Chapter 13

After breakfast was eaten, Kate left them to go get changed. Walking to the lounge, they noticed both Hudson and Red asleep on the couch. Liz chuckled while Red whistled and pointed down. Both dogs left the couch and made themselves comfortable by the fire.

Sitting down, Red expected Lizzie to sit on the other end, but she surprised him and sat next to him with her head on his shoulder and her bad arm going around his stomach. Putting his arm around her shoulders, Red was content to sit in the silence for a while.

"How are you feeling?" Red asked after five minutes of silence.

"Still sore, but better than yesterday." Liz snuggled closer to Red, as close as she could get without sitting on his lap. "Where did you go this morning?"

"Just to see Kate's grandmother and then I thought I'd pick us up breakfast."

Liz knew he was only telling her part of the truth, but she wasn't in the mood to ask him further. Red, thinking that Liz was going to question him, turned and kissed her head.

Sighing at the feel of the kiss, Liz turned and looked at Red. They just stared at each other and slowly started to lean into each other...their lips touched in a slow, hesitant kiss. Before it could progress, they were interrupted by Liz's phone. Pulling away from Red with a sigh, Liz grabbed her phone and saw that it was a text from Tom.

'WHERE ARE YOU?'

Reading it, Liz bit her lip and her hand started to shake in anger. Red noticed the changes straight away.

"What is it, Lizzie?"

Liz turned her phone so Red could see it. Reading it, Red was not happy and before he could speak, Liz's phone starting ringing, showing that it was Tom. "Ignore it, Lizzie."

"If I don't answer, he'll keep phoning me til I do."

Red thought it over. He wanted Lizzie to have no worries or stress, and he knew she'd have both if she didn't answer.

"Alright, but don't tell him where you're staying. And if he wants to know where you are, you're at work."

Taking a deep breath, Liz agreed and answered.

"What do you want, Tom?" Lizzie spoke in a detached voice, something she must have picked up from Red and Kate. Red, hearing it, gave a little smile. It showed that what happened the previous day hadn't affected her...maybe it even made her stronger.

"I'm at work... No, I won't be coming home anytime soon. In fact, I won't be coming home at all."

The phone call was irritating Liz...she couldn't stand to hear Tom's voice go from angry to begging for forgiveness as soon as he heard she wouldn't be coming home. It made her realize that she never knew him at all. The man that she loved and married had started to change long before she got assigned to the Post Office. The attack on Tom that happened at her home...yes, it was awful, but it also opened her eyes. Liz realized that she truly didn't know who her husband was. Other than that she didn't love him, and she certainly didn't trust him. Was he even Tom Keen? Or was he one of the names in the passports? The sooner she could find out the truth about him and have him out of her life, the better.

Looking at the man beside her, he gave her strength. She might not know everything about him, but she knew the important bits. Seeing the look in Red's eyes made her believe in a better future, one not based on lies and secrets. Liz could see how much Red cared for her...his eyes always gave him away. Reaching for his hand and entwining their fingers, she spoke to Tom.

"It's over, Tom." Liz was blunt, but he needed to hear the truth. There was silence... Liz moved the phone from her ear to make sure it was still connected, and putting it back to her ear she heard Tom take a breath.

"I'm going away for a while. It's up to you if you want to go back to the house." Tom spoke, Lizzie could still detect some anger in his voice. Not waiting for a reply, Tom spoke again. "I'll be away for a while. Goodbye, Liz." Tom hung up.

Releasing a breath, Liz felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was shocked. She wanted this to happen. She wanted her marriage to be over. She just didn't expect it to happen this soon. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts away, Liz turned to Red to find him watching her, so she gave him a smile to show that she was alright.

"Tom's leaving. Said he's going to be away for awhile."

Red nodded. He felt relieved to hear that, but still...

"I've got people watching him. I'll call to make sure he actually leaves." Seeing the look Liz shot him, he felt the need to defend his actions. "He hurt you, Lizzie, I was just making sure nothing like that happened again. I told you...I'll always do everything in my power to make sure you're safe." While Red explained, Liz's face went from annoyed to showing a sweet smile. Leaning up, she gave Red a slow kiss.

"Thank you." Even her voice relayed that she was happy, because Liz knew Red would always make sure that she was safe, just like he'd been doing from the moment they met.

"Always." Red leaned in for another kiss, but they were interuppted by Kate.

"Hey guys, I'm going to take the dogs for a walk." Either Kate didn't notice the kiss, or she chose to ignore it.

"I'll come with you. Your dad has some calls to make."

Red was going to protest that he could have Dembe make them. He was enjoying having Lizzie in his arms, but seeing the smile Liz and Kate shared, he stopped.

"You're right, I do." Red rose from the couch. "You two have fun and be careful." He smiled at both of them as he left.

"Always am, Dad," Kate called out and got a chuckle back. Kate turned to Liz. "Are you ready? Or...?"

"Just let me get my shoes."

"Cool. I thought we could pick up lunch on the way back." While Liz left to get her shoes, Kate called the dogs and got them to follow her to the door where she put on their leads. A couple of seconds later, Liz joined her.

"There's a park a couple of miles away, I thought we could head there" Kate spoke as she gave Hudson's lead to Liz

"Sounds perfect." They left the house and walked in silence for a few minutes before Liz spoke. "So how many of your dad's men are watching us now?"

"Luli's right behind us and I normally have at least four more watching me." Looking at Liz, she added, "But with you here, I'm guessing there's a few more than that."

Liz looked like she was going to protest or ask why. Kate raised her brow and shrugged her shoulders as if to say, 'What can you do?'. Liz faced forward and they continued walking. Entering the park, they both let the dogs off their leads and sat on a bench. Kate tossed a ball to the dogs, trying to think of a way to discuss her dad's and Liz's relationship. She didn't want any details...that would be weird. She just wanted to know if they were or were going to be together.

"You and my dad then?" Kate decided to go with blunt. Seeing Liz's shocked face, Kate laughed. "You should see your face." Still chuckling, she continued. "But seriously. Are you together?" Kate tried to make her face serious, but her lip was quivering.

"We're taking things slowly. We don't want to rush it." Facing Kate, she studied her. "Does it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?" Kate was confused, and her face showed it.

"Me and your dad being together...the fact that I'm only a few years older than you."

"Nope. Age is nothing but a number, and when it comes to love that's not important." Trying to read Liz, something her father taught her, she asked, "Why, does it bother you?"

"No! I never even thought about it until I asked you." They looked at each other in understanding. In the silence that followed, they continued to play catch with the dogs.

"What about you Kate, are you seeing anyone?"

Kate stuttered at the question. "Uh no, not really. Dad's really overprotective when it comes to stuff like that. He doesn't trust anyone." Looking and seeing that she had Liz's attention, Kate continued. "I have been with a few guys though. Dad doesn't know... and you can't tell him." Liz promised she wouldn't, and Kate released the breath she was holding.

"If your Dad's got people watching you, how are you able to be with anyone and him not know?"

"When he goes away for business, if it's longer than a week I go with him. If it's less I go stay with my gran. Don't get me wrong, she's just as protective, but she wants's me to be able to do things other women my age do. So...yeah." Kate blushed.

Liz had just one more question and then she would change the subject... she didn't want to make Kate uncomfortable. "Is there anyone taking your fancy at the moment?"

"Not really, but Dad showed me pictures of the people you work with. Aram's cute."

Liz chuckled while two thoughts were running through her mind. One -thank God she didn't say Ressler was cute. Liz shuddered at the thought. And two -she needed to think of a way for the two of them to meet. They'd be cute together.

Looking at her watch and noticing it was nearly half one, Liz stood up.

"Why don't we pick up lunch and head back to the house?"

"Great idea, I'm starving." She stood up and whistled, and both dogs came to her. Putting their leads back on, Kate and Liz left the park.

A/N

A huge thanks to my wonderful beta jadenanne7, and to all of you for reading and/or reviewing!