I PROMISED

by beckysue_bonner, bichita_36e, joli_camarillo

Summary:

All chapters are mostly AU with slices of 'canon'.
STATION 19-Lucas Ripley is ALIVE
BLIND SPOT-Edgar Reade is ALIVE
HTGAWM-Wes Gibbons is ALIVE

Notes:

• For lila_luscious1, Patty_Parker60, beckibenhoffer, joli_camarillo, julrenda, Bacner, bichita_36e, blindsmarcy, BellaKatrina, LeesyLovesLove, Missthang616, CSW1420, emily713, lovevicley.

Chapter 1: NO MATTER WHAT

Summary:

Reade DID NOT DIE in S5, E1-I REPEAT: Reade DID NOT DIE...his re-union with Tasha Zapata, his ' ride or die '

A long convalescence followed Assistant Director (FBI) Edgar Reade's recuse from MADELINE BURKE'S failed assassin-
ation attempt in Iceland (assisted by Dar Haran and Icelandic criminal ' Ice Cream '...he remained in hiding - under
master criminal and Bureau ally Raymond 'Red' Reddington's protection until he's reunited with his team,...

Hope is your survival...A captive path I lead

Slowly...very slowly, the Man in the hospital bed comes awake...everything is fuzzy-he can't focus, at first. He senses - then
FEELS - a soft hand grasps his...a subtle scent touches his nostrils...he remembers; he KNOWS that scent...he THINKS he does,
at least: and he smiles wistfully, as if recalling a beautiful memory...

Tasha Zapata, his partner both in life and professionally, watched him carefully: and suddenly a tiny worm of jealousy nipped at
her subconscious, which she quickly dismissed .RED, from Victoria's Secret is HER scent ...could he be remembering a different
woman...a different time? (careful, Tash, she thought to herself, HE'S YOURS, and you're no virgin)...

////////////////////////

After a while, eyes still closed, he croaked, "Tasha...you got me out..."

"I told you that I would - remember? Zapata and Reade...friends and partners ALWAYS." Her small hand tightens on his, her dark
eyes shining with 'happy' tears. "I said that I will protect you always, no matter what - aun que me queste mi propia vida ".

"Ummm Me dijiste ." 

////

[No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a long, long time
No matter where you go
I will find you
If it takes a thousand years]

He says, "What now?"

She responds: "Minute by minute...day by day... REST - HEAL. I have news, but it has to wait: just for a little while."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Reade stretches, painfully. By the time he opens his eyes, Zapata is awake, watching him. "Hey", he says.

She responds, "Hey...Reade, I was saying earlier, about the news that I have...I'M PREGNANT."

"Well, goddamn...I'm a FATHER?!...GODAMN, Tasha!

"Is that a happy goddamn or an angry goddamn?" 

"An ecstatic goddamn! I never thought...I always hoped...

THANK YOU, Tash...I...THANK YOU"

"YOU had a lot to do with this, too," she laughingly reminded him. "When I said you're takin' advantage of the situation

to 'lock me down'...NOT really what I meant!"

"But you're happy?" He looks at her, serious now.

"Not exactly the way I would have planned it, but YES...I'm GIDDY. ME-GIDDY...can you image?!"

/////

spanish-english

Aun que me queste mi propia vida~Even if it costs me my own life

Me Dijiste: You told me