Elizabeth glanced at the books stacked neatly beside her. After last night or more to the point, what happened last night... she was uncertain whether or not to delve into any romance novels as yet.
After breakfast this morning, Red had assisted her to the back garden after she had vehemently vetoed his suggestion of the front gazebo. He had provided tea and a radio before leaving to make a few calls.
She glanced around the scenery offered, enjoying the array of glorious flowers blossoming every where she looked.
In the silence of the beautiful surrounding it was much easier to stave off the unsettling events of her dream.
Shaking off the sense of déjà vu, she opened her new book, but it took four chapters before she could really immerse herself into the tawdry tale.
She barely noticed Dembe passing, truth told, but managed a smile of welcome before her eyes fell back to the pages.
She got lost in the story, listening to the soft wind and birds chirping over head, connecting with the character who was also outside enjoying the spring afternoon.
She caught movement in the corner of her eye, glancing over. She immediately recognized the intruder into her domain, scrunching her nose adorably when Silas came waltzing around the hedge.
"Hey Trouble." he smiled in greeting. "To the sex part yet?"
"Nope, but I'm closing in on it." she grinned, then sipped her tea. "Are you?"
"Faster than you are." he quipped, leaning into his clenched fist and squeezing it rhythmically. "Behind the hedge is my ideal meeting place."
She pulled her face, "Self gratification doesn't count." she rolled her eyes. Her brows suddenly knitted together as she covertly glanced at the hedge in question.
"Says you." he laughed quietly, noticing her interest in his former place of residency. "Jealous?" he leaned over, tapping her cast. Indicating even if she was of a mind... her injury would hamper any progress.
"No." her mouth curved in a catlike manner. "I don't have to do it myself. I can get someone to do it for me." she batted her eyes coquettishly.
"And yet... " the man tsked, "you're here every night."
"Yeah," she snorted, "in pain."
Silas sighed woefully, leaning into the bench post, "Excuses, excuses."
"Puhlease." she scoffed. "Eating has been a challenge. Sex... that would be a miracle."
"Because you got any at all?" the man laughed silently, his shoulders shaking.
"No, you dolt." she snapped. "Just the thought makes me clench–"
"You're actually supposed to do that, you know." he informed her knowingly. "It's the female bodies natural response when fuc–"
"...In pain" she interrupted, then sighed. "I didn't realize what a–"
"Devilishly handsome man I am."
"...Depraved floozy you are." she finished, her mouth pulling at the corner.
"Was that a compliment," he cocked his head in question, "because it sounded like one."
"Well, you are good at it." she had to agree.
"I'm amazing at all I attempt."
"And yet," the woman sat her chin in her palm, her brow knitting, "you're here every morning."
"But am I here every night? No, I am not." he taunted. "Besides, I get paid handsomely to protect your scrawny ass, so I'm sure to be here for the shift change."
"Need that large check for those high priced girls, do ya?" she smirked.
The guard smiled in pleasure at the unexpected quip coming from her. "You're growing Grasshopper."
Liz's brows crinkled on her forehead, her head tilting, a chill running up her spine.
"I'd dare to say, you cut the muster..." he grinned, "for once."
She jerked in place, her wide eyes falling on the man, before they darted quickly around the expanse of yard.
"What's wrong?" Silas scowled, her manner alerting him to something amiss. His hand dropped to his weapon.
"N-Nothing..." she looked around nervously. "I don't think?"
"This is no time for secrets." the guard gritted his annoyance.
"I-I'm fine." she scratched at the shivers coursing down her neck, her fingers fluttering along her nape.
Silas narrowed his eyes, looking around with the eyes of a trained observer. All seemed normal.
His scowl turned critical, his instincts kicking in. "I'm going to make my rounds." he notified his charge, suddenly wanting to run a security check but also hoping to calm her by going on with his daily activities, but it didn't seem to help.
"Don't go far... okay?" she asked before he got a few feet away.
"You won't leave my sight." he assured. "I promise."
She took a shaky breath, but did relax some. But not enough for his liking. Something was up with her, obviously.
Something had frightened her. As her guard, Silas needed to know what the threat was.
Damn right he was keeping an eye on her.
The burly man walked to a nearby hedge, pulling the walkie from his belt. He watched the girl fidget in her seat.
She sat her book aside, rubbing her palms against the blanket over her thighs, taking a couple of deep breaths. She glanced down at the blanket then tossed it aside along with a few other items around her, as if clearing space.
"I think your presence is required." Silas spoke into the radio.
Red came out the back, watching Elizabeth as he neared. He could tell from thirty feet away, the woman was strung out.
Correction, she was wired. She jerked her head to the right when a guard made his usual pass by, jittery as hell.
Red couldn't fathom what the hell had brought this on.
Even after her... eventful night, she seemed perfectly fine at breakfast.
A few times, she had been unable to meet his gaze directly, true, but basically all had seemed normal.
He caught a glimpse of Silas out the corner of his eye, weapon in hand. The guard was focused intently on Elizabeth, sparing Red a glance.
Red trusted the man implicitly to do his job and do it exceedingly well. But some sort of vibe had been transmitted for him to be on 'high alert'.
Red walked up behind the woman, laying his hand on her shoulder.
The woman screamed, jerking out from under his touch. "No!" she scrambled away quickly, backing along the bench. " Silas!" she screeched loudly.
The man in question bolted around the large bush, running for her, gun raised, scanning the nearby fences and houses as he neared.
Red scrambled just as fast, grasping her arm seconds before she fell off the curve of the seat.
"I'm not going!" she struggled in his hands, her voice tinged with hysterics, "...Let go!" she pushed frantically on Red's forearms, screaming again as loudly as she was able. "Help!"
"Elizabeth!" Red shouted above her terror, to get her attention.
Guards came barreling around corners, weapons drawn, advancing on their position.
"Lizzy!" Red snapped, shaking her once.
The blue eyes darted to his face, filled with panic. In seconds, the woman crumbled visibly, her hands grasping Red's bare forearms in a death grip.
"Oh, thank God..." she exhaled in relief, her eyes closing. "It's you." she was never so glad to see anyone in her entire life.
"Sweetheart, what the hell is going on?" he drew her up, surprised as hell when she clutched him, grasping his shirt in her fingers.
"Sweetheart..." she repeated quietly, dropping her face into his chest. His familiar scent and hold, comforting her instantly.
Red held the woman tightly, bewilderment in his expression as he sought Silas out.
The older man shrugged his own confusion, returning to his duty. He lifted the walkie, both men listening to the chatter as one guard after another cleared each individual area.
Even neighboring properties security gave an all clear on their sides, finding nothing amiss in the entire area.
Which left Red more than baffled by Liz's uncustomary reaction and quick vocal exclamation.
He cupped her chin, pulling her from her hiding place, forcing her to meet his eyes, "Lizzy, tell me what's wrong." She shook her head trying to duck back into hiding before Red stopped her. "Tell me, now."
"I thought..." she replied shakily, "I thought you were Tom."
"Tom?" Red scowled. "Did you see him?" he snarled, his look speaking volumes.
Silas checked his men methodically, but the radio only echoed back... 'all clear'. The guard hovered, protecting his client.
"No." she muttered dejectedly. "I..."
"What happened?" Red frowned, then narrowed his eyes slightly when he took in her embarrassed expression. "Was it your dream? Was he there? In your dream."
She blinked up at him, her mouth agape, "Y-Yes..." she nodded slowly.
"He approached you, here." Red pointed to the covered seating area.
"No," she shook her head, "the front gazebo."
Red snapped his eyes towards the head of security.
Silas gently shook his head negatively, signifying no intruders had breached his security.
Red waved him off with a curt gesture, "Tell them to stand down." the guard lifted the radio, then hesitated. "She had a bad dream last night, and something set her off. Something she saw, heard..." Red rapidly explained the situation as it now stood.
"Like déjà vu." Silas understood.
"Yes, tell them to stand down."
Silas spoke into the radio, calling for his men to return to their posts.
Red sat the woman down on the long bench. "What happened, Lizzy?"
She repeated her dream from the beginning, even the part with Silas, eating her up.
"That does sound like something I'd say." the guard nodded agreeably, then scowled darkly at Red's subtle shift of eyes.
"What?" the man threw his hands out to the side. "I only meant, I can understand why she felt it was so real."
Red's jaw worked in agitation, but he held his tongue, focusing his attention back on the woman beside him.
"Then what happened?"
"Tom pulled me out of the gazebo," she frowned, "then dragged me to his car and..."
Red listened intently to each detail. She had included how Silas had leaned against the gazebo when they'd had their repartee. Several questions came to mind concerning Tom and his actions.
Something about the narrative didn't set right with him.
It was a goodly distance to the street. Even in her dream, how had one of the guards not noticed her abduction? Did she feel that unsafe here? Did she not trust them to protect her?
"How did he get you to his car?" he interrupted her narrative.
Liz tilted her head in confusion at the odd question, but pointed to the front. "The gap between the gate and the fence in front."
She said it like it should have occurred to him, that he should have known what she was talking about.
"Show me." Red slid her to the scooter before following behind her. Silas walked slowly beside the him, the man's weapon hung loosely by his side.
"You think Tom knows where she is?" the guard frowned.
"No." Red shook his head negatively. "But I do think that her subconscious has found a breach in her security and it was bothering her."
"A gap..." Silas replied slowly, "in the fence." the man's tone allowed his skepticism.
"Just like you seeing a point of entry that needs to be guarded." Red explained. "She believes there to be a gap big enough that Tom can take her away, yes."
Silas's brow furrowed darkly.
"Or at the very least, she needs to see that there is nothing there, and it was only in the dream." Red continued. "She will find her safety and security again."
They trailed after the woman, encountering two guards along the way. "Joe, David, I may need your assistance, if you please." Red waved them to join the parade.
The two men fell in line, stopping when Liz hit a shaded part in the fence just a few feet away from the gazebo.
"Where is it sweetheart." Red came alongside her, looking where the stone wall met the wrought iron fence.
"There," she pointed, "in the ivy."
Red walked to where she indicated, lifting the lush greenery then felt his blood run cold.
She was correct.
There was a gap.
A big one, enough to fit two people. Especially when they were Tom and Lizzy's size.
Silas's tone was pure ice as he turned towards his men, "How the hell did you miss this?!" he demanded an immediate answer.
"How the hell did you?" Red's tone was more than frigid.
Silas turned to Elizabeth, kneeling in front of her cart. The woman cocked her head, confused by the man's formal stance, and even more, the words he said.
"Ms. Keen... this is entirely my fault." his eyes and face were sincere, his expression grave. "I will see that this oversight is corrected..."
"And you will see to that, today." Red gritted. "I don't care what you have to do. I want it locked up tight."
Silas glanced at the man before returning his attention. "This is inexcusable." he shook his head slowly. "I have no explanation to give you. Hell..."
"Yes, sir." Joe replied seriously halting any further words for the moment. "Mr. Reddington, we will see to that immediately."
Liz looked between the men, startled by the seriousness of their tones and how they addressed Red.
"I want the rest of the grounds checked as well." Red looked at all three men. "And I mean, all of it."
David and Joe set off, alerting security to check their sections for breach in the property fence, leaving the three alone.
"This will be fixed Lizzy, I promise." Red assured her and was pleased to find some ease in her shoulders. "You will be safe here."
"You're all freaking me out." she frowned. "Stop it." she stressed. "It was just an oversight. Big deal."
Red gestured to the gazebo but hesitated in his steps. He glanced back, but the woman had not moved one iota. "Not a big deal?" he repeated her lie.
"I will not have you afraid while you are staying here. Most especially in a spot you enjoy." Red lifted expectant brows. "Come here," he pointed, "sit with me."
"Get back in the saddle cowgirl." Silas nudged her forward.
"What the hell is it with you and all these idioms, metaphors and shit?" Liz screwed her face up at the guard but rolled her cart towards Red without thought.
"I find them to be wonderful distractions." Silas grinned finally as they edged in under the large gazebo. "A red herring, if you will."
Liz scoffed disgustedly, rolling her eyes. Red bit the inside of cheek to keep the smile from his lips. He was in no mood to be amused at present.
"Make him stop."
"Why?" he asked almost sullenly, having well noted the fact Silas had gotten her in a better mood faster than he himself could. "It worked, didn't it?" he waved at the roof of the gazebo over their head.
"Oh..." she shrugged, glancing about her surrounding only now realizing exactly where she sat, "I guess it did."
She took Red's hand, sliding to the bench, though she did inch closer to him.
One step at a time. He thought.
"Now, what happened after you left the property?"
She told him the gory details as best she remembered. How Silas had shot out the window, how she deflected Tom's return fire, hesitating before admitting that Tom had hit her temple with his weapon.
The man's eye twitched.
Where Lizzy sometimes blurred the lines where Tom Keen was concerned, it seemed that her subconscious mind was well aware of what a bastard Tom could be.
"Then what happened?"
She told them of their dream conversation, or more to the point, Tom's incessant babbling and ability to leave more questions than answers.
If she only listened to her inner voice more often, she'd be rid of the man. Red realized.
But then, maybe she was? She had screamed for help. She had said she wouldn't leave with Tom.
Maybe she had finally seen the man's true colors? Saw him for the asshole he was?
But it didn't explain why she had an orgasm?
Unless...
This could go a couple of different ways.
Tom had hurt her, badly, in the dream. And because she was already hurting, it had manifested itself in her body, releasing in the only way available.
Or...
Tom had fucked her in the dream.
And he was gathering by her earlier response and attempt to flee, that maybe it wasn't consensual.
It would also explain why she could not hold Red's gaze for a very long period of time.
It was a strong possibility that she felt guilty because she'd climaxed due to what had essentially been rape, and felt betrayed by her own body.
Or perhaps she had climaxed for a whole other reason...
Which was, that she had wanted it. Had wanted to be with Tom intimately. Regardless that he'd hurt her.
How confusing it must be for a woman to feel such conflicting emotions.
He knew Liz was young and confused by everything happening around her. She was searching for a foundation, for solidity. How cold and empty it must be to accept that sort of comfort, from a man like Tom Keen.
But Tom was familiar, something she knew... when the rest of her world was falling apart.
They would never agree or see eye to eye on such a man.
Ever.
Unless of course, she wrote the prick off completely. Would they ever be on the same page, he wondered?
But first things, first.
Making her feel secure again.
"Did he hurt you in your dream?"
"He hit me across the face wit–"
"Besides that." Red interrupted. "Did he harm you after that?"
"No..."
Red held her eyes, and wasn't the least bit surprised when she dropped them to her lap, fidgeting with her bracelet.
She was either upset by what had happened or she was lying, and Tom had done more in that dream than she was telling him.
Elizabeth wished he would stop the questions because she did not want to go beyond a certain point. Her dream had taken such an unusual path...it was something personal she simply could not share at this time... if ever.
"Then what happened?"
"You came." Liz hesitated visibly, the connotation implied brought back vivid memories.
Silas shifted his bulky frame turning his head quickly to hide a knowing smile.
"I mean, that is to say..." she hastily corrected, flushing before lifting those blue eyes, to a patiently waiting Red Reddington. "You arrived on the scene," she nodded, finding the statement more acceptable, "you shot Tom." her thoughts wandered momentarily. "Dembe dragged him away before he... he was gasping..." she remembered.
"And then...?" he prompted.
"You got the cuffs off."
She rubbed at the phantom feeling until Red placed his hand over hers. He frowned hard at the now chafed skin, rubbing it gently, before bowing his head, placing his lips over the imaginary injury.
Elizabeth seemed suddenly unsettled which the man did not miss.
He had triggered something, but what?
"Can you continue?"
"Y-You brought me home..." she stuttered, watching his fingers dance gently over her wrist, "you helped me."
"I always will..."
She blinked rapidly, the words stunning her because they were the exact ones he used in the dream. She vacantly nodded, watching as he kissed her wrist yet again.
This had happened in her dream as well. He wished he knew what the hell happened after the fact. Because her reaction to his touch, the intimacy, was most telling.
Had this been Tom's way of 'apologizing' for his earlier indiscretion? Most abusive males tended towards such actions.
"What made you startle awake?" he gently rubbed his thumb along her wrist, focusing on her reaction.
"W-What?" she stammered.
"Did something else happen? You woke rather abruptly."
"You... I..." She darted her eyes away, "I-I don't remember..."
"Focus." Red sat forward slowly, lifting her wrist to his mouth, directly in the line of her sight. "Did I hurt you in some way?" he asked.
"You didn't hurt me, you..." she stressed, then blushed.
"What?" he kissed the scarring again, drawing her attention back to his action. "Let me help you, sweetheart." he genuinely urged, her cooperation needed in this instance.
Elizabeth's mouth fell agape, her eyes large and vacant.
"Tell me what you need..." the silky proclamation shook her to her core.
He must know! He was saying the same words! How could he not know?
Red felt a slight change in the aura about the woman. Whether it was good or bad, he had no clue as yet. "Tell me what you need to feel safe again. Tell me how I can help you."
She opened her mouth, then closed it rapidly. The lovely eyes held a measure of hope that had not been there before. He was on the right track. Footsteps behind them, broke the spell.
Damn it! Red dropped his head in frustration. He had been so close.
The cook was announcing lunch and Elizabeth was never so pleased to be given a reprieve.
Red watched her disappear into the house, his thoughts private.
"You know she's not telling you everything, right?" Silas asked in the most innocent manner this man could ever muster.
"I picked up on that, yes." Red disdained. "Leave me alone."
"I thought you'd be a little pleased.." the burly man ignored the directive completely.
"About her having a nightmare..." Red snapped his head to the man, surprised to find amusement dancing in the grayish blue eyes.
"No, about the part where you rescued her." the man air quoted with his beefy fingers.
"Excuse me?" Red dared him to say one more word.
Silas smiled sweetly, "You got her out. You saved her from Tom." he explained patiently, eyeing his employer expectantly. He indicated his own person... her own personal guard as it were, with a sweep of his hands up and down his bulky frame.
"And..." Red's tone was chilly.
"And what do you think happened after that?" Silas rolled his hand in the air, like it would help Red's thought process.
Red's expression was completely blank, on purpose. Of course he was following the line of thought and with any other woman... but this was Lizzy.
The guard seemed well and truly miffed that Red Reddington was not following his train of thought.
"She had a sex dream about you, you idiot." Silas blurted, then corrected his tone, "I mean... boss."
Red stopped in his tracks, his shoe scuffing loudly on the pavement due to his abrupt stop, his head whipping around jerkily.
"Besides the fact that it's obvious." Silas screwed his face up, looking at Red like he was an idiot. "She can remember everything up until that point? Yeah, right." the man scoffed. "Plus, I read it."
Having said his piece, the guard was ready to make a discrete exit.
Red reached out, snagging Silas's arm, stopping him in his tracks.
Silas looked at the tight grasp Red had on him and laughed. "I can multi-task, can't you?"
"You read what? Asshole." Red added for emphasis.
"It's in one of her novels." Silas took no offense, leaning against the stone pillar behind him, crossing his legs at the ankles. "Aside from the hole in the fence, which I agree was tickling at her subconscious mind, acting as a trigger." he agreed with Red's initial assessment.
"Everything that happened, occurred in one of her books." Silas crossed his arms over his chest, smiling knowingly.
"A bad man takes the woman," he continued, "the man she trusts saves her, he cares for her, he fucks her." the guard bobbed his head happily. "I like that part." he confided.
"If you want to know what you did to her in that dream, it's the book with the bright yellow cover." the man chuckled quietly when Red unconsciously looked towards the house, the want to see that book, very prevalent in his eyes.
"I think it's around page, two hundred sixty-nine." the man smirked. "Which is perfect if you ask me since you, I mean, the character, eats pussy." Silas nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I really like that part."
The guard laughed then walked off, heading for the fence line leaving Red to his own devices.
Reddington pulled himself from his jumbled thoughts, heading inside, unsure what to say, do, or even, feel at this point.
He would prefer to believe Silas's version of the tale. But he also knew the reality of the situation.
Liz was caught between the two most prominent men in her life. In her drugged state, her subconscious mind had taken a scene from a book and adapted it to her current predicament.
It was understandable that she had transferred himself and Tom into the roles of the characters in the novel.
The woman was embarrassed and who wouldn't be? It would explain her reluctance to make eye contact, certainly.
She was young and inexperienced in all things, let alone life. But her reluctance to face the situation as it now stood, hampered him in his efforts to help her get through it.
No matter her feelings on it, he didn't know how to make it better.
She obviously wasn't ready to talk about it, and he wasn't sure if he should approach the subject.
Red sauntered into the dining room, taking his place at the head of the table beside her. He shot her a reassuring smile.
Right now all he could do is pay attention and be available to her, should she need to unload her burden.
And be supportive, no matter the outcome.