Well...this episode screamed 'epilogue'...don't you agree? If you have some spare time, please comment. Do I need to continue the epilogues?

McJinx

Disclaimer: Jon Bokenkamp & NBC; all rights reserved . This fanfic is a work of fiction. It details my own imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

Epilogue on T. Earl King VI

Lizzie hurried. With her heart in her throat, she frantically looked around the parking lot until flashing blue & red emergency lights illuminated Red's silhouette in one of the FBI vehicles. She opened the car door and slid in beside him.

'You can never do that again,' Red immediately said, his voice somber and his eyes dark. He sounded so serious, for a moment, Lizzie was really taken aback. Trying to light his mood, she smiled a little, 'You're welcome!'

'I'm serious. You can never do that again.' Red slowly shook his head. '…Promise me.'

A little irritated by his demand, Lizzie huffed, 'We took down dozens of wanted criminals, recovered millions of dollars in stolen property, and saved innocent lives!'

'I'm not talking about that.' Again, Red's stomach cramped at the thought of what could have happened.

And then it dawned on Lizzie. 'You! You're talking about you,' she sighed. Wow…you are so damaged. You can't accept help from anyone. Has anyone ever helped you? Is that why you are the way you are? Because you don't feel deserving of it. Is that why you can't be vulnerable for a second? I risked my life for you because I care about you,' she paused, '...Deal with that!'

Red kept looking at her with wide staring eyes and the anguish she saw in them was heart-breaking. When he didn't reply, she forced herself to speak again.

'…And when someone does something nice, you're supposed to say, thank you.'

Red was sitting bolt upright, staring at Lizzie, trying to deal with the confused emotions coursing through his entire body. Drawn towards the expression of compassion in her eyes, he finally managed to bring out,' Thank you!'

She smiled and answered him. 'You're welcome.'

But then he added, '…but never do it again.'

Slowly shaking her head, Lizzie felt something shift inside her with an ache so overwhelming, it brought tears to her eyes. A single one slid down her cheek and when Red noticed, he felt his insides twist at the sight. He slowly raised his hand and brushed it with his thumb.

'Why are you crying?'

Lizzie smiled sadly at him. 'Because someone needs to cry for you, when you can't…'. Another tear slid down her face, pooling at Red's thumb.

'Don't cry,' Red pleaded, scooting closer to her. She looked at him, swallowing hard against the oncoming flood of tears. With a ragged sigh Red gathered her close. It was an instinctive response to comfort her. He stroked her hair and soothed her until her body finally relaxed and her head rested against his shoulder. As her tears dampened his coat, he murmured an apology, his voice low and tender.

He hadn't meant his embrace to become more than a gesture of compassion but too many years of loneliness had suddenly gripped him. He slowly leaned in and when Lizzie opened her red rimmed eyes and gazed up at Red, her breath froze in her throat. His hand slowly made its way to the base of her neck, where it gently held her in place. Lizzie swallowed hard when she realized Red was about to kiss her. This was in every way a bad idea but the logical part inside Lizzie was overruled by the part that wanted him to kiss her.

Slowly, very slowly…so slowly she wasn't even sure he moved at all, Red's head descended. His eyes locked with hers as if he was seeking permission and then finally their lips touched. Soft at first but then Red pressed harder, his eyes drifting closed, a kiss so passionate, it stole Lizzie's breath away. Her eyes fluttered closed and opening her mouth, she hungrily greeted his tongue with hers, allowing her to forget about everything. Passion ignited inside Lizzie and she wrapped her arms around Red's neck, smelling his fresh cologne and the masculine soap that clung to his skin. When he pulled her even tighter to him, her only thought was to how good he felt. His strong chest. The warmth of his body against hers.

Their kiss lingered until Red blinked himself back to reality. Afraid to lose control, he broke away from the Lizzie. Flustered, she drew in a sharp breath, splaying her hand on his chest. A look passed across Red's face and Lizzie tried her best to read it. Regrets? Disappointment?

'Red?' She whispered.

'I apologize…,' Red hurried to say.

Lizzie shrugged her shoulders, Why?'

'For kissing you. I lost my head after everything that happened tonight!'

Lizzie opened her mouth to object when the front car door opened and Ressler and Samar got in, 'OK people, everything's been wrapped up…time to head home!'

The drive back to Washington DC took about an hour and while Ressler and Samar were wrapped up in a heated discussion about the King brothers, Lizzie kept staring out of the window, feeling confused and suddenly more alone than ever before. Once they reached the Post Office, Ressler stopped the car, got out and took a deep breath while the others did the same.

'You OK Keen?' Ressler suddenly asked. 'Need a ride home?' Lizzie looked up, fighting back tears, 'Thanks Ressler…but…'.

'I'll take care of Agent Keen…thank you Agent Ressler!' Red hurried to say while he waved at Dembé who was waiting in Red's car in front of the Post Office. Ressler glared at Elizabeth but she nodded. After Ressler and Samar had left, Red and Lizzie got into the waiting car. For several moments, they sat in silence until Red finally spoke, 'Do you want Dembé to give you a ride home?'

Lizzie shook her head, 'No…I just want to sleep but…I don't want to be alone.'

About 3 a.m. in the morning, Lizzie was woken by muffled moans in the adjacent bedroom. Red was moaning and crying out, 'Uhhhh…no…NO!' The moaning grew more forceful and Lizzie slipped out of bed, sprinting to Red's bedroom. She halted in front of the closed door and listened intently but all was quiet again. He'd probably fallen back asleep.

Thinking a glass of warm milk would help her go back to sleep, Lizzie headed for the kitchen. To her surprise Dembé was sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of hot milk before him. He appeared to be deep in thought, staring at the wall.

'Morning Dembé,' Lizzie whispered stepping into the kitchen, 'I guess we had similar thoughts!' Dembé looked up from his milk and a small smile graced his lips, 'Did something wake you?'

'Yes,' Lizzie nodded. 'Red was having a nightmare…does he have them often?'

'Not, as much as he used to,' Dembé told her. 'He sleeps better since he came back to Washington. You make it better.' Dembé said, his voice low but firm.

'I can see how much he means to you,' Lizzie softly said, '…You're very protective of him.'

'Yes I am,' Dembé said quietly. 'Sometimes maybe too overprotective!'

'That's not a bad thing,' Lizzie smiled, 'Well…it was nice talking to you Dembé. I'm gonna try to get some sleep!'

Dembé smiled, 'Yes, it was nice talking to you agent Keen…sweet dreams!'

When Lizzie walked down the hallway, she heard Red moan so she halted and softly knocked on his bedroom door, 'Red? Red, are you okay?'

For a moment there was no answer then she heard him moan again, his voice raising to a shout, 'Lizzie…NO!'

Lizzie opened the door and rushed inside. Red was sitting upright in bed, eyes wide and staring, his face pale in the darkness, 'Don't leave me,' he cried.

Lizzie grabbed him by the shoulder and shoke, 'Red. Wake up! Wake up! It's me, Lizzie!' A shudder went through Red's body and suddenly his eyes focused on her, 'Lizzie…?'

'You were having a nightmare,' she said while she sat down on the bed. Red closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

'What was it about,' Lizzie softly asked.

Red's eyes snapped open and he turned his face away from her, 'It's nothing…I'm sorry I disturbed you Lizzie,' he said. 'I'm alright now…go back to bed!'

Lizzie shook her head but raised her hand to gently turn Red's face back to her, 'Please don't push me away.'

'You can't get involved with me. I'm no good for you Lizzie,' Red told her, his voice hoarse.

'It's too late for that,' Lizzie said stubbornly, meeting his eyes.

'I'm sorry. I never meant for things to go this far between us. Besides, I'm too old for you,' Red whispered, closing his eyes.

'Don't do this,' she whispered. 'You're a good person…and I don't care about age. I fell in love with a man of my own age and he nearly destroyed me…if it hadn't been for you!'

Lizzie leaned forward and softly kissed Red's cheek. He barely moved. She kissed him again and he moved ever so slightly until suddenly he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her warmly…deeply…passionately. Coming up for air, Red slightly pulled away and looked deeply into Lizzie's eyes.

'Can I ask you something,' Lizzie asked hesitantly.

'Mmmm?'

'I wanna stay with you…watch over you while you sleep,' Lizzie said softly. Red said nothing but lay down, lying his head in Lizzie's lap and wrapping his arms around her waist. She smoothed her fingers through his short hair, revelling in the silky feel of it.

Lizzie didn't know how long she had slept but when she woke up, faint light came in through the blinds. She looked down on Red and although the room was still dark, she could see his chest rising and falling easily. His breathing sounded even and deep and a smile tugged at Lizzie's lips as she realized he was finally sleeping peacefully.

Most of all…I want to sleep. I want to sleep, like I slept when I was a boy. Give me that…just one more time.

Raymond Reddington