A/N: I know I said this was the last chapter, but I was wrong. I really want to thank you for being so amazing and know that every ounce of feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

Disclaimed, as always.

Chapter 7

She opened her mouth to tell him she was sorry, but all that emerged was a tortured moan. There would be no more attempts until she was absolutely positive she wouldn't vomit all over him. Because then she'd never be able to speak to him again.

"Lizzie, on a scale of one to 'Sorry for ruining your shoes', how close are you to getting sick? Because you need to get out of here and get some rest. Which we won't be doing here."

As he spoke, he tended to her myriad of scrapes and cuts. His touch, a gentle balm that she couldn't help but lean into, went further than the first aid in easing her.

It had been so long. The weeks multiplied in her mind to years now that she was with him again.

When she felt better, she needed to tell him that she didn't want to experience a separation like that ever again.

Seeing Lizzie so miserable was torture, but nowhere near as bad as what being without her had been. He always traveled with a comprehensive first aid kit, but in order to take care of her, he had to move her.

"Come on, sweetheart. I'll carry you out to the car. Twenty more minutes, that's it."

"I'm so sorry!" Her moan of agony was accompanied by more retching. He just held her hair back from her face and kept a cool washcloth at the back of her neck.

There was nothing to be done for her embarrassment, however. She'd just have to come to terms that not only had she been ill, but she'd been ill all over his lap.

If he weren't so concerned about her, he'd have most definitely laughed at her horrified expression. It was just liquid, but enough to cause Lizzie to beg for death from the humiliation as he carried her to the tiny closet of a bathroom.

The anti-nausea injection would take effect soon. Their evening was in no way over though. By morning, she'd wish he'd never have come back for her.

"Let me sleep, damn you! Is this payback for leaving you cuffed and horny? Red, I'm so tired, why do you hate me so much?" He sighed as her yells became incoherent mumbles and she fell back asleep. He never tired of being right, but his Lizzie sure didn't hold back her verbal punches.

Smoothing her hair back out of her face, he felt awful that he couldn't do more to help her. But she had a concussion and he had to wake her up three more times before he'd consider the danger minimal enough to let her rest.

The safe house they drove to was small, but tidy. A cottage among the lush green hills of the Irish country side. The fog was thick, the air cool as he stepped out for a moment to clear his head.

It's not like he'd gotten any rest either. He was glad that the cottage contained a clothes washer as he'd had to wash his clothes, but also the sheets of the bed.

Time was something he'd felt was in short supply in recent weeks. But now he had a plethora of it in which to contemplate exactly what he was going to say to her.

He was no longer angry. If anything, he understood her actions better than anyone ever could. If he found out that Lizzie's life could possibly be saved from an imminent threat by him leaving, he would disappear in a heartbeat. No questions asked.

Of course, he would hunt them like dogs to the end of the earth to alleviate the threat, but that was him with his resources. Lizzie's resources were her ingenuity, her mind. And in her mind, she minimized the threat by leaving.

But she was in greater danger when they were apart. And never would he be willing to risk her for his safety. Ever.

Until she awoke, there was nothing to be done but wait…and watch.

Despite her pounding headache, she slowly became aware of her surroundings. Red, barefoot and dressed in dark jeans and a t-shirt, stood in front of the window and stared out into the distance.

There was very little that she could remember of her fight and the events after, but what she did remember mortified her. Her groan was what alerted Red that she was awake. Hopefully, the events that she remembered were a fabrication of her psyche.

She wanted Red to stay with her. She had felt so sick. She remembered putting her head in his lap and how good it felt as he ran his hands through her hair. And then she'd puked on him. On his crotch to be exact.

She groaned again.

"Good morning, Lizzie. How are you feeling?" His voice was soft, no hint of the anger she surely thought he'd unleash on her.

"I'm praying for death, thanks for asking." Her mood was sour enough without his cheerful chuckles. "Go away, leave me to die in peace."

"Don't be so dramatic, Lizzie. And I think that after your escapades of the last few weeks you'd realize that that's not going to happen again."

She sucked in her breath, thinking that they were going to have their 'come to Jesus' moment, but Red's expression was placid.

Of course, Red was nothing if not thoughtful and he could always be waiting until she felt better to start an argument.

"I'm sorry." was all she said.

"I was worried sick, Lizzie. For weeks. You disappeared and anything could have happened and I wouldn't have known. You were reckless. And I'm not even going to start about your little foray into 'Blood Sport'."

Wow. Well, at least she had thought that they weren't going to talk about it yet. She wanted to wipe the righteous indignation off his face.

"I meant that I was sorry for upchucking on your dick, not for running. I'll never apologize for that."

His mouth open and closed several times in shocked silence while he stared at her in shock. Good.

She'd be damned if she'd feel guilty for making a decision to protect him. Ever. But not only that, it was a learning experience. She had proved to herself that she could be resourceful and make it alone if she had to.

He floundered for a moment longer but then looked away. His face changed into one of concern and she knew that he'd decided to change tactics.

She had a pressing need for the bathroom, so instead of staying for the lecture, she gingerly rose to her feet and kissed him full on the lips. "I know that you think I was wrong, but I love you. I couldn't live with myself being a danger to you."

She didn't wait for him to answer, just turned and continued on her way.

The pounding pain behind her eyelids was well worth it. The look on his face was priceless.

Tbc…

A/N: Ok, next one is the last. Sheesh, these kids are stubborn. Let me know what you think.