Wing Yee's 6
Author's Note: I picture this after The Ethicist. Liz's birthday Season 6.
It ended up being the longest, and honestly, the most fun one to write yet.
Please review.
Ooooo
"I love these dumplings," Liz said as she placed one in his mouth with her chop sticks. "I think they have changed their recipe"
"Thanks," Ressler said with a laugh, his mouth full as he chewed.
Donald Ressler hadn't seen Liz drunk before today. A couple of times she'd been 'happy' with one drink too many, but outright drunk? Never. What he'd discovered was that Liz got not only flirty when drunk, but handsy.
They were at Wing Yee's celebrating her birthday with Aram, Jennifer, Samar, and Cooper and Liz was drunk. Cooper had left an hour ago when she was happy and talking loudly and laughing a lot. Up until that point she just looked like a woman enjoying her birthday, but this last hour, and two more strong drinks in Liz had turned her into a handsy flirt.
"I love you guys soooo much," Liz said as she pulled Ressler and Jennifer into her with her arms around their necks.
"I think the birthday girl will be feeling this tomorrow," Aram noted.
"It's been a rough year for you Samar," Liz said as she let go of them and leaned over the table towards her friend. "You almost died! How crazy is that!"
Ressler couldn't help but notice Liz's hand on his thigh just above his knee. It had fallen there several times throughout the evening.
"I think we've all had too many brushes with death this year, " Samar replied with a soft smile.
"Every year, every year," Liz sighed. "Which is why we need to live life to its fullest!"
Her hand squeezed his thigh.
"Take the bull by the horns and stop tiptoeing around what we want" her hand rose slightly up his thigh and Ressler quickly dropped his hand on top of hers to stop her motion from going any higher.
They'd kissed two weeks ago, just before he left for his cousin's wedding with his fake date. The wedding he wanted to ask her to go to with him, but after her behavior, he thought she wasn't interested. Then, out of the blue she had placed a hand on his chest and ran it upwards in that sexy way women do and looked at him with a clear indication of what she wanted.
It may have been his flight, which was leaving, and the reason she was dropping him off at Dulles, or the fact that they were in public, that kept things from going further. But the kiss was hot. He was panting at the end of it, and she had to grab his shoulder to steady herself. He kissed her softly once more and said they'd talk when he got back and then ran for his gate. But they hadn't talked. For 14 days they'd had opportunities to talk, and she had avoided every attempt he had made.
Then yesterday, he tried to talk to her again and she'd run from the room before he finished his sentence. Five days ago, he asked if she'd killed The Ethicist and she'd denied it but said she'd let him kill himself, which the ME's report supported. He still couldn't get past his conversation with Cooper about ulterior motives and thinking about what Liz's could be.
And he didn't want to think about ulterior motives. As her hand was on his on his upper thigh, as he knew what she tasted like, he didn't want to think that her drunken handsy behavior was anything more than attraction to him. But two weeks of silence and avoidance about them had caused him to think differently. And Hannah, his fake wedding date, was clearly interested in him and uncomplicated and nice in a way that made him long for that with Liz, but wonder if that was even possible with Liz.
"I've got to head out," Jennifer said as she reached for her jacket and stood.
"So soon?!" Liz asked disappointed.
"I'll see you later, birthday girl," Jennifer said as she hugged Liz and nodded goodbye to the rest of them.
Liz huffed and leaned into Ressler. "You aren't a party pooper, are you?"
He could smell her skin, feel her breath on his face, and see her moon eyes looking at him.
"I think we need to order you some coffee" Ressler said as he signaled for the waiter.
A half hour later, Liz had told them all about the wine that she'd made with Sam and that Reddington had somehow got his hands on, and given to her for her birthday a few years ago. She seemed to be sobering slightly with all the coffee.
"Aram, can you settle our bill?" Samar asked him as she looked amused at a very drunk Liz who had her hands all over Ressler all night. "It's almost midnight."
"On it, " Aram said. "I didn't realize it was that late. "
"Aram, can you get mine and Liz's and put them on this, " Ressler said as he handed him his Visa.
"You are a very good man Ressler, " Samar said as she looked at him. "Liz is very lucky to have you. "
"I am, " Liz said as she kissed his cheek.
"I'm heading to the washroom, but we need to get home too. Ressler are you good to get the birthday girl home?"
"Yeah, I'll get her to Jennifer, " Ressler said.
"Jennifer?" Samar asked.
"She's moved in with Liz," Ressler noted.
"That's new, " Samar noted.
Ressler nodded and Samar got up and left for the washroom.
"Come on birthday girl, finish your coffee and let's get you home, " Ressler said to her.
Liz pinched his two cheeks together with the palms of her hands so he had a fish face.
"You are one handsome man," she said as she looked at him. "Gorgeous, really. "
"Well, thank you, " Ressler said bashful.
"You're a great kisser," Liz said a little loudly and Ressler looked around to see if Aram or Samar could have heard that. Samar was still in the washroom, and Aram was tapping Ressler's card at the till.
"I'd like to talk with you about that, maybe once your hangover passes, " Ressler chuckled.
"Why do we have to talk?" Liz whined as her hand dropped again to his thigh, a little higher than last time.
"Because it's what adults do, " Ressler said, knowing there was no reasoning with a drunk person.
He watched Aram turn and walk toward their table and picked up Liz's hand in his to remove it from his thigh.
She leaned in and whispered quietly "I want you, Ressler." As she squeezed his hand in hers.
She then giggled and pulled away to talk with Aram.
Ressler didn't know what to do with that information, but he knew 10 minutes later, when everyone was leaving, he needed to get Liz home safely.
"Did you pick your apartment based on its proximity to Wing Yee's?" He asked her as he walked her the 5 blocks to her apartment.
"Maybe?" Liz asked. It was more of a question than a statement.
They were walking arm-in-arm and Liz kept snuggling into his side. Her declaration that she wanted him chiming in his head again and again. And he had some questions he wanted her to answer even if it may be ethically complicated asking her them in her state.
"Why did you want to kiss at the airport?" Ressler asked her.
She stopped suddenly, turned to him and kissed him deeply. He wasn't proud of responding in kind, but his lips had other things in mind.
"Like that?" Liz asked, both of them out of breath.
Ressler chuckled.
"Yeah, like that," he said through his chuckles.
"Maybe because you're sexy and I've been spending a lot of time picturing us doing other things," Liz smiled at him as she took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder and started to walk again.
"How long have you been picturing those things and wanting to kiss me?" Ressler asked her.
She started to laugh.
"You first," she said.
He swallowed hard, should he be honest?
"A long time," he said hedging.
"Me too," she nuzzled his hand with her cheek as it sat on her shoulder.
"How long?" Ressler asked.
The clarifying question came out of his mouth before he had a chance to question it.
"Since after I came back from the cabin," Liz said quietly. "Before that too, but I was married, or…sort of married…"
She started to chuckle.
"Sort of married," she repeated through her giggles.
"So, even when you were with Tom?" Ressler asked, hating himself for needing the details.
"Yep," Liz nodded.
"Wow," Ressler said quietly.
"I know, wow," Liz repeated.
He felt her snuggle into his frame and realized she had forgotten to ask him for the details. After divulging what she already had, she at least deserved those.
"I have been trying to talk myself out of loving you for five years," Ressler said, half scared she'd remember him saying this in the morning.
"It's not worked so far, has it?" Liz asked as she turned her head and looked into his eyes.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"No, it hasn't," he admitted.
"You love me," Liz said as she stopped and looked up at him outside of her building.
He could have lied, or hedged, but at this moment of truth, he needed to just say it and let the chips fall where they did.
"I do," he said as he met her eyes. "Very much."
She got on her tip toes and kissed him softly on the lips.
He thought for a moment she would say something, but she just looked at him carefully for a few moments before she whacked his ass.
"Come and tuck me in," Liz said as she started to walk away from him.
"I'll get you to your door, but Jennifer can do the tucking tonight," Ressler said.
"She's sleeping at a friend's," Liz said over her shoulder as she swiped her card to get inside.
"Why?" Ressler asked as he followed her inside.
"I asked her to," Liz said as she smiled at him and clicked the up button on the elevator.
Ressler looked at her confused and pressed the button to her floor when they got inside.
She attacked his mouth as soon as the doors closed. He, selfishly, gave in to her ministrations and his hand was resting on the skin of her back when they arrived at her floor.
"Liz, what's going on?" Ressler asked as the bell dinged indicating her floor.
"I told you, I want you," Liz smiled up at him as she stepped off the elevator with his hand in hers and him trailing behind her.
"And you've had too much to drink," Ressler said as he followed her to her apartment, his head spinning. Liz had both asked Jennifer to sleep elsewhere, but simultaneously got drunk in anticipation of sleeping with him?
She dropped the keys at her door, and he bent down to pick them up and unlocked the door for her. She pushed him against the frame and kissed him hard, her entire body pressed against him. His body responded and she took their joined hand and raised it above his head and took his other hand in hers and raised it as well, his entire body pinned, including his hands as she continued to kiss him aggressively.
Ressler lifted his face and her mouth dropped to his neck and started to kiss him there.
"Liz, we aren't doing this tonight," he said softly as she turned him on.
"I think we should," she said quietly between kisses.
"Liz," Ressler warned her as he started to push her away.
"Don…" she sighed as she kissed toward his collarbone.
"Jesus Christ," he sighed as he pulled his hands free and placed them on her shoulders gently pushing her back from him.
"Let's get you inside and in bed," Ressler said firmly.
"Yes, let's get to my bed. I have room for you too," Liz said with a mischievous smile and walked into her apartment.
"I'll get you settled and then be on my way," Ressler said, willing her to stop asking him to sleep with her and fearing one time he'd forget he was not only her friend but a gentleman.
Liz walked into her bedroom and Ressler walked to the livingroom. He walked around, wondering if she was changing or…what she was doing. He needed to calm his body and mind down while she did whatever she was doing. His body was on fire from the attention she had given him and his mind was racing from her asking him to her bed and saying she had been thinking about them, together, for a long time. Even when Tom was alive.
"Fuck," he said as he half smiled, and half realized that her apartment seemed too quiet. "Where's Jennifer?"
"Checked into a motel," Liz said. "We're trying out her alias."
"Alias?" Ressler asked.
"Sarah Thomas," Liz called back.
"Why does she need an alias?" Ressler called to her.
No answer.
"Liz?" Ressler asked.
"In case we need to run," Liz said as she appeared at the door to her bedroom in a tank top and underwear.
"Jesus Christ, Liz," Ressler sighed. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"I'm feeling very sober," she said with a smile as she walked toward him.
"Well, you're not," he supplied as he took a step back to put some distance between them. "Why the alias? Do you have one?"
He was trying to keep the conversation not about sex.
"For Jennifer, I'm Allison," Liz said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Allison?"
"Allison Thomas," Liz said with a smile before she kissed him.
He kissed her for a few minutes and before his mind went to mush pulled back.
"What do you mean for Jennifer?" Ressler asked, trying to clear his head.
"If I have to run with her," Liz said. "Agnes is Chloe."
Don nodded, thinking that her paranoia was going a little far.
"Is that your only alias Allison?" Ressler chuckled as he pushed her toward her sofa to sit and walked toward her bedroom to see if she had a robe of some kind.
"Nope," Liz said as she sat and looked at the ceiling.
"Wow, two alias?" Ressler asked.
"Three," Liz said.
"Three?" Ressler asked.
"One for just me and Agnes," Liz said singing a little as she spoke.
"And the third?" Ressler asked as he snagged her bath robe off the hook on the back of her bedroom door and walked toward her with it.
"Wouldn't you like to know Mr. Givens," Liz giggled.
He looked at her confused and handed her her robe.
She begrudgingly put it on and pouted.
"Liz, I'm going home," Ressler said clearly as he stood with his hands on his hips and looked down at her. Sometimes, he wished he wasn't a good man.
"Stay," she said as she stood, slightly wobbly and took his hand in hers.
"Liz, when we sleep together, you aren't going to be drunk and neither am I," he said as he met her eyes. "I'm not sure why you thought you needed to be drunk to sleep with me tonight, and…and, honestly, I don't know what to think about that. But…"
"I was nervous," she said as she blushed and touched his cheek. "I haven't…."
He looked at her with a furrowed brow.
"There's been no one since Tom and…"
He nodded in realization.
"So, it wasn't because it was me?" He asked, clarifying.
"Of course, it was," she chuckled.
He was confused again, and his expression said that.
"I don't want to screw this up," Liz said as she looked down at her feet. "You are so important to me….you don't know how much you mean to me."
His heart started to pound in his ears.
"We'll be great Liz," he said softly as he walked her to her room and gestured for her to get in her bed. "There's no screwing up this."
She kissed him softly on the lips and walked to her bed crawling inside and pulling up the covers.
Ressler closed over her door and went to the door and locked it before he walked to her sofa and, pulling a throw blanket over himself, closed his eyes to sleep. It was after 1am, she needed someone to make sure she was okay, and he probably should have given her Tylenol before putting her to bed, but there was no way he was walking into her bedroom with Liz as randy as she had been all night.
"Happy birthday, Liz," he sighed as he closed his eyes and carefully replayed all of the things she had said that night.
In the morning, he woke to the smell of coffee brewing and a very alert Liz Keen handing him a cup as she sat on the coffee table in front of him.
"Thanks," he said as he sat up and looked at her in her bathrobe.
"Thank you," Liz said as she sat down next to him.
"No problem," he said before he took a drink of the hot liquid.
"Ressler, did I say or do anything over the top last night?" Liz asked him. "Did I embarrass myself?
"Over the top? Like what?" Ressler asked.
"When I get drunk, I get flirty and handsy and…three weeks ago Jennifer and I tied one on and apparently I proposed to some guy at the bar…"
Ressler sighed. Here they go again; Liz backing away.
"No, you were kinda quiet as the night went on," he said, annoyed and trying not to question everything she had said and done last night. He knew what she said was true, this morning was about covering her ass. "You kissed me a few times."
She dropped her head into her hand embarrassed. "Sorry about that."
"I'm not complaining," Ressler said as he tried to drink his coffee quickly.
"I know at the airport…" Liz started.
He held his breath, wondering if they were actually going to talk about it.
"I'm kinda messed up right now," Liz said as she took his hand. "I want to explore this, but now's not…and I think I am sending you mixed messages."
"You think?" Ressler asked sarcastically as he stood and walked toward her kitchen with his mug.
"Ressler," Liz said. "I want this."
He watched her gesture between them as she followed him to her kitchen.
"I just think that I need to figure out things with Jennifer and Reddington first," Liz said. "Then I can get Agnes back and, if you still want to, we can explore this."
Ressler nodded and walked toward her and held her by the shoulders.
"I get it," he said. "Thanks for being honest."
She sighed and stepped into a hug with him.
"You do what you need to and I'll…." He stopped. Was he willing to wait even more?
"I hope you are there when I get there," Liz said softly as she pulled back. "But if you aren't, I will understand. You have a life you need to live."
He swallowed hard and nodded and kissed her forehead before he left her apartment.
It was during the 5-block walk back to Wing Yee's to retrieve his car, that he called Hannah and asked her out.
The end.
Allison Thomas, Carolyn Givens