Part One

There had been many moments in which Tom had questioned his decisions to accept Scottie Hargrave's offer to join her Grey Matters division. From the first moment he'd hated the organization that had nearly destroyed his family, but it had been Liz that had encouraged him to put himself in the position to learn about the woman that might be his mother without having to rely on anyone else for the intel. In the wake of everything that had happened with her own family, she had said one of them deserved answers. Now it was Halcyon that he was using to save Liz.

"You two are going in blind if you go in now," his boss reminded him as he buttoned his shirt over the lightweight body armour he wore under it.

"We can't wait for Dumont to hack those feeds," Tom answered. "The two of us can slip in easy enough, bypass the guards watching for a clumsy swat team, and kill the leaders. As soon as they're down and the hostages are safe the feds can do whatever they want. They get the public glory and you get a nice bonus for your team handling it without casualties to civilians. Win-win."

Scottie didn't look entirely convinced.

"Ryker offices out of this building," Rowan said as she skimmed over the floor plan. "Isn't he the one that struck down our deal last month?"

The acting head of Halcyon Aegis crunched her nose up at the thought, disgust flittering across her expression before it settled back out. "Make this work. And Tom?" He turned from where he was checking ammunition and holstering his sidearm. "Don't lose focus. I'm not an idiot. I know you're going in for your wife, but I'm sanctioning this for the company. If I have to send back up after the two of you, you're not going to like it. Remember that."

"How could I forget?" he grumbled and tugged his jacket around his shoulders. "Rowan?"

"Ready when you are," she answered and tucked what he thought was a third gun in the inside of her boot. She had turned out to be surprisingly easy to work with, and Scottie had an eye for talent, or at least she liked to say she did. To be fair, Tom was much more willing to work with Nez Rowan than Matias Solomon who had come slinking back at some point while he and Liz had been held by Kirk. Tom had only run into him once since he had accepted Scottie's offer and it had been anything but pleasant. They technically worked on the same side, so it was best if neither put a bullet in the other's head, but Tom wasn't willing to stake his life on the idea that Solomon was loyal enough to Halcyon not to kill him. Instead he just put in a request to never be put on assignment with him and Scottie had more or less agreed to it. That was that, with the exception of finding a way to tell Liz that the man that had nearly gotten both she and their daughter killed was alive, well, and working in the same organization as Tom was. That conversation wouldn't be fun.

"What was your wife doing in that building anyway?"

Tom glanced back to find Rowan's eyes on him and he swallowed hard. This was supposed to be a good day. "Meeting with someone about the process to get her full pardon from the whole Cabal fiasco."

"Wrong place, wrong time, huh?"

"Story of our lives sometimes. We need to move."

"She's going to kill you for going after her."

Tom shot his partner a look. "Let me handle my wife, would you?"

Rowan smirked. "It's adorable that you think you can."

The morning had erupted into chaos before Liz had even made it to the office she had been directed to in order to speak to someone about the process of getting her record fully expunged. The gunshots had echoed down the hall and she'd found herself unarmed - her personal firearm left at home since she wasn't technically supposed to be carrying - and took cover. She had been missed through the first sweep of the floor, but there would be others. This was a professional infiltration with men getting past the security and putting them down. Most of the individuals officing out of this building were politicians and highly ranked military members, none of which would have been armed. What they were after, Liz wasn't sure, but she would find out.

Her first step was to get an alert out, preferably to the task force. She hadn't heard any alarms going off, but that didn't mean that someone hadn't put out a silent alarm. She just hoped word hadn't reached Halcyon yet, or if it had that Scottie had talked sense into her husband. They had a delicate balance to try to make sure neither of them were in an extremely volatile situation at the same time, which, theoretically, left Agnes with a better chance of having at least one parent if the worst happened.

Liz pressed her back against a wall at where the hall turned at a corner, voices causing her to freeze. She strained her ears, listening for sounds that they would turn rather than go straight. She didn't dare breathe as they moved past her and down the hall. She waited a beat before risking the move down the hall, aiming for an office to duck inside. There'd be a phone. Something. Anything.

The office was empty, which wasn't surprising considering she had only barely missed the sweep of infiltrators. She moved immediately to the desk and picked up the receiver to the desk phone. It was dead, the lines having been cut. She glared at it like that would do any good. The hard lines were down, there was no cell service… None of this boded well for what these guys wanted with their hostages.

Her gaze swept over the desk, looking for anything useful, but her eyes caught hold of a photo of a little girl she would have recognized anywhere. She was a little older now, but those eyes were just the same.

A sound caught her attention and it turned, finding the same eyes peeking out from the closet. "Liz? Are you here to rescue us?"

"Beth," Liz breathed. "What are you even doing here?"

"I came to see where my dad works and then the gunshots started. He told me to stay in the closet and he'd be right back. He hasn't come back. There was a lot of yelling."

Liz closed her eyes and pulled in a steadying breath. Her dad was likely with the rest of the hostages by now. "Did you hear what they were saying?"

The little girl shrugged. "They knew his name. I don't know."

She was calm. Far calmer than a eleven or twelve year old had the right to be. Hadn't the poor kid been through enough? "It's going to be okay, Beth. We're going to get through this."

"I think they wanted him. Why would they want my dad?"

"I don't know, sweetie, but he's going to be okay."

"You promise?"

"Yes. I promise."

The police and feds were already there, which wasn't surprising. Tom even thought he spotted Liz's team trying to tear apart the red tape to get through. It'd take them longer than it would he and Rowan. They weren't asking for permission.

There was a blind spot that Dumont had directed them to. If they'd brought a team in they would have been spotted immediately, but Tom and Rowan slipped by easily. It was early and many people that would have just been on their way to work when the building was taken were stuck outside as spectators, which left fewer people for them to round up. That meant fewer people to get caught in the crossfire, which made their jobs easier.

"Lines are cut, internal cameras hacked, but Dumont can get past that faster than the feds outside," Rowan said very quietly.

"Did you see anything on the roster that might be what they're after?" Tom asked.

"There's a lot of high-level military personnel here. Lots of security clearances. Could be a number of things."

Tom frowned and screwed the suppressed on his gun and tapped the comm. "You sure they won't hear-"

"Really," Dumont huffed on the other end, "your lack of faith is exhausting, Keen. These are the best of the best. I'll be into the security feeds and you two can waltz through as easy as a walk in the park."

"I'm sure you will, but we don't have time to wait," Tom said tightly.

"See you on the other side," Rowan offered and started in one direction, leaving Tom to go the opposite way.

Technically he wasn't there to specifically look for Liz. He was there to diffuse the situation which would, in turn, keep his wife safe. Finding her, knowing she was safe, would make focusing on the job at hand much easier. His goal was to circle around the northern side of the building to the room that they would most likely be keeping the hostages in. That didn't mean he wasn't watching for her.

Movement caught his eye and he raised his gun, two shots taking the black-clad man to the ground before he could make a noise. Tom moved over to him, crouched, and found no pulse. A quick check showed nothing to identify him, which wasn't surprising. When he was out in the field he left everything either at home or at the base. His ID's, his wedding ring, everything. No one would be able to ID him off of anything he carried on his person into the field, and these men wouldn't be any different. It had been worth a shot though.

"I'm in," Dumont announced, sounding very pleased with himself. "Rowan, you've got a set of three coming around on your five o'clock. Keen, if you don't pick it up, man, you're going to get caught between two patrols going through offices. Get moving."

"I hear you," Tom hissed and moved silently down the hall, his footsteps lighter than any other man of his height ever should have been. He slipped by, hearing the others that Dumont had warned him about an he dodged into an office, closing the door softly behind him and waiting until they had passed.

"Hey, there's a lady and a kid on the floor above you. Looks an awful lot like your wife."

"Where? Exactly."

"Moving around towards the northern stairwell. You're -"

"Thanks." He looked down both directions of the hallway before taking off towards the stairwell, ignoring the grumbling Dumont was doing in his ear, likely echoing Scottie who was, thankfully, not on comms. He listened for Rowan's updates, making sure she didn't need backup where she was. She knew better than to gripe at him for going off-book for Liz. At least she hadn't lied to herself about why he was there.

Tom took the stairs three at a time, catching the railing to propel himself around the landing and up the second half of the stairs. He pulled back just in time as the door slammed open from the other side, his gun coming up immediately only to see familiar blue eyes looking back at him. He lowered it, but not before the girl at Liz's side gave a small squeak and Liz all but dragged her in, moving so Tom could ease the door closed. The three of them stood there for a long moment, no one daring to breathe, as they waited to see if she'd been heard.

Finally Liz loosed a long breath, stepped forward, and smacked him hard on the shoulder with the heel of her hand. "What are you doing here?" she hissed lowly, her voice clipped like she was trying to remind herself there was a ten year old less than five feet away.

"Ow. Seriously?"

"We have a rule," she kept on and he thought she might hit him again. "If one of us is in danger the other does not go after them. Do you want Agnes to be an orphan?"

Tom tilted his head a little. "I don't plan on dying today. Do you?"

That made the little girl snicker and Tom cracked a careful smile. Liz managed to hold her frustrated expression for another good twenty seconds before her shoulders sagged. "Idiot."

"C'mon. You'd have done the same for me. Oh wait. You have done the same for me." His smirk grew a little and Liz rolled his eyes at him. "We might as well admit neither of us is very good at keeping this particular rule. I think as long as Agnes comes out with two parents at the end of the day, it's okay though." He waited until she nodded before his gaze drifted back, his smile not fading. "Who's this?"

"Is he your friend?" the little girl asked and Liz's entire expression softened for her.

"He is. Beth, this is Tom. Tom, this is Beth Ryker."

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it, so he just plastered a smile on his face and stuck his hand out to shake hers. "Nice to meet you, Beth."

"Do you guys work together?"

"Sometimes."

"Liz saved my life once."

Tom's smile only broadened. "She's saved mine a few times too." He straightened, turning towards Liz to start working on a plan when his comm buzzed loudly in his ear. He winced, hand going to it. "What the hell, Dumont?" he growled

"...blocked… Rowen… there…"

Dark blue eyes blinked hard as he struggled to make sense of the garbled transmission. "Dumont? Man, I can't hear you. Can you hear me?"

"...know you're there… out."

"Shit," Tom swore and Liz looked ready to fuss at him, but stopped as soon as he turned a look on her. "They hacked Dumont."

"Please tell me you brought a team with you."

"A team wasn't getting in. It's just Rowan and me. Dumont was watching our backs through the feeds, but my guess is that he doesn't even have that now."

"Okay," Liz breathed and looked down at Beth, her hand going to the little girl's shoulder. "We're going to be okay."

She didn't look convinced. "What does that mean? What's going to happen?"

"It means that I'm going to get you guys to the exit and Liz is going to get you out of here."

"My dad-"

"My partner and I will get him. What's his name?"

"Daniel. He's a general."

"Your dad's General Ryker?"

"Yeah. Do you know him?"

"Not personally." He looked over at Liz. "That's the guy Scottie wanted us to watch out for."

"Let me guess, he pulls the strings on some sort of deal she wants to work?"

Tom shrugged. "Something like that. I didn't really care as long as it got me to you."

Liz nodded. "Okay, here's the plan. We're going to get you out, Beth, and then Tom and I are going to go back and help his friend Nez. Nez is trying to rescue your dad and everyone else, but we can't help her until you're safe, okay?"

"Okay."

"So we have to hurry." Liz took her hand and Beth followed after her like she'd known her all her life. She stopped next to Tom and the argument died on his lips at the look she gave him. "I couldn't keep them from taking her once. I'll be damned if someone hurts her here."

He knew that tone. Arguing was pointless, so instead he just nodded. "Better get going."

Beth's hand was gripped tightly in hers as they all but ran down the hall. Tom led the way to the entrance he and Rowan had used. The plan was to let Beth slip out there, give her Tom's comm, and have her call for help. Liz and her husband would go back in and do what they could to rescue those being held while they waited for backup.

That had been the plan. They got as far as the window when they heard people moving down the way. "You're going to be okay," Liz promised as she eased the girl out, glancing back to Tom who motioned for her to hurry.

"Are you going to be okay?" Beth asked worriedly.

"We're going to be just fine. Remember what I said?"

"Let the people on the other side of this know once it clicks on-" she repeated, holding the comm up - "and then talk to Agent…"

"Ressler. Donald Ressler," Liz repeated. "You're going to do great and Tom and I are going to make sure your dad is okay."

Beth nodded, the movement jerky and forced as she dropped to the ground outside. Liz waited where she was until she'd made it past the open area and to the cover. She'd be home free to get to the feds at that point.

"Liz? We have to go."

She turned, trying to crush the sinking feeling at Tom's expression. Instead she nodded, gripping the gun that Tom had given her to use, and they moved in sync down the hall.

The voices were closing in and one in particular made her pause. "Wait," she hissed.

"There isn't time," Tom countered, reaching out for her arm. "Liz!"

She slipped his grip and eased around to the corner of the hall so she could hear them as they came closer.

"...may have come recommended, but when our guys start showing up dead on your first job, something's not right."

"I'm not questioning that there's an issue, just that it isn't with me."

Liz felt her breath catch and her gaze jerked back to look at Tom. His expression had darkened considerably and he mouthed a curse as he motioned for her to follow him. She moved, feeling a little stiff even as she did, and he took hold of her blazer sleeve to all but drag her forward. They needed to get out of sight before the people caught up to them. They were out and in the open. Even if they took a few down with them, they'd be dead just after the bullets started flying if they were spotted.

Tom pulled her into an office, easing the door closed behind them and all but pushing her out of the viewpoint for anyone passing by the window in the door. They stood like that for a long moment, Liz's back against the wall and Tom right up against her, as if he would have a chance to protect her if they came in.

After a long moment she released a breath she hadn't realized that she was holding. "That was Solomon. That was Matias Solomon."

"Double-crossing little bastard," Tom growled.

"Because he's ever really been on the same side as us?" Her husband blinked hard and she knew that expression. She knew it and she hated it. "Tom, what haven't you told me?"

He swallowed, looking a little sheepish. "I've been trying to find a way… He's still working for Halcyon, just not directly with me."

"Are you serious? Scottie took him back and you thought that was the thing to keep from me?" she hissed, the level of her voice barely controlled. She was going to kill him. If they lived through this, she was going to kill him.

"I was going to. I just didn't know how," he defended. "I'm sorry. It's… We weren't ever supposed to cross paths." He shook his head. "Scottie said we'd regret it if she had to send in backup. She did, and he's screwing us."

Liz looked up, her glare fixed on him. "Never, never again. Do you hear me?"

"I know," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

She swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his guilt almost tangible between them. She knew he got it, but she just wish he'd gotten it earlier. She had to remind herself every now and then that the truth, the utter and open honesty he tried to keep with her, was still relatively new to him.

The door slamming open caused them both to jump and Tom whipped in front of her, gun out and positioning himself in the way of any gunfire. She latched onto the back of his jacket. "Don't," she breathed. "We're not winning this one."

Tom stood still for a beat before loosing a breath, flipping his gun around to give it up. One of the men took it and reached for Liz's as well.

"Didn't I tell you you'd find one of Hargrave's people here? There he is. Can you please stop pointing your gun at me now?" Solomon asked flippantly.

"You son of a bitch," Tom growled as they wrenched his arms behind his back and did the same to Liz, dragging them apart a little.

"It's about the money with me. You know that. They pay a hell of a lot better than Grey Matters. Apparently these people don't believe that though."

"Could it be that you're willing to betray anyone?" Liz snapped.

One of the men grabbed Solomon and motioned to them. "You work with those two?"

"I worked with him," Solomon said and tilted his head towards Tom. "Now I work for Moore. Call me crazy, but it just didn't sit well with me that Hargrave hired on the man that shot me in the gut and left me to bleed out because he was irritated. Doesn't exactly breed a safe workplace environment. Tell me, what did you do to get on Scottie Hargrave's good side? So quickly too..."

Liz watched Tom's jaw set in a small tell of irritation and the man behind Solomon snorted. "You want to prove yourself? Kill them."

"Fine."

Liz started to struggle as the man released Solomon and handed him a gun, at least three more trained on him in return. Solomon stepped towards Tom and she felt her chest tighten. "No," she managed, the word riding out on a breath as she kicked back, catching her captor long enough to wrench one arm free. He caught her again, though, tightening his grip and growled something about waiting her turn in her ear.

"Should have killed me, Keen," Solomon said cheerfully as he stepped forward, pressing the barrel of the gun just beneath his ribs. "Could have saved yourself a lot of pain."

The shot went off and Liz heard a sharp cry leave her own throat as she saw the colour drain instantly from her husband's face. He went rigid, pain etched into his expression, and the two men that had had hold of him released him as he dropped to his knees, hand shaking as it moved to the wound and came away bloody.

"The body armour that Hargrave gives her operatives only stopped it from going straight through. That-" he reached forward, the barrel of the gun pressing against the injury - "is going to suck."

"Stop toying with him," one of their captors snapped. "Put one in his head, put one in hers, and be done with it."

"That is an incredibly short sighted approach," Solomon chirped and nodded towards Liz. "Do you know who she is? No? Look closer. She was all over the news just a couple of years back. Elizabeth Keen, also known as Masha Rastova. I'm sure you've heard of Raymond Reddington. You kill her, you're as good as dead. You deliver her back to him in one piece… Well now. That's an entirely different story."

"I'm going to kill you, you bastard," Liz growled, jerking against her captor.

"She's too much trouble."

Solomon shrugged. "Hence the reason he's not dead yet." He glanced over and Liz followed his gaze. Tom was leaned forward, pale, with sweat building against his forehead. His hand was pressed hard against the wound as if it could stop the blood flow in full. Solomon chuckled. "She's all talk. As long as he's alive, as long as there's a chance, she'll behave to try to save him. Won't you, darlin'?"

Liz looked over at him, her vision blurring with furious tears. She was going to rip him limb from limb.

"Reddington, huh?" the man echoed Solomon's earlier statement. "Fine. We'll let the boss decide. Get him to his feet. We're putting them with the rest."

They hauled Tom up roughly and his knees immediately gave. Liz slammed back hard, earning her escape, and rushed forward. She caught him halfway down, easing him the rest of the way. "Tom?"

"'m okay," he managed.

Solomon chuckled. "See?"

"I've got him," Liz growled, pulling one of Tom's arms around her shoulders and lowered her voice. "We've got this, don't we? We've done this before. We can do it again. Tom?"

"'m here."

"Just stay with me, babe."

"Get him moving. If he falls again, we won't be so gentle."

Liz glared at the man that had spoken, but tightened her grip around Tom's waist. "I've got you," she promised. "Just don't give up on me."

He mumbled a response, barely audible, but moved when she did. As long as she could keep him moving they would stay together. If they were together, they at least had a chance.

TBC

Notes: I meant to get this up yesterday, but I was distracted by Blacklist Blu Rays and by the little one-shot over on Truth in the Lies. Oops? This is just going to be a two-parter and it's mostly finished (just need to do a bit more editing on the second part), so I should have that up either tomorrow or Saturday if all goes well.