Hey guys! Sorry for the delay! Real life and all that jazz…

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Sleep was the furthest thing from Red's mind as he waited for Harold Cooper to show up and read him his rights. He wondered what the punishment was for a criminal who dared to pursue a romantic relationship with and FBI agent. He knew what it was for Lizzie. On any other occasion, and with any other criminal, it would mean that she would lose her job. But Red assured her that that would never happen.

"Go to work," he had said as Lizzie paced the floor in front of him. "Tell the truth. Explain that this was not something you had planned, but something that just happened. Harold won't be happy. In fact, he'll suspend you. Indefinitely. But I can promise you that by the end of the day today, he will be singing a different tune. Trust me."

Oh the irony. Lizzie's job was one of the biggest obstacles of their relationship, and also necessary to their relationship. Red wanted nothing more than to whisk her away to somewhere sunny… somewhere safe… somewhere where they wouldn't have to worry about being caught or being killed. But, alas, for right now, they were stuck. She was the FBI agent, he was the Concierge of Crime, and their happy ending was nowhere near possible at the present moment.

"I don't understand how you're so calm. I'm nowhere near ready to have our relationship put under a microscope. Are you? For someone so private this doesn't seem to bother you that much."

She was so deliciously neurotic at times.

"It bothers me more that Donald thinks we're close enough that he doesn't have to knock before entering my room. We're going to have to have a little chat about boundaries."

Sarcasm might not have been the best way to go, because the next thing Red heard was the slamming of the door as Lizzie stormed out. He closed his eyes tightly and breathed deeply, in and out… in and out… ignoring the click of the door as Dembe let himself in.

"You're getting very good at that."

Red was really in no mood for another scolding, but he always made allowances for Dembe.

"I'm good at a great many things. To which thing are you referring?"

"I'm referring to your ability to frustrate Agent Keen to the point of fury. It is amazing. I applaud you, really."

Ouch.

"The sarcasm is admired but unappreciated. I was simply trying to reassure Lizzie that she has nothing to worry about and she mistook my reassurance for patronization. That's all."

Red smirked as the flipped on the television, hoping to bring the conversation to a halt. It was something he hadn't done in years, save to watch the news. The channels seemed to blur together as he flipped through show after show of half-naked women chasing after drunk, stupid men.

"Is this what passes for quality entertainment nowadays? I'd just as soon stick my…"

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Dembe cut Red off as he grabbed the remote out of his hands, obviously not interested in where Red wanted to stick things.

"I am. And I will. As soon as Harold calls on me, I'll be glad to take in a nice long nap. Until then, I will stay awake and alert. Give me back the remote."

Dembe ignored the demand in favor of rummaging through his bag. He produced a book in one hand and a pen and notebook in the other. Red gave a goofy grin as his friend approached the bed.

"Are we going to play Hangman?"

The humor was lost on Dembe, who threw the book in Red's lap.

"YOU are going to read. I am going to use this pen and paper to write down my prayers. Keeps me calm. Keeps me from wanting to put my hands around your neck and squeeze."

Red couldn't help the laugh that started in his belly and ripped up his esophagus, making his chest ache.

"Dembe, Dembe, Dembe… you are always good for a laugh."

One more slam of the door and Dembe was gone too. Apparently Lizzie wasn't the only person Red was good at pissing off. Whatever. He would worry about that later. Right now he had a good book in his hand and time to kill. He fished the glasses that he faithfully kept hidden from Lizzie out from behind his pillow. No need for her to know that he was practically blind. That would have to come later. Much later.

An hour passed before he realized that he hadn't made it past the second page of the book. He was distracted, and rightfully so. His phone had not made one sound since Lizzie had taken off, and he had expected an update by now. Surely Ressler had tattled on them…. He wouldn't recognize the advantage he would hold by keeping their secret. A little blackmail goes a long way. Honestly, Red would have been proud if Ressler had shown a little gumption and tried to use the information against them. But knowing Ressler… he had tattled.

Red was deep in thought when the door to his hospital room opened slowly and closed with a soft click. Cooper.

"Reddington."

So together. So in control. Red couldn't wait to shatter that illusion of control into a million little pieces. It had been a long time coming.

"Harold. SUCH a surprise. Are you here to check on my progress? The doctors say I'm healing quite nicely… but I'm sure you know all of that already, don't you?"

Cooper's face was a stone, and Red admired his ability to ignore the mocking. Most men couldn't.

"Reddington... I've been made aware of a certain situation between you and Ag…"

"Harold!" Red cut in jovially, not sure that he wanted to hear Lizzie's name come out of Harold's mouth. "I hope you didn't come here thinking you were going to tell me who I can and cannot sleep with. Because that would be a mistake on your part."

The vein in the middle of Cooper's forehead popped out with a vengeance and Red knew that he had struck a nerve.

"A relationship between an FBI agent and number 4 on America's Most Wanted list simply cannot be sanctioned! Agent Keen has been suspended. Indefinitely."

"I don't remember asking you to sanction anything. In fact, I like it better when you don't approve. Forbidden relationships have always held a certain charm for me."

The two men stared at each other for a long moment before Red finally spoke.

"Call her. Call her now and tell her to come back to work."

Cooper looked downright offended at the suggestion.

"I will do no such thing!"

Red was nonplussed.

"You will. You will also tell Ressler that what he knows goes no further than you and him. Lizzie will not be reduced to office gossip."

Cooper's frustration played out on his face and Red was delighted.

"I cannot allow this to continue, Red. You know that. And another thing… don't think I haven't noticed that you finagled it so that you could gather information on your daughter while you're here. You're lucky I don't have you moved. It's not wise for the two of you to be this close. Are you even considering her safety?"

For the second time that day, Red closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In and out… in and out... He opened his eyes after a moment and smiled. Harold Cooper would not make him lose his temper. Or his playful mood. Oh yes… Red wanted to play.

"I have. But tell me, Harold, have you considered yours?"

The tension that had been growing from the moment Cooper walked into the room suddenly grew so thick Red could hardly breathe.

"Are you threatening me, Reddington?"

If he hadn't learned by now…

"Of course I am. Trust me, you have bigger things to worry about than Agent Keen and I pursuing a sexual relationship."

Cooper pursed his lips and puffed out his chest, preparing for a fight. It was obvious that this conversation wasn't going exactly as he had planned.

"Like what?"

"Like one day I'm going to have questions. Many questions. Questions that concern Melanie. And you had better pray that I like your answers."

Cooper immediately deflated and his expression changed from one of defiance to one of regret.

"Red, I…"

"I don't want to hear it," Red said tiredly. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we? You'll call Lizzie and tell her to come back. You'll call Ressler and tell him that if the word gets out about Agent Keen and I he will have to deal directly with me. If those things aren't done within the next half-hour I will make your life extremely unpleasant. You don't want to mess with me, Harold. Don't let these tubes and these wires fool you. I am more than capable of causing a big mess right from my hospital bed."

Cooper flushed with embarrassment and for a moment he looked like he was going to fight back, but he thought better of it and nodded his head in a silent agreement.

"Fantastic! And here I thought we were going to have a problem. Now… I'd love nothing more than to small talk with you all day, but I promised my daughter I'd get some rest and I do not intend to break that promise. Show yourself out."

Red couldn't help feeling extremely pleased with himself, especially when Cooper exited the room almost as silently as he'd entered it. Another problem solved. And he'd only had to threaten Cooper twice.

Red opened the book that lay unread in his lap, but then remembered that he was supposed to be resting. He rolled his eyes at his daughter's concern but closed the book and hid the glasses. After all, a promise was a promise. He leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes, convinced that it was a lost cause. His mind was racing too fast. So it was a shock when he awoke hours later to a hand sweeping across his forehead and a voice humming softly. He caught a whiff of a soft perfume and smiled.

Dolce and Gabanna.

Light Blue.

Melanie.