It had been over a week since Ressler was released from the hospital. His arm was still supported by a sling and his fractured ribs were slowly healing. The pain from his swollen face had alleviated. Now, only the bruising and stitches were left. They said it probably would not scar though no promises. Ressler was spending a lot of time at home since his suspension. The review board were still investigating what happened in Vienna.
He was not holding his breath at this point. Gale had made it pretty clear what he thought and gave his recommendation to the investigators. It was his fault for going rogue. It was his fault for getting kidnapped. It was his fault for letting Keen and Reddington get away again. His days in the bureau was numbered. What was he going to do if he was terminated? Would anyone hire a sad FBI agent who was kicked to the curb?
Ressler rested his one good arm's hand on the edge of his bathroom sink. His hot shower had not made him feel any better. His joints still ached. Too deep of a breath or a laugh hurt his ribs. Smiling, chewing or really facial movements of any kind hurt his face. He only had one useful arm. Ressler stared at himself in mirror. He looked as bad as his fate. Colorful but damaged and doomed.
A knock on the door. Ressler looked towards the noise quickly thinking about who might be paying him a visit. Could be Aram, sending his condolences. Could be Gale, coming to officially fire him. Hell, it could be his neighbor trying to "hang" again. Ressler threw on a flannel button up only partially buttoning it. He was not following any bureau dress code anymore, why bother. He walked across his apartment and to the front door. Another knock made him quicken his pace a half step faster. He peered through his peep hole ready to ignore the knocking if it was his neighbor.
Of all people, she could not bear to leave him alone. Ressler witnessed Elizabeth Keen standing on the other side of his door. She seemed to be alone, but why was she here. He did not expect her to be stateside any time soon with the immense FBI manpower being greenlit to find her after she was filmed murdering two men just last week. It was in self-defense in a way, but the bureau did not see it that way. Did they know one of their Most Wanted International fugitives was at his door?
Ressler was not taking any chances this time. He reached for his personal gun he hid in the decorative box on his entryway table.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," came a man's voice from the other side of the door. "We have two guns aimed to shoot you through this door. Don't do anything stupid Agent Ressler."
Ressler cursed to himself. Liz had brought Red and Dembe, he assumed, to join in this unwelcome visit.
"Open the door, Donald." Red spoke again.
Ressler took a deep breath before turning the knob. "Long time. Can't say that I'm happy to see you all, though."
Liz was smiling until she saw the state of him. She could see the bruising from his ribs through his unbuttoned shirt. His face resembled an artist's paint pallet and the stitches. Liz actually felt bad for him. Ressler moved out of the crack of the door and Liz saw his arm was in a sling as well.
"You look like hell, Donald. May we come in?" Red asked.
"Thanks. But no you may not." Ressler stood up straight holding his ground. "We have nothing to talk about."
"On the contrary, Donald." Red wiggled his gun in Ressler's direction. Ressler sighed and reluctantly stepped aside, letting the Reddington party in. He was really getting sick of being held at gunpoint. "Do you mind starting a pot of coffee?"
Ressler did not move or answer. He gave Red a dead stare. "I'll do it, Raymond," Dembe said walking to the kitchen. He began rummaging in the kitchen and Ressler did not bother assisting him hoping if he could not find what he needed, they would leave.
"Shall we sit down?" Red motioned for them to sit in the living as if this was his apartment. Despite his lack of hosting, Ressler took a seat on the single lounge chair while Red and Liz shared the couch. Red laid his gun down on the coffee table and unbuttoned his suit jacket, crossing his right leg over his left.
"What do I owe the pleasure of this most unsolicited visit?" Ressler asked leaning back in his chair.
"Thought you'd've missed us this past week or so," Liz said trying to spark his somber mood.
"You probably heard I was suspended. You won't have to worry about me chasing after you anymore."
"You won't be fired, Donald," Red assured him.
"Because you are the all-knowing mind on the inner workings of the FBI?" Ressler snapped back.
"No, Agent Ressler, I am not. However, you are too valuable to let go." Raymond Reddington complimenting him did not fit. Why would a world renown criminal want the agent in charge of his capture to retain his job?
"Cut the shit, Red. Why are you here?" Ressler wanted answers and not to keep playing these mind games.
"All right, then. We've come about my offer, Donald." Red leaned forward to accept the coffee Dembe presented. Dembe offered a cup to Liz and Ressler who both declined. Red continued after taking a long sip of coffee. "Just splendid. It's the little things you know. Sometimes just the warmth a cup of coffee can bring—"
Ressler interrupted him, "The offer?"
"Yes. We previously talked about you coming to work for me. You would provide me FBI intel as my inside agent. I would provide you round the clock protection, and you would of course be nicely compensated for your efforts." Red set down his cup.
Ressler looked from Liz to Red before answering, "Last time I remember us talking. It was not inside information you were after. You wanted me to specifically get Agent Gale off your investigating team."
"Right you are. Agent Gale is a thorn in my side, and his removal would be top priority. Though I see our partnership going beyond just Agent Gale. This would be beneficial for both of us."
"How? I would be risking my entire career working with the criminal I have been ordered to capture while you'd be getting everything you wanted. I don't see the mutual benefits."
"As your benefit, Agent Ressler, we would be supplying you first class information about blacklist criminals. Criminals you don't even know exist."
Ressler mulls this over trying to figure out what Red isn't telling him. He knows there is an endgame. Reddington was known for not telling the whole truth.
"And what if I say no, again." Ressler asked.
"I'm afraid that is just not an option anymore," Reddington said as he stood up picking up his gun again. Red stood facing Ressler with hands crossed in front of him, gun in hand. Ressler noticed Dembe had moved to stand right behind his own chair. Liz was caught in the middle look between the two of them. It did not seem like she believed the meeting would go down like this. Ressler stiffened in his chair not expecting Reddington to escalate so fast either.
"I'm afraid, Agent Ressler, I am not asking anymore. I pulled some strings. It pays to know people in high places that are in my debt. You will be getting your job back and you will be doing as I say or…" Red trailed off as he redirected his gun at a lamp in the corner. He pulled the trigger and the lamp exploded into hundreds of little pieces. A bullet hole visible in the wall behind it.
"Whoa, whoa," Ressler tried to stand but Dembe immediately grabbed hold of his shoulder and sat him back down.
"Dad, I don't think we have to be so drastic," Liz was now standing too holding a hand towards Red's gun now aimed at the floor.
"It seems Lizzie has grown quite fond over you, Agent Ressler. I don't know if it is her former bureau blood or something about you, but you'll have to forgive her candor. She can't quite understand how business is handled."
Ressler was still in shock from the bullet firing a mere foot away from his ear. Did he say Liz was fond of him? Doesn't matter, focus on the matter at hand.
"So, the only reason I'm getting my job back is to become a mole. Your mole inside the bureau."
"Precisely." Red smiled glad his new employee was finally up to speed.
"I don't really have a choice then, do I?"
"No. No you don't."
He'd be a disgrace to the badge if he agreed to Red's offer. Though, if he denied Reddington, he'd soon be in a hole six feet underground. Ressler was thinking quickly. If he did agree, he could play Red as if he was his mole luring him into a false sense of security and possibly be able to flip him into the hands of the FBI somewhere down the line. It couldn't hurt to hear some criminal intel, get some bad guys off the streets during this little charade. Then, he thought about what Red might ask him to do. Getting Gale transferred didn't seem so bad. Ressler wasn't a fan of him much anyway. Would Red really ask Ressler to kill anyone? He doubted that knowing how much Red preferred to handle business himself. As much as he did not want to die, being a mole was right there on the top of his worst crimes a person could do moral code meter. But Red was right, he didn't really have a choice. This was his one shot at bringing Reddington in.
"I'll do it." Red holstered his weapons and clapped his hands together.
"Fabulous. Great thinking, Agent Ressler. Dembe, could you find us some alcohol. We need to toast to our wonderful new partnership with Donald."
Dembe set off for the kitchen again, and Red followed to find some glasses. Liz turned to Ressler who was free to stand without his guard behind him.
"Nice to see you again." Liz said simply to break the ice.
"Can't say the same being held against my will again and all."
Liz reached a hand out towards Ressler's face which made him flinch. Then, he relaxed seeing it was an innocent gesture. Liz cupped his bruised cheek in her hand for a second before grazing her fingers down to his chest.
"I'm really sorry about all this. It wasn't my idea." She assured him.
"I understand it wasn't your idea, but you are still complicit in his actions. You are the accomplice to his every move." Ressler adjusted his sling with a rough tug that caused more pain than it relieved.
Liz winced at his facial expression. "Don, I promise this will be over quickly."
"What will be over?"
"Ah, here you go." Red and Dembe had returned with four glasses and a bottle of whiskey. "Good to see you don't skimp on your bourbon, Donald." Red passed out glasses to all while Dembe poured a generous amount into each glass. "To new business," Red toasted raising his glass.
Ressler clinked glasses with his new partners reluctantly but knew he must put on a brave face as to not reveal his true nature in accepting Red's offer. Then, he downed in entire glass of whiskey in one swig knowing it would help ease the moral pain of his recent actions.
Reddington, Dembe, and Liz finished their glasses soon after and were on their way having accomplished what they set out to do. "We'll be in touch, Donald." Red said.
"See you soon," Liz said as she passed him not so subtly touching his hand as she moved by. He only saw her back as she left half expecting her to turn back and wink or something. The three of them left Ressler alone in his apartment to mull over getting his job back and what that would mean.
Red was correct in what he had promised. The next day, Ressler was called in to the Post Office and welcomed back by Director Cooper who apologized for the misunderstanding. Agent Gale shook his hand with a sneer and grudgingly gave him his gun and badge back. Once back in the bullpen, Aram wrapped Ressler in an over dramatic hug. Despite over the top, Ressler was glad to see him and be back at work again.
He walked back into his office which lay exactly how he left it except for a pile of paperwork that had built up in his absence. Now, was no better than any to get started on what would be a long day of hand cramps and ink smudges. Ressler sat back in his chair and almost instantly sat straight up again. Laying on top of the stack of paperwork just under the top few papers was a yellow envelope.
Ressler instinctively pulled it out of the stack hoping Keen was tipping him off about their next adventure. He undid the clasp at the top and opened the envelope. Two pictures slid out. Though, these pictures were different. No notes were written on the back and Liz did not send these. Namely because she was in them. The first picture showed Liz stroking Ressler's cheek while the second showed him, Red, Liz and Dembe toasting to their new partnership. A small piece of paper was still in the envelope.
Ressler reached in to retrieve it and read the note: Getting awfully chummy, are we? I always knew Reddington had an inside man. If you don't want these pictures getting out, you do as I say. Any contact with Reddington, I want to know. You're under my thumb now, "Agent" Ressler.
-Gale