Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

-Kelly Clarkson (Darkside)

He didn't even bother with the lights. He had left the lamp on his desk on when he left and he couldn't be bothered with anymore. He grabbed his scotch, a glass and dropped on the couch angry, upset, brooding.

He figured she wouldn't be far behind and he was right. He could feel her standing in the door way, staring at him.

"Barba?"

He ignored her, planning to dive deep into that bottle tonight.

"Barba, come on. You had to…"

"Decimate a child who was trying to save her dad? Did I really have to do that?" He took a long drink and poured more.

"Barba, she was coached into saying all that. That guy was trying to use his daughter as his alibi. You forced her to tell the truth."

He laughed angrily. "I forced her to choose a perfect stranger over her dad. This is who I am, apparently. Conniving, evil and without a heart and soul."

She felt Olivia sit down next to him on the couch. He couldn't even bring himself to look at her. He was a terrible person. Today just proved that.

"Will you look at me?"

He shook his head. "I mean, who does that? Who makes a kid cry hysterically on the stand? The looks those jurors gave me…"

"But they believed in the truth!"

"So. To what end? I destroyed that girl on the stand today. The win can't remove the image of her, glaring at me, wishing me dead."

"She's an angry 13-year-old girl who thought she was doing the right thing in protecting her father. They didn't mean those things they said to you after the verdict."

"Oh, yes they did, Olivia. Yes, they did. And they aren't wrong."

He watched her delicate hand take the glass out of his and sit it down. He still refused to look at her, so she grabbed his face, forcing him to turn toward her. He could feel the tears in his eyes and he prayed to keep them from falling down his face.

"You listen to me, Rafael Barba. Listen good. I know you. I know your heart. It is good and true and pure. We had to show her who her dad really is. She needs to heal from everything he put their family through. She couldn't do that while spinning that story. You forced her to see the truth. That makes you a great person. No one's perfect, but you prove yourself time and again to be an amazing ADA and man. This dark side that you think dominates you couldn't be further from the truth. You bring light and peace into the lives of the people we meet every day." He rolled his eyes at her.

"It's true. All the times you have pulled me out of the dark. Saved me from drowning in self-pity. Only a great man would do that. You are a great man. I wouldn't be here with you if you weren't. Some day that child will see what you did for her."

One of the tears slipped down his face as she pulled him in, hugging him tightly. He could count on one hand the number of times they had hugged. He wrapped his arms around her, leaning back, pulling her against him. He needed her to center him, to feel her warmth against him. He knew she was what he needed to beat back the darkness that had started to envelop him on his way back to his office.

"So, you don't think I'm Satan?"

"Only on Wednesdays" he heard her say. He laughed quietly and let go of the darkness and let Olivia lead him back to the light.