What If? Part 4

Author's Note: If you have not read the previous parts, I would suggest that before you continue.

Let me know what you think.

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Donald Ressler rolled to the side and looked at the alarm clock. It was 7 am and he needed to get to work. 'Work' being very different these days than they had been before.

"I have to go," Ressler said as he turned to look at Shayla.

She yawned and wrapped her arms around his chest.

"But this was the only time this week," Shayla sighed into his skin.

"I've been working hard," he chuckled.

"I know," she sighed.

Ressler decided to seize the moment.

"If you brought me to Canada with you next time...I could probably be more available..." Ressler said over his shoulder

She chuckled against him.

"So, my own personal bed warmer on the trip?" Shayla snickered.

"I've never been to Canada..." Ressler coaxed. He had missed out on the last two trips to Canada and Shayla had been quite closed-lipped on the purpose of those trips. He knew weapons were being sent but not the reason. He had been dead for 5 months and needed to actually move his work forward.

"I think that can be arranged," she said as she kissed his back.

He smiled, despite himself. If Shayla wasn't part of a terrorist organization, in another lifetime, he would have really liked her.

He rolled toward her slightly and kissed her nose. "Thanks."

She smiled and kissed his mouth.

"Now I really do have to go," she chuckled before he pulled away and walked naked across the room toward his pile of clothes on the chair.

She stretched in the bed and smiled.

"Every day that starts this way is always a good day," she said satisfied.

Ressler laughed as he pulled on his clothes.

"Be ready for travel by Thursday," Shayla said.

He nodded.

"I'll be ready," Ressler said.

Shayla got up and walked toward the washroom kissing his shoulder as she passed and shutting the door behind her.

Ressler finished dressing and walked out of her room and toward his post. He had been placed on guard duty for two shifts a week, which felt like a bit of demotion. He wasn't sure why. Honestly, sleeping with Shayla had been the only good thing that came out of the last couple of months. He hadn't made the progress he had hoped. He was sick of being dead, sick of living with terrorists, sick of the menial tasks he was given like guard duty, sick of worrying about Liz.

He stood at his post watching them go about their terrorist activities and sighed. He was done. He was so fucking done. He had been thinking for the last couple of months that this was a fool's mission. He wanted to help Liz, wanted to ensure she was safe, but he wasn't sure anymore that this was the way to do that.

A half hour passed before he saw Shayla crossing the yard to the portable where her office was. The office he had only been in on a handful of occasions. She was one of the top tier individuals in the organization, taking orders from Kirk directly. His understanding of Shayla's past was that she grew up in a normal house with parents who were farmers. She went to college for logistics planning and came to join the organization four years ago. He knew she was comfortable handling guns, had no issues sleeping with men without being married, was smart, and besides the odd drink every once in a while, didn't dabble in alcohol or drugs.

He also knew that she was nuts because she was a terrorist that believed America was going wrong and they needed to go back to a simpler time. And, although she had never said anything overtly racist or homophobic around him, she had to feel that way if she believed in this organization. He also knew she was great in bed and, right now, that was enough for him.

He missed his life. He missed his friends, his apartment, his buddies, his family...

And Reddington's meetings with him were less than desired. He told Ressler about Liz's progress with her pregnancy, the team, and he tried to get him to talk about Liz. The only good thing that came out of those meetings was that Tom had not returned and that Liz had been exonerated of her crimes.

For now, he thought as he watched a truck pull up with some of the leaders that were Kirk's right hand men, this was his life. Ressler watched Shayla walk out of the portable office. She winked at him before she approached the men to shake their hands. Yes, giving in to Shayla had been a smart move.

To be continued...