Neither occupant of the apartment slept particularly well that night, While Liz had tossed and turned with the revelation that she may be the daughter of a murdered British politician and his wife that everyone thought dead, Ressler just laid awake for hours debating with himself over whether or not he should actually tell his partner of his suspicions and plan to compare her DNA to Reddingtons. On one hand, if he did tell her, she'd likely freak out and over think the possibility without and solid answer or proof. On the other, if he didn't tell her and it turned out to be true, would she feel betrayed by him? Would she accuse him of lying to her like everybody else? He didn't want that, but, by three in the morning though, Ressler knew it was a risk he had to take.

The tension of the war room luckily hadn't followed Liz and Ressler up to their office when he'd finally joined her after the morning briefing. Liz had been going over everything they knew so far about Justin Warren, Ricardo Lopez and the Cameron family deaths when he'd walked in and threw himself in to his chair, huffing loudly. She knew he;d been reprimanded for being late (he'd left his phone at home and only realised when they'd arrived), but Liz wondered if there was something she was missing. She was about to ask him but he just shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. While he left to get them a fresh coffee, Liz returned to the notes she was making.

Ressler was back five minutes later, fresh, steaming coffee in each hand and they settled in to comfortable silence. Just before midday, Aram called Ressler out to say he'd finally been able to connect Maria and Ricardo Lopez together – he was once married to her mothers uncles cousin and she'd grown up calling him 'uncle' until she and her mother had moved to Washington and cut contact. Liz didn't for one minute believe that the woman her husband was screwing happened to be related to someone from his and Reddingtons past was coincidence – and Ressler agreed. Aram was still trying to break in to the British database but was so far having no luck. All they had was the CIA report but Ressler was sure that wasn't everything.

Secluded by her own thoughts, Liz's injured hand pulsed uncomfortably as she gripped a pen tightly, her knuckles growing white. The lack of information they still had was frustrating yet there was literally nothing she could do about it. She wasn't able to go out and work the case herself, and Ressler telling her every little detail was already more than what she should be allowed. In any case, if she even attempted to go it alone, Ressler would likely have her ass. No, this time she had to play by the rules... even if it did mean waiting for answers.

She lost track of time as she continued flipping through the case files and didn't notice Ressler returning and placing another steaming mug of coffee in front of her. It was only when a balled up piece of paper hit her right in the eye that Liz jumped and looked to find her partner suppressing laughter. She narrowed her eyes at him and tossed the paper ball back, missing him by an inch. Ressler chuckled.

"Sorry," he said, and to his credit, he did look sincere. "But I've been calling you for the last minute."

"Oh?" Liz said, wiping under her eye where it had started to run.

He passed her over a tissue. "You wanna stay again tonight?"

"Oh right, my bad – I just got caught up in this," she said, motioning to the files laid out in front of her. Ressler nodded in understanding. "I think putting me up for two nights is enough, don't you? You don't have to keep doing it – I can find a motel."

"I'd rather you didn't." Ressler fired up his computer as he spoke. He glanced at her before setting about doing more of his own research. "And I don't mind. It's nice having someone there after a long day."

Liz smiled and cocked her head to the side. They'd come so far since first meeting, and she knew she was beyond lucky to have him by her side. "Even if you've already spent all day camped out in here with me?" she joked, but there was the tiniest hint of apprehension in her voice though, if Ressler noticed, he didn't draw attention to it. He did, however, give her and full and genuine smile as he nodded his assurance. Liz grinned in return. "Okay, but only if you're sure?"

Ressler rolled his eyes now and Liz laughed. "Absolutely."

"Thank you, Don." Liz said, sincerely. "It really means a lot."

"It's honestly not a problem. What are friends for?" They shared another smile before both going back to their respective tasks. They'd worked again in silence for nearly ten minutes when Resslers phone rang and interrupted the calm of the room. Liz looked up in time to see him frown at the caller ID before answering and placing the phone to his ear.

"Ressler... seriously, already?... And you're a hundred percent sure?" Ressler looked up and caught Liz's eye. She looked down quickly, feeling a little ashamed for eavesdropping... but she knew her partner well enough to know that tone of his voice meant something was very wrong. She watched through her lashes as Ressler rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and sighed. "Shit, alright... No it's not mine, Delilah." Liz fought the temptation to look up at him again - who was Delilah? "Yeah, thanks... I know I owe you one alright? How about I book you a table at that expensive place you love?... Good. Bye." Ressler ended the call and groaned loudly, leaning back in his chair with his hands over his face. Liz chose to look up at him now.

"Everything okay?" she asked lightly, though the level of curiosity in her voice betrayed her.

She expected him to smile or laugh at the question, but instead his blue eyes darkened as he looked at her, a grim look on his face now.

"No, far from it." Ressler shook his head, looking down at the phone gripped in his hand. Liz was about to speak again but Ressler forcibly pushing his chair away from his desk and standing stopped her. She stared at him as he looked out their window at the war room. Liz planned on giving him a few minutes but the moment he turned to face her, she knew there was no point. "You trust me right, Liz?"

"With my life." She didn't even need to think about it, and he gave her the briefest hint of a smile.

Ressler took a deep breath before pulling Liz from her chair and dragging her by the hand to the door. "Come with me." He let go of her as they came in to view of their colleagues and Liz was surprised at how much she noticed the loss of warmth and comfort from his hold. While Liz tried to ignore the looks from their peers, Ressler didn't notice or didn't care that everyone was staring at them. He led them to a scarcely used stairwell – one Liz didn't even realise existed until a few weeks ago when she'd needed a quiet corner. Ressler pushed open the door, glancing behind them before taking Liz's hand in his again and all but dragging her down to the floor below. She wanted to know what was going on but, until that point, she hadn't felt it the right time to ask. Now, however, as he led them through yet another hallway she didn't recognise, Liz spoke.

"Where are we going?" she asked, slightly out of breath from being dragged around. "I don't think I've ever been to this part of the Blacksite before."

"This entire floor," Ressler said as they turned another corner. "Is dedicated to storage for pretty much everything from the refurb a few months ago." He paused for the briefest of seconds; the memory of why they'd had to move to a new location haunting them both. Liz gripped his hand that little bit tighter, prompting him to move on. "Ugh, not to mention, it's home to the paper copies of every case file the Bureau had before we went digital. No one likes to come down here if they can avoid it."

"So why are we down here then?" Liz questioned as Ressler led them deeper through the hallway. She wasn't scared of the dark, but the silence and lack of light gave off an eerie feeling Liz wasn't too sure of.

Ressler sighed. "Because I don't want to be overheard." He didn't stop until they came to the room at the very end of the hall. "In here," he said as he forced open the door and pushed Liz inside, following quickly and closing the door behind him. He fumbled around to find the light switch, bumping into Liz before he managed to locate it. As soon as he flicked it on, the room was bathed in a dim orange glow, barely illuminating the corner of the closet sized room.

"Okay," Liz said, moving to inspect the contents of one of the boxes on the shelves, finding it full of paper towels. She turned to him again, hands on her hips, mimicking his usual stance. "You have me all alone in a cramped and darkened janitors closet, Ressler. If I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd think you wanted something very out of character for you." She smiled at him, hoping he'd return the favour but he didn't, instead he couldn't even look at her. Liz took a step back. "What's wrong? What's the big secret?"

He looked up at her now, his eyes pleading. "Before I tell you, you have to promise to hear me out and explain everything." Ressler placed a hand on her shoulder. "Got it?"

Liz's eyes widened at the sharpness of his voice. She couldn't recall seeing him quite like this at any point in time... except maybe when he'd been shot. "Don, you're freaking me out," she whispered, looking at him dead in the eye. She didn't like what she saw. Liz took a step back from him. "Oh God, you've found something even worse out about Tom, haven't you?"

She started pacing now and didn't see Resslers face fall at her incorrect suspicions. She became too busy in her own mind trying to figure out what it could be that she forgot her partner was still standing in front of her... and that he'd been calling her name.

"Liz? Liz, stop pacing, please." He grabbed her shoulders to hold her in place. "It's not Tom, alright? You already know as much as I do on that part."

"Then what -"

"Reddington."

There was a few seconds of tense silence before Liz spoke, her voice a whisper. "It's really serious, isn't it? That's why we're down here."

Ressler nodded but found he couldn't quite get the words out. "Liz... he's..."

"He's what?" Liz said, her voice raised and getting higher with each frustrated word. "The sole reason we're in this mess? Not really a criminal? Secretly the rightful heir to the English throne? My biological father?" Liz watched Resslers face fall this time and knew she'd hit the nail on the head. "Oh my God."

Reddington and Dembe had landed in London little under three hours before pulling up outside the quaint building. To those passing on the outside, it was nothing more than a privately owned an accounting firm, but to those allowed through the locked front doors, it was much, much more. Granted, there wasn't more than a reception area with adjoining office, but with scanners and other mechanisms in place to block all wavelengths, manners of outside communications and any form of technology from being used, it was one of the safest places to conduct business. It took a full ten minutes to pass through the security measures in place, but once done, they found themselves seated on the lone couch in the reception area with nothing to occupy themselves with but that mornings copy of 'The Sun'. The two of them stayed in silence, neither of them feeling the need to fill the void of communication. Almost an hour after arriving, the door to the office opened, revealing a young, red headed woman dressed in all black and an older man wearing a deep blue suit. The man's presumably shoulder length hair, streaked with grey, was tied at the base of his skull and his equally streaked beard was trimmed to neat precision against the skin of his chin... and, by the look on his face, he was not at all happy to see Reddington.

The woman walked straight past without giving any acknowledge to their presence. Reddington waited until she'd left before standing, motioning for Dembe to join him. The man had seated himself behind him desk before they'd even made it to the door, making his feelings perfectly clear. Reddington, however, walked in the office and straight to the desk, placing his fedora upon it with a smile on his face.

"Sebastian, so glad you could meet me at such short notice."

The man behind the desk gave a short grunt in disdain. "Wasn't sure I had much of a choice in the matter, Mr Reddington." His voice carried a faded accent, showing how long he'd been in the country. He eyed Dembe standing in front of the now closed door, arms crossed over his chest and decided it was best not to comment further. Instead, he gestured to Reddington to sit and plastered an overly fake smile on his face and leaned back in his own chair. "Nevertheless, you are welcome. What can I do for you?"

Reddington, still smiling, entwined his fingers, rested them on his knee and looked Sebastian dead in the eye. "I need access to my locker in the vault."

"The vault..." Sebastian said, his eyes flickering and his smile faltering. It was clear he hadn't expected his request. "Today?"

"No, next year," Reddington said, the sarcasm dripping from his tongue and allowing his eyes to roll. "Yes, today."

"Mr Reddington," Sebastian started, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He could no longer look him in the eye as he spoke. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure that will be possible."

Reddingtons smile disappeared in an instant and his eyes darkened. "I'm not a man that likes to hear the word no, Sebastian; just ask your father."

"I'm well aware," the man said through gritted teeth, clearly remembering a past experience with the man in front of him. He cleared his throat and attempted to smile but could only muster barely more than an upturn of the corners of his mouth. "The problem is security out of our control has been increased tenfold in the last year due to break-ins around the area. Upgrades are being made and we are under strict instructions not to allow anyone access. Even negotiations have to be made weeks in advance."

"You have an hour to get me in to the vault, Sebastian," Reddington said, standing and placing his fedora on his head and his tone leaving no room for refusal. "If you don't, Dembe and I will be personally escorting you home for the family reunion you keep neglecting to attend."

A look of fear passed across Sebastian's face as he visibly shrunk in his seat. "You wouldn't -"

"Wouldn't I?" Reddington moved to the door as Dembe opened it from him. He turned at the last second. "One hour."

The two of them left then, closing the office door behind them. Neither spoke as they retrieved the items taken from them when they'd first entered the building. They continued to move in silence even after hitting fresh air. It wasn't until they reached their car, both seated in their respective seats that Dembe spoke, looking at Reddington through the wing mirror.

"If he can't get us in to the vault, Raymond?"

"Then we'll have to find our own way in," Reddington said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

They drove in silence towards the place they were staying, Dembe navigating the roads with such experience it was as though he had lived there himself for years. They drove for less than five minutes before the phone in Dembe's jacket rang. He pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID before passing it behind him. "It's Gerald."

Reddington answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear. "I'm listening."

"Well hello to you to. I hacked the systems to flag anyone running any sort of tests on your DNA like you asked me to months ago, and I got a hit." There was a pause and Reddington could almost feel the mans eyeroll through the phone at his lack of response. "It's from early this morning my time and it's only just come through. A small, private lab in DC ran two anonymous samples against each other, one of which was yours."

"Genetics Limited." It wasn't a question, but a confirmation. He'd already been informed of Agent Resslers early morning trip... having had one of his men follow him after he'd left Lizzie at the Post Office.

Gerald sighed down the phone. "How could you possibly know that?"

"Erase it from their systems and yours. You'll receive my check in the mail." Reddington ended the call without waiting for a response. He tossed the phone in the seat next to him, closing his eyes. It should have been clear to him what Resslers plan was – and now his secret was out.

"Raymond?"

Reddington caught Dembes eye in the mirror and sighed. "Turn the car around, Dembe, I don't think we'll have time to wait for Sebastian. It seems I have underestimated Agent Ressler; he appears to have more friends than I thought."

Dembe instantly diverted their route, turning the car back on themselves. "Elizabeth?"

"She knows."

Liz backed herself against the shelves behind her as she watched Ressler close his eyes and lower his head. She could tell by the way he was acting that it was the truth. Her chest began to tighten, as if someone had tied a rope around her and pulled until they couldn't anymore. Her vision blurred and her eyes filled with tears as she began gasping for breath. Liz could faintly hear Ressler trying to speak to her, but it was as though he was merely talking to her from the opposite end of a tunnel. Everything had turned in to a blur... until Liz felt herself being pulled back against Resslers chest, his arms trapping her to him. She tried to push him off, the feeling of being unable to breath becoming overwhelming, but he only tightened his hold and lowered them both so they were kneeling on the floor.

"Keen, you need to calm down. Please, Liz. Match my breathing, okay?" She couldn't even nod to him, but she did try and focus on the steady rise and fall of his chest pressed against her. Ever so slowly, her breathing started to even out. "In and out, in and out. You're doing great. You're gonna be fine, just breath, alright? Take nice deep breaths."

It took several minutes, but Liz slowly calmed down enough for Ressler to release his hold of her. He made to shuffle away from her, to give her space but Liz gripped on to his arm, like he was her lifeline. She didn't turn to face him, but leant back and continued to focus on his breathing. "I ca-can't... believe this... he li-lied... to me," she said in a broken whisper.

"I know, Liz." Ressler rested his chin on top of her head, tightening the arm wrapped round her. "I'm so sorry."

Liz froze at his words. She shrugged his arm off and spun round so she was on her knees facing him. "How did you know?" She questioned, trying – and failing – to figure out how he could possibly have found out. "How the hell did you find out?"

Ressler shrugged, but didn't quite look her in the eye. "I had a hunch, it paid off."

"Not good enough," Liz said, furiously wiping away tears from her cheeks. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me before?"

She was giving him the same look she had when she'd first told him about everything. He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "The way you reacted when I told you who I thought you really were, the hurt I saw in your eyes?" She deflated a little and the anger that had started to build evaporated instantly at his words. She cast her eyes down before covering her face with her hands. Ressler pulled them away, taking them in his own. "Liz, I didn't want to tell you anything until I had actual evidence. We still don't know for sure if you're really Jennifer Cameron but I am certain you were both born on the same day of the same year."

Liz looked at him, tears flowing again. "So this is Reddingtons connection to the Camerons – me. I'm the missing link." She sniffed, trying to smile, but finding it impossible to muster one. "Your hunch?"

Ressler moved from his knees to sit with his back flat against the door, Liz following suit a second later. He sighed, wrapping an arm round her shoulders and pulled her to him again. "He was briefly stationed in the South of France, the same town as Mrs Cameron. Thought it was too much of a coincidence, y'know? I put two and two together; did some math and worked out she would have already been pregnant when she moved."

"I guess it makes sense." Liz's voice was barely audible as she spoke. She curled in to his side, pulling her knees to his chest. "How did you even do this? There's no way you could have gone through the Bureau without drawing attention."

"No one here knows except you and me." Liz shifted again to look at him, eyes wide. He gave her a tight smile. "I don't plan on shouting this from the rooftops, and I didn't think you would either." Liz shook her head and pleaded with her eyes for him to go on. He shrugged, looking away from her. "I have a friend who works in a lab; she ran the test anonymously and no questions asked."

"So," Liz said slowly, trying to fully comprehend what she was being told. "There's only us, abd your friend, that knows about the test?"

"Yes," Ressler said, nodding reassuringly. "But she doesn't know who the samples I gave her belong to."

"She thought one was yours," Liz remembered suddenly. Ressler stared at her and she rolled her eyes. "I heard your end of the conversation." He chuckled lightly before she turned serious again. "How did you get the samples? I know I didn't volunteer anything?"

"No, you didn't." Ressler gave her an almost guilty smile. "But you did leave that dish cloth covered in your blood in my bathroom. I got it last night while you were reading that file from Meera."

"You went back out after I went to bed?"

"No," Ressler shook his head. "I took it to her after I dropped you off this morning."

"So, you didn't leave your phone at home?" Liz said, eyebrows raised.

"Guilty," Ressler said, sighing and rubbing the back of his neck. "I needed an excuse to slip away for a bit... seemed like the easiest option."

"Okay," Liz nodded, accepting his answer. They sat in silence for the next few minutes, Liz comprehending everything she'd been told in her head. She was finding it hard to decide whether or not she was truly surprised Reddington had lied to her. She curled herself further in to Resslers side, hiding her face from him. "What about Reddington's DNA?" she mumbled. "How on Earth did you manage that?"

She felt Ressler stiffen and couldn't help but turn to look at him, expecting him to explain but instead she found him avoiding her gaze. His reaction was confusing her, and she needed to know why. "Ressler?"

He still didn't answer, and still refused to look at her. She placed a hand on his arm, encouraging him to tell her. He finally looked at her, and she saw the inner battle he was having with himself behind his eyes and she knew then that he'd put everything on the line to find the truth for her. Ressler opened his mouth a few times, only to close it again when he couldn't find the words. When he did finally speak, his voice was low and barely audible... and full of obvious disbelief at his own actions. "Evidence locker."

Liz eyes widened. Now that was something she was definitely going to find hard to believe. Ressler, for as long as she'd known him, had always been a 'by the book', and very straight when it came to following the rules. For the first time in days, Liz found herself fighting laughter... she just couldn't help herself. "You stole evidence?"

Ressler groaned and rolled his eyes. "I borrowed evidence." Liz snorted, earning herself a nudge from him. "I've already put it back.

"Never thought I'd see the day." Liz patted him on the back.

He shrugged. "Needed to be done."

They lapsed in to silence again. The laughter was short-lived as Liz thought about the seriousness of the situation... of who she really was. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do now," she murmured. Ressler looked questioningly at her. "I mean, I don't know how to deal with this. Do I call him? Do I wait for him to figure out that I know?"

Ressler shook his head, taking her hand again. "You have the upper hand, Liz. You call the shots."

She opened her mouth to respond but the sound or Resslers phone ringing cut her off. It had been over an hour since they'd come down so it wasn't all that surprising that someone was trying to make contact, but when Ressler pulled out his phone, frowned down at it then showed her the screen, she found her heart racing a little. "Answer it."

He nodded. "Ressler... What are you talking about?" He glanced at Liz, not giving anything away. "How can it just disappear? Of course I didn't do it... Delilah – Alright, alright. Bye."

Ressler shoved his phone back in his pocket, huffing in frustration. Liz watched him as she stood and started pacing. She almost didn't want to ask, but knew she had to. "What's wrong."

He looked at her but kept pacing. "Someone's erased the results and any trace that the test was done in the first place."

There was an accusation behind his words, and Liz understood perfectly. She closed her eyes, throwing her head back with a loud this against the door. "Reddington."

Ressler nodded. "He probably has someone following you day in, day out. Maybe he even has someone following me seeing as you've been staying at my apartment. Not to mention the man has endless guys on his payroll all over the damn place."

"There's no way he doesn't know I know." Liz shook her head and let out a sigh. "There goes my advantage."

Ressler stopped pacing to look at her again, his eyes pitying her. "He still ha s to explain, Liz."

"I don't know how much more I can take, Don." Liz covered her face with her hands so Ressler couldn't see the fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. "Everything is being turned upside down and... and I..."

She trailed off and couldn't continue. She started shaking as her body became overwhelmed by the force of her sobs. Ressler crouched down in front of her, tugging her hands from her face before pulling her to stand with him and wrapping her in a tight hug. "It's okay, Liz."

"But it's not." Liz pushed away from him, backing herself against the shelves. "I'm the daughter of a criminal, a traitor to his country, a despicable man, and not just any old one. I'm Raymond fucking Reddingtons daughter." The force of her words cut through both of them, and it evidently was something neither had considered until now. "The Bureau will cut me off the second they find out and I'll be done."

There were a few seconds pause before Ressler spoke, his voice quiet but sincere." They won't know unless you tell them."

Liz stared at him, wide eyed... disbelieving. "You're not gonna tell Cooper?"

Ressler rolled his eyes. "You think that little of me?" Liz looked guiltily at him and he shook his head, frowning at her. "If we'd found this out in your first week on the job? Hell, I would of removed your gun and badge myself."

His words stung but she knew herself that they were true. "And now?" she asked tentatively, hoping beyond hope she knew they answer.

Ressler gave her a full smile, tilting her head to the side. "You even have to ask?"

Liz let out a breath before letting her head fall against him. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do," she whispered.

Ressler wrapped his arms round her again. "We leave this closet; go back upstairs, and when we get home you call him. You want answers right?"

Liz nodded. "Yeah."

"Then we'll get them," he said, sounding confident. "He has no choice now."

"Thank you."

There was a lot more behind her words and they both knew it. The next few minutes were spent with Ressler holding her steady against his chest as she sobbed away any remaining tears she had. The moment her body stopped shaking she pushed away from him, turning her back as she sniffed and wiped under he eyes with her fingers. When she turned back to face him, Ressler smiled at her.

"You good to go?"

She nodded, then shrugged. "How do I look?" She watched Ressler recoil at the question and she sighed. "Come one, Ressler, tell me if I look like I;ve had a mini break down in a blacksite janitors closet or not."

"Okay," Ressler said, a glint in his eye. "But you want the gentlemans answer or the one from your friend and colleague?"

"Friend."

"You look like you've had a mini break down in a blacksite janitors closet." He grinning widely, earning himself a glare and slap on the chest.

"Ressler!"

"I'm joking." Ressler laughed, turning and digging through one of the boxes of paper towels, handing her one. "You're not that bad, but you probably should take a trip to the restroom first."

"Well thanks." Liz rolled her eyes, taking the towel and dabbing at her cheeks. She looked at the spot on his chest where her head had been and laughed to herself. "You should really change your shirt."

"What! Why?" Ressler said, looking down at himself.

"Mascara."

Ressler groaned and Liz laughed again. He nudged her shoulder lightly. "Damn you woman."

"Lockers first?" Liz asked.

"Yeah." Ressler nodded, opening the door for her and switching off the light. He took her hand and tugged her from the room. "Let's go."

The hour Reddington had given Sebastian was almost up yet the man had made no attempt to contact him... not that it mattered anymore. The moment Dembe had turned the car around, they'd devised a plan and contacted the relevant people to gain access. The fine details had been worked out in a mere twenty minutes and three quarters of an hour from leaving Sebastian's office, Reddington and Dembe found themselves in 'The Vault'. The Vault was situated in the heavily guarded basement of a derelict London estate... one even squatters didn't dare touch. It was the perfect place to house certain possessions, and if one was spotted arriving, they would simply say they were interested in purchasing the land.

For somewhere protecting the means to destroy a lot of people and ruin many lives, it was surprisingly easy to gain access without all the usual requirements. All he needed was a briefcase full of money and a well devised distraction. Finding Reddingtons locker had itself taken the best part of ten minutes to locate. It had been twenty-five years since he'd last visited his locker... the place had been modified since then.

Reddington was sure his locker must be one of the smallest the Vault offered. Barely large enough to fit a lone filing cabinet and a single person, it was a much tighter squeeze now than it had been all those years ago, giving one a slight feeling of claustrophobia. While Reddington was inside, Dembe stayed just beyond the door keeping watching. They'd managed to to wedge the door to the end of the hall closed in case anyone came looking for them... but they knew they wouldn't have long before their distraction failed at keeping the guards at bay. Dembe had figured they may have five minutes to get in, get what they needed and get out... but he was fast growing impatient at Reddingtons lack of speed in rifling through the documents. Shouts could be heard from beyond the door at the end of the hall (which they had locked from the inside). Dembes head shot up; they'd barely been there three minutes... they didn't have much time left.

"Raymond," Dembe said, not his usual calm self. "We have to leave."

"One minute, Dembe." Reddington didn't even look up, just continued to pull what seemed to be random pieces of slightly yellowed paper from the drawers. "I need to ensure I leave nothing of importance behind."

"We have barely a minute until they get down here." More shouts could be heard, closer now than they were before. Dembe gritted his teeth as he spoke, clearly not amused at the risk Reddington was taking. "We have to leave. Now."

Dembe was about to forcibly removed Reddington from the minute room, but the man suddenly straightened, slamming the drawer shut and picking up a small stack of papers and exiting. "There, we can go." They moved swiftly to the end of the hall, right beside the door. Dembe unlocked it, checking their path was clear before slipping out and managing to completely miss the hoard of people rushing through behind them. It took them by far a shorter amount of time to get out than it did to get in, and within minutes they were back at the car, buckled in and driving away. Dembe had one eye on the road, while glaring at Reddington through the mirror. Reddington rolled his eyes. "Don't look at me like that, Dembe."

Dembe looked away, the calmness to his voice returning somewhat. "You were risking everything by staying in there."

"I'm aware, but it's time Lizzie knew everything." Reddington sighed, holding up the stack of papers. "This is everything."

"And now?

"Now I have to make a call I was hoping to avoid for a few more days."

Dembe glanced at Reddington again before focusing on the road ahead. He'd found out the truth about Elizabeth years ago, and the moment Reddington chose to become close to her again, he'd almost begged for her to be told. It wasn't right, and it wasn't fair to keep it from her. He was glad the truth was finally coming out, she wouldn't take to being kept in the dark forever. Reddington sighed again behind him.

"Am I taking us back to the airport?" Dembe already knew the answer, and was heading in that direction regardless.

"Yes, there's no reason to delay longer. Pass me the phone, Dembe." Dembe did was as he was asked, spying the almost defeated look on Reddingtons face. He couldn't feel sorry for him though... he'd bought it on himself. "It's time to call Elizabeth."

Been a while... anyone still reading?