Thank you so much Literary Bitca for your help, suggestions and comments. Love you!


"What do you think they're doing?" Ressler asked after leaving the white room with Red.

"I'm not sure," he replied, but deep inside, he knew that whatever was going on behind that door was likely to have dire repercussions on his relationship with Lizzie.

He didn't like it. He didn't like knowing Liz was alone with Meera in that room. He had always known that the moment he met Liz again, he would have to explain himself on that dreadful night twenty-five years ago. But he had hoped to keep his secret a little bit longer. At least until they had taken their relationship to a new level. But now, because of that Tom scumbag and his little trick, he would have to face it much sooner.

"Can't you feel anything?" Ressler asked impatiently.

"I could if you would shut up for a second!" Red barked, stopping his pacing to turn his dark stare to Ressler.

Ressler's eyes flashed yellow and Red felt an invisible force hit him, sending him collide into the wall behind him. Turning his ice blue eyes toward Ressler, he smirked. He knew the boy wasn't strong enough to fight him if he decided to reciprocate. But now wasn't the time; Ressler had made his point and Red wasn't about to lose time provoking him for the sake of his own entertainment. He had more important things to think about. Taking a deep breath, he soothed his power and the next time he looked up at the young Dream Walker, his eyes were back to their usual color.

"Are you done yet?" Red asked, crooking his eyebrow.

"For now," Ressler replied.

Red nodded and closed his eyes, focusing on the faint spark that was Lizzie in his mind. Her attention was elsewhere and she was unconsciously blocking him, he could feel it. He lurked for a while, trying to feel what she was experiencing on the other side of this door, when fear suddenly burst in his mind and spread in his body. He balled his shaking hands into fists, his body mirroring what Liz's was experiencing in the white room. Sweat broke at his brow as he took a step back, pressing his body against the wall for support.

"What's going on?" Ressler asked, running to his side.

"Lizzie," he grunted, clutching at his chest, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.

He had been so focused on her that her sudden terror had seeped into him and he couldn't find a way to shake it off. She was drawing into his strength.

"Close your mind!"

"I can't, she needs me. She's scared," he panted between clenched teeth.

"She's going to kill you and then you won't be here to help her anymore! Cut the fucking link!"

Ressler took hold of his shirt and shook him. Red wasn't cutting the connection; he could see it. Taking a deep breath, Ressler closed his eyes and let his Gift expend, the thin layer of energy around him expanding to include Red. After a few seconds, Red's breathing started to calm down and he opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You're a stubborn ass! That's what happened! Now get up and go to Liz, she needs you!" Ressler barked, his shield receding.

Red was about to reply when his body left the protective bubble Ressler had put around them and, suddenly, he felt it. The terror. Jumping up on his feet, he ran to the door and wrenched it open. Lizzie was laying on the floor, curled up, Meera by her side trying to calm her down. He crossed the room in a few steps and knelt beside his soulmate.

"What happened?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the woman jerking on the floor. He didn't dare to touch her.

"She went too far. I can't get her back!" He could hear the panic in the Dream Walker's voice.

"What did you do? You're supposed to know how it works! You know what could happen when someone tries to break a block by themselves!" Red burst out suddenly, his mask slipping for the first time in her presence. "Move."

Meera backed away a few inches and watched the couple. Red took a deep breath and put his hands on Liz's shoulders to still her. She fought against his hold, kicking her legs to push him away.

"Lizzie!" he called her name. "Calm down!"

Tears ran down Liz's face, her mouth open in a silent scream; he could see the rapid beating of her heart at the pulse in her neck. And the fear. The ultimate terror only a child could experience. He knew what she was seeing, living. He knew where this terror came from. He had experienced it all so long ago. He moved his shoulders slightly, the skin of his back suddenly stinging.

He couldn't do anything. She had to live the memory to its end and then she'd be able to come back. He took her in his arms, her head on his lap, caressing her hair tenderly. He felt so powerless.

Suddenly, Liz stopped moving. Her breath even, she looked peacefully asleep.

"What's going on?" Meera asked carefully.

"I'm with her," Red replied keeping his eyes on Liz.

He knew Meera wouldn't understand the real meaning of his words, but he knew exactly why Liz had calmed down abruptly. She stayed still a few minutes, her hands grabbing at the empty space before her. So closely linked, Red could feel how at peace she was, how safe she felt.

As abruptly as she had stilled, her peacefulness suddenly shattered. He felt her suck in his strength and saw her hands close on empty air. He closed his eyes and bent to lay his forehead against hers, his arms closing around her shoulders, letting her take as much as he dared. He knew it wouldn't be long now. The memory was almost at its end and soon she'd open her eyes.

Without warning, electricity crackled around Liz's hands and a heat wave broke into the room. Meera felt a warm feeling seep into every cell of her body, seeming to emanate from her right shoulder and, suddenly, the pain she had learned to live with disappeared. She pulled the edge of her shirt to the side and looked down at her shoulder. The scar was still there, but the pain had vanished. She looked at the couple in awe.

Liz was waking up. Red had felt the healing wave hit him and knew what it meant. He laid her down gently on the floor and moved to kneel by her side. From the corner of his eye, he saw Meera mirror his movement. His Lizzie was calm now, relaxed as if asleep.

"Are you okay?" Meera asked when Liz finally opened her eyes.

"You were there," Liz breathed deeply her eyes on Red. "I remember."

Red felt tears burn at the back of his eyes. He didn't know what to think, what to feel. He was afraid. For the first time in a very long time, he was afraid. He hesitantly extended his hand to touch her, but she scooted away, closing her mind.

Fear and confusion mingled in Liz's mind. She didn't know what was real and what was part of the memory. She couldn't shake off the terror she had experienced. Every movement, every sound was distorted. She squeezed her eyes shut, her hands on her ears.

At her movement, Red felt his heart tighten; she looked so lost and young. A single burning tear escaped his eye when he met her stare. The tear slid down his cheek and fell on his thigh, the heat causing the fabric of his pants to singe slightly.

Meera's eyes followed the wet path left by the drop, eyes wide. The man was literally crying tears of fire. It was the first time she witnessed such a phenomenon. But now wasn't the time to think about the strangeness of the man kneeling in front of her. Liz was rocking beside her, her knees folded against her chest, lips pulled back in a grimace.

"Ask Donald to call Dembe," Red ordered without looking up at Meera.

The Dream Walker hesitated a few second before getting up. She turned around to look at the couple one last time before leaving the room. Liz was still rocking but Red had moved. He had closed the distance between them and was talking softly, not touching her. Meera couldn't hear what was said but the expression on Reddington's face was heartbreaking.

As soon as Meera had begun to away, Red had started talking. He had to calm her down. He had to help Liz recover after what she had been through. He didn't even know what nonsense he was saying, but the sound of his voice seemed to soothe her, so he kept talking, slowly closing the distance between them. He didn't want to frighten her any more.

"Lizzie, look at me. You're safe. I'm here," he whispered when the door closed silently behind Meera. "My love, please," he begged, his hand just an inch shy of making actual contact.

He was dying to touch her but didn't know how she would react. Reliving the fire had been hard for her. Hell! It had been hard for him and he hadn't even been the one experiencing it. He finally let his fingertips brush against her cheek and she immediately focused on him. Her glazy eyes clearing, she laid her cheek into the palm of his hand and closed her eyes. Red let out a sigh of relief and took her in his arms. She was still shaking slightly.

"I'm sorry," she breathed in a small voice against his collarbone.

"What for?" he whispered, his lips against her temple.

"I was stupid. I wanted to know." She looked up with sad red-rimed eyes. "You knew." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"And you know who blocked the memories." Again, not a question.

"I do."

"Who?"

"Not here, sweetheart. Dembe's on his way. Come with me and I'll tell you everything."

Her eyes on his, she finally opened her mind and felt everything his carefully crafted mask hid. The pain, the sorrow, the shame. And his love. She could see it now, burning behind his eyes, in every gesture, in every word. She put her hand on his thigh and leaned forward, their breath mingling, their lips an inch apart when she stopped, frowning. Looking down, she moved her hand slightly and saw what her finger had felt. A perfect circle burned in the fabric of his pants.

"What…"

But the door opening behind them cut her off. Both of them turned their heads and saw Dembe and Ressler standing by the door. The men seemed worried.

"Let's go," Red murmured taking her hand before standing up, pulling her up with him.

She nodded and followed him outside, squeezing Ressler's hand on her way out. She knew she'd have to talk to him, explain what was really going on in her life and with Red, but for now, it would have to wait; her soulmate was more important. Together, they climbed into the backseat of the car and Dembe pulled out into traffic, driving in silence toward their destination.

Liz was lost in her thoughts. Red's immaterial presence was all around her; his thumb caressing the back of her hand and the heat from his body the physical proof of his existence. She looked around when the car pulled over and realized they were parked a few feet away her own house. She looked at Red, surprised, but he just smiled softly before exiting the car. She followed him outside, her eyes on the house on the other side of the street. It felt strange. She had always loved her house and her life there, but now, it didn't feel like home anymore, and her life no longer made sense. The only sure thing in her life at this point was the man beside her and his arms were the only place she felt at home.

She smiled back and followed him into the house across the street from her own. Dembe was already inside when they entered the living room. An old sofa, a desk, three computer screens and two chairs were the only furniture in the room. Liz walked to the desk and looked at the screens.

"Is it… This is my house?" she asked, watching the images change to different views of the house she shared with her husband.

"It is. Dembe set up the surveillance yesterday when you were at Ressler's," Red explained, answering her next question before she had to ask.

She nodded, not really knowing how to feel about the cameras in her house. She knew it was for her protection, but as before, when he introduced her to Dembe, she didn't like the feeling of being watched over all the time. Once again, she realized, Red had been watching over her most of her life, keeping her safe, being there when she needed him. Her mind went back to the fire and the recovered memories. They had to talk about it. She had to know what really happened that night. She had to know what happened to the man in her memories, her father.

The heat of a cup of coffee in her hand shook her out of her reverie and she realized they had moved to the kitchen. Red was standing before her, concerned eyes studying her face.

"You saved me that night," she smiled slightly.

"I endangered you that night," Red replied sternly.

"Red," she said his name softly. "Look at me." She waited until he turned his eyes to her. "You didn't know I was there." That much she was sure, even if she didn't really know what happened that night, she was sure Red hadn't known about her presence in the house.

"You almost died."

"But you saved me. You came back for me. You literally walked through the flames for me," she said, reaching for him.

He shook his head at her words. She didn't understand the weight on his conscience. He had almost killed his soulmate. If she hadn't screamed… If he hadn't heard her… Everything would have been different. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not after meeting her. Not after knowing her.

Liz's heart cracked at the look on his face. He seemed so lost, so tired. She put the cup on the counter and raised her hand to his face; wiping away the lonely tear he shed with her thumb, feeling the stinging burn of the drop on her skin. The small hole in the fabric on his thigh. She understood now. Her fingers ghosted over his eyebrow, her eyes never leaving his, mesmerized by the lightness of his eyelashes when he closed his eyes, she traced the line of his nose. He nipped lightly at her fingertip when she ran it over his lips.

Closing the distance between them, she brushed her lips against his in an ethereal kiss. The air was crackling around them, waves of heat seeping from his body; she tilted his head slightly and pressed her lips to his in earnest this time, drawing a moan from his throat. Her tongue on his lower lip, begging entry, seemed to take him out of his frozen state and he closed his arms around her, opening his mouth to welcome her.

The moment their tongues met, the coffee in the cup beside them began to bubble silently. Despite the air crackling with electricity around them, the heat rising with every second, the two of them seemed unaware of it. Hands caressing skin or tangled in long dark hair, they were blind to their surroundings.

They suddenly broke the kiss when something exploded behind them. Still wrapped in each other arms, they turned around and burst out laughing at the sight. The coffee maker was on fire on the counter.

"I swear to God…" Dembe mumbled, angrily walking in the room.

Liz watched the bodyguard stop next to the burning item and put his hand next to it on the counter. Wide-eyed, she heard a faint sizzling noise and a cloud of vapor rose from the flames. In a matter of seconds the fire was dead and Dembe turned his dark stare back to Red.

"For God's sake, Raymond, try to get a hold of yourself," he grumbled.

"I'm sorry my friend," Red laughed.

Dembe shook his head and walked out. Red looked down at the woman in his arms and smiled as he dropped his lips back to hers.