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When seven o'clock rolled around and Carisi had yet to hear from Barba, he made his way to the courthouse. He had spent his entire afternoon off trying to interpret what he could have sworn he had heard Rafael say. That meant going over every conversation, every look, every touch between the two of them.

And still, Sonny didn't know, but he sure did know what he wanted.

When he walked up to Barba's open door he stood there for just a moment and watched as the older man flipped through papers, adding notes and crossing things out as needed. He couldn't keep the smile off his face, watching Barba work.

He'd liked the man for quite a while now, and despite the jabs Barba occasionally threw his way, Carisi knew it was all good natured. And he was starting to think that maybe Barba liked him too.

"Like what you see, Detective?"

Carisi realized he had been staring and his face flushed.

Barba smiled himself. He had watched Carisi stare at him for a few moments before he spoke, and he had seen the man probing him with his eyes. Searching for something. And now, with Sonny's cheeks pink and the smile spreading across his face, Barba couldn't keep his heart from quickening and he could feel his desire for the man growing.

Carisi fumbled for what to say, a way to keep it light. Light flirting, was that a thing? But try as he might not a single retort came to mind. Not a single reply. Not even a sentence.

Barba raised both brows. He sensed Carisi's floundering, and despite his usual approach, he tried to help him recover, "I'm just about done for the night."

"Oh, ah," Carisi tried to work out words, tried to get his tongue and mouth to cooperate with his brain to form a sentence, "I can wait, Counselor, don't rush on my account."

Barba made one more mark before closing a file and locking it in his desk drawer, "I've been here long enough for today."

"Have you had dinner yet?" Carisi asked as Barba gathered his things and pulled on his coat, a hint of hope in his voice.

"I haven't," Rafael waited for Sonny to leave the office before locking the door behind them, "and I know just the place."

XXX

Sonny and Rafael walked side by side down the Manhattan street. Shadows were cast around them by surrounding buildings and street lights. There was a light breeze in the October air and Carisi could feel an electric jolt through his entire body as his hand brushed against Barba's.

And all Carisi could think of was the man beside him. How more than anything he wanted to take his hand in his. Carisi was thinking of how it would feel, to hold Rafael's hand, when they rounded the corner.

When a man rushed up to Barba and grabbed him by the collar.

When he pushed him against the building.

And without thinking about it, without needing to think about it, Carisi took the man down. He forced him down onto the sidewalk, pressed his face against the concrete, and cuffed him. When the man was subdued he took out his cell phone and called for backup.

Carisi leaned down so his face was close to the perp's, "you think you can threaten an ADA?" He hissed, his heart racing with adrenaline, "we're gonna destroy you."

When backup arrived Carisi ordered them to take the suspect to SVU holding and called Liv. When he hung up his phone for the second time he turned to Barba who was still leaning against the brick wall, his eyes wide and his breaths heavy.

"You okay, Raf?" Sonny asked, rushing to his side.

"Yeah," Barba said, "yeah."

"Are you hurt?"

Rafael looked at his limbs as though trying to determine if he was, "I'm okay," he confirmed, "good thing I had my personal bodyguard with me to take him down, though," he said with a hint of a smile.

Carisi didn't return it, the look of concern still in his eyes, "Liv wants us at the station, I'll call another squad car."

"We can walk," Barba said, "it's not far."

"With what happened I'd rather–"

"Please," Barba said.

A single word. A single word that held much more than any other could have in that moment. Carisi knew he should call a car, but when he saw Barba's look he couldn't bring himself to. He had never heard Barba say please before.

Barba stood up so that he was no longer leaning against the wall.

"If you get hurt walking to the station, Liv's gonna kill me."

"I have no doubts that you can keep me safe, Sonny."

XXX

"Are you sure you're okay?" Benson asked Barba for the third time since he and Carisi had arrived to the squad room.

"I'm fine Liv, really. Carisi had him on the ground before he had a chance to do anything."

Benson nodded, considering, "still, two assaults in three days, this is escalating. And you're sure this isn't the same guy from before?"

"Yeah," Barba grunted.

"So we've got at least two perps."

There was a knock on the door and Barba and Benson looked up. Rollins stood in the doorway, hand stretched out, "coffee, Counselor."

"Thank you," Barba gratefully took the steaming cup and pulled in two gulps. With the coffee still in his hand he turned back to the interrogation window where he could see Carisi and Tutuola interrogating the man who had grabbed him.

Carisi was close to him, close enough the perp would be able to feel his breath on his face, "why do you want the ADA dead? You got something against him?"

The man, Arnaldo Francis, as he had been identified from his prints, remained silent.

"Nah," Fin said, leaning back in his chair, "no way this guy's behind the threats. He doesn't have the aptitude for that if you get what I'm saying. Probably just a hired gun."

"I don't care if you're the fucking paperboy," Carisi hissed, "I'll take you down for this. So unless you start naming names, this is all gonna land on you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Francis turned away from Carisi.

"Man, you think your friends are gonna bail you out?" Fin asked, "they're gonna let you take the fall. But me? I can help you, Arnaldo."

Barba's eyes were torn from the interrogation when he heard someone enter Liv's office. Rita Calhoun was wearing her usual suit despite the late hour, and was clearly on a mission.

"You can stop that interrogation now, Captain," she said.

"You're representing him?" Barba asked.

Olivia raised her brows, "why am I not surprised."

"Your detectives?"

Benson sighed and opened the door, "Carisi, Fin, come on. Francis' lawyer is here."

"I'm surprised you're here so late," Rita turned to look at Rafael, "I didn't think you got out of bed for anything less than felony assault."

"And I didn't realize you were this threatened by me," Barba's words were sharp, "hoping the next ADA will be more lenient?"

Rita narrowed her eyes, but her response was interrupted by Carisi when he walked out of the interrogation room.

"Rapists, serial killers, and now this? Is there anyone you won't defend?" Carisi snarled.

"C'mon Carisi," Fin tried to pull him away, "she only sees dollar signs."

But Sonny wouldn't move, standing toe to toe with the defense attorney, "so what is it? Is it just about the money or do you like getting these guys off?"

Rita swallowed and took a measured breath, "everyone deserves a defense. And now I'm beginning to wonder if there's more to this case than I was informed. This was a misdemeanor assault, if you could even call it that, it shouldn't have resulted in an arrest. Why is SVU involved?"

Benson and Barba shared a look.

"Fin, Carisi, give me and the counselors here a minute," Benson spoke to both of the detectives but her eyes were locked on Sonny.

Fin had to give Sonny a slight pat on the back before he would walk away, but when they left the room Olivia leaned back against her desk and sighed.

"So you really don't know what this is about?" Olivia looked at Calhoun.

Rita looked at her, measured, before looking at Barba. She seemed reluctant to answer, but that gave Benson the only answer she needed.

While Olivia worked out what to say Barba stepped forward and spoke, "Rita, your client has been involved in death threats against me. I doubt I'll be prosecuting the case, but I can damn near guarantee you that he's not the one we want. If you can get him to give up whoever he's working for, we can make a deal."

Rita's eyes narrowed, "what sort of deal are you thinking?"

"If he names everyone involved, I'll talk to the DA about getting charges dropped."

"He's not the one with the grudge," Olivia added, "and until we find out who that is, they'll keep sending people after Barba."

Calhoun nodded, "I'll talk to my client."

And when Rita was gone, Rafael sighed. He took another long sip of his coffee and rubbed his eyes with his free hand.

"I want a 24 hour protection detail on you," Olivia said.

"That's hardly necessary."

"Rafael, we both know these attacks will keep escalating."

Barba looked at Olivia, his eyes weary, "you know my history with the department."

"My team only," she promised, "but not just to and from the office, I want someone with you at all times. And while we do that, we're going to be working this case, Barba. We're going to find out who's behind this, and we're going to stop them."