Saturday

Jolene put some pressure on Tom by visiting Liz and having a harmless chat with her.

Monday

After Diane Fowler had gone missing, she was replaced by Cooper's old friend, Tom Connolly, who was responsible for the task force from now on.

Cooper commissioned Meera to investigate Diane's disappearance but, instead, she investigated Diane's contacts. In her opinion there had to be a reason for allowing an attack like Garrick's, and she wanted to find out which.

In the meantime, Don received word that his former colleague and friend, Agent Raimo, had committed suicide in Japan.

"What was he doing in Japan?" Liz asked when he told her about it.

"The Bureau has a field office in Tokyo," Don said. "They think he was in despair because of his debts. But he loved his wife and his two little children. Would you really commit a ritual suicide because of some debts?"

When Tom met with Jolene at his safe house, he was furious. "Why the hell did you come to my house?"

She shrugged. "You didn't want to cooperate."

"My mission is already in danger, and you just make it worse," he said aggressively. "Yes, Reddington is a problem. He threatened me, he sent a psychopath with a knife into my house. Because of that Liz found my go-bag, my passports, everything. I had to get myself out by exchanging the money with some that is traceable to Reddington. Now, it looks as if he had set me up, but I don't think she's completely convinced.

"You know, someone put cameras in that house," he went on, still upset. "Somebody was watching us, and it wasn't the FBI. I don't know if it was Reddington. It's possible. So, yes, he's a problem. But I think you are a problem, too."

"I just need to know where he is," Jolene said, "to find the best way to get to him."

"Well, he's here in D.C. Go out there and find him," Tom retorted and pointed to the door.

Unimpressed by his fierce words, Jolene studied the notes and pictures at the wall. Most of them were about Liz's childhood and possible connections of her adoptive father. "What the hell are you looking for?"

"I won't tell you. And I won't work with you." Tom folded his arm and looked at her deprecatingly.

"What's this?" She pointed to a drawing.

"The black site from memory. The unit she works for. But as far as I know the building was breached, and I think they moved. Liz said something about getting up earlier because her way to work is longer now. I hope for you, you weren't involved in this attack because of that we lost our asset! Now, we don't know anymore what they are doing. You have to leave now," he told her and pushed her towards the door. "I really don't need you."

Jolene didn't want to give up that soon. "What did you find out about Reddington?"

"Not much. As I told you, he's not part of my mission."

When they left the safe house, the Cowboy spotted them and made some pictures for Red.

Tuesday

"I heard Agent Raimo was relieved of his viscera," Red said when he and Don met at a lonely place in Rock Creek Park.

"Do you...?" Don asked carefully.

"Oh come, Donald, I told you that I'm not interested in killing FBI agents." Red was a little hurt that Don was still distrustful or, at least, careful about him. "I came to discuss a former associate of mine who you arrested along the way, Mako Tanida." He told him what he knew about him and that he suspected him of taking vengeance. "I fear, Donald, that you're being hunted by a vengeful, ruthless killer."

"Are you really worried about me?" It was odd that, of all people in the world, Raymond Reddington tried to protect him.

"I should be worried if someone wants to kill you, shouldn't I?"

"No, I mean, why do you care? As you said, if I'm gone, someone else will take my place."

"It would be my blood that was spilt. I gave it to you, and it's running through your veins now," Red joked, before he added in a serious tone, "Because I like you, and because of your daughter."

Back at The Embassy Don briefed the team about Tanida. They began to investigate him, and found out that he was actually in the country. Then, they got word that Agent McGuire was found dead.

"I have to get them into protective custody," Don said and rushed out of the war room.

Liz and Cooper looked at each other, not sure who he was talking about.

Don took some agents with him and hurried to get home to bring Alice and Madita to FBI headquarters, but on their way there the little convoy was attacked by Tanida.

Ignoring Don's advice to stay in the car, Madita got out to have a look what was going on. Tanida took the advantage to shoot her before he fled the scene, while Don ran to Madita and tried to save her life, but she died almost immediately.

The agents who were with him tried to make him go to headquarters, but he had changed his mind. He cleaned himself from the blood as good as possible, then he turned the car with Alice in the back seat and drove in the opposite direction.

When the task force heard about the attack, Liz's first thought was that Madita was Don's girlfriend. I knew he had a girlfriend. She found herself being jealous. How can I be jealous when she got shot and killed? she asked herself in the next second, appalled by her own feelings.

She was also awfully worried about him because he didn't drive to headquarters. Where was he? What was he up to?

I'm in love with him, she suddenly realized. No, no, that's not possible, she told herself a second later, but she knew it was right. When did that happen? When she had had naughty thoughts about his ass? Or when she had longed for being in his arms while he was talking to her? And why? He had never given her any reason, and he definitely didn't flirt with her.

I feel safe with him, she thought. And it wasn't just because he had saved her life twice, it was an inner feeling of calmness and safety. She felt calm and understood when she was with him, and he was the first person ever, except Sam, she trusted.

"What's about his daughter?" she heard Meera ask. "Wasn't she in the car as well?"

It felt like someone stabbed her in the heart. "Daughter?"

"Yes, he has a five-year-old daughter," Meera told her, "Alice."

The way Don had spoken with Michael, the son of The Good Samaritan's latest victim, what he had told her about spending Christmas with a child, and the childish coffee mug. Of course, he is a father! "So, Tanida killed the mother of the child?" Liz asked, feeling numb.

"No." Meera shook her head. "Madita was the au pair girl. He raises Alice as a single parent. I don't know what happened to Alice's mother. I think she died when Alice was born."

Liz felt somehow relieved. Although it was absolutely stupid to be married and to be in love with her supervisor at the same time, there was still some hope.

After Red had met with the Cowboy and told him to bring him Jolene, he met with Don again.

"Who was the young woman who was killed in your dust-up with Tanida?" Red asked.

"Madita, our au pair girl." Don felt guilty. Of course, he had told her to stay in the car, and it was her own fault that she got out, but he had been responsible for her safety.

"And now you want to hunt Tanida down." Red looked at him, displeased. "Donald, whatever you do don't kill Tanida to take vengeance. It won't make you happy. The only thing that might please you is to know that he's suffering in some dirty cell at a black site. Anything else will just drag you into the darkness and keep your heart from ever feeling the light again."

Don shook his head. "I wanna find him before he finds me, arrest him and put him in a deep, dark hole. That's the plan. So, I can burn the whole neighbourhood down, or you can tell me where he is."

Red was determined to protect the younger man. "It's not because of him. I don't care what will happen to him. It's because of you. You remind me a lot of myself before..." He broke off. "I don't want you to become like me."

When Red had told him the other day that he liked him, Don had been confused, but he also knew that Red was serious about it. Now, he behaved like a worried but strict father, and Don didn't know how to react. "I promise not to kill him."

Red knew that Don took promises seriously but, still, he didn't like the whole thing. "In your dust-up with Tanida where there any survivors? Injuries?"

"Yeah, one of the guys was shot. Why?"

"There's a house in Columbia Heights, doubles as an underground hospital, 1306 Girard. May be worth a visit."

Don nodded thankfully. "I need you to do me another favour," he said and went to his car.

Red waited next to his own car, wondering what Don would ask him for. When Don came back to him he was carrying Alice on his arms. For Red, it felt as if the world stood still for a moment. His knees felt weak, his heart seemed to skip a beat.

"She isn't safe with me at the moment. We were attacked on the way to FBI headquarters. Maybe Tanida is just waiting there for me to try it again. The last place he would look for her is you." It was an idea he had had on the spur of the moment. Now, he wasn't sure anymore. On the other hand, his instincts told him that Red would rather die than letting anything happen to Alice.

Red just stared at him, stunned. He couldn't believe that Don really entrusted him his child. He felt overwhelmed, was unable to speak. So, he just nodded.

Don put Alice on her own feet, then knelt in front of her. "You remember what I told you, sweetie, don't you? Be a good girl. I'll come back soon and get you, all right?"

She nodded, aware of that something very serious was going on.

"And always remember that I love you," Don said, then kissed her, got up and went to his car to take the child car seat from the back seat.

Dembe got out of the car and went over to him. "Wait. I'll help you." He took the seat and brought it to the back seat of the Mercedes, while Don gave Red Alice's bag. He sighed, hesitated.

"I promise you, Donald, I will let nothing happen to her," Red said, deeply moved. "I'll watch over her as if she was my own."

Don nodded. He caressed Alice's hair once again before he went to his car.

"Well, little lady," Red said to Alice, "let's have a great time, shall we?" He helped Alice in the car and said to Dembe, "Send Samar after him. Just observe, only step in when he gets in danger or is about to shoot someone."

Dembe nodded and reached for his phone.

Red smiled at Alice. "We'll keep your dad safe and bring him back to you, okay? And look," he took the little lion out of the pocket of his jacket, "I've kept my promise."

While Don teamed up with Bobby Jonica to track Tanida down, Liz drove to Don's house. To her surprise he lived in Georgetown, in a so-called "better area" with some expensive looking family homes near Rock Creek Park.

She thought that the house was lovely with its white and blue wooden front, the cosy porch and the trees in the front garden. She liked it right away.

She had been prepared to that no one would be at home, but the door was answered by an older lady. In the first moment Liz thought it was Don's mother, but she remembered that he had told her she was dead.

"Don isn't here," the woman said. "He came here earlier to bring Madita and Alice to FBI headquarters. Since then, I haven't heard of him."

"And you are?"

"Evelyn Lowry, I'm the housekeeper." The lady smiled at her. She was a motherly woman with a friendly face and grey hair. "Do you want to come in?"

Liz overcame the temptation to have a look at the house. "No, thanks, I've to go back. I need to find him."

In the meantime, Red was having a strange time with Alice at the D.C. zoo. Of course, most parts of the zoo were closed due to the weather, but there were some houses they could visit, and as he had had no other idea what to do with the child it was the first thing that had come to his mind.

First, Alice had been shy, but now she warmed up and began to ask questions. Questions Red had no adequate answers to. He was sure that Donald wouldn't like it if Alice knew what he was doing. And Red was many things, but he wasn't a liar. It got him into trouble now.

"Why is he so far away from us?" Alice asked, glancing in Dembe's direction, when they entered the bird house. "Doesn't he want to be with us?"

"He has to watch the area," Red tried to explain. "He's my bodyguard."

She looked surprised. "Are you somehow an important person?"

"Something like that," he was vague.

"Are you a pop singer?"

He laughed. "No, singing is not one of my strengths."

"So, what are you doing then?" she insisted.

Red felt cold sweat on his forehead. "I'm a business man."

"Must be a dangerous business if you need a bodyguard," Alice said.

He tried to distract her with the animals, told her their names and a few stories. After a while he felt more and more like her grandfather, and he was deeply moved when she took his hand to drag him to something she had discovered.

He felt disturbed when Liz called him and wanted to meet. He knew Donald would be safe with Samar tailing him, but he gave in and accepted to meet with her.

He and Dembe brought Alice to the hotel Luli had checked them in. Of course, they couldn't bring Alice to one of their safe houses.

"You live in a hotel?" Alice asked him when they entered the suite.

Now, Red felt in distress again. "Sometimes."

"But you do have a house?"

"Some, but they aren't as nice as this one."

But she wasn't fooled by his try to distract her from the question. "Are you homeless?"

Oh God, she's really Donald's daughter, Red thought. Empathizing, caring... "Somehow, but I'm fine. As you can see I don't sleep in the street." He introduced her to Luli and told her that he had an appointment.

"Are you married with each other?" Alice asked, looking from Red to Luli.

"No, I just work for him," Luli replied.

"Are you a housekeeper?"

"I'm," she hesitated, "something like a secretary."

Alice turned to Red. "Don't you have any friends? I mean, if you don't have a home, they can't visit you."

"Dembe and Luli work for me, but they are also my friends," Red assured her. "We have friends all over the world. Wherever we go, we'll meet someone we know."

It made her think which gave Red an opportunity to leave.