She grabbed his hand relunctantly. She wanted to trust him so badly, but she didn't know if she could. On one side, it was good to see Ressler in a different way that from behind bars of the Russian embassy or inside a diner she had just hijacked. It was great to seem at least that they were back to the same side.

The song was slow, but something of a waltz. He grabbed her hand and framed his arms so that he would be on a respectable distance. His hand on her back has firm and soft, and his thumb was touching her skin through the open back of the dress. She looked into his eyes and saw the Ressler she had once shared dinner with on her birthday, who had brought her special food just because he knew it. She missed that more than anything.

As they moved onto the dancefloor, a question popped on her head.

"Jacob phelps? Why this name?"

"He's in my head, that's why." Liz frowned surprised to hear that about her ex husband. "What!?"

"We're working together, me and Phelps. I'm not here with the FBI."

Liz's heart felt as if it had sunk to her stomach. The picture of her partner and her ex husband working together was impossible. "He sents you a kiss, by the way"

"That's ridiculous! You can't be! Why are you doing this!?"

"Because I want to help you, Liz! You may not believe me, but it's true!"

She felt a whole new level of admiration for her partner. She looked into his eyes, and mouthed a "thank you". For a few seconds, they just enjoyed the dance.

The song shifted to something even slower, and couples around them got closer. They awkwardly approach, not knowing what the other's intention was, when Ressler decides to take the lead and pulls her in closer. She shakes with the sudden movement, and breaths in his perfume. She had never noticed it, it's actually very good.

"How come you ended up here with Tom?" She asks.

"We got a lead that someone here is part of the Cabal. Their financer"

"Yes, we got that too"

"Have you found who he is?"

"I've always known it. It's the host, Hutcherson."

Ressler scans the room, looking for the weird guy he had spoken to earlier, unbeknownst.

"So I presume what we need is in that briefcase attached to his wrist"

"Yes, it's an old ledger"

"Classic. I like it. At least we don't need anyone to decrypt it. we need to think about how to take it from him now. C'mon"

He holds her firmly and swirls with her through the room. She suppresses a laugh, it isn't the time to have fun, and she does so by sinking her face on his shoulder. He feels it and smiles. If only the moment was different, maybe he could...

Back to focusing on the mission, he takes her outside the dance area and to a corner where they can't be noticed.

"Is Red here?"

"No, he would've been recognized. What is Tom saying"?"

It annoyed him that she kept calling Jacob Tom, as if she was still holding to what they once were, and what he meant to her as Tom. He could see him as he was, a master spy criminal that lied and used her for two years in the worst way possible, by using her love. She deserved better. And in that moment, he realized that by helping him help her, he may be doing exactly what's necessary to bring them back together. And he hated that.

"Jacob..." He corrected "says that we should create a diversion. try approach him and snatch the ledger."

"we should grab him"

"What?" That was simultaneously Ressler's and Phelps' reaction.

"You're thinking like a criminal! Keen, this isn't you! What's next? Torture the man? Cut his hand off?"

"Of course not!" She seemed shocked that he even mentioned that, so he turns it down as an apology. "But we won't be able to just open his briefcase and take the ledger. We have to take him somewhere, knock him down and then open the case. It's the only way we can have time enough to do it and ensure he doesn't see us."

Ressler considers for a while, and still thinks it's crime thinking, but agreed that considering what they have, it'might be the only way.

"Let's observe the room once again, understand where we can go" he turns the com off as he says that, for Liz's surprise.

"He's annoying. I don't know how you can trust him"

"Trust him? That became impossible the moment he tried to kill me in the house he and I bought as a married couple. It's hard to trust a man that tries to kill you. You're the one trusting him"

"I don't trust him, I'm working with him to prove your innocence, because it became clear that I won't be doing that through the bureau. The Cabal's influence there... It wasn't over with Tom Connoly, you know."

"I know."

"By the way, on the convoy, I wasn't trying to kill you. They were going to kill you before you could even think about going to Moscow."

She smiles understanding his intention with that statement. "I know. I never thought you wanted to kill me" she lied, to make sure he knew she trusted him.

"We need to be careful, Liz. We are both by ourselves here, no backup. We don't know what this guy can do, or if he has any guards with him. It won't be easy to kiddnap him in his own party. Let's observe the scene, see if we can find another way."

"I understand, but I'm way beyond being precautious. Shall we go back to dancing, mr. Phelps?"

Ok, honesty? I hate this chapter. But I found a way to get them back to dancing. I liked writing this. I have to be honest my Keenler heart is having a lot of trouble trying to include Tom/Jacob in the party, but I'll do my best because I like his character. Suggestions and ideas are helpful. Thanks a lot for the reviews!