has he known about this the entire time?"

Liv took another step forward, brows knit together and her body tense. She could feel her anger begin to rise at the thought of them having important information that was withheld from their knowledge. Cruz took in her stance but he didn't hold back his simple, "Yes."

She let out a humorless laugh, "He knew about our kids and Rafael's condition the entire time, and you didn't tell us?"

Her voice had steadily risen to the point where a few agents felt the need to step closer. The action prompted her to take a few calming breaths, not wanting to be tackled to the ground in case she decided Cruz needed a few punches to the face. She curled her fists and turned around, needed to pace the room a little to let off tension. Carisi shook his head, confused.

"Why? We're over here thinking the worst and you don't tell us they're fine? Why would you do that?"

Cruz brought a hand up to rub his eyes tiredly, "Because it was too risky. Our informant works high up in the cartel, very closely with the boss. We don't go to him for information very often, and when we do, it's limited contact only. If anyone in the cartel finds out he's working for the United States DEA, he's dead and so his family. And if he goes down, they'll find out just how much we know."

"Risk or not, you should have told us," Liv said loudly. She ran her fingers through her hair, "It's not right."

"I don't care if you didn't think it was right," Cruz said sternly. "It was for your protection, his protection and our protection."

"Did you know that house was filled with explosives?"

"Obviously not," Cruz shot back at Carisi, "I wouldn't intentionally let my men die."

"Did you know our kids were going to be released to us?"

"No. I didn't know until I woke up."

Cruz watched as they all processed the information. They were unhappy, and he knew that, but it was for the benefit of everyone involved. Hell, he hadn't even wanted them involved in the first place for that reason. They all came very close to dying the night before.

"I know you're not happy," Cruz started into the silent room, "But that's how this goes. This informant is too valuable to lose. And he's probably the only one that's going to be able to save your friend."

Liv perked up at that and stepped around Carisi and Amanda. She stopped by the edge of the bed, "What does he know?"

"We can't tell you," he said once more and held up his hand to stop Liv from speaking before he could, "But you'll find out soon enough. Get changed, get some food, and be back here in four hours. We'll debrief with our higher ups and then we'll be on a flight to San Diego at 4:30."

"San Diego?"

"Yeah," he said and leaned back in his bed, "You guys are going to be working for the United States government for a few hours. That ok?"

Liv, Amanda, and Carisi looked at each other, surprise etched on their faces before Carisi responded.

"Uh…ok?"

Liv shook her head and closed her eyes, willing herself to believe that everything was going to be ok. She was pissed they weren't informed about their kids and Rafael and she was pissed the Cruz and the entire room of agents knew more than they would let on, but she understood.

All she could do now was wait and hope that they would all make it out of this alive.