Dembe unlocked the door to the safe house, going in before Red like normal everything was just as the left it. Red shut the door and locked it again, slumping his coat off and pulling his hat off, throwing them both in the chair next to the door.
Dembe watched him as Red walked towards the Bar, knowing that Red had ever intention to drink himself stupid yet again he had no idea how he was going to get Red to Alaska. Dembe pulled his phone out and called the Jet pilot, making arrangement with Edward to be wheels up in an hour. Red was onto his second glass when Dembe walked into the room.
"Dembe, have a drink with me." Red held up his half empty glass. Dembe held up a hand as to say thank you and no thank you all at the same time.
"Raymond, go get your go bag and your coat, we are leaving in thirty minutes." Dembe spoke somewhat demanding. Red just squinted his eyes at him, questioning him.
"What…no, I have no plan's but to finish this bottle of scotch." Tipping the glass to his lips, Red filled his mouth with the drink and swallowed it down. Demba took the few steps there was between them.
"Let's just call it a soul seeking trip my friend." Dembe hoping he would be able to easily convince Red. Raymond was having none of it, as he poured another glass.
"Have you forgot my good man; I have no soul…I sold that to the devil long ago." Red laughed at his joke, Dembe not seeing any humor in the joke.
"That's not funny Raymond." Dembe getting frustrated again.
"I have no interest in this…" Red waved his hand holding the drink in the air. "Soul searching trip." Red finished up with another long drink off his glass.
It was one of the few times Dembe wanted to punch Red.
"Raymond…if you don't come with me, I'm going to knock you out and drag you to the plane." Red eyes widened as Dembe spoke, Dembe couldn't believe he had just said that. But he had to get Red to Alaska. Red set his glass down and stood up, squaring up to the much larger man, Red's brows coming together in question.
"What did you just say to me?" The effects of the alcohol giving Red the courage to think he could intimidate his friend. Dembe held his ground.
"I said, you're going to get your ass on the plane, I am not going to stay here another night and watch you drink yourself to death Raymond." Dembe's voice elevating just enough to get his point across.
Dembe watched Red, waiting to see what he was going to do. Red's anger shot straight to his fist as he quickly drew back and took a swing at Dembe, Red's already unstable drunken stance working in Dembe's favor, Dembe was able to quickly slide to the side to avoid the hit.
Reacting on pure instinct, Dembe swung and connected with the side of Red's jaw. Red fell to the floor in a heap, knocked clean out. Dembe just stood there looking down at Red, feeling horribly bad for what he just did, but also a slight bit of satisfaction.
"Now you will go." Dembe bend down, taking Red up by the arms and hurling him over his shoulder. Dembe was able to get Red in the car, run back in, get the bag, and still managed to get to the airport on time.
They had been in the air just over an hour when Dembe saw Red starting to move around. Dembe grabbed the icepack he had made and sat down in front of Red.
Red's eyes opened, sitting up and shaking his head from side to side trying to clear the fog. He looked at Dembe and started to say something, grabbing the side of his face as he moved his jaw when the pain hit him.
"You hit me!" disbelieve in his voice as he spoke to Dembe.
"Yes, I did." Dembe handed him the icepack.
"You were being an asshole and would not listen." Dembe continued, Red quickly replaying the events in his head, he took the icepack.
"Where are we going?" Red looked out the window.
"Alaska." Dembe handed Red a bottle of water.
"Alaska, what in gods name is in Alaska?" Red pitching the ice pack next to him, followed by the bottle of water. Dembe didn't say a word, he just picked up his crossword and sat there.
"So now all of the sudden you can't talk?" Red asks sarcastically. Getting up, walking over to the mini bar.
"I threw out all of the liquor, Raymond." Dembe didn't even look up from his crossword, Red took a deep calming breath, slammed the glass back down and rested his hand on the bar.
"I'm going to lay down." Red heading to the back of the plane, the single bed hidden in the corner, calling his name.
Dark gray clouds filled the sky, Elizabeth keeping herself warm by cutting firewood. She didn't want to be out in the middle of a snowstorm trying to cut any, so she kept herself busy with the task, making sure she had enough to last more than a few days.
Wondering how things would go with Red, she hoped he would be as open with her in person that he had been in his letter. So many sweet memories started to flow through her mind, almost like a tv show playing a best of episode and then she found herself getting anxious to see him again.
My god, get ahold of yourself Lizzie, you're acting like a teenager with a crush. Scolding herself, we are both adults and we can talk this out. Satisfied she had reassured herself; she went about finishing up cutting the wood and then busying herself inside, she wasn't sure when or if Red would show, but she wanted to be ready.
The plane landed on a small one runway airport, the cold wind cutting through Red's light coat as Dembe opened the door, Red stuck his head out taking in the artic sight before him, a shiver cutting down to his bones, making his shoulder ache.
"Dembe, have you lost your mind? It's freezing out there!" Dembe just stared at him, the airport crew pushing a set of stairs to the plane's door.
"Next time, you'll listen to me and grab your coat." Dembe just smiled at him in a I told you so manner. Red gave in, his friend had knocked him out to get him this far, he knew Dembe was not going to give up now.
"Fine, but we find a place in town to get warmer cloths, there's a reason I buy houses in tropical climates." Red placing his fedora on his head a flattening the brim, Dembe just shook his head and ushered Red off the plane, a taxi waiting not too far from the plane. Climbing in Red soaked in the warmth as Dembe handed the driver a small piece of paper with the store address on it.
The door chime alerted Mark someone was walking in, making his way from the back of the store to see two gentlemen looking around, one in particular looking through the coats. Mark smiled when he saw the guy was wear a fedora.
"You must be Kenneth?" Mark asked, with lots of practice, Red had taught himself to respond to any of his false name. Red turned to see Mark standing behind the counter.
"Yes, sorry have we met?" Red wondering how this stranger knew him, he glanced over at Dembe who just shrugged his shoulder.
"No, but I was told you might show up and…" Mark rifled through a couple things until he found the note Liz had left. "I was told to give you this and anything you might need will be take care of." Red waked over and took the note from Marks extended hand. Printed on the paper were directions to a cabin and a list of a few things he might want to get from the store before leaving.
Red looked over at Dembe.
"Is this your doing? Part of this soul-searching thing?" Red waited for a response, Dembe stood quiet. Mark inwardly laughed at the pair interacting with each other.
"What? Have you taken a vow of silence all of the sudden?" Red's attempt at humor got Dembe to break a smile.
"Just tell me what is on the list?" Dembe pointed to the paper. Red looked at it again, holding it out a bit so he could read the small type.
"Coat, wool socks, stocking cap, gloves and then any personal items I feel I might want." Red shook his head, but reluctantly started looking around. Dembe was snickering to himself, if Red only knew what was in store for him. Mark helped Red find the clothing items on the list, Red finished up with some toiletries and a shaving kit.
As the snow starting to fall, Mark bagged the rest of Red's things, Red wrapped himself in the red and black plaid checkered coat, replacing his fedora with the warm stocking cap, this was one of the time he's wished he still had hair. Mark looked out the store window.
"It's an hour drive up to the cabin, you better get moving if you're going to beat the storm…any last-minute things you might want, grab it now, you won't be able to get back to town for a few days.
Red pointed to a bottle of scotch behind the counter, Mark wrapped it in a few layers of paper and slipped it into Red's bag. Mark handing Red a set of keys.
"Black truck parked on the side of the building, it's fueled up and ready to go, it's yours to use while you're here." Red was still trying to figure out this guy and how all of this was set up already but be took the keys with a thankful smile.
Dembe helped Red to the truck with his bag, setting them on the passenger side of the pickup, coming around to the driver side he opened the door while Red fumbled with his gloves. Red looked up at him, Dembe nodding his head for Red to get in the drives seat.
"What?" Red asked, wiping the small snowflakes off his face.
"This is where I leave you Raymond." Dembe spoke, Red with a complete lost look on his face.
"Leave me? Now what the hell are you talking about?" Red flung his hand up in the air. Demba giving him a warm smile, reaching his hands out and putting them on Red's shoulders.
"This is something you need to do on your own my brother, but I promise you…" Dembe slid his hand down and rested it right above Red's heart. "If you listen to your heart, you will find peace at the end of this journey." Dembe tilted his head down and rested his forehead against Red's, Red putting his hands on Dembe's shoulders, the overwhelming love and support that Dembe showed him, reminded him why he held Dembe so close, why he could always count on him.
"Safe journey my friend." Dembe patted Red on the chest and backed away from him. Climbing in the truck, the motor rumbling, Red checked the directions and took off. Dembe waited until he was sure Red was out of view before pulling the phone out of his pocket, Liz picking up on the other end.
"He's on his way, I told him it was a soul-searching trip. He had no idea he's on his way to you." Dembe looking down the now empty road, flipping the phone closed he made his way back to the airport.
Checking the clock on the wall as soon as she had ended the call with Dembe, Liz knew she had at least an hour before Red got there, maybe a little longer since it was snowing.
Breezing through the house, she checked the fire, the flames high and warm, switching out the comforter for a blanket on the bed. She lit some candles around the place and then checked the pot of soup she had keeping warm on the stove.
Satisfied she had everything in place, Liz grabbed her glass of wine. Swirling it around the glass, pondering on what Dembe had said.
A soul-searching trip, a wickedly happy smile spread across her face. The glass of wine almost falling over as she rushed to set it down, scrambling through the house gathering up a few things, the note pad sitting on the table was the last.
Pulling a chair from the table to the fireplace, she adjusted it a couple times making sure it wasn't too close or to far and draped a silk scarf over it.
She tried her best to make her handwriting look different as she scrolled out two small notes. Folding one in half and sticking the other one on the outside of the door.
Catching the sight of two bouncing lights through the snow, Liz felt a tingle in her hands start, her heart racing as hard she could feel it pounding in her neck, the rumble of the truck getting louder.
"Finally!" Red muttered to himself about the horrible drive he had just endured. Tilting his head, struggling to see through the snow, a cabin with a few light's on throughout it, smoke coming from the chimney.
"Soul-searching huh?" Red huffed, still unsure what Dembe had literally dug him into. He continued up the last bit of the trail.
Liz grabbed another glass, filling it just over halfway and set the note against the glass. The sound of the motor turning off amplified everything she was feeling. Liz just cleared the top of the stairs as Red walked up onto the porch.
Stopping just short of the door, Red leaned over to peer through the window, seeing not one he raised his hand to knock but halted his hand, the note catching his eye.
Red eyed the note with caution for a moment before pulling it from the door.
Please come in. A questioning look came over Red as he flipped the note over to inspect it further, Red was never one to just blindly walk in a situation, but he was soul searching as Dembe put it, so he went for it.
The warmth of the house over taking the cold wind as he opened the door and stepped in, closing, and locking it. Catching a whiff of something wonderful, he took in another deep breath and looked over to the kitchen. He didn't know what was cooking but it smelled delicious.
Liz couldn't help but smile when she heard the door lock, even way out here Red was on guard.
Red set his bag on the floor. Removing his coat and shaking the snow from it, he set it and his hat on the chair. The house was quiet, he turned back to the kitchen, another note waiting for him.
With a little less caution, Red kicked his shoes off and took the few steps over to the counter. Gripping the glass, he held it up and smelled it out of habit while taking the note with his other hand. With expert finger work, Red flipped the note open with one hand while taking a large drink off the glass.
A test of trust, there's a blindfold on the chair next to the fireplace…sit down, put on the blindfold.
"What?" a half laugher reply to the note. "Alright, I'll play along." Red whispered to himself. Smiling at the effort he thought Dembe had put into this.
Elizabeth had to hold in the giggle when she heard Red. His footsteps telling her he was walking over to the chair. Red welcomed the warm of the fire, finishing the last bit in his glass he set it on the mantel. Settled he was going to do this, he figured he didn't have anything to lose at this point. Lightly snatching the scarf, he sat down and wrapped it around his eyes.
Elizabeth crept down the stairs, having figured out where all the squeaks were already moving with stealth and ease. Peaking around the corner she could see Red sitting in the chair, scarf securely around his eyes.
I can't believe he did it. Liz smiled and cleared the last couple steps. Red trying to remain calm, took a deep breath, he felt open and exposed. His senses were on high alert, a faint sound to his left made him turn his head slightly as he strained his ear to pick up on any sound.
Watching his reaction, Liz bit her bottom lip to stifle another small laugh, secretly hoping this whole thing wouldn't backfire on her as she moved closer to him.
Red could feel the presents of another person, taking in a shaky breath he rubbed his palms atop his thighs, then gripped the edge of the seat. He flinched back as he felt the weight of someone coming down into his lap, straddling him.
Instinct caused him to reach up and grab ahold of the person. A wave of heat rushing though Liz as Red's hands came down on her hips, she was surprised he was playing along so willingly.
Red breathing was getting faster as he tried to process what the hell was going on; someone was in his lap and from the feel of things and the sweet smell of a fruity perfume, it was a woman.
Liz gazed at him, taking in his face; things she had never noticed before. A small scar hidden in his right eyebrow, the white and gray stubble coming in on his jawline, the fine laugh lines etched below his eyes. The tiny scar on his neck pulsed hard as his heartbeat quickened, a tuff of hair poking out of the top of his open shirt.
Red could feel this person's eyes on him, his head slightly falling to the side as if he were going to ask a question. Liz took full opportunity of it and leaned into him. Red's breath catching as he felt light hands run up his chest, fingertips playing through the small patch of hair, electing a small moan from him as the hands when up the side of his neck, thumbs rubbing across his jaw.
The sweet smell of the wine on Red breath filled Elizabeth's nose as she held her lips just inches away from Reds. The heat on his lips, causing him to part his lips slightly. Red knew what was about to happen, an explosion of feelings hit him when a pair of soft lips pressed to his.
Red held tighter to the hips on his lap, halting any movement against this growing erection. Liz's hands cupping both side of his face as she pulled her lips away and softly pushed them back to Reds. Daring to finally move his hands, Red flatted his palms on person's back and slid them up. One hand above the other he pulled the person a little close to him.
A small "mmm" found it's way out of Elizabeth as she shifted of Red's lap, relishing in the feeling of his strong arms around her. As their lips continued to tenderly pull apart and come back together in small soft kisses, Red's brain kicked back in long enough for him to question what in the world he was doing here with this strange person sitting on his lap, he had just confessed his love to Elizabeth in his letter, yet here he was, blindfolded and being fondled, but there was something soothing about this person, something felt familiar, it felt right.
As if in tune with Red's thoughts, Liz pulled back. Red's hands playing over her back, her felt fingers slipping under the blindfold. Elizabeth leaned in, your mouth brushing against his ear.
"Keep your eyes closed." Liz whispered as she started to tug down the scarf, the voice setting a fire in his soul, it was her.
"Lizzie…" he breathed out, his voice a deep rumble. The side of Liz's face sliding against his as she moved to look at him.
They both sat there, lost in each other eyes as Red moved his hands around to cup her face, Liz's eyes closing as she leaned into his touch. Red tugging her down to him, his lips finding hers once more. This time his lips parting, allowing him to lick at her bottom lip with his tongue. Melting into each other as her lips parted and their tongues met for the first time.
The heat and wetness already building at Elizabeth's center, Red's hard bulge nudging the inside of her thighs, reminded her they needed to slow down, they needed to talk.
Reluctantly Liz pulled back first, as Red tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear she smiled at him.
"I wasn't sure Dembe was going to be able to get you to come." Liz spoke softly, her hands fiddling with the buttons on Red's shirt.
Red chucked, stretching his back against the chair. His hands coming to rest back on her hips, his thumbs making lazy patters on his waist.
"He knocked me out…actually." Red turning his head to show Liz his jaw while he pointed at it.
"What?" Liz asked, as she looked over the spot his finger pointed to.
"Apparently in Dembe's efforts to get me on the plane I took a swing at him, natural he swung back. I woke up on the plane." Red spoke, playing it off like it was no big deal.
Elizabeth was trying hard to hold back her snickers. Red smiled, he had missed her laughter and that smile. Wrapping his arms around Liz again he pulled him, tying to convey every emotion he was feeling into it.
"I missed you lizzie…" Returning the hug, Elizabeth held on to him, one arm around his shoulders and her other hand wrapped around the back of his neck. Red couldn't tell if he wanted to cry or laugh, his emotions were all over the place.
Placing a tender kiss on his temple, her lips tickled by Reds fuzzy hair as she spoke.
"I'm sorry Raymond, I shouldn't have left like that." Liz's eyes closing tight like a dam trying to hold back the flood, but the tears broke though. Hiding her face in the crock of Red's neck, Liz's body started to tremble.
"Hey, shhhh…" Red trying to calm her down, gently grabbing her arms and pushing up to look at her.
"Right now, the only thing that matters, is that we are together, here and now." Reds words easing some of the tears, his thumbs wiping away the ones streaming down Liz's face.