Chapter 13

Dembe was having trouble keeping his eyes open as he listened to the groans of pain coming from his boss as Salgado stabbed him in the side.

"I already told you, you…you can do what you want to me but I'll never talk. You should know me better than that."

"You found it easy enough to talk to the police when it suited you."

Reddington looked up at him, bloody dripping from his mouth as he pressed his hand to his side as the pain seared from the stab wound.

"A young girl of fourteen died because of your drugs."

"I didn't force that kid to take them, did I?"

"I may have killed a lot of people, but the ones I have killed…they weren't innocent…she was."

"She bought the stuff, she knew the risks. These kids nowadays have no sense."

Reddington closed his eyes tightly as the pain got worse, finding it hard to keep his eyes open.

"Aaron, come on…I think we deserve a drink. This is thirsty work."

"Yeah boss."

Dembe waited for them to leave before turning his attentions to his boss.

"Raymond, are you okay."

"I've had better days…how are you holding up?"

"About the same, let me see your side."

Reddington removed his hand as blood trickled down, Dembe suddenly very worried.

Kate drove up the long road, looking out for any signs of Reddington and Dembe. Aram looked over at her to see that she was becoming increasingly stressed with the entire situation; she pulled over, stopping the car and sat staring at the farm house.

"Kate, are you okay?" Aram asked concerned.

"Just give me a minute dearie."

Aram nodded as he watched her get out of the car and over to the tree on his side, her back to him as he heard her being sick. He went in to his bag and got out a bottle of water before getting out of the car and coming up beside Kate who was trying to catch her breath. His arm came around her shoulders as he heard a few quiet sobs from her.

"Kate, take some deep breathes…easy…that's it, slow breaths."

Kate listened as Aram spoke to her, calming her down before he passed her the bottle of water, which she took without fuss.

"Thank you dearie, it must be my nerves." She smiled, looking up at him.

"Or the baby."

"Of course, I didn't think about that. We should get in there."

"Are you sure we shouldn't wait. Liz and the others won't be long."

"Let's just have a look around."

Aram was about to respond when he saw her go back to the car and get her bag, bringing out a gun.

"Oh god, you have a gun."

"Always be prepared Aram."

"Okay look, I really think we should wait."

Kate began to get frustrated with the young man, walking back to him.

"I'll tell you what dearie, you wait here for Elizabeth and the others and I'll look around alright."

Kate turned, and began walking away from him, making her way around the building. Aram stood debating, before shaking his head.

"Yeah, because I'm really going to leave you on your own." He muttered before going to catch up with her.

Dembe had been trying to loosen the knots around his wrists, as he kept a very close eye on Reddington who had slipped in to unconsciousness with the pain.

"Raymond…Raymond open your eyes."

Dembe received no response as he worked hard to get himself free, his head shot up when he heard a noise coming from the back, bracing himself for round two only to be confronted with Kate, who dropped her bag up on seeing them.

"Kate…"

"Oh my god, Aram…over here."

"I really think this is a really bad….jesus."

Aram stopped short when he saw Dembe tied up and Reddington with his head down, bloody seeping from his side. Nobody had any time to really think before Kate moved towards Reddington, leaning over him, her hand holding the side of his face.

"Raymond…it's Kate, can you hear me. Open your eyes for me dearie. Aram, pass me my bag."

Aram did as he was asked, picking up the bag and passing it to her. He watched as she dug around inside, bringing out some equipment.

"What the hell is that?" He asked.

"What does it look like dearie, it's a syringe, and this will help his pain."

"How do you even…you know what…doesn't matter. Nothing should surprise me anymore."

Aram and Dembe watched as Kate injected Reddington with the drug, watching as he made a low groan before beginning to raise his head.

"Raymond….look at me."

"Kate…"

"Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"

"You need to leave here Kate, Aram take her away somewhere safe. She can't be here."

"Raymond."

"Salgado is around here somewhere and if he sees you I…I don't want him near you Kate, do you understand me. I don't care what happens to me; just get yourself and these two out of here."

"I'm not leaving you Raymond."

"For god sake Kate, think of the baby. I don't want anything to happen to either of you."

"You're here because of me."

"No…I'm here because of Salgado, because of what he's done to you. You're not at fault, don't ever think that."

"Elizabeth and her team are coming Raymond."

"Oh Kate, why…why did you get them involved."

"It wasn't Mr Kaplan…it was me Mr Reddngton. I was worried about Kate…Mr Kaplan coming here alone."

"Thank you for looking after her Aram."

"I was happy to do it." He smiled.

"Raymond I…"

"Well well, look who we have here."

Kate froze when she heard the familiar voice behind her, memories from that fateful night running through her mind. Aram without thinking pulled Kate near him, so she was a little safer.

"So, is this a private party or can anyone join in."

"Let them go Salgado, they have nothing to do with this." Reddington said.

Reddington tried to move when Salgado made eye contact with Kate, and began to move over to her.

"Hello Mr Kaplan, lovely to see you again."

Kate looked up at him, fear in her eyes. Her hand immediately went to the baby without thinking. She kept her composure until he leaned down, placing a kiss to her cheek.

"GET OFF HER." Reddington yelled out as Dembe tried to move to protect her.

"Now now Red, I'm just saying hello…it's been a while since I saw her."

"Go to hell. Kate replied, never breaking eye contact.

Before Kate knew what was happening, she felt the back of his hand against her cheek, forcing her to her knees.

"For god sake, leave her alone." Aram said.

Aram was immediately down beside her, his arm around her as she leaned in to him, her hand on her stomach.

"Are you okay?"

Kate looked up at him, nodding her head as she got to her feet with Aram's help, the young man keeping her close to him.

"I'm sorry about that Mr Kaplan, but I can't have anyone disrespecting me like that."

"Let her go, let them all leave…you have me. I'm the one you want."

"I do, but the idea of forcing pain on your friends is very appealing to me right now."

"Not her."

Salgado looked between Kate and Reddington, a smirk on his face.

"I picked the right one didn't I, you clearly hold her very dear to you. Tell me Mr Kaplan, we listened to the voicemail you left him earlier…I was curious, about this baby you were talking about."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Salgado raised his hand to hit Kate again but Aram pulled her behind him before he got the chance.

"Don't you dare lay another finger on her?"

"Who the hell are you to Red, work for him too do you?"

"No."

"So who are you?"

"FBI."

Salgado and Aaron began laughing as the looked at Aram.

"Hear that Aaron, we got FBI with us…this just gets better, doesn't it."

"Yeah boss."

"Do you get off on hitting pregnant women?"

"Aram." Kate warned.

Salgado went very quiet, Reddington closing his eyes tightly before seeing the pain and fear on Kate's face at Aram's words.

Andrea was pacing the room with Agnes in her arms as she waited for Elizabeth to answer her cell.

"Andrea…what's up?"

"Elizabeth, thank god. I need your help, its Kate."

"Yeah we know."

"You do?"

"She came to get me but I wasn't there, she took Aram with her to find Salgado's hide out."

"I'm worried; she's in no condition to be running around after Salgado. I know she's worried about Red but…I don't want her hurt."

"Andrea, me and my team are nearly at the location as we speak. We're gonna get Kate and the others out safe and hopefully take down Salgado and in order to do that I need you to stay calm for me and take care of my baby girl until I get back. Can you do that?"

"I love her Elizabeth…if anything happens to her…"

"I'll do my best to bring her home unharmed, I promise."

"Will you call me when this is over?"

"I will, just stay there with Agnes and I'll bring them back home."

Elizabeth hung up as tears fell from Andrea's eyes as Agnes began to squirm in her arms.

"Oh I'm sorry baby; I'm just worried about your nana. Come here."

Andrea held the young girl close, praying Kate would be okay."

To Be Continued…