Hey there:)

Thank you guys for all the reviews and for taking the time to vote:) Sooo I was busy counting and it was bsaically head to head until I had to make my own vote;) But I trued to be kind:) This chapter is a little bit slower...I mean we cant race without a little break, right?

So I hope you'll like it and please let me know what ya think;)

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters and don't make any money with the story. Just wanna have some fun :)


Chapter 7

"I told Dembe to find him a safe place. I don't know where that is. I didn't have the chance to ask him obviously." The lie went easily over his lips. To protect her, didn't only mean to rescue her from dire situations…sometimes it also meant to lie.

Liz looked into his eyes and she knew instantly he was lying. His eyes were darker when he did that and he was just too serious. He wasn't even lying to play. His features told her that he wasn't telling the truth because he simply didn't know how to tell her the truth. She averted her eyes from his and nodded slightly, her cheek grazing Red's shoulder.

"You're lying."

Red didn't react to her assessment.

"But it's ok. Maybe I really shouldn't know what's up. Just tell me one thing, ok? The truth. Is he alive?" Red hesitated. The chances he was alive were good. But he couldn't say for how long.

"Yes."

"Good. I don't need to know anything else for now."

Silence descended over them and Red found her hand to squeeze it lightly. He was satisfied and absolutely proud of her that she finally trusted him enough to take his word and be content enough with it to not question it further. It has been a hard piece of work but now the results were more than satisfying and heartwarming. But he also had to admit that with time she had learned to play him. Either to evade a question or to wiggle some information out of him. On second though he may have just gotten softer.

"Did you make a decision, Lizzie?"

"Uhm…"

"What does your body tell you?"

She tried to listen into her body and she was still torn. Her rational mind, at least what was left of it for now, told her to go find the phone. Cavalry was always a good thing and in their situation it was something they could really use. Her body told her though, that she wanted to sleep. Stay and seek comfort from Red's nearness. Her thigh was throbbing like crazy and Liz couldn't imagine to walk on it. Her mind was wandering now from option to option and suddenly she was drifting off into sleep again, leaning her head on the soft material of Red's shirt.

"Is this your answer, sweetheart?" Red whispered into her ears, so that he wouldn't startle her. Her head shot up and she blinked at him.

"Answer to what?"

Red chuckled, sitting up straighter to be able to look into her eyes better.

"Do you mind if I make the decision of staying or going for you?" She shook her head and

was glad he didn't ask her anything more challenging for her brain.

"We go now and find my phone. I don't feel comfortable to wait too much longer for a doctor to look you over." The smile on her face puzzled him until she spoke again.

"You are concerned for me."

"Now I really know we can't wait any longer. I am always concerned for your well being, Lizzie and I told you as much so many times. It should be as natural for you as is being annoyed with me."

He felt Liz chuckle against him.

"I know, but it's always related to some case or secret." Her eyes lowered to her hand and she sighed heavily. "I can never be sure if you are really concerned about me or the case."

"I could be concerned for Dembe's life. If I happened to lose you, I can already start planning his funeral."

"You ARE concerned for Dembe's life." He smiled agreeing with her.

"But if you really felt this way you would never actually SAY you care for him more than my life. It would be contra productive. I would get scared, mad and stop cooperating."

"You are good. Even when you're head seems to be a little preoccupied with falling asleep every few minutes." This earned him a loud laugh.

"I know I am. I wasn't finished though. Most important of all, if it was only about Dembe's life you wouldn't care if I was tired and wanted to rest or if I needed a doctor to just feel better. I guess the guys that are searching for me would take a dead body too, wouldn't they?"

Liz listened to the slowly fading rain outside and was startled when Red's deep voice resonated through the small space.

"Actually, no. They wouldn't be satisfied with a body. HE wouldn't be. But be calm my dear, my concerned for you is sincere anyway." Red didn't have a problem to guess what was going on in Liz' head right now. The questions were who and why but he still wasn't prepared to answer them here and now.

"As I already said, I will explain everything once I know you are alright and as safe as possible."

And she actually didn't argue.

"Let's go find your phone, Red. My head feels heavy and I am a little scared I won't be able to wake up again for a long time if I fall asleep now."

Without another word Red detangled his arm from Liz' warm body and groaned while standing up into a semi upright position.

"You know the drill by now, Lizzie. I go first and you slide out backwards. I'll wait for you outside."

A nod was all he got and just a few seconds later Liz was standing upright in front of Red and leaning once again heavily on him. Red looked down her body and had to try to conceal a grimace when he saw the fresh blood on her leg. She must have pulled a stitch or two. Nothing he could do about it now. They had to make their way to the car as fast as possible. Red didn't feel very comfortable in the open, with an injured companion.

Step for step Liz forced herself not to throw up. She felt her stomach turn with every footstep. Her throat was squeezing shut and her breathing was coming in hard puffs

"Not much further, Lizzie." Red grunted. By now their clothes were soaked through and they were both shivering.

Just when he spotted their wracked car, Liz' legs gave out.

"I'm sorry…" she mumbled and Red could clearly hear the tears in her voice. His hold tightened for a second so she wouldn't fall and then he twisted her sideways to scoop her up into his arms.

"Don't worry. I've got you." He whispered into her ear.

The last few meters he stumbled through the now soft mud and said a silent prayer of thanks when they reached the pile of metal. At the door they have originally crawled out through, he sank to his knees and sat his precious burden down. Without a word he made his way into the car, while keeping a steadying hand on Liz. He turned around and simply dragged her into the interior. When he was satisfied with her position, Red started to look around for his phone. The only flashlight had been lost with Dembe, so Red resigned himself to feeling around with his hands. When he was finished wit the back of the car, he squeezed his upper body in in-between and under the front seats to get to the front part. His left hand hit something firm and Red was about to laugh out with relief until he pulled the item to him. A Dictaphone. Red's head bowed on its own volition. A deep breath later he let the device fall and started his search again.

"Red?" Liz' voice was faint but Red could feel her eyes on him.

"I'll find it, Lizzie."

"No…"

"Yes I will…just have faith." Red's voice was stained since he was stretching himself as far as possible.

"No…look."

Slightly irritated Red abruptly turned around to Liz, only to see her stating out of the car. He followed her gaze slowly and squinted through the rain.

"Oh goodness…"

tbc...