Thanks to my beta theblacklister23!

I knock on Liz's hospital door holding two flower arrangements; the one I bought and the one that Aram bought (and forced me to bring to her). It's been three weeks since she's been in the hospital and tomorrow the doctors have decided she's finally ready to go home and take care of herself, and head back to work and her normal routine in a week.

I continued to visit her each night after the day Reddington arrived at the hospital (he never returned to the hospital since, saying that maybe 'Liz does need her space'), and I've clarified things up about how the task force works, how Reddington is involved, and even little things about Tom.

Liz seems to have come to terms with it all (except for her relationship with Red, she's constantly asking questions about him and acting sort of afraid if he'll show up again so soon. I don't blame her, it's a strange notion that an FBI profiler is working with number four on the FBI's most wanted list), but surprisingly she hasn't really brought up Tom. Maybe she's in denial, maybe she's accepted it, I can't be sure.

And as long as Tom doesn't show up again, she'll find a way to come around to her new life.

When she sees me from where she's sitting on the bed, she smiles and waves me over.

"Hey, I got you these." I put down the flowers on her bedside table. "Well, Aram bought you one of them. He hopes you're okay."

"Oh, you guys really didn't have to," Liz says, blushing as she leans over to see the arrangements. "It's not like I just graduated high school or anything. I'm leaving the hospital, that's all."

I grin. "No, that's definitely an occasion. I mean, you've been in the hospital for almost three weeks dealing with a head trauma and now you're going home, I believe that's a reason to celebrate."

"Thanks." she smiles. "You guys are sweet."

I smile back in response, remembering how she had said the exact same thing to me on her birthday, which felt like ages ago.

"So, how's work?" Liz asks casually, pushing herself up.

"Oh, it's good." I answer earnestly. Now that Liz is getting better, things seem to be improving at work. In fact, we've found our Blacklister and apprehended him. "Our bad guy, he's captured. The case is closed. Things are good. We're just dealing with little cases right now."

"I want to get back to work and get used to everything, to how things used to be, you know?" Liz sighs. "You say I'm still a profiler but also a special agent now, how is that like? I want to find out for myself. The doctors say I should get back to work in a week, which is exciting."

She holds her gentle gaze on me for a few moments until I sit down on the chair by her bedside and speak up again. "So, uh, you excited to go home?"

"Oh, definitely. I mean, the hospital staff are super nice and all, but this place is sort of depressing." Liz nods, glancing around the room. "It's also awkward being taken care of, especially now that my head doesn't hurt as much and I can do normal stuff again. I can't wait to return home and sleep on my own bed without having nurses hover around me every second."

I bite my lip, suddenly remembering something rather important I forgot to tell her. "Uh, Liz, I don't know how to put it. . . you don't live in a house anymore."

"What?"

"Well, when you divorced Tom, you moved out of your old house, and now you. . . live in a motel." I don't know any better way to put it, and then I regret saying it after seeing how she tenses up at the mention of the name of her ex-husband.

Liz shakes her head in disbelief. "You're joking. Moving away from my old house sounds like something I would have done in that situation, but a motel room? Why did I choose to live in a place like that?"

"Actually, for the record, Reddington did buy you a room at a really fancy apartment," I add quickly. "but you turned it down for some reason."

She nods slowly, contemplating. "Okay. A motel room. It'll do for now. Where is it?"

"I know where it is. I'll drive you there tomorrow, if you want."

"Oh, thank you. I'd appreciate that." Liz beams. "I have no clue where it is, so it'd be nice for someone to show me where I live."

We both share an easy laugh, and I realize that it's her first real laugh in a long time. The last time I heard her laugh like this was on her birthday.

The birthday dinner we had together. I miss that so much.

Suddenly one of the nurses pops her head into the room. "Mr. Ressler, I think it's best if Elizabeth gets some sleep now. It is almost midnight after all. She needs to rest up before she heads home tomorrow."

"Alright. I understand." I get up reluctantly. "See you tomorrow, Liz."

I'm about to walk out of the room until she calls after me. "Ressler?"

I stop and turn around.

"I just wanted to say, I appreciate you doing this. All of it." Liz smiles gently. "It means a lot that, even though I don't remember you, you still want to help me. That's selflessness."

I smile a bit in modesty, shoving my hands into my pockets.

"You're a really sweet partner, Ressler." she continues without doubt. "Even though I barely know you, I feel like I do, and I did at one point in my life. I'm sure you've done so many things for me, and I can only hope I've done the same to you in return. I just hope I remember you again, one day."

What she says there, it's meant to sound nice and reassuring, and it does, but instead now I feel like crying right in front of her.

Because I miss the old Liz so much.

And that, right there, is exactly what the old Liz would have said.

The new Liz is not the old Liz, I need to remember that.

All of the old Liz is gone. She's gone and she's never coming back.

I'm not even thinking straight anymore.

I don't even know what to think anymore.

So before I break down in front of her, I smile and thank her and wish her goodnight without looking at her, then rush out of the room without another word.

"Agent Keen is coming back next week?" Aram repeats with excitement for the tenth time today after I told him this morning. "That's great news!"

"Yeah." I answer distractedly, filling out paperwork at the same time. "The doctors expect she'll make a full recovery."

I'm trying not to think about how Liz was before the accident, how perfect things were, but it's hard.

But, like I had reassured myself before, we're doing the right thing; starting again.

Rebuilding everything we had from the past two years from scratch.

"Samar!" Aram happily calls into the hall. "Did you hear? Liz's coming back next week!"

"That's great!" I hear Samar respond.

"She's coming home today, right?" Aram asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Um, yeah." I say, stacking up my papers. I glance at the clock, and it's a quarter until ten pm. It's almost time. "In fact, I've got to pick her up in half an hour, and I forgot to tell Cooper."

I haven't even told Reddington either. Shoot.

I glance around my office frantically for my bag, then I find it and pack up. "Can you cover for me, Aram?"

"Sure."Aram responds, moving out of the way so I can get to the doorway. "Tell her I said hi, okay?"

"Alright." I say quickly, putting on my jacket and taking the car keys out of my pocket.

And I do my best to think positive, to not think selfishly.

Remember, things are getting better.

Things are getting better.

When I arrive at her room, Liz is there sitting on the chair in the corner, but there are two other people in the room, their backs facing me.

Liz looks confused as she watches the two men talk.

And when I enter the room and one of the men turn around, I finally see why.

It's an angry-looking Raymond Reddington.

But then the other man turns around.

And it's Tom Keen.

A/N: I know this chapter was short, but I do plan on the next one being longer. Thanks for all the support as always, you guys are amazing! The next chapter should be up sometime within a week and a half or so. Until then :)