Disclaimer: Jon Bokenkamp & NBC; all rights reserved . This fanfic is a work of fiction. It details my own imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.
It would be nice to get some feedback about this story so if you could spare a minute and review this chapter, I would be grateful ;-) All comments are welcome. I'm sure they will help me become a better writer! Have a nice weekend!
Chapter 4
Dembé pulled out of The Post office' parking lot right into bumper to bumper traffic on Dupont Circle. Red sighed audibly and as they sat through the light at Congress for the third time, he retrieved his cell and punched one of the speed dial buttons, 'Edward…it's me! Fuel her up, will you...no, I'll tell you our destination in the morning…OK…Bye!' For a moment, Red hesitated but then he made a decision and called Ressler…no answer! Red bit his bottom lip but then the light turned green and Dembé pushed the accelerator, flooring it. A cabby blew his horn and flipped them the bird but Red grinned and waved friendly at the cab driver as Dembé smoothly steered the Jag down Independence Avenue. A miraculous half hour later, they pulled off Mac Arthur Boulevard into Red's parking garage.
Lizzie leaned her head back as Red carefully rubbed some strange smelling ointment on her bruised ankle. He used his free hand to push her jeans slightly upward and Lizzie closed her eyes as he dapped a small gash on her knee. When he placed a band-aid on it, she opened her eyes and found Red's face inches away from hers. Almost unnoticeably, she inhaled his scent. It was nice; minty with a hint of an expensive aftershave.
'Red…What about T..Tom?' Lizzie's voice cracked.
'Ssst…'Red soothed her. 'I'll tell agent Ressler to inform Tom you won't come home tonight; some kind of undercover mission!
Lizzie nodded and let Red pull her up from the couch. To her surprise her ankle did not hurt as much as before but she gratefully accepted Red's elbow when he offered to guide her upstairs, 'Take a shower Lizzie…I'm sure you'll feel better afterwards!'
'I'd love to,' Lizzie sighed.
'This way…,' Red pointed down the hallway. 'The bathroom's connected to the guestroom!'
The guest room at the end of the hallway was massive. In the middle stood a queen size canopy bed with furry blankets and next to a luxurious lounge chair was a cosy fire burning in the open fireplace. There was an array of doors and Red opened the one next to the fireplace. The luxurious bathroom was spacious with a large tub and a walk-in shower. Someone had placed a fresh set of towels on the toilet seat and Lizzie even noticed some clean clothes next to the sink.
'Can you manage?' Red asked worriedly. 'I can call Mr. Kaplan if you need help showering?'
'No, I'm sure I'll manage,' Lizzie brought out, grabbing the sink for support.
'Ok…I'll see you in the morning…try to get some sleep! 'Red said while quietly closing the door behind him.
Just breathe, Lizzie thought to herself while her grip on the sink turned her knuckles white. She let go, quickly undressed and stumbled into the shower. Her fingers turned the faucet and warm water started spewing from the large shower head. Lizzie stepped under the spray, letting the hot water pound on her back. She closed her eyes and desperately tried to push away the memory of Tom kissing Gina Zanetakos but she failed miserably. Soon sobs took over and she heaved forward into wrenching cries. Her hands glided along the tiles of the shower and she slowly sank down to the shower floor.
Why?
It seemed such a simple word but it was all Lizzie could think of; the only word forming in her head. Fresh tears mixed with hot water and it felt as if her heart shattered into a million pieces. Everyone who had ever loved her was dead and the man, she thought was the love of her life had betrayed her in the worse possible way…but why?
Dembé softly knocked on Red's bedroom door and opened it, 'Raymond, I'm sorry I have to disturb you.'
'Mmm….what is it, Dembé?' Red mumbled sleepily reaching for the lamp on his nightstand.
'It's Agent Keen…her shower has been on for an hour and a half now…I tried knocking but the bathroom door is locked and there's no answer,' Dembé explained.
Red was alert and out of his bed in seconds. 'It's OK Dembé…I've got this…thanks for waking me, my friend!'
Dembé nodded and closed the bedroom door while Red put on a black velvet bathrobe before hurrying to the guest bedroom. The door was open but like Dembé said; the shower was still running and the bathroom door was locked.
'Lizzie…everything OK in there?' Red called out while he knocked loudly on the bathroom door.
No answer.
Red's heart started hammering in his chest at the possibilities of what could have happened to Lizzie and he pounded even harder on the door.
Damned, he swore. 'Lizzie, if you don't open this door right away, I'm breaking it down.'
Still no answer.
Red tried the knob one more time before throwing his entire weight against the door. The second time, the frame splintered easily and the door flew open. Heading forward, Red noticed the shower had gone cold. Quickly, turning off the faucet, he looked down on Lizzie, half- sitting, half-lying on the shower floor. Squatting down, Red reached out a hand to her shivering shoulder. At the touch of his hand, her head shot up; her eyes, red rimmed from crying. Red sighed and sat down next to her.
'Ah…sweetheart,' he softly whispered.
A fresh tear trickled down Lizzie's cheek and she did not object when Red moved his arms around her pulling her onto his lap and holding her securely against his chest. Holding her so close, he whispered reassuring words as she continued to shake in his arms.
'It…hurts,' she whispered weakly.
'I know sweetie, I know…but I have you,' Red nodded while he gently pushed a wet strain from her face.
Lizzie shivered and Red stretched out to grab a large towel, wrapping it around Lizzie.
'Come on…you'll catch pneumonia on this cold floor!' Red gently lifted Lizzie and carried her back to the bedroom, placing her in the bed and covering her up.
'I'm sorry,' Lizzie mumbled, 'I didn't mean to behave like this.' As she looked away, her eyes refusing to meet Red's, he placed a finger under her chin, gently moving her face towards him, forcing her to look at him.
'Do you trust me?' Red asked, his voice firm but gentle. He could see fresh tears welling up in Lizzie's eyes again but she slowly nodded.
'Then you have to stay on board, Lizzie…just think of your dad! He wouldn't want you to give up,' Red said. 'I promise you, everything will be alright…and eventually you will learn the truth!
Lizzie nodded and Red tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable. 'Now…get some sleep…we'll have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow!'
The pilot greeted them early the next morning, 'Morning, I'm Edward and I will be your pilot! We should arrive at our destination in about twelve hours, so sit back and relax!' Dembé helped Lizzie get into the plane as she gave Red a quizzical look. Red mouthed relax and after rolling her eyes, Lizzie nodded to acknowledge she understood. She walked to a seat in the back of the plane and sat down. She could hear Red and the pilot talking but didn't really pay attention. She was still too tired and too hurt. Grabbing a bottle of water from her hand luggage, she swallowed two Tylenol. Lying her chair back as far as she could, she promptly fell asleep. When the plane was in the sky, Red unbuckled his seatbelt and walked to the back to grab a blanket. He covered Lizzie with it and carefully pushed a strand of hair from her face. His brows drew together as he studied her for a few minutes, hating what she had to endure. Lizzie slept almost during the entire flight but when the plane hit an air pocket, it dipped like a roller coaster and the rough bounces woke her with a start.
'Well…good evening, sleeping beauty,' Red smiled as Lizzie slowly raised her head. 'Did you sleep well?'
'I guess,' Lizzie nodded, still a bit groggy. She opened her mouth to ask Red where they were when the voice of the pilot sounded through the intercom: 'Good evening lady and gentlemen…this is your pilot speaking. We have arrived at Bora Bora and will be landing shortly. Please buckle your seatbelts for safety!'
Lizzie stepped out onto the top of the mobile staircase that had been pushed up to the door of the airplane. Wow… she thought as she surveyed her surroundings. Although, it was getting dark soon, she could still make out the white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. Red followed Lizzie down the staircase, immediately walking over to a group of waiting men, giving everyone a big hug.
'Bonjour les amis, comment faites-vous?'
Dembé was busy stowing their luggage onto a Jeep when Lizzie climbed into the back. When Red was done, greeting his friends, he gave Dembé directions and they drove off into the night.
The doors of the overwater bungalow stood open and a sea breeze flooded the room with a salty aroma. The bungalow had been thoroughly cleaned and the sheets emitted the faint odour of fresh-laundering, but the vase of fresh cut flowers standing on the carved wooden night stand conveyed the commanding scent of the room. Lizzie stood outside on the wooden deck, looking out over the Muri lagoon. Despite the darkness, the view was breath-taking but Lizzie's mind was too wrapped up to notice.
'Lizzie…by now, I know you long enough to know when you're happy, when you're sad or confused, or scared, 'Red said softly when he stepped out on the wooden deck behind her…'And now I sense, you're sad!'
'Damn it Red, you're so omniscient that you make me angry!' Did your antenna pick up on that emotion too? I AM ANGRY! You hear me? ANGRY!'
'Of course you're angry Lizzie…but Tom's not worth being angry about, 'Red said calmly but intently. 'Tom Keen of whatever his name is…will eventually get what is coming to him!'
Lizzie whirled around and faced Red, 'You know…I truly wish you hadn't come into my life!' With that message, Lizzie turned around to walk back into the bungalow. Red grabbed her arm and forced her to face him.
'Listen to me Lizzie!'
As Lizzie swung around, her left hand lashed out in a reflex and she hit Red on the side of his face. The wedding band she was still wearing, caught him right under the eye leaving a red scratch. Red grabbed Lizzie's offending hand and held both her arms behind her back so she couldn't strike him again. Lizzie started squirming and twisting, trying to get away from Red's firm grasp but he refused to let her go until she promised she wouldn't hit him again. When Lizzie nodded in agreement, Red slowly released her arms. Lizzie rushed back into the bungalow and Red grimaced when he heard the glass vase shattering as Lizzie smashed it against the wall.
'Feeling better?' he grinned as he stepped back into the bungalow, carefully stepping over the broken pieces of the vase and the scattered flowers petals around the room.
Lizzie stood in the middle of all that chaos; spinning around to snap at Red again but then her eyes fell on the small stream of blood that was running down his face.
'Oh…you're bleeding!'
Lizzie rushed to the bathroom to get a wet cloth. Red sighed and slowly sank down on the bed; luckily, Lizzie had come to her senses despite the agony she suffered. He had thought about making it easier for her by bridging distance between them but he just couldn't. He always felt so surrounded by her warmth and indomitable spirit and in some way, she reminded him so much of…her!
Lizzie returned and carefully dabbed at the blood trickling down his Red's cheek.
'I'm sorry I hit you Red,' she softly said. 'I shouldn't blame Tom's deceit on you. Our marriage was not real…it never was!'
'Apology accepted,' Red answered, slinging his arm around Lizzie, 'Come on…let's get some sleep. We'll have a big day ahead tomorrow!'
To be continued...