Author's Note: I just wanted to thank each and every reader of this story. What started out as a one shot fic has grown into so much more, and that's solely because of you. So when you think leaving a review or a kind word about the story, or what I can do better, please do. They honestly keep me going.

ALSO, in case anyone was wondering—I wrote this in the timeline of AFTER Gone Baby Gone, but everything in this story is not canon, except for the checking on Liv, which was discussed at the end of GBG. This is my interpretation of what Dodd's meant in that memo, and no—we will NOT be getting rid of Barba, which unfortunately is….:deep sigh: now canon. I know today is a hard day for us Barba lovers and Barson shippers, so it's another reason I'm glad I have this, my own little SVU world, where Barba and Benson can be together forever.

Again, thank you for sticking around and I'll do my best to keep this story great for as long as I can. 3

Chapter Five:

"Liv….LIV. OLIVIA!"

Olivia's eyes fluttered open to see Fin shaking her and Carisi holding a bottle of water.

"Here, Sergeant. Drink this," Carisi handed her the water bottle; she slowly sipped it when she remembered:

"….N-Noah? Where's Noah?" her eyes darted around the squad room.

"We called Lucy to come get him, her test was over. He's safe," Carisi assured her.

"Now about you…." Fin helped her up off the flor.

"I-I'm fine." She took a breath, still sipping the water. "Actually no, no I'm not. We have to go. NOW,"

"Where are we going?" Fin asked raising his eyebrows.

"THE HOSPITAL, Fin! Barba needs us,"

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Liv?" His eyebrows waved up and down in a suggestive manner.

"Are you FUCKING kidding me right now, Fin? If it was ANYONE else we'd already be on our way!"

"….You right, you right….Alright but someone needs to stay here…." Fin looked at Carisi's puppy dog eyes, he knew how much he cared for Barba. "I guess I'll stay here,"

"Thank you, Fin,"

"But Liv….he's JUST your ADA,"

"Right…..yeah of course he is," Olivia sniffled, remembering the last conversation her and Rafa had. This was her fault; he went because he was mad at her. Oh god. OH GOD…..She felt faint again.

"Whoa whoa there, Sergeant, you sure you're ok?" Carisi rubbed her shoulders and pushed the bottle towards her.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine Carisi. It's just…Barba, he….he's one of my best friends," She finally said with a heavy sigh. It wasn't a lie; Rafael had probably been her best friend for years now; well, at least one of them; higher up than most of them. She felt hot tears sting the back of her eyes; she quickly pulled herself together and followed Carisi to his car.

"NO, Olivia—you will not lose it right now. You don't know anything's too bad, think positive," she told herself.

-At The Hospital—

Olivia and Carisi rushed to the nurse's desk, only to be met with Rollins; she was covered in blood.

"Amanda….oh my god," Carisi held her shaking body. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah no I'm fine it's all Barba's blood." Amanda answered with a trembling voice.

"Barba, is he….is he-?" Olivia felt tears choke her throat again.

"No, No the doctor's said it was a clean shot through and through, his shoulder….he might be out of commission for a bit but he's stable, he's gonna be fine,"

"Where is he?" Olivia didn't waste any time. She needed to see him herself, to know that he was ok with her own eyes.

"He's in room 224, I was just waiting for you to get here; I really need to talk to the Police and then I really need a shower, these clothes are making me wanna heave," Rollins pointed to her sweat and bloody clothes with a disgusted groan.

"I'll go with you, Sergeant you…..you take care of Barba for us in the meantime, yeah? You'll tell him I was here?" Olivia had to smile at Carisi's admiration of Barba; it was like a puppy to his master.

"Yeah, I'll tell him Carisi" Olivia chuckled.

"Thanks" His face lit up.

"Oh and Liv? Will you tell him, thank you for saving my life?" Rollins asked with a sad smile.

"Of course," Olivia nodded.

Olivia peeked open the door of room 224, to see a sleeping Barba hooked up to machines. He looked so…small, so helpless; It broke her heart. She creaked open the door a little more, the sound caused Rafa's eyes to flutter open. To her relief, his face melted into a smile, motioning her in.

"Liv…." He whispered.

"Rafa…."

And just like that, Olivia lost all composure she had been holing onto for what seemed like forever. She collapsed onto Rafael's bed, throwing her arms around him and sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ah! Ah…Liv, shoulder….cathether…." Rafa gasped, half laughing at the situation.

"Oh! Sorry, I'm so sorry," Olivia jumped away from him, her sobs stifling down.

"Well, I didn't mean you had to move that far away…come here," He patted next to him on the bed. This time, she gently sat down as he put his non injured arm around her and pulled her closer into him.

"I'm so sorry, Rafa. I'm so sorry…." She whispered, burying her face into his neck.

"Shhh, shhh shhh it's okay, you didn't do anything. I was the one being stubborn,"

"No, it's my fault. I should have NEVER thought you had ill will towards me, or that you'd do anything to jeopardize my job. I just, I have trouble trusting people and I just…it was a knee jerk reaction, and I'm sorry,"

"You? Olivia Benson? Trust issues? I'm shocked," Barba faked a gasp with a cheeky smile.

"Shut up, you know what I meant. And….and that kiss…."

"Was amazing. I'm an idiot for ending it so soon, probably why I got shot; Karma!"

"Well, we could always try it again…." Olivia raised her eyebrows, looking down at his lips.

"I am a wounded man, it would definitely make me feel better," Rafa smiled, licking his lips. She moved towards him, running fingers through his hair as once again she lightly pressed her lips against his; except this time, he kissed back—HARD. He used his one free hand to put on her face, pulling her closer as his tongue entered her mouth. It was the most perfect kiss, high up on ranking for the both of them, when all of a sudden:

"AHEM"

A loud, audible clearing of the throat knocked them from their own world, and they both turned to see the figure, arms crossed and a furious look on his face.

"C-Captain Dodds!" Olivia exclaimed, jumping off the bed.

Crap.

"Sergeant, a word?" He half growled, pointing into the hall. She looked over at Rafa, who was glaring at Dodds so hard she thought he'd catch on fire.

"I…Um, yeah of course," Olivia nodded, squeezing Barba's hand with a sad smile and then headed out the door with Dodd's quickly trailing her.

"What, in the hell was THAT?" He was pissed, but people started to stare, so he dragged her further down the hall.

"I'm sorry Captain, I didn't realize I had to run all my personal life decisions past you," she said sarcastically.

"Cut the crap; you know out of all the shit I've had to put up with you these past months…." Dodd's said with a stern tone.

"Excuse me?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about; Lewis, Noah, Shelia Burke, and now you're banging the ADA that works all of your cases?! Christ Olivia, how can I trust the verdicts on any cases he's handled now?" he hissed.

"WHOA, no no no no. You do NOT get to question Rafael's….Barba's, judgement. What you saw, just happened. Today. I have not been 'banging him'—and I'm sorry but everything you just named happened to me, as in out of my control," Olivia tried to keep from yelling, but he was not dragging Rafa into this.

"No, they didn't. YOU chose to go after William Lewis, YOU let Shelia Burke into your life, and now YOU are screwing your ADA,"

"STOP SAYING THAT. We have NOT had sex!" she growled.

"Fine, you're….'seeing' your ADA, which if you'll recall, didn't really work out for you the last time. Or anytime really, that you've dated inside the family," Dodd's added slyly.

Inside the family? What the hell?!

"In the….oh my god, YOU started those rumors!" she scoffed angrily.

"Oh please Olivia, like I have time to make up office bullshit. I overheard some laywers talking about it in the breakroom. I believe Barba was in on the conversation…" Dodd's said with a cruel smile.

"STOP it, Dodds," Olivia warned.

"No, YOU better stop it. Now. Your judgement is seriously being evaluated right now, Benson. If I were you, and I actually liked working at SVU, I'd do anything to keep it. No matter how good someone looks in a suit,"

"With all due respect, Captain; go to hell," Olivia snarled, pushing aside him and walking back towards Rafa's room.

She didn't want him to be right; but she knew he was.