AUTHOR NOTES - Thank you again for not only reading, but for all your kind reviews and PM's. I just wanted to say that to all the readers, but also to the Guest reviewers that I can't thank individually.
After the funeral and reception, Red and Dembe were called away to finalize the details of Anne's estate.
Liz headed down to the corner bistro, her bulky guard regaling her with anecdotes from his time spent in the Orient. One such tale involved a Geisha girl and a disgruntled Marine and platoon of MP's from a nearby Army base.
"A platoon?" Liz had to question that part, her expression amused.
"All right, so it wasn't a platoon." Silas granted. "More like a division."
The revelry was interrupted by a somber enquiry.
"Are you allowed to talk to me?"
Liz looked around, finding Francis coming up on their rear, his expression a prudent one.
"Why would you even ask such a thing?" she frowned having entered the café.
She directed the young man to a nearby table.
"I've been shunned." the man leaned into the chair instead of taking the seat she had offered, his eyes darting to the patiently waiting guard who had taken a stand at the end of the bar. "Or hadn't you heard."
"Whether you have been or not," she began, "it has nothing to do with me."
Francis once again lifted wary eyes to Silas who was sitting on a stool just behind the woman, his burly arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.
"Look at me," Liz scolded, "not him."
Silas' brows lifted slightly for the 'slight'.
"You really don't understand how this works, do you?" Francis' smile dimmed.
"I don't give a damn." the woman was adamant, throwing a peevish glance over her shoulder to the other man. "You're my friend." she stressed. "If Red doesn't like it–"
"I no longer exist." the younger man chuckled, then outright laughed at the stunned expression on Liz's face. "Now, do you get it?"
Liz nodded slowly, before turning on her guard. "You do not touch him. Do you understand me?"
"I take orders from you now, do I?" Silas smirked.
"In regards to Francis, yes." she took a stand. "I will deal with Red, personally."
Silas stood, sauntering to where Liz sat. "I have a better idea," he began, "why don't you discuss this with Red first, then you guys can get back to me."
"Fine." Liz grumbled, then smiled at Francis. "Are you going to sit, or not?"
To Liz's vexation, Francis checked with the guard once more, waiting for Silas' permission.
"Sit down, you idiot." Liz gritted, shoving the chair out with her foot.
Silas inclined his head, gesturing for the man to sit before retaking his own seat. His eyes returned to his normal scan of the surrounding area.
"And you, eat." Liz had glared her demand over her shoulder.
Silas rolled his eyes, settling more comfortably into his stool, making the woman's lips pinch in open aggravation.
Francis held his smile as he watched the power play.
Silas studiously ignored the fuming woman.
Liz felt her annoyance turn into trepidation. She had never really been at odds with Silas before. She felt the ground shift slightly under her feet, not liking the feeling one bit.
The guard's solid frame sensed as much, losing a bit of it's rigidity. He pushed off the stool begrudgingly, trudging forward yet again.
"What's up your ass..." he grumbled quietly, as he neared, "cause I know it ain't Red."
Liz gasped, her mouth falling agape. Francis chuckled quietly into his hand, hiding his amusement behind the façade.
"You got her a minute?" Silas gestured his request to Francis.
"Yeah... uh, sure." Francis nodded, his surprise more than evident.
Liz scowled, watching the guard walk to the small line of waiting customers.
Two men instantly stepped out of Silas' way, indicating he should take their place. The man shook his head silently, stretching his hand forward. Clearly however, the other men were more than hesitant to piss off such a imposing figure.
"He's even a bully when he's not trying to be." Liz screwed up her face, turning her wrath on a more receptive individual.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked cantankerously.
"I just..." Francis shrugged, "I didn't expect that." he told the truth. "I guess at least, Silas still trusts me." the man's voice lowered dejectedly, his fingers folding the edges of his napkin over and over in an unconsciously perturbed manner.
"Red trusts you. He was just upset." Liz pacified. "It's been a rough couple days for him, whether he admits to it or not."
"I suppose." the man sighed. "I should have stayed out of it though." he blurted after a moment. "But I just couldn't, you know." he lifted enquiring eyes. "You're... you've been," he threw his napkin aside, restlessly sitting back in his chair. "Well dammit, I like you... you're almost like a friend or something."
Liz smile widened, reaching out to grip Francis' hand. "I like you too." She let the other part go.
A delightful afternoon passed quickly and then it was time to return to the hotel.
Francis walked abreast of her, but Liz noticed Silas kept a professional air as he held back a good four or five feet.
"Do you think you can sneak away..." Francis glanced back at Silas, "not sneak away per se, no not that at all." he placated. "Get away, shortly for a quick swim at the pool?"
Liz's acquiescence was cut short as she noted Red coming out of a side room, Dembe in tow, a few meters down the foyer. He was distracted momentarily, by a man Liz did not recognize.
Soon enough however, the arresting gaze fell on the woman and her companion.
Red focused on them intently, his smile fading slowly.
"Shit..." Francis whispered his distress.
"Shit." Silas whispered his annoyance, because he knew he was going to catch hell for his little lapse.
Liz laid her hand on Francis' arm in open support. "We'll fix this. I promise."
Francis sighed, watching Red closely. The man laughed, shaking hands with the attorney.
"Now go change," Liz suggested, "and I'll meet you at the pool." she smiled.
Francis half nodded, knowing the chances of her being there were slim to none, but did as she asked.
Silas trailed after Elizabeth, walking to the elevator banks, "You really think you can change Red's mind?" he asked, pressing the button for their floor. "When he gets something in his head..."
"He'll just have to get it out of his head." Liz jutted her chin stubbornly. "Francis is my friend, anyway. Who I choose to associate with is..."
"Red made you come, didn't he." Silas interrupted rudely.
"I...I... " Liz stammered, totally flustered by the question of course, but more so, by the smug knowledge presented.
"You don't even have to answer, I know the answer." he disdained. "So trust me, little girl, who you associate yourself with from here on out, is very much Red's concern." Silas smiled knowingly.
Liz was just about to question the validity of such a statement when she felt Silas stiffen at her side, his entire focus suddenly for three men who had stepped up behind them.
"You... are with Reddington." one of the men stated without preamble.
Liz turned, nodding. "Yes. But he's back off that way," she pointed back up the hall, "if you need him."
Silas maneuvered himself between the men, pushing Liz behind him. The woman stumbled slightly, unsure of what was transpiring.
"I don't want him." the man replied, motioning the two huge individuals forward. "He took something from me that I wanted," the man continued, "so I will now, take something from him."
Silas punched out, his beefy fist sending one man careening into the opposite wall. The other charged him.
"Run!" Silas grunted lowly, blocking two blows aimed at his head simultaneously. "Now!"
The man who originally spoke, made a grab for Liz.
She yanked her arm away, falling back into the elevator, only to be caught a moment later and dragged forcefully from the steel box.
Silas tossed the man he was fighting aside like a limp rag doll, sending him rolling in an awkward heap, down the hall.
He reached out, gripping the other man's arm, breaking his hold on Liz, before slamming the man's bulk up against the slowly closing elevator door.
"Go dammit!" Silas urgently snapped. The first assailant was on him again. "Go to Red!
Francis rounded the corner, having heard the sounds of a struggle and Silas' raised voice. The young man had discreetly hoisted his weapon, rushing to the location.
All he saw at that exact moment, was one man pulling his weapon, the gun pointed directed at Elizabeth Keen.
Red had seen Francis rush past, his second sense kicking in.
He jerked his head, silently asking Dembe to check out the situation.
Red bid his farewell to Anne's lawyer, his eyes following Dembe's retreat.
Seconds later, the sound of gunfire echoed throughout the enormous lobby.
Red pulled his weapon on his way before he knew exactly what he was running into.
Francis hit the man who was coming up behind Silas, with the butt of his weapon, leaving the large guard to put himself between Elizabeth and her struggles with DeCarlo.
Dembe was just now rounding the corner, trying to take in all that was occurring.
Seconds later, Red came on scene, his brain rapidly taking stock of the immediate danger.
That bastard DeCarlo raised his weapon towards Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth..." Red whispered his agony.
Everything slowed to a crawl. He watched the woman turn jerkily in his direction, her eyes meeting his.
Francis leapt towards Elizabeth, throwing himself between any danger and the woman.
He caught her waist, the momentum of his speed, spinning her around. He tucked his muscular bulk around her smaller frame.
Francis' legs crumbled, taking Liz with him as they slid haphazardly along the marbled floor, their rapid movement coming to an abrupt halt as they crashed into a solid wall.
DeCarlo followed their trail, Dembe's volley just missing its target as both men once again, took aim.
Francis hunched over Liz, blocking any avenue of entry to the flying bullets around them.
Red lifted his arms, his hand steady as he locked onto his target, firing his weapon in rapid succession. He was however, off balance, having been unwilling to slow his pace upon his arrival.
His shots missed DeCarlo by a fraction of an inch.
Silas broke his attackers hold, jamming his weapon into the man's gut, firing twice. The sound was muffled by the man's suit as the projectiles exploded out the man's back in a spray of blood and cloth before he dropped heavily to the floor.
Silas spun rapidly, training his weapon, just as Decarlo lifted his own, zeroing in on his target.
Red's weapon spewed forth a lethal volley just as Silas emptied his last remaining rounds. Each man hit his mark with deadly accuracy.
DeCarlo's body jerked in rapid succession, as bullets tore threw him. The man staggered back under the onslaught, sliding against the wall, leaving a slick trail of blood on his descent before landing with a thick thud, as he fell in a crumbled heap on the floor.
Silas turned, watching Dembe take down the last remaining threat.
As Red approached Elizabeth, he felt a surge of fear and panic, seeing the wall just above where both Francis and she lay crumpled, streaked with blood.
He could not really see the woman at this time because Francis' body obscured the smaller body.
"Elizabeth!" Red gasped in horror, sliding down hastily beside the two.
"Francis..." Liz's soft voice shook. "Are you all right?"
The man grunted, nodding against her shoulder. "Yeah..." he grumbled dejectedly.
Oddly, to Elizabeth's ears the man's reply reminded her of Eeyore asking about his missing tail.
"Move, Francis!" Red gritted, trying to shove the man aside. "She's hurt, dammit!"
"It's not me!" Liz bitched tartly. "He's hurt!"
"Francis." Red gripped the man's shoulder, easing him up slowly.
"Shit..." the younger man hissed, sitting upright. "That fucking burns!" He winced, quickly grasping his side. Francis leaned into the wall for support, exhaling sharply, before gaining a semblance of control.
Liz spun on her knees, reaching for the man.
"Call 911!" she yelled, pressing her hand over the large blood stain on the man's shirt.
"Ow! Dammit!" the man yelped in pain. "You're killing me here, Lizzy." he gritted. "I think I'm gonna die."
Dembe had been examining the wound, mindless of all the present chaos around him. The hotel security had arrived, already in the process of cleaning up the scene.
Another contingent was assuring the ever growing crowd of onlookers that it was only a movie company doing their thing.
Red was astounded at how easily people would believe something they wanted to believe. Already people were walking away and/or taking selfies with the supposed 'actors'.
"It is only a flesh wound." Dembe reported to Red.
Francis looked down, his expression deeply troubled. "Really?" he was disappointed to say the least.
Elizabeth hovered around anxiously. "There's so much blood."
"I know!" Francis agreed whole-heartedly.
Red pulled at the man's shirt, examining the wound himself... or should he say, wounds. Francis had taken two to the side.
But Dembe had been right, they were only flesh wounds. They would sting like hell, but that was about it.
"He'll be fine, Lizzy." Red assured, reaching to check on the woman herself.
"What do you care." she knocked his hand aside. "He's not worthy of being in your presence anymore."
Red bit at the inside of his cheek, controlling his sudden ire.
"He could have been killed." she trembled with her anger and fear, her fingers shaking over Francis's side. "And would you really care? All because he called you on your fuck up!" she tried to stop her words, because the man's face was giving away nothing. "All he did was stand up for me and you turned on him!"
"Stop it, Liz." Francis did not like the anger between his two friends. And whether or not Red returned the sentiment, did not matter. "I screwed up... not him. Let it go."
The woman looked at him, suddenly speechless.
"It's how things work." Francis informed her readily. "I told you, loyalty above all else."
"You were loyal, dammit! To me!" Her lip quivered. "No one has ever done that for me before. And when they do, they get punished for it!" she wiped angrily at her eyes. "You just saved my life!"
Red sat back surveying the problem analytically. No one could say, he could not take constructive criticism.
She was right, on all counts.
"You stood by me, again, when you didn't have to..." she cried into her hands, before lifting teary eyes to Red. "They wanted to take me away from you..."
Red's eyes darkened, staring hatefully at the dead man they were quickly carting away.
"Francis put his life in jeopardy... for me."
Red jerked, the words hitting home. He now realized why DeCarlo was here.
"Liz..." Francis put his hand out in an attempt to calm her. "You're saying shit that you'll regret."
"Doesn't this mean anything!" she looked around lost, seeing the blood on the wall where the young man braced himself. "You were loyal to Red, and he needs to comprehend that!"
"I butted into business that wasn't my own." Francis' tone grew firm. "End of story."
"Then maybe I don't want to be a part of the story," She countered, "because I don't understand and I never will... that type of loyalty."
"I apologize, to you both." Red's deep voice washed over both, silencing them. "It wasn't any of Francis' business, true," he began, "but he only did it for you." he focused on the woman. "The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you." he bore his eyes into hers. "And you know that."
Liz blinked hard, sending tears skirting down her cheeks. She nodded shortly, rubbing her hands against her thighs in agitation.
"I am sorry, Francis." Red turned his attention to the man. "Elizabeth could have been taken away, hurt or worse... killed." he felt a wave of nausea roll his stomach. "But you saved her, at great risk to yourself." Red reached out, grasping the man's shoulder. "You have my eternal gratitude for keeping her safe."
Francis tensed under the touch, upsetting Red greatly.
He had known Francis for so long, had been through so much with him... always had a open and easy camaraderie with the man. He had to wonder now, could it all be thrown away so easily on both parts.
What a fucking mess.
Red increased the hold on the younger man, dragging him into a tight embrace. He only breathed easier when Francis' head fell against Red's shoulder.
Francis had done the same thing when he found out his mother had cancer and when his father practically disowned the boy.
And now, that he found his friendship with Red was still intact, the young man felt his world fall back into place.
Red relaxed into the gesture himself, comforted in the knowledge that he had finally been forgiven.