After spending a busy and enjoyable weekend with Noah, Liv awoke on Monday morning feeling calm and refreshed after having the best night's sleep she had had in weeks. The cramping sensation she experienced on Friday following the Amniocentesis was gone by the following morning, which relieved her greatly, and enabled her to spend an activity-filled weekend with Noah which provided her with a distraction she desperately needed.
However, despite feeling comfortable and well-rested, Liv was experiencing an ever-present feeling of nausea, which the regular consumption of peppermint tea and Saltines kept at bay. She was especially grateful she was able to manage her nausea on Monday, as she had to attend a Compstat meeting with other senior police officers and officials. Given the publicity which was accruing around the DiAngelo case and the impending Motion Hearing and trial dates, the meeting lasted the entire day, and Liv found herself feeling utterly drained by the end of it. She was fast asleep by nine o'clock that evening and did not open her eyes until nearly seven-thirty, when she was awoken by Noah.
"Mum!" Noah called, gently shaking her shoulder. Liv's eyes snapped open immediately and she pushed herself into a sitting position before even registering the fact that she was awake.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked, her speech slurred with sleep, as she reached for her son and drew him closer to her. She noticed he was already dressed for school and was looking at her with concern.
"It's seven-thirty, mum" Noah informed her, his eyes causing her eyes to widen. "You weren't awake" he added simply.
Liv's eyes widened and she reached for her phone, checking the time and realising Noah was right.
"I am so sorry, my love. Thank you for waking me" Liv said hurriedly, as she pushed her bedsheets aside and rose to her feet. "Would you like some breakfast?" she asked, putting her hand on the wall to steady herself as a sudden wave of dizziness overcame her.
"No thank you, I made myself some cereal" Noah informed her proudly. Liv smiled softly and stroked his hair.
"Sweet boy" Liv breathed, ignoring the pang of guilt she felt. "I'm going to take a shower and get ready for work, why don't you watch some cartoons until Lucy gets here?" she suggested. Noah agreed with thanks and hurried into the bedroom.
Liv put her hand on her forehead and sighed. She hadn't overslept in years, and if Noah ever got up before her the sound of him in the apartment roused her immediately. Until today.
Aware that she had to be ready in just thirty minutes in order to make it to the Motion Hearing on time, Liv hurried into the bathroom and quickly got herself ready. She had showered, applied her make-up and got changed into a black suit with a dark purple silk blouse in record time, zipping up her ankle boots just as Lucy arrived. She brushed her hair from her face with her hand and headed into the living room, where Noah was greeting his beloved nanny.
"Mum is really tired. She only just woke up" Noah informed her. Lucy looked up at Liv, who smiled with embarrassment and greeted Lucy.
"Witness for the prosecution" Liv said lightly, as she picked up her bag and car keys from the kitchen counter and walked towards Noah, kissing him on the forehead. Lucy watched Liv closely and smiled gently.
"And I am dropping him off to you at work at five-thirty tonight, is that right?" Lucy asked. Liv met her gaze and nodded.
"Yes, thank you. We're going out for dinner together, aren't we?" she asked Noah, who beamed in response.
"We're going to Roberto's" Noah declared proudly.
"We are" Liv confirmed with a smile. "Thank you, Lucy" she added gratefully. "Have a wonderful day at school, my love" she added, before saying goodbye to them both and hurrying out of the apartment.
Liv was halfway to the court when she realised she had not forgot to prepare her peppermint tea that morning, a fact her pervasive feeling of nausea was constantly reminding her. She undid the window as she drove through the city, breathing in the cool air and trying to suppress the mental image of herself throwing up in open Court.
By the time Liv parked at the Court it was just ten minutes before the Motion Hearing, and she hurried up the steps and down the corridor. She checked which Court the Hearing was due to take place in and headed towards it, opening the heavy door and walking in quietly.
Judge Barth was seated and reviewing the case papers, and the defence Attorney, the formidable Arlene Heller, was standing at her desk, using her phone. Liv's gaze drifted across the courtroom to where Barba and Carisi were standing, deep in conversation. She quickly reached the front row behind the prosecution table and took her seat, swallowing thickly and instinctively adjusted her blazer, just as Barba turned his head towards the public gallery. Liv looked up and met his gaze, and his expression softened. She smiled instinctively and so did he, before turning back towards Carisi who was mid-sentence. Liv tried to ignore the sudden panic she felt, as well as her rising feeling of nausea, letting out a long, deep breath in attempt to calm herself.
A couple of minutes later the defendant was brought into the courtroom, and Liv looked up as Luca DiAngelo was taken to his Attorney. DiAngelo wore a black suit and an expression somewhere between arrogance and disdain, his eyes darkening as he saw Liv in the public gallery. Liv found herself remembering the feeling of his his body on top of hers as he forced her to the ground, the white-hot pain as he punched her in the face, and the painful ache when he kicked her twice in the belly. Liv swallowed hard and continued to hold DiAngelo's gaze, his dark eyes staring at her coldly, until his Attorney whispered something in his ear which prompted him to turn away from Liv. As she let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding she turned back to face the front of the Court, and noticed Rafael Barba staring at her. He looked at her with concerned eyes and she smiled softly, prompting him to nod before turning back towards Judge Barth.
"Good morning, everyone" Judge Barth greeted, clasping her hands before her and looking from the prosecution to the defence. "I have read the defence's motions to separate the cases out and am prepared to hear the arguments."
"Thank you, your honour" began Ms Heller, whose familiar tone of disdain was present in her voice. "The defence moves for the offences Mr DiAngelo is charged with to be separated and tried separately in each respective jurisdiction" she stated. "If all of the rape and murder charges on the indictment are tried at once, this would be unduly prejudicial towards the defendant" she argued. "Several of the alleged rapes have no physical evidence linking them to my client, and this attempt at bootstrapping could lead to him being charges with offences he has not committed" she stated. "The alleged offences should be separated out on individual indictments to ensure my client has a fair trial" she stated. Judge Barth turned towards the prosecution.
"Mr Barba?" she asked.
"Mr DiAngelo is a prolific sexual predator who stands indicted of fourteen counts of rape and two murders in the state of New York" Barba began. "There are other offences which will be tried in separate states following the conclusion of this case" he noted. "In relation to the New York offences, the victims' statements, nature of the injuries and physical evidence relating to the attacks demonstrates that they were committed by the same individual, and the People have proven this beyond a reasonable doubt" he stated. "The People presented this evidence to the Grand Jury who felt it was sufficient to indict the defendant on all counts" he advised. "The crimes were all committed in a three-month period, and the inclusion of all offences is required in order to demonstrate a pattern of behaviour" he continued. "The Jury are entitled to receive all of the facts to enable them to make an informed decision as to the defendant's guilt."
"Your honour, this is absurd" protested Ms Heller. "Mr Barba is bootstrapping, adding similar cases to the indictment in order to prejudice the jury against my client" she added. Liv watched as Barba turned towards Ms Heller as she spoke. "Introducing such a significant number of offences to a single indictment will prejudice the Jury against Mr DiAngelo. If they believe he is guilty of one offence they will convict him of them all."
"That argument does not given sufficient credit to the jury, who will be responsible for considering the evidence in relation to each individual offence and to return a verdict on them separately, as they do in many trials" Barba responded. "If your client hadn't raped and murdered so many women he wouldn't find so many offences listed on the indictment" he added coldly. DiAngelo turned angrily towards Barba, his eyes ablaze and body tense. A Court officer stepped forward and instructed him to face forward, which he did after a few more moments glaring at Barba.
"Thank you, Mr Barba" Judge Barth responded, warning present in her tone. She looked down for a moment and silence fell. "Whilst I appreciate the concerns raised by the defence, after reviewing the indictment and supporting information, I find that the People have provided sufficient evidence to justify including all fourteen rapes and two murder charges under a single indictment" she advised. "However" she added, looking from the defence to the prosecution. "The sexual assault offences committed in New York in the three years prior to the first alleged rape must be excluded from the indictment and tried separately" she explained. "I agree with the defence's motion that the introduction of such offences would be more prejudicial than it is probative" she advised. "That is my ruling" she added with an air of finality.
"Thank you, your honour" Barba responded, as Arlene Heller nodded in acknowledgement and turned towards DiAngelo, who was notably agitated. She exchanged some words with him and watched as he was led out of the courtroom. Barba watched as the doors closed behind him.
"If your client is prepared to confess to the offences we are prepared to offer a deal and spare everyone a trial" Barba informed Ms Heller, who turned towards him with a look of irritation. "Fourteen counts rape two, two counts of murder two, to be served consecutively" he advised. Ms Heller frowned and shook her head.
"What kind of a deal is that?" she scoffed.
"The best one your client is ever going to get" Barba stated with conviction. "And it expires in twenty-four hours" he added. Ms Heller shook her head.
"My client is innocent" she responded. Barba sighed and shook his head.
"Your client is screwed" Liv returned, rising to her feet as she spoke. "And it would be in his best interests to accept the deal before the FBI change their mind and decide to try him for all offences in federal Court."
"That's never going to happen" Arlene Heller returned, as she gathered her paperwork. "And you know it" she added, putting her bag over her shoulder and turning back towards Barba and Carisi. "I'll see you both at trial" she announced, before turning on her heel and walking briskly out of the court room, as Barba and Carisi turned towards Liv.
"Two weeks of Arlene Heller" Liv said with a sigh. "I'm gonna need to get you both a bottle of scotch."
"Try an IV" Barba teased, prompting Liv to smile. He smiled in response.
"I gotta go, I got a witness to prepare for a hearing this afternoon" Carisi announced, as he picked up his briefcase. "Barba, I'll be in your office tomorrow morning to prep" he advised. Barba thanked him and Carisi said his goodbyes for hurrying out of the court room.
"So what's it like working with your protegee?" Liv asked, as Barba reached for his own briefcase and phone and turned back towards her as he considered his answer.
"Carisi has come a long way and is doing excellent work" Barba acknowledged, as he walked around the desk and joined Liv, and they began to walk out of the courthouse together. "He is becoming a formidable ADA" he continued. "But don't tell him I said that" he added. Liv smiled.
"Heaven forbid he receives praise from his mentor" Liv responded lightly, her tone laced with recrimination. Barba scoffed and lightly shook his head. He was about to respond when his phone started to ring, and he reached into his inside pocket and removed it. He and Liv continued to walk down the corridor and she noticed a look of confusion on his face as he answered the call.
"Mami?" he asked, concern present in his previously jovial voice. "Is everything alright?" he asked. Liv walked with Barba at his pace, slowing down as he did, and then waiting beside him as he stopped against a wall. Liv watched as Barba closed his eyes and sighed, nodding his head slowly. "Okay, no of course, of course I will" he assured her, his voice adopting a soothing expression Liv recognised. "I'm with Liv now, I... yes, yes I will" he assured her. "I'll be there as soon as I can" he added, before saying goodbye to her in Spanish and ending the call.
"Is everything alright?" Liv asked with concern, prompting Barba to look up at her.
"No" Barba responded quietly. "Do you remember I told you my mother in the principal of a Charter School in the Bronx?" he explained. Liv nodded in response. "One of her ninth grade pupils was jut brought into her office by a concerned older student" he advised. "She has extensive bruising on her inner thighs" he added quietly. Liv closed her eyes and sighed, before nodding. "The girl is distraught and is refusing to speak to anyone" he advised.
"Okay" Liv said gently. "Let's go. I'll talk to her" she explained, as she led Barba out of the courthouse. "I'll call the Captain of the Bronx SVU from the car."
Liv and Barba headed into the parking lot and got into Liv's car. She placed her phone in the hands-free set and called the Captain of the Bronx SVU as she drove out of the parking lot, outlining the situation to him and informing him of the reason for her involvement.
"I'll take the initial disclosure, and take the girl to the hospital" Liv informed him. "I'll then call you with an update and your team can handle it from there" she advised.
"Sure, Liv. Thank you" he responded. "I appreciate your help on this one. Two of my detectives are in Court all morning and three of the four others are in currently in the field."
"No problem" Liv responded, before exchanging goodbyes and ending the call. Liv looked down at the time on her phone as she made a left turn. "We should be there in about twenty minutes" she advised. Barba finished his email and nodded.
"Thank you, Liv" he said sincerely. Liv turned towards him and nodded, before returning her attentions to the road.
"Of course" Liv replied.
"I appreciate this isn't technically in your jurisdiction" he advised.
"She's a victim" Liv said simply. "I don't care about jurisdiction" she added. A small smile played on Barba's lips and he looked up at her.
"Neither does the Captain of Bronx SVU, apparently" he replied, curiosity present in his tone.
"Bronx SVU are swamped" Liv said quietly. Barba scoffed lightly and began reading his emails.
"And you and your team just have an abundance of free time" he replied sarcastically, before putting down his phone and leaning back in his seat.
"When it comes to the victims, we make time" Liv responded. Barba nodded in acknowledgement.
"I've missed this" he said quietly, the comment catching Liv somewhat off-guard. Liv's heart began to beat slightly faster.
"What?" she asked gently, as she made a right turn and headed through a set of green traffic lights.
"This. Us" Barba continued. "You" he added. Liv felt a sudden pang of guilt and she swallowed thickly.
"I've missed you too" she admitted, her words soft and sincere, as she tried her best to ignore the uncomfortable combination of guilt and panic which were pooling in the base of her belly.
Liv and Barba arrived at the school shortly before ten o'clock. Barba led Liv around the front of the building and up the stone steps, and they weaved their way through the bustling corridor as students went to their next classes. Barba made a left at the bottom of the corridor and led Liv towards the inner rooms which led to the principal's office.
The large room was well lit by large windows, beneath which were sturdy mahogany desks. One desk was occupied by a lady in her thirties who was making a telephone call, and the second desk was occupied by a dark-haired girl who was approximately sixteen years old, wearing jeans and sneakers and a confident demeanour. She was being spoken to by a white-haired lady in her sixties, who turned towards Liv and Barba as soon as they entered.
"You must be Rafael Barba" the older woman announced, turning away from the student and turning her attentions to the visitors.
"I am" Barba confirmed. "And this is Captain Olivia Benson of the SVU" he advised, introducing Liv, who smiled politely and shook the lady's hand.
"I'm Bernadette Hawkins" the older woman advised. "This is just awful" she advised, clasping her hands together and shaking her head.
"I know this is difficult, but we're here to help figure out what has happened" Liv said sympathetically. "I understand a student has reported an assault?" she suggested. Bernadette nodded.
"This is Mallory, one of our tenth graders" she explained, introducing Barba and Liv to the dark haired girl who was seating behind her. "She brought the young lady in" she advised. Liv nodded and moved towards Mallory, drawing a seat towards her and sitting down.
"Hi, Mallory. I'm Captain Benson, but you can call me Olivia" she began gently. "Can you tell me what happened?" she asked. Mallory nodded.
"I went into the bathroom before heading to first period, and I heard someone crying" Mallory began calmly. "I asked if she was okay and she didn't respond, but she was sobbing" she continued. Liv nodded encouragingly. "She sounded so sad. I could tell something was really wrong" she advised. "I tried to talk to her and see if she needed help, but she was so scared, it took nearly fifteen minutes for me to convince her to open the door" she explained, her eyes becoming glassy as she spoke. "And when she did-" she began, becoming visibly unsettled as she spoke.
"It's alright, sweetie" Liv said softly. Mallory inhaled deeply and took a few moments to compose herself, before looking up and Liv and continuing.
"She was wearing a skirt, and there were these bruises on the insides of her legs" Mallory explained, gesturing to her own upper thighs as she spoke. "They looked like hand prints. I could see finger marks" she added. Liv placed her hand gently on the girl's wrist.
"It's okay" Liv said softly. Mallory nodded.
"I asked her what happened and she said 'he tried... he tried to' and then she stopped and wouldn't tell me anything else" Mallory explained. "So I took her to Principal Barba" she advised. "She didn't want to me to, but I told her we had to, and that she'd know what to do" she said confidently. Liv smiled and nodded.
"You did the right thing, sweetie" Liv advised. "Thank you" she added sincerely. Mallory nodded in response. "I'm going to arrange for an officer to take your statement at some point later today, okay?" she advised.
"Yeah, of course" Mallory replied, before rising to her feet. Liv rose from her own chair and stepped aside. "Is she going to be alright?" she asked, concern present in her voice.
"She is" Liv assured her. "Thanks to you" she added. Mallory nodded in response before being led from the room by Bernadette. Liv looked up at Barba who was looking troubled.
"Brave girl" Liv said gently. Barba nodded and turned as Bernadette returned to them.
"What's the name of the victim?" Liv asked gently.
"Cassie Sanders" Bernadette responded. "She's only fourteen" she added sadly. "She's in Principal Barba's office" she advised. Liv nodded in understanding.
"What do you know about Cassie?" Barba asked, stepping forward and watching Bernadette as he awaited a response.
"She's a sweet girl" Bernadette said simply. "Straight A student, never in any trouble" she continued, before making her way back to her computer. "Her parents have different addresses, so I presume they are divorced" she advised, consulting the records.
"Where does Cassie live?" Liv asked.
"With her mother in Riverdale" she responded. Liv nodded in response.
"Have there been any similar assaults on any other pupils in the school?" Barba asked.
"No" Bernadette responded, aghast. "Absolutely not" she stated.
"Not that you're aware of" Barba suggested. Liv put her hand on the back of his shoulder and he turned slightly towards her.
"I'd like to speak to her, could you please ask Principal Barba to come out of her office for a moment?" Liv asked. "I don't want to just walk in when she's so distressed" she explained. "If Principal Barba could introduce us I think that would make it easier for her" she added.
"Of course, Captain Benson" Bernadette replied, before heading towards the Principal's office.
The principal's office was a large room with a closed mahogany door with the words 'Mrs Lucia Barba, Principal' engraved on a plaque. The door was closed and Liv could see Mrs Barba through a window in her office. She was sitting on a couch with her back to the window, speaking closely to a female pupil.
Bernadette knocked on the door and waited to be called in, before opening it and stepping inside. A few moments later Lucia Barba stepped out of the room and walked towards her son and Liv with a worried expression.
"Rafi, thank you for coming so quickly" she said, relief present in her tone, as she walked towards them. Barba stepped forward and put his hands comfortingly on his mother's arms.
"Of course" Barba responded warmly, as his mother nodded and turned towards Liv with a grateful expression.
"Captain Benson" Mrs Barba said gratefully. "Thank you" she added sincerely.
"Please, call me Olivia" Liv said softly. Mrs Barba nodded somewhat distractedly. "How is Cassie?" she asked. Lucia shook her head.
"She's distraught" Lucia responded. "I think she's in shock" she explained.
"Mami, did she tell you what happened?" Barba asked gently. Lucia turned towards her son and shook her head.
"She's very upset, she was reluctant to say anything at all at first" Lucia explained. "When I asked her about the bruises she seemed embarrassed, and afraid" she advised. Barba nodded in understanding. "She would say is that she told him not to but he wouldn't listen" she continued. "He tried to..." she said, breaking off as she spoke. "But he didn't" she explained. Barba nodded in understanding. "She kicked him between the legs and managed to get away" she said with relief. "And then she came to school because she didn't know what else to do" she added sadly. Barba looked at his mother sympathetically and stepped closer to her, his eyes not leaving hers.
"I'd like to talk to Cassie" Liv advised gently. "Could you introduce me to her, please?" she asked.
"Yes, of course" Lucia responded, as she turned towards Liv.
"Shall I wait in here?" Barba suggested, prompting Liv to turn towards him. "I'm sure the last thing she wants right now is to be in the room with a man she doesn't know" he added. "I think she'll feel more comfortable talking to you alone" he explained. Liv nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, Rafa" Liv responded, as Lucia led her into her office and introduced her to Cassie.
Rafa closed his eyes and pinched the top of his nose, before walking around the the office and towards a notice board, where he began to read the posters. He heard the door to his mother's office open and close and he turned towards it, his eyes meeting his mother's as she walked towards him.
"Mami" Barba said softly, as he placed a hand on his mother's arm. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine" she said dismissively. "That poor girl" she said, reaching for her crucifix as she spoke. Barba nodded in agreement, recognising the haunted look in his mother's eyes.
"Mallory said she brought Cassie to you because you would know what to do" Barba said softly. "I see so many cases where children who are hurt go unnoticed, by friends, the school, everyone" he explained, as his mother continued to play with her crucifix. "The fact they knew they could come to you with this, immediately, is a testament to you" he assured her. "They know you'll protect them-"
"I didn't protect Cassie, did I?" Lucia returned, shaking her head as she spoke. "That poor child" she added, putting her hand over her mouth.
"Hey" Barba responded, placing his other hand on his mother's other arm, and leading her towards a couch outside her office, where he sat with her. "We can't always stop bad things from happening" he said gently. "But what we can do is take care of the person who is hurt and make sure that it never happens again" he stated, watching as his mother blinked sadly and nodded, before turning towards him. "So few victims of this type of crime report what happened" he explained. "These girls came straight to you" he reminded her. Lucia nodded in response and squeezed his hand.
"Olivia looks well" Lucia said. Barba nodded. "How is she, after what happened to her?"
"She's okay" Barba assured her, smiling as he spoke. "She sustained some broken ribs which will take several weeks to heal, but she's getting there" he explained. Lucia watched him closely for a few minutes and nodded. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before Lucia broke it.
"I see the way you look at her" Lucia said gently. Barba swallowed and turned towards her, meeting her gaze with an unreadable expression. "You light up" she said simply. "Just like you do when you talk about her" she continued. Barba lowered his head slightly.
"Mami, this is not the time-" he said, uncertainty present in his tone.
"I want you to be happy, Rafi" Lucia said simply. "And if she makes you happy then you should tell her" she added. Barba sighed and looked up at her.
"I did" he said quietly, forcing a small smile, as his mother looked at him with confusion. "It's complicated-"
Before Barba could continue, the door to the principal's office opened and Liv stepped out of it, closing it behind her. Barba and his mother rose to their feet as she approached them.
"It was her mother's boyfriend, Peter Vance" Liv said quietly. "He's been making inappropriate comments to her for weeks, and when her mother left for work this morning he tried to attack her" she added. Lucia shook her head and Barba stiffened.
"Do you know where he works?" Barba asked. Liv nodded and provided him with details of the construction company he worked at. "I'll call one of the Bronx ADAs" he advised, removing his phone from his pocket as he spoke. "See if we can get him arraigned by the end of the day" he added. Liv thanked him and then turned towards Lucia.
"She's asking for her mother, would you be able to call her and ask her to meet us at the hospital?" Liv asked. "I'm going to take her there now, I just need to arrange for Vance to be picked up" she explained.
"Her mother is a nurse at the hospital" Lucia explained. "I'll call her now" she advised, as she made her way towards her secretary's desk, not wanting to upset Cassie by making the call in front of her.
Liv spent the rest of the morning at the hospital with Cassie and her mother, whilst Barba went to visit the Bronx DA in person. He and Liv liaised with Bronx SVU and Peter Vance was arrested at his place of work, detained and held ahead of his arraignment later that afternoon. Liv picked up Barba from the DA's office and they headed back to New York, dropping him off at his office before heading back to her own precinct.
Liv spent the rest of the day in her office, liaising with her detectives on their current cases. Shortly after five o'clock Carisi arrived to take Amanda home, and Barba arrived a short while after, knocking on Liv's door and entering her office.
"Vance was indicted" Barba announced, "he couldn't afford bail so has been remanded to Rikers" he added with a smile. "He plead guilty so he'll be sentenced in the next few days" he advised.
"Good" Liv responded, as she stood up and walked around her desk towards him. "At least Cassie will be spared the ordeal of a trial" she added. Barba nodded.
"I wanted to let you know, and to thank you" he added. Liv smiled and nodded.
"Of course" Liv said gently. "It's not a problem" she added.
Before Barba could continue, Liv felt warm liquid running down the inside of her right nostril, and quickly felt it upon her skin. She put her fingers up to her face instinctively and was surprised to find them stained with blood.
"Oh" Liv said in surprise, as she covered her upper lip with her fingers.
Barba frowned in confusion and looked up at her with concern, removing his handkerchief from his pocket and quickly stepping towards her.
"Hey" Barba said gently, as Liv accepted the handkerchief and pressed it to her nose. "Are you okay?" he asked, placing his hand on her arm and looking upon her with concern.
Liv felt her stomach clench and she nodded.
"I'm fine, I'm so sorry" Liv responded, embarrassment present in her tone. She felt Barba's hands upon her and he stood next to her.
"Come and sit down" Barba encouraged, placing his hand on her lower back and encouraging her towards her couch.
"Rafa, I'm fine" Liv replied gently, as she resisted.
"Great, well, come and be fine over here" he insisted. Liv swallowed thickly and allowed him to guide her to the couch. She sat down and he eased himself down slowly next to her, his concern palpable.
"It's nothing" Liv assured him, as she dabbed her nose with the handkerchief and lowered it. "I'm fine" she repeated. Barba held her gaze and nodded slowly. She looked down at his blood-soaked handkerchief and sighed. "I owe you one handkerchief" she said lightly.
"You don't owe me anything, Liv" he assured her. Liv's expression softened and she found herself staring into his eyes, their thighs touching, as her heart began to race. She swallowed hard.
"Rafa, I-"
"Hi mum!" Noah said brightly, as he stepped into her office, followed by a chorus of apologies from Lucy. "Hi, Uncle Rafa!" he beamed excitedly, before rushing over to him and hugging him.
Barba smiled and hugged him back, as Liv stuffed the bloody handkerchief into her pocket. Liv reassured Lucy and said goodbye, as the younger woman left her office.
"Hey" Rafa responded, smiling as he returned the hug. "How are you?"
"I'm good" Noah responded, before turning his attentions towards his mother. "Can Uncle Rafa come to dinner with us, mum?" he asked keenly. "We're going to Roberto's" he informed his favourite uncle, before looking back towards his mum. "Please?" he pleaded.
Liv stared at Noah for a moment, and hesitated, which prompted Barba to respond.
"Noah, your mum has been stuck with me all day, I am sure she would love to spend some quality time with you" Barba said kindly. "I'll see you really soon and we can-"
"But Uncle Rafa..." Noah protested.
Liv felt something deep inside her ache. She was embarrassed at her nosebleed and worried that Rafa's concern about her well-being would lead him to discern her condition. She didn't want Rafa to become suspicious, or to worry about her, she needed to assure him she was fine. And Noah was desperate to see him, it would be cruel to deprive him of that opportunity.
"Do you have plans this evening?" Liv asked, wanting to give Rafa an opportunity to make an excuse if he wished to do so. He looked at her for a moment and quickly realised her intentions.
"I do not" he confirmed. Liv smiled.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" she asked. Rafa's expression softened and he nodded.
"I'd love to."