"...of course I understand. Do what you need to do…" Montserrat was finishing up her conversation on the phone when she walked into her apartment to find Gael and Damian sitting at the kitchen table. "I'll see you tomorrow night." She hung up and met her brother's curious look. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, wow, what a greeting," Damian snickered beside Gael.

"Shut up," Montserrat waved him off as she discarded all her things on the couch. "What are you guys doing here?" She asked again but in a much more amicable tone.

"Thought we'd get you girls some dinner. Kara's been complaining I haven't been around," Damian said while Gael gestured to the Chinese food still boxed on the table. "And don't worry, I haven't eaten your fortune cookie yet."

"Right," Montserrat walked over to give her brother and Damian a hug. "Nice seeing you guys. I feel like it's been a while."

"You mean since I was exonerated from homicide charges?" Gael cocked his head to the side. His attempt at being casual was questionable.

Montserrat still softened. It was infuriating knowing that the real culprit hadn't been caught yet. "I know," she came back to Gael's side and gave him another side-hug. "I promise you that I'm still looking into it-"

"You don't have to and you shouldn't be," Gael said as she parted from him. "Pretty sure it's against the rules, actually. I'm fine, Montserrat. Just a little joke of mine."

"Well they suck so drop them," she grabbed the chair between him and Damian. "Where's Kara?"

"Coming from the salon," huffed Damian. "She won't let us start until she's here."

"Oh, well, thanks for remembering about me," Montserrat shot him a sarcastic glance.

He just smiled back at her. "I could never forget about you."

"But you sure took your damn time getting here," Gael said, leaning back against his chair. He was studying his sister at that moment.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom and when I come back I'm going to eat," Damian announced as he pushed himself up from his chair. "Whether or not my sister is here."

Montserrat chuckled at him. "She'll kill you."

"Not when I have New York's finest protecting me," he smirked then headed off into the hallway.

Montserrat shook her head at him but stopped when she noticed Gael's look on her. "What?"

"Who were you talking to on the phone right now?"

"Who are you? Dad?"

"No, but I am your big brother."

Montserrat snorted. "Was that supposed to mean something?"

"Seriously, who were you talking to?"

"What does it matter?"

"It just sounded like someone important."

"Just a co-worker," shrugged Montserrat.

"That you're going to see 'tomorrow night'?" Gael brought up his fingers to do air-quotation marks.

Montserrat awkwardly cleared her throat. Alright, maybe she'd forgotten she said that. Rafael had been too upset with himself for cancelling their dinner plans because of Evie Barnes' case getting in the way. Obviously she wasn't going to get mad at him for that but he didn't understand. She liked that he was that determined to keep their dates but she didn't want him to feel guilty about things that were out of his control.

"Are you seeing anybody?" Gael finally asked the question he'd been leading up to. He thought with enough jabs she would just tell him, but of course his little sister lived to make things more complicated.

Montserrat was reluctant to answer straight away. She then figured that maybe it wasn't that bad. She and Rafael had discussed the idea of letting others know that they were seeing each other (maybe not specifically each other but the idea was still there). Plus, the others at the precinct already found out because of the flowers Rafael had sent her.

"Montserrat?" Gael called again, eyes more narrowed. "Are you seeing someone?"

Montserrat ultimately nodded. "Yeah...I...I am," she said, purposely keeping her gaze on the table for a few seconds. She wasn't ready for her brother to hassle her for answers that were none of his business.

"Sooo…?"

"So what?"

"So who is the guy?"

"I'm not telling you," she immediately said. "It's new and I like it and I swear to God, Gael, if you try anything you'll regret it."

Gael made a face. "For something 'new' you sure seem ready to kill."

"Because it's new and good," Montserrat said loud and clear in case there was any misconception. She wasn't ready to spill everything; she just needed her brother to understand that she was happy and he shouldn't be trying to stick his nose where it didn't belong. "I don't want you ruining things, alright? This is only a couple months old and—"

"Months?" Gael repeated, sounding truly surprised. "Woah, hold on, was this going on while I was being charged?"

"Calm down, I got you out didn't I?"

"Montserrat Irene—"

"NO!" She suddenly yelled, silencing him. "God, what's the matter with you? You don't get to middle-name me because I chose not to tell you something about my private life. I haven't done that to you ever and I hope you extend the same courtesy to me as well. Besides, what are you so upset about?"

"I'm not upset, just surprised," Gael answered slowly albeit slightly calmer. Montserrat had struck up a point and the last thing he wanted to do was argue with her. "You haven't dated in forever. Plus, I'm just genuinely surprised…" A sudden smile took his face over, letting Montserrat dread what was about to come next, "...that someone willingly chose to deal with you."

Though she wanted to smack him for that, Montserrat smiled. She much rather preferred to hear these jabs because it meant that he wasn't angry and he wouldn't be making her life harder. "Shut up," she playfully hit his arm.

"So c'mon, will I get to meet this guy?"

"Yeah, of course, just not right now," Montserrat said. "It's too early. Plus, no one knows alright? So keep it to yourself."

"Yeah, yeah…"

"I mean it Gael," Montserrat shot him her warning look. "I mean no one, not Dad, not even Damian. It's not your right to say anything."

"I got it, Montserrat, sheesh," Gael rolled his eyes. "Don't have to get so worked up about it."

"Worked up about what?" Damian returned at that point and soon enough, Montserrat was shooting daggers at her brother to watch what he said. "Are you being an annoying brother again?" Damian grabbed his seat.

"I think so," Gael said, and he thought that was as close to the truth as he could get. "So, dinner?"

"Kara hasn't shown up yet," Montserrat's reminder didn't seem to affect either man as they started pulling out the take out from their bags. She rolled her eyes at them.

~ 0 ~

Evie's first day in court had finally arrived and it was clear as day that she was nervous about it. Her parents had refused to come support her but she insisted that she was fine and that she would do whatever SVU instructed her to do. It just didn't mean that she wouldn't be nervous about it.

"She is coming right?" Rafael had to ask as the timing crept closer and Evie was a no-show. Olivia, Montserrat and Sonny were with him in the courthouse break room while they waited for the rest of the squad to come in with Evie.

"Of course she is," Olivia assured him, though she did cast a glance towards the elevator in hopes that the next it dinged open, Evie would be on the other side.

"Ten minutes," Rafael reminded her, tapping the non-existent watch on his wrist.

Olivia rolled her eyes at him and gestured she would be making a call.

"I might buy you a watch just to see that again," Montserrat mused before shaking her head. "What am I saying? You have one but in your rush, you forgot it, huh?"

Rafael deadpanned her. Ten minutes before court started wasn't the place for her sarcasm. Any other time, he welcomed it. "She's supposed to be here."

"And she will be," Sonny said. "You and Liv talked to her already. You've seen that she's determined to come." Rafael's look on him was enough to shift. "You know what? I'll just go make sure Liv calls...the right number…" He was quick to get out of there.

Montserrat shook her head. "You're scaring people."

"Good, I wish they were afraid enough to be here on time!" Rafael huffed.

"You'll be fine," Montserrat said like it was an obvious thing. "But if you forget what to say, just look back at me and I'll tell you." That made him crack a smile. "There we are." She stepped closer to him and started fixing his jacket for him. "That's what I like to see. My intelligent, confident, snarky man."

Her words tugged a good, smug smile from him. "Really?"

"Careful," she was smart enough to avoid looking at him, instead focusing on that jacket of his. "I also said 'snarky'."

"That's still a compliment."

"Of course it is," she rolled her eyes. She pulled the lapels of his jacket and brought them closer to each other. "Now stop scaring people."

"Am I scaring you?"

She scoffed. "Please. You're more annoying than anything else."

He smirked. She always answered so perfectly. "You're just as annoying, you know? But it's okay, I've learned that these lips—" He brushed his thumb over her lips, "—can be just as sweet. Maybe we can do dinner when we finish the case?"

"I'd love that," she nodded. She kissed his thumb that seemed stuck on her lips, flashing him a smirk afterwards. "And I promise to say so many sweet things throughout the date."

"I'm going to hold you to that," he pointed at her warningly. "Now I guess I have to go see if Evie showed up."

"She will," she nodded. "Like Liv said, she was determined to tell her story. Now go help her do that." She pressed a kiss to his lips then stepped to the side so he could leave. He had his confident face on and she even got one of his smirks on his way out.

She hadn't told him but each time she was awarded one of those smirks she got the best types of chills. No one else got those smirks but her. If she wanted to get technical about them, they belonged to her. It's like he only made them for her.

She had to take several breaths before leaving the break room.

~ 0 ~

As promised, Evie Barnes showed up to court right on time. When she was given the chance to take the seat, she told her story just like she wanted to. It just didn't mean that Buchanan was going to let her stick to the story. He was, as usual, ruthless with the victim. He twisted Evie's story until it fit the narrative he wanted for the jury, but it was still not enough to dissuade Evie's stance.

When the detectives offered Evie the chance to stay away from the trial after her day was over, she outright refused.

"No, I want to be there when Daniel testifies, make him look at me," she gritted her teeth together. Her words carried from her as she walked in-between Sonny and Amanda down the courthouse hallway. They were to take her home.

"She's a strong one," Olivia said as the trio disappeared into the elevator. "She'll be okay. Meanwhile, how are we?" She settled a very specific type of look on Rafael.

He may have half-smirked. "Do you really want the answer?"

"Be nice," Montserrat couldn't help the words that tumbled out of her mouth. If subjected her to a brief glance from Rafael. He couldn't stop his smirk from turning into a full one.

"Yeah, I don't think he's capable of that," Nick remarked, earning a laugh from Montserrat.

Leave it to Amaro to ruin things, Rafael rolled his eyes.

Olivia motioned Montserrat to settle down, but it only took effect when Montserrat noticed Rafael's unamused stare. She would pay for that one later, she was sure.

"Fin, make sure that Matt is front and center for tomorrow," Olivia instructed. "We don't want to take any chances."

"The guy's not going back, Liv. Not if he knows what's good for him," Fin said

Before he could leave, Rafael called. "Bring him over. I want to make sure that he's thoroughly prepped."

"On it councilor," Fin gave a thumbs up.

"Getting nervous?" Nick shot Rafael a look.

He would never admit to that but the look on his face was close to an admission. "We have a long night." He subtly glanced at Montserrat and though he couldn't say it, she understood. A long night meant absolutely no plans for them.

Hours later, when she was having dinner with Kara, she would receive a text message.

I'm sorry for dinner. I'll make it up, I promise.

"Let me guess," Kara plopped down in the seat across Montserrat. "It's Rafael profusely apologizing for once again, cancelling plans?"

Montserrat rolled her eyes at the severe lack of understanding Kara had over their relationship. "Just because he has a difficult personality with others doesn't mean it's the same for me. Most of the time anyways." She smirked to herself while she answered the text.

"I don't know how you do it. I would be pissed off if Sonny cancelled on me two days in a row," Kara propped an elbow on the table, resting her cheek over her hand. "And he has."

"Because I understand why he's doing it," Montserrat put her phone down on the table. As usual, she had assured Rafael that everything was fine. All he needed to worry about was the trial. "There's a case and we need to win."

"But still, you're not going to tell me that you're not just a bit upset?" Kara held her index finger and thumb together.

"Yeah but not at him. It's not like he wanted to cancel," Montserrat shrugged. "That's one of the good things about being in similar professions. We know exactly how it is."

Kara shrugged. "I don't know. I would still make him take you somewhere extra nice or something."

"I'd rather just see him."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Wow, didn't know you could be sappy. I mean, it's been a while."

Montserrat smiled. For the first time in a long time, that type of sentence wouldn't unsettle her. As of late, she was trying not to make comparisons between the past and her present. If she did, that was just another way he won. Besides, why would she tarnish anything she had with Rafael with that?

"I can be whenever I want to be," she ultimately said. Her smiling lips curved deeper. The secret was that Rafael could, surprisingly, be just as sappy as she could be. She looked forward to seeing what he came up with the next time they were alone.

~0~

As she had promised, Evie was front and center on the day Matt was supposed to testify in her defence. Montserrat and Amanda were sitting on either side of her when Matt was brought in.

"Daniel told me that we were going to do a film with Evie and that she was cool with it. Even if she resisted, that was part of the act," Matt had started with the first moment he was given the floor to speak.

Rafael was right in front of him, strategically blocking the view to Buchanan and Daniel's family sitting behind them. "You believed him?"

"I did."

"But she was crying the whole time, and she ran out after. That's when Daniel told me that we'd actually raped her, but that if anyone asked, she wanted it."

"Does that mean, in fact, that Ms. Barnes never consented to have sex with you? "No. The two of us raped her. I feel sick about it. I'm sorry, Evie."

Evie felt a deep satisfaction when Matt met her gaze and she could see the guilt in them. Still, her eyes shimmered with tears.

When Buchanan stood up, the air turned. Matt visibly shifted. "Mr. Cooper, is it true you took a plea deal in exchange for your testimony?"

"Yes."

"You were charged with misdemeanor sexual assault. You face, at a maximum, one year in prison or maybe no time at all, instead of the 5 to 25 you were facing for rape I. Is that the deal you made?"

"Yes."

"At first, you thought the entire encounter with Ms. Barnes was consensual?"

"Daniel had told me it was…" Matt was having trouble keeping eye gazes off the floor.

"And she had responded the same way she did in the 18 with a bang video you had seen. Was that part of it?"

"I guess."

"And when the police first talked to you, you told them that it was consensual. But now that you're a prosecution witness with a generous deal, you're calling it rape?" Buchanan was quite strategic when he made the question. Rafael would begrudgingly admit that. "Does that sound accurate, Mr. Cooper?"

"I guess, but that wasn't when I…"

"You seem like a thoughtful young man. These days, college is a confusing place to experiment with sexuality. This was your first threesome, crossing lines you'd never crossed."

"Is there a question, your honor, or is counselor Buchanan on his soapbox now?" Rafael interjected when he saw Matt getting too shaky. Luckily, the judge agreed.

"Get to it, Mr. Buchanan."

"Mr. Cooper...if you weren't sure at the time about what had happened, and you have said under oath that you didn't think it was rape at first, isn't it possible that you're not sure, even now?"

Matt's mouth opened and closed several times before he was able to string his words together. "I don't know. I mean, I guess, but she says it was, so I think that…"

"Well put. Thank you," Buchanan returned to his seat with a far too smug face.

Rafael wouldn't stand for it. "Redirect, your honor?"

"I'll allow," the judge barely motioned him to start when Rafael already had the question out in the air.

"Mr. Cooper, yes or no: Did you and the defendant Daniel Pryor rape Evie Barnes?"

Matt's head ducked but he answered honestly, which was what Rafael presumed he would. "Yes. We did."

"Thank you." Rafael promptly sat down and let things move on. As simple as his question was, it served the purpose.

When Daniel took the stand, the air shifted yet again. Where Matt was shaky and nervous, Daniel was straight and confident. It was clear that he had his own plans and it didn't involve making himself the perpetrator.

"When Matt told me Evie wanted to do a three-way, I was flattered. I had never even met a porn star before," he spoke swiftly and without so much of a second glance at Evie in the room. "In the bathroom, she was acting just like she did in the video we saw."

"Easy," Amanda warned Evie who had subtly moved in her spot. The girl was positively furious at the lies coming out of Daniel's mouth.

"Although advised otherwise, why have you chosen to take the stand today?" Buchanan was asking the young man.

"I want to speak for all falsely accused men. People believe women by default, but false accusations destroy lives."

Evie shifted again and this time Montserrat cautioned her not to say anything. Evie sent her an incredulous glance, demanding how she could be asked not to do that when Daniel just kept going.

"I know, but we can't," the detective whispered. She could feel the fury bubbling inside the girl for it was the same type of feeling she once held for her own perpetrator. It certainly didn't help that they shared the same name.

She remembered the brief moments where she would warn Hallie D'Amico about Daniel's advances on her, setting things up so that either Hallie would remove Daniel from the site whenever Montserrat was around or simply move Montserrat herself. But nothing ever worked. Daniel would smooth-talk his way out of things and bring down the situation until it was more of a nuisance in D'Amico's eyes.

Montserrat took in a deep breath to calm herself down. It helped seeing Rafael take Buchanan's spot. She couldn't help wonder, though, what would her own case have been like if she ever had the courage to speak up. She knew that if someone like Rafael had handled that case, it would've been in good hands. Someone who wouldn't have embarrassed her for failing so miserably with an undercover mission, someone who would treat her like anyone else and who would've fought to win her the justice people claimed she deserved. But oh god she would never want Rafael to handle her case. She would never know what to do with herself if that happened. More than that, she'd seen the anger in his eyes when he learned the entire story. She'd always known him to be professional - it was both endearing and a source of problems - and to make him lose that for her was out of the question.

"Did you ever ask Ms. Barnes if she wanted to have sex with you?" Once more, Rafael was placing himself in front of Daniel to where he wouldn't be able to see Buchanan or his family.

"No, Matt did. I trusted Matt. Maybe that was my mistake."

"Then all you actually heard her say was, "no," and, "stop," and you didn't."

Instead of being shaken, Daniel looked at ease. This was like a simple conversation. "She said, "no," all those other times and still had sex, so…why would this be different? We were filming a scene."

"But she said, "no," correct? Do you believe that any woman, even a porn star, can decline sex?"

"Of course, I…"

Rafael cut the man off before he started going on another tangent. "So let's be clear. Did Ms. Barnes say, "no"?"

"She did-"

"In fact, she cried. She begged you to stop repeatedly. Isn't that correct?"

Now Daniel seemed a bit off his game. "Well, yeah, but…"

"You didn't stop, did you?"

"No, but-"

"Do you understand that what you have just described is the definition of rape?" Rafael's sharp question left a terse air for Daniel, but a win nonetheless. When Daniel couldn't answer anymore, Rafael backtracked to his seat. "Nothing further."

Montserrat felt a swell of pride in her chest. There was no doubt in her mind that Rafael had just won the case. She would never get tired of seeing it.

Author's Note:

Kind of a filler chapter but there's some angst coming along, not going to explain how nor to who ;)

Thanks to reviewer of the previous chapter! There's always more to come!

P.S I have 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 "saiilorstars"