This will have one more chap actually! This has a lot of dialogue in it-sorry! Thanks for reviews :D:D

Disclaimer: Don't own The Blacklist...

"What is going on?"

Red dipped his chin to his chest and tore his steady gaze away from the window. When his stare landed on a confused Lizzie, he shook his head slowly.

"I don't have the faintest clue."

"She just left!" Lizzie replied abruptly, staring back at him puzzled. "You just let her leave."

What was he doing? Was he mad? She waited patiently for an answer, a reason that he let a woman, who he clearly had feelings for, leave with nothing more than a kiss on the back of the hand.

"She had plans, Lizzie." He replied simply, as if it was the most obvious answer. He knew what she was thinking, and he knew he was going to have to correct her on her incorrect assumptions.

"I don't understand you," Lizzie huffed, turning back around in her seat. She didn't know what his problem was, and she didn't know what her problem was. Shouldn't she be pleased? Pleased that he didn't follow Linda inside and close the door behind him.

She wanted him to, though, take Linda home with him that is, because then it would stop her from developing any more feelings for him. If he was taken, if he had feelings for someone else, she would stop thinking about him in ways she shouldn't.

"What did you want me to do?" Red leaned forward in his seat, his eyes wincing as he did so. A dull thud irritated the back of his eyes. He needed some painkillers, or preferably a stronger drink and a good night of sleep.

"Usually, Red, when there's a woman staying at your house, who you have feelings for." She replied, lecturing him on a topic she didn't really have any expertise on. "You don't let them leave without saying anything."

"I have feelings for her?" He asked in that tone she hated to love. The endearing thing he did with his voice when he would laugh at her for saying something absurd. It should annoy her, it did annoy her, but it also made her bite back at him and she kind of enjoyed their back and forth.

"Yes!" Lizzie said, raising her voice and turning around to glare at him. She didn't like it at the moment though, not when it was about Linda. "Are you serious?"

"You said I had feelings for her." Red replied calmly. "I can't quite recall saying I did."

"Oh, right." Lizzie nodded sarcastically as she restlessly rubbed the steering wheel with her thumbs. He pushed her buttons. When they were with others he did, when they were alone, he did.

"So you just flirt with her the two hours on the drive home, tell us she's beautiful, and then you take her to an after party?" She questioned. "And have her staying at your house?"

He smiled at her brightly, enjoying the way she counted each point with her fingers. But enjoying even more the way she seemed slightly jealous. He assumed it was jealously. She could just be tired, or genuinely annoyed he didn't take things with Linda further.

"That is very observant of you."

"Yes, well." Lizzie blinked her eyes away from him. "Ressler thought so to." She mumbled quickly. She needed to make sure he knew it wasn't just her who noticed it. Ressler was the one who had got the idea in her head anyway.

"Well why didn't you say?" His chuckle sounded loud and arrogant in the confined space of the car. "If Donald thinks so, it must be true."

Lizzie chose to ignore his comment, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as a yawn escaped. It was almost midnight now and they were still sitting in her car talking about Red and his apparent 'no feelings' There was no time for this. There was no time for conversations with Red at this time of night, his teasing side was high on the scale and she didn't have the stamina.

"I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you." She spun the heater dial up a notch so she didn't have to look at him. "I'm going to go home."

Red opened his mouth to speak because he knew she was annoyed with him, and he didn't particularly want that. He wanted to say something, something more serious but he wasn't sure what reaction he would receive, and the liquid courage theory had hit him yet. So, his mouth closed again.

Lizzie's hand rested over the gear stick. He still hadn't caught on to her hint that he should go home, or he had but he was ignoring it. She didn't mean to be rude when she said it, but sometimes she needed to be blunt with him.

"Are you going to get out?"

"I-." His teeth clamped shut and he worked his jaw like he often did. Lizzie hadn't worked out what that meant. Nervous, angry, tired? It was a habit of his she found hard to crack, among many others. Nervous didn't seem like the right one to use for a man like Red though, so she had it narrowed down to angry or tired.

"Good night, Lizzie."

Finally.

She watched through the rear view mirror as he shuffled across the seat, buttoned up the two mid buttons on his jacket, then open the back door.

"Night." She gave him a brief wave and decided to wait until he made it up the driveway before starting her car. He turned around to shut the door then walked casually up the driveway and into his house. As she reversed out from the park her eyes caught on the black fedora perched on the back seat. He didn't need it, surly. She would give it to him on Monday. Or just drop it in his letterbox and text him. She put the car in park, reached for his hat and hopped out. She could just drop it to him quickly. Pulling her coat tighter around her she power walked up his driveway.

She knocked once but there was no answer so she turned the handle, surprised he had left it open. She walked a small way down the hall way, about to call his name but stopping when she heard his voice.

"Linda, you don't understand."

She rolled her eyes, ignoring the small lump forming in her throat. Was that whole act in the car just a show? Was Linda going to turn back up when she left?

They really didn't have to bother because she really didn't care.

"Yes, my feelings for her are strong, but they are also difficult."

Lizzie froze still.

Very unexpected.

"It's not as easy as that, you see, she wouldn't believe me."

"Quite right you are," his chuckle carried through the hallway and Lizzie quickly spun on her heels. She couldn't and wouldn't get caught in his house, listening in on his conversation. She kept the fedora tight in her grip and took small, quiet steps back down towards the front door.

"Linda, I'm going to have to leave it there."

Was his voice closer now?

Lizzie peeked over her shoulder, and saw him watching her. Before registering any emotion on his face she quickly turned back and grabbed the door handle. Maybe he didn't see her. Or maybe he could pretend he didn't see her.

"Lizzie.."

"I just dropped your hat off!" She called, not looking behind her and not dropping his hat. "Sorry for interrupting."

His hand still held the phone to his ear and in the silence Lizzie could hear Linda on the other end. She couldn't make out what she was saying but her voice was loud and joyful.

Linda's voice, however, came to an abrupt stop when Red ended the call.

The silence was deafening and drawn out, and Lizzie couldn't seem to move one foot in front of the other.

"Thank you." He glanced down at the fedora resting in her grip, nodding his thanks.

She quickly cleared her throat, a terrible habit that said nothing other than: 'I am nervous and uncomfortable.'

"Yeah, no, it's no problem."

"Lizzie, what you heard-"

"I didn't hear anything."

"You didn't hear anything?"

"No," She lied.

"Then why are you trying to leave?" He walked closer to her and he immediately noticed the small step she made back to distance herself from him.

"Because I was just dropping this off," she stretched out a rigid arm, handing him the hat and keeping her eyes firmly focused on the buttons of his shirt.

He allowed his fingers to brush over her knuckles as he took his fedora from her grip. "I didn't purposely leave it to lure you into my house, Lizzie."

"I didn't say you did." She responded, raising her gaze from their fingers, and taking another step back from him. "I will see you on Monday." Her hand quickly retracted to her side.

As he watched her turn away from him, his brow furrowed and he inwardly encouraged himself to take action. But only then, when her back was facing him, when he didn't have to deal with those blue eyes of hers, could he tell her.

"I was talking about you."

She didn't know how she knew, but she did. She knew he was talking about her.

"That you have complicated feelings for me?" Lizzie asked, carefully turning around. She shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "What does that even mean?"

He smiled. "You said you didn't hear."

"Why were you talking to Linda about me?"

"I've known Linda for a very long time, Lizzie."

"You've known a lot of people for a long time."

"And I do not trust all of them."

Lizzie nodded, accepting his answer because she knew there were very few people he did trust. Strangely, she was on the short list of those he did. Unsure of what to reply and feeling more than uncomfortable as the confused tension, mixed with his cologne that she hadn't noticed before, circled around her in the hallway.

"Why do you think I spend most I mine time with you, Lizzie?"

She wasn't sure why he was asking but she could answer this. Easy. Her chin tilted up as she stared directly at him, confident in herself and her answer.

"To help lead me to the truth about my father, maybe my mother, and my life..because..you know all sorts of private things about my life. Things that I don't even know."

He frowned deeply. "Why do you think I come around to your house every Friday night, bringing wine, Lizzie? And taking you out, while pushing to get a smile from you. Or get you to talk about yourself to me?"

"I don't-" Lizzie swallowed, suddenly caught off guard. "I don't know-"

"Why do you think I call you for no other reason at all other than to say hello?"

"I don't know, Red!" Lizzie felt herself getting angry at him, his questioning putting her on edge.

Right hand clenched tightly at his side, Red grew frustrated at her answer. He told himself to not approach her, stopped himself from reaching out for her. To squeeze her hand and tell her that everything he wanted was her.

"I think you do know, Lizzie, but you don't want to hear it."

She needed a way out so as she glanced around, thinking, avoiding, her eyes landed on the half full wine glass sitting on the small table at the end of the hall.

"You've been drinking."

Red nodded, giving her a tight-lipped smile. "You should go home Lizzie. It's late."

She glanced at him briefly. "Your acting crazy, Red."

"Lizzie, go home." He tried again.

"Why would you have feelings for me?" She asked quietly, ignoring his orders but resting her hand back on the door handle so she could make a quick escape if needed.

"I have no control of my feelings." Red answered, his voice nearing on uneven. "I don't want to disappoint you, and I don't want to disappear because I can't keep them in tact." He continued. "But I don't want to make you feel awkward, Lizzie, in this situation if this isn't what you want to hear."

"Romantically?"

"Yes."

"Are you in love with me?"

He smiled at her, a smile that told her he wished for her sake, that he didn't.

She swallowed, her limbs feeling loose and tingly. "Red..." Her insides twisted in discomfort and pleasure but mostly shock.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie."

"I-" Her eyes scattered around, landing on him for less than a second then away again. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." He responded, stepping closer to her his height suddenly profound. "But I am in love with you, Lizzie."

Her eyes followed his hand, as it lifted up to cup her cheek, the rough pad of his thumb brushing lightly down her skin. She felt her heart beat rapidly, he had never touched her like this. This wasn't hand holding, or a hug or a light touch on the back. She wasn't ready, she didn't think, for this, and she couldn't seem to look him in the eye.

"I'm not enough for you, Lizzie." His voice was low and quiet. He found it easier to look at her after confronting her. Lizzie was looking at their shoes. "But I need to stay Lizzie, and work with you."

Her head nodded.

"And be here for you."

His thumb draw a line across her jaw line, but he refrained to go any further. This was respectful, and tender, and didn't have to mean anything she didn't want it to.

Lizzie tried to not to squirm, or flinch at his gentle touch. "Red?"

"Yes?"

"I need to go home."

He smiled, expecting it. His hand reluctantly drop from her cheek. "I'm sorry for keeping you."

"It's okay."

"I've scared you."

"A little." She admitted.

He moved away from her and turned on the porch light as she opened the front door. Before being able to offer to walk her down to her car she left quickly, not quite a jog but a steady walk away from his house. He rubbed his forehead, not sure what direction his night had taken.