A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed/followed/favorited. Here is the final bit. I've left it open in case I decide or enough people want to see more of Ressler and Liz fitting in to their new roles. Enjoy and let me know what you think :)

Breathe Again: Part 2

IIIIIIII

Ressler sat at the top of the stairs, with the door open so he could keep an eye on things on all fronts. It had been a few hours and just as he was getting annoyed at the lack of contact from Reddington, his phone rang.

"Donald, is she alright? You called Dr. Nik?" Reddington said on the other end.

"She's in labor, so about as alright as you can be for that." Ressler peaked down the stairs and heard a scream then grimaced. "Is it over?"

"Far from it. We are on our way to you. I'm afraid they've found you. Did you check the medical team?"

"Yes." Ressler was trying not to get too worried despite the odds he now faced. He couldn't move Liz and he had no assistance. He couldn't make a stand. Last time he nearly died when Solomon attacked a cabin he was in. "I'll keep them locked downstairs and safe." He quickly hung up then ran down the stairs. Just in time to see the most miraculous thing happen.

"One more push, Liz. You're doing great," Dr. Nik coached.

Tom was at her head cheering her on. Ressler moved so he was no longer at an angle to see more of his former partner than he needed to then waited. As predicted, that last push was all it took for the room to be filled with the sounds of a baby crying. Ressler couldn't help but smile at the look of joy on Liz's face as she was handed the baby. And Tom had a tear in his eye. Ressler felt like an intruder in this intimate moment. A moment that should have taken place at a hospital and not some secluded cabin with killers on their way.

"He's perfect," Liz said softly.

"Good job, babe." Tom kissed Liz on the forehead then kissed the baby before noticing Ressler. "One minute," he said softly.

"Solomon. He found us somehow. I hate to ask…considering if I were in your shoes I'd want to be with them. But, I need you. Upstairs." Ressler truly did hate taking Tom away from his kid and Liz but they needed him upstairs more. If they were going to get out of this alive he needed all hands on deck.

"Yeah. Give me a minute with Liz and I'll be up." Tom walked back to Liz where he began to whisper.

"You," Ressler pointed to Dr. Nik. "We got problems up ahead." He handed Nik a gun. "You know how to work this?"

"Yes."

"Good. Someone comes down that hall that isn't with me, Tom or Reddington and you shoot. To kill." Ressler looked over to the nurses. "Can I trust them?"

"I don't know. They were chosen and not by me. I know what needs done. Go. I'll keep her safe."

Ressler ran back up the stairs and went to the gun cabinet. Pulling various pistols and shot guns out and making sure they were loaded when Tom appeared. He closed the door and pulled the rug over it then placed the chair back in its place. No words were exchanged as they prepared for battle. Each man chose their weapons and took a position in the cabin.

Tom was by the door and when the first shots rang they both unleashed on the enemy. There was a calmness after a few minutes so Tom decided to sneak outside. Ressler cursed under his breath when Tom was no longer visible. He heard some more shots ring out but from a different direction and saw Dembe and Baz coming up. Tom was still nowhere to be found.

"I'm going after Keen," he said as he ran to the direction Tom was at.

He didn't have far to go. Jacob was pinned down behind a tree and he could see Solomon directly across from him waiting for his shot. Ressler tried to sneak his way to Tom but Solomon saw him and fired on him. Thankfully, Tom laid down cover fire and Solomon was forced behind a tree of his own. When he reached Tom he knew this wasn't good. He was already bleeding from a stomach wound.

"Take him out, use me as bait. Just take him out." Tom managed to say between the waves of pain.

"And have Liz kill me for getting you killed? No thanks." Ressler peaked his head out and dodged a bullet. Dembe or Baz should be out here soon. "Just hold on ok?"

"You have your phone?"

"Yeah." Ressler pulled it out and handed it to Tom. He shut his eyes tightly once the other man held the phone up and began speaking. He was making a video message. The son of bitch was going to try to sacrifice himself for Liz. Ressler allowed him to continue but once done he snatched his phone back. "She'll never see it because you aren't dying today."

"The hell you know?" Tom mumbled as he stood up and tried to move around Ressler. When he was pulled back down he landed a punch to Ressler's face and side. "Let me do this!" He yelled.

Ressler was stunned and it was just enough that he could only watch as Tom moved from the tree and called out Solomon. That sick bastard waltzed up to Tom who had his hands up in surrender and fired off two shots. He watched Tom stumble then pull a gun from behind his waistband and managed to fire off a shot that sent Solomon falling back before he himself fell to the ground. Ressler was up before both men fell and had advanced on Solomon.

"You going to finish the job? You don't have it in you," Solomon taunted.

"The hell I don't," Ressler stated calmly. He knew in that moment there was no one to talk him down. Solomon shot, to his knowledge, an unarmed man and the same fate was probably in store for Liz and the baby. There was no way he was coming out of this alive. Ressler was about to cross a line he'd never come back from. With one pull of his trigger the life left Solomon's eyes.

He heard noise behind him and saw Tom holding his chest. There were now two more wounds to his torso. Wounds he wouldn't survive. Ressler dropped his gun and was at Tom's side. He never liked the man but he didn't deserve this. He deserved to be with his child and Liz. In vain, Ressler applied pressure to one of the wounds.

"Ever the boyscout. You can't save me. That first shot was going to kill me. We both know that." Tom grabbed Ressler's sleeve. "Keep them safe. Promise. Keep them safe."

"I promise."

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Things I regret. This. I would give my life over a hundred times for theirs."

Ressler understood. He would have given his life for Audrey's. He would have given his life for Liz and that child. He respected Tom in that moment for what he had done to protect his family. Tom tried to speak again but one more breath and he fell limp in Ressler's arms. Despite it being futile, Ressler began CPR. He knew Tom was gone. But, he had to try. How did he face Liz without trying?

"You don't get to die, you son of bitch. You don't die," he yelled as he began compressions. It wasn't until he felt strong arms on him and he looked up to see Reddington and Dembe did he stop. "He's gone. Shit. How do I tell Liz he's gone?"

"You'll find a way," Reddington said softly. "Dembe, bring him back with us but place him in the van. Lizzie does not need to see him just yet."

Ressler slowly followed Reddington back to the cabin. The nurses were being escorted out by Baz. When he entered the cabin he found a bedroom door open and Liz laying in the bed. It felt like minutes ago since he watched her give birth but now here she was. Cleaned up and smiling down at her son. Dr. Nik sat in a chair next to her and he saw Ressler first. He slowly got up and shut the door.

"You need to clean yourself up before she sees you," Nik said. "I don't see Tom. He didn't make it?"

"No." Ressler was surprised when Nik cursed.

"Clean yourself up. I'll take the baby while you talk to her," Nik offered. He waited while Ressler walked in to the kitchen and washed his hands and face. And grabbed a clean shirt out of the bag that was on the floor. "I'm her ex by the way. Small world I know."

"Not with Reddington, it isn't." Ressler followed Nik in to the room. Liz smiled for a moment, probably thinking he was Tom, then frowned. She began to get upset when Nik gently took the baby and stepped outside. "Liz, I don't know how to…," he trailed off.

"Where's Tom?" she asked.

"He's gone."

"Liar," she hissed. "Where is he?"

"He went after Solomon. I tried to stop him." He touched his face where Tom had punched him and wondered if there was bruise.

"You didn't try hard enough did you?" She was fighting the tears. "Dammit Ressler, you didn't try hard enough."

"I tried. He was protecting you. You and the baby."

"Did you kill him?"

"Yes," Ressler said without a bit of remorse. "He'd dead."

"Good," Liz whispered. She looked up at Ressler with tears streaming down her face. "You tried. Didn't you?" her lip was quivering.

"I tried, Liz. I really tried." Ressler moved to sit next to her in the bed. "I know we had our differences, but I'm so sorry."

She threw herself in to his arms and sobbed. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore and fell asleep.

IIIIIIII

The sun was out the day of Tom Keen's funeral. Reddington had security all over the cemetery and only a few people attended anyway. Ressler sat next to Liz. The baby next to him asleep in his carrier. Cooper, Samar and Aram were the others in attendance. The ceremony was short and Liz just stared at his casket. When the baby cried she made no move to tend to him. Ressler had grown accustomed to that in the last few days. She was withdrawn and depressed and he was left to care for her son.

"Jake needs you, Liz," he said softly.

"There's a bottle in the bag," was her response.

Ressler frowned. The ceremony was ending and Reddington had come up to Liz. It was too chilly to take baby Jake out of his carrier to feed him so he walked to the car that was warmed and waiting. Dembe behind the wheel. He nodded to the other man then took the baby out and began to feed him his bottle.

"It's a good thing you are doing," Dembe said from the front seat.

"Being his nanny?" Ressler joked.

"Being her rock. She needs you. The baby needs you."

"What he needs is his father." Ressler frowned as he looked down to baby Jake. "She needs his father."

Jake and Ressler had gotten in to a routine. In just the few short days he had been here Ressler had been his main caretaker. Reddington tried to bring a nanny in but Liz refused to allow anyone but Ressler around the baby. Which was nuts considering he had no clue how to care for him. Liz shut herself her in her bedroom and had only recently surfaced for the funeral. Thankfully, Red had a nanny show Ressler a thing or two. They weren't sure if she was depressed over loosing Tom or if it was Post-Partum Depression. Whatever it was needed addressed. This wasn't healthy.

"Donald," he heard Reddington's voice as the door opened. "Elizabeth wanted some time alone up there. We'll give her a few minutes then if you wouldn't mind bringing her back."

"She needs help. This isn't healthy." He didn't take his eyes off the baby.

"And we'll get it for her. Right now, I need you to keep that boy safe and provided for and be there for Elizabeth."

IIIII

Ressler buttered some toast and poured a cup of tea as Jake slept in his basinet. He wanted to pick up his pillow and blanket before Liz woke up. It had been a month since she gave birth to Jake and that Tom died. He had spent every night on her couch since then. Red had convinced him to take a permanent position on his team after much thought. He promised he would never compromise Ressler's integrity and would not have him involved in any illegal doings if he could help it but that he needed extra protection for Liz and Jake. Ressler really could never say no if it involved Elizabeth Keen.

"Are you ever going back to work? Aren't you supposed to be working a new unit?" she grumbled as she shuffled through the living room to the kitchen. Like every day she took the toast and tea and shuffled back to the living room. She pushed his pillow and blanket out of the way and curled in to the couch. "Did he sleep well?" she asked looking over to the baby.

"About as well as he sleeps any other night," he chuckled. Which meant Ressler was up with him once or twice. "And about work." He came in to sit across from her on the coffee table. "I need to talk to you about that."

"You going back to the Task Force?" her face held a hopeful expression.

"I turned in my badge and gun after the funeral," he offered and waited for her reaction.

"No." She shook her head. "You didn't."

"I did."

"He got to you. He owns you. That's why you haven't left. Why you are here every day." She stiffened.

His heart broke just a little. She thought that about him? That he was only there for her because of Reddington? "No. I'm here because my best and only friend needs someone. That baby needs someone." He reached out and gently took her chin in his hand. "You are going through something. I was there but I didn't have a child to take care of. You feel like the world collapsed around you? All happiness is gone and to be happy is a slap in his face?"

"You had your work to distract you. I have nothing!" she hissed and pulled her face away.

"You have that baby boy. He needs you. I'm a poor stand in. Tom didn't want this for you."

Maybe now was the time. He hadn't shown her the video Tom left for her. The timing was never right. Perhaps she needed to see it now so she could see he wouldn't want her to be like this. He wanted her to live her life. To move on. Ressler slowly pulled his phone out and pulled up the video.

"I didn't show you this sooner because I didn't think you were ready." He handed her the phone. "He wanted to say goodbye. He knew he wasn't going to make it and he drew Solomon out so I could take him out to keep you safe."

He moved away to give her some space. He wandered in to the kitchen and leaned against the counter and waited.

IIIIII

Liz's hands trembled as she held Ressler's phone. She didn't want to see this. To see Tom in his last moments. She wanted to feel nothing. But, she hit play and was greeted with his face. Pained and white. His breathing was labored.

"Hey babe," he said softly. "I'm sorry. For everything. I thought we could get a happy ending together, you, me and the baby. You'll get your happy ending with him. And, me…," he took a ragged breath. "I'll have mine knowing I kept you safe in the end."

"Shut up man, you aren't dying," Ressler could be heard in the background.

Tom rolled his eyes. "There's your one man justice league, babe. He's here. I won't be alone. Shame it's him though," he chuckled then coughed. "He's not as bad as I thought. He'll keep you and the baby safe. I know that. I need you to live, babe. Live a life that you always dreamed with our son. Tell him about our good times. Tell him I love him more than anything. I love you so much and I don't want to leave you but I'm not scared to die. I'm scared of leaving you alone." He blew her a kiss. "Name him something cool. Not Raymond." He cracked a smile. "I love you."

She gasped as the video ending. No. She needed more of him. That couldn't be it. No. No. No. She played it one more time and allowed her tears to fall. When she was done she set the phone down and called Ressler over. He took his seat across from her and put his hands on his thighs.

"What happened after that? I know you killed Solomon. But…," she trailed off.

"I tried to stop him. He was determined. He moved in to the clearing and Solomon came out. He thought…and I thought…Tom was unarmed. But he managed one shot with a gun he had in the small of his back. I came and finished it. He was going to come for you and Jake. That wasn't going to happen."

"Was Tom…dead then?"

"No." He shook his head and smiled sadly. "He only thought of you and Jake. Made me promise to keep you safe. And said he would do the same again if it meant protecting you. I'm sorry, Liz. I really am. I wouldn't wish what you are going through on anyone."

She reached out for his hands then pulled herself into his arms. She was ready. She was ready to feel. To grieve. She had kept it all bottled inside and the dam broke. She cried an ugly, heartbreaking cry as Ressler held her in his arms. She heard Jake cry and felt Ressler pull away. She was still crying when a few minutes later he came back and held her. She lost track of how long he cried for eventually just gave in and fell asleep in his arms. Dreaming for the first time of a happy Tom. Not a bloody and shot up Tom.

IIIIIIII

"Hey, Jake." Ressler plucked the boy out his mother's arms. He was getting big. He was 6 months now and looked a lot like Liz, but Tom peeked out in little areas. "Hello, Liz."

"Ress," she smiled as she threw her coat on. "Are you on mommy and baby duty today? Reddington doesn't have you doing anything exciting today?"

"You miss me?" He teased and grabbed the diaper bag. "I was only gone a week."
"A week in Paris! That's not fair at all."

Ressler laughed as he led Liz down the hall and out the apartment complex. He had been in Paris with Reddington and Dembe as extra security. Red had promised it wasn't for business, but pleasure as he needed a retreat. Ressler was pretty sure it was to see how well he and Dembe worked together and it wouldn't be long before Red tried to get him to bend his morals a bit.

"I missed you guys." He opened the car door for Liz and got Jake in his car seat. "Besides, I'm on Liz duty. I'm your personal security ma'am. I go where you go. And, today is your first day back at the Post Office."

"Yours too."

"Don't remind me. I'm not looking forward it." He rolled his eyes as he put the car in drive and headed to Jake's daycare to drop him off before they could go to the Post Office.

He had been cleared to be at the Post Office and it would be strange to be there in a different capacity. Reddington was nearing the end of his use for the Task Force but they weren't about to tell anyone else that. His usefulness to the FBI was what allowed him a lot of the leeway he had and until he had everything lined up he was still offering up Blacklisters . Liz was still an asset but they all knew she wanted more.

"So, I checked out the daycare before I left for Paris. Security is tight. I mean, Jake here will be napping next to Senator's kids and such. So, don't worry ok?" Ressler offered.

"I'm not." Liz smiled back at Jake. "Donnie is more worried than your momma is I think Jake," she said in a soft voice.

"We talked about the use of Donnie, Liz," Ressler warned.

"I'm not teaching my son to call you Ressler."

"He's the only one, got it?"

Liz nodded and they drove to the daycare in comfortable silence. It had been a long road to get Liz in to a place where she able to get back to work. After showing her Tom's video she agreed to go talk to someone. The therapy helped but not it was not immediate but when she was finally able to care for Jake on her own, Ressler found himself missing the late night snuggle sessions with the boy. Ressler was able to once again sleep in his own bed as Baz was just across the hall from Liz for security but now his job was to be her Dembe in a way. It wasn't what he envisioned and perhaps one day when the danger was over for Liz he would move on to something else. Private security perhaps. He missed the action of the Task Force but he'd learned too much of the corruption in the government to go back to working for them blindly.

"You coming?" Liz asked breaking him out of his thoughts.

He had driven them to the daycare and hadn't even realized he was parked. You wouldn't know it was a daycare from the outside of the building but inside it was a child's paradise.

"Yep. Let's get this guy settled."

Ressler followed inside and hung back enough to allow Liz to do this on her own. He shook his head at the security they had. Men, who he knew were security officers, dressed down in jeans, sneakers and t-shirt but the slight imprint of their concealed weapons were clear enough to him. Jake would be safe. And happy. He was still scanning the area when Liz called him over.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to him?"

"I'm not sure if that's protocol as your security," he said trying to be as professional as possible.

"Screw protocol. You are his family. Say goodbye. It's a big day," she chuckled as Jake's teacher came up holding him.

"Have a fun day, little man." He rubbed his head. "Don't be like you dad and get in to trouble ok?" he laughed and looked at Liz for a moment wondering if his bringing up Tom would hurt her. She was smiling.

Once back in the car she kept looking at him. "What?" he questioned.

"Thank you. You never liked Tom but you make sure to talk about him to Jake. To keep his memory alive. It means more than you'll know," she admitted.

"I lost my dad. I feel for him. He should know he had a dad who loved him. Who died to protect him. Doesn't matter my feelings for Tom. It's what Jake deserves."

And that was true. He never really liked Tom but in his death he found a respect for the man. He died to protect his family. In the end they were all that mattered. And for that, the least Ressler could do was honor his memory with his son.

They arrived at the Post Office and almost on instinct he tried to pull in his usual spot only to see it taken. He then wondered who took his spot on the Task Force. Reddington mentioned he had been replaced and the guy was just as boring as he had been. Ressler wasn't sure how to take that comment. They entered the elevator and when the door opened again they were greeted by Cooper.

"Keen. Ressler." He nodded to the two of them. "Reddington has a case for us?"

Keen and Ressler. No longer had agent attached. It sounded strange. He allowed Liz to walk ahead of him as he took his spot in the background. Watching her run the show, he tried to hide his smile. There were looks from his former colleagues to see him back and not in his suit. No. He was in jeans, button down shirt and black jacket. He kind of liked it. He didn't feel like the uptight agent he had been. It was liberating.

"On Red's payroll now?" Samar came up to him with a smirk.

"Until she and Jake are safe." He stole a look and waited for the snark.

"You brought her back. We were worried about her. But, you brought her back from it."

He knew what she was talking about. Liz brought herself back though. He just showed her how to. Now, she was back at work with her friends and a great mother to her son. She seemed to be settling in to this, now he just needed to learn to work in his old world with his new role.

"She brought herself back." He then turned to face her. "I've learned a few things about myself lately. And, I'm sorry."

"How bad did that hurt?" She laughed then saw the serious look on his face. "You get it now, don't you? That you have to look outside the box? See the world in gray?" He didn't answer. "I'm sorry too."

"We good?"

"We're good." She nodded to a guy in drab gray suit with perfect hair. "My new partner isn't a hot head like my old one. We kind of miss him around him."

Ressler just chuckled and followed Liz to a desk she had been provided. She didn't want to share their office with the new guy so she now had Samar's old desk while Samar and the new guy took the office. He didn't care to meet his replacement so he just took his place at the desk behind Liz and wondered how the hell Dembe put up with the boring bits of the job. Maybe doing a bit more for Reddington wouldn't be terrible.

"You good back there?" Liz looked back at him with raised eyebrows.

"Wake me up when it's time to go home ok?" He joked.

Ressler wasn't cut out for sitting on the sidelines. Maybe doing some extra work for Reddington could pass the time while Liz was safe and secure in the Post Office. So long as he wasn't killing people or anything else that was overly criminal. He shook his head at the thought of it all. This was definitely an interesting life choice and one he was kind of excited to see where it went. Today was the start of a new chapter for Donald Ressler.