Red opened his eyes slowly. The late evening sun's rays were just now lighting the room.
How long had he slept?
Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to see four hours had passed. His internal clock was definitely off.
Damn Kate Kaplan. The thought made him smile.
He stumbled to the bathroom splashing his face with cool water, brushing his teeth, taking a leak and changing clothes.
He then felt prepared to deal with whatever awaited him outside this room.
The man checked on Elizabeth, placing a phone beside her, in case she needed him.
Walking around the corner to the sitting room, he was slightly shocked to see Mr. Kaplan sitting quietly with Dembe, both happily reading away.
His eyebrow lifted as he noted the title of Kate's book, Lady Kaitlyn's Lover.
His estimation of the woman rose by degrees. Dembe had ordered his special platinum edition of Downtown Abbey's fourth season. It was more than odd to see a big grin on usually placid face.
"Were there problems?" Red questioned. It was very rare that Kaplan stayed on after finishing a job.
"Are there ever?" she looked up from her book, slightly annoyed.
"We didn't want to disturb you." Kate pulled out her phone, typing into it rapidly.
Dembe spoke quietly from behind his fully illustrated hardcover, "And I for one, knowing full well you were sleeping with a gun under your pillow... did not wish to die." he glanced up too. "How would I know if Lady Mary ever finds a happy ending?"
A few moments later there was a knock on the front door. Dembe got up and headed for the source.
"Do you feel better?" Kate laid her novel aside.
"I do. But then, I did when you came in to the room."
"Get your nose out of my ass, Raymond. " Kate got up from her seat, her services needed. She cast a slight scowl to the man as she passed.
"I don't believe a woman has requested that of me before." Red looked off, lost in thought. "If anything, I've been asked to linger a bit," he cut his eyes to hers, a seductive lift of his brows signified his mood, "and instructed to lick t–"
"Yes, and I'm sure you complied... like the good little Submissive you are." Kaplan sighed. "Deviant." she stared at him, straight faced.
"Speaking of which, tell me about the book you're reading." Raymond teased. "Any good pages you've marked so far?"
The woman shifted a cool glance. "Try page one sixty seven. You might be amused... now, where do you want this miscellanea placed?"
Red stepped out on to the drive, finding two large trucks sitting there. Kate came to stand beside him.
The man moved out of the way of a large rack of clothing being wheeled past.
"Is this everything?" he enquired.
"The smaller truck holds Tom Keen's possessions. I assumed you wanted that kept separate, so you could go through it."
"I do, yes." Red looked over his shoulder, finding Silas, whom he waved over. "I want everything in that truck scanned and searched... twice. See to it personally."
"You got it boss." Silas quipped. "What do you want us to do with it if it's clean?"
"Donate it to a shelter. Even if the owner couldn't do anything for society, maybe his possessions will." Red scoffed lightly. "Did you wave her clothes?"
"We did. Picked up a couple bugs and trackers, mainly in the coats and bags."
"Asshole." Red mumbled under his breath, though not as quietly as he thought, when he found Dembe and Silas nodding in agreement with assessment. "What did you do with them?"
"What do you want us to do with them?" Silas asked innocently.
"Put them in his clothing. Let him chase them through the streets of DC." Dembe and Silas grinned for the irony of it all.
"As for the other trucks, we thought you may be able to direct what stays and goes."
They started pulling boxes and totes, Red directed most of it back into the empty truck, after if was found to be clear of any mementoes left by Tom.
The next tote that passed by, caught his interest. "Wait. Let me look at that."
He popped the top off, staring inside at Sam's smiling face, Lizzy beside him, grinning happily in a photo.
Lifting the album out of the box, he found a stuffed rabbit laying underneath.
His heart began beating wildly in his chest.
Clasping the album, he reached inside, pulling out the singed rabbit. Squeezing it in his hand, he felt the hardened center, furthering the palpitations in his chest.
"Raymond?" Dembe had noticed the man's preoccupation. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine." He transferred the rabbit and album to one hand, closed the lid on the bin, then waved it off.
Kate stepped next to him, opening her bag. She pulled out a handful of envelopes.
"Here's her mail. I all ready took care of having everything forwarded to the address you gave me and the utilities are transferred to you."
"You're so efficient." he caressed her sensually.
"And expensive."
"And worth every penny." he smiled genuinely enjoying the exchange.
"If I told you to get down and lick my boots, you'd do it, wouldn't you Raymond."
"Would you like me to?" He leered playfully.
Kate scoffed, "Save it for her." She thumbed back at the house and the woman sleeping inside.
A little while later, they had Liz's personal things inside. Her furniture and decorative pieces on the truck, ready for storage.
And Tom's things swiped and cleared of any useful items. Money, weapons, blackmail on a couple dozen people Tom had obviously been following, and keys to various banks through out the city, had been found.
But most importantly... besides Lizzy, alive and well and sleeping comfortably in his bedroom.
The Fulcrum was finally back in it's proper place.
Raymond Reddington's possession.
Author Notes:
Was oddly enough listening to Sarah McLachlan's, Possession, when I typed the last word and I thought, why the hell not. (Chapter title)
Lady Kaitlyn's Lover, is a shout out. I read this story back when you first posted it. And after all this time, I still think Angus is weird. (She'll understand the reference)