The sharp ring of Sonny's phone filled the office and he pulled away from Rafael.

"Carisi," he answered.

Barba turned to look at the other man as he spoke on the phone. He noticed the soft flush of his cheeks and and the slight crease that appeared between his eyebrows. He noticed all the little things he had missed in stolen glances.

When Sonny hung up Barba wanted to take him in his arms, he wanted to save their moment of bliss for just a moment longer, but he could see from the other man's expression that it was time to work.

"Liv wants us at the station," Carisi relayed.

Barba nodded and stood. He grabbed his coat that had been draped across the armrest and put it on. When he looked over, he saw that Carisi was still standing there, phone in hand, with a goofy grin on his face.

"What?" Barba demanded.

"Nothin'," Carisi laughed. He took Barba's hand in his and pulled him close. He placed a kiss on Rafael's forehead and smiled, "you're just cute."

Barba scowled, "none of this in front of the squad."

"Got it, Counselor," Sonny let go of his hand, "I promise I'll be on my best behavior."

Barba groaned, "I guess there's a first time for everything."

XXX

When Barba and Carisi arrived in the squad room they found Olivia, Amanda, and Alex in Liv's office. They walked in and Carisi shut the door behind them at Olivia's request.

"How are you holding up Barba?" Olivia asked.

"I'm fine," he nodded at her, "were you able to make a deal with Francis?" He turned to look at Alex.

She nodded, "Francis is in protective custody as we speak. I managed to get a judge to sign off on his niece's release, but my ass is on the line if she escapes."

"Fin's on his way to Rikers to pick her up now," Olivia explained, "once they're both safe, Francis will give up the people who have ordered the threats against Barba."

"Anything we can do, Cap?" Carisi asked from his position beside Barba.

"Keep up the protection on Barba," she said, "and keep working the Rikers angle. I saw the work you did last night, the more we know about their reach within the department and the DA's office, the better prepared we'll be."

"On it," he nodded. Rollins, Carisi, and Barba left the room, allowing Liv and Alex to continue talking. Once they were far enough from her office, Barba rested his hand just above Sonny's elbow.

"Let's stay here," he said quietly, "you can get your work done and I can have an endless supply of horrible coffee."

"You sure?" Carisi asked, "cuz your office has gotta be much more comfortable than the squad room. Plus, you know, you have decent coffee there."

"I'm sure," Barba confirmed. He drop his hand and turned to walk over to the pot of coffee sitting on the counter behind him.

Sonny bit back a smile as he watched Barba bee-line it to the coffee and pour himself a mug. The face he made when he took a sip was almost too much, and Carisi had to stifle a laugh. "I tried to warn you."

Barba forced down another gulp, "caffeine is caffeine."

Carisi shook his head, "let me find you a desk," he walked over to a desk and moved a few folders around

"Isn't that Fin's?" Barba asked.

Carisi shrugged, "he'll live."

Rafael topped off his coffee and sat in Fin's chair. He took out a file from his briefcase and opened it. He was reading through case law when Rollins got Carisi's attention. She gestured for him to join her at the edge of the squad room.

Carisi walked over and positioned himself so he could keep an eye on Barba as they spoke.

"You two work things out?" She asked, brows raised high.

Carisi bit back a smile, "you could say that."

Amanda smiled, "are you guys... together...?"

Sonny knew he probably shouldn't tell her, but he was bursting to share the news, "yeah," he said in whispered excitement, "but you can't tell anyone. We're gonna tell the Cap, just, after things have died down a bit."

"Good for you, Carisi," Amanda said, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

XXX

Olivia and Alex were discussing the case when her phone rang. She picked it up and Fin was on the other end.

"I'm at Rikers, but they won't give me Miranda. They claim she's in solitary, that they found drugs on her."

"Damn it," Benson swore, "stay there, I'm going to try to get this figured out. I'll call you soon."

"Got it, Cap."

Olivia hung up and turned to Alex, "we've got a problem." She relayed the information she had gotten from Fin and Alex listened closely.

"Let me make a few calls," Alex said, "but if they found drugs I'm not sure how much leverage I'll have. Getting her out was hard enough to begin with."

"Come on, Alex," Olivia pressed, "they put her in solitary so we couldn't get to her. My detectives go and talk to her and the next day the guards find drugs? It's not a coincidence, they're setting her up."

"But unless we can prove it, that's going to be a hard case to sell."

"We need to get her out of there, Alex. Without her we have nothing."

"I'll see what I can do, Liv," Alex pulled out her phone and began to dial. She stood and paced in the small office while she argued with someone on the other line. She hung up and dialed again, holding another heated discussion.

Olivia followed Alex's pacing with her eyes. If they lost Miranda, their case was gone, they would have no way to identify who was threatening Barba. And if they put her in solitary to keep her from getting out, Benson didn't doubt they'd do something more drastic if they felt SVU closing in.

Alex hung up again and turned back to Olivia, "I'm getting an emergency order for her release. I'll need to go down to Rikers, but I doubt she'll be processed until morning," Alex said.

"What's to keep them from killing her?" Olivia ran her hand through her hair, "we know what these guys are capable of."

"The DA's putting pressure on the warden," Alex said, "I'm going to get the signed order and bring it there. We have to hope they won't do anything with an ADA there."

"I hope you're right," Benson mumbled.

"Liv," Alex sat in the seat across from her, "there's nothing that you can do while she's there. This is the DAs job now."

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose, "if we lose her..."

"We won't," Alex said with the air of confidence Olivia had grown used to after their years of working together.

Benson nodded, trying to believe her.

"Now," Alex said as she stood, "I'm going to get the order of release signed and go to Rikers. Why don't you bring Detective Tutuola back, there's nothing for him to do there."

"He can stay–" Benson began.

"I don't need a babysitter, Olivia," Cabot replied, "and more importantly, you need him here."

Benson debated with herself for a moment before sighing, "call me when she's released, I'll send someone to help with the transfer."

Alex nodded and picked up her briefcase. "I'll see you tomorrow," she smiled and left the office.

Olivia leaned back in her chair and took a breath. Then she called Fin and ordered him back to the station. Once the phone was back on her desk, she looked out into the squad room, Carisi was at his desk, alternating between his computer screen and writing on a piece of paper. Rollins was looking through her computer as well, but every few minutes a yawn would escape her. And Barba was chugging coffee like his life depended on it.

She stood up and walked out of her office. It was nearing seven and their was a sense of frenzy in her squad. They all wanted to close this case and they each felt the unease of the threat growing larger with each passing moment that they didn't. But if they stayed like this until morning, they would all be too sleep deprived to work.

"Rollins," Olivia said, "take Barba home. Use one of our cars. Carisi will relieve you in a few hours."

"But Cap–" Amanda started.

"That's an order," Benson said, "and when Carisi gets there, go home. Go be with your daughter."

As Benson watched Rafael and Amanda gather their things to leave, she could feel the case beginning to crumble right in front of her. She prayed to god they could close it before that happened.