In Pieces, Chapter 2

Liz sighed as the heavy elevator doors opened and she walked into the Post Office. She still felt undeniably hurt and betrayed from yesterday; it was like someone had cut out a chunk of her heart, leaving a raw emptiness. Liz had considered staying home and calling in sick, but she knew that if anything, she should go to work, be around other people rather than wallowing in her feelings. She squared her shoulders as she saw her colleagues gathered around Aram's work station, chattering. She could do this. She had to be brave. Checking her watch, she looked at the time. It was 7:00 in the morning. Perfect timing. Walking over to everyone, Liz greeted them.

"Good morning, everyone," she said, pasting a smile onto her face. Aram, Samar, and Cooper looked up at her, all of them seeming apprehensive as they replied,

"Good morning." Liz immediately noticed that Ressler wasn't with them, and she gave them all questioning looks.

"Where's Ressler?" They all snorted, pointing to their shared office.

"He's up in your guy's office. Been there all morning," Cooper laughed, reaching to pick up a steaming cup of coffee that Liz assumed he had been drinking before off Aram's desk. He took a swig, coughing at the temperature as he set it back down.

"I thought that was going to be a little bit cooler after having left it out for 5 minutes," Cooper mumbled, shaking his head. Liz laughed, patting him on the shoulder before walking past them and climbing the steps up to her and Ressler's shared office. She opened the door, finding a frustrated Ressler drowning in endless stacks of papers.

"Damn, what the-" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. Liz covered her laugh behind her hand.

"How's it going over there?" She asked, smiling. Ressler's head snapped up, surprised, but he relaxed and looked back down when he saw it was her, the scratching of his pen on paper grating against her ears.

"Ah, Keen. How are you? Feeling any better?" Liz sighed and shrugged, leaning back against her desk.

"If I'm being honest, not really. I've been putting up a pretty good act, though." Ressler looked up at her, setting down his pen.

"This isn't good, Keen. You can't work like this." Liz huffed, looking away.

"I know, but what else am I supposed to do? I hate being at home; everything reminds me of him. But I want to stay home and keep to myself. I just don't know anymore." Ressler's eyes softened.

"I see." They were both quiet for a moment, neither knowing what to say, before a familiar sound filtered up and through the door.

"Good morning everyone. My, what a day it is outside, shining and beautiful. It reminds me of the one summer when I stayed at my Uncle Harry's house, mind you that was quite some time ago…" Ressler snorted, getting up from his desk and coming over to Liz, clapping her on the shoulder.

"Well, now you've got something to do." Liz laughed.

"We have something to do. Did you forget that we're partners?" Ressler shook his head, choosing not to respond as they made their way out of their office and downstairs. Although she wasn't completely sure, Liz could've sworn she saw him smile. The thought made Liz smile to herself. She was right to come back to work today. Being around everyone again made her train wreck of a life seem a little bit better.

"Lizzie!" Reddington greeted when her and Ressler came into view.

"What a shame, you and Donald just missed my absolutely wonderful story about my summer at my Uncle Harry's house when I was fifteen." Liz rolled her eyes as Cooper muttered "albeit very detailed" under his breath.

"We heard plenty from upstairs, Reddington." She came to stand beside Cooper, Ressler coming to stand at her other side.

"So, what's this all about, Reddington? Do you have another case for us?" Reddington smiled, setting his light straw hat that he always wore on Aram's desk.

"As a matter of fact I do. The next Blacklister on my list is one that I've been hunting for a long time; he's one of the more dangerous ones on my list. I think that this mission might require the whole task force." Everyone started.

"Really? And just what makes you think that?" Cooper asked, clearly agitated. Reddington laughed.

"Oh, don't get your trousers in a knot, Harold. I'm simply saying this as a precaution. My next Blacklister operates farther up north, in with our Canadian friends. He's a drug dealer, one that's extremely powerful. He's made millions off the trade, but also enslaved thousands of people to do his dirty work for him and killed twice that for those who weren't up to his satisfaction. This man is very dangerous, and could require a lot of manpower to take down. That's why I'm suggesting that the whole task force get involved." Cooper sighed, looking conflicted.

"Alright. What's this person's name?"
"Connor Shraw," Reddington said, looking indifferent. Aram began typing away furiously on his keyboard, scouring the FBI records, and any other records really, for any scrap of information on a certain Connor Shaw. Cooper started off towards his office.

"I'll call the local Canadian police then and get this cleared with them. In the meantime, everyone get ready for departure." Reddington laughed again as he grabbed his head and set it firmly on his head again.

"Yes, yes. Get ready everyone. We leave at 5:00 in the morning sharp tomorrow. I'll send vehicles to come retrieve you and bring you to my private jet. Make sure you're ready."