Oh my gosh, so after 3 and a half months, we FINALLY got our show back! And while Luther Braxton Pt 1 was good and had some nice Ressler moments (just not nearly enough) Pt 2 was SO good! From that opening 2 minutes, and then to Ressler when he saw what Red was doing to Liz. When he demanded Red wake her up NOW, wow...Keenler right there! But even that awesome scene from Ressler was overshadowed by his run to her as soon as she dismissed Red! Keenler! Another 'blue blanket cuddle'! So this takes place after that as it's 'all over' and the medic is checking Liz on the chair. (I also wanted to point out that I had my outline and a good start on my chapter when Lizicia posted her excellent story on this same scene. I didn't copy her idea, I swear!)

Ressler leaned on the guard rail of the empty pool, feeling the metal digging into the sore muscles in his arms. Every inch of him wanted to run back down to where Liz was being checked by the medic. But Reddington was at her side. In this strange connection that she and Red had, there were times it hit him right in the gut that he was excluded from that. The leather straps that had bound her hung loose below her and the mere sight of them made Ressler's stomach churn. Beside him Samar said something. He wasn't listening. He had no idea what she said, and apparently it wasn't important enough to repeat.

"I swear…if he's hurt her in any way…" he said, more to himself than to Samar. A fact Samar understood when she didn't reply. Standing up straighter as the medic finished his examination of Liz, Ressler moved a few inches closer to the steps to his right. But it still wasn't time. Again, Red had lowered his head toward Liz. As the medic came up the ramp and passed them by, Samar spoke to him.

"How is she?"

"She's a little disoriented and her vitals are a little low, but she's stable. Physically, she should be fine."

"Thank you," said Samar as the medic headed down the stairs behind them.

Physically she should be fine? The short hairs on the back of his neck prickled. But he still had to hold back, standing at the rail in the half light while Red spoke to Liz in that fatherly tone. But giving them complete privacy was not an option. His eyes never left Liz, as if to look away would leave her at Red's mercy.

As Red leaned close, Liz recoiled from him. Ressler saw it, sucking in a sharp breath at that. Whatever platitudes Red was dishing, Liz was no longer having it. Ressler's jaw clenched in a body wound tight as a coiled spring. And gripping the railing tight beneath white knuckles, he swore under his breath.

He felt Samar touch his arm. "Hey, you okay?" she asked him, her dark eyes looking sideways at him.

He didn't even answer Samar - which of course, told her exactly what she needed to know.

Behind them someone was coming up the stairs. As Samar stepped down to meet who it was, they heard a child's voice. Max, the son of Dr Orchard was being brought up to his mother.

"Don't!" Liz's sharp cry pierced the room.

Ressler was running down the stairs to her before the echo of her cry had even faded.

As he jumped off the second to last step and jogged to meet her, Liz was on her feet and attempting to draw a blanket around her. Ressler didn't look past her to Red. If he met the man's eyes he might… deck the bastard right here and now. In the semi dark Liz was in front of him, pale and silent with dark eyes that lingered in a distant past. As his arm slipped easily around her shoulders, she appeared smaller and softer than he could recall in some time. Physically the same and yet something had been stripped away leaving her raw and exposed. And as his hand came up and held her arm, drawing her closer to his side she trembled beneath him.

"I've got you… come on…" he whispered to her as he led her to the stairs. Her footing was sound as she climbed each step, but still he stayed right behind her and kept his hand on her back. As they reached the pool deck, Dr Orchard was there, hugging and crying over her son. Making their way past the tearful reunion, Ressler held Liz close to him as they carefully stepped around Dr Orchard in the entrance. Liz's bare arms were cold under his hands, the warmth of the blanket yet to reach her. Samar reached out to Liz and between them they led her down the stairs, leaving the empty pool with its apparatus of forced memories behind them.

As Liz stumbled at the bottom of the stairs, Ressler's arms were already there to steady her. "I got you."

She had not yet acknowledged him, focused inward on a burning house and a father who couldn't possibly have made it out alive. But now her eyes found his, their normal bright blue dulled. Two dark dilated pools filled with faraway glimpses of memories. For a moment he sucked in a breath at the depth of pain in her eyes, wanting suddenly to hug her tight, as if he could squeeze out the damage that had occurred.

"I got you," he repeated, swallowing down the renewed urge to deck Reddington. Standing at the bottom of the staircase his arms briefly left her as he quickly shed his wool overcoat. And as Liz stood silently between them, with Samar's help he dressed Liz in his coat before placing the blanket back around her shoulders.

"I'll go and get the vehicle ready," said Samar, and headed out the front door.

Stepping out of the building and into the swath of red and blue flashing lights, Liz gasped as she covered her eyes and drew in closer to him. "It's okay…" His arm answered her, shielding her from the lights as her eyes closed against them. His tall frame hugged her to him now, burying her into his chest as he led her to the waiting vehicle. Surrounded by FBI, ambulance and Police he led her away, holding up his hand as another medic came forward to offer assistance. And beneath his arms she shivered even more in the cold night air, despite his coat.

"Come on, it will be warmer in the car," he whispered close to her. Liz didn't say a word as he got her in the back seat. Ressler was about to get in beside her when he turned to take a last look at the gathered law enforcement, and spied Reddington coming out of the building.

"Wait here," he told Samar, leaning down to look in the back door. Glancing at Liz then back at Samar, he stood, closed the car door and jogged to where Red was walking away from the lights with Dembe. Red saw him coming and stopped, gauging the mood of the agent immediately.

"Donald, whatever you have to say can surely wait until after Lizzie is away from here and rested, don't you think?" Red sighed, as Dembe came to a stop two steps behind him.

Ressler ignored him, coming to stand in front of him with jaw and knuckles clenched. "What the hell were you thinking? What did you need to find out that was SO important it justified doing this to her?"

Red tilted his head as he took in the sight of Ressler ready to pounce in front of him. "Donald, there are things in Lizzie's past that are of interest to me and to others, but far more than that, they are important to her," said Red, taking a step to walk around Ressler.

Ressler cut him off, using his height to full advantage as he leaned in and over Red, his eyes fixed on the shorter man. "Nothing. And I mean nothing gives you the right to drug her with the sole purpose of extracting something from her brain."

Behind Red's eyes, recognition dawned. "I understand fully that the thought of using drugs on her strikes a very raw nerve with you, my friend. But it may be of interest to you, Donald, that at one point, Lizzie asked Dr Orchard to continue. For her sake."

"She never should have been in a position to need to ask to continue," hissed Ressler, not letting Red off that lightly.

"Agreed. However, you saw the medic check her and she is fine. Yes, she's a little out of it-"

"A little out of it?! Have you seen her eyes? That's more than a little, Reddington!"

Red nodded slightly now, regarding the agent before him. The set of his jaw and the threat in Ressler's eyes clear in the flashing lights from the vehicles.

"I regret what happened today. I didn't start down this path. But once Braxton did, I simply finished it to give Lizzie some measure of closure. To leave her half way down that rabbit hole would have done far more harm to her. I have the utmost regard for her well being-"

Ressler inched closer to the criminal. "This is you using people, Reddington. It's what you do. You play with lives and move people around your chessboard like pawns. And I've stood back and watched, because, hell, there's no denying you've got results. But you crossed a line today. And I swear, if you've done ANYTHING to hurt her, I'll-".

"You'll what, Donald?" said Red, interrupting Ressler this time. "Because what I see in front of me is a man who cares very much for Lizzie. And if I were you, I'd put that to good use and help her. Don't stand here berating me when right now, she needs someone to lean on."

Ressler exhaled, looked away then back at Red as the anger in him scaled down a notch. "I don't need you to tell me to take care of her."

Red gave him a very small smile then, defusing Ressler even more. "Excellent. Then get to it. Do not leave her alone tonight. The next 24 hours is critical if she's to overcome this fully." And instead of slapping Ressler on the arm in his usual dismissive manner, Red squeezed his arm almost in comfort. Without another word he moved around Ressler, leaving him standing there catching his breath.

"Ressler!" It was Samar, motioning to him from outside the car.

"Damn it," he hissed and jogged back to her.

"We need to get going, Cooper just called. He wants to see us," Samar explained as he opened the back door and slid inside to sit beside Liz.

Samar leaned in the other door. "I'll sit up front with the driver," she said, with a meaningful nod to Ressler as she closed the door.

And Ressler had to admit he was thankful for that as he turned his attention to Liz. "You alright?" he asked her, tilting his head to look at her.

Dwarfed in his coat, she nodded, "Can we just go, please?" she asked him softly.

"Yes, we can. Do you feel up to talking with Cooper?" he asked her, still leaning down to look at her downcast eyes and feeling more than a little frustrated now for delaying while talking to Red.

"I don't know," she replied.

"If it's too much I'll just get my car and get you right out of there," he assured her.

"Thank you," she said. And though she fought for control, her façade crumbled. "Oh, God…Ress…" she whispered, her lips trembling. And closing her eyes futilely against the rising tide of tears she leaned into him.

"It's okay…" he whispered, as she shook against him, reaching his arm around her and pulling her close against him. As they made their way from the scene and drove through the city streets toward the Post Office, Ressler caught Samar's eyes in the rear view mirror. Had it only been this morning they'd escaped from the oil rig? It felt like forever ago. And in that moment he'd have given anything to go back to yesterday where drug induced memory retrieval techniques were unheard of.

###

As they pulled into the parking lot at the Post Office, Liz was quiet, her tears having abated during the drive. Leaning against Ressler's shoulder with eyes closed against the street lights that blinded her on occasion, they sat quietly in the back seat.

He hadn't spoken to her while she'd rested against him. One - because it wasn't necessary. If silence was what she needed right now, he was giving it to her. And two - he didn't exactly want Samar listening in. Not that he was saying anything out of place. And three…I don't want her crying again…

Talking to Cooper was out of the question though, he'd already determined. And as they pulled in, he nudged her gently. "Hey, we're here, Liz."

Cooper, in that sixth sense that apparently all bosses are endowed with was exiting the elevator as they parked. Samar opened the car door and walked toward him, stopping to speak with him. Ressler watched a moment as his superior leaned heavily on his cane while Liz moved beside him. So much for not talking to Cooper…

As he slid out of the back seat and leaned back in to offer his hand to Liz, she accepted it and scooted over to climb out and stand beside him.

"Cooper is heading this way. Sorry, Liz, looks like I can't get you out of here right away," he told her quietly.

"It's okay…" she said, not convincing him at all.

"Agent Keen…Elizabeth…how are you feeling?" Cooper asked her coming to stand before them, his eyes filled with concern. Ressler looked at his boss again, seeing something …different… in the man. Something …heavier… as if a greater weight were on the man's shoulders. But then the moment was gone and Cooper imperceptibly stood a little taller at Liz's quiet answer that she was fine.

"Well, your version of fine must be very different from mine, because from where I'm standing I see someone who is in need of some rest. We can talk tomorrow or when you're up to it," he told her before gently patting her arm as he turned to Ressler.

"Agent Ressler, would you mind taking her home and making sure she is settled?"

"Of course, sir."

Cooper nodded, looked at Liz again with eyes that softened a little, and then turned toward his vehicle as he bade them goodnight.

As he turned to lead Liz toward his car, Samar came over to them again and lightly touched his arm. "Thank you for today," she told him. "That was too close a call on that chain. So, thank you," she smiled and then with a nod to Liz, was walking away before he could answer.

"What did you do…?" Liz asked him as they arrived at his vehicle.

Ever the quiet achiever, Ressler simply shrugged and gave her his half smile. "Oh, you know. Usual boy scout stuff."

And as she smiled faintly in return, his mood lifted considerably at the change it brought to her eyes.

###

As they drove through the city toward her hotel, he was relieved to see that she wasn't shielding her eyes against the glare of the lights as much. Still bundled up in his coat, she was also no longer shivering.

"You're not staying by yourself tonight, Liz. I'll sleep on the couch, alright?"

"Thank you," she said, looking sideways at him as he drove. "But, you don't have to do that though."

He didn't miss a beat. "I'm not leaving you alone," he told her, looking sideways at her as he raised his eyebrows in affirmation.

She didn't argue with him that time.

Pulling into the parking lot a few minutes later, he parked right outside her room then reached back to get his overnight bag from the back seat. She wasn't moving. "You alright?"

She started at the sound of his voice. "Yeah…" she said, "but I don't have my key…"

When he realized she couldn't remember having given him her spare key, he licked his bottom lip, and regarded her gently "I have one." And jumping out of the car he quickly went around to the passenger door to help her out. "Come on, Liz."

Once inside her hotel room he turned on the small lamp as they stood in her living area. The room was instantly filled with a deceiving warm glow, as it was cold inside. As she sat on the couch looking impossibly lost inside his coat, he set about getting the heat on in the three rooms. Once the whir of the room heaters fired up he came and sat on the small coffee table in front of her.

"Should warm up soon," he told her. As he raised his head to look around the meager accommodations, he looked back at her. "You know, there are times I miss Hotel Red." When she didn't acknowledge him, he touched her knee.

"I'll make you a cup of tea, okay?"

"I don't think I could keep it down, Ress, but thank you," she told him, as a shiver ran through her. "I think I just need to clean up and get some sleep." As she looked up at him, he was again struck by how much smaller and softer she seemed.

He smiled and nodded to her. "I turned the heater on in the bathroom, so it should be warm in there for you," he said, and then stopped when he saw her face crumble as she looked at him. Oh, way to go genius…

"Thank you," she told him as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"It's just a heater, Liz…"

"No…it's you. I don't deserve you to be so kind," she cried, her voice hitching.

He wasn't sure where she was going with this, so stayed silent for the moment and let her talk.

"I don't know what part I have to play in…all of Red's past and…" she caught her breath and looked up at the ceiling as fresh tears fell. "I don't know what I did that brought this about…and I…" as she met his eyes, she stopped and shook her head. "I'm sorry for what happens to you and the team because of me."

His hands were on both her knees as he leaned toward her. He understood what she was trying to apologize for but it was unnecessary and misguided. "Liz, none of this is your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's Reddingtons."

"I just can't remember. I don't know what I saw or did or heard that he wants from me. I don't know what object or thing is so important to him…" she sniffled, attempting to dry her tears as she looked at him leaning toward her. "I just can't remember…" and dropping her head she closed her eyes and held her forehead in her hand. "And my head is splitting. And my eyes hurt, and I-"

"Liz," he stopped her, leaning closer to her now and gently pulled her hand from her forehead. "Don't try and figure it all out tonight. Go get ready to take a shower, and I'll find some aspirin for your headache."

Nodding slightly, her shoulders sagged as she sighed and as she started to get off the couch he gently pulled her to her feet as he stood. And standing close together between the coffee table and couch, she leaned into him.

"Thank you for being here, Ress."

His hands rubbed her back as she leaned on him. He couldn't take away what had happened to her. But he was damn well going to be there as she struggled through the aftermath.

###

Twenty minutes later she emerged from the bathroom into the warm bedroom, her white robe fastened around her. While she'd been showering, he'd changed into t-shirt and sweats, shedding the government agent persona and replacing him with Don Ressler, average joe. All he needed was a beer to complete the picture. And despite her argument that she couldn't keep anything down, he'd boiled the kettle for tea before making up his bed on the couch. he was standing looking at the short bed wondering how on earth he was going to squeeze comfortably onto that, when she came back into the living room.

"You alright?" he asked her,

"Yeah, I think so," she said, looking at the couch, then gasped as she looked up at him.

As he followed her gaze and landed on his right arm, he pursed his lips. "Oh, that, yeah. Courtesy of one of Braxton's pipe wielding men on the rig. It's fine. Looks worse than it feels," he told her, downplaying it as she eyed the dark bruised welt covering most of his right arm. "But hey, it wasn't me that got shot this time, right?" he said in a weak attempt at humor.

"Right," she agreed, sitting on the blanket covering the couch as he headed to the kitchenette to make tea.

Returning with two mugs, he placed one on the coffee table in front of her and then sat on his pseudo bed beside her.

"Liz-"

"Ress-"

As they both spoke in unison, they stopped and glanced at each other. "You first," they both said together, before stopping and dropping into an easy smile.

"Ladies first," he told her, taking a swig of his tea. As he pondered the inside of his mug, it occurred to him that the only time he drank tea was with Liz. Hell, he'd never even thought to drink it before he met her.

Sipping her drink, she sighed, then looked sideways at him. As she did so he could plainly see that her pupils were still half dilated. A side effect of the drugs. Squashing down the surge of anger that flared, he hurriedly drank down his tea, holding the hot empty cup in his hands.

"I didn't know if you had made it," she told him, meeting his eyes. "When Braxton had me in the helicopter and the rig was on fire, I didn't know if you were…gone."

Placing his cup on the coffee table, he smiled humorlessly. "To tell you the truth, I almost was gone, Liz." He looked at her sharply, licking his lip. "Right before the missile hit I had a gun to my head. I was seconds from being shot through the brain."

"Oh my God…" she whispered, taking another mouthful of tea.

"Yeah. Ironic, huh? The missile saved my life. Though I didn't know it at the time, because we were then on a burning, sinking rig."

"You found Red?"

"Oh yeah, we found him. The man has more lives than three cats joined at the hip." At the mention of his name, her demeanor changed. Shadows crossed her eyes as they focused on a faraway memory. Dropping her head, her hair dropping over her features, she took a shuddering breath.

"Liz..." he was reaching out his hand to her when she pitched her cup toward the coffee table, almost missing the edge. His hand rerouted midair and pushed her cup further onto the table.

"Uh oh." Clambering from the couch, she stumbled through the bedroom to the bathroom, making it just in time as she threw up.

Ressler was already up and waiting for her with a wet washcloth when she raised her head from the toilet. "Thanks," she panted, taking it from him. And as she held it to her face, burying her head in the cool wetness he crouched down in front of her as she perched on the side of the bath.

"Come on, I'll get you in bed, Liz," he told her. Oh, shit… He immediately added, "That didn't sound right. I mean-"

"Shut up, Ress..." Dropping the cloth from her ashen face she placed it in his outstretched hand and met his eyes. Her lower lip trembling as tears sprang to her eyes, she let him help her up. And as he pulled down the bedding for her she shed her robe and climbed into bed, clad only in panties and a small t-shirt.

He looked away quickly. The sight of her dressed (or undressed) like that catching him off guard. But the sound of her breath hitching drew him immediately back. As sobs rose in her, she let out a wail and buried her head in the pillow. The sound sent a chill up his spine and he was kneeling at her bedside immediately.

"I'm here…I'm here, Liz…" he whispered to her. Grasping her hand as it shot out from under the blanket, he drew close to her. As her wailing continued, he fought back tears of his own. That sound. Oh God, that sound…. Filled with pain and helplessness as the events of the day overtook her, it struck him to his very core.

"Liz..."

Offering some manner of comfort, his other hand found her hair as the wail became a low keening. Helpless and drawn out, speaking of long held secrets now laid brutally bare. And stroking her dark hair, as a father would do for their distraught child, his own tears now fell. His lips found her tear stained cheek, briefly caressing her with them as his own tears blended with hers.

"Liz… I'm here…"

Still grasping her hand and continuing to stroke her hair, the wailing slowed. Whimpering as her breath hitched against the pillow, her shaking settled under his hand. And in complete exhaustion and with the residue of the drugs in her system she fell into an uneasy sleep, her face lying on the tear soaked pillow. And even as she slept she whimpered, her brain not ready to let go yet.

As he kneeled at her side his own shuddering breath mingled with hers. Gently extricating her fingers from his, being careful not to wake her, he rose to his feet with his eyes never leaving her. Knees drawn up in an effort to make herself as small as possible, she lay trembling in the bed.

And without a moment's thought he went to the other side of the bed and pulled the blankets down before gently climbing in beside her. Coming up behind her, his arm wrapped around her trembling form as he held her close. And laying his head on the pillow behind hers, his eyes closed.

And for the first time in a year, he fell asleep holding a woman he cared deeply for in his arms.