Por Siempre Y Para Siempre: A Sequel to Take Your Time

Ch. 16 - We've Got a Lot to Catch Up On

Rafael and Stone walk out of the courthouse with the rest of the SVU team in tow after another successful trial. When the crisp air hits Rafael's face, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, taking in the peace he's feeling. It's been two weeks since Wilson's appeal hearing and he couldn't be happier that it was all behind them. The six of them are smiling and congratulating each other as they walk down the steps. As they reach the sidewalk, they can hear people around them screaming and running up the stairs toward the courthouse.

"What's going on?" Amanda asks as she places her hand on her gun.

"Uh, you guys," Carisi's voice is shaking as he tries to get everyone's attention, "run!" The rest of the group turns around to see what Carisi is telling them to run from and they see a man wearing a ski mask holding a pistol directly toward Rafael.

"No," is the only word Olivia can manage to get out as she rushes over to her husband to push him out of the way. Before she even moves, the gunman pulls the trigger, firing a bullet aimed right at Rafael. By the time Olivia's pushed him out of the way, Rafael has already been shot, "Rafa, no! Rafa stay with me, okay? Stay with me, please." Rafael lets out a pained scream as Olivia props his head onto her knee and tries to apply pressure to his wound with her scarf.

"Liv!" She hears Carisi's screams through the chaos. Rafael opens his mouth to say something to his wife but nothing comes out.

"Shh, Rafa don't talk. Please don't talk. Save your energy," she tries to soothe him through her crying, "someone call 911, now! Please!" Carisi is already on the phone waiting for an operator to pick up.

"Already on it, Lieu," he assures her, "Yes, this is Detective Carisi with SVU. We have a gunshot wound at the courthouse, we need a bus down here now. Yeah, hold on. Liv, where was he shot?" Olivia fumbles as she tries to get her words out.

"His- oh my God, his head. He was shot in the head!" Her voice rings through the noise and commotion.

"He has a GSW to the head," Carisi keeps his tone steady and calm as he answers, "What side? Olivia, what side?" He struggles to keep his Lieutenant's attention.

"The right side of his forehead, I think," she answers him as well as she can. She looks again and sees that the bullet went into his head through his right temple and exited through the upper right side of his forehead. She relays the information back to him and he nods before repeating back to the operator.

"Yes, it went through his right temple," he confirms, "yes he is breathing and awake. Lieu, is he responsive?" She nods silently and Amanda crouches down next to her, placing her hands on top of Olivia's to let her know it was time for a break from applying pressure.

"Rollins, be careful," Olivia's voice shakes, "there are two wounds, apply pressure to both of them." Amanda continues to press the scarf down onto her friend's forehead and nods.

"I've got this, Liv. I promise," she tries to keep her composure for her Lieutenant, "just hold his hand and talk him through this, okay? I think he needs that. He needs you." Tears are streaming down Olivia's face and landing on Rafael's chest. She grabs his hand and squeezes it tightly. She notices that his fingers are already getting cold.

"Come on, Rafa. We really need you to stay with us, okay? Please stay with us," she's whispering, "the squad and Stone need you. Rafa, I need you. Please stay with me." Rafael gives her fingers a weak squeeze as a response. He opens his mouth to speak and his voice is hoarse and quiet.

"I'm here, nena," he chokes out, "I love you." She can barely make out his words and starts to sob even harder, realizing that her greatest fear has finally come true. The EMTs arrive and instruct Olivia and Amanda to get out of their way so they can get Rafael onto a gurney. Olivia jumps into the back of the ambulance with her husband and announces that she's his wife before the EMTs can protest.