Five weeks after the ultrasound, Liv and Barba are finally breathing easier. A week into the second trimester and, barring any big cases, they planned on telling his mother and the squad the following weekend. Barba had finally stopped panicking every time Liv moved and they'd settled, for the most part, into their normal routine.
Currently, they were lying in bed enjoying the most recent addition to their routine. In what had become a weekly tradition, Olivia lays snuggled into Barba's side as he reads from one of the many baby books he'd ordered.
"She, or he-" Barba at some point had begun referring to the baby as a she- which annoyed Olivia to no end- but he couldn't seem to help it so he was in a constant state of correcting himself. "-is about the size of a peapod and has it's own distinct fingerprints." He looks down at Olivia and smiles- "So we can now officially book the baby if it doesn't behave."
Olivia smiles up at his lame joke and plants a chaste, tender kiss on his lips. "You're such a nerd."
Barba smiles and closes the book. He rolls into her half covering her body with his- his knee tucked in between her legs, "Maybe, but I'm your nerd." He leans in for a more lingering kiss. She moans and arches into him as he deepens the kiss- a hand trailing down her side until it reaches exposed skin at her hip. As it so often seems to do- their weekly reading session quickly evolves into a passionate love-making session.
The following morning, Barba and Trevor Lanagan show up early in Olivia's office to sign some of the adoption paperwork. When Fin notices the two leaving- he walks over to her door just in time to hear Barba offer to bring her lunch before he hurries out.
She turns her attention to Fin, "Got something for me?"
Fin steps into her office behind her. "Looks like Taylor is somewhere in Queens. Bodega owner ID'd him."
Olivia retreats behind her desk, business as usual- "Alright, send Carisi and Rollins up to question the owner, let me know as soon as they have something."
"They're on their way" Fin considers her curiously for a moment. "What's with Lanagan?"
Olivia doesn't even look up- busying herself with the file in front of her. "Some paperwork for Noah."
She looks up when Fin answers with silent skepticism. "And Barba?"
Olivia sighs. They're only a week from telling everyone anyway- and Fin isn't one for gossip- so Olivia decides spilling half of their announcement won't hurt. And trying to avoid the conversation will most likely take longer.
She tries to brush it off as nonchalantly as possible, looking back to her file, "Barba has decided to adopt Noah."
Fin's face falls. He takes a few steps back and closes the door behind him. "Liv, you know I'm not one to get in your business. But you know I got your back, if-."
Liv looks up and sees the concern in his eyes, she softens. "Everything's fine, Fin."
Fin's frustration bleeds through for a moment- Barba'd been acting strange since her mysterious "stomach bug"- and since then she'd had two doctors appointments. He was officially starting to worry. "Barba's an alright guy- I know you're close but I can't imagine you'd let the Pope adopt Noah after only dating for, what? 6 months? If something's wrong- I need to know."
Liv stands and comes around the desk, she tries to be as reassuring as possible- she doesn't need her second-in-command second guessing her. "I promise you, I'm fine. For now, I need you to drop it."
She registers for a moment that she's only seen Fin look this worried for her once. He nods reluctantly.
She tries to lighten the mood- "Barba and I want to have everyone over Sunday for brunch to announce the adoption, think you'll make it?"
He nods, "I'll be there." He retreats out the door- looking less than convinced that she's OK.
By the afternoon, the squad has managed to track down Taylor- a white supremacist who'd raped and beaten his girlfriend nearly to death before fleeing to Queens. As far as they could tell- he'd holed up at a friend's- another known white supremacist that they believed had an impressive weapons cache.
Barba strides in victorious with a warrant. Liv looks up from her place in the bullpen where she stands prepping the team. "That was fast."
Barba raises a suggestive eyebrow at her, "What can I say, I'm good."
Olivia smirks at him- then turns to the team. "Alright, SWAT is waiting to meet us there- we'll-"
Barba looks taken aback, "You're not going." It's not a question.
The bullpen goes quiet. Olivia turns to him- raising an eyebrow. Did he really just say that? Barba knows he's overstepped but he lowers his chin, giving her a look of conviction- he's not backing down.
"Counselor, a minute?" She motions to her office. They step inside and close the door. Fin, Rollins and Carisi stand awkwardly for a moment listening to raised voices muffled behind the door.
Carisi turns to Fin, "If she shoots him- do we still do the raid or do we send someone else?"
Liv rounds on Barba the moment they're through the door, "You wanna try not undermining me in front of my squad for maybe 24 hours?"
Barba tries to reign in his own frustration- holding out a hand in front of him. It's a gesture that he often uses to try to calm her down so he can speak- but it only ever seems to make her more angry. He speaks as calmly and evenly as he can manage, "Look, I'm sorry about out there, I shouldn't have dealt with it like that, but-"
"I'll say!"
"But! I'd really rather you let Fin run the raid."
She shakes her head in frustrated disbelief, "Barba, I'll be 100 yards from the house with a flack jacket on!"
Barba's attempt to stay calm is quickly forgotten as his frustration boils over, "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't take our child to a place where flack jackets are required! I wouldn't let you take Noah to a raid! Would you try to take him?!"
She knows he's right- knew he was right from the moment he spoke in the bullpen- but that only frustrates her more.
She stares him down but he can see in her eyes, he's made his point. He steps closer to her with a newfound calm and pleads, "Please, Liv." He takes one of her hands and holds eye contact. "You can go back to chasing the bad guys after the baby's born- but if something goes wrong—I can't lose you both."
She sighs and nods reluctantly.
They walk back out to the bullpen and Barba hands Fin the warrant. Fin gives Olivia a concerned, questioning look. Olivia does her best to ignore it. "Fin, I'm going to let you take the lead on this one. Barba and I have to review testimony for tomorrow's trial- so we'll monitor from here."
Fin nods, "Sure, Lieutenant." The detectives start to move out but he lingers for a moment.
She makes eye contact and considers his concern, "I'll explain later. I promise."
Fin nods and turns to follow Rollins and Carisi out.
Barba had been right- Taylor and his skinhead friend had made an ill-fated attempt to go out "guns blazing". There were no serious injuries but two officers had been hit.
Despite all that, Olivia had still managed to get home before Barba. When he walks in, he finds Noah playing on the floor while she cleans off his highchair from dinner. She looks exhausted.
As he puts his briefcase down, Noah toddles over to him- stretching out his arms to be picked up. Lately, he seemed to always want Barba- and Barba reveled in it- realizing the stage probably wouldn't last long. He picks the boy up and walks over to Olivia in the kitchen.
She gives him a smile as he leans in for a quick kiss. "You OK?" He considers her. "Those officers OK?"
She lets out a sigh, "Yeah, they're OK. One got hit in the shoulder and the other in the vest."
"I'm sorry." He manages to hold back his 'I told you so'. He decides to change the subject. "So I see Noah's already eaten- should we make something or order in?"
Olivia scrunches her nose at him, "Whatever you want actually. I'm not really feeling great."
"Are you sure? I could whip up a mean grilled cheese and pickles. I'll even run down and grab you some of those disgusting Salt and Vinegar chips you keep wanting." He quirks an eyebrow at her and smiles.
She returns his smile, "That's very sweet but I really don't feel like eating anything."
Barba turns to Noah- perched on his hip, "Hear that Noah, I'll be running out for those chips at midnight- mark my words." He tickles the boy's side and Noah giggles.
He turns back to Olivia, she's smiling but he once again registers how exhausted she looks. She puts her hands out to take Noah, "Why don't you order something for you and I'll get this guy in bed."
Noah leans further into Barba- still wanting him. Olivia puts a hand on her hip and tilts her head in a look of faux disapproval, "You know, I'm starting to get a complex."
She and Barba both chuckle. Barba smiles at her, "Why don't I put him in bed and you go take a shower and relax."
Normally she'd feel bad for dumping everything on Barba but she genuinely doesn't feel good so she gives in.
She nods and gives him one last peck, "Thank you." He gives her a broad smile before she retreats back to the bathroom.
Barba turns and takes Noah to his bedroom. He's managed to change the toddler into his pajamas when he hears Olivia's panicked voice from the other room, "Rafi!"
He pulls Noah onto his hip and rushes into the bathroom where he finds Olivia standing over the sink. He does his best to keep panic out of his own voice, "What's wrong?"
She turns to him clearly panicked, tears forming in her eyes, "Rafi, I'm- I'm bleeding."