A/U of another meetup between Liz and Ress. Hope you enjoy it. This one is rated PG.

It was weird as he'd barely heard a thing from Reddington and Liz as of late. It had been a month since he'd last seen her in Moorea, when he received a text from "Nick's Pizza." Knowing who it was, he announced he'd be taking his lunch break and quickly texted back "Give me 10 min."

He grabbed the meatball sub he'd made from the previous nights left-overs, and two bottles of cold water and headed for the Suburban. A few minutes later, he pulled over to the side of the road in a nameless subdivision and pulled a napkin out of the glove box and stared, momentarily distracted, at the small pink polka dot bag tucked inside. Grabbing another napkin, he angrily slammed the glove box shut and spread one napkin over his suit pants and tucked the other in his collar. This operation could get messy and eating it in the SUV, while comfortable and private, was still dicey at best. Still cranky at seeing the tiny girly bag that had instantly reminded him of how badly he missed Liz, was probably going to give him indigestion as he finished a rather large bite while making sure the bluetooth connection worked in the rig. Predictably, the call came precisely ten minutes after the text.

"I need you to run this name and find me an address."

Ressler knew that Red must be in a hurry. "Go ahead." He curtly replied as he jotted it down in his pocket notepad. "Is she okay?" he had to ask. He couldn't not ask.

Ressler heard a shuffling noise and then Red's voice "Three minutes, Lizzy. Three."

His heart rate accelerated as he heard her voice.

"Ress!, How are you?"

"Good, are you okay?"

"Yeah, we're following up a lead that came in from Leonard Caul. He says he's been tailing a guy who he knows is a driver for a high level and unreachable cabal member. He thinks if we can get to the drivers family we can leverage him for information. That's where you come in."

"I'll run the name as soon as I get back to the post office and text you. Ever since that shitbag director showed up, I can't get any privacy."

"Ress, I miss you. When is this going to ever end? How are you going to be able to slip away and meet up with me with him around?" she whined.

He sighed heavily. "I don't know, Liz. Red will find a way." He thought he heard a sniffle. "Don't cry, baby. We'll see each other soon enough."

The line was silent for just a moment when he heard her take a deep breath. "Did you buy candy?"

"What?" He could tell she was changing the subject, but he had no idea what she was talking about.

"Candy. It's Halloween. Don't tell me you forgot again! Ress, what about all the cute kids in your building that are going to want treats?" Before he could respond she continued. "And, no, you can't give them travel sized toothpastes like you did last year!"

"What's wrong with that? at least their teeth won't rot from all the other crap they get and I have a million of them from all of my trips," he grumbled, adding " I should have never told you about that."

"Oh my god, you really need to get a clue!"

"Hey, hold on, you don't need to get snippy. I don't need any candy this year. And don't cut me off! Aram and Samar are dragging me with them to the hospital for some kids superhero party."

He heard her giggle. Actually he heard both she and that damn Reddington snickering in the background as well. Great, he thought. Just great. He was trying to do something nice for the sick kids at that putrid excuse for a hospital that he was stuck in when his leg got shot to shit and now he was taking flack from his girl and that smarmy shit Red.

"Really? tell me more, at least you're keeping my mind off of how much I miss you." He could swear he heard Red let out an exasperated groan.

"Lizzie, please, I don't need indigestion. Wrap it up with Romeo and let's get this done. One more minute."

"Shut up!" she chided.

"What!"

"No, no not you Ress. It's Red, he's being a pill."

Ressler felt the edges of his mouth involuntarily curl up into a smile as he heard their quick banter. At least Reddington was getting his now.

"Ugh….he's driving me crazy," Liz groaned out. Ressler smiled again as he heard Red yell in the background

"NO, she's driving ME crazy!"

"So, are you going to wear a costume or just go as Agent Ressler, resident FBI bad ass and hottie?"

He felt the grin again. He briefly wondered if he wanted to tell her the plan as it would make him slightly uncomfortable knowing that Red would hear. But, it would keep her mind off of how unhappy she was so he decided the truth would win out.

"I'm going as Batman," he grumbled.

"Oh, Ress how cute is that! Oh if I was there I'd be covering you with kisses right now!"

And that was when he heard it. There it was...the hearty Reddington laugh in the background followed by Lizzie.

"Red, stop! It's cute and you know it. What a sweet thing to do for those little kids!"

He heard the phone click in the background and then the unmistakeable echoing sound that told him they were now all apparently on speaker phone having this conversation together.

God, if this didn't end soon, he was going to lose his cool. "So, it's just a kid thing. An hour or two to make them happy. It was…"

She cut him off and finished his sentence just like old times. "Aram's idea. Am I right?"

"Yeah."

"Ress, that's really a sweet thing to do. Oh I wish I could be there to see it. You'll be the sexiest Batman ever!"

"Ugh." It was Red again, this time apparently gagging.

"Wait! what about the costume? how did you get it? Oh, if you went costume shopping and I didn't get to join you I'm going to be so pissed!"

"Do I seem like the type to go shopping for a costume with or without you?"

She giggled and the sound did something to him deep within. The high, joyus sound that was directed at him, for him and only for him.

"Aram had it from when he was in college. He was in a fraternity. Can you believe that.. I'd have actually loved to have seen that."

Red's voice interrupted their easy talk. "Okay, kids, times up."

"No, no, Red just one more minute please. Can we have one more minute."

"Liz, you need to be safe. With the director and his minions who knows where, we can't take any chances. Call me once you get home when it's safe, okay?"

He could almost see her face as he closed his eyes. The joy from a moment ago would now be replaced with a sad and sullen face. Her beautiful blue eyes wouldn't be shining in laughter anymore but would more than likely be glistening with unshed tears.

"Bye, Ress, Love you!"

"I love you too, Liz"

"Oh, and I love you too Agent Ressy! Text me with that info as soon as you can," Red chirped in a rather high girlish voice and Ressler heard the sound of a loud, exaggerated kiss.

Of course that was Red they all knew and loved, lightening the moment. He heard the line go dead and disconnected the call. He grabbed the meatball sandwich, that he'd really honest to god been looking forward to, and took a large bite, but it didn't seem quite as good now. He chugged one of the waters down and contemplated throwing the rest of the sandwich away but then thought of a previous conversation he'd had with Liz when they were in Moorea. They'd been lying in bed after quite a vigorous session of lovemaking and she'd told him that she worried about him. Him!...she worried about him, when she was the one in a boatload of danger. She'd made him swear that he'd take care of himself and eat right and try to get enough sleep. Hell, she was the reason he went to the damn Nar Anon meetings. He eyed the sandwich and unwrapped it again and finished it off. It was actually pretty good. At least he'd made it and it wasn't some fast food crap. He tossed the napkins in the wrapping when he was finished and rolled it up in a ball to dispose of.

Red dreaded these times, as after Lizzie hung up after a call with Ressler he knew she'd be sullen and withdrawn for a few hours. He'd arrange for a nice dinner out at a new place, or see that they caught a dress rehearsal of a new play but other times, he'd just let her have her private time so she could try to settle her thoughts. This was one of the latter times. She headed right up to her room at the estate they were currently staying in. She'd cheer up in a few hours and, at least each time she spoke with Ressler, she got more and more used to hanging up and going about her life and focusing on the good times. He sighed and took out his phone. "Kate, darling...I need a small favor…."

Ressler had just run the name that Red had requested and had immediately texted him with the information. He shut down his computer just as Aram came in, overly cheerful as usual and hovered excitedly next to his desk. At least he wasn't hugging him, he thought.

"So, I've got it in my locker. Are you sure you still want to do this? If you'd rather not, I'm cool with it, but, I still think you've got the better voice for it."

Ressler rolled his eyes but stuck to the plan. "Yeah, I'm good. Two hours tops then I'm outta there."

"Ok, right. Let's get you dressed then."

"I'll get myself dressed, you just give me the damn thing, okay?"

"Of course, I didn't mean I was going to help you actually dress, but, you'll have trouble getting it zipped so if you…."

Ressler shoved past him into the locker room as Aram blustered. "Okay, that works too."

Jesus this was harder than he'd imagined. He'd frightened a little girl when he'd entered her room and quickly beat a retreat when she cried to her mother that she wanted to see Mickey Mouse, not the scary black clad batman. She was a bit on the younger side, he guessed about four or five, so he currently found himself holding a small boy of about seven in his arms as the boy gushed and excitedly asked about the batmobile. The boy was stuck, with what appeared to Ressler, to be a million needles and tubes attached to a rolling stand of monitors and infusion pumps. He guessed the poor kid was battling some kind of fucking cancer. He mustered up a strong voice and explained that the batmobile was parked in a secret location where nobody could mess with it and sadly he couldn't take him to see it. As if on cue, Samar strode up, dressed as wonderwoman and took the boy from his arms. He squealed happily and waved goodbye. "Bye, bye Batman. Be safe and get the bad guys!"

Ressler felt a lump in his throat and quickly swallowed it down. "Roger, that!" and waved and left the room. He really just needed a minute before moving on to the next child but that didn't look like it was going to happen. Aram was predictably waiting with a big smile on his face. He had stayed in his work attire and was serving as the official FBI spokesman for the event since he was not a covert field agent, and was chatting with various nurses, doctors and administrators that happily hovered, enjoying the special attention their patients were receiving from the nameless, costumed covert agents. So many of the task force members were present that it did warm his heart to see their goodness shining brightly. He understood that this was good for the team. They had to balance the bad that they saw on a daily basis with good and this was a way for them to get to do something good and still keep their identities secret.

"Ah, there he is. Um, Mr. Batman, could you please come over here for an introduction. There are some people who'd like to meet and thank you…."

Ressler did his best to schmooze with the suits and doctors, but was feeling emotionally drained after visiting what had to have been thirty sick kids. While his identity was kept under wraps by Aram, he still shook hands and did his best to stay in character and tried not to flinch when he got hugs and slaps on the back for his endeavors. After a few more minutes of the schmoozefest, Aram was whisked away for a photo opportunity with the the hospital brass. He decided now was the time to take a break and gather his thoughts. He quickly walked around a corner and then another and another until he found himself in a small, secluded alcove just off of a back entrance. It was then, as he leaned up against a wall and took a much needed deep breath, that he did a double take. On the other side of the glass door stood Catwoman. Yep...it was definitely her. She was also bent down, fiddling with a key card and obviously trying to gain quick entrance to the building and failing miserably. After another moment of fiddling, she stood up and that's when he saw the loose strands of blonde hair peeking out of her cap and mask.

Striding quickly to the door, feeling his heart rate speeding up, he stood at the door, making her look up at him. He was ninety-eight percent sure that it was Liz, but, just in case it was some other blonde in a catwoman suit, he wasn't going to be the one to let just any feline foe into a building of sick kids if he could help it.

One look was all it took. Even with their faces covered in the seriously masked costumes, their eyes didn't lie. He flung the door open and took her in his arms and held her tightly to him for the first few minutes. They quietly hugged and then she tilted her head up and all he could see were those luscious lips. He kissed her, delicately at first, then more urgently. He felt her pushing him backwards until he was backed against a wall. Her hands were everywhere and it made him hate the costume that restricted the feel of her body against his. She was practically crawling up his body when he hoisted her up and spun her around so her back was now pressed against the wall and her front was hotly meshed against his.

He groaned as her hands continued to caress his back side while she panted and writhed against him. His mind began to register that they were seconds away from ripping each others costumes off and if he didn't get some space between them, he was going to do exactly that.

Liz's mind registered that she was at a hospital and was currently making out against a wall in the pediatric ward about the same time that Ressler loosened his grip from her thigh and gently lowered her leg that was wound around him and set her onto the ground again. Unable to speak, she took in a deep breath and stepped to the side and leaned against the cool tiled wall as he did the same.

He was first to speak. "Hey, what are you doing here? Where is Red?" he softly panted out, still catching his breath.

"About a half hour after we got home, Mr. Kaplan showed up at the door. She had this costume hanging under a clear dry cleaner bag and the moment I saw it, I knew I was going to be with my man!"

He turned, still leaning against the wall and touched her cheek, miffed that it was covered by the damn mask. "How long do I have you?"

"One night," she quietly replied.

"Good enough for me, let's not waste time. Let's go."

"Don't you need to say goodbye to Aram, I know he and Samar are here?"

He took out his phone and quickly texted "I'm gone. See you two tomorrow," and hit send. Within a few seconds his phone chimed with a reply from Aram: "We're going to go have dinner. Want to join us? I'll only be a few more minutes." Ressler texted back "No thanks, I'll pass. I'll catch a cab," and hit send. He tucked the phone in the one pocket at the waist of the costume and took her hand.

His apartment was only a ten minute walk so they both decided that they could actually walk and enjoy the cool evening as their costumes gave them the privacy they'd need on this Halloween evening. Just in case anyone was watching them, they slipped into the front entrance with a large group of trick or treaters and their parents, effortlessly blending in with the group and easily making it to the elevator to his floor with more excited costumed children and their guardians.

They walked a bit faster as they approached his door and he cursed slightly as his gloved hand had trouble reaching into the tight pocket of the costume for his keys.

Liz wordlessly removed her own glove and gently pulled his hand away from his pocket and slid her own slowly inside. If she accidentally rubbed him and gave him a sensuous squeeze when her hand found what she thought were his keys, she at least tried to cover it as he groaned aloud.

"You're killing me, Liz."

The only response he got was a deep purr.