The following days went by in a blurred rush for the couple.
Liz felt as though she was drowning under the mountain of paperwork sent her way.
While Red to juggled his business and Lizzy's team, somehow keeping them from intersecting.
All was slowly being organized and balanced, allowing a certain normalcy to return, for which they were grateful.
Since their confession of love, the desire to spend quality together was of the greatest importance.
While they would rather spend hours on end together, they found just as much fulfillment sharing stolen kisses and whispered calls to show their love for one another.
She felt an inner peace she never experienced before. So many little things were coming together so seamlessly.
Glancing at the man in question, she smiled warmly... then sighed her woe as the large stack of manila folders requiring her attention shifted precariously on the tabletop.
Hastily placing her hand on them, she halted their topple to the floor just as Dembe walked through the doorway of the office with Silas.
Rereading the letters, Red focused his concentration... recalling an item of interest.
"Lizzy," he lifted placid eyes, "this jackass," he waved a letter about, "keeps requesting you meet in your special place and that you would know how to contact him. Do you know what he's talking about?"
"Why don't I just go ask him?" Silas offered politely. Dembe stood as well by his friend, ready to go confront Tom on a level he personally had wished to do, for some time now.
Red pointedly ignored the men.
Liz thought of places Tom would consider special to them, but couldn't pinpoint a single one. None of their old haunts held any special meaning to her now.
"Nothing is really coming to mind," she shrugged, "the park near campus where we first met, the theater where we had our first kiss..." she named off a couple, 'gagging' slightly on the latter.
She fell silent having enjoyed Silas' chuckle for her antics. Liz dug deep into her mind, trying for anything that might be of use.
"You know..." she began, "when I was dating Nik, I started seeing Tom on the side a little."
Her nose scrunched, a little putt off by her behavior the, "I would call this restaurant to make plans with him. I don't recall the name or number," she perked up, "but I think I remember where it might be."
Red nodded slowly, getting lost in his own thoughts. "We'll take a drive." he decided. "Did you have a specific time you would call?"
"I think it was about seven." she remembered back.
"Silas, has Tom left at any specific times?" Red questioned the guard.
"He comes, he goes" the man replied.
"Not much has changed, I see." Liz muttered aside.
Silas chortled quietly, before returning his attention to Red, "About three times a day. No specific times."
"I want you to make note of the times he–" Red was handed a small book. He started to peruse the listings inside.
"And if he does leave at seven?" she craned her neck to see what Silas had written down.
"Maybe we can trap the bastard." Red said.
Liz glanced at the clock, grimacing. "Oh shit, I'm gonna be late."
"Late?" Red frowned.
"For physical therapy." Liz reminded. "Silas?" she looked at her guard, "I can be ready in five."
"When I see it, I'll believe it." the man inclined his head, "We'll make it. I'll get the car."
"Thank you." she smiled as the man retreated from the room.
Red shook his head, "Baby, I don't think–"
"Red, I have to go." Liz reminded. "Plus, I'm not going to let some psycho control my movements."
The man hung his head, nodding, "You're right." he apologized with his tone. "I just–"
"Worry..." Liz smiled. It was nice to know he truly cared.
"...Yes." Red sighed.
"It's a couple miles away." she cooed. She snuggled up to the man, peppering his chin with kisses, "And I'll only be there for an hour."
"Are you managing me again?" Red looked down at the upturned face, holding his smile.
"I don't know..." she winced adorably, her eyes sparkling with humor. "Is it working?"
Red lowered his mouth to hers, gently flicking his tongue against her full mouth, "...Yes."
Liz batted her long lashes, drawing a chuckle from the man. "Go on," he pat her bottom, "before I manage you."
"They're fucking useless!" Silas spat as he opened Liz's door, giving her a hand into the back seat. "I should have taken the bastard down right there and then... show him how it felt!"
"It was an accident, Silas." Liz cradled her wrist, situating herself in the seat. "I'm fine, I promise."
"No... you're not." Silas closed the back door, yanking the driver door open, "What kind of idiot trainer doesn't spot his client?"
Liz smiled as the man continued to grumble his discontent, pulling the car out into the thoroughfare. It really had been an accident. Liz had felt her wrist going weak, tried to compensate for it... and lost her grip.
She thought the exercise too strenuous so early on, but she could have spoken up. The action had yanked the wrist painfully, leaving it bruising and swelling.
"I'll just put some ice on it," she inserted her two cents, "it'll be fine in the morning."
"Stupid fuc..." Silas muttered, executing a right turn onto a less traveled road, "Are you hungry?"
Liz guffawed before she could catch it, "You really do hang out with Red too much." she patted the man's shoulder, referring to his sudden change of topics. "And no, I'm fine."
The man continued to rant as drove, his eyes constantly checking the back-up crew in the inconspicuous SUV tailing them.
"I don't know why you don't just tell them to fuck off," the man snapped, "tell them I'm training you."
"I did tell them." she smiled sweetly.
"So why the hell are we still going?" the man gritted his teeth.
"They said you weren't sanctioned by the FBI."
Pulling her phone free, she impulsively shot off a quick text, telling Red she was on her way home and how much she loved him. She grinned a moment later when Red, who hated to text, replied in kind... he said it so much better than she ever could have, of course.
Yes, it was the little things that meant so much... just as Red always said.
"Thank God for small favors!" Silas continued on his tirade. "It'd be an embarrassment to be associated with such morons!"
Liz covered her mouth, hiding her smile and holding her laughter. The low ringing of her phone drew the woman's attention.
"Hello?" she sighed, shaking her head as Silas hit the steering wheel once again, his anger still high.
"Hello, my little escapee." the velvet menace washed over her like a smothering fog.
The voice instantly sent shivers up Liz's spine. The urge to vomit surged with the dark distressing chuckle it delivered.
"Who is this..." Liz questioned shakily, though in her gut... she all ready knew.
"Oh..." the man tsked sorrowfully, "have we forgotten me so soon."
Silas turned his head, his jaw pulsing. He had heard the tremor in the woman's voice loud and clear, alerting him to a problem. His eyes met her frantically searching ones in the rearview mirror.
Liz stared at the phone helplessly, before blinking away her inaction, putting it on speaker for Silas to hear.
"I haven't forgotten you." the man continued on, intoning pleasantly, "As a matter of fact, I lovingly recall the sensation of your small bones breaking in my hands just like it was yesterday."
Liz wrapped her hand tightly around her throbbing wrist, squeezing the flesh until her fingers tingled from the loss of blood supply.
"I saw you..." it continued, his voice making her stomach pitch sickeningly, "with the older woman..."
Liz lifted startled eyes, meeting Silas' dark grey ones in the mirror. The guards presence gave her a sense of security.
His eyes were clear, steady... only leaving hers to get his bearings while he drove. He searched for a spot to pull over.
"What was her name again..." the man teased lovingly, "Oh, yes. Nora, right? A lovely name. A lovely woman."
Silas calmly held Liz's panicked gaze as he pulled his phone free, dialing the house.
The guard half listened to the man on the end of the line, before murmuring quietly into his own phone, checking on Nora's safety.
"Is it a special occasion for dinner tonight?" Carver questioned lightly as if carrying on a normal conversation, "You two poured over the grocery selections for a goodly while, didn't you."
Liz curled her arm about herself, drawing a measure of comfort from the action. She sighed her relief when Silas slid his phone in his shirt pocket.
Nora was safely at home.
"Long enough that I mapped out your little body to my hearts content." he laughed shortly, "We're going to have such a splendid time on our next meeting." he breathed into the phone.
The woman's eyes closed, only to snap open when she was inundated by visions of what the man may have pictured in his warped, sick mind.
"I admit, I usually get my thrills feeling my blade tearing through flesh," the smile in his voice was repulsive, "but then, there is a certain thrill wondering what it is exactly that Reddington likes about having those long legs wrapped about him."
Reaching out, she grabbed Silas' shoulder. Curling her fingers into the warm fabric of his shirt. She felt the steadiness of a trusted person. Silas reached up, curling his fingers around hers in added comfort.
"Hang up the fucking phone." Silas directed curtly. He rolled down the window, jerkily waving, ordering the back up guards closer. The black SUV surged forward, staying less than a car length away.
"That's a fetching outfit you have on now," Carver baited, "I bet Reddington is going to strip those little black shorts off your tiny ass the minute you walk in the door." the man's voice lowered. "If you arrive home safely, that is."
Liz glanced down quickly, finding her tight black shorts snuggly in place. The fact somehow calmed her.
"Liz, dammit," Silas snapped, "hang up!"
"I'd personally just cut through that tight blue top you have on there." Carver continued undaunted.
"What do you want." Liz damned the tremble she heard in her own voice. "Why are you doing this?" she bit at the soft flesh of her mouth nervously.
"Why, my little angel..." the man purred, "don't you know? Haven't you guessed?" he chuckled sensually, "I want you," the throaty exclamation was repulsive in nature, "all for myself."
Pushing his foot hard on the gas, Silas and the crew behind him cut through traffic like it wasn't there. The man looked in his mirrors checking for a tail... but didn't see a damn thing.
So either Carver could still see them... or the fucker knew exactly where they were heading.
"We have some unfinished business, wouldn't you say?" Carver questioned lightly.
"Don't let the sick fuck get to you." Silas urged. "Because he never will." the man encouraged.
Liz looked up at the guard anxiously before reluctantly nodding. Even if Carver was following her... he hadn't approached.
"I'm going to make you bleed..." the man promised in a harsh whisper, angered by Silas' warning.
Liz startled, gasping loudly.
A dark blur of a car came into her peripheral vision, approaching at a breakneck speed "Silas!"
"Fuck!" the guard snapped viciously, swerving hard to miss the approaching vehicle.
The grotesque sound of glass shattering and metal twisting deafened the occupants of the car.
Liz grasped for the side handle, the phone flying from her hand as the car spun out of control.
Silas yanked the steering wheel to no avail. The shrieking peal of the tires skidding across the asphalt and the taste of burnt rubber filled the windowless car.
Instinctively raising her arms, Liz curled inward as the car continued its dizzying and disorienting spin.
It rammed to a jarring stop, blanketing Liz and Silas in what was left of the glass. A sharp crack and deep grunt from the front seat terrorized Liz. Seconds later, she had her own demons with which to contend, a sharp agonizing cry escaping her lips.
The sudden quiet was deafening. It lasted only seconds.
Liz wearily shook her head, trying to focus. She heard the metal slide of Silas pull his weapon, then silence.
"Honey..." Silas panted, obviously in pain "can you get down?"
Liz pulled weakly at her seat belt, coughing fitfully, her ribs felt like they were crushing her. An overpowering smell of gasoline filled the car.
"No..." she pulled frantically at the buckle to no avail, "the latch..."
"Calm down," Silas turned his head slightly, catching the frantic woman's eyes, "it's all right..." his steady gaze helped her focus. Blood dripped down his arms and forehead.
"Don't move." the man slurred his demand. It took forever to extract his phone from his pocket.
Liz drew in a staggering breath, maneuvering as much as the locked seatbelt would allow. The sound of shattering glass and barked demands sounded far in the distance.
The back up team!
Liz turned her head, seeking the shattered window. The other guards stumbled from the SUV, limping quickly toward their car, weapons drawn.
"Fucking phone." Silas cursed fluently, "I dropped it, do you fucking believe..." he felt the areas beside him gritting his teeth with the pain movement caused.
"I have mine."
Blinking past the haze, she found her phone on the side floorboard.
Reaching for it, she hesitated in her movements, finding her fingers dotted in blood.
She gasped, reaching for her face.
"You're fine..." Silas assured seeing the fear return in the blue depths, "just small cuts..." the man grimaced, bad choice of words there... considering she had just been talking to that fucker Carver, "...from glass." he clarified hastily.
Liz nodded, taking a deep controlled breath, settling her nerves before reaching for the phone.
She stopped short when a searing pain shot up her leg.
"What?!" her guard was getting angsty but for the moment, all she could manage was to sit very still so the agonizing pain did not return.
She lay her head back slowly, closing her eyes for a brief second. Outside people were moving. People were shouting.
What the hell had happened?
An accident.
Was it Carver? Her blood ran cold, her eyes flying open.
The airbags had been deployed. There was glass everywhere. The smell...
She could see the back of Silas's head. Her guard was abnormally quiet and still.
She jerked on the locked seatbelt. She had to get to him. But the sudden pain was so overpowering she almost lost consciousness.
Why didn't they come? Where were all the people she heard? She could still hear them but they were far off in the distance.
She wanted Red...
She needed Red...
Where the hell was Red...
Red had a lot of irons in the fire this morning. The schedule was ultra-hectic, but he seemed to thrive in such an atmosphere.
Aside from his business dealings with Francis, he promised his little Profiler he would scan a few files to see if he could offer any information on the mysteries Lizzy was attempting to solve.
An unexpected obstacle cropped up this morning, however.
"Well..." Red tossed the file he had been perusing to the desktop, "Federal Agent Donald Ressler, to what do I owe this unexpected... pleasure."
Pleasure? Was that the word he searched for? Red didn't think so.
There was a noticeable moment of hesitation that Red did not miss.
"I know that you specifically signed on to provide us the Blacklist," Ressler cleared his throat, "and it's not in your forte to stray from your–"
Red waited impatiently for the agent to get to the point, "I have a life, Donald."
"Such as it is."
"Pot calling the kettle black." Red retaliated effortlessly, "When's the last time you got laid?" he baited the young man. "Because I had a lovely morning with–"
"Anyway," Ressler forged ahead, ignoring Red's quiet chortling in his ear, "there's this guy I need help finding. I thought, if you could..." the red head pushed his seat back, sitting upright in the hard leather.
"Does this guy have a name?"
"Samuel Lawford."
"Run of the mill mobster..." Red knew the guy in this instance.
"So you know him?" Ressler perked up.
"He's connected to the organization." Red admitted, though he was sure he'd regret getting involved, "He's more a liability than an asset if you ask me. How is he on your radar?"
"We believe he operates out of New York, right?" Ressler reluctantly trusted Reddington's Intel over even the Bureau's data.
"Yes," Red confirmed.
"Lot of charges, none have stuck." Ressler finished all he knew.
"I must be getting soft." Red realized he had mentally already agreed to help the agent, if only in his mind.
"What?" Ressler inquired quickly.
On one hand, regardless of his promise to Lizzy to play nice in the sandbox, he wondered why he should involve himself.
On the other hand, Red was still in a spectacular mood after Lizzy had initiated their early morning playtime... so he preferred to think that was his reason for capitulation.
"I'll send you what I know," Red conceded.
"Thanks, Reddington. I owe you one."
"Yes, Donald, you do." was the rather sinister reply before Red gently rang off.
Red knew quite a bit about Sam Lawford... though he would have to be studious in the information related. as the bastard had dealings with Francis.
This mobster guy, Sam Lawford... there was a certain amount of hostility between Lawton and Francis Holbrook.
That feud had been festering for a while. Wreaking havoc on Lawton's end of the game, set well with Red.
Francis was a big boy and normally, Red wouldn't interfere.
However, Red disliked Lawford from the get-go due to the fact Lawton had purchased a three thousand square foot cabin in upstate New York in order to hide his mistress from his wife.
Lawford was fucking around on his woman and it pissed Red off. He liked the woman. Lawford had kids with the woman.
Maybe the fact Red would give anything to be in the same boat with Elizabeth, to have that level of commitment in his life... made what Lawford was doing so distasteful.
Divorce, or better still, trying to fix the problems in a marriage... that was the way to go.
Emailing Francis, he asked the boy send all the dirt he had on Lawford. If anyone knew what that lowlife was up to... it would be Francis.
To get the bitter taste out of his mouth, Red hoped for a quiet evening at home with his woman. It seemed Elizabeth could change his mood just by a smile or the sound of that contagious laugh of hers.
He glanced at his phone, smiling as he read the text Lizzy sent. She was on her way home... and sent her love. Replying in kind, he refocused his attention, intent on his task.
Thoughts of seeing her face urged him to finish up the profile he was sending to Ressler, just as Francis delivered the goods.
Scanning the list, Red's brows lifted for Francis sent very valuable information indeed.
Sending the breakdown on Lawford's personal life, along with Francis' attachment... Red pushed from the desk, just as his phone rang.
Flipping the phone open, he grimaced as sounds invaded his senses. Loud, unnatural sounds... chaotic, sharp, heart stopping sounds.
"Elizab–"
"Red..." the harsh, raspy voice caught Red's attention, causing his heart to halt for a long beat.
"Silas?" the other man sounded so unlike himself, Red wasn't certain it was actually his head guard on the other end of the line.
The guard tried to steady his breathing, knowing it was too shallow. He squinted through blood soaked lashes, focusing his vision. Silas cradled his arm protectively, pushing the pain of broken ribs aside.
Red strained to hear the man's labored voice strain out an intersection near the house. He rapidly made a mental note of the coordinates.
"Silas, what happened? Is Lizzy all right?" the man could not keep the fear from his voice, "Are you? What's your situation?"
The silence was terrifying.
"Silas!" Red barked but already was on the move, covering the space to the front foyer in record time.
Dembe had heard the commotion emerging from the library, his features set quizzically.
Red motioned curtly, "Something's wrong."
Dembe fell into rapid step beside his friend, covering the distance to the car quickly.
Red repeated the street address, sliding into the front passenger seat.
Dembe fired the powerful engine to life, pulling the large SUV out of the security gate in record time.
"It is not far, Raymond." Dembe offered a quick glance at his overwrought companion.
Red noted Tom Keen was not at his usual place outside the home.
"Stalker boy isn't here." he stated grimly, his first thought... Tom Keen was very likely the cause or reason for Elizabeth's situation whatever it could be... or Silas's uncharacteristic lapse.
The tension in the car was palpable. The drive, though short, seemed to take eons to Red's way of thinking.
Dembe tried to picture the area to which Silas directed they go.
A Catholic church sat on the Northeast corner. It was an affluent residential area with one of the better high-schools just blocks to the South.
Raymond had chosen well when it came to the community in which Elizabeth could recover and now call... home.
They took the corner on two wheels, rounding about a shaded and tree-lined street.
Dembe screeched to a halt behind a green Honda sedan.
Red surveyed the area with frantic eyes. He sucked in a sharp breath at the scene laid out before them.
Flashing lights, traffic backed up. They were at least a block from all the real commotion due to a large fire truck blocking both lanes of traffic.
An ambulance was rolling slowly forward weaving through a scene of pure carnage as it went.
Red's mind could not take in the full scope of all the disorder going on around him but he exited the car before Dembe could pull it to a full stop.
His eyes swept the scene, his heart beating frantically in his chest.
The smell of gas, broken glass, burnt rubber and blood filled his nostrils.
A car of an undistinguishable model, right in front of him, was mangled to pieces. The front end, bent upwards at an unnatural angle. The impact it had sustained curved the thick metal in the middle, leaving the car bowed... all doors off set from their rightful place, the glass, shattered from its frames.
Darting his eyes to his left, another vehicle, this one a larger SUV model, sat in the middle of the intersection, flipped to its side. Moving closer towards it, the panic he felt surged when he recognized it as one of his fleet.
Following the line of carnage, Red found Dembe nearing the same area, his large frame darting through the emergency workers. Rushing after the man, he came around the front of the SUV, stopping dead in his tracks.
Another black car was severely demolished. The driver's side was caved in, apparently t-boned. The passenger side, curved inward, rested against a light pole.
It sat meters away at the far side of the intersection, resting ominously. It was turned completely around facing the opposite direction, on the wrong side of the street.
Two of Silas' people stood guard about the vehicle, faces stoically composed, obviously men accustomed to handling unnatural circumstances.
No weapons were drawn which somewhat reassured Reddington until he realized, there was only two of his employees present.
Dembe was leaning into the crushed drivers side, his actions indistinguishable from this distance.
Red quickened his steps, "Elizabeth..." he whispered sacredly, rushing forward.
"Hey," a guy in a yellow vest caught at Red's arm but he shoved roughly away, continuing on, "you have to stay back!"
The demand fell on deaf ears.
"Hey!" the man's urgent words faded into oblivion.
Red cursed fluently, coming to an obstacle he could not shove aside... the light post held the car door wedged tightly.
Elizabeth was inside, half-sitting, held by the seat belt, half hunched over, her hair obscuring her face but he knew...
"Baby..." an anguished gasp escaped his suddenly parched lips. His brain kicked in even when his senses couldn't.
He yanked frantically on the mangled door, the sound of twisted metal creaking and groaning against itself at the power he exuded in his effort.
"Lizzy!" he snapped anxiously, frustrated beyond endurance as the door resisted all attempts he offered.
The woman stirred, her head turning slowly. Blue eyes locked with light grey.
"Elizabeth!" he expelled relief and a prayer to a benevolent God for the awareness looking back at him.
"Oh, Red..." she closed her eyes, blinking back tears. She had needed him to be here and now... he was. Or... was she hallucinating?
"I'm here, baby..." the shaky statement answered her own prayers, "I'm here." he reached into the shattered window mindless of the sharp shards still edging the frame.
His fingers touched her face, easing the dark hair behind a convenient ear, "I'm right here. Don't try to move... please."
He surveyed the scene rapidly. Dembe's eyes reassured from over the top of the front seat headrest.
"He is injured..." the calming tone helped Red focus... commit, "how badly, I do not know." he was carefully supporting Silas' slumping bulk as best he could.
"I'm," Silas' voice lacked its normal vitality, "...fine."
Elizabeth laughed shortly, tears allowed, "He's fine."
She shook her head, grimacing at the pain the movement caused.
"Keep your head still, baby," Red snapped, "try not to move, okay?"
She swallowed, remaining still.
"Is she...all right?" Silas was trying to sit up, to turn about.
"Be very still, my friend." Dembe prevented the unwise action.
Silas had gasped at the pain, a coughing spasm following the stilted movement.
Red winced, seeing blood splatter on Dembe's crisp white shirt. "She's good, Silas, stay the hell still!" he barked, afraid for his friend now as well, his mind began to function properly, finally.
"The others?" Elizabeth's thoughts had long since focused, "the other... guards."
Red sensed Silas' interest as well for the man's broad shoulders had stiffened noticeably.
Dembe glanced about with the eyes of a trained observer. "They are being extracted from the SUV... they appear functional. At least from this distance." he scowled. "Amir and Justin are here," he nodded to the Frenchman who stood just outside the vehicle, "on duty."
"Thank God." Elizabeth murmured serenely, "...Red, you won't... go will you." she tried to keep the tears from her voice.
"Wild horses, baby." he returned tightly, "Where do you hurt?"
Silas barked a curse as the steering wheel turned sharply. Rescue workers were now working on the front of the car.
"Fuckers!" Silas grated angrily.
"They are attempting to extract you." Dembe could see the efforts whereas the others could not. "The front end is twisted. You are trapped until they..." he trailed away, "what do you need?"
"A shot of whiskey." Silas grinned almost impishly but his face instantly contorted into a fixed grimace of pain.
Dembe produced a flask, holding it for his friend to partake.
"Red!" Elizabeth was dismayed, "Don't let him do that!"
Red remained silent on the matter, "Where do you hurt?" he repeated sharply.
The woman closed her eyes wearily, "...Everywhere," she smiled bravely then sobered, "...my leg," her brow furrowed, "my leg really...hurts." she realized, "Oh man!" her breath expelled in a whoosh. "What the hell happened?"
Red's eyes darted to the wrecked automobiles absently, returning his interest to more pressing matters.
The front seat pushed down painfully on Lizzy's shin, her foot was jammed up underneath the edge.
"My head is killing me." she made mention, "Dembe... hand me that flask." she quipped.
"Where the hell are the firemen?" Red snapped, "Why isn't someone–"
"They must alleviate the weight of the seat." Dembe motioned to a now collapsed, very silent head guard. "Silas must be extracted first."
"How long?" Red gritted, his fingers tightening on Elizabeth's.
"Red, that hurts," she wiggled her hand to signify.
He loosened his grip instantly, "Sorry, baby." he was contrite. The fear he felt powered through him.
"A few minutes only." Dembe assured, or placated, Red wasn't certain at this point.
The silence came in the car but around them sounds exploded.
Red shut it all out concentrating on just one thing. He smiled gently at Lizzy, "I leave you alone for one minute and look at the mess you get yourself into."
"Why is Silas so quiet?" Liz was more than apprehensive, struggling to see her guard, to check on his condition.
"He thankfully..." Dembe hastily replied, "has passed out. It is a good thing, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's face registered distress and fear.
"Calm yourself, please." Dembe was reaching the woman where Red could not. "Silas is strong. He will come through this." he soothed. "He is just resting now that we are here."
She visibly tried to obey.
"Mr. Kaplan is on her way." Dembe further put her mind to rest.
"Did she give an ETA?" Red jerked his head to the man's dark gaze, his own apprehensive to say the least.
A fireman stepped in beside Dembe, alerting him to the situation. The man nodded, taking the item handed him.
"Ten minutes, Raymond." Dembe replayed the information, securing a thick chain around the steering wheel before feeding it through the open windshield to the waiting rescue workers.
"We... we can do ten minutes, right?" Elizabeth was asking more for Silas it was understood by all. "I m-mean, Silas can do ten minutes in his sleep."
"He once went two days in the Sudan with his arm hanging out of its socket after an IED device took out our vehicle," Dembe recalled, "cursing like a sailor the entire time but..."
Elizabeth smiled. She knew that had been the least of Silas' injuries at that time. The guards had shared the gruesome tale.
"Yeah... he can do ten minutes." she felt infinitely better, and then... she didn't. Nausea reared its ugly head. "You better not get too close," she grimaced adorably, "I might puke."
Red surveyed the vehicle. "Hold on, baby."
"Don't go!" she panicked, feeling his warm fingers release.
"No..." he hastily reassured, "I think I can get in the other side." he wasn't sure and it took a Herculean effort from both he and Dembe but then he was sliding across the glass strewn seat, easing ever so gently to her side.
She lay her head on his shoulder, seeking his warmth. "I'm cold." she shivered involuntarily.
Dembe reached past his unconscious friend heaving a jacket to the back seat.
Red carefully draped the dark fabric over her arms and chest. "You just stay very still. Kate will make it all better," he crooked his head to see her face, "you believe that, right."
"I know." she drifted in a very nice place. The pain was receding.
Minutes passed.
Red began to sweat.
His guard's body was covered in blood. Silas' light blue shirt, streaked with blots and oozing wounds.
Lizzy was probably going into shock. Silas already was...
"Did they get him?"
Red practically started at the woman's voice.
A church bell chimed several times in the far distance over the uproar of activities taking place inside their very small world.
"What?" he questioned, pulling her closer.
"...Carver." the woman answered quietly.
Red's heart stopped completely then sped ahead frantically, "...What!" Was she getting delusional?
"He was on the phone with us," Elizabeth couldn't really see any urgency now. The damage had been done, after all, "...just before..." she scowled.
Before what? Oh yes, the blur... the dark blur.
Reddington was reeling. Carver? No, it was Tom... wasn't it? It had to be... Tom.
Carver knew Lizzy's number?! How the hell did–
"Awww, shit." Silas had come to, groaning weakly, "fuck..."
Dembe exchanged subdued looks with a wildly speculating Red Reddington.
The loud grating sound of the hood collapsing into itself halted all coherent thought for a beat.
The chain Dembe had secured about the steering wheel had done its job.
Silas cursed fluently as the heavy object veered slowly away from his body.
Thankfully darkness descended.
Dembe moved aside to allow the extraction.
Elizabeth watched, breathing a sigh of relief, "Ten minutes is a really long time." she concluded.
She yelped like a little hurt puppy as Silas' weight left the seat, a searing pain ripping through her leg.
Red closed his eyes. She was hurting and there was not one fucking thing he could do to help.
"I'm here." he murmured the useless words. "...I'm here."
Ages passed... eons passed but finally... finally, Elizabeth was freed, placed on a stretcher.
Dembe got Red's attention.
Their own 'ambulances' had arrived.
Red held tight to Liz's hand, "Where's Kaplan? He pressed for information not having seen the woman in all the chaos surrounding them as yet.
"She is waiting at Dr. Bryan's," the answer seemed apparent to the attendant, "in case we needed the space in the ambulance."
Red wasn't happy for the woman's presence always calmed him but he understood the reasoning.
Silas' ambulance pulled away, sirens blaring.
Red watched it weave rapidly through the maze of carnage and the enormous crowd which had developed.
"Sir.."
Red turned having stepped aside to allow Lizzy to be lifted into the back of the second ambulance.
A uniformed officer approached, his smile a gentle one, "Everything will be fine... they will have your wife at the hospital in no time."
He calmed at the words, 'Your wife'.
Taking a steadying breath, he let it out slowly. His anger... his fear would be a distraction.
Red glanced at the woman. Kaplan's people were efficiently calming and reassuring Elizabeth as they hooked her to bags and leads.
"I'm Officer Andrews." Red was handed a card.
He stared at it, not seeing the print.
"Look, I know you don't want to deal with this right now." he held out a sheet of paper.
Red took if for he sensed he should
"I want to give this to you for later." the cop was continuing. He gestured to a totally mangled maroon late model sedan. "It's the other drivers information."
Red must have seemed lost.
Had they caught Carver? Was the bastard in that fucking car? Had he been extracted first? Had they taken him away?
The officers eyes softened, "I get it. If that were my wife trapped in that..." he pulled a face, seeing the damage done to the sturdy Mercedes. "I just thought you would want his insurance information."
"Who?" Red demanded.
"... The other driver." the cop thumbed back again to the maroon car. "Damned teenagers," he shook his head woefully, "blew through the light while texting. The front seat passenger... kid about seventeen went through the windshield," he lifted grave eyes, "no seat belt. Probably won't make it, but ya never know, ya know."
Red nodded absently, his own face grim.
"The two in the back seat aren't fairing much better. At least they were wearing seat belts."
Red rubbed his temples.
"Are you saying..." he tried to comprehend it all. No words would form.
A fucking idiot kid caused all this mayhem?
"They took him first," the cop nodded, "he's already in surgery. I think he was also high... drunk?"
Realizing he had said too much, the guy backed off. "We will have more information as the day wears on. Call that number in an hour or so," he motioned. "I see they are ready to transport. I will be at the hospital. We can speak further there."
Red watched the guy walk away.
He knew he wouldn't be at their hospital.
The cop stuck his head in the ambulance, "They taking good care of you, Ma'am?" he smiled cordially. "Everything is going to be fine."
Liz tried a smile. She didn't think it took. Was that the standard 'go to' line for all males?
Everything is going to be fine.
Silas had been 'fine'.
"My name is Ethan. I'm here to see you are okay... but you look like a strong type of gal." he grinned. "I'll put my money on you to recover one hundred percent. You have to..." he continued, glancing back at Red, "your husband is about to shit kittens out here worrying about you. You gotta let him know everything will be–"
"...Fine." Elizabeth smiled genuinely, "I will Offi–" she hesitated, "Ethan, thank you for being so solicitous and kind. It is very appreciated."
The man nodded, stepping aside as Red came forward to grip Elizabeth's small fingers in his.
Red leaned, kissing the woman's forehead.
"Are you shitting kittens?" she teased lovingly.
"I don't shit kittens." he murmured, "although, if you do this to me again... I might cut my own fucking wrists."
"What a waste of a perfectly adequate penis."
"Adequate?" he lifted his brows ever so happy to be beside her, trading quips again, "Seriously, woman," his voice dropped an octave, "you put me through hell these past few minutes. Don't you ever do that to me again... promise."
She brought his hand to her lips, lingering a soft kiss on his fingers, "I promise."
"I'm going to let them take you now." he was suddenly all business. "Dembe and I will follow in the car because," he soothed any objections or demands, "they can get you to Kaplan quicker. And the cop is going to want your information and if... when we don't show up at the hospital..."
She nodded, "I understand but hurry... please."
"You got that right." he hated not going with her but he wanted the world he created for her to stay intact if at all possible. Running from the police would not ensure that eventuality.
He had no idea how far Carver had integrated himself into the situation but Lizzy was safe and secure at the house.
He hoped nothing had changed.
Besides bringing the fucker to a place of Red's choosing was far preferable to meeting Caver on another, unfamiliar turf.
He glanced out the open doors, watching another SUV meander a path towards them. Lizzy's other guard, David, hopped out... heading their way.
Red kissed Lizzy briefly. "Do as Kate tells you."
"I'm afraid not to," Liz told the truth. "She'll see to Silas first, right?"
Red stepped down out of the large ambulance, waving Lizzy's guard, David, to take his place.
He pointed a finger, stepping out of the way of the closing ambulance doors. "Do as Kate tells you!"
Red crossed rapidly, extracting his fake ID. He gave the needed particulars to Officer Andrews.
"This could have waited, really." the guy was being cool.
"I want her to rest once everything calms down." Red smiled tightly, finishing up the task with a brisk. "I'll come to the station and retrieve all those cards, Officer. I really just want to be with my wife, if I could."
"I'll leave them at the front desk. You know where the station is located?"
Red knew where most police stations were located, in truth, "I'll find it and thank you again for your understanding."
The cop turned aside.
Red searched the crowd for Dembe. His eyes scanned slowly, carefully...
He was a little miffed, startled... to see one of Silas' guards withdraw his weapon, assuming a crouched position to steady his aim.
Red was torn between lashing out a reprimand... he had just soothed matters over with the police, after all.
Or again... wondering at the cause behind the man's actions.
The answers came in rapid succession.
Having followed the guard's line of sight and now ignoring all the startled yelps, out-cries and panic a visible weapon can cause...
Red locked gazes with a serenely smiling... ominous nemesis.
Carver stared back at him, out of a crowd of rapidly dissipating members.
Officer Andrews reacted as his years on the force would demand and in a most timely and efficient manner, Red had to acknowledge.
Dembe artfully disarmed, not to mention, completely disabled the now downed cop.
Officer Andrews lay peacefully on the pavement, his bulky body outstretched like a toddler taking a much-needed nap.
Dembe was fluidity in motion, his own weapon raised, aimed...
Carver pulled a female in a bright pair of leggings and a yellow stretch top in front of his body, a wicked grin on the totally malicious face.
Amir approached carefully, but he did not have a clear shot as yet, Red sensed.
Red stood, glued to the spot, trusting his men to do their job.
"If looks could kill, hey old friend." Carver gleefully taunted, all the while shielding himself behind a terrified, screaming human shield.
He whispered something to the captive woman who fell instantly silent, her eyes showing the sheer terror she was experiencing.
The guard on the left, Justin, was working his way into a more favorable position.
Carver, sensing as much, ended the stale-mate by hastily slicing a blade across the woman's throat before disappearing into a row of well-trimmed bushes which lined the church property that boarded the block.
The guards gave chase. Dembe had even managed a couple of well-placed shots into the vicinity of the bushes.
All hell had broken loose.
The crowd panicked. Cars were backing up, revving engines, honking feverishly at those blocking their avenue of escape even though escape was impossible.
Firemen had inundated the fallen police officer, but now everyone was diving for cover, except a few individuals who still worked tirelessly over the man who was slowly reviving.
Red headed for the downed woman, waiting patiently for the teams to inform him of their progress.
His guards reemerged making a bee-line for their employer.
Dembe was diplomatically calming individuals as he strolled back. Most shied away from the guy because he forgot to dispel the dark scowl on his face.
"He had a car waiting, Captain." Justin arrived first. The guy wasn't even breathing hard. "We couldn't pursue."
The guard lifted helpless brows motioning to the wrecked SUV over in the intersection.
"We could turn the car upright." Amir offered magnanimously.
Red scowled at the guy.
"It's a good car. Probably still runs." Justin shrugged.
"Leave it." Red waved off the two younger men, keeping his hold on the woman's neck. "Go with the back-up team." he jerked his head to the waiting SUV.
"The other teams might get him, Captain. We radioed," the guy continued, "they were well in route."
Red glanced about. People were beginning to stare, getting a little more brave.
"Make yourself scarce." Red replied tightly, "You know the routine. Thanks for the attempt."
"We'll get the son-of-a-bitch." Justin was unfazed by the events of the day.
The black SUV rolled up beside them, blocking sight of the surrounding people.
"The woman?" Justin asked grimly watching the firemen doing their thing with the still offset police officer.
"Take her." Red directed of the woman.
"But," Justin hesitated only enough to ascertain if the situation could be helped, "the guy is good at what he does."
Red felt his blood pressure spike, "Elizabeth would want us to try..." he snapped.
Justin crouched, taking Red's place, keeping pressure on the wound. Amir came about to assist the man into the back of the transport.
"We must go Raymond." Dembe's hand guided the man from the turmoil in more ways than one.
The guards discretely dispersed leaving the wreckage of the day in their wake.
A half hour later, Red sat in the quiet of a rather cheerful room, considering its location.
He took in the plain blue paint of the walls. A nice enough color. He hated the depressing grey of a hospital room. It was supposed to be white; he was certain, but it always appeared a dingy off-grey.
Maybe it was just the depressing circumstances in which one invariably found themselves if a hospital was needed.
He always thought of himself as a 'glass half full' type of guy.
Maybe not...
Lizzy's fingers pressed to his.
He smiled, seeking her out. "Look at you." he was content to do so.
"Yeah," she lay very still, immobile due to a neck brace and stiff, uncomfortable backboard, "look at me."
His smile widened, and he shifted closer to the side of the bed.
"You look like a million bucks to me." he confided.
"Have you ever actually seen a million bucks?"
"Who hasn't?" he seemed stumped, "Your curiosity returns... a good sign."
"Have they said... about Silas?"
"Would you be this worried about me?"
"Red..." she was bothered by the taunt.
He waved the matter aside, "Kaplan is working her magic. He was awake and bitching when I came through." he motioned. "Another good sign. Have you ever witnessed those two when they are at odds? We should sell tickets."
She chuckled then, grimaced. "Don't make me laugh."
The silence came. Red lifted her hand, his lips gently caressing her skin.
"You were kinda hot out there today." she mentioned in passing.
"Well, it is springtime in Washington D.C."
"I meant," she let him know by her 'look', "hot as in... knight in shining armor arriving on horseback to rescue his damsel in distress 'hot'."
It was his turn to chuckle.
"Or at least," her voice softened, "that's what it felt like to me."
His laughter died away, his eyes hold hers willfully.
"I so needed to you be there and then... you were."
He leaned kissing her mouth gently, "Let's keep it that way... always," he nudged his head slightly, "okay?"
She nodded minutely, "What would I do without you?"
"We're not going there." he sat back, subject closed. "So tell me, what were the events which led up to this rather... cryptic days events?"
She told him to the best of her abilities, "I thought it was Carver... ramming our car."
He kept mum on the 'Carver' sighting afterwards. She had enough guilt on her plate at present.
"I saw your ankle, before they wrapped it." he motioned, "Looks broke. The skin was purple and swollen." he artfully changed the subject.
"I still have some movement," she disagreed, "a couple days and I'll be... fine."
He shifted her a sardonic look.
"Well, I will." she was determined.
"I know, baby," Red knew whatever Elizabeth's ailment... she would be just fine.
"You and I both know, if Carver is aware of our location..." Silas broached the subject while Kaplan prepared Elizabeth to depart from the make-shift hospital, "we have two options.
Red listened attentively, trusting his friend's input implicitly, even as the large guard hid the fact he was in pain from any interested on-looker.
But he knew better... and admired the man all the more. Even in serious agony, Silas was at the top of his game.
"We can haul ass, set up at another location..." Silas continued, "which only postpones the inevitable, if you ask me." the large shoulders shrugged bringing a grimace to the handsome face. But it was fleeting and then gone. "Or we find the leak in the organization. It's apparent we have one. Who, is anyone's guess at this point."
Red nodded his agreement his own features tense. To think someone he trusted was out to betray him, royally pissed him off.
"I don't want Elizabeth run out of her own home." Silas snapped.
Red's jaw tightened, angered by the idea that her home... her very stability, her bit of normalcy had been compromised.
"This son-of-a-bitch is taking her security away. We've worked too fucking hard to get her to this point."
"You aren't a hundred percent."
Silas fell silent at the veiled accusation, "...No," he admitted grimly, "but I am functioning."
"Are you?"
The grey eyes shifted, "Yes."
"You need time to heal, as well." Red reminded, "I know the variables. Let me have time to think them through."
Silas nodded curtly but Red could tell the guy was itching to get at Carver. To put an end to the bastard. Who wasn't?
"We'll get him." Red laid a hand on his friends shoulder, easing the pressure when Silas winced. "But on our terms."
Silas remained silent.
"Can we protect her for a couple days?" Red needed more input.
"He'll hit us at our lowest point." Silas reminded.
"Is this," Red needed to know, "our lowest point?"
"He thinks it is." Silas grinned. "Might work to our advantage, but I don't want Elizabeth within a thousand miles when we confront the bastard."
Red patted the stocky shoulder absently, "Give me twenty-four hours."
Silas inclined his head minutely.
"Right now, she needs to be home." Red realized, "She needs to feel normal for a while. Can we give her that?"
"We'll give her any damned thing she wants," Silas rolled his eyes, "when have we not?"
"Which is how it should be." Red grinned, "It's our job to pamper and spoil."
"You take it to the extreme with this one." a beefy thumb was jerked in the appropriate direction.
"You disapprove?" Red's grin widened.
Silas thought about it. "Nah, I guess it works in this instance but don't expect me to put up with her crap."
Red rolled his own eyes. Silas was just as bad, if not worse, about babying Lizzy. Today was proof of that. The man had left his sickbed in order to make Lizzy... feel better.
Though, it wasn't Red's preferred method. He had enjoyed watching the woman almost go for the guards throat. By the looks of Silas, it was perhaps a good thing Lizzy had been strapped to that backboard. She could have easily taken him down.
"God forbid," Red held up pacifying hands, "I realize you are a throw back to the caveman period. I wouldn't think of disturbing the natural order of your evolution."
"Just so we know where we stand." Silas wanted matters straight and clear.
"You'd give your fucking life for her," Red called the guy's bluff, "and you know it."
"It's my job to give my fucking life." Silas explained patiently as if to a young child. "Doesn't mean I have to put up with shit."
Red nodded sagely, pointing to a chair, "Sit down before you fall down."
Silas looked at the object and surprisingly... sat.