Chapter 19
…
Reddington opened his eyes, Dembe sitting by his bedside looking through his phone.
"Dembe…"
"You're awake, let me get a nurse and I…"
"No no, leave it…I'm okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure, how's Kate?"
"I went to her room earlier but she was asleep, Andrea too."
"She needs as much rest as she can get."
"You were very lucky, why didn't you say you weren't feeling well?"
"Kate was my priority."
"You're no good to Kate if you collapse."
"I know, I'm sorry for scaring you all. Where's Lizzie?"
"She went home, Agnes was getting tired."
"Will she be coming back?"
"I don't know, I can phone and ask her if you want to see her."
"No it's fine; I'm probably the last person she wants to see anyway."
"She was very worried about you when you collapsed, I know she's angry about Kate's situation but she does care about you."
"I've brought her nothing but pain Dembe, Kate too and you."
"That's not true, you protect us."
"Not all the time, and we both know that. It's time things changed."
Reddington turned his head, looking out towards the window as he went silent.
…
Andrea had her arms around Kate's waist, supporting the older woman's weight as she helped her in to a wheelchair.
"This is ridiculous; I'm more than capable of walking dearie."
"Doctors' orders remember. No wheelchair, no visiting…it's entirely up to you?"
"Fine, wheelchair it is."
Andrea helped Kate to lower herself in the chair, wrapping her robe around her.
"How do you feel?" Andrea asked, as she knelt down in front of her.
"I feel fine dearie, I promise."
"You look a lot better today, healthier."
"The hospital food must agree with me."
"I'll talk to Fiona today and see when you're able to go home."
"Soon I hope. I'd much prefer the comfort of my own home."
"I know you do; I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you Andrea."
"You ready to go and see Red?"
Kate only nodded as Andrea squeezed her hand before wheeling her out of her room. They made their way down the corridor and waited at the elevator, getting inside when the doors opened as Andrea pressed the button that would take them to Reddington.
They stopped outside Reddington's room, Kate watching Dembe as Reddington laughed at something he'd said.
"Kate, do you still want to see him. We can always come back later."
Dembe looked up when he heard Andrea's voice; he smiled when he spotted Kate with her.
"Raymond, Kate's here."
Reddington sat up slowly, a pained expression on his face as he moved the wrong way.
Andrea wheeled Kate in to the room, Dembe moving his chair back to allow Kate closer.
"Why don't we leave you two alone for a while, Dembe…fancy a coffee?" Andrea smiled.
"Sure."
Reddington waited for the door to close behind Andrea and Dembe before he spoke.
"How are you Kate?"
"Well…better than you dearie." She smiled.
"Please, compared to what you've been through, this is nothing."
Kate closed her eyes briefly before holding on to the side of the bed to help her stand up.
"Kate what are you doing, let me get a nurse and you…"
"Don't you dare, I'm not an invalid. Let me do this, please."
Reddington remained quiet as he watched Kate closely as she slowly stood up, a little shaky at first from being in bed the last two days.
"Kate…"
"I'm fine dearie, stop fussing."
She manoeuvred herself so that she was sitting on the side of his bed, before finally looking at him properly since she entered the room.
"You look like hell." She smirked.
"Thank you, you always know just what to say Kate."
"You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened to me."
"Kate I…"
"Stop it Raymond, please. He's dead, and the damage has already been done. What's the use in blaming yourself and wondering what if? What's happened has happened and we need to move forward with things, we can't let him control us from beyond the grave, I won't let him."
"You're a remarkable woman, do you know that."
"Raymond…"
"You are, despite what you've been through, you've remained strong. It's something I've always admired in you since the day we met."
"I'm good at hiding things, much like you."
"We've been doing it our whole lives."
"Then maybe it's time to stop, stop pretending everything's fine. I don't know if I can do this anymore."
"Do what?"
"You know what, this life. Something tells me you don't want to either."
"Kate…"
"Maybe it's time to make a fresh start."
"A fresh start?"
"It can be done, aren't you tired Raymond? You could have died at the hands of Salgado, so could I? If Elizabeth hadn't arrived when she did, I don't want to even think about what could have happened."
"Leave all of this."
"I know she's the reason you stay, I don't know why you don't just tell her."
"I can't, she…"
"Four years Raymond, you've been in love with that girl for four years. It's time she knew the truth."
"She's with Tom, she had a child."
"I'm not saying it will go in your favour but…at least then she'd know and you'd know how she felt and perhaps you could move forward. I don't want to raise this baby surrounded with all the dangers we face. Look at little Agnes, kidnapped days after she was born. I don't want the same for my child, I don't want to raise it with the constant dangers we're in."
"What are you saying here Kate?"
"We all need a fresh start."
"You're leaving us?"
"Of course not, I need you. We both need you Raymond but not here. I'm talking about the land you bought in Italy; you've never been back since you bought it."
"You want us to go to Italy…all of us."
"You think it's a crazy idea?"
"You're asking me to walk away from Elizabeth, I can't do that Kate."
"Once you tell Elizabeth your true feelings, you might not have too."
"So you want me, Dembe, Lizzie, Agnes and Andrea with you?"
"It's a big enough place."
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"We all need a change, somewhere safe. Somewhere nobody will think about us. I think we've earned the rest, don't you?"
"I know all you want is for your baby to be safe but…"
"I don't want to leave you Raymond, but I will. I'm telling you that I can't do this anymore. I will be leaving; I just really hope you'll be there too."
Andrea and Dembe walked in to the room laughing, each holding a coffee cup, Andrea's smile fading when she saw the look on Reddington's face.
"Sorry, did we interrupt something?"
"No dearie, I'm ready to go back to my room now."
Kate got ready to stand and suddenly felt the arm around her waist, looking up to see Dembe beside her.
"Let me help you Kate." He smiled.
"Thank you dearie."
Dembe helped her back in to her wheelchair before Andrea wheeled her towards the door.
"Think about what I've said Raymond, please."
"I will Kate."
As Kate left the room, the door closing behind the two women, Dembe turned to Reddington, who looked confused.
"What are you to think about?"
"I'll tell you later, I'm tired."
Reddington got himself comfortable before closing his eyes, as Dembe took his place at his bosses' bedside.
…
To Be Continued…
