Title: Beyond Borders
Chapter 8 – Checkmate!

Ressler looks up with a small scowl just as Red approaches. "About ti…" is all Ressler manages before Red's hand shows a small caliber pistol hidden in its fold.

"Get up now Agent Ressler," Red demands with a small hiss.

"What the hell?"

Ressler looks at Red as if he had literally grown a third eye as he slowly stands up. "Are you crazy?" Ressler hisses as he holds his ground, eyes locked with Red.

"Like a fox," Red replies with a small smile. "Move Donald."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll kill you," Red retorts with a very tight expression.

"Really?" Ressler questions in disbelief.

"Really."

"If you think I'm going anywhere willingly with y…"

*BANG*

Ressler's eyes literally bulge as his face screws and his hands race to his stomach as he looks down in horror and notices the blood spreading across his abdomen; his knees starting to buckle as his heart races and black circles form before his eyes as darkness consumes him a few moments later.

"Well I did warn," Red states in sarcasm as he signals two men who seemingly appear out of nowhere, each taking an arm to Ressler's limp frame and dragging him toward the back of a waiting limousine. Red nods to the two men who merely dump Ressler's bloodied frame into the trunk, slam the lid closed and then gets into the belly of the black vehicle as it pulls away; Ressler's FBI backup taken out at the same time.

Red pulls his phone, keeping a careful eye on the two men in the front seat, his fingers sending a brief text to Dembe while he tries to distract the two dimwitted hired help with some witty but pointless banter. About ten minutes later as they near the edge of an empty construction site, a black SUV comes barreling toward them, shooting out the front tires and forcing the large vehicle to swerve but come to a firm stop.

"That was messy," Red grumbles to himself as he uprights himself and exits the vehicle after he had capped both men in the front with a silenced bullet to the back of each head. "Take care of it," Red directs Dembe as he heads around to the trunk and opens it; Ressler's body slowly coming back to reality. "Welcome back Donald."

"Damn…bastard…" Ressler's lips utter in a soft growl before he is able to fully focus and narrow his gaze at Red. "You shot me!"

"You're welcome."

"You shot me!"

"You said that already."

Another angry curse escapes Ressler's lips as he slowly wrestles himself out of the trunk, actually hanging on to Red for a few moments until the area around him stops spinning and then he yanks his arm free. "What just happened!"

"I saved your life. Sadly Lizzie will have to buy you another shirt. Where on earth did you get that one? Walmart?"

"Target!" Ressler grumbles as Red merely shrugs. "That's not…the point I…" his voice stammers as he watches Dembe approach with a limp frame in his hands. "What the hell is going on?"

"Business. Tell me do you still dress yourself or have you finally let Lizzie pick a few things out. She always looks stunning don't you think?"

Ressler's lips purse as Red's hand clamps down on his forearm and pulls him back; both watching as Dembe returns with a can of gasoline in his grasp. "Red…"

"You know a little gratitude wouldn't be out of character for you Donald. I did just save your life."

"You're the man McBeth hired to take me out?"

"McBeth?" Red gently chuckles. "I don't deal with middlemen. I got the call from Oslo himself."

"I feel very special."

"Don't," Red retorts as his face turns serious.

"And I'm assuming you made your deal with Oslo without Stanton's knowledge?"

"You catch on quick."

"Where's McBeth? Where the hell is Oslo!"

"Right now your wife and her partner are going to find Conchita. She's gone. But they will find a body there."

"McBeth's. Who's this Oslo character?"

"A hired gun. Much like me he enjoys his work but insists on getting paid very well for it."

"We don't pay you."

"I don't work for you," Red counters as Ressler head slightly shakes. "How was that mud wrestling place by the way?"

"What?"

"I'm glad to see you're filling Lizzie's love of adventure. She takes her work too seriously at times. Tom was too boring for her. Always trying to domesticate her. Wasn't a match."

"We didn't actually go."

"I know but you should. I know she'd like it."

"Can we get back to the topic at hand," Ressler grumbles as they start to walk away from the limo, Dembe tossing in a match and all three of them jolting in place from the subsequent boom from the explosion. "Does Stanton have Conchita or his son Kyle?"

"No. I have them."

"Figures," Ressler pulls away from Red and looks at him in contempt. "Are we all just puppets to you!"

"Hardly. No one pulls Elizabeth's strings," Red replies seriously as Ressler's expression softens. "It's very obvious you care for her."

"She's my partner."

"She's also your wife."

"Is she in danger?"

"Not at the moment. A tad frustrated but she's okay for now," Red comments as Ressler pulls his phone and calls Liz.

"Don? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Fine. Did you find McBeth's body there?"

"What else did Red tell you?" Liz asks in a tight tone.

"Conchita and her son are at one of his safe houses," Ressler relays as Red nods and then goes to talk to Dembe. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Does Red know where Oslo is?"

"No and for once I actually believe him although they did do business together today."

"Always more questions with Red. How is your meeting going?"

Ressler looks down at his blood stained shirt and purses his lips. "Swell," he relates dryly as a small giggle escapes her lips. Red looks over at the exact moment Ressler's face softens into a small smile, knowing that whatever Liz had told him was pleasing and seeing him happy meant she was happy and that was all that mattered to Red. "I'll tell you more later."

"Find out which safe house he has them at and I'll meet you there. We need to let her know that we can protect her."

"Stanton has a big reach. And this Oslo character…well he could be just about anywhere."

"I have a feeling when we get to her…Oslo won't be too far behind."

"Comforting. I'll see you later."

"Is she okay?" Red asks as Ressler slowly heads back toward the waiting SUV, Dembe in the front seat and Red waiting by; the side door.

"She's stressed," Ressler replies in truth. "She found McBeth's body."

"Really doesn't pay to fail Roger Stanton…or Norman Oslo for that matter."

"He has to be stopped and if Conchita can do that…wait a minute…what do you want in all this?"

"You haven't figured that out?"

"Just want to hear you say it," Ressler retorts as Red smiles at him.

"You know that internal feeling…that adrenaline rush when you take down someone you've been chasing for years…someone who…say has wronged you personally in the past?"

"You turned yourself in and denied me that feeling," Ressler tosses back as Red merely smiles. "So Stanton personally wronged you?"

"I promise no harm to the boy or his mother."

"No you only want to leave them penniless and destitute."

"Oh hardly destitute Donald," Red lightly huffs as they get into the belly of the dark SUV and Dembe finally pulls away; the charred remains of the limo still smoldering in the distance. "She stays where she is…I get what's rightfully mine and you keep Stanton where he belongs – behind bars for the rest of his life."

"You know I can't let you rip those people off. She and her son were applying for legal status like everyone else."

"Oh trust me she'll be just fine. She'll go back to South America and try again in the future, that is if she even wants to. She will know very soon just what kind of man she's about to marry."

"She's related to the mob!" Ressler growls.

"Some of them have morals."

"Speaking of paperwork."

"How is that going by the way?" Red looks directly at Ressler.

"I'm asking you," Ressler tosses back.

"I would hate for my guy to be told to stop working on your paperwork because of a small matter with your Boy Scout conscience. The world isn't black and white Donald its many shades of grey. I would really love to see you and Lizzie in the mud wrestling ring. My money's on her."

"So you'd blackmail me to hurt a murderer?" Ressler asks weakly as Red gently nods.

"We all have our priorities. I hear they have great appies."

Ressler slumps back into the black leather seat with his jaw set. This wasn't his game, he was merely a spectator and a mostly silent one at that. However, Red had promised he wouldn't actually kill the boy or his mother, but they were a message to an even bigger opponent and that was something he was warned to stay away from.

XXXXXXXX

By the time Liz reaches the safe house, her mind is buzzing with work but her heart worried about her husband. My husband…I'm actually worried about my husband…sounds so odd and comforting at the same time. But as she approaches Red's SUV and Ressler looks at her through the open window with a small smile, her inner agitation starts to subside.

"Afternoon Lizzie," Red greets her; Liz having sent Meera with McBeth's body to be processed and inspected for anything they could use to locate Oslo. "Your husband has been most cooperative."

"I'm afraid to ask with what," she retorts as Ressler's jaw hardens. "You know we are probably being watched right now."

"Course we are. Norman Oslo is not a fool to suffer lightly. However, I'm sure it's just his men. But let's step inside and give them less to watch."

"With me alive, he'll know you failed," Ressler tells Red in a low tone.

"Let me worry about that. You have other things to take care of."

"Like what?" Ressler queries. But he doesn't get an answer as Red hurries ahead of him and knocks on the door and the enters; Liz right behind him and Dembe coming in last.

"So Red confirmed he's doing this for the money?" Liz asks Ressler in an undertone as they hang back and let Red talk to Conchita and her son.

"Noble," Ressler huffs as he notices Liz's expression cloud. "What? That's what…"

"You have blood on your chin. What happened this afternoon? Cooper said the bodyguard was found drugged in a back alley."

"I'll tell you at home tonight."

Tell you at home tonight…The words sound oddly comforting to him also; his mind taking some small solace in the fact he'd come home to someone who actually cared about his job, understood it and wanted to listen to what he had to endure during the working hours. The same comforting thought, however, also occupies Liz's heart, prompting her to carry a bit more concern about what Norman Oslo's plan would entail for them.

They wouldn't have to wait long to find out. Within seconds the front of the safe house is riddled with automatic gunfire, everyone instantly diving to the floor, Red pulling the boy out of harms way just in time.

"Doesn't Stanton know his son's in here!" Liz calls as she crawls over to a trembling Conchita.

"He might not know," Red replies in truth. "Stanton hired Oslo to kill Ressler and Conchita," he states as she looks up in horror. "Your husband is a monster. But if your son was caught in the crossfire, Norman Oslo would claim casualty of war, collect his fee and disappear until needed again! He'd piss on his agreement with Stanton and call it a day."

Both Liz and Ressler fire off a few shots while Dembe and the two other Red-hired muscle help clear a path to the basement door. Red leads the way, taking the boy with him; Conchita and Dembe in tow. The two other men along with Liz and Ressler coming in last.

"Where are we going?" Liz asks in haste.

"To hell," Ressler retorts in sarcasm as he slams the door shut and hurries down the stairs after the others. But it's not long before they hear heavy footsteps upstairs, a few shots fired into the locked basement door and angry shouts ensue. He turns to see a small door open and Red disappear into the darkness with the boy and his mother in his care, Dembe ensuring his friend and employer are safe and leaving the last four to fend for themselves.

Liz and Ressler trade gunfire with Olso's men upstairs before they turn to see Red's men disappear into the darkness and know its time to follow suit.

"Go!" Ressler shouts to Liz watching her fire off two more shots before she leaves his few; a few seconds later him doing the same.

They both enter the dimly lit passageway, Ressler once again bolting the door behind them but knowing that won't keep their attackers at bay for very long. They both hear Red's voice in the distance and can only wonder what other plan he has up his sleeve.

A few moments later gunfire once again busts through the door and heavy footsteps proceed after them; prompting them to move faster.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me," Liz groans as they reach the end and reenter day light only to see one SUV waiting for them.

Ressler races to the driver's side and plucks the note Red had left for him.

'I'm taking care of my assets, time for you to do the same.'

"What?" Liz asks as Ressler looks up with a small frown.

"Figured he'd have some other backup plan up his sleeve." But the two of them don't waste time arguing over Red's escape tactics; both hurrying into the SUV and then racing away just as Oslo's frustrated men emerge from the tunnel as failures.

"And where is Red now?" Cooper's somewhat exasperated tone comes over the speaker in the SUV.

"He could be anywhere," Liz replies with a heavy sigh. "Did Meera find anything on McBeth to tell us where Oslo might be?"

"Still working on it. You two okay?"

"Define okay," Ressler retorts in sarcasm as Liz looks over with a tender gaze. "We're both fine," he replies as he holds her gaze a few seconds and then looks back at the road. "We need to find Norman Oslo and end this before more are killed."

"I'll get back to you," Cooper tells them just before he hangs up.

"I have a feeling the next place to be targeted will be home," Liz states with a small hiss.

"Agreed. Hotel? Just to…freshen up or…whatever?" He suggests as his voice drops a few decibels and her face gently warms.

"And to not have to worry about a stray bullet coming through the window for the night?" She adds as he nods. "What else did Red tell you?"

"That I get my paperwork back when he has the boy. He has the boy so…maybe tomorrow."

"Really," Liz states more than questions. "And if anything…Red is efficient."

"When it suits his interests," Ressler adds with a sour note.

"Oh don't worry you'll be rid of me soon enough," she tries to tease; her tone sounding more strained than playful.

"So um…hotel choice?"

"Anything but a Motel 8. Bad room service," she quips as his face rewards her with a small smile. "We can at least get cleaned up and get you off the streets."

"I think Red's first call tonight is going to be to Stanton."

"Would love to be a fly on that wall," Liz muses as Ressler directs the SUV toward a nearby hotel with descent room service.

XXXXXXXX

"What!" Stanton demands in anger as his "lawyer" appears before him, Cooper watching from behind the tinted two-way glass.

"I just got this and was told to deliver it to you."

"Who the hell's it from?" Stanton hisses as he snatches the paper and offers an angry glare to the man before him.

"Red Reddington."

Stanton quickly opens the note, his expression instantly dropping as he reads the few but potent words.

'Kyle loves Disneyworld. Just can't decide on which continent he'll get admission for. I'm wondering how I'll spend my inheritance. See you in hell. R'

"DAMN YOU RED REDDINGTON!" Stanton shouts as Cooper instantly plans to intercept the messenger.

XXXXXXXX

"That was Cooper, Red sent Stanton a note," Liz hangs up the phone as Ressler returns to her in the lobby with the hotel room key.

"And?"

"Gloating that he has his son and the money and that he'd see him in hell."

"He sure doesn't mess around," Ressler notes as they head toward the elevator. "But at least it'll take the heat off us for tonight as Stanton focuses Oslo on Red. I just hope he kept his word about not harming Conchita or Kyle."

"I somehow get the feeling Red already has them on a plane to some other part of the world. I don't think he ever wanted to personally hurt them. Only Stanton."

"And then Red fakes Kyle's death, takes Stanton's cash and walks away humming a happy tune and we still have to deal with taking out Norman Oslo before he takes out us."

"That's Red," Liz shakes her head as she looks at Ressler with a small smile. "Hungry? They have a…" she starts and then stops when he slowly unzips his jacket to reveal his bloody shirt. "Oh my god Don! You were shot?" She rushes toward him in haste.

"Yes by Red," he replies with a small huff as her hands frantically pull the shirt loose of his jeans; Ressler unable to tell her fast enough that it was a fake bullet that tranquilized him at the same time it appeared to be a kill shot. "And before you say it…yes he was paid to do that and besides being pissed at not being told ahead of time of his plan, I'm fine."

"How does that man sleep at night," Liz grumbles as her hands linger on his bare chest before she slowly pulls back and offers him a tender smile.

"Probably very well."

"Are you okay?" She asks in warm concern.

"Nothing a hot shower and some room service won't cure."

"I like that plan," she tells him in truth as he removes his jacket and pulls off the soiled shirt. "Want some company for dinner?"

"For…dinner?"

"Unless you're not…hungry?" Liz teases him a bit longer with but a completely straight face. Ressler's lips slightly purse as he looks at her in wonder.

"Didn't really have food on my mind."

"Yeah I guess after all that…being shot and kidnapped by Red you're ready for some real rest."

"Rest?" He counters as her lips slightly twist upward. "Remind me never to play poker against you."

"Strip poker?" She arches her brows as his face warms. "Well Mr. Ressler what did you have in mind?"

"Just this Mrs. Ressler," he whispers in a husky tone as his hands cup her face and his lips crush hers; the shower and then dinner on hold a few moments longer.

A/N: I'm sorry for the long update but I lost some inspiration with this and wasn't sure whether to continue and am not that thrilled with how this turned out but I hope you all liked it even a little and please do review before you go as it would mean a lot in the inspiration department and thanks so much!