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.

Chapter 4

After coming home, Lizzy paid the babysitter and locked the front door after she left. After finishing her nightly routine of checking the windows and double-checking the lock on the door, Lizzy went quietly into the nursery to check in on Agnes. She kissed the baby's fuzzy head, carefully tucked the comforter under her little chin and whispered. 'Sweet dreams!'

It wasn't until Lizzy got to her own bedroom that she began to replay the evening and Red's reaction to her unexpected kiss. He had gazed deeply into her eyes and Lizzy had recognized that look. It had been the same one as he'd moved deep into her that night they had conceived Agnes. Lizzy's cheeks suddenly felt warm as she replayed that night in her mind.

They had been out on the ocean for a little more than 12 hours when Red had opened the container doors, telling her about the North Star.

You are my way home.

Red had put down a blanket outside the container and they'd sat down together. The moon had shone brightly over the ocean and currents of ocean water had rippled against the bow of the freighter. Red had been – as always – a gifted storyteller. He'd told her about his favourite book and the band he'd been in for a little while when he was young. And about the peace he'd found at his parents' mountain cabin every summer. He had promised to take her there some day. Some of the stories had been familiar and some of them had been new. They'd talked for hours and hours and she had felt warm and full, glowing from the red wine, Red had served her. When she'd yawned, Red had suggested they'd go to bed but she had told him, she was too comfortable to move and that they should just sleep out on the blanket since it was a warm night. When she'd woken a few hours later, Red had been propped up on one elbow, watching her. She'd followed his gaze down and had blushed because her top had gaped slightly for her turned position on the blanket; giving Red a nice view of her cleavage and hints of the lace bra she'd wore. When she'd returned to look up at him, his eyes had been warm and inviting.

'Lizzy, I'm—'

The next breath Red had been up, heading back into the container. She had stared after him, trying to decipher what had just happened.

'Red…please wait up!' She had blurted out. She just had to say something after the day and night they'd spent together. Red had just stood there watching her with a look that had made her stomach flutter. She had grabbed the blanket and the wine glasses and had stepped back inside the luxurious shipping container too.

'Let me help you with that.'

She remembered how her hands had shaken a little when Red had reached for the glasses; his warm hand curving around hers. He had taken the glasses from her hands, setting them on the counter. When he'd turned around, she had met his gaze. Red's pupils had been dilated and his breath had been shaky. His fingers had tipped up her chin as his mouth had slowly descended. Red's lips had parted on hers, and she'd given herself up to the feel of his mouth; the slide of his tongue against hers. The kiss had turned passionate on an instant and she had not been able to think anymore. She'd only wanted to touch Red and let him touch her. She had opened his vest and had pulled his shirt loose from his pants. Her fingers had found their way to the feel of his skin and Red's hands had found their own way under her top. Not for one second, had he released her mouth. It was as if they both had known that if they'd pause, reality would come crashing in. Red's fingertips had traced a path of fire beneath her shirt, making her skin tremble, anticipating his touch. Red's lips had trailed down her chin and his teeth had grazed the throbbing pulse in her neck. His tongue had found a spot on her neck that was as close to divinity as she'd ever come. She had absolutely no recollection of how their clothes had gotten off or how they'd ended up in the container's bedroom but next she'd remembered how she and Red had stared at each other for several long minutes. Red had kissed her mouth, her eyelids and the delicate hollow of her throat. He had kicked off the sheets and had put a hand under her hips, easily scooping her up against him, turning her so that she was lying on top of him. Her soft breasts had been resting on his hard muscular chest and her mound had been pressing against the full force of his arousal. Electric sparks had been traveling back and forth between their bodies, leaping from her skin into his, and then back again. It had felt so intimate, so sweet, so good! When she'd looked down on him, her heart had hammered in her chest. Red had touched her with sweet caresses but the hunger in his eyes had revealed so much more. As he had slowly entered her, their mouths had met in a deep, slow and sensual kiss. She had moaned at the bliss of his slow, long strokes and they'd been kissing intensely, stopping only to stare into each other's eyes before kissing again. It had been so real, so raw. Each push of Red had been a welcome stretch as her muscles had fought to accept him. She had pushed down her hips, forcing Red to go deeper but he had not let her take control. Red had set the pace; a slow push in, a gentle pull out. Each drive upward, he'd pressed deeper, taking her higher. They had moved together and Red had kept his gaze on hers and she had not been able to ignore the overwhelming blaze of love shining in his eyes and she knew her eyes had revealed the same. Red had gone slow as long as he could but he had not been able to hold off his need for release forever. She had moved with him, had been following his lead. Red fingers had tightened on hers, his hips rocking a little faster without looking away from her eyes. Her wet heat had surrounded his arousal and he'd driven into her again and again. Little breathy moans had slipped through her lips and she knew it had been driving him crazy. Her mouth had been hot and slick when she'd opened up for him, their tongues sliding and chasing. Red's hips had sped up, the need to climax rolling down his spine. Separating their mouths, she had placed her hands on his chest pushing herself upright, straddling him. Red had eagerly slid his hand between their joined bodies. She had bucked her hips into his touch when he'd found her hard knot of nerves. Moisture had coated his fingers and he'd swirled it around her sweet bundle which had pulsed beneath his fingers. Her body had stilled for a second and then she had exploded into an overwhelming orgasm. He'd had no choice but to follow her. Her sex had clamped around the length of his manhood and her shattering climax had milked him of his. He'd pumped into her, buried his arousal as deep as he could and had let go. Pleasure had burst through them both, wave after wave of ecstasy swamping them. Afterwards, Red's arms had shook and their hearts had raced simultaneously. She had leaned toward him, her mouth finding his again and she'd poured everything she had felt into that kiss. When she'd eased her mouth from his and had stared down into his eyes she had whispered.

'No regrets.'

'Me neither sweetheart.'

Lizzy squeezed her eyes shut because it was a damn shame, Red had blocked the experience from his memory but maybe after this night, they would get a second chance. Raising her palm to her lips to stifle a yawn, Lizzy's eyelids drooped slightly and within minutes she was fast asleep.

Within fifteen minutes, after dropping off Lizzy, Red drove his car into the underground parking lot below his apartment building, located just off Tuckerman lane at Bethesda. When he locked his car and headed toward the elevator bay, he absently touched his lips where the tender sensation of Lizzy's kiss still lingered. Within a minute, his mind wandered back to the lovely evening they'd shared. Was there something there? Was it love? Red had to admit to himself that he felt drawn to Lizzy but that had always been the case. No wonder with the history they shared. By the time, Red pulled himself out of his thoughts; he realized he was standing in front of the elevator. He reached out to push the button when suddenly pain burst through his skull as if something had struck him from behind. He fell to his knees and tried to cry out, but a second blow silenced him up, leaving only a gasp.

There was a strange bloody smell in the air when Red regained consciousness. His head hurt like hell and he had no idea where he was. He could feel that his arms were hanging above his head. When he tried to pull them down he found out that he couldn't. He tried to open his eyes, but they were tight shut. It almost took him five minutes to regain his composure and then he suddenly realized where he was. He was in an old slaughter house, chained to the ceiling. As soon as he opened his eyes, he wished he hadn't. The urge to retch was overwhelming and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He did his best not to get the contents of his stomach on himself, but he miserably failed.

The door to the slaughter house abruptly opened with the sound of an unlatching bolt and Red couldn't believe his eyes when he recognized the man standing in front of him.

'I thought that you would still be unconscious…I'm sorry Raymond, I never meant to hit you that hard.'

Red said nothing. Dembé's tone made it clear, he felt remorse. Red felt a sting at the corners of his eyes and thought glumly back at the time when he and Dembé had been sort of an illicit duo. They hadn't been just two mismatched people who'd hooked up together when it had been convenient; they had a bond…like brothers. Now Red felt foolish in his delusion. The man standing in front of him had betrayed him in the worst possible way by poisoning him.

'Do you accept my apology, Raymond?' Dembé pressed.

Red sighed. 'Sure but first you have to tell me…what is the meaning of all this Dembé? Is it true that you of all people are accountable for sabotaging my business? That would be an infernal insult and sign of disrespect, and if—'

Red heard a strange noise behind Dembé but it was too dark inside the slaughter house to recognize the person who was approaching.

'Don't blame Dembé, Raymond. It was me who sabotaged your business,' a familiar voice said.

Red knew he'd passed out again when he found himself on his back on the tiled floor, staring up at the exposed duct work and pipes snaking across the slaughter house's ceiling. His handcuffs had been removed. It took every ounce of strength he could muster to move, but then he slowly sat up. He turned his head over to the right where Dembé was kneeling next to him on the floor, looking kind of worried. When he turned his head to the left he squint his eyes to clear his vision. There was a frail, older woman standing in front of him and when Red looked at her, it was as if blinders had been lifted off his eyes.

'K…Kate?'

'Hello dear.'

Red couldn't believe his eyes. Trying his best not to stare at Mr. Kaplan, he miserably failed. The long stare created an awkward silence between them, but he just couldn't believe whom he was seeing. Red attempted to stand up but stumbled. Dembé's strong arms grabbed him under his armpits though and pushed him to his feet. Red looked at Dembé and gave him a quick nod.

'Thank you.'

Red closed his eyes and stood there for a while. Then he inhaled deeply and said, 'An old friend always used to say that revenge is a dish which is best served cold. He lived by that motto every day! If someone embarrassed him in front of a girl, he would embarrass that person in front of the whole school. If someone accidently scratched his car walking through a parking lot; he would accidently smash that person's car windows. He lived his entire life, eye for an eye. Years later, though, vengeance got the best of him. When a passenger in his car left a burn hole in his seat from a cigarette, he torched the man's house. While he sat in prison for arson, he had plenty of time to think about revenge. He understood that it got him nowhere in his life but to a dead end. A wise man does not return an act of evil against another. He simply turns the other cheek.'

Red stepped forward with remorse and tears in his eyes. He grabbed Kate's hands, 'I can never make up for what I did to you but can you find it in your heart to forgive me?'

Mr. Kaplan pursed her lips together in thoughtful consideration. 'You shot me like a dog Raymond and left me to rot in the woods.'

'I am so sorry.' Red said with intense emotion. 'I was so mad at you for helping Lizzy to get away from me, I couldn't think straight. Now, I know why you helped her fake her death. It was not to get her away from me. You did it to protect my daughter…Agnes!'

Dembé's head shot up, trying to digest what he'd just heard. 'Agnes is your…daughter?' Red and Kate exchanged glances and Red nodded. 'Yes, Agnes is mine! When Lizzy told me, she was pregnant, I assumed the baby was Tom's because I couldn't recall making love to her but apparently we did…and Agnes is a result of that fornication.' Dembé's eyes lit up and a broad smile appeared on his face. 'But that is great news! You have a daughter, Raymond.'

In a swift movement, Dembé pushed Red behind him, blocking him from Mr. Kaplan's view. 'Please Kate put the gun down. Raymond is sorry…he wants to make amends! You cannot kill him, not after what you have just heard!'

'She knows,' Red said softly.

Dembé looked directly in Kate's eyes. 'Don't do this Kate. You're better than this. You know this isn't right,' Dembé said softly.

Suddenly, the sound of sirens echoed through the old slaughter house and Dembé quickly glanced over in the direction of the sirens. As he turned his head, everything happened as if in slow motion. Kate lifted the gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed Red but Dembé stumbled back after being hit in the left shoulder.

'Put the gun down, Mr. Kaplan,' Liz yelled while she came running into the slaughter house, followed by Donald Ressler.

'He does not deserve to live,' Mr. Kaplan said, '…not after what he did to me!'

'Kate…I'm sorry,' Red said softly.

'Please Mr. Kaplan, put the gun down,' Lizzy pleaded again.

Kate took one step forward.

'Don't come closer,' Ressler yelled.

'Mr. Kaplan put the gun down, right now,' Lizzy yelled.

Kate slowly raised her arm.

BANG! BANG!

Lizzy had pulled the trigger and fired. She shot Mr. Kaplan twice; one in the shoulder and one in the chest. The old woman fell down. Red immediately fell to his knees and applied pressure to the chest wound, 'Get an ambulance in here!'

'Her lung has been punctured,' Ressler said while he hurried to kneel down next to Red. 'Turn her onto her side before she drowns in her own blood.'

Red looked down on Kate. When their eyes met, she tried to speak, 'R…Raymond…,' she whispered.

'Please Kate, don't try to talk…'

Red gently turned Mr. Kaplan on her side, resting her head on his leg while he gently caressed her face. Blood gushed from her shoulder and a small stream dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Car doors opened and shut behind them and voices started talking. Red paid them no mind.

Kate shivered, 'I…I'm cold.'

'I know,' Red whispered softly, cradling Kate's head against his body in hopes of giving her some warmth and comfort. Kate smiled and craned her head to look into his eyes, a move that caused her pain.

'T…take care of them…Liz…and Agnes,' she whispered.

'I will!' Red bit his lip to hold back tears, then he let out a ragged breath and kissed Kate's forehead. Again, she shivered; a short and violent convulsion and then she blew out her last breath. An enormous sadness fell over Red as he closed Mr. Kaplan's sightless eyes and he knew it would take a long time to mourn her death.

Lizzy suddenly appeared behind him and gently touched his shoulder as he sat motionless, still holding Kate's lifeless body. 'Is she…?'

'Yeah,' was all he could bring out.

'Red, I'm so sorry.'

'You're not to blame…I am!' Red answered somewhat coldly.