Chapter 11

Arriving at the address Red had given her for his latest safe house, Liz was in tears. Her wrist was throbbing and it had started to bruise. Turning off the car, Liz got out and grabbed Hudson's lead and one of her bags. Trying not to put anymore pressure on her wrist, she used her hip to close the door, and after locking it she turned and started to make her way up the steps to the front door.

Using her foot to knock the door, she waited for someone to answer and heard footsteps coming a minute later. Dembe answered the door and once he saw the state she was in, he let her in. Grabbing Hudson and her bag he led her through a hallway and into the lounge where she found Red and Kate on the sofa, Kate watching TV and Red doing a crossword with Red the dog asleep at their feet. When he looked up to see who was at the door, Red was shocked to see Lizzie. Getting up from his seat, he approached her

"Lizzie, what happened?" Looking Lizzie over, he noticed the bruising on her wrist and gently took hold of it. He looked at her. "Who did this, Lizzie? Was it Tom?" Red spoke in a deadly serious voice, his body straight like he was ready to attack. Suddenly, Liz burst into tears and Red pulled her into his arms. Seeing his daughter watching and biting her lip in worry, Red spoke. "Kate, why don't you and Dembe take Red and Hudson for a walk..." Seeing that her father didn't even make it a question, but was telling her kindly to go, Kate got up and shook Red awake, and together they left the room with Dembe and Hudson following and closed the door behind them.

Leading Lizzie to the couch, Red still kept his arm around her as they sat down. Liz leaned into Red, placing her head on his shoulder and turning it so she could breathe in his scent, knowing it would help her calm down. Red turned and kissed her head, keeping his head there he spoke.

"What happened, Lizzie?"

"Tom." As soon as Liz said his name she felt Red tense up, but he didn't speak. Liz knew he was waiting for her to continue. "He came home and he'd been drinking. He asked me if I'd made my decision, and when I told him we could talk when he was sober, he grabbed my wrist." Red reached for her injured wrist and ran his fingers softly over the bruising.

"What happened next?" Red asked in a soothing voice.

"I asked him to let go, but instead he added more pressure. I thought he was going to break my arm, so I kneed him in his groin and he let go." Taking a shuddering breath, Red tightened his arm around her shoulder, pulling her more into him. "He got back up and started advancing on me again, so I pulled out my gun and threatened to shoot him if he came any closer. After that he left the house and I decided it wasn't safe for me and Hudson to stay there, so I packed my bags and here I am."

"I'm so glad you came here to me," Red spoke with his lips still pressed to her forehead. Feeling his breath on her, Liz shivered.

"I promised that I would. Besides, I know I'm safe here...with you."

"You always will be." Placing one more kiss to her head, Red pulled back. "I need to check your wrist, Lizzie. I should have done that when you first arrived."

Red slowly lifted Lizzie's wrist, waiting for her to nod. Red began to examine her wrist, getting her to turn it and to make a fist. There was only a slight pain when she turned it. Red started to feel her bones, but when she started to pull her arm back Red stopped.

"I think it's just a really bad sprain, Lizzie. I can't feel any breaks. Stay here. I'm going to get you some ice and something for the pain." Placing a kiss to her forehead, Red got up and left the room. Liz took a look around the room she was in. It was nice, if not a bit more upscale compared to the writer's house, but Red made it look like home...even if he'd only been there less than 24 hours. But the writer's house was still Liz's favourite out of all the safe houses Red had been in since she'd known him. Liz was distracted by a phone lighting up, and seeing that it was showing a picture of Kate on the ID, Liz decided to answer. Before she could even say hello, Kate spoke.

"Is Liz ok? Do I need to send Dembe to kill someone, Dad?" Hearing a muffled objection of 'Miss Kate' in the background, Liz chuckled and spoke.

"I'm ok Kate, and Dembe doesn't need to kill anyone." Liz said the last part with a smile on her lips.

"Are you sure? Cause he would if I asked him to." Liz could tell she was serious. She smiled again, and Red walked back into the room and noticed her smile.

"I'm sure,Kate," Liz chuckled as she replied.

"Are you ok?"

"I will be. Your dad is taking good care of me." Again Liz replied with a smile. Red decided to make himself known. He coughed and walked further into the room, smiling and raising an eyebrow when Lizzie looked at him. "Kate, your dad is here now if you want to speak to him." Speaking to Kate was helping Liz feel less distressed, and she was trying to not let it show, but she was still hurting and she didn't know how long she could keep it in for.

"No, that's ok, I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Kate took a breath and continued. "Dembe and I are on our way back now, but I'm gonna go straight to my room. Hudson can stay with me and Red."

"You don't need to do that, Sweetie." Liz realized what she had called Kate, but hearing no objection from her, she let it be.

"It's fine. Besides, Dembe promised he'd play Mario Kart with me, so we're gonna do that. See ya later, Liz."

"Bye, Kate." Liz hung up with a chuckle.

She looked to Red as he walked towards her. His face was still serious, but Liz could see a smile trying to come through. Joining Lizzie back on the couch, Red held out his hand and handed her some pills, along with a bottle of water. Once she'd taken them, Red took her wrist and placed an ice pack on it. Hearing Lizzie hiss in pain, Red decided to distract her.

"So what did my darling daughter want?"

"She wanted to know if she had to send Dembe to kill anyone." They both laughed at that. "Then she said they were on their way home, and that she and Dembe were going to be playing Mario Kart in her room."

"Yes, that's very Kate. Protecting the people she cares for." Red had a serious look on his face when he said that. Kate only had five people in her life that she cared for...himself, her grandmother, Dembe, Luli and Grey...well, six now if he included Liz, which from the sounds of the phone conversation she had with Lizzie, she did. Thinking of the other part of the conversation brought a confused look to his face. "I have no idea what Mario Kart is, but I'm sure they'll have fun." Liz chuckled, she actually believed him when he said that.

After icing her wrist for 10 minutes, he removed the ice pack and reached for the first aid box. Opening it, he grabbed some bandages and gently took her wrist again. Wrapping it up, he looked up from the corner of his eye to see how she was doing and noticed she was watching him. Once done, Red sat back up and heard the front door closing, followed by a few barks. Red excused himself to say a quick goodnight to Kate.

Entering the room a few minutes later, he found Lizzie slowly falling to sleep on the couch. He approached her and put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump.

"Hey, it's just me." Waiting for her to settle down, Red stroked his hand up and down her back. Once Lizzie's breathing was back to normal, he reached for her hand and pulled up from the couch. "Why don't I show to your room and you can get some sleep?"

When she nodded, Red led her from the room and up the staircase. Stopping outside a door, he pointed to a few of the rooms.

"Kate's across from you and I'm in the one next to yours." Opening the door, Red waited for Lizzie to enter before stepping in himself. "I had Dembe get the rest of your bags from the car. Let me know if you need anything."

Nodding, Liz looked around the room. Seeing a four poster king-size bed and some drawer units, Liz also noticed it was en suite. She turned and walked back towards Red. Leaning up to kiss him on the cheek goodnight, Red turned at the last second and their lips met. They both continued the kiss. Red was hesitant though. He didn't want to push her too fast. Liz still felt distressed after everything that had happened that night, but the kiss was so gentle that it felt perfect.

"Ray." Pulling back to look at him, Liz cupped his cheek and gave him a slow, delicate smile.

"The things you do to me, Lizzie," Red answered in a deep voice that caused a shiver to go through her.

Still smiling, Liz kissed his cheek like she was trying to do the first time, not that she was complaining. She whispered a soft goodnight against his cheek, and then stepping back and grabbing some of her things, Liz turned and headed for the bathroom.

"Sweet dreams, Sweetheart." Giving him one last smile over her shoulder, Liz closed the bathroom door.

Turning and walking out of her room, Red closed the door and leaned against it. He just kept thinking over and over, 'Wow'. That was how Dembe found him a few minutes later. Walking past him with a smirk he muttered a "Goodnight Raymond", and continued on his way to his room.

A/N A big thank you to jadenanne7 for being my wonderful beta, and a huge thank you to everyone reading and/or reviewing.

Oh! I also don't own anything but Kate and Red the dog!