Dropping the laptop he rushed over to Olivia as soon as Shepherd turned to leave. He caught her just as her knees gave out. "I got you Liv." Holding her in his arms, he glanced back at the team. "Come on, let's sit you down." Taking her over to the bench, he kneeled down. "What the doc say?"

"He-uh-he said Rafael gave into his injures." The lump in her throat was making it difficult to breathe. "Bled out before they could even attempt to stop it."

"Barba's dead?" Carisi whispered.

Olivia nodded. "Y-yeah." The raw emotions of pain and sorrow spread throughout her chest. It felt as if someone had their boot over her chest and wasn't letting up.

"Captain Benson." Anaya glanced over at her partner, motioning at the pad in her hand. "I need to get her statement."

"I'll get the car." Elliot grumbled.

Fun was quick to block Anaya from getting close to Olivia. "That can wait."

"No. It can't." She hissed. "Benson we need to talk."

Wiping the tears away, she inhaled sharply and stood up. "Of course." Following the younger woman to the side, she crossed her arms. "What is it you need to know, you already know what happened."

Anaya glanced around leaning in closer. "I am only telling you this because I do not agree with the way things were handled. This is a choice you have to make, not Elliot."

"What are you talking about?" Olivia was not in the mood for riddles. She just wanted to go home and numb all the pain away. "What choice?"

"Barba is alive." Anaya decided not to beat around the bushes. "They are setting him up in a private room. After he is clear to travel they will be placing him under WP and relocating him."

"Wh-why-" She stumbled back with a shaky breath. "He's alive? Oh god, he's alive." Suddenly feeling nauseous she covered her mouth and took a few breaths. "Ah-why wasn't I told?"

"They didn't believe it would do any good." Anaya muttered.

"By they you mean Elliot." Olivia growled.

"I said what I needed to." Anaya stated. "What you do next is up to you."

Jogging into the hospital she made a beeline for Dr. Shepherd. Finding him by the nurse's station, she grabbed him by the lapel of his white coat and dragged him into the nearest room.

"Captain Benson?" Shepherd straighten his coat glaring at the woman in front of him. "I understand this is a tough time for you, but you can not go-"

"Where is he?" She asked.

"Excuse me?" He raised a brow genuinely confused at the moment.

"What room is he being transferred into?" Benson asked once more getting impatient by the second.

Shepherd scratched the back of his neck, not sure what he should say or do. He couldn't very well tell her the truth, not without getting into issues himself. "If you're referring to Mr. Barba he is most likely being taken to the morgue by now."

"Cut the crap Doc. I know he's alive. I know he is being sent into a secured room." Stalking toward the man, she stood inches away from him. "And if you don't tell me where I am going to shut this hospital down and have every floor swept until I find him."

Shepherd wasn't about to admit it, but he was scared. The look in her eyes could only resemble that of a wolf protecting her mate. "8th floor, room 828."

Taking the elevator up to the 8th floor, she was stunned to find a hulk of a man blocking her exit.

"This area is restricted." He crossed his arm causing his biceps to pop out even more. "You need to head back down."

"I'm captain Olivia Benson with the SVU." She flashed her badge. "You have Rafael Barba in room 828, I need to see him."

"We have no one with that name." He grumbled.

She exhaled aggressively itching to just threaten the man with her gun. Would she get in trouble? Probably. Did she care? No. Not at all. "Listen I am-"

"Olivia?" Craigen was surprised, to say the least. "What are you doing here?"

"Me? What are you doing here?" She was seriously getting tired of being out of the loop. "You're supposed to be retired."

"I still keep tabs on you all." Craigen replied. "Now, you haven't answered my question."

"Rafael."

His shoulders slumped forward. "Who told you?"

"That doesn't matter right, what matters is that you all tried to keep it from me." She snapped. "I promised him I would leave his side."

"You need to understand, that Barba is under WP. At least until we figure all this out."

Olivia shook her head. "I am not leaving him."

"Alright, come with me." He knew it would do no good to argue with her. When it came to Barba, she was worse than with Elliot. "The entire floor has been cleared for Barba. There are only two nurses on the clock. Dr. Shepherd will be the only one checking and attending to Barba." He took a left at the end of the hallway, gesturing to the officers standing by. "We have six guards on the floor. One by the elevator. Two at the staircases doors and two at his door and one patrolling the area."

"The nurses? Only two?"

Craigen nodded. "Yes. We picked two that had no need in going home. They will remain inside the hospital until Barba is cleared to go. They rotate and if they need to leave, an officer will be with them."

"What's to stop another payoff?"

"The officers have surrendered their phones." Craigen stopped just outside room 828. "I have the phones and we are monitoring any calls and text messages. Olivia, a statement will be released tomorrow at noon. We will be declaring Barba dead."

"Understood." Pushing the door open, she popped her head in. "Rafa?"

Stepping into the room she found him asleep. Reaching the side of the bed, she took his hand needing to feel the warmth. Leaning closer to Barba she pushed his hair away from his forehead. "You need a haircut." Running her hand down his cheek and over his beard, Olivia studied his face. The salt and pepper beard was really going for him. He had always been handsome, but this was a new level she hadn't experienced before. Laying her hand over his heart, she released a breath feeling the light drumming.

Knowing this was a bad idea, she slipped onto the bed. Careful to not jostle him Olivia settled into his side. She entwined their fingers together just now realizing how well they fitted. Nuzzling into his neck, his scent impregnated the air around them. Sort of like a blanket wrapping her up in a cocoon that was all Rafael.

Outside:

"What do you mean Olivia is in there?" Elliot growled at his ex-captain. "We agreed she wouldn't know about this."

"No, you made that choice yourself." Anaya muttered behind the two.

"She can't stay here." Elliot pushed past Craigen, speed walking towards the room. "What is she thinking?"

"What's so bad about her knowing he's alive Elliot?" Anaya rolled her eyes at the glare he tossed her. "It's her choice to make not yours."

With a click of his tongue, he barged into the room. "Li-" He froze at finding the duo sleeping. Olivia was practically merged into his side, while Barba rested his cheek on her head. Gritting his jaw he walked over to her and reached for her shoulder. "L-"

"You wake her up and you'll be the one lying in this bed next." Barba's hoarse voice filled the empty room.

Elliot was startled for a moment, regaining his composure quickly. "I need to speak with her."

"You can do it later." Barba forced his eyes open. "It's late. I'm still high off the meds and I am sure Olivia has earned the right to sleep. Whatever you need to say to her, you can do it tomorrow."

"No, it actually can't."

Anaya rolled her eyes at the stubbornness of her partner. "Elliot we have two suspects waiting back at the station."

"We need to take Liv and get her-"

"If you're looking for a statement, you can do that later." Barba was fully awake now and glaring daggers at Elliot. "Now if what's bothering you is the fact that she's in bed with me, you can always leave the room. No reason for you to even be in here." Glancing at his watch he scoffed. "It's 1 am in the morning. Get out."

"Stabler." His partner snapped. "Let the poor woman sleep, she's had a tough night." With a loud grunt, he stormed out of the room. Anaya shook her head with a scoff. "We will be back later today with an update. In the meantime get some rest, Mr. Barba."

"They told me you had died." Olivia had waited to hear the door click, before letting him know she was awake.

Barba stiffed. "What?"

"I thought you had died on the table." She whispered. "You were gone."

Clenching his jaw he fought an inner battle with himself. The old Rafael in him wanted to hold her. Comfort her and let her know he was not leaving. That he was still breathing the same air she was. But this Rafael refused to get hurt again. He refused to give in to his temptations, only to be put second once more. He couldn't bare it.

"I'm still here." At attempting to raise his hand, he froze at finding them entwined with hers. 'Damit Benson.'