Joe Velasco

Chapter 3

As the precinct buzzed back to life around us, I felt myself slowly sinking into the steady rhythm of work, of something solid and routine. Velasco was across from me, and we exchanged a few quiet words, mostly about the case but also a bit about things beyond work—small talk that reminded me I was grounded, that I was more than just my past.

Then, the door swung open, and ADA Sonny Carisi walked in. He had his usual confident stride, a case file in his hand as he made his way over to Olivia, who was standing near her desk. He began speaking to her, discussing updates on a different case. But as he spoke, his gaze drifted across the room and landed on me. His brows furrowed slightly, his eyes narrowing as though he was trying to place a familiar face he couldn't quite recall.

After a few moments, he leaned over to Olivia and asked something, glancing my way again. Olivia looked between us, her face softening with a knowing expression as she likely filled him in on my recent arrival in SVU. I couldn't hear the exchange, but I could tell Carisi was curious—he was studying me as if he'd seen me somewhere before.

As he wrapped up his conversation with Olivia, I caught his eye. Our gazes met, and I felt a flash of recognition too. It was faint, like a half-remembered dream. I couldn't place where or when I might have known him, but there was something unmistakably familiar in his face, in the way he held himself. For a moment, I could have sworn he felt the same sense of recognition.

Velasco noticed the silent exchange and gave me a curious look, one brow raised slightly. I shook my head, giving him a small smile to assure him that I was okay. But as Carisi finished speaking with Olivia and left, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was some history between us—something just out of reach.

I pushed the thought aside, returning my attention to the case file in front of me. But every now and then, I found myself glancing toward the door where Carisi had exited, my mind circling back to that flicker of familiarity. Whatever it was, I had a feeling it wouldn't stay a mystery for long.

I tried to focus on the case in front of me, the open file spread out on my desk, full of reports, timelines, and suspect lists. But my mind kept drifting back to Carisi. That brief moment when our eyes met had stirred up something I couldn't quite pin down, a feeling that there was more beneath the surface.

Across from me, Velasco looked up, his eyes sharp and observant. He'd been watching me out of the corner of his eye, and I could tell he'd noticed the way my focus kept slipping. After a moment, he leaned in a bit, lowering his voice. "Do you know Carisi?" he asked, his tone casual but with a hint of something else—something almost protective.

I blinked, surprised at the question, and glanced at him. "I'm... not entirely sure," I said truthfully. "He seems familiar, but I can't place him."

Velasco held my gaze, searching my face as if he could read some hidden story in my expression. I reached across the desk, placing my hand over his. The warmth of his hand grounded me, bringing me back to the present.

"Don't worry," I said softly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing."

His gaze softened, and he gave me a small nod, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "Alright," he murmured, his tone gentle but his eyes still holding that quiet, protective edge.

I managed a faint smile and took a steadying breath, letting my fingers linger on his hand for a moment longer before pulling away. The connection between us felt stronger than words, a silent understanding that he had my back, no matter what memories or mysteries the past might stir up.

With one last glance toward the door Carisi had exited through, I returned my focus to the case in front of me. Whatever the past held, I reminded myself that I wasn't facing it alone. And as I glanced across the desk at Velasco, I knew that, for the first time, I didn't have to carry it all by myself.