Title: Beyond Borders
Chapter 9 – Playing your Ace

'I was shot…by Red…'

Liz's lips emit a soft gasp as she awakens in the middle of the night with a soft gasp; her brow damp and heart racing as she pulls herself from a nightmare that shows Red killing Ressler and telling her he had planned it all along.

"Liz?" Ressler's voice pulls her tight gaze to the left as she turns and looks at him; his concerned expression easily seen when he turns on the light. "You okay?" He asks in concern as he slowly sits up next to her, his warm, strong hands gently resting on her tense shoulders.

"I saw Red…shoot you…dead," she gently gasps as she closes her eyes as his fingers tenderly kneed her shoulders before he pulls her back against his shoulder and then gently eases himself back down, Liz's frame automatically leaning into his. She slightly twists on her side so her face was resting on his chest, her arm draped over; his tenderly touching her back.

"I think we need to break this off now."

"What?" Ressler asks in utter shock as she lifts her head to look up into his wondering blue eyes. "Uh…why? What's going on?"

Liz's head slumps back down onto his chest, her eyes looking at the single band of gold on his finger before she squeezes her eyes shut; feeling them wanting to water but her brain yelling at her not to give in. She feels Ressler's arms around her tighten and looks up with a small frown. "I don't want to lose you," she confesses warmly as her head slumps back down, his fighters tightening around her shoulder. "When this all started it just seemed as if it was one of Red's games…him playing with our lives and us working to take out the badguy. But it seems we take one down and there's one standing there worse than the last and then Red…shoots you."

"Hey he did it to save my life," Ressler whispers as his warm lips gently nuzzle her ear. "I'm okay."

"And us? I know this isn't just something simple for you either. If you are feeling anything I want to know."

"I don't want to lose you either," Ressler tells her in truth as she looks up with a weak expression, twisting herself so that she was resting on his chest looking up at him. "I'm just…" Ressler pauses as she looks at him in expectation. "I didn't expect to feel this way…so fast," he stops and frowns.

"What way?"

"This way," he whispers as he gently pulls her lips to his. "I'm falling for you," he adds as her hand grips the back of his head and holds him captive as their lips crush each other for a few heated seconds.

I love you…her mind wants to yell. But as she feels him slightly tense in her grasp she wonders if even after his heartfelt confession, if he was actually in love with her and if in a few days when his paperwork was all taken care of, that he'd still feel the same way.

Her entire frame sags into his grasp as his arms tighten around her, holding her close – afraid to let go. "I don't want to lose you."

"And when you get your paperwork back and everything returns to…"

"Normal?" Ressler interjects.

"Can we even go back to normal now?" She retorts with a heavy sigh as he turns off the light, still holding her close.

"Do we want to?"

Those are the last words to be spoken; a question that both would now be forced to ponder for the duration of the evening as they try to fall back asleep in each other's arms, wondering what tomorrow would bring and if they'd even survive the day to wonder about their new romantic path.

XXXXXXXX

"Who was that?" Ressler inquires the following morning as he walks out of the bathroom after a shower, wearing only a towel around his waist.

"Cooper," Liz replies as she puts down her phone; her lips automatically curling upward into a small smile. "Are you purposely trying to distract me?"

"Technically I'm not doing anything," Ressler offers in his defense as Liz's brows gently arch. "You were saying?"

"I will get you back," she mutters under her breath as she looks at him directly, purposely holding his gaze before her expression turns serious and she finally continues. "Cooper said that the FBI got an email from Conchita this morning and her and Kyle are back home in Bogota and with her brother."

"And Stanton?"

"Cursing Red and Oslo and you and everyone including the janitor," she utters with a small huff. "Conchita is going to tell her Columbian drug kingpin brother that her husband to be had a reckless hit man on the loose that also had her and her son in their sights."

"So now Stanton gets the good news and wonders when her brother, drug lord, Don Carlito is going to send someone to slip something in his water."

"Stanton is taken out while being a sitting duck in our jail, his son gets his fortune, Red fakes Kyle's death and walks away laughing all the way to the bank as the heir on Kyle's new will that Red made up; letting one bad guy take out another and us clean up the remaining players."

"While Red relaxes in a hammock in the Caymans."

"I don't think he likes hammocks," Liz quips.

"For the record, I don't feel sorry for Roger Stanton," Ressler states with a small hiss as Liz tosses him a sympathetic glance. "We'll stop the courier on the way back from his visit to Stanton not before."

"Feeling a little bloodthirsty this morning," Liz comments as she leans in a bit closer, her hand gently lifting the soggy band-aide on his shoulder. "I think you should lie low at the black site today."

Ressler looks at her with a heavy frown as the temperature between them continues to grow. "I'm going to see Stanton today."

"Were you purposely trying to kill the mood?" She retorts as his face softens. "Cooper didn't say you had to go he just said Stanton asked to see you. Besides, what good would going to see him do?"

"Give my condolences," Ressler remarks dryly as Liz shakes her head and drops her hand to his, clasping it.

"Come with me," she entreats with a soft whisper as she leads him back to the bathroom, Ressler automatically slumping down onto the closed toilet seat as she starts to gently peel away the wet bandage. "The stitches are still in tact."

"It doesn't hurt," Ressler tells her softly as he looks up, studying her set jaw and tense frown. "Stanton doesn't scare me. I think he has a bigger price on his head now than I do."

"You think that you have nothing to lose b…"

"No I didn't say that," Ressler replies with a small wince as she pulls the bandage a bit firmly and tugs at one of the stitches.

"Sorry," she mumbles as she tosses it away and reaches for a new one. "Stanton has the money to make a deal and the lack of moral values to sink to Carlito's level. You don't. Unless you suddenly inherited a hidden fortune?" She asks as she looks down with arched brows.

"You married a man with a meager income," he lightly retorts. "But if it draws out Oslo then I'm willing to take that chance. But he can't get there. So I'm sure I'll just be a sixty second conversation and that'll be it. Nothing to worry about."

Liz finishes applying the bandage as Ressler slowly stands up, his strong hands gently resting on her forearms and giving them a tender squeeze. "I've only been a wife for a week and already I'm paranoid."

"Few more weeks maybe you'll have a grey hair?" He gently teases as he plants a soft kiss on her forehead. "You think I worry less? Tell you what, if we survive today, we'll go out and celebrate tonight, do something fun."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Mud wresting," his lips curl upward into a playful grin as her eyes roll.

"You know you don't actually get to mud wrestle right?"

"What? You mean you just go to watch?" Ressler asks with a grumble as Liz pushes past with a soft snicker and nod of her head. "Really?"

"But I like the idea of us celebrating," she calls back as she figures he's still going to use the bathroom and pulls off her nightshirt, leaving her top half exposed.

"I do…too…" his voice suddenly stops as he enters the main room of the hotel only to see her reaching for a bra, covering her breasts with her arm.

"I…" she gently stammers, instantly aware of his desire for her and the growing warmth in the pit of her stomach. With a few swift strides he stops in front, his hand gently prying her arm away and leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

"I think you got me back."

"Don…" her voice catches in her throat as his hand rests on her hip and slowly moves upward. "What about…work…" she gasps as his fingers reach the sensitive nub and gently fondle. "Oh god…" she gasps as her eyes close in pure delight.

"We're early," he whispers huskily into her ear as her hands swiftly pull the towel away, fully exposing his naked frame as they tumble backward onto the bed, intertwined in each other's arms and about to start the day with an intimate union. Ressler's hands move her frame into position; a small moan is once again lost as his mouth covers hers, hungrily devouring her lips as her hands grip his back; their bodies moving as one.

Work…would come later.

XXXXXXXX

"For the record…I still don't like this," Liz comments as they near the secret entrance to the blacksite; Ressler still determined to confront Roger Stanton.

"It's not about who's going to win the pissing contest, it's about me confronting that damn bastard and letting him know he failed to ruin my life," Ressler retorts gruffly. "He wants a meeting then I'll oblige."

"Send a postcard."

"I'll leave the theatrics to Red," Ressler replies as Cooper nears them. "Stanton still alive?"

"For now. We picked up some chatter that mentioned Carlito's name and a special visit to a special friend but that could mean either Red, or Oslo or even Stanton. Stanton's under lock and key and well we know Red's wherever Red wants to be; it's Oslo we need to worry about."

"Any leads on him?"

"He's a damn ghost. I'm sure Oslo told these guys to have nothing on them that could be traced to him and the three were clean. However, one of the bodies contained a matchbook," Cooper hands the small evidence packet to Liz. "Old habits die hard for smokers."

"I'll check it out. Maybe someone there saw Oslo and knows…something."

Ressler watches her go with a strained expression before he turns to Cooper with a set jaw. "I want to see Stanton."

"His message was intended to see if you'd come running," Cooper asks directly.

"Are you worried I'll tip our hat?"

"No. I'm worried you might want to," Cooper replies firmly. "He can't know anything Don. You want to gloat that's fine but if you so much as even hint at the wrong thing, you could end up getting Liz killed or any one of us, including yourself as you're number one on his hit list."

"I'm blond…I'll play dumb," Ressler tosses back as he turns to leave; Cooper shaking his head as he heads back to his office.

Liz finishes reading the text and then pulls over and gets out, heading for the bench Red is waiting.

"Morning Lizzie. Lovely day isn't it," Red greets her with a small nod as she sits down beside him.

"Do you know where Norman Oslo is?"

"At this exact moment? No," Red replies matter-of-factly.

"And Kyle Stanton?"

"He's fine. He's probably on a really fast ride right now not realizing…"

"He's been declared dead so you could take his father's money?"

"Not all of it. Just what I was owed," Red answers as he looks at her in concern. "You smell like him."

"Who?"

"Your husband," Red retorts as Liz's face gently warms. "I don't remember Tom being so adventurous in the morning."

"That fact that you even know that…wait…"

"Oh come on Lizzie," Red chuckles. "You told me remember?"

"Tom…I still have to deal with him."

"You know if you want it to look like an accident," Red suggests as Liz's head snaps to the right in shock. "Just saying. I'd do him for free," he tells her with a small shrug.

"Tom I can handle…you have other issues to deal with."

"If I knew where Norman was I'd tell you. Where is your husband? Sulking?"

"You mean because you shot him?"

"I saved his life. Surely dear Donald remembered that part."

"He told me through gritted teeth."

"At least he's retained his sense of humor. I do like that about him."

"I am grateful that you saved his life. How's his um…paperwork coming?"

"Does he like being married?"

"Red…"

"Do you?"

"I don't have time for this."

"Oh it's a simple question with a yes or no answer."

"Nothing is ever just yes or no and you know that. Yes I like being married but…"

"Yes will do. Suits you."

"And how come you're not married?" Liz counters as Red offers her his famous cryptic smile. "Don is visiting Stanton."

"By choice?"

"By request."

"Stanton's days are numbered."

"Who did Carlito pay to take him out?"

"I don't ask questions I really don't care to know the answers to. I don't care who takes out Stanton as long as someone does. I really hope you check out the mud wrestling place."

"You can't actually participate you know," Liz huffs as she slowly stands up.

"Is that what Tom told you?" Red retorts as Liz turns around with a slightly narrowed gaze. "Give Norman my regards. Or better yet put it on his tombstone."

Liz walks back to her SUV muttering Red's name and then Tom's and then the person she was actually hunting – Norman Oslo. Despite the fact she knows that Stanton is in a locked jail cell, she can't help but worry about Don going to see him – alone.

XXXXXXXX

"Well well well…Agent Ressler, I wondered when you'd grace me with your presence," Stanton smugly offers as Ressler walks into the room opposite the small holding cell he's still confined to.

"Figured someone without a hidden agenda should," Ressler shrugs as he looks at Stanton with his own smug expression. "Food any good in here?"

"I have a bit left over, care to join me?"

"I'll pass."

"Bored? Have they given you the task of counting paperclips while you wait to be deported?"

"Old joke as you know that plan failed," Ressler firmly retorts, his brain reminding him to not give Stanton anything he could use against them. "I'm not the one behind bars."

"These bars…"

"Are for your protection Stanton! You failed and now you'll pay for those mistakes for the rest of your life!"

Within a few seconds, Stanton is up off his small bench and a few inches from Ressler's face.

"Step back!" The guard growls as Ressler holds his ground; both of them locked in a heated showdown.

"Come on this side of these bars Agent Ressler and we'll see who fails next!" Stanton hisses as he glares at Ressler in anger. "Or are you afraid?"

"Of my wife. I ruin this shirt and I answer to her," Ressler smirks, actually delighting in the use of the term 'wife' so freely. "Of you? Hardly. As I said…these bars are for your protection."

XXXXXXXX

Liz walks into the smoky lounge, feeling a few of the male patrons staring at her and wishing that Cooper hadn't sent Meera to check out the other lead as having someone at your side was always a bit more reassuring than going at it alone. Of course she longs to have her real partner, Ressler at her side. My real partner…my…husband. That small thought puts a brief smile on her lips as she approaches the female bartender.

"What can I do for ya honey?"

"When's the last time this guy was here?" She asks in a low tone as she shows her a picture of the fallen man Norman Oslo had hired.

The female bartender looks at him and then up at Liz with a small shrug. "A few days ago. Was in here with two others. Big spenders. Think he'll be back?"

"He's dead."

"Bummer," she huffs as Liz's brow gently furrows. "What about the other two? Think they'll come back?"

"Was one of them this man?" Liz holds up Oslo's picture as the bartender nods.

"Yeah. He was the one tossing out the big bucks to two of my girls. Staying at some place ritzy…the um…" her voice trails off as she tries to remember. As soon as Liz gets the name of the hotel she hurries back outside, her phone being pulled to call Meera for backup.

"Where's Don?"

"Still with Stanton," Cooper answers in truth. "I think they're bonding."

"At least he's safe there," Liz sighs as she races toward her intended destination. She reaches the hotel; Meera pulling up a few minutes later. "Ready?"

"Ready."

The two of them hurry into the hotel and race toward the elevator with their guns drawn, Liz's heart racing that maybe they'd take down Oslo and end the private manhunt on her husband once and for all. They near the door and her heart rate starts to climb; her mind racing but still hopeful at the same time.

"FBI!" Liz shouts as Meera and the hotel manager, Meera had called on the way, watch in anticipation. "Open it," she demands of the hotel manager who quickly complies. They enter with their guns drawn, hotel security, who had just arrived block the entrance in case anyone was trying to leave or enter.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

"Damn I hate this," Liz gently growls as her and Meera reconvene in the main living space, looking at each other with perplexed expressions. "He's not gone far. He has a job to do and he'll do it. Stanton first hired him to kill Don and he failed. Carlito hired him to take out Stanton and Don and he won't leave until that's done," Liz groans as she slowly wanders over to the writing desk. She looks at the surface and then the notepad and up at Meera. "Anyone have a pencil?"

"I do!" The manager pipes up as he hurries over.

"Thanks," she mutters as she takes the pencil and starts to rub over the scribbles on the piece of paper, Meera hovering over her shoulder.

"HC32."

"What does that mean?"

But just as Meera asks the question a nasty knot in the pit of her stomach starts to form as her mind races in horror. Oslo won't leave until he's done his job…kill Don and Stanton…kill them…

"Oh damn…" she curses as she pulls her phone and dials Ressler.

"What?"

"Holding cell 32. Stanton's. That's where Don is. Oslo arranged the meeting!"

XXXXXXXX

"So since we are at a stalemate Agent Ressler, I'll ask again…why did you come here? Bored?"

"Why?" Ressler's brow furrows as his phone rings. "You asked to see me remember?"

"Don't be absurd," Stanton sneers as he stands up and heads over to see Ressler at the far side of the holding cell, away from the small but exposed window. "Why would I care to hear your gloating voice in my face. I might be a criminal but I'm not stupid!"

"Well…" Ressler's reply stops as his phone rings. "Find him?" Ressler asks Liz.

"Don get out of there, it's a trap…Oslo arranged the meeting to take out you and St..."

BOOM!

A/N: oops (runs and ducks) lol I hope you like the lighter moments in this chapter and the steamier stuff hehe hope that is still good. But yes yikes…so did Stanton survive? did Oslo win? Will they get their man up next and get Ressler's paperwork resolved so they can get back to where things were? Not sure how much longer the story will go but your reviews are golden and are inspiring me to continue a bit longer so please do review before you leave and thanks so much!