Work Text:
CHRISTMAS MEOWS
Rafael Barba knew how to recognize emergencies; they couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as he had the signed warrant, he ran off with it in hand.
He grabbed a taxi and then jumped out, breath visible in the cold December air, calling out his friend’s name.
“I’ve got it,” he said, handing the warrant to Carisi.
“Barba, you’re here?” Sonny asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? Benson said it was urgent, and I know how to do my job.”
Carisi stared at him.
“I know, but you shouldn’t be here. It could be dangerous.”
“I can take care of myself,” Rafael said proudly.
“Those self-defense classes don’t count.”
“This is about the Latina girls he attacked?” Rafael’s gaze said it all.
Carisi assessed the situation inch by inch; they had backup, though everything indicated the suspect wasn’t dangerous.
“Hold this,” he said, handing Rafael his gun.
Rafael accepted it, still unsure. Carisi, with quick movements, took off his bulletproof vest and offered it.
For protection, he would never let a civilian get hurt, and especially not him—Rafael Barba, his partner… his friend.
“Wear it, and don’t move from here.”
Carisi took the warrant, and Rafael reluctantly accepted.
Sonny, accompanied by other officers, moved in to capture the notorious New York subway stalker, George Venegas. Getting to him had been no easy task, as his image as an animal protector provided the perfect cover.
Rafael watched from a distance. Everything had gone in their favor. He took a deep breath as he saw Carisi come out unscathed; they had caught Venegas.
Soon a patrol car arrived, its siren signaling that justice had come.
The forensic team went in afterward. Rafael assessed the risks and advanced. The place smelled foul and seemed unsafe. Animals were everywhere: cats, dogs, snakes, some exotic birds, and a ferret.
Rafael frowned, moving elegantly and precisely through the offender’s house, almost like a shadow.
Carisi appeared behind him.
“Here, this is what you were looking for,” he said, handing over an old locket.
“We have enough evidence. I don’t think anything missing would make a difference.” “Thanks.”
“You know I’d never do that…” Carisi smiled, letting the silver chain fall into Rafael’s warm hands. Their fingers brushed, and Sonny let the thin chain slip suddenly; Rafael felt it slide with surprising force
The locket belonged to Carmen Pérez, a former family friend who had been attacked by Venegas one November afternoon.
“Thanks,” Rafael said, offering a smile so subtle it almost didn’t show.
They stared at each other, but their gaze was interrupted by a soft meow.
A little black kitten with a white belly, a pink nose, pointy ears, and a curious gaze: one green eye, one blue.
“Meow, meow,” the kitten insisted, rubbing its tiny body against Carisi’s leg.
Sonny quickly crouched down, moved by the sweet mews, and scooped it up.
“Look at him, Barba, isn’t he adorable?”
“Keep that parasite sack away from me,” Rafael said, stretching out his hand.
“You don’t actually believe black cats bring bad luck, do you?”
“No,” Rafael frowned.
Sonny stretched out his arms further; the kitten twitched its nose, utterly adorable. And then… a swipe of claws grazed Rafael’s skin.
He pulled back his hand, biting his lip.
“Oh, sorry… Rafael!” Sonny’s voice broke as he released the kitten, which bolted away.
“I…” Rafael watched the path of the scratch the little creature had left.
Sonny took his hand and began blowing on the wound. Rafael, unnerved by the sudden closeness, pulled back quickly.
“You’ve done enough, Carisi. I’m leaving.”
“But…”
“I’ll go to the doctor; I might have rabies.”
Rafael hurried out without even turning to look at Sonny, still wearing the bulletproof vest.
The operation ended, and Animal Control took the animals. Some would go to shelters, others to the zoo. Among the recovered creatures, Sonny’s little friend was nowhere to be found. He checked several times, even though it wasn’t his job.
Sonny sighed, looking out at the street. New York was huge.
“I hope you’re okay, little guy.”
The next day at the precinct, everything seemed calmer now that Venegas was off the streets. The unit could finally breathe, justice prevailing after long weeks of hard work.
Rafael’s unmistakable footsteps soon echoed through the room.
“Rafael,” Olivia greeted him, handing over a cup of coffee.
“Thanks, Liv.”
“Great work. With the warrant you got, we’re more than protected from Venegas’s lawyers.”
“It’s my job, Liv.”
Curious, Olivia peeked at the paper bag Rafael was carrying.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Inside was the bulletproof vest Carisi had lent him yesterday. Olivia frowned.
“Please don’t report this.”
“He just…” —Rafael struggled to find the words—
“He was protecting you,” Liv said with a smile.
“Call it whatever you want,” Rafael said, frowning as he handed the bag to Liv.
“I hope now the NYPD can rest easy, knowing the whole team is safe.”
“Rafael, you never change. Now that the vest is back, I hope Carisi can finally be at ease.”
“Your hand? What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Rafael walked over to Sonny’s desk.
“Carisi…”
“Barba,” he said with an air of indifference.
“I brought the vest. Liv says she won’t reprimand you.”
“Ah.”
There was a pause.
“Shall we go? What’s going on?
Carisi focused on his laptop and continued typing. Rafael stared at him. Sonny took a deep breath.
“Because of you, an innocent is lost on the streets of New York.”
Rafael gave him a serious look.
“You mean that filthy cat?”
“Ah, and thanks for the vest. You can leave; I have work to do.”
“My hand’s fine, if you care. I won’t sue your cat.”
“Mmm, alright.”
Rafael hurried out of the precinct, clutching his briefcase.
“Terrible cat.”
Olivia approached him again.
“I’m leaving. Do you need anything else from the Venegas case?”
“No, just that now that everything’s settled, Amanda is hosting a gathering at her place, and we’d like to do a Secret Santa gift exchange.”
Liv stared at him.
“Are you ordering this as captain or as a friend?”
“Whatever works.”
“Alright, I’ll go, but I can’t promise I’ll stay long.”
Liv smiled.
“I feel a little silly, but now pick a slip so you can be the Secret Santa.”
“What nonsense, Olivia. You shouldn’t let Amanda drag you into this.”
Rafael took the slip and walked away, showing no interest outwardly, though inside he secretly hoped for a certain name. Once outside, he unfolded it slowly, with anticipation, hoping to see that name…
And there it was: “Sonny Carisi.”
The prosecutor felt like the luckiest man alive, almost like an ex-con given a second chance to redeem himself. For the first time, he thought Amanda Rollins had come up with a brilliant idea.
In his office, among the expensive furniture and law books, he pondered the perfect gift. He browsed online; there were several options, but all seemed bland, nothing like Sonny.
He considered giving him a Rolex, maybe engraved, a leather briefcase, or a tie, but as soon as he decided, he dismissed the idea.
The thought of that filthy cat, the reason their friendship had strained, came back to him. He spent the whole afternoon with a pounding headache; he had everything but a gift.
As he walked, his mind wouldn’t stop racing; the image of the cat and its meowing haunted him.
If Sonny wanted that cat, he would get it.
Rafael began the search near Venegas’s house; surely it would be there. But he had no luck—it darted into every corner it thought might be a safe hideout.
The result of that night was a ruined expensive coat.
“What if I buy him another one? Or a Rolex?” he thought.
Time was running out.
The next day, Sonny’s indifferent attitude remained the same; he was cordial but distant.
By the afternoon, Rafael swore to himself he wouldn’t return to his apartment without the cat.
He walked unsuccessfully, resigned to Sonny’s indifference, when suddenly he saw a little furball scurrying by.
“Come on, you can’t be far,” Rafael whispered, almost dragging his feet, when a faint “meow” made him stop.
He crouched slowly, carefully, and there it was: the kitten, under a newspaper cart, black fur mixed with snow and a dusty white belly. Its tiny eyes shone, and it looked as scared as it was charming.
“Almost there, little one, almost,” Rafael said, extending his hand gently. The kitten backed away a few steps, arching its back, and then, with a small leap, landed in his arms.
Rafael held it against his chest, feeling its tiny heart racing.
“Don’t worry, little buddy, I won’t leave you alone,” he murmured to himself, adjusting his scarf around his neck and beginning to walk along the snow-dusted sidewalks.
In the distance, a man watched the entire scene with quiet amusement.
He chuckled softly.
“Thank you, Rafael…” he whispered to the wind.
That night, the cat slept in Rafael’s apartment, among the expensive boxes of his designer shoes.
As he observed it closely to clean it up, he noticed the kitten had heterochromatic eyes: one green, one blue, almost as if they reminded him of Sonny—and himself.
December 24th
That night would be the gathering at Olivia’s apartment, and luckily he didn’t have to go to court that day, which gave him time to prepare Dominick, as he had begun to call him.
That morning, as soon as he finished his coffee, he took Dominick to the vet and even found a cat grooming salon.
He bought a few toys and collars.
Everything was ready. He barely had time to get himself ready for dinner; he was already growing fond of the little cat.
Rafael walked straight to the gathering at Olivia’s apartment. The city lights seemed to shine brighter with the softly falling snow. He smiled for the first time in days, certain that this Christmas would be different—warm and full of surprises.
He hoped Dominick could bring back the lost smile of his dear Sonny Carisi.
The doorbell at Olivia’s apartment rang; she opened the door.
As soon as Sonny saw him enter, he smiled at the sight of Rafael and the blue box he carried in his arms.
“Merry Christmas, Rafael,” Carisi said, raising his glass.
Rafael smiled faintly, feeling that all the effort had been worth it.
Meanwhile, Dominick stretched out his little white paw, trying to get out of the box.