A/N - AAHH it's so hard to write Reddington! I want to add all the amazingness James Spader brought to the character, but UGH. Well, this is my Red. Hope you like it!

PS: Yes, I did have some inspiration on a little awesome spy show called Alias. my favourite, can't help it. and I do think there's a bit o' Sydney in Liz, so...


Reddington took his place on the table in the center of the room and thanked Dembe for the coffee. The men bowed to his boss before leaving the room. Cooper sat on the opposite side of him, and Samar stoop up next to the desk.

"So, what is it that you couldn't wait to talk to me?"

Samar started. "You have informed us at the counter-terrorism department about several criminals, and this time you pointed us towards a Russian assassin, Masha Rostova, correct?"

"Assassin? Hun, interesting. I told you Masha was a Russian SVR agent who set home in the USA, and had to be found. I like how you already distorted my words"

Cooper was surprised, but tried to keep his poker face while observing the interrogation.

"If she's not an assassin, what is she? Because she's not an SVR agent, Reddington" Samar told him, but he didn't seem surprised with the news. He kept silent.

"We have intel that said she worked for a criminal organization funded and associated to your business."

Now he seemed surprised. "Me? Never would I get involved with Ivan Rostova, my dear". So he did know more than he said he did.

"So you know Ivan Rostova?" said Cooper. "Would you like to share what you know about him?"

"Ivan Rostova is a Russian murderer, mercenary and cruel, cruel drugs dealer. He made money out of the deaths of many people in Moscow, including his own wife, Katerina. Masha grew up to go against the father, joining the SVR to hunt him."

"Except she never did. There is no record of her being an agent." Samar revealed. "What we have in your profiles is that she worked for her father, and was a ruthless assassin."

"I doubt that this profiles were made by Agents Mojtabai and Ressler, as I asked. Masha Rostova never worked for her father."

"Clearly, we have a problem with the information here, Reddington. And we cannot do anything regarding Rostova if we don't clarify this before."

Reddington stopped and analyzed Cooper for a while before asking politely for Samar to leave the room. The agent refused, and he said he wasn't going to say anything else if she didn't leave. Cooper then insisted, and, reluctantly, the woman left. Reddington was smart enough to ask Cooper to turn off the microphones and connections to the other room before he started talking.

"Ok, Reddington. We did more that we should to please you. If you have any information, say it."

"Masha Rostova is in danger. What really happened was that she was working for a branch of her father's organization that disguised itself as SVR. She thought the whole time that she was doing good, until the day her mother died, and she found out the truth. My connection with it all is that I helped her to get out of Russia and set her life in the USA. This was 10 years ago."

"And you lost contact with her?"

"Never had it, to be exact. She has a different memory of what happened to her mother. The thing is that there is a man, he calls himself Berlin, and he is after her."

"Is he working for Ivan Rostova?"

"Ivan Rostova is dead. Died in Russia 5 years ago, I was actually surprised to learn that. Apparently, Berlin had something to do with that. I don't know much about him, and I have to confess, that get to my nerves a bit. All I know is that he took over Ivan's business and is now hunting Masha."

"Why would he be so interested in her?"

"She was the daughter of the man, Agent Cooper. She worked for him, even that without knowledge. And allegedly she possesses something that is very interesting for Berlin."

"Something? What?"

"A file, containing all the information of the organization, and their corrupt associations. Things that could bring down a whole government in Russia, and many other countries. Something that, in the right hands, could make a king out of a man. And he believes it's with her."

"If that's the truth, Reddington" Cooper seemed intrigued, and Reddington respected that in the man. They knew each other for the years of hunt they lived in opposite sides, and there was a sign of mutual respect in the room. "Why did you give Masha's name to the counter-terrorism department, and not Berlin's?"

"Because there is a mole inside that department."

Cooper was shocked. It was always a shock to know that there was someone inside the FBI providing information for the other side. It was hard to believe that someone who made a promise to protect the country suddenly goes against it.

"Who? How can you be so sure?"

"I gave then Masha's name as someone to be tracked down and protected,and what gets to you? that she's an assassin. Just do the math, Harold. Now, who they are I don't know. That's your job. That's why I asked Agents Navabi and Malik to come to you. I knew Agent Mojtabai would find the information about Masha and me and you would have to talk to me because of it. You see, when I came to the department to offer my information, they accepted all my demands, considering that I offered only them with information. Which meant I couldn't come directly to you with this. They are hunting Masha, but I need you to protect her, and find the mole."

That's why he asked Samar to leave. She could be the mole. No way could she learn about all this that Reddington was giving Cooper. The case had become slightly more complicated, Cooper thought.

"You see, it's crucial that you include agent Ressler in the search. He's the key to all this."

"Why Ressler?"

"All to its time, Harold. You already know enough. And I'm late for my massage appointment. You see, I have to bid you farewell."

And the man just stood up, opened the door and left, leaving a stunned Cooper behind him.

Two steps into the war room, and Reddington came back and put his head inside the interrogation room. "Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. Berlin works close with a man, Tom Keen. He's specialized in creating aliases and infiltrating people's lives. I believe Keen already know where Masha is. If you find him, you find her."

And with a nod of his fedora, he left.

Samar invaded the room right after he left, nervous.

"What did he say?

"I'm sorry, agent Navabi, but this is my investigation now"

"You can't shut us out, Cooper. This is our jurisdiction".

"and I'm sending an email to the director to transfer the investigation to my team. It's what Reddington wants, and I believe this is part of the agreement you formed with him, isn't it? You'll be informed on a need to know basis."

The woman looked furious, but there was nothing Cooper could do. He had to leave her out of this. He left the interrogation room, and on his way to his office, called for Aram and Donald. The two agents were baffled, not knowing what was going on, but followed him.

A strong thud was heard, a sign that they were closed in the director's room, and would be for a long time.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Liz went to the supermarket with Maya, and while walking through those isles that brought so many memories, she was able to let aside the phone call for a bit. Maya was running in front of her, picking up things they would definitely not take home, while she walked slowly, pushing a cart, stopping occasionally to return to the shelves whatever the little girl had put inside.

"Oh, please mommy, let me take it!"

"Of course not, missy. Last time you bought cereal, it was completely forgotten! I had to throw the entire box away!"

"It was because I didn't like lucky charms. But I love Captain Crunch, mommy, I swear!" It was hard not to fall into those little eyes' power of manipulation, but Liz was stronger. She was the mother, after all.

"No. Hey, let's take some pop tarts boxes. Those you eat."

"Okay." And the girl returned the 5 boxes of Captain crunch that she had taken from the shelves.

Liz passed through the soups and took some cans. They hated those canned soups, but it was an inside joke that was always popular at home. She smiled alone when a man approached her.

"Something funny about the soups?" He was tall, and quite handsome. Sometimes, Liz allowed herself to flirt and look at other men. It gave her a sense of adventure, especially because all she ever wanted after these encounters was to go home to her husband. He was the best adventure she could ever had.

"yes, well. It's a long story"

"I don't like those, you know. I very much prefer a homemade soup"

"Well, I hate them too. But I would never ever dare try to make a soup myself. I'm a disaster! So they are all we have."

"We? So you are a we, hun?" He sounded disappointed, and Liz loved that. The "sorry, man, I'm taken" grin she always gave to the bold ones that approached her came to her face.

"My husband and I actually met because of these, you know. So it's kind of special for us."

"Oh, I see. Well, I'd say he's a lucky man, but not for the soup, definitely."

He was a funny one. Moreover, he hadn't given up even after learning she was married. She looked over to check up on Maya, who was coming towards her carrying 6 packets of oreos. He noticed it.

"She's yours?" Liz nodded. "Very lucky man indeed. Sorry, I'm being a creep. My name is Tom" and he reached his hand to shake hers. She took a few seconds to respond. "Liz."

"I'm new in the neighborhood, and I don't know much about it. Found this Walmart and was so glad. Have you been living here long?"

She was always careful not to give out too much information. The phone call came back to her mind, as a clear reason not to be so naïve with strangers. But Tom seemed to be a nice guy.

"Yes, since me and Don got married, 8 years ago. It's a very nice neighborhood. You'll like it."

"I already do" He said, and she was starting to fell uncomfortable with his comments. She decided to get Maya and leave.

"OK, Tom. I hope you have a good day, and stay away from the soups. Good bye" she gave a smile, and called Maya to go with her. She took a moment to remove the oreos and packs of candy from the cart and waved him goodbye as she walked away. He just stood there, by the soups, observing her as she went away. He seemed weird, but she didn't give it too much thought.

"Who is he, mommy?" Maya asked, grabbing her hand and skipping a bit to keep up with her mother's speed.

"Just a nice man who moved to the neighborhood, sweetie. Now let's go home, okay? Daddy will be there soon".