I finally got it done. I worked on this chapter for more than three days. It is long and it is confusing so please just ask in the comments if you have a question. This chapter is bit more brutal than the others so there is a lot of violence and swearing. TBH I don't like it.

Chapter Text

He had been at this place so many times before it almost felt like coming home. A cold, sterile home. He had been close to death more times than he cared to count and more often than he liked to admit but this time it was different. The last time he was there he had almost died for his job and because he had done what was right.

This time he would die for real because he had wanted to protect and fight for the one thing in his life that was still pure and innocent, because this time he didn't want to let it go again and this time he was so damn scared of going and still he could nothing against it.

It was final and while the blood was sipping trough what was left of his shirt and the light but bullet proof jacket and his body was sliding down the wall in the filthy, rotten warehouse, the dust was dancing in the morning sun falling trough one of the few shattered windows and landed on a tiny, lifeless body. When the darkness finally took over him, his last thoughts were about her and all the things that should have been but remained a bittersweet fantasy.

TWO HOURS BEFORE

The air felt like it was filled with electricity. Through a window in the small room he could see the lights of a thunderstorm in the distance. A storm was heading their way in more ways than one.

Ressler felt the need to throw up but on the other hand he had the intense urge to burst out laughing. It was ridiculous. At this moment he was standing behind a secret door which led into the second largest room of their 'safe house' or as he liked to call it 'super-safe-princess-castle'.

There was not much furniture or decor in the room, a table, a piano – cliche to be honest and for whatever reason there was a fountain exactly in the middle of the ball room. The floor was made of this kind of wood that crunched and squeaked when you walked on it.

During his stay in the mansion he had barely been in there and the room was almost always dark and nobody used it. Today the room was lit up by the warm shine of fire and it smelled of gasoline and another scent which reminded him of Christmas in a weird way.

Several, to him unidentifiable instruments were placed on the table made of ivory and expensive looking wood. From the heavy door at the other end of the room to the point right beneath him someone had created a mosaic of glass shards. From his point he could see that it formed a ammonit, a snail like fossil thing.

He was wondering how the hell one should now move around but then again he really was not familiar with this whole cult thing.

The most special thing about the so called ball room was something you did not see the first time you entered the room, not even necessarily the second time you entered it and certainly not if you weren't looking for it.

The entire room besides the floor – was made of glass. Black glass to exact which reminded him of the glass in the interrogation room in the post office.

Ressler was currently using the advantage of one the most genius features of the 'glass room'. He was standing on a kind of balcony, the ones you could see in opera houses and theaters, which was attached to the exterior wall and framed the whole room. To him it was amazing that even though the glass was several inches thick he could understand every word that was said in the room.

Suddenly he heard the door opening and was immediately ready to fight. False alarm. It wasn't Tom and his crew but Red. Seconds later he disappeared again but Ressler new that he was just getting into position on the opposite side of the room.

Now he could hear the thunder loudly growling over the mansion. The weather fought a war just like them. He felt like the heart in his chest beat faster with every minute that passed. He had to wait
until the ritual started. Red had actually taken the time and tried to educate him about the order. Well he had given up that soon and just told him how the ritual was working and when it would be best to 'attack'.

First, their would be a conversation between the master and Tom who was now an 'aimless', as the ones who wanted to leave the order and the outcast were called. The master would start to remove every sign that Tom was once one of them and take back and erase all the blessings and oaths that had been given to him.

Tom instead had to offer his 'life insurance'. An information so valuebal that his life was worthy enough to be spared and he would get to leave the order without a scratch. Once he used his life insurance he was free to go but should he ever offend the order in whatever way he would get killed immediately. Should the information not be worthy the master would have to kill Tom.

Then at the end of the ceremony both of them, the master and the aimless, had to drink out of an grail which was filled with a mixture of several herbs which would have the same affect as weed.
It was the only option to get Tom because after the ceremony he would be gone faster than you could count to ten and at this state whether the master nor Tom were able to something about it, due to being drugged.

Before they would hand Tom over to the FBI they would have a little question round of their own.
At first, Ressler wasn't pleased with the thought of Tom being still alive. After all this man had done. They still didn't know how many people he had killed and how much pain he had brought to the victims' families. As always it was Red who convinced him not to kill Tom. There would be no use of his death but alive, they had a good chance to information out of him. Information that could save lives.

At this point he didn't care anymore. He just wanted it to be over. He wanted to get back to his normal life with Agnes even though he highly doubted that he would ever get his life back. Liz must have felt the same way on her first day when she met Red.

Suddenly a movement in the room caught his attention. It was the master. Seriously what was it with cults and long black coats? The hood of course was hiding the face and Ressler believed he had seen the glimpse of a mask on the masters face. The master had entered the room trough the only visible door and was now standing right in front of the glass mosaic which he or she – due to the coat it was impossible to tell and not really important – had to cross to get to the table. The person was bending down and took of their shoes and started to walk across the glass. What the hell was even going on?The master was walking over the shards of glass like you would walk over a flower meadow.

Then there was loud, screeching sound in his ear. Clearly, Dembe was getting their ear pieces ready.
Not even the best technique and equipment was perfect. 'They are here. Baz and his team is in position. So far it is Tom including four of his men. More suspicious movement could be noticed so they probably are on to something and they are getting back up. We will still hold onto the plan but you all should be cautios. Agents Navabi and Motjabai as well as the rest of the back up is coming but they might not make it in time because some roads are blocked. Every shot has to find its target.' Dembe's voice was calm. On the other hand the man was always calm so he could probably be crying right now and you wouldn't notice it.

'How is Agnes?' Ressler wanted to know. Abruptly he wasn't so sure if there plan would work out the way they wanted it too. Again he started to doubt himself and the plan. Apparently Tom had more men they had thought. So much could go wrong.

Dembe, even though they were two floors apart had somehow noticed how insecure he was about their operation. 'You need to stay concentrated, Donald.' was all he said. Then it was silent again.

The master had now reached table and took one of the silver bowls in both hands. Ressler couldn't tell what it was in it but it was definitely liqiud. It seemed like the ritual was starting but where for gods sake was Tom. While the leader of the order started a weird chant in a foreign language, the door opened again. This time it was Tom.

Ressler felt how the hate he felt for him was slowly rising to the surface. All he wanted to do right now was to get down there and choke the hell out of him. He was back to the look he had when he left for Germany and later turned up in the court. He was back to his true self the monster, the psychopath he was deep inside.

Tom was a monster but he was also manipulative. He was clever and noticed a lot so Ressler tried to keep quiet and stay still. Even though you couldn't see behind the glass he was sure that Tom would sooner or later realize that someone was watching him. Then again you always felt like someone was watching you in this room.

After he observed the motionless face of his opponent he now focused on Tom's guard dogs.
The men were easily six foot tall and looked like profiboxers. There muscles were definitely real and not pumped with anabolics and drugs. There names were Miro Barrios and Andrew Michel, they once worked for a secruity service but later compromised one of their mission concerning the protection of an diplomat and five billion dollars. They both went underground. Boy that would be one hell of arrests today. Even though they were a bit too late to make it into the evening news.

Both of them were well trained but not that dangerous. Baz and his men would take care of without bigger problems.

He focused on Tom who was standing approximately five feet away from his master, on the other end of the mosaic . An eerie silence was fulfilling the room. The master was standing with their back facing Tom and it seemed like they were focused on something on the floor. All of sudden Tom and his men were kneeling down in front of their 'boss'. Right onto the glass pieces. Ressler was not able to wrap his head about what he just saw.

For the first the master started to speak. It was one of the most horrific sounds he had ever heard and it sure as hell wasn't human. It had to be a voice distorter. It wasn't just one voice. It sounded like thousands and thousands of voices were talking. Ressler instinctively moved a few steps backwards to escape that noise. It was a mistake. For a second Tom turned his head right into his direction with a smug smile on his face. He knew Ressler was there. A second later he was looking back to the master. He couldn't possibly have seen him, right?

Unless he knew he was there in the first place. A shiver run down his spine.

The voices spoke 'You have expressed your wish to leave our order. The order has offered you protection for a many years so there needs to be a payment which is equally power and meaningful as the gifts this community has given you. As an aimless you need to pay your respects to our community which is now superior to you.'

To Ressler it felt like has watching a scene from a real shitty horror movie which still got under your skin and made you turn off the TV for a little while. Just that he had no remote to change the channel.

Tom started to take off the black t-shirt he was wearing. Even from his distance watching point Ressler could see he the big, fleshy scar on his abdomen. It was the point where Liz had shot him. Twice. Where she shot him but not killed because she just wasn't that person. Because she couldn't kill the man she still loved even though he had turned her life in a psycho thriller movie without ending and without comic relief.

Then Tom took off his shoes just like his boss had done before him and took a step forward while his guard dogs remained in their submissive position. Now Tom was standing on the glass carpet with his bare feet and slowely lowered his body onto the mosaic until the pieces of glass were cutting trough his skin. He said not one word or made any pained sounds. It was silent except for the sound of the shards of glass rubbing against each other due to Tom's movement who was now laying in front of his master, his chin pressed tight onto the shards.

The master took the bowl and let it's content cascade on Toms bare back. What in gods name was going on. Well it seemed fitting for Tom to belong too such a .. .. well to belong to such a group but what he just had witnessed was beyond understanding.

When the voice started to speak again Ressler was ripped out of his thoughts. What do you have to offer, Aimless? the voice(s) spoke.

'Information' Tom said. He didn't seem to even be slightly disturbed by the broken glass cutting in his flesh. 'Information about Raymond Reddington.' If Red was worried about any Information that could be revealed about him and endanger him, he didn't show it. Red stayed silent,, no warnings were transmitted through the earpieces. Red was hidden behind the black glass, just like him but Ressler could picture the man. How he was standing there and probably smiling about Tom's 'information'. If it would be something harmful Red would have given a signal.

The master produced a sound that could maybe be interpreted as a laugh. If this made Tom nervous, he hid it well.

'No one has information about him'. the master simply stated.

'Well, I do. Information so valuable that you will let me go' Tom spoke with a firm voice. He seemed to be convinced of the importance of his information. What could he probably mean?

'We will see if you are speaking the truth.' the master answered and wanted Tom to stand up. He handed him a glass with a light green liquidity. 'Drink!' Tom followed the command. Speak!

He had a daughter. Elizabeth Keen. She passed away five months ago during childbirth. His grandchild, Agnes Keen is currently on her way to Washington DC. People of mine are following her.

The master seemed not impressed.

Raymond Reddington, as you know, had to go underground because he was a suspected traitor. The truth is he wasn't. He never committed one of the crimes he was accused of. He had discovered a conspiracy against the president and the white house, against the government of America. He was young but he was the best. He had gotten to close to the center and had almost exposed on of the biggest conspiracies in the history. So they got nervous, they wanted to get rid of him. When they killed his family they didn't know he started a war and they weren't prepared for his rage. The more they tried to fight him the more dangerous he became. He became friends with important, powerful people, people who control the world secretly and in the dark. The government, the scandals everything on the media, that is not the real government. The real government is the reason why two countries are leading a war against each other. They are the reason parents killed their kids and because of them thousands of innocent people are imprisoned. The reasons why companies triumphed over others. To be honest it was all about 'who ruled this earth'. Reddington had won but that wasn't what he had planned. He wanted to go back but society was still seeing him as murderer and traitor. In the end he could never go back to the life he had built. His curse in this world was to remain the monarch of darkness, the concierge of crime as society viewed him even though he secretly protected over the course of all these years. But he did make a mistake. He knew power was important and power could protect him but then again too much power made vulnerable. So he divided his power. He had assembled a group of people he wanted to share his powers with, 50 to be correct. There was just one problem. Not all of them shared his opinion that you could have 'enough' power. They always wanted more. In the end there was a conspiracy against him. Again. In the end there were 15 people left. But in the mean time another group had formed, the cabal. Up until this day he is fighting against them, even harder these days because they killed his child. If you find these people, if you can convince them to help you, you could destroy Red. You could change the whole word. I can help you to find them but you will have to let me go.'
Tom ended his story.

Nothing on this earth could have prepared for what happened after Tom stopped talking.
The master suddenly flicked his fingers and the light turned on. That was the moment he realized that they should get in now. They should get Tom into custody now. They had missed their moment. It was as if Dembe could read his mind because he could hear a Donald, stay were you are. in his ear. Even if he wanted to he could not have moved.

Tom seemed shocked which told Ressler that this was not supposed how the ritual should end.
Tom´s men who had been kneeling trough this whole ordeal, shivered. Good, he thought, they had the surprise at their side and boy he would get surprised in the next minutes.

I think that won't be necessary. the master said. In a matter of seconds he had pulled out a gun and shot Miro and Andrew. Where the was Red. Why didn't he act. I mean sure he had invited a creepy-ass leader of an even more creepy-ass order into his mansion but Ressler thought that he would have a say in who got killed in his house.

Then it happened. The master ripped off his mask.

It was Red. What the hell?

But how was this possible? Tom seemed equally surprised. Hello Tom. Nice to see you again. We should talk for a minute or two. Donald, come down here, you both have so much to tell each other With that Red clapped into his hands like he would before he said 'Dinner is ready'.

Ressler was baffled. Red must have lost his mind he thought, as he walked down the stairs at the end of the balcony. He didn't understand anything anymore.

When he reached Red and nearly tripped over the two now dead men of Tom, he tried his best not to give in the wish to strangle Tom right there.

Reddington Tom snarled.

'Oh Tom, after all this time. Are you really that naive to think that I would allow anyone to go around and talk about my secrets like they are the hot gossip high school teenager tell each other in the hall. Tsk Tsk. Well, I have to say I loved dressing up for this little event. It was so funny to see you come to that small Irish church with all the beaming eyes like a little child on christmas. Oh you were so happy to have finally found something to destroy me, weren't you. You were pretty useful too because through you I got to know every thing that is said about me out there. No one really knows anything about me or what I am really doing. It is a shame, Tom, really. When I let you pick up, twenty years ago, you had so much potential. Then you started to kill the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Well after our lovely little chat, I don't have further questions to you but Donald here has been eager to talk to you for a long time. You just don't kill loved ones of someone, that only gets you enemies. What you really do, is killing the enemies of your enemies so they become your friends. You never really got that concept, didn't you?' Red laughed and he actually seemed to be amused by Tom's stupidity.

All of sudden there appeared a smug smile on Tom's face. No, you are the ones that 'don't get the concept' he said with a calm, almost friendly voice. 'Were at war. Wars are not fight between two sides or two interests anymore. It doesn't work like that anymore'

Then the world exploded around him.

When he opened his eyes again, his vision was blurry and every muscle of his body hurt. It felt like the fire around him was also slowly burning in his veins. He coughed. Ressler wanted to use his arms to stabilize himself and tried to stand up, ignoring the glass that was piercing through his skin.
He panicked as an enormous amount of pain was hitting him. His right arm was broken or at least, dislocated. The same could be said about his right foot.

He was laying on his back and the sparks of the fire around him almost looked like stars. He felt himself smiling. Reddington really had a nice sense of decoration. Wait, Reddington? Where, where was he? Why wasn't he here? They had worked on something together, hadn't they? His head hurt. It felt like something had exploded in his head and afterwards someone just put what was left of his brain back in to his head.

Again, he was shaken up by a cough. What has happened? Then someone appeared in his vision. Red?
As always he had no luck. His vision just became clear enough to see who was standing right above him and smiled sadistically. Donnie, Donnie we really need to talk, don't you think.

Ressler felt how he was slowly losing consciousness again. He couldn't. He needed to stay awake but again he was losing this ridiculous fight against himself. The only two things he could later remember were being dragged over the floor by Tom and being thrown into a smelly van with hands and feet captivated.

The next time he woke up each of his arms was captivated by a metal chain so both of his arms were dragged apart. He realized one of his eyes was swollen and blood was dripping from several cuts all over his body.
This time however his vision was clear. It didn't help him a bit. The room was grey and it smelled like gasoline. There was no window in the room and a light bulb was hanging from the ceiling. Right in front of stood a chair and on this chair sat Tom.

'Good morning, darling' he said in a mocking voice and stood up. Morning? He had no idea how late it was.

' Let's have a little chat, shall we?' Tom suggested. Well, it was no real suggestion but Ressler had absolutely now idea what he should do. He needed time and getting Tom to talk was the best thing that could happen.

'Where is Reddington?' he asked Tom. Well, Donald if I were you, I would be a bit concerned about myself

'You know Donnie, you never really were my target. You were one of these dumb agents of the FBI, just trying to make himself a name. Well but then you fucked up. You just don't steal others people belongings. Liz was mine. Everything about her is mine. Hell, even little Agnes is mine but don't worry I don't fucking want her. I really don't know what Liz has seen you. Must have been the boy scout face. Well but after that you fucked up even more, you really screwed up. Or to be exact you fucked my bitch.'

'Don't talk about her like that. Don't you talk about her like that. She - she really did love you. You destroyed her ' Ressler's voice was raw and it hurt while he spoke.

Tom started to laugh 'Do you think I care about her. She is dead anyways. It is much more simpler than that. You my friend did something wrong and now you will have to pay for it.'

Ressler closed his eyes. Everything was hurting. He needed to sleep. Tom slapped him.
Focus, Ressler ! Tom demanded. You know when this is all over, you will beg me to end your life.. Then he suddenly held a glass in front of Resslers face and pressed it against his lips. Drink! he demanded. Of course Ressler didn't drink it. Again, Tom punched him. Drink or I will kill Agnes Ressler noticed the anger in his voice. Anger was good. Anger meant he had a weakness. He needed to find it.
You don't have her. You are lying. He said. It was impossible, right? He couldn't have possibly found her. Tom seemed to read his thoughts 'Oh is that so?'

Hey, Paul let's say hello to Agent Ressler

What he heard next was the pure horror. It was the sound of a crying baby. In the background you could hear 'Somewhere over the rainbow'.

It was Resslers turn to get furious You bastard. If she just has one scratch I will-

You will what? Kill me? Wow what a hero, you are Tom mocked him. He was playing with. This moment of negligence used Tom to pour the content of the glass into Resslers mouth and forced him to swallow it.

It worked immediately. The world around him seemed to dance. Tom's head was getting bigger, than smaller again. He felt the urge to throw up.

You know considering the fact that Red destroyed your life and will be indirectly responsible for your death, you really seem to like the guy. I could spare you, you know. Just tell me what you know about Reddington. You know that thing with your parents?

Tom you—y—yo- You are crazy. I don't know anything about him.

Well that is sad, considering you are his grandchild father. He said but Ressler didn't understand a word he was saying. It was too far away.

What in gods name was going on. Ressler felt like he was floating through the room while an external force was tearing him apart. He wanted to breath. He wanted to scream. He wanted to fight but he couldn't. It was silent in his head but at the same time the thousands of voices in his head seemed to talk at once.

'Answer me. Talk to me, son of a bitch. Talk to me.' Even if Ressler had wanted to answer he couldn't. His tongue was laying in his mouuth like a brick and the world was spinning around him. He was seeing all kind of forms and Tom was punching him.

He punched him in his face several times and he tasted blood in his mouth. Tom was beating him up and he could do nothing against it. He tried to kick Tom but his legs didn't work.
Again he heard Agnes cry and the world was spinning faster and faster around him.

And suddenly the beating stopped. The world was still spinning and Ressler could barely stand anymore but the beating had stopped.

Tom who had three heads now started to talk again. He held something in his hands, a knife probably. 'Do you know what this is, Donnie? No? Well, let me educate you. This beautiful piece is an indian combat knife, used in the 19th century. When I stab you with it, it won't be a big cut but as you can see, this knife has a barb. I will just need to pull it back and it ribs your inner organs out. You will be dead within minutes. Feel honored Donnie, not everyone has the chance to get killed by such a beautiful instrument.'

Without another word Tom pushed the knife deep into Resslers abadomnen. He threw his head back and howled and screamed. It was a pain which couldn't be described with words. 'Don't move Donnie, it just makes it worse.' Tom was laughing.

That was the moment Ressler needed. Even though he was impaled he somewhere found the strenght for one last movement. The chains which held him captivated were light enough and he swung both arms forward and hit Tom`s head.

While the blood was sipping trough what was left of his shirt and the light but bullet proof jacket and his body was sliding down the wall in the filthy, rotten warehouse, the dust was dancing in the morning sun falling trough one of the few shattered windows and landed on a tiny, lifeless body. When the darkness finally took over him, his last thoughts were about her and all the things that should have been but remained a bittersweet fantasy.

As he was laying there, bleeding out he could have sworn he saw a pair of the most beautiful blue eyes right above him. He saw a smiling, happy Liz. He really was dying.

Maryland Hospital, a month later

The light burned in his eyes when he opened them. His head was pounding and god he was thirsty.
Did he die? Well then heaven really sucked.

He felt like the darkness was trying to get him back so he needed to get as much information about this place. The monotone sounds of the machines who had kept him alive for god knows how long told him he was at a hospital. Alone. Did Reddington die, too?

Actually even this thought was ridiculous. The only one who could kill read was himself.
He tried to turn his head. HA! That worked.

He heard him reacting before he fully understand what he saw. The maschine who watched over his vital functions went crazy and his heart was almost jumping out of his chest. In a cheap, blue plastic stair … sat Liz.

He tried to form her name with his dried out lips. He needed to get her attention. He tried to touch her but suddenly she vanished and he was sucked back into the darkness.

The next time he woke up, Reddington stood above him.

'Hello, my friend. I'm happy you are back in the world of the living. '

So you read through all this shit? I am so fucking proud of you.

Some questions I want to answer you could probably have.

Does/Did Tom know Liz is alive - No, he just knows what Red and Tay are talking about for example they have hacked their messages so if Tay writes 'I got new weapons' Tom knows about this.

Is Agnes dead? - Who do you think I am?

Is this still a Keenler story - Yes! It is just extremly hard to get rid of Tom. But he is gone. Not dead. Gone. I will explain this in the next chapter.

Yes this is still a Keenler story and I am finally done with Tom. The next chapter will be LIZ POV because she has played a major part in the out come of Resslers fight.

This is a Keenler story and there will be fluff and probaly smut and so on but I want to keep it real. Whenever both of them meet again they will have a shit ton of things to talk about but that doesn't mean they can't be happy.

Please give me some reviews on this one it was so much work.