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cissyenthusiast010155 · 22 days

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Memory Case ~Rita Calhoun xFem Smart!Wife!Reader

Summary— Some at-home fluff, Rita is working on her case that’s he’s taken home, while talking with her wife. Thoughts and conversations about memory ensue.

Mommy… Master List

Requests & Prompt-List

Warnings: all fluff, some science talk, talk of trauma, kissing, happy endings, etc.

Enjoy (;

It was the evening, and you and Rita had found a comfortable routine of doing your late night work at the dining table together, that way you two felt like you were still spending some time together as your jobs ate away your free time.

As you were nose deep into some paperwork, the sound of your name on the other woman’s tongue pulled your gaze up towards her.

“Mmmmm…?” You hum.

Rita paused for a moment, paper and pen in hand, tilting her head at something she was looking at. Your brows raised in curiosity.

“What’s up, babe?” You verbally asked.

“What’s the earliest memory you have…?” The brunette asked out of the blue, obviously having a train of thought behind her words, but having not yet revealed her thinking to you.

You thought about it for a moment, leaning back in your chair.

“Ummmmm… probably my childhood home… when I was around 2 to 3 years old… I remember the street I used to live on, and all the leaves falling because it was fall.” You replied.

Rita finally meets your gaze with a curious look on her face, her contemplation running deep.

“Huh. Interesting…” she commented, before scribbling something down on her notepad.

You put your things aside for a moment, your attention now grabbed.

“Why…?”

“I’ve been thinking about memory a lot recently…” she hummed, going back to her files.

You nodded along in intrigue.

“For a case?”

Rita took a prompt breath and nodded.

“What about it…?” You asked.

The woman then stopped what she was doing to collect her thoughts and meet your gaze once more.

“It’s correlation with how we process… how we remember certain things… how trauma can block certain memories…” She paused for a moment, “I’m thinking of using it as a defense…”

You nodded along, listening to the woman, as she went back to working.

“What do you know about memory?”

Rita snorted a little. Her snorts always made you melt.

“Not much. You?”

“A good deal.”

At your words, Rita put her things down and looked at you once more.

“Really?”

“Baby, I’m a therapist. Memory is like my domain.” You chuckled with a shrug.

Her hands then came forward above the table, nonchalantly prompting you to fill her in.

“Do tell.” She said, cocking her brow in wait.

You chuckled lightly and nodded, pursing your lips and thinking of where to begin, already picking up your hands in preparation to lecture the brunette on your expertise.

“Ok so firstly, Memory can be defined as the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information. Now there are generally four different kinds of recognized memory— those are sensory memory, short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory.” You explain, waving your hands about in the way you always did when you were teaching.

Rita tilted her head and listened with intent, nodding along to show her understanding. Her eyes softened at the sight of your hand gestures. She found them to be the cutest rhing.

“Alright, I follow.”

“Good. So according to Baddeley and Hitch, the following is how memory works. First comes the input, this is filtered through our sensory memory, which is where the processing starts. Then with attention, the information moves to the short-term memory, this is where information can be stored for a brief period of time. Another word for this hold is the Central Executive, this is the function of working memory that delegates what information should be retained and processed and what should be forgotten. From there, the information stays in the working memory, able to go to the Visuospatial Sketchpad or the Phonological Loop, the former is for visual and spatial processing, the latter for auditory processing. Still following?”

At this point, Rita had started taking notes, and she eagerly looked up and nodded, prompting you to continue.

“Good good. So from there from the working memory, the information can go to the episodic buffer and then to long-term memory. That’s the basics, it can get more complicated easily, but that’s what I would teach anyone interested in starting to understand memory.” You explain.

Rita lets out an intriguing hum, and you can see the cogs turning in her brain behind those dazzling eyes.

“So what if someone can’t remember what they did…?” The brunette asked.

“Well sometimes it’s because you forget the exact neural pathway, the recollection to the memory. Memory goes through the episodic buffer, something that helps you recall things in episodes or in correlation. When you trigger memories near the one you’ve forgotten, you can recall the one you don’t remember.”

“Hmmmmm I see.” Rita mused aloud, “And trauma?”

You pursed your lips and nodded with a sigh.

“That’s more complicated… Trauma has a way of building blocks or obstacles let’s say for you to access the traumatic memories. It’s best to uncover those with a professional.” You explain.

“And how do you know if it’s just forgotten or if it’s trauma…? I want to make a case for trauma but I don’t want it to bite me in the ass if he suddenly remembers it all.” Rita explained.

You nod again.

“I see. Well then I would say get him clinically evaluated. They should be able to tell you if it’s suppressed, repressed, or just forgotten.”

Rita smiled lightly at your words and nodded in agreement. She didn’t respond immediately, seemingly in thought.

“You okay, babe?” You asked, sitting up a little.

Rita nodded, standing up and making her way over to you. She came up behind you, wrapping her arms around your frame.

“I love you. You know that?” She purred.

You blushed and squirmed in your seat a little. Even to this day, your wife using the L word made you all giddy.

“I love you too, Rita” you hummed.

The woman then swiveled your head to the side and gently connected your lips together. You pressed into the light, caring kiss with a hum of contentment.

“How’d I get so lucky with a genius like you?” She chuckled into your lips.

You shrugged accompanied by a little giggle, as Rita drew you out of your seat and into her close embrace. She literally kissed your breath away. You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect partner.

~~~

Rita Calhoun Masterlist

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prentiss-theorem · 10 months

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do i believe all of these women are gay? yes I do. am I being delusional? yes i am. ✨✨

more icons

#rae’s icons #olivia benson #rita calhoun #alex cabot #casey novak #law and order special victims unit #law and order svu #svu #mariska hartigay #stephanie march #diane neal #elizabeth marvel

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notsosecretlyalesbian · 1 year

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Elizabeth Marvel as Celeste in Mrs. Davis | 01×06: Allison Treasures: A Southern California Story

#elizabeth marvel #celeste #celeste abbott #mrs davis #mrsdavisedit #notsosecretlyalesbian #my gifs #look i felt like I needed to get this one out today #but i'm also very tired so i'm sorry about those last 3 gifs #her face looks adorable and i didn't have the heart to not post them #even if the background looks horrible #tvgifs #tvedit

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wittygutsy · 3 months

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#elizabeth marvel #mariska hargitay #law and order svu #olivia benson #rita calhoun #svu

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blackhillfilmss · 1 year

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The Rita Calhoun fandom is LACKING in the fanfic department.

#law and order svu #elizabeth marvel #rita calhoun #rita calhoun x reader

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hoe4almondmilk · 1 year

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Regret

Rita Calhoun x Reader

warnings: language, descriptions of violence, major injury to a character & i think this considered hurt/comfort with a teaspoon of angst.

an: I’d like to apologize if Rita is a bit ooc, it’s my first time writing her. Please be nice or I’ll cry lol.

The only thing you could hear in Rita’s office was the sound of her coffee cup shatter as it met with the hard marble floor.

“Oh my god.” She said as she almost fell. The only thing holding her up was her arm desperately grabbing her desk for support.

She had just gotten the worst call of her life from your captain Olivia Benson. Olivia had called her and told her you were shot and in critical condition.

Rita quickly grabbed her coat and left her office as fast as she could. She quickly grabbed a ride to Mercy Hospital.

All she could think about on that ride to the hospital was the argument you two had this morning before the both of you left for work. All it was doing was replaying in her head over and over again.

“Rita, you seriously can’t be defending him.” You scoffed as you tied your tennis shoes.

“You and your squad do not know the whole story, (y/n).” Rita looked at you as she stirred her coffee.

“He is a rapist, Rita! You know that! He brutalized that girl!” You stood up and walked over to the kitchen counter.

You and the rest of the SVU squad were working a big case. Ryan Brown, the CEO of one of New York’s largest tech companies had viciously assaulted one of his young interns. You all knew he was guilty except your girlfriend, Rita. His new defense counselor. You understood she had a job to do but you couldn’t help but take this personally. You spent almost 12 hours interrogating him. Countless nights looking over evidence. You all put so much work into this case.

“You know this is just business, (y/n).” Rita tried reassuring you as she tried to put her hand on your shoulder before you pushed it away.

“Is it, Rita?” You replied coldly.

Rita was shocked but also started to get agitated with you. It was still so early and you were badgering her with questions about this case. She was also upset that you seriously believed this was a personal attack. Rita would never do that to you but also her client deserved the right to counsel.

“You know what, I’m going to head out because it is way too early to deal with this.” Rita said as she rolled her eyes. She started to grab her bag as she got ready to leave your shared condo.

“Deal with what? Deal with me?” You said as you continued to argue and follow Rita.

“Yes, deal with you. I should’ve never gotten involved with some rookie NYPD detective who doesn’t know a thing about the law.” Rita snapped. She closed her eyes immediately in regret. She couldn’t believe what she just said to you. She could see the tears well up in your eyes. “I need to go, I’m going to be late.” Rita added trying to keep her composure as she turned around to leave.

“Ma’am, we’re here. Mercy Hospital.” Rita’s driver snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Thank you.” She said as she exited the vehicle to the emergency room. Rita made her way to the waiting room. She immediately spotted Olivia and the squad.

Olivia’s eyes had widened when they met Rita’s “Rita, I-“

“Olivia, what the hell happened.” Rita interrupted Olivia, absolutely furious at how this could even happen.

“We don’t know. She’s in bad shape. She almost bled out in the ambulance, I couldn’t even get her to answer if she saw the shooter before she passed out. ” Olivia said softly. “Her and Rollins were on their way to meet a witness and someone from a window in the building across shot her. ” Olivia added in a broken voice.

“They just shot her?” Rita choked, trying to catch her breath. Her legs felt like jelly. “Where’s the bastard?” Rita asked, her voice colored in anger.

“We’re still looking. We have uni’s and other detectives surveying the perimeter and looking for this guy.” Olivia said, as she took a deep breath.

“You don’t have the person who shot her?” Rita’s voice raised. At this point the squad was walking over to see what was going on. “He shot her in broad daylight and you don’t have anyone? No one saw him?”

“Rita, we’re going to find him.” Olivia tried to calm Rita down.

“Olivia, I don’t care who I have to go through. If (y/n) doesn’t make it, I will sue the NYPD and I will have your badge.” Rita warned before she walked over to talk to the hospital staff about your condition.

“Liv, it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t any of our faults.” Amanda placed her hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“I know… She just needs some time.” Olivia said as she watched Rita sitting alone on the other side of the waiting room.

Nearly five hours had gone by and you were still in surgery. Rita wanted to vomit. She couldn’t lose you. You were everything. Yes, you guys had your arguments about work but you both made it work. Rita wouldn’t have had it any other way. She slumped deeper into the uncomfortable hospital chair. She closed her eyes, hoping she’d wake up from this nightmare.

“You look like you need this.” Olivia handed Rita a cup of coffee.

“Thank you.” Rita whispered, as she took a sip of the coffee.

“Rita, I’m sorry.” Olivia said as she sat in the chair next to her.

“You’re okay. I’m the one who should be apologizing.” Rita turned to look at Olivia. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m just so scared.”

“I know, we are too.” The captain added. “What’s really going on? I get a sense something else is going through your mind”

“Oh, Olivia. Who could fool you?” Rita let out a soft chuckle.

“Tell me.” Olivia insisted. She knew something was going on. Let’s be honest, not very many people can hide their emotions with the queen of empathy.

“(y/n) and I got into it pretty bad this morning over the Brown case. I basically told her I should’ve never gotten involved with her.” The tough defense attorney could feel a tear run down her cheek. She quickly wiped the tear away.

Olivia handed her a handkerchief.

“Thank you.” Rita sniffled.

“Rita, you said it out of anger.” Olivia placed her hand on Rita’s shoulder.

“If she dies, the last thing I ever said to her was that.” Rita had tears streaming down her face at this point. “I couldn’t live with myself.”

“(y/n) is a fighter. She is going to make it. You can’t let your mind run off with that idea, Rita.” Olivia tried her best to comfort Olivia. She’d be lying if she wasn’t worried about you. But she knew Rita would be absolutely devastated if you didn’t make it.

“I just want her to be okay.” Rita mumbled as she wiped her tears away with the handkerchief.

“She will be.” Olivia insisted.

A few more hours had passed before your surgeon came out.

“Ms. Calhoun and Captain Benson.” The doctor approached the pair and your squad. “She’s stable.”

Rita felt like she could finally breathe again. “Oh my god.” She said relieved. Relief filled the room.

“She’ll have full use of her leg, where she was shot but she’s going to need physical therapy before she’ll be able to get it back to normal again.” He explained. “She’s awake if anyone would like to go in.”

“Thank you so much.” Rita thanked the doctor before he left.

Olivia looked at Rita and said “Rita, you go first.”

Rita entered your room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Your lips curved into a soft smile as you both met eyes. “Hi.” You said softly.

Rita rushed over to sit next to your bedside, and gently held your hand. “(y/n), I’m so sorry. I just can’t believe what I said to you this morning and I just-” Rita tried to muster out trying her best not to choke up. Tears once again fell down her face.

“It’s okay, Rita. I’m not mad at you.” You cut her off. You held her face as you wiped her tears.

“All I could think about was you and if you didn’t make it how those were the last words I ever said to you.”

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’m okay.” You held her hand, you tried to squeeze it with what little strength you had. “Did they catch him?” You asked. “It all happened so fast I didn’t even see him.”

“They haven’t, but I promise you when they do there’s gonna be hell to pay.” Rita assured you.

“I believe that.” You chuckled but then groaned in pain. “Damn, my fucking thigh.” Your face scrunched up. “Well, whoever the dumbass was had a horrible aim if all he could do was shoot me in the damn leg.”

“Oh, (y/n)!” Rita laughed. “You shouldn’t say that.” You had such a twisted sense of humor sometimes.

“Oh, but I bet this scar is gonna be so sexy.” You joked.

“You are such a masochist, I swear.” Rita playfully rolled her eyes. Rita reached over and gave you a gentle kiss on the lips. “I’m just so relieved.” She whispered to you gently petting your hair.

“I love you.” You smiled at her.

“And I love you.” She pecked your lips again.

“You know, you definitely didn’t deny the scar comment.” You teased Rita.

“Oh, we both know I love those thighs, scar or not.” Rita gave a soft chuckle as she kissed the top of that beautiful head of yours.

#law and order svu #svu #svu fanfiction #svu fanfic #rita calhoun #rita calhoun x reader #elizabeth marvel

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valentinesfrog · 1 year

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some rita calhoun appreciation

#rita calhoun #law and order svu #barbie #i love her so much #elizabeth marvel #valentinesfrog

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svu-bracket · 1 month

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playoffs (round 4)

descriptions under the cut

robert john burke -> appeared in 30 episodes over 14 seasons as IAB captain ed tucker. everyone's favorite hater turned Liv's bf. warren didn't have to do him like that :/

elizabeth marvel -> appeared in 14 episodes over 6 seasons as defense attorney rita calhoun. y'all really love this lady. not much to say but, "in a deleted scene from post-mortem blues, it is revealed that rita and ed tucker were once in a romantic relationship. it is unknown if their relationship is still considered to be canon" and that's crazy.

#svu #svu bracket #svu polls #best guest star #playoffs #playoffs round 4 #bobby burke #elizabeth marvel

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daddydoddsjr · 1 year

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Rita fic please!!!

Possibly working on opposite sides and the others find out that you are dating a defence lawyer and them being all bitter about it and believing that you would bypass Rita stuff. And then realising that no matter who you are in a relationship with you still fight for you clients.

Pairing || Rita Calhoun x Female!Reader

Contents/Warnings || Angst

Authors Note || i love rita so much it’s not even funny… i didn’t proof read this so sorry in advance

No one was supposed to find out yet. You and Rita hadn’t come up with any plans on how you’d present the news of your relationship yet, but it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. It was a rainy day and you and Rita weren’t working and were finally taking some time to be together. The two of you were sitting in a tiny coffee shop together, talking and laughing quietly. One of your hands was on the table and Rita was holding it.

Neither of you were really trying to hide it, but you also didn’t expect Olivia and Rafael to be walking by that shop, Rafael making a comment on how good their coffee is, but pausing when he saw you and Rita through the window.

“That… could be a problem,” Olivia sighed, quickly pulling Rafael past the coffee shop before you or Rita could see them.

“You don’t think that Y/N would… do anything, do you?” Olivia asked quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m just worried about how whatever that was can effect futures cases. And our current one.”

“Rita’s smart… but so is Y/N. I don’t think that they’d date if they weren’t smart enough to know the issues that’ll come with it. And I’d hope neither becomes corrupted enough to help each other with their cases to see one win instead of the other.”

“I’m still going to talk to Y/N about it tomorrow.”

“Liv… do you really think that’s a good idea? That alone might compromise your case.”

Olivia sighed, “I know.”

You were at SVU the next day to speak with Olivia about some detailed on the case when she brought it up.

You were taken by surprise, “You saw us yesterday? Where?”

“In a coffee shop in Chelsea. You two looked… close.”

You sighed, your grip on your brief case tightening, “Look, I know what you’re thinking—“

You were cut off, “Do you?” Olivia questioned, “Because I’m thinking I shouldn’t be bringing you anymore cases.”

“Are you really questioning my ability to do my job?”

“Your relationship with Rita could get in the way of what you’re supposed to be doing.”

“You know me better than that, Olivia.” A silence followed for a few moments.

“I’m going to win this case, whether I’m going against Rita or any other defence lawyer. I’m on the sides of my clients,” You left her office before she could say anything else to you, not wanting to hear any more of her accusations.

Rita knew that you wouldn’t take it easy on her during the trial, and you knew she wouldn’t take it easy on you either. This wasn’t the first trial the two of you had gone head to head in, and Rita had won the last one. You knew that this case was a slam dunk, but your anger towards Olivia made you even more confident in yourself and the stacks of evidence against Rita’s client. Olivia was witness to the entire trial, watching you and Rita make sly remarks at each other during your cross examinations of each others clients. Rita was, well, Rita as usual. Olivia didn’t notice any different behaviours in the two of you, and it made her feel a little foolish for what she had said to you a few days previously. Especially when the jury came back after only a few short hours of deliberating with a guilty verdict, putting another win on your belt.

Olivia approached you after the jury was dismissed and Rita was speaking with her clients parents. “Y/N… good win.”

“Thank you,” You sighed, putting your papers away and closing your brief case.

“Im sorry that I doubted you.”

“You had every right to be weary… but I don’t like being accused of not being able to do my job properly just because of who I love.”

“Love?” Olivia quirked an eyebrow at you with a half smirk.

“Yes,” You gave her a small smile. “We were going to come out with it eventually, we just didn’t know when the right time was. It’s not really the easiest thing to bring up to your colleagues.”

“I understand.”

“I’m sure you do. Barba, huh?”

“I won’t confirm or deny anything.”

You chuckled as Rita approached the two of you, “Our reservation is in two hours. I’ll see you there?”

You nodded. Rita glanced at Olivia, “Nice to see you, Captain. I heard you and Barba found out… he’s been making comments all week. Might want to tell your boyfriend he’s going to get a briefcase to the head next time he says something,” She said before leaving a kiss on your cheek and walking out of the courtroom.

“Boyfriend? Really?”

“Please, Liv, it’s so obvious.”

#law and order svu #l&o: svu #svu #olivia benson #mariska hargitay #rafael barba #rita calhoun #rita calhoun x reader #sapphic #sapphic fic #rita calhoun x female reader #raul esparza #elizabeth marvel #rafael barba x olivia benson #barson

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jakemcdormans · 10 months

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Wishes are for little girls.

MRS. DAVIS (2023) 1x01 // 1x03 // 1x06

Bonus:

#betty gilpin #elizabeth marvel #jake mcdorman #mrs davis #mrs. davis #mrsdavisedit #dailytvfilmgifs #filmtv #cinematv #tvedit #jakemcdormans #lol at them both telling wiley off #and from his reaction he's used to it #i wonder how often he's had to deal with that in his life

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junior-stargazer-goke91 · 2 months

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The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

Director: Noah Baumbach

Cinematographer: Robbie Ryan

#noah baumbach #adam sandler #ben stiller #dustin hoffman #elizabeth marvel #grace van patten #the meyerowitz stories

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cissyenthusiast010155 · 2 months

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Holding on For Me ~Rita Calhoun xFem Younger!Partner!GradStudent!Reader (feat. Rafael Barba)

Summary— Rita gets hurt badly and ends in the hospital. Her two closest people, you and Rafael, come running. But you’ve never met each other, and now your partner’s and his best friend’s life hangs in the balance…

Mommy… Master List

Requests & Prompt-List

Warnings: angst, then fluff, heavily implied physical assault, hospitals, near death experiences, bruising, implied scarring, crying, hyperventilating, implied anxiety attacks, happy fully ending, etc.

Enjoy (;

You rubbed your temples with a sigh as you stared at her dull computer screen and flipped the pages of your extensive notes. You was violently pulled out of your doctoral thesis research by the sound of your cell phone ringing. Eager for a distraction, you swiftly picked up the phone.

“Hi this is is Y/N!”

“Hello Ma’am. I am calling from Mercy Hospital, I have you listed as an emergency contact for one Rita Calhoun?”

Your heart dropped. Rita? What had happened? Was she okay??

“What happened? Is she okay??”

“She was brought in about 30 minutes ago… She’s currently in surgery, pretty banged up. I am just making my rounds and contacting her emergency numbers in case.”

“Ok thank you so much, I’ll be there in 15 minutes” you hastily replied.

As soon as the call had ended, you jumped up from your chair, your heart racing and your mind spiraling. You scurried around her apartment, collecting things that you or Rita might possibly need at the hospital, throwing all the miscellaneous items into a bag before storming out of the apartment. You were swift to hail a cab once out on the city streets, eagerly giving the address of the hospital. Was Rita going to be okay? What if they lose her before you got to the hospital?

The words hospital and surgery made your stomache sink. Your hands felt like they were going numb, and your mind seemed to only be able to come up with the worst possible scenarios on what could have happened to Rita. You bit at her lip anxiously, and you closed her eyes for the rest of the cab drive, too overwhelmed to bear the stimulus of sight at the moment. Did this have to do with Rita’s job? Maybe an ex-client or someone who’d threatened her? What was the last thing she said to Rita…??

As soon as the cab stopped outside of the hospital, you paid the driver and rushed inside the bustling ER doorway. You immediately found a nurse and asked about Rita, who led you to the waiting room for trauma surgery, a separate, more secluded area of the hospital. The nurse had not been able to tell you much, besides the fact that Rita was still in surgery. So you anxiously paced the little waiting room, biting your fingernails and feeling like you wanted to cry. ‘Pretty banged up’, how badly was her partner hurt? Why were you the only one here??

Memories of you and Rita flooded your mind. You remembered when you two first met, it was only a couple years ago, but you had grown so close since. You thought of all the late nights that you two had spent together, laughing and drinking until both of you couldn't keep your eyes open anymore. You remembered how much Rita worked, just how passionate she was about her job. And now in a matter of 15 minutes that could all be ripped away from you? Rita taken from so swiftly, so cruelly?

You approached the nearest nurses station and asked about your partner again. As you were trying to pry any and all information out of this poor young nurse, a man stormed into the waiting area. You had the slightest sense that she knew him from somewhere, but as he was pacing the room furiously, muttering certain choice words in Spanish, you couldn’t quite place it. Then the man came up to the desk where you were standing and spoke. What if these were Rita’s last waking moments…? How could you live with yourself if Rita didn’t make it…?

“Hi. Do you have any information about Rita Calhoun and how she’s doing?” The man asked rushedly.

Now that he was right next to you and after revealing he knew Rita, it clicked for you. This was Rafael, Rita’s best friend from her college years. The two had never formally met, you had seen a picture or two of him in Rita’s apartment (from the many nights that you’d had dinner and stayed over) and you had only heard about Rafael when Rita elected to talk about him. You knew that while they were good friends, there were wounds in their personal pasts, so you never pushed to meet him. Had Rafael and Rita ended on good terms in the last time they talked? Did he know if this was work related…??

“You’re Rafael…” you managed to breathe out.

You were surprised that you had even been able to get out one word with the lump in your throat. Rafael turned from the counter to face you, giving you a quizzical and slightly defensive look. How could this have happened? It had been going all so well, and now with a simple call, life has turned upside down…

“Yes. And you are?”

“Y/N. Rita’s partner.”

Rafael’s brows raised and his eyes glistened with intrigue. He seemed to decide that you were alright, because he sent you a confirming nod, before going back to grilling the nurse for more information. Had Rita been threatened…? Attacked? Taken??

Trying desperately not to cry in front of him or the hospital staff, your knees suddenly began to feel weak. Before you could catch herself, your legs buckled and you collapsed on the cold, hard, hospital floor. Rafael was quick to turn back towards you, giving you his hands to help stabilize your overstimulated state. Your weak form managed to make it to one of the waiting room seats, where Rafael promptly sat next to you. It was then that you noticed how much your entire body was shaking. Rita couldn’t die… No, she couldn't die… It just… She couldn't it…

“I… I didn’t know Rita had a partner.” He stammered aloud, breaking the silence of the two of you sitting in the hospital, both equally nervous wrecks.

You shrugged in response, not having the wherewithal to respond to that at the moment. Silent tears finally began to stream down your face, as you started to let it all out. You curled forward, holding your head in your hands as you sobbed for what felt like hours. How would you ever be happy again? You would never move on. You couldn’t. Rita was your everything… You couldn’t face losing her…

“I don’t know what I’ll… d-do if… If Rita…” you stuttered, not able to finish your statement, as your voice returned to choked sobs.

You felt a soft and gentle touch on your back, making you uncurl and meet Rafael’s own reddened gaze.

“Rita is one of the strongest, hard ass people I know. Ever since school… I have never seen a fighter quite like her. If anyone will make it, it’s her.”

“Thanks” you croaked out.

Awkward silence took the room, the only sound being the hustling and bustling of the hospital. Rafael eventually removed his hand from your back, as it began to feel like he was overstepping. But the second you lost that touch, you seemed to only feel worse.

“Do you know w-what h-happened…? Or w-why…?” You stammered out in a whisper.

Rafael leaned forward, his forearms coming to his knees with a heavy sigh.

“I know that she’s been facing scrutiny and backlash for the last case she took. but besides that I don’t know…” he breathed out.

You pulled your knees up onto your chair, wrapping your hands around your body for some semblance of control and comfort, as you let out a shaky sigh.

“S-so it is work related…?”

“I don’t know, Y/N, I’m sorry… Truthfully, I hadn’t talked to her since she took that case, I was the lead prosecutor and we… we had a bit of a fallout over it…” Rafael gritted out.

His defensiveness seemed to have vanished, all that being left being the vulnerable, close friend of Rita’s. His knuckles were white from how hard he was squeezing his hands.

“Christ the last thing I probably did was yell at her to get out of my office…” he confessed, looking down to the ground with shame and guilt.

“I… I can’t even r-remember what the last thing I said to her was…” you choked out through violent sobs.

Rafael looked up at your wailing and his hand came out, caressing your shoulder lightly. He squeezed your trembling form reassuringly.

“I’m sure you told her how much you loved her…” he softly comforted you.

“I don’t know… I d-don’t know…” you changed in a whisper, starting to rock back and forth anxiously in the seat.

“Hey. Take some deep breaths… She’s going to be okay.”

Your glossy eyes met his reddened ones and you two just connected. All because of Rita. You were so grateful that she had found a friend like Rafael. And Rafael was grateful that she had someone like you to support her as a partner. Suddenly you were both drawn back to the crushing reality by a nurse coming up to you with a file in hand.

Rafael immediately stood and walked right up to her, demanding answers. You couldn’t get yourself to stand, so you merely looked up at the two standing adults with pleading eyes.

“Are you family?”

You both nodded vigorously.

“How is she? What happened?? Can we see her…??” Rafael demanded.

“EMT’s responded to a Good Samaritan call who found her in an alley… The ambulance brought her here to Mercy and she’s been in surgery ever since. It was a little touch and go, she has a concussion, multiple lacerations, a four broken ribs, scattered bruising, and a shattered left forearm…”

Your mouth went dry at the nurses words and you couldn’t think as tears began to stream down your face once more. Your lip trembled as you bit it, attempting to stifle your sobs.

“Can we see here??” Rafael immediately asked.

“Yes you may see her, she’s finally out, and she’s somewhat awake. I’ll take you to her, But take it slow, she has a long road to recovery…” the nurse said.

Rafael let out a sigh of relief and he quickly turned to you. Extending his arm, he helped you up and down the hall towards Rita’s private room. The nurse let you in, closing the door behind the two of you.

Rita looked peaceful for a moment, lying in the bed, but as she began to wake up, pain flooded across her face. Practically all of her exposed skin was bruised and battered, the biggest being her black eye. Her eye widened as much as she could widen them at the sight of you and Rafael.

“Holy fuck…” Rita winced in pain as we tried to sit up.

You immediately rushed next to her, sitting at the edge of the bed. The older brunette leaned back again, giving up the idea of sitting up properly for her moment, instead meekly attempting to reach out to you with her right hand, and you eagerly met her more than half-way, taking her hand and kissing it over and over again as tears of joy steamed down your cheeks.

“Rita Rita… God I’m so glad you’re okay… How are you feeling…?” you whispered, continuing your love and tender assault on her hand.

“Hi baby… I’m… in a whole lot of fucking pain, but I’ll live…” she breathed out in confession.

Rita smiled lightly back. But even that seemed to hurt her, as she winced lightly again. Rafael was standing at the end of the bed with his hands in his pockets as he watched the two of you. His eyes softeners watching your dynamic, he scolded himself for being so goddamn stubborn. Because if he hadn’t been, Rita might have introduced him to you…

“Oh Baby don’t move, stay still. Doctors orders you need to rest. Don’t want you getting more hurt…” you pleaded caringly and with much love.

“She’s a stubborn hardass. Doctor’s orders won’t stop her…” Rafael teasingly cooed, meeting Rita’s gaze.

Rita rolled her eyes at her closest friend.

“Shut up, you idiot… Now come over here and hug me.” Rita shot back with the same teasing tone.

Rafael chuckled, looked down to the ground as he made his way around to the opposing side of the bed, releasing his hands from his pockets, the man leaned over and gave his friend a proper embrace.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’m so glad you’re alive” Rafael whispered to Rita, before retracting slightly, but staying close and gazing at her caringly.

Rita wanted to cup his cheek and pull him close, tell Rafi that it was all good, but her drugs were at a heavy dosage and soon they began to pull her back into unconsciousness.

“It’s… okay Rafaellll…—” she mumbled before dozing off.

Your gaze then met Rafael’s, coming to an understanding that neither of you would be leaving anytime soon.

~~~

Rita Calhoun Masterlist ~Coming Soon (;