This one goes out to Rolivianna. Thanks for the song suggestion. I don't know this song myself, but the lyrics are amazing, so I'm going to need to go find it. Like ASAP.

Don't say a word, just come over and lie here with me
'Cause I'm just about to set fire to everything I see
I want you so bad I'll go back on the things I believe

-John Mayer (Edge of Desire)

She slammed the door of the bunk room, being glad no one was in here trying to sleep. She had gotten sucked in by a weepy victim who seemed to have had an air tight story. She cajoled Barba into taking this case. She can admit that to herself. He didn't want to. He hesitated at every turn but she kept pressing. Kept pushing. Until he did. And now she was here, refusing to participate in the lineup and starting to change her story. She all but outright said Olivia put words in her mouth during the initial interview and that was partly her fault for conducting the interview alone, for not recording it, for not calling anyone else in to verify the story. So now Buchanon was on the war path, threatening a harassment suit against the NYPD and herself. Dodds had to be called in to defuse the situation and she had been sent packing.

She collapsed on one of the beds, head in her hands. She was on edge. She had been for a while. They were still understaffed and the cases seemed to be getting harder and harder to deal with. Plus, this growing… whatever… for Barba. The longer eye contact, the drinks and dinners that were happening more and more. Him keeping her favorite coffee creamer in his office, when she knew he preferred his coffee black. On top of that, Ed had called. Saying he just wanted to check in, to see how she was doing after the Samra case. She met him once and as soon as she did, she knew it was a mistake. He had a look like he hoped something had changed in her. And it had. She knew that. But not towards him. So, on top of it all, she had to keep putting him off and ignoring calls and texts. Noah had been struggling at the new daycare and Lucy had already mentioned in passing about graduation and finding a job and how much notice was Olivia going to need, because the last thing she wanted was to leave her or Noah hanging. It all felt like it was starting to crush her mind, her heart and her spirit.

She heard the door creak open and close just as quickly. She thought maybe the person who had opened it had thought better about entering until she felt the bed shift next to her. She knew only one person was brave (or suicidal) enough to come sit next to her.

"Buchanon is gone."

"Perfect."

He clasped his hands in front of him, but he didn't move. He didn't leave. He didn't say a word. It was like he just knew. She thought she wanted to be alone. But what she realized was that she just wanted to be with someone without having to open her mouth and speak. Sometimes she was so tired of talking.

"I'm so tired" she whispered, head still buried in her hands.

"I know exactly how you feel" he replied. And of course, he did. She ripped her head out of her hands and looked at him. He was just staring at her.

"I can't go back out there right now."

"You don't have to. Dodds and Fin have it all under control. We are going to have to drop this case, Liv."

"I know and I can't even bring myself to care. I'm sorry I wasted your time with this. You tried to wave me off. One of these times, I swear I'm going to listen." He laughed. "That will be the day" he replied, smiling slightly, bringing a hint of a smile to her face. She just nodded.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"Stay in here for a little bit longer."

He nodded and started to push himself off the bed when he felt her rest her hand on his arm.

"Will you stay with me?" The look on her face, she's sure, was utterly pathetic. She couldn't have him walk away from her right now. She would lose it if he did. But if he would stay. If he would find a way to give her some strength back, she knew she would be ok.

"OK" he said, standing up to take off his jacket. She watched as he laid it across another bunk. He sat back down and just stared at her. She had to move. He wasn't a mind reader. She leaned her head against his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She wrapped an arm around his waist and tugged gently. He laid back on the bed and she pressed herself into his side, head resting on his shoulder. She could hear his heart beat and it calmed her. He adjusted his arm, tightening his hold on her just slightly and threw his arm under his head, propping them up slightly. She could feel the calm and the peace starting to make its way back in.

"Thank you for staying."

"Liv, all you ever have to do is ask."

And that's when she knew. She knew that, when they left this room, she would ask him to dinner. To walk her home. She would kiss him goodnight and make plans for a second date. She would give herself completely to this man. Because he always gave her what she needed and that was the very minimum of what he deserved from her.