Single and Seeking Barson story

Chapter 3

It was a long day for Olivia Benson, and it was only noon. The moment she ran into the squad room after Noah's appointment, she saw a woman ready to report a rape. Tears streamed down the woman's face as she told Olivia every horrifying detail she could remember. Olivia listened intently as she took the report. Before the woman left the station with her father, she squeezed Olivia's hand tightly. "I told you what happened, please don't let him get away with what he did to me." The woman said weakly."I'll do everything I can," Olivia answered." We'll do everything we can." On some days Olivia took ten or more similar reports, she hoped she wouldn't have to take another one today, but there was always another one, if not today then tomorrow.
Olivia reached for her purse and retrieved some makeup. She didn't have any time to apply makeup. this morning, and she was sure she looked like a wreck. She stated with a little blush. Then she put on just a touch of eye makeup. She stood up at her desk, a very dark pink lipstick in her hand. She applied it quickly, but carefully, and pressed her lips together slowly.
"Hey." She heard the familiar voice of her friend Rafael Barba, say. He was standing near the doorframe, he normally knocked on before entering her office. He normally knocked on the doorframe before speaking. This time she heard no knock, and she wondered if that was just because she was distracted. She thought she closed the door to her office all the way before entering it. She quickly put all the makeup back in her bag, and zipped it up.
"Hey, come in. How long have you been standing there?"
Barba stepped into the office. "Not long". He replied. He quickly walked over to her desk, he stood across from her and looked at her intently. "Are you ok? I didn't hear from you after the early morning phone call. How's Noah?"
"He'll be fine, thankfully it's just an ear infection, he had no fever when we left the doctor's office. I told Lucy to call if anything changes. He'll probably sleep most of the day. I was going to call you when I got in, but I had to take a statement, and I just finished. I was actually just about to call you now." Barba nodded reassuringly knowing she meant what she said.
"I knew everything would work out." Olivia gave him a half smile.
"You think you know everything Barba?"
"I try." He answered giving her a full smile back.
Olivia laughed softly. "What?" she asked confused suddenly feeling self-conscious that Barba was staring at her, his green eyes filled with concern.
"How are you doing?"
"I just told you."
"No, you told me how Noah is doing, and that you took a statement. You didn't say how you're doing.
"I look that bad huh? I have a spitting headache. She stepped away from her desk.'I have a cure for that."
"I know, coffee, that's your cure for everything,"
Barba laughed. "Funny but no, and I thought coffee was your cure for everything."
"You're the only person I know who drinks more coffee than I do."
"Seriously, you want that headache gone? You trust me? Step away from your desk." He stopped staring into her eyes and walked to the middle of the room.
"Why?" She said, apprehension in her voice. She stepped away from her desk and walked toward her office door closing it.
"Liv. I'm not going to hurt you, I'm just going to get rid of that headache"
"Give me a minute." She opened the door, and walked out into the squad room, "Rollins", Barba head her say. "You have these crime scene photos from the Sanders case? Barba needs them". she wasn't lying they still needed to discuss the case. Olivia walked quickly back to her office, her headache was getting worse by the minute. In her hands she held photos, and papers. He walked over to her and took the evidence from her hand placing it in his briefcase and placing his briefcase on the floor. Olivia closed her office door and all the blinds. After closing the blinds, she noticed that Barba had moved her desk chair to the middle of the room. "Is there a reason you moved my chair?"
"Yes. Is this chair comfortable?"
"Yes."
"Good. Sit down." he said reassuringly She walked toward her chair, confusion in her brown eyes."You know what you're doing?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"I do" He answered. You can trust me Liv."
"I know." She said quickly, and she sat in the chair. Barba moved to stand in front of her, and leaned in. "Put your arms at your side, and relax them." He watched as she did what he asked. "Are they relaxed?"
"I think so. I'm not worried about my hands or arms, I'm worried about my head."
"Liv, trust me, you need to relax in order for this to work."
"Or I can just have a cup of coffee."
"Believe me sometimes that makes it worse. Liv relax, close your eyes."
"What?" She said trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
"Liv, we're in a police station, but it doesn't matter where we are. You can trust me, Close your eyes." Barba sighed softly in relief when he saw her eyes shut. Olivia felt Barba;s hands gently massaging her arms, she was suddenly very subconscious. This morning, in her rush she had forgotten to put on a blazer. She was wearing a red short sleeve dress. She felt herself tense." Breathe " She heard him say, and listening to him helped. She felt his hands on hers. "I'm just making sure your hands and arms are relaxed." He said softly. Suddenly she felt his hands move gently to her temples, right at the spot her head was throbbing. He slowly massaged in a circular motion, he then moved his hands and massaged her forehead. She could feel the headache leaving her. "Feel a little better?"
Olivia opened her eyes. "Yes." She said surprise filling her voice.
"You need me to keep going, I can massage your neck and scalp."
"No." She said quickly. "It's gone. Barba, Thank-you." She smiled. "Where did you learn that?"
"One of my many cousins is a massage therapist. I wanted to learn and I did. All the woman in my family have suffered from tension headaches. My mother always needs a neck massage. my abuela needed her back and feet rubbed almost every night."
"How many times have I told you, you're a good son and grandson?"
"Maybe one day I'll believe it."
"I don't have any cousins, I feel like before Noah I had no family. no father, a drunk mother who pretended I didn't exist. " Olivia sighed. "I better stop before the headache comes back" Let's go over the Sanders case. That's why you're here."
"Talking about work less stressful than talking about yourself?"
"Sometimes."
"Liv. I'm your friend, anytime you want a sidebar I'm here."
"Sidebar, like the one we had when your friend Eddie got himself into hot water?"
"Yes. Who says there has to be a crisis for us to have a sidebar?"
"No one." In truth Olivia enjoyed herself during that sidebar, it was almost the perfect afternoon, and it would have been had Eddie not been in trouble. "I think you have a good idea there Barba."
"Just good, don't you know by now I'm brilliant. He smiled. Olivia smiled back as she rolled her eyes.

It  was 7:30 when Olivia arrived home. Noah was running a slight fever again, she gave him a cool bath, and his eardrops. She held him after putting on his pajamas, and within moments he was in a deep sleep. Tonight,she would sleep in the rocking chair near his bed, so she could keep a close eye on him. She was just about to close her eyes for a moment when she heard her phone ring. she quickly answered."Benson" She said softly into her cell phone.
"How's Noah?"
"Good now, his fever is down again."
"Good, How's the headache?"
"What headache? Barba, thank-you again, you made it easier to get through the day."
"My pleasure."
"Barba anytime you need a sidebar...
"Lieutenant", Barba interrupted "Whenever I need a sidebar, I always come and find you "
Olivia laughed softly, not sure what else to do. "Good night Counselor."
"Good night, sleep well Liv.
"Sleep well," she answered. "Come by the station tomorrow, I need to go over some things with you."
"Sure, I can be there at noon. Liv, try not to stress OK?"
"Says the man who always stresses."
"You don't need anymore tension. I can't give you a massage everyday, some days I have to be in court.." She heard him chuckle. "Don't worry I'll be there at noon to talk shop. Good night Liv, sleep well. " Before she could say anything else Barba hung up.