Unable to see Liz in the back of the ambulance, Ressler was worried. What would happen when Reddington and Cooper discovered that he had not arrived at the funeral home? It would become immediately apparent that something was up. What had been Liz's plan to provide a body, yet escape?

"Damn it, why didn't you talk to me? Why didn't you let me in on this?" he whispered to her in the back, tears threatening again at how desperate she had been to escape. Even to exclude him from her plans. Had she intended to ever tell him she was still alive…? Stop. Don't think that way.

As his GPS directed his route, he drew closer to the airfield and couldn't help but dwell on the fact her doctor knew what Liz had planned. She confided in him, but not me…

Glancing at his phone, he made note that he was just going to make it on time. At 7:57am, he pulled into the airfield, and after a momentary panic of which hangar to take her to, he spied a car in the distance. Mrs French was walking into the hangar with Agnes at her side, and Ressler headed right for them.

As Ressler pulled inside the hangar, the doctor approached the ambulance and wasted no time on pleasantries. As he dropped from the cab, Ressler hung onto the door for a moment as his vision swam. The damn nurse had been right, of course, that he was in no condition to be doing any of this. But it was for Liz, and that was all that mattered right now.

"You're late. Hours late. Let me through," the doctor said, opening the ambulance doors.

"What are you going to do?" Ressler asked the man as he now walked to the open back doors.

The doctor looked at him. "You have your part to do. Take the body to the funeral home."

Ressler was confused. Hadn't he just bought the 'body' to the doctor? But as he turned, to look he saw two bodies. One was Liz being wheeled quickly toward the plane. The other… Two men previously unseen were loading another body into the back of the ambulance.

"Who...?"

The doctor ignored him, walking behind Liz as she was wheeled away.

"Hey! Who is in the back?" He grabbed the doctor's arm, demanding an answer. "I need to know what Liz planned! Please!"

"Are you Ressler?" the doctor asked, clarity dawning in his eyes.

"I am."

"Then this is for you. She wanted me to send this after we were safe, but since you're here." He handed Ressler a thick envelope, then turned away.

"Wait!" Ressler yelled after him, but the doctor only repeated, "Take the body to the funeral home, as planned."

Here was part of the answer to Ressler's former question on how Liz could be both dead and alive, and clutching the envelope he jogged back to the ambulance. He might not know everything, but he was damn well going to do his part and get this body to the funeral home.

Ressler hardly dared to breathe as he pulled up at the funeral home 20 minutes later, hoping like hell no one would question his hour delay in getting there. Inside his shirt, the envelope sat against his skin, safe with him. Aching to open it and read its contents, he waited until he had delivered the body to the funeral home as planned. He had no idea where to leave the ambulance, so left it at the funeral home for them to deal with before he called a cab to take him home.

And two hours after he had discovered Liz was still alive, Ressler arrived home, (after his landlord let him inside after he realized he had no keys), then collapsed on his couch with a sigh. His chest was a mass of pain, but his mind was whirling.

He tore the envelope open, and inside were papers, money, three passports, a phone and a letter. Ignoring the rest, he unfolded the letter to find a hand written note from Liz.

Don, I'm so, so sorry to have done this to you and everyone. By now, you've likely had my funeral and are grieving, and for that I am truly sorry. But this was the only way. I am alive and safe with Agnes in a place where Reddington will never find me. I escaped.

I know what you're thinking. Why didn't I tell you? I wanted to, trust me, I really wanted to. It's why I came to the hospital to see you before all of this happened. The decision I had to make wasn't only to do what Reddington asked. The biggest conflict I had in that moment was whether or not to tell you what I was planning. I wanted to, honey, but I couldn't. In order to 'sell' this, it had to be real, and your feelings needed to be genuine otherwise Red would have seen through it in a second.

Again, I'm so sorry. I hope you can forgive me for the pain I've put you through.

Now, onto what I've enclosed with this letter. It's an invitation to come and join me. Everything you need is here, with passports, papers, and the means to come to me safely.

I want you to come and be part of my life from here on out. But the decision is yours. If you come, I will be waiting. If not, I understand.

You mean more to me than than I have ever shown or told you and I wish I had said the words to you before now. I don't know why I always hesitated to say it loud and clear. So here is me saying it now (and not in the back of a hearse). I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU!

Liz.

"I love you too," he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

He read it again, lingering on her words at the end, then picked up the passports and ID papers. She had sent $30,000 in cash for him to get to her and a new identity. On picking up the phone, there was only one number programmed into it. He pressed the number on impulse, but it only rang unanswered. He knew why though. Liz was likely still recovering from 'being dead' and still not conscious.

He sat there for some time, reading the letter once more, letting it all sink in.

His phone rang, and it was Cooper and gathering his thoughts he answered. "Are you okay?" his boss asked, and Ressler said he was, and was back home. "Stay there. I will be there shortly." Ignoring Ressler's weak protests, Cooper insisted and hung up.

Scrambling, Ressler hid the contents of Liz's letter in the gun safe in his closet, then answered the knock at the door 15 minutes later as Cooper arrived.

"I won't stay long, I just wanted to…" Cooper sighed, patted Ressler's shoulder, then sat down on a recliner. "I know you're hurting. We all are, but I know you loved her, Don."

Ressler only nodded slightly, tears burning his eyes. He might know Liz was alive, but he was heartbroken at the lengths she had been forced to in order to live her life in peace. He sat on the couch across from his boss.

"So, take as much time as you need. I don't want to see you anywhere near the office for some time." He shrugged. "I don't even know what happens now, if we even have a task force or Reddington anymore, after losing… her…"

Ressler found his voice. "I don't ever want to see that man again."

Cooper nodded. "Right now, I feel the same way. I don't know how we can possibly work with him after this."

Ressler's stomach churned with hatred for Reddington. He closed his eyes momentarily against a wave of nausea.

"You need to get some rest, Don," Cooper said gently, rising from the recliner. "You should be back in the hospital, but I know you won't do that."

Ressler opened his eyes and shook his head. No, he wasn't going back to the hospital.

"I'll see myself out. I need to go and talk to Aram and Alina. I sent them home last night after we took you to the doctor-"

"Reddington's doctor."

"Yes, one of Red's on call medical teams. Say what you will about the man, but he has resources."

Ressler rose from the couch. "You'll forgive me if I don't share your enthusiasm for his resources."

"I hear you, I do, but you needed medical help and he had it." Cooper patted Ressler on the arm. "I'm here if you need me, if you want someone to talk to and we'll talk at the... funeral. But I don't want to see you anywhere near the office. Got it?"

Ressler nodded. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to be anywhere near the Post Office or even be an FBI agent.