Wait 6

Author's Note: The story continues. Thanks for all of your support of this story.

Let me know what you think!

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Donald Ressler opened the door to his apartment and called to Liz.

"I've got cookies, none of them are heart shaped, but I don't think that really matters, and won ton soup. How'd the probation appointment and apartment hunt go?"

It was then that she turned to face him, and he could see the anger on her face.

"What happened?" He asked, putting down the food and walking toward her.

"What happened," she said in a low growl. "Is my probation officer is an asshole and I saw a great apartment that the woman, as soon as she saw my name, wouldn't rent to me."

"What?" Ressler asked. "Start with the apartment."

"The agent was lovely," Liz stood and started to pace. "Until I gave her my full name, and then she turned very cool, telling me that there were others interested and to not get my hopes up."

Ressler took off his jacket and stood with his hands on his hips, listening to her.

"So, I said, 'you know who I am, and that's why' and she looked, Ressler, she looked scared of me all of a sudden, like I was going to murder her right then and there," Liz said, her voice breaking.

"Shit, Liz…"

"I got out of there so quickly…I realized that's how people will see me and…and I didn't like that, no wonder she wouldn't…"

"I can't believe she's allowed to…" Ressler stammered. "I'm sure there's some renter's rights that…"

"She was scared of me," Liz said, her eyes lit up and upset at the same time.

He walked toward her and held her by the shoulders, looking at her squarely.

"Once all this dies down, no one will know you from…well, anyone," Ressler said. "It's just that it's been in the news so much, that's all. You aren't a scary…"

"I'm a cold-blooded killer to her," Liz said. "I am a killer."

"For good reason," Ressler reminded her. "He was dirty, threatening you and people you cared about, Liz."

"But no one…"

"Who cares?" He asked her. "I don't. And you need to not give a shit either. Everyone that matters knows you did it for very good reasons. And that's all that matters."

A small smile formed on her face.

"Now, do you want to eat your cookies and soup while it's hot and tell me about your asshole parole officer?" Ressler asked her with a smirk.

She stepped forward and kissed him softly on the lips before going into his kitchen and getting them bowls and spoons and pouring out the soup. She told him about the jerk who acted like she was gum on his shoe and how she was considering requesting a new case manager. He listened attentively, told her about the new case, and the two of them settled in on the sofa later on to watch a miniseries about the Unabomber. Liz fell asleep against him, exhaustion from her day apparent, and Ressler carefully lifted her up and carried her into his bedroom, placing her in bed and putting a blanket over her. He stripped down to his underwear and crawled in next to her, laying for a long time starring at the ceiling and thinking of a way he could convince her to stay living with him without her thinking of it as defeat.

Just after 6am, Ressler was getting out of the shower, when he heard knocking on his door. He tied a towel quickly around his waist and walked past a drooling, sleeping Liz, closing the door carefully so she wouldn't wake and opened his front door.

"Hey Donnie," Tom said as he handed him a bag and walked past him into his apartment.

"Tom, get the hell out of…" Ressler said as he left the door open and walked toward the man.

"I just wanted to chat with my wife," Tom said as he turned and met Ressler's eyes.

"Ex-wife," Ressler reminded him as he stopped in front of Tom.

"Potato, potato," Tom smiled at him and nodded toward the bag he had handed Ressler. "Bagels from a great place on Louisiana Avenue."

"Take your bagels," Ressler said through gritted teeth as he pushed them against Tom's chest. "And get out."

"Ressler, I just want to speak with Liz," Tom switched tactics. "I know she's staying here and…"

Tom turned and looked around and noted that it didn't look like anyone was sleeping on the sofa.

"And it looks like you finally made your move," Tom said, nodding and looking at Ressler both annoyed and surprised.

"There's no move," Ressler said. "Now…"

He pointed toward the open front door and turned to see Tom not moving.

Ressler made a move to grab Tom's arm and Tom stepped back out of his reach.

"I just need to talk with her," Tom said.

"She's asleep, so maybe text her and figure out a better time," Ressler said.

"We have been texting, she…she didn't tell you?" Tom asked with a knowing grin.

"I am not her keeper," Ressler said.

"Well, you are her…roommate…landlord…new boyfriend? What are we going with Donnie? What's your relationship with my wife?" Tom asked.

"How about none of your business?" Liz said from behind them and both men turned to see her standing, fully clothed as she was last night when Don carried her to bed, with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression on her face. "Tom…or are you going by Jacob? What I do and where I go is not your concern anymore."

"Nice to see you too Lizzie," Tom smiled at her. "It's looking like the Boy Scout didn't make a move. I'm proud of you Donnie for respecting me and Liz trying to work out…"

"You and I, Tom," Liz said as she marched toward him. "Are not trying to work out anything. You and I aren't anything. And probably weren't ever anything."

"I miss you too," Tom said as he reached for her, and she pulled away.

"Ressler asked you to leave, please do so," Liz said as she pointed to the door.

"I brought breakfast," Tom said, making sad eyes at her.

"And, as I told you in multiple texts, I am not ready to see you or discuss anything with you," Liz said. "I appreciate you getting Karakurt to the courthouse and…"

"So, thanks but no thanks?" Tom asked.

"I would like to believe that you brought Karakurt in because it was the right thing to do, not because you were hoping it was a segway into renewing our relationship, because I made it perfectly clear…"

"I came back to help…"

"Because Ressler and Reddington went to find you," Liz explained. "And then you stuck around. Don't make it sound like…"

"Like I risked…everything?!" Tom snapped.

"Hey!" Ressler snapped back.

"Look, stay out of this, man, it's got nothing to do with you," Tom said, holding up a hand in front of Ressler's face.

"You made it my business when you showed up at my door," Ressler countered as he whacked Tom's hand away.

"Look Lizzie…" Tom stepped toward her, Liz stepped back, and Ressler stepped toward Tom.

"Get out before I throw you out," Ressler warned him, low and deep as he bumped Tom with his chest.

Tom stepped back, re-grouping. "Fine, breakfast was a bad idea…but Lizzie, we do need to talk."

"Tom, not respecting my wishes is not gaining you any ground on eventually having a discussion," Liz said as she walked toward Ressler's door and gripped the handle, her message clear.

Tom looked at Ressler with anger palpitating off his body, Liz not looking at him standing at the door, and decided it was time to go.

"Fine you two play roommate or maybe he's trying to cop a feel while…"

Ressler stepped toward him ready to fight when Liz's voice cut through the tension in the room.

"Ressler, he wants you to!" Liz said warning him.

Ressler took a breath and stepped back.

"Good doggie, I mean Donnie," Tom chuckled as he walked past Liz. "He's house broken so quickly!"

"Goodbye, Tom," Liz said as she shut the door after he stepped outside.

"How can you put up with…" Ressler started.

"I'm not," Liz sighed as she stepped back into the room Don occupied. "That's what I've been saying when he texted. That I needed space and time and he totally doesn't give a shit. I told you, the only reason he helped with Karakurt was because he wanted to get back together."

Don nodded, she was right about that.

"I'm sorry about this," Liz said as she walked toward him and wrapped her arms around his back that was still slightly damp from his shower. "You don't deserve…"

"No one deserves that asshole, not me and certainly not you, Liz," Don said as he hugged her back.

She sighed and said nothing.

"Can you stay with me until we know he's not going to try and pull any shit on you?" Don asked. "I'm not saying you can't handle yourself, because you can, but it would honestly make me feel better to have two of us around if he tries anything again."

She smiled against his chest.

"Maybe for a little bit longer," Liz conceded. She did like waking up to him and going to sleep next to him and the support he offered on her nauseated mornings.

"You didn't throw up this morning," Ressler said as he pulled back and looked at her.

"First time this week, but I'm scared I'll jinx it," Liz smirked.

A low rumbly chuckle erupted from him.

"How'd you get me to bed last night?" Liz inquired as she looked up at him.

"Carried you," he smirked.

"So, I wasn't even conscious for your knight in shining armour moment?" Liz asked.

"Sorry, you missed it," he smirked. "Next time."

Liz tried to stifle a yawn.

"Still tired?" Ressler asked.

"Shockingly, yes," she smiled. "I'm not sure why. I got a lot of sleep."

"Liz, you've been through a lot," Ressler said. "Give your body time to adjust to the baby and to also come down off the fight or flight mode you've been in."

She nodded. "Go get dressed and I'll make you breakfast for once."

"Really?" he asked, skeptical.

"Well, it won't be gourmet, but would toast with peanut butter do?"

"That's perfect," he said as he gave her a quick, soft kiss on her lips.

To be continued…..