Ok guys, this chapter has been hell to write.
It's actually the first part of the party, the second part will be posted tomorrow. It's already written so don't worry.
My beta challenged me to introduce some characters from another show I love and I couldn't resist. Sorry for the bunch of weird characters in this chapter. I promise, the next chapter is 99% Lizzington.
Thank you for the reviews I love to read what you think about this story!
The week went by without hurt. Liz and Ressler had closed the Anderson case without any more casualties and her discussion about the party with Tom had been surprisingly smooth. When she had broached the subject with him, he had told her it was a perfect timing because he had to spend the weekend in Orlando for a conference. She had been a little hurt when she had realized he wouldn't have asked her to come with him. But she had soon realized the hypocrisy of her reaction; she had been about to do the same. Tom had flown out on Friday evening and Liz had spent her first night alone in a long time.
She spent her Saturday with Jennifer hunting down the perfect dress and shoes for the evening. At times like that she wished to have joined the Army, it would have been easier to dress for such an event. Jen already had her dress uniform waiting for her at her apartment. She finally found what she was looking for in a small shop she would have missed if Jen hadn't known about its existence.
She took a deep breath when the limo Raymond had sent them stopped in front of the red carped leading to The Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Jen squeezed her hand when a man in tuxedo opened the door. She took the hand he was offering and stepped out the car to be welcomed by a wall of flashes.
"Smile and follow me," Jen murmured taking the lead, brushing lightly her hand on Liz's back.
Liz plastered a smile on her face and followed her friend trying not to walk on the hem of her dress and fall in front of the journalists. She could hear some voices announcing the arrival of the SECNAV's daughter and an unknown friend of hers. They entered the building and followed the crowd to the Benjamin Franklin Dining Room where the reception was held.
"Oh my God," she breathed when she saw the décor surrounding the guests.
Twenty-five round tables, big enough to welcome height guests each, stood at the end of the room, their pristine white tablecloth grazing the terracotta carpet. On the far end wall hung Benjamin Franklin's portrait, the Great Seal of the United States was sculpted on the center of the ceiling and eight cut-glass chandeliers were illuminating the room. A small scene stood empty in a corner, violins, cellos and flutes waiting for their owner to come back from their break to entertain the elite of the US government.
"Here," Jen said, putting a glass of champagne in her hand. "I know it's a little overwhelming at first but you'll get use to it," she added when Liz gulped down her glass. "Champagne helps too," she smiled.
"No kidding. What am I doing here Jen?" she asked tuning to her friend.
"You're my plus one, Liz. Don't worry they won't eat you alive. They might try to chew on you a little, though. Just be yourself and everything will be alright," she tried to reassure her. "What do we have?" Jen asked, her eyes roaming the room. "Generals, three and four stars, some Admirals too, a Colonel or two. Not bad," she smiled. "What the about the civilians now? I can see at least eight senators and three congressmen. Did I miss someone important? Is that Bill Gates there? Oh no, never mind."
She looked at her when her friend stayed silent. Liz's eyes were focused on something on the other side of the room, following her stare, Jen found the object of Liz's attention.
"Isn't that your boss, the Assistant Director of National Intelligence Alan Fitch, about to interrupt my father?" she asked smiling slightly.
On the other side of the room, Raymond was talking with an USAF General when a man in a black tuxedo approached them.
"Raymond! How have you been?"
"Same as always Alan," he smiled at the man nursing a glass of Scotch. "Something you wanted to talk about?" he asked a little coldly.
"If you would excuse me," the General nodded to Alan.
"Of course Jack, we'll discuss this later," Raymond replied watching his friend walk to the stunning blonde waiting a few feet away clad in a Colonel uniform.
"Just catching up with an old friend," the politician replied smiling, ignoring the departing officer.
"We've never been friends Alan, we're just useful to each other. Speaking of that, do you have the information I asked for?"
"Already so vindictive, Raymond," Fitch laughed sarcastically. "Yes, I have it, I hope you'll be a little bit more courteous next time I ask for a favor," he said giving Raymond an envelope.
Raymond opened the unsealed flap and peeked inside before sliding it inside his vest, nodding his thanks to the ADNI.
"Where is your lovely daughter? I didn't see her yet," Alan asked looking around.
At that, Raymond focused entirely on the man facing him, his hard stare on him; he leaned forward entering his personal space.
"Do not approach my daughter, Alan, you might regret it. You may be useful, but I'm pretty sure I could manage without you," he warned, his voice an octave lower than usual.
He had never liked the man. Since the moment he had been introduced to the arcane of the US Government he had learned to trust his instincts even more than when he was in the field. And his instincts had yelled not to trust this man as soon as he had met him. He was corrupt, as much as anybody else there, but his ties with the criminal world went deeper than he would have believed possible for someone in his position.
"I see you're not in the mood for a friendly chat, maybe later then," Alan said, patting Raymond on the shoulder, a clement smile on his lips before walking away.
Raymond hated those parties. That's why he always invited Jenny, to divert unwanted 'friendly chats' with people he hated. His daughter had grown up surrounded by important people, since the moment he had won his fourth star, it had been mandatory for him to attend officials gathering and mingle with the elite and he had always come with his daughter. Those parties were her stage and she was able to distract almost any politician in a matter of minutes. But not today, today instead of being his plus one, she was coming with her own one. He felt dread coil inside him; his baby was growing up and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Hello Dad."
"Jenny!" Raymond smiled, hugging his daughter tightly against his chest, kissing her cheek.
"It's good to see that you're happy to see me," she joked, hugging him back.
"Always, darling," he replied.
"White, uh? Not a tinny bit ostentatious?" she asked taking in his appearance.
Where she had chosen her black dress uniform, he had chosen the white one. To be honest, he was rocking the hell out of that uniform but dramatically stood out in the sea of black, blue and khaki.
"I like the white one better," he replied smiling smugly. "So, where's your plus one?" he asked looking behind her to find the man his daughter had chosen to come with.
Jennifer smiled and crooked an eyebrow suggestively. Raymond looked at her puzzled when he felt a soft touch on his back. Turning around, he froze, mouth gaping. Lizzie was smiling shyly, her fingers knotted in front of her. She was wearing a floor-length one-strapped black gown, the bodice hugging her soft curves tightly. He looked her in the eyes, noting the few inches she had won thanks to her stiletto, and smiled.
"Lizzie," he breathed, bending to kiss her on the cheek, his lips lingering a moment too long on her skin.
"Hello Red," she smiled.
"My dear you are stunning!" he exclaimed, his eyes roaming her body.
He knew perfectly well what was hidden by the soft fabric of the dress and couldn't help to long for it. He had spent years trying not to broach the barrier Jennifer and Sam had imposed between them. But after his short time with her in his arms in Nebraska he could feel his self-control tottering.
"Would you like something to drink, ladies?" he asked awkwardly when Jen cleared her throat.
He didn't wait for their answer, disappearing in the crowd looking for one of the waiters.
"Just for the look on his face it was worth it," Jennifer laughed, hugging a shivering Liz.
Liz frowned and looked at her friend suspiciously. Jen was planning something and she wasn't sure to like being part of her schemes.
"Who's that?" she asked nodding to two officers talking with a man that obviously wasn't happy to be here.
"The silver-haired man is the General Jack O'neill, he was talking with Dad when Fitch came in, remember? And the blonde is Colonel Samantha O'neill, his wife," Jen explained. She had had the chance to meet the couple a few times before.
"No. The man with long hair they're talking to?"
Jen looked at the man Liz was talking about and shook her head. He was wearing black dress pants, a white dress shirt with a black waistcoat and no vest. His dark brown eyes seemed annoyed behind his glasses and he was scratching lightly at his beard.
"I don't know but he's not exactly fitting in here," Jen said, eyes full of pity for the poor man.
"Here you go ladies," Red said handing them two glass of champagne.
"Thanks," Liz smiled, her fingers brushing Red's when she took the flute.
A shiver ran through her body at the touch and she felt flush creep up her neck. She had to stop that now! She was with Tom now; her body shouldn't react like that to a simple touch of another man.
"Dad?"
"Yes darling?" he asked, his eyes still on Liz a small smile at the corner of his lips; he hadn't missed her reaction.
He knew perfectly well what he was doing, she realized suddenly, feeling anger rise slowly in her chest. She locked her hard eyes with Red's soft ones.
"Who's the guy talking with Jack and Sam?" Jen asked missing the silent battle going on between Liz and Raymond.
"The Scottish guy? It's Dr. Nicholas Rush, head of the mad scientists Jack has to work with," he said finally looking at the trio arguing in hushed voices.
Three loud knock in the back of the room indicated to the guests it was time to get to their seat.
"Ladies." Raymond presented his elbows, smiling smugly.
The women laughed at his theatrics and took his arms. He led them to their table and released Jenny, his now free hand closing on Liz's. He took his fingers in his hand and lowered his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers and brushed his lips on the back of her hand. When he felt her holding her breath and saw her dilated pupils; he couldn't restrain himself. She startled when he added surreptitiously a brush of the tip of his tongue before releasing her hand.
"Behave Dad!" Jennifer warned, punching Raymond in the ribs when he finally let Liz slump on her chair in the most unladylike way she had ever seen, her jelly legs unable to keep her standing.
"Son of a bitch," Liz mumbled trying to steady her breath after that most unfair attack.
She didn't know what he was playing at, but was pretty sure she wouldn't like it. She straightened her back when she felt Red's hand brush her bare shoulder, sending shivers down her spine, on his way to his chair beside hers, He was multiplying the soft touches and brushed tonight and she began to fear Jen's reaction. She didn't know why Red played with her like that knowing she was engaged to Tom and that his daughter wouldn't accept their relationship.
The diner went by at an awfully slow pace, courses interrupted by high-ranking politician praising their own good heart to be part of such an event. Liz could see military officers shacking their heads and politicians smiling broadly. Giving money for the orphans of the US Army meant something different when it could be your own child needing the help. Every officer in the room had lost at least a friend or a family member at war; they all knew how much those events meant for the soldiers and their family.
"Jen?" Liz whispered, waiting for her friend to face her. "How much did this this evening cost?" she asked suspiciously.
"Eight thousands by seat," Jen said casually sipping at her wine.
Liz choked on empty air at that, eight thousand fucking dollars for a meal at a boring event, she couldn't believe it.
"You ok Lizzie?" Red asked, tracing soothing circles on her back when she finally calmed down.
"No, I'm not. I need some air, I think," she replied excusing herself before leaving the table.
As soon as she had left, Red moved from his seat to Liz's.
"What was that about?" he asked Jenny, frowning.
"She asked how much was worth a seat here. I told her," she replied shrugging.
The Reddingtons were an old family inheriting their wealth for generations; Jennifer didn't have the same approach about money as other, less fortunate, people.
"We already had this discussion Jenny. You shouldn't have told her," he said shaking his head.
He had spent month, even years, trying to make her understand what it meant to be that rich for other people, after he had inherited at his father's death. Apparently he hadn't been explicit enough because every now and then she would make a remark or an observation unsettling people around her.
"Yeah, talking about things people shouldn't do. Don't think I didn't see what you did when you kissed Liz's hand," she scolded him and he had the good idea to look contrite. "I know I agreed to help you, but please Dad, don't do anything that disgusting in front of me! She's my best friend and I still have the urge to stab myself in the eye with an ice pick just thinking aboutthat Christmas Eve, I don't need any more traumatic events in my life."
The day after her evening with Liz, Jennifer had joined her father for their weekly lunch at their usual restaurant. After a few minutes, she had asked him blandly if he was still in love with her friend. After the scene she had witnessed at the graveyard and her time with Liz and Tom the weekend following the funeral, she had needed some answers. He had deflected a few times before lowering his head and nodding pitifully. It could have been laughable to see the great Raymond Reddington like that, but at the time Jennifer hadn't felt like laughing. He had seemed a little bit broken, not really healed would be more exact. She had felt her heart bleed at the shadow in her father's eyes when he had finally looked at her. She had made a mistake ten years ago and she was ready to fix it.
"I love you," he laughed, side-hugging her on her seat.
"I know but now, you should move your almighty Admiral ass and go find out where Liz went."
I hope you enjoyed it, please let me know what you think about it :)