The Short Game 9
Author's Note: Still dealing with the aftermath of Liz's assault. Let me know what you think.
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"I appreciate you meeting me," Cooper said to Liz as he sat down across from her at a coffee shop. "I know you are taking some time, and I don't mean to intrude on it, but I wanted to let you know about the case you helped with…the cult?"
"How many girls were rescued?" Liz asked, intrigued. Ressler had been light on the details and she hadn't pushed with everything else going on.
"Forty-seven and the chain has been broken so they can no longer traffic their girls," Cooper smiled at her. "Because of the work you and Ressler did."
"Thanks sir, but I didn't really get to follow it through," Liz explained. "It was Ressler who…"
"I believe it was a joint effort," Cooper smiled at her. "Regardless, I want you to know that you saved those girls from forced marriage, forced sexual relations, and being responsible for babies too early in their young lives."
Liz wiped at the corner of her eye.
"I know you are vulnerable and hurt," Cooper said kindly. "But I also want you to know that you are strong and a force to be reckoned with."
Liz nodded.
"You got Agnes back, you kept those girls safe, and you are going to get through this as well, because you are Elizabeth Keen."
"Thank you, sir," Liz gave him a soft smile. "I appreciate that."
"Well, it's true," Cooper said before he reached forward and carefully patted her hand. "I hear Ressler has been visiting a lot?"
"Yeah, uh sir…" Liz started.
"If you want me to tell him to leave you alone then…" Cooper started.
"No, I'm happy he's around, he makes me feel safe," Liz explained. "And sir, Ressler and I are involved."
"Say that again?" Cooper asked.
"Ressler and I are involved," Liz explained. "We have been, off and on, for quite some time."
"Define 'quite some time'?" Cooper asked.
"Since we were the Hughes?" Liz asked, her voice rising.
"That was before Agnes," Cooper said surprised.
"Yeah," Liz nodded.
"He's not Agnes'…?"
"No, Tom was Agnes' father," Liz said. "But we were together for a while and have been together again more recently."
Cooper sat back in his chair; it was a lot to take in. Two of his agents running an undercover op had been legitimately undercover with each other with no one knowing.
"Even when you were married?" Copper clarified.
"Neither of us are proud of that," Liz explained.
Cooper sighed. He wouldn't have ever thought Ressler would step into someone else's marriage, but he also didn't know much about the man personally beyond what he shared.
"Sir, it just happened…" Liz said, trying to explain.
"Elizabeth, I do know how, when put in circumstances where you are faking being a couple, sex can just…"
"No," Liz corrected him. "It was love that happened."
Cooper raised an eyebrow.
"Despite me being married, things had not been good with Tom for quite some time, and let's just say under some very extraordinary circumstances Ressler was my support system and I was also his," Liz said. "And we fell in love."
Cooper smiled; this was much better than some affair between his two agents.
"But Tom always complicated everything and, Agnes happened, and Ressler stepped away and then, when I couldn't imagine not having him in my life, we got back together, despite my marriage and baby," Liz said. "I know I'm giving you a very elusive and complicated story, but it's not been easy for either of us."
Cooper nodded. It did sound like their feelings for each other had brought them a lot of strife and heartache. And now with Elizabeth's assault, he couldn't imagine how much more layered their relationship was.
"He treats you well?" Cooper asked, knowing the answer but wanting Elizabeth to see that was important.
Liz smiled.
"And would you like to continue to work together?" Cooper asked.
Liz nodded. "We hope so but know that's beyond our power."
Cooper sighed and nodded.
"I'll need some time with this information," Cooper said.
Liz nodded.
"And how are you, Elizabeth?" Cooper asked, not sure if it was okay.
"Getting there, sir," Liz said quietly, her eyes watering. "I'm…as you can probably see, my relationship with Tom was always complicated and now, with what he did to me, and with him being gone, even more so."
Cooper nodded and gave her a soft smile.
"I'm seeing a counselor to sort those things out," Liz admitted. "And Agnes and I now have an apartment we just moved into."
Liz didn't mention that she hadn't once slept there alone in the 3 nights she and Agnes had been in the apartment. The first night she and Ressler fell asleep sitting up on the sofa, the second night he held her in bed and helped with the nightmares, and the third night he slept on the living room sofa.
"That's wonderful Elizabeth," Cooper smiled. "How is it having your little girl back?"
"Better than I could have imagined," Liz said with a wide smile. "To have her with me, and safe…I couldn't ask for more."
Cooper nodded in agreement.
"You take all the time you need," he said. "With everything that has happened with Agnes, and now this…you need some time."
Liz nodded. Everyone at work knew she had been sexually assaulted by Tom and Liz still wasn't sure how she felt about everyone knowing her very personal business.
"I better get back," Cooper said as he stood. "Charlene's sister's family is coming for the day and I'm on food duty."
Liz smiled and stood with him, grabbing the second cup that had been sitting near her on the table and following him out of the coffee shop.
"I really wish you the best Elizabeth, you deserve happiness and safety," Cooper said kindly as they parted ways at the front door of the shop.
"Thanks, sir," Liz smiled at him.
He walked the block to his car and paid the parking guy. Cooper was sitting at a red light when a couple with a young baby caught his eye around the corner of a park. It was Liz, standing talking with Ressler, them both holding coffees and Ressler standing with what looked like a baby carrier strapped to his chest with little legs hanging out the bottom. He watched them talk, then Liz lean in to check on the baby, then her take Ressler's hand and walk with him down the park path away from the street. Had he not known them, Cooper wouldn't have thought they were anything but a little family with a newborn out for the day. The light changed and Cooper started on his way back home.
He didn't know the details of anything Liz had said about her relationship with Ressler or with Tom, but from what she could see, this was something special for both of them. And Ressler was doing his best to support her throughout this process by being there for Elizabeth and her child. He'd need to figure out a way to help the young couple navigate these new waters.
To be continued…