It's happening! Just how pissed is Phoenix? Will things go south with this meeting...or will there be a surprise twist? Read on and find out! :)

Pride woke up on his couch at someone's touch. An orderly smiled apologetically at him and handed him a note before hurrying away. The older man groaned sleepily before sitting up straight. He read the note, sucking in a sharp breath. She knew. After a moment, Pride pulled out his cell phone and turned it on for the first time since this mission began. Dialing, he called Vance.

"Director Vance? Have you heard?"

Agent Pride. Yes, I have heard. It's all been arranged. I'm already on my way.

"But she's found us. We need to get out of here."

No. Dwayne, trust me. I think it'll be fine. You're not going back to her. I promise.

"LaSalle? Sam?"

I… don't know. But this meeting is of utmost importance. Go with them. I expect a whole briefing of what happened in Saudi Arabia when you get back.

Pride stared at his phone when the dial tone went. He couldn't believe it. Sam was much better, still weak, but in good spirits. Chris… was slow in getting there. He had been battered to kingdom come. He wasn't ready for this. But there was no choice.

Sighing, Pride made his way down the hallway. He knew Chris would be with Sam. And at least one of girls would be. He found Sonja coming to him with a steaming cup of coffee. "For you, King. You look like you have news. What is it?"

King gratefully took the coffee and took a sip. He laid a hand on her shoulder, saying, "Yeah. Phoenix is calling a neutral meeting with Director Vance, Gibbs, Tony, me, and Chris. Julian is coming too. And Phoenix is bringing in someone else."

Sonja let a surprised gasp escape. She studied Pride before telling him, "I guess you don't know who this mystery person is. But, King, Chris can't go. He's too fragile just yet. I'll go. Or Tammy. He can stay here with Sam."

But Agent Pride shook his head. "I'm afraid it's mandatory for him to go. I'd like you to come, though. You can help him. It's not going to be easy for any of us. Sam should stay here. Tammy can stay with him, if she doesn't mind."

Sonja chewed her lip. "Okay. Okay, we can do this. I'm at your side, King."

Pride squeezed her hand in thanks, then they walked to Sam's room. Christopher looked up when they came in. He had just been making sure Sam ate his food. And naturally Sam was making sure Chris did the same. The smile on LaSalle's face slipped off him at Pride's expression. "What is it?"

"We're going to Paris. You. Me. Sonja. And Phoenix." Pride said softly.

LaSalle's face paled and Sam gasped in shock. Finally the agent choked out, "What? But… we can't go back to her… what…?"

The silver haired man blinked slowly as he explained, "This is a neutral meeting. She's there with someone else. Tony and Gibbs are coming from London. Vance from New York. Julian… from New Orleans. And us from here. One of her girls is picking us up. In less than an hour. The others are already on their way."

"Julian?" was the question on LaSalle's lips. He sighed and looked over at Sam. He licked his lips nervously, but then nodded. "Paris it is."

It was only a short while later when Sophia showed up. Sonja looked her in the eyes. Sophia… the one who had taken Miguel. Shot Joe, her partner. She also saw LaSalle's wince, and knew Sophia had some history with him too. She swallowed hard. This would be hard on everyone.

Sophia looked around at everyone in turn. Then she smiled at Pride, running her eyes over him in appreciation. But she said, "We got a plane ready. Let's go."

Sam gave LaSalle a quick hug of encouragement and smiled faintly at the other two. Tammy sat next to him, grasping his hand. She had agreed to stay with the boy. She promised to try to keep him safe, if anything happened.

All too soon, they were in the air in a private jet. Little was said. Sophia kept a watch on Christopher, making the man nervous. Finally she asked him, "So… you any better at...ahem… than you were before?"

Sonja snapped at her, "You shut up. Leave him alone. I'm not going to sit here and let you verbally abuse him."

"I was just asking a question! But fine. If you don't want me asking him anything, then okay I won't. Sheesh," she muttered.

Sonja narrowed her eyes and shot her own barbs, "So, how was it for you? Shooting your partner in cold blood? Leaving his widow with two children? Children that loved you too?"

The blonde tossed her hair, eyes bright, "It wasn't the easiest decision. But Phoenix… I made my choice. And he couldn't be part of it. But never mind… we thought about bringing in Sebastian. I'd have taken him for myself. He's just adorable. And to have him under me…"

Pride shot up at that, "Okay, that is enough. From both of you. Just… shut the hell up."

Both girls were startled at his outburst. But they both lapsed into silence, for once. Pride sat heavily down and glanced over at LaSalle. The other man was grim, but gave a brief nod. There was silence for the most part for the rest of the flight.

A car was waiting for them, and after a moment's hesitation, the men got into it. They both remembered their first ride. They wound up at a very fancy house, and ushered into the living room. There, waiting for them were Phoenix and Raymond Reddington, locked in a friendly verbal battle.

The other NCIS people were brought in as well, and everyone stared. Phoenix was saying with a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, "Now wait a minute! You'd be at the bottom of the Bering Strait if I hadn't shown up in Anchorage. I still don't know why the hell I was there. It was freaking cold!"

Red gave a laugh and countered, "But, my dear, if you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have given you Paul Charles."

Vance finally found his voice, "What in the name of heaven is going on here? Is that who I think it is? And who's Paul Charles?"

The two of them looked at each other and shared a smirk. Phoenix explained, "Yes, this is Raymond Reddington. Number 4 on the FBI's most wanted list. But also working with them to catch the Blacklist criminals. We've known each other for years."

Raymond doffed his hat to the stunned agents and cooly told them, "You asked about Paul Charles. He was an associate to Berlin. Wonderful cook. Horrible with women. I've often wondered if the man was a eunuch."

"He's not," Phoenix interrupted with a smile.

"Oh, well then, question answered. Anyways, the man embezzled millions. Funneled the money away to heaven knows where, but tried several times to wipe me out, to get at my money. He also worked along with Berlin, but that is a really long story. Whatever happened to him, Phoenix?"

She replied casually, "Oh, after he got trained, he made the mistake of mentioning how he hated hot weather. And dark people. So… I sold him to Morocco."

Raymond stared at her, then burst out with a loud chuckle, "Wonderful, darling, just wonderful. I'd have paid to see the look on his face! But come in, everyone, sit down. Take a load off. I highly recommend the champagne."

Gibbs sat down and asked pointedly, "So… whose side are you on?"

A small smile was on the criminal mastermind's face as he replied, "Now that's not the right way of looking at things. In this world, there are no sides. Only players."

Phoenix looked around at the hesitant group and asked, "Is Julian here? I don't see him."

But a rich voice echoed, "I'm here, Phoenix. Had to use the washroom." Julian strode up and sat next to her on the couch while Reddington sat in the next chair which was large and comfortable. Jared was there too, and knelt at Phoenix's side, not lifting his eyes to anyone in the room.

"My goodness, you still have him. How long has it been? Eight years?" Reddington asked quizzically, looking over the slave with a curious eye.

Phoenix stroked her slave's head, "Ten. A decade. Long enough." She would have said more but Vance interrupted.

He couldn't help but lightly snap, "Okay, it's nice to meet you and all, but why are we here?"

Phoenix looked over at Reddington and at his nod, told the Director, "Well, it was a matter of convenience. Raymond was already here. I was close by...but I don't think that's what you meant. You want to know why we called you here. The purpose of this meeting. Right. Well, like I said, Raymond and I have history. He scratches my back, I scratch his. And we've come to a mutual agreement. In other words, I don't need you anymore."

Gibbs narrowed his eyes at Phoenix as everyone else looked about them with confusion. Reddington smiled wolfishly, "I don't think they understand, dear. Let me clarify. I am an equal opportunity person. My enterprise is built on brokering deals for fellow criminals. I have no country, no political agenda, no…"

He was interrupted by Phoenix again, "What he's so eloquently trying to say is he does things just because he can."

"Just so, Phoenix, if you'd given me a chance to say so. Now let me speak, if you please. Director Vance, yes, Phoenix has agreed to help me with my Blacklist. In exchange, she gives me trade secrets. I give some, she gives some. A nice mesh of information from both sides."

Pride piped up tensely, "Where's that line?"

"Oh, now, man...you do know the trouble with drawing lines in the sand? With one breath, they disappear. No, what I mean, is Phoenix and I have joined forces when it is convenient to us. So you are no longer needed. That agreement? Rip it. It's useless to you."

Now everyone stared in shock. The agreement...was...nullified? Phoenix laughed, "If you could see your faces! Yes, that's exactly what this is all about. Red bought you off me. So, you're free.

"That's...it?" Sonja blurted out. "It's over? No more you?" she asked the question on everyone's mind. It seemed too easy. There had to be a catch.

Phoenix flicked her grey eyes at Sonja and smiled. "Oh, well, it doesn't quite work that way for you guys. There is the slight matter of your team stealing a slave. Two slaves, actually. So that's a problem."

LaSalle bit his lip. He was truly terrified of going back. And Sam… just couldn't. He waited to see what exactly Phoenix has in mind.

She locked eyes with him then, but spoke to both Pride and him. "So, I think it might be a bit pointless to send you both back. I'm willing to negotiate something. You wanna be free? You have to work for it."

LaSalle exchanged glances with Pride and spoke quietly, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you were too expensive to just throw away. You work off your price. And if you want to do Sam's too, that's up to you. Or I can give him the option of doing it himself. Or… you can just come back to me. There's that option too."

Chris tore his gaze away from those grey eyes. He couldn't go back to her. That wasn't an option for him. He knew everyone was watching him. Everyone but Jared, of course. His jaw jumped, but he made himself ask, "Okay, how do I work off my price?"

Phoenix smiled and told him straight, "I know this woman in New Orleans. She hires out girls...and guys too. She has a few of mine. You go to work for her on the weekends. You get the BDSM people, especially the SM ones. You do, of course, have the option of not doing those. But think about that carefully. They pay more. Meaning, the more you do them, the faster you get paid off. If you do the regular folks, then you're not paid as much, so you have to do a lot more of them. Do you understand?"

Chris rubbed a hand over his face, but nodded, "So...I'm still being used as a sex slave, but working my way to freedom. Okay. I can deal with that. Is...serum allowed?"

"Yes."

He blew a breath out at that. Of course it would. The only thing he asked was, "How much?"

She knew what he was asking, and handed him a piece of paper. On it was his cost, the typical money he'd make with either kind of client, and Sam's information as well. She had come prepared. He studied it and gave a low whistle. He had no idea he had cost that much. Either way he was looking at a long time.

Pride had looked over LaSalle's shoulder and winced too. He steeled his gaze and asked, "Am I allowed to help with that?"

Phoenix raised an eyebrow and looked over at Julian, who had a thin line to his mouth. He didn't really like this solution that Reddington and she had come up with. But it did seem more or less fair, if Phoenix wouldn't out and out free them. She sighed, and replied with her own question, "Aren't you normally busy with your bar on the weekends? How would you have time for that? I suppose you could now and then...but it's not really feasible, is it?"

King shook his head, and determinedly said, "I'll make it work. I will."

Shrugging, Phoenix answered, "Then I guess you'll have to talk to my girl. See what she thinks of that. Whatever you and she comes up with is fine by me. She'll let me know what you both decide.

Blowing out a breath, Vance looked over at Phoenix, as did everyone else. He asked, "So...it's true? You no longer need NCIS? And us? Gibbs doesn't need to come to you any more? And you'll leave the others alone?"

Reddington answered that one with a knowing look, "You've heard of Occam's Razor, surely? The simplest solution to a problem tends to be the right one. So, yes. Your problems are solved. She doesn't need you anymore. You owe me a thing or two for that. And Phoenix is off your backs. Well...that isn't entirely true, is it? You'll still carry your scars. And you know what I've come to learn? Every wound leaves a scar, and every scar tell a story. A story that says I survived."

Phoenix locked eyes with everyone in turn. She reached for Julian's hand and squeezed it. "I will miss you all for sure. Tony and Pride the most. They were simply...delicious. How are you feeling, Tony, by the way?"

Dinozzo's face flushed red as they all looked at him. He struggled to meet Phoenix's grey eyes, but told her quietly, "I'm fine. Will that be the last time you need my services?"

She cocked her head and sighed, "Probably. Unless you need something that only I can give. There are payments. And that...is one of the currencies I accept."

Cheerfully, Raymond interjected, "And money is the other kind she accepts too. But she's too expensive for you, lad." He did have one question, "Julian? Where do you come in on this?"

The dark haired man looked into Phoenix's eyes before answering the agent, "I decided to stay with her. We've… reconnected after so long. I love her. That's all there is to it." He made a motion to Pride that said, We'll talk later. I promise.

Raymond nodded, "I understand that, boy. When you love someone, you have no control. That's what love is, being powerless."

Phoenix smiled and stroked her fingers along Julian's jaw. He leaned in for a kiss, not caring that they were being stared at by everyone. No one had ever seen this soft side of Phoenix. It was alien, foreign. Seemingly out of place.

After they pulled apart, Phoenix's cheeks warm with Julian's kiss, Raymond laughed. "Well, speaking of love, I do have one more surprise. Dembe?"

The tall black man that shadowed Reddington's every move nodded, and walked to the next room. No one moved. Dembe soon returned with a white faced blonde woman who tried to struggle briefly before giving up. Reddington looked at her and shushed her, "Oh now, you're not getting killed. You're not even being hurt! So shut up and behave yourself like a good girl. Jared? Do you recognize this person?"

Jared was startled at being addressed. He glanced up at Phoenix first then over at Raymond. He shifted on his knees to glance up at the girl Dembe held firmly. His blank expression took on a look of surprise. For the first time in a very long time, he spoke in Phoenix's presence without being bidden.

"Cynthia?"