"Raf?" Sonny struggled to open his eyes. His lids felt incredibly heavy, and when they finally did rise, everything was blurry, "Raf?"

"Barba's fine, but you're stuck with me for now."

Sonny immediately recognized Fin's voice and turned to look at him. He wasn't much more than a fuzzy shape as Sonny repeatedly blinked his eyes in an attempt to clear his vision, "where?"

"He's with Liv at the station. He's really fine," Fin assured him.

Carisi relaxed. He blinked a few more times and his vision began to clear, but his head still felt foggy. "What's happened?" He asked.

"Well, you got shot."

Sonny groaned as he adjusted his position, "I remember that part."

"I guess you do," Fin nodded, "well here's something you might not know, you broke the case wide open even with two bullets in the chest."

"What're you talking about?"

"What you told Liv, in the ambulance, we tracked down the guy who heard you and Rollins talking and he led us to a Rikers guard. In exchange for protective custody he gave us everything. We got three other Rikers guards in custody as well as a judge and two ADAs that were being coerced."

"Do you have the guy who shot me?"

"Yeah," Fin said, "we do." He grabbed the back of a chair that was against the wall and pulled it up to Sonny's hospital bed. He sat down and leaned forward, "his name's John McNey, he's a patrol cop in our precinct. He's got a sister at Rikers."

Sonny was quiet for a moment, "so he did this for her?"

"They'd been assaulting her for months, told him if he didn't do it they'd kill her."

"Where is he?"

"He's in surgery," Fin said, "one of the Rikers guards shot him during a controlled meet. Doctor says it's up in the air."

Sonny sighed, although it sounded more like a groan, and turned to look out the window to the right of him.

"You need anything, man?"

Sonny shook his head. As the minutes passed by he could hear Fin pull the chair away from the bed and sit down. He continued to look out the window which had the disappointing view of yet another building. He tried to process everything that Fin had just told him. Last he remembered he was laying on the asphalt feeling a warmth spread around his body.

And the gun. He remembered the gun.

He remembered the total and inescapable fear that had encased him. His heart had stopped and his whole body had gone suddenly cold. And in that fraction of a second before he fell back against the sidewalk, all he had thought of was Rafael.

Because if there was one thing Sonny would do before he died he would protect him.

And now, what felt like only minutes later, they had them.

He knew it wasn't over, not really, but they had gotten them and maybe Barba could feel safe again. Maybe he would be able to sleep without the fear of someone coming after him. And maybe Sonny would be able to take him out on a proper date.

And suddenly Sonny remembered their kiss. It was as if it was happening all over again. He remembered the warmth that had filled his chest. Joy, that's what it had been. Pure and honest joy.

"Sonny?"

At first Carisi thought it was just his memory. But then his name was spoken again, soft, tentative, yet rough. The voice that had captivated him from the first time he heard it.

"Raf," he smiled, turning his head to find Barba standing in the doorway. He looked exhausted, but he looked okay, he looked relieved.

"You're alive," was all that Barba could manage.

"You sure?" Carisi asked.

Barba furrowed his brows, "what're you...?"

"'Cause all I see is an angel," Carisi interrupted with his goofy half grin.

"God," Barba groaned.

"I think that's my queue," Fin stood up, "I'll be in the hall if you need me," he shook his head and chuckled before leaving the room.

Barba couldn't keep the smile from his face as he crossed the room. He was alive, Sonny was alive. All Rafael wanted was to go and pull Sonny into his arms and hold him, but instead he raised a brow and said, "I thought you were going to be on your best behavior in front of the squad?"

"Objection, Counselor."

"That doesn't make any sense," Barba shook his head.

"Then I plead the fifth," Carisi looked at him, wide-eyed and trying to suppress a smile.

"Ah, the right against self-incrimination, seems fitting." Barba reached out like he wanted to take Carisi's hand, but he stopped himself.

"Raf?"

"Yeah?"

"I'd kiss you right now if I could sit up for more than two seconds without having to catch my breath."

"Oh."

"But you could kiss me, ya know, if you want."

Rafael smiled as he leaned forward. He gently brought his lips against Sonny's, which were delicate and chapped and stroked his hand against Sonny's soft cheek. He could feel the warmth from the man against him, and to have him this close, to hold him, when he had thought just hours ago that Sonny may die, was overwhelming.

He felt tears come to his eyes and tried to pull away before they fell to Sonny's cheeks.

But Sonny felt them and opened his bright blue eyes, "Raf?"

Barba quickly wiped his eyes and turned away.

"Raf, come here." Sonny's voice was soft and gentle, "please come back."

Rafael stayed where he was for a moment before he took a breath and turned. His eyes were watering, but he had wiped the tears from his face.

"Come here," Sonny put out his hand, and when Barba took it he guided him forward. He patted the edge of his bed and did his best to make room.

Barba laid down beside him, "I thought I lost you," he choked, and he couldn't stop the tears that began to fall from his eyes again.

"I know," Carisi whispered, "I know. But I'm gonna be okay. We're both gonna be okay, Raf."

They laid there together and soon Barba's tears began to slow. He could feel Sonny's body, feel his warmth, feel his heartbeat. He was there and he was alive. And finally after hours of uncertainty, he was able to hold him.