here you go, sorry for the long update.. im trying to think where this story headed.
Thanks to my beta for helping me, the song is from Secondhand serenade_stranger.

Chapter 4

"Lizzie?"

"Yeah?" Red stares at her confused . In death? With him. Is she dead too? God, please no, he shook his head vigorously, he had failed to save her. He slowly lifted his hand to touch her beautiful face, but he hesitated. Lizzie's gaze fell to his hand, and she leaned forward to let her face touch his hand, still hovering with hesitation.

"Lizzie, I'm sorry. I can't protect you. I swear to God, I would do anything to save you from harm, but I've failed. I'm s-"

"I'm not dead yet, Ray. Neither are you". Red's eyes snapped open. What? I'm not dead yet. So where the hell am I? "Come on. Let's go inside, it's cold out here." Lizzie pulled Red up from his knee, but he wouldn't budge. Sensing him still in shock, she went to sit next to him and pulled him down to her lap. His body acted on her command and he let her caress his short, cropped hair. After a few minutes, she let her lips touch the crown of his head and lingered there. The closeness, the touches all felt so real. He closed his eyes again and fell into her touch.

"If I'm not dead, where are we Lizzie?" He asked as he felt tempted to drift into the tender abyss of sleep.

"Let's just say, we're in between. Now come on, I've made you breakfast," She kissed his head again and lifted it off of her lap. He let her lead the way while he tried to register this bitter reality he had woken up to. 'In between? Where could that be?' and then he froze suddenly. Her hair was tied above her head, wearing blue shorts high above her knee, making him gulp, the white crisp shirt, his shirt! certainly wont helping. 'That shirt really look good on her than on me'. The swaying of her hips made him shake slightly and as she turned around to see if he was still with her, she smiled and shook her head in amusement.

"Ray. Let's go, I'm hungry." He still stood there. Well that something that's you don't see everyday.

"Well, Lizzie let me just say this, that shirt looks better on you than me," he said, smirking.

"Agent Keen," Liz immediately stood up when she felt someone put pressure on her shoulder. Dembe.

"Are you okay?" Dembe asked her as she sat down due to nausea from standing up too fast. She nodded, massaging her forehead while trying to calm herself.

"He will be fine. As long as you are here, he will be fine." Dembe said, as he stared at his friend with concern and sympathy. "Here, I bought you some food and clothes to change into." He passed a duffel bag to her.

"Thanks Dembe. I owe you," she said, taking the duffel bag and putting the food on a table near the sofa. " and by the way ou can call me Liz," she continued.

"Sure Liz, I'm heading to the safe house. Need anything?" Dembe turned his heels to leave.

"No. This is fine, thank you again." Dembe nodded and left the room, leaving her with Red again.

She scooted over towards Red's side and reached for his hand to entwine it with hers once more. She lifted his knuckles and kissed them affectionately. 'I need you' she murmered, and she felt the tears rising as she uttered those words. Liz moved closer, putting her head near his forearm, breathing in his scent. She still cannot believe herself for saying that to the one whom waltzing into her life and made a critical damage to it but that's the truth. The truth that she always come to ignore by her rational fucked up mind.

His pale face was twisted, the bags below his eyes becoming deeper. No one can see him in this state. Vulnereable. She came closer so she could feel his breath on her face. Liz traced the shape of his face with her finger, the line of his nose, his cheek, his mouth. 'I need you Red.' She whispered into his ear so he could feel her right here, right next to him.

'I need you Red.' He suddenly heard those words in his mind. The voice came from a woman but he couldn't tell who.

"Red, come on down here," he heard Lizzie shout from below the staircase with a very happy voice. Since when has she been this playful? He huffed and stepped down the stairs to find her.

As he strode down, the first thing that he encountered was a beautiful white grand piano placed gracefully on the patio. The view of the instrument was as spectacular as the setting . The view of the ocean could be seen through the large window across from the piano.

When Red was ten, his mother was always eager to take him to piano class. He was a quick learner of course, and enjoyed his leisure time playing the instrument for her . That was a long time ago. His beloved mother left him soon after his father died in a car crash. That was the last day he ever played. The devastation of the loss that he felt crushed him. He truly loved his mother. The thought of his mother's warm embrace made his heart sore. He felt like he was a little boy again, wrapped by his favourite blanket.

His finger lightly brushing the keys of the piano in front of him. All of these years, and yet he still remembered how to to play. The melancholy nature of the sound always took his breath away.

"Do you play?" Her voice broke him from his lost thoughts. Red nodded and carefully sat on the chair. He sat very still, retaining himself from playing.

"Where are we Lizzie? What do you mean by 'in between'. Care to enlighten me please?" Red didn't look up at her. Not that he wasn't pleased by her presence but-

"We're in your unconscious mind. You are still in the hospital, three days to be precise". Unconscious? So I'm not dead yet. Hah! That's a lovely truth.

"That explains everything" He huffed in amusement.

"Explains what ?"

"You are not the Lizzie I know" he lifted his face and give a small smile towards her.

"Yeah, but I'm Lizzie, the Lizzie that you always dream of. Play me something Ray." She tilted her head and laughed.

Slowly Red hovered his hand above the key, still having second thoughts about his some reason he wanted to stand up, but as soon as he felt her head drop on his shoulder he felt relaxed. Then, gracefully playing the notes, he hummed the song, remembering the lyrics. He closed his eyes and let the words come from his mouth expressing to her how he felt.

"Turn around,
turn around and fix your eyes in my direction,
so there is a connection,
I can't speak, I can't make a sound to somehow capture,
your attention, I'm staring at perfection,
take a look at me so you can see,
How beautiful you are

You call me a stranger,
you say I'm a danger,
but all those thoughts are leaving you tonight,
I'm broke and abandoned,
you are an angel,
making all my dreams come true tonight.

I'm confident, but I can't pretend I wasn't terrified to meet you,
I knew you could see right through me,
I saw my life flash right before my very eyes
and I knew just what we'd turn into,
I was hoping that you could see,
Take a look at me so you can see ,
how beautiful you are.."

And that was when the dam of emotions broke again and he cried. He closed the lid of the piano and let his hand dangle to his side. Hefelt sobered with from this feeling that he left inside all these years. The pain breaking him from the inside. He never let his emotion run him, but this time, in front of Lizzie, he let his emotional mask down. Letting it all away, then the relaxation hit him again as she wrapped her arms around him . Embracing him as if she was his blanket. She caressed his back in a slow circle and hushed him, encouraging him to cry harder. He slipped his hand around her waist tohold her in place. Grabbing her as if she would disappear into thin of air, holding her as if his life depended on it.

"Sleep Ray, I'm here." That was the last thing he heard before his mind shut down completely.

Review are welcome!