Focal Point

by Daniel Davies

(Lizzington) A dangerous serial killer targets Elizabeth Keen as the newest Blacklister hits too close to home for Red Reddington. She must rely on the one person her instincts tell her she can trust. Liz finds herself inexplicably drawn closer to the only man capable of protecting her from this insidious new threat. (Mature Content)

202. Give me S'more

"I don't have a good feeling about this venture."

"Yeah, Mark, we know." Harper grinned over at his contemporary. "I can't recall any other mode of thinking from you for the past few days now."

"He's right on this one." Francis Holbrook sighed lightly, sitting off to Red's right. "I get the feeling, from our meeting yesterday, those guys are set in a routine and resent the hell out of us." He sensed as much, as did the others of his kind. "They won't listen to our warnings." The man slowly stirred his coffee. "They'll get themselves, and very likely all of us, killed."

"Look, it's not even their jurisdiction." Mark mumbled around his toast. "I say, let's just go get him and bring him back. Leave the fuckers out of the loop all together."

"I agree. The sooner we get McSha, the better." Danny concurred.

"I'm one of those fuckers." Samar lifted noble brows. "Don't forget, gentlemen."

"We don't think of you as one of them." Francis spoke for the group of men present. "Do we, guys."

Samar returned to her coffee, letting the matter go.

Other arguments flew around the table until Red held up his hand, silencing them.

Glancing at his wife, Red sighed. "They're right. If we send in the authorities, there will be useless deaths." He stared pointedly at Samar. "You know I'm right in this. Ressler doesn't listen until he's knee deep in shit, and this time it'll be too late to pull his ass from the fire...or explosion, in this case."

Staring thoughtfully down into his coffee cup, he recalled a point he made the night before. "We're also aware that by the time the two jurisdictions get their shit together, Sean will have moved on."

"So, what do you suggest?" Samar asked, realizing she was open to compromise on this one.

"I suggest what they did." Red gestured to his men. "We go alone, secure Sean and bring him back."

"What makes your team so different from my team?" Samar had to ask.

"The difference is that we do not surprise a bomb expert by announcing our presence through a bullhorn." Red gave the woman a lackadaisical look. "And we certainly don't go kicking in doors that he most likely has wired to explode in our faces."

Samar's lips quivered with barely controlled amusement. "Point made." She bit into her bacon, chewing thoughtfully. "So, what's your game plan? How are you going to find him?"

"We already have Sean under surveillance." Red assured. "All we have to do is actually secure him."

"And you'll do that, how?" Liz gave her husband a concerned glare.

"Carefully." Daniel muttered.

"With extreme caution," Red said, overlapping the big cowboy's comment, "and utmost care."

---

LIZZINGTON

---

With a makeshift plan in place, and all aware of their part in the endeavor, Red retreated to his office. Before joining Lizzy to pack for their excursion, he took a moment to handle last-minute issues needing his attention.

"Yes, we'll be arriving," Red checked his watch, "in about four hours, give or take." He said. "Thank you again for your assistance, Alicia." He graciously extended his gratitude. "We'll see you soon."

Hanging up the phone, Red glanced over his desktop, his attention falling on a stack of bills.

Sitting in his chair, he perused the pile... a smile on his face. Who knew, at some point in his life, he would find something as mundane as handling household bills a high-point in his day?

Yet, here he was writing a check to the lawn crew, happy as he could be.

Why shouldn't he love this? Yes, after bouncing from one safe house to another over the years, it was an oddity, this sense of normalcy... but he was loving every minute of it.

No matter how trivial others may find the task, it meant the world to him he had a home and wife to care for once again.

"Hey, babe?" Liz called out down the hall, her sweet voice catching his interest.

Lifting his head, Red felt his mouth curve into a smile. Well, that was new.

"Yeah, baby." He responded in kind, swiveling his chair towards the woman pushing her way into the office.

"Have you seen..." Liz trailed off, a quizzical look on her face, which was a stark contrast to the look of adoration on Red's. "...What?"

"Nothing," Red pushed from his seat, shrugging. He crossed the space separating them, wrapping his arms about her waist. Maneuvering the woman closer, he kissed her soft mouth. "It's just... you never called me that before."

"Oh," resting her arms over his shoulders, Liz shrugged, her expression a thoughtful one, "yeah, I'm just trying out some stuff, I guess." She glanced up, wincing. "Do you hate it?"

Granted, he was well aware Lizzy had called Tom as much, once upon a time, but he could give a fuck.

Elizabeth was his wife now.

Regardless of the activities of the day, he and Lizzy were in the midst of their honeymoon period.

It was a time for them to explore and find a rhythm all their own, including choice terms of endearment to yell throughout their home.

"I have no complaints, no." Red didn't. He grinned slowly, his eyes twinkling. "...Darling."

Canting her head to one side, Liz's nose scrunched undecidedly. "Ohh, are we going there?"

"...I guess not." Red held his smile, then nodded thoughtfully. "I think I'll save that one for when I'm placating you."

"Oh, good." Liz breathed a sigh of relief.

Chortling, Red kissed her once more. "Now, what was it you wanted, muffin?"

"Have you seen my new suitcase," she asked sweetly, "... smartass."

Gurgling a laugh, Red lifted wry brows. "Would you like to narrow that down for me, as you purchased four new suitcases...love of my life."

Narrowing her eyes, Liz bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. "It's Tiffany blue, with silver buckles."

"Oh, right." Red remembered. As the cases nestled within one another, to save space, he and Joe had done just that. "They're in the large black suitcase, above my ties."

"Why did you do that?" Liz scolded. "You know I can't reach them if they're that high."

"To save space," Red shared his earlier thoughts, "and I assumed I would be there to retrieve them for you when the need arose."

"We need a bigger closet," she sighed her woe before once again canting her head, "maybe a bigger house?"

"Maybe," Red drawled, though didn't discount the idea, "or perhaps we could just store them in one of the multitude of storage spaces we have." He said, offering his own suggestion.

"Oh, who has time for that?" Liz waved off the suggestion. "We need them within reach at a moment's notice," she reasoned. "I mean, we're always on the go, right?"

Offering a placating nod, Red kissed her pink cheeks. "Bigger house it is, then."

"Well, are you gonna come get 'em down for me or what?" Liz waited patiently for Red to do her bidding.

"I will," Red readily offered just as his phone rang, "in just a minute, precious."

Liz looked at the man suspiciously. "Did that sound sarcastic, or was it just me?"

Huffing a laugh, Red turned the woman towards the door, patting her rounded butt. "I'll be along in a minute, sweetheart."

"Uh huh..." Liz gave the man a cross look but left the way she came.

Shaking his head, Red flicked his phone open with a smile. "Hello?"

"I've been thinking." Silas' low baritone caught Red's wandering attention immediately.

"Oh?" Red arched his brow at the unusual greeting.

"Yeah," Silas said. "I think I want the house in the back."

Parking his ass on the edge of his desk, Red pictured the Tudor style home and frowned.

"I mean," Silas continued, "it's not as if you're using it for anything. It's dumb to let it sit there empty and rotting away."

Red turned towards the sound of a low crash, then grumbled cursing. Sighing, he pushed from his perch, heading for his surly, and obviously impatient, wife.

"...Maybe use it for storage." He muttered as he traversed the hall.

"What?" Silas asked, straining to hear Red over the line. "I'm in fucking Russia...speak up, dammit."

"Nothing." Red waved it aside. "You were saying."

"I'll still be on the property," Silas resumed his train of thought, "and well within reach should your wife cause problems, as she is wont to do," he shared his ideas on the matter, "but I'll have my own space, which I need."

"Okay...sure. Yeah, that's fine." Stepping into the closet, Red shook his head woefully at the sight which greeted him.

Rolling his eyes heavenward, he stepped past Lizzy, stopping the cascade of bags from falling atop her head.

"I can put it to use," Silas carried on as though nothing untoward was occurring, "I have things I want to do..."

Giving the woman a reprimand of a glance, Red covered the mouthpiece on his phone. "I said I was coming... darling."

"Oh, darling, is it!" Liz hissed, whipping a fallen sweater off her head. Swiping the hair from her eyes, she scowled up at her husband. "Besides, I didn't see you hurrying along."

"When have I not come," Red stressed the word, "when I said I would."

"Funny..." she mockingly laughed. "Stop fooling around. We're running behind." She whispered stringently. "We're gonna be late."

"We have our own jet," Red whispered back just as waspishly.

"Tell the little woman to pipe down." Silas grumbled, having heard the muffled bitching. "Not everything's about her."

Placing the call on speaker, Red set the phone down on a nearby shelf, relating the message as he reached overhead. "Silas said to pipe down."

"Oh, shut up," Liz groused. "Why aren't you sleeping?" She frowned hard at the phone, hands on hips.

"It's four o'clock in the afternoon..." Silas drawled.

"You should be resting." Liz continued her tirade. "You promised, you welcher! I knew you wouldn't do any of what I asked you to do. I just knew it."

"Why aren't you with Joe?" Silas countered, glancing at his watch to confirm. "You're supposed to be boxing right now."

"Not that it's any of your concern," Liz lifted her pert nose in the air, "but we're bound for Canada in a short while to hunt down a mass murder–"

"McSha, yeah, know all about it, little asswipe." Silas interrupted, his tone acerbic. "And why the hell wouldn't that be my business." He scowled. "Considering my position as your head guard," the man reminded, "I'm alerted to your every movement whether I'm there or not... nitwit."

Cricking his neck, Red remained focused on his task while his wife and head guard got in their tête-à-tête for the day.

"If you're alerted to our every move," Liz challenged, "then why didn't you know about our plans?"

"The Mcsha remark should have alerted you to the fact that I did!" Silas sighed heavily. "I just didn't think it'd take you that fucking long to pack. It's for one night! How much shit do you need?"

"If you must know," Liz stood over the phone, glaring down at the contraption, "I couldn't reach my bag because someone put it out of my reach."

"Dammit, Red," Silas bitched at his friend, "put that shit where she can reach it...what the hell is in your head?"

"Yeah, Red." Liz demanded to know the very same thing. "What's in your head?"

"A lot of nice, hot cream, just for you, buttercup." Red retorted with a sweet smile.

Sighing internally, Red moved the luggage overhead. Throwing his hand out, he hastily stopped all from toppling from their precarious perch. Securing the wayward bags, he silently second-guessed his hasty decision to veto the idea of purchasing another, bigger home.

"However will she run away from home should the urge call," Silas asked, "if you insist on keeping her luggage out of reach?" He finished his statement, saving a speechless Liz a comeback, which he knew she didn't have.

"You wish..." Liz scoffed, rifling through her lingerie drawer. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. It's my goal to stay and make your life a living hell."

"So, what else is new?" Silas grumbled.

Retrieving the requested bags, Red handed them over with a serene smile.

"Bite me..." Liz curled her lip at the corner. Taking the bags, she turned on her heel with a harrumph.

Gently grasping Lizzy's elbow, Red tugged her back into his sphere, nipping the woman's neck playfully.

"Mark a spot." He whispered the enticement.

The short whiskers of Red's five o'clock shadow tickled her flesh, drawing a delighted giggle from Liz's throat. Hitting a sweet spot he knew Lizzy liked, he grinned when the woman suddenly stilled in place and opened herself to his affection.

"Anyway..." Silas heaved a sigh, interrupting the intimate moment, "before I was rudely interrupted."

"I was talking to Red first when you interrupted!" Liz stamped her foot.

"Okay..." Red metaphorically stepped between the two combatants, his hands lifted out at his side in a placating manner. One of which Lizzy hastily picked up on, her eyes narrowing.

"Baby," Red soothed quickly, motioning the woman to the clothes piled in the bedroom, "really, I'll be just a minute."

"You said that last time." Liz reminded haughtily.

"Silas..." Red warned tightly, silencing the guard before the battle of wills could reconvene.

Oddly, the guard stayed quiet.

"Is there anything else on your agenda that needs my attention?" Red asked the woman.

"Well... no." Liz admitted.

Red kissed the woman's pout lovingly. "I promise... I'll be with you posthaste."

Liz calmed as the man tucked his face back in her neckline, nibbling the soft skin.

"As I was saying..." Silas continued, as if no one had even bothered to speak. "I have things I wish to do, and I need room to do them. The house will be perfect for the time being."

"What house?" Liz was all ears.

Lifting his face from the curve of Lizzy's neck, Red glanced at the phone with a frown. "I said, okay."

"What?" Silas snapped.

"Okay to...what?" Liz was all ears and large, vacant eyes.

"Already the meddling housewife, I see." Silas grumbled.

"Silas..." Red sighed his woe. His eyes softened when Lizzy smiled brightly at the offhand descriptor before offering the phone a hard scowl. "Go on, sweetheart." He encouraged with a warm caress to her backside.

"...Okay." Liz mumbled dejectedly but did as asked with one sullen pout directed Red's way as she left. One of which made his cock stir to life.

"I said," Red repeated absently, watching Lizzy's small ass sway as she walked away, "the house is yours."

"When the hell did you say that?" Silas thought back over the meandering conversation, coming up blank.

"When you said..." Red thought back himself, unable to pinpoint the exact moment. "What the hell does it matter? All that matters is I agreed, and the property is yours to do with as you please."

"Oh," Silas' mood eased, "alright then, why didn't you just say so in the first damned place?"

"I confess, I'm stunned you want it." Red voiced his surprise. "I didn't think Tudor was your style."

"It isn't." Silas readily agreed. "It won't be like that for long."

"Well, whatever." Glancing at his watch, Red turned towards his own clothes. "When we land, I'll–"

"Minutes up, eh?" Silas couldn't help give the guy the business in this situation. "You're so fucking whipped."

Grabbing a couple shirts, Red tossed them to the bench behind him.

"Uh huh," Red didn't take the bait. "Why exactly are you wanting this house again?"

"Fuck you..." Silas said before abruptly severing the call.

Grinning, Red pocketed his phone before going off in search of his wife.

---

LIZZINGTON

---

Returning to his seat beside Elizabeth, Red handed the woman her iced tea as he sipped his tumbler of scotch.

"It's not even noon yet." Liz motioned to the liquor in the man's hand.

"Liquid courage." Red muttered aside, earning a humored smile from Samar, and a cross look from his wife. "After dealing with you, Silas, McSha and Francis... I need this."

Jerking upright, Francis squawked his indignation. He lay his Marvel comic aside, ready to be indignantly superior if the need arose. "What did I do?"

"I know you. If you haven't already done something insane," Red knew well enough to never discount Francis contributing to his mental state, "you're thinking about it."

Casting her best-friend a side look, Liz shrugged. "Silas called and got him in a pissy mood." She explained the situation now at hand.

Taking the tumbler from Red's unresisting hand, she sipped the warmed alcohol. "You're right," she licked her lips, "it is settling on the nerves."

"And the soul." Samar went back to her Vogue.

Smiling, Red took the heavy crystal as Lizzy snuggled back against his side.

"As I was saying, you two are only along for the ride if you're needed in an official capacity with the Canadian authorities." Red looked pointedly at Lizzy but included Samar in the mix. "Otherwise, for all our sakes, please do us a favor and stay as far away from McSha as humanly possible at all times."

"You really think McSha's wired a rental cabin?" Samar asked.

"He would wire the inside of his dear old grandmother's coffin, just to discourage grave robbers." Red rested his hand on Lizzy's leg. "An associate told a story that he had visited McSha at his apartment and after he knocked, he could hear Sean rustling around inside for a few minutes. Once he was finally admitted, he found himself surrounded by barrels of explosives that were rigged to blow when the door was opened. Sean had graciously pulled the fuses before entry."

"Bet the guy crapped himself." Liz commented drily. "I know I would have."

"Said he sweat out half his body weight in the five minutes he was there." Red recalled the conversation, chuckling into his glass. "Guy was so afraid any sound he made would set off some explosive device, it took him a good ten minutes to leave the building."

"Red, I don't like this." Liz worried Red's fingers with her own.

"It's all in how you approach the guy, Lizzy." Red muttered. "Trust me, we'll be fine."

Glancing out the window, Red watched the tarmac grow closer until they landed with a smooth glide. Unbuckling their belts, all gathered their bags as Dembe headed for the door.

"You are not agents right now," Red reminded. "You are my wife." He said, lifting Lizzy's hand to his lips for a brief caress, before turning to Samar. "You are my new accountant."

Nodding, Samar accepted her role in the proceedings without complaint.

Red had to admit, he was thankful for that. If this all went well, he was more than interested to see where the relationship between the two women would go. Samar had an amazing sense of humor and did get along with Lizzy, so he hoped she could be trusted to do her part in the upcoming venture.

"And she would be?" Liz motioned to a woman waiting outside. "Another one of your old conquests?" She smiled overly brightly up at the man.

Red licked his lips thoughtfully. "Jealously becomes you, but no." Noting Samar's interest in the exchange, he held his expression.

"Alicia Bennet." Red said, taking hold of Lizzy's carry-on. "She's a trusted associate, but will have questions, I'm sure." He warned his companions. "You ready?"

"Sure..." Liz shrugged carelessly. Since being with Red, she had grown accustomed to thinking fast on her feet.

"Give me a minute to settle nerves," Red suggested, "then put in an appearance." He said, turning to Francis. "Francis, show time..."

Understanding his part to play, Francis swung his bag over his shoulder, ready for his cue.

Bouncing down the stairs, Red walked into the shade of the airplane hangar, smiling warmly at the woman waiting. "Alicia, you're looking well." He held out his hands to take hers into the large enclosure offered.

"Thanks to you." Alicia smiled, kissing Red's cheeks. "Did you make the bastard suffer, Red?"

Though he felt better knowing he inflicted great bodily harm to Edward Costa for his heinous crimes. Nothing would erase the overwhelming guilt he experienced, knowing it happened well after Alicia suffered great pain and torment at the hands of that bastard.

Red's jaw tightened, a seriousness over taking him. "I did." He promised. "Would you like details?"

Longing to hear all about the damage Reddington inflicted, Alicia's steely eyes met his own. "I would, yes. I realize this is hardly the time or place, however."

"I shall do so, in great detail." Red promised, then smiled faintly. "For all I know, this one," he hooked a thumb towards Francis as the man came up behind him, "recorded it."

"It's good to see you again." Francis took Alicia's offered hand, smiling. "You're just not gonna let that go, are you?" He arched a tart brow Red's way before returning his attention to Alicia. "I only recorded a few key moments, and now he's hanging it over my head." He rolled his eyes. "What do you take me for, geeze."

"The reprobate you are." Alicia winked knowingly, kissing Francis' cheeks as well.

"Did you notice how he deflected?" Red strived to lighten the moment further.

"I did." Alicia chuckled. "I'm assuming you will email me a copy of said video when appropriate to do so?" The woman's brow knitted.

"Oh, girl!" Francis was suddenly in his element. "You missed a show, let me tell you!" He hurriedly dug into his pockets for his phone. "I'll give you a preview of up-coming attractions."

"Here we go..." Alicia chuckled merrily as Red muttered his woe.

"This is safe for the workplace, correct?" Alicia teased as Francis hastily scrolled through the hundreds of videos he had taken during the gap between their Vegas and Texas trips.

"The ones he's referencing that include me? Yes, I believe they are." Red offered an apologetic shrug. "I mean, if you aren't bothered by bloodshed, that is."

"Not particularly, no." Alicia admitted.

"I apologize now, however," Red leaned closer, "if they happen to be anything other than that." He gave the boy a cross glance. "Honestly, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to learn he staked out my bedroom at this point." He confided sotto voce. "He's become quite the little voyeur."

"I know it's here somewhere," Francis muttered, flicking his screen impatiently, "give me just a second."

"Francis... Francis," Red attempted to catch the boy's wayward attention as Lizzy finally made her appearance, "the lady said, email it." He suggested. "Or maybe, why not text it to her in the car."

"Yeah," Francis nodded emphatically, "yeah, I'll do that."

"I missed you two," Alicia smiled warmly. "You always could make me smile." She said, then glanced over Red's shoulder as the others in the ensemble began to make their way over.

Perfect timing...

"You already know Dembe, Joe." Red pointed to the men in turn. "I don't think you've met Daniel Courtland or Eric Harper yet?"

"I know of your stellar reputations," Alicia greeted Daniel, holding out her hand to Harper, who moved slowly up from behind the cowboy, a smile on the handsome features.

"Thank you, ma'am." Daniel shook her hand as he tipped his hat. "And I yours."

"I regret, we only met in passing last year." Harper, too, shook her hand.

"We did." Alicia remembered the man, though he seemed different somehow. "New York, right? When Anthony Burke played host to our little... meeting of minds."

Chuckling for the woman's choice of covert phraseology, Harper nodded. "Yes, exactly."

"This is Samar," Red waved a hand towards the woman, "my new accountant."

"I heard about Luli, Red. I am sorry." Alicia genuinely apologized but shook Samar's hand warmly.

"And finally, my beautiful wife, Elizabeth." Red's eyes softened.

"It is a pleasure finally meeting you." Alicia smiled hesitantly at Liz.

"It's so wonderful to meet you!" Liz clasped the woman's hand in hers.

"I hope you'll forgive me for missing the wedding," Alicia expressed her great regret, "but I do hope you received my gift?"

"We did!" Liz gushed. "It is so nice of you to think of us!"

Holding his expression, Red looked innocently at his wife. "Oh? I was unaware we had received anything, love."

"I was sure you were there." Liz thought back. "No, I'm positive you were when I opened the gift."

"In spirit, maybe." He subtly teased, then looked to Alicia to explain the comment. "I was only allowed to watch from afar, mind you."

"Well, of course. It's bad luck for grooms to open gifts." Alicia said as Lizzy nodded emphatically at her side.

Giving Alicia a suspicious look, Red sighed. "Uh, huh. When's the last time you saw Susan Fairfax?"

"Well, I don't know what that has to do with anything," Alicia gave the man a curious look, "but just last month. We always go for lunch and shopping when I'm in Italy."

"Don't mind him," Liz waved a dismissive hand. "He thinks it's all a conspiracy or something."

"Well, why not? It's the story of my life." Red muttered under his breath.

"You just need another drink, honey." Liz consoled the man. "I can hop on board and get you one if you want?" She offered, all too innocently.

So innocently, in fact, Red couldn't quite tell if she was being facetious or not.

"She's just darling, Red." Alicia tittered, having enjoyed the byplay. "However did a grouchy bastard like you land someone so obviously sweet and charming?"

"Persistence, patience," Red gave his wife a wry look when she happily cuddled to his side, "and I give her any damn thing she wants."

"He does." Liz agreed enthusiastically, kissing Red's cheek smartly.

Laughing, Alicia shook her head. It was nice to see Red so happy after all these years. "I have a feeling I'm going to slip into sugar shock with you two around. You're just too damn sweet."

"You get used to it," Francis said cryptically. "Although I keep Sour Patch Kids on hand when it gets too deep."

"Yes, well, I guess I'll just have to take my chances." Alicia waved a hand to a stack of papers behind her. "Let's ward off my diabetic coma and get down to business, shall we? You tell me that Trinity is in my backyard?"

"He is." Red confirmed. "We're not sure what the little Irishman is up to, but we all can safely assume it's no-good, yes?"

"And you have no idea what he's wanting to..."

"Incinerate?" Danny offered a choice description.

"No, we don't know." Red shook his head.

"May I ask why you care?" Alicia had to ask the proverbial question. Normally, when McSha was about, their kind took a holiday away until the danger passed. What was so different this time?

"When Sean McSha has cleared the caches of every supplier around the world, I want to know where I can rest my head at night and not get it blown apart." Red pointed to the men beside him. "Apparently, they feel the same. Don't you?"

"Oh, I do." Alicia admitted. "But McSha will be ready for anything and everything. It's his M.O." the woman reminded. "What makes you think your team can get to him in one piece?"

"We have a plan. Whether it is a viable one, only time will tell." Red acknowledged the threat. "I suppose I could have just walked up to the man and asked him myself, but–"

"Then you'd have to worry about your wife tearing you limb from limb, instead of the bomber guy." Liz scowled.

At his wife's admonishment, Red lolled his head about, giving Alicia a slight smile in reply to any further questions.

Just like that, her whole demeanor altered. While he had always got along with Alicia, there had been some hesitation on her part. Not about finding McSha, but his group's involvement.

Lizzy's honest reaction and his obvious affection for her just saved them a whole evening of securing Alicia's trust.

Of course he wanted to protect his wife and find out where she'd be safe away from McSha's plans. But then, like any wife, Lizzy was afraid for him, thus, he secured help to neutralize the threat.

All those thoughts were plainly expressed on the woman's features, before she gestured to the map laid out. "I've secured the items you requested, and my men have scouted the area."

Walking down the long table, Red looked over the info she had gathered.

"What's the area like, any idea?" Daniel asked.

"It's a campground, like any campground." Alicia tapped the pictures available. "Wooded area, trails... there is an RV park just opposite his rental."

"What about the surrounding rentals?" Red asked. The whole point was to prevent the loss of life. If people were in the nearby cabins and park...

"I've rented them. My people have been playing tourist all day." Alicia assured. "Speaking of which, you don't exactly look like the outdoor type." She motioned to Red's three-piece suit.

Running a hand down the rich linen of his suit, Red lifted an imperialistic chin. "I do have the proper attire." He replied in a snobbish tone, then chuckled.

"I very much doubt that." Alicia teased as she looked over the man's swanky threads. "In any case," she continued, "I secured two massive RVs so you'll fit in... better."

Snickering under her breath, Liz looked between the two, holding her tongue.

"Do I hear doubt in your tone?" Red asked.

"I know you've roughed it in Ecuador and Afghanistan, but that was a few years back, right?" Alicia grinned, then gestured them to follow her.

Coming around the corner, Red nodded his approval when he found what she described sitting there, waiting for their use.

"They're loaded with extra ammo and vests. We also fashioned an area to secure McSha, should you nab him." Alicia gestured to the areas of interest. "I would make a store run for food and other needed supplies, as it's a forty-five-minute drive back into town."

"Won't it look odd that they're the same?" Liz asked, gesturing to the vehicles.

"No, not really." Red shrugged. "If we arrive together and interact, he'll just assume we're friends who went on a camping trip together."

"With two women?" Samar mentioned the anomaly.

"I didn't expect you to be so sexist about women going camping, Samar." Red jested, before he continued, motioning to the extravagant setup. "Honestly, your presence just reinforces the reason for the RV's."

"Speaking of sexist." Liz grumbled, pinching Red's side. "I'll have you know," she reprimanded the man, "I went tent camping all the time when–"

"Yes, darling," Red... placated, "I know."

"Don't think I don't know you're placating me." Liz shifted narrowed eyes.

"As much as I would love to pitch a tent and rough it in the wild with you," Red allowed the woman to take that however she wished, "I'd like to be in and out as quick as possible, so that–" he paused for the purely unintentional, and defaming, innuendo.

"Was it just me, or was everything he said loaded with sexual innuendo?" Liz questioned.

"No, it was just you." Francis managed, tongue-in-cheek.

Daniel and Harper laughed quietly but held their tongues.

"Oh, dear," Alicia frowned sadly, offering Lizzy's hand a consoling pat, "you're missing your honeymoon because of this, aren't you?"

"Yes," Liz's expression fell, "but Red's promised we'll go after we address this problem."

"Of course you will," Alicia assured politely.

"Anyway..." Red refocused their attention. "There is a problem I've been meaning to address. Samar, unless it makes you uncomfortable, you should pair up with one of the men. An odd woman out just might arouse suspicion. Don't want McSha noting anything out of the norm."

"You're not leaving me behind, Reddington." Samar warned.

"She's with me." Francis sauntered up, his hand curving to Samar's svelte waist in a rather territorial way. "I'll be her Wolverine from this moment on. I'll protect her with my life. I will gladly suffer any and all–"

"We get it, freak of nature." Red nodded his satisfaction. "If the lady is willing?"

Samar lay her head on Francis' shoulder, a knowing smile on her face. "My fur baby is an extension of my body from this moment on."

"Oh, yeah?" Francis moved decidedly closer, attempting to look down the silk blouse the woman sported. "Mi cuerpo es tu cuerpo, si?"

"We'll talk." Samar assured the man. "I imagine he can be most convincin–" She broke off, for Francis' mouth was suddenly placed against her own. She snorted her amusement when he deepened the kiss and dipped her back into a romantic sweep, resting her against his thigh.

Pulling back unexpectedly, Francis broke the slight suction, creating a loud smacking sound in the still air. Samar blinked her disorientation up to the smiling face.

"We're a match made in Heaven." Francis hastily righted the woman before slinging his arm casually around her shoulders and snuggling her close to his side.

Sighing, Red shook his head but shrugged, for the problem was solved. "Okay, with that taken care of, perhaps we should grab our things and get moving. Get the lay of the land."

"Ma'am," a man approached Alicia, motioning to his watch, "your appointment."

"Right, yes." Alicia gasped. "Thank you, William. I'll be right there." She assured. "Well, if you need anything else, just let me know."

"We will." Red said, kissing her cheeks once more. "Thank you for the assist."

"Be safe..." Alicia said, then took her leave.

Splitting into groups, all stowed their gear on the respective transport.

"You copy?" Red keyed a walkie-talkie in his hand.

"Loud and clear." Daniel replied. "I'll take lead."

Watching the large vehicle lumber forward, Red slowly followed suit.

"I didn't know you could drive one of these things." Liz voiced her surprise.

"It's been a while," Red admitted. Glancing in his side mirror, he watched the rear end turn about and clear the corner curb without issue. "Seems alright, though. What do you think, Dembe?"

"I think I should drive." Dembe's stoic features were alarmed slightly as he, too, had watched the rear end of the RV with much trepidation.

"Piece of cake." Red waved a dismissive hand, refocusing on the road ahead.

"Where are we going?" Francis asked, leaning on the passenger seat.

"First, we're hitting the store." Red replied, pointing to a grocer just down the way. "We'll need food, and apparently beer." He nodded sagely. "Beer on a camping trip is the essential according to any and all commercials I've ever seen."

"We get to drink on these cases?" Francis perked up considerably.

"We get to do whatever we want." Red said. "Besides, it would seem odd if we didn't imbibe. Just keep in mind, you're up against a world class explosive expert and ask yourself...just how many Coors equate one too many where such a man is concerned."

"You take the fun out of everything, you know that?" Francis was getting depressed.

Pulling into the back lot of the store, Red slid the sleek RV alongside Daniel's, placing the vehicle in park.

Splitting off in the store, all gathered the required items, plus some, before getting back on the road for the almost hour drive.

Sitting in the seat beside Red, Liz looked on in wonder at the towering trees dotting the mountainous terrain.

"How long do you think we might be here?" Liz asked, awed by the beauty before her.

"Sean had booked for three days." Red reminded. "The teams in place have seen movement, but he has yet to venture out." He said. "I'm assuming he'll require supplies or leave tomorrow as planned."

Sighing her disappointment, Liz shrugged. "So, what's our plan?"

"The boys plan to go for a hike, check out the terrain and hopefully touch base with Alicia's people." Red informed her of the plan in place at that time. "When night falls, we'll swap out watching the place. We can't risk approaching the cabin. The idea time to strike is when he's out in the open."

"And what shift are we taking?" Liz wanted to know.

"The four of us are off the hook." Red motioned to the passengers in the back. "I'm far too important to risk my life...and I won't allow you to risk yours."

"That's horrible." Liz tsked, nudging his shoulder. "We're no different than–"

"Settle down." He grinned. "I was teasing. But Dembe said, quite rudely and right to my face, I would slow the teams down. I'm going to fire his superior ass one of these days, mark my word."

"You are not." Liz breathed easier. "And he's right. If these are military types, and I know they are, they're in much better shape than either of us." She grumbled. "I've done nothing but sit on my fat ass, as Silas pointed out, quite rudely as well... and to my face...for months now."

"Your ass looks fine to me." Red held his amusement for his friend's audacity. "You've been injured. You'll get back in the swing of things soon enough. Enjoy your down time."

"That's the trouble, I am enjoying it." The woman sat in the seat beside the man. "You've spoiled me rotten."

"Silas again?" He chanced a glance her way before returning to the beauty of the drive.

"Yeah." The woman checked the mammoth side mirror. No one was even close to their vehicle, the road clear for as far back as she could see. "You can fire his smarmy ass if you want, but not Dembe."

Red chuckled. "I'd be lost without Silas, and so would you."

Liz rolled her eyes. "He's not resting. We both know he's not resting."

"He has something on his mind." Red straightened slightly, shifting his bottom. "He'll figure it out. And he is resting." He corrected the misconception. "I've told David to slip a sleeping pill into his beer at night."

"You didn't." Liz's mouth dropped. "Red, that's dangerous. Mixing pills and–"

"Silas' constitution is that of a bull moose." Red chuckled. "Some woman down in Tijuana tried to slip shit into his drink, which she managed to do. He didn't even notice."

"How do you know?" She was slightly alarmed. "And if you did know, why didn't you warn him?"

"Had my hands full, but I saw it and I told him." Red placated. "Right after the incident."

"Too little, too late, Red!" Liz gasped.

"Nah." He crinkled his nose. "He made her tell him what the pill was and the dosage, then laughed in her face for the effort."

Liz sat, stunned.

"We watched him carefully and would have gotten him to a hospital if necessary." Red defended the action he had not taken. "He was fine. Didn't even fall asleep, but the rest of us did...sometime later."

Liz shook her head woefully. "You ran with horrible people back then!"

Red cut her a look. "Hate to break it to you, but it's the same people I'm running with these days."

Liz's mouth dropped again. She held up her hands, wiping them of the entire escapade, clearly.

"What are our sleeping arrangements?" Liz hoped beyond hope Red with be with her in the back bedroom. Considering the circumstances, she wondered if he would simply stay up all night.

"I know what mine are." Red gave the woman a scolding look for having even assumed he wouldn't sleep with her. "Francis?"

Francis came to the front, leaning over Lizzy's chair. "Yep?"

"Have you worked out sleeping arrangements yet?" Red wanted to know.

"If you're asking if I'm sleeping in the extra bedroom with the saucy brunette, yes, I am. She insists. Says it's stupid for one of us to take the couch out here." Francis replied with a smile, then sobered. "Says we're all adults and can share a sleeping unit without incident. Little does she know, I'm nineteen at heart."

Liz rolled expressive eyes. "You better not try anything. She'll hurt you... badly."

"I'm counting on it, sister." Francis sobered a tad. "Unless we're taking shifts watching Sean."

Explaining what he told Liz, Red glanced at the young man questioningly. "So, unless you'd like to offer your services–"

"Hell, no." Francis scoffed at the very idea. "Did I not just mention, sleeping with the saucy brunette?"

"I have a question." Samar came up beside Francis.

"Yes, I sleep in the nude. You?" Francis fell into his easy camaraderie with the woman.

"I do, yes." Samar cast a cool glance the man's way. "What's it to you?"

Francis beamed in Red's direction. "She sleeps in the nude, Red."

"I heard." Red sing-songed his head. "Did you hear the, what's it to you, bit?"

"My Persian princess just needs to be warmed up." Francis was certain.

Shaking her head, Samar drew in a cleansing breath and continued on. "But that wasn't my question. Doesn't McSha know who you guys are?"

"He might recognize me, yes." Red didn't discount the possibility. "Though, I would like to mention, aside from Daniel, we're not normally considered the camping type. He shouldn't expect to see me, so like as not...even if he does, his mind will gloss over the fact. I couldn't possibly be out here in the forest, rummaging about for the simple fact, I'm Red Reddington."

"You think he'd pass it off as a coincidence then," Samar surmised, "if he saw you."

Francis shared his thoughts. "If someone told me they saw Red Reddington camping... I'd think they were bullshitting me to the max."

"You know more than I do. I just thought I should ask." Samar conceded.

"Regardless of who we are," Red assured, "we do know how to keep a low profile."

"Darling, what side of the bed do you want?" Francis asked Samar adoringly.

"Some of us anyway..." Red sighed at the boy's less than subtle ways.

"Settle down Sparky or you'll find yourself out in the cold with only a blanket for comfort and warmth." Samar warned sweetly.

Pulling into the large campgrounds, Red backed into a space marked for them by Alicia's people.

"You're sure none of these people are civilians?" Liz scoured the campsites scattered throughout the grounds.

"I'm positive," Red confirmed before pushing from his seat. Grabbing the radio, he quickly made contact with the bus beside theirs. "We're going to set up," he told Daniel. "Meet you outside soon."

"Copy." Daniel replied lackadaisically. "Sure you even know how to set up a camp, city boy?"

"No, but Dembe does." Red crooked his head to locate the guy. "Don't you Dembe."

"You drove the vehicle...you set up the camp." Dembe advised, all too moodily.

"Didn't get a chance to see Hannah before our departure, hum?" Red assumed, given Dembe's sour mood.

Setting his jaw, Dembe held Red's eyes willfully.

Smirking, Red briskly rubbed his hands together. "Haven't done this in a while, but I'm sure it's like riding a bike."

"Why don't you two get changed," he gestured to Liz and Samar, "and we'll start setting up."

"Why don't you, city boy?" Liz glanced at his own attire. She and Samar slipped into their respective bedrooms, changing into tank tops, shorts and tennis shoes.

Emerging from their rooms, Liz was surprised to find all the food missing. More startling, an entirely different man stood just down the stairs of the camper, smiling up at her.

"It's all outside," Red smiled, holding up a box of matches. "I'm going to barbeque something. I don't care what." He proclaimed. "Oh, if you happen to find any sheets, let me know."

Glancing through a host of pantries, Liz finally stumbled over a fully stocked cabinet. She couldn't quite get the image of Red Reddington minus his business suit and vest out of her mind. Her brain couldn't quite assimilate what she had just seen down there, at the bottom of those stairs.

"Samar," Liz handed over a soft pair of sheets, "here's some towels and stuff as well." She motioned to the opened panels behind her. "We're fully stocked, it appears. That Alicia woman seems very efficient, doesn't she?"

"Wonder how far that adjective goes with her?" Samar sensed the slight jealousy the other woman was experiencing. "Not to worry, Liz. He's got eyes only for you."

Liz grimaced but had no time for a reply as Red, himself, sauntered down the narrow corridor which housed the pantry even now.

Looking the man over, head to toe, Liz's mouth gaped wide at the vision set before her. Yeah, he still looked just as good... no... even better up close and personal, so to speak.

The dark denim jeans he wore cupped the impressive bulge in his pants to perfection, showcasing the cock she loved in the very best possible light. Hiking boots added a virile quality not there before.

Slowly lifting her attention upward, she studied the form-fitting Henley highlighting the man's muscled arms and pectoral. The buttons of the dark-grey shirt were open at the neck, allowing her a mouth-watering view of the wealth of hair covering his hard chest.

The gleaming shimmer of his watch drew her attention to the muscles in his forearm flexing and bulging just so as he braced his arm above her head on the door facing.

Good god, if the man wasn't sexy enough in his three-piece suits, now he had to come out looking like a fucking pussy magnet straight out of Modern Huntsman.

Inhaling a shaky breath, Liz fixated on the man's wedding ring as he adjusted the buckle of his belt above the pronounced curvature of his–

"They say clothing makes the man." Samar chuckled, having noted Liz's reaction. "I guess they know what they're talking about, hum?"

"I-I'm fine..." Liz exhaled a tremulous breath.

"Then close your mouth." Samar grinned as she passed. "You're ogling."

"What are you women talking about?" Red had half-listened to the ensuing conversation. "I need to find some spices. Guess I'll go explore the kitchen to...oh, you found the sheets. I thought we were going to have to rough it tonight."

The man was oblivious to Lizzy's state of being, gesturing to the objects in her hand.

"Uh, yeah..." Liz lifted them as proof. "We should, uh, make the bed, don't you think?"

"What about my meat?" Red hooked a thumb back the way he had came.

Samar's laughter rang down the hall of the R.V.

"What's her problem?" Red chuckled as well, the sound having amused him. "Did I say something funny?"

"Eh." Liz blinked slowly up into those blue eyes. "No, not...funny, per se." She shook her head minutely. "Can you help me out?" She motioned to the back room behind her, tugging the man by the hand.

"I live to serve." He followed agreeably, smiling down at the dour little face. "Something wrong?"

Once inside the room, he glanced around. "Not very big is it." He squinched up his nose, measuring the depth and width of the room.

The air rushed from his lungs as his back hit the wall seconds before Lizzy's mouth eagerly connected with his own. Chuckling for the unexpected attack, Red welcomed the onslaught with welcome arms.

"Well, hello little camper girl." He crooned directly into Lizzy's parted mouth, his breath fresh and clean, for he had just partaken of a bowl of fresh berries Francis had purchased at the country store.

Fresh air made him hungry for more things than berries. Apparently, it might be affecting his new wife in the same manner.

"I like you all eager and willing." He teased, the tip of his tongue flicking hers sensually. "You are eager and willing, right?" He asked, glancing down the slope of those amazing breasts pressed so intimately to his chest. "What's brought this on? Not that I'm questioning anything. Just curious, so I know how to repeat such an occurrence."

Kissing the already swollen mouth with wild abandon, Liz slipped her tongue between the man's lips, deepening the already feverish kiss. "I-I like you in jeans." She stammered breathlessly.

"Then I'll make a point of wearing them more often." His mouth traveled a scorching trail down her neckline. "I like you in jeans as well," he glanced down at the tiny jean shorts she wore, "but I like you out of them more."

Knocking the sheets from her hands, Red pulled the woman flush against his body, threading his thick fingers under the heavy waves of her hair. Moaning her approval, Liz willingly submitted to the man's every whim.

Pushing Lizzy flush against the wall, Red rubbed his pelvis against her mound. "You're going to have to be a good little camper for a few moments. Think you can do that for me?"

"W-What?" She floundered, for his hands were anything but idle.

Shoving his way under the snug cotton of her shirt, his hand cupped her full breast, circling and pinching the tiny areola with his fingertips.

"We aren't exactly alone," his roughened voice rasped. Palming her ass, he pulled her flush against his body, grinding his growing erection against her pelvis. "Do you know how many people are just outside this vehicle?" His hot breath beat heavily against her heated flesh.

"You're so fucking hot..." Liz panted breathlessly. Lifting to her toes, she wrapped her arms tight about his neck, capturing his mouth once more.

Huffing his amusement, Red leaned into the affection, rather enjoying the passionate exchange.

"I want you to fuck me." She whispered her desperation. "I want to come on you."

Yanking the button at her waist, Red parted the zipper with ease. Sneaking his hand beneath the woman's panties, he wasted no time slipping his fingers along her already swollen clit. "Well, it's true enough. You are nice and wet for just such an occasion."

Clamping his hand gently over her mouth, Red muffled the woman's sharp, raw moan.

"Quiet!" He growled the command. Gasping her arousal, Lizzy stilled, her brow furrowing as she attempted to obey.

Grabbing the small jean shorts at Lizzy's waist, he worked them down over her hips until her swollen vulva came into view.

"Spread your legs..." he whispered the directive roughly in her ear. In seconds, he felt the woman spread her legs in response, opening for him. "That's my good little girl..." he moaned lowly, grunting his growing arousal. "You're making me all hard and achy, aren't you."

Parting her slick succulent lips with gentle fingers, Red circled the hood of her sex, slowly increasing the pressure on the tiny nub.

"You like that, don't you." He muttered tightly. Sliding his middle finger into the tight cavern slowly brought a most positive response. "I'm going to remove my hand." He thrust slowly in and out of her slick warmth, ignoring the whimpers of delight the action produced. "You keep very quiet now...don't disappoint me."

Red's eyes lit when he saw the uncertainty in her own.

"I know you can do this for me..." he encouraged quietly, slowly dropping his hand away from her mouth.

Cupping her breast in hand, Red stroked a teasing thumb against her tightening nipple, increasing the humidity between her legs. Lizzy groaned piteously, arching to the administrations.

"Shh," he whispered, yanking the shirt upward, exposing her bared breast. Drawing the small crinkle into his mouth, he suckled the coral tip in rhythm with his fingers' movement.

Gingerly sliding yet another finger inside the heated sheath of her body, he stroked the drenched slot with increased urgency.

"This hot little pussy is mine, isn't it." Red warmed to his task. "This feels so good, doesn't it. I love this, baby...stop squirming...shhh."

Tightening her grasp on the man, Liz jerked a tight nod in response, biting into the man's shoulder to stifle her joy.

"That's right," Red crooned, "it's mine, to do with as I please." He glanced down at his efforts. "Look how responsive it is to my touch." He said of the glistening moisture coating his fingers.

A pitiful whine worked its way from her throat as the man eased free of her body, only to gasp her relief a moment later when she felt an increased width of Red's fingers spread her wide.

Even as wide as his fingers spread her body, they paled in comparison to the thickness of the man's erection. Though her body screamed to feel that width, her mind tilted on its axis, knowing Red's fingers were deep in her core, enticing her to come.

Red groaned himself as his thick fingers eased effortlessly into the hot, creamy sheath.

"I'm gonna slip my cock inside this sweet little hole," Red imagined the vision plainly, "and fuck it until I come."

The woman's body quivered helplessly around his fingers, tugging and pulling them deeper into the hot abyss... a telltale sign she was close. As was the torrent of cream spilling from her body.

"You like that idea, don't you." Red nipped her nipple with his teeth. "Taking my come inside you..."

"Yes..." Liz hissed, rocking hard against the hand pleasuring her. "I love it..."

"I love when you come." Red told the truth. "Feeling you falling apart around me, drowning me in your essence." He breathed, stroking her faster. "There's nothing like it in the world, seeing the shimmer of your come on my cock."

Imagining the picture he painted, Liz mewled her desperation.

"Let me feel you come..." the deepened voice urged, his own willpower crumbling.

The tight cavern rippled along his fingers, tightening with each breath she took. "Don't make me fucking discipline you, Elizabeth." The man growled a pseudo warning.

"Oh... shit..." she exhaled shakily, her body reacting of its own volition to such a masterful vow.

Glancing down, Liz's breath caught and held as she watched the muscles in his forearm ripple with his hurried movement. The wide spread of his fingers stroking her core beckoned her to come and come hard.

"Fucking come," Red encouraged, "or I swear to God, I'll take you over my knee and spank your pussy until it obeys me."

"Fuck..." Liz whispered sacredly as her body responded to his commands, "...God, I love you."

Hastily capturing the woman's mouth with his own, Red swallowed her muffled cries of release.

Slowing his movements, Red pressed against her clit hard and held it until the woman trembled against him, her body finding its path to the passion of release.

"That's good..." he crooned against her panting mouth, "show me how good it feels."

Hastily wrapping his arm about her waist, Red took her slight weight as she sagged against him, resting her head under his chin.

Tucking his face into her neckline, Red kissed her fragrant flesh until she weakly raised her head.

"Feel better?" Red murmured, kissing her rosy cheeks. Stroking her long hair, he smiled when the woman all but purred her contentment.

"Um hmm," she mewed happily.

Slowly easing his hand free, Red grunted quietly as he felt the cool air hit the thick slick coating his hand. Holding the woman's eyes steadily, Lizzy mewed quietly as he drew his fingers into his mouth, suckling away the sweet nectar she gifted.

Closing his eyes, Red savored the essence of Lizzy on his tongue for some few long moments, sighing his contentment.

Focusing his darkened gaze, Red tenderly kissed the swollen pout of Lizzy's mouth. "I love you..."

Maneuvering the woman about, Red guided her back into a comfortable chair. "You bask...I'll make the bed."

Stretching her limber muscles, Liz frowned sullenly. "...But..."

The man's eyes met hers, his own issuing a confident challenge. "Yes?"

"I...I thought..." she trailed away, slightly embarrassed. She could hear the others outside the RV talking and laughing, going about their business.

She watched as the man casually walked to the basin, cleansing his hands, his eyes meeting hers in the small vanity mirror over the area. His smile grew, the glint in his eyes making her blush slightly.

"What did you think?" He prompted teasingly.

Liz had no ready reply, for she thought it was self-explanatory.

The man turned about, drying his hands absently, his gaze gentle on her expressive face. He crossed, having tossed the drying cloth back on the sink's edge. He made his way to the bed, his thoughts private and very nice ones.

Red unfurled the bottom sheet. "Oh, I plan to nail your little pussy, have no doubt about that," he said, tucking the corner tight, "but... later." He lifted amused eyes.

The woman's frown of disappointment increased.

"You and I both know, if I fuck you now," Red explained his reasons, "we'll be interrupted... and that's the last damn thing I want." Settling the top sheet in place, he added the blanket before turning the bed back.

Placing the pillows on the bed, Red lifted Lizzy from her seat, hugging her close. "No, we're waiting until I can give you my undivided attention." He decided, then shrugged. "Besides, I enjoy the anticipation of never knowing when that moment might present itself."

"You'll let me know," Liz murmured softly, "though...won't you?"

"You'll be the very first." Red assured, his kiss promising so much more than his words were saying.

---

LIZZINGTON

---

Silas allowed his eyes to adjust to the darker atmosphere of the bar. It was a small joint off the main drag of the city, tucked away between two older buildings which now housed government type apartments.

"Wow, I've seen better places." David quipped, having just shoved a drunk out of his walking space as the man stumbled into his shoulder upon passing.

"Reminds me of Highbridge, the Bronx." Justin's smile was contagions, he was clearly in his element. He grabbed a blonde as he passed, planting a kiss on her lips. If her male companion objected, he didn't let on.

All three men moved on through the blaring, rhythmic music coming from the old jukebox in the corner to their right. Several young women at various tables throughout the area smiled brightly when eye met eye.

Silas sighed mentally, pulling Justin away from one table as he had made himself comfortable with another blonde, but this blonde's companion did not take to the gesture at all. Silas grasped Justin's collar, hauling his ass to the long bar just meters away.

The young man shrugged helplessly at his little female friend, then settled down on a stool next to David.

"Knock it off, man. The last thing he needs is to get into a scuffle, you idiot." David hissed at his counterpoint. "What the hell are you thinking?"

"Oh...yeah." Justin remembered their role in the larger scheme of things. "Sorry, dude." He grimaced his apology, really settling down. He smiled politely over to a scowling Silas.

"What the hell are you up to, freak." Silas demanded to know.

"Nothing, man...settling down here, see?" Justin showed his very quiet manner. "Having a beer and settling down, that's what I'm up to. Nothing else."

Silas would have pursued the matter, but three other gentlemen caught his own attention. They stood across the bar, toward the sectioned off decorative screens, behind which much ado was taking place, Silas knew from experience.

This bar was an all-service one. A man could find any number of pleasures behind those decorative screens if he had enough rubles.

These three gentlemen were perusing Silas and his companions with a certain scrutiny which boded ill if expressions were any criteria by which to judge.

Silas met stare for stare and in the end, it was the three who chose to look away discretely.

Letting it go, Silas found a seat himself. He straddled the stool, motioning for the bartender. The man came and orders were placed. "I am to meet a friend. Vadik." He spoke fluent Russian.

The bartender motioned to the decorative curtains, then placed the drinks before them.

Silas lay a fifty on the bar...American currency. "Can you let him know we are here?"

The bartender took the cash and left his post...posthaste.

"You shouldn't be here." David reminded for the hundredth time, glancing about the atmosphere. "You shouldn't be meeting Vadik, and you shouldn't be getting his ass out of whatever scrape he's got himself into this time and you know it, Silas."

Sipping his cool drink, Silas fell silent, searching out the three men who first caught his interest, but they seemed to have blended into the multitude of the crowd in this dingy place.

"Silas...my brother!" Vadik's cheerful greeting dampened the larger man's enthusiasm even more than this place.

Silas arose, offering the official return as expected, though. "Vadik, it's been a long time."

"Not long enough." David offered his own greeting a little less warm.

"You have been to see Anya, yes?" Vadik chose to ignore the jibe. "I keep her grave beautiful, just like you say."

Silas side-stepped the question. "I wanted to see you first." He had noted another man accompanied the younger, and now stood off to the side, waiting. For what, Silas could only imagine. "Who's your friend."

"Ah, Nikolai." Vadik cut amused eyes to the man. "He did not believe me when I said I had friends coming that would assist me in...well, let us just say, I am in a little bit of a pickle. Is that the American slang?"

"Friends with many rubles." Nikolai stepped forward, his tone implying a debt owed, as did the unfriendly expression.

Silas transferred a steady gaze.

"We are family, Silas." Vadik spread his hands, his own expression a pleading one. "Just this one time, my brother. I overextended myself at the table, but it is such a paltry sum between my sister's husband and myself, yes?"

Silas merely looked down at the man, his thoughts private.

"It is only eighteen thousand rubles. Nothing in your country, correct? I will pay you back as soon as I can." Vadik continued. "Nikolai is impatient. He refuses to honor my marker."

"It's not the money." Silas had realized long ago. "This has to stop now, Vadik. It has to end."

"What are you saying?" The young man was becoming belligerent, as was his way when he didn't get his way. "It is always the money with you. Anya always said it meant more to you than family. Even her at times."

Silas shifted a cold stare. "Leave her out of this."

Vadik stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You don't understand. Nikolai will not take a refusal to pay lightly. He has dangerous associates, Silas." The young man's eyes showed his rising fear. "You have to help me this time. You have to!"

Silas merely stared at the man.

"My life is in danger." Vadik hissed. "You don't seem to understand that fact."

Silas reached inside his leather jacket, producing the money. He handed it to Nikolai, who counted it, then walked away with but one lethal look in Vadik's direction.

Vadik breathed easier. "I knew you would not let me down...or Anya." The man kissed a medallion hanging about his neck from a silver chain, having brought it to his lips. "She watches over me."

Silas' eyes hardened. "This is the last time." He turned to face the kid. "Do I make myself clear, Vadik? I won't be coming back here. Not after this trip."

"You will always come back to Anya." Vadik laughed derisively. "She is in your blood."

"She is, but she is gone, and I have to move forward with my life."

"You have never been able to do so before, my brother." The word sounded somehow insulting now, at least to David's ears. He just wanted to smash that gloating face in for Silas because he knew...Silas would never raise a hand to the boy.

"...I will not be back here." Silas stated succinctly. "So, the next time you call? I won't pick up the phone. Are you hearing the words I am saying to you? Are you understanding them?"

"You will pick up the phone because you know Anya would never forgive you if you allowed something to happen to me. Never!"

Silas simply paid the tab and walked out of the bar. David and Justin in tow.

David grasped the front of Vadik's shirt as he passed, pulling the boy up close and personal. "I won't let him answer the fucking phone. I'll make sure he never even knows you called, you stupid punk."

The dark eyes danced with a warning. "So the next time you get your dick in trouble? I hope someone cuts it off for you." He pushed the man away with open disdain. "Anya would be ashamed of what you have become." He hissed. "It would make her sick to her stomach to see you as you really are."

Silas walked slowly to the waiting vehicle, his thoughts his own. He pulled up short, just beyond the front of the car, his eyes closing. He breathed in fresh air, exhaling the pent up tension in his body.

"He's right." He bowed his head, speaking the hopelessness descending. "She wouldn't forgive me...not ever."

"Then she's changed." David snapped. "She would beat the fuck out of him, Silas, and you know as much...if she could see him as we do."

"She was never able to see him as anything but her little brother." Silas snapped back, but David knew he wasn't angry with him, only the circumstances surrounding the entire debacle facing the man. "I tried to tell her. She didn't want to know."

"She has to know now," Justin softly proclaimed. "She's with God and there are no lies with him...are there."

Silas rubbed his eyes wearily. "I...this was a mistake." He sought out the bar. "I thought..."

"No, this was no mistake, Silas." David disagreed vehemently. "This was the right thing to do, finally! You've taken the step now...don't look back, man. It's the right thing. He needs to grow the hell up. Maybe a good beating or two will do the trick. He's been protected and babied by first, Anya, now you."

"A beating I could take." Silas could. "But those fuckers he's messing with? You know that type." Grey eyes lifted with a solid stare. "Tell me I'm wrong."

David swallowed uneasily. "Yeah, they're bad news. But you got to back off, man. You got to let things go the way they're going to go. You'll never be free otherwise."

"And one day, he'll get you killed." Justin stated quietly. "You sense it, don't you."

Silas remained silent for a beat. "Maybe that's a good thing. I would be with... her."

Justin was speechless. "Do you think that's what Anya would want?"

"What about us?" David was incredulous. "What about Red? What about Liz and Dembe?" His anger intensified. "Are you saying that fucker is worth our pain? You think we wouldn't miss the hell out of you? What the fuck, Silas!"

David turned stalking away.

Justin was torn. "If that's what you really want, Silas. Who are we to deny you?" He stated sadly. "If it's what you really want. But I'll be fucked if I want it." His head shook woefully.

Justin got in the car, needing the solitude of silence for a while.

Silas stood, his emotions raw...his mind chaotic and undisciplined for once. He had no answers yet. He needed to talk to Samar. He needed it desperately.

He walked around the vehicle, climbing in. "Let's go find the idiot." He motioned for Justin to start the car. "He'll get himself beat to hell in a neighborhood like this."

Justin fired the engine to life, moving the car down the dark street slowly.

"Fucking idiot." Silas grinned at the folly of David Russo. "What the hell kind of dramatic gesture was that? He's not in Kansas anymore, after all."

Justin nodded sagely. "He's not even in the same climate zone."

---

LIZZINGTON

---

An awning had been unfurled from the side of the RV. They had confiscated a picnic table from the nearby camping site. The better quality paper plates were stacked, ready to grab. Plastic utensils waited in colorful containers. Some inventive person had fashioned an ice bucket out of two five gallon unused pails. Beer cans gleamed in the mid-day sun in the crisp, sparkling cubes.

All the trimmings of a fine repast were being set up on the weathered wood surface. Samar had placed a colorful tablecloth over the worn wood.

Plastic containers of potato salad and coleslaw, bags of chips and packages of buns were being kept fresh and cool, for they were sitting in and atop ice coolers which dotted the landscape here and there.

Dembe had fired the grill up; steaks, hotdogs and burgers were already sizzling over the grated top.

Red offered Dembe a nod of acknowledgment. "I'm going to give you a raise."

"Not before you do, Silas, you're not." Dembe reminded of the status quo amid the ranks these days, plus, he had no desire to hear the man's non-stop bitching. "No movement from our friend as yet. Curtains are drawn, and all is quiet for the time being."

Red smiled pleasantly. "Well, isn't he just the anti-social one." The man glanced around the camp area. People were talking and laughing and doing their parts. But he knew each man's true attention was on that log cabin over there.

"I love your outfits." Liz teased the men, having noted the fatigues and heavy boots each had chosen to don for the occasion. "Add an orange vest and those deer don't stand a chance."

"Is it deer hunting season?" Daniel was confused. "That's in the fall down home in Texas."

"Wouldn't it be moose up here?" Joe was confused.

"Yeah, cause everyone knows, the deer don't have a visa to cross over into Canada." Daniel joked.

"Hell, I don't kill animals. What have they ever done to me that I would?" Joe wanted to know, then shrugged. "I mean, unless I'm starving... which, I guess, I am." His brow furrowed thoughtfully.

"You're not really going to kill a deer, though. Right?" Samar was curious, gesturing to the meat cooking on the grill.

"You're a Mossad agent." Daniel made mention. "The thought of killing a deer troubles you?"

"The thought of killing anything troubles me." Samar scowled darkly over.

"There's always some sort of hunting season, especially up here. Even if it ain't exactly legal." Joe said. "Though, a lot of guys wear this stuff cause they're comfortable and easy to dry out if you fall in the lake."

"Do you fall into lakes frequently?" Liz held her grin.

"Get pushed in a lot." Joe admitted as he watched Red hookup a water line to the RV. Stepping forward, he unfurled a cord and held it aloft.

Taking the line handed him, Red hooked the RV up to the power available. "All the comforts of home."

"I don't get it?" Francis screwed up his face, pulling out the built-in table from the side of the RV. "You wear camo to hide, then slap on a neon orange vest. Do you think the deer won't see it?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing, glancing the guy's way for a beat. No one thought to comment one way or another though because...it was Francis, after all.

Snorting, Red leaned his head against the cool metal of the RV, shaking it woefully. He opened a couple of doors on the side, checking out the interiors after a beat, then moved on.

"We're going to check out the area." Harper cast a scowled frown Francis' way, but he let the remark pass unchallenged. "Anyone coming along for the ride?"

"I'm in." Daniel was a pro-active kind of guy.

"No, you guys go ahead. I'm going to stay here and watch Dembe make the food." Red quipped. "When it's ready, I'll have Dembe whistle." He cast his friend a shit-eating grin.

Dembe rolled expressive eyes, turning the steaks over on the grill.

"Why didn't you tell us that table was there?" Daniel inquired politely of Francis Holbrook.

"Yes, it was so much fun lugging that heavy ass picnic one over." Harper sighed heavily.

"Oh, yeah." Francis glanced at the table he had produced as if by magic. "I forgot it was there, until just now, actually."

"You forgot it was there." Daniel nodded sagely. "Just slipped your mind, did it?"

"Don't bust my chops." Francis snapped. "It's not my fault you didn't read the brochure. And anyway, we needed the seats." He reasoned, motioning to the picnic table.

Shifting his attention towards Harper, Daniel shrugged, for Francis was correct. No one in his RV had read the brochure which listed its amenities.

"Besides, I've got a lot of things on my mind of late." Francis frowned.

"Like a cute little brunette Mossad Agent?" Harper asked sotto voce, each man glancing Samar's way.

"Well...yeah, but what about Missy?" Francis was feeling acutely guilty since about an hour back. "I have her on my mind too, you know."

"No, we didn't, actually." Daniel told the truth. "Seems she's pretty much fell by the wayside of late."

"No." Francis was clearly confused. "At least, I don't think she has."

"When's the last time you even spoke to her, man?" Danny wanted to know.

"An hour ago, I guess." Francis moped. "She called while we were driving in."

"And that's what has you all discombobulated, hum." Harper was a seasoned, worldly type.

"A woman can mess with a man's mind, true enough."

"I'm confused." Francis sat heavily.

"And dazed." Daniel added.

"You want I should stay?" Joe subtly gestured towards Liz, having stepped away from the deep discussion taking place over on the other side of the beer coolers.

"No, I have her covered." Red assured. "Or...I can just have Dembe take a watch."

"Dembe is about to clean the ground up with your ass." The black man cut Red a warning glance. "Old white guy."

"That one hurt, Dembe." Red pouted convincingly. "I thought this fresh air might make you a little less moody, see I was wrong."

"Well, you can always get me laid." The other man shot back instantly, placing a plate full of burgers on the picnic table. "Have something to eat before you go." He motioned to the gathered ensemble, adding several crisply darkened hotdogs to yet another serving platter. "I'm not standing here for my health."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Francis' doldrums disappeared in a puff of grill smoke as he made for the table and fixings.

"How easily some people forget their troubles." Daniel laughed at his friend's antics. But he, too, sat down to the ready feast, grabbing a paper plate. "This looks good, Dembe. How long before the steaks are ready?"

"They're done when they're done." Dembe intoned.

Red held out his hand to Liz and motioned Samar to join the group. "Come on, girls." He warned. "These guys will eat it all if you don't jump in fast."

Samar put a big bowl of freshly cut lettuce on the table. She and Lizzy had prepared it together, talking and laughing amongst themselves for some time now, Red had noted. He was glad the two were getting along so well.

Red handed Dembe a beer. "Sit down, I'll serve you."

"As it should be." Dembe made mention, taking his seat beside Daniel, across from Francis.

"Fuck." The younger man popped a top, getting everyone's attention with his carefully stated exclamation. "I just saw the curtain pull back. He's watching, folks. Put on your best camper faces."

Daniel and Harper clicked cans across the table, each man grinning widely. Samar arose, serving the men potato salad.

"Doing the little domestic woman thing, huh." Red noted. "Somehow appropriate."

Slapping a mound of the yellow muck on Red's plate, Samar grinned charmingly. "Fuck off..."

Red chuckled around the bottle against his lips.

Liz hurried to get each man another beer. "I can be domestic, too." She frowned over, sitting Red's can by the grill. "I was going to serve you guys."

Samar grinned over at the woman. "We are trained from birth to serve a male." She cast Francis a look which made his cock twitch sympathetically. "I have thankfully broken that habit."

Francis' face fell accordingly.

"He's still interested. Keep it light and moving people." Red pulled Liz close, planting a soft kiss on her lips, turning the hamburgers with his free hand, his other one, about her waist.

Samar moved past Francis in order to give Harper a large portion of potato salad. Francis impulsively smacked her ass playfully.

The woman gasped, instantly hitting his shoulder with her serving spoon. "I'll cut your cock off later tonight for that little indiscretion, boy." She smiled sweetly, leaning to press her lips to Francis' forehead in an almost paternal manner.

"The boy part hurt the worst." Francis advised those holding their laughter at his expense.

"And...the curtain has dropped." Red let out a sigh, relaxing mentally. McSha found nothing out of the ordinary, which was excellent. "I think we passed the first inspection people. Good jobs all around. Especially you, Samar."

Francis cut the man a really glance.

"Are you guys going to do that thing with the chocolate and whipped cream?" Samar was interested. "I know it's probably stupid, but I've never been camping, and I've seen all those commercials about people sitting around the fire and roasting chocolate and whipped cream."

"I'll put chocolate and whipped cream anywhere you want." Francis was quick to volunteer his services. "And I can heat it up for you, if that's what–"

"She means S'mores," Liz sighed heavily, "you pervert."

"Oh." Francis was disappointed.

"The lady wants chocolate and whipped cream, she shall have it." Francis knelt beside the rounded steel fire pit located several meters from the actual RV site. He looked down into the cold ashes of a remnant fire someone had made recently, scratching his head.

"A grill, I can do." He sought out Red. "What the shit is this contraption and how do you operate it."

"Move aside, young Lochinvar." Red chuckled.

"A noble knight, indeed." Francis preened. "I ride horses, swim mighty rivers, face down daunting challenges, woo fair maidens..."

"But can't start a fire to save his life." Red ad-libbed the ending to the epic poem.

"It didn't mention I needed that skill in the poem." Francis countered.

"They didn't have lighters back then, Francis." Red made mention. "But actually, a campfire would be nice for later tonight." He grinned up at Lizzy. "Don't you think?"

"All I'm really thinking about is that a world class bomb expert is only a few feet away from us." Liz told the truth. "S'mores aren't big on my list."

"You have to learn to live in the moment, woman." Red shook his head woefully. "Rip up that empty Coors box for me. It will serve as kindling." He pointed. "Samar, can you run in and bring me my lighter and knife out of my knapsack? It's just down the hallway."

Samar smiled happily, hurrying to do her bit. "This is fun."

"If McSha is watching, what could be more normal than for us to make S'mores?" Red pointed out.

"I think you just want to show up Francis with your man makes fire routine." Liz scoffed openly. "It used to take Sam a good half-hour to make a fire. How much time are we talking here, anyway?"

"It did not." It was Red's turn to scoff. "He just knew you enjoyed going out to hunt for kindling...which in your world consisted of exploring instead of finding any real useful wood to burn."

Samar came out, tools in hand, giving them over. "What are we talking about now?" She wanted to be included, sitting absently.

"What is Red talking about?" Liz huffed. "He's intimating that I was not a good helper when my dad and I went camping. I was a very good helper. Sam said so."

"Helpful to find injured frogs, rocks to polish, feathers, pinecones...anything that caught your interest...but wood to burn?" Red teased, recalling the stories Sam would tell. "We're talking about Lizzy's inability to stay focused, by the way."

Chuckling, Red gestured to the box held absently in Lizzy's hands, the one she had neglected to break down into pieces due to her distraction.

Huffing lightly, Liz tore into the box, handing the pieces over into Red's waiting hands.

"That's just not so." Liz voiced her astonishment. "I was a very good camper. I didn't mind getting dirty or baiting a hook...what more could anyone ask?"

Gathering a handful of kindling, Red lit the pile, fanning it lightly with his hand. Smoke billowed upwards, filling the area with the rich scent of pine. Liz stepped back as the fire flared upwards, lighting the shaded area in a warm glow.

A slow smile pulled at Red's mouth. "Well, that part was true. You weren't a girlie kind of kid. You could fish with the best of them and put the worm on and take the hook out of the fishes' mouth. Sam was very proud of your abilities."

"I ain't no girl." Liz agreed readily. And at Red's sweep of those blue eyes that said, he totally disagreed with that one. "Well, in the sense, I'm not afraid to get down and dirty."

His gaze deepened, as did his voice. "You sure aren't."

Liz flushed slightly, for the innuendo was certainly there for anyone to hear, if they were listening, which no one was, she noted. Except Samar, who just grinned at Liz's flush cheeks.

Pulling the ice chest closer, Red popped the top and grabbed a beer. He settled back to watch the fire blaze to life.

"Oh, how lovely." The former Mossad agent sat down beside the steel ring, watching the flames dance, her face soft and carefree for once.

"You weren't a very good tracker, though." Red continued the childhood memory tale, determined to see just how far he could push this thing before Lizzy exploded, which always produced good, clean fun for all. "Sam said, one day you came back to camp all excited and sure you had found bear tracks down by the water's edge."

Liz thought back, but no memory surfaced. "I did?"

"The bear tracks turned out to be a rather fat beaver who was very incensed you had stumbled onto the entrance of his dam."

"He tried to bite me." Liz's eyes lit. "I remember now! I thought I had rabies because he scratched my arm."

"You even demanded Sam cut the trip short and take you to the nearest hospital."

"You're making that up." Liz accused for Samar was finding the story very entertaining. "He's lying. I wouldn't do that."

"You were only eight." Red reminded. "But Sam got your attention by pointing out the north star and Cassiopeia...the Queen, remember?"

"The three stars." Liz quieted, tears threatening, but...happy ones. "Every time we had to do a constellation in school, I always chose her because Sam said my mother was up there sitting by her side. She was one of the other stars."

"Yes, you were always investigating everything around you, much like now." Red grinned. "Though you remained oblivious to the fire blazing away in the background."

"That's a lovely memory." Samar's eyes clouded over.

Red didn't imagine the woman had too many lovely memories from her own childhood.

"Where did you grow up, Samar?" Liz sat beside Red, her interest piqued. "Is...is it okay to ask?"

"I grew up near the Alzorb Mountains, very close to the Caspian Sea." The woman surprised Red by answering. She stared into the fire wistfully. "I've never seen that body of water, but it wasn't all that far from where we lived. I always wanted to go."

The brown eyes lifted, searching out her audience. "My father was a physician so, we were more fortunate than most. We lived in a small village in my youth. I cared for many farm animals, which I loved, but as a female, I wasn't allowed to go fishing or out with my brothers to hunt boar...although I wanted very much to do so."

Liz moved closer to Red, leaning on his thigh, very much absorbed by the other woman's words. People knew so little of Samar Navabi, after all.

"What the hell, Francis." Daniel had been just as enthralled by the tale, but a cold beer sliding rapidly toward his crotch brought him out of the moment.

Francis, having watched Samar's face turn from pensive to an empty, passive stare, sensed the woman had shared enough. Whatever was in her thoughts was no longer pleasant. He deliberately ended the need to further any more memories.

"Sorry, dude." He murmured quietly, his own brow furrowed slightly. "My bad." He instantly began cleaning up the mess with a cloth Dembe offered over.

Danny let it go. "Can't hold your beer today?" He quipped, now seeing the why of the ploy on Francis' face.

"It's getting chilly." Samar arose slowly. "I think I'll fetch a sweater." She smiled absently, excusing herself.

Danny, Joe and Harper arose, feeling the woman's melancholy.

Daniel cleared his throat and spoke for the ensemble. "Hey, we're going to check on the Canadians, eh?" He used his best accent, which brought smiles back to the guy's faces. "Hold down the fort, okay?"

Red exchanged glances with Lizzy. "...Should I have kept my mouth shut?"

"It's fine, baby." Red smiled gently. "Samar's just working through some things, I think. Which is never a bad thing, right?"

"Oh..." Liz watched the man sip his beer. She noted his eyes constantly strayed to the closed curtains of McSha's habitat. "Wonder if there's something I can do to help?"

"Wanna go grab some kindling?" Red murmured, then gave the woman a slow side glance. He chuckled when she tsked softly and nudged him with her shoulder.

"I meant with Samar, smartass." She grinned all the same. "Do we even have the fixins for S'mores?" She queried, barely taking note of Francis, who arose, disappearing into the night.

"We'll improvise." Red dismissed the issue. "She won't know, she's a foreigner."

"You are going to get your butt kicked one of these days with that smart mouth." She pushed gently on his thigh. "Hope I'm there to see it when it happens."

"Never gonna happen." He managed just this side of cocky.

"Happened in Singapore." Dembe reached for a pickle Samar had set out on a plate. "About two years back. A Jackie Chan type came out of the wood-work, kicked both our asses."

"Ah, yes." Red mused thoughtfully. "I had forgotten that little incident. Did we ever get revenge?"

"No, we got out of Dodge, as I recalled." Dembe recalled, popping a gherkin in his mouth. "I felt so ashamed...but I got over it."

Red nodded sagely. "The better part of valor, and all that sort of rot, as Michael Fairfax would say."

"The great Red Reddington got taken down by some little Chinese guy?" Liz was ready to laugh right in his face.

"Wasn't so little." Red objected to the description.

"He was very little." Dembe corrected. "Barely came to my chin."

"I'm trying to paint us in a good light here, man." Red sent the guy a look.

"Try painting the truth for once." Dembe sent the look right back.

"Trying to impress my chick." Red thumbed to Elizabeth, his eyes narrowed.

"Not doing too good a job...hello." Francis put in his two cents worth to Red's dismay, having returned from his mysterious departure.

Red sighed as he watched Francis place all the fixings for S'mores beside him by the fire.

"What?" Francis scowled.

"You brought S'mores..." Why the realization bothered him, Red couldn't say.

"Only an amateur wouldn't bring them along on a camping trip." Francis scoffed, rolling expressive eyes. "I have been camping before, you know."

"Lying low until the heat is off is not really considered camping." Red pointed out.

"I was in the woods," the kid ticked off on his fingers, "I had hotdogs, I had a tent, I hugged a tree and shit in a pile of leaves...therefore...camping." Francis was self-satisfied.

Red sighed heavily as Lizzy sniggered infectiously at his side. "How can you fight that logic?"

"In any case, as you know." Francis reminded. "I always come prepared."

"You sure did if you thought to bring S'mores while hiding from the cops." Liz was impressed with such ingenuity.

Francis was busy glancing from side to side. "Hey, anyone think to bring some sticks to put the marshmallows on?"

Red grabbed a nearby stick off the ground, his expression a little peeved. "This do?"

"Pass me the chips, Dembe." Francis chose to ignore the sarcasm.

Dembe obliged. "Are those Twinkies gone?"

"How do we stay such fine specimens of manhood with what we put into our magnificent bodies?" Red begged the question.

Liz giggled her glee. "It's gonna catch up to you." She prophesied. "And I'll be the very first to make fun of you all...just saying."

Samar heard the laughter outside the RV, a smile coming to her lips. She realized she was enjoying her time with these people. Much more than she thought she might.

The phone ringing startled her from her imaginings. She glanced at the screen, her heart starting a hard pounding in her chest. She quieted it determinedly. "...Hello?"

"Hello, beautiful." Silas' deep baritone sent chills down her arms. She scowled at the gooseflesh, annoyed.

"Not so beautiful." She quipped. "My hair looks like I stepped straight out of an eighties discotheque. Haven't been able to wash it yet."

"Just makes me want to get my hands into that wild mane."

"If you can make it through the ratted portion and mountain of hairspray, that is." She smiled despite herself. "You always make me feel better."

Glancing out the window beside him, Silas watched David pull into the drive, then wave at Justin. Pulling the box van up alongside the curb, Justin hopped from the cab, taking the pastry and coffee Anthony offered. All leaned against the hood of the car, enjoying conversation and breakfast, allowing him a few minutes of solitude.

"Do I? Back at you." Silas slowly eased down onto the one lone chair in his room.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Samar frowned, glancing out at the rapidly darkening skies.

"Why does everybody keep asking me that?" Silas mused, then smiled. "Are you implying I'm old?" The man asked. "Perhaps ... too old to take you on?"

"No..." Samar turned her ear to the sound of the man's roughed voice. "You suffered an injury, a serious one from one I understood. You should be resting." She nodded decisively.

Realizing the woman was on Alberta time, and most likely surrounded by approaching darkness, he chuckled. "It's six in the morning, in Russia."

"Oh... right, yes." Samar dropped her chin, sighing. "I'm still on DC time, I guess."

"I didn't expect a seasoned traveler, such as yourself," Silas teased, "would be affected by jetlag."

"Yes, well, we all have our shortcomings." Samar arched a brow. "You should know. I hear you have many."

Chortling quietly, Silas grinned, settling back more comfortably. "I needed to hear your voice," He realized, glad he had made the call.

"Did you? Why?" Her concern was instantaneous. "Is something wrong?"

"Not much right when I'm not with you...but, no." He lied, then rethought the move. "Well, not wrong, no. But...troubling. You got a few minutes?"

"Always." She sat on the edge of her bed. "Tell me."

The silence went on so long, Samar thought she had lost contact. She glanced at the screen. The minutes were ticking off.

"...I think I made a mistake." Silas hesitated, not wishing to burden the woman with his problems, but...

"You don't make mistakes."

He smiled slowly. "I do, but I try to minimize them. I hate it when my instincts fail me."

"When have they ever?" She was seriously wanting to know.

"...Shouldn't bring this shit down on you." He sighed.

"My shoulders aren't as broad and sturdy as yours, but I think I have a pretty good head on them."

"...I bet you give good head as well." He had imagined it often enough of late.

"You'll never find out by asking that way." She cooled slightly.

"Ah, baby...don't be pissy to me," he regretted his approach instantly. "I need you all warm and giving and..." he closed his eyes, "I'm sorry, okay? I'm a prick. Cut me some slack."

She chuckled sensually, giving the man a half-hearted erection. He grunted his involvement. "Prick?"

"Asshole wasn't going to cut it." Silas shook his head minutely. "I'm sorry. Really. It came out wrong. Guess I just need good head and I'm sensing you can supply it." He tried a quip, grimacing for the delivery.

"I like the way you apologize." The silk of her tone washed over him and he basked. "Now, tell me. What is troubling you so."

"I'm missing you." He stalled. The silence let him know it was time to come clean. "There's this kid...guy. Man." He wasn't sure how to classify Vadik.

"Which is it? Guy, man or kid." Samar needed some clarification.

"I've always thought of him as a kid. He acts two most days." Silas realized. "But he's not really. He's in his late thirties."

"Alright, what about him." She played with the end of her sweater, which was of an Irish weave.

"He's...family, I guess one could say. Always in scrapes and trouble."

"And you get him out of these situations." She nodded, lifting her head, staring at her reflection in the mirror of the built in bureau across the room.

"Sometimes." Silas nodded.

"Sometimes." Samar repeated.

"Alright...all the time." He admitted. "You know anyone like that?"

"I do." She knew someone like that intimately. "My brother, Shahin, was like that. He's dead now."

"That's what I think will happen to Vadik one day if..."

"If you don't keep rescuing him." Samar shrugged. "I'm not judging here. I get it. I do."

"...It's just that. I'm trying to move past that chapter in my life." Silas rubbed a weary hand over his eyes. "It's...not easy."

"No. It isn't easy." The soft voice caressed him.

"Vadik is the past." Silas' voice hardened. "I want a future."

"You deserve whatever you want. You've earned it." She smiled gently for the man.

Silas heard it in his heart. The silence came, but it was not uncomfortable.

"If Shahin were here today, I would like to think I would at least confront him on his lifestyle...on some of the decisions he made. I'm not the same woman he knew. I believe in confronting wrongs. Does that sound cliche?"

"It sounds noble."

"I don't think I'm that." Samar laughed hollowly. "But to do nothing is the worst thing I can think to do. To allow a bad thing is condoning it in my mind."

Silas nodded slowly. "You're right...it is." He knew from experience.

"Doesn't make it any easier to do though...does it."

The guy ran his hand around his tense neck muscles. "I've never shied away from the hard shit in life. I guess I just needed to verify my thoughts were headed in the right direction."

"Don't go by me." Again, the woman laughed mirthlessly. "I've taken so many wrong turns in my life, I've got no room to advise or even speak on the issue."

"I think you're too hard on yourself." He did. "I think you're one savvy lady in any and all aspects of your life. I value your input."

Samar was speechless. "You...you don't really know me then."

"Don't I?" He smiled slowly, bringing the phone closer to his mouth. "That's one thing I plan to correct then, when I get home. If...you are agreeable?"

Samar flushed with pleasure, feeling like a silly schoolgirl. "I-I would like that very much, I think."

The silence was thick. "I wish like hell I was there with you right now."

Samar closed her eyes, a few images of her own coming to mind. "Yes." She breathed out a sensual reply.

"What are you wearing."

She laughed the tension away. "You are certifiable." She dimpled, licking her lips thoughtfully. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"How long have you waited to say that line?" Silas grinned, hearing the smile in her voice. "You like old movies, baby?"

"One of my passions." She pled guilty.

"I'll work on finding out the other passions on my own...okay?" He flirted openly. "Like to take my time on things like that. I'm a very detailed kind of guy."

"I must be keeping you from important tasks, I know." She realized a long time ago. "But I don't want you to hang up."

"Then I won't." His eyes deepened. "Why don't you lay back, get comfortable. We'll explore a few of those passions right here and now, hum?"

She grinned. "I'm a very detailed kind of woman with such things. I like it slow and easy as well. Lots of people around here right now."

"Ah." Silas allowed his mood to pass. "Fucking people cramping my style." He grumbled. "McSha tried anything? Keep that beautiful head down. That asshole is one fucking lunatic when it comes to one of his causes."

"We're playing it casual and close to the vest. It's weird, but I'm even kind of enjoying the time here." Samar shared. "We were going to make hot chocolate and whipped cream over an open fire even. If that isn't American, I don't know what is."

"You just made me hard." Silas shifted about, grunting his growing pain. "I can't wait to pour warm chocolate and whipped cream all over that amazing body of yours."

"Where would you put those funny crackers?" She teased.

Silas laughed genuinely. "Oh...you're talking about S'mores." He allowed his laughter to die a natural death.

"That's what I said." Samar was confused. "Wasn't it?"

"You make me feel good, baby." He breathed in a relaxed sigh. "Can't wait to get back home to you."

"You mean...back home to the United States." She bit her lip anxiously, hoping like hell he would correct her thinking on the matter.

"No, that's not what I meant at all." The man's low, soothing words ignited the heat between her legs. "Can I call you again?"

"...I would strongly advise it." She strongly advised.

Silas' laughter melded into her heart. "Don't want to go." He admitted, his voice holding a certain type of confidence she admired. "But I know you are at work. Didn't mean to keep you this long. Just... it was so very nice to hear your voice. To experience you."

"I like the way you put things." Samar was surprised she was affected by his words. "Experience me anytime you like."

"I'll remember you said that." He murmured coarsely. "Hang up...I don't have the strength."

She chuckled, clicking the phone off with a gentle tap of her finger. She stared at it for a very long moment, realizing...she was still smiling.

Silas looked at the darkened screen, his mouth curving into a gentle smile. "Goodnight, baby...dream of me." He whispered in a raspy hush.

He keyed his body down with practiced will-power. It took longer than usual this pleasant morning...