Chapter 14
…
Red stayed in his room for the best part of the morning, while Dembe went out and bought some groceries. When he finally emerged just after 2pm, Dembe was sitting at the table, looking out the window, a half eaten sandwich in front of him.
"I didn't think you'd still be here?" Red said.
"I've nowhere else to be, there's a sandwich made up for you in the fridge."
"Maybe later." He said, taking a seat across from the younger man.
"Suit yourself."
"Now you're mad at me too?"
"I just don't know what's happening?"
"What do you mean Dembe?"
"Kate? She's alive?"
"And?"
"So what happens now, are you going to try again?"
"Try again?"
"Killing her."
Red heard the shake in Dembe's voice when he mentioned Red making a second attempt at killing Kate.
"No Dembe, I'm not going to try again. The truth is I never should have shot her in the first place. What I did, I can never be forgiven for that. I was angry, I wasn't thinking clearly. There was always a part of me that didn't want to pull that trigger but I just couldn't get past the anger I felt over what she and Lizzie did to me."
"I do understand Raymond, what they did was wrong but Kate was right, you were putting them in so much danger."
"I know, I see that now. I also see that now because of what I did to Kate that Lizzie may never forgive me…or Kate for that matter."
Red got up from the table, going over to the coat rack and pulling on his jacket.
"Where are you going?" Dembe asked.
"I have to see Kate, I have to sort this mess out."
"They won't let you near her, you heard Elizabeth, she has a guard on Kate's door protecting her."
"Dembe, when had something like the FBI stopped me from doing what I need to in the past, I'm going."
"I'll get the keys."
…
Kate was sitting up in bed, her head to the side as she looked out on to the grounds of the hospital, the rain battering on the window.
"Hey, you're awake."
Kate turned to see Brooke standing by the door, a warm smile on her face.
"I thought it was your day off, don't you ever go home." Kate replied, trying to sit up a little more.
Brooke came over to her, the younger woman's arms going around Kate's waist as she helped her sit up a little better. Kate held on to her, the smell of flowers on Brooke's skin before she was helped her lay back against the pillows.
"Thank you dearie."
"Don't mention it."
Brooke took a seat on the bed, smiling towards Kate before she placed a warm hand over Kate's.
"You feeling any better?"
"A little, the pain is subsiding a little, the morphine helps."
"That's good, I'm glad. So, I was thinking that perhaps you'd like a little stroll around the grounds of the hospital."
"Am I up to walking, you're the doctor."
"I was thinking more a wheelchair."
"Oh…"
"What."
"A wheelchair, as if I don't feel old enough already."
"Wheelchairs are not just for old people you know, and besides….you're not old, just injured. Come on, what do you say, some fresh air might do you some good."
"It does sound nice."
"Great, well your security has just nipped to the toilet, so when he comes back we'll head out okay. So why we wait, let's get you in to that chair huh."
Kate nodded her head in agreement as Brooke got the wheelchair and began helping Kate in to it.
…
Dembe and Red entered through the back doors of the hospital, keeping an eye out for any FBI or hospital security as he knew Lizzie would have informed them all to watch out for him. As they made the way through a door and up the stairwell of the hospital, Dembe suddenly grabbed Red's arm.
"What is it Dembe?"
"Are you sure about this? What if it's too soon, you might scare her."
"Dembe I'm not going to hurt her."
"Yes but she doesn't know that, for all Kate knows, you still want her dead. If we go barging in there, we'll just end up scaring her."
"Dembe don't worry."
"Don't tell me not to worry, I know you were very angry at her and of course I understood that, but to shoot her like that, you disappointed me. Not matter what she did to you, I still loved her."
Red stopped in his tracks, turning back to Dembe to see the sadness in the younger man's eyes.
"Dembe I'm sorry, I suppose at the time I never took in to consideration other peoples feelings on the matter…I'm truly sorry."
"Just promise me that when we go in there, you won't hurt her again."
"Dembe you have my word…I will never hurt Kate ever again."
Dembe could only nod his head as Red turned to continue up towards Kate's room.
…
Kate got herself comfortable in the chair, pulling her coat tightly around her, feeling half dressed in her night things under her coat.
"I feel very uncomfortable right now." She muttered
Brooke knelt down in front of her, taking Kate's hand sin her own.
"Will you stop complaining, you look amazing."
"You're a very good liar."
"Who said I'm lying?"
"Look at me."
"I am, and all I see is a very tough and courageous woman looking back at me."
"Courageous?"
"You never gave up, despite what he's done to you. You're a fighter Kaplan."
Kate went quiet before looking back at Brooke who suddenly moved in closer, capturing Kate's lips in her own. Kate tensed a little a first before relaxing when Brooke's arm came around her neck, pulling her a little closer to her before they eventually broke apart.
"You really think I'm that courageous?"
"I do." She smiled,
"I happen to agree with the good doctor."
Kate's eyes went wide before her whole body froze when she looked over and saw who was suddenly standing in her room.
…
To Be Continued…