Chapter 18

Andrea looked at her watch, it was nearly 6pm, and the sun had already gone, being replaced by the night sky. Andrea slid slowly of the edge of the bed, being careful not to wake up Kate and walked over to the window. She stood, her arms folded, looking up at the stars, thinking about Red and all the trouble he brings with him. She hated herself for ever getting involved in his world but she couldn't regret meeting Kate. If ever there was someone she was meant to be with, it was her.

"Andie."

Andrea looked over when she heard the hushed voice to see Fiona standing in the doorway, motioning for her to come outside. She walked over, coming out in to the corridor, closing the door gently behind her.

"You've been in there a while, is he okay?"

"He is now; he caught an infection from the knife that was used. It took us a while to get the bleeding under control but he'll pull through."

"Thank god, I'm not sure Kate could handle anything happening to him right now."

"How is she?"

"Kate? Yeah she's fine, she's really tired. Her blood pressure spiked a little earlier but I think that had more to do with what was happening to Red than anything, she seems fine now."

"Good, I'm glad."

"Are you?"

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier, it was hectic."

"I'm the one who should be apologising, I brought you in to all of this and it wasn't right of me to do that."

"Andie you don't have to do…"

"No, I do. I'm really sorry, I was just so worried about Kate and the baby and I knew you were the only one I could trust to look after her and understand her situation."

"I still think she ought to go to the police."

"In truth, some members of Liz's team now know what happened and as for the man who hurt her, Liz killed him."

"Right I see, well that'll be that then."

"I think all Kate wants to do now is forget about Salgado and move on, she's having the baby and I think that's what she wants to focus on, not how it came about or how everything turned out, just the baby and I'm happy to help her do just that."

"You really do love her, don't you?"

"I do, look I know you don't approve but I…"

"Don't approve, you think I have a problem with Kate."

"Don't you?"

"For god sake Andie, I was with Nikki remember? If you think I have a problem with you being in a relationship with a woman then you're so far off."

"Then what is it? What's with all the hostility?"

"It's the fact that you got involved in Reddington's life and all the dangers that come with it. Look what's happened the last week or so, Kate was raped, Reddington and his friend were held by the man who hurt Kate and he was stabbed and is now recovering from surgery as well as Kate. I'm afraid for you; I'm scared something will end up happening to you."

"I'm not that stupid, I didn't go there today did I, where they were being held. I left it to Liz and her team, I stayed back because I knew I'd only make things worse for Kate and I didn't want that."

"Can't you just get Kate and go somewhere, anywhere away from here…from him."

"Kate would never leave Red; they've been a part of each others lives for too long. She would never walk away from him."

"Not even for the baby."

"She's terrified; she knows she can't do it without him. I know you don't like him or approve of the things he's done, to be honest…I don't either but I do know he only does it to help the FBI and the people he does kill, they're far from innocent."

"They're as wanted as he is?"

"Yes, and in helping the FBI, he keeps himself and Kate and Dembe safe. He does what he does to protect the people he holds dear in his life. He was ready to die today to save Kate and the baby, I promise he does have some good quality's, he just…doesn't let a lot of people see the real Red."

"Well I suppose I'll just have to take your work for that, won't I."

"I guess so, I really wish you could be happy for me."

"For you and Kate, of course I am…but that's it. You can't ask for more from me than that."

"I'll take what I can get then." She smiled.

"Reddington is still under from the surgery but give it until morning and Kate should be able to see him."

"That'll ease her peace of mind at least."

"I'm going to go home now, so should you."

"I think I'll stay with her, just for tonight."

"You sure, I can drop you off on the way."

"No I'm fine; I want to be here with her."

"Have it your own way, I'll stop by in the morning and check on both of you."

Fiona leaned in hugging her friend before laving for the night as Andrea returned to Kate.

Elizabeth walked in to her apartment with Agnes in her arms, closing the door gently behind her.

"Liz…"

"Yeah, it's me."

Tom came walking through, smiling when he saw Agnes, and quickly taking the little girl from Elizabeth's arms.

"How's my favourite girl huh?"

"She's had a long day. What are doing here anyway, I thought you were out all night."

"Yeah well when I got your text, I thought I should come home, make sure Agnes was alright."

"Agnes, right."

Elizabeth moved to walk away from Tom, dumping her bag on the couch before going to pour herself some wine.

"What's up with you?"

"What's up with me, Red was hurt today, Mr Kaplan came face to face with the man who raped her and I killed a man, jesus Tom. You know it would be nice it you tried to show even a little bit of concern."

"What for Red, come off it? You know how I feel about him, all the crap he's put us through, the dangers he's placed you and our daughter in. I said from the very beginning that we should leave, go somewhere and start a fresh, somewhere he's never find us but no, you wouldn't leave. Your job and the work he does for you and the team was too important."

"I'm not listening to this."

Elizabeth got ready to leave, but Tom stood in her way.

All that man ever does is cause more and more problems, look at what happened to Mr Kaplan, a guy raped her and left her pregnant and why? To get back at Reddington, all of what's happened is because of him…what she's going through now is all his fault."

"Well thank god she doesn't see it that way."

"I can't do this anymore Liz, being at Red's beck and call, day or night."

"You're not."

"No but you are, and Agnes gets left with whoever is available to take her, that's no life for her."

"Well maybe if you weren't out day and night with god only knows who then she's have someone looking after her….HER FATHER."

"I have things I need to do too, you're not the only one who has a life you know."

"Okay and what exactly is it you've been doing this past week."

"I already told you I was…"

"Meeting an old collage friend right? Every single night, how stupid do you think I really am, just admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That's you're seeing someone else, just admit it, at least man up a bit."

"I'm putting Agnes to bed; I'm not listening to this."

"You're not denying it." She whispered to herself as he walked away.

Kate opened her eyes slowly, as she scanned the room, smiling when she saw Andrea asleep in the chair beside her. She reached out, taking a hold of Andrea's hand.

"Andrea, dearie…wake up."

Andrea could hear the voice, opening her eyes, she lifted her head slowly to see Kate watching her.

"You're awake." She smiled.

"You stayed there all night."

"Well where else would I be, how do you feel?" She asked, getting up to come and sit on the edge of the bed.

"I feel a lot better than I did last night."

"I'm so glad."

"Andrea, what's happening with Raymond?"

"Don't worry; he's going to be just fine. He caught an infection from the knife Salgado used on him, he lost a lot of blood but Fiona got him fixed up."

"Your friend has been a god send to us dearie."

"Yeah…yeah she has."

"Are you okay?"

"Mmmm, fine."

"Andrea don't lie to me, what is it."

"She just hates that I got involved in all of this, she's not blaming you. It's Red she holds responsible…for all of this, for what happened to you, for dragging me and everyone else in to his messes."

"It takes a lot to understand the man he is, he genuinely does care about the people in his life. What happened to me, I don't hold him responsible for it, I couldn't."

"I know, I know what he means to you and vice versa."

"I don't want you to lose your friend because of me and the work I do for Raymond."

"I won't, Fiona will keep her distance when it comes to Red. Until now, it worked well…there's no reason it shouldn't continue."

"I do love you dearie."

"I love you too, and later on when you're feeling a little stronger, Fiona said I can take you down to see Red."

"Really."

"Sure."

"Thank you."

"I also thought you might like an ultrasound later, now that you know how you feel about the baby…it'll feel different when you watch it on the screen."

"I'd like that."

"Budge up, let's have a little more sleep before we go visit him okay."

Kate agreed as Andrea moved to lie out beside Kate, her arm going around the older woman's shoulders.

To Be Continued…