Into The Danger Zone

Beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…

Consciousness slowly came over Lizzie as the buzzer of her alarm clock rang annoyingly on the night stand. Groaning in displeasure, she leaned over and hit it off with the palm of her hand. Pulling the bedding over her head in a relaxing sigh, she instinctively reached for Tom but when she met his cold pillow, she remembered their fight and the fact that Tom had actually acted on the idea to spent some time apart. Lizzie drew in a sharp breath through her nose, slipping from under the covers and immediately stumbling into the bathroom for her morning shower. Standing under the spray, her thoughts gradually drifted away. Was her marriage over? No…don't go there! Lizzie clenched her teeth and pushed the thought of a life without Tom from her head and soon, she was pondering about organizing another day at the job. Despite her wandering thoughts, Lizzie slowly began to feel the cleansing water's soothing sensation on her naked skin, allowing the warmth of the water to relax her body. She became aware of the moist air, smelled the flowery scent of her shampoo as she massaged it into her scalp and took in the aroma of her body soap as she washed away the remnants of the night. When she stepped out of the shower about ten minutes later, she felt clean, refreshed and ready to greet another day.

…

As Elizabeth Keen parked her car at the FBI's parking lot an hour later, she immediately recognized Raymond Reddington's car. She softly muttered under her breath; after fighting her way through two major traffic jams, she really wasn't in the mood for Raymond Reddington's usual attitude. Lizzie got out of her car, took her briefcase from the passenger's side and hurried up to the tall building. Agent Kessler was waiting for her in the lobby, frowning fiercely, 'You're late Keen…we've been waiting for you!'

Elizabeth arched an apologetic smile, 'I'm glad to see you too Donald! And I'm truly sorry for being late but traffic was hell!'

When they entered the assistant Director's office, Harold Cooper impatiently shifted in his mahogany leather chair, the sunlight streaming in through the blinds at the window behind him, casting a soft glow over the room. The glow extended to the face of Raymond Reddington who's eyes met Lizzie's with his usual penetrating gaze. His gaze pierced her as usual but instantly changed from an irresistible steel into a flowery charm.

'Ah…there's my girl…finally!'

Elizabeth Keen smiled hesitantly and glanced at Red from under her lowered lids; Raymond 'Red' Reddington was definitely the most dangerous man she had ever met but the slight hint of laughter lines bracketing his mouth also suggested character. His eyes had undeniable depths to them but she often questioned herself; were they depths of experience or depths of pain?

Lizzie's thoughts were rudely interrupted when Assistant Director Cooper turned to her, his tone slightly sarcastic, 'Good morning, agent Keen. Glad you could join us.' Cooper paused a moment before continuing, 'Reddington? I guess you're here to tell us the next name on the Blacklist?'

Red slowly propped his elbows on the arm's chairs and made a bridge of his fingertips, 'I'm afraid that's not the case…' His gaze shifted to the wall behind Lizzie for a moment before he continued, 'I'm afraid Lizzie is in danger!'

'In danger from what?' Cooper said stolidly.

'I'm afraid Anslo Garrick spilled the beans about my special interest in Agent Keen… in order to keep her safe, I need to get her away from this place as far as possible!'

Elizabeth stared at Red in mute surprise, but he could almost see the storm cloud that was slowly gathering behind her eyes. Harold Cooper folded his hands on his desk and leaned slightly forward. 'Agent Keen is an FBI agent and I'm confident to say, we have the ample means to keep her safe!' Red and Cooper started a heated discussion about safety and breaches and for a moment Elizabeth held her breath until…'RED! SIR!

Lizzie felt heat spread across her face as she interrupted Red and Cooper's heated discussion.

'What is it Lizzie?' Red asked innocently while Assistant Director Cooper clenched his teeth and glared at her. For a brief moment, there was an awkward silence but then Elizabeth took in a deep breath, '…I don't like it when other people decide what's good for me…'

'I don't like it either…,' Red interrupted her, '….but circumstances are what they are Lizzie. Believe me when I say, you're not safe here!'

Elizabeth had just opened her mouth to reply when sirens started blaring, followed by a thunderous explosion that shook the walls. Cooper cursed and immediately grabbed his phone while Donald Ressler turned to the surveillance monitors that overlooked the FBI's building. At the Parking Lot the situation was chaotic and surreal. There was a lot of blood and people were dragging others away from where the blast had happened. One agent tried to pick up his partner but as he lifted him and was trying to walk him away, it appeared his partner's leg wasn't connected, it was dangling.

…

The bomb that had killed 6 FBI-agents and injured a dozen more, was the simplest of sorts. Twenty-five sticks of dynamite had been wrapped with gray duct tape under a parked VW van. It had exploded to cause a diversion. In the chaos that followed the explosion, Gina Zanetakos had managed to get away from her guards. That morning, she had been brought to the Post-Office for questioning and when she was brought outside to be transferred back to prison, the bomb had exploded.

'OK, I have to ask this…,' Cooper said solemnly. 'Reddington…do you know who has planted this bomb?' Red threw his head back and laughed amusingly but then he adamantly shook his head, 'No Harold…not every bomb that explodes has my name on it!' Cooper shuffled uncomfortable in this seat. He glanced briefly at Kessler, 'I want the highest security levels!' Donald nodded and grabbed his cell to place the order.

'What do you think will happen now? Lizzie asked flatly. 'Who has something to gain if Gina Zanetakos) hits the streets again?'

'Well, I know of one person…,' Red said softly, referring to Tom being Gina's lover, but he immediately closed his mouth when Lizzie's glared angrily at him. Reddington chuckled amusingly but then contemplated Harold Cooper for a long, silent moment, then he nodded, 'Do you have a surveillance tape?'

Lizzie, Red and Cooper watched numbly as Donald Kessler got up and inserted a DVD into the player, pressing 'PLAY'. As they watched the footage of that morning, Lizzie felt a hollow feeling in her stomach, as she realized there was more to come. Much more…

…

The first news of the bombing at the FBI Headquarters came half an hour into Tom's flight back to Washington DC. He sat in a row of three and saw the news immediately after he'd switched on his seatback screen. A faint smile graced the corners of his lips as he switched off the screen and grabbed a magazine.

Tom Keen had used his excellent knowledge of the English language to pursue a career in teaching. As a graduate from Washington State University, his mom couldn't have been prouder.

'Beverages Sir?'

Tom looked up, 'Yeah, coffee please. Cream, hold the sugar.'

The flight attendant handed Tom a cup of coffee, a plastic spoon and two creamers. He took a sip and closed his eyes with a relaxing sigh. Just a few more hours and he was back in Washington; the capital city where the love of his life was waiting for him!

…