Note: This one was written for Happy_Veggie_Farmer(check out her work on AO3; it's great!) before I was hacked, who requested a friendship scene between Lizzie and Dembe. It's set after episode 308, Kings of the Highway. Pretty darn G-rated. ;)
They were thrown into the back seat of a black, government-issue SUV. Liz's eyes were wide and her hair was tangled and covering her face. She tried to calm her breathing as best she could while stealing a glance at Dembe. Both their hands were cuffed behind them but they were able to right themselves from where they'd landed practically on their sides.
Ressler and another field agent were arguing outside the car, gesticulating wildly and angrily. In a perimeter around them, other agents stood at the ready, facing both away from and towards the vehicle.
Liz let out a little huff of laughter, which caused Dembe to glance sharply at her. He raised an eyebrow.
She raised one right back after she tossed her hair out of her face as best she could. "Yes?" She asked haughtily.
"Are you alright, Elizabeth?" As always, his voice was composed, though firm.
She smirked at him. "Don't worry, I'm not going crazy. Just thought it was a little silly that they," she shrugged her shoulder towards the agents outside, "consider me so dangerous. Well, us I suppose. But yeah, we're not the ones they should be so worried about."
Dembe was quiet as he continued to look at her. He kept looking at her until she grew uncomfortable with the silence and the staring. Finally, she broke. "Dembe?" Her voice was quieter; less strident than before. A little less hysterical.
"You must remain calm, Elizabeth. Have faith. Raymond will rescue you. You know he plans for everything." He didn't care if there were listening devices in the vehicle. If the FBI were smart, they would know Reddington would stop at nothing to rescue Liz.
It was Liz's turn to gaze at him silently for long moments. It was the most she'd heard him speak recently, but his voice helped to soothe her. Her face softened finally and she sidled closer to him so that she could gently rest her head on his shoulder. They weren't as close as she and Red were, but their bond had been growing in recent months. She was dead-set on making sure this occasion only strengthened her bond with this strong, silent, but ever so loyal man. She could use all the friends she could get, now more than ever.
"He'll rescue us, Dembe. Us."
He paused only a moment before responding. "He will at that."
They remained leaning against each other even as Ressler and the other agent got into the vehicle. Liz closed her eyes and focused on the man… her friend… beside her – rather than the man in the front who she had once considered a friend and partner.