The angst is back guys!

There's some violence in here but nothing too bad, I think.

Oh... and Tom is an asshole, it had to be said.

Thanks again for the reviews! They make my day :)

When Liz woke up that Sunday morning, she felt exhausted and frustrated. Her night had been hell, tossing around in her bed and waking up between strange dreams about Red and Tom. In her dreams, Red had kept asking the same question again and again: Who do you want? Who do you really want? The few times she had been able to mumble a soft 'you', Red had climbed in the bed with her and started to kiss her, running his hands on her body, discarding her clothes one by one to leave her naked. And every time he had done so, the door had burst open, revealing an angry Tom with a gun pointed at them.

She finally fell asleep at dawn and woke up around noon as exhausted as if she hadn't slept at all. She immediately went to the bathroom thinking that maybe a long hot shower would soothe her aching muscles. She then slipped on jeans and hoodie and went to the kitchen. She needed coffee, lots of coffee. On her way through the lounge, she spotted her phone blinking silently on the coffee table. Frowning, she went to swipe her finger on the screen and shrugged seeing missed calls and texts from Red and Jen. She'd check them after her morning – noon – coffee.

She was drinking her second cup when she finally decided to check her messages. She picked up her phone and unlocked it; she smiled when she heard Red's voice asking if she had made it home safely and Jen's scolding her father in the background for being overprotective. The next messages were from the two of them asking her to call back as soon as she was up. Frowning, Liz listened to the last message from Red. The tone was slightly more worried than the others and a lot more pressing.

"Lizzie please, pick up that damn phone! I need to talk to you now! Please Lizzie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, those photos… I'm sorry. Please be careful…"

She jumped when the front door burst open, banging against the wall and dropped the phone. The door slammed close and she saw a furious Tom march into the room. He threw his suitcase in a corner and looked at her, icy eyes drilling hole in hers.

"Tom! You scared me!" she exclaimed a hand on her racing heart. "You're here early," she said smiling. "What's wrong?" she asked when he didn't answer.

"What's wrong?" he hissed his hands fisting at his sides. "You're asking me what the fuck is wrong?" he yelled walking toward her.

At the anger in his eyes, she couldn't help but take a step back.

"Tom please, stop, you scare me," she pleaded, hands raised in defense. "Tell me what's going on," she asked looking around to find a way out.

"Why are you looking around like that? Am I interrupting something? Is he still here?" he asked, his voice rising with each question.

"What the hell are you talking about? Who's still here?" she demanded, pushing him back when he entered her personal space.

"Don't play innocent Liz. I know."

"Explain yourself, for God's sake!" she burst suddenly.

He snickered, shaking his head. His eyes never leaving her, he sneaked his hand in his jacket, took out a magazine and threw it on the coffee table.

"Fuck," she breathed when she saw the cover. Red and she dancing.

"You said it! And you haven't seen the best part!" Tom said, taking back the magazine and opening it on the central double page.

Liz closed her eyes, bracing against the guilt she felt rising inside her chest. She opened her eyes when Tom threw the magazine in her hands. Red-handed Reddington, said the headline followed by five photos of the two of them together. She scanned rapidly the article and sighed with relief out when she realized they didn't know her name.

"You're sleeping with him," Tom said in a deadly cold voice.

"I'm not, Tom! I swear! Red is just a friend!" she replied in shivering voice.

"DO. NOT. LIE. TO. ME!" he yelled. "I know the truth Liz. Don't you dare to lie."

"You know nothing!" she yelled back, finally losing it. "You see some pictures in a fucking magazine and you jump to conclusions! We are supposed to trust each other! How do you think I feel when you throw accusations like that!?" she yelled her finger jabbing his chest with every word.

"How do you feel? Really? And how do you think I felt when Lucy Brooks showed me this this morning? How do you think I felt when my coworkers started to whisper behind my back because my so lovely fiancée is a fucking CHEATER!" he barked closing his fingers around her wrist.

"Lucy Brooks…" she laughed sarcastically trying to free her hand from his grip. "Let me go," she hissed when he tightened his fingers.

She felt fear explode in her guts when she saw his snarl. She knew what was coming next; she had seen cases like this at work. Her training kicking in, she moved her head instinctively when she saw his fist coming and instead of her bones cracking under his blows, she heard his hand crash on the wall behind her. Tom's cries erupted in the room and he took a step back cradling his broken hand on his chest. He was walking back to her when she saw with relief the dark silhouette of Agent Zuma appear behind them and grab Tom by the shoulder to punch him in the face, throwing him on the floor.

"You ok?" he asked.

She nodded, shaking from head to toes and watched him walk to the couch and bend to pick something from the floor. Her phone she realized when the brought it to his ear.

"Yes, she's safe," he said before hanging up and putting the phone in his pocket.

She slid against the wall, tears running freely on her cheeks, her head buried in her knees. She startled when she felt too strong arms close around her. Opening her eyes she caught Dembe's concerned look.

"I'm going to pick you up now," he warned before lifting her in his arms.

She closed her arms around his neck, her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. He walked to the car parked half on the sidewalk and sat her on the back seat before settling behind the wheel. She was too exhausted to wonder how he could be here and where he was driving her. She must have fallen asleep because she startled awake when once again she felt arms around her carrying her out of the car. She sighed and relaxed when Red's scent hit her nose. She was safe now.

"Is she ok?"

"Yes Miss Jenny, I stopped him in time," Dembe said, standing next to Jen, their eyes following Raymond walking up the stairs with Liz in his arms.

Jennifer smiled at the Agent. He had been with them for many years now, being assigned to Raymond's protection when he started to rise through the ranks and she had told him many times to drop the 'Miss' but he kept calling her Miss Jenny.

When Liz woke up later that day, she felt ultimately lost. Looking around, she took in the strange décor, not recognizing anything; she felt fear curl inside her belly. And then, she smelled it; his scent, Red's scent and everything came back painfully. The party, the pictures, Tom, his anger, his stare, his hand around her wrist, the noise of his fingers breaking, Agent Zuma, she suddenly felt sick. Her eyes pooling with unshed tears, she curled beneath the blankets, her nose buried in Red's pillow, she breathed deeply, waiting for his scent to calm her. It never missed to work. After a few minutes, she felt the tears recede and her throat loosen.

She finally left the bed and went to look for her friends. She found them in the lounge, Jen sitting on the couch watching TV, Red walking around the room, his phone glued to his ear and Dembe reading silently in an armchair by the window. Dembe was the first to spot her leaning against the doorframe; he nodded silently before going back to his book, but his discreet movement attracted Jen's attention. She turned around and seeing Liz, jumped out of the couch and ran to hug her. She hugged her friend back, smiling at Red who had finally spotted her.

"Liz! Oh my God! I'm so sorry! We tried to warn you but you didn't answer!" Jennifer said crushing her against her chest.

"I'm sorry, I slept late and then…" Liz tried to explain.

"No, no, it's not your fault! We should have come as soon as we saw the pictures. If I ever see that son of a bitch…"

"Language Jennifer!" Raymond scolded, putting his phone on the counter beside him. "Go find something to drink for Liz," he said sternly.

It was the first time Liz remembered seeing Red actually scold his daughter; when they were young, he never raised his voice against Jen when she was with them. She felt like witnessing something private.

"Yes Dad," Jen replied walking to the kitchen her back straight.

She didn't have the time to think about what just happened because Red took Jen's place and closed his arms around her.

"I was so worried," he breathed against her neck. "I'm sorry I couldn't come myself, I'm so sorry. I should have been here."

"How did you know?" she asked in a small voice, feeling overwhelmed by his presence.

"You called me. Don't you remember?" he replied raising finally his head to look in her eyes.

"I didn't…" she began. "Oh, I must have hit the call back thing when I dropped the phone. I don't even know how it works," she said.

"Be grateful you did, sweetheart," he said with relief kissing her forehead.

"Oh for God's sake! Get a room!" Jennifer exclaimed coming back with a glass of water.

Her fingers brushing tenderly against his cheek, Liz smiled and left the security of his arms. She went to take the glass Jen was handing her and followed her friend to the couch. Red joined them a few seconds later, taking place next to Liz; he turned off the TV and closed his arm around her shoulders.

"What are you going to do about Tom?" Red asked, tracing circles on her shoulder.

"I don't know. I really don't. One side of me doesn't want to see him again, ever. And the other side keeps whispering that it was a one time event and he had real reasons to be angry," Liz said, shaking her head, confused.

"He tried to punch you in the face," Jen said angrily. As soon as Liz had been put in bed, Dembe had told them what happened.

"I know and I will never forget that, Jen. But we've been together for three years; we're engaged," she said tears in her eyes.

"He tried to hit you. Period. There's nothing that can excuse that," Jen said.

"I can't scrap those years on a whim, I need to think it through."

"Then I have something to show you," Jen said leaving the couch and walking out the room.

"Where's she going?" Liz asked.

Red sighed but didn't answer. He knew perfectly where Jenny had gone. He wasn't sure to be ready for what was coming but knew how stubborn his daughter can be when her mind was set on something. She came back a few minutes later an envelope in hand. She sat back on the couch and turned to Liz, catching Red's eyes behind her. She crooked an eyebrow and he nodded slightly. They had no other choice now.

"What's that?" Liz asked pointing the envelope.

"Look Liz, it won't be easy. I'm sorry but it's gonna hurt like a bitch. But you need to know the truth because you're about to take a decision here and you need to hold all the cards," Jennifer said, opening the envelope.

Slowly, she took out five pictures and laid them on the coffee table facing them.

"Her name is…" Red began.

"Lucy Brooks, I know," she cut him off. "She works with Tom," she said, looking at each picture with calm. "Excuse me," she said after a few seconds of silence.

She left the room without a word and walked down the hall to find an empty room. She didn't know the house, but was pretty sure to find a guest room not far from where she had woken up. She found it two doors down Raymond's room. She closed the door silently behind her and walked to the bed, sitting there, she finally let the tears run from her eyes.

How could have she been so stupid? She was a trained profiler; one of the best at the Bureau and the man she lived with had fooled her. She had never liked that Lucy Brooks girl. From the first time she had met her at Tom's school Christmas Party last year she had known something was wrong with that girl. She had been all over Tom from the moment they walked in and nothing Tom had said about her loneliness and the fact he was her only friend at work, had settled her mind. And now she had proofs. Actuals proofs of his infidelity. And he had dared to call her a cheater!? How could have she been so stupid?

Liz suddenly felt exhausted; she had slept half the day off but couldn't fight the tiredness she felt growing in her. Slipping under the blankets, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

"It was a little harsh, don't you think?" Raymond asked his daughter when Liz left the room.

"There's no easy way to break such a new Dad, and you know it," she replied, worried eyes on the door. "It's better than walk on them, though" she added sarcastically and Raymond chose not to reply. "She will need time to recover, though. Can you do something for her?" she finally asked.

"After everything you said about using my position to pull some strings?" Raymond asked, crooking an eyebrow and smiling smugly.

"Just do it Dad. And stop gloating about it ok?" she replied tiredly.

She had always refused to use his position to help her. She didn't want to be labeled Daddy's girl. But for Liz she was ready to use every ounce of influence her father could muster. Nodding Raymond went to pick his phone from the counter and speed dialed Liz's boss.

"Harold? I'm sorry to bother you on a Sunday evening, but I need a favor. Yes, it's about Agent Milhoan," he said after a few seconds of silence, closing his eyes. "I'm sure you saw the pictures. Her fiancé saw them too," he said sternly, jaw clenched. "No, I won't tell you anything more about that, you'll have to ask her. And that's the point where I ask you that favor. I need you to give her some days off." He listened patiently Assistant Director Cooper complaining about losing his best agent for an undefined amount of time until he had enough. "Look Harold, I tried to ask nicely. Let's try another way. You'll give Agent Elizabeth Milhoan a week off. Find an excuse, dispatch her to my office if you have to, but she needs to rest. Do we understand each other Harold or should I call ADNI Fitch?" he asked his voice an octave lower than usual. "I was sure you'd see it that way. Thank you Harold, have a nice night," he said hanging up.

"Wow Dad, that was… wow," Jen laughed going to hug Raymond.

He kissed her on the forehead and smiled tenderly.

"Raymond?" Dembe interrupted them from the door. He had left at some point during the conversation with Liz.

"Yes Dembe?" Raymond asked letting go of Jenny and tuning toward the bodyguard.

"I spent five years asking you not to call me Miss Jenny anymore, you never complied and you call him 'Raymond'? What's wrong with you Dembe?" Jen asked scandalized.

"Leave him alone Jenny. I threatened to fire him and send him to the FBI office in Juarez if he didn't quit calling me Mr. Reddington or worse," he smiled smugly.

"Oh God do you remember the time he actually called you Mr. The United States Secretary of the Navy Reddington? I thought you would have a stroke," Jennifer laughed rapidly joined by Raymond, looking at the impassible dark skinned man waiting for them to stop laughing at him.

"I sorry Dembe, I'm really sorry!" Raymond said finally able to speak without bursting in a fit of laugh. "But admit it was really awkward," he said, making the man give a faint smile at least. "Sorry, sorry. What did you want?" he asked seriously.

"I just wanted to know if you needed me tonight?" Dembe asked.

"No, you can have your night off. And tomorrow too actually. I'll call the office and tell them to reschedule my meetings. Thank you Dembe, and sorry again," Raymond said feeling a hint of guilt after making fun of his friend.

"Thank you, Raymond."

"I should go too," Jennifer said.

"You're not staying the night?" Red asked, an unexpected unease rising.

"I'm not you Dad. I can't reschedule my day on a whim. Some people have to actually work, you know?" she replied smirking. "I'll be back tomorrow evening," she added kissing her father goodbye before following Dembe on his way out.

Raymond sighed looking around the empty room he was standing in. He had always loved the privacy and loneliness that came with the position. But seeing his daughter walk out his house every now and then made him realized she had grown up. She had a life of her own and couldn't stay with her old daddy when he felt lonely. And there was the Lizzie problem too. She was spending the night here and in the past she had always ended up in his bed.

Sighing again, he poured a glass of Scotch and sat on the couch. His eyes fell immediately on the picture still on the table. Making a pile of them, he put them back in the envelope; he didn't want to see them any more, and if he weren't sure Liz would want them to confront Tom, he would have burnt them.

When his glass stood empty in his hand, he left the room and walked to his room. He didn't know what to do if, when he opened the door, Liz was there. She didn't know the house and the only rooms she had been were the lounge and his bedroom. He slowed his pace and stopped at the door. He opened it silently and looking inside, frowning at the empty bed. Where was she? Leaving the door slightly ajar, he went down the hall to Jen's room finding it empty too. This level had only five doors and two of them were bathroom. He walked to the last door and opened it silently. Inside the room, buried under the blankets, laid Lizzie. He walked silently to the side of the bed and watched her sleep for a moment; taking in the stains of tears on her cheek, he felt his heart tighten.

"I'll make him pay," he breathed in the dim lighted room.

She moved at his soft voice and he froze not wanting to wake her. When she settled back he bent to kiss her on the forehead and she sighed. Leaving the room, he closed the door silently behind him and headed to his own room. He was suddenly exhausted.

You know what's coming next, right?