Note: Character's thoughts were written in italic.
Partner
Donald Ressler looked up to see Elizabeth Keen just came out from Cooper's office and headed downstairs. A slight of happiness was plastered on her face. Only a slight, he thought. His mind wandered to what happened in the whole day that day. Well, she seemed a little bit off today, didn't she. It's like she's tired or something. She looked beautiful, but her jaw was tense, at least when they were talking this afternoon. She looked uninterested, low in energy. He remembered he had tried to lift up her mood a bit. He really did. But, it couldn't bring her bright smile back. Strange, he considered, especially when he knew the reason why Cooper called her into his office. 'I guess it will be not so easier as I thought for everything will be like the old days again...' he thought with a tint of sadness crossing his heart. But it would neverstop him to try, he thought with a fresh determination deep inside.
"Congratulations!" He said when Keen approach him with her blank stare.
She looked up to find his eyes.
"Huh?"
"Your installment, Agent Keen." He smiled.
"Oh, right. You know!"
"It's all over the news, come on!"
"Yeah." She returned the smile.
'Finally.' He thought. "You seem not too excited about that." He commented.
Keen looked thoughtful for a moment, then said with a brighter face.
"Not really! I'm excited! It's just... unbelievable. It's still like I'm dreaming.."
He laughed. 'That's why.' "Well, you're not. Start right now, you're my partner again!" He said enthusiastically, too enthusiastically. He couldn't help himself not to.
She stunned at his last word and he wondered why.
'That's right, isn't it? She was, she is and she will always be his partner at least at work...'
'I'll make sure you'll never cross that line again, I'll never lose you again,' he thought.
"What's the matter, Keen? You mind being paired with me?" He asked in a light tone.
"No!" She rejected immediately. "I love to be your partner!"
His heart leaped a little, but he waited patiently for her to continue.
"I..." She halted. "After all that had happened... I mean... we're good, aren't we?"
She looked serious.
'Hell, she became more serious lately.'
Ressler's eyes grew larger. He tried to understand what she meant, what she's so reluctant to say. He knew there's so much had happened between them. Cat and mouse, friendliness and clash, good and bad, life and near-death... but like it or not, he knew his stand where she's concerned. And recently, it's getting clearer for him.
'I wish you know what effect you have on me..., but I can't..., and I don't know if you will ever know...' He stopped himself and pushed away his own mind.
"Liz," he said seriously, "I'm good. I'll always try to be. You?" He asked, concerned.
She didn't immediatelly answer, but then she said, "I'm good if you're."
He smiled and said reassuringly, "Then we're good!"
She smiled back, not quiet reaching her eyes, then nodded.
"Good. Then, I need to go."
"Let me guess, to find Red?"
"Yep."
He understood.
"So, see you tomorrow, Partner?" He said with his best smile and look.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
She left. He watched her walking to the elevator until she dissapeared from his eyes. His head was full of thoughts.
He promised to himself then, 'One day – everyday, I'll try to lighten up your face again, Keen. I promise.'