You Got Something To Say?

Author's Note: I was always bothered by season 3 Ressler not defending Liz in the van when, after she ran, another agent was being an ass and making all kinds of Russian comments. Here's my explanation.

Let me know your thoughts.

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They were sitting side by side at a dive restaurant near the Post Office eating falafel wraps and talking about an old case that Ressler had to testify in court about.

"Make sure you mention the struggle," Liz said before she took a bite.

"We're calling it a struggle?" Ressler asked with a raised eyebrow before he took a drink of his Pepsi. "I'm thinking 'fight' is more accurate."

"Yeah, but fight implies that you were looking for trouble, struggle is that he resisted arrest," Liz corrected him.

He nodded and took another bite of his wrap. They were slowly coming back to the Ressler and Keen that they were before. She still hadn't told him about the baby, about Tom or about a lot of things, but Liz worried that would distance him from her and right now she needed her friend. Even if she was keeping some vital information from him.

A guy walked into the restaurant and stopped when he saw Liz and glared at her.

"Hey, move along pal," Ressler said deep and loud as he straightened up in his seat and glared at the man who obviously knew who Liz was and had a problem with that.

The man shook his head in distaste and walked toward the counter to order.

"You know, you don't have to do that," Liz said to him softly.

"Require that people treat you like a decent human being?" Ressler asked her. "Yeah, I think I do."

She chuckled softly and shook her head before they continued to eat. Minutes later she broke the silence again.

"So, Tom and I are going to try again," Liz said softly, gauging his reaction.

There was none, just a nod.

"I figured with him back in the picture you would," Ressler said.

She looked at him surprised, apparently one of the secrets wasn't a so much of a secret.

"He helped get you cleared," Ressler said as he reached for a napkin. "I see why you want to give it another chance."

Liz gave him a soft smile and nodded. It was the right time to tell him about the baby, Tom's baby. She valued his opinion, and wanted the opinion of a sane person and not a woman hopped up on hormones and her baby daddy who seemed to think he could stop being an assassin.

"So, there's some other…" Liz started.

"Dos ve donya," the guy who had glared at Liz as he walked in said loudly as he walked past them to exit.

"Hey! You got something to say?!" Ressler snapped as he got up off his stool and made for the guy.

"Ressler, stop!" Liz said as he too hopped off her stool and placed a hand on his chest pushing him back from the man.

"Are you just going to let him…?" Ressler said, angry.

"You know I'm a grown woman who can take care of herself right?" Liz asked as the guy quickly left, apparently Ressler coming for him so fast made him less brazen.

Ressler's heart was racing in his chest under her hand, and she could see his eyes tracking the man as he left.

"Ressler," Liz said to him, and he finally met her eyes. "I can take care of myself."

He looked at her suddenly confused.

"I have enough of this bullshit 'save Liz' with Reddington, I don't need it with you too," Liz said a little more harshly than she expected.

He stepped back from her and looked slightly hurt.

"Look, I know you're my friend and it means a lot that you want to defend and help me, but let me pick my own battles and fight them okay? It's hard enough being a woman in a job dominated by men but it's made harder when no one sees me fighting my own battles, okay?"

He sighed and nodded.

"And I know this comes from a good place, I know that Ressler, okay?" Liz asked him as she gave him a small smile. "But on the street and at work, you need to stand down and let me defend myself or else…I just become another weak woman that needs a man and…"

"I don't think you're weak, not at all…" he started.

"I know," she smiled at him. "I know you Ressler. Just know that not everyone sees me like you do and it's for all those doubters and bullies and assholes that I need to be the one to step up, or not, and not have others do it for me, okay?"

He nodded and swallowed hard.

"Thanks," she smiled at him.

And then she stepped forward and hugged him. She loved Ressler's hugs and wasn't sure, after the next piece of information that she needed to share that she'd get them much anymore. So, selfishly, she took a hug while she could.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close.

"I just don't like people treating you like you're a Russian spy or a criminal or a bad person, because I know that's not you," he said as he hugged her.

"I know," Liz sighed as she squeezed him tight. "And that's what makes you one of the best and most honorable people I will ever know."

He chuckled softly and they pulled apart.

They sat back on their stools and Liz reached for her drink and took a sip while she watched him pick up his wrap and start to eat again.

"So, there's other news I should probably tell you about me and Tom…"

The end.