Never Let Go
Chapter Two
Brian did his best to lay low his first few weeks at the District Attorney's office, he did not want Barba or Liv to know that he was back before her was ready. He discreetly asked around about her. Everyone seemed to think she was doing an exceptional job running SVU and that she loved Noah (as he had finally learned the kid's name) more than anything. Nobody mentioned Barba other than the fact that he and Liv still worked well together. That led Brain to the conclusion that they were keeping their relationship a secret.
Brian saw that as his first opening, he would gather the evidence he needed to put an end to their relationship. He knew Liv well enough that she would never choose Barba over her job. Het set about his quest of following them, his years on the force and working undercover taught him how to be discreet. He was surprised how easy it was though. Liv had always been so guarded, especially after William Lewis. Now she moved about with a lightness and her defenses were down in a way he had never seen before.
He watched them come and go on an almost daily basis from her apartment. He decided that Barba was unofficially living there, he still had a condo in his name but Brian only saw him go to it a couple of times over the course of a month and he never spent the night there. He watched them on the weekends as they took Noah to soccer and to the park or different kid friendly places. Those were the hardest pictures to get because people would always notice a man by himself taking pictures of kids so he had to be extra careful.
Their date nights were another story though. It seemed about once a week they would sneak out to a restaurant tucked away somewhere that they would not likely be recognized. Normally when they were out together they still kept a certain level of discretion, on dates nights though in these out of the way places there was no question as to the nature of relationship. They would hold hands, or Barba would keep an arm wrapped around her as they walked, at dinner he could tell his hand was on her leg beneath the table and he would lean over and whisper something. Liv had always shied away from public affection but she would lean into him and welcome his advances. One night he watched as they waited outside of a restaurant for their Uber. Liv leaned into Barba and whispered something causing Barba to pull her flush against himself and kiss her. This wasn't one their quick good bye kisses that he had witnessed before it was a deep passionate kiss that ended with Barba's hand firmly on Liv's ass. It only ended when their car arrived and Liv pulled him hastily inside.
Brian felt an undeniable flash of rage shoot through him, it was time that he put an end to this. This was no way for Liv to be conducting herself, she was a police lieutenant and a mother, not some tramp for Rafael Barba to run around with. He decided the next day he would make his move.
The next day though presented Brian with an opportunity that he had never envisioned when his boss approached him with a new investigation, an investigation in to Olivia Benson on suspicion of child abuse. Brian almost laughed out loud at the accusation, Liv was the last person who would ever hurt a child. His observation of her over the last few weeks showed no signs of anything suspicious, but still this gave him the opening that he needed.
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Rafael opened the door to the quiet apartment, it was past Noah's bedtime and he figured Liv was either working or taking a bath.
"Liv?" He called out setting his briefcase by the door and removed his coat and tie as he made his way towards the bedroom. He found her sitting on the edge of the bed looking shell shocked. He quickly went to her dropping to his knees in front of her and taking her hands.
"Liv, what's going on? Is Noah all right?" He asked,
She looked up at him tears and confusion in her eyes, "Why didn't you tell me that Brain Cassidy was working for the DA's office?"
A look of complete shock washed over Barba's face, "What are you taking about Liv? I thought Cassidy to early retirement and moved to Florida?"
"Apparently, he got bored and moved back and is now an investigator at your office." She explained.
"Liv, I honestly had no idea." He assured her moving next to her on the bed still confused by why she was so shaken. "I don't understand though, why are you so upset? When did you see him? Did he do something?"
Liv looked up at him tears pooling in hr brown eyes, "I saw him tonight, when he came here to talk to me about in investigation he is conducting."
"He came here? Why not to the office?" Barba questioned all though he had a pretty good idea why a man shows up at his former lover's apartment and he did his best to quiet his own anger.
"Rafael he came here because I am the subject of the investigation." She explained her words becoming choppy with tears, "Your office in investigating me for child abuse."
"What the hell are you talking about Liv?" Rafael yelled then he remembered the bruise, the conversation with the school and it all began to come together.
"Liv, listen to me it's going to be all right, everyone knows you would never hurt Noah. First thing in the morning you are calling Trevor Langan…"He started but Liv cut him off.
"Raf, I don't need a lawyer." She protested.
"The hell you don't." Barba countered, "We aren't going to fight about this Liv, you call Trevor in the morning or I will. "
Liv nodded knowing that it was pointless to argue with him. She leaned against him and allowed him to pull her back on to the pillows and hold her.
"We're going to make it through this Liv I promise." He whispered as he thought to himself about what he would do when he would do when he saw Brian Cassidy.
As it turned out Liv made him promise not to seek Brian out, he fumed and argued but in the end agreed, for the time being. After consulting with Trevor Liv attended the interview with Cynthia from his office. It killed Rafael to send her in there alone but he knew he could not go with her. He was waiting in his office when she finished tears in her eyes, her hands shaking. He ushered into his office telling Carmen to hold his calls. He pulled her into a tight hug as he felt her body began to tremble. After several minutes had passed they sat on his couch. "Can you tell me a about it?" He asked gently.
"It was awful, basically I work too much. I'm not there for Noah, of yes and I have a history of violence for almost killing William Lewis." She explained, "What was really strange was her asking me about Dr. Lindstrom and how long did I see him."
Rafael shook his head, "You should have taken Langan with you that was out of bound," Liv squeezed his hand before standing up.
"I need to get back to the office." She said and Rafael nodded reluctantly letting her go.
"Do you want me to get Noah today? I've got a pretty light schedule." He asked her.
"No, I'll get him, but thanks." Rafael nodded again standing up a pulling her in for another hug.
"I love you Liv, and Noah loves you too and what we have is really good, because of who you are, don't let go of that, all right?" He said tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I love you and I am never letting go of Noah or you." She promised him giving him a quick kiss before leaving the building.
After she was gone he sat back down at his desk but he could not get Liv's words out his head. How did the investigator know so much, especially about Dr. Lindstrom? Suddenly it hit him, "Son of a bitch!" he yelled and picked up the phone on his desk. "Carmen, find Brian Cassidy and get him in here immediately."
Fifteen minutes later Brian Cassidy was walking in to Barba's office.
"Counselor, good to see you again." Brian said as he offered the lawyer his hand with an all too familiar smug smile on his face.
"I can assure you the feeling is not mutual Cassidy, so let's not play games. What do you want?" Barba countered pointing towards as chair for him to sit in as he leaned back against his desk,
"You are the one who summoned me Barba." Brian reminded him
"I mean what the hell do you want with Liv, what are you after by trying to drag her through this?" Barba countered his anger growing.
"Hey, I can't help what comes across my desk, we both know that. " Brian defended himself.
"No, but you can help what extra details you through in like things you know about Liv and William Lewis or Dr. Lindstrom." Barba pointed out.
"I don't know what you mean Barba, I'm simply investigating." Brain told him crossing his arms as he leaned back in the chair.
"That's bullshit Cassidy and we both know it. I am telling you to leave Liv and Noah alone. Your job is done, move on." Barba warned hi leaning closer.
"Or what Barba, what are you going to do? It wouldn't look good for Liv's District Attorney Lover to be interfering with an investigation into her, now would it?" Brian scoffed
Barba's eyes narrowed and he leaned into Brian's personal space, "Excuse me?"
"Don't' play coy counselor you two aren't nearly as discreet as you think you are. All of your little "family outings" or goodbye kisses on the steps in the morning. God, you would think a cop and a DA would try a little bit harder." Brian taunted.
"Have you been following us Cassidy?" Barba challenged him.
"I've simply been conducting my investigation and maybe I turned up your little secret family you've got going. Imagine the look on Jack McCoy's face when I tell him what I have learned." Brian continued until Barba laughed out loud.
"Do you really think Liv and I are stupid enough not to disclose our relationship? Jack McCoy has known since the beginning and so has one PP. We are discreet but we aren't hiding anything. Sorry Cassidy, you are going to have to try harder than baseless accusations on Liv's parenting or our relationship." Barba circled back around his desk as if to dismiss Brian.
"You don't really think she's going to stick with you do you? Liv doesn't stick with anyone, she can't she's too screwed up she was to start with and William Lewis only made it worse. You and I both know she almost murdered the man. You really want to be a part of that? You really think she should be raising a kid?" Brian stood from his chair and began to walk from the office until he felt Barba's hand grab his shoulder and he turned around.
"I swear to God Cassidy if I hear you say anything like that ever again you will wish you had never left Florida." Barba seethed.
"Careful there Counselor, you don't want me to report that Liv's boyfriend is also emotionally unstable now do you?" Cassidy said with a laugh as he turned and walked from the office.
Barba grabbed his coat and stormed from his office telling Carmen he did not know when he would return. He walked the blocks that separated his office from the sixteenth precinct. He was completely unsettled by his conversation with Cassidy and he needed to see Liv. He did not worry that Cassidy could somehow come between them or even hurt their careers. It was something bigger than that something that made him want to keep Brian Cassidy as far away from Liv and Noah as possible.
The squad room was busy when he finally reached it and he spotted Liv in a conversation with Amanda. They made eye contact and he headed for her office. Liv finished her conversation and met him there closing the door behind her.
"What's going on? You look rattled." She asked running her hand briefly on his shoulder.
"I had a long talk with Cassidy." He confessed ready for the fury he was anticipating from her.
"You did what? Raf, we talked about this and you promised me you would stay out of it." She reminded him.
"Well that was a mistake on my part. I figure he had to be the reason that Cynthia knew so much about your past, William Lewis, Dr. LIndstom all of that, Cassidy told her all of it." Rafael explained.
Liv shook her head in confusion, "He wouldn't do that, Raf. I mean yeah he wasn't the most mature or stable guy ever but he wouldn't do that."
"He did it Liv, he all but told me so himself, and that's not all, he knows about us." EH told her taking her hand into his.
"What do you mean? How?" She asked.
"Says it was part of him investigating you that he found out."
Liv shook her head again, "But, we aren't doing anything wrong we have disclosed our relationship to out bosses."
"I know, but I don't like the idea of him poking around in our lives, something is off Liv. I can't explain it." He continued, but was interrupted by a knock on the door, it was Trevor Langan. Liv motioned for him to come in.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to tell you in person. I just got off the phone with the Cynthia and you have been cleared of all charges. She says her investigation turned up no evidence other than you are both a dedicated mother and police officer and like everyone else has your hand full. She sends her apologizes." He informed them.
"Sends her apologizes? That's the best she can do?" Rafael snapped drawing a sharp look from Liv.
"Thank you Trevor." She told him and Rafael agreed shaking his hand before he left.
"It's done Liv, it's all over." Rafael told her when Trevor was gone as he pulled her close not caring in the least if her entire squad was watching. If Brian Cassidy knew about them then certainly her team could too. She clearly agreed with him when she placed her lips for a celebratory kiss.
"What do you say we get out of here, go pick up Noah and get some ice cream." He suggested.
Liv glanced at the files on her desk, "Can it wait an hour? That way I won't have to work any tonight."
Rafael raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I like the sound of that. I'll go find a quiet place and get some work done myself." He left her office and sat down at any empty desk in the squad room and opened his briefcase doing his best to ignore the open stares of her team.
"Can I help you all with something?" He asked and they quickly all turned back to their work.
As promised an hour later she emerged from her office and placed he hand on his shoulder and asked loud enough for everyone to hear, "You ready to get our boy and go home?"
He smiled up at her taking her hand as they walked out the door biding everyone a good night. They quickly caught a ride to the school and talked about what they would do once they picked Noah up. The woman at the front desk greeted them nervously when they entered the building and quickly called for the administrator.
"Lieutenant Benson, Mister Barba, Noah isn't here." She told them nervously.
"Did Lucy pick him up already? She must not have gotten my message." Liv said.
"No, it was that other man, the one who had been conducting the investigation, he said that he needed take Noah for an interview, he had a form that looked official." The administrator explained.
If it had not been for Rafael standing behind her holding her shoulders Liv would have probably fallen to the floor as her mind registered what the woman was saying, that Brian Cassidy had just kidnapped her son.