Chapter 25
…
Elizabeth walked in to Reddington's, carrying Agnes in her arms as he looked up at them both.
"Lizzie, this is a surprise."
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"Don't be ridiculous, I was just resting, come…sit down."
Elizabeth dropped her bags, suddenly feeling nervous. Agnes wriggled in her arms, as Reddington offered to take the little girl. She made a small squeal as he sat her down on his knee, Elizabeth finally sitting down to join them.
"So…where is everyone?"
"I've been tying up a few loose ends; I thought it best seeing as I'm to give up this part of my life."
"Wow, you sound, I don't know. As good an idea as I think it is, I didn't ask you to do that."
"I know you didn't Lizzie."
"Then why do you sound angry?"
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. Being stuck in this flat the last few days has just been a little…infuriating. I didn't mean to sound angry with you, forgive me."
"Forgiven…so Dembe, Mr Kaplan?"
"As I said, loose ends. Dembe's gone to help Kate bury the evidence."
"Should she really be doing that now in her condition?"
"I tried Lizzie but you know how she is, she wants to be treated as she always has."
"Well you can't, she's pregnant, and she shouldn't be lifting heavy corpses around."
"Dembe is doing most of the work, I promise you. He won't let her do anything to harm her or the baby; he worries just as much as we do."
"He'd better."
"Why did you come here today Lizzie, I assume there was a reason?"
"Yeah, I…I told Tom everything."
Reddington went quiet as Agnes began to play with his tie, the little girl looking up at him.
"I see, I assume by the tone in your voice that he didn't take it well."
"You could say that, he won't part with Agnes…you must have know he wouldn't?"
"Of course, but there's shared custody, it's not as though he would never see her. I'd happily fly him over when ever he wished, and he'd always be more than welcome to stay with us."
"Right, that wouldn't be awkward at all."
"I'm trying here Lizzie."
"I know, oh I'm sorry. It's just all such a mess, if I didn't have Agnes, there wouldn't be an issue but…"
"But you do…if this it too hard for you Lizzie, I do understand. I wouldn't hold it against you if you remained here and I…"
Elizabeth moved forward, placing a kiss to Reddington's lips, silencing the man as he looked her in the eyes."
"I'm coming with you, we will figure this out, I promise."
…
Kate pulled her long coat around her as Dembe finished digging the hole they required for the disposal of the corpse. Kate turned to see the body of Red's latest victim, Christopher Reilly. The gunshot wound to the side of his head visible, Kate closed her eyes tightly as her hand went to the side of her own head, remembering the pain she suffered at the hands of Reddington.
"Kate…Kate are you alright?" Dembe asked, a strong hand coming to rest on her shoulder as she opened her eyes.
"I'm fine dearie, shall we?"
"Let me."
"I'm not incapable."
"I never said you were incapable but Raymond would kill me if anything happened to…"
Dembe's phone began to ring, stopping him mid sentence as he swiped to answer.
Kate gave a small sigh as Dembe spoke on the phone, clearly Reddington checking up on how things were progressing with Reilly.
"Yes Raymond, we'll be done soon. No don't worry, she's fine."
"She has a name dearie." Kate yelled over.
"Sorry, Kate's fine."
Kate rolled her eyes before turning her attentions back to Reilly. It was starting to get dark, bending down, she grabbed the collar of his jacket and began dragging the man over to the newly dug grave. She managed to get near the grave before she felt the sharp pain in her side, causing her to gasp. Dembe turned around to see what Kate was doing, worry on his face when he saw the older woman, one hand pressed firmly against the nearest tree for balance while her other hand rested on her abdomen.
"Kate…"
Reddington heard the worry in Dembe's voice on the other end of the phone, panic setting in.
"Dembe, what is it, what's happened to Kate?"
"What's happened to Mr Kaplan?" Elizabeth asked, putting Agnes on the floor with some toys to occupy her.
"Red…"
"I don't know, Dembe sounded worried."
"I told you she shouldn't be doing this for you."
"Can we leave the "I told you so" until later please?"
Dembe rushed over to Kate, his arm coming around her as he watched her take a few deep breathes.
"Kate?"
"I'm alright dearie."
"Why did you move the body alone, I said I'd do it?"
"You were on the phone and I…"
"Raymond said not to let you do anything strenuous."
"Then what the hell am I even here then?"
Dembe could see the anger in her face and the tone of her voice as she tried to straighten up a little, her face showing pain. Dembe could hear Reddington's voice on the phone, quickly returning to the conversation.
"Dembe, what's happened?"
"Kate tried to move the body herself, I think it was too much for her."
"Get the body hidden now and then get her to hospital and get Andrea to check her out."
"Yes Raymond."
"Call me with an update." He said, hanging up.
"Red?"
"Kate attempted to move the body alone."
"For god sake, she shouldn't even be doing any of…"
"Lizzie I know, I know. I'll talk to her but right now I have Dembe taking her to the hospital just to make sure she's okay."
"Should we head over there?"
"Better to wait for them to arrive back, I don't think Kate would appreciate an audience, do you?"
"I guess."
"Why don't we take Agnes for a little walk while we wait?" He smiled.
"Should you really be leaving the apartment right now, you're still healing and I didn't bring her pushchair with me?"
"Then just as well I have a spare?"
"You have a spare?" She said, sounding surprised.
"Yes."
"You just happen to have a spare pushchair…why?"
"It was supposed to be a gift but I never got the chance to give it to you, all the drama that's taken place in recent months, if I'm honest…it slipped my mind."
"You didn't have too you know."
"I wanted too."
Elizabeth looked up, smiling at him before her eyes drifted to Agnes.
"Let's get her ready then."
…
Kate was sitting in the passenger's side as Dembe drove them to the hospital, he could see the pain in Kate's face as he turned the corner and drove in to the car park.
"My god, I feel like I'm never away from this place." She grumbled.
"Raymond insisted."
"Oh well if Raymond insisted then what are we waiting for."
Dembe quickly got out and came around to Kate's side, his arm going around her as he helped her out of the car.
"Are you okay?"
"Just a small twinge, it's nothing."
"He just worries about you, he loves you."
"I know dearie, just ignore me. I'm being a foolish old woman."
"Well, you certainly were when you moved the body."
"Do me a favour dearie…don't tell Andrea what I was doing, I'm supposed to be giving this sort of thing up, we all are."
"Don't worry Kate, I won't say a word."
Kate gasped as she felt a shooting pain across her abdomen for a second time, causing her to lean in to Dembe, who held her tighter.
"Kate?"
"Get me to Andrea dearie…please."
Dembe escorted Kate inside, making their way to the reception desk, Kate saw Andrea's friend Fiona speaking with another doctor as they entered, the other woman spotting Kate immediately. Kate noticed the obvious concern on Fiona's face as she approached them.
"Kate…are you here alright?"
"I'm…"
"She fell, she felt some pain and she was wondering if Andrea could have a look at her."
"Of course, come with me, I'll get you settled in a room and I'll page Andie for you."
Kate tightened her grip on Dembe as they made their way to a small room, Fiona closing the door behind them before going to page Andrea.
…
To Be Continued…
