Envelope 34

Author's Note: I've jumped ahead a bit here, to set up for the coming chapters….

DDDDDDDDDDDDDD

"She's good," Cooper said as he watched Agnes maneuver down the field with the ball.

"I know, right?" Don said from his folded chair next to him. "They've asked her to play rep next year."

"Really?" Cooper asked.

Don smiled proudly.

"Well she will be a an asset to the team," Cooper said as he watched her pass the ball. "Liz play sports when she was young?"

"She never mentioned it," Don said as he leaned back and looked at his son playing on the playground with Sheila. The security team standing between the field and the park to keep an eye on both children.

"You?" Cooper asked.

"Reddington nailed it," Don said as he looked at Cooper's perplexed look. "Second string quarterback."

Cooper laughed.

"Speak of the devil," Cooper said as he nodded toward Dembe and Reddington walking toward them with chairs. "How's he doing?"

"He's not sharing, but he's lost a lot of weight and doesn't seem to have the energy he used to," Don said softly. "Maybe you can coax it out of him?"

Don got up and greeted Reddington and Dembe and took Reddington's chair from him to set up next to Coopers.

"How's the next Mia Hamm?" Reddington asked, sitting down with a grunt.

"She's scored once and assisted twice," Don said proudly.

The play was stopped, and Agnes looked over at her father and smiled and, noticing Red and Dembe waved to them as well and smiled.

Reddington and Dembe waved back.

"She's a fast runner, which is important on the field," Dembe said as he smiled at the child.

"And she seems to have tactical skills, assessing the situation of the play," Cooper added.

"She's also not scared of anyone, not matter how much bigger than her they are," Don said with a chuckle. "She's going to be all Liz, small, lean and fierce."

The group of men chuckled at his assessment.

Reddington looked around at the Agnes fan club and noted something he shared with the group.

"Agnes needs a female influence," Reddington said.

Don looked at him confused.

"Donald, have you got back on the dating market yet?"

"No, I'm good, but thanks for the consideration," Don said tersely as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Lizzie isn't coming back Donald," Reddington said kindly. "It's been almost 3 years."

Don turned and looked at him. "Just over two and a half."

"My point is, Agnes needs a woman in her life, especially as she gets older and really needs a woman," Reddington said. "I can't imagine you being the best person to speak with about cramps and the birth control pill."

"She's eight," Don said, annoyed. "And…we'll deal with that when we need to."

"I'm just saying, you can't be a monk forever," Reddington said. "You are still in the prime of your life and…"

"I'm going to check on Kit," Don said dismissing him and walking away.

Cooper and Reddington watched him walk away.

"You need to go easier on him," Cooper said. "He's still dealing with her loss."

"Harold, you and I both know if someone doesn't kick that boy in the ass he will be dealing with her loss for the rest of his life, his very lonely life," Reddington said.

"Why the interest in his dating life?" Cooper asked, turning the tables.

Reddington swallowed and looked away before he spoke. "I want him in a good place."

"Before something happens to you?" Harold asked.

Reddington nodded.

"Care to tell me what is going on with you?" Cooper asked.

"What happens to all men eventually," Reddington said quietly. "A life of excess, injury, and carelessness combined with age and underlying medical conditions…"

"You're sick?" Harold asked.

Reddington chuckled. "I've been sick for a long time Harold. It's just finally all catching up with me."

"Have you told him?" Cooper asked as he nodded toward Don catching Kit at the bottom of a slide.

"No," Reddington said.

"Why not?" Cooper asked.

"Because next to Dembe and Lizzie, he's the closest thing to family that I have," Reddington surmised. "And Lizzie is gone, and Dembe has known all along that this was coming to a close, only Donald is in the dark and I'm afraid."

"Afraid?" Cooper asked.

"Afraid that he needs me too much still, and I won't be there for him," Reddington said sadly.

"Maybe you need to let him know that," Cooper said. "I know you two have become…very close since Elizabeth's death."

Reddington nodded. "We have."

"So, rely on that closeness," Cooper said. "Don't keep him in the dark or he'll resent you for it."

Reddington nodded and they watched as Agnes took the ball off someone and was called on a penalty.

"What's with that?! Come on!" All three men yelled.

A penalty kick was ordered for the other team and Agnes was called to the bench.

"They benched her?" Dembe asked incensed.

"Ridiculous," Reddington added to the call that they all believe was un justified.

"And he needs to prepare his kids," Cooper said as he watched Kit running toward them with Don and Sheila following close behind.

"I know," Reddington said as he smiled at Kit who barrelled into his legs and Reddington pulled onto his lap.

"Cookie?" Kit asked.

"You know me so well young Christopher," Reddington said as he pulled a packaged cookie from his pocket and unwrapped it for Kit who happily sat on his lap and ate it.

"Where's Agnes?" Don asked looking around the field.

"Benched," Reddington, Cooper and Dembe said at once.

"For an unnecessary call," Reddington added.

"The girl with the long braids?" Don asked as he stood next to Reddington's chair.

"Yes, how did you know?" Reddington asked, surprised.

"It was on purpose," Don said with a chuckle.

All three men turned to look at him.

"She kicked Agnes hard in the shin last game they played against each other," Don said with a smirk. "Gave her a goose egg. I knew Agnes would settle the score."

All the men looked back toward Agnes sitting on the bench smiling, she was good with the penalty.

Then they burst into laughter.

"Apple meet tree," Reddington chuckled. "As yours and Lizzie's child, she was never going to let that go."

"No, no, she wasn't," Don smirked.

The game ended in a tie and Agnes ran over to the group of them sweaty and eating an orange.

She ran to her dad and got scooped up and told what a great game she played and then got hugs from her adoring fans.

"Come on soccer star, let's head home," Don said as they packed up the chairs and walked toward the parking lot as a group with Agnes regaling them with stories of the game they just watched and Kit on the shoulders of Dembe.

"So that penalty…?" Reddington asked Agnes softly as she walked next to him.

She started to blush and look at her feet.

"I thought so," Reddington said with a smile. "Well, that will save your shins in the future."'

She smiled up at him and hopped in the car with her dad, doing up her own seat belt.

"Where's the nanny?" Cooper asked as he looked around.

"I told her she could leave early today, her boyfriend is in town," Don said. "She's going back to finish her PhD in the fall and isn't sure if she can stay on."

"That's too bad," Cooper said.

"I know, the kids love her and she's great with them," Don said. "But I get wanting to finish what she started….I'm hoping she can stay on during the week, depending on her class schedule."

"And what will you do about the time you are used to having her on the weekend?" Reddington asked, concerned.

"Not have it, I guess," Don said with a shrug.

"But Donald, you have done so much better having help," Reddington said, suddenly concerned.

"The kids are a little older now," Don said as he leaned in to buckle Christopher in. "I'm sure I'll manage. Lots of parents do."

Reddington obviously did not like this change.

"Thank you for the world class sports entertainment today Agnes," Reddington said as he leaned into the car. "And thank you for sharing your cookie with me Christopher."

Both kids smiled at him and he leaned in and kissed them each on the forehead before pulling back. Dembe did the same and Cooper waved and smiled at them.

"I imagine I will next see you at the wedding Harold," Reddington said.

"You're going?" Harold asked.

"In my own way," Reddington said, non-commitally. "I have grown quite fond of Agent Park over the years. And I admire her bringing formality back to the occasion with full dress."

"I don't know," Don said with a smirk. "I kinda liked Robby's backyard barbeque wedding last year, I was a lot more comfortable in shorts and a golf shirt."

Reddington looked at Don like he'd eaten a sour lemon.

"Donald, I have purchased you a tuxedo and will have a tailor at your home later tonight for the fitting," Reddington said.

"I went with Aram to rent one already," Don said confused.

"Rentals? With the sweat of others in the seams? No, I think not," Reddington said with disdain. "You will have your own, properly tailored."

Don looked at him and shook his head. He had learned over the years to not fight these little fights with him. "Fine."

"I will see you at the wedding Harold," Reddington said before he and Dembe started to leave.

Don and Cooper watched them walk away.

"He tell you anything about his health?" Don asked.

"I can see it's bad," Cooper said. "And that he's worried about you. Usually, people worry for those they love as they get closer to the end."

Don looked at Cooper and swallowed hard. He and Reddington had an odd relationship, filled with over-stepping, comfort, security and friendship. He was the closest thing Don had for a father since his own father died. He was the closest his children had to a doting grandfather as well. He worried about Reddington. And he loved him, in his own way, one thing he didn't think he'd ever admit to the man.

"Come on daddy!" Agnes yelled out the open window.

"Thanks for coming," Don said as he shook Cooper's hand. "I guess I'll see you at the wedding in my designer tux."

"I look forward to it," Cooper said. "And the tux will come in handy, how many have you rented for formal events you needed to attend as the AD?"

"Too many," Don laughed. "And the sweat in the seams comment, kinda rang true."

Cooper laughed at his joke.

"Daddy!" Agnes and Kit yelled together.

"Okay, okay," Don chuckled. "Who wants to stop for ice cream on the way home?"

Two kids cheered as Don started his SUV and rolled away.

To be continued…