It was all a blur, really, how fast Montserrat got to the precinct where her brother was being kept. In all her rushing, she missed someone snap a picture of her from afar when she went into the building. It was Rafael who had briefly stopped at the entrance to look around. He was quite used to the feeling of being 'watched' due to his profession...and right now was one of those moments. But, as much as he looked, all he saw was the typical bustling streets he always saw. By the time he caught up with Montserrat, she was already speaking with Casey, more like frantically shouting 'what the hell is going on' and not giving Casey a chance to explain.

"I just don't understand how any of this could be happening!" Montserrat's loudness was attracting the attention of the others in the precinct, but she didn't care. "How the hell is my brother in jail!? How did he get arrested!? Why did he get arrested!? How did -" she stopped talking midsentence and went for the front desk...only to be yanked back by Casey.

"You need to calm the hell down," snapped the older cousin in a quiet warning.

But instead of heeding Casey's warning, a humorless laugh slipped through Montserrat's lips. "You can't be serious?" And just like that, her smile vanished and she wrestled free of Casey's grip. "My brother's in jail!" she snapped through gritted teeth. "So don't you tell me to calm the hell down!" She pushed past Casey and went for the front desk.

Casey took a moment for herself so she wouldn't kill her cousin on the spot. Her eyes were soon on Rafael and so she made a gesture for him to take a shot. "Your turn."

"I'd rather not," he wasn't afraid to admit. "I've never seen her like that…"

Because even now, Montserrat was arguing the hell out of it with the poor cop stuck behind the other side of the front desk. She was almost as red as her hair.

"I'm here because she asked me to come with her," he went ahead and explained after Montserrat was allowed to go see her brother. "I was there when you called her."

"Ah," Casey turned around and watched as Montserrat disappeared behind a door. "I debated really hard whether or not to call her - Gael didn't want her to know."

"What's he doing here?" Rafael was admittedly curious to know how an architect landed himself in jail. As far as he knew, Gael was a law-abiding man.

"One of the buildings he finished collapsed on some people and now they're saying he's responsible because he failed to add in some parts during construction."

Rafael examined Casey's anger and how her eyes seemed to accuse the room itself for something. "And you don't look like you believe it."

"Because it's bullshit," she turned to him. "Gael is a talented architect. He's never once had any complaint against him. He knows how to do his job just like we do. He would never miss something so crucial."

Rafael couldn't outright agree with Casey's solely because he didn't know Gael very much. Yes, Casey could be right and something was off in this case or...sometimes people did make mistakes. Either way, he knew Montserrat would get hurt in both situations and that's what worried him the most.

~ 0 ~

"I don't understand why you're in here," Montserrat was really trying her best not to shout because she knew no matter how she felt, Gael had to feel worse. She curled her hands around the cell's bars and stared at her older brother in a mixture of tears and anger.

Gael sat on the lone bench and just shook his head. It seemed like he was past the anger and denial phase and was set into acceptance. "Cos I missed something, Montse. The building Damian and I worked on for months was...it collapsed." And even from the way he said it, the way his face morphed into utter confusion was a clear indication this wasn't true.

"But you're Gael, you have that annoying talent of not missing a thing!"

"Everyone misses something at one point."

"But you don't. Especially when it comes to your job. Walk me through it, please," Montserrat inched closer to the cell. "This building...what happened to it?"

"I don't know," Gael's voice cracked. Montserrat's heart might be cracking too. She never saw her brother this dejected. "I-I mean...I went over the plans a million times. Damian gave it a look too. We did things by the book. Nothing should have broken, nothing should have...collapsed." He raised his gaze to meet his sister's anguished face. "I swear Montse, I have no idea why the building collapsed."

"I believe you," Montserrat nodded. "But now I'm going to get you a lawyer, okay? In the meantime, don't say a word to anyone."

"The company I work for is already appointing one for me. They're doing another investigation or something-"

"-alongside the precinct's," Montserrat finished for him, already knowing the process. "Yeah. I don't care. I'm getting you a lawyer from our end."

"Where are you going to get a lawyer from?"

"Ha, you forget I work at SVU. We've come across several defense lawyers who are...vicious. I'm getting you one of those," Montserrat had a brief smirk on her face before she saw her brother's weak smile. "Hey, don't worry, okay? I'm going to get you out."

Gael shook his head. "My girls…"

"I'll take care of them," Montserrat quickly volunteered herself.

But Gael shook his head again. He pushed himself up from the bench and walked up to the cell bars. "Your job is a 10 hour shift almost every day. You don't have time to take care of a 4 year old and a 15 year old-"

"-I will make the time, I swear," Montserrat pushed one of her hands in-between the bars and took Gael's hand. "They can stay with me and Kara."

"What are you going to tell them?" Gael bitterly smiled to himself. "That their father is responsible for putting people in the hospital?"

"It's not your fault," Montserrat said slowly. "We'll figure this out, okay? You and I...Dad…"

"Oh God, Dad…" Gael brought his free hand to his forehead. "What the hell is he going to say?"

"That you're innocent, what else?" Montserrat's obvious answer made no difference for Gael right now. She gripped his hand and made him look at her. "Naša rodina môže byť malá, ale sme mocní," she whispered. "We may be small, but we are mighty. Novaks don't go down."

Gael gave a small nod, but from where he stood...he believed he was already down.

~ 0 ~

After leaving Gael, Montserrat went straight for the front desk again and this time got herself through an entire group of cops until she had the Captain in front of her. There, she - along with Casey and Rafael - got the information she needed to know about Gael's process.

And it was not pretty. At all.

"He's going to be arraigned soon," Montserrat said in disbelief once the trio were out of the precinct.

"They move fast, you know that," Casey's reminder came at a full moment.

"I told him I'd get him a lawyer. I didn't want to tell him but when a company faces a lawsuit, they hang their employees up to dry," Montserrat bit her lower lip like it was gum. "They won't care what happens as long as they get free."

"Then we find him one. It's not like we're short-handed of defense lawyers," Rafael's words rang the exact thought Montserrat had earlier.

"Yeah. And I know exactly who I want," she smirked for the briefest of moments.

~0~

It was hard swallowing pride but when it was about family, Montserrat would do anything. That's why she was sitting with Rita Calhoun at the DA's building. Somewhere hell was freezing over, she knew.

"Let me get this straight," Rita put her things down on the conference table, her expression a mixture of amusement and confusion, "I got called in because you want me to help you?"

"Yes." Even one word was hard enough for Montserrat to say.

Rita wanted to smile but the confusion won out. "But you don't even have my number."

"Yeah, I know, so if this all works out I am going to owe two people now. Look, you're going to be paid so are you helping me or not?"

"I never turn down a client," Rita now fully smiled as she took a seat.

Montserrat so badly wanted to say she knew Rita wouldn't, considering the type of clients she represented. But instead, Montserrat sat down too and began to explain the situation. To her credit, Rita did listen attentively to the story. "Gael swears he checked everything. He's innocent."

"They always are," Rita dismissively said but Montserrat slammed a fist down on the table.

"He is!" she snapped. "He's done this job for a very long time. There is no reason this should've happened."

"Alright," Rita made a 'take it easy' gesture with a hand. "I get it."

"So will you help me?" Montserrat's question sounded more like a beg than a question. "I will pay you whatever you want."

"I'm in," Rita smiled. "Because if you're right, and they wrongly accused your brother... he's gonna have a field day filing through lawsuits against the city."

Montserrat rolled her eyes, but somewhere inside she admitted that she agreed with Rita. It was an unusual crave for revenge she felt for the sake of her brother. They wronged him, he deserved compensation. But right now, they first needed to focus on getting Gael out.

"He's being arraigned soon," she told Rita as they walked out of the conference room.

"Alright, I'll go see him right now. I'll keep you posted." Rita made to leave but stopped when she saw her usual nemesis coming towards them. Oh, she wanted to say a lot of things right now. Chances like these were rare. "Never thought I'd see the day when you would call me for help, Rafael."

There was an honest-to-god hatred radiating from Rafael - it was a real struggle not to snap back like he usually would - but he forced his mouth to stay shut until he could say something decent. "I...know your tactics very well." That could be a compliment, right?

Rita's eyebrows raised for a minute, clearly amused of his restraint...because she knew he had a lot more to say. "Really? And what are those tactics you're talking about?"

"Could you please just go see my brother already?" Montserrat cut into the woman's fun. She had her arms crossed and an impatient expression on her face. "I am paying you, after all." Rita pointed at the ginger that she was right and got moving again.

"I take it, it went well?" Rafael asked her once Rita was gone.

"Yeah, I mean, she didn't laugh in my face so…" Montserrat dropped her arms to her sides. "Let's see if her vicious ways can actually help me this time."

"She will."

Montserrat sighed and turned to him with one weak smile, probably the only one she'd be able to muster for that day. "Thank you for calling her, though. I know that took...a lot out of you."

"Calling Rita Calhoun for help? I mean...at least now I can say I've done it all," Rafael tried to be humorous but it wasn't working. "Okay," he nodded slightly and stepped closer to her, "I would call Buchanon if you needed me to."

Montserrat smiled briefly at him. She knew he absolutely hated Buchanon. With Rita, it was more of a frenemy type of relationship that was almost always on the 'enemy' side...but still a lot better than Buchanon. "I wouldn't do that you."

"But if you needed me to, I really would. So let me know if Rita doesn't work out, alright?" he gave her a steady look until she nodded. She really wished she could hug him right now, but he was just being a friend.

"Listen, I didn't know whether or not to mention this but...Liv just called," Rafael unknowingly pulled her back to the present. "Nick got himself arrested."

It was definitely enough to reel Montserrat back to the present and shake those thoughts out of her head for a good while. "What!? What do you mean-"

"-he went after Simon Wilkes and sent him to the hospital."

"Oh God," Montserrat passed a hand through her ginger curls. "Maybe he and Gael might see each other for arraignment, then."

"Liv was just calling to see if I knew where you were. They need you back at the precinct. I didn't tell her anything about your situation. But please, don't go if you're not ready."

"Are you kidding? Nick's in trouble-"

"-but so are you," Rafael grabbed her flapping arms and forced her to stay still and, by consequence, her mind. She was definitely on the road to spiraling or at the very least spreading herself too thin. "So take care of yourself first. And if not yourself, then your nieces. You have to go pick them up soon, right?"

"Well, yeah…" Montserrat swallowed hard just at the mere reminder she was going to be the one to tell her nieces that their father was in jail. "But Murphy is going to have a go at me with my absences."

"Screw him. You do what you need to do first."

"Easy for you to say when your job is secure."

"Montserrat, stop being so difficult." Rafael honestly felt like that phrase 60% of his vocabulary when it came to her. The only difference right now was that he really was just trying to help her. There was no sarcasm. "For once, just listen to me."

Montserrat sighed. Even in situations like these, it was actually hard taking his advice without bickering. "Fine," she relented. "But I'm not just going to ignore Nick's situation. Keep me posted while I'm gone?"

"I will if you'll keep me updated."

It was a fair deal and Montserrat knew it. "Okay," she nodded her head. "Thank you...for that. And everything else."

"Of course. Now go," Rafael let her go and hoped she would really listen to him this time. She looked so lost, so unlike herself. It wasn't right. He wished there was more he could for her, but what?

~0~

"Why are you picking me up?" Juliana immediately asked when Montserrat pulled up to her high school's pick-up driveway. The fifteen year old gave her aunt a narrowed-eyed stare while Montserrat did her best to keep her smile on her face.

"Just...get in," she unlocked the passenger's seat and motioned Juliana to come in.

The teenager pulled the door open and got into the car. She put her seat belt on then shifted on her seat to better face Montserrat. "Why are you picking me up?"

"Jesus, can't I surprise you or something?"

Juliana's face scrunched in confusion. "Why are you lying?"

Montserrat's nervous laugh didn't exactly help her case. "I'm not - I'm just picking-"

"Aunt Montse, seriously," Juliana leaned against her seat and watched as they pulled into a new street. "I'm not a child. That stuff can work on Ivana, but not on me."

"It's…" Montserrat sighed. Yeah, she knew she wouldn't be able to hide it from Juliana but she figured she'd at least have some time before she had to explain things. "We need to pick your sister up and then you'll be coming to stay with me for a few days."

"What?" Juliana frowned for a few seconds as she studied her aunt's face. There was a ping at the bottom of her stomach when she realized Montserrat was pale as could be and nervous. "You're picking at your nails again."

Her notice startled Montserrat because, up until now, no one had realized it was one of her nervous ticks. Even after last year, the picking her nails had remained one of her secrets.

"Is my dad dead?" Juliana's question was barely above an audible whisper, but the dread of the mere possibility had the teenager white as a sheet.

"Oh God no!" Montserrat immediately said, exclaiming to the point where she unexpected stop their car. Their bodies lurched forwards but ultimately they were good. "No, your Dad is not dead. He is alive and w…" but she trailed off when it became apparent that Gael was not well. How could he be?

And Juliana saw that. "Aunt Montse, where's my Dad?"

Montserrat sucked in a deep breath. Her eyes gazed to the road ahead and no matter how hard she thought about it, she knew there was no easy way to tell her niece where Gael was. "Let's get your sister first."

~0~

Kara had learned the news from her brother, Damian, who'd gotten a call from their company prior. So when the door opened up, Kara jumped from the couch to help Montserrat but Juliana stormed into the apartment.

"Jules, hey, what are you…" Kara trialed off as the teenager stormed right past her, into the hallway, and straight into the bathroom where she slammed the door shut. Kara flinched when the door sounded like it would fall off its hinges.

Montserrat came in a few seconds later with Ivana in her arms. The four year old looked upset but it was more tears and pouts than anger.

"Oh Montserrat," Kara didn't know who to help first.

"That is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," Montserrat's own eyes glistened with tears. It was difficult explaining to Juliana and Ivana why their father was in jail even though he was innocent. She didn't have the answers to their questions, and much less than comfort they desperately needed.

"I'm so sorry," Kara walked over and hugged Montserrat (and Ivana) tightly. "I'm here if you need anything."

"Thanks. Um, for starters, I needed to bring the girls here...sorry…"

"No, that's fine! We can take care of them here between us two."

"My Dad's going to pick them up from school so I'll just bring them in the morning. You won't notice them-"

"-stop, Montse," Kara started pulling Ivana from Montserrat's arms. The four year old would go with anyone at this point. "You're family. This is what we do."

"Well…" Montserrat took a moment to breath in and out. "I've no idea what I'm doing."

There was a brief knock on the door before Sonny poked his head into the apartment. At Montserrat's questioning look, he quickly said, "I got a key now," and walked in.

"Of course you do," Montserrat playfully rolled her eyes.

"I saw you pulling up. I heard what happened with your brother," he came up to her and gave her a hug of support. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, so am I," Montserrat sighed. She didn't even question the fact Kara must have already told him ahead of time. "I don't understand how this happened. My brother does not mess up like this. Putting people in the hospital because of negligence? I don't think so."

"I'm sure we'll figure it out. It's what we do best, right?" Sonny flashed her a friendly smile. He was there if she needed him too.

"Yeah," she gave a small nod and turned to the hallway. "Juliana locked herself in my room, didn't she?"

"Bathroom. And that's gonna need to change because...yeah…" Kara awkwardly made a face.

"She's just so mad and I...I can't blame her. How do I get her to come out?"

"Leave her a few minutes in there so she can cool down," Sonny suggested. "I have 3 sisters. I know how this pans out."

"Aw, poor you," Kara pretended to pout, leading him to roll his eyes at her.

He walked over to her and tried tickling Ivana so that she would at least look up from Kara's shoulder. "Hey c'mon, your aunt Montse says you love eating pasta. How about we make that for dinner, hm?" Ivana only lifted her head slightly so that she could meet his gaze from Kara's shoulder. "I'm going to need a helper because between you and me, your aunt Montse and Kara aren't very good at cooking."

"Hey!" went the two women with the same frowns. Kara even smacked his arm with a free hand.

"What!? I'm helping!" Sonny argued and ultimately got Ivana to accept his arms as a new holding place. "What kind of veggies do you want to put?"

Ivana pouted but she did answer after a few minutes, "My Daddy always puts broccoli."

"Broccoli?" Sonny was surprised to hear that a four year old willingly ate broccoli. "Yeah, definitely can do that then. C'mon, let's go see if we have everything we need."

Montserrat stopped him with a hand on his arm and whispered a "thank you" to him. Kara pulled Montserrat to the couch and sat her down, figuring it'd been a long day without breaks.

"How's your Dad?"

"Better than me, I guess," Montserrat shrugged. "He's meeting with Rita. But I think right now we're all just...lost."

"This isn't forever, Montse," Kara tried to sound as reassuring as possible. "We're going to get him out."

Montserrat nodded like she wanted to believe it, and she did, but right now the way she felt made everything seem so far and lost. Helpless.

Someone knocked on the door and when Kara went to open it, she found Damian on the other side. The two exchanged knowing looks before Damian walked in.

Soon as Montserrat saw him, she stood up from the couch. "What did they-"

"-business doesn't know how this happened either," Damian shook his head. "I did the evaluations. I know everything was put together the way it needed to be."

"Any evidence of that?"

"Yes. All documented."

Something lit in Montserrat's face. "Then we can show that and-and we can get Gael out." She rushed up to Damian and threw her arms around him. "Oh my God, thank you Damian!"

"What's going on?" Sonny emerged from the kitchen with Ivana behind his legs. He immediately eyed the hugging duo across and frowned.

"Damian might have what you guys need to free Gael," Kara grinned. "Isn't that great!?"

"Yeah, I mean...how?" Sonny asked, now wondering how long he'd been in the kitchen.

"It's protocol that we document each time we check to make sure everything was done right," Damian explained.

Montserrat slightly pulled away to smile at him. "You might have saved my brother."

"Don't I always do that?" Damian's light joke actually pulled a laugh from her.

Sonny smiled as did Kara, but the former just knew this whole ordeal was just a way for Damian to impress Montserrat. And the worst part was, he wasn't even doing it on purpose. It just so happened it worked out in his favor.

And Rafael without a single clue about it.

There he was in his office, attempting to do some work but his mind couldn't seem to focus. In fact, every few minutes or so, his eyes would end up flickering to his phone sitting at the edge of the desk as if it would ring. But what was he expecting? For Montserrat to call him at this hour? He was the one who told her to take some space between her and her work and whether or not he wanted to admit it, he was only part of her 'work life'. That was it. And the reminder of that made Rafael stop working until he could accept it (again) and continue his work. The cycle had been going on for the last couple of hours.

It was going to be a long night.

With all those thoughts in his head, Rafael didn't notice the office door opening to let someone in. "Rafael?"

The call of his name wasn't what startled him, it was who called him that was startling. Perhaps dreadful too. He got up on an instinct but despite having so many things rushing through his mind, he couldn't string two words together. So, only one came out instead. "Yelina?"

Author's Note:

I told you guys angst was coming but I also swear that they do eventually get together. My proof? I just finished writing a cuteass scene between them involving childhood pictures. I swear.

P. S: I have created a tumblr account dedicated to my fanfic works! It's also a place where anyone can comment about a story or even just talk to me! I often drop aesthetic work belonging to my stories too! Feel free to check it out, my URL is "noble-crescent" and the tag I created for any posts having to do with my work is # noblecrescentedit.