Hey guys! So I almost didn't cover this episode because it is so Ressler-centric. However, since I'm trying to integrate him more and bring him and Lizzie closer than they are in the show, I thought he deserved his moment. So obviously, this means that for this chapter, the POV shifts will include a lot of Ressler scenes rather than just Red or Lizzie. Also, the jury is still out on whether this is going to be Keenler. But if it is…holy moly it will be the slowest burn that ever did burn slowly.
/\/\/\/\
Ressler walked into the office he shared at the Post Office with Liz. He loosened the tie he'd been wearing for Raimo's funeral. God, he hated ties. He hated funerals more though. "Hey. Can I ask you something? It's Reddington. You know how to find him. Can you put the two of us in touch?"
Lizzie paused in what she was doing and looked up at him, confusion clear in the narrowing of her brow and the little pout of her lips. "What's going on with you two?"
Ressler stood with his hands on his hips, his head cocked in his own moment of confusion. "Why?"
"Because he's looking for you."
/\/\/\/\
Red sat in the box – the one that had the best view of the entire theater. Not that it mattered much as the dancers on the stage were only milling about or stretching in their more comfortable practice gear.
"You shouldn't be here. I said I'd send a messenger." Red turned and smiled at the sound of the woman's voice coming up behind him.
"I wanted to deliver the check personally, Christine." He withdrew an envelope from his coat pocket and handed it over to the woman beside him, her red hair done in a harsh bun though her practice gear was much looser and comfortable.
She smiled, shyly taking the envelope and putting her hands behind her back. "Thank you."
"Will it be ready in time?" Red asked, looking down at the ballerinas on the stage.
"Everything's on schedule, just like you asked just like last time."
Red smiled at her good-natured teasing. "What do they do for lunch? Do they order in or eat salads out of one of those Tupperware bowls? How does it work with dancers?"
Christine quirked her lips in a sardonic grin. "They smoke."
Red threw his head back with a loud guffaw before turning to look at her once more. "I'll see you on the 22nd. And please send my thanks to your mother." He stated, placing his fedora atop his head as he moved to leave.
/\/\/\/\/\
As Dembe brought the car to a stop in front of Ressler's agency issued SUV, Red hopped out.
"Stay in the car." He murmured as Dembe made to get out as well. He had a feeling that Agent Ressler was probably feeling a little cagey and having Red's brother slash bodyguard added to the equation probably wasn't a very good idea.
Standing beside the now closed door of his car, Red smiled benignly as Ressler walked over.
"I heard Agent Raimo was relieved of his viscera." He stated jovially.
Ressler's jaw flexed in anger. "If you had anything to do with this–"
"Agent Ressler, please." His rolling eyes didn't befit his rolling eyes but oh well.
"What was it payback for Vienna?" Agent Ressler continued.
"I'm the one who reached out to you, Donald." Red's voice deepened with annoyance. "And it wasn't to revisit all the times I eluded your little coterie of door–kickers who pursued me with such fervor and zeal." Red paused as Ressler shook his head, snorting quietly in disgust. "I came to discuss a former associate of mine who your team arrested along the way. Mako Tanida."
That seemed to get Agent Ressler's attention. "The Yakuza boss? He's in prison."
Red nodded. "He was. Two days ago, he broke out of Abashiri. If you ask the Japanese, they'll skirt it. They claim Abashiri is escape–proof. It's embarrassing. They're touchy about that sort of thing. I suspect Tanida is the one who killed your agent friend."
"So you want to help me find him? Let me guess he double–crossed you, and you want his head in a box."
Red paused, blinking once heavily as he leaned back as if to get a better look at Ressler. "There's a thought. But for the moment, the scalp I'm worried about is yours. Tanida is disciplined, relentless. If he did kill Agent Raimo, there's the distinct possibility he's just getting started. I fear, Donald, that you're being hunted by a vengeful, ruthless killer."
/\/\/\/\/\
Lizzie laid near the edge of the guest bed in Red's current safe house, smiling as Dembe helped Mr. Kaplan roll in the ultrasound machine. Though she'd already done this for the first time a couple days ago, her dad and brother's excitement was infectious.
"I really appreciate you doing this, Katy Cat." She effused.
"Think nothing of it, Dearie. Though I do wish you wouldn't call me that, I don't wish to give this one any ideas." Mr. Kaplan murmured, smacking Red upside the head as she passed his chair.
"Ow! You know, I don't believe I pay for you to abuse me. I very much doubt it comes in your package. Dembe, does it come in her packet?"
Dembe chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I don't believe it is, Raymond."
"See? You see? Not in your package."
Lizzie laughed at their antics, shaking her head as she rolled up her t-shirt to reveal her still flat abdomen.
"Yes well, my package also doesn't include giving FBI Agents ultrasounds, yet here we are." Mr. Kaplan muttered, gesturing towards Lizzie and the machine as she wheeled a small stool towards the head of the bed and sat on it. She then fired up the machine as she squirted gel onto Lizzie's stomach, making the other woman jump at the sudden cold.
"Now Raymond, Dembe, if you wish to see anything, I suggest you go to the other side of the bed."
At Mr. Kaplan's suggestion, both men excitedly scurried over to where they could see better. Red sat perched on the side of the bed and leaned forward squinting at the screen though Mr. Kaplan hadn't even placed the Doppler on Lizzie's stomach yet. Dembe stood behind Red, a large smile on his face.
Mr. Kaplan and Lizzie shared a significant look and a warm chuckle at the excited school boy faces on Red and Dembe's faces as Mr. Kaplan finally set the Doppler against Lizzie's stomach and began to slowly roll it around in order to find what they were all waiting for.
Within moments, a fluttering heart beat filled the room and a blurry image appeared on the screen. Though she'd already done it before, tears fell silently down Lizzie's face as she looked at her baby. Her excitement last time had been shadowed by the sheer loneliness of walking into the doctor's office alone. Now, surrounded by her family, she felt pure, unadulterated joy. And judging by their twin gasps, both Red and Dembe felt it as well.
Lizzie laughed as the bed bounced a bit. Looking down at her hand which her dad was now clutching, Lizzie smiled as she gazed back up at him.
"Oh Lizzie…" He murmured, utterly enraptured with the little view.
Lizzie laughed wetly and gave a quick glance to Dembe who's grin had grown even larger, looking as if it would split his face.
"Heartbeat sounds good." Mr. Kaplan said softly. "And you can see the head – oh look, the toes are developing. Isn't that adorable."
Lizzie, Red, and Dembe all shared a look before breaking out in soft laughter at the uncharacteristic adjective use from Mr. Kaplan.
"Oh shut it. See if I do this for you people again." Kate muttered.
Red laughed loudly, shaking his head. "I want copies. Can I have copies? Kate, I want copies."
Lizzie laughed at her dad, wiping her tears with the hand that wasn't currently enfolded in his. "Don't worry, Dad. I got plenty of copies while I was at the doctor's. They're in my purse."
/\/\/\/\/\
"Mako Tanida, former clan boss of the Azuma Dojin, based out of Osaka." Ressler announced as he walked up to the table where Cooper, Aram, and Meera were gathered, throwing a file down. "By the time our task force caught up, he controlled a large part of the heroin trade traveling along the Silk Road."
"After Tanida's arrest, we thought his empire would collapse." Meera explained, pausing as Aram's phone rang and he quickly excused himself. "It didn't. In fact, it expanded grew to include alliances with the Chinese Triad, Korean Tong, even Russian. Bratva. And his operations in the U.S. have grown extensively."
"For a time, the intelligence community believed Tanida somehow was operating his empire from inside prison." Ressler continued as if he and Meera were in a tennis match of counter intelligence. "No one knew how, but there were theories he had politicians in his pocket or he controlled the army, but after he was put into solitary, it became clear that someone else was running the empire."
Meera hit a button and a picture flashed up on the screen. "Within the agency, that man is known as Aiko Tanida, Mako's younger brother. He escaped the night of the raid that took Tanida. We believe he went underground, dark, reemerged as something entirely different bookish boy turned ruthless crime lord."
"They call him 'Tensei.' Means 'Reborn.'"
"Reach out to your agency contacts. I want to know everything there is to know about this brother." Cooper ordered just as Aram came back, holding his phone.
"Uh, we just received word. Uh, Agent Maguire – " Aram licked his lips, unable to meet Ressler's eyes. "I'm sorry."
/\/\/\/\
"Maguire's body was found under a bridge near Broadway at 39th." As she spoke, Lizzie taped the crime scene photos onto the evidence board.
"Domain awareness has three surveillance hits on Tanida. Units en route." Stated one of their techs.
"Arrived on United 472 from Tokyo." Aram called out, not looking up from his computer screen. "Passed through customs at 11:32 under the alias Yasu Itami."
Cooper nodded and pointed at one of the techs. "Feed NPA the alias." He then turned on the spot and faced Ressler. "The Reddington task force – who else was on it?"
"Myself and Bobby Jonica." Ressler murmured, unable to take his eyes away from Maguire's crime scene photos.
"I'm sending protective detail. Did you hear me?" Cooper stood in front of Ressler, blocking his view of the evidence boards. "Agent Ressler."
Ressler finally looked at him, shaking his head dazedly. "I got a place up in Prince Georges County, off the grid. I got to get Audrey there."
/\/\/\/\
As he approached his apartment, Ressler noticed the door was ajar. Drawing his pistol, he noiselessly opened the door and began to sweep the apartment. Noticing movement coming around the corner, he aimed his gun.
"Oh." Audrey startled as she saw Ressler with his gun pointed at her.
Ressler immediately holstered his weapon and walked towards her. "You leave the door open?"
"Yeah. I- I told you I was gonna bring my stuff by. I just didn't want to keep locking and unlocking the door." Audrey said nervously, setting her clothes down on the settee.
"Were you downstairs?" He questioned as he drew the curtains back to look out the window.
"Y–yeah."
"I parked around back." Ressler said gruffly, gently taking her by the crook of her elbow and leading her towards the door.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you in the car."
"Don, what's wrong?" She asked more forcefully.
Ressler blew air out of his nose, pausing for a moment. "Pete Maguire is dead. Come on."
/\/\/\/\/\
He hadn't washed his hands. Her blood was still…he hadn't washed his hands. "You can't sideline me." Ressler growled, unable to take look up from his hands as he sat in Cooper's office.
"We'll find Tanida. Doesn't matter how long it takes. But we have to do it the right way, follow procedure."
"You really expect me to care about procedure?" Ressler spat, finally looking up at Cooper. All he felt was rage as the image of Audrey dying in his arms replayed over and over again in his head.
"Of course not." Cooper placated, sitting in the chair next to Ressler. "I can't imagine what you're going through. I wouldn't dare. But don't compromise yourself. You're a good agent. A good man."
"I have to do something." Ressler said angrily.
"You'll grieve. And while you do, we'll track Tanida down, and we'll make sure he gets his due. You have my word on that. I'll have a car take you home."
/\/\/\/\
Ressler groaned as he slouched on the couch in his now retired ex-partner Bobby's wood paneled living room. "I went through every C.I., every source I had when I was running that task force. I got nothing."
"What about Tensei, the brother?" Bobby asked, perched on the edge of his chair as he drank his beer.
"I reached out to a friend of mine at the D.E.A. He's got no base of operation, no regular haunts, no hot spots. This guy's a ghost." Ressler shook his head, rubbing his hand along the top of his head in frustration.
Bobby looked at Ressler, pity softening his eyes. "Look, Don– Don, we don't – we can- we can do this later."
"No, we do it now." Ressler stated, his voice hard. "Somebody out there knows something."
"Well, I'll tell you who knows." Bobby said, taking another sip of his drink.
Ressler paused for a moment before his confusion suddenly cleared. "Reddington?"
"They worked together, Donny. Reddington understands how this world works. What I wouldn't give to get him alone in a room for just five minutes."
/\/\/\/\
Red sighed as he climbed into the passenger seat of the Cowboy's car. "She still in town?"
The Cowboy looked at him askance. "No. She's at the corn palace in Mitchell, South Dakota." He rumbled sarcastically.
Red pursed his lips, unamused. "Bring her to me."
"I thought you wanted to see how this played out."
This time it was red's turn to look askance at the Cowboy. He didn't like to be questioned. "It has."
"Well, you want me to bring her in, there's gonna be a fee, and it's gonna cost you double."
Red leaned back as if to get a better view of the other man. "Oh? Why is that?"
"'Cause I don't like you." A small grin adorned the Cowboy's face. "And that hat makes your head look funny."
Red chuckled, shaking his head. "The pot meets the kettle at last." He murmured before growing serious. "Bring me the girl." He stated, climbing back out of the car.
/\/\/\/\/\
Red stood on the road and Dembe leaned against the hood of the Mercedes, both watching as Ressler pulled up in his SUV.
"Searching in the desert for a drop of vengeance to slake an unquenchable thirst is a lonely walk, my friend." Red stated as Ressler slammed his door closed and walked towards him.
"Tanida's close. I can burn the whole neighborhood down, or you can tell me where he is." Ressler stated tensely.
Red nodded slowly, turned on his heel and walked towards the bank of the river, watching his step as he trudged through the ice crusted snow. A moment later, he heard the loud crunch which signaled that Agent Ressler was following behind him.
"Donald, I understand how you feel." Red finally said as they reached the bank, standing side-by-side as they gazed out at the frigid river. "Beneath the iron-and-rust exterior beats the heart of a man swimming in immeasurable grief. I am truly sorry about Audrey." Red looked over at Ressler. "There are few that understand love and loss more than I."
Ressler nodded slowly, attempting to smile his thanks though all that appeared was a grimace. "Well, I'm glad you understand. Where is he?"
Red sighed. "Let me tell you something that someone much wiser than I told me at a similar point in my life. Go home. Turn back from this and go home. It may seem like the hardest thing in the world, but it is profoundly easier than what you're contemplating."
"I'm not turning back."
Red nodded, resigned. "That's pretty much what I said. "Red turned to look out at the river once more. "In your dust–up with Tanida, were there any survivors?"
"Yes." Ressler said hesitantly, clearly unsure of the line of questioning.
"Injuries?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Red nodded and resigned himself to getting an earful from Lizzie later for this. "There's a house in Columbia Heights doubles as an underground hospital. May be worth a visit." Within moments, Ressler was speeding across the snow, heading towards his SUV.
"Agent Ressler!" Red called out, waiting for Ressler to turn around before he continued. "Once you cross over, there are things in the darkness that can keep your heart from ever feeling the light again."
"All I feel is hate." Ressler growled before climbing into his vehicle.
"Good. You're gonna need it." Red murmured to himself. Sighing, he gazed once more at the river before bending down. He quickly formed a snowball in his hands and then threw it with all his might into the river. Because why the hell not?
/\/\/\/\
Bobby and Ressler exploded down the stairs, into the basement where a Japanese man and woman were stitching up a man who lay prone on the makeshift operating table.
"FBI! Everybody on the ground! You! Show me your hands! Show me your hands! Get over there! Go!" Bobby yelled as they entered, guns raised.
Ressler walked up to the man on the table and held his gun to his head. "You remember me? 'Cause I haven't forgotten you. Let's make this quick. Where's Tanida?" The man shook his head desperately. "Where is he?!" Ressler yelled before shooting the man in the leg. He cried out loudly, clutching his leg and writhing in agony.
"Shh. Where's Tanida? No, no, no, no, no! English!" He yelled when the man attempted to speak in Japanese.
"22nd and 5th, blue door! It's a club. Please you didn't hear it from me."
/\/\/\/\/\
"Metro P.D. got called in on an 808. They were told two men presented as FBI." Lizzie announced as she bustled into the war room.
"Ressler and Jonica." Meera sighed. "Any idea how they slipped their protective detail?"
Lizzie shrugged her shoulders. "He's not answering his cell."
"How did they know to come here? MPD, with full resources of the FBI we didn't even know this place existed."
Lizzie pursed her lips, taking a deep breath. "You and I both know how they got here."
/\/\/\/\
"No, I understand, but I don't care about the Prince … No, no, no, no, no The 22nd … That was our agreement … Christina, I don't care about production issues. Please just figure it out by the 22nd." Red's voice echoed from the car, his window slightly rolled down as they idled in the middle of a deserted parking lot.
Lizzie sighed as she climbed into the backseat with Red. "Ressler where is he? I know he came to you. I know you told him about that hospital."
Red pursed his lips and looked away. "Agent Ressler came to me for assistance, which I provided."
"You sent him after Tanida." Lizzie stated harshly.
"No. I provided a bit of direction in an otherwise blind pursuit." Red reasoned.
"He's not like you. He can't just murder someone in cold blood and come out of it okay on the other end!" Lizzie yelled.
Red's lips thinned, his hurt apparent in the creases around his eyes. "Nobody can murder someone in cold blood and come out okay on the other end." He murmured.
Lizzie huffed, not in a very apologetic mood at the moment. "We need your help. We have to find Tanida before Ressler does. We've looked through his financials, his prison contacts, the brother, who –"
"Tensei?"
"The reborn."
"He's dead." Red murmured.
"What do you mean, he's dead? Aiko Tanida is running his brother's empire."
Red shook his head, exasperated at the F.B.I's appauling lack of intel. "Aiko Tanida died the day his brother was captured by Ressler's task force. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know the difference between a water buffalo and a musk ox."
/\/\/\/\
Ressler and Bobby walked into the club and right up to where Tanida and two of his men sat. Neither hesitated before shooting the men, one for Ressler, one for Bobby. "Mako Tanida! Agent Donald Ressler. Let's go for a drive."
/\/\/\/\
Lizzie hastened into the war room, unwrapping her scarf from her neck as she talked. "Reddington says Aiko Tanida's dead; died the same night his brother was apprehended by Ressler's task force."
Meera shook her head. "No, we have documented proof he escaped, evidence from then –"
"It was falsified." Lizzie asserted. "We need to review what happened that night. Think about it – no one's seen or heard from the guy in four years. Our last known photograph is older than that. Aiko Tanida's not hiding. He's dead. We need to review the case files. Someone else is running Tanida's business."
/\/\/\/\
Meera slid a file across the table to Cooper. "This is the incident report from the NPA in Japan."
"What am I looking for?" Cooper asked, scanning the document.
"Most of the details support our own investigation. The vehicle carrying Aiko Tanida was ambushed. Only the driver's body was found."
"'Most of the details?'" Lizzie asked, picking up on Meera's qualifier. "What did we miss?"
"Well, there was somebody else in the car. The NPA report makes a reference to an American federal agent accompanying the transport vehicle."
"What federal agent?" Cooper asked.
Lizzie gasped as it all fell into place. "Bobby Jonica. Jonica was on the task force. He had intimate knowledge of Tanida's enterprise. He knew everything key players, trade routes, distribution hookups. And he was able to avoid detection by making us believe Aiko Tanida was still alive. Jonica is Tensei."
/\/\/\/\
Bobby looked over at Ressler as he drove. Ressler sat in the passenger seat while they had Tanida cuffed to the overhead handrail in the backseat. "Hey. You okay? Hey, Donny, we're doing the right thing here."
"How long did it take for your girlfriend to bleed out? You must be filled with rage." Tanida asked Ressler silkily.
"You have no idea." Ressler growled.
"Maybe I do."
"Hey, just keep it to yourself back there, huh?" Bobby yelled, looking at Tanida in the rearview mirror.
"Do you remember the night we met?" Tanida directed his question at Ressler. "The arrest, taking away me and my brother. That was the last I saw of him. The last anyone saw of him."
"That's a very sad story." Bobby sounded anything but sympathetic. "Don't listen to him, Donny. Hey, shut up back there."
"Raimo and Maguire – I am satisfied they knew nothing That leaves the two of you. You think I did all this because you arrested me?"
"I said shut up back there!" Bobby yelled, his face becoming splotchy and red.
"You were doing your job." Tanida leaned forward and murmured at Ressler. "I respected that. What I do not respect is that you killed my brother."
"Just shut your mouth!" Bobby yelled.
"Took my business."
"Bobby, what is he talking —"
Bobby turned in his seat to yell at Tanida. "Not one more word out of you!"
"Bobby, talk to me. Talk to me." Ressler pleaded, looking between Tanida and Bobby.
"Never mind him, Don. Don't listen to him."
"He's gonna kill both of us!" Tanida yelled.
"Shut up!" Bobby screamed, pulling out his gun and firing blindly into the back seat, hitting Tanida.
Ressler reached over the center console and grabbed for Bobby's gun.
"Donny, let go!"
They struggled for the gun. Ressler punched Bobby where ever he could reach. In his attempt to shake Ressler off of him, Bobby turned the steering wheel.
/\/\/\/\
Ressler came to, his head resting against the window and the world felt like it was tilted. Opening his eyes, he groaned at the brightness. The world hadn't tilted, just the car. He realized as he looked up at the driver's side door which was hanging open. Bobby had run. Sparing a glance for Tanida who was still cuffed in the backseat and appeared to be knocked out, Ressler quickly climbed out of the SUV.
Following the trail of staggering steps that led from the vehicle, Ressler quickly caught up to Bobby as he leaned against a fallen tree, clutching his arm which hung at a weird angle.
"Don't move, brother. Don't even breathe." Ressler spoke through clenched teeth as he aimed his gun at Bobby's head.
/\/\/\/\
"He picked up Tanida. After that, nothing. We found his cell in his apartment. The GPS in his car has been deactivated. He's off the grid." Lizzie combed her fingers through her hair.
Cooper sighed before his eyes lit in realization. "Prince George's county. Ressler has a place there. It's where he was going with Audrey. If he wants to be alone – Get there now."
/\/\/\/\
"What are you doing, Donny? Come on." Bobby pleaded as he leaned against the fallen tree. "Doesn't have to be like this. You got to understand me, Donny. I'm chasing scumbags all around the world, making millions of dollars. Come on, Donny. This is me. What are you telling me — the boy scout's gonna kill his best friend?"
"'Best friend.'" Ressler spat, keeping the gun aimed at Bobby. "Couple months back, I was in this hospital. I'd been shot. Sitting in there for days, all alone. And Audrey just pops into my head. Couldn't have been more than an hour later, she walks in. It's like the universe tilted and brought her to me, like it was fated to happen. But It wasn't fate. You know why? Reddington. I can tell you this because you're gonna die. I work with Reddington. Believe it or not, I was shot protecting him. That's why I was in that hospital. It's because of Reddington that Audrey came back into my life. He's why I got three more months with her." Ressler voice caught. "And because of you she's gone. My greatest enemy brought her back to me, and my best friend took her away!" He screamed.
Bobby shook his head desperately. "No, no. Donny, you're wrong. I didn't kill Audrey. Tanida did." Ressler took a step towards Bobby, his finger moving incrementally closer to the trigger. "Don't!" Bobby cried.
"No, you brought this down on us, on Pete and on Sam. You're gonna do the honorable thing." Ressler threw a Tanto – the same weapon that Tanida forced Raimo to gut himself with – at Bobby. "Or I'll kill you myself."
/\/\/\/\/\
Lizzie jumped out of the SUV before it came to a complete stop and ran to the overturned SUV. Peering inside and finding it empty, she straightened back up and looked at Meera and the other agents.
"Call an ambulance. Set a perimeter." She ordered.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Pick it up." Ressler ordered quietly.
"That's crazy. I'm not gonna do this. What are you crazy?" Bobby questioned, aghast.
"Pick it up!" Ressler shouted.
"I'm not gonna do it, Donny! You're gonna have to shoot me first! Come on! What are you, crazy?!"
"Pick up the damn knife."
"No."
"Ressler, no!" Lizzie walked towards them, taking a wide berth so that Ressler could see her out of his periphery.
"They're all dead, Liz. Audrey's gone." Ressler said, emotionless.
Lizzie shook her head, her arms shaking as she pointed her gun at her partner. "This isn't the way. Listen to me if you do this, you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life."
"Do it, Donny. Do it. Go ahead, Donny. Donny, pull the trigger." Bobby suddenly began to goad Ressler.
"Don't listen to him." Lizzie ordered.
"You know what they'll do to me in prison, Donny. A dirty cop – I can't do that, Donny."
"Come on. Pick it up!" Ressler screamed, pointing his gun at the Tanto blade and back up at Bobby.
"Put down the gun, Ressler!"
"Come on. Pull the trigger." Bobby pleaded.
"Pick it up! Do it! Pick it up." Ressler cried, desperation cracking in his voice.
"Pull the trigger, Donny."
"Don't listen to him." Lizzie pleaded with her partner, lowering her gun.
"She's dead because of me, Donny! Do it! Pull the trigger!"
"Pick it up! Pick it up." Ressler began to shoot, emptying his mag into the tree trunk right next to Bobby's head.
Ressler stared at his ex-Partner despondently as Lizzie walked up to him, gently prying the gun out of his hand.
"Donny, come on. Donny I'm sorry, Donny. Donny." Ressler turned his back on Bobby, only to turn back around at the sound of Bobby unsheathing the blade and watched as the man plunged the blade into his own stomach, falling to the ground.
Lizzie and Ressler walked back to the road in silence, the rest of the agents giving them a wide berth for the sake of privacy. When they reached the overturned vehicle, Ressler climbed in. When he found the handcuffs lying on the floor, he threw them angrily into the trunk and climbed back out.
He stood outside of the SUV as agents hosed it down with fire extinguishers, his hands on his hips as he breathed heavily.
"Ress…" Lizzie murmured, walking up to him and laying her hand on his arm. Ressler batted her hand away and took a few steps away, running his hands along his scalp, mussing his hair.
"Ressler." Lizzie said sharply. At her tone, Ressler turned to face her only to let out a small "oomph" as she collided with him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Unsure what to do for a moment, Ressler let her cling to him, his arms outstretched beside him, until his brain finally caught up to what was happening. Slowly, his arms wrapped around her waist and his head fell to her shoulder as he took a shuddering breath.
"It's going to be alright, Don. I promise." She murmured ignoring the cold tracks of tears on her neck.
/\/\/\/\/\
Red sat down in the seats at the very center of the theater, sighing as he sat back against the uncomfortable chair.
"The cowboy, have you found him?" He asked quietly as he felt Dembe's presence at his back, in the row behind them.
"No." Dembe's voice rumbled softly.
"The girl?"
"Nothing. Both of them are gone." Dembe replied as he sat in the seat directly behind Red.
Red winced, his face tight with worry until he heard the doors to the theater quickly open and shut. Smiling softly, he looked up as Lizzie walked down the aisle and sat down beside him.
Lizzie smiled softly back as she shrugged off her coat and hung it over the seat in front of her.
Just as she was going to ask why they were here, the music began to play and the curtains opened. Her dad immediately became focused on the performance as the dancers performed the choreography for Swan Lake. Glancing back at Dembe in question, Lizzie received a small shake of the head. Looking back at her dad, she could see his face, in shadow from the spotlight yet his eyes glistened wetly.
Looking down at his lap, Lizzie bit her lip at the brochure he had clutched in his hands. It was the same ballet, dated 1987. And suddenly it clicked.
"Oh Dad." Lizzie murmured, lacing her arm through his and resting her head on his shoulder.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Thank you." Lizzie said quietly as Red and Dembe drove her back to her apartment.
"For what, Sweetheart?" Red asked quietly. He'd been rather subdued all evening.
"For sharing that part of her with me." She murmured, reaching across the bench seat and squeezing his hand.
"Lizzie, I haven't purposefully – "
"No Dad, I know. I know it's really difficult to talk about her. I understand. Which is why I'm thanking you for tonight. I know it couldn't be easy to share." She explained gently, grasping his hand tighter and smiling as he squeezed hers.
"You deserve to know her too." He murmured, his gaze shifting out the window beside him.
/\/\/\/\
Ressler groaned as he sat up from his couch, setting his beer down on the coffee table. "I'm coming!" He yelled as whoever it was continued to knock. Opening the door, he was surprised to find Reddington's bodyguard, Dembe, standing there with an ornate box in his hands. "From Mr. Reddington." The tall dark-skinned man murmured, handing the box to Ressler before turning and walking away quickly. Ressler shrugged and closed the door, placing the box on the hallway table. Carefully removing the note that was taped to the top of the box, he opened it.
Donald, I want you to know that I do understand how you feel.
There is nothing that can take the pain away.
But eventually, you will find a way to live with it.
There will be nightmares.
And every day, when you wake up, it will be the first thing you think about.
Until one day It will be the second thing."
—R
Ressler carefully set the note aside, unable to pretend, even to himself, that he was touched by Reddington's thoughtfulness. Ressler hesitated before lifting the latch on the box and slowly opening the lid. Jumping back a bit, Ressler cursed. It was a head. It was Mako Tanida's head. Way to ruin the moment, asshole. Ressler thought to himself as he stared down at the box.
