Red and Dembe waited patiently as the elevator did it's thing.
Red glanced at his friend. "I miss elevator music."
"No, you do not." Dembe was relatively sure.
Red held his smile with difficulty, appreciative of the other man's amazing delivery. The doors slid open, both men exiting in unison.
"My dear Agent Navabi." Red removed his hat, smiling as the beautiful woman approached. "How are you this fine day?" The man literally oozed charm and sophistication.
The dark haired woman nodded a hello, more to Red's associate than himself, Reddington noted... his amusement returning two fold. "I'm well." she reluctantly gave her attention over. "You?
"Glad to be home."
"I'm sure you are." She chuckled at the happy man.
Ever since Liz had been staying with Red Reddington, he seemed more relaxed and cheerful. Not that he wasn't normally, but this was genuine. No facade in place.
Red's smile widened, his thoughts turning introspective for a beat, thinking about who was waiting at home until he noticed Navabi's lips quirking slightly.
Red smiled back, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Dembe ducked his head, hiding his smile. Obviously, he wasn't the only one who noticed the change in Raymond since Elizabeth had been staying with them.
"What are you doing here, Reddington?" Ressler enquired, having entered the Pen. It was odd to hear Donald actually sound pleasant for once, or as pleasant as he could. Red didn't believe it came natural to the Agent.
"I have a new name." Red glanced around expectantly, frowning. "Where's Aram?"
Samar pointed at the second floor landing.
Aram glanced over the metal railing having noted the attention suddenly directed at himself. He offered a quick wave, picking up his pace, the man beside him doing the same.
As he reached the bottom floor, Aram fidgeted with his tie and straightened his hair. Red assumed he was preening himself for the beautiful ex-Mossad agent. And who could fault the man?
"Mr. Reddington, you're back." Aram clumsily shuffled a pile of folders from one arm to the other, holding out his hand in greeting.
Red took the offering, smiling kindly at the man. He liked this young man who didn't put on airs. Aram was truly a kind, caring person. As genuine as they came. It didn't hurt that the computer expert could be offhandedly amusing and was more often than not, Red's inside man.
Red took great pains not to take advantage, or get Aram reprimanded, seeing as he often went out of his way to help or call Red when Lizzy was in trouble.
Aram put down the files, taking his seat, hands hovering over the keyboard as he awaited instructions.
A man about Ressler's age and build, hovered in the background. Reddington had noticed of course. And now, the guy slowly approached the group.
Samar's lovely eyes chilled, shifting her position closer to Red.
Red turned staring at the woman, wondering if there was a problem.
"Shouldn't he be in the box?" The tall brunet man asked brusquely, eyeing Reddington belligerently.
Red checked with Navabi, "Red," her eyes darkened with open hostility, "meet one of Liz's replacement, Richard Moore."
The man couldn't have been here for more then a couple of days and there was already tension among the troops. Red checked his theory once again, glancing at Samar whose lovely face harbored an unsociable scowl.
Aram's eyes avoided the other man altogether, which to Red, signified a great lack of respect. Ressler had his head in his notebook, clueless, as usual.
"What do you mean, one of Lizzy's replacements?" Red asked.
"They honored us with two new shiny fill-ins. We got him," she stared peevishly at Moore, "and Andrew Wilson." she glanced around furtively. "He's somewhere around here. You can thank Liz for me when you see her next, by the way. It's been such a joy having them around."
"And what's this about the Box?" Red asked innocently.
"It's a secure location, one of which, you should be in while here." Moore made his feelings known.
"Mr. Reddington comes in voluntarily," Samar snapped right back, putting her lovely frame between the two would-be combatants.
"I think that as long as he's on government property, he should be placed in custody." Moore did not back down.
"I have an idea, Moore," Samar countered, smiling. The woman backed up slightly, waving an imperious hand. "If you can put him in the box, I'm sure Reddington will stay there for you."
"Or... I could just leave." Red picked up his hat, setting it on his head. "I do have other things to do today."
Like sleep, see Lizzy, talk to Lizzy, be with Lizzy.
"Or, you could leave when we allow it." Moore stated sarcastically.
Red halted his steps slowly, giving over his attention. His eyes easily held the other man's until Moore finally shifted, losing the battle of wills.
"When you loose the shrub, let me know." Red spoke directly to Samar, resuming his steps.
Dembe cast Agent Moore a steely glare before following his friend toward the exit.
"Agents, secure that man!" Moore ordered, as two passing agents glanced dubiously to a reticent Red Reddington, obviously confused, then back at the new agent, their confusion deepening.
Dembe stepped forward, the two agents backed off slightly, still holding their open files, as they continually checked with their counterparts as to... why is this asshole causing problems.
"You said he had to put me in the box." Red laughed his growing amusement. "No one said anything about having any sort of assistance. But still..." Red once again turned a challenging stare to Agent Moore, "I believe that's cheating."
"It is, yes." Samar agreed cheerfully.
He turned to the woman, ignoring Moore completely, his hands spreading in a puzzled manner, "What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "Did no one bother to explain the rules to Agent 86, here?"
Dembe's brow lifted slightly and Red's hand lifted instantly. "I will explain the obscure cultural reference later, my friend."
Harold Cooper approached, feeling the tension emanating from the group. He held out his hand in greeting, as he neared Red. "Reddington, you're back earlier than I expected." he smiled warmly. "I assume you have new information–"
Red took the man's hand, "Has something changed in my absence? Agent Krycek here," he nodded in the appropriate direction, "wants me in custody."
Cooper shook his head no, silently asking for an explanation, his brow arching quizzically.
Dembe stepped forward fluidly, leaning slightly. "Another obscure cultural reference... The X-Files." he explained readily before resuming his vigilant stance behind his friend.
Red's mouth pulled at the corners in open amusement.
"He's new." Cooper smoothed over the incident, motioning to Agent Moore who stood fuming inwardly.
"He's an idiot." Red corrected matter-of-factly.
Harold shrugged, "He's new." he repeated, as if it was explanation enough. "Now, what's going on?"
Red tilted his head, shrugging. "As I was about to say, I have a new name." he finally got down to business. "Nathaniel Gage.
"What about Carver?" Ressler chimed in.
"When I hear something..." Red left it hanging. "We'll find him, eventually."
Trust me...
"Wait... you're giving us a new name?" Ressler said. "What's the catch?"
Red laid it all out for them. Normally, he'd add a little flourish to the narrative, but in this instance, he really just wanted to get this over with and go home.
Twenty minutes later, the task was done, and he was ready to go. But the team evidently, had countless questions to address.
I miss Lizzy
If he had any trust in these people, he'd just call it in, but they needed to be walked through it sometimes.
Only Samar and Aram seemed to be on the ball. Donald still didn't quite trust him, and the new guy kept throwing daggers at him the whole time, probably not having heard a word said.
The dynamics were all off and someone would pay for it, sooner or later.
Yet another Agent approached, this one younger than the rest, about Lizzy's age, actually. Red exchanged enigmatical glances with Dembe.
"They're coming out of the woodwork, these days." Red quipped.
"Like cockroaches." the large black man transferred a willful stare directly at the young Agent as he passed.
"Director Cooper, here's the information you requested." the guy handed over a file, clearly intimidated by Dembe's undue interest.
"Thank you, Wilson." Cooper glanced at the file absently. "Red, have you met Agent Wilson yet?"
Red ignored the kid all together, before returning his interest to Cooper. "Wet behind the ears and an idiot. This is the best you have?" Red's eyes shifted lazily to Moore.
Ressler lowered his head quickly, for some reason finding that particular remark funny.
"In their Specialty." Cooper smiled slightly, secretly amused by Red's disgust as well.
"And those would be, what? Finger painting and playing 'doormat'?" Red was losing patience fast. "My God, Harold. Ressler looks like a genius next to these two."
Ressler rolled his eyes then returned to his report. It was nothing he hadn't heard before.
"Moore is Foreign Counter Intelligence." Red barked in laughter at that remark, "And..." Cooper ignored the man's disrespectful ways, "Wilson, Organized Crime, Domestic Threats and one of our best Linguists."
Red huffed his annoyance, his jaw tensing. "Have they been vetted?"
"They have, and passed."
"Forgive me if I don't find comfort in that." He pulled the quietly buzzing phone from his pocket, answering, "Yes?" he practically snapped.
"Red..."
"Sweetheart," his tone changed instantly, "did you need something?"
"When will you be back?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"Is there a problem?" He asked, instantly alert. Her voice told him, something was wrong. Grabbing his hat, he started for the elevator, Dembe falling into step beside him.
He ignored the calls for him from her contemporaries, continuing on his way. Their questions only irritated him now. He had other priorities.
"I... " she began uncertainly, then altered to a more sedate, "well, there is something I wish to show you... but it's not all that urgent."
"Fifteen minutes." Red advised, checking with Dembe. "We'll be home then."
They reached the car in minutes and were on their way. "Is Silas there with you?"
"He's making his rounds."
"Call him."
"It's just that..." she took a shaky breath, "I got this letter."
"Who gave you the mail?" it was demanded heatedly.
"Silas brought it to me before he went out."
Damn it! He hadn't told anyone not to give her the mail. It hadn't occurred to him that she'd even ask for it.
"I ordered things, I was wondering if they had arrived." she explained, not really knowing why. "Silas only knew about the paper mail he had seen in the foyer." she babbled, which was her way when nervous. "And my birthday is coming up, I thought my Aunt may have sent a card." she looked at the door as if the man would walk through any second.
"What did the letter say?"
"She said the family was good and wished me a happy birthday, sent a gift card."
He had meant the other letter, but she was distracted for the moment, which was good. Not that he wasn't dying to know what it said.
"What did she say about the family?" he patiently enquired.
Liz read the letter aloud, filling in the needed info when a family member was mentioned, as she went along.
Red vaguely remembered a few of the names mentioned, but not all of them. It didn't really matter, as long as she was distracted until he got there.
When she finished, he filled the silence immediately. "What kind of gift card?"
"Victoria's Secret." she held a smile.
"That was nice of her. What will you buy?"
"Oh there's so many..." Liz had been browsing the catalogues.
He leaned on the arm rest. "A new blouse, maybe?" he suggested lightly.
"You really hate that olive shirt, don't you?"
"I do, yes." he confirmed readily. "Fine then, a new dress."
"I would have figured you'd say lingerie next." He could hear her smile over the phone, which was great.
"What kind of lingerie?" He had lowered his voice suggestively, smiling when he heard her giggle.
"Maybe I'll buy some pajamas." she tried to match his mood.
"Well, now I'm disappointed. You got my hopes up for nothing." he truly sounded disappointed. "We're pulling up. I'll be inside in a minute."
Setting his hat down on the foyer table, he headed back for the pool, holding out his hand for the letter as he walked through the archway. He sat beside her, while she curled her leg under her, turning to face him while he read it.
Anger crossed his features as his eyes scanned the note, his jaw ticking feverishly.
When he was finished, he sat it down beside them. "Why didn't you tell me you had been getting these?"
"What do you mean?" she was genuinely surprised.
"I got the others Lizzy. He's obviously been sending them for a while."
"There are more?" she was stunned.
"You've never received one of these before?" he held it aloft.
"No, I think I would have mentioned it if I had." she was adamant and a little offended.
"You would have told me?" he needed clarification.
"You think I wouldn't?" she was definitely offended.
"I hope you would trust me enough to, but no, I didn't think you would."
"I would have, just on the off chance you knew who it might be." she took umbrage. "Do you? Know anyone that sends letters like that?" she motioned to the disturbing object he still held aloft.
"I just assumed it was Tom." He tilted his head, as she took the envelope from his hand, rereading it.
"It doesn't sound like something Tom would say." she shook her head in denial, the long dark hair swishing gently about her face.
"You really don't think so?" Red's tone said it all.
"If I had to, I would say it isn't Tom, actually." She handed the envelope to him, rubbing her fingertips, as if wiping away the bad feeling holding it had given her. "But don't take my word for it, I didn't know him at all, apparently."
Red looked down at the letter in his hand, frowning. If it wasn't Tom, who the hell could it be? He reread it, paying attention to each sentence. Finally getting to the last line.
Bleed his evil from you
Bleed her. It couldn't be from Carver? Or could it?
It wasn't his usual style. Red had never heard Carver sending letters before, ever.
But then, he'd never had a "client" get away from him before, either. Lizzy could literally be, the 'one who got away'. A fixation now.
If Carver had been targeting her, it wasn't impossible for him to have been following her.
Who ever it was, the letters would be stopping soon when the house sold. With no new address, what then?
The letters needed to continue if any chance of finding the creep was to be had.
Whoever was writing this shit, probably would escalate sooner or later.
Red had an idea how to solve the problem, but right now, he needed to deal with Elizabeth.
"We should talk about the letter."
"What's there to talk about?" Liz glanced at the white sheet of paper fretfully.
"Do you feel like a prisoner here?"
"No! Why would you even ask that?"
"Do you believe the guards would allow you leave, if you truly wished?"
"Not only that, they'd drive me where I want to go." she lifted knowing brows.
"Do you feel like I'm neglecting you, leaving like I did."
"I feel very cared for here." the woman's voice softened, as did her eyes. "And I remember... some of what happened that night."
"You do?" Red's own thoughts wandered back. So much had happened that night that she might deem, inappropriate, for that time and place. But his only priority at that moment, had been the woman's welfare.
"I remember you telling me it would be all right." she smiled. "That you were sorry you had to hurt me." she hesitated for the man's face allowed, that he too, was remembering that time.
Liz reached over, her hand covering his, grasping consolingly. "It's all right, it's over." she smiled just for him. "I remember being cold and then I wasn't, and you were talking to me."
When he had laid against her. Well, that was going to be interesting when she fully remembered that little tidbit.
"Was there anything else?"
"Some little things, I get snippets in the middle of the night. They're slowly piecing together, but not full pictures yet." she struggled even now to recall the events. "Why?"
"Just wondering." He shrugged. "Most of it's a blur for me as well."
Which wasn't a lie. He'd only recently started playing back that night, wondering if he saw Carver's face when he kicked in that door. He may have seen a glimpse of him going around the corner, but it wasn't clear yet.
When he had heard his name being screamed like that, he clicked to auto-pilot. His only goal was finding and securing Lizzy.
"Don't worry about these." he nodded toward the envelope between them. "He doesn't know where you are."
"Are you sure?" she needed reassurance.
"If he did, he'd be sending them here, not to your house." Red reminded.
"Of course."
"Have I let anything happen to you here?" he reassured.
"No." she was already calming.
"Has Silas been there when you've needed him." it was a statement, not a question.
"Yes." a soft smile graced her lips.
"Do you think I'd let any harm come to you?" his voice softened.
"No, but..."
"There are no buts, Lizzy. You are safe here. And will continue to be safe." his tone brooked no argument. "Don't worry." he patted her hand, then lightened. "Are you hungry?"
"Getting there, yes." She found she was adapting to Red's constant change of topic better than she had before coming to stay with him. She knew it was his way of distracting her, and sometimes she appreciated it. Sometimes she wanted to throttle him. She wasn't quite sure what she felt right now.
Red contacted Dembe, asking the man if he would mind picking up dinner tonight. The restaurant had an obscure sounding name which Liz instantly dismissed from her thoughts. She slid over to her cart, lifting her books into the basket preparing to take her leave.
"Stop." Red said, his head tilting comically.
"What?" She looked around cautiously, afraid she was near an expensive vase or something.
"What are these?" He asked, tapping the back of her seat.
"Bumper stickers." she held her giggle. "Every time I come back to the chair, there's a new one stuck on there."
Red perused a few, laughing as he did.
Lost your cat? Try looking under my tires
Horn broke. Watch for my finger
If you're going to ride my ass, at least pull my hair
I'm not your wife, so get off my ass
"And this?" He fingered the pole and flag sticking out high above the seat.
"It was sticking straight out, like I was a knight ready to joust someone." she too, joined in the laughter.
Red had a pretty good guess why, but he asked anyway. "And they did this, why?"
"So they could see me coming. An early warning system."
"Did it work?"
"Well, no. Not really." She grimaced. "I ran into Silas with it. Jabbed him in the leg."
Red winced, thinking of where it could have gone. "Go ahead, I'll be along in a minute."
He went to the bar, refreshing his drink. Seconds later, a male grunt almost made him spill the contents of his mouth, for he had taken a huge sip.
Lizzy's apologetic tone, sounded most sincere. "Sorry, Silas."
Red raised the glass, laughing into it, finishing his drink before following his speed racer to the dining room.