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 6

'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!'

Lizzie's eyes widened in shock and she clasped her hands in front of her mouth, strangling the cry that escaped her, 'Nooooo.' She stared at Red in disbelief, having trouble accepting his words. This can't be…she thought while feelings of confusion washed over her. Lizzie's eyes suddenly felt warm and tears started streaming down her cheeks. She slid off the bed and sat down on the wooden floor, rocking herself back and forth…This cannot be…I'm an only child…I have no sister…no sister…I-can't-remember-her…

Red looked down on Lizzie and his heart felt heavy. He knew the truth was shocking for her and he'd never seen her so devastated but she had a right to hear the truth so he went on; 'Katherine was my best friend. I could tell her everything. We were so happy when our daughter was born…,' Red paused for a moment to collect his demeanour but his voice cracked with emotion when he continued. 'When they were…killed,' he swallowed, '…I was heartbroken. I didn't know what to do, how to deal with their loss or how to go on,' Red said softly. 'But each day, the need for revenge, grew inside me like a cancer and so finally, I summoned up all my courage and went looking for your father!' Lizzie's head shot up and Red stopped talking. The expression on Lizzie's face, which so much reminded him of her, deepened into one of pain and horror. She got off the floor and sat next to him.

'Do you want me to stop?' Red asked. Lizzie didn't answer but grabbed Red's hand, giving it a soft squeeze, urging him to continue.

'That's it…be brave Lizzie! You have a right to hear!' Red cleared his throat and began talking again, glancing at Lizzie with a hint of tenderness and admiration.

'When I arrived at your parent's house, your father was standing in the garden. When he laid eyes on me, he ran inside. I guess, he knew I was coming for him! It was then that I learned from the gardener that your mother had killed herself after she had found out about Katie and her granddaughter. I was even more determined to kill him but when I walked into the house, I heard beeping coming from a smoke detector. Within seconds the hallway was filled with thick, black smoke; it was like a blizzard. The smoke was so thick, I could hardly breathe…seconds later, something exploded. I ran outside turning around and that was when I saw….'

'What?' Lizzie whispered.

'A little brown haired girl…with big blue eyes, black smudges on her cheeks…her head was leaned against the window and her nostrils were flaring as if she had trouble breathing.

'You saw…me?' Lizzie murmured but it was more a statement than a question. Red nodded and continued, 'The moment, I entered the house, I could feel the heat against my skin; the flames fuelled by the gasoline your father had sprayed everywhere. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally found you. You were standing in the middle of your bedroom, flames licking at your hand. You were holding your favourite bunny, refusing to let go of it!'

'STOP!' Lizzie's breath sawed in and out of her lungs, her heart racing frantically, her body shaking with devastation. Her mind cleared slowly and she looked up at Red.

'You saved me!' Lizzie stammered. Red nodded and Lizzie closed her eyes, almost as if she was in a trance. She whispered, '…I remember…the heat and pain crawling up my hand suddenly disappeared. I felt myself being picked up, one hand behind my knees and the other on my back. My eyes were closed and whoever was holding me, kept me cradled to his chest. I felt safe and secure!' As Lizzie inhaled, her breath quivered, betraying her emotional state. Despite blinking rapidly, a stray tear trailed down her cheek. Red shifted and then she felt his finger move across her cheek catching the tear. 'I'm so sorry!' Red's voice was deep yet gentle.

'It doesn't matter.' Lizzie answered quietly, staring at the ceiling, '…my dad left me to die in a burning house!'

'I had you Lizzie…then, now and always!' Red said reassuringly. His good arm slipped around her waist and he drew her closer. Lizzie let her cheek rest against his chest; the sound of Red's heartbeat was faintly comforting, then she whispered; 'What happened to him?'

Red hunched his shoulders, clenching his teeth because he'd forgotten about his flesh wound, 'I always thought your father died in that fire but…'

'But what…' Lizzie asked hastily.

'I'm afraid, it's all connected,' Red said slowly…'Tom…Gina…everything!

'But how…?' A confused expression fell across Lizzie's face. Red shook his head and softly whispered. 'Lizzie…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!' Inwardly, Red cursed. His instincts had failed him. There was no point in worrying her…yet.

'Lizzie…let's get some sleep. My shoulder hurts like hell…If you want, we can continue our conversation in the morning?'

Liz groaned softly in frustration. She wanted to learn more about her childhood; her mind was whirling with many unanswered questions but she saw the fatigue in Red's eyes so she nodded in agreement. Red cleared his throat and Lizzie looked up, 'We only have one bed,' he said apologetic.

'That's OK,' Lizzie hurried to say, 'You take it…I'll sleep on the floor.'

'Nonsense,' Red huffed. 'This bed is large enough for the both of us.' Lizzie took a deep breath and nodded, walking to the left side of the bed, pulling back the covers. When Red blew out the last candle, she was already fast asleep.

In the middle of the night, a nightmare awoke Lizzie with a jolt. She sat straight up in the darkness, heart racing, panting as if she'd been running for her life. She pulled back the covers and immediately took a chill. Her skin was clammy and cold, her t-shirt damp with sweat. She kicked her feet over the side of the bed and sat still for a moment, then she pushed herself off the bed. Her bare feet hit the floor and she tiptoed out of the bedroom. She walked out of the house, sitting down on the sand. She felt slightly light-headed. There were so many thoughts in her head, she didn't know what to do with. They needed to be filed in the correct places but for that she needed sleep, but she knew, she just couldn't. Lizzie sighed and got up, walking onto the dark, but still warm sand. The familiar aroma of salt water, and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore slowly soothed her anxiety. A slight smile waded over her lips as she neared the edge of the water. Tentatively, she stepped closer, allowing the waves to splash over her ankles, breathing a soft sigh. Without so much of a thought, she pulled her T-shirt over her head, slid off her panties and dove into the water. She stayed under water for a few seconds before drifting up to the surface. The temperature of the water was perfect. Cool to be refreshing, yet warm enough not to take her breath away. As Lizzie broke the surface, she stroked her hair out of her eyes and that was when she saw Red. He was standing on the beach, watching her. Lizzie swam back until she realized she was naked. She inwardly cursed.

'Red? I need to get my clothes. Can you turn around…please?' Lizzie wasn't sure if Red had heard her because he kept staring at her. Lizzie then waded toward the beach. Red couldn't take his eyes off Lizzie; the moonlight kissed her skin, and he could just about swear, she glowed. Although, she was still in the water, Red could see, her cheeks were flushed. She was embarrassed because he saw her naked. Red smiled but scooped up her clothes, holding them to his chest. Lizzie groaned but walked out of the water toward him, arms outstretched. Red let himself look at her; first the curves of her small but firm breasts, her curvy waist and her long, muscular legs.

'You shouldn't swim alone,' he softly said. 'There are sharks in these waters. Next time, warn me so I can keep an eye out for them!' Red turned on his heels but halted abruptly. His body tensed as he stared into the darkness.

'Red…what's wrong?'

'Were not alone.' Red pushed Lizzie back and began walking fast along the beach. Shocked, Lizzie stared after him for a few seconds before understanding kicked in. She cursed when she saw a dark shadow run away. Lizzie raced after Red, the sand shifting beneath her feet. Since she was faster than Red, she tackled the shadow; a man. Lizzie and the man hit the sand with a thudding impact. Then Red spun him over. 'Who the hell are you?'

'Get off me!' The man yelled. He tried to swing at Lizzie. A terrible mistake. Red's fist drove down and he hit the man in the face. Once. Twice. Two powerful blows!

'Again…' Red snapped. 'Who are you?'

'GET OFF M…AAH…I'M…F-.B-I!' Then he started whining, 'Crap, you broke my nose!'

'I'm about to break a whole lot more,' Red snapped. Lizzie flinched. She'd never heard Red's voice sound that way. Lethal. Deadly.

'How did you know we're here?' Red asked him, his hand still poised to punch.

'Fuck off!'

Red's fist plunged down again. He seemed to have forgotten about his shoulder completely.

'RED!' Lizzie lunged forward, grabbing Red's hand. 'Stop!'

'Aahh…' The FBI-agent moaned, while a dark shadow streaked down his face. Blood…definitely blood…Lizzie thought while she tried to drag Red off the guy. But Red didn't move.

'How did you know?' Red bit out while he finally let go of the agent. The man stumbled to his feet, putting his hand to his nose, obviously trying to stop the blood flow.

'Cooper sent you!' Red said flatly…'…But how…?'

The man's shoulders jerked. 'Agent Keen…she has a chip in her cell!'

Red cursed….how stupid had he been…then he turned to the FBI-agent, 'Get the hell off this island…you're on private property!'

'But…Y..you and agent Keen are supposed to—'?

'I'm not repeating myself,' Red said calmly, clenching his jaw. The FBI-agent sighed but ran along the beach, jumping into a small motorboat, disappearing into the darkness, waves pounding against the shore.

'Now what?' Lizzie asked.

'Let me deal with this,' Red said calmly.