What If?

Author's Note: Just a different scenario—let's have Ressler fake his death when he ran Liz off the road with the Russians in Season 3. Let me know what you think.

One of my great readers Fancy Caroline asked if I could put this in it's own story instead of the mixed up world of Random Keenler. So here it is!

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"He was a decorated Agent, a good son, a fine brother, and a loyal friend..." Cooper said at the graveside.

Liz Keen stood in handcuffs; strings had been pulled to allow her to attend. When she found out he had died in the accident that had saved her from being assassinated by the Russians she turned herself in. Red was somewhere, likely still trying to prove her innocence and she was in a cell in isolation awaiting her hearing and trial in the death of Tom Connolly.

She raised her tissue wad to her eye and dabbed at it. He died saving her. She would live with that guilt the rest of her days. She would live with the loss of the man she cared about, the man who was good and honest and true, always.

She had cried a lot the last few days and now, seeing his mother and brother and nephews standing next to his grave Liz Keen didn't know if she could ever find the words to express her condolences. She didn't know if they even wanted them from her. Tom was on a boat somewhere and she had closed that chapter of her life finally. She had hoped to clear her name and start fresh but now, with Ressler gone, she half felt she deserved to be in jail. Two men, one good and one bad had died because of her; that seemed to warrant some years in prison.

It was the nights in prison that were the hardest. She could clearly see his face behind her eyelids, hear his deep voice, register his laugh...most of all she thought about him saying her name "Keen" in the way that only he could. She thought about all the times she thought about him as more than a friend. All the times she convinced herself to not go there with her thoughts.

It would never happen now.

Liz Keen chanced a glance at the rest of the task force; only Aram had met her eyes. Cooper and Samar couldn't seem to look at her. They knew she was the reason they were here today. The priest finished, guns were fired into the air, and his many friends and family started to wander away in small groups talking and sniffling. He was too young to die. Filled with so much promise.

"How are you holding up?" Aram asked her as he approached.

"Fine," Liz sniffled as she wiped at her nose.

"Liz you shouldn't..." Aram started.

"No, I think you should," Samar said as she walked up next to Aram. "He's dead because he loved you."

"Excuse me?" Liz asked surprised.

Samar shook her head slightly and turned to look back at Ressler's grave before she turned back to Liz to speak.

"You were so wrapped up in Tom's bullshit you didn't see it, I get that," Samar said coolly. "But you knew, in your heart you knew he bent all those rules for you not because you were his partner, but because he couldn't and wouldn't ever allow anything to happen to Liz Keen."

"Samar..." Aram said.

"No, I'm done with all this 'Keen above all else' because see where it has gotten us? Ressler is dead, Reddington appears on the run and you are possibly going to jail for the rest of your life. I think we need to change our purpose as a task force."

Aram looked like he was going to vomit—he missed everyone being friends like they used to be.

"He loved you Liz and he's dead because of that love," Samar said before she walked back toward her car.

Liz nodded and cried harder. She was right.

"Elizabeth," Cooper said as he approached Aram trying to comfort Liz.

"Sir," Liz said, not meeting his eyes.

"I will be at your hearing to testify on your behalf," Cooper said solemnly.

"But after all...after Ressler..." Liz hiccoughed.

"All the more reason you need to be in jail; our team has experienced enough loss already," Cooper said, making it clear his testimony wasn't just to help her.

"I appreciate that, sir," Liz nodded.

"Be safe," he said warmly as he cupped her elbow and looked into her eyes for the first time. "He died protecting you; take that gift and live your life to it's full potential. That's what Donald would have wanted."

Cooper stepped away from her and she swallowed hard; Ressler would have wanted that.

"Keen, you need to be back in 42 minutes," the guard said clearly behind her.

She nodded and wiped at her eyes again.

"You better go," Liz said to Aram as she turned to see Ressler's family hugging each other near their cars. "I...I shouldn't have come."

Liz turned toward the guards and nodded; they fell into formation next to her and walked her back to the van to transport her back to jail until her hearing.

Aram wiped at his eyes and looked around at the sorrow surrounding them. The task force that he had come to depend on, to love even, was in shambles. He turned and walked toward his car, unnoticing the woman sitting on the bench visiting a grave side with a camera attached to her; taking in the entire scene for an audience that was in another country.

"My mom," Ressler said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"She will understand," Reddington said.

"Will she?!" Ressler snapped. "Because, right now I see all my friends and family grieving my loss and they will continue to grieve my loss for another...how many months?"

"At least 6," Reddington said as he turned off the screen they had been watching. "But that 6-month investment will pay for itself in spades with intel and..."

"You sound like you're trying to sell me a pyramid scam," Ressler chuckled darkly. "My...everyone in my life thinks I'm dead, don't you get the magnitu..."

"I get it all too well, Donald," Reddington said. "But you and I know this is the only way. So, how about you stop having an ethical dilemma about this and we get started?"

Ressler sighed. He hated it when Reddington was right. Hated it even more when he was smug.

"Lizzie didn't look well," Reddington sighed as he reached for his hat to leave the young man's room. "She cared for you a great deal."

Ressler swallowed hard; Liz didn't know how much he cared for her, and it was probably for the best with Tom possibly back in the picture. She was still a married, well sort of married, woman and he needed to respect that. As much as he didn't want to.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Donald," Reddington said as he turned to smile at the younger man before he started to chuckle. "Has anyone ever told you that death becomes you?"

Ressler gave a sardonic laugh and then watched th older man leave his room.

The end.