It wasn't easy, but Ressler managed to cover for Keen. He even did some of her paper work, leaving it on her desk, so he could tell Cooper that she just stepped out for a moment. Cooper believed him, for the most part, so when she came back late in the afternoon Cooper didn't seem to think much of it, probably assuming she had gone out for a late lunch or something.

It didn't take Keen long to realize he had covered for her, so she sent him a thankful smile. Don simply nodded back in acknowledgment before turning back to his own work that needed to be done. He was still writing up the incident report explaining why he approached a man strapped with a bomb.

However, Don found himself looking up far too often from the paperwork on his desk to look at Keen. She had on a mask again so he couldn't tell how she was doing, and it was bothering him. He kept hoping he would look up at just the right moment when her mask slipped, but if never happened. For the next few hours she kept the same blank look on her face as she wrote up her report. By the time he had to leave to make it to Red's he found himself in an irritated mood. He just wanted to know what was wrong.

THE BLACKLIST

Elizabeth was grateful when she got back to work to discover she had hardly been missed. She quickly realized that Ressler must have covered for her because when Cooper walked by he simply nodded, like he always did. She sent Ressler a silent thank you, and much like Cooper, he simply nodded. She didn't waste time jumping into her work. She had to get as much done as fast as possible so she could go back to working her own case against her husband, and still be keeping up at work so people would be none the wiser.

She was a little surprised though when Don got up not long after six, preparing to leave. He was usually the last one out of the office, most of all these days. She even suspected he had stayed the night a time or two burning the midnight oil. He sent her a small smile as he said good night, which she returned with her own paper thin smile. She saw something cross his face, something like pain, before he turned away, but after he was no longer in her view she told herself she had imagined it, or that he had probably simply thought about Audrey. She didn't think he had a reason to look at her like that; after all, it's not like he knew what was going on in her life in that moment.

She found her mind distracted as she looked back down at her files. She still hadn't talked to Don about what happened on the last case. She hadn't had a chance to, but she was still determined. Focusing back on the papers on her desk she decided that she would stop by his place later and see if she could talk to him. She didn't like the idea of him stewing in the last case alone for too long, not with everything that had been happening since Red came into their lives, or in Ressler's case, directly into his life. After her mind was made up, she found she could focus on her work again.

THE BLACKLIST

Don arrived at Red's with a nice bottle of red wine in hand, as well as a nice brandy. He never knew what the other man wanted so he decided to play it safe. He figured if he stayed on Red's good side he would be able to figure out more of what was going on. When Dembe answered the door, he offered up the bottles and the other man smiled his approval.

As he was led into a giant dining room, Ressler couldn't keep the amazed look on his face. It truly was an impressive house. He didn't notice Red sitting at the head of the table until the man cleared his throat to get his attention. "Donald, how nice it is to see you my boy." Don was put off a little by the grin Red was sending him. If anything, it seemed too genuine.

Letting a somewhat awkward smile cross his own face, he nodded to the other man with a, "Reddington". Only a beat of time passed before he was asking, "What's going on with Elizabeth?"

Reddington chuckled to himself for a moment before saying, "Why don't you have a seat, Donald? Dinner is about to be served." Don knew better than to push Red so he sat down, resigned to the fact he would have to wait until Reddington saw fit to fill him in on what was going on. He knew that there had to be a reason for Red having him over, so he would wait.

Throughout dinner they talked about sports, about how Don had been doing as of late, even a little about the weather, but Red never brought up Liz, so neither did Don. He didn't want to bother the man if he was all that stood between him and the information he wanted.

Dessert was served with a tumbler of the brandy Ressler had brought as well as a folder. Don looked down at the folder as it was placed beside him with a raised eyebrow, throwing Red a questioning glance. The other man simply smirked and nodded at the folder, saying nothing. Slowly, Don picked it up and opened it. He couldn't say he was surprised to find a picture of Tom staring back at him, but he had been hoping he was wrong.

He took a minute to quickly flip through the file, taking in some old information that had come up when they investigated Tom Keen, but there was also new information. Don found himself unable to grasp everything he was reading, so he tore his eyes away from the file and looked back up at Red with a concerned frown.

Red was looking at him now with a sad smile and a dangerous glint in his eyes. The last time Don had seen that look was when Liz was in trouble, and a man had 'disappeared' after that. He could see the protectiveness shining in Reds eyes, and after reading the file in his hands, he had no doubts it was in his own eyes as well. When Don was finally able to speak the first thing he asked was, "Is she in trouble?" Before Red could answer, he added, "I assume she knows all this? That it is why she has been acting odd and why she's been absent?"

Red nodded slowly as the smile fell from his face. "She knows now. I've known for a while longer. I've suspected since this man, whoever he is, came into her life two years ago." He quirked his mouth to the side. Letting out a deep breath as he leaned forward, he continued, "I don't know if she is safe anymore, but if that man so much as raises a finger to my Lizzy he'll have to deal with me."

Don found his mind filling with millions of questions, but eventually one found its way to his mouth. Leaning toward Reddington, he asked, "You were keeping tabs on Liz two years ago?" Red gave him a look that clearly said he would not be answering that, so Don switched to, "Your Lizzy?" Upon receiving the same look again Don sat back in frustration, running a hand though his hair than down his face. Keeping a hand on his jaw, he asked something that Red may actually answer. "This has something to do with you, doesn't it?"

This time Red sighed, but answered, "Yes, I believe this has everything to do with me, unfortunately." Don could see regret behind Red's eyes, and felt like he could understand it. Obviously Red didn't like the idea of Liz getting caught in the cross-hairs because someone was after him.

After a moment of silence Don only had one more question to ask for the time being. "How can I help?"