Moments earlier:
"Elijah?" Barba walked next to the new father, as they headed aimlessly. "I thought you hated that name?"
"I did, but Penelope liked it." He just shrugged. "I wasn't about to argue with a hormonal she-wolf."
"Wise of you." Glancing back at the house, he ensured they were away from anyone hearing them. "Wanna explain why you showed up with ripped clothes and covered in blood." He leaned in taking a whiff of the air around Hotch. He caught the scent of Hotchner's blood and of an unknown one. "Whose blood is that?"
"Eliot's betas." Hotch growled. "They were scouting near the border."
"Near the border?" Barba frowned. "Did you cross it?"
"Of course not. They did." Hotch hissed. "They waited until we turned our backs to make their move."
Barba sighed with a hand running down his face. "He's really pushing for a war between the packs."
"If that's the case we need to start gathering the packs. Call in the other alphas." Hotch said. "Guaranteed he's doing the same."
"Have Angelous get a list of all those allied to the pack before Stabler took over." Barba ordered. "I'll start making some calls. There are a few that owe us some favors."
"What are you going to tell your mate?" Hotch suddenly asked, getting a confused look. "She's going to find out sooner or later. Stabler was her partner for many years."
"I don't know yet." Barba sighed. "We just agreed to give us a chance. How the hell am I supposed to tell her, her ex-partner was turned, killed a wolf to take over the pack, and is now declaring war on us."
"Well, I'd work on the delivery a bit more." Hotch quickly stopped the man from responding, jerking his head to something behind him.
Looking over his shoulder, he spotted Olivia making her way toward them. "It's a good thing she isn't a wolf."
"Yet." Hotch whispered, walking past him. "How's Penelope?"
"She's good. Still waiting on her food and is asking for some water."
"Thank you."
"You ready to go home?" Barba asked.
She nodded. "Lucy, texted. Noah is awake and asking for me."
"Alright, we can stop for some takeout?" Taking her hand, he led her towards the car parked nearby. "What are you in the mood for?"
"Mexican."
Opening the door for her, he leaned in and kissed her softly. "Mexican it is."
As he closed the door Barba was tackled to the ground. A soundless groan escaped from his lips. Shaking the confusion and pain off he opened his eyes to find a rather small snarling wolf hovering over him. Its claws dug into his shoulder and chest, its yellow-stained teeth bared inches from his face. Without much effort, he placed his hands on the wolf's underbelly and shoved him off. Growling when its claws ripped against his skin. The beast had no time to react as Barba's pack was already on him.
Olivia jumped out of the car, with a rag she managed to find in the car. Kneeling next to him, she placed it on the wound on his chest. "What the hell is that?" He looked different from the ones she'd seen. It was scrawny and mangy. Patches of fur missing, and the smell was horrible. Almost decay in a way. "You, okay?"
"I'm fine." Barba stifled a groan as he stood with the help of Olivia. Knowing his pack would handle the intruder, he turned to Olivia. "Mexican might have to wait."
"You really joking at this time?" She scolded him. "Let's get you inside." As they walked up the stairs they bumped into Hotch. "He's hurt."
"I'm fine, just some scratches." Barba grumbled.
Hotch leaned in taking a few sniffs. "You're not okay." Helping Olivia walk him inside, Hotch sat him on one of the kitchen chair. A few of the pack mates followed them into the house. Their whimpers echoed throughout the house.
Barba growled at the pain shooting across his chest and shoulder. "He had wolfsbane didn't he." It was the only thing that could make him feel as if he was burning alive.
"Most likely on his claws." Hotch busied himself with gathering what they needed. "Benson, I need you to remove his shirt. Then grab the alcohol and pour it on him."
She grabbed the scissors handed to her. Starting from the bottom of the shirt, she cut it. "Pour it?"
"Dabbing it won't do anything but irritate him." Hotch replied.
Barba was feeling the dizziness coming in and out of him. Growling loudly at the liquid poured over his wounds. "Jesus!"
"Sorry." Olivia whispered; her eyes drawn to the sight in front of her. His blood flowed from the claw marks like a stream. What confused her was the blue goo mixed with his blood.
Giving her a low chuckle, he took her hand. "Couldn't wait to see me shirtless again."
She rolled her eyes. "Definity, plus the blood gives it a much more appealing look."
Barba snorted, catching sight of Hotch walking back to them. "Liv, whatever happens, don't freak out."
"Happens? What do you mean?"
"Calm down."
"What's going to happen?"
"I said not to freak out."
"You say that makes me freak out!"
"Enough!" Hotch stood in front of the two with an annoyed look. "Wolfsbane is lethal to us. When it enters our system, it targets our lungs and heart. The only way to get it out is by fire." He held up the blowtorch in his hands.
"You mean burn him?" Olivia gapped at the man.
Hotch nodded. "I am going to need you to hold him down."
Barba gave her hand a squeeze. He wouldn't show it, but he was scared. "I'll be fine."
Hotch grabbed Barba by the shoulders, pushing him back against the chair. "Want something to bite on?" Getting a shake of the head, he turned the blowtorch on. Without hesitation, he placed the flame directly on the wounds. Barba thrashed against the chair. His roar of pain caused nearly everyone to cover their ears. The younger wolves whimpered at the need to submit. Hotch shook his head, trying to clear his mind, watching the blue liquid evaporate.
Barba was somewhat aware of what was going on. He picked up on the scent of his pack and Olivia. Her scent alone was a comfort for him. But that was quickly replaced by that of an agonizing pain. His body was on fire, The fire licked his insides, teasing him of what was coming. When the fire did come it was hell itself. The flames burned everything in their path. At the same time, it warmed what the wolfsbane had frozen. At that moment all he cared about was knowing Olivia was unharmed.
Hotch continued until only crimson red blood dripping onto the hardwood floor. Pulling the torch away from Barba's skin, he watched the wounds begin to heal. "Done, they are healing already."
Olivia leaned forward pushing his hair away from his eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"The pain is gone." Barba muttered. "I'll be healed in no time."
"How about we spend the night here?" Olivia suggested. "You need to rest."
"Liv-"
"You are not changing my mind, Rafa."
Knowing there was no way of getting out of this, he gave in. "Why don't you have Lucy bring Noah? Or I can have someone go pick him up."
She was genuinely surprised by his offer. "Is that alright?"
"Of course, besides the females have been dying to meet him."
"Okay, I'll call them." She turned to find the pack still loitering in the house. "Can two of you please help him to his room?" Calling the babysitter, she kept a watchful eye as they carried Barba away. After the call, she stepped into Barba's room. The man was lying in his bed, in a pair of sweatpants and no shirt. Placing the phone on the nightstand, she kicked her shoes off and crawled into bed at his side. "Sure, you are, okay?"
Turning to face her, he kissed the top of her head. "Like nothing ever happens." Barba wasn't dense nor did he miss the small details. He had noticed the spike in her scent when he was attacked. The smell of fear surrounded her. Her heartbeat nearly erupted his eardrum. "I am sorry you had to see that. This was something I wanted to keep you away from."
"Rafa, giving us a proper chance means I will have to see the beautiful and the ugly in your world." She looked back at him, placing her hand on his cheek. "A little fight and blood aren't going make me run away."
Barba wrapped his arms around her in a moment and she let her head rest upon his chest. All her thoughts stopped as if her heart took over from her head when they were close. Next, he would squeeze as if he needed to check she was there and real. And she was, body and soul. Olivia doubted anyone else ever felt the way she did about being in his arms, though she pities them if they did love this much and lost because that's a pain that kills soft and slow.
