Chapter 3

"…Mommy?"

Noah's tiny voice suddenly shot Olivia awake. Wait, awake? Was she asleep? When did she fall asleep? The last thing she remembered was finishing off the wine bottle, watching Unsolved Mysteries and snuggling with….her head spun to her left, to see a still resting Rafael. Then came the observation that it was indeed, light outside. And the even more disturbing revelation that now her kid son had found her, asleep on a couch with a man. Crap….

"I…um, sweetie! Uncle Rafa was just leaving…." She softly but thoroughly shook Rafael awake, his eyes fluttered open and his face went from blissful smile, to panic when he realized what he had just woken up to.

"Oh…OH….H-Heyyyyy, Noah buddy! Yeah, I was just, your mom and I were just hanging out and I guess we both fell asleep!" His voice sounded about two octaves higher when he panicked, but she had to admit even in a half-asleep state he still came up with defenses like a swift tiger. A sexy tiger…OKAY, Olivia. You need to focus on the situation at hand here.

"OH-Kayyy! Like I said Uncle Rafa was just leaving…." Olivia leapt from the couch to retrieve Rafael's jackets, meeting him at the door.

"Yup, Yup I sure was, gotta get to work! Thank you Olivia, for a very nice….hanging out," Barba's eyes furrowed, disappointed in himself with such shoddy vocabulary.

"Anytime, Rafa….anytime," She smiled with a wink. She quickly mouthed "I'll text you" as he winked back and headed down the hall.

"Okay! I think it's time for us to get ready for school my sweet boy!" Olivia closed the door and spun around, grabbing Noah in her arms and blowing a raspberry on his tummy.

"Mama, you're silly!" Noah giggled incessantly, tousling Olivia's hair. "We don't have school today, remember?"

Shit. SHIT. Olivia remembered now; it was a teacher in-service day, and Lucy had an exam at her Community College today, so she was getting ready to call around for sitters when…Rafael showed up at her door.

"Oh! Right! Of course. Well….I…I guess you're coming to work with mommy for the morning!" She smiled, trying to mask the panic that was rising in her chest.

"Yaaaay! Can I wear my big boy suit? So I can look like Uncle Rafa and Uncle Carisi?"

"Of course you can, big boy. But you have to promise to treat it like a big boy suit—no messy food on it, and no getting dirty, okay?"

"Okay mommy! Can I eat breakfast before I put it on then?"

"Yeah, yes Noah I'll fix your cereal and then I'm gonna jump in the shower. Ready?" Olivia held out her hands palms up, Noah giggled and slapped his on hers.

"BREAK!" They both yelled joyfully breaking into giggles, then trotted over to the kitchen.

This was going to be some kind of day….

Olivia hurried out of the elevator, coffee in one hand Noah in the other.

Ok sweetie, remember what we said? You sit in my office and color, and when mama gets off work we're gonna go eat ice cream for dinner!"

"Yaaay!" Noah cheered, running towards Liv's office. Sure, it was a horrible mom move, but this way she KNEW Noah would be good.

She watched as Fin rose from his desk and give Noah a high five. Oh no no no…..

"Hey little man! Looking SHARP," Fin smiled, giving Noah a high five.

Live quickly sauntered over, trying to keep a calm demeanor.

"Baby boy remember what we said? Straight to my office…" She smiled, nodding towards her door.

"Mama, Fin likes my big boy suit!" He exclaimed happily. "I wanted to look like Uncle Rafa, hey mama next time can Uncle Fin sleep over?" He asked innocently. Crap. CRAP.

"….Next time? Uncle Rafa? Did Uncle Rafa sleep over last night Noah?" Fin asked, raising an eyebrow at Olivia.

"ALRIGHT, Noah, my office—now, please!" Olivia hurried Noah off into her office with his backpack in tow, and quickly shut the door.

"Liv, what are you doing?!" Fin asked, throwing his hands up.

"Will you keep your voice down, Fin?!" Olivia said through gritted teeth, making sure no one was listening. "Look, he came over last night and we drank wine and watched Unsolved Mysteries. We fell asleep, that's ALL. Okay?"

"Let's say I believe that—"

"Fin! Come on! How long have you known me?"

"Long enough to know where this is going,"

"Et tu, Brute? God does EVERYONE here think I'm the office bicycle?"

"Whoa whoa I was joking, what are YOU talking about?"

"….Last night, Barba DID come over to tell me—" she took a long breath. "That he had feelings for me,"

"And…?"

"And that he had asked around about me after we first met, and the verdict was that I like to keep my dating life…'in the family'," She sighed, thinking back to those words. Coming from Barba, even if he was apologizing, really pierced her. It hurt even more that he used that as a reason not to be with her; but that was then. They were both living in the now, uncharted territory.

"In the family? The hell—of course you do!" Fin shook his head.

"Gee THANKS, Fin," she scoffed.

"No, No I mean….look, Liv this job—it becomes your whole life. All of us; our dating pool is very limited; it's fellow cops, or victims or rapists. We ALL do it, they can't single you out like that. Who was it? I'll make 'em see the light," Finn cracked his knuckles like an overprotective brother.

"I don't know, Rafa didn't say. But…look, that doesn't matter I just—"

"Actually….it might," Fin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"W-What are you talking about….?" Liv's expression fell.

"Not here," Fin took her hand leading her into one of the interrogation rooms and quickly shutting the door.

Olivia's heart sank into her gut. Well, at least she had ONE night of happiness…..