Happy weekend :)

It was nearing ten when Benson sent Carisi to go relieve Rollins. He said goodnight to Fin who was still at his desk working, grabbed his bag and jacket, and left the squadroom. The air was crisp outside and there was a breeze that blew Sonny's hair across his face. He pulled out his cell as he walked toward the street and called Rollins.

"Hey Amanda," he greeted her, "I'm on my way to Barba's, you mind if I stop and grab some take out?"

"As long as you bring me something," she said, "Barba's got nothin' to eat here."

Carisi started down the sidewalk, there was a good Greek place a few blocks from the department that he had promised Raf he'd get him sometime. "Yeah, we're gonna have to work on that," he laughed.

"Good luck," Carisi could hear the smile in Rollin's voice.

"See you in a bit," Carisi hung up and stuffed his phone back in his jacket pocket. He let himself appreciate the Manhattan night, it had been awhile since he had walked through the city off duty. As he walked, his mind wandered to Barba. Rafael. Raf. He couldn't wait to get back to see him. To spend time with him.

Sonny vowed to take it slow, he may be spending the night at Rafael's, but it was just part of the job. Later, when this nightmare was behind them, he wanted to take Barba out for a proper date. Dinner, drinks, the whole works.

As he neared the Greek restaurant that was tucked in-between two large brick buildings, he brushed his hair away from his face. The host greeted him, they knew him by name here, probably due to the number of times Sonny came to get their, what he considered, world famous Gyros. He placed his order at the front, ordering enough food for six, and sat down while he waited for it to be made.

It was slow that time of night, and he barely had time to read through his emails when his name was called and he was handed a large bag of food. Sonny took it with a smile and a "goodnight" and walked out onto the street, hoping to hail a taxi.

He walked down the sidewalk, deciding that if he didn't see a taxi soon he'd just have to call for a car. He had just taken out his phone when he heard his name.

"Sonny!"

It came from behind him. He turned, his phone in one hand and bag of food in the other, and had just enough time to drop the food to the ground when a shot sounded and he fell back onto the sidewalk. He tried to sit up, but the pain in his chest stopped him. He looked around, frantic, looking for help, looking for the shooter.

A face appeared above him, but then all Sonny could see was the gun. The gun in his hand, the gun pointed at him, he tried to talk, tried to reason, but his words bubbled in his throat. He tried to reach for his own gun, but then there was a crunch and he couldn't move his hand, but it was hot, hot with pain and blood.

"Your boyfriend's next," his voice was deep and hollow. He fired the gun again and then he was gone.

Sonny gasped for breath. It was pain like he had never felt, he tried to move, tried to do something. His right hand was useless, so he blindly reached with his left. When he felt something cold in his hand he knew it was his phone, he must have gone down with it. He prayed to god it wasn't broken and lifted his head just enough to hit redial.

The phone rang and rang and he tried so hard to breathe. His chest was heavy and the pain was sharp and his head was getting fuzzy. And everything was fast but slow and he didn't know how time was really moving.

When he finally heard the familiar voice he coughed up a word, unintelligible to anyone.

"Carisi?" Amanda's voice was sharp from the speaker, "what happened, where are you?"

"Get him," Carisi managed, "out." He fought for air and the phone almost slipped from his blood slicked hand, "they're coming. Get out. Raf. Keep. Safe."

He tried to say more, but he couldn't. He dropped his hand, the phone falling to the sidewalk. He could hear voices, voices, people. They were above him. The lights were fuzzy.

Everything was fuzzy.

XXX

Benson sat at her desk, contemplating whether she should keep working or go home. Noah would be asleep by now, and the sitter knew she might be gone all night. And despite what she told her detectives, she just didn't feel right leaving when Barba's life was in danger. For all the times he had gone to bat for her, she felt the pull to stay, to keep working. But she knew, deep down, that there was little she could do until Miranda was released from Rikers.

With a sigh she stood and picked up her coat and bag. She turned off the lights to her office on the way out and shut the door.

"Let's call it a night, Fin," she said to her detective who was still working at his desk, "get some sleep, we'll need fresh eyes in the morning."

"You sure, Liv? I don't mind staying."

"Come on," she said, patting his shoulder, "even you need your beauty rest."

Fin got up and Liv waited for him to gather his things. They walked out of the squadroom together and it was quiet. They took the elevator down and just as they stepped out Benson's cell rang.

"Liv, Carisi's hurt," Amanda said the second she answered.

Olivia could hear the urgency in Rollins' voice. "Where is he?" She asked.

"I don't know, he called sayin' he was on his way and was gonna stop for take out. Then a second ago he called again sayin' they were after Barba and I've gotta get him out. He didn't sound good, Cap." Rollins spoke fast and her words began to tumble into each other.

"Any idea where he was?" Benson began to run, out of the building and onto the street. Fin followed close behind, hearing enough of the conversation to know that something bad had happened.

Olivia could hear Rollins talking to Barba and then she came back on the line.

"He mentioned a Greek place two blocks east from the station."

"Get Barba out of there, take him somewhere safe, don't tell anyone where you're going. I'll call when I can." She waited for Amanda's confirmation and then hung up, running in the direction the other woman had indicated.

Fin followed and it wasn't long until they saw flashing lights ahead of them. Liv sprinted, she pulled her badge from her belt and held it above her head, running past the uniforms blocking off the small crowd that had formed, "SVU," she shouted.

And then she saw the EMT's load Sonny onto a stretcher. His shirt was soaked in blood and they had put an oxygen mask over his mouth.

"Carisi," she shouted, getting as near to the stretcher as she could, "who did this?"

Sonny tried to find her with his eyes, he blinked and groaned.

"We gotta go," one of the EMT's said as they lifted him into the back of the ambulance.

"Meet us at the hospital, I'm riding with," she shouted toward Fin as she got in the back of the ambulance and the doors were shut.

"He's an SVU detective," she said, again trying to get close enough to speak with him. "Who did this?" She pressed.

This time he met her eyes, he lifted his hand and tried to pull the face mask away, but couldn't get a grip on it. He tried again, dislodging it enough to speak, "after him," he gasped.

"We've got him protected, Sonny, but who did this? Do you know who shot you?"

"They knew," he coughed.

"What did they know?" Liv took his hand in hers.

"They... knew..." his eyes closed, "me... and... Raf..."

The EMT pushed her out of the way and began to work on him. Olivia sat there and stared at the blood on her hands. Stared at Carisi's bloody and broken body. She had spent so much time worrying about Barba's safety, how had she not thought of her own squad? How had she not done more to protect them?

"it's gonna be okay, Sonny," she whispered, trying to believe it was true.