A/N: This chapter is heavy on one of my OC's but she plays an important part in this story. Don't worry, things might start looking up soon. Enjoy!

December 6th – 7:55 a.m.

Lexi tiptoed through her living room, careful not wake her dad as she dropped her bag near the front door. She was ready for her Grandmother to come pick her up to spend time away from this hell hole. Tossing and turning was how she spent her entire night and she couldn't wait for two full days of a good night's rest ahead. Not to mention the fabulous breakfast buffet the hotel they were going to be staying in had readily available in the mornings.

Her stomach rumbled at the thought, but she didn't want to waste time on searching through her stash for food. She had other, more important, plans to attend to before she left the house.

Lexi knelt by her dad, passed out face first into the couch with a band still tied around his arm. She cursed, wondering how long he'd been there like that before she checked his pulse and freed his arm. Wanting to keep him sleeping for a little while longer, she threw the old throw blanket on the back of the couch over his sleeping form and turned to raise the volume on the television playing local news. A little noise would hopefully mask her light frame walking across the floor boards.

She tiptoed her way past him again, heading down the short hall that lead to a barely used, dusty bedroom both of her parents used to share. The bed was unmade and there were a few liquor bottles decorating the floors and end tables, but it looked like she just remembered.

It had been at least two years since she even stepped foot in that room. It reminded her too much of her mom and the decline of her dad. A perfect, wholesome family ripped apart by death and drugs. She pushed those thoughts away, feeling the stinging of tears beginning to creep forward. She didn't have time to cry.

Last night was an eye-opening experience. She knew whatever had been going on downstairs, away from her, wasn't any good. The things she'd been forced to listen to or accidentally caught a peek of made her stomach roll; it made her physically ill that it was happening in the living room she used to camp out in with her mom when she was a child. Things happened in the kitchen where they all used to sit down to have family dinners in. Disgusting crimes were taking place and she had no strength to make it stop.

Until, last night.

Her tossing and turning wasn't done mindlessly. All she could think about was Rafael Barba, beat to hell and shivering in her cold basement all night, blood probably still leaking from the vicious cut in his forehead. She couldn't take her mind off him.

This was the first time she'd ever encountered a victim and it awakened a need in her she hadn't ever experienced before. The urge to call for help, to help him escape was real. The overwhelming need to bring this man some justice swirled in the pit of her stomach, threatening to act as soon as possible.

But reality sank in and the cold, hard truth stung her like a thousand angry hornets.

She couldn't save him. She couldn't help him. Every kind of scenario she envisioned trying to help him always ended the same. Her dad would be dead; she would be dead and Rafael Barba would be dead before they could even feel the spirit of freedom.

But that didn't mean she couldn't help him in be comfortable in his last moments of life. He wasn't going to last down there forever; any day or any moment know they would come calling for him and another poor BX-9 victim would be ashes in the ground again.

Lexi crept into the bathroom and quietly opened the medicine cabinet door, overwhelmed at the sight of so many prescription medicine bottles but spotted exactly what she was looking for. Vicodin for pain.

Just because Rafael Barba was a dead man walking, didn't mean she couldn't help him at all.

Lexi shook the bottle gently and pulled out two of the pain pills, capping the bottle and making sure to place it just like she found it. She pocketed the pills and scurried out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, quickly grabbing a glass of water and a few more protein bars, unwrapped and ready to go.

One more check up on her passed-out dad as she was opening the door to the basement was all she needed before she headed down.

She kept her footsteps light, doing her best to reduce the creaking of the stairs on her way down. The light was still on and he was still in the same place, except he was facing towards the concrete wall, his right arm curled under his head. For a second, she thought he was sleeping as she walked over to him, boots scuffing noisily across the floor. He hadn't moved, but the subtle shifting of his body curling into an almost fetal position proved that wasn't the case.

"It's me," she said softly, watching as he slowly turned his head and glanced up at her. He relaxed a little, uncurling his body. When he noticed the water and food in her hands, he sat up slowly and in pain, maneuvering himself so his back was propped against the wall.

He looked pathetic and beaten, face black and blue, dried blood still on his face but the cut had stopped bleeding and was beginning to scab over. She bit her lip and squatted down in front of him, handing him the glass of water and a few more protein bars, unwrapped and ready to be eaten. He didn't spare any words, just graciously took the items and began to devour them.

Lexi watched as he kept his eyes cast down, scarfing down the bars so fast she thought he was going to choke. After he was finished, she pulled the pills out of her pocket and held them out in her open palm. He stopped sipping the water and looked at her questioningly, unsure of what she was trying to do.

"Vicodin. For your arm," she whispered, waiting patiently for him to set the glass down and pluck the pills out of her hand. He cupped them and gave them a good hard look before he turned his attention back to her.

"Why are you helping me?"

It was phrased the same way as the night before with the same tone and everything. It was like he was trying to trust her and make her his number one enemy at the same time. The way one of his eyebrows lifted as he looked at her, mouth parted and breathing harshly…he'd asked this question before. He'd been put in a situation like this before, maybe not of this caliber, but in one way or another, he'd been forced to decide whether the person in front of him was to be trusted or not.

Lexi could read people and he was an open book right about now.

"I don't know…," she replied, standing up. He downed the pills a second later, following them with a healthy gulp of water. It probably wasn't a good idea that he trusted her now. They probably wouldn't see each other after that day. He would be a distant memory and the next victim would take his place. She wouldn't help them.

Lexi turned to leave after she grabbed his empty glass, wanting to make a quick exit. Her grandmother would be there soon and she didn't want to make the woman wait for her long, especially in her neighborhood.

"Wait," he croaked out. She turned and shushed him, listening into the quiet for a second but hearing nothing. The last thing she needed was her dad waking up and finding her down there. Then all hell would break loose.

"What," Lexi asked, coming back to stand in front of him, unable to help from being genuinely curious about what he had to say.

"Can you do something for me?"

"What," Lexi asked again, not liking where this was going. She should have just left. In fact, she shouldn't have ever come down there. He was a dead man and she shouldn't care.

"I need you to…to help me. Go to the police," he stuttered out, hope burning in his green eyes. Lexi inhaled deeply, shaking her head. She couldn't do that. She wouldn't do that.

"I can't," she said sternly, turning her back on him.

"Please," he said louder but being mindful of his volume after her previous shushing, "Just…please."

Lexi sighed, feeling like the entire weight of the world was falling on her shoulders in that moment. Better yet, the entire weight of his world falling on her shoulders. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the time. She needed to leave.

"I'm listening," she finally said, leaving her back turned to him.

"Go to the 16th Precinct in Manhattan, fifth floor, speak to Olivia Benson…tell her where I am," he blurted out quickly. Lexi only nodded but didn't look back at him and began to ascend the stairs, daring not to look at him as she left him behind in the basement, a question of whether she was going to follow through with his request, resting in the space behind her.

Lexi closed the door quietly and crossed the room to the front door. She dropped the glass on top of the television, briefly glancing at her dad as she picked up her bag. She didn't wake him up as she left the house and waited on the steps until her grandmother arrived.

December 6th – 5:52 a.m.

"Liv."

Liv shot up, eyes opening and seeing Amanda looking at her with concern. Sleep still blurred her vision a bit, but she could make out the hot cup of coffee steaming in the blonde woman's hand along with a bag from the café a few blocks down the road.

"Sorry," Liv slurred, moving her hair out of her face and wiping the drool collected on the corner of her mouth. She must have looked a mess. She hadn't gone home last night, too bus following the tips and phone calls that had her phone ringing off the hook last night.

None of the tips, unfortunately, lead anywhere and the few personal phone calls she received were from some coworkers asking if there was any update or anything they could do to help. Even Rita Calhoun called in, having seen the press conference released last night to check in on the detective.

Perhaps the most taxing of all conversations she had last night came from Barba's mother. Lucia had been so worried, half crying, half yelling into the phone for information they didn't have. Liv did her best to placate the woman but after a half hour on the phone, there was little she could do to calm him.

"It's fine…how about you head home and get some sleep? Carisi, Fin and I came in early to get started canvasing. Fin can hold down the fort," Amanda recommended, hoping to entice Liv to leave and go home. The past few days with no word, no clues or anything had them all biting their nails, but Liv was practically shut off from everyone.

Fin had mentioned last night at a quick meal after the press conference about their little spat. Honestly, she was shocked the man had it in him. Fin was so laid back and unemotional, she would have paid to see him rip their boss a new one. Not that Liv deserved it. She simply needed to remember that Barba wasn't dead yet and that they had a job to do.

"I just need a shower and a change of clothes."

"Liv," Amanda went to argue, feeling like she was moving into dangerous territory as Liv sent her a mean, tired glare, "I really think you just need a few hours of sleep. You haven't been home for more than a few hours at a time."

"I'm fine. Lucy already told me she had no problem doubling up on shifts for Noah. Everything is fine. Now I'm going to run home, shower, change, see my boy for a few and come right back. Do you have an issue with that, Rollins?"

The office was silent as Amanda shook her head sadly. She set the coffee and bag down on the desk in front of her and turned on her heel, knowing she wasn't going to win the argument. Liv thanked her and quickly sipped the plain black coffee, feeling the caffeine working it's magic. She practically ripped through the bagel in the bag, too. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was, although it wasn't hard to imagine. The only thing she'd consumed in the past few days were vending machine snacks and half a box of Chinese food.

Liv made her way out of the office, grabbing her keys, coat and purse and checking her phone, noticing just a few text updates from Lucy and no missed phone calls. She found it a bit sick that she was desperately waiting for another teasing image of Barba, tied up and looking terrified again. But that would be proof that he was still alive and out there somewhere.

The previous picture message had been analyzed more times than she could count, along with the dirt stains on his living room rug. His apartment had been dusted countless times for DNA not of Barba's and still…nothing.

A picture of him, even if he was only to dangle the man in their faces, would let them all know he was still waiting to be found.

"Morning, Liv," Fin greeted as she left her office, the detective not even fully awake and starting up his computer. Carisi and Amanda sat at their desks, quickly downing their own breakfasts and she bid them goodbye, promising to be back within the next two hours.

Liv made it home in record time and smiled tiredly as her son jumped into her arms, excited to see her first thing in the morning. She felt an overwhelming guilt for neglecting him lately. So much time spent away from him had been spent non-stop working, fueled by worry and love and duty.

Noah hadn't a clue what was happening and she happy for that. Barba was a household favorite, unbeknownst to the man himself. Last night, when she called to talk to him before bed time, Noah had brought him up for some odd reason. It was strange, still, as she thought about it and it was threatening to make her cry again.

She didn't want to cry again.

"Mommy, you stay home today?"

Liv sighed inwardly, wanting desperately to say yes and cuddle him for the rest of the day in their pajamas, eating junk food and playing with his favorite action figures.

But there was so much work to be done. The press conference held earlier in the evening last night had relit the fire under all their asses, especially after her speech. She didn't let the public see her emotions, but she sure as hell made sure whoever had Barba did.

The thought to stay home was tempting, but her baby was safe and sound, excited for the day ahead at the playground with Lucy.

Barba wasn't safe and sound. He was somewhere in this city, tied up and terrified, waiting for them to burst down the door and whisk him away.

At least…she hoped he was…

With renewed vigor, Liv took a longer than normal shower and changed into fresh clothing, feeling the exhaustion slipping from her body and mind as she downed one more cup of coffee and spent a full ten minutes cuddling her baby on the couch.

She left Noah with Lucy a few minutes later, renewed determination as she headed back to the precinct.

December 6th – 1:45 p.m.

Lexi entered the 16th Precinct lobby and shuffled towards the front desk where an officer sat at a computer, phone pressed to her ear. There was a small line formed and a few people were milling about, some dressed in uniform and some in street clothes. This wasn't what she imagined a police precinct to look like. It was warm, rich brown tones calming her nerves rather than frazzling them further.

That was a good thing, considering the lie she had to tell her grandmother before she left the hotel on her own. Lucky for her, the elderly woman was exhausted from the six-hour drive into the city and needed a nap after their heavy lunch.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

She bit her lip and stood awkwardly in the quickly moving line, picking at her nails. She'd been so sure back in the basement that she wasn't going to get involved in this. Even as she listened to his pleas to help him, she brushed them off as if it were dirt on her shoulder.

Yet, here she was. After a quick search of his name (curiosity always won out) and a press conference clip on the local news website, Olivia Benson had a face and her and the Special Victims Unit had been looking high and low for Rafael Barba.

She didn't know he was a lawyer. Never would have guessed it, but then again, it was a different experience not drenched in dried blood and looking so meek and beaten.

"Can I help you?"

Lexi looked up and noticed the receptionist looking at her expectantly.

"Uh…I have a meeting with Olivia Benson…"

"Fifth floor. Next."

Lexi moved out of the way, glancing at the line behind her as she scampered off to the elevators, thankfully not having to share with a large group of people. The pit in her stomach was growing with every floor she ascended. By the time the doors opened again, she was ready to throw up.

Her short walk down the hall and into the precinct didn't prepare her for the scene she was met with. The lobby had been deserted but this level was brimming. Uniformed officers were practically crawling out of the vents, there were so many. A few pushed past her and she apologized, crossing her arms over her chest to try and make herself smaller.

She stood by, what she guessed, was a welcoming desk but walked further onto the floor after waiting a full five minutes, watching the bustling officers working. Perhaps the focal point of the floor were a set of desks, suit and tie wearing detectives stood around, talking on phones and jotting down notes.

To the right of the desks were giant whiteboards sitting in front of a table, laptops showing traffic cam footage and running other various programs taking up the space. Lexi looked over a few shoulders, surprised she still had gone unnoticed.

"Did you need any help, sweetie?"

Lexi looked over her shoulder to see one of the detectives from the press conference walking up to her. She asked her another question she didn't hear as her eyes found a striking image on the whiteboard she'd been headed towards.

She felt a kind hand on her shoulder, the blonde waiting for a response that didn't come.

The blonde woman looked friendly as she drew the girl away from the white board with notes and maps scattered about, Rafael Barba's picture hanging up in the center of the board. He was far more important than she realized, it seemed.

For the first time since she left the house, she felt like she was doing the right thing.

"Yeah," Lexi said, stopping and turning back towards the board. Her eyes took in the expanse of overwhelming clutter and police maneuvering erratically, phones to their ears and passing each other paper's. Standing near the board was the woman she recognized speaking at the press conference, along with the two males listening intently to her talk.

Lexi walked back towards the board, the blonde following her curiously with brows furrowed. She supposed what she was about to say next was going to sound weird and completely out of left field. She supposed the next words that she was going to utter into the loud room were going to implicate her in what was turning into an all-out manhunt for lawyer currently rotting away in her basement.

The blonde behind her moved out in front of her and the other detectives from the television last night were now looking at her, confused and probably wondering who she was or how she even got in there in the first place.

"Is everything alright here?"

The darker haired woman had appeared next to the blonde, arms crossed over her chest and looking at her with soft eyes, so unlike what they conveyed a few hours earlier when she watched the press conference clip.

Lexi shook her head and finally raised her finger, pointing directly at the picture of Rafael Barba, smiling back at them.

"He's in my basement."