"Help! My name is Masha Rostova. I'm a Russian agent. I work for the FSB, and I'm seeking diplomatic immunity."

Ressler couldn't believe the words that he had just heard coming out of Liz's mouth. This was everything that she was accused of being and she just admitted it in front of him and Agent Navabi, after jumping into the Russian embassy no less!

Was there any possibility that this was true?

'Nah nah nah nah….how is it possible? I know her, probably better than anyone. I've seen her at her highest and at her lowest. There's no way. It just isn't possible.' His heart said.

'But isn't this what intelligence operatives do? Isn't this how it works?' A bit too rational part of his mind argued.

'Remember what they told you about espionage in Quantico; hostile intelligence operators will build your trust and make you feel comfortable with them so that you're more forthcoming with their required information and/or are more amiable to being recruited & staying unsuspicious'

'No, not Liz. I know her.' His heart insisted & he shook his head lightly while looking into her eyes as she was pressed against the other side of the gate by Russian soldiers. She was looking apprehensive but also a bit relieved, and maybe even a little defiant, at staying away from being captured by the FBI.

For a fleeting moment, his heart won the argument. He felt a look of disappointment and sorrow come onto his face.

'What have you done Liz? What have you done? If you had only trusted in me a little bit more then I could have saved you. Now your career is finished, you'll be branded a traitor and spend the rest of your life being interrogated by some FSB agents in some hell hole Russian jail.' Ressler thought.

They kept staring at each other for a moment, and then she said, with conviction, without batting an eye, almost as if she was reading his thoughts:

"My conscious is clear. I served my country".

'Was that meant for me or for the Russians guards trying to handcuff her behind her back?' Ressler thought, a little confused.

'No, she's definitely talking to me.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

Even if, she's telling you to wipe that look of disappointment and disbelief off your face because she's at peace with herself being who she is; a Moscow born FSB officer, Masha Rostova. She doesn't give a damn about you or anyone else, only her mission as an FSB agent. She killed the AG in cold blood with dozens of witnesses watching, she killed Senator Hawkins openly, knowing we'll find out about her through the video footage, she killed 14 CIA officers in cold blood and used you as a cover to hide her true intentions. And now she's pitying you, Fool!'

'No, tha…..'

'And can you imagine the kind of information she would have constantly provided to Russia due to her access to sensitive resources and FBI databases? Counter intelligence unit knew there was a mole in the FBI somewhere. She is it!'

'…...No, that's no…t….'

His train of thought was interrupted by Agent Navabi when she pulled out her badge, put it against the gate and demanded in a commanding tone to the guards holding Keen:

"She's an American citizen & an FBI most wanted fugitive, open the gate and hand her over to us now or you'll risk making this a diplomatic disaster. You have no right to harbor FBI fugitives!"

Both the guards looked up for a moment in surprise at the aggression in her voice. But before either of them could say anything, Keen spoke up in a hurry looking at one of the guards;

"No, I'm a Russian by birth and an FSB officer, FBI has no jurisdiction here. Take me to the rezident".

Both the guards shared a look and then one of them turned over to Agent Navabi, came close and took a glance at the badge that Navabi had put up against the gate, before looking up at her and saying in a surprisingly thick Russian accent:"

"Lady, vat ever grievances you haff you need to take them up at the official level with the embassy. Rite now ve are following standard operating procedures & that entails ensuring that rites of all Russian citizens are respected. You both need to take a step back from gate becauz you are blocking the entrance."

"She's an American. You're violating international laws and conventions here. Just le…"

"Lady, please step back and clear the pavement". The guard interrupted and made a gesture indicating her to move away from the gate.

Navabi knew her attempt at cowering them hadn't worked, it had flimsy chances at the outset, 'but it was still worth a try', she thought. Her stare off with the guard continued for a moment before she put a hand on Ressler's shoulder and said lightly:

"Come on Ressler, we're done here. It's out of our hands now".

Ressler didn't respond. He looked on as a soldier turned Liz around and did a full body pat down and then started walking her back into the embassy building. He noticed that they had not put on handcuffs on her as he had expected they were doing, the soldier had just lightly grabbed Liz's arm as he was taking her inside. "Off course, why would they handcuff one of their own? Fool!" His rational brain admonished.

But his heart didn't respond this time. Perhaps it had stopped beating watching Liz walking into a life of humiliation and distrust, or maybe it had no further explanation to exonerate her actions? Whatever the case was, he knew in that moment that this was probably the last time he was he was seeing his partner.

"Fool!" his mind screamed again.

Rezident: Designation of Station Chief of FSB (Russian intelligence) in a Russian Embassy.