Meera Malik ran through the woods, her feet silent on the moonlit ground. She had disobeyed orders to come here, unarmed, risking her life, to save the life of Elizabeth Keene. No. She couldnt lose her, couldnt let her die, no matter what happened. She would give her own life to save hers.

There it was, just up ahead, the old, rundown cabin that reeked of chemicals and death. Silently, cautiously, she slipped around back to look in the window. What she saw made her heart ache. Liz sat, handcuffed to a wheelchair, appearing to be unconcious. "No. Please hold on-". She whispered, tears filling her eyes. She blinked them back. She could cry later. She had to save Liz now.

She opened the small window, barely able to squeeze through the tiny space, and landed on the floor with a soft thud. She picked up a rock, throwing it outside, causing the tall, naked man, known as The Stewmaker, to exit the cabin, searching fo the cause of the noise. Meera stood, knowing she didnt have much time.

"Liz. Elizabeth, can you hear me?" Meera shook the other woman gently by the shoulders. "Liz. I need you to open your eyes. " She heard a soft groan in response. "Liz-" She unlocked the handcuffs , gasping as Elizabeth fell forward against her.

"Mmmmeerrrrrra-" Liz asked , her words slurred and weak. Meera wrapped her arms around Elizabeth, rubbing her back comfortingly.

"Shhhh. Im here. Weve got to get you out of here-" Meera whispered, unaware of the footteps behind her until she felt a cold, metallic weight against her temple. "Oh..god-"

"Youre not going anywhere-" The Stewmaker snarled. "I should just-" He kicked her, hard in the stomach. Pain filled her senses as she crumpled to the ground, crying out. "Kill you-" He kicked her again, hitting her over the head with the butt of the gun. "Right now." He hit her again, causing her to see stars.

She lay there, in too much pain to move, tears falling from her eyes. Suddenly she heard a sound that caused her heart to stop.

Liz cried out in pain, that man must be hurting her! With the last bit of strength she could call up, Meera stood, forcing the Stewmaker away from Liz. Blow by flow fell down on her, but Meera didnt stop.

He picked her up, throwing her down, slamming her onto the ground, before everything faded to black.

When she came to, Meera was shocked to hear the voice of Reddington, speaking to the Stewmaker, distracting him. But even more shocked to feel Liz gently shaking her awake.

"We...have..to go...get...up...meera...be..ok..." Liz fell beside her, apparantly too drugged to manage more than a crawl over to Meera's side. Meera felt Liz rest her head against her, and she managed to raise an arm to wrap around Liz's shoulders in a protective , almost loving gesture.

Tears fell from her eyes as she lay there, on the linolium floor of the cabin,pain shooting though her stomach and head. If she died here, she realized, she would die somewhat happy, holding the woman she loved. And if she lived, she vowed she would tell Liz how she felt.

But now, the warmth and false sense of safety she felt with Liz beside her was enough. She had to sleep. She was too weak to keep her eyes open. "I...love...you...Elizabeth...Keene..." she whispered, just as the world faded to black.

Liz point of view.

The cabin. Pain. The Stewmaker. Oh, God, where was Red? Where was SHE? Everything seemed to swim before her eyes, seemed to sway, and dance, like jello in a mold, or snow in a snowglobe. It hurt, the cuffs on her wrist, and on her ankles. She could barely understand what he was saying to her, could barely make out the words,the tone, the syllables, she only knew she was going to die. And she didnt care, she just wanted the pain to stop, wanted to stop feeling like the world was on the back of a pool floaty-

A voice, a hand, tears. Sweet, kind words, a voice that felt so achingly like home, soft and familar, like her own pillow after nights of sleeping in a hotel room. Her eyes struggled to focus.

"Mmmmmmeeeerrrraaaaa?" She asked, her mouth feeling like it had been stung by a thousand hornets. She felt the hand again, warm and soft, so gentle , this time covering her own hand. She began to cry, though she didnt know why. Why was Meera here?

She saw him,kicking her, heard her screaming, crying out in pain. She tried to help Meera,tried to push him away, but she couldnt make her body move. No. She tried to scream. Dont hurt her. Dont hurt Meera. Hurt me. Kill me. But dont hurt her. She watched, as, to her horror, he picked Meera up, holding her over his head like a rag, doll, watched as he threw her, into a bookshelf, watched as she fell, knocking over tools, and paint cans, watched as she landed with a deafening thud, seemingly lifeless on the floor.

No. No. Meera. . Lord have mercy, no. Not you. Please, god dont be dead. Dont leave me.

The door opened, and Red entered, looking like a lion facing a bull. Big, mean, angry, but safe. He would help Meera. He had to.

Her eyes began to close, against her will she began to faint. To cave to the fatigue trying to claim her. Meera. Be ok...Meera...please...dont go...dont go...dont...go

When she came to, Liz managed to fall from the chair, used every ounce of strength to crawl to Meeras side, to cuddle next to her . Weakly, Liz buried her face in Meeras side, dimly she felt Meeras arm wrap around her. Heard her tell her she loved her. Liz opened her mouth, but no words came out. If she couldve, she wouldve said that she loved her too.