Never Alone (#6 in Blacklist)

CHAPTER 1: CAPTURED BY ROSS

"Liz."

"I'll be fine."

I sigh and turn off the security cameras temporarily "5 minutes, not a second more." Moments later, I see Sutton Ross flip the table at her and grab her. I grab my radio "All units, we got a hostage situation!" I slam the radio down and run to Cooper "Ross has Keen as his hostage."

"Cooper." he nods "It's him. On Keen's phone." 

"Okay, here's how this works! You give me what I want or Agent Keen dies!" I nod "Let's hear it." Ross replies "I want a vehicle here to escort me and Agent Keen in 15 minutes." I huff "Escort you where?"

"That's for you to find out later."

 Red looks at us "You need to breach that room. Now!" I shake my head "We're trying to negotiate with Ross." The criminal scoffs "Trying. He doesn't want to talk, he's not interested in negotiating!" I slowly nod at him "So what do you suggest we do? After all, you're Keen's father."

"Bust the door down. Smoke grenades, tactical bombs and extract!" I look at him. I know he cares about Keen, but doesn't he realize how delicate this situation is? I huff "What guarantee do we have that he won't kill her before we breach that room?" Cooper replies "We don't. It's all a risky chance."

My team breaches the room. I look around and shine my flashlight around "The demands were a ruse. They're in the plenar cavity." I find one of our agents down, and his access card gone. "Great." I mutter "Now he's armed." 

..................

(Red's POV)

I watch the screen as Ross and Elizabeth race to the final exit. Harold stops them "That's far enough. You'll need a pass code to get any further." 

"Then give me one! You don't think I'll shoot her? Give me the code! Now!" I turn off the speaker and shake my head at Harold "You can't do that."  Elizabeth speaks "Don't listen to him! He's bluffing!" 

I nod as I watch the screen "She's right, he's bluffing." Harold nods "Maybe. But we're not taking any chances." he turns the speaker back on "I'm not opening that door. I have men on their way to you, stand down."

"Three..."

 I turn the speaker off again "I'm not wrong, he's bluffing!" Harold glares at me "You don't know that!"

"Two...One!" Aram speaks "Eight one seven three four, that's the code. Eight one seven three four, that's the code." I huff and shake my head as I watch Ross takes Elizabeth, my daughter, away from the facility."

....................

(Donald Ressler's POV)

I race to the final exit, only to see the code panel smashed. I just missed them. I head back to the main room. "Reddington, we just missed them." The criminal nods "Yes, I know. Agent Mojtabai gave Ross the pass code." I look at Aram "Why did you-"

"Look, I'm sorry. He was going to shoot her." Red huffed "He was not going to shoot her! Elizabeth told you he was bluffing and she was right. If Ross really was going to shoot her, he would've done so without that unnecessary countdown." 

My boss growls at Reddington "Agent Mojtabai isn't the reason she's in danger, you are! If you really care about her like you profess you do, then the best thing for you to do is to stay away from her." 

I nod, firmly agreeing with him. Dembe's phone buzzes. He pulls the phone out from his jacket "Agent Keen." Cooper nods "On speaker." Red approaches the phone "Elizabeth!" I shout "Keen!"

"Your life for hers." Red and I speak simultaneously "Done." I speak "Let me speak with her! That's my partner you have there, pal!" Ross sneered "Both of you be there in an hour and await further instruction. Come alone." Red puts on his heavy black overcoat and his hat. Cooper tries to stop us "You're not going alone." I sigh "With all due respect sir, that's exactly what I'm gonna do."