A/N: So sorry about the delay in updating. RL is well…the struggle is for real. Life is kicking my butt lately, but thank you for sticking with me.

Disclaimed: I own nothing and make no money off of this.

They moved quickly into a more dense area of woods and Lizzie held on to Red's hand as if her life depended on it.

In a way it did. She was not an outdoors kind of girl. She was definitely a 'city' kind of girl. If she were left alone, she would get lost and it's not like she could hunt of navigate with the trees or stars or whatever the hell-

Red's quiet, huffing chuckle seems wildly out of place in their current situation. Until she felt his amusement…at her.

It was quite infuriating. Time to put their link to good use.

I don't appreciate you laughing at me. I'm scared. I may be captured and maimed or killed tonight. I'm allowed to think whatever I choose to without having to deal with you thinking I'm funny or…cute. Stop!

Sweetheart, I can't help it. You know I would move heaven and earth to keep you safe. You certainly should know that I would never allow you to be captured by Bradley.

They came to a creek and beyond the creek were large rock formations.

Dembe looked back at them "We'll have to cross."

Oh, yay. Not.

Dembe took the lead with Red putting her between them. The water was about waist deep and the current was pretty strong. Lizzie was thankful that Red held on to her. If he hadn't, she probably would have gone under at least a few times.

Wet, chilly, and frightened, she was ready for this to be over.

They had no weapons, no vehicle. Their only option was to run.

Hours later, Lizzie knew she didn't have much left in her. Her thighs were burning, quivering with the continued strain of their running hike through the rough terrain.

She thought that they should move towards civilization, but Red disabused her of that notion.

Bradley and his men are all 'city'. They have everything they need to take us out. Our only advantage lies in the unfamiliar territory.

She was slowing them down. It was that simple. They either needed to get to their destination quickly, as in a half an hour ago, or they needed to leave her behind and come back for her later.

Abso-fucking-lutely not going to happen.

Well it seems that Red has vetoed the latter option.

He was not faring well either. But she had yet to hear a complaint either voiced, or thought come from him.

His breaths huffed out while a sheen of sweat coated him.

All he was thinking of was getting her to safety. He wouldn't allow himself the luxury of even thinking of himself until that goal had been achieved.

Red, we need to find water. We've been moving too fast for too long. Not even Dembe will be able to go much longer.

Sweetheart, it won't be but a few more miles until we reach the next town. We will make a phone call and the cavalry will be there to rescue us very soon. You have been so wonderful and brave, I just need you to hold on a little while longer. We can take a short break-

No, if I stop, my muscles are going to cramp up so badly, that I won't be able to move again.

I'm so sorry I got you into this. It's inexcusable and you can be sure that greater caution will be exercised in the future.

Red, you do realize that without me you never would have been freed to begin with, don't you?

Today yes, but had you not come to begin with, Bradley never would have made the attempt.

Agreeing to disagree at that point, Lizzie hugged his side lightly and let him know she didn't have the energy to argue.

When Lizzie finally spotted buildings in the distance, she wanted to sob.

She had spent the rest of their journey alternating her thoughts from praying for death and planning what she was going to do when they reached civilization.

Break into a bakery, steal all the food and water. To hell with a phone. Sustenance first.

Red again huffed out laughter, which caught Dembe's attention.

"You two are having way too much fun back there."

Red's breathless reply of "Oh you know me, I'm always a barrel of monkeys."

These men were too much.

As awful as their trek had been, as scared as she was of being caught by Bradley, a bear, or god knows what else, she was glad for this adventure.

Red was so patient with her numerous stumbles, her mental bitching and freak-outs.

He probably thought her insane at this point.

No more than the rest of us.

His mind, so thoroughly enmeshed with hers at this point, was something she hardly even felt. The colorful tint of his emotions and thoughts were harmonious with her own.

They just were there. And she could think of nothing better.

He was just as miserable as she by the time they reached the town.

Most of the business were dark. This town didn't even look like it had a stoplight.

Great, we have arrived…in Mayberry.

I assure you, it has all we need.

"Dembe, we should stay to the outskirts. That automobile shop should suit our needs nicely."

"No, we need the bakery, I'm starving."

As if she hadn't spoken, Dembe and Red turned towards the building.

Once they reached the back entrance, they turned as one and looked at her expectantly.

"Ugh, seriously? You are both criminals. You could do it just as well as I can."

Red's gravelly tone made her shiver. "But sweetheart, you are so much faster, more graceful. You are a true master at locks." And watching you is incredibly arousing.

"You are working me. Don't think I don't know that you are just turning that charm on me."

With shaky hands, she pulled a hair pin out of her hair, let go of Red, and picked the lock.

She opened the door, but was pulled behind Red as Dembe led the way inside of the building.

It was endearing really, how cautious they were.

They checked all of the rooms and split up to their respective prioritized destinations.

Lizzie's was the break room. Red moved for the office looking for a telephone. Dembe went towards the shop, probably looking for weapons of some sort.

The employee's fridge was empty of nothing but a Styrofoam container that was a petri dish of disgusting. She was not anywhere hungry enough to consume food with something growing on it.

As she had no money for the vending machine, she ended up in the office with Red to check if any employees had thought to leave spare change for a girl in need of a candy bar.

Red was finishing up a phone call, his back to her. He looked tense, unhappy, and she had yet to even look at her face.

She was across the room from him rifling through drawers when she heard a Fuck coming from his direction.

"What?"

Red turned around, face wary. "What? I didn't say anything?"

"Yes you did. I heard it. Plain as day."

His eyes narrowed. "I said nothing out loud. You can hear me when we are not touching?"

"I'm getting nothing now, I have no idea what's going on. I was looking down and you were facing away. I genuinely thought I heard you say something out loud."

Shit. Shit. Shit. Look at him, he thinks I'm a freak.

Although he had yet to say anything, his facial expression smoothed out.

"I'm not upset, I was just surprised. It appears, we are far more connected than we thought. I don't think you are a freak, I hear you too. I'm no expert, but maybe strong emotion allows us to project thoughts to each other without having to touch. Our minds now know the 'frequency' of the other's, maybe that helps. I don't know, but it can be used to our advantage."

Standing frozen, she knew she looked ridiculous in her shock. They don't have to be touching. This was both the most amazing and terrifying development of their link.

What if they separated and it wasn't broken? What if he were one day checking out a woman, or god forbid, having sex with her and she had to 'hear' all of it?

She would travel to the farthest reaches of the planet to avoid that hell on earth.

"Lizzie. Calm down. I'm a little offended that instead of being happy at finding more irrefutable evidence that we were made for each other, you are immediately jumping to the conclusions that I will one day have sex with another woman. Clearly, I am more emotionally vested in our partnership than you."

His outrage, though probably warranted, was slightly more dramatic, showier than what would be expected of an outraged lover.

He's hiding something.

Moving towards him she spoke low, but with conviction. "Make no mistake Raymond Reddington. I am all in. I was simply thinking that a man with your past with women, would certainly want a future of the same."

She reached him and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I just worry that my lack of sophistication will hinder my long-term appeal in your eyes… Now that we have the drama portion of the evening completed, tell me what's wrong."

He started to answer, but was interrupted by Dembe walking in carrying two huge wrenches and one smeller one.

"Oh good, Dembe found weapons. We may need them because we are on our own for a while."

Tbc…

Note: Thanks again for taking the time to read and let me know what you think.