Red was sitting on a coffee table outside, sipping his tea.

"Gorgeous view, don't you think?" He asked.

Neither Keen nor Ressler bothered replying.

"Why did you want us?" Ressler asked, with a deadly tone.

Red laughed, "Come on, Don. Loosen up a little. I thought your sleepovers with Lizzie would make you much funner to be around. You two should really –" He was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot firing through the café. His guards immediately reacted looking for the source, and once he was identified that all started chasing him, with their guns firing at him. Dembe never left his side, he had his gun out ready for any other surprises. But Red didn't think about that, all he saw was his Lizzie dropping on the floor bleeding from her shoulder while covered her while trying to get Red's attention.

"She needs to go to a hospital, Red." He shouted.

Ressler carried Lizzie to Red's car and they went off en route for the nearest hospital.

Red pulled out his phone "There's a surgeon I know. He's here in Washington DC. He can make it. He's one of the best. He can help us." He tried to sound his best put-together self, but that wasn't fooling Ressler.

He had already made the phone call and the Surgeon was waiting. Liz was taken into the operation room. He came back out after four hours. By then her whole team was waiting for her.

"Her Next of KIN is listed here as a Donald Ressler." Donald walked into a private room with the Surgeon.

"Mr Ressler, my name is Dr. Andy Levers©." He looked and Ressler and continued, "Mrs. Keen suffered from a lot of blood loss, and as her Next of KIN it is required by law for me to inform you that she is no longer in a critical condition but due to her injuries I need your signed approval to perform further immediate surgeries on her. In case of emergencies. Donald didn't think twice before signing the papers, and upon walking outside he was greeted with many confused faces.

'Uh… He… He said she… She's fine now. She's do… Doing good… Out of danger…" He stuttered. No one said anything further.

It took another hour for Liz to regain consciousness. Everyone waited for her to wake up. Red didn't leave her side for a second, so Donald had to run around when he was given a list of medicines he needed to buy. Donald's face was the first she saw, and he didn't hesitate to lean in and give her a long kiss, knowing the others had a pretty good idea what was happening between them.

Their kiss was broken by a coughing Red who was sitting next to Liz. "Well, now that the cats out of the bag, how are you feeling Lizzy?" Liz just glared at him before she started to feel dizzy and lay her head back down again.

"I'm fine. Just an achy shoulder, that's all."

"Well you're going to need at least a few weeks off so your shoulder can heal. But I know how much you can't resist working on cases, so I'm going to make you an offer: You take at least a month off – paid leave – and you can come back to work but you can't go out on the field until your shoulders completely healed. Donald can take a few days off to – since hell be the one looking after you, and till then Meera will be our main agent on the field. And no, I will not be telling anyone about you and Ressler being together, Keen." Declared Cooper. Liz was not complaining.

Everyone had left except for Donald and Red. Liz had to stay in the hospital for at least one night. Once she had fallen asleep, Red had put four of his best guards at the door, and Dembe was sitting beside her, watching over her. Red and Ressler had decided to accompany each other four coffee.

Once they sat down at the small hospital café with their hot drinks in hand, Red wasted no time in getting down to business.

"There is something you need to know." Red said, his calm and collected self.

"There's a lot I need to know!" Rebutted Ressler. "Like why did they target Lizzy? Or was she just collateral damage because whoever your enemy hired missed?" Ressler was getting louder and louder.

"No." Red put his coffee down. "She was shot of purpose. They weren't trying to kill her, they were trying to send a message, and what better way to tell me to back off than to hurt the thing I love most?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Ressler couldn't understand Red. It was like he was trying to fit together all the pieces of a puzzle except he only had one piece.

"She's my daughter." He whispered so quietly than Ressler almost missed it.

"She's my daughter. I tried to stay out of her life. I tried to stay far away – to keep her safe. But Berlin, he connected the pieces. He figured it out. Tom was Berlin's spy sent to insert himself into her life. That's why I surrendered. To keep Tom away from her, to bring Berlin down, and most importantly, I thought that making her a part of this will keep her close to me. Keep her out of harm's way…" Red explained. Usually Ressler was not a keen listener, but this was an exception. "I've observed how you look at her. You really love her don't you?" He didn't wait for an answer, "I wanted to tell you this because I know you'd protect her at any cost. I want you to know that I approve of your relationship." This made both men chuckle.

"I do love her. She's my world. Which is why I think you should tell her." Said Ressler. Red didn't know how to reply to that.

"How do I just tell her?" Red asked.

"You just do. Tell her once she wakes up. You need to. She deserves to know. She'll be happy knowing." Replied Donald.

Both men walked back to the room in silent. Once Ressler felt Liz stirring, he quietly sneaked out of the room and waited outside, giving Red and Liz privacy to talk.

"Lizzy, there's something I need to tell you."

"Mmmm," she urged.

"Remember the night of the fire?"

"Red, why are you asking me this?" Liz was confused.

"I'm so sorry Liz. I'm so sorry my baby girl for everything that I have put you through. But I know you did want to know who your father is, and I couldn't keep my secret from you for long. The truth is that I am your father. I lied to you that night when you asked me. I didn't want you to know because I thought I was trying to keep you safe… I'm sorry Liz. Please forgive me…" Red rambled on and on, not being able to stop himself.

Lizzy grabbed his hand to make him relax. "It's okay… Dad. I'm here and I'm listening. I understand and I forgive you… Dad." Red felt happy hearing that from her. He kissed her on the forehead before looking up to see Donald standing in the doorway looking at them. He walked in and sat beside her. A short wave of silence followed, which was broken by Red who joked "Who would have thought the man who hunted me for five years and despised me might one day become my son-in-law." He winked at him.