This is just something fun and a little silly and probably very out of character but i say that with all my stories because they all are haha!
Anyway, this will have two parts!
Disclaimer: Don't own The Blacklist.
"I think Reddington has a crush," Ressler murmured to Lizzie as they exited the post office. Lizzie turned to raise an eyebrow at him.
"Who? That Linda woman?" She asked quietly,they weren't that far away from Red and he'd be able to pick up on anything they were saying.
"He seems to know her well."
Lizzie shrugged her shoulders and dropped her tone even lower. "Yeah but I don't think Red would keep up any interest in a woman for very long." She didn't have any evidence of this at all and it was incredibly judgemental, but it slipped out anyway.
"True." Ressler nodded his head. "You wanna drive?" He tossed her the keys without waiting for an answer.
Lizzie was about to object, it was a two-hour drive to pick Linda up and she was hoping to nap in the car on the way. She was feeling a little exhausted after all the cases they had dealt with lately. However, Ressler, was already getting comfortable in the passenger seat, so she sighed and hopped in. She couldn't understand why Red couldn't go and pick up Linda himself. He was the one wanting her help. And Ressler was right, by the looks of it Red would have loved nothing more than to chat to Linda for hours. Their phone call sounded flirtatious enough.
Her phone rung in her pocket just as she was starting the car. Red's name sprung up on-screen and she quickly answered it. She wasn't sure what else he would have to say after speaking to her only moments ago.
"Yeah?"
"Hello, Lizzie. I've decided to travel with you and Donald to pick up Linda."
"Oh." Lizzie replied, surprised and not surprised at the same time. "Okay. Well are you going to come and pick us up? Or should we meet you somewhere?"
"Dembe is busy today. I'm on my way to you right this moment."
"What? You want to travel in this car with us?"
Ressler whipped his head towards Lizzie, mouthing to her a very intent 'NO' "Don't let him." he said under his breath.
"Is that a problem?" Red asked.
Lizzie cut her eyes to Ressler who kept shaking his head. She shrugged her shoulders at him, they couldn't be mean and the vehicle they were using had plenty of seats.
"Well, if you're not going to complain about my driving, sure."
"You're driving! Good. I'm glad." He ended the call and she put the car in park. "Red's coming." She turned to Ressler, an amused smile on her face.
"Four hours of him, Liz. What were you thinking?"
Lizzie watched Red through the rearview mirror. He was shuffling in the back seat, trying to get comfortable. He stretched his arm along the back of the seat when he caught her eye in the rearview mirror.
"Ready?" She smirked at him.
He took his fedora off and placed it next to him. His head rested back against the headrest and his eyes fell close.
"Donald, could you move your seat forward? The leg room in this car is awfully restricting."
Ressler rolled his eyes at Lizzie, silently blaming her. He reluctantly moved the seat forward just an inch.
Lizzie inhaled a deep breath and started reversing out the park. As she looked behind her to make sure nothing was coming, Red's gaze watched her curiously. She ignored him and managed to get herself out of the park easily. Now she was kind of wishing she hadn't let Red ride with them. He always made her nervous and she was just waiting for him to point out something wrong with her driving, or just tease her enough to get agitated.
When she glanced in the mirror again, his eyes were closed and this time, she hoped they stayed like that for the rest of their journey.
"Did you guys want to stop for something to eat? Or are you okay?" Lizzie asked when they had driven for an hour. Red had stayed abnormally quiet for the past hour. So quiet that Lizzie, forgot he was there and almost found herself wishing he would start-up some old story he had stored in his memory. The silence was boring. Ressler was not much better, he made very small talk but mainly rested his head against the window and worked on some report he had to do.
"I wouldn't mind a stretch." Red replied and she pulled in the next available park.
"I'm going to find something to eat," Ressler told them and darted off with out another word.
"Wow. He really doesn't like you."
Red chuckled heartily not hurt in the slightest by the truth in her words. "I know many people who don't, Lizzie. As long as you like me, then all is well. "
He got her again. Lizzie didn't know how to answer his little comments like this one, which often related to her feelings for him or how much he 'said' he cared for her. Sometimes they boarded on flirtatious, and other times they were very raw and deep and hard to comprehend. Both types had her unsure of what was going on, and both types had her sometimes wondering if he liked her romantically.
"How about a coffee?"
His voice snapped her back into reality and she nodded.
They were on the road again, Ressler with a mighty, big filled roll and a sports drink and Red with just a medium-sized coffee. Lizzie had a coffee as well, and sipped it now and then, but made sure to focus on the road. Especially with Red and Ressler bickering. Well, Ressler was bickering while Red was provoking him calmly, telling him how bad sports drinks were.
"I really don't give a damn, Reddington." Ressler replied, taking a big gulp of his blue coloured drink.
"Do you know how many spoons of sugar they-"
Lizzie quickly spun the dial on the radio up, and some loud techno pop music belted out from the speakers. She winced and quickly turned it down.
"Ressler can drink what he wants, when he wants." Lizzie replied sternly, fiddling with the stations.
Maybe she would prefer the silence.
They had finally arrived to a ravishing looking house. To describe it, Lizzie would say a woman's version of the sort of house Lizzie could picture Red in. It was big and beautiful but not overweening.
"Wait. Why did we have to come and pick her up again?" Ressler asked. "She has a shit load of money by the looks of it."
Lizzie had to agree there. And why all three of them?
"Call it a bonding exercise, Donald." Red smiled. "And Lizzie was the one doing the driving, so I don't think there is any need to complain."
Lizzie now sat in the front passenger seat, Ressler was driving. She had offered politely to take the back seat next to Red but Linda, a very good-looking woman, with fair blonde hair, (obviously dyed), big hazel eyes, and a grace about her that had Lizzie thinking of a Disney queen. Linda refused however, when she offered her the front seat and thanked them many times for picking her up. Lizzie could tell even Ressler had softened.
"You are looking well, Raymond," Linda smiled delightfully. "How long has it been now? Five years?"
"Linda, you must know I have counted the days to see you again. It's been far too long. You are as beautiful as ever. Isn't she Lizzie?"
Lizzie turned around in her seat and smiled.
"Oh, nonsense." Linda swatted Red on the shoulder lightly. "I don't think we could be the good-looking ones, Raymond. Not when we have these two young, gorgeous looking people in front of us. Tell me how did you get involved with the FBI?"
"I just felt like having some fun," Red smiled to Lizzie, who raised her eyebrow quickly to him then turned back around in her seat. "And I have a marvelous team. Lizzie and I get along the best."
"I hope he's not too much trouble for you."
"Uh, he's okay." Lizzie nodded, catching Ressler's gaze. He shook his head ever so slightly.
Lizzie and Ressler had been sitting in silence, listening to Linda and Red reflect on fond memories which involved dancing, and dates and kissing and fine wine and food. Lizzie gave up pretending to be interested and she now had her head resting against the window pretending to sleep. Ressler was right. Red definitely had feelings for this woman. And who wouldn't? She was in his age range, she was witty, friendly, and had a wonderful way of speech. It was like Red had found his version of him, all packed up in a beautiful woman. Although minus the criminal activity.
Lizzie squeezed her eyes shut a little firmer, grimacing. After hearing the way Red talked to Linda, all his comments to Lizzie were far from flirtatious and far from anything romantic. She had obviously read far too much into something that she shouldn't have thought of at all.
The car came to a halt a while later and Lizzie opened her eyes, her new apartment in view. It was not dark out but the sun was close to setting and she couldn't believe they had spent the day travelling. All of them, to pick up one woman. She was glad she got paid.
"My stop," she smiled to Ressler. "Thanks."
"It was lovely to meet you, Elizabeth. I hope to see you tomorrow."
"Yes." Lizzie smiled. "It was nice to meet you as well. See you guys."
She opened the door and stepped out, grabbing her handbag and tossing it over her shoulder as she went. The back door opened as well and Red exited, closing it behind him. Lizzie shut the door and turned to him.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm walking you to your door, Lizzie." He smiled gesturing for her to walk ahead.
She didn't bother to question him so walked towards her apartment. She felt his hand lightly place on her back as he followed closely. "Thank you for picking up Linda. I do appreciated it."
"It's no problem," Lizzie replied, searching for her keys in her bag. "She's really nice."
"She is isn't she?" Red smiled looking back to the car and giving it a wave.
Lizzie watched him do so, and she could just make out Linda waving back through the tinted windows. She gave a little wave herself then turned the key in her door. "Okay, see you tomorrow."
"Good night, Lizzie."
Lizzie stepped away from the warmth of his hand resting on her back. Then she quickly stepped inside and shut the door behind her.
She was jealous.
Lizzie sat on her couch, sipping on a rather full glass of wine and breaking pieces of chocolate from the block. Lazy Friday nights. She hadn't had a lazy one in a while now. Red had always taken her out to something whether it was for work or not she didn't know. But it was always something enjoyable and involved wine and food and music. Which she wasn't going to think about. Her phone was next to her on the couch and she glanced at it every few minutes. She wasn't expecting a call or a message but she sort of thought she would get one.
They didn't need her tonight, apparently. It was a small job and all Ressler had to do was sit outside in the car and wait for their contact who would be led out by Red. Lizzie didn't want to insist she had to be there, because Red didn't even suggest her to be there. Which was odd, but Linda was the one hosting the party, and was the one who knew the contact so Lizzie guessed she wasn't really needed.
She wondered what they were doing now. They had been there just over an hour and she didn't have a doubt in her mind that Red and Linda would be dancing. Not that, that bothered her. She could picture them dancing, actually. Linda would be the type of woman to glide around the floor effortlessly, Red holding her tenderly, or maybe not so tenderly. They got on that well.
She flicked the channel on the remote.
It was close to eleven o'clock when her phone rang. She quickly paused the DVD when she saw it was Red's name, although she would have paused it for anyone.
"Hey."
"Lizzieee, I'm surprised you're up!"
Her eyebrows knitted together at his voice, particularly the emphasis on the 'e' in her name. "Yes. How did everything go?"
"Wonderful. Everything went according to plan."
"Great. So, what do you need?"
"We are having a small after party with wine and music and art...this venue has a lot of art Lizzie. It's fascinating."
"That's great, Red.." Lizzie replied slightly amused. She couldn't imagine Red drunk, but from the slight slur on his usually flawless voice, she could tell he had drunk, and probably a little more than necessary.
"I think you would quite like this place. How about you turn off that film and come?"
"How do you know I'm watching-" Lizzie stopped and sighed. "I'm good here, thank you. I'm probably going to sleep soon."
"It's a friday evening, sweetheart, and you're young and full of life. Please come, you will enjoy the wine and dance, I just know it."
"It sounds really nice," Lizzie half laughed. "But I'm good."
There was a long silence and she could hear Red refusing to give someone something. She strained her ears but couldn't make out what was happening. Just when she was about to give up and end the call another voice spoke.
"Elizabeth?"
"Uh, hi Linda. I hope everything went well?"
"Oh! It did darling. Look, I was just wondering if you could do Raymond and I a favour?"
Lizzie held in a groan, not sure what it could be but she knew it would be something she didn't particularly want to do. "Sure."
"It's just Dembe is away for the weekend and Raymond and I were meant to get a ride with Agent Ressler, but it all got so muddled and we're stranded. I would catch a taxi, but Raymond seems adamant you come. Do you think you could give us a lift home?"
Lizzie looked down at her clothes. She couldn't turn up wearing her sleep wear. Screw it. She would just shove her coat on. It didn't matter what she looked like. Red was drunk and taking Linda home. She was a taxi driver.
"Give me the address and I'll be there in ten minutes."
She parked outside and watched as Red escorted Linda down the stairs. She shook her head and laughed, it was kind of a funny situation if she really, really thought about it.
"Hello," Linda smiled hopping into the front seat next to Lizzie. "I'm so sorry for dragging you out of the house for this."
"It's no problem," Lizzie smiled. "I wasn't doing anything overly exciting. How did the night go?" She asked, watching Red try to buckle the seatbelt.
"Just tremendous, Lizzie. You should have been there." He replied from the backseat, looking up at her happily.
Well know one exactly invited her, she wanted to say. "Ressler got the guy then?"
"Yes, he did. He was such a horrible man." Linda replied. "He had no manners whatsoever."
Lizzie nodded, keeping her eyes on the road as she exited the park and drove towards Red's house. The last two days had been so weird. Her feelings were erratic. Red was verging on drunk and she was taxi driving the older man she had feelings for home with the woman who was going to stay with him.
She really needed to go home and finish that glass of wine immediately. Or the bottle.
When she pulled up outside Red's house she wondered where Dembe was. Red hadn't said anything about it and she felt a bit bad for not asking sooner.
"Where is Dembe?"
Red rubbed a hand over his face. "Visiting his family. One of his relatives is not well."
"Oh, that's terrible."
"Yes." Red replied and blinked his eyes. "Did you want to come in, Lizzie?"
"No, no I'm fine." Lizzie nodded, glancing back at him. Why would he ask that? What would she do, sit there like a third wheel?
Linda smiled back at Red. "Give me the keys. I will go open up."
Red handed her them quickly and rest his arm back along the seat. Linda bid Lizzie goodnight and once the door closed Lizzie turned to Red again. "Do you need help out the car?"
"I'm not drunk, Lizzie." He leaned forward and smiled at her.
"I think you are a little bit."
He eyed her closely, then leant back again. "Are you sure you don't want to come in?"
Lizzie shook her head. "That would be awkward, Red."
"Why?"
"Because you have a guest over...and she's-"
"She's what?"
Lizzie watched Linda disappear inside and shut the door. "I think that she and you..."
Red raised an eyebrow.
"Jesus, Red. " Lizzie gestured for him to get out of her car. "You deserve to have someone you know. Go in there and get her."
"I'm not a tiger, Lizzie." Red chuckled, watching the blush creep up her neck.
"You know what I mean." Lizzie replied quickly, not giving him time to point out her blush.
"I really don't." Red responded, moving comfortably in his seat and making no attempt to leave her car.
"Okay, fine." Lizzie responded. She wasn't going to let him get to her so she turned around and turned the key. "Have a good night." She started her car up.
Red fidgeted in the back seat. "Alright, Lizzie. I'll leave sweetheart. Just turn the car off."
Lizzie turned the car off and she watched him fiddle with his seatbelt again.
"It's not that hard to get off is it?"
"I'm not going to lie, Lizzie." He replied, finally getting it undone. "I'm a little nervous."
Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "You're nervous? Really? I find that hard to believe."
"I thought alcohol would help," he replied. "But trust me when I say, it doesn't."
She narrowed her eyes at him. Was he being serious? Or was this just him...being him.
"If you like her that much Red, just tell her." She faked a sort of light-hearted chuckled. "I can't believe I, of all people am giving encouragement to you, of all people."
"It is strange isn't it?" Red hummed.
"Quite unbelievable, yes."
"So you think I should tell her I have feelings for her?"
Lizzie swallowed because should he really? He should, she told herself. Of course he should. "Um. Yes.."
"How about-"
"Oh god," Lizzie interrupted, looking out the window. "You better get ready because she's- wait-" Lizzie paused and looked closer. "She has her gear, Red!"
"Oh would you look at that."
"I-what-" Lizzie gaped at him. "What is she doing?"
Linda strolled her suitcase behind her and opened up the car door, she leant into the car and reached into the backseat. Lizzie watched in confusion as Red took Linda's hand and kissed it.
"Until next time, Linda."
"It's been wonderful. Thank you for the hospitality." She pulled her hand back and smiled at Lizzie. "It was lovely to meet you, Elizabeth."
"Your leaving? So soon?"
"Oh yes. I must get back I have a hens party tomorrow with some of my girlfriends." She responded. "If you ever want to visit. Do come stay, I would love to get to know you more."
"Um, of course." Lizzie nodded, surprised at the turn of events.
"Good night," Linda left them and walked behind the car. Lizzie watched out the back window to see Linda hop into a black Sedan. With her lips still slightly parted she watched the car drive off.
She looked back at Red.
"What is going on?"