Mi Salvador

Dumb to Hope

Rafael's POV
I looked over the file, reading about these girls. There was a knock and I was sure it was Liv so I just gave a small sound of approval. It opened and it wasn't Liv's voice that filled the office.
"Coffee, Rafael?"
I looked up to see Ascella with a holder burdened with coffee cups. I smiled and got up, grabbing it from her, "Join me? It's unbearably quiet here..."
"Well," she grabbed the cup in my hand, "That's mine...and I would love to since the most I do is get coffee and lunch."
She pulled up a chair and placed the other coffee cup on my desk. I sat on the other side and drank some coffee, eyeing her as she looked around the office, "So...Ascella, you're going to Harvard right?"
"Yup! Your alma mater..." she looked at me and smiled, "Wanna tell me some embarrassing stories about that time?"
I snorted and finished the cup, "Nope."
She let out a short hum and got up, looking at the book cases. I admired her as she picked up a picture frame, "Is this you?"
I smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Those were my childhood best friends: Alejandro and Eduardo...Los Tres Muscateros de Jerome Avenue." I got up and walked to her, looking at the photo. She put it back and turned to me, "Do you still talk to them?"
I shook my head, "No...sadly, I don't.."
She nodded and looked down, pulling out her phone, showing me her wallpaper. She was on it with two girls, one redhead and the other in a hijab, "It's dumb to hope, right?"
I glanced at the photo, then her, "No. it's not. You're still young, Ascella..."

Ascella laughed and walked passed me, "It doesn't mean I don't feel silly for having high hopes..." She picked up the cup holder and walked towards the door. I rushed to it and blocked her, "Ascella..."
"Rafael. You and I have work." She placed her hand on her hip. I couldn't think of something to say so I did what came first to my mind. I hooked my arm around her waist and kissed her. She was stiff at first, but melted into the kiss, holding onto my shoulders. I found the doorknob and locked the door. Luckily, my blinds were closed, so no one could see anything that was going on. I pushed her up against the book case and pulled away, looking at her.
"Ascella, I-"
"Don't think about my dad or my age or anything." She ordered, pulled me by my tie and kissed me again. I took off my coat and lifted her up onto the book case, above the lower cabinets. I kissed down her neck as she undid her work shirt. Unfortunately, one of our phones started to ring. I pulled away and walked to my desk, picking up my phone, "Detective Benson? Yes...yes, I can...alright." I hung up and looked to Ascella, who was flustered and fixing herself. She got on her feet and turned away from me, letting out a harsh sigh, "What-"
"Sh..." I placed a hand on her waist, "Don't think about your dad or our ages or anything, right?" I took out her hair tie gently and let the hair fall on her back and shoulders, trailing my hands up and down her spine to release the tension. She turned back to me and nodded, "Liv called?"
"Yeah. Wanna join? Observe?"
She picked up my tie and wrapped it around my neck, under my collar, "Only if I get a private evaluation for the notes I'll be collecting while observing you..." she smiled, finishing the knot. I had a loss of words, resorting to a nod.
"Let's go before Liv thinks you've recused."

I texted Liv as Ascella drove to the precinct. We got in the elevator, quiet. It wasn't an uncomfortable quiet, it was content...calm. I turned to Ascella to say something, but the elevator dinged and doors opened. We walked to the squad room and found Captain Cragen and Amanda.
"Thanks for coming. See you got a shadow." Amanda smiled to Ascella, who pursed her lips and smiled meekly, "I'll be good..."
When she said that, something changed in Amanda's face, but I didn't have time to ask. Cragen led us to his office and we watched as Fin and Liv talked to a young girl, probably a few years older than Ascella.
"So what's this thing about terrorism?"
"One of the heads of Homeland Security believes there's a terrorist operation going to be involved."
"Hm." I nodded. I turned to see Ascella with a coffee cup. I smiled as she handed it to me and looked back as they questioned the girl. The door opened and Detective Amaro's voice resonated from the doorway, "What do we got?"
"She's talking about how she got there...student visa, fake babysitter ads, and immigration threats." Amanda explained. From the corner of my eye I saw him wrap an arm around Ascella's shoulders, kiss her forehead, and whisper to her. Whatever he said caused her to laugh quietly and shake her head. After the girl was questioned, everyone walked to the squad room.

Ascella's POV
I watched quietly as everyone talked about the case. I couldn't help but turned back to the room. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I looked up to see Cragen.
"How you doing, Cap?" I smiled.
"It's good to be back..." he squeezed my shoulder, "I don't usually do this, but since you're a sort of paralegal, I'm authorising you to go in there. Just for comfort and such..." he whispered. I turned to him, smiled, and walked into the room. The girl looked up at me, cautious. I set my stuff down, "Hello, my name's Ascella..."
"Do you...do you work here?"
"No, my father is a detective here and I'm working for the district attorney on the case."
She nodded and drank more coffee.
"Would you like more?"
"No...no it's alright..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." I smiled and pushed my hair back, taking off my jacket.
"Anna...my name is Anna."
"Anna...well, my name is Ascella..." I placed my hands in my lap, "So, how are you?"
"Scared..." she admitted. I nodded, "I understand...you know, I was in your place before. Somewhat..."
"A victim?"
"Yes..."
"Did they help you?"
"Yeah. A lot. I knew a man like your pimp...well, like that man—Mikey—like his father. Controlling, desperate...they stop men like that and you shouldn't be afraid of wanting to leave."
"Your father knew this man?"
"Well, it's a long story...but yes. He hates that he let a man like that hurt me...I'm sure your family, your sister, would hate knowing that you-" I stopped, "Sorry. I...I have a sister of my own...she's 6 now. I love her so much and I would do anything to protect her. Even die...even stop people from hurting me so she doesn't get hurt."
Anna nodded and looked at me, "They...they will stop them, yes?"
"Yes."
A knock came from the window and I got up, getting my stuff, "I'm sorry, I have to go..."
"Thank you."
I smiled and nodded, "No problem."
I walked into Cap's office and found nearly all the squad. And Rafael...I put on my coat and followed him out. We got to the elevator and stayed quiet for a bit. He then turned to me.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Rafael..."
"You were a Vic?"
"It was recently...like a year ago. Before my boyfriend died..."
"Ascella-"
"It was the man that killed my mother..."
"Your mo-"
"My biological mom. Not Nick's Ex wife..."
He nodded and looked at me for a long while before the door opened. He got into the driver's seat and I gave him the keys. While he was driving we were going in the opposite direction of the DA's.
"Raf-"
"I'm not kidnapping you, don't worry." He smiled. I nodded and stayed quiet. We pulled up to an apartment complex and parked. He lead me up and we entered a nice apartment. I turned to him and he kissed me, lifting me up and pushing my back against the wall.
"Rafael..."
"You've done this right?"
"Yeah."
"You're okay with me doing this?"
"Yes."
I took his tie off and kissed him deeper. We came away from the wall and he carried me to a room. It was a calm tone, a Queen sized bed with nice white sheets and a black comforter. He set me down and i unbuttoned my blouse. I laid against the bed as he took off my skirt, and placed kisses down my leg after. I giggled as he reached my inner thigh and held my hands, his lips making its way to my underwear.
"Ascella?" Rafael murmured against my core. I couldn't find words to respond so I let out a small moan.
"Can you tell me what you said in the elevator?"
I bit my lip, squeezed his hands while sitting up, and moving away from his mouth. He looked up at me before standing, "I'm sorry. You don't have to..." he trailed his hand up my neck and to my face, tracing my lips with his thumb. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, "What do you wanna know?"
"About you...your mom...that man..."
I nodded and he sat down next to me, listening.

Rafael's POV
I held Ascella as she finished talking, wiping her tears away. She sighed and looked up to me, puckering her lips slightly, requesting a kiss. I couldn't help but smile and comply. God, she's so beautiful...so young. I shouldn't feel this way about her, but she was so alluring. Everything about her made me feel so...content. She made me feel better about my life, doesn't make me feel all this regret I've felt for most of my life.
I was pulled away from my thoughts as Ascella moved closer into my body, sniffling slightly. I ran my hand up her back and wrapped my arm around her.
"Should I call Carmen?" She murmured, "It seems like we won't be coming back."
"I'll shoot her a text..."
She nodded and placed small kisses on my neck. I pulled out my phone and texted Carmen quickly and flipped Ascella on her back and held her close, causing her to laugh.
"You still have so many pieces of clothes on..." she murmured into my shoulder. I hummed and she undid my vest and unbuckled my belt. I shed them off and unbuttoned my shirt, kissing her, "Is that better?"
"Much..."

XXXXXXXXXXXX
Isushdhndndnb I love Rafael Barba with my whole being hahahahahah protect him. Okay, bye!