Barson- I need you

I Can't Do This

Olivia woke up the next morning from a nightmare screaming, once she realized it was just a dream, she began crying to herself again and accidentally woke Barba up.

Barba: "Hey, hey Liv it's okay. You're okay. What's wrong?"

Benson: "It's Lewis. It's like he's everywhere. I can't escape. He just... he just took everything from me. I can't even look at myself in the mirror. All I can see when I look in the mirror is what he did to me."

Barba: "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here for you. I promise, nothing's going to happen to you. I promise Liv, you're safe with me."

Benson: "I just can't do this today. I really can't let the squad she me like this. I don't know why I'm so weak. I can't believe I let this happen to me."

Barba: "Shh, shh. It's okay. It's not your fault that this happened, it's that bastard Lewis' fault. I'll tell you what; I'm going to take the day off and you're going to call in sick. I'm going to stay here with you and we're going to get through this."

Benson picked up her phone and called Cragen.

Benson (on the phone with Cragen): "Hi captain, I'm really not feeling to well. I think I'm coming down with something. Is it okay if I stay home today?"

Cragen (on the phone with Benson): "Sure Liv. I hope you feel better." 

Benson hung up the phone and looked up at Barba who was calling his assistant.

Barba (on the phone): "Hey, can you hold all of my cases today? I have a family emergency and I just really can't come in"

Assistant (on the phone): "I guess so Barba. I hope everything's okay."

Barba (on the phone): "Thank you"

Barba hung up the phone.

Barba: "Hey Liv, is it okay if I run home really quick to grab another set of clothes?"

Benson (shaking a little bit): "Umm, yeah I guess that's fine but please be quick."

Barba: "Okay Liv, I'll only be about ten minutes."

Benson: "Rafael, don't forget to grab the key to my apartment off the key ring before you leave."

Barba walked out the door and Liv went to the kitchen and took out a bowl and some cereal. After she finished eating she went to the bathroom and started the bath water. She took off her clothes and started the bath water. She looked in the mirror and she thought that she saw Lewis behind her. Liv slid down the wall and started shaking and crying on the bathroom floor. Just then, Barba walked through the front door.

Barba: "Liv, I'm back!" 

Liv didn't respond.

Barba: "Liv, are you here?" 

Barba started running around the apartment until he heard the bath water running and he knocked on the door. 

Barba: "Liv, are you in here? Can I come in?"

Liv didn't answer so Barba opened the door and found Liv crying sitting on the floor hugging her legs into her chest.

Barba: "Hey, it's okay. You're okay. What happened?"

Benson: "It's Lewis again, it's like he's taking over my entire life. I can't stop seeing him everywhere I go. I'm scared Rafael."

Barba was unsure whether or not he should rub Liv's back because she was naked but he decided to anyway.

Barba: "You're going to be okay. We're going to get through this. But right now. Why don't I help you to get into the bath."

Barba grabbed Liv's arm and helped her into the bath. 

Barba: "Okay Liv, I'll be waiting for you right outside."

Barba left the bathroom and went back to Liv's room to change. He had changed his pant and was about to put his shirt on when he heard Liv scream. He went running back towards the bathroom and barged through the door.

Barba: "Oh my gosh are you okay Liv?"

Benson: "No. Yes. I don't know. I thought I hear something down the hall."

Barba: "I'm sorry Liv, that was just me. i figured that since you were in the bathroom, I would change in your room."

Benson: "So that's why you aren't wearing a shirt."

Barba: "Yeah. If you're okay, I'll excuse myself now and finish changing."

Benson: "Okay, I'll be out in a second."

Liv finished up in the bath and got out, put on a fresh pair of clothes and walked out into the living room where Barba was sitting on the couch.

Benson: "Hey Rafael, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done these past two days. I want you to know how much it means to me."

Barba: "No problem Liv. That's what we do for the people we love."

Benson: "You love me?"

Barba: "Yeah Liv, I do."

Benson: "I love you too."

Liv laid down on the couch and put her head down on Barba's lap.

Barba: "Hey Liv, I was thinking, maybe when you're feeling up to it, we could go out to get lunch."

Benson: "I like the sound of that."