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.

Chapter 5

Early next morning Lizzie woke by the sound of seagulls screaming outside and waves dashing against the pillars of the overwater bungalow. For a bewildered moment, she didn't register where she was but then she remembered Red flying them out to Bora Bora for business and to get her away from Tom.

Tom…Lizzie's thoughts automatically drifted to him. Her gullibility where he was concerned still left a bitter taste in her mouth. So…her marriage had been a hoax but what was done, was done. Crying about it wouldn't change a thing.

Who are you kidding? You can't shut out your feelings just like that. Lizzie groaned and angrily flinging the sheet back, she leaned over to retrieve her cell from the nightstand; two missed calls and four text messages. All from Tom. Lizzie swallowed hard and scrolled through her messages.

(Where are you? Love T)

…

(Some guy let me know you're out of town. Please be careful. T xxx)

…

(Liz, I'm worried. Please call me! Love T)

…

(I hate your job! Are U OK? Call me. T)

I hope, I won't regret this… Lizzie sighed aloud. She entered her contact list and pushed the speed dial for Tom's number. She gazed at the screen, waiting impatiently…

'Hi, it's me…'.

'Honey, hi! Finally!' Tom replied, his voice sounding genially concerned. 'Where are you? And when…?'

'Tom…sorry to interrupt, 'Lizzie began. '…but I can't talk long…they need me. I just called to let you I'm fine!'

'Do you know when you're coming home?'

'No…Tom, I'm sorry…I have to go!'

'Ok…love you'.

'Mmm'. Lizzie murmured, quickly ending the call.

Asshole.

With angriness, Lizzie threw her cell back on the nightstand and headed toward the bathroom to get dressed. Standing under a fresh shower she wondered how Red would react if he found out, she had called Tom? When Lizzie stepped out onto the wooden deck, Red was already sitting there, propping a large, red strawberry in his mouth. His face lit up when he laid eyes on her and he gestured to her to take a seat.

'Ah…Lizzie…want some breakfast? These strawberries are amazing…so fresh and sweet!'

'Red…why are we here? I need to get back to DC!'

Red gently took hold of Lizzie's hand, 'Don't worry about work…just take a seat!'

For a while, they sat quietly on the deck of the overwater bungalow; the beautiful tropic morning perfect for lovers to share but Lizzie was totally unaware of her surroundings. She was toying with her fruit salad, wondering how to bring the news to Red, she had called Tom. She had stalled for some time now but finally, she looked up, taking in a deep breath.

'Red?…I have to tell you something and I'm afraid you're not going to like it!'

To her surprise, Red had been studying her quietly, his lips curling up in a smile, 'What is it Lizzie?'

'I called him!'

'You called him?' Red echoed, with slight confusion.

Lizzie pushed her fruit salad aside and leaned closer, 'I called Tom.'

Red's smile quickly faded from his face, 'That was not a smart thing to do, Lizzie!'

Lizzie angrily pushed her chair back and strode back into the bungalow.

What was she going to do? She had left DC with one of the largest criminal minds in the world, without signing off with the Bureau and she had just confessed to him that she'd called her deceiving husband.

'Lizzie…?'

'Oh God, please don't,' Lizzie sighed. 'No lecture about Tom. I just called to let him know I am safe…I haven't told him I have seen him with that…that bitch!'

Red lifted his brows and shot her an intrigued smile. 'That's interesting…now we still have possibilities!'

'Are you kidding me?' Lizzie snapped at Red, irritated now. 'You men are so stupid. Do you really think you can use me to get to Tom?'

'Hmm…interesting idea!' Red smiled amusingly.

Lizzie was about to launch into an angry tirade but suddenly thought it wouldn't be best politics. Maybe she should listen what Red had to say!

'Enough! I'm hungry…let's have breakfast!' She strode back onto the deck, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves but she was barely outside when a gunshot sounded from across the water. Red who was following Lizzie outside yelled to get down but when the second shot sounded, Lizzie saw him flinch and then falter. She almost could hear the strange wet thud of a bullet hitting human flesh and in an instant, she watched Red's eyes flicker with both surprise and annoyance…then he fell backwards into the bungalow.

'RED…!'

Lizzie crept toward Red on her belly kicking the bungalow door closed with her left foot. She hovered over him, reaching inside his shirt pushing her hand onto the hole in his shoulder. Red ground his teeth against the pain.

'We need to get out of here,' he moaned while he struggled to get up.

'You've been shot…you need to get down,' Liz yelled.

'It's just my shoulder.' Groaning Red got to his feet and stood swaying. He took a deep breath, then another, then still another because the first two didn't work. Liz got up and grabbed Red's waist, putting his good arm over her shoulder guiding him to the bed.

'Sit down,' she ordered, '…and stay out of sight!'

She ran to the bathroom and grabbed a white towel, wetting it, rushing back to Red. Gently dabbing his wound, blood welled from the hole as fast as the water rinsed it away.

'Damn it,' she whispered, '…I can't stop this bleeding!'

Almost at the same time, the sound of a motorboat came nearer. Someone climbed onto the deck and Liz held her breath when the bungalow door flew open.

'God…Dembè!' Lizzie let out a relaxing sigh.

Dembé's black gaze quickly swept over them. 'Can you walk?' Red nodded and Dembé helped him into the boat. Whoever had been firing at them, seemed to be gone and they had no problem getting away from the bungalow. Liz supported Red, who was slowly losing consciousness while Dembé steered his boat into open water. Liz cast him a sideway glance, 'Where are you taking us?'

'Red owns a deserted island not far from here,' Dembé said calmly.

'Without any gunmen, I hope?' Liz sighed.

'No need to be afraid Agent Keen,' Dembé smiled, '…you're perfectly safe there!'

After removing the bullet, Liz watched Dembé thread a small, curved suturing needle with perfect calm.

'Ready?'

Red nodded and Liz held the edges of the wound together while Dembé deftly began stitching. Red clenched his jaw; each puncture stung, but the pain was endurable. His eyelids drooped though as he fought fatigue dragging at him.

'There!' Dembé announced calmly, tying off the last stitch. Liz studied the neat row of tiny stitches on Red's shoulder, counting ten of them. 'You should have been a doctor,' she smiled.

'Don't have the patience for it,' Dembe said while he winked at her.

Can you manage? I wanna find out who shot him,' Dembé nod his head toward Red, who had lied down.

Liz nodded, 'Sure but please be careful Dembé!'

Dembé nodded and Liz watched how the motorboat vanished in the distance. Glancing around, she shook her head. Dembé had brought them to what seemed a deserted island but hidden between the palm trees stood a beautiful wooden beach house. Lizzie hurried back into the house and found Red sitting on the edge of the bed. He was trying to get his bloody shirt off.

'Here, let me help you,' Liz said while she rushed to his side. But to her surprise Red raised his hand, 'It's ok…I've got it! Can you please get me some water?'

Liz frowned and turned to get Red a glass of water but when she was outside, she turned on her heels tiptoeing back into the room. A strangled gasp escaped when she laid eyes on Red's bare back; it was covered with burn scars.

'Red…your back!'

Red briefly closed his eyes and turned around, slowly taking in a deep breath. Liz stepped forward and carefully touched the burn scars on Red's back. '…But…but I don't understand!'

Red grabbed hold of Lizzie's hand and pulled her next to him, 'Sit down, I guess it's time we have a talk! What do you know about me Lizzie?'

Liz swallowed hard, 'What do you mean?'

Red frowned and repeated his question, 'What do you know about me…my personal life?'

Liz looked up and for a moment their eyes met; a cold, dark intelligence in Red's and an awareness that went beyond the moment, as if he knew her down to her soul.

'Y…you're Raymond Reddington,'Liz slowly began,'...you're 54 years old. You have been married once and you've had a daughter…Both, your wife and child are dead!'

Red nodded and Lizzie was struck but the dark look in his eyes. His shoulders slumped and his voice was barely audible when he started talking. 'I had just turned 25 when I met her, Katherine…my future wife!' Red paused. He had learned how to shut off his memories because whenever they sneaked in, they threatened to destroy him but now he had to share them with her…she had a right to know!

Lizzie nervously clenched her hands, staring at Red's profile.

'Go on,' she softly whispered.

'One day, Katie suggested we'd elope…I said yes and we did it! A year later, our daughter was born. Katie's father had never approved our relationship because Katie was only eighteen years old when we met. When he found out we got married, he disowned her. Her mother just stood by and let it happen.

Lizzie gathered her arms around herself, 'I can only guess as to what you thought at that time. You were both young!'

'I made a choice, Red whispered, '…and with that choice came adult responsibilities. I failed and now they're dead!'

'What happened?' Liz whispered softly.

Red shook his head, 'I couldn't keep them safe!' His strained whisper barely reached her,

'We had moved to Baltimore and for six years, we lived a good life; then Katie's dad found uw. He hired a man to kill me but when he found Katie and my daughter alone at the house, he killed them instead. I found their bodies…covered in b…blood.'

Liz held her breath. Red's head came up and his good hand swiped at tears. 'They were all I had.' Lizzie reached out to brush a tear from Red's cheek but he caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, softly kissing the back of her hand.

'Katie had a much younger sister…Katie adored her and she always regretted leaving her behind.'

'What happened to her?' Lizzie softly asked.

Red clenched his teeth and looked up, leaning closer to Elizabeth, '…She is sitting next to me!'