A/N: well we shippers had quite a blow to deal with after the last episode. Well since half S2 I have been living in my happy S1 Lizzington bubble and I will continue to do so. For those who are still willing to hang in there or have for so long with this fic I thank you. Red and Lizzie talk about her nightmares in this chapter and grow a little closer. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter twenty-six

"I hoped your presence would be enough to keep the dreams at bay." Lizzie mumbled against his chest. She knew she had to be the one to broach the subject.

He tensed when she uttered those words. She'd wanted him there keep the dreams away, but he hadn't been able too. He'd failed. "I'm sorry." He apologized.

She shook her head against his chest and pushed him away. Looking up at him she saw him watching her carefully. "There is nothing to apologise for. If anything, I should apologise." When she saw him shake his head, she stopped him from saying anything by putting her finger on his lips. "I should have told you about them."

"Why didn't you?"

Lizzie stepped out of his embrace and walked back to her bed. She sat down on it, legs crossed and pulled the sheets over her legs. She shrugged as if the next words were unimportant. "I…" She hesitated. "I'm still getting used to the fact that you're back in my life." She looked at him and saw him still standing near the window. She'd hoped he would have closed the gap and joined her on the bed. Not wanting to ask him for what she needed she continued. "Not only are you back, but things are also different for us now. I am still adjusting to those changes. It might take me a bit longer than you."

"Is that the only reason you didn't tell me?" He had no trouble reading his Lizzie and he knew there was a part that she wasn't telling. He'd seen how she wanted him closer so he joined her on the bed. He sat down next to her, on top of the sheets, with his back against the headboard. He put his hand on her knees, rubbing his thumb against her skin.

"No." She almost whispered. "It feels like a weakness." She eventually started to tell him. "I feel ashamed. I kinda thought the nightmares would stop after you came back into my life, but they didn't. They simply changed."

"Changed how?"

"At first they were all about your death. Every night you died again and every time I felt that pain all over again." She shrugged, trying to pretend it wasn't a big deal. Her body however betrayed her as it started to move closer to Red until she was leaning against him. His arm immediately went around her. "After a while I could deal with it. The alcohol helped too. It knocked me out."

"It numbed you." Red added.

"Yeah." She was silent for a moment. Laying her head on his shoulder she closed her eyes briefly. "Ever since your return you no longer die, but you disappear from my life. You always leave me behind and you're so angry with me. I always ask you to stay, but you always leave. Even if you promised me you wouldn't." She didn't want to cry anymore, but it was hard to hold back the tears. She quickly buried her face in his neck. "I'm left all alone again. No matter what I do, no matter what I promise, nothing I do is ever good enough to keep you with me."

He kept quiet as he let het cry because even though she tried hard to avoid him from seeing her cry he felt het body shake lightly and her tears on his skin. He was glad she'd shared her nightmares with him, but not happy with what happened in them. His faked death and his presence back in her life had much more impact on her than he ever thought possible. He couldn't let this continue any longer. It was clear to him that at the moment, his presence in Lizzie's life was more important than his presence in Angela and Abby's life. She needed him around and he hoped that if they spent day and night together her fears would slowly vanish.

"It's still early, how about we sleep a bit more?" He pulled her down with him until they were lying on the bed again.

Lizzie got comfortable next to him. She was on her side, her leg thrown over his, her arm wrapped around his waist and her head on his shoulder. She let out a content sigh. "I'm sorry I pushed you away after the nightmare. I've been dealing alone with them for a while now. I didn't want you to see me like that."

"I know, but you're going to have to push that feeling aside. It's okay to show me your pain." He slipped his hand under her shirt and caressed her back.

Within a few minutes she was about to fall asleep when she heard a soft howling. Jethro. "Did you close the door?" She asked.

"I did."

"Why? He's used to being able to walk into my bedroom. He always comes to check on me when I'm sleeping. I like that."

"I thought I was more than enough company for you, but you need Jethro, huh. I'll remember that." He teased and it seemed like Jethro heard him because he started to howl a bit louder. And judging from the scratching at the door he was impatient too.

"If you don't open the door, we're not going to get any sleep."

Reluctantly he let go of Lizzie and got out of the bed. "In due time, he doesn't have to check on you anymore because I'll be here every night. He'll have to get used to that." He opened the door for Jethro who immediately walked to the bed to check on his boss. Lizzie had slid closer to the edge of the bed and hugged her sweet dog. "I'm here, sweetie." She whispered and kissed him on the nose.

Red quickly joined Lizzie back in bed. He slid closer until her back touched his chest. Wrapping his arms around her and entangling his legs with hers he pulled her against him. He placed a kiss behind her ear. "Now that your sweetie is here, you can go to sleep."

Lizzie smiled at that. "I'll sleep much better knowing Jethro is with me." She teased him.

Red growled at that. He tickled her for teasing him. Her squealing and squirming made him smile.

She giggled. "You're not too bad to have around either."

"Mmm… not too bad huh." His hand slid under her shirt again, but this time not on her back, but on her stomach. He immediately felt her shiver. "Sleep well, Lizzie. I'll be here when you wake up."

TBC...