What If Part 2

Author's Note: Here's part 2 of What If. I thought I would explore this for another few chapters—but not something I am doing a deep dive into so expect moments in time in this little AU universe I have created rather than a fully developed story. Let me know what you think.

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Donald Ressler entered he back door of the bar and walked through the area where they stored the kegs toward the front.

"And how is our All-American terrorist organization doing?" Reddington's voice called out from the darkness.

"Just doing god's work," Ressler replied as he saw the man sitting at the bar in the dark, empty room.

Reddington let out a chuckle and flipped the coaster between his fingers.

"The largest terrorist threat in the United States isn't Islamic Extremists but the All-American boy next store who was quarterback, had a girlfriend who was on Student Council, and whose first sexual experience was in the backseat of an Oldsmobile. No wonder you are a shoe-in for this under cover op, Donald."

Ressler chuckled sardonically as he sat on the bar stool next to Reddington. "She was on Arts Council but close enough."

Reddington laughed lightly with him and pushed a whisky across the bar toward Donald.

"It's not anything to write home about but, considering the circumstances, you need a drink," Reddington said as he met the young man's eyes.

Ressler looked at him confused for a moment.

"She's pregnant," Reddington sighed before he threw back his whisky.

Ressler knew who the 'she' was in that sentence and threw back his own whisky. Of course he would do this; be the man who faked his own death to save her and she would be the woman who was pregnant with another man's child. An asshole's child who beat the shit out of her at least once, who she kept captive in a sick scenario, and who she obviously slept with despite all that. Of course.

"She still in jail?" Ressler asked.

"No, released just after we last met," Reddington said. "Small miracles Donald."

Ressler nodded and they sat in silence with the weight of this news. The news that neither of them wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry," Reddington said as he reached for the bottle and poured them each a second drink. "I thought she'd never go back to him but..."

"The heart wants what it wants," Ressler said as he clinked the edge of his glass with Reddington's which was still sitting on the bar. He threw back the second whisky and let the warmth of it block out the freezing of his heart.

"No," Reddington said. "She's so damaged by everything she doesn't think she deserves more. She's tricked herself into believing that he's the best she can do."

Ressler tapped his glass with his fingers; he wasn't going to respond to that.

"Kirk is getting them to move on something soon," Ressler said instead. "They really think he's a fucking savior."

"Do you know what?" Reddington asked.

Ressler thought for a moment. Shayla knew; he was sure of it. She had been trying to get in his pants since day 1 and he'd resisted because of some...commitment he made in his head to Liz. Liz who apparently was committed to sleeping with Tom.

"I can find out," Ressler said. "Three months in and they are just starting to trust me."

Reddington nodded.

"Do you think it is indirectly or directly related to Lizzie?" Reddington asked as he turned to face the young man a little more fully.

"I'm not sure it has to do with her," Ressler said honestly. "I think..."

Reddington looked at him intrigued.

"I think he has two separate missions; one to win Liz over and the other to run his little terrorist group because the US government has done him wrong."

Reddington chuckled. "And, I imagine thinking that Lizzie, who he imagines is his daughter, also works for that government he despises has to be eating him alive."

"I've never asked," Ressler said turning to face Reddington more fully."How sure are you that she isn't?"

"100%" Reddington sighed. "How are you holding up, Donald?"

Ressler worked his jaw for a moment, wondering if he should push harder. He suspected Reddington knew because he was Liz's father. He decided not to push today.

"Fine," he said. "All-Americans, especially the boys, get treated well. I may need to buy some new clothes from all he potato salad I have been eating."

Reddington nodded.

"They're moving more of the guns to Canada," Ressler said. "I think they plan on running a simultaneous plot to overthrow their government as well and try and seize both."

"Why Canada though?" Reddington asked. "What's he got against them?"

"Nothing that I can see," Ressler sighed. "Honestly it just a whole lot of 'America the way it should be' talk. They want the good old days of the 1950's when..."

"You could lynch a black man for looking the wrong way at a white woman, gang sodomize a gay man for the crime of being gay, beat your wife, drink and drive, and live your best life as an entitled white man?" Reddington interrupted.

Ressler chuckled softly. "Something like that."

"I don't understand how they get the woman though," Reddington sighed. "Honestly, they are usually smarter than any man..."

"I'm going to say that the women in this group aren't," Ressler noted. "I know many smart women and these aren't them. More like mindless sheep. Shayla is the only one that seems to have a brain and even then, I need to doubt how much of one based on the people she hangs out with."

Reddington nodded in agreement.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"How's she doing?" Ressler finally caved and asked.

"Scared," Reddington said. "She didn't want kids but Lizzie is a woman who thinks things happen for a reason, so there must be a reason she's being pushed into motherhood."

Ressler nodded. He wanted kids; always had. Probably wouldn't at this rate.

Ressler pushed off the bar and stood.

"I'm going to try and get on the next gun shipment to Canada and see if I can figure out what's going on up there," he said, knowing sleeping with Shayla would almost certainly get him on that gun run. Why he had been holding out was now pointless.

"Tom's still MIA," Reddington said as he too stood.

Ressler shrugged. It didn't matter anyways, she would take him back whenever he did re-appear.

"She's still mourning your loss. I think the baby is a good distraction for her," Reddington added as Ressler started to walk toward the back of the bar.

Ressler shook his head; Reddington was trying to appease him and make him stay on this mission under some misguided notion that he had a chance with Liz.

"I'll stay the course Red," Ressler called over his shoulder as he continued to walk. "No need to patronize me."

Reddington looked at the back of the man confused and watched as he disappeared into the back room of the bar and back to his second life as a home-grown terrorist for Alexander Kirk.

To be continued...