Finale: All Roads wind to London

Markham waited for his Agent to calm down and get herself back under control. He knew it must be bad if she was rattled - Fuentes had been picked for the assignment due to her cool nature and ability to stay calm under pressure.

"So tell me what happened?" Markham asked her once again.

Fuentes sighed wondering where to begin. "So you know about the race I was asked to organise?" Damn, she wished she still smoked.

Markham nodded because he'd been pleased by the trust shown even if the event had nearly wrecked the interstate. "Yeah, you said two way too feisty Brits won that race."

She nodded end explained. "Oh, they did. O'Conner just lounged by the pool like all he had to do was soak up the rays. He never blinked and Verone was trying to get in his good books pleading for him to drop the arm-candy routine."

Markham wanted to almost like the guy if he could get under the guy's skin. "So O'Conner was messing with Verone?"

She snorted. "Oh, this was more than messing around. When we went to the nightclub O'Conner started to dance only it wasn't with Verone. He wasn't exactly dancing like a married man if you get my drift."

Markham shrugged not really caring about Verone's marital issues, not unless they helped him to arrest the guy. "Okay, so O'Conner was dancing and making Verone jealous. Where do the rats and Owen Shaw come into the equation?

Fuentes smirked. "Oh, I must have forgotten to mention ... O'Conner was dancing with Shaw like he didn't have a care in the world. I thought it was about to come some really messed up deal where O'Conner was offered as part of the deal. Only I took one look at Verone and he looked like he wanted to incinerate Shaw."

Markham snorted unimpressed with the whole damn affair. O'Conner should have been helping them nail Verone not consorting with more criminals. "So rats?"

Monica finished her hot drink and it wasn't enough. She wished it was a hell of a lot stronger but she was on duty and they were debriefing. "So here is how it went..."

Carter was mad as hell at Owen Shaw and what burnt most of all - was he couldn't do a damn thing about it. Owen knew Brian was his husband so the dancing was a message all in itself. He didn't know how to deal because Brian and Owen had been working together for the FBI. He dearly wished he could figure out Shaw's game - the only conclusion he could come up with left him cold. Shaw wanted his husband for himself.

Looking to Monica, "Invite Mr. Shaw back here and remind my husband his drink is here too."

Monica walked out of the VIP section and prayed that tonight didn't end in bloodshed. The odds were not looking good. She put on her best smile. "Mr. Shaw. Mr. Verone says you are welcome to come through to the VIP section. Mr. O'Conner, your husband wanted me to remind you that your drinks are at the back on his table."

O'Conner smirked. "Thanks, Mandy."

Monica's eyes narrowed but she was wise enough not to engage in any type of verbal spat. The odds were just too high for her to take exception to the catty comment. Shaw just chuckled at O'Conner's antics, "I don't think she likes you, pet."

Wow. So Shaw was already calling O'Conner by pet names. The most interesting part was the fact Verone's husband wasn't rejecting Shaw, or telling him off for the liberty. Oh, Jesus. O'Conner looked at her and shrugged. "Carter wants to do business and I know I am surplus to requirements so I think I will keep dancing."

Shaw just nodded his head towards O'Conner and followed her back to the VIP lounge where Carter was standing watching. There was no doubt who he was watching, Brian was still dancing, in such a way to make everyone envious of Carter. The only difference was the rest of the nightclub would come close to him but not touch him. In their eyes, Brian was like a flame, gorgeous but if they touched they would get burnt by Verone's hands.

Shaw stood there, looking way more relaxed than anyone else had. That scared her because just what was he like if Verone didn't scare him. "He's beautiful, isn't he?"

"Gorgeous," Shaw responds, keeping his answer short and sweet.

"Now if you look out there, they all know it. They want to touch him, get their hands on his body and yet they know what I will do."

Shaw quirked an eyebrow. "Is there a point to this macho posturing? I would love to hear you speak like this with Brian close."

Verone said nothing just used his arm to motion that they should sit down. "So how can I help Shaw Enterprises today?"

Shaw smiled but there was no warmth there. Monica had never seen anyone manage to smile and be so scary - it was impressive. "I've decided you can make it up to me."

Verone shot back. "Brian is not a tool to barter."

Shaw quirked an eyebrow obviously amused. "You okay? You seem awfully defensive."

Verone looked up at the ceiling wondering why he thought this meeting would be any different to the last. "I have some big product yields coming to me this week. You take the profit and we are square."

Shaw smirked. "Perhaps, but how will you guarantee the product is safe. I have no interest in a pinched good."

Carter smiled right back. "Well, as you know the key to good business is leverage, that, and using people's desires against them."

Shaw snorted. "No, I find a healthy dose of fear is most effective."

So Monica had her answer - he was a complete psychopath and even scarier - Verone was wary of him.

Verone smirked at Shaw. "Then I think you will like this."

They were led out of the VIP section and followed Carter's lead to one of the back rooms. When they got there, they saw a detective had been dragged in and tied to a table. Brian had also arrived no doubt summoned by the other goon and as soon as he walked through the door - the show started.

"Detective Whitworth. I am so glad you can join us!" Carter said with manic glee.

Apart from Carter's two shadows the other's just stood around awkwardly. Carter wasn't happy and he finally had a target for his anger. Carter got in his face, "You were paid good money and now you are reneging."

O'Conner snorted and sat on a chair, choosing to pour himself a glass of wine. "Youch, no one likes a dirty cop you know. It takes one word to my buddies who still work for the FBI and you are in big trouble."

"You're a cop?!"

Brian smiled and it was a devastating one. "No. Detective Whitworth. I quit the FBI last week, they didn't like my husband."

Whitworth put two and two together and paled seeing Brian standing next to Carter with matching wedding bands on their fingers. Whitworth tried to explain it. "Now, I am working on it. I can't just call the surveillance off without raising questions."

Carter shrugged and turned to his husband. "Well, husband, you wanted to know how I do business stick around you are about to get a ringside seat."

Brian played it cool as he there was no point in losing it. Carter was being pushed to breaking point but they didn't want him to snap until they were ready.

Carter picked a rat out of the metal tin and looked truly mental with the blowtorch in one hand and the rat in the other. Monica wanted to throw up and that was when he decided to torture the guy using the rat. She shuddered just thinking of the high pitched squeals the vermin emitted as Carter used the torch to warm up its little home. Whitworth's screams and pleading couldn't stop the noise.

Carter had demanded. "Monica hold him."

She shook her head not willing to cross that line. She may be playing a role but there were some lines you couldn't cross - she had found hers.

O'Conner had rolled his eyes at her. "If you want something doing, do it yourself."

He got up out of his chair as if there wasn't a twisted torture scene occurring right in front of him. He bent down towards the poor detective's head and shushed him, stroking his head and whispering in his ear. It was so very twisted, and yet worked perfectly - O'Conner was the calm comfort - to Verone's nasty violence. It never once crossed the detective's mind that O'Conner could have tried to stop the torture - he was just grateful for the perceived comfort.

"YES! You will have your window!" Whitworth yelled.

Carter only let the guy up once he was sure, he helped the detective get presentable and then they disappeared. Once he scurried away, Carter looked at Monica, Brian, and Owen. "Now you see what happens to rats and how I keep business unpinched. Any further questions?"

They all shook their head and Monica would freely admit that she used the first excuse she could to get the hell out of there. It was a mistake, as she missed the byplay between Shaw and O'Conner and between the married couple themselves. In the end, It would be what stopped the DEA getting the drugs, or Carter.

Brian wasn't easily ruffled and seeing the DEA agent scurry away. He was less than impressed. "Look, you just can't get the help. You really should stop picking on looks."

Carter rolled his eyes and put it down to misplaced jealousy. "Well, she doesn't hold a candle to you."

Brian smiled sweetly. "I assume that was why you put a ring on it."

Shaw snorted seeing the disintegration of a marriage before his very eyes. It was so very sad that the one party couldn't see it happening. "Well, that was all very amusing but I'm bored now so I shall take my leave until Saturday. Now how do I get out of here?"

Brian was quick to offer. "Let me show you the way."

Shaw waited until he was sure that they were alone. "Whatever made you think he was a good prospect for a husband?"

Brian had been asking himself the same thing. "I ask myself the same thing. He was charming."

Even as he said it, Brian knew it sounded lame to his ears. Shaw smirked at him knowing what he was thinking. "You had more passion with me in one dance, than I have ever seen you display with Carter, and that was before you knew what a son of a bitch he was."

Brian felt like he needed to defend his mother-in-law, Nina, was a wonderful woman and dotted on Brian. "Hey, Nina is okay, leave her out of this. I am not blind to us, and I know it wasn't your gun poking me on the dancefloor. Let me get divorced first."

Shaw leaned in way too close. "Wait? Until the papers are signed? When?"

Brian snorted. "Until Carter is behind bars."

Shaw walked out of the club whistling a jaunty tune.

Brian turned around to see Carter brooding at the corner. "What's the matter, Carter? It's not like you to stay quiet."
He hissed as his back slammed against the wall. He was getting tired of the wall slamming especially when it wasn't even in the fun way. "You let anyone else touch and I will kill them slowly and make you watch."

Brian grinned slyly at his husband because really, this jealousy routine was wasted on him. "You want to kill Shaw? Good luck!"

Carter growled and punched as Brian walked away without looking back. This was not his week; he had a deal to close; Shaw to run out of town, and a husband to twist back his way. If he got through the week without a body count he would be surprised. He made a mental note to ask the cleaning lady to order extra supplies.

The actual takedown of Carter had been pathetically easy. He was so paranoid about Brian that he wouldn't let him out of his sight. Brian could have protested the damsel routine but it was how the FBI would know to come to the docks. He had the GPS tracker sewn into his shirt collar. Shaw had sent the DEA towards the airport with simple misdirection.

Shaw stepped onto the boat as sirens got ever closer. "It's over Carter and these nice people would like a word with you."

Brian was grabbed and whirled around so that he was facing Owen. He wasn't scared and he made sure Owen knew it. He was more than happy to take a shoulder wound if necessary but he had one last card to play first.

"Come any closer and I will put a bullet in him." Carter hissed, his gun pressed into Brian's temple.

Brian groaned. "Oh come on, you asshole! I'm your husband and you want to shoot me? Show's where I come in your priorities. Well..."

Brian said no more. - He stomped on Carter's heel and used the shock to take his suspect down. He may have had to quit the FBI but that didn't mean he'd forgotten his training. He trusted Owen to shoot Carter if he tried anything.

So Brian took his eyes off Carter to greet the newly arrived FBI. Thank god, they hadn't actually started the boat. "Director Penning, I thought you should meet my husband, Carter Verone."

"Mr. Verone, you are under arrest for the following crimes ..."

Brian watched with no feelings at all visible as his soon to be ex-husband was cuffed and had his Miranda rights read to him by Penning. He'd done the job, faked going native and finding the evidence. He didn't realise how grateful and reliant he'd come to be on Owen until this time. It was more than as more than a work partner - he hadn't been lying in the club, scary and as stupid as it was - he wanted to see where it went.

Owen was standing next to him, offering support, standing a little too close for just a friend. Owen asked him a question in his ear, making him shiver, "Is there anything you want to say to Carter before they take him away?"

Brian was staring at Carter, there was a crazed look in his eyes and you could tell he was already planning retribution. He did not like seeing Owen with his husband. Good luck with that - Owen would put him in the ground if he even tried. Well, that was if Owen got there before he killed Carter himself.

Brian knew just what he wanted to say. "Yeah I want a divorce!"

The FBI had left the scene, Penning, asking when they'd be in the office. Brian had shrugged and simply said. "You should be asking him... It was his Blacklist."

They stood still staring at the water so many things unsaid. Brian was almost free of so many things - the FBI, Carter - but where was it taking him. Shaw.

Brian wasn't stupid or naive. He could see the havoc and carnage Shaw had caused to his life since he'd casually strolled into the FBI and offered to catch the criminals they didn't even know about. They had done that - but as a consequence, Brian's life had been torn down around his ears. What did he have left? His job at the FBI would be awkward, he would be under suspicion no matter his innocence. In truth, ignorance of Carter's activities was just as damning as being complicit. There was no way he intended to ask for his badge back.

"Have you enjoyed ruining my life?" Brian asked, at least maintaining his strength and fire. He may trust Owen with his life but that didn't mean he'd let Shaw have it all his own way.

Shaw shook his head, "That is not what I have done." He sounded so sure, "You just don't see it."

In fact, in typical Shaw fashion - the man pulled him into a less friendly hug and more a sexual one.

Brian tellingly didn't pull away. This should be awkward considering he was still married to Carter but in his mind - he'd already divorced Carter now he was just waiting for the paperwork.

"No," Brian snorted, "what would you call it?"

"I have freed you."

"Freed me?" Brian repeated, trying to think about it from Shaw's point of view. "My career is in tatters. My marriage is over." He finished, thinking it through.

Shaw shrugged, "Your marriage was stifling you and you were trapped at the FBI. It is so much more fun on my side of the fence."

Brian thought about it. He was not sure running with Owen was the right idea but there was something to the idea. "So what now?"

"Come to London and let me seduce you," Owen said with rash confidence.

Brian wanted to chuckle at his sense of timing. "You will need to do a lot to convince me."

Owen had a twinkle in his eye, "Darling I will erase every memory of the rat bastard if you let me." He was looking at Brian and he could see the indecision. "Say yes."

"Yes."

Owen pulled him down into a fiery kiss. The kiss was full of everything Brian hoped for passion, strength, longing, desire, and hope. Brian's body was humming from just a kiss. He couldn't wait to see what happened when they got near a bed.

The kiss broke. "If I do this ... The FBI will have Interpol on your back."

Shaw inwardly smirked because it was cute how Brian was already thinking of how to help him. You see Carter used Brian for a layer of protection and someone to warm his bed. Owen had bigger and better plans and they relied on a willing partner who would share his information on how law enforcement worked. "Well, they would have to catch us first."

Brian chuckled. "You make a fair point. "

Owen smirked as he had gotten his way. "You know it is true ... All roads eventually lead to London."

~The End~