Reddington smiled at the offered help. "For now, just keep an eye on her. I do my best to, but extra eyes can't hurt." He moved his chair a little closer to Don, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped. Looking up at Ressler, he said, "She trusts you, more than she trusts me, so simply make sure she knows she can come to you, with anything. I'm hoping she decides to bring you in on this herself because I can't afford to lose any more of her trust, but pretty soon I fear we will hit a wall only someone with your connections will be able to climb. Lizzy is too new to the FBI to have many of her own, and I can't poke around mine too much for fear of raising suspicions." He looked down at his clasped hands as he seemed to add to himself, "It's bad enough as it is without that."

Don waited until Reddington looked back up. Trying to make it as clear as possible so the other man would understand, he told him, "I will do anything and everything in my power to help protect her."

Reddington smiled sadly again as he sighed out, "If only her own husband felt that way."

Don watched a haunted look he had seen a few times now cross the older man's face. The look always made Don's heart hurt a little and he didn't quite get why, until now. A thought crossed his mind, and before he knew what he was saying he asked, "You have been married before, right?" He had asked himself this question before, like when Red had talked to him after Audrey's death, but now it seemed all too obvious. It would explain a lot about the man Ressler had spent years hunting.

The older man said nothing, simply looking at Ressler with pained eyes before changing the subject. "I believe that Lizzy will be stopping by your apartment tonight so it is probably time you get home so she doesn't beat you there." Don wanted to ask how Red knew that, but then thought better. Reddington knew because he was Reddington. He also seemed to know everything about Liz, so he told himself he shouldn't really be surprised.

Standing up, he shook hands with Reddington, and after a quick, "Thank you for dinner", he was headed toward the door. The thank you for the file was implied, both knowing it was best not to say anything. Ressler tucked the file in his coat as Dembe handed it to him, and soon enough Ressler found himself back in his SUV headed home down the dark streets, thousands of thoughts fighting to the forefront of his minds.

THE BLACKLIST

Elizabeth was surprised when a file shot between the doors of the elevator in Ressler's building, but even more surprised when it turned out to be the man himself, after all he had left work hours before her. When he saw her he looked surprised for a quick moment, but then sent her a small smile as he greeted her, asking, "Keen. What are you doing here?"

She could tell he wasn't upset or annoyed with her, so she answered with a simple, "I'm here to talk to you." She was smiling back lightly at him but she noticed his smile drop off for a second before returning. They didn't say anything else as the doors opened and they both exited, headed toward Don's apartment. Elizabeth waited outside at first when Don walked in, wanting to actually be invited in, but she didn't have to wait long. As Don was taking the key out of the door he motioned Liz in with a nod of his head.

She watched as Don walked over to a gun safe and deposited both his gun and the file he was holding. She was curious about the file for a moment since she both new they currently had no case, and that Ressler had not left work with a file, but she forced her mind off that and to the issue at hand. As she watched Ressler pouring two tumblers of what appeared to be scotch she asked, "How are you doing?"

Don raised an eyebrow as he handed her one of the glasses, but answered none the less. "I'm fine, considering." There was a beat of silence as they both sat down, Don on the couch and Liz in a chair, before he asked, "Why?"

She was looking into her glass as she said, "The last case seemed harder on you then most and with everything else that's happened I just wanted to make sure you where okay." She looked up at Don with a small smile as she added, "I also wanted to thank you for covering for me, and not just today."

He smiled slightly as he said, "It's what partners do; have each others backs." She was giving him a paper thin smile again, but she saw his smile drop from his face completely as he looked down into his own glass and added, "I do have you back, Liz. I hope you know that." He looked up at her as he said, "I hope you know you can trust me." He reached out a hand, laying it softly over one of hers, as he gently added, "With anything, Liz."

The complete seriousness of his face had her unable to speak for a moment, but when she finally found her voice she quietly replied, "I know, Don." She turned the hand under his over, and holding his hand in return, she herself said, "And I hope you know you can trust me with anything as well." A gentle smile returned to his face as he lightly squeezed her hand and nodded that he did know.

THE BLACKLIST

Don just held her hand for a few moments, both needing the comfort. When he did pull his hand away to lean back into the couch, he found he missed the warm comfort of her hand in his, but he pushed that thought from his mind, knowing he had to focus on the task at hand. Getting Keen to fill him in on what was going on with her husband.

After a few more minutes of silence, Don decided it would be best to be as straight forward as he could with the given limitations, so clearing his throat first, he asked, "Have you worked things out with Tom? It seems like you guys have been having some issues lately."

He didn't miss the quick flash of anger, betrayal and pain that crossed her face before she answered. "I don't think we'll be able to fix things this time." If the look on her face wasn't enough of a sign that something was wrong, the fact that she then threw back the rest of her drink would have been.

Don waited for her to elaborate, but when it was obvious she had no intention to he settled for standing up and refilling their drinks. She seemed grateful when she took the class from him, once again throwing the whole thing back in one go. Raising an eyebrow at the un-Keen like behaviour he handed her his own glass before sitting down again. He was a little grateful when she only sipped the drink this time.

They chatted for a while after that. Nothing big and serious, just little things, like the people they worked with. They spent more than a few minutes talking about Red and his oddities. Finally they lapsed into a comfortable silence, and when it became clear the Liz was in no state to drive Don offered up his couch, which Liz gratefully accepted.

Don couldn't help the frown that crossed his face when later he overheard Liz leaving her husband a voice mail saying she was pulling an all-nighter at the office. He didn't know how Liz managed to keep up the charade, knowing what she knew. That's when the image of her leaving her house earlier entered his mind. All he could think was, "No wonder she looked so disgusted. She has to act like nothing is wrong, which means she still has to pretend affection for the man." He actually felt sick when that thought continued on its path, and he realized she probably had to do more than simply kiss him. His last thought before he fell asleep was, "No wonder she came into work looking so broken."