Chapter 4

The tension in the room was almost unbearable as Reddington's eyes were fixed on the screen in front of then; Andrea still had the device on Kate's abdomen, the sound of the baby's heartbeat still filling the room. Kate lay in complete shock; the fear on her face evident as she still had a strong grip on Andrea's other hand. Kate couldn't get the courage to string two words together as Reddington's gaze traveled to her abdomen then to her face. Andrea finally decided to take charge, putting the device back in it's holder and wiping the gel from Kate's bare skin, bringing her blouse down to cover her.

"Red, a word outside please."

"Not now."

"No…NOW, OUTSIDE."

Reddington turned to Andrea to see anger on her face, something he'd never seen before. Andrea motioned for him to leave the room; she turned to Kate who began to sit up.

"Kate, wait right here and I'll be back."

"Andrea I…"

"It's okay, you'll be alright. I won't leave you alone with him, I promise. Just try and relax and I'll be back, I'll sort this."

Kate gave a quick nod as Andrea walked out with Reddington to see Dembe sitting on the sofa by the desk where Claire, her assistant sat.

"You brought the cavalry I see."

"How dare you." Reddington replied.

"How dare I, what the hell are you even doing here."

"Did you really think I'd just sit by while she's ill, she was hiding something that was upsetting her and as her friend I had to find out?"

"She asked you to give her time, she asked you both to give her time. You had no right to invade her privacy."

"She's pregnant Andrea."

Reddington was beginning to show the side of himself that Andrea feared but she was determined to stand her ground with him on this occasion, for Kate.

"Kate's pregnant?" Dembe asked.

"Not now Dembe."

"But she…"

"I said not now, go and wait in the car please."

Dembe would never argue with Reddington and left as he was asked, Reddington turning back to Andrea, his eyes boring in to her.

"I won't apologize for not telling you, I had a duty of care to Kate. She didn't want you or anyone else to know just yet and I respected her decision. Do what you have want to me, but don't you dare have a go at her, especially now. The woman's going through enough."

"I don't understand, how did this even happen. She's not with anyone, and she's gay. I don't understand this."

"Red she…"

"Not to mention her age, how is it even possible for her to have a baby."

"This is a conversation you need to be having with Kate; I can't tell you any of this. It needs to come from her and she needs time to process what's happening before she can tell you about it."

"It's alright dearie, let him come back in."

Andrea turned to see Kate standing behind them, her jacket back on, her arms crossed in front of her, trying to regain some of her tough exterior.

"Kate…"

"Inside Raymond."

Reddington followed Kate back in to Andrea's office, Andrea following behind them before she closed the door behind her.

"Kate, would you like me to stay?"

"Would you?"

"Of course, Red take a seat please."

Reddington did as he was told, Kate taking the seat next to him. Andrea leaned against her desk, not wanting to be far from Kate while she explained everything to Reddington.

Dembe stood by the car outside the hospital, his mind running over and over what he'd just heard from Reddington. He couldn't quite grasp the fact that Kate, their Mr Kaplan was pregnant. Suddenly the way she'd been behaving the last few weeks had finally begun to make sense to him. He went over everyone that they were associated with, although Kate had always been a very private person, he would have known if she'd been seeing someone. The idea that she could be pregnant at the age she was, bothered him. Surely she hadn't planned for it to happen. Dembe would never admit it but Kate meant the world to him, he always looked to Kate and Reddington for guidance in everything he did, he trusted them with his life and vice versa. Dembe had never had a stable upbringing, meeting Reddington and Kate had changed his life, in a strange way he ended up with an instant family. There was nothing they wouldn't do for one another, if Kate was indeed pregnant and decided she was having the baby, Dembe was adamant he'd do everything to help her.

Kate and Reddington sat in silence for a while, each of them trying to decide how to proceed, Andrea had never felt so uneasy in her life. She could only imagine how much worse it was for Kate.

"Kate, would you like me to tell him how this happened?" Andrea asked softly.

"No dearie, it should be me."

"Kate, are you trying to tell me this wasn't planned?"

"Come now dearie, do you really think I'd decide to have a child at this late stage of my life willingly, doing the job I do for you." She tried to joke.

"Talk to me Kate, tell me what happened."

"A few weeks ago, I was at the Briers home, cleaning up for you."

"I remember."

"When I left, I was sure someone was there…watching me."

"You never said anything."

"I thought perhaps was imagining it but then a few days later, I saw a car following me. When I came to you, the car was there but when I came out it was gone. That same car was parked outside my apartment every few days; I should have told you about it but I…I don't know why I didn't."

"Go on."

"I came home one evening; there was someone there waiting for me. I went in to the kitchen and he was suddenly behind me, he grabbed me, forced me back against the wall. He…"

"Kate who was he, did you know him."

Kate nodded her head before she looked back to Reddington, who reached out to take her hand.

"It was Salgado."

"Salgado, Brendan Salgado."

"Yes dearie."

"He did this to you; he raped you…that's what you're saying."

"He said to tell you…now you're even."

Reddington's face turned a dark shade of red with the anger running through him at the thought of what Salgado had done to Kate.

Kate looked Reddington straight in the eyes, tightening the hold he had on her hand.

"It's not your fault dearie."

"It's all my fault, you're in this position because of what I did to him. He used you as a way to get to me, he hurt you. He's done something to you that I can't even begin to help you heal from. Kate…I am so sorry for what he's done to you. Whatever you need me to do to help you, just tell me."

"Right now, I don't know what I want. Andrea thought that perhaps seeing the child on the screen would help me decide but I just…don't know."

"What ever you do decide to do, whether you decide to have this baby or not too, we'll support you. We're right here beside you, all of us."

"Myself included." Andrea smiled.

"Andrea, would you make sure that Kate gets home safely please, call Lizzie. I'd like her to stay with you until I get back."

"Where are you going Raymond?"

Reddington was on his feet, heading to the door as Kate spoke. He tried not to make her nervous but failed. She got up, walking over to him.

"Leave him Raymond please, if you go after Salgado now, it will never end. Next time, he could hurt Elizabeth."

"He raped you Kate; he's left you with a child. I'm not letting him get away with this. If he wants me then he gets me, not you, not Lizzie or Dembe….me. Andrea, take her home and call Lizzie."

"Yes Red."

Andrea came up behind Kate, her arm going around her shoulders, feeling the older woman lean in to her.

"He'll get himself killed."

"You think so, my money's on the other guy. The mood Red's in, Salgado won't get out of this one alive."

"Andrea…"

"He hurt you Kate; look what he has done to you. I don't agree with Red on many things, but even I have to admit that this is the one time I don't mind him killing. That bastard deserves everything Red to give him. Come on, I'm taking you home."

Dembe looked up from his phone to see Reddington striding towards him, his face full of anger.

"Raymond…"

"We need to fine the whereabouts of Brendan Salgado."

"He's out."

"It would appear so."

"I don't understand Raymond."

"Kate's pregnancy, it didn't come about because she wanted a child. Salgado raped her Dembe, he forced himself on her and now he's left her with his child. I want him for this."

"I'm on it Raymond…how is Kate?"

"All I can say is, she's going to need us. First things first, we find Salgado and kill him."

"Yes Raymond."

"Let's go."

Dembe held the door open as Reddington got in the back seat before Dembe got in the drivers side and began driving while Reddington traced Salgado.

To Be Continued…