Inspired by: Bones - Season 5, Episode 16 (The Parts in the Sum of the Whole) If you haven't seen it. Go and see it. Booth and Bones were my first ship.
Warning: Character death.
I do not own The Blacklist, or any of the characters featured. Unfortunately.
She stopped abruptly, placed herself in front of him and stared into his eyes. "I'm the gambler. I believe in giving this a chance. Look, I want to give this a shot."
They both knew what she meant. The majority of the time they spent with each other, often included flirting. And when they weren't, well, their eyes told a story of their own. The way Red looked at her when she wasn't looking, the way he'd hold her, the way he'd place his hand on the small of her back. She wasn't as clear about it, but he would watch her body when he touched her, he'd look at the way she looked at his lips while he spoke. And he knew.
They both knew.
"You mean us? No. The FBI won't let us work together." He explained, as he tried to remain strong. Not just for him but her as well.
"Don't do that! That is no reason." She said as she slammed her lips to his.
The kiss was one of passion, but also one of sadness. Lizzy clung onto him for dear life.
He breaks the kiss, steps back and looks her dead in the eye. "No. No."
"Why?" She asks with tears in her eyes.
"You - you thought you were protecting me. But you're the one who needs protecting."
"Protection from what?" Her demeanour is changed now, and she struggles with her words. Hope hangs on her for what could, but probably won't be.
"From me. I don't have your kind of open heart." He looks discouraged now, trying to explain to her, that his love isn't there, and as he does, a tear breaks loose from his eye.
Time goes on and eventually, she finds someone else, they're not Red, but they'll do, she tells herself. She tried to forget about him like that. Of course, they have to see each other every day, but she copes. And she finds peace in the fact that she has Seth.
He gets more and more deflated, he admits he loves her to himself, and that he could have an open heart. But there's nothing he can do. It'd be a waste for him now to declare his love. He knows he can't. He knows because he's still not ready. And at the end of it all, she has Seth.
But then, she and Seth break up. And he's there for her like a friend should be. He doesn't try anything. And she appreciates it.
And she's angry all of a sudden. Angry with relationships, angry with men, angry with Red. But there's nothing to be done, except try to become less angry.
One night, they're alone in one of his many apartments. They sit next to each other sipping alcohol as they talk about the day's events.
"I'm - quite strong." Red randomly admits.
"Yeah, well, you've always been strong." She tells him, confused by his statement.
"You know the difference between strength and imperviousness, right?"
"Well, not if you're going to get all scientific on me."
"A substance that is impervious to damage doesn't need to be strong." He explains.
"Hmm."
"When you and I met. I was an impervious substance. Now I'm a strong substance."
"I think I know what you mean."
"A time could come when you're not angry anymore, and I'm strong enough to risk losing the last of my imperviousness. Maybe then we could try to be together." He explains.
She nods in appreciation. She finds it odd now; they're both happy enough to talk about these things. Still, nothing remains to have happened. But they're getting there.
Then, Aram dies. In a mission gone incredibly wrong, he gets shot. She's upset. She tries her hardest to help; she's there straight away applying pressure to the wound, but it doesn't work. They all know that being alone tonight isn't a good idea, they also know that whoever shot Aram is still walking.
They're safer in packs.
Red suggests they split into groups of two. Of course, Lizzy is coming with him. And she's comfortable with that because she knows he'll take care of her.
She can take care of herself, but it's pleasant to know in the long run that there is someone who's willing to do anything to protect you. And she has that with Red. And he with her.
They hurry off to a hidden house, another of Red's hideaways.
The only problem is, there's only one bedroom. And Dembe will be in the living area on the couch. So for tonight, they'll have to sleep together.
"It's right through here." He says as he leads her into the bedroom.
"Ah, it's nice. I'll take the couch Red." She says as she notices a pull out couch at the bottom of the double bed.
"No, I'll take the couch, Lizzy, you get in the bed."
Normally he'd had drank tonight. But he felt a need to stay with Lizzy and just make sure she'd be ok.
He grabs a few things for the pull out couch, and they get ready for bed. He turns the light out, and they both get into their separate beds.
It's not long before Lizzy wakes in a panic.
And from the sudden noise, he's awake too, pistol in hand and ready for action.
But then he realises Lizzy is crying. He gets out of his bed and walks over to her.
He sits next to her and holds her. He doesn't say anything; he's just there for comfort.
"Aram - he was looking at me, and he was saying "Don't make me leave." He said that he - he loved being there. Why would he think that I'm the one making him leave? What kind of person am I?" She cries as she tells him her worry.
"No. Come here. No. No. No. No, Lizzy. You got that all wrong. You got it wrong."
"No. I-I heard him. You heard it too. "Don't make me leave." That's what he said."
"He wasn't talking to you." He says calmly.
"I was the only one there - and you. He wasn't - he wasn't talking to you."
"He was talking to the universe. He didn't want to go. He wasn't ready, Lizzy. He wanted to stay."
"Can you just-?" She signals to lie down.
"Yeah." He leans back, gathers her in his arms and lets her cry against his chest. "That's why I'm here. I'm right here. I know it's hard."