Chapter 3

"Your right..." Liz admits quietly, taking a sip from the warm cup, her nose sniffing slightly above then inhaling the soothing scent, "It really is quite good," from fashion to food, there was nothing Red didn't understand. That man was akin to an encyclopedia, and if he to set up his own search engine, he would have given Google a run for their money.

Liz saw Red smile and give a little laugh tilting his head up to the sky closing his eyes. His hand was still circling her scar. This gave her the chance to study him. Even if they have been working together for over a year now her brain still didn't understand him or his motives. Most criminals didn't care about anyone or about someone who was F.B.I., but Red did.

He put himself in danger time and time again and saved her. Berlin was the one to fear and wanted to hurt and kill Red, but he saved her nearly killing himself in the process. He was a puzzle, no doubt about that, but unlike every puzzle, there seems to be no solution to Raymond Reddington.

Liz was brought out of her thoughts "Something interesting Lizzie?"

She looked and Red was staring back right at her. She was so in thought she didn't notice Red had caught her staring at him "It's nothing."

She brought the cup to her lips which made Red smile "Lizzie you need to tell me why your staring at me either on your free will or I can make you tell me," his eyes got all cloudy and deeply green-blue at the last part.

"Red please..." she said quietly trying not to draw attention to themselves.

"What's on your mind Lizzie, is it what recently happened, I'm always here for you sweetheart."

Liz took a deep breath "I look at you, and it's like trying to figure out a puzzle that changes every time I fit the pieces in. There are moments when I think I might have barely figured it out; you surprise me by doing something that is entirely out of the ordinary."

"Like breakfast in the morning with me, we agreed on this...and you enjoy it," said Red.

Liz sighed in agreement "Yes...like this."

"We humans have a way of complicating even the most simplest things. But I always find my solutions in a cup of tea or coffee and seeing you smile and being happy. Ever since you got away from Tom and your marriage I see you enjoying life more," said Red with a smile.

Liz blushed at that, he was a charmer they never mentioned that in the file she had on him, and he was handsome in his age at that.

Red gestured lightly to the grey cup nestled between her palms "Taste heavenly doesn't it?"

"I would only attest to that because of the coffee beans...and not because of you," she wouldn't admit out loud that Red was right on all food and drinks. But Red smiled and he knew; Liz started to pull out money to pay.

But Red stopped her "I got this Lizzie."

Elizabeth started to argue but Red grabbed her hand and kissed her scar and that always silenced her and gave in.

The duo finished the remainder of the drinks in silence, Red staring out of the restaurant as if keeping a mental count of the number of people passing by. Her eyes flickered towards him for a while before averting her gaze to an inanimate object by the table. Even without looking at her, he could feel her eyes on him, the pretty little head of her working furiously over time trying to figure him out. He ignored it, allowing her the small victory of assuming he did not notice.

Red held his hand out to Liz and said "Shall we?"

Liz took his outstretched hand; his other hand reached for his fedora and placed it back on his head. He gave the money from his pocket to the waiter and said to keep the change for himself. The waiter nods furiously smiling with delight as he walked ahead holding the exit door for the both of them. Red's hand drifted towards her back, trailing down her spine despite her instinctive reaction to arch away. He rested it on a small spot near her waist, stroking it for a while. She had gotten used to it, and kind of liked the feeling of protectiveness and something more but she didn't know what it was.

"Lizzie let's take a walk, the car is parked in the park and I'll drive you home," he suggested; his hand never leaving the spot on her back.

"Red I can walk home," said Liz.

"No, no Lizzie. The world is a dangerous place. I know you can defend yourself but I will feel better knowing your safe with me," said Red.

When they got to the end of the park Dembe was waiting with the car "After you Lizzie."

Liz slowly slid into the car and Red after, Red never let go of her and she found this odd. And for one thing she started to fee dizzy...well she still felt the effects of the medicine that Red gave her for pain, but this felt different. Maybe she should have gotten something to eat.

Liz got out of her thoughts and noticed that the direction they were heading in is the wrong direction "Red this isn't the direction of my hotel."

Red kissed the top of her head and shushed her "Lizzie I said I'm taking you home and I am, you're going to be staying with me for now on. I don't like the thought of you being on your own, you're a lot safer with me," Liz tried to protest, "No Lizzie no arguments. After this week you're staying in my sight for now on, I cannot lose you."

Liz stayed silent at that part and tried to unlock the doors but Red quickly got hold of both of her hands "No Lizzie, now stop fighting me, I'm trying to protect you."

The car came to a stop and Dembe opened both doors. This was Liz's chance but Red quickly grabbed her legs and pulled her into his arms. Liz tried to protest but Red shushed her.

No one seemed to notice her or Red as they made their way to the top floor of the pen-house hotel. When they entered Red quickly laid her down on the coach and sat behind her, her head lay in his lap him stroking her hair.

The world was spinning around her and she asked "Red...what did you give me?"

"It's a sedative," he answered truthfully, "Your vision starts deceiving you and your head starts spinning as if you're hallucinating, you also lose much of your energy. The effects will dissipate soon but I need you to remain calm, steady your breathing, take slow and deep breaths, Lizzie." He instructed her.

"No...Red please let me go home, you can't keep an F.B.I. agent captive they will track you down." Tears falling down as she tried to move away from Red. She mustered all of her energy to keep away from him. He overpowered her closing his arms around her waist keeping her down on the couch.

"I'll help you sleep after a while I just need to explain why I'm not letting you go Lizzie."

All Liz could do was nod her head. Red said "One of the many reasons that I turned myself into the F.B.I. was about you. I have been watching and looking after you a long time Lizzie. The first time I saw you I knew that we were meant to be together, and then you became an F.B.I. agent I knew this job would take you way from me," he kissed her head at that, "I couldn't let that happen."

Liz whispered "Red...you have no right to decide that for me. And I was married at the time we met, we have no chance...you're a criminal."

"Oh Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie that's just your F.B.I. side talking. The way they train you all these days. We criminals still have feelings and I know you feel the same way I do. Once you're away from the corruption you can see that," Red said.

She was fading fast and had to know "Why are you doing this..."

"Lizzie you were almost taking away from me, first the Stew Maker and now Berlin was the last straw...he was right to go after you, you are the one thing that matters to me and is real. You were harmed, cut up...but that can all heal and I'm fine with that, but if he killed you...I don't know what I'd do," Red said that pulling her into his lap, kissing up her neck nuzzling her.

"Red..." Liz was slipping away now.

"Don't fight it," he said squeezing her, "Sleep...close your eyes and it will be over soon.

She sobbed weekly; Red just admitted his feeling for her. Liz had to admit she knew this and she did have feeling for him. He was taking her god knows where, and knew that the F.B.I. will never find her. Red would have never been found if he hadn't turned himself in.

With no other option left, she closed her eyes, taking deep and steady breaths as he had instructed earlier. Within moments her head gradually stopped spinning and her urge to throw up went away. Right before sleep claimed her, she felt a pair of lips grazing the top of her head and a whisper "I love you Lizzie and you will never be in danger again. You will soon have feeling for me like I do you."

So here it is Chapter 3 of Never Trust a Criminal. Hope you are liking the story so far and the scenes with Red/Lizzie;)

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More Red/Lizzie coming up soon:)