These last chapters are ridiculously hard to write because so much happened in the last two episodes of last season. Unfortunately, when you cram all that into two hours, there isn't necessarily a concise timeline. I'm trying my best to guesstimate what happens when based on wardrobe changes but even the outfits are similar! Anyway, thanks for hanging in there and for the reviews, faves, and follows that continue to trickle in. You guys are the bestest!

52: The Unraveling

Lane was feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of the memorial service. The families of the fallen had been sequestered for most of the day in a room set aside just for them. While it offered a small reprieve, she'd still been forced to plaster on a smile and greet those who wished to offer their condolences. The Ryker family was an influential one on the Hill and without Danny there to deflect most of the attention, the burden fell on Lane.

She felt her façade crumbling as a headache began to build behind her eyes. She'd held Beth's hand while the little girl read an essay she'd written only a few weeks before on why her daddy was her hero. There hadn't been a dry eye in the sanctuary. She was so proud of Beth for the strength and courage she was showing. She never ceased to amaze Lane.

Still, Lane kept a close eye on her and knew she was fading quickly. When they were shuffled from the ceremony back into the family room and asked to wait, Lane heaved a sigh of frustration. She found her purse and dug out her phone. She had three missed calls. That was a bad sign. She left Beth with the Kilpatrick family and stepped into a quiet corner to call Ray back.

"Why the hell haven't you been answering your phone?" he demanded without preamble after the second ring.

"We were in the service. What's going on? Why won't they let us leave?"

"Senator Hawkins was infected…."

"Oh my God…."

"…by Lizzie."

"What?" she gasped, trying to keep her voice low. "When? How?"

"We don't know yet. I'm trying to get her out but she's being stubborn. Just…I need you to get out. This is bad, Laney. Really bad. I need to focus on Lizzie."

"We're fine, sweetheart. They have the families segregated and I never even saw Senator Hawkins."

"Then you shouldn't need to stay. Find Donald. Have him get you out."

"Raymond…."

"Please, Delaney. I'll feel better with you both home where I know you're safe."

"I'll call you when we're out."

"Thank you."

"See you soon."

"Be careful, Laney."

She disconnected. Beth was playing with the Kilpatrick grandchildren. Lane motioned to Marilyn Kilpatrick that she was going to step out. She almost wished she hadn't. It was mass chaos in the vestibule. It took her a moment to spot Ressler.

"Don," she called when she got close enough. He looked cranky. His gaze zeroed in on her as she stalked toward her. He took her arm and led her away from the crowd.

"What are you doing out here?" he demanded. "It's not safe."

"Ray told me what's going on. I never even saw Senator Hawkins. I'd like to get Beth out of here."

"Lane," he said, face pinched.

"Don, let me get her out of here. I'm more help out there than stuck in here. There's no possible way I had anything to do with infecting Hawkins. Hell, test me if you need to, but please…let us get out of here."

"No, you're right," he said with a sigh. "Where's Beth?"

"Family room."

"Let's go get her. I'll escort you out the back."

Lane made quick work of gathering Beth and their things. Ressler was waiting for them outside the door. Beth ran to him and hugged him when she saw him.

"Uncle Don!"

"Hiya, Beth," he said, scooping her up.

"I read my letter about my daddy," she said, fidgeting with his tie.

"I know. You're such a brave kid. I couldn't have done it."

"It was scary. It gave me a headache."

"I'm sorry, baby. Would you like to go home now?" he asked.

Beth nodded. Ressler set her to her feet and led them to a side door. The officer standing guard looked at them questioningly.

"It's okay. They're with me," Ressler said, flashing his badge.

The officer nodded and stepped aside. Ressler insisted on walking them all the way to Laney's SUV. He helped Beth get in and get buckled. Before shutting her door, he looked at Lane.

"Go straight home. Tell Reddington to take care of Liz."

"I will. Be careful, Don."

The drive to the lake house seemed to take forever. Beth was fading fast in the passenger seat. Lane gave her her sunglasses.

"Put these on, baby, and lay your seat back. It'll help."

By the time Lane pulled up the long drive, Beth was asleep. She parked and woke the little girl. Once inside, Beth went straight to where Ray sat watching the news on a computer feed and crawled into his lap.

"Hi, angel," he said, looking at Lane questioningly.

"I have a pukey headache," Beth announced, snuggling into his chest, sunglasses and all.

"You get those mean ol' headaches too?" he asked as Lane went in search of ibuprofen and a glass of water. When she came in a couple minutes later, Beth was telling him about the service.

"And Uncle Don took me to see a police puppy named Flash but I wasn't allowed to pet him cuz he was working and it's not okay."

"That's right. We can't pet the police puppies unless their humans say it's okay," Ray agreed, stroking her hair.

"Here, baby," Lane said, handing her the medication and then the cup of water.

"Can she take that?"

"She's an old pro. Right, Bethy?"

"Yup," she said, handing the glass back to Lane and settling back into Ray's arms. Lane leaned down and dropped kisses on each of their heads.

"I'm going to go change," Lane said.

Lane couldn't wait to get out of her funeral dress. She could wear just about anything and be comfortable but the circumstances of this particular dress just made her antsy. She knew that was a sign that she should probably slow down and deal with everything, emotionally, but she wasn't willing to do that. She pulled on loose cotton pants and a short flowy tank top, caught her hair back in a ponytail, and went downstairs barefoot.

"Better?" Ray murmured so as not to disturb the now sleeping Beth.

"Much," Lane replied tiredly. She watched as Ray stood with Beth, her head lulling over his arm. He placed her on the couch and pulled a throw blanket over her.

"Laney," he said, his voice still soft.

"Hmm?"

"Come here." His face was soft and she walked straight into his arms, letting him hold her. She felt him breathe in the scent of her hair and press several kisses into it. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm glad to be out of there. I don't have the energy to play the Ryker princess right now," she said softly.

"I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry I can't deflect some of the attention for you."

"It's okay. I'm a big girl. I'll just be glad when this part's over."

X X X

"There's something I think you should see," Red said after a long moment of holding Laney.

He was relieved to have her home and his mind was roiling with all that he was trying to process. He couldn't do anything to help Liz at this point because she was being mule headed, so he decided to concentrate on the gauntlet Laney had silently dropped. He walked over to the laptop and clicked between several tabs, all news, all showing Laney and Beth on stage. He chose one and the video started playing.

"My name is Delaney Ryker," Laney said in the video from the stage of the church. "I am General Daniel Ryker's sister and this is his daughter, Beth. When I was first approached by the memorial committee, I wasn't sure how to go about honoring my brother. No one really prepares you for these kinds of things. I couldn't help but wonder what Danny would do in my place and that eventually became my answer.

"Danny would have asked Beth what she wanted to do because that's the kind of dad Danny was. He was a single father and he and Beth had this incredibly close relationship. So I asked Beth what she'd like to see here today to help you remember her dad. She told me she wanted to tell the whole world about how much she loved her daddy and how he was her hero."

Red watched as Laney struggled for composure in the video and had to swallow back his own emotion. Beside him, Laney was absolutely still.

"Whooo…I can do this. A few weeks ago, Beth wrote an essay about the same topic for school. She asked me if she could read it for you today. At first I was hesitant but in the end, I could think of no better way to share the most important things about my brother than to let his pride and joy tell you in her own words."

Red watched as Laney handed Beth the microphone. Beth looked miniscule on the stage and her little voice shook with nerves at first. As she read, her voice became stronger, her gaze turned from her crumpled piece of notebook paper to the crowd. Everyone listened in rapt attention. When she finished, the church filled with applause. Beth smiled shyly and hugged Laney around the waist. When the audience quieted, Laney took the microphone again.

"Several of the men we lost a couple days ago were personal friends of mine. One in particular, Liam Kilpatrick, I've known my whole life. His wife, Marilyn, approached me and asked if I would sing Schubert's Ave Maria. It was Killy's favorite hymn. Marilyn, I remember our families attending midnight mass one Christmas when I was a kid. The choir sang Ave Maria and I will never, ever forget that moment. I don't know why it has always stood out in my mind, but I've never forgotten the pure joy on Liam's face. It's my honor to sing it in memoriam of him and the others we lost that day."

Red watched as Laney led Beth over to a grand piano. Beth perched on the edge next to her aunt. Laney closed her eyes, gathering herself before her hands began to drift softly over the keyboard. The sanctuary was utterly silent as it began to fill with music. When Laney began to sing, her voice rang like an angel's in the acoustics of the church. No matter how many times he'd watched it, goosebumps broke over Red.

"Make it stop," Laney managed beside him. Red reached out and shut the computer lid, turning to her, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"I have never heard anything like that in my life," he said, his voice rough with emotion. Laney couldn't meet his gaze. "You went in there, just like that, and played it cold?"

"I practiced a couple times in the sanctuary before the ceremony," she said with a shrug. "I've performed it a million times."

"Why didn't you tell me you both were doing that?"

"Because I knew you'd say it was too much too fast and that I need to take care of myself," she said, picking at the hem of her shirt.

"You do."

"It gave me purpose, Raymond."

"This is what you meant. When you said you were bringing a war? You aren't going to confront the Cabal. You're going to publicly discredit them. Look at me, Delaney," he demanded, frustrated and awed.

She lifted cold, heartbroken eyes to his and he saw something he'd never seen in her before. Something he couldn't name. Something that both terrified him and bolstered his resolve.

"You can tell me it's cold and calculated. You can judge me for capitalizing on my brother's death, but I won't apologize. They took his life. Over and over, they stole my brother. My father. You. And now they're targeting Elizabeth? I'm done, Raymond. This will stand no longer. I refuse to let it. I'm not you. I don't have 25 years to dedicate to taking them down. But this? This is what I can do. No more shadows, no more leverage. They can't sustain a public spectacle."

"They'll come after you."

"And what will they do? That headline reads 'America's Sweethearts.' They hurt Beth and I now, they martyr us."

There was a long moment of silence between them. Laney fidgeted while he mulled over her words.

"It's strategically sound," Red said reluctantly. "It's a start anyway."