Ressler, Listen to Me

Part 14

Author's Note: Sorry, I got very distracted by Season 8 finale writing. If you want, check out One Year Later and Possibilities for some more of that.

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Ressler looked over at Liz laying on a lounger chair I her two piece looking out onto the ocean next to him and smiled. She was not herself yet, but she was getting there, and seemed to be relishing in the vitamin D that the sun produced to help her mood.

Dr Lein was with them only for today and Don heard him walk from the living room where he was making some notes, onto the patio. Don sat up on his lounge chair, placed his feet on the patio, and faced Liz.

The doctor sat on the lounge chair next to Liz facing her.

"Elizabeth, I think the sun is helping you and the medication is starting to take an effect," he said kindly. "Both you and Donald are reporting better moods, more interest in eating, less crying…"

Liz sat up and looked at him nodding.

"Do you run?" He asked.

"I have, but not much lately…" Liz said honestly.

"It will help with your endorphins," he said.

"I can try," Liz said softly.

"More fish in your diet, maybe some meditation…" the doctor continued. "A healthy sex life."

Don raised an eyebrow at that suggestion. He hadn't touched Liz, except to care for her, since this all started. He didn't want to take advantage or make things worse.

"The resort said they could put us in touch with any massage therapist, yoga instructor…maybe they have a mediation person?" Don asked.

"Maybe," Liz said, not committing to anything.

"I'll ask," Don said. "Maybe a massage will help?

Liz nodded and lay back down on her lounger, tired.

"Is there anything else we can do?" Don asked.

"Try not to want everything to happen immediately," the doctor said. "There will be good and bad days and it takes 2-3 weeks for the medication to start to work completely, but there are gains to be had before then…"

Don and Liz nodded.

"Elizabeth, you have lived through a traumatic time in your life," the doctor said, he had few details but knew enough to know she was dealing with trauma. "You will feel like yourself again, but you need to be patient with the medication, patient with yourself, and consistent with sleep habits, healthy eating, self-care…"

Liz sighed next to Don.

"We understand," Don said as he looked between her and the doctor.

"How long until I can not scare my daughter?" Liz asked.

Don knew she wanted Agnes to join them, but also knew she was aware she would freak out her child in this state. She still cried a lot, stared out into space a lot, and spaced out for long periods of time and slept a lot more than was normal. It was not a good environment for Agnes right now, she knew that and so did Don.

"You'll both know when the time is right to bring your child here," the doctor said. "I think that's a discussion for both parents."

Don raised an eyebrow, the doctor obviously didn't realize Agnes was not his.

"We'll figure it out," Don offered when he saw Liz's face fall. Perhaps it had to do with the wait, or perhaps it had to do with Tom being gone as well.

Doctor Lein nodded. "I have left the number of a local physician I have spoken with and trust to continue with your care, if needed. But, I sense with your husband taking such good care of you, you may not need that."

Liz nodded and laid back on her chair. Don got up and shook the man's hand and walked him out. When he came back, Liz wasn't in her lounger and he panicked, she had been fine, but what if news about Agnes not joining them for a while upset her.

He walked around the patio and could not find her. He walked into the main house, and she was not in the living area or kitchen. He went into the bedroom and found her naked and sitting on the edge of the bed looking at him.

"Liz?" Don asked as he approached her, curious as to why her two piece was on the floor.

"I need to get better for Agnes," Liz said. "For you."

"And for you," Don said as he sat down next to her and took her hand in his.

His stomach rolled when he realized what might be happening here.

She leaned over and kissed him, but Liz wasn't there, just a robot who wanted to check off things on a list to make her feel better.

"Liz," Don said as he pulled back. "Not like this."

She looked at him deflated and upset.

"I will sleep with you when you are there…the Liz I love," Don said as he held her chin with his hand. "Until then, I am not doing this."

Liz sighed and looked out the window,

"But, I will give you a massage to help you feel batter," Don said. "Just that though, no after massage activity."

Liz didn't move.

"And I'm not saying 'no' because I don't love you," Don said. "I absolutely do. But like this, I'd be taking advantage of you, and that's something I would never, ever do."

Liz nodded sadly and her hand settled on his thigh.

"One day soon," Don said. "But today, let's see about a massage."

Don helped her lay down on her stomach and walked to the washroom to grab a cream that was sitting on the counter. He returned and sat next to her hip and proceeded to give a very naked Liz Keen a massage that left him with a very uncomfortable tightness in his pants that was only relived during a shower he had afterwards as she lay covered with a blanket asleep on their bed.

To be continued…