Apparently the chill from the open window wasn't what was making her shiver.

'you changed the locks'

'yeah I don't want people getting in that I don't like' she gave no inclination whether this meant Tom or him.

'so tonight went well so I've heard, tell me did Cooper congratulate you, slap you on the back and invite you for a few beers with the team?'

She decided to play him for a while see if it gave her the thrill it seemed to give him, deriving pleasure from pain.

'he doesn't drink'

'ah just as well he doesn't exactly need to lose more brain cells'

Liz fell into a chair in exhaustion not considering being modest just for him she kicked off her boots and rubbed at her feet. He watched her ministrations with that intense otherworldly gaze he had that was unique to him only.

'anyway I thought you would have disappeared by now, its what you do isn't it?'

She quoted him mockingly although as soon as she said It she felt a bitter aftertaste as if she had eaten into a full garlic clove.

He just looked at her and she could see a smile braking through his lips which made her anger rise

'but you know what I don't need gratitude, I'm just happy enough knowing I did this myself all by myself and it had nothing to do with you Red'

He moved from his seat on the sofa and she thought he was going to leave so she simply averted her gaze to show she wasn't backing down.

Suddenly she felt hands at her feet and she nearly jumped from the chair as if she had a paper cut. She turned around only to find his face inches from hers the smell of cigar smoke emanating from his trench coat.

She hated the smell of cigarette smoke but coming from him this exotic scent form a strange and foreign man, it made her inhale deeply before she registered what she was doing she had her eyes closed and left out the breath.

When she opened her eyes Red had his mouth agape but it took him less than two seconds to recover and in the blink of an eye he was looking at her feet watching his movements as he massaged them back and forth rubbing soothing circles into them.

'yes Lizzie you did this all by yourself and you should be proud of that, I never doubted your aptitude for catching criminals Lizzie'

She listened as he went on massaging and talking in that deep tone he had when it was just one on one.

'you are truly a prodigy in your field but clearly you doubted yourself and doing this you proved to yourself you are a good agent'

She watched as he gave her that lopsided grin as he cocked his head to the side.

'I'll only say that I only ever wanted to make your cases more fun and adventurous Im not trying to patronise or question your value, I mean can you truthfully say that you found this case to be exciting demanding or challenging?'

The implied question underlying this was 'didn't you miss me?'

But it needn't have been asked out rightly because they had both come to realise their partnership went beyond simply working together they needed each other if not to keep the other in check then it was because they made each other matter.

She made him a better person try to be a law abiding person and he made her question herself, excel and progress and be ambitious. After all they had both crossed that line in the sand losing both of their loved ones.

What if it were to happen that their personal lives merged? Would it make them stronger would it be too soon after Luli and Tom?

As she sat in front of him contemplating this she saw him really saw as he had seen her, the delicate movement of his hands how he didn't invade her personal space.

He was completely different with her he treated her with respect, deference and above all kindness. So she took one last breath before she whispered to him

'please don't treat me like porcelain Red'

He met her eyes and didn't ask for an explanation because he understood her that well. With that request he lifted until she straddled his waist and carried her into her bedroom

The tears in his eyes told her everything, those were the first tears of joy she had seen him cry.

I can continue if you'd like I usually don't like those stories where it ends like this with no 'the day after the night before' so I can go on if you want let me know… and thank you so much for your patience and support live long and prosper J