Ressler's doctor was by the next morning during morning rounds. He had a group of med students with him but Ressler and Liz didn't really care.
They had both woken early, Liz now understood what Ressler meant with the light coming through the blinds. Between that and the increased noise that came with morning activities they were both awake quite early. They had just laid together for some time, both content in each other's arms.
By the time the doctor came on morning rounds they had raised the head of the bed and were sitting up, because one could only lay flat for so long. They were discussing his move home when the doctor came.
Ressler let the doctor use him as a teaching opportunity for his students, including letting them take his vitals and chart and whatnot. But then asked when he got to go home.
"That assessment you wanted to do - when is that going to happen. Because I am going home today" let that be clear, he decided.
"As soon as I'm done rounds" the doctor answered. "I know you want out and I'll do my best".
He kept his word and was back within the hour. They were barely finished breakfast but Ressler would have gladly put his food aside to help the process. The doctor checked his surgical sites, which had healed closed by this time, his range of motion in his shoulder and made him stand up for a full five minutes. Satisfied that there was no infection or anything else warranting his stay he signed off and sent them on their way with some instructions.
"Alright, you are good to go. I want to see you back here in a week, or sooner if something comes up. Follow the pill regime we have set in place, you can go down if you think you can handle it, but absolutely no more."
"I'll make sure he listens" Liz added from the sidelines.
"Good" said the doctor with a smile at her. Then turning back to Ressler he continued. "No weight at all on that leg until then, we will reassess when you are in again. You can be up and around as long as you use crutches, but no longer than 10 minutes and I don't want you standing to take a shower. Rest if you are tired and don't push it." He spoke menacingly with a sharp seriousness that nobody missed.
"What about my arm?" asked Ressler. "Can I use it? Start working out my upper body?"
It had been a long time since he had ran or been to the gym, but he wanted to at least start lifting weights again. He had joked to Liz just that morning that he was going soft.
"You can, but not much weight. Again, stop if it hurts and remember your ribs as well. If you are going to work out I recommend wrapping some cloth around your chest tightly to help stabilize those ribs. As for the rest-" he could read the question in his patient's eyes and he just continued talking. "It's going to be some time yet in the least. Don't get discouraged, we will keep an eye on it. Don't try to arouse yourself, just let nature run its course."
"Okay" Ressler agreed. "Thank you. For everything. And tell the other doctors too. I know I haven't been an easy patient the last few days and it's nothing personal but while I am glad to not have to see you guys anymore, I am beyond thankful for everything you've done."
"Don't mention it" the doctor insisted, "I'm glad you don't need us anymore. And believe me, you were never a difficult patient. In fact, I looked forward to seeing you. And I'll see you again at your appointment in a week, I hope you have a great week."
"You too!" Ressler shouted as he left the room, while ripping the blanket off his lap at the same time. Liz laughed at him. More than ready to leave he set about pulling his sweater on and zipping it up. He quickly signed his name on the paper where the doctor showed him and then patiently waited while Liz gathered up the get well soon cards from everyone who knew about the taskforce. She also grabbed the last few items of clothing he had laying around the room and stuffed them in the bag. Grabbing the flowers (from Alina), the chocolates (Ressler's favourite, a gift Aram replenished every few days), and the balloons Agnes had insisted he needed, Liz had her hands full. Which was fine because a nurse had to wheel him downstairs in a wheelchair anyway per hospital policy. Ressler held his crutches across his lap, doing what little he could.
When they got the vehicle he pulled himself into the passenger sheet, relying largely on his one good arm. Liz threw all the stuff in the back hatch and came around to the drivers side.
Ressler was so excited to be leaving that he didn't sit still all the way home, fidgeting in his seat like a little child, something Liz had never seen him do in all the years she had known him. When he seen a Robin's he asked if they could get a coffee, just because he missed doing small things like going through a drive thru.
"I think caffeine is the last thing you need right now" said Liz, indicating the constant movement of his body in his seat. "You look like you have to pee."
"Well I don't have to pee" said Ressler adamantly, "and I do want coffee."
"Fine, but you're getting decaf" Liz told him as she pulled into the drive thru and ordered.
"Bossy" said Ressler quietly, but she caught it.
"Oh, you really want to start that?" she asked, joking. "I'll just move out again" she threatened although she had no intention of doing so.
"No!" he said quickly, "I was just kidding Liz. I can't help it, I'm just so - so- I don't know what the word is".
"I know" she smiled at him and then he knew it was okay again. Liz grinned too. She wasn't used to this silly side of Ressler that had come out a few times now. She was in a for a wild ride and she knew it. But there was nothing in the world that could make her get off.
Liz gave him his coffee and he immediately took a drink, jumping and coughing when his mouth told him it was way too hot. He set it in the cup holder, scowling at Liz's enjoyment of his pain.
He settled down as Liz navigated traffic and she decided that now was as good a time as any to ask the question that had been bothering her for the last day or two. Ressler was trapped in the vehicle beside her, he couldn't ignore her even if he wanted to and he certainly couldn't leave.
"Don, can I ask you a question?" she asked.
"Of course" he replied quickly.
"Why haven't you told your Mom you were hurt yet? It's been over two weeks and you haven't even called her."
He was quiet for a minute, the question had clearly taken him aback. Liz was going to prompt him again when he finally spoke up.
"Because if I do, I know she will be down here in a flash and she's going to insist on caring for me like I'm still her baby. It's exactly what she has always done. It's the same reason I've never told her about the time I was shot in the leg."
"You haven't?" Liz asked, a little surprised.
"Don't get me wrong Liz, I love my Mom, but I don't want her caring for me like that".
"Like you are still her little boy?" asked Liz. "Is that so bad? In her mind you will always be her little boy, you got to remember that".
"I know, I do" he said. Then he tried to explain. "But I'm not her little boy anymore Liz. I'm a grown man, heck, I'm over 40, and I need to make my own way. Besides, given the nature of my injuries I really don't want her insisting she help me". Liz smiled, she could understand that at least.
"Besides" Ressler continued with a sigh. "I haven't told her about you and Agnes yet because it's so new. I didn't want to just thrust my Mom on you Liz. She's a nice lady, but she's a very involved Mom. Very active for her age. And," Liz was starting to get shocked at the number of reasons he had, "I didn't want her in the hospital, I wanted to wait until I was home at least. And I also didn't know what you would think". He was a little surprised Liz had even thought of it.
"What do you mean, what I would think?" she asked.
"Well, you know. You never had a Mom and here I do, and I know she will come running if I call. I just didn't want to make you feel bad or - or bring back any memories or anything."
Liz was touched that he had thought of all that, but she knew she couldn't let herself be the reason why Ressler's Mom wasn't there. Besides she wanted to meet the lady who had raised Donald Ressler.
"Well, you know what Don" she decided. She was really on a roll of making decisions for him today. "When we get home, you call her. You aren't at the hospital anymore, and you have an empty room, we can throw Agnes on the floor with an air mattress and your Mom can have the spare bed. Remember what you told me once, years ago?"
"No" he said, not knowing what she referring to.
"Shortly after Audrey died I tried to invite you over for dinner when Tom was still alive and you said, "don't feel bad that you have someone waiting at home". Well the same is true here. You shouldn't feel bad that you have a Mom still and I don't. Life is precious, we both know that clearly, and we should enjoy all ours has to offer."
"Okay, well what about you and me?" Ressler asked. It was the last point he wasn't sure on.
"Well I'm okay with telling her the truth, are you?" Liz asked.
"Yah, but it's gonna be hard to do over the phone so she is probably going to be shocked when she shows up to find us living together and Aggie calling me Daddy."
"Oh well" said Liz, "she'll learn to roll with it. You're happy Ressler and that's what she wants the most."
Liz was right, he knew, so he agreed and said he would call her when he got home.
He kept good on his promise. They got home and put the stuff away, Ressler walked around his apartment, taking in all the familiar things he had missed before settling on his couch, foot propped on a pillow on the coffee table. Liz had left the room when she heard him say hi to his Mom, intending to give him privacy.
But she had barely left the room when her own phone rang. It was Cooper. Assuming he had some news related to Reddington Liz quickly answered. But as it turned out, there was nothing about Reddington yet and it was just the taskforce wanting to come over for dinner that night to celebrate Ressler's return home. They must have all been gathered around one table because Liz could hear multiple voices.
"How did you even know he was home?" she asked them.
"I went by this morning to visit but he was gone" said Aram, "the nurses said he'd been sent home."
"Oh. Well of course you are welcome to come over" said Liz. She couldn't very well say no and she knew Ressler would enjoy the company.
"Okay and we will take care of supper. You have enough to do without having to cook for us all too" said Cooper thoughtfully. Thank God, Liz thought. She wasn't an amazing cook to begin with and she had never actually fed that many people before. Besides there was very little food of any kind in Ressler's entire apartment.
"Mommy?" she heard Agnes' voice in the background.
"Are you at the Post Office?" she asked Aram, a like confused.
"No, I'm still driving. I was going to drop Agnes off at the hospital this morning, but then I found out you weren't there, should I bring her over on my way?"
"Okay we will see you tonight" said Cooper and he hung up from his phone, leaving just Aram and Liz on the line.
"Do you want to go home to your Mom?" Aram asked Agnes, who was in his back seat.
"Yes!" she seemed strangely excited.
"Okay, I will drop her off, I'll be there in a few minutes" said Aram, before hanging up.
He was indeed there in a few minutes and Liz heard them coming up to the door. Ressler was still on the phone with his mom and Liz opened the door before they could even knock.
Agnes ran in and hugged her legs while Aram looked on from the doorway.
"She's so cute" he said, looking a little longingly.
Liz knew that Aram loved kids so she was always thankful that he was so willing to babysit. "Say thank-you to Uncle Aram, for babysitting you last night" Liz instructed her daughter.
"Thank-you" she said obediently.
Aram left and Liz waited patiently for Ressler to hang up the phone. She had to go to town this afternoon, especially now that she knew they were having people over for dinner. They had said they would bring food, but she still had to get a few appetizers and something to drink, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. She didn't really want to take Agnes with though and was hoping Ressler would stay with her for a few hours. She also had to see what the scoop was with his Mom and if he needed anything from town.
"Hey" Liz said as she returned to the room after putting down the phone.
"Hey" Ressler looked up at her from his spot on the couch. "Who was that?" he asked.
"Cooper. The taskforce wants to come by for supper, just to celebrate your release from the hospital."
"Ok. What did you say?" he was in no position to be helpful when it came to hosting so he wouldn't have minded either way, he left it up to her.
"Well I said they could come" she shared. "They said they would bring supper, but I still don't have any wine or anything. I need to go to town and grab a few things before they get here."
"Well at least this place is clean" said Ressler, gesturing at his apartment, "I don't remember the last time it's been cleaned so thoroughly."
"Well it wasn't really dirty" said Liz. Ressler was a neat man. Not a clean freak but neat in general. He wasn't one to leave things lying around. "How about you, what did your mom say?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Exactly what I knew she would. She's gonna be here tomorrow. She's probably already got her bag half backed" he joked. Liz chuckled, but she was secretly glad that was the case. Ressler hadn't said as much, but Liz knew that he would love to see his family again. "She also said that Robbie was coming with. I'm sorry, I know that means even more work for you."
"No, Don, don't be sorry. It's good to see them again. I'll pick up a air mattress today for Agnes. We can put it on the floor in the office and free up the guest room for your Mom. I hope Robbie is okay with the couch."
And we can share your bed. She left it unspoken, but they both knew it without acknowledging it. Ressler was very okay with that arrangement and he smiled at her. "Oh, he's gonna have to be" was all he said, but there was a huge grin splitting his face in half.
"I want to go now so I can be back in time to get ready for supper, I should find Agnes and tell her to get ready."
"She's playing in the corner" said Ressler, pointing at the play princess tent in the corner of his living room. Agnes wasn't visible but she must be inside. "Just leave her here, she can stay with me while you're gone."
"Are you sure, Ressler? I mean she's busy, and you can't be chasing after her."
"Liz, we will be fine. She's a good kid and she listens to me, she's not just gonna take off." Liz knew that, she just wasn't used to leaving her daughter behind. She nodded but her face must not have been convincing because Ressler explained himself. "I feel useless enough already Liz. I can't do anything for myself let alone you. This is one thing I can do Liz. Let me do it, let me help. Please."
"Okay" agreed Liz. She knew that he felt like a burden already. If this would help him then she was okay with it. He needed to do something, he was just that kind of guy. "Agnes" she called and her daughter stuck her head out of the tent door. "Mommy's going to town for a bit okay? You stay with Daddy alright?"
"Yup" agreed Agnes. "I is putting Dolly to bed." She held up the toy in question, her favorite doll half-clothed in a pj set.
"Okay" said Liz and Agnes disappeared back inside her little tent. "I'll see you soon". She squeezed Ressler's shoulder and leaned over to place a quick kiss on his lips before straightening and grabbing her car keys.
Then she hurried out to get enough things so that it appeared that they had it together before the taskforce showed up. She needed stocked shelves before Ressler's Mom showed up the next day.