A movement on the bed and a small cry awoke Red instantly. In the low light, he could make out Lizzy's silhouette. Her back was turned and she was sleeping peacefully.
Red looked at the baby who was squirming about, face scrunched up, fists waving frantically about like a samurai warrior fighting off an invisible foe. Red's eyes shifted back to the peacefully sleeping woman then again to the tiny ninja.
He nodded knowingly, his gaze trained steadily on the enemy. "So this is how it's gonna be, is it?"
The baby mewed irritably, the tiny ninja feet kicking viciously about in the air. "Careful kid... I know people."
The man reluctantly arose, stifling a groan. He had seen the object needed upon his entrance hours ago. He picked up the baby, heading for the bureau.
Red worked the pacifier into the quivering pout of the mouth. "Stop with the face, I am totally unaffected." he measured the formula absently. "I could tell you stories... what the hell is this?" he studied Silas's make shift "stove", quickly figuring the ins and outs of the situation.
The baby pushed the pacifier from it's mouth. Red deftly caught the object, reinserting it determinably.
"We're going to have to come to an understanding." he poured the warm water into the bottle, absently bouncing the baby with his free arm. "Let's pretend for everyone's sake, that I'm the boss here." he glanced down at the baby then frowned hard for the child had stopped squirming and fidgeting, staring at him expectantly. "I've got more money, I've got more power, I'm taller, I've got more... well, no, you've got more hair, actually."
Red shrugged the moment away. "The point is," he pushed the nipple through the unresisting lips at which point the kid suckled noisily, the large blues eyes trained and steady on the man's face, "if we do things my way, we're all going to be happier in the end."
The man found a comfortable chair, settling back with his charge. He watched the baby suckle for a long moment. "This reminds me of a story..."
The baby let out a long exaggerated sigh when the warm liquid hit his empty tummy.
"Have you heard this one before?" Red could take criticism well. "That's okay, I'll relate it to Dembe in the morning. He gets paid to listen."
He moved the infant closer to his warmth, gently caressing the tiny back in circular motions. He listened intently to the tiny mouth working so diligently on the bottle. In the quiet of the room, with this miniature human being in his care, Red suddenly felt a surge of total contentment.
He could not remember how long it had been since he had felt such emotions. He thought back many, many years ago. He had spent so much time with his baby daughter in the same setting.
The man glanced down at the little boy in his arms, marveling when the tiny fingers curled tightly about the heel of his hand. The blue eyes sleepily watched his every move. An unbidden smile curved Red's lips.
Red tapped the baby's bottom, bouncing it soothingly and in doing so, found a measure of comfort himself. The baby finished the bottle, and was subsequently lifted unto a convenient shoulder.
Red's massive hand dwarfed the pint-sized body as he gently patted, coaxing the excess air from the little tummy. What came out, however, was anything but diminutive.
The man crooked his head away from the sweet smelling little face. "Now that was more like a beer burp, to me."
The woman stirred instantly at the exaggerated sound, awakened fully from her peaceful slumber. She sat up hastily, blurting the first thing to come to mind.
"I've got this." she struggled to a sitting position, pushing her hair from her face, frantically searching about the empty bed.
"Now, see what you've done?" Red lifted the baby, crossing to the bed, laying the infant into the comforting coverlet. "You've awakened the dragon." he teased. "Let's hope she doesn't eat you alive."
"That's a fine thing to say to a baby." the woman was flabbergasted, until she glanced down to the peacefully sleeping child. She lifted amazed eyes. "What are you... the baby whisperer?"
"We have come to an understanding, and it's private." Red headed for the door. "Just suffice to say, I am and always shall be, a master manipulator."
Liz looked at him sideways, "He just likes your voice." she stated shrewdly.
The man stopped in his tracks, cocking his head sideways. "How about you? Do you like my voice?"
"Where are you going?" she side-tracked hastily.
"I'm anticipating round two, be right back."
He came back a minute later with an ice bucket in tow, complete with a bottle of Merlot.
"What are we celebrating?" she was stumped.
"It's for the kid's gums." he disdained, pulling the tabs on the diaper having already taken care of the snaps on Sam's onesie.
After a successful operation, Red poured himself a glass of wine, motioning to her.
"It's three o'clock in the morning." she pointed out, refusing his kind offer.
The man shrugged, finishing off the wine in one gulp. "There's no time set for a good glass of Merlot."
Red made himself comfortable beside the warm little bundle, crossing his arms, and his feet at the ankles. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts private.
"Thank you." the woman ventured lowly so as to not to disturb his private moment. "But please, next time," she asked more than told, "you can wake me up."
She moved closer to the baby, her arms enfolding Sam lovingly. Liz closed her eyes, drinking in the scent surrounding her. This was rapidly becoming her most favorite fragrance in the universe... besides Red Reddington's cologne.
The man shifted his head in the pillow, taking in the scene for quite a while. He finally closed his eyes, drifting into a deep, restful sleep.
The soft light filtering behind the curtain awoke Liz. She found Sam sleeping peacefully. Red looked as if he had not moved a muscle since coming to bed.
She smiled gently at the picture presented. The baby had shifted sometime in the night and now lay crumpled happily against the man's lower waist.
This man seemed such a natural with children. Liz felt a momentary lump in her heart, thinking about what it must have been like when his daughter was the same age.
"Somebody better start making a bottle because the demon seed is going to be pissed when I move." Red stated lazily, startling her. The clear aquamarine eyes opened slowly, his head turning towards her.
"How long have you been awake?" she accused.
"About thirty minutes, I guess?" He shooed her with his free hand, pointing to the bottles.
"I'm going." She grumbled, rolling out of the bed. "What is on your agenda today?" she stared back at him as the water heated.
Red propped his head on his arm, watching her movements, his fingers massaging the baby's feet. "My agenda today involves a feisty little con-artist," he glanced down at the peacefully, undisturbed child, "and a masochistic FBI Agent who sees herself as Mother Teresa in her spare time."
"Oh, you are so amusing." the woman crossed the space, bottle in hand. "I am not masochistic." she grinned at him. "Just for that, you feed the kid."
"I'm going to get dressed." he corrected in a rather superior tone.
"Coward." she accused playfully, the baby boy stirring unhappily halted the repartee. When Red had moved, Sam's comfortable world had been disturbed.
The man reached, lifting the tiny bundle into capable arms. "All right, Petty Officer Sam Whatever... this is not how we behave aboard the USS Reddington."
Liz's mouth quirked threateningly but she managed to hide her amusement, just.
Red wiggled his fingers and the woman slapped the bottle into the outstretched palm. The man found his favorite chair, settling back.
"I thought we had this settled last night." he chided gently.
The baby ignored him completely, concentrating on the food placed before him. Red's mouth worked back and forth the indentures along the side, dimpling deeply.
"What it is, I don't understand, see... is why I do not get the respect afforded me?"
Elizabeth turned away hastily to hide her grin. The baby gurgled happily around the nipple, sucking noisily, the large eyes watching the man's every move. At one point, Sam reached grasping his foot, waving it about haphazardly.
Red watched the action benignly. "I'm not really the bad guy they make me out to be. I mean, you will learn in this life, Petty Officer," the man broke for a dramatic pause, "that things are never black or white." he glanced down at the baby, who waved his foot in a wider arc. "I'm one of those gray areas you will hear so much about." he nodded sagely.
"Oh my God..." she tried to keep the giggle from her voice, "you have a captive audience. Isn't there something about this in the Geneva Convention bylaws?"
Red drew in an even breath, choosing to ignore her completely, his expression almost but not quite, annoyed. "Where was I?" he asked the baby.
Sam babbled off a long stream of unintelligible gibberish, "Yes, I know." it was conceded. "Something else you will learn in life. Women must always have the last word."
"We do not."
"See..." Red gestured accordingly.
The phone on the bed side table interrupted the pleasant camaraderie. Red transferred a put out look to the object in question.
Elizabeth reached over the bed, answering the call. She gestured but he indicated she should take the initiative.
The woman listened attentively then grimaced slightly, seeking him out. "They need you at the Post Office."
"The hell you say?" he drawled, arising. He reluctantly handed over the baby. "Tell them I'm on my way."
Red nuzzled the small neck as he placed Sam in Lizzy's arms. "You got him?" he asked, adjusting the pillow supporting her arm and the small weight.
"Yep, I'm good." She cuddled the warm bundle in open affection.
"I'll send in breakfast after I dress." he chucked the baby's chin, "Petty Officer Whatever," the man put on his most staunch face, "you will obey orders given from Lieutenant Keen in my absence."
Liz lifted impressed brows, "Oh, I just got a raise in rank."
Reddington shifted indulgent eyes. "Careful, Lieutenant... those ranks come and go so quickly around here."
She stuck her tongue out, pulling an endearing face.
"Pee on her, kid." Red left the room with a confident swagger.
The man left for the Post Office thirty minutes later, but around lunch time, he was back and headed to the kitchen.
"Good afternoon Nora." he threw his hat on the kitchen counter. "Has Lizzy and the drool machine had lunch yet?"
The woman frowned slightly, her eyes remaining on the offending object just thrown on her freshly cleaned cooking area.
Red glanced at his hat, sighing deeply before lifting it in capable hands. Suddenly Nora was all smiles. She went back to stirring something on the stove.
"I checked on them about ten minutes ago but they were still napping." she chuckled. "Playtime was hectic this morning, I think."
"Was there any trouble after I left?" Red leaned over the pot, humming appreciatively.
"We had one or two meltdowns..." the woman had hesitated to rat out her new found friend.
"Him or Lizzy?" Red smiled.
Nora chuckled, then gathered some bowls. "He needed ice for his gums."
"I'll get them up and about." the man was a decision maker of the finest quality.
"Bring Sam with you, and I'll feed him lunch."
"I can do that Nor–"
"I don't mind." she smiled warmly. "He's such a darling little thing."
Red headed back to the bedroom, finding the two napping. Or at least one of them was.
The baby was quietly biting on his teddy bear while Keres laid next to him, licking the kid's bald head.
"Cleaning it before you eat it, Keres?" Red muttered, then turned his attention to Sam. "You're a good man Petty Officer, letting Lizzy nap." he reached for the baby, settling him against his hip. "Come here, you little bundle of catnip."
Red pinched the chubby little cheeks ever so gently, he could see just poking out of the pink swollen area, a minuscule white nub.
"What in God's name..." Red's nostrils rebelled, "is that horrendous stench?" he glanced at the baby accusingly. "As if I didn't know."
He laid Sam on the table, pulling back the diaper, grimacing. "Okay kid, bath time for you." He pulled the diaper off, wiping away the mess. "You could certainly use one."
He finished undressing the boy and took him into the bathroom, his hand cupped over a very vital area. The baby sucked on his fist, glad to be rid of the yucky stuff.
Red filled the large sink, testing the water before settling the child into the welcoming liquid. He glanced about, his hand supporting the bald head, finally spotting the baby soap.
Sam slapped the water, soaking the front of his shirt and vest through and through, all of which Red ignored. He lathered the baby from head to toe, rinsing with slow mellow streams.
"Sam?" Liz's frantic voice beckoned from the bedroom.
"You think he'll answer you?" Red found the thought amusing.
She came stumbling into the room, holding her chest. "You scared me to death." she accused, her eyes falling instantly on Sam.
"Calm down and be careful." He scolded, then smiled when the baby babbled, slapping the water harder. "Someone smelled of putrid bananas... what are you feeding this child?"
"Not that I'm complaining," she watched him soap Sam's head, the large hand carefully blocking the huge blue eyes as he rinsed, "but what are you doing home?"
"We placed all but five of the children." he supplied the answer to her question. "I was redundant, so I left."
"And Sam?"
He blotted the baby's face, then lifted him into a warm fluffy towel, wrapping the small body snugly.
"Nothing yet." he replied quietly.
"Wait a minute.." Liz had noted something peculiar. "Is that a birthmark?" she pointed when the man seemed puzzled. "There... on his bottom."
Red draped the baby on his forearm, tummy down. Sam kicked his legs in his new position, chortling, perfectly content to be upside down and dangling.
Red smiled, stroking his little head, before glancing at what the woman had indicated.
"It is, yes." He pulled his phone out of his pocket, hesitating.
Her eyes beseeched him, but he shook his head firmly. "I have to, Lizzy."
"I know." She held the baby still while Red snapped a picture of the small mark. Liz took over drying duties while Red placed the call to Ressler.
When he was finished, he took the child, carrying it to the changing table. Liz took over the duties from there.
Red sat on the bed, trying to read her face, but she kept her attention focused on Sam, her expression carefully neutral.
"Can you hand me that red onesie and the overalls please."
Red handed over the small garments, "I'm sorry, Lizzy." he stated simply.
She sniffled silently, keeping her eyes averted. "No, it's okay, he needs his mom and dad, it's good he'll get to go home." she swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes filling with unshed tears as she slid the suspender in place.
The man watched the scene unfold, his mood plummeting. He had foreseen this very moment, having thought he was fully prepared for it, but in the end the woman's pain hurt like hell.
He closed his eyes instinctively reaching out, his arm gently surrounding her waist. He pulled Liz closer, enfolding her into his arms.
She sat on his lap, sobbing heartfelt gulps of sorrow, her face hidden in his neckline. The baby played with his tie, unaware of the pain around him.
The phones incessant ring tone jarred the moment, the woman tensing visibly, staring transfixed at the offense communication device.
Red knew she was preparing herself mentally for the news, good or bad.
The man listened intently for some time before offering a curt goodbye.
"Did they find his parents?" she blurted shakily.
"No, but they're narrowing it down now." he relayed. "But they've placed the other kids."
"When will you be back, do you think?" she lifted a tear stained face.
"I'm not going." he wiped the tracks gently from her cheeks. "They don't need me, you on the other hand..."
"We'll be okay." she tried to sound optimistic.
"I'd rather not find out if that's true from a couple hundred miles away."
Liz fell silent, nodding into his neck, relief flooding her entire being.
The baby laughed heartily as he pulled the tie from behind Red's vest. She could not prevent a chuckle, watching the chubby hand grip the expensive fabric, then chew on the end.
"Stop it." She scolded, gently pulling on the tie.
Red took the tie, shaking the drool off, his expression surly. "Really?" he questioned offhandedly. "It's not like this is Italian silk, kid."
Liz did not think she would be smiling today but in spite of herself, she found her spirits slightly lifting.
"Nora has lunch ready for us." the man stood, taking his lap companions along with him. After getting her settled on her cart, Red adjusted Sam on his arm, letting the infant look after Liz as she rolled along.
After lunch, Red took Sam and Lizzy to the sitting room for a change in scenery.
Dembe came in the sunny room, the look on his face alerting Red. The man nodded, turning to his charges.
"Will you be all right here?" he asked as he stood.
"Sam likes it here." the woman smiled up, from her position on the floor. "And so do I."
"Don't forget to do his ice soon." it was reminded.
Red stood looking down at the scene. Before he knew what he was doing, he had bent, kissing Liz's pert nose.
He raised, his features carefully masked. He then joined Dembe, the two exiting in unison.
Red rounded the arch way, running a hand over his head, an odd emotion churning inside himself.
That little moment had felt so... domesticated. He found, he missed moments like that in his life.
The baby, playing on the floor. Kissing the girl good bye.
It felt so familiar, but yet so strange. Mostly because Sam was not his baby and Lizzy was most assuredly, not his wife.
That much was obvious, for so many reasons.
It had been such a powerful episode, truth told, it almost overwhelmed the man.
That few seconds had felt so real... so right. He hadn't felt such a strong emotional attachment since his wife and child. The reality hurt like hell, because he knew it was just an illusion.
"Raymond?" Dembe questioned, holding the back door open for him. The large man had felt the quietness, concerned for his friend.
Reddington waved the unasked question aside, "Let's go."
Two hours passed, but it had felt like an eternity until the man finally was allowed to come back to the world he preferred.
Red's hand massaged his neck and the tension in his body as he walked the halls of what he now considered, home.
Lizzy's musical laughter floated on the air, lightening his spirit. He followed the sound which led his footsteps to the back of the house.
Coming on scene the man halted briefly, a gentle smile coming to his lips.
The woman was holding Sam on the first step of the pool, the tiny feet kicking and splashing so fast that Red was hard pressed to follow the activity.
"Oh, hi." Liz beamed up at him as he came further into the room.
Red was pleased to see both her hand and leg were wrapped in plastic. Silas was sitting just behind her, flipping through the latest publication of Gun World.
"Are we having a pool party?" the older man smiled at the ecstatic pair, taking off his shoes, rolling up his pants legs. He slipped his feet into the warm water, sitting close beside Liz and their tiny guest.
"We are..." she giggled happily.
Red stared down into the water, pointing. "What is that?"
Liz lifted Sam slightly, showing a trash bag fastened into a diaper. "Nora thought, if he should have any accidents..." she said meaningfully, before lowering Sam back down into the warm water.
Dembe walked to the far end of the pool, diving gracefully into its depths.
Sam clapped his chubby little hands at the show, then blinked in awe, smiling a huge toothless grin when the man popped up a few feet from them, as if by magic.
The baby started clapping his fingers quickly as though motioning Dembe closer, then stood on the first step bouncing jerkily in the buoyant water. The sound of the little laughter peeled through the room and truthfully into Elizabeth's heart.
All at once the infant practically leapt for Dembe who had been gently splashing the little tummy with water.
Red quickly reached out, catching the anxious little body, "Whoa there, lightning."
He held Sam out, smiling at the rapidly kicking legs. Dembe closed the gap, taking the infant in capable arms.
Red and Liz watched as the child smacked the water, splashing water in Dembe's face but unfortunately, Sam got a little of the backlash, his eyes blinking rapidly at the unexpected occurrence.
Liz smiled, waving to the baby as he passed by, making cooing sounds and impressed faces of delight.
"Look at you swimming all by yourself." she clapped her hands energetically. "What a big boy you are."
"Dembe." Red called out a warning, before tossing a float in beside the man.
Dembe maneuvered it beside him, laying Sam on his belly, allowing him to float around much to the delight of the small human.
Dembe dodged the flailing arms and legs as best he could, chuckling his amusement.
"Did you have a good day?" Red asked the woman beside him.
"We did, he tried apple cinnamon oatmeal today." she beamed happily. "He ate the whole thing."
"I had the same thing in mind for dinner." the man quipped.
"He was just a little piglet." Liz chuckled quietly, "He really loved it."
"I'm happy to hear he had a nice day, but the question was directed at you."
Liz sighed, then wiggled her toes in the water, "I'm... dealing with it." she replied quietly then scrunched her nose when Dembe came floating up to them with his sleeping passenger.
"Waterbeds have the same affect on me." Silas mentioned to no one in particular before returning to his magazine.
"Well, I guess if he has trouble sleeping, we can just sit him on a raft to knock him out." Red shrugged before reaching out and taking the sleeping baby from his impromptu water bed.
Dembe arose out of the water, like a Greek God, offering his assistance to Liz who gladly accepted.
"Red, I can take him," she pointed to the bag leaking water everywhere, "you're pants are getting all wet."
"Like that hasn't happened before." he tore the bag free with Dembe's help, situating Sam in his arm.
Dembe caught Liz's puzzled look, delivering a dead pan... "Army-Navy game."
Liz sighed her frustration because she had noted Red's instant grin of camaraderie.
Silas had stood, laying his book aside coming alongside the woman.
"Red, put the baby into the towel, he might get cold." Liz advised, whereupon the little one was instantly given over.
The older man looked down, watching as the baby was swaddled into a warm, dry cloth. His fingers absently trailed slowly back and forth over Liz's nape.
"Isn't this the most adorable baby you've ever seen, Silas? Admit it." Liz crooked her head upward, catching the skeptical features of her guard. "You know you like him."
"Little germ carrier." the bearded man retorted. "I think I'm coming down with something."
Dembe shook his head dolefully. He lifted his weapon off the towel where he had carefully placed it, having dried off his muscular frame.
"He is not!" Liz instinctively took up for the child. "He's just the most precious thing ever." she murmured lovingly over the baby, kissing his little forehead. "You take that back!"
Silas rolled his eyes, "Getting a little nauseous here." he pulled a 'gag face'. "He's drooling."
"And you haven't?" Red spoke up instantly sharing a knowing glance with Dembe. All three men spoke in unison... "Army-Navy game." Silas nodded grudgingly.
"Damn fine game." the brawny guard had to agree in spite of everything that went down that fateful day.
"What the hell happened at that game?" she was mystified. "Sam's teething!" Elizabeth defended staunchly, letting the other subject go, not sure she wanted to know any of the specifics.
"Did the kid shit his pants, because I absolutely smell... something." Silas wrinkled his nose at the abhorrent odor.
"Red..." Liz's eyes hardened perceptibly, "shoot him in the ass."
Red's grin was halted instantly by the sound of a loud pop.
Silas instantly placed his bulk over that of Elizabeth Keen and her charge, his large arms encompassing both small bodies.
Dembe dropped his towel, grasping his weapon, pointing it in the direction of the source.
Red turned, blocking the three behind him, his own weapon raised and at-the-ready.
Another two shots rang out, almost simultaneously... Red glanced over to Dembe, a fixed scowl on his face.
If they were under attack, someone was taking their sweet time.
Silas' radio was alive, squawking information to the Head Security Guard.
Dembe's scowl was even darker than Red's because all posts were reporting no breech of property... no activity on the grounds what-so-ever.
Silas soothed Elizabeth, glancing around hectically for any means of escape offered. Finding none at the moment, for they were surrounded by a glass enclosure... he continued sheltering them with his own body.
Red's arm swept slowly across the horizon, his eyes alert and active, his weapon still raised searching for the threat.
A gigantic pane of glass shattered close by the large black man to Red's left.
They now knew the location of the assailant.
Red tapped Silas' back, signaling it was time to vacate. Silas' beefy fingers pushed the cart's control forward as he slowly walked the vehicle toward the opened French doors in front of them.
Red followed, his body a shield as well, his weapon trained at the appropriate location. Dembe was close behind and soon, all exited the area... Liz and the baby, safe and sound.
Silas arose finally, his face an angered mask of rage. He jerked the radio to his lips, secure in the knowledge, Red and Dembe were rushing the only ones who mattered, from the scene.
"Somebody better tell me what the fuck is going on out there!" he advised icily.
"Be advised..." Joe's voice came back calmly, "shooter is secured, danger eliminated."
"Who the hell breeched our security?" his rage was barely held in check.
"No one breeched... it was the neighbor lady... and I use the term loosely, to our South." Joe hurried on with the explanation before Silas could get any more upset. "Husband supposedly cheating, woman got soused, started shooting up the guy's man cave."
Silas looked at the radio as though Joe had suddenly gone off the deep end, his face comically askew.
"We have the weapon... and the woman in our custody." Joe glanced at the person in question, ignoring the disparaging remarks concerning his birthright. "She's still a little under the weather...please advise as to what the Captain wishes us to do at this time."
Silas leaned heavily against the wall for support, his hand wiping across his brow. "If I had my druthers," he uttered quietly now, "I'd put a bullet in her fat ass."
Joe glanced at the woman in question, who practically fell out of the chair. Fortunately, David was there to prevent just such an occurrence.
"You're not usually so unchivalrous to a woman." Joe was finding the remark amusing however.
"She could have killed that baby!" Silas' tone was a little tremulous, the reality having set in a goodly while back.
"You okay, boss?" Joe was a little concerned.
The silence was telling.
Silas calmed himself mentally and physically. The professional finally re-emerging. He drew in a deep cleansing breath.
"All right..." he exhaled slowly straightening to his full height, "I will get back to you once I speak to the Captain." he crooked his neck back and forth, easing the tension from his body.
He had smelled the baby's scent, the little thing having remained quiet throughout the entire fiasco. At one point, the blue eyes had trained on him full of trust and innocence.
At that moment, Silas had truly felt the weight of the responsibility bestowed upon him. And while he was concerned greatly for Elizabeth Keen's safety, he would have to admit, if only to himself... that little boy was his priority. He would have given his life, gladly, to ensure the safety and well being of that tiny human being.
His esteem had heightened greatly as well for the woman who had put her own body over the baby's the entire time, Liz's softly whispered assurances calming the infant as nothing else could have.
"Sober up that psycho." the man blocked the emotional onslaught determinedly. "The Captain will want to speak with her... personally."
"Wouldn't want to be her..." Joe shook his head woefully. "Has the Captain ever capped a woman?"
"In this instance..." Silas snapped, "I wouldn't blame him if he did."