I apologise profusely.

After they'd both cleaned themselves up in the locker room, Ressler had gone back to their office while Liz had a few minutes to herself. She sat on the bench between the rows of lockers, head in her hands. Her whole life was in turmoil. Everything she had thought, everything she had known was turning out to be a lie. Her loving husband wasn't that, but rather a rogue agent sent to spy on her for means of tracking a criminal. Said criminal wasn't just in her life because he knew her adoptive father, but rather because he was her biological father. Reddington had lied to her. Straight up lied and denied being her father when she'd asked him all those months ago. Liz wasn't even surprised, thinking about it now, that he'd lied. It was in his nature, all Raymond Reddington seemed to do was lie, bend the truth and scheme for his own benefit. It didn't make the truth any easier to process and now it was all too much. Far too much for Liz to cope with any more. She didn't know how much more she could take before she broke... and if she got to that point, well, she didn't know if she would ever be able to come back from it.

Liz wiped underneath her eyes and checked her reflection in the long mirror at the end of the room. It didn't take a genius to work out that she'd been crying again. Ressler would know instantly, but she doubted he'd say anything. She left the locker room and headed back to their office, avoiding everyones gaze, not that she'd had to worry, they were all focusing on the tasks at hand. She slipped in the office and shut the door quickly behind her, going straight to her desk and sitting down. Ressler was watching her and she tried to give him a smile, but found she couldn't quite manage it. He nodded at her but didn't say anything, sensing she just needed the quiet. No one came to disturb them as they sat in near silence for the next hour, both working separately on the case, though Liz's input would stay unofficial due to her personal connection.

While continuing to jot down any and everything Liz could remember about 'Tom' from very first time she met him, she couldn't help but let her mind once again drift over everything she'd learned in the last couple of days. How could so much have been kept from her without her knowing? How could all this happen right under her nose and her have no idea? Liz closed her eyes, willing the tears not to spill again only for them to fly open and the ringing of her phone.

Laying on the desk, the annoying, generic tune that played to announce a call with the added vibration resonating heavily against the wood. Liz could only stare as the words 'private number' was displayed on the screen, yet she found she couldn't move to pick it up. She looked up at Ressler, her eyes wide.

"It's him."

Ressler jumped from his seat, rushing to stand next to her. "Answer it."

"I can't," Liz whispered, pushing away from the desk and moving as far away from the phone as she physically could in the small office. She knew she should answers it, that she needed to if she ever wanted answers. "I don't want to."

"Liz-" Ressler said as the phone rang off. He wrapped an arm round her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

Rationally, Liz knew she couldn't avoid Reddington forever. There were many different ways the man could get to her if he really wanted to, and many more that Liz could never imagine. Yet still, standing there in the office and knowing what she did, and no matter how much she craved the answers only Reddington could give, Liz felt that she couldn't face picking up the damn phone. Liz sighed and twisted out of Resslers hold, running a hand through her hair while she moved away from him.

"If he calls back, which he will, then I'll answer it," Liz, her voice quiet as she closed her eyes again. "I just don't think I'm ready to face this, Don."

"You are." Ressler moved to her side once more, lacing his fingers with hers and squeezing her hand. "You've waited years to find out the truth, even more reason to want to after the last year and now you can, Liz."

"But-"

Liz was cut off the sound of Resslers phone ringing in his pocket. He kept tight hold of her hand and he retrieved it before shaking his head, laughing humourlessly.

"Should of known. Ressler." He paused, looking at Liz. "She's standing right next to me. "It's for you, obviously."

He held out the phone to her but she shook her head. He was about to object when she stopped him. "Put it on speaker."

Ressler nodded, pressing this thumb against the screen and holding it out between them.

"Lizzie?" came Reddingtons voice through the speaker. Liz froze against Resslers side, and he squeezed her hand again in encouragement. "Elizabeth, I know you know so stop with the silent treatment.."

Son of a bitch, Liz thought. She sucked in a breath, wanting to end the call there and then but knew deep down that it probably wasn't the best thing to do at that precise moment. Instead, she spoke through gritted teeth. "And what is it exactly that you think I know?"

"This is childish. Elizabeth-"

"I just want to hear you say it," Liz whispered. "For once, can you just tell me something straight instead of playing games with me."

"Not over the phone." Liz stared disbelievingly at the phone, Ressler shaking his head to. "I'll be back in DC tomorrow afternoon. Dembe will send you an address of a safe place to meet -"

"No."

Liz turned at sharp tone in Resslers voice. Liz could tell her partner wasn't happy with Reddingtons plan, and if she was perfectly honest, neither was Liz.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no."

"This is hardly any of you business, Donald."

Liz watched on as Ressler bristled at Reddingtons words. Even on a good day, Liz knew Ressler hated Reddington running things, running them as though they were on his pay roll, not the governments. Liz saw Resslers grip tighten on his phone and she had to place a hand gently on his wrist to allow her to prise it from him, her now holding in between them.

"She's my friend, Reddington, my partner. She came to me and that makes it my business, whether you like it or not."

A feeling of warmth spread through Liz at hearing Ressler speak. He looked up at her, giving her a tight smile.

"That makes absolutely no difference. Don't fool yourself, Donald." The two agents groaned in unison. "Lizzie, take the phone off speaker."

"No," Liz said, shocking not only herself but both men as well. "He's right. From this point forth – we're doing things my way." Her voice got that little bit stronger with each word she spoke, Ressler grinning at her. "I will agree to not having this conversation over the phone, I'll grant you that, but that's as far as I'm willing to go around running after you from now on. You meet me, at a place of my choosing, not the other way around. I'm done playing your games, Reddington. Do you understand?"

"Where do you suppose me meet then, Elizabeth?" Reddington said, his tone clear that he thought he was entertaining a child. Liz could picture the disapproving look on his face, the slight shake of head as he looked away from her. "A restaurant or park is too public and I am certainly not airing my private affairs in a run down motel room."

Liz was silent and the smugness of Reddington catching her without a plan resonated through the phone.

"My apartment."

Liz spun round to look at Ressler, instantly catching his eye. "Really?" she mouthed at him. He nodded. There was nothing in his gaze to indicate that he regretted his offer. She was grateful for it, for many reasons including the fact that she had no other currant options.

"And why there, Donald?"

They both seemed to have forgotten the criminal they were currently in conversation with, both having been to focused on the other. Ressler rolled his eyes, directing his next words to his phone still in Liz's outstretched hand.

"You know full well she'd been staying with me, there's no point even trying to deny it. It makes sense to do this at mine."

"Is that the only reason?"

Reddingtons tone was accusing and Liz looked questioningly at Ressler, only to find him glaring at the phone again, his eyes having darkened considerably.

"What other one is there?" he gritted out.

"You tell me, Donald."

"It's either there or here at the blacksite with you in the box," Liz warned, finally taking charge of the conversation and steering it away from what could quickly become a full blown argument between Ressler and Reddington. She wanted the criminal to understand that these were now his only options, that she wasn't backing down to him any longer. "Take it or leave it."

There was a brief pause before Reddington spoke again, his tone clearly displaying his displeasure at things not going to the he so obviously intended. "Agent Resslers apartment it is, then. Eight tomorrow evening – we'll bring dinner."

And with that, the call was ended. Silence descended in the office with the click of the phone shutting off. Liz held the phone limply in her hand for a few seconds before handing it back to her partner. Ressler pocketed it, shaking his head.

"That was..."

"Yeah," she agreed to his unfinished statement.

Liz went back to her desk, collapsing in to her chair with her head in her hands. That single phone conversation had managed to drain any remaining energy she had. Things would never be simple and easy where Reddington was concerned. It was always going to be a battle of wills with him, no matter what the subject, no matter whether it was his business or not. Her knowing the truth wouldn't change a thing. Nothing would ever change. Liz kept her head in her hands, palms pressed against her eyes.

"You okay?"

Ressler stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder.

"No," Liz said, shaking her head. "I need a drink."

His hand was gone from her shoulder. She heard him shuffling through his desk before the sound of glasses clinking as they were placed down in front of her. She moved her hands from her eyes to watch as he filled one of the glasses halfway, pouring only a fraction of that in the second. He held the first glass out to her.

"Here." Liz took the glass and downed the entire thing before picking up the bottle and pouring herself another generous amount. "Take it easy, Liz."

"I'll buy you another bottle."

"That's not what I mean," Ressler said, oving the bottle out of her reach as he sat himself on the edge of her desk.

"I know." Liz sighed, downing the remainder of her glass and wincing as the sharp liquid hit the back of her throat. "But it's not as if I'm driving myself home tonight, is it?"

"No," said Ressler, standing and taking the bottle back to his desk, placing it back in it's spot in the draw, before sitting himself in his chair. "But you're still on the clock and you'll have to walk out there in front of everyone. That's not something you want to do pissed out your skull. "

Liz groaned, knowing he was right. "He makes my life, makes everything, difficult."

"He makes everyones life difficult; it;s his greatest skill."

"I just don't understand him."

"No one does," Ressler said, throwing his hands in the air. "I doubt even Dembe understands why he does half the shit he does. Look, let's just focus on Tom for now and deal with Reddington later, okay?"

Liz thought about it, and the more she did, the more she realised that the blacksite wasn't the place she should be. She needed, wanted, to be alone for a while, even if it was only until Ressler got back that evening. It had been less than two hours since Ressler had told her Reddington was her biological father, and as much as she was trying to convince herself that she could deal with it, she hadn't yet fully been able to process it. Surrounded by everything like was, sitting in the office, Liz knew she wouldn't be able to focus solely on herself.

"Actually," she said slowly, standing and gathering her things and taking her jacket from the back of her chair. "I think i'm gonna head out. My leave starts today anyway."

Ressler looked up at her, shocked that she had decided to leave. He leapt up and went to stand by her side. "Liz -"

"I just need time, okay?" Liz said, placing both hands on Resslers shoulders, trying and failing to give him a smile. Ressler nodded and she released him, stepping back and pulling her keys from the top drawer of her desk, holding them up to him. On the single link keeping the bunch together, right next to her own house key, rested the key to his apartment, the one Ressler had given to her that morning before they left. "I have your spare key, I can let myself in."

"What are you gonna do?" Ressler asked, his concern for her clear in his voice.

"I don't know," she said quietly.

Ressler nodded to her, moving to the side slightly to allow her to pass. As she moved towards the door, Ressler reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back slightly. They stared at each other for a moment, Liz's eyes questioning, Resslers warning.

"Be careful."

"I will," Liz said, nodding. She allowed Ressler to tug her in to a hug. She rested her chin on his shoulder, whispering in his ear. "Thank you, Don."

From his place in the drivers seat, Dembe watched on as Reddington attempted to arrange a meeting with Elizabeth. He could sense Reddington becoming steadily agitated, even more so once Agent Ressler had become actively involved in the conversation. Dembe was glad Elizabeth had someone to fight in her corner. She needed it.

Dembe heard the back passenger window being opened, and glanced at Reddington through the wing mirror in time to see the man break the phone he'd been using in half and toss each piece out the window in turn. Dembe knew Reddington was not at all pleased with not having the controlling hand this time. Dembe also knew Reddington was not at all happy with Agent Ressler's apartment being used, rather than a safe house of his choosing.

Reddington was seething. He hated not being in control, especially if it was something she should have control of. While he had hoped Lizzies true parentage would remain a secret, Reddington would have preferred to be the one to have to tell her should the time have come. He was furious at the fact Agent Ressler had been the one to figure it out. Furious at both the Agent and at himself. He'd left too many tracks, too many loose ends, and now Lizzie knew the truth. Now Lizzie knew, he had needed to get her to understand, to give him time to explain. He would have no choice now but to tell her everything, he knew she'd no longer accept anything less than that. Reddington watched out the window as they travelled through London to his waiting jet, all the while scrutinising the closeness between Lizzie and Agent Ressler. The beginning had been troubled, but now they trusted each other wholeheartedly, it had been clear to everyone in recent weeks. The closeness that had been developing between them was no cause for concern but it did make Reddington think about the time they spent together in closed quarters. On one hand, Reddington was glad Elizabeth had someone she could go to, but on the other, it unnerved him that that person should be the very one that had hunted him for five out of the last six years, It unnerved him either more that this man now knew his deepest secret.

"You can not expect Elizabeth not to confide in Agent Ressler, Raymond. She trusts him."

Reddington snapped his head up, narrowing his eyes at the back of Dembes head. He almost couldn't believe Dembe was against him on this, yet he also knew the man knew everything, and no doubt had his own opinions on the matter. "I know she does," Reddington said, still glaring at Dembes head, knowing the man could see him through the mirror. "But that doesn't mean I want him involved in this. It's between myself and Lizzie - no one else."

"But it's okay for me to know, for Mr Kaplan?" They were stopped at a set of traffic lights not far from their destination. Dembe took the opportunity to turn in his seat, enough to be able to look Reddington straight in the eye. "This is out of you control now, Raymond. You will lose her for good if you continue to treat her the way you do."

"I'm aware," Reddington spat out.

The conversation seemed to end as Dembe turned his attention back to the road. They finished the rest of the journey in silence, Reddington reflecting on how true Dembes statement had been. Reddington knew Lizzie would not take much more from him, that she would turn her back on him completely if he continued on the path he was taking. Though he did not want that to happen, he had spent so many years hiding the truth, ensuring that she wouldn't find out by accident, that he now wasn't sure he had the ability to just open up to her.

Dembe rolled the car to a stop a few feet from the jet. Reddington let himself out and instantly boarded, taking his preferred seat by the window. He watched through as Dembe unloaded their bags from the trunk of the car, passing them off to those ready to load them and boarded the jet himself. Dembe took the seat opposite him, placing a hand on Reddingtons knee.

"When the time comes, and you are not there, he will take care of her. He will be her safe haven." Reddington sucked in a breath, refusing to look at Dembe as the man spoke words so true Reddington hated to believe them. "You need to stop dictating who she has in her life. Look how that's turned out so far."

Reddington knew Dembe was right, he did, but he would not admit that to Dembe. Reddington knew Agent Ressler would protect Lizzie with his life, knew that he would do so without even being asked. He was not Reddingtons first choice, nor was he a particularly bad choice, but there was a history he shared with the man. Reddington shook his head.

"I'd like to be alone now, Dembe."

Liz had not long left the office when Ressler emerged, not able to stay cooped up in the room alone any longer. No one approached him, whether it be because they had nothing knew for him or they simply didn't think it wise. He was worried about his partner, how she was taking finding out she's the daughter of the notorious Raymond Reddington. It was a lot for him to take in, let alone her. Ressler himself had mixed feelings about the whole thing, not about Liz herself, but the situation. Any other person, he would have outed them to Cooper the moment he'd got the call about the results – but not Liz. Liz was different. Ressler couldn't imagine dropping her in it without her knowing or okay... it just didn't feel right.

Ressler walked up to Arams desk, standing off to the side as he watched both Aram and Meera crowd round the computer, muttering to each other. He stood and waited for them to acknowledge him but neither did, Ressler shook his head and raised his voice enough to disturb them.

"Have you managed to locate Lopez?"

Ressler smiled inwardly at the way Aram jumped and sprung away from Meera, who Ressler caught shaking her head at the mans reaction.

"Uh, uh," Aram stuttered, rearranging himself in his chair. "Which one?"

"Either," said Ressler, leaning with both hands on Arams desk. "We need a lead – any lead."

Aram nodded and started furiously typing once again, combing through any and every single thing he could. He brought up multiple screens of information, screens running facial recognition. Ressler could only hope it yielded something.

"We saw Liz leave," Meera said, coming up to stand beside him. Ressler turned his attention briefly away from the screens to glance at her, wondering where she was going to go with her line of questioning this time. "She okay?"

"You really expect her to be?" Meera shrugged, shaking her head and Ressler sighed. "She decided to start her leave early." He wasn't going to give too much away, not without Liz's say so.

Meera rounded on him, clearly shocked. "And you just let her go?"

Ressler rolled his eyes but kept his gaze away from the CIA agent. "She's a grown woman, Malik. I can't make her stay, especially not when Coopers already given her the green light."

"But we might need to question her again."

"Then I'll call her back in."

Ressler could feel Meera glaring at the side of his head but he ignored her in favour of continuing to stare at the screens hanging above them. His eyes jumped from screen to screen, afraid of the possibility of missing something if his attention strayed for too long. He should have been out here doing this earlier but, given the circumstances, Liz had needed his company more. He wondered briefly how Liz would go about getting back to his apartment, given that he had driven them in that morning. His focus off the screen for a minute meant that Ressler missed the moving images freeze.

"Agent Ressler?"

"Yeah?" Ressler said, his head snapping up. He moved to stand behind Aram, joining the tech in staring down at his own computer screen.

"Maria Lopez is currently on standby for a flight to Spain under the name 'Pamela Rodrigues'."

"Where?" Ressler said as his heart leapt. They finally had something.

Aram types again, bringing up a new page. "Reagan National."

"Call the airport and have her delayed further until we get there," Ressler called over his shoulder as he jogged to his office to grab his things. Standing at his desk, he pulled out his phone, only to out it away again less than ten seconds later. On one hand he thought he should tell Liz, keep her up to date every step of the way. On the other, he thought telling her of a lead that could still possibly fail to pan out wouldn't be the best thing given her current state of mind. He decided not to tell her, at least not until he knew where this was going to end up. Ressler stuffed his keys in his pocket before jogging back out his office. Aram was on the phone, informing someone at the airport of who he was. Ressler pointed at him as he approached the desk. "Make sure they know not to let her leave. With me."

Meera followed him in to the elevator, staying silent as they made their way to his bureau issued car. Getting in there respective sides, Meera waited until he'd started the engine and was in the process of pulling out of the parking space before speaking.

"Are you gonna call Liz?"

Ressler feigned thinking about it, having already made up his mind before they left. He shook his head. "She'll only get her hopes up – I'll tell her later."

"Meeting her for dinner again?"

Ressler shook his head, "She's staying at my place, at least until this mess is sorted."

Ressler didn't have to look the woman was giving him. It was the same look she'd been throwing him every time she'd caught him without Liz.

"Bet that's cosy."

Ressler rolled his eyes. He didn't need this now. "Can you not?"

"So defensive," Meera laughed.

"She's my friend, my partner," Ressler said, flicking the sirens on in hope of moving through the almost stationary traffic faster. "And she's going through a pretty tough fucking time at the moment. I'm just trying to help her in any way I can.￡

"Alright, alright," Meera said, throwing her hands in the air in mock surrender, laughing again as Ressler glared at her while keeping one eye on the road. "That's the last comment you'll be getting from me."

Ressler nodded at her. They drove for a few minutes in silence, weaving in and out of traffic. Ressler considered what Meera had said. Now that he thought about it, it was sort of cosy having Liz stay with him. It was nice having someone there after work to share food and a beer with. The two of them didn't only stick to talking about work either, they had actually been taking the time to learn more about one another. It had only been a couple of days, but Ressler wasn't sure he wanted her to leave. The sound of Meeras phone jolted him from his thoughts.

"Malik." Ressler caught her eyeing him. She pulled the phone away from her ear and tapped the screen, holding it out between them. "You're on."

"I've just done another scan of the airport," Arams voice came filtering through the speaker. Something about his tone gave Ressler a feeling of dread that settled in the pit of him stomach. He wasn't going to like what he was about to hear. "Tom Keen is there."

Meera and Ressler shared a look as she thanked Aram and hung up. Meera braced herself against her seat as Ressler hit the accelerator, banging his fist against the steering wheel.

"Shit."