So, I just can't stop thinking about Episode 2x06! Our poor Ressler hitting rock bottom... And I looked at the promo pics from Episode 7 and he's back at work (...in typical Blacklist fashion). So I figure he had to have gone through some sort of detox in this week - assuming he's coming off the drugs! And I kept thinking that if he's back at work in 2x07, then Cooper probably doesn't know what happened. Because a drug addicted/in recovery FBI agent would not be back at work and out in the field IF his superiors knew. So the answer was obvious, of course - I knew just who could provide the required rehab resources for those first critical days and then the follow up care! (And I normally wait for the episode and fill in the gaps – so yeah, I'm pre-empting this one! So I could be TOTALLY wrong here, but hey, I'm running with it!)

The city lights outside the plane window looked beautiful from afar. Or so Ressler had always thought. It was one of those things that wasn't cool to mention to anyone, but he'd always liked the look of the city at night from the air. From above you couldn't see the filth, dirt and rottenness that pervaded the city. All you saw was the beauty of it. But right now, all the lights meant that he was coming in to land in DC after leaving Sitka, and his real challenge was about to begin. All they meant to him now was that the relative 'safety' inside this jet was coming to an end.

He was leaning against the window, unable to stop shaking and trying to get his mind off what had gone down in this horrendous day. It had started normally enough. He'd got up, got showered, dressed, drank coffee, went for his pills - except there were no pills. Standing at the pharmacy telling the woman (the very unimpressed woman) that his pills had been stolen from his car was not a good start to the day. Having her refuse to refill – replace – the prescription set the scene for what was to come. And even he could not have imagined it would have spiraled downhill so fast, so depressingly…and with so much physical and emotional pain.

Stealing yet another glance at his broken and splinted thumb, he swallowed hard and closed his eyes momentarily. Turning his attention again to what was outside the window was his best option right now. He saw the lights of the smaller towns below him gradually grow and become larger towns. Their lights dotted the landscape. Until the white and yellow glow on the horizon showed him DC was mere minutes away. And he didn't want to land. He didn't want to face the world. Face Cooper. Face the consequences. Yet he didn't want to stay in this horrible limbo either. Sitting here, shaking, cramping and sweating and aware that Liz was watching him with deep concern… and deep sadness, that's hard to miss… He didn't know what to do next.

As they began their descent, Liz looked into his dark, dilated eyes as she felt the plane dropping lower. It was impossible to miss how he was feeling. It radiated off him as waves of painful shaking and cramping overtook him. But it was more than that. A deep desperation was evident behind those dark pools that were his eyes. He hadn't spoken in a couple of hours. He'd retreated into himself after he had told her he had deliberately broken his own thumb, putting up a shield around him. And right now she couldn't penetrate that. And maybe right now it was the only way he was coping. So she stayed right outside his shield, ready and waiting to hold him up the moment it fell away.

The plane came in to land, bounced once on the runway, and taxied to a stop a couple of minutes later. Ressler was still leaning against the window, still surrounded in his two blankets, and unable to get up. He became aware of Red standing beside him, leaning on the seat to talk to him. He focused on the man through his headache that was pounding in his skull, throbbing with every beat of his heart.

"Donald…how are you doing, my friend?" The answer was obvious as Red looked at the grey, sweaty agent and his huge, dark eyes, but Red asked anyway.

You really don't want me to answer that...

Ressler didn't answer, but kept looking at Red. So he continued, knowing he at least had the agent's attention. "I've made a few phone calls. And forgive me for overstepping my boundaries, but this was done in your…best interest. It is obvious you are in trouble and need help. I have the resources to provide that help." He let that sink in seeing Resslers eyes narrow a little.

Of course you do…

"You will stay at the house I'm currently house sitting." He looked at Liz, "and you too. Bring that hound of yours and get out of that rancid motel for a few days." He didn't wait for Liz to answer and turned back to Ressler. "The house is plenty big enough for you to have privacy, yet not be alone. Because right now, Donald, you cannot go back to your apartment and be alone, understand?" He looked at the agent, waiting for his response.

Ressler looked down, then across at Liz who was pleading with her eyes for him to understand.

I'm a junkie… I do understand…

He nodded, and heard Liz let out the breath she'd been holding. He looked back up at Reddington, knowing full well he was letting the man take over for him. In much the same way he'd asked Liz to get him out of the ambulance and surrounding area, letting her lead him, now Red was doing the same on a larger scale. And right now while he couldn't function, he placed himself in their hands. It was a huge step for him, but ironically, he was feeling SO bad he didn't see it. All he felt was a desperate desire to find that deep hole he'd been looking for all evening and finally crawl into it. And he knew with absolute certainty, that Red was the only one who could provide that deep hole and private place to crawl into.

"I've cleared everything with Harold. He knows nothing of this. As far as he's concerned, we're following up on a case I need both of you for. He's not happy, but he'll get over it. So you do not need to concern yourself with work." He told them and Ressler nodded slightly again. The pain in his head was worsening, and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open in the light now.

"Splendid. Then let's get you up and out of here Donald." He looked at Liz and they both helped Ressler to his feet. Shakily, he made his way off the jet, still surrounded in his blue blanket as he climbed into the back seat of the shiny, black car that Dembe was now standing beside.

Red and his 'toys'…

Feeling Liz sitting beside him, he closed his eyes against the city lights as they drove. Now the lights didn't look beautiful. Now all they did was hurt his eyes and increase the pounding in his head with their brightness.

###

They arrived at the mansion about twenty minutes later, pulling up in front of a large red brick home of immense size. As Dembe parked, Ressler wasn't paying attention as Red told him who lived here, why he wasn't here right now, and why Red had asked to stay here.

You're house sitting. I get it…

With an effort, he climbed out of the car, leaning against the door unsteadily. He felt Liz come and loop her arm in his as they entered the house, but he could barely open his eyes now against the pain in his head. He leaned on her, alarming himself with just how unsteady he was feeling. His breath was coming in sharp pants now, and he could barely walk.

Liz! …I can't…can't… Ressler felt his knees about to give way.

"Red!" she called out to him and he turned back to look at Liz and Ressler.

He quickly took Ressler's other arm as he was about to collapse, steadying the shaking agent, feeling his weight leaning on him as he helped support him. Red led them to a large guest room, and if Ressler had been able to pay attention, he'd have seen it was almost bigger than his entire apartment.

Feeling Ressler swaying even more, they quickly sat him down on a recliner. He leaned back, panting, shaking uncontrollably, the pain in his head reaching unbearable proportions now. Liz crouched down beside him, afraid he was about to pass out.

"He can stay in here. Lizzie, there is a room across the hall for you if you like, or there are rooms in the other wing." Red told her, looking worriedly at the agent.

She nodded to him, not taking her eyes off her shaking, pale partner. Across the hall was perfect. Seeing how much pain Ressler was in, she looked up at Red, but he was already talking.

"Don't worry, I have someone coming who will help him through these symptoms Lizzie. She will be here momentarily." And right on cue, Dembe appeared in the doorway, showing the woman inside.

"Aaahh, Mr Kaplan, come on in." Red motioned to the primly dressed, slender woman to enter. She nodded to Liz as she entered, and then turned her attention to the trembling, sweating man in the recliner.

"Goodness. I'm glad you called me." Her shoes clipped on the tiled floor as she strode to her patient on the recliner.

As Liz stood to step aside to make room for Mr Kaplan, Ressler's arm shot out and he grabbed her hand.

Don't go.

He startled Liz with how fast he moved. He startled himself too – and caused the pain in his head to increase. But across from them, Red smiled.

Liz turned to look down at him. His shield had dropped. Suddenly, he was back. Looking into her eyes desperately as tears sprang to them, shaking so hard, he spoke to her. "My head…Liz…my head is going to…explode…"

Ressler clung to Liz's hand as Mr Kaplan leaned down to talk to him. "Hello deary. I see you're very much under the weather. I can rectify that for you." She looked away from Ressler, then up to Red.

"He's filthy. Can't we get him cleaned up first?" She said in her clipped, prim voice.

"Kate, the man's had a very hard day. We can get him cleaned up later. For now, please see to the pain that he is very obviously in." Red told her firmly.

Liz could have hugged Red right then.

She squeezed Ressler's hand as he looked up at her in confusion. She leaned down, and heard him whisper "Mr…?" She smiled and nodded, reassuring him. He looked warily at Mr Kaplan as she turned back to him.

Mr…? I don't get it.

The woman was addressing Ressler now. "How long since you had your last dose? I need to know how long you have been in withdrawal." She was very business like and to the point. Ressler actually welcomed that. He didn't have the time or the energy for chit chat. He didn't even have to think about when he'd had his last two OxyContin.

"11pm last night…" he panted. Liz looked at him, and added, "Plus 6 of these this afternoon…" Liz handed Mr Kaplan the prescription Ressler had filled in Sitka. She looked at them, nodded, then tossed the bottle into her case.

She took… I had to work…hard…for those…

"Very good. You're in full withdrawal, though that is very obvious by your appearance. I couldn't give you this drug if you weren't. I have some Buprenorphine here for you, deary. Now, do not swallow it. Place it under your tongue and let it dissolve." She reached into her bag and produced a pill bottle, and handed Ressler one pill, placing it in his left hand – since his right hand was still shakily gripping Liz's hand. She looked at the broken thumb. "I'll clean that up and resplint it for you too."

Ressler looked at the pill in his hand, unable to concentrate on everything the woman was telling him. He didn't know what it was. What was she giving him…? He looked up at Liz, who understood his hesitancy in an instant.

"Explain to him what it is. How it will help him." She asked Mr Kaplan, who seemed surprised that she would even need to do that. "Very well." And she proceeded to explain to Ressler that this medication was used in opiate withdrawal as a substitute for the narcotic, to reduce the symptoms and would calm the shakes and pain. That he would need to be on it for a while, then gradually taper off it.

"I can't get... addicted to this too…?" he asked her. She actually gave him a little straight mouthed smile at that and assured him he would not. "This will help you. It's 6mg, and I will give you another 6mg in one hour. Place it under your tongue and let it dissolve."

"You can trust her Donald, I assure you." Red encouraged.

Okay… can his day get any weirder…

With another look at Liz who squeezed his hand in reassurance, Ressler did as he was told, grimacing at the bitter taste in his mouth as the pill dissolved under his tongue.

###

Twenty minutes later, Ressler began to feel the effects of the drug. And it simultaneously relieved and terrified him. He was feeling so much like he did when he was on Oxy he was positive she was not helping him and had only doped him up again.

Oh my God! She lied to me!

He stared up at Mr Kaplan, "What did you do? It feels like…what did you give me?! What-"

She interrupted him. "Yes, it feels like the opiates you've been on. I can only assure you that these meds are not your drug of choice. Lean back and let it help your symptoms and I'll give you another one in…" she checked her watch, "forty minutes. By then you will be feeling much better."

He wasn't entirely convinced. He felt like she'd just doped him up again to get him feeling better and the real withdrawal agony would start all over again later. But the other half of him trusted that she might actually be doing what she said and was helping him. But it wasn't her he trusted. He didn't know this woman.

What stunned him was that it was Red he trusted. Implicitly. He glanced across at the man, who was sitting calmly on a couch on the other side of the room.

His shakes began to lessen as he leaned back on the chair again just as she'd told him to. Ten minutes later, the pain was starting to ease in his muscles. His breathing calmer now, he felt better than he had in hours. Even the edge was dropping off his headache.

He gently released Liz's hand as he felt better, looking up at her, almost feeling the need to apologize that he wasn't holding onto her anymore. She simply smiled and squeezed his shoulder. Just like she'd done after they got back from Warsaw. And there was even more meaning in it this time.

More friendship. More concern. More caring.

There's more water under the bridge between us now…more...history... And he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. But the more he thought about it, he decided it was a good thing.

###

After one hour, he couldn't believe how much better he was doing. And when Mr Kaplan gave him his second dose, he didn't hesitate and placed the pill under his tongue. Even the bitter taste didn't bother him quite so much.

The woman leaned down to him again and took his left hand in hers to look at his broken thumb. With the new meds in his system, he was able to let her clean up and resplint his thumb with very little pain, noting how efficiently she did it. He looked at her as she was bent over his hand, and then he looked up at Liz, raising his eyebrows. Liz smiled at him. Mr Kaplan was an enigma, as Ressler was finding out first hand.

All done with his hand, Mr Kaplan was in front of him again, looking into his eyes and studying him. "Very good. You're responding well." She stood up after closing up her bag. "In another 30 minutes or so you'll be feeling well enough to get up and shower. Which I suggest you do as..."

"Kate…" said Red, and Mr Kaplan looked briefly at him and nodded.

She faced Ressler again. "I will be back in the morning and give you another dose. In the meantime, get as much rest as you can. You may be feeling better, but you still need rest." She picked up her bag and turned to leave, her heels clicking on the floor.

"Thank you." Ressler told her, and she turned back to him. "You are most welcome, deary." And she smiled a very brief, businesslike smile and then left the room, with Red showing her out.

###

Apparently the person whom Red was house sitting from was about the same size as Ressler, as he found out when Red opened the closet to reveal clothes that would fit him.

"So, to keep Mr Kaplan happy, go get cleaned up Donald." Red smiled as he and Liz left the room, letting Ressler get up to take a shower.

He stood under the warm water scrubbing the grime off him, which was a little more difficult with a broken thumb. Mr Kaplan had been right, he was filthy. But then sweating and running through a forest will do that… Stabbing a giant and getting his blood all over you will do that… After washing his hair, he got done and stepped out into the bathroom. Out of habit, he was drawn to the mirror, almost afraid to look. But when he did, he was surprised. His eyes were still half dilated and he looked very pale and tired, but on the whole he was much better than he'd expected.

He found some track pants and a t-shirt and got dressed. Entering the bedroom he was about to sit in the recliner again when there was a knock at the door.

"Ress, can I come in?" called Liz.

He walked over and opened the door and both of them paused. She almost felt like saying "I didn't know where else to go" and he almost heard it. She smiled at the unspoken memory between them as he stepped aside to let her in. Just like he had done on that night.

"You look more like yourself." She said, noting his clean shaven face and combed back hair. He nodded, standing by the half open door.

"I know you're tired and need rest…but I wanted to check in with you before you turned in for the night…" She looked up at him, seeing that he really was doing so much better. She sent a silent thanks to Mr Kaplan for that.

As Ressler went to close the door, he saw something small, brown and decidedly scruffy run into the room. He stepped back, surprised.

"Hudson! I told you to stay!" Liz looked up at Ressler in apology as her dog pranced in front of her. "Sorry! Let me put him up."

But Hudson had other ideas. As Ressler headed for the recliner, really feeling the need to sit down again, the little dog followed him. He looked at it, seeing the beady little eyes and excited expression on the animal. "Hey there, little dude. I think your mom wants you to go with her…"

Liz stopped and smiled. She'd never heard that soft tone from her partner before as he spoke to her dog - her dog who was now apparently ignoring her in favor of her partner. As Ressler dropped tiredly into the recliner, the dog sat at his feet, looking up at him in adoration.

Ressler looked across at Liz. "I seem to have a fan."

"Apparently so!" She looked at Ressler then, seeing how tired he was. His shakes had gone and he was no longer sweating, but he was still pale and exhausted. They could talk later. Right now he needed rest. "Why don't you get in bed and I'll let you get some sleep." She encouraged him.

He nodded, not even arguing with her and hauled himself out of the recliner. He hesitated a moment before he pulled the blankets down, then suddenly didn't mind that Liz was right there as he climbed into the bed. He plumped up his pillows and lay on his side, looking across at her. He then looked down at her dog, who was now worshiping him from below the bed, tail wagging as his little eyes shone up at him.

Ressler suddenly grinned at the little dog, who was now standing on his hind legs and leaning on the bed. And he realized that in this entire day, this funny little dog had been the only one who had managed to put a smile on his face.

And it felt good.

His day had been terrible. Understatement. It had been a living nightmare. It had been filled with pain, helplessness, desperation and…fear. He had needed to lean on others to get him through it. He looked up at Liz again.

I needed to lean on her…and Red too...

"Liz…I'm sorry. About…all this…" he told her tiredly, as she came and stood by him.

"I know, and it will be okay. We'll get through this." She told him kindly.

We… she said 'we'll get through this…'

He smiled at her, and felt his eyes drooping. She went and turned the light off in the room, and was about to leave.

"…stay…" he told her sleepily, and she turned and headed back to the recliner and sat down near him. Hudson was no longer on the floor. And when she looked to see where he'd gone, she saw him on the bed, approaching Ressler from the other side, having jumped up on a chair to get on the bed. The little dog moved around him, and lay down contentedly in front of Ressler, leaning against him.

And Liz smiled as Ressler, more asleep than awake, reached out and held her dog gently with his hand, his broken thumb nestled in the little dog's coat.