So here's a little something I'm working on. I just love a bit of angst! In this Tom is out of the picture (they're separated and he's moved to Nebraska). If it's not clear from this or from my other stories I am majorly shipping Red and Lizzie... Tom is always gone cause I wouldn't have her cheat! I only wish I could say to someone 'shipping is my business' in real life and not have them look at me like ... No, no it isn't!
Ps this is the first time I'm posting from my iPad... I'm worried about the edit as I think a few things sometimes slip by me here. Apologies if this is a mess xx
Blackout on the Blacklist
Red returns and resume his work on the blacklist but he is distant with Lizzie. She's considered his weakness by the FBI and his enemies, and that's dangerous to him and to her. And since he'll do whatever is necessary to keep her safe he vows to keep her at a distance. If everyone around them is convinced that he's over his 'obsession' then maybe they'll both be safe.
At first the difference is negligible but before long it's noticeable and then it starts to hurt. Lizzie doesn't know what she's done to deserve being pushed away. She feels a sense of guilt about what Anslo did to Red and she thinks maybe he's decided she isn't worth it after all.
It's only because he's so manipulative that he can keep her close while appearing to keep her at a distance. But to him it's like having his cake and not being able to eat it. He sees her confusion, her discomfort and yet he finds himself unwilling to do anything about it.
She tries to persist with him, tries to bring their relationship back to more even ground but he doesn't give an inch. It's painful being rejected in so many small but meaningful ways. In a last ditched effort to reach him she visits him one night at Fredrick's apartment. The place holds memories for the two of them, she hopes they help.
"Agent Keen" he says evenly when she enters.
"Red" she replies.
"To what do I owe this unannounced and unexpected pleasure?" He asks, the dig not lost on her.
"I thought maybe we could talk" she says, her resolve already melting away.
He hears the apprehension in her voice and acknowledges that it's a necessary evil. "And what could we have to talk about? You have everything you need to apprehend the latest name on the list and I have nothing further to contribute" He says to her.
"You're right. I made a mistake. I'm sorry for interrupting you, it won't happen again" as she says the words she makes her way to the door. She thinks he'll say something, some words to lessen the embarrassment but he doesn't.
For the next few days the shame hardens her. She's angry and has no one she can talk to. Over the following weeks the feelings fade but she knows she won't make the mistake again. He's obviously finished toying with her and she may have been slow in the uptake but she's finally gotten the message. She's unaware of how vigilant he remains around her, and to her life, because that's how it has to be.
Raymond Reddington feels the change in her, like a cold wind blowing in, the atmosphere between them cools.
And then a few weeks later a real cold wind moves in to join it. It brings with it first a serious amount of snow and then a severe frost. Together they bring the capital to near stillness. It's not long before the extreme weather starts to cause power outages, frozen pipes and blackouts all across the city; Lizzie's apartment among the many without the means to light or heat itself.
She first notices when she wakes that the room feels chilled, then when she goes to investigate she discovers that the heat has been off for some hours.
She uses her cell phone to check with the power company and sure enough they are reporting wide-spread failures in her area. According to the alert they have crews working on the problem but there is no time scale for a fix.
Suddenly Lizzie wonders how long the problem will last. She briefly considers checking into a hotel that has power or maybe going into the Blacksite but both options seem a little hasty when she isn't even sure how quickly the power will be restored.
Instead she wraps up, and ventures to the nearest coffee shop with the ability to produce a hot beverage. It's busy, everyone else having the same idea so she takes hers to go and returns to her apartment. It may not have been far but it was an arduous trip through dense snow cover and by the time she makes it back the plummeting temperatures have chilled her to the bone.
She returns to her apartment to put more layers on and to pray for a swift fix to the power problem.
Hours later she's colder, the sun is beginning to set, removing even the suggestion of heat from the sky. She's been two more times to the coffee shop and returned no better off. The rest of the day she's spent checking for updates on her phone, until eventually the battery gives up.
She lights a few candles and settles in the chill of her living room, still not having entirely ruled out the idea of a night in a hotel.
Maybe an hour later there is a knock on her front door. She isn't expecting company and given the almost impassable condition of the roads and sidewalks she can't begin to imagine who it could be.
So she's quite surprised when she opens the door to find Dembe there.
"Agent Keen, Mr Reddington has requested your presence" he says.
"Tonight? No, sorry. There is no way we can hunt down a Blacklister tonight. We won't be able to assemble a team given the weather and hazardous driving conditions" she explains.
"This isn't about a case. Mr Reddington is aware of your power situation and asks that you come with me and bring an over night bag" Dembe explains.
"What? No. I'm not doing either of those things. I'm fine right here and even if I wasn't I can make my own arrangements" she says.
"May I come in?" he says stepping inside and closing the door before continuing "He suggested you'd be less than inclined to accept his offer. But he wants you to know that most hotels in your vicinity are either without power or fully book. There is no alternative."
"And yet... Still my answer is no" she says, sounding a little more flustered but just as steadfast. It's either her cold apartment or his cold shoulder and she'd rather die of hypothermia than give him the satisfaction of rescuing her.
"Very well" Dembe says removing his phone from his pocket. He steps away from Lizzie but she can still hear the brief exchange between him and Red; in which Dembe relates her refusal and his assessment of the current temperature within her apartment. He listens to Red's instruction before hanging up. She just rolls her eyes.
"Mr Reddington wishes you to come with me. Once he's satisfied you are well I will return you to your home, no overnight bag required" Dembe says.
"You've seen me, tell him I'm fine and that I can look after myself" she says, her anger mounting.
"He thought you'd says that or something similar. I'm instructed to take you to him, even if it's not willingly" Dembe says stepping slightly closer.
"Dembe" she says in warning. "I'm an FBI agent. You cannot kidnap an FBI agent no matter how much of an ass your boss is". But he continues to step closer.
"Dembe" she tries again, she means her voice to be more forceful but it's also taken on the slightest hint of hysteria. "Fine" she says holding her hands up and moving to get her boots and coat.
Outside in the street he leads her to an enormous vehicle that looks like it was designed for the Arctic Circle itself. Dembe doesn't speak the whole way, obviously pleased enough to have completed his task.
Having driven out of the city for some time Dembe parks the truck and leads her inside a house she's never seen before. Even in the car her frozen body had only begun to thaw so she's pleased when they walk inside to find the entrance way warm and well-lit. Dembe leads her further inside, knocking and opening a door to where she assumes Red is waiting.
"Lizzie" he says as soon as she steps through the threshold of the room.
She just glares at him. The heat of the house is further boosted in this room by a large, roaring fireplace. She feels her body relax for the first time since she woke this morning. It's only been 12 hours but somehow the heat feels like a luxury she's been starved of. She unzips her coat.
"I'm not staying" she tells him.
"We both know you'd be wise to reconsider that decision" he says unamused.
"According to Dembe you wanted to check on my well-being. Well I can personally assure you that I'm fine. It's just a little power outage, it's probably repaired by now" she explains.
"Your power is not restored and it is unlikely to be in the next 12 to 24 hours." He says, looking her in the eye, challenging her.
"I'm not staying here" she snaps.
"I think you are" he responds.
"And what would make you think that?" She asks, mocking him with her tone.
"Well I suggested you bring a change of clothes and it looks to me like you're wearing everything you ever owned" he says with a slight smirk.
God but she wants to hit him. All these months of keeping her at a distance and now he's dragged her here, almost forcibly.
She stares at him while his expression turns neutral then he steps forward and helps her to remove her coat. "I'll go and hang this up, make yourself comfortable. Dinner is in about 20 minutes, I have a sudden yearning for stroganoff." He says leaving her in the glow of the fire.