Bloodstream

"Stop moving!" Liz snapped as she tried swiping a cotton ball that reeked of alcohol across his split eyebrow.

"You're burning away my flesh Lizzie, it's a bit hard not to." Red told her as he winced at the sting.

They'd driven half an hour out of Washington to a more rural part of the state that was protected by the forests around the area. Red had directed her towards a secluded road in the middle of the woods, in the pitch dark where one wouldn't even think to find anything there. However, Red had built a reasonably large cottage there with the help of some Russian construction worker friends of his after a difficult run in with the Koreans. Liz had made a short stop at a pharmacy, and when she had come back out of the store, Red asked if she'd been able to buy the store out altogether; she just glared at him and pulled the car away from the curb.

They had only arrived several minutes ago, and night was slowly giving way to day. He'd tried to start a fire in the fireplace to ward of the chill that had set into the cottage, but Liz immediately planted him on the couch and began working on the first wound she could see.

"OUCH!" Red flinched away from the little cotton ball again and glared at Lizzie petulantly.

Liz rolled her eyes, "You're such a child, Red."

He huffed in annoyance at her words, but much to his chagrin, had to agree with her. He'd endured the worst thrown at him by that fraud of a doctor back at the church without so much as a peep, and here he was crying over Liz's ministrations to his wounds.

To his relief, she set the much loathed cotton ball aside, then pulled out some pain pills and handed them to him along with a glass of water she'd gotten earlier.

"I'm going to bind your ribs now." She told him as she took some tape out.

"Hmm." Red hummed as he swallowed the pills and water. "I'll admit they are hurting quite a bit at the moment; perhaps it's best if you do do that."

Liz nodded looking slightly uncomfortable. "You're..ah..going have to remove your shirt."

Red fought to restrain a smile at the blush creeping up her neck. It was delightful to see that he could have that effect on her. With deft fingers he quickly unbuttoned his dress shirt and shrugged it off, leaving him in his white undershirt.

"You're gonna have to help me with the undershirt Lizzie." he said softly. A flutter of excitement ran through him in anticipation, but he quickly pushed it away when he saw just how embarrassed she was.

She nodded and gently pulled the t-shirt out of his waistband and began pulling it over his head. He lifted his arms up to his chest and held his breath, trying to keep from groaning in pain again. She paused for a moment, leaving the shirt hanging limply from his arms, before he pulled it off himself. He watched as her eyes roamed across his neck and down chest. For a minute, he thought she was inspecting his tattoo, but then her eyes traveled further down to his ribs.

"God, Red," She looked as if she was close to tears. "They're purple!"

He glanced down to his waist, and sure enough the skin around his middle was dark purple with sickly yellow patches in some places.

"Ah, that," he said as if he'd just realized it was there. "It'll heal in no time. Nothing to worry about."

"You'd walk around like this if there was no one here to stop you." Liz shook her head in irritation.

"Indeed I would," he confirmed.

She unwrapped the tape and sat down beside him on the couch. He felt himself leaning towards her as her scent of raspberries and vanilla washed over him, completely overwhelming his senses.

She seemed to ignore his close proximity, and began tightly wrapping the tape around his ribs; the constant brush of her fingertips against his stomach sending shivers up his spine.

She worked quietly for several moments before eventually breaking the silence, "So, uh, I didn't take you for a very religious person," she said glancing towards the rosary tattoo that ran across his chest and up around his neck.

Red smiled faintly, "My mother and father raised me Catholic when I was a young boy, but I've never been one to devoutly attend church."

Liz smiled at him. "But?"

Red glanced at her. "But I do believe and study scriptures...in vain of course."

"Why do you say that?"

Red laughed lightly. "Lizzie, I've gone to hell and back. I'm sure that when I die, I'll be staying there forever."
Liz finished wrapping his ribs, obviously thinking over his words.

"There." she announced. "Done."

"Thank you, Lizzie," he told her, and she smiled in return.

She started to stand, but he reached out and grabbed her hand. "Stay."

She looked like she was going to refuse.

"Just..Sit with me for a few moments Lizzie," Red said. The sense of urgency that had been driving him the whole day had gone away now that they were here alone. She was here in front of him, safe. He could touch her and see her with his own eyes; no more nightmares to warp his perception of reality.

She leaned into the couch and laid her head on the back, facing him. She reached for his hand then squeezed it, giving him a sleepy smile.

"Red..."

"Yes, Lizzie?"

"You're not going to hell," she muttered.

He masked his face into a neutral expression, then waited a beat before replying, "Lizzie, I've done many things that would invalidate that argument."

"I know I don't know everything that you've done, but I know you're not going to hell."

Red sighed deeply and stared across the room towards the empty fireplace. "Lizzie, I need to disappear for a while. I hate to leave like this, but I need to find out where the leak at the Blacksite is coming from."

He let go of her hand, put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. She went willingly and sighed softly as she put her head on his shoulder. "I want you to know that I'll always come back the moment you need me."

He waited for some type of dazed remark, but when it didn't come, he turned his face towards hers and found that she was fast asleep. He smiled to himself, then shifted slightly and yawned, grateful that the pills were having an effect. He'd be gone before she knew it, but for now he took comfort in the fact that she was in his arms for the moment, safe from the oncoming storm.

A/N: Thank you all so much for your kind words and support! I realize that the ending was very anti-climatic, but hopefully some of you found it enjoyable. The song title comes from the song, Bloodstream, by Stateless, it's my OTP song. Like I said before, I am still getting a feel for our lovely couple. I'll be posting another Lizzington fic in the future- I'll never be able to stay away from them!