Chapter 9
…
Aram had received Reddington's call just after the team had wrapped up their latest case. He had just been getting ready to head home for a few hours rest but made his detour to Reddington's. When he got there, Dembe let him inside, heading in to the room to see Reddington pacing back and forth, his face full of frustration.
"Mr Reddington…"
"Aram, thank you so much for coming."
"It's fine, we've just finished with our case. You said it was important?"
"I think we may have a location for Salgado, the laptop's been bleeping on and off for the last half hour."
Aram didn't say anything, instead took of his jacket and made his way over to the chair. He took a seat before typing a few things in to the laptop and bringing up the screen to see the flashing red light staring back at him.
"Oh my god, he switched on his cell."
"You know where he is?" Reddington asked, coming to lean over him to look at the screen.
"He seems to be just on the outskirts of the city, about an hour or so away."
"Can you get us an exact location?"
"Just give me a few minutes and hopefully I will have it."
Reddington stood back and let Aram do his magic, looking over at Dembe who seemed nervous.
"Dembe?"
The younger man looked up as Reddington came over to him, laying a warm hand on his arm.
"Dembe what is it?"
"Salgado, we are defiantly killing him, aren't we?"
"He won't get away with what he's done to Kate, don't worry about that Dembe."
"Should we mention the baby?"
"No, Kate was very clear that she didn't want that and I respect her decision. There's no need for him to know, he's done enough damage already."
"Good."
"Don't worry Dembe, we will get him…I promise you."
"Mr Reddington, I have him."
…
Kate was making herself some tea when she heard the front door, going to answer it to find Andrea smiling back at her.
"Andrea."
"Hello, you busy?"
"No…unfortunately."
"Look I can go if you're not up for company." Sensing Kate's annoyed tone.
"Oh no dearie, I'm sorry. Come on in."
Kate stepped aside as Andrea made her way inside, waiting for Kate to close the door behind them.
"You don't look very happy, what's wrong."
"Nothing dearie…tea?"
"Sure."
Andrea followed her through, watching her closely as she made the tea, throwing the teaspoon in to the sink before pouring the milk in to the cups and slamming the fridge door behind her. Andrea came up beside her, her hand resting on Kate's arm.
"Kate…what's wrong?"
"Nothing I…"
"You're pissed off about something, talk to me."
Kate turned, folding her arms in front of her as she leaned back against the worktop, Andrea watching her.
"It's Raymond."
"Oh god, what's he done now."
"Nothing really, it's just…he won't allow me to do anything."
"Such as?"
"Work, he said I'm not needed right now."
"Well that's not unusual is it?"
"He said he'll lighten my workload. I don't want him to do that, I don't want him or anyone else treating me any differently just because…"
Kate looked down before Andrea's arm came around her shoulder, bringing her closer.
"Because you're pregnant."
"Yes, I'm not incapable of doing my work."
"He didn't say you weren't, did he?"
"Well no but…"
"Look, he cares about you and he's concerned for you. You are an older woman and…"
"I AM AWARE OF THAT DEARIE."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you."
"No, I'm sorry. I'm just not used too doing nothing."
"You're not doing nothing exactly…you're growing a baby in there." She joked.
Kate looked up at her, a small laugh escaping her lips as she watched the way Andrea smiled down at her. Andrea felt a small flutter at the way Kate looked at her, before she leaned down and kissed Kate. This time Kate didn't tense, instead moving to bring her arm around Andrea's waist as she deepened the kiss. When Andrea pulled back, Kate's arm remained around her waist.
"Well, that was different." Andrea smiled.
"Yes, it certainly was." Kate smiled, looking up at her.
"Kate, you know I care a great deal about you right?"
"Well if the last few days have been anything to go by then yes."
"I just don't mean as your doctor."
"I know that dearie, I care about you too."
"I'm not rushing you in to anything; right now you have enough going on without getting involved with me and I…"
"Dearie, has it ever occurred to you that perhaps you might just be the sort of distraction I need right now."
"I don't want to be just a distraction for you Kate, I want much more. You're unlike anyone I've ever known before."
"Andrea, I know what you want…I think I might just want this too, and I'm not just saying it because I'm scared of doing this alone."
"I understand I do. We'll take it slow, if that's okay with you."
"It's perfectly fine with me."
"Good, now…let's have that tea."
…
Dembe drove along the road as they left the city, looking in the rear view mirror to see Reddington staring out of the window, his face full of worry and anger.
"Raymond…are you alright?"
"I'm fine Dembe, I was just thinking about Kate."
"It's not your fault, what's happened to her. Salgado's the only one who's responsible here."
"Not entirely and we both know that, if I had handled things better all those years ago with him then he wouldn't have retaliated against me and used Kate as his weapon. Because of me, she's having a child she never intended to have."
"It's Kate's decision to have the baby."
"I know but…she shouldn't have had that choice to make had I not messed up. It's up to me to take care of her and this child now and I intend to do just that and the first thing I have to do is make sure that Salgado with never harm her again."
"We'll make sure of that."
As they drove along, the phone Aram had given him began to beep a little more loudly.
"I think we're close Dembe, take the next right."
Dembe turned up the next exit, driving along a deserted country road, a farm house coming in to their view as they drove closer.
"I think this might be it Dembe, go slowly, we don't want him to know we're here, not yet."
"Yes Raymond."
Reddington leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes as he prepared himself to take the man who hurt one of the most important people in his life down.
…
To Be Continued….
