A/N Sorry if the reunion seemed anticlimactic, but given Mr. Kaplan's rather forgiving attitude towards Raymond during her conversation with her rescuer, I suspect her reentry into the fold will play out in a similar fashion. Besides, I've already done it the other way where she refuses his apology and wants nothing to do with him upon her return so there is that.

Putting the Band Back Together

Chapter 4

"I see you pulled out your IV on your own." Mr. Kaplan didn't look impressed.

Reddington's hand had a handkerchief tied around it.

"That doctor was taking too long. He kept talking and wanting to run tests. I don't have time for that. I need to find Dembe which –" Reddington swung his legs down off the sofa and tried to get up. " - I'm not going to do by laying here!"

Liz started to rush to try to stop him, but Mr. Kaplan waved a hand to ward her off. Instead, she let him try and fail to stand.

"I know you are worried about Dembe, but Raymond, you need to slow down. Take a moment. Breath. You look like you haven't slept or eaten in days – I'm sure because you haven't slept or eaten in days."

Sinking back down onto the sofa, Reddington sounded incredibly frustrated. "Kate, Dembe is missing because of me. Either the person behind this has Dembe or Dembe found some sort of clue and has gone off after that person on his own."

Calmly - as if it was going to be the easiest thing in the world – Mr. Kaplan suggested. "Then to find Dembe all we have to do is figure out who is targeting you."

Reddington looked like he was going to continue to argue, but reluctantly he nodded.

Liz hadn't appreciated before what a stabilizing influence Mr. Kaplan was on Reddington.

In a no nonsense tone, she told him. "I am going to bandage that hand properly, you are going to eat something, and then we will figure this out."

She turned to Liz. "Elizabeth, where is your first aid kit?"

Watching Reddington's poorly bandaged hand seep blood onto her sofa cushion, Liz didn't offer to get it for her. Instead, she lied. "In the kitchen. Under the sink."

She waited until Mr. Kaplan had left the room before pretending to remember. "I think Tom may have moved the kit when he started baby proofing the kitchen. I'll be right back."

Turning the corner into the kitchen, Liz approached Mr. Kaplan.

Having already found the kit fully visible on top of the refrigerator, Mr. Kaplan had moved on to raiding the cabinets.

Cursing the open concept floor plan, keeping her voice low, Elizabeth asked. "About that proto -"

Mr. Kaplan stonewalled her. " - What protocol?"

A jar of peanut butter, a spoon, and one of Tom's post workout sports drinks in hand, Mr. Kaplan walked away.

Elizabeth sighed. After adding peanut butter to the grocery list already started on the dry erase board attached to the refrigerator, she followed after her.

tbc