The sound of Dembe closing his door brought Red out of his thoughts. Walking into his own room, he got ready for bed. Red was never a great sleeper...normally he'd stay in bed and close his eyes but never sleep, but he liked the routine of it. His mind could never shut down enough for him to get a proper sleep. Once changed into dark blue plaid pants and a white t-shirt, Red settled himself in bed. Closing his eyes, Red's mind went back to that kiss. He knew Lizzie would need time before anything else could happen, but he was fine with that. He would do everything in his power for a future with Lizzie, and if that meant time, he'd wait. At the same time, although Lizzie was all he wanted, he was hesitant. Lizzie was good and pure and he'd done stuff he wasn't happy about. He was a criminal, someone that Liz hunted down every day, and he had Kate to consider. He knew she liked Lizzie, but she'd never seen her father in a relationship. Could she handle that? Would she be alright with sharing her dad with someone else? These were questions that needed to be asked and answered.
After a few hours, Red got up and decided to check on Kate, something he had done every night since she was born, but since that night more than twenty years ago, he did it out of fear of losing her again. She was so used to him checking on her that it didn't even wake her up anymore. Red peeked his head in her room and quietly chuckled at the sight of her on the side of her bed, sleeping with her arms around Red and Hudson curled into the back of her legs. Hudson raised his head, but apon seeing who it was, he went back to sleep. Red left Kate's room and closed the door part way. Walking to Lizzie's room and opening the door softly, Red noticed that Lizzie was thrashing around the bed and starting to moan like she was in pain...having a nightmare. Walking to her, Red put his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently, and when that didn't work, Red shook her with a bit more force, repeating her name.
Waking up with a gasp, Liz tried to hit whoever was holding her, but Red quickly restrained her, putting his hands on her shoulders and holding her down on the bed.
"It's me, Lizzie, it's Red," Red reassured her in a soft voice, and once Liz realised it was him, she went slack in his arms and started to cry. "Shh, everything is going to be ok. I've got you." Pulling himself and Lizzie into a more comfortable position, Red waited for her to calm down. When he was about to speak, Liz beat him to it.
"It was about Tom. I couldn't stop him and he hurt more than just my wrist." Liz mumbled the last part as sleep was beginning to take her again. Feeling Red move, she tightened her arms around him. "Will you stay with me Red? I don't want to be alone."
"Of course. Go to sleep,Lizzie. I'm not going anywhere." Leaning back on a pillow, Red closed his eyes and held the woman he loved as she slept.
Waking a few hours later, Red was surprised he'd actually slept. Seeing it was just before 5am, Red turned and looked at Lizzie. She looked relaxed as she slept...no sign of any nightmares. Her head was on his chest, and he was holding her. Red turned and just looked at her for a few more minutes, thinking of how perfect it was to hold the women he loved as she slept. He could get use to it. In fact, he already was. Deciding it was time for him to get up, Red carefully moved from the bed, making sure not to wake Lizzie. He kissed her forehead and left the room...he had a lot of things to do and people to see and he wanted to get them done before Liz woke up.
After showering and changing into his brown suit, Red walked downstairs and found Dembe waiting for him with a cup of tea. Red told Dembe what had happened to Liz the day before, and the plan for that morning.
"I want Luli and Grey to stay with the girls. we're going to see Kaplan. I need to put some things in motion and I want it done as soon as possible." Before Red could continue, a yawning Kate walked into the kitchen.
"Morning Dad, Dembe." Walking past both of them, Kate kissed each of them on the cheek. Getting a "Morning, Pumpkin" and "Morning, Miss Kate" on her way to the coffee pot, she sat at the breakfast bar and looked at both of them, knowing something was going on.
"What is it?"
Red pointed his head towards the door, and Dembe nodded and left the room. Approaching Kate, Red reached for one of her hands.
"Kate, I have to go sort a few things out. I need you to stay with Lizzie, and don't leave the house, ok?"
Agreeing, Kate spoke, "Are you going to find the person who hurt her?"
"Not yet, but they will be dealt with."
Nodding her head, Kate pulled her dad into a hug, whispering a 'be careful' as she pulled back. Red smiled, dropped a kiss to her forehead, grabbed his fedora, and left.
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When Red and Dembe reached the hotel, they parked and went up to the room. Knocking on the door, they waited. When it was opened, they were greeted by a middle-aged short woman with grey hair.
"Hello, my dearies."
Red pulled Mr. Kaplan into a hug, kissing both of her cheeks. Mr. Kaplan was someone that he trusted fully with his life and with Kate's. She'd been with him for over 20 years, and she was the one person who could help him and make him see sense when it came to certain situations. She also cleaned up after him and made sure that Red's team was always ready and waiting to help at a moment's notice. Mr. Kaplan was loyal and fierce and Red was glad she was on his side.
"Wonderful to see you, as always." Pulling away from the hug, they all made their way into the room. Once settled, Red began to discuss why they were there.
"Agent Keen's husband has become violent. I want people watching him 24/7. I want to know everything...where he goes and what he does and who he does it with."
Nodding, Mr. Kaplan showed no emotion and took out her phone. "I'll get our people on it now. What's the home address?" Relaying the address over the phone, Kaplan gave the instructions on what do and hung up. "Now that that's done, how's my granddaughter?"
"She's fine. She's at home with Lizzie."
"Agent Keen knows about Kate? I thought it was to remain secret, Raymond." Mr. Kaplan didn't raise her voice, but her tone spoke of how annoyed she was about anyone knowing of Kate. Red winced.
"It was, but Kate took matters into her own hands when she saw Lizzie while walking Red," Red explained quickly before Kaplan could get mad. If there was anyone as protective of Kate as Red, it was Kaplan.
"That's a good, strong dog but he needs more training. When it comes to looking after Kate, she needs the best." Kaplan calmed down as she spoke, but when it came to her granddaughter, she was fierce.
"I'm working on it."
Nodding to Dembe, Kaplan turned back to Red.
"Good. It was bound to happen I suppose, Kate meeting agent Keen. Kate has been talking about her nonstop since you told her of your plan." Seeing Red smile, she spoke again. "But don't think this means anyone else can know. Kate remaining a secret is for your safety and hers."
"Lizzie already knows the importance of Kate remaining a secret. If anyone was to find out about her, it won't be from Lizzie."
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Liz woke up just before 9am, and immediately realized that Red wasn't with her. She wasn't upset about it. She knew he was giving her time and space before anything could happen between them. But apart from the shock she felt about what happened, Liz didn't love Tom anymore. She knew, though, that the time Red was giving her would make her even more comfortable with the idea of more than friendship with him. If anything, she couldn't wait for it. She was excited at the thought of kissing him again and being able to be herself, not having to lie about her job and what cases she was working on. They wouldn't be confidential to Red...they were his cases. And the hours she kept at work were usually spent with him. There would be no worries about coming home late or leaving early.
Getting up from the bed, Liz decided that she was going to try and forget about what happened with Tom and enjoy what today brought. Going to the bathroom, Liz got ready for work. After taking a shower and dressing, Liz made her way downstairs and found Kate in the kitchen by herself.
"Morning,Kate." Giving Kate a smile, Liz looked around and couldn't see or hear Red.
"Dad had to go see Gran, but he'll be back soon. Morning, by the way." Going to refill her coffee, Kate offered Liz a cup. Handing her the cup, she asked, "Do you want any breakfast?"
"No, thanks." Liz saw this as the perfect chance to find out more about Kate and who her grandmother was. "Your grandmother..." Getting Kate's attention, Liz continued, "I thought both of your parents' family were gone."
"They are, but my gran she's...she's my gran in everything but blood. She's been around for as long as I can remember. She's always been there for me." Liz noticed that Kate spoke with affection, something that she only did when speaking to or about her dad. "She encouraged me to keep playing the piano after everything that happened when I was a kid." Seeing Liz's confused look, she continued. "It was my mom who wanted me to play the piano. She's the one that got me to take lessons. I guess it just hurt at first... to continue playing always made me think of her. It still does, but now I play in her honour." When she spoke of her mother, Liz noted it was in a detached tone. She gave Kate a smile and drank some of her coffee.
"How old are you? Your dad's file would put you at..."
"28," they both answered together.
"You're asking cause I don't always act like it."
Liz, seeing that Kate wasn't upset by the question, spoke.
"I'm just curious."
"It's fine. By the time I was healed from this," Kate ran her fingers over her scar, "I was 5 and I had to grow up really quick. I think, in a way, that caused a bit of a setback. After that I've always felt like I should take that time back. I've always been surrounded by adults. I never had the chance to really play with other children...to run around in a park and just play, carefree. There was always Dembe and Luli or someone else standing there to keep an eye on me. I think that's why sometimes people might think I'm younger than I am." Turning and looking at Liz, Kate couldn't see any pity, which she was happy about. "So I take any chance I can to act like a kid."
"I would too," Liz replied with a genuine smile. Noticing the time, Liz spoke. "I'll have to leave in a bit for work. Is there someone here to stay with you?"
"Um...I think Grey's around somewhere." Then remembering what her dad told her, she spoke again. "But maybe you should stay with me. I mean, you're hurt and we could spend the day together." Kate gave Liz the smile that always got people to say yes to her. Liz, seeing that smile, knew that the protest that was on the tip of her tongue was going to stay there. Sighing, Liz nodded and pulled out her phone. Waiting for Copper to answer, she shot an amused look at Kate. She didn't mind staying home from work, it was just that this would be the first time she called in sick since starting at the Post Office.
"Sir, it's agent Keen. I won't be coming in today. I fell last night and I've sprained my wrist." Listening to what Cooper was telling her, Liz replied with 'Yes sir' every now and then. Hanging up, Liz turned to Kate. "Look's like I'm not going to work. What do you fancy doing?"
Before Kate could answer, they were interrupted by Red.
"How about some breakfast buritos? They're still hot." Walking into the room, Red gave one each to Kate and Liz and sat down with his own. Giving a smile and a wink to Liz, Red started to eat his burito.
A/N
A huge thank you to jadenanne7 for being my wonderful beta, and to you guys for reading and/or reviewing this story.