The living room was dimly lit, reflecting the somber mood that filled the air. Mike sat on the couch, staring blankly at a family photo on the wall. Liv walked in and tried to hand him a cup of coffee.
"I made you some coffee," Liv said softly.
Mike didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the photo of him and Anna from their wedding day, their smiles frozen in time.
Liv took a seat on the couch beside him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
"I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through, Mike. I'm so sorry."
"It's all gone, Liv." Mike's voice trembled. "Everything we had planned, all our dreams…it's shattered."
Liv rubbed his back before taking a deep breath.
"Anna was an amazing woman. She loved you so much, and she wanted nothing more than to build a beautiful life with you and the twins."
Mike looked over at Liv with tears in his eyes.
"I was so excited to become a father. I wanted to be there for Anna every step of the way, to support her and watch our family grow."
Liv took his hand.
"You were, Mike. Anna knew how much you loved her and the babies. You were there for her until the very end."
"But I couldn't protect them. I couldn't save them." Mike barely whispered.
Liv squeezed his hand, struggling to find the right words to say.
"Mike, this wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known what would happen. Sometimes life throws these unimaginable challenges at us, and it's devastating. But you're not alone in this. We're here for you."
Mike looked up at Liv, his eyes filled with pain and longing.
"How do I go on, Liv? How do I find the strength to keep going?"
"It won't be easy, but you will find the strength. Take it one day at a time. It's okay to grieve and to feel lost. But remember, Anna and the twins will always be a part of you."
Mike took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination.
"You're right. But Anna and the twins deserve justice. That bastard that took them away from me deserves to pay." Mike said as he balled his hand into a fist.
Rafael Barba sat at his desk prepping for a case he was taking to trial later that week. His secretary Carmen entered his office, her face solemn.
"Mr. Barba, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's something urgent I need to tell you," Carmen said.
Barba looked up from the files, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"What is it, Carmen? What's happened?" Barba questioned.
Carmen spoke in a gentle tone "It's about Sergeant Dodds' wife Anna. She was in a car accident. She didn't make it, and the twins she was carrying had to be delivered through an emergency c-section. Unfortunately, they didn't make it either."
Barba's face contorted with shock and sorrow. He leaned back in his chair, struggling to process the devastating news.
"That's…that's heartbreaking." Barba whispered, "How is Mike holding up?"
"He's devastated," Carmen said sadly. "Lieutenant Benson is with him now, trying to provide some comfort. But I can only imagine the immense pain he's experiencing."
Barba took a moment to compose himself, his mind racing with the weight of the tragedy.
"Thank you for letting me know, Carmen. Please extend my deepest condolences to Mike when you speak to him and let him know that the District Attorney's Office will prosecute the person who did this." Barba said.
"Of course, Mr. Barba." Carmen nodded.
Present Day
Amanda and Sonny sit at their desks with more questions as Olivia tells them the story.
"Did Barba get justice for what happened to Dodds' wife and twins?" Amanda asked.
Olivia sighed "It was a long road, but we finally got a breakthrough. Barba was able to build a strong case against the person responsible for the car accident."
"How did you find the suspect?" Sonny asked.
Olivia leaned back in her chair.
"Amaro, Fin, and I started reviewing surveillance footage from nearby cameras, hoping to find any leads. It took some time, but we finally spotted a car matching the description of the one in the accident. We traced the license plate number and identified the owner of the vehicle. Turns out, it was registered under a fake name, but we were able to dig deeper into the suspect's background. We discovered a history of reckless driving and previous brushes with the law."
"Did Barba when the case?" Sonny asked.
"Yes, the guy is now in prison on three counts of vehicular manslaughter," Liv answered.
Before anyone could respond, Deputy Chief William Dodds came into the squad room like a hurricane.
"Benson, is Mike here? I can't get him to answer his phone. You know what day it is right?"
"Chief, it's ok. I sent Mike home. He was having a hard time with the anniversary." Liv tried to calm him down.
"That is the worst thing you could have done. If he had gone straight home his phone wouldn't be going to voicemail. We have to find him!" Chief Dodds ranted.
"We will Chief. I have a very good feeling I know where to find him." Olivia said as she grabbed her jacket. She knew Mike too well. She knew he was more than likely at the cemetery.