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lovemesomerafael · 5 years ago

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It’s Complicated Chapter 10: Wooing

Source: @fortheloveofbarba

Chapters 1-5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Read it on AO3

As they sat in the squad car in the gathering dark, Mike Dodds nervously tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. He darted a glance at Sonny Carisi every once in a while, but mostly just looked out the windshield toward the door of the office where Barba and Frankie were.

“You nervous about this, Sarge? Because we both know they’re either screamin’ or screwin’ in there. No other options with those two. And we’re not gettin’ involved with either one.”

Dodds smirked and gave a laugh. “That’s for sure.”

“So what are you so nervous about?”

‘I’m not nervous. This is just how I am on a stakeout.”

“Dude, I’ve been on stakeouts with you where I had to tell you jokes to keep you awake. And those were ones with real criminals.”

“Whatever. Maybe I just need a drink. Assuming we don’t have to process a crime scene in there, you maybe wanna have a drink after this?”

“I thought you had a thing about not fraternizing with the minions?”

“So don’t fraternize,” Dodds joked with a weak smile.

“Yeah, OK. Sure.”

They sat in silence for a while, watching nothing happen. Carisi rolled his window down briefly and, sure enough, faint sounds of yelling could be heard coming from the industrial unit. The men shared a look and a grin.

Which got Carisi thinking, again, about how attracted he was to Dodds. He’d jumped at this chance to spend some time together, just the two of them. Carisi wasn’t afraid of the way he felt, because he knew he could never, ever act on it. He could only imagine what Dodds would do if he knew how much Sonny wanted to reach over and take his hand from the steering wheel and curl their fingers together… Wait a minute. Dodds had asked him if he wanted to have a drink after this. Together. Just the two of them. Holy shit. But no. It couldn’t be. That would be a dream come true, but… It couldn’t be Dodds. Could it?

“Hey, um, Dodds… This is just a wild guess, and I’m sure it wasn’t you, but… Did you happen to… talk to Frankie about me?”

Did Dodds hesitate there? “Whaddaya mean? Of course I’ve talked to Frankie about you before.”

“No, I meant… never mind.” Don’t be an idiot, Carisi. Dodds isn’t into guys, and even if he was, he wouldn’t be into you.

For a moment, Mike Dodds felt as though he’d been abducted by aliens. This could not be real. Did Carisi just look at him like… Shit, he’s beautiful. Look at those eyes. Come on, Dodds. He said he wouldn’t shoot you just for letting him know you’re interested. He’s a nice guy. He’ll be kind when he lets you down. Which he will. But still, don’t waste this chance. Dodds cleared his throat. “Oh. That.”

“Huh?”

He cleared his throat again and forced himself to look at Sonny. He’d looked down the barrels of guns with less fear. “Yeah, I, uh… I am the one who talked to Frankie about you.”

The smile that spread across Sonny’s lips stopped Mike’s heart.

“So this drink,” Sonny almost whispered. “Would it be… a date?”

“Can’t be. I’m your superior officer.”

Sonny’s smile got bigger. “That wasn’t a ‘no’.”

“You’re right,” Mike said, able to smile a little himself, now that Sonny had actually not shot him. More shocking still, he also appeared to be happy to know that Mike was the fellow cop that was interested in him. “That wasn’t a ‘no’.”

“I hope these two don’t start shooting,” Sonny observed, indicating the building where Barba and Frankie were. “I’m gonna be distracted now.”

“Welcome to the party, pal. You’ve been distracting me for months.”

Mike felt it deep down when Sonny gave him that gorgeous, crinkly smile like a little kid handed a puppy.

***********************

Barba sauntered out to the lobby, a cup of takeout coffee in each hand. He handed Frankie one, which he was happy to see she accepted. It was still hot.

“Strychnine or Hemlock?” She asked, taking a sip anyway.

“Hemlock would have been very classical of me, but all I got you was a shot of vanilla.”

“This is unlawful imprisonment.”

“Only if a court says it is.”

“You don’t think I can find a way to get out of here?”

“I’m sure you can. Which is a bit of a weakness in your unlawful imprisonment case.”

“Well, since we both agree I can escape, why don’t we do this the easy way and you just let me out?”

“Because I have some things to say and I want you to listen.”

“Now you want to talk. You barely acknowledge me for months except to scream at me, you dodge my calls, I have to make a fucking appointment with Carmen to get you to sit still long enough to hear me out, and now because you’re suddenly in the mood to talk, I’m supposed to listen?”

Barba thought she was the most beautiful he’d ever seen her, annoyed and enraged and frustrated. He wished he could just take her against the wall here and now, but he figured he’d get hot coffee in the face for even suggesting it, and his face was still a little tender from that slap earlier.

“Please listen to me.”

“No. You’ve said quite enough for one day. So you’ve committed a Class E felony for nothing.”

“Class A misdemeanor. I could only be charged with second degree unlawful imprisonment because you’re not in danger of physical harm.”

“No, but you are,” she hissed. He really was irresistible when he smirked like that, the shit.

“You’re not gonna slap me again, are you? Cuz I deserve it, but that really hurt.”

“You deserve a full-on ass-kicking, is what you deserve. But I am sorry I slapped you. Violence is the resort of the weak-minded.”

“And the seriously pissed off.”

“Them, too.”

“You have a right to be angry.”

“Damn straight I do! And I am! How dare you compare me to that snake Maduro! Do you have any idea how… And you have no idea what it was like to sit there in your office and… AAAUGH! And then you have the gall to tell me… AAAUGH! I oughtta rip your head off and spit down your neck! I oughtta…”

“You oughtta let me apologize. And try to explain.”

“I have no desire to hear you explain anything, you fucking self-centered, unfeeling, pocket-square-wearing, sadistic… jackwagon!”

He turned and walked calmly down to the office he’d been in, bringing the cheap metal chairs with him and setting them down near her. She looked at him as though he’d sprouted butterfly wings.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m gonna sit here and watch you having a tantrum.”

“You’re gonna what?”

“I’m gonna sit –“

“I heard what you said. You can’t just sit there and watch me. You have to fight with me.”

“No, I don’t. But feel free to yell at me for as long as you need to. I know what a jackass I’ve been. I deserve it.”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop smiling like that. Stop being amused by me. You fucking hurt me, Barba. You treated me like I was – like I was Maduro. You damn well know I’m not like him. You know that! So don’t you dare sit there fucking smiling like everything’s gonna be OK. It’s not. You’re an asshole, and you’re cruel, and you’re cold, and you’re too fucking arrogant by half. You’re aaaaaalwaaaays right. Well, you were wrong as fuck this time, and I tried to tell you that like a million times, but you wouldn’t listen to me. And you know what? It’s too late now. You blew it. I loved you and you blew it. So let me out of here.”

“No.”

“Don’t ‘no’ me. Let me out. I don’t want to be here with you.”

“I know. But you will.”

“Barba, seriously. Let me the hell out of here.”

“Come over here. Sit by me. Or yell at me some more.”

“Let. Me. Out.”

“I love you.”

“Let me out!!!”

“Did you hear me? I love you.”

“I heard you. Strap in for a big surprise, you conceited shit. I don’t care. Let me out. And stop fucking smiling!”

“I can’t help it. I love you. And I finally said it.”

“Well, boo ya for you. Smug bastard. I said it to you about a hundred years ago. And you didn’t… you just… And then I had to see you with that woman in the pantsuit I wanted…“

As soon as she started to choke over her words and he saw tears in her eyes, he sprang up from the chair and went toward her. He tried to put his arms around her, but she turned her back, ripping herself from his hands, and stepped away from him.

“I don’t want to be here with you,” she said, no longer yelling – now trying valiantly not to cry, but already sniffling.

“I think you do.”

“Of course you think I do. You’re an egotistical…”

“Jackwagon?”

“That’ll do for now.”

“You love me.”

She whirled around, trying to be angry again. “So what? Huh? So what? I’ll get over it. You think I’m ever gonna trust you again after the things you said? You think I’m stupid enough to ever let you anywhere near me? I’m not. So do whatever you have to do to let me out of this place. It’s over. You lost. Go have Chinese food with the pantsuit.”

“Come sit by me.”

“No.”

“Will you at least listen to me?”

“No. I’m serious, Barba, let me the fuck out of here.”

“Here. Let me give you a tissue.”

“I’m not crying.”

“Yes, you are. You’re crying because you love me. And I love you.”

“Of all the cocky, narcissistic…” She stepped just close enough to tear the tissue from his hand.

“Come sit by me.”

“No. I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“Quit saying that!”

“Sit. C’mon. You don’t have to sit close. Just sit.”

“I’m not sitting. You want me to sit. So I’m not sitting.”

He couldn’t help laughing at that. “Will you listen?”

“I don’t seem to have a choice. Which, just to remind you, is unlawful imprisonment and if you choose to give up your right to remain silent every single fucking word you say will be used against you in a court of law. So choose wisely.”

“Francisca, I’m sorry. I screwed up in every possible way. I hurt you, because I thought you were someone you’re not. Someone who hurt me. And I knew you better than that. I betrayed your trust. You’re the woman I love, and I was a coward, and jealous, and petty, and I’m more sorry than I can ever possibly tell you.”

“And you kidnapped me.”

“Yes, I did. And that was wrong. Necessary, and actually kind of genius, but wrong.”

She glared at him.

He tried to stop smiling and look contrite. “Very, very wrong.”

She stood, saying nothing, arms crossed.

“What else do you need to hear? Just tell me, and I’ll say it.”

“I need to hear the sound of that door opening. That’s what I need to hear.”

“Francisca, I can’t excuse my behavior. But I can explain where it came from. Maybe if you know that, you might be willing to let me start to apologize. Because you were right about me. I am a snob, and prejudiced. I’m owning my bias. Rich people, people who think the rules don’t apply to them, who look down on people like me and my family… It makes me crazy.”

“I noticed.”

“And when it came to you, I got completely turned around.”

Frankie didn’t respond, which Barba took as a good sign. “Will you let me tell you?”

She looked at him over her coffee cup. “Five minutes.”

“When I was at Harvard…”

**********

“Have I really been distracting you?” Carisi asked, looking shyly at Dodds in a way he’d never seen before, with a flirtatious little smile Dodds was glad he’d never seen before. If he had, he would’ve done something inappropriate long before now.

“Let it go, Carisi. We’re on the job.” Sonny might have been a little stung by that, except for the tiny grin Dodds couldn’t control.

“Well, when we’re not on the job, I want to hear about it.”

“You’re not gonna go all needy on me, are you, Carisi?”

It wasn’t Mike’s fault. Sonny turned his smile on at full power, with that flirtatious tilt to his head. Mike was helpless to resist.

“OK, fine,” he said. “I think you’re hot. OK? Happy now?”

“Yeah,” Sonny shrugged happily. “You thinkin’ I’m hot, that’s pretty good.”

Dodds shook his head, running his hand through his hair and turning to look out the window, but smiling against his will. “Shit. I don’t know if I can handle you.”

“One way to find out,” Carisi said, a seductive note in his voice that Dodds felt inside. He risked a look over at Sonny, who was looking at him invitingly, dimples on full display on either side of his plump, pink lips.

“Damn it,” Dodds muttered, leaning toward Carisi, who closed the distance. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was Sonny’s hand reaching to cup his cheek. When their lips met, Sonny made just the slightest noise as he exhaled, unleashing a storm of lightning in Mike’s lower abdomen.

**********************

Frankie drank her coffee while Barba told her several things she’d never known about him. Things, in fact, most people didn’t know about him. Frankie was hurt and angry. She wasn’t particularly disposed to see his point of view. But the things he told her explained quite a bit, and they resonated with her. She listened for far longer than five minutes, and he noticed when she began to nod with recognition.

“I know what you’re talking about,” she said quietly. “My father made sure we did. I’m not saying I can get where you are. I can’t. I’m not you. But I do respect your experience, because I have just enough of my own to know it’s real. Not only in terms of money, but racially, as well. It’s not easy being Mexican in Texas, no matter how much money you have. But having said that, Barba, I’m not them. Don’t do to me what they did to you. I’m just me. Judge me on me, not anyone else.”

“I am. I do.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

“What happens now?” He asked, wanting to stand and take her in his arms, but not wanting to break this fragile peace.

“I don’t know,” Frankie answered honestly.

“I have some wonderful ideas,” he suggested. “Come home with me and I’ll tell you all about them.”

“No.”

He gulped. “No?”

“Oh, no. You think you just kidnap me and we have a heart-to-heart and then you get to take me back to your place? It’s not gonna happen like that. You fucked up. If you want me to come home with you, there needs to be dating. Wooing.”

“Wooing.”

“That’s what I said. If you ever hope to get me back to your apartment again, you’re gonna have to woo me. And not ‘Carmen does all the work and you just show up’ wooing. Real wooing, Barba. I want to see some effort.”

“I can do that. But tell me… how long does this ‘wooing’ process last?”

“I’ll let you know.” She put her carryall over her shoulder. “Now, tell Dodds and Carisi to let us out.”

Barba stood, a little stunned and a lot disappointed, but ready to do whatever ‘wooing’ was required to get Francisca back into his life for good. He picked up his jacket, sighing. “I just need to signal them from the door.”

He followed her down the hall and to the door, but was surprised when she stopped short, put a hand on his chest, and pushed him a couple of steps backward.

“Um… Text them.”

Barba did a double take. “Why?”

“Just… text them.”

“What’s…” he went to step around her, but she stepped in front of him again.

“What’s going on?” He asked, confused.

“That’s need-to-know. And you don’t.”

He just looked at her for a moment.

“Will you just trust me on this?” She asked.

“Maybe. On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Kiss me.”

Frankie stood very close to him, looking up at him, considering. “I want to, but I don’t want to encourage your behavior.”

“OK, so here’s my offer. I don’t ask questions, you kiss me, and I agree never to kidnap you again.”

She grinned and stepped to him, taking her time as she slid her arms around his neck. “I can live with that,” she said, tilting her head as Barba, smiling, touched his lips to hers.

It began a bit oddly, because neither of them could control the smiles turning their lips up, but they wanted very much to kiss each other, so they made it work. And it wasn’t long before Frankie’s fingers were buried in Rafael’s hair, grasping a handful, while with her other arm she pulled him close. He let one hand drift slowly down her back, the other on her hip keeping her where he wanted her. They took their time, reacquainting themselves with each other, tasting and breathing in one another, both very happy to be in each other’s arms again.

“I love you,” Rafael whispered into the kiss.

“I love you, too,” Frankie murmured, immediately going back to what she’d been doing with her tongue.

“Let me take you home.”

“Text the guys.”

Barba wouldn’t have dreamt of asking any questions. Not now.

Five minutes later, Rafael had managed to maneuver Frankie against the wall where he could press against her, and was drawing soft moans from her. They began to hear metallic scrapes at the door. A moment later, Dodds’ head appeared around the doorway.

“Everybody alive?” He asked.

“We’re good. Ready to get outta here.”

“All right. Let’s go,” Dodds said, holding a hand out toward the door. Barba stepped past him, then Frankie, who leaned close to Dodds as she passed.

“Zipper,” she whispered, then stepped over and kissed Rafael to distract him as Dodds quickly fastened up.

Rafael flicked off the lights and locked the door with a single key on a small fob.

“What is this place, anyway? Are we even supposed to be here?”

Barba and Dodds shared a look. “That’s need-to-know,” Barba said. “And you don’t.”

The three walked the few yards to the squad car, where Carisi leaned against the roof, holding the rear door open. His hair was hopelessly askew.

“Glad to see nobody’s bleeding,” he said, smiling broadly.

***********

The flowers Barba sent the next day were so big Frankie actually had to work around them in her small office at Federal Plaza. The inconvenience made her smile.

The next day, he took her on a dinner cruise around Manhattan, just the two of them and a crew of five on a classic, teak yacht. That was pretty fabulous, but it was so much fun to torture him that Frankie still kissed him good night at the door of her apartment.

Barba sent more flowers the following day, a perfect little bouquet that was a better size for her office and brought tears to her eyes with its beauty. It was exactly what she would choose for herself, and the card made her knees weak. She had to hide it in her desk because, while not graphic, it was just too personal to have out for anyone to see.

Through these days, he called and texted so much she wondered how he was getting any work done. In truth, he wasn’t. He was working too hard trying to think of ways to “woo” her, and Carmen was only willing to help him to a certain extent. Frankie and Carmen were becoming friends, and Frankie had wasted no time letting her know the conditions of Barba’s parole.

They had a long, intimate lunch that Thursday. That evening, after they’d finally both made it home and into comfortable clothes, Frankie was laying on her stomach on the couch, feet in the air and chin in her hand, laughing at something Barba had said as they chatted on the phone. This “wooing” process, while slightly frustrating for both of them, was also a lot of fun. And they were enjoying the opportunity to truly know one another. After all, it had only been a few months since they’d met. The best part was that, the more they knew, the closer they became, and the surer they were that they were, in fact, in love.

“You sound happy,” Barba murmured sexily into the phone.

“Well, I’m not not enjoying being wooed,” she smiled.

“Jeez. What’s it gonna take to get an actual compliment from you?”

“You could deal with the spider in my bathroom. I’d definitely compliment you for that.”

“Romantic.”

“Well, you said you like it when I need you. And dealing with the spider would involve both protecting me and supporting me through some emotional distress.”

“Uh-huh. It’s a start, I guess.”

“Barba, you don’t understand. It’s a spider.”

“Just kill it.”

“I can’t.”

“Then re-home it.”

“I can’t.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I… can’t with spiders.”

“You’re afraid of spiders?”

“I didn’t say that. I said I can’t with them.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I can’t. With spiders. No puedo. Con las arañas.”

“And that’s different than being afraid of them how?”

They moved on, with Barba frequently returning to the topic of her fear of spiders whenever he thought of a new way to tease her about it. Almost an hour later, they were still on the phone as Frankie rooted in her sparsely-stocked refrigerator, looking for something to snack on.

There was a knock at her door.

“Huh,” she said to Barba. “There’s someone at my door.”

“Who is it?”

She went over to look out the peephole, a smile dawning on her lips. “It’s you.”

“Is it? Then you should let me in.”

“What about wooing?”

“How conceited of you to assume I’m here to ravish you. I’m here to deal with your arachnid problem.”

“Oh.” She undid the locks and opened the door, pushing the “end” button on her phone. “Then come in.”

He smiled in that slow-burn, eye-twinkling way that she felt all over, stepping through the door. Closing and re-locking the door behind him, she then turned to face him where he stood a few feet into her apartment. They looked at one another and, without a word, Frankie stepped into Barba’s arms.

She softly took his lower lip between hers, moving her lips slowly over his and gently nipping. He gave a soft moan that was all it took before she was pushing him toward her bedroom.

“Wooing’s over,” she said, her voice almost a growl.

“Thank God.” He began to walk backward, both of them moving together while they kissed and Frankie pulled Barba’s sweater and T-shirt off, tossing them onto her couch as they passed. His skin felt wonderful; she was suddenly hungry to touch all of him. By the time they reached the edge of her bed, she had his jeans unfastened and was pulling them down his hips. He helped her get them off, along with his loafers, so that he could concentrate on her. She made it difficult to get her sweatshirt and yoga pants off because she couldn’t get enough of touching him.

“Doctor, you are not cooperating,” he laughed softly.

“You’re the one who’s… not… oh, damn it-“ she tore her yoga pants off and pushed him roughly onto the bed. She half-pushed, half-dragged him up to the pillows, where she could stretch out on top of him, touching as much of his skin as possible with hers. She couldn’t hold him tightly enough, even with her full length stretching along his. Barba held her as tightly as she was holding him, understanding her need. He lifted a hand to the back of her head to hold her mouth against his, needing the most intimate possible kisses.

“I love you, mi fresa. You have no idea.”

“Do, too,” she muttered into his mouth.

“Don’t argue with me,” he chuckled.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” She lifted to her knees enough to straddle him, pulling his hands to cup them over her breasts and wiggling her hips toward him.

He took a hand from her breast to put it on her hip, shifting them both into position. “Fuck me,” he growled.

“Except that,” she said, sliding onto him with a gasp. “Fuck, Barba! I love you-“

It had been too long, and they were too glad to be together, for either of them to last very long. They weren’t worried. They had all night. They had forever.

Later, lying together happily nuzzling and whispering together, Frankie remembered the spider.

“You forgot to deal with the spider.”

“I’m not going to.”

“What? That was the whole reason I let you in!”

“Mi fresa, that lie is unworthy of you.”

“It’s not a lie.”

“Of course it is. You let me in so you could ravish me.”

“And so you would deal with the spider.”

“In that order.”

“OK, I admit that. So now I’ve ravished you, at least for the moment. Time to deal with the spider.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“Ravishing. As much ravishing as you want.”

“You’re going to do that anyway. You’re crazy about me. What else?”

“Barba, are you going to protect and support me, or are you going to give me a bunch of trouble?”

“Yes.”

~~~~~~~~~~The End ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#law & order svu #law & order: special victims unit #rafael barba #raul esparza #sonny carisi #mike dodds #peter scanavino #andy karl

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