Just a little something Takada Saiko wanted to see and I obliged. What happens when Ressler and Tom go at it again and wind up in D.C. Metro lock up?
Ship neutral
GnomeGate
"This is all your fault," Donald Ressler growled at the man sitting across from him.
"Yeah, because I threw the first punch."
Ressler ignored the man. The man he only ever knew as Tom Keen and was surprised when the arresting officer called him Jacob Phelps. His name made no difference to him. He still didn't trust him. He still hated him. And it was all his fault they were sitting in a holding cell waiting on someone to come bail them out.
"Liz hasn't come for you yet, huh?" Ressler laughed.
"She didn't come for you either," Tom mocked. He was resting his head on the concrete wall and one leg was on up on the bench.
"I didn't call her." Ressler stared at him. "It's common knowledge that since she came back to work her and I aren't exactly the best of friends." He gently touched his eyebrow, wincing when he felt the tender flesh from where Tom's fist had connected. "This is embarrassing."
"Don't come at me next time. And not in a public place. And don't resist arrest." Tom laughed as he said the last line.
Bastard found this all so amusing. It was anything but. This was going to leave a black mark on his personal file and he couldn't afford that. And Tom. Well, Tom had a nice clean slate thanks to admitting to killing a man to keep Liz out of jail. That felt like a lifetime away. And all Ressler wanted to do was punch that smug son of bitch.
"Were you sad there wasn't a garden gnome to attack this time?" Tom teased.
That was it. Ressler refused to sit there and just take his bullshit. He flew off his bench and directly at Tom. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and when Jacob simply smirked his rage boiled over. He had his arm pulled back, hand rolled in a fist, and ready to connect fist to nose when a familiar voice was heard coming down the hall. So, instead of punching Tom in his smug face he let go of him and sat back down.
"If he was my guy I would let him sweat it out. That is not conduct I want in any of my men," a voice he didn't know said.
"Well, Captain. He's not your guy. He's mine."
That's when Assistant Director Harold Cooper came in to view. He frowned when he took in the sight of both Ressler and Tom.
"Phelps, your bail has been posted," the Captain said.
Ressler could only shake his head. He was a fool to think Cooper came for him. He and Tom were now little buddies ever since they worked together to help exonerate Liz. He was a fool for it too. Ressler still respected A.D. Cooper, who was given his job back once Karakurt admitted to everything and the CIA director was taken down, but he would never understand how he could work with Tom. But, Ressler calls Cooper to bail him out and he comes for Tom. Unbelievable.
"Thanks, Harry." Tom was smiling at Cooper then turned an eye towards Ressler.
"And Agent Ressler," the Captain addressed him. "You were never here. You have your boss to thank for that."
Ressler just nodded while smiling inside. So, Cooper kept his record clean but allowed record of Tom's brief time in the holding cell to stay. He considered that a small win. He didn't get many wins so he would take it wherever he could. Tom exited first, followed by Ressler. They followed Cooper and the Captain to his office where the he gave them back their personal belongings. He was never more ashamed or embarrassed of his behavior.
No one spoke until they exited the police station. It was pretty late at night and Ressler felt bad for making Cooper get up and dressed to deal with this. It wasn't until Tom went to walk one way and Ressler the other did Cooper finally open his mouth and in one authoritative tone call out to both of them.
"No one is leaving. We are all going to my house and have a little sit down," Cooper pointed to his car.
"Did you hide the gnome Char got you to replace the one he killed?" Tom snickered.
"You're an ass," Ressler muttered as he jumped in the front seat of Cooper's car. He did need a ride after all. And he knew better than to defy Cooper. He wondered if Tom would.
"Shut up both of you," Cooper hissed as he got in the car. He waited for Tom to get in before pulling on to the road. "You two are damn lucky I have a pull. What the hell where you thinking?"
4 hours ago
Ressler just wanted to forget about the shit day he had. Working with Liz was pretty much torture. They didn't really discuss much of her time on the run. She was still on modified duty, not having been cleared for field duty. So, he spent his time partnered with Samar and that was still pretty awkward for him. Sure, she seemed fine with what they had done that night. They were both in a very bad place but he couldn't help but feel strange around her. And Aram.
Today Aram found out about that night. Ressler never wanted him to know. If there was one thing he regretting about being with Samar it was what it could do to Aram. It crushed him. He held his composure longer than Ressler imagined he could before storming off. He wished Aram would have hit him in the face instead of giving him that look of pure disgust.
So, now here he sat. At a barstool. At a bar he had gone to once or twice with the team. It really shouldn't have surprised him to see Aram there, at their usual table. But, seeing Liz and him there as well was enough to make his blood boil. He made eye contact with Tom Keen for a moment then turned back to his drink and finished in one go. If he didn't leave now he would regret anything he did next.
"Ress," Liz said softly as he rushed past them. "Wait up."
He ignored her and was out of the bar in no time. He made it a few blocks down to his car when he heard his voice. His body tensed. What was his problem? Tom Keen really did not know how to leave someone alone. A garden gnome paid the price for that.
"Go away," Ressler hissed as he pulled his keys out.
"Stop being an ass to Lizzie. She just wanted to see how you were doing. The thing with you and Samar? Hey, I'm not judging. Aram is a little broken up about it but he will get over it."
"Thanks for being such an expert on Aram." Hold down the rage, hold down the rage. "What they hell are you doing anyway? Consoling him?"
"Look, just stop being an ass to Lizzie. For reasons I can't understand, she misses you. And miserable Liz makes for a miserable me."
Ressler let go of his door handle and crossed his arms. He had been wanting to know for a while know but was too stubborn to ask. Asking and getting confirmation would destroy him. Living in denial was much better. But, if Liz and Tom were together consoling Aram it could only mean one thing.
"So, are you two together again?"
"It kills you, doesn't." Tom had his arms crossed now too. "That she just ran and ran away from and ended up in my arms."
In a brief moment, before he could even process it, his hand was a fist and that fist connected with Tom's face. And it felt damn good. Until his body was propelled against his car. Or until he felt Tom knee him in the kidney or until Tom punched him in the face. They exchanged blows and ended up in the middle of the street when a D.C. Metro PD car pulled up and flashed their lights. Ressler cursed under his breath.
"Great. This is great," Jacob said as the two officers got out of their car.
"Gentleman," the shorter of the two officers spoke. His hand sitting on top of his service weapon.
"Look officers, we are really sorry about this. I was just getting ready to go home. We had a slight disagreement that's all." Ressler kept his hands in the open but wanted to jam them in his pockets as he was nervous. They were just brawling in the middle of the street and he knew he had alcohol in his system. He probably shouldn't have even been trying to drive himself home.
The two officer's moved them apart to speak with them separately. He couldn't make out what Tom was saying as he himself was trying to get out of this potential mess. He could always pull the "I'm FBI" card but locals weren't usually happy when FBI Agents tried to pull rank. Ressler saw out of the corner of his eye Tom and the other officer head his way and he kept his cool until those words just spewed out of his mouth.
"Yeah, I mean he's in love with my wife so you can understand that there is some jealousy," Tom remarked and with a wink to Ressler.
And that was when Ressler lost it. Armed officer in the way be damned. He came at Tom like a linebacker going after the opposing quarterback. Tom's legs lifted up off the ground as Ressler drove them both on to the hood of the police car. He felt a pair of arms pull him off of Tom and out of instinct pulled back and elbowed the owner. Tom laughed as the officer helping him up charged at Ressler and took him down.
"Might want to stop struggling, boy scout. They might have to tase you." Tom was watching with amusement. His smile faded when once Ressler was in cuffs the officer he had been dealing with advanced on him. "Hey, I didn't do anything."
"Yeah, well, chuckles. It takes two to tango."
4 Hours Later – Harold Cooper's Home
"Charlene, hunnie. I'm home. I brought the two jailbirds with me," Cooper called out as he walked through his front door.
Charlene was in the kitchen pouring four mugs of coffee. When Ressler sat down at the kitchen table she set it in front of him with a small smile. Tom was seated across from him and Ressler couldn't help but notice the soft pat Charlene placed on his shoulder. After kissing her husband and taking the empty seat at the other end of the table she took a deep breath and addressed the men.
"Elizabeth was worried sick about you two," Charlene began. "I told Harold here to keep you two in lock up a little longer but Liz convinced him otherwise."
"If he hadn't thrown that first punch, as usual, we wouldn't have been in this mess," Tom offered.
"No. You don't get to play innocent here. I'm sure your mouth ran just a bit." Charlene raised her eyebrows. "And you. Use your words before your fist."
Great he was getting a lecture. Just what he needed. Cooper just leaned back in his chair, drinking his coffee and was taking it all in. With a small smile on his face.
"I mean no disrespect ma'am but how you and Director Cooper can trust him is beyond me. The way he used Liz. Hurt her. Broke her," Ressler said noticing his voice cracked at that last part.
"Keep it shut," she snapped at Tom as if knowing he was going to mouth off. "Wait your turn." She placed a comforting hand on Ressler's. "We needed him, Donald. Liz needed him. It was a chance we had to take. I know he hurt her. I know he abused her trust. But, Liz did some pretty awful things to him as well." Charlene squeezed his hand tight and continued. "You can hate him all you want but he's not going away unless Liz tells him to. And I'm not sure that's about to happen anytime soon. She cares deeply for both of you."
Ressler snickered. Yeah, she cared about him. That was a laugh. After everything he had ever done for her she just abandoned him. She refused his help but allowed Tom to help her. If turning your back on the one person who never lied to her or broke her trust was caring, well then he didn't need that. He saw Tom was itching to talk but kept quiet. That was interesting.
"None of you were there. You didn't see how broken she was when she found out the truth. You weren't there when she explained how they fought. Physically fought. I was. I was there for all of it. And this man he destroyed her." He pulled his hand away. "And she just goes back for more."
"You weren't there," Tom began, almost unsure if Charlene would interrupt him again. When she didn't he continued. "You have no idea the things I've done to protect her. And that fight. If Liz won I'm sure we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. She started off by breaking my thumb. That was survival. It wasn't husband and wife. It was agent versus agent. You only know one side, Ressler."
Ressler looked down at his coffee. Tom was right about one thing. If Liz won there was a very good possibility that Tom would be dead. Liz was fighting for her life that day. She truly believed Tom was going to harm her. And it was true that he only knew one side, but Liz's side was enough for him. He didn't want to trust or forgive Tom. There was too much.
"You are both in love with the same woman," Charlene spoke softly.
"I'm - ," Ressler tried before Tom laughed. Charlene shot him a look and laughing stopped.
"You are both in love with the same woman," she said again. "You will never get along simply because of that. But, how about you try to get along for her sake." Charlene stood up and walked to the refrigerator. "Jacob," she said and it caught Ressler off guard that she knew he his real name. "She's still getting to know the real you. She's still adjusting to life not on the run. And Donald," she said as she pulled eggs and milk out of the fridge and setting them on the counter. "You two need to mend your partnership. Get back to who you were before all of this. She misses you. You miss her."
"Oh you boys are in for a treat," Cooper added as if trying to lighten the mood. "Charlene Cooper's famous French Toast." He looked at his watch and smiled. "She should be here soon, hunnie. I'll get her cup."
"Now, here is what is going to happen." Charlene cracked a few eggs open and began to prepare their late night breakfast. "Elizabeth is on her way. We will all eat like civilized adults. Then, Jacob you can either take the couch tonight or Harold can drive you home. Donald, Liz is coming to drive you home. You two have a lot you need to discuss. If anyone has a problem with being an adult leave now."
Ressler had never really interacted with Charlene much until tonight but he knew he liked her. She didn't take anyone's shit and she was to the point. He liked that. He supposed he could put up with Tom long enough to eat. He wasn't looking forward to having a conversation with Liz. It wasn't going to be pretty and it wasn't going to be easy. But, it needed to be done.
"Let me help you, Char." Tom stood up and made his way to the fridge. "You have any bacon in here?"
Tom and Charlene worked together at the stove making the food. Ressler stared in to his cup dreading the arrival of Liz. He promised himself he would work harder at not letting Tom get under his skin so much. If he wasn't going anywhere then neither was he. He was a part of Liz's life as well and there was no way he going to bow out to Tom Keen. Ressler turned to look at Tom and raised his eyebrow up at him while he took a sip of his coffee. Yeah, this could get interesting.