A/N: As always thank you so much to all who have reviewed (and the new follows/favorites). Every review just makes my day. I'm starting to run in to the issue now where I have so many places I want to take this story. I have the endgame in mind and how to get there but all these stops along the way. I hope everyone can stick with me.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 7

RED

It had been a while since he'd reached out and asked her to do something for him. Sure, she was on the Task Force because of him. The FBI were a bunch of bumbling idiots if they thought she answered to them. Her loyalties were with him. Well, with Mossad first. Then with him. He let enough time pass before contacting her because he was sure she was being watched and because he didn't want to endanger her but now was the time. She was the best person to keep an eye on Donald and Red was pretty sure he needed more than his man watching from a distance.

She answered on the third ring. "Navabi," she said.

"How's my favorite Mossad turned FBI Agent?" he asked.

"I'll be right back. Just grab that kind. He drinks whatever," she said to someone who was with her. "I have to take this call." He could hear shuffling then her voice clear as day. "It's still Mossad. Why have you waited so long? Ressler won't let me in on anything and it's killing me." He could hear the annoyance in her voice.

"That's my girl. Right to the point." Red laughed. "Now, I need something from you," he changed his tone to serious. "You need to keep an eye on Donald and report anything out of the ordinary. This is of the utmost importance."

"You mean like having me run a search on two really nasty Russian KGB agents? Something like that? Cold case my ass," she hissed. "I went back and got my own copies of the information I gave him, Red. I already know Price didn't abduct him. Does this have anything to do with that day?"

Red closed his eyes. Oh, Donald why didn't you just listen and let it go. If he had Samar run a search he was assuming it was done at the Israeli Embassy so he felt more confident it was secure. And it appeared Donald already decided to bring Samar in on the truth.

"I see Donald already got you up to speed."

"Just on what happened and who we are up against. He won't say what you discussed. I can assume it's about what I searched for him. I'll keep you updated. Aram and I are on our way to him anyway. Going to see the Grinch who stole Halloween."

Red couldn't help but smile as he imagined uptight Donald passing out Halloween candy to little children all dressed up. He felt relief wash over him as he thought of Donald having more than Cooper on his side. He had Samar and more than likely Agent Mojtabai. And now they had two more allies. He bid her a good night and told her she'd be given a way to reach him and he hung up. Samar Navabi had been a good investment when he put her on his payroll.

IIIIIIII

RESSLER

Ressler hated most holidays. Very few did he enjoy. He hated this particular holiday. It gave people an excuse to dress up and act like fools. The only saving grace, and he would never admit it to anyone, were the kids. He didn't mind the kids dressing up and having fun. That didn't stop him from being a grouch and keeping his light off and refusing to pass out candy each year. He was nursing a beer and contemplating ordering a pizza after passing on a Halloween 'party' at Aram's. The 'party' consisted of Aram and Samar passing out candy. He would be happier at home watching a movie.

When he heard knocking at his door he assumed it was a kid who didn't get the whole 'no lights on means no candy' rule so he ignored it. The knocking continued for much longer than a child would do. Annoyed, he stood up and opened the door to come face to face with a Richard Nixon mask. The man behind the mask held up a carry out bag of what Ressler could only assume was Chinese. By the hand he knew it was not Aram or Cooper. It could only be one person and he'd be damned if he was coming in.

"Hell no." He tried to shut the door. "No. Go. We aren't partners."

"Donnie," Nixon laughed. "Come on. I brought Wing Yee's!" His laugh was sarcastic and biting in nature.

"You son of a bitch." Ressler wanted to punch him right in his plastic mask wearing face. Leave it to him to know every single intimate detail of his and Liz's relationship. "You aren't leaving are you?"

"No."

Ressler didn't say another word. He just grabbed the bag and headed in to the living room and set it down on the coffee table. When he turned around his door was shut and Nixon had his mask off and Jacob was coming from his kitchen opening a beer. He shook his head trying to calm his anger. This clown thought he could just show up and walk around like he owned the place? They weren't allies, they weren't friends and Ressler sure as hell didn't like him.

"Make yourself at home why don't you," he muttered. Jacob sat down in the recliner before Ressler could. "Uh ah. No. Up." He kicked him in the shin and wanted to hit him harder when he was rewarded with a smirk. "You love this don't you? Tormenting me."

"Well, since I can't kill you because I need you to keep my wife alive this is the next best thing."

"She's not your wife." Ressler stood with his arms crossed. "Why are you here?"

"Had nothing better to do. It's Halloween. I wanted Chinese. Who better to share Wing Yee's with than the man who wants to bone my wife?" Jacob stood his ground next to Ressler. Neither backing down. "Look man, I've told you before we need each other in this. And if the day comes I need you to cover my back or me cover yours…we need some kind of trust. So, sit down and eat the damn Chinese."

Ressler kept his arms crossed. He hated the man in front of him. Jacob hated him. But as much as he didn't like this was the start of their unholy alliance. They did need to find some kind of common ground because he was positive there would come a day he'd need Jacob and he had to feel confident he could rely on him. But, this was not the start of a 'beautiful friendship'.

"I still hate you," Ressler growled as he unfolded his arms and grabbed his beer off the end table.

"That's fine. I hate you." Jacob was digging through the bag looking for something when another knock came at the door.

It was probably just more trick or treaters. Ressler ignored them. Then he heard a key rattle in the doorknob and two distinct voices outside. There was no time to hide Tom. Aram and Samar where on the other side of the door more than likely trying to be their pesky annoying helpful friendly selves trying to make him be social. And now they were going to discover him having dinner with Tom Keen. That wasn't going to be hard to explain.

"Do I need to shoot someone?" Jacob asked in a whisper then stuffed a mouthful of lo mien in his mouth.

"You do and I shoot you," Ressler hissed as he moved to stand in front of him. And in 3,2,1… He opened his door and slipped out before they could come in. "Hey, guys!" he said a little too cheerfully.

"Hey, Don," Aram greeted. He was holding two boxes of pizzas and had a case of beer at his feet. "We brought Halloween. Samar insisted we pass out candy. Better get that light on." He nodded porch light.

Ressler groaned. This was his first year in this apartment. He had lived in a complex but after Audrey he had to move. He picked this place and regretted it when he realized the easy access to visitors. And munchkins wanting candy. Samar smiled at him as she handed a big bowl filled with candy. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain his other guest without some explaining. But Jacob wasn't going anywhere and neither were they. Liz would have a fit if she knew what was going on.

"Look guys, I know you mean well. But…," he trailed off.

"You have a lady in there?" Aram pried. Samar smacked him on the arm. "No. Of course you don't."

"Excuse me?" Ressler asked. "You don't think I could have a girl in my apartment?" Oh how he loved watching him squirm and he squirmed. "It's ok. No, it's not that. It's um..well…look guys. I guess…," he was stalling. And before he could say anything else Nixon opened the door.

"Are you going to invite your friends in or am I eating all this food myself?"

"I really hate you," Ressler hissed as he elbowed Jacob in the gut then pushed him back in the apartment. "Sorry about the idiot in the mask. Just come in."

"Who is that?" Samar bent down to try to look at Jacob as she entered the apartment. "Ressler?"

"Jesus, Donnie! Our bromance isn't starting off on the right foot here." Jacob reached out for Samar to steady himself as he stood up straight and took off the mask. "Hey there beautiful. Jacob Phelps. The former Tom Keen. Former Mr. Elizabeth Keen."

Ressler just pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat in his recliner. Aram stood stunned by the door holding the pizza so Ressler motioned for him to bring it over. "Take a seat. Ignore the idiot. I can't get rid of him. The one Keen we want is in exile. And we get this clown." Ressler grabbed a slice and ignored Samar's attempt at grilling Jacob for information. There was ring at the door. A customer to serve. He threw a handful of candy into Iron Man's bag and headed back in the living room.

"What are you thinking Ress?" Samar was on him in a minute.

"He keeps showing up and it wouldn't hurt to use him to fill in the void that was left when Red left. I mean he's no Reddington but I'm sure he has some valuable intel to offer." He turned to Jacob. "But for the love of all that is sacred, never call this," he waved his hands in the air between them, "a bromance. You are creeping me out."

And so Ressler, Samar, Aram and Jacob spent Halloween discussing ways they could use Jacob and his few remaining contacts in their quest to help Red and Liz take down the Cabal. Ressler and Jacob still hated each other by the end of night but their alliance would continue. But it was very clear that Tom Keen and Jacob Phelps were not the same person. Not even close. And Ressler was convinced that Liz didn't have a chance to really know Jacob and if the things Red did repulsed her at times, well Jacob wasn't much better. One thing was clear however, Jacob was in it this to protect Liz.

IIIIIIII

LIZ

She dodged the blow coming at her and popped up to deliver one of her own. Her reaction time was improving. She was preparing to knee her attacker when he suddenly paused and stared straight ahead. Oh, crap. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head. Those disapproving eyes. Or maybe angry. She was afraid to look. Liz lowered her leg and stumbled. Dembe caught her and spun her around to face the man who interrupted their session.

"This is what the two of you do when I go to bed?" Red asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Sometimes we eat ice cream and watch a movie," Liz said as she tugged on her shirt. "In fact we just did and we were just um…burning off some calories." She turned to look at Dembe. "This guy here," she laughed. "Feels so guilty when he has anything that isn't a protein or a vegetable."

"Lizzie," Red warned. "Leave us."

"Raymond don't be angry at her." Dembe took a step forward.

"Lizzie," Red said again.

"No." She put her hand on Dembe's arm. Taking a deep breath she composed herself before speaking again. "You can't have me sitting around doing nothing and expect me to protect myself if the need arises. There may come a day when I'm alone and I need to relay on myself. Don't you want me to be prepared?"

"That will never happen." Red crossed his arms.

"It might. Dembe is the best person to teach me what I need to know and to keep me sharp with what I already know. Please Red. We knew you'd be angry that's why we kept it from you. So, unless you fire him or send him away then we'll keep on doing this." She walked up to him and took his hand. "Please don't send him away."

Red's eyes softened. She really hoped he could see how much Dembe had come to mean to her. She would have lost her mind if she didn't have him. He gave her more than lessons. He was giving her power back.

"Don't go behind my back again. Either of you." Red squeezed her hand then left them.

"Elizabeth, we don't watch movies and eat ice cream." Dembe crossed his arms.

She couldn't help it but busted out laughing. Of all the things he could have said. No one would believe the man in front her was the same man who was Red's right hand man. He was more than appeared. Much like another man who she missed dearly.

IIIIIIII

RESSLER

The stack of files were becoming overwhelming. Jacob was proving to be just as valuable as Redddington in just the month he was working with them. Ressler had to hide his identity saying his was a C.I. who demanded he remain anonymous. He was going to be hard to keep that going and perhaps they would have to start doing things off the books. But for now using FBI resources were what they needed.

Currently he was reviewing files on The Major. He was a Blacklister Red had given to him and Cooper while Liz was on trial for the Harbormaster's murder. He had trained Jacob and was currently employed by the Cabal. Jacob managed to get a lead on him and so by some miracle they caught him off guard and arrested him. They found a file of all of his 'kids' and some that he didn't train.

He put some bios together on all of them and put them in his bag for Jacob to review and maybe come up with some information on each of them. There was a separate Task Force that would be tracking those operatives down. This was a good bust. Main Justice was coming down hard on them however, demanding the name of his C.I. and threatening to suspend Ressler if he didn't give up the name. That only meant he was getting somewhere.

"Here, I reviewed the files on The Major's people. People like you. Look them over. Do any stand out? Would they be a threat to Liz?" Ressler tossed the file at Jacob as he entered the youth basketball gymnasium.

"Yeah, ok." He flipped through some of them and stopped on one. He stared at the photo then looked up at Ressler. He shut the folder shaking his head. "We pissed off a lot of people. I didn't think taking him down would be that big of a blow to the Cabal. He was supplying more operatives than I realized." He paused then changed the subject. "I know a doctor. He is better than the doctor that extracted Liz's memories." Jacob stood up. "Think about it. He doesn't have to extract anything after the fire. Hell, even I don't want to know that." He hit him on the back with the file. "Just think about it."

Ressler watched Jacob walk away. For as much as he told himself he wanted to remember he wasn't sure he did. It terrified him.