I apologize for the very long wait for an update to this story.
Real life has really gotten in my way (burnout, new job, family illness) and I also lost my writing muse after the season 5 finale.
But I'm back and I hope to be able to update a little more frequent again.
Hope you enjoy this chapter. As always thank you for all your comments and kudos on this story already.
Thank you to heatherpeters and Jammequin for checking my story!
Lizzington Forever!
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It's spring time. She's walking in a park somewhere with her husband. She can't see him very well, he looks blurry, but nonetheless she feels safe. In between them is their little girl. She's holding the child's hand in hers and never wants to let go. She hears laughter and voices singing and smiles. A deep voice tells her he loves her. She feels at ease and is the happiest she has ever been. Her fantasy is finally real.
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She felt a sudden pain in her stomach and moaned softly. She tried to open her eyes to take in her surroundings but darkness appeared all around her. She felt another sting of pain in her wrist and lifted her arm.
Moving around was painful as well, and she suddenly felt a panic attack coming on. Not knowing where she was, she tried to scream, but her mouth was so dry, no sound escaped her throat.
"Shhh, it's okay, you're safe," she heard a woman's voice say and felt a hand caress her hair.
"We're here to take care of you. Try to remain calm. I will get you something to drink; you must be thirsty."
She felt a straw press against her lips, and took several sips of water.
"I'm going to turn the light on now," she heard the voice say. "Don't worry about a thing dearie, you'll be okay."
She closed her eyes for several seconds, then opened them to discover the light. She was able to see and looked around, not recognizing the room but realizing she wasn't in a hospital. An IV pole stood beside the bed with three bags hanging from it.
She turned her head and looked to the other side and saw a frail, older woman with glasses, who she didn't recognize.
"How are you feeling dearie?" The woman asked. "You've been sleeping for over 36 hours; do you feel rested? How is the pain?"
"Everything hurts," Elizabeth moaned. "Where am I?" she asked the woman. "Who are you? What happened?"
"I'm going to call Claire, your nurse, to come in. She'll give you something for the pain and will help you freshen up a bit."
With that, the woman turned around and walked out of the large bedroom.
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"She's awake, Raymond, but she's still woozy. I asked Claire to give her a pain killer." Mr. Kaplan told her employer.
"She was close to a panic attack, but I think she'll be ok."
Reddington turned around and faced his trusted associate. "Thank you Kate for your assistance. I want you to get everything ready for her recovery. I think it will be a good idea for her to stay here, as she will be safe. Make sure you get everything she asks for and ask Dembe to bring over her laptop as well as anything else she may need for her thesis. I think once she feels better, she will want to continue her work."
"Of course, Raymond," Kaplan said, and left his office.
"Hi, Elizabeth, nice to see you awake," she heard another female voice say.
"My name is Claire and I'll help you freshen up a bit. I administered another pain killer, so you should feel better in a bit." The nurse approached Elizabeth and smiled at her. She seemed to be a friendly young woman in her early thirties.
"Claire, could you tell me where I am and what happened?" Elizabeth asked her. "That other lady, I don't know who she is, she wouldn't tell. I know that I am obviously not in the hospital, so please tell me where I am."
"Oh dear, don't you?" Claire responded with the kindest voice.
"Sweetheart, you are in the best hands. My employer has made sure you have the best doctor you could wish for and he has set up round the clock care for you."
"But who is your employer and please tell me what happened to me." Elizabeth sighed.
"Elizabeth, you were attacked two nights ago when you left a party. Your assailant beat you terribly and left you for dead," Claire said.
"I received a call from Mister Reddington informing me that my urgent assistance was needed. I have been staying here since that night to help take care of you," she continued. "Mr. Reddington hasn't left your side except for the few times when he left to tend to urgent business matters."
"Mr. Reddington?" Elizabeth said when she looked up at Claire. "How did he know I was attacked and why is he helping me?"
"I don't know the specifics of why you were brought here, but you received immediate care. Doctor Cormier is one of the best ER doctors in the city," Claire said.
"Mr. Reddington spared no expense and wasted no time in getting you everything you needed. He obviously cares for you very deeply." Claire continued.
"Now how about I help you get freshened up and changed into a clean nightgown, and change your bedsheets?"
"Thank you, I would really like that." Elizabeth smiled at Claire, but inwardly wondered exactly how she ended up here.
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"So, tell me, have you found that bastard Tom Keen?" Red looked over to Dembe and Baz, while he swirled his scotch in a crystal tumbler.
"We're getting close, boss," Baz responded. "We looked at all the surveillance tapes from the club and the surrounding streets, and we are 100% sure that Keen did this to her."
"It looks like he was watching her the entire evening from a distance and then took his chance when he found her alone."
"Well, first of all, she is never again to be left alone, do you understand? I pay you both well enough to take care of that." Reddington looked at both of them.
"Bring Keen to me, sooner, rather than later." "When I am done with him, he'll have wished he'd never set foot in New York City".
TBC