Chapter Text
Carisi and Barba had fun at their weekly lunch. Carisi picked Barba’s brain about a tricky ongoing case and Barba asked Carisi about his opinions on his new hobby: Construction. Barba bought a house in Brooklynn years ago when the market was at its worst, the house was going through foreclosure and he really bought it very cheap. But it was not being used for the last decade and needed serious renovations.
At the time Barba bought it for them. Him, Olivia and Noah. He was thinking to propose her. Not marriage maybe but at least to live together. He was very excited when he told her about the house. But of course he chickened out when he was about to ask her to move in together. In his dreams they would renovate and decorate together and made that house their happy home. Soon after Drew happened. And then… He chose to postpone his dream. And when he was ready, Oliva chose to kick him out of her life. And his contact to Noah was limited to phone calls and Noah used to stay at his loft on Saturdays which Olivia didn’t allow anymore ever since he sold his loft and moved in to a hotel suit.
Now after not hearing from her for 2 years, Barba decided to accept the reality. He could either sell the house or renovate it alone. After an emotionally draining case he decided to take some time off from law and he started to renovate the house as do it yourself project. It was good for him. Physical work was cleaning his mind. It was like meditation. And during the process he asked Carisi about a lot of things since Carisi knew about construction more than Barba did.
After lunch they were walking when they were passing through a bodega. Barba remembered he was out of cigarettes.
Barba: I need to buy some cigarettes.
Carisi: Those things will kill you
Barba smirked while turning towards the bodega.
Barba: Maybe but they won’t kill me today.
Carisi’s phone rang, seeing it was Amanda, Carisi motioned Barba to go get his cigarettes while he was talking to his beloved wife. He saw 2 men entering bodega after Barba but thought nothing of it.
Barba was waiting for the old lady before him to pay to the store owner when 2 men entered the store. He noticed one of them turning the sign on the door to closed, before he could move the other one pulled his gun.
Roberto: Open the cash register!
The store owner nodded and opened the register but instead of giving them the money he pulled his gun. Before he could shoot, Roberto shot him from his shoulder.
Omar: Shit! What did you do!
Roberto: He pulled his gun!
Barba tried to go the store owner but Roberto pointed his gun to him.
Roberto: Stop moving or I will shoot you too!
Carisi was still talking to Amanda when he heard the gun shot. He turned towards the bodega and saw the closed sign and a man holding a gun.
Amanda: Dominick what was that sound? Was it…
Carisi: Gun shot. Shit. Call nearest precinct, Barba is inside, I can see 2 men inside. One is holding a gun towards Barba.
Barba raised his hands and noticed the customer before him, a woman in her late 70s was crying on the floor. Omar closed the store’s curtains
Barba: Look. I don’t have a gun. I will just check his wound. You just fired your gun in Manhattan, 2 blocks away from a precinct. In minutes this place will be circled by cops. Run now or you will be the one getting shot.
Roberto: Shut Up!
Omar: Roberto we should go!
Roberto: No, not before we get what we came for.
Roberto got the money from cash register, grabbed the women’s purse and turned to Barba.
Roberto: Give me your wallet!
Barba nodded calmly and gave him his wallet, Roberto noticed his watch.
Roberto: Watch too!
Barba sighed. Now a days he didn’t wear his suits. Like today, instead of his designer suits he was mostly wearing jumpers and jeans. And the ADIDAS watch Noah gave him as a present all those years ago replaced his Rolex.
Barba: I am not giving you my watch. It is not even valuable.
Roberto pushed his gun to Barba’s forehead.
Roberto: I told you give me your watch!
Omar: Roberto we need to leave!
Before Roberto could reply they heard the police sirens.
Omar: Shit!
Roberto made a move towards the door but saw 3 police cars parked before the store.
Omar: Shit! I told you we need to leave!
Roberto: Shut up! I need to think.
Barba: You need to be smart.
Barba his hands still in the air pointed his head towards the store owner who was laying on the ground.
Barba: He is bleeding. If he dies you both are going to prison for life without parole. They will call you. Tell them you want to surrender, that store owner is wounded and you will be only charged with assault and robbery. You will be out of jail before your 50s.
Roberto: I SAID SHUT UP!
Roberto paced and the phone in the store rang.
Barba: Open it. It’s the cops. You talk to them, they won’t shoot. You don’t talk, they will shoot.
Roberto looked at Barba skeptically.
Roberto: You cop or something?
Barba: Or something. I am a lawyer. I was an ADA once.
Roberto smirked.
Roberto: You have any friends in NYPD who won’t want you dead?
Barba smiled bitterly.
Barba: Well most of NYPD hates my guts, they won’t mind if I die. Actually most of them would raid here just to make me collateral damage. But I know someone better. Let the store owner go and I will make sure you talk to DA himself.
Roberto: You can do that?
Barba: Yes.
Roberto: Prove it.
Barba took his phone from his back pocket slowly and opened the screen then showed Roberto Nick Baxter’s contact info on his mobile phone. The store’s phone rang again.
Barba: Open it.
Roberto: No. You open it! You tell them I want a deal. They will let us go. Then I will give them you and the others.
Barba: It doesn’t work like that Roberto. First give them the store owner and the lady. Then they will know your intentions are good. It is enough if you just keep me. I am an ex-ADA and DA’s very close friend. I am more valuable than the others. Let them go.
Omar: Roberto. He is right. I think…
Roberto nodded and let Barba answer the phone.