A/N: Okay so I've recently started watching "The Blacklist" with my dad and I'm so in love! I've had this idea floating around in my head for the past few days so I thought I'd actually publish this first chapter and just see what you guys think!

This is a Red/OC fic, and the OC is significantly younger than Red, she's 24. Sorry if you don't like this, but she has to be to fit into what I have planned! Hope you guys enjoy!

Boon

A thing that is helpful or beneficial.

Synonyms: blessing, godsend, bonus, plus, advantage, benefit, help, aid, asset.

When I moved back to DC, I didn't take my dad's warning of the hell that is rush hour seriously.

That decision now ranks pretty damn high on my short list of life mistakes, right under the one time I decided that a nose ring was a good idea.

That decision is now why I am stuck 3 blocks from work in my car behind the slowest Mercedes Benz this side of the Atlantic, head pressed against the steering wheel of my Toyota Camry silently wishing for some kind of nuclear bomb to be dropped on the monstrosity sputtering along in front of me.

A loud beep sounded from behind me and I begrudgingly raised my head to see that the Merc had finally moved up a grand total of 6 ft, a new record for the day. I huffed and tapped the gas pedal until I was bumper to bumper with the hunk of German precision engineering that was blocking the way to my source of income.

1 block and 20 minutes later I pulled into the parking garage at The Smithsonian, and ran like a bat out of hell to the office. I slowed myself to a brisk walk when I turned the corner before my office came into view.

I walked in, honey eyes wide and dark curls looking like I had just fought a pack of wild emus, to see my boss Rebecca standing at the door to her office with a grim look on her slightly aged face.

I attempted to sneak into the room inconspicuously but then I realized that my affinity for wearing red made being inconspicuous very difficult, and by the time I reached my cubicle Rebecca was there as well with a strained look on her face.

"I'm so so sorry for being late Rebecca, construction on 9th was insane today." I placed my bag on the white top beside my computer and looked back at my boss, red bottom lip between my teeth in a sad attempt to look regretful.

Rebecca just stared at me, steel eyes serious. In that moment I was sure that if looks could kill I would be 6ft under.

"Rebecca listen I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be so mad at me for being la.."

"What did you do Eleanora." The hushed tone that she spoke in let me know that my being 10 minutes late wasn't the reason she looked like her cocker spaniel had been ran over by a semi truck.

"What do you mean what did I do? I haven't done anything." My voice squeaked quietly and I attempted to control my facial expressions to keep my coworkers nosey selves from making assumptions.

"Well obviously you did because I have two Federal agents sitting in my office looking for you!" Rebecca then grabbed the sleeve of my scarlet blazer and pulled me towards her office, not even giving me a chance to ask her why the hell two federal agents wanted to talk to me.

When Rebecca pushed me into her office she shot me a stern look and walked out, leaving me very confused and staring at two equally confused Feds.

"Ms. Becker? I'm Agent Elizabeth Keen with the FBI," the serious looking brunette introduced herself and then pointed to the man beside her "and this is Agent Donald Ressler. You aren't in any type of trouble we just have a few questions. " I stood rooted in the spot that I had stumbled into when I had been pushed into Rebecca's office, a perplexed look on my face, before nodding silently.

"We're terribly sorry about pulling you from your work, but this is a matter of some urgency. Do you know anything about a man named Anton Petrolvitch ?" Agent Ressler questioned while taking a seat on the edge of Rebecca's desk before motioning for me to sit in the seat in front of him.

"Um no sir. Sorry can't say that I do." I looked between both him and Agent Keen for assurance that I wasn't a total idiot for never having heard of this man.

"We didn't expect you would have, he's a major boss in the Prirezat Gang in Russia. He's not exactly known for his cuddly disposition and your father had his top man arrested in Berlin a month ago and Mr. Petrolvitch isn't exactly thrilled." Agent Keen looked at me and I decided that today should be "National Seriously Stare and Nora Day".

"So you're worried that he's going to attempt to get back at my father by hurting me?" Being the daughter of a United States Diplomat has some serious advantages and disadvantages, threatening to be killed by international gangsters is just another Tuesday to most of us.

"Uh yeah. How'd you know that?" Agent Ressler raised an eyebrow before crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Agent Ressler, I'm the daughter of a Diplomat. Every other week someone I'm related to is being threatened by some nobody gang leader in Turkaturkastan." I smirked at the agents but their unsmiling faces suggested that my sad attempt at a joke was nothing more than that, sad.

I decided to give them a little leeway and at least act like I was serious.

"I'm used to calls from my parents and Homeland, but this is the first time anyone from any agency has visited me in person. This guy must be serious."

Agent Keen nodded and began to speak, "We've already been in contact with your brother and sister, but since they're both on heavily armed military bases around the globe we believe them to be as safe as anyone can be. You however are going to have to come with us, we promised your father that we would take you in to protective custody until we apprehend Petrolvitch." She gave me a tight lipped grin as if to say "I'm sorry.", before continuing.

"We know that this isn't ideal for you, but we need you to be secure. We have reliable source information that this man is a legitimate threat to not only your life, but he could also be a serious threat to national security."

I sat there for a moment and stared at both agents, eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. There was no way that I could be placed into protective custody, I have deadlines and meetings and a cat! Who is going to watch Artemis?!

Agent Ressler must have noticed the look of apprehension and made a sad attempt to reassure me "We've already discussed this with your boss. She doesn't know the details, she only knows that you'll be coming with us for an extended amount of time and you'll be able to do your work from where we will be keeping you."

"Keeping me? Agent Ressler you make it sound like I'll be kept in a cell." I laughed a little before a thought crossed my mind, "I won't be in a cell will I?" Agent Keen smiled a real smile and assured me that I would be nice and comfortable.

I was still a little unsure when they led me out of the office and over to my cubicle so that I could grab my bags and transfer my articles to a thumb drive so that I would be able to work from wherever the hell they took me, God this place had better have wifi or I will find that damn man and kill him myself.

As we were leaving everyone in the office turned and looked at our retreating forms, I could practically hear the rumor mill grinding out tales of how I was a Russian spy and I had been found out. Journalists really do have active imaginations.

"Great. Now my coworkers think I'm a terrorist." I mumbled as the three of us boarded the elevator that led to the parking garage.

Agent Keen placed her hand on my shoulder and looked up at me, being tall is a pain in the ass sometimes.

"Nobody thinks you're a terrorist Ms. Becker."

Ick, Ms. Becker. God I'm 24 not 44.

"Please call me Nora. Since you guys are most likely going to be my new best friends for the next few days, you guys can drop the serious facade. I have to deal with that from my dad and all of his little cronies."

They both smirked and we disembarked the elevator and headed towards a standard "OMG look the Feds" black Sudan.

"Um what are we going to do about my car, and my clothes. Oh and my cat! Someone will have to watch Artemis, she gets lonely." I frowned thinking about my poor little orange persian friend who would be all alone for God knows how long.

"All taken care of Nora. We sent someone by your apartment before we arrived here to collect your clothes and any other necessities. Your car will be dropped off there later this afternoon and we have an agent looking after your cat. I assure you she will be well taken care of."

I felt a little bit better knowing that Artemis wouldn't be alone as we climbed into the car.

"Thanks so much Agent Keen."

"Please call me Liz." She looked back at me from the passenger seat and smiled.

"Guess you can call me Don or Ressler then." Agent Ressler added a few seconds later.

We drove for about 15 minutes before pulling up in what looked like an old sorting facility, Liz must have sensed my question because she answered with "It's an FBI Black sight. We call it the Post Office, it's an old sorting facility for the Postal Service but now it's HQ for our tactical task force. This is where you'll be staying a majority of the time that you're with us, it's the safest place for you to be and we have special permission from higher up to have you here. Just don't go telling anyone where you went to once you're safe."

I nodded my head as the car came to a stop and Ressler got out and opened the door for me. Liz, Ressler and I walked past a group of armed men and towards a yellow elevator which we got into.

A few seconds after the doors closed Liz turned to me

"We've also been given clearance to tell you that the reason we know about the threat to your life is because we have an informant in our custody that told us. Now this is where the serious stuff comes in Nora. The man who we have in custody is named Raymond Reddington." She paused and when she saw that I didn't recognize the name she continued. "Until a few months ago Reddington was was a wanted criminal. He is number 4 on our most wanted list and is one of the most dangerous men on the planet. He turned himself in to us and began to give us the names of criminals from a list he calls the Blacklist. Anton Petrolvitch is number 36 on that list and Reddington told us of the threat on your life from him, so in turn you're here with us." Liz stopped explaining everything when the elevator doors opened and we exited, heading towards a flight of stairs.

I was shocked. I had never even heard the name Raymond Reddington and now I sort of owe him my life. God this day couldn't get any weirder.

Ressler spoke up as we ascended the stairs "With you, only 27 people total know of Reddington's deal with us. We would like to keep it that way so once we get you settled we are going to ask you to sign a waver stating that you won't reveal any information about this case or Reddington, under threat of arrest. Are we clear?" he looked at me with stern blue eyes and I feebly nodded my head in acknowledgement.

We continued from the stairs to a walkway which overlooked an open floor filled with desks and computers, up on the walls were huge screens and people were running wild on the floor. My red flats made a soft clicking noise as we descended the stairs and walked towards a tall African American man standing in the middle of the floor. He just screamed authority to me, I already dislike him.

"Ms. Becker, welcome to the Post Office. I'm Assistant Director Harold Cooper. Sorry for the trouble that this has caused you, but you're safety is our top concern at the mo.." Agent Cooper wasn't able to finish his sentence because he was interrupted by a deep laugh which came from the crosswalk above the floor. Liz sighed and we all turned to face the direction in which the sound came from.

Standing on the crosswalk were 3 people. A very tall and pretty asian woman, a very scary looking African man and an older laughing man in a grey suit and fedora. The three of them began to descend down the same steps that Liz, Ressler and myself had come down a few minutes earlier.

Cooper opened his mouth to speak to the trio but was interrupted once more by the man in the hat.

"Oh Harold who do you think you're fooling? Her protection? Gosh that's hysterical! You're not worried about this woman's protection, you're worried about her value." The man in the hat walked over to where we were standing and stood beside me, smirking at Agent Cooper like the cat who has caught the canary.

"I don't know wh..." He was cut off again by the man as he turned to me and took my right hand into his own.

"Sorry about him my dear, he has no tact at all. You have the loveliest skin. What moisturizer do you use?" The man asked as he clasped his left hand around his right hand which was still holding mine.

I starred at him for a moment before opening my mouth to speak, however Liz answered for me.

"Red what do you want. We weren't supposed to meet for another hour."

The man released my hand and smiled at Liz before answering.

"Lizzie my dear, I wanted to come and meet my latest rescuee! I wasn't aware that she was so pretty however or I would have retrieved her myself." He removed his hat and the large African man took it for him.

I blushed slightly at his calling me pretty and spoke up, tired of being the only one who didn't know who the man was.

"Thanks for the compliment but who are you?" I raised an eyebrow and the man in front of me did the same.

"Oh yes. Where are my manners. Raymond Reddington my dear. I have a feeling we're going to be great friends." he replied as he picked up my hand again and placed a kiss to the top of it before releasing it and sending me a dazzling smile.

The FBI's 4th Most Wanted Criminal just kissed my hand.

Oh if only my Mother were here…..

A/N: So there it is! Chapter 1 of "The Boon"! First chapters are always so hard for me to do, but I'm actually really pleased with this! Sorry if there are any grammatical or spelling errors! I have a link to a character profile for Nora on my profile and a link to my Pinterest for this story on there as well if you want to check out anything about the story!

I hope everyone isn't OOC, but if they are please let me know!

And I know it might seem strange that Nora is being told about the Post Office and Red, but it's strategic for the storyline so don't freak out about that please!

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