I've been dealing with some serious writer's block so my Tessler partner in crime Takada Saiko suggested I do a little Tessler piece. She requested Ressler finding out Jacob can't swim. So, here you go. The third installment of GnomeGate.

I hope you all enjoy :)

GnomeGate Part 3

Donald Ressler had other plans for his Saturday afternoon off but when his partner and best friend called asking for his help he set those plans aside, jumped in to his car and hurried to her home. A new home Reddington set her up in. It screamed Liz and had a nice sized yard for her dog Hudson. The very reason he was heading to her house in fact. She called him hysterical that Hudson snuck out the front door and she looked for a while on her own but could he please come help.

Well, Ressler and Hudson had spent a good amount of time together while Liz was on the run, seeing as he took the little mutt in and gave him a temporary home. He'd never truly admit to anyone but he missed the little guy. So, if Hudson was missing then Ressler would do all he could to find him and bring him home.

He pulled in to her driveway only to find a blue mustang already parked. He knew that car and the idea that Tom…or he supposed he should start trying to call him Jacob now shouldn't he? Liz was. Cooper had started to. Everyone but Reddington. And Ressler wasn't sure he wanted more in common with Red than he already did. He put his car in park and made his way to the door.

"Let's go boyscout. My dog is missing." Tom…Jacob was already heading out the door and slapped him on the back. "You are with me. Lizzie's going to hang around here in case he comes back around.

"Great. Just great," he said through gritted teeth. Working with him to find Hudson was going to be just wonderful. "Which way did she last see him?"

"That way," Jacob pointed down the road.

"Fine. Get in." Ressler headed to his car and when Jacob hesitated he called out. "Get in or you're on your own."

"I've heard stories about you and your driving. How many accidents have you been in?"

"Shut up and get in," Ressler growled as he got in. He rolled the windows down and when Jacob got in he started the car up.

"Your car smells like cheeseburgers," Jacob commented sniffing the air.

Ressler reached behind him and grabbed a McDonald's bag. "Huds like cheeseburgers. Figured if he doesn't want to come to us we can draw him out."

"Ok, first off. You feed my dog fast food? Man. No wonder he got fat. And two…good thinking."

"Hey, pal. I kept your dog safe and out of a shelter. What I may or may not have fed him is none of your concern. If I fed the dog a cheeseburger a day that's my prerogative. You didn't seem to care about what happened to him now did you?" Ressler gripped the steering wheel tightly. They were a block down the road and he started scanning the sidewalks looking for the dog.

"I was trying to save my wife's," Jacob started.

"Ex-wife. She's your ex-wife."

"I was trying to help save Liz's life. I assumed Reddington had it covered."

"He didn't," Ressler huffed. "Or I got there first. I don't know. But, look your dog got fat because he's a little thief and stole food right off my plate. And he's horrible at holding his bladder."

Jacob chuckled. "Yeah, he's a pee machine. On that first day for Liz…when you showed up black SUV's screeching, helicopter hovering overhead, she actually stepped in his pee."

Both men chuckled, Ressler at the idea of it and Jacob probably was reliving the memory. They fell into a silence until Ressler spotted a wooded area. A perfect place for Hudson to run and play. He loved his runs and it was somewhere a little dog like Hudson could get in trouble. He pulled over, rolled his windows up and exited the car.

"I could see Hudson having a blast out here. Split up?" Jacob questioned.

"Yeah. Text me if you find him first." Ressler handed the other man a cheeseburger then headed off in the woods.

He was still annoyed Liz decided it was a good idea to pair the two of them up for this. Why they couldn't go off on their own to begin with was beyond him but she seemed to get a kick out of every time the two of them were forced to work together or see each other. It was downright cruel on her part. But, it was Liz and as much as he hated to admit it he'd do anything she asked. Even if it meant looking for her dog with the other man in love with her.

Ressler wasn't sure how long he was on his own with no luck but somehow he ended up at a pond and spotted Jacob staring out in it. There was a little dock as if someone had made it for their personal fishing hole and that's where Jacob was. He didn't say anything as he reached the other man but could tell he had approached unnoticed, which was surprising.

"What are you staring at?"

Jacob jumped and turned to Ressler. "I think...I think that's Hudson." He pointed to something dark floating in the water.

"And you aren't in there getting him?" Ressler said exasperated.

"I…," Jacob didn't finish.

Ressler shook his head and kicked off his shoes. He wasn't sure what Jacob's problem was and he didn't care. If Hudson was in the pond one of them needed to retrieve him. And it apparently was going to be him. As he jumped in, the cold water mixed with the crisp air hit him hard as he swam to the mass in the water. The closer he got the more he saw what it was. In a fit of rage he screamed and pushed the log out of the way. He was going to kill Jacob. Kill him.

"It was a log you idiot! I jumped in to this freezing cold water for a log?" Ressler yelled as he swam to the little dock. Jacob reached his hand out and helped him back up. "I can't believe you."

"I thought it was him. I couldn't see it and you even thought it was."

"I just went with what you said. Fuck man," Ressler cursed as he shivered. "It should have been you who went in. He's your dog after all."

And that's when he snapped. Jacob gave him a sly smirk and Ressler pushed with all his might and Jacob fell in the water. Ressler watched with a satisfied smile as Jacob flopped in the water for a moment. Enjoy the cold you jerk, he thought. Then, he wasn't sure if he should be concerned or amused. Then Jacob went under and didn't come back up.

"Hey, man! I get it. Stop screwing around ok?" Ressler called out. And then it became apparent Jacob wasn't coming back up on his own so Ressler jumped back in to the cold water and dove under to find the pain in the ass. It took two shots at it but he finally managed to pull Jacob up and swam him to the shore. As they hit the land and Jacob was dropped to the ground he began to gag and spit up water.

"You're an ass," Jacob managed after a few breaths. "You almost killed me."

"I saved your life. What super spy assassin doesn't know how to swim? Are you for real?" Ressler stood.

"I've never been a fan of swimming. Let's leave it at that."
"You sailed away. On a boat! How does someone want to live their life on a boat and not know how to swim?" Ressler reached his hand out to help Jacob up. "If I had known I wouldn't have tossed you in."

"Do it again and I'll kill you."

"Stop being a baby. I'm cold and want to change." Ressler walked to the dock to retrieve his shoes then headed to his car.

He opened the back of the car and pulled out two blankets and tossed one to Jacob then shut it. They rode back to Liz's in silence with the heat cranked up. When they arrived back they stood at her front door, both wet and pathetic looking. Liz chose not to speak as they entered. She watched with curiosity as Ressler opened his go bag and pulled out some clothes.

"You need dry clothes or do you…," Ressler trailed off unsure of the status of his relationship with Liz at this point and if he had clothes there.

"It's the least you could do after nearly killing me," Jacob huffed as he caught the offered clothes then disappeared down the hall.

"We didn't find Hudson. I did however discover he can't swim. That was fun," Ressler offered as he headed down the hall as well to change.

After he was changed out of his wet clothes and in his dry clothes he wandered down the hall to find Liz in the kitchen pouring three cups of coffee. Jacob was already at the table. Liz set the coffee pot down and grabbed Ressler's wet clothes then disappeared herself. Ressler took a seat next to Jacob.

"I really am sorry." Ressler took a mug and sipped on the hot beverage.

"You didn't know. Besides, I did make you think a log was Hudson. I suppose I deserve it." Jacob reached across the table and grabbed a cookie that was sitting on plate. "You don't think Liz made these do you?"

"The house is still standing. I'm going with no."

And Jacob chuckled. He slid the plate over to Ressler who grabbed a cookie and they both stared ahead. Until, they heard the patter of little paws and that distinctive little bark that only Hudson could make. They both whipped around in their seats to see Hudson looking up at them and Liz coming around the corner with a 'don't kill me' look.

"So, funny thing guys. He was in the laundry room the whole time. Hiding in a pile of blankets." She shrugged. "But, look on the bright side. You learned something about each other today that you never knew before."

"She owes us dinner." Jacob turned to Ressler.

"An expensive dinner," Ressler added. "I'm feeling steak and lobster."

"If you two will get along long enough for a dinner I'll gladly buy." Liz smiled as she wrapped her arms around both men.

If it made her happy that they got along then Ressler decided he'd try harder. It still didn't mean he wouldn't go down without a fight when it came to who she was going to choose. She said she was still trying to learn who she was on her own. And they both accepted that. Besides, now Ressler knew how to get rid of Jacob easily.