Author Notes: Playing with some more reader suggestions and enjoying a much-needed laugh. Hope you have fun with it...
July 17
Colorado Springs, CO
"Red, we've been out here for hours." Liz whined. "When are we gonna see something besides trees and," she slapped her arm, killing what she hoped was only a mosquito, "...bugs?"
Glancing over at his better half from his prone position, Red allowed a smile. "Honey, I told you it might be better if you waited in the car."
Shifting his arm under his head, the crunching sound of dried leaves and pine needles crackled as Red bent his leg into a comfortable position.
"I'm not waiting in some car and miss everything." Liz muttered dejectedly, resting her chin on bended knees. "I don't see why we can't light a fire or something, either."
"Are you being difficult because, well, you normally are," Silas wanted to know, "or are you that clueless."
"Sweetheart," Red rubbed her leg consolingly, "we can't light a fire and give away our presence here."
"I know," Liz grumbled. "I just didn't know it would take this long. It never does in the movies."
Silas, who lay a few feet away, rolled his eyes as he listened to the woman's incessant whining. Idly tossing a baseball up into the air, he caught it with nimble fingers before tossing it towards Joe.
"This isn't the movies, Ma'am." Major Charles Bartlett shifted an intent stare but caught the ball that headed his way with ease. "I'm not even sure the things that were here when I flew my plane are here any longer. I don't think it logical they would stay in one place for anyone to just come back and be seen by..."
A soft whirring sound halted all speech as each individual present glanced...skyward.
The black starry night twinkled overhead, a soft breeze filtered down from the top of a very high mountain to their west.
A metallic oval shape drifted slowly into view, blocking out the night sky. Its massive, rounded back end funneled into a sharpened, futuristic and sleek, pyramid shape towards the nose.
"... Okay." Silas drawled impassively, casually dropping the ball to his side. "Well, I see that. You?"
"Shows you how much you know, Major." Joe continued to watch the incredible spectacle overhead, his tone one of awe.
"Quick, light a fire!" Liz respectfully demanded. "Maybe they'll go away."
Red arose, his face a mask of incredulous disbelief. He canted his head, frowning up at the oddly shaped craft.
"I was under the impression," Dembe stated calmly, "that was our purpose for being here this evening, Elizabeth."
"Light a fire, Dembe!" She urged. "I know you want to. It's what you do, remember!"
"Yeah," Silas agreed readily, "you pyro."
The shape moved above the treetops, which swished and buckled beneath the turbulence of wind coming off the engines. Although Red could not discern any noise whatsoever now, the movement of the trees surrounding him and his little party of gawkers was enough to let all present know... their eyes definitely did not deceive them.
"What the hell is that."
Gripping Red's arm, Liz enfolded his thigh in her grasp. "Red... that's not one of ours." Her tone held a reverence and awe, those blue eyes wide and shock-filled as she, too, stared transfixed at the object floating over their very heads.
"You want I should shoot it down?" Silas offered. "Cause I will if you want me to. Get a better look at it... maybe."
Red reached back, helping Lizzy upright.
"Are you insane!" Liz whispered stringently, brusquely brushing pine needles off her jeans. "We don't know who's inside...if anyone."
"Seems obvious to me. They're aliens." Silas' tone held his irritation. "We didn't invite them here. They're trespassing. It's legal to shoot a trespasser in this state...I think." He shrugged off the legalities.
"Okay, then." Liz threw her hands out at her side. "And are they friendly aliens? You don't know!"
"They probably won't be if I blow them out of the sky," Silas made mention.
Keeping his attention focused on the object overhead, Red sighed heavily. "No one is shooting anything without my express permission." He grated as he reached out, lowering the high-powered rifle Joe had lifted into the air. "I'm not speaking for my health here." He cast the guard a glare.
"You've become a buzzkill since you got married, just saying." Silas grumbled, juggling the baseball between his open palms.
"He has not!" Liz staunchly defended her husband, then nudged his arm. "Have you, Red!"
"Five months ago," Silas continued on, ignoring the woman, "you would have lobbed an RPG at it for shits and giggles."
"Oh," Liz looked forlorn. "Red? You aren't suddenly forgoing your natural instincts because of me... are you?" She asked, concern tinging her voice.
Taking a step to his left, Red barely noted Lizzy clung to his arm as he made note of the trees overhead, and how they gave him a pretty accurate measurement of the aircraft.
"No, sweetheart." Red replied absently.
"I think he is," Joe goaded the pair as he anxiously stroked the massive weapon held lovingly in his hands. "You gotta wife to protect now, Red. Let me shoot it. You don't want those things probing her, do you?"
"I don't want to get probed, Red." She said, then frowned. "I mean, I wouldn't mind if you did it," she amended the statement so there wouldn't be misunderstandings later. "But I don't want them to!"
"No one is going to probe anyone." Red snapped his waning patience. He sighed lightly when Lizzy suddenly pouted her displeasure. "In this instance..." he murmured aside, obviously soothing the woman's concern, for she smiled her relief.
"Whatever constructed that thing is probably on a higher level of intelligence than we are." Focusing on the matter at hand, Red continued on. "Let's give them the benefit of a doubt, shall we?"
"That isn't what I saw." Major Bartlett had been studying the design. "The craft I saw was much larger in size."
"Good to know." Silas frowned slightly. "Well, all I know is, if they probe me, I'm going to do some probing right back...see how they like it."
"I think I'm scared, Red." Liz whispered, her voice shaking slightly. "What do we do now?"
"We tell the good Major here that he wasn't seeing things and that we have a national emergency on our hands." Red knew that much, at least. He could not take his eyes off the unbelievable sight hovering above. "This is...phenomenal."
"It gets to be old-hat." A disembodied voice proclaimed from the darkened woods just behind their position.
Red tugged Lizzy behind his protective bulk, his Glock up and out of the holster before he even had time to register the action. He peered into the dark shapes of shadow of the surrounding forest.
"But I guess it shouldn't." A stranger in fatigues stumbled out of the brush, dusting himself off with a baseball cap. "You can take a couple of shots if you want...the shields only deflect the bullet."
Silas's face showed his disappointment.
"Been there, done that." The man advanced slowly, his own weapon carelessly slung about the shoulder strap, pointed to the ground. "You people are trespassing on government property. Which is against the law. I know, I checked."
"I didn't see any signs posted." Silas lifted a defiant stare.
"Cause we don't post em...we just come over and shoot whoever is trespassing."
Glancing at his companions, Silas shrugged. "Sounds like something I'd do."
"Nothing to see here, folks." The man replaced his cap, having shaken the pine needles off with a grimace.
Lifting his eyes upwards to the still hovering ship, Red nodded amiably. "That," he motioned, "begs to differ."
"Yeah, well," the man shrugged, "looks can be deceiving... or something of that nature." The tall man continued. "In the morning, this will all seem like some horribly bad movie."
He scratched beneath his jaw absently. "So, anyway, if you folks could follow the yellow brick road there," he waved his arm dramatically, pointing to a nondescript dirt path, "and head on back to Oz... I can go home and watch," he amended, "okay, sleep through... the snooker nationals."
"You're Jack O'Neill, aren't you." Red remembered the man from his time in the service, but more so, his complete flippancy over any matter under the Sun...or in this case, the moon.
"Don't know him." The man's expression seemed sincere.
"Jack!" Another man suddenly burst out of the same dark patch of forest, motioning frantically overhead. "Jack!"
The younger man stumbled over some unseen obstacle but hastily righted his footsteps, continuing to the taller man's side. He was clearly out of breath and anxious.
Grimacing slightly, Jack sighed before casting the young man beside him a baleful look. "You have the worst timing of anyone I know."
The young man bent at the waist, gulping for air before once again motioning to the sky. "Didn't you hear us calling on the radio! Sam says she's ready to go! She says we gotta go now if we're gonna make it to the Pegasus galaxy before the summit!"
"Dr. Daniel Jackson." Red greeted the new arrival with an outstretched hand. "Pleasure to see you again."
Surprised the man knew who they were, Jack frowned at the intruder in their midst as Daniel whipped his head about and nodded politely, smiling absently at the group.
"Hello," he waved politely before jerking his attention back to Jack O'Neill. "Jack, I'm not kidding here, Sam says..."
The young man's senses finally kicked in. He stiffened in the next breath and turned slowly back to...
"You people shouldn't be out here. This is a restricted area." Daniel sought out a higher-ranking opinion. "Jack, what are they doing out here? No one comes out here. Where are our security people?"
"You're looking at them, Daniel." Jack nodded amiably. "I told base I could handle it...and was doing so when you barged in, as is your way."
"I did not barge in, Jack." Daniel disagreed. "I came to tell you what Sam said, that's all."
The man narrowed his eyes, for he had been studying the group for a few seconds now. "Do I know you..." he trailed off, his infamous brain scanning through the thousands of people he met in his lifetime, both lifetimes. It was a herculean task, but Daniel was up for it.
"Dig in Giza." Red refreshed the young man's memory.
"Oh! Right!" Daniel stuck his hand out, shaking Red's gingerly. "It was around '91, right?"
"Yes," Red confirmed.
Liz glanced curiously at her husband. "I thought you went on your dig in college?"
"I did." Red once again confirmed. "I went a few times, actually." He patted her arm. "We'll have to take a trip ourselves, hon."
"Oh, I don't know, Red." Liz whined. "It gets so hot in those hot places."
"Red Reddington, right?" Daniel made the connection, shaking Red's hand vigorously, completely missing Jack snap his head upright.
"This is my wife, FBI Agent Elizabeth Reddington." Red made the proper introduction, and alerted O'Neill to a possible reason for their attendance here this memorable night.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Reddington. Oh, I apologize, Agent Reddington." Daniel grimaced. Being around military so long, he knew better than to negate a person's rank. "Jack! You know who this is!" He once again grabbed Red's hand, shaking it thankfully.
"Uh, yeah, Daniel." Jack nodded that he did in fact know who Reddington was, and the crimes laid against him. "Do you know who he is?"
"Of course, I know who he is! Mr. Reddington supplied the needed funds to finish our project, and the following digs!" Daniel beamed happily back at his newfound friend, even as he continued vigorously shaking Red's hand. "Without his money, I wouldn't have been able to unlock–"
"Daniel!" Jack snapped, cutting the man off.
"Oh, well... you know what I mean," Daniel said, too happy otherwise to mind his slip. "It's so wonderful to meet a supporter of my work."
"You don't do that stuff anymore." Jack reminded almost peevishly.
"I would if I had the time." Daniel snapped right back. "Which I would if you would assign me off-world missions more often."
"Oh, that was the most colossally stupid slip ever!" Jack grated his ire. "Why don't you just offer them a tour of the ship?"
"Well...I don't see a problem with that, Jack." Daniel didn't. "I mean..." he motioned upward, "it's not like they haven't seen it and all. It's right there..." he lifted his hand to signify.
Noting the look of aggravation mixed in with vexed affection in Jack's expression, and how it was focused on the young man, Red understood the parameters more than he'd like to admit.
"I have one just like him at home." Red calmed Jack's frayed nerves. "Which is why I left him at home."
"Ah..." Jack relaxed some.
"What?" Daniel looked between the two men. "What did I miss?"
"Been to the post office recently?" Jack asked politely, moving things along.
"You know I've been, Jack." Daniel reminded peevishly. "I have a PO box, after all."
"Red..." Liz grasped Red's bicep, her eyes widened.
"Not that post office, sweetheart." Red patted her hand comfortingly. "He means, the literal post office." He said, then gestured to himself.
"Huh?" Liz nodded slowly, computing. "Oh! You mean the... poster."
"When you went to grab your subscription to Babes of Archeology," Jack snipped, "did you happen to see Reddington there... anywhere?"
Scanning his recent memory, Daniel frowned. "No... should I have?"
"I told you," Red muttered aside to Lizzy. "Those posters are a waste of paper." He gestured to Daniel Jackson as proof.
"I'm just saying, I think I would remember such a generous benefactor." Daniel's scoff interrupted the couple's musing. "This man was definitely not at the post office I frequent."
Sharing a suffering look with Reddington, Jack scratched his head wearily.
"So..." Red looked between Jack and Daniel, then to his companions.
"Yeah," Jack nodded, "...so."
"Classified?" Red assumed as much.
"Sure, okay." Jack gave as much reply as he was going to, Red sensed.
"You have this," Red gestured upward, "under control."
"Sure, whatever." Jack replied.
"Good enough for me." Red gestured Lizzy to take the path indicated.
Gaping, Liz squawked in protest. "Wait a minute!" She balked. "What are you... aren't we...what is..." she jerked a hand upward, "what are we..."
"Sweetheart," Red offered the woman his gentlest smile, "calm down."
"Calm down!" Liz protested. "You want me to calm down!"
Silas casually tossed the baseball in Joe's direction, but O'Neill intercepted it, lobbing it towards Major Bartlett.
"Yes." Ignoring the byplay, Red didn't deny the fact.
"Let me guess," Jack guessed, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Recently married."
"Just last week, yes." Red clasped the woman's hand in his before returning his attention where it was needed. "Baby, you've handled unusual, dare I say, odd occurrences like this before. This really isn't any different."
Jerking her attention towards the craft looming overhead, Liz lifted arched brows. "Uh, yeah, I think this is a little different."
"Yeah, Liz." Silas added his two cents. "Get with the program. More to the point, read between the lines and know your place."
Grimacing, Red rubbed his suddenly aching neck as he chanced a glance towards Jack, who watched the byplay with avid attention.
"Did anyone bring popcorn?" The military guy sensed fireworks on the horizon after such a gaffe. Major Bartlett popped the ball from hand to hand, totally fixated on the ensuing conversation.
"Know my place!" Liz's eyes flashed fire. "You want I should be like the little woman and stay in the kitchen!" She turned on Red. "Is that what you want!"
Joe reached, snatching the ball effortlessly, whizzed it under the arm in Silas' direction.
"Me?" Red instinctively caught the projectile, glanced at it quizzically, then hastily passed it on to Daniel Jackson. "How did this transfer to me?" He wanted an explanation.
Daniel looked at the ball, then handed it to Jack O'Neill.
"Well," Silas shrugged, "not the kitchen, I've tasted your efforts in that venue–"
Gasping her shock, Liz glared fiery eyes at her guard. "There's nothing wrong with my cooking!" She snapped. "You... you..." she stammered, "you said my ham and cheese sandwiches were the best!"
"Alright," Silas conceded mostly, "in any case, there are other options open to you besides this, I'm sure."
"I got an option for you, asshole!" Pinching her lips, Liz lifted to her toes, glaring at her guard. "How bout you go fu–"
"Baby," Red stepped between the two, "you know Silas is just wanting to rile you up to distract you from... well.."
Drawing her close, Red ignored the daggers Lizzy was throwing at her guard, patting her hip consolingly.
"Forgive her," he made her excuses. "She's still coming to terms with the meaning of... classified." He absently watched the ball make the rounds between the men.
"Don't you apologize for me!" Liz crossed her arms over her chest. "You're getting onto me when you're the one who saved a man's life just to tap into classified intel so you could access redacted files!"
Jack frowned hard. "You say that like it's a bad thing, lady."
"I did it for you, sweetheart." Red reminded.
"Well, you know what I mean." Liz pouted.
Stepping into the woman's sphere, Red cupped Lizzy's chin and lifted her eyes to his. "Lizzy, you understand we have a classified project, yes? You remember that, right?"
"Yeah..." Liz nodded that she knew that, but her expression said, she didn't have to like it.
"Well, they have theirs, too."
"So... what? We're just gonna let them do their thing." Liz scoffed. "We're not gonna question what the hell is going on?"
"That's exactly what we're gonna do." Red confirmed. "Because... it's classified."
Just then, a bright flash of light filled the dark space, then vanished, only to reveal a woman left in its place. A woman who marched forth with a steely determination on her pretty face.
"Son of a bitch..." Jack grumbled, tossing his hands out at his sides. "Could this night get any worse?"
"What's taking you guys so long!" Samantha Carter demanded to know. She glanced at all the gathered throng then dismissed them in the very next second. "Sir, we'll be late if we don't leave now and you know..." she trailed off, gently grimacing a doubtful face. "Uh... did they see–"
"Yes, they fucking saw!" Jack motioned to their proximity. "How could they not see a woman appear out of thin air!" He couldn't believe, after all these years and all they faced, Sam and Daniel had revealed so much in the span of only a few short moments.
"In my defense, sir," Sam defended herself. "When I checked a half-hour ago, the area was clear." She straightened, facing the man. "Why didn't you alert me, the status had changed. You had a better vantage point..." she cleared her throat, "... sir."
"Stop with the, sir, shit." Jack rubbed a hand briskly against his shorn hair.
"I feel I should remind you, sir," Sam said, "when on duty, it is only proper, and protocol, that I address you–"
"Let me guess," Red interrupted the quarrel, much to Jack's relief. "You're married."
"Uh..." Jack looked like a deer caught in headlights, then remembered who he was talking to, and who Reddington married. "Yeah...so what's it to you, buddy?"
"Isn't there like a temporal prime directive you people follow?" Joe voiced his curiosity. "That you maybe scope the area before beaming in?"
"I would." Silas made mention. "Standard Operational Procedure, right, Joe?"
"Damned straight." Joe nodded sagely. "Wouldn't catch us with our boxers off."
"Yeah," Liz scoffed openly, "these guys' boxers are usually down around their ankles."
"Our boxers are just fine." Jack gestured sharply to his person and the woman beside him. "Well...she don't wear 'em, but you get my drift."
"Actually, I think," Daniel stepped into the fray, "the temporal prime directive was created to keep outsiders from becoming involved in other planets affairs, wars... that sort of thing."
"You are correct, to a point, Daniel Jackson," a large black man appeared out of the mist, a tall staff in hand. "The temporal prime directive also stated Starfleet was not to interfere in the social, cultural or technological development of a less advanced civilization."
"Which we appear to have failed doing here, admirably, Teal'c!" Jack pointed to the obvious.
"They do not appear fazed by all they've witnessed, O'Neill." Teal'c pointed out. "Perhaps after viewing your Sci-Fi movie genre, they are desensitized to aliens and spacecraft."
"We are standing here, you know... hearing everything you say." Red reminded someone, anyone, of the classified status of the top-secret project.
Waving a dismissive hand, Jack plopped down on a nearby stump. "I ain't worried 'bout you." He grumbled. "You've got your own set of troubles. You don't got time to worry 'bout mine."
"In any case," Red gave Jack's companions a once over, "discretion is the better part of valor."
"Yes, sir." Sam appeared quite contrite.
Blinking his confusion, Jack looked askew up at his wife. Granted, had he stayed in the military, Reddington would have been a General and her superior to an extent, but she didn't know that... did she?
"Okay, am I the only one here who knows who Reddington is?" Jack wanted to know.
"Well, I know him." Silas grinned.
"As do I." Dembe related.
Jack jerked back, looking between Dembe and Teal'c suspiciously.
"I meant, these knuckleheads here with me, not you knuckleheads...with him." Favoring his knee, Jack shoved to his feet. "Raymond 'Red' Reddington? Concierge of Crime?" He met blank stares. "America's Most Wanted?"
"I enjoy that series." Teal'c stated in that stoic tone, nodding his regal head regally.
Receiving nothing in return, Jack gave Red a disbelieving look. "I don't even know the proper etiquette here." The brown eyes swept his team woefully. "I'm damned embarrassed, people, let me tell ya."
Red shrugged. "I don't know." He confessed. "I guess I should be relieved... right?"
"Those posters are a waste of time." Silas nodded sagely. "They don't look like you, anyway."
"They do, too." Jack agreed to disagree. "They look just like him, if one takes the time to actually look at them."
"Is it all that important, sir?" Carter sighed impatiently. "We have to go."
"Can I go, too?" Major Bartlett had remained quiet and dignified throughout the exchanges, Red noted. Taking in everything said, everything witnessed.
Jack looked the man up and down.
Red made the introductions.
"Air Force?" Jack's eyes narrowed.
"Yes, sir."
"You saw something you couldn't explain." Jack O'Neill shifted accusatory eyes his wife's way. "Which led you here on this fateful mission."
"Something to that effect, yes, sir." Bartlett nodded. "I'm just glad I'm not being fitted for the looney bin. This is all a remarkable event."
"You're taking it well, son." Jack recalled his first encounter.
"Much better than you, O'Neill."
"Watch it, Big Guy." Jack shifted annoyed eyes to Teal'C. Who promptly dismissed the Earthling and veiled threat.
"Anyway, you should probably go." Red sensed O'Neill's wife's agitation skyrocketing, and it had nothing to do with their presence. "The Pegasus is a long way off."
"Yeah," Jack spread his hands, fixing the bill of his cap just so.. "You people won't go blabbing your mouths about–" he glanced upward, grimacing soulfully. "I'd hate to have to disintegrate each and every one of you...especially you, lady."
"Excuse me, sir?" Samantha Carter's lovely brows lifted frostily.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do." The military guy was assured in no uncertain terms.
Lizzy moved closer to Red cause she got the guy's drift as well.
"I assure you, General, I understand the meaning of classified." Red did, regardless of the charges laid against him. "We just wanted to get to the bottom of this for the Major here. If you can take it from here, we will just go about our meaningless lives... far away from this government facility."
"Yeah." Jack O'Neill was a happy camper now. "Do that." He motioned them away.
Red clasped the happily grinning Major Bartlett's hand, giving it a firm shake. "Have fun." He grinned back. "Wish I was going with you." He admitted his envy.
"Thank you, sir." Bartlett nodded respectfully. "Ma'am..."
"I'll let the little weasel know you're okay." Red assured before motioning his companions to take the path before them.
Ushering Lizzy forward into the thicket, Red smiled as a flash of light brightened their way for a brief second, then vanished. Glancing upwards, he watched the aircraft overhead turn about and disappear into the inky black sky. The yearning he felt to explore, to experience that particular adventure, pulled at his gut.
Sensing Lizzy's quiet presence at his side, Red's smile softened, as did his desire to rush off into the great unknown. Grasping her hand, he placed a kiss on the baby soft skin, perfectly content just where he was.
Walking hand-in-hand, the couple proceeded forward into the darkness, leaning against one another. Both completely oblivious to everything around them, expect the other's presence at their side.
"Come on," a man urged, his tone one full of excitement. "This way, quick! It was right through here!" He waved a hand upward, as was his way.
"I'm coming, dammit." A woman's stringent tone snapped quietly. "Shit!" She stumbled over a fallen log. Hurriedly tossing a hand out, she went to catch herself against a nearby tree just as the man wrapped a steely arm tight around her waist.
"You okay?" He sobered instantly, steadying the woman on her feet. His sharp green eyes hastily scanned her for injury, his focus centered.
Relaxing in his confident grasp, she nodded as she got her feet under her once more.
"Yeah..." she grumped, blowing her vibrant red hair from her eyes.
Grinning brightly, the tall man hooked an eager thumb the needed direction. "Get those little legs moving!" He gleefully rushed ahead, but stayed well within reach of the woman.
"Need I remind you," the woman grumbled, "I'm a forensic pathologist and not only do I know how to kill you with very little force on my part, I can do so without leaving any evidence behind."
"I swear," he crept forward, ignoring the threat, "I heard voices, too."
"I don't doubt for one second you do." She muttered her belief. Grimacing, she wiped at the sap stuck to her palms.
Grasping her hand, he pulled her into the clearing
"Look!" He motioned to their surroundings. "Look! Someone was here!" He pointed to the half dozen footprints, and a forgotten baseball. "Looks like military standard boot prints." He shined a light on the needed proof, then jerked his attention to the night sky.
"It was here! It had to be!" He pointed upwards. "I saw it! Did you see it? I saw it!"
"Of course you did," the woman smiled patiently.
"You saw it, right?" The man turned, setting his hands on his hips. "I know you saw it. Tell me you saw it, Scully. I saw it!"
"You were thirty feet up off the ground in a tree, Mulder. Of course you saw it." She reminded. "I was down here..." she motioned to her position, five feet off the ground.
"Scully..." Mulder purred, though his tone was a scolding one. "Don't try to tell me you didn't see it fly overhead."
Looking down at the forest floor, Scully shifted a pinecone with her toe, hiding a gentle smile.
"Seriously!" Dropping his head back, Mulder huffed his aggravation. "First Antarctica, now here!" He tossed his hands out at his sides. "It was right fucking there!" He jabbed a finger to the treetops. "How could you miss that!"
"Maybe the Mothmen blocked my view." Scully teased. "I mean, it's not as if I would have seen them, right."
Hanging his head dejectedly, Mulder slumped down onto a fallen stump, sighing morosely.
Stepping close to the man, Scully threaded her fingers through his dark hair, lovingly caressing his thick skull.
Kneeling before him, she cupped his cheek, ignoring how he winced away from her sticky hands. Chuckling quietly, she licked her thumb, wiping away the tacky patch of sap.
Her heart thumped a wavering rhythm when Mulder leaned into her touch, welcoming it.
"I saw it..." she murmured softly.
Slowly lifting his head, Mulder's brow pinched in confusion. "...What?"
"I saw it." She repeated steadily, gripping his hand.
"...Really?" He whispered. The desperation in his tone made her heart ache.
It didn't matter the world didn't believe him; she knew that. It would mean the world, however, to know she believed him.
Even after all she had witnessed, and no matter she leaned towards Mulder's theories more often than not these last few years... there usually was a plausible explanation that leaned more towards reality instead of the fantastic.
If just once, the skeptic validated what the believer witnessed, it wouldn't be undeniable proof, certainly, but it would be vindication of sorts.
"It was silver and the shape of a teardrop." She confirmed what she knew for a fact Mulder witnessed. "It kind of sounded like a vibrating whir." She shrugged, unable to form a proper description on the fly.
The irregular beat in her heart increased when Mulder's expression morphed into one of not happiness or even self-righteousness... but peace. Complete and utter tranquility.
To hear those words from his forever staunch opposition, but greatest supporter and partner in everything... meant more than he could begin to vocalize.
His eyes glittered with warmth as he swallowed at a knot building in his throat. "...You saw it."
"...Yeah." She smiled, brushing the lock of bangs from his eyes.
Tucking her hand in his larger ones, he rested them against his chest as he leaned his forehead to hers. A comfortable silence descended as each lost themselves to their private thoughts for some long few minutes.
"Thank you, Scully." He whispered and kissed her brow. "For being with me."
"...Always." She raised upward, kissing his brow in return.
Taking the baseball in hand, Mulder rolled it along his nimble fingers. "I guess they do play ball." He grinned boyishly down at his feet.
"So do I," Scully quipped, leaning into the man's lithe frame. "Or at least, I enjoy running the bases."
Standing, he pulled Scully to her feet. Waggling his brows, Mulder kissed her full lips. "... So do I."
Glancing down, Scully arched a brow when she felt a definite bulge move against her abdomen. "...Batter up."
LIZZINGTON
July 18
Washington D.C
"What a night." Liz kicked off her shoes, rushing to greet the arrival of the puppies.
"Oh, no." Liz winced apologetically at Red when Nemo, who was excited to see her mistress, accidentally tinkled on the floor. The woman kissed the cute little nose, going for paper towels.
"I tinkle a little when I'm super excited," Liz spoke for the puppy, apologizing for the incident.
"So... that wasn't the dog?" Silas arched a brow, motioning to the small puddle.
"I'm sure at your advanced age," she scowled hard at the guard, "you're the one that has the leakage problem."
"I release other fluids when I'm excited…" Silas made mention.
"On that note," Red ushered Lizzy away, "we're gonna unpack now."
LIZZINGTON
July 18th
"Red?" Joe poked his head around the corner of the office, having knocked quietly. "You got a minute?"
"Yeah, come on in." Red waved the man inside. "Sit down..."
"Was wondering if it'd be alright if I took the weekend off?" Joe asked without preamble, waving off the offer to sit.
"You don't have to ask that." Red leaned back in his chair, bouncing the expensive leather absently. It soothed him on occasion. He understood the bouncing one did for an infant after having purchased the chair. Expensive damned thing, but well worth the money, in his opinion.
"Well..." Joe shrugged, "I didn't know if anyone else had put in a request."
"Doesn't matter. You want a day off, you got a day off...or two, or three." Red shrugged.
"Justin's girl is out of town for a bachelorette party. He said he'd take the slot for me." Joe confirmed.
"Like I said, but thanks for doing that, all the same." Red hated to pry, but it never hurt to ask. "Anything I can help with?"
"No," Joe grinned. "My brother and his wife are getting the baby baptized, and since I'm the godfather..."
"Congratulations." Red smiled. "Silas is aware, right?" He asked. "He knows not to bother you?"
"Yeah," Joe chuckled. "He said I shouldn't miss them dousing the kid in the holy water and driving the demon out."
"God..." Red scoffed, laughing quietly. "For all our sakes, don't let Lizzy hear you say that. She thinks that kid is perfection."
"The kid is ugly, but my mom said, ugly babies make handsome grown-ups." Joe muttered. "I told Silas though, if something came up, to not hesitate."
Smiling, Red inclined his head with gratitude. "The kid is not ugly." He hedged, grimacing slightly for the white lie. "He just needs to grow into his skin a bit more."
Joe chuckled appreciatively. "I'm going to steal that line."
"Regardless of what Silas says, you are indispensable, but I assure you, we have all well in hand." Red iterated. "Enjoy the time with your family."
"Thanks..." Joe said as he turned towards the door. "Oh, hey. I forgot to mention the horses arrived safe and sound." He gestured to the appropriate vicinity. "They're in the stables."
"I didn't hear them pull up?" Red frowned, pushing from his seat. "Why didn't you come get me?"
"No," Joe shook his head, "no, they arrived yesterday."
"Why the hell didn't you say anything?" Red wanted to know.
"The horse trainer guy said," Joe related what he'd been told, "after the extended travel time, it was better to let them decompress and become accustomed to their new accommodations."
"And if Lizzy knew they were here..." Red understood why Joe hadn't bothered to mention it, "she would have been counting the minutes until she could get her hands on them."
"That's what Silas said," Joe said, then smirked. "In totally offensive ways."
"Uh huh," Red tossed his pen to the tabletop, a sage look on his face.
"Shut your fucking mouth, he said...not a damn word about those animals," Joe grinned, "otherwise she'll drive us all insane because she has the patience of a wired druggie jonesing for his next fix." He pulled an endearing face. "Or words to that effect."
"Yes, I can imagine all said... thank you." Red pushed from his seat, heading for the door.
Taking Lizzy's hand, Red led her through the house and to the pool area.
"Where are we going?" Liz asked, but followed the man's lead willingly. "Are we going to get frisky?"
"Nice thought, but..." Red muttered, "you should grab the dogs." he suggested, for he knew she would, anyway.
"Oh!" Liz rushed for the puppies. "Yes, right!" She hurriedly opened the gate, arms outstretched. "They'll need to go potty."
Huffing a quiet laugh, Red waited as Lizzy gathered the puppies or attempted to, anyway.
"Red, I need your help..." Liz said, placing her puppy in his hands. "It's okay, sweetie," she cooed assurances to her pup, "Red will take good care of you, I promise."
"Lizzy, they do have leashes." Red reminded, but sighed, taking the goofy dog in hand.
Glancing down at the dark beady eyes, Red gave the animal a sour look when its long tongue flicked outward, licking the face of his Rolex.
He grimaced accordingly. "That cost more than the Mona Lisa would, dog."
"She has a name." Liz frowned. "And that's just an old watch, Red. Come on."
Red glanced at his Rolex. Old watch my ass, he thought, but wisely let the matter drop.
"Well, yes," Liz nodded, then smiled happily when Silas' dog licked her chin, "I know, but they aren't quite used to leases just yet, remember."
"And they won't be," Red said, "if you keep carrying them around everywhere."
"It's just," Liz hedged, "it's such a long walk," she motioned to the back door, "and they're so little..."
In that moment, Red saw visions of his future. He laughed quietly at the possibility he might never see his children take their first steps. "I believe they learn by...doing. You going to carry our kids around until they graduate college?"
She gave him a sullen look.
"Lizzy," Red adjusted the beady eyed dog in his grasp, "it's maybe fifteen feet."
"I-I know." Liz did. "It's just easier for me to carry them out there." She said. "You know, to keep them from falling in the pool and stuff."
Red barely contained the urge to roll his eyes when the woman made a show of grabbing their leashes.
Leashes he knew full well would not be put to use.
"There see? I got them." She seemed proud of the accomplishment.
Stepping out the back doors, Red offered a small wave as Joe steered a newly arrived cart around the corner. It looked like a golf cart, of sorts, but more... menacing.
"Have we always had that?" Lizzy instantly wanted to check out the cart's possibilities.
"No," Red replied. "I asked Dembe to order a few." He had made an executive decision.
Joe came to a gliding stop a few feet away, grinning his approval. Apparently, the carts could manage some speed if driven by a maniac.
"Considering the size of the property," Red motioned, "the guards should have a faster means of transportation, and with Silas taking on the original house..."
"Oh, right." Liz remembered. "Silas is getting on in years. Good idea there, Red."
"Oh God, Lizzy. Are we saying it that way?" He hoped not. He really did.
Assisting Lizzy and her companion into their seat, Red assumed the driver's position. Placing Silas' dog between them, he started off across the greens.
Minutes later, they arrived at the stables.
"Oh, Red," Liz wrung anxious hands, "you're... you're not gonna make the babies stay out here, are you!" She protectively clasped the pups to her side. "I mean, it's nice and everything," she motioned to the new improved building, "but... it's so far away."
Exiting the vehicle, she gathered the babies in her arms, comfortingly kissing their brows. "What if they need us, and we aren't there?"
"Pray tell," Red couldn't deny his curiosity, "what could they possibly need us for besides food and water?"
"What... what if they choke on their food?" Liz hurriedly offered a scenario, a terrifying one at that. "Or they get sick, or they get scared?"
She grimaced when the pups wiggled in her arms, anxious to play in the grass. She eased them to the ground, ready to snatch them back in her arms at a moment's notice if need be.
"If he," Red pointed to Silas' dog, "gets scared, we chose the wrong dog for Silas."
"Well, h-he's still a baby and..." Liz hurriedly defended the future guard dog, "he hasn't had his training yet. He doesn't know about all the evil in the world yet."
Shifting a glance Joe's way, Red bit back a smile for the ready excuses Lizzy had on hand to keep those puppies within reach.
"That's right, Red." Joe agreed straight-faced. "He hasn't been prepared for Silas before his morning coffee."
"Yes!" Liz jumped to agree. "Yes, exactly!" She nodded. "He needs me there to act as a buffer, you see."
"Uh huh..." Red chuckled quietly. "And her?" He pointed to Nemo as she rolled happily about in the hay.
"She gets cold." Liz explained hastily.
"Again, there's this new invention," Red motioned to the state-of-the-art barn, "called heat and air."
Clicking his tongue, Joe called Silas' dog to come. The dog stumbled forward, struggling up a pile of fresh hay. Reaching the top, the dog took a step without taking in his surroundings first and met nothing but air. It rolled down the other side before landing atop a cushion of lush grass. Gasping, Lizzy lunged forward only to be caught in Red's sure grasp.
"He's fine, Lizzy." Red sighed, motioning to the dog as he sat up and shook his head before once again falling over.
"He's a little top heavy." Liz winced, explaining away the puppy's clumsiness.
"It's the ears." Red muttered before guiding Lizzy forward.
Glancing over her shoulder, Liz pointed lamely at the animals left behind. "But..."
"Joe can watch them a few moments, I think." Red assured.
"They won't leave my sight." Joe promised.
Gently propelling Lizzy forward, Red shoved open the barn doors, guiding her inside. Giving themselves a moment to adjust to the lower light, Red moved them further down the hall.
He knew the moment she saw the new arrivals when she stiffened in his grasp and gasped her shock and awe.
"Are you kidding me right now!" Liz rushed forward, her mouth agape. "Are you serious!" She spun to face Red, disbelief etched on her pretty face. "They're not just visiting? They're really mine!"
"...Yes, they're really yours." Red assured his wife. He smiled as she lovingly stroked Cleo and Caesar, then lurched forward once more, hugging them around their necks.
"It was you! You bought them!" She hugged Cleo's snout, kissing the velvet burr happily. "How... why..." she stammered.
"I handed Mark copious amounts of cash," Red said, "as to the why of it all... I think that's obvious."
Lifting her face away from Cleo's neck, Liz's brows crinkled curiously.
"Because... you loved them." Red said, as if that were explanation enough. He sidled closer, wrapping his arms about Lizzy's waist. "And because I also happen to love you."
"Love you more!" Liz nuzzled the horses' contentedly.
Red wasn't sure if she was talking to him or the animals. He frowned at the fact.
"How can I ever thank you!" Liz gushed.
"We'll talk later." He had some ideas.
"Or..." She turned, smiling coquettishly at the man, "I could thank you now..." She blinked innocently.
"Yeah," Red nodded amiably, "you could do that." He motioned her over. The woman's smile brightened. She traipsed happily forward.
Planting a sensual kiss on his mouth, she ran a teasing hand down his responsive cock. Red's arms enfolded the small body close as he responded readily to the moment.
A small, piercing yelp distracted and dismayed. Liz instantly turned her attention... elsewhere.
"Oh, my! Is that one of the babies!" She was off in a second, and Red was left with the beginnings of a promising hard-on. He sighed wearily, groaning his own dismay. He reluctantly followed the woman's hasty departure.
Joe wrangled the unruly pups with Liz hurriedly rushing to the aid of the ungainly miscreants.
Red managed to snap the leashes about the ridiculously inappropriate collars and when Lizzy finally turned her attention to the horses, the puppies were sitting quietly on the grass beside the man's feet.
Lizzy seemed rather put off they were so obedient and mannerly. "What did you do to those babies, Red Reddington?"
"I told them to heel, Mrs. Reddington." The man explained calmly, glancing at the babies reposing at his side. "Now if only I could get you so well trained."
"Not going to happen." Liz snubbed him completely, climbing into the cart, holding her arms out for her babies, which Red turned over obediently but kept retention of the leashes to the woman's annoyed realization.
The pups were quiet and orderly on the ride back to the house.
Liz kept stealing irritated glances at the man sitting so smugly beside her.
Red pulled the carts over by the pool for several guards, Francis Holbrook and Samar Navabi had taken up residence by the tranquil setting.
"Don't let those babies anywhere near that water." Liz hurried to take charge of the leashes. A more prevalent disturbance coming from the direction of the car park caught Red's attention.
Silas was clearly a man on a mission and that mission did not bode well for some unsuspecting person, if the guard's expression were any criteria by which to judge.
Red hastily scanned those present, suddenly realizing the direction Silas' fury would take. "Shit!" He hurried around the cart, hoping to halt the large man's determined trek.
Jerking upright in his seat, Francis' eyes widened with trepidation when he, too, sensed he was the object of Silas' displeasure.
Samar's lovely brow furrowed with concern and she sat up from her lounge, slightly unnerved by this new side of Silas she was witnessing.
Silas quickly gained on Francis' position even though the young man had scrambled hastily away from the fast approaching menace as best he was able.
Silas' beefy fist bunched into the colorful Magnum inspired shirt the boy had donned today in order to impress the beautiful Samar.
Red closed weary eyes as Silas easily lifted Francis' feet off the ground, tugging him up close and personal. The grey eyes glowered down to the helplessly flailing Francis Holbrook.
"I know what you did! Don't think I don't!"
Red held his breath, having halted his trek entirely to watch the horror take place. Silas tightened his grip, his features livid.
"Okay!" Francis yelped. "Yes! I did it! It was me!"In Francis' world a good offense was just as good as defense."Don't kill me!"
Silas did not seem any less placated by the confession, his mouth tightening even more so.
France grimaced, wincing visibly as he waited for his protagonist to punch him square in the jaw. "I confess! I did it! But I have an excuse...a great one!" He didn't, but he could think up one in record time if the need arose, he knew.
Red hurriedly shoved his arm between the two when Silas' face went from a vivid red to a dark purple hue in a second flat.
"I'm gonna strangle the life from you, you idiot!" Silas seethed his declaration.
Attempting to push his way between the warring pair, Red braced firm hands against Silas' chest to deny his advancement.
"Silas..." Red grumbled. "Let him go, dammit!" The activity was not proving as easy as the man had first envisioned, however.
"Not until this little pipsqueak," Silas grated harshly, "confesses his sins!" He shook the kid and Francis immediately allowed his body to go totally limp... like an opossum playing dead.
Red sighed wearily, still shoving his bulk between the two combatants, or attempting the feat, at least. He noted Lizzy standing over by an interested Samar Navabi, both women's expressions a mix between curious intrigue and puzzled fixation.
"Silas!" Liz scolded. "You put Francis down this instant!" She demanded. She hugged the puppies closer, shielding them from such a disagreeable sight. "What's going on?" Samar was questioned. "What did I miss?"
Sneering at such a concept, Silas turned murderous eyes towards the twit in his grasp.
"You scratched my car!"
"I slept with Samar!"
Stunned silence met the blurted proclamations.
Scoffing a derisive groan, Red hung his head, for although the accusation and the confession overlapped one another...all could clearly hear and understand everything.
Feeling Silas' hold tighten, Francis felt his eyes bulge from their sockets. "Uh," he hesitated briefly, "wait...what?" He gasped feebly.
Silas leaned ever so close, a newfound level of rage entering the picture. "You said...what?"
"Your car!" Francis scrambled to correct any misconceptions. "Your beautiful, sleek, black, '68 Dodge Charger without a single dent or scratch on the entire body. Yes! Yes, I wrecked your car!"
"Fuck..." Red sighed morosely.
"Which is what I just said." Francis strived for damage control. "It was a total accident, but yeah, that's what I did alright!"
Silas' face registered shock, then confusion, then disbelief as the grey eyes transferred to...
Samar's expression was one of confusion as well until those lovely brown orbs sought an explanation for the turn of events from...
Communication passed between the woman and the guard, the tension of the moment felt by each present.
"You..." Silas released Francis almost as an afterthought, slowly approaching...
Samar blinked her surprise, for the anger transferred to the large man's eyes. She took an involuntary step backward at Silas' approach.
Red mentally prepared himself for the confrontation as best he was able, but there was nothing he could do at this point to halt the inevitable.
Silas stopped slowly, now facing the beautiful woman, his face registering a growing fury. "You slept with him?"
Samar shifted confused and startled eyes to Francis, who apologetically grimaced his regret.
"After what happened between us?" Silas was trying to get it straight in his mind. "After..."
Samar swallowed, straightening slightly, her mental state chaotic at present. "Now, wait a minu–"
"I thought we..." Silas closed his eyes to the realization just how wrong his instincts had been, apparently.
The silence was brittle, each person around that pool feeling the large man's anguish for he didn't try to hide it. It was in every nuance of the guard's face, every facet of his body language.
Samar's eyes softened as she, too, read the moment. She tentatively reached, needing to touch and sooth but Silas sensed the action, his eyes hardening into ice-cold chips of disdain. Her hand lowered slowly, her natural reserve and dignity kicking in.
Shaking off the stupor, Red hastily stepped forward. "Now, Silas–"
"I trusted you." Silas breathed a raw, hollow agony of a whisper. "...You bitch."
Samar's mouth fell open, a slight gasp of shock escaping. She lifted her head, turning, walking from the man and the scene.
"Silas, dammit!" Red approached rapidly, grating his own growing anger. "You don't understand. She–"
"I don't want to fucking hear it!" The man waved a dismissing hand, the statement a thunderous one.
"She didn't sleep with anyone. Anyone I know, at least, you fucking moron." Red caught the man's arm, holding firm. "You just make the fucking biggest mistake of your life, man."
Silas turned, his expression stunned. "What?" He cast a hasty look Francis' way.
"She didn't. That's not what I meant." Francis ran his hand through his hair, sincere sorrow in his eyes. "You scared the fuck out of me, man. I said the first thing to come to mind that explained why you might want to kill me. I thought you would take it out on me! Not her!"
"W-What?" Silas seemed lost for a moment. "What the fuck is going on here? What did I just do?"
Francis downed his head. "I'll try for damage control." He moved slowly off, in search of a very pissed off woman he knew.
Red just shook his head, glaring at his head guard. "That fucking temper of yours, Silas."
"I..."The large man was reeling. "He said...he made me believe–"
"Yeah, well, Silas." Liz approached, holding the puppies in a frantic grip, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "You should have asked Samar first instead of assuming something so vile... shouldn't you have."
She stalked off, much as Samar had.
Silas stood, his mind having shut down completely.
Red gave the man the time to process, but he, too, walked away. He had no answer how this problem might be addressed, let alone solved, if indeed it could, now.
Silas watched the other men slowly file out of the area, all feeling the unsettling sense of horror having witnessed the scene.
The quiet invaded the large man's mind. Silas simply stood, shaking his head minutely.
How could he have made such a colossally stupid mistake? Why had he presumed the worst when Samar had never once done anything to warrant such action on his part?
Why? Because it had hurt. Hurt like hell. The thought she might have betrayed him. The pain was so stark and deep? The bullets entering his body had not hurt as much.
But she hadn't betrayed him. Not at all.
He could kill Francis Holbrook right about now for such a misunderstanding, but deep down, Silas knew this was on him.
He should have done exactly what Liz said. He should have gone to the source and asked.
None of this would have happened.
None of it.
And now, how was he ever going to regain Samar's trust? How was he ever going to fix this heinous error on his part?
Could it be fixed? Silas had seen her face when he called her... what he called her.
He shut his eyes, feeling her pain.
"You fucking idiot." He whispered brokenly. "You fucking stupid moronic fuck!"