A/N: This is a two part sort of Keenler story. I left it open so that if I have the time and there is interest I could continue it as a Multi-Chap possibly. Liz's world gets torn apart and Ressler is there to help. *Character Death*
PART 1
"I don't know what to do man," Ressler said as he stared in to the bottom of his coffee cup.
He looked across the table at his NA sponsor. A man named Steve. Steve was a former Metro DC Detective until his addiction ended his career. Learning and leaning on Steve had proved to be a life and career saver for him so far. Steve knew what it was like to have a job like his and face addiction.
"You don't trust your partner. You don't trust your team," Steve said softly. "You rely on them day to day to watch your back. Do you trust them to do that?"
"She wouldn't let me get shot. But, I don't know. I feel like it's me against all of them. I try, Steve. I screwed up that night with her. And I fired her but not because of that night. She betrayed my trust. So, why am I always the ass? She's constantly getting in her little digs."
"Donnie, I think you know what you need to do." Steve lifted his cup to his lips.
"It's what I worked for and it's all going to hell."
"And pushing you to the brink of using again. What's more important?"
IIIIIIII
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Cooper questioned as he reviewed the paperwork.
"Positive. I'm taking a leave and when the two weeks are over I'd hope a transfer is set?" Ressler hung back by the door. "And I'd rather we keep this between the two of us."
"Of course. You've been an exemplary agent. You'll be missed." Cooper stood up to shake Ressler's hand.
"No. I won't be. And I haven't been. I had a perfect record before this task force. I've compromised myself too often and for what? I don't like the man I'm becoming and I need to move on." He shook Cooper's hand then added with a smile. "It was a privilege to work with you, sir"
Ressler wandered down the stairs only to see Samar and Aram talking by Aram's desk. He felt bad for Aram. He was obviously in love with Samar and it was obvious she knew and was using it to whatever advantage she could. He was also beyond pissed off at Aram for forcing an apology out of him while he had less than a minute to diffuse a damn bomb. His life was not worth an apology, that to be honest, he didn't even really mean. She was being bitch. And had been for a while.
He turned his gaze from the pair and entered his office. Liz had gone home for the day. She would wonder where he was but she was busy with the baby and Tom so he doubted she'd worry much. Samar would be relieved as would Aram. This was for the best. Now, all he had to do was organize his finished files and once he was sure the building was empty of anyone of importance he'd clear up his few personal belongings. Then close this chapter on his life.
"Did you put in your report that Aram withheld information regarding the bomb?"
"No." Ressler rolled his eyes but refused to look up. "I should have. That was reckless and stupid. Anything could have gone wrong. We could have died because he had to defend your honor."
"You're an ass, you know that?" Samar snapped at him.
"And this is our problem." Ressler stood up. Screw it. After this he'd never see again. What did it matter? "You. You need to learn to keep your personal feelings aside from the professional. You don't like me. Fine. But you don't get to constantly disrespect me. In front of people on a near daily basis."
"You fucked me and fired me!"
"Is it that we slept together or that I fired you that has you so pissed off, Navabi? Because as I recall it was a mutual thing that night. I didn't force it. I didn't use my position to influence you. And I wouldn't have fired you if you hadn't aided a felon." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I was honest with you about how I felt. I don't know where your allegiance falls. Is it the task force or Reddington? Or something completely different? I trusted you. I respected you."
"Oh, come off it. You are no better than I am. All the rules you broke for her. You almost got me killed because of her."
"I let her go, yes. If I hadn't Tom Connolly would be alive. I live with that every day. But, that is the only rule I broke. I worked around what I had to to keep her safe." He rubbed the back of his neck. "And come on, I had that scene under control. I'm not some incompetent gun wielding fool. I could take that shot with my eyes closed. I would never have risked your life. I saw his face, you didn't. He wasn't going to hesitate to put you down."
Samar had her arms crossed. "I could get you fired for sleeping with me."
"Go ahead. I'm over it. Act the martyr. I've tried. I'm done." Ressler grabbed his jacket. No longer caring about what little he had in his desk. "Just stop stringing Aram along. It's tacky."
And with that he waltzed by her and towards the elevator. He was mad. At Samar. At himself. At Reddington. At the FBI. At Liz. At the world. His hands were shaking and all he wanted was to get a release from the rage boiling inside of him. Thankfully, his bags were packed and all he had to do was stop at the store before he was out of the city and in the country. At his cabin. Where he could be away from everything and everyone.
IIIIIIIII
She looked around their office. It was now 10 am and Ressler hadn't been in yet. It wasn't like him. She knew they weren't as close as they used to be. He was distant and she hadn't made a real attempt to fix it. She was selfish. She had her baby and now Tom to think about but this wasn't right. Ressler was never this late. Samar walked by and she called out to her.
"Did Ressler call off or something?" she asked. "This isn't like him," she added.
"You don't know him at all," Samar grumbled before walking away.
Liz just watched as Samar walked away. Something had been different between them as well. Actually, the whole team was different. She assumed it was her return but now maybe thinking on it there was more. But, that was for another time. Now, she wanted to make sure Ressler was fine. He still hadn't responded to her text earlier in the day and when she called him it went straight to voicemail. She saw Red and Dembe going up the stairs and quickly followed.
"Something is wrong with Ressler," Liz said right before they entered the office.
"I know, Lizzie. I'm here to find out what." Red waltzed in to Cooper's office without being invited and took a seat. "Harold, seems Agent Ressler is a no show today. And he's not at his apartment and my people cannot locate a signal on his cell phone."
"Do you have someone watching him?" Liz hissed. It was only 10 am. There was no reason why Red would know any of this.
"I do." Red turned to Cooper. "He never came home last night."
"Maybe he had a date?" Cooper responded.
"Oh, Harold. That's funny." Red laughed then quickly turned serious. "He either left the task force or was fired. I'll walk away if you don't bring him back in to the fold. It's no fun without him. What would I do with all my jokes?"
Liz glanced between Red and Cooper. She never once thought Ressler had left and Red jumping to that conclusion so quickly made her wonder what he knew that she didn't.
"It was his choice. He asked to be transferred out and requested that I not tell anyone until his two week leave was up. He has that right." Cooper took is glasses off and pinched the bridge of his noise. "Things haven't been easy around here lately. If leaving is what is best for him who are we to force him back?"
Liz felt her heart drop and closed her eyes. He left. He left and didn't tell her. After everything they had been through and he just abandoned her. Ressler fought so hard for her and now he just walked away. Her hurt was quickly turning to anger. Who the hell did he think he was?
"Thank you, sir. I'm sure we'll all get along just fine without him."
She slowly got out of her chair and wandered down to the war room where Samar and Aram were watching her. She felt like she was in a daze. He was gone. She found herself standing in front of Samar. She opened and closed her mouth a few time unable to speak before Aram finally asked her if anything was wrong.
"Ressler. He's…he quit. He's gone," she finally managed. She didn't miss the quick smile that fell on Samar's mouth before she set it straight. "Did he say anything to either of you?"
"No. But it's better this way. He is reckless and one day will get somebody killed," Samar snapped.
"Excuse me?" Liz reeled back.
"He knew he couldn't hack it anymore, Liz. We will be fine without him." And with that Samar stormed away.
"I'm sorry, Liz. I know you two were close." Aram looked down his keyboard.
Liz just slowly shook her head and walked back to her desk. She really didn't need to be there but she was planning on telling her co-workers about her marriage to Tom. She already told Cooper but wanted to tell Ressler before anyone else. They were going to have a small wedding but she wanted all her friends there. She had a feeling that Ressler would refuse but he still deserved to hear it from her and not from Samar like he found out about the baby adoption. She reached down for her bag and decided she'd come back in and tell Samar and Aram.
IIIIIIII
He almost forgot how much he loved the fresh air and quiet out at the cabin. The simplicity of it all. No TV, only movies to watch if he was so inclined. Books. Nature. Guns to shoot. Wood to chop. Nothing to worry about. Yet, as he split another log for the fire he couldn't help but worry about how Keen was. He swore he wouldn't think about her anymore. She had her new life and he wasn't part of that. He couldn't support her being with Tom Keen and he couldn't tell her that and hurt her. So, this was best.
The task force took more away from him than it ever gave. He nearly died while protecting Reddington. He was given another shot at love with Audrey only to have her ripped away. And he pushed his best friend in to suicide. He felt Meera's life slip from his hands as he tried to stop her bleeding. He watched as a shadow government tried to frame someone who more or less was his only friend and nearly lost her. He lost all faith in the system he once followed blindly. Perhaps it was time for a career change.
"You are too predictable, Donald."
Not dropping the ax, he slowly turned to find Reddington and Dembe next to their car that he had somehow not heard pull up.
"I'm not even gonna ask." He turned around and threw the ax in to the tree stump and gathered a few logs and wordlessly walked in to the cabin.
"For being on a federal pay check you do have a nice place out here," Red said as he entered the decent sized cabin.
"My father left it for me. His father gave it to him. But, I think you already know that." Ressler dropped the logs by the fire and stood with his arms crossed. "Why are you here?"
"You left the task force. There are few people I trust to work with. Those on your team happen to be part of that list. I do not want a new agent to take your place."
"I'm not coming back. I'm done."
"Well, then. I'd like to offer you a job. Private security." Red took a seat in the leather chair closest to the fire.
Ressler laughed and nodded to Dembe. "Isn't that what he is for?"
"Oh, not for me. No, God no." Red chuckled then turned serious. "For Lizzie."
Ressler shook his head. Why would he be needed for security when Tom was more than
capable of protecting her. Something was going on and Ressler felt uneasy about it now. He took a seat on the couch across from Red and nodded for him to continue.
"I have enemies. Tom has enemies. People are still after Lizzie. She isn't safe." He closed his eyes. "It's all going to come to a head this weekend. There's nothing I can do to stop it but I can make sure she's safe."
"What's happening this weekend?"
"The not so blessed union of Elizabeth and Tom."
Ressler felt his heart drop. Hard. On the floor. Liz was marrying Tom. He was crushed and wouldn't admit the real reason why. Tom would only bring heartbreak. She was already forever linked to him by the baby but now she was marrying him. He heard Red tell Dembe to get them both a drink and soon he found a bourbon in his hand.
"I don't know what I'm needed for," he said finally after taking a sip.
"Talk around town is that his old boss is now working for the Cabal and he'd love nothing more than to take out Tom and any remaining link. That includes Elizabeth's child. I have a source who saw Matias Solomon and The Major at a meeting. This wedding is the perfect opportunity. If I can't get her to stop it I'll damn well keep her safe. Anyone else stupid enough to be there is on their own."
Ressler stared in to his glass. "What do you need to me do?"
"Just be on standby. You'll escort Liz to a safe house if it all comes to blows. No one will expect you." Red pulled an envelope out of his jacket and reached out to Ressler. "First part of your payment."
"I'm not taking your money. I'll do this. For her. And her child."
Reddington leaned back and smiled. Smug bastard. He knew Ressler would agree all along because when had he not done everything in his power to keep Liz safe.
IIIIIIIII
He sat behind the wheel of one of Reddington's SUVs. Black. Blackened windows. Bulletproof. He watched from a distance as Liz and Samar entered the church. Then Tom, Aram and Cooper. A few people he didn't know but assumed belonged to the small church had entered. Ressler was keeping his eyes out for anything out of the ordinary when Reddington arrived and entered the church. A few minutes later he exited and Dembe and Baz along with a few other men began taking a perimeter around the church.
His orders where to stay with the car until it came time to extract Liz. He needed to stay out of sight. If the Cabal attacked and saw him there his chances of protecting Liz were slim. He'd be on their radar. Then, like Red said it might happen, it did. Just like at the cabin with Tom and Karakurt men began to creep in from the shadows and soon one of Red's men were down. Red and Dembe ran in to the church and all Ressler could do was watch the battle from a distance.
"Come around the back, now," he heard Dembe's voice in his ear.
Ressler sped the SUV around the back and of the church, with his own weapon drawn and watching the area he waited. Soon, Dembe came rushing out with someone tucked under his arms. He unlocked the back door and the moment she was in he locked it again so she couldn't try to get out and sped away. Soon two identical SUVs were pulling up behind him as was part of the plan.
"Let me out! You can't do this!" Liz screamed as the SUV bounced on the now uneven ground.
"Buckle up. It's going to be fine," Ressler spoke from the front.
"Ress? What the hell? You are working with Red? Let me out. They are hurt. Aram got shot. And they are going to kill Tom."
"They were going to kill you. Because of Red and Tom. I'm not letting that happen. Trust me. For once. Trust me." He allowed one SUV to pull in front of him and they entered a busy road.
"Where are you taking me?" Liz buckled in.
"Somewhere safe. When Red has neutralized the threat we'll reunite you with Tom."
Liz laughed bitterly. "You think Red cares about Tom? About us? No. If you believed that you are a fool."
Ressler peaked in the rearview mirror and didn't see a tail at all. Didn't mean there wasn't one. They were nearing the separation point so he played a game of crisscross with the other two drivers to confuse anyone who may be following them. Then it was time to take the turn down the busy street that lead to numerous warehouses. He saw the one he wanted and turned in to the garage as the door was dropped down behind him. As he pulled up he noticed a small framed woman with short hair.
"Mr. Kaplan?" Liz said from the backseat. "Ress, please if you guys are going to take me away just…I love him. I do."
He shook his head. She had no faith in him, after all that. "I promise you once we are safe and secure Tom will be brought to you." He unlocked the doors and excited. "You must be Mr. Kaplan?" he asked as he stretched out his hand. "Liz said Agent Mojtabai was injured. Any word?"
"Don't worry about your friend. Raymond will make sure he is taken care of. For now, let's get you and Elizabeth out of here." She pulled a sheet off a black sedan and handed Ressler a bag. "Clothes for Elizabeth."
"Liz?" Ressler called. He handed her the bag. "Get changed. We have to move."
Liz huffed but took the bag and walked off to an area with more privacy. Ressler turned to Mr. Kaplan to discuss their plans. Someone would destroy the SUV while Ressler took Liz in the Sedan out to a remote cabin. Reddington, being the ever prepared man that he was, found a cabin that had a storm shelter. It was one that he used as a contingency plan. According to Reddington, the shelter beneath the cabin was stocked and ready. All he had to do was keep Liz down there and safe. And should she need medical attention he had a team in place nearby.
"Raymond is concerned what the stress of all this will do to the baby. So, the shelter has anything that may be needed for the mobile team. You just call this number and they will be there. If all goes as planned she won't be there long."
"You promise I'll see Tom again?" Liz asked once she came out changed in jeans and a t-shirt. Mr. Kaplan handed her a jacket and she nodded her thanks.
"Yes, I promise. Now, can we go?"
Liz just slipped in to the car without a word. Ressler nodded to Mr. Kaplan before entering the car and speeding off. He hoped they wouldn't need the mobile team. He hoped Red would have this all over by the morning. The ride out of the city and in to the country had been quiet. He pulled up next to a creek a ways away from the cabin and instructed Liz that they would be going the rest of the way on the ATV he had uncovered from the brush. It was a chilly ride up to the cabin so he ushered Liz in before heading back out to hide the ATV.
"I'm just going to go find a bed and sleep," she said quietly.
"Not yet," Ressler said. He looked around and found the rocking chair in the corner of the room. He moved it out of the way and pulled the area rug off it. When he pulled open the door in the floor he heard Liz gasp. "Always prepared. I'm sorry but he wants you down here."
IIIIIIII
Ressler and Liz had been at the cabin for a few hours now with no word. He left the door open to the shelter below but Liz had been relatively quiet. He heard noise outside and without a word slammed the door shut and replaced the carpet. He then grabbed his gun and peaked out the window. He didn't see anyone but he sure heard them. Then he heard the voice.
"It's Tom," came the voice from the front door. "Let me in."
Ressler cursed. A bit of a notice would have been wonderful. And he was really surprised Reddington offered up the location to Tom. He opened the door and saw a very ragged looking man. "Where you followed?"
"No. I want to see Liz," Tom demanded.
"Aram. How's Aram?"
"He'll be fine. Cooper and Samar as well."
Ressler sighed in relief. He opened the hidden door and called down to Liz. He pointed to the opening for Tom then once he was down there he shut the door. He had no intention or desire in hearing them talk about how worried they were about each other. He set the rocking chair over the door and sat. And waited. A few hours later and still no word from Reddington he heard pounding on the door below.
"What's wrong?" Ressler asked as he opened the door to reveal a panicked Tom looking up at him.
"She's in labor. We have to get her to a hospital."
"No. The hospital will come here," Ressler stated. "Go back down there and keep her calm. I'll take care of it." And without another word he shut the door. He pulled out his phone and sent the message to the mobile unit. He had a confirmation of an eta of 10 minutes.
Ressler waited by the door. Sure enough, 10 minutes later and at the door was a man with greying hair and two women were facing him. The man introduced himself as Dr. Nik and nurses Maria and Julie. Ressler did a quick pat down of all three then ushered them down the shelter. He found Liz laying on the cot with Tom by her side. He gave her a smile before going upstairs to keep watch. The stakes just got higher.