The Architect. [The Blacklist. Donald Ressler X Oc]

On your side.

Ressler.

"Sorry about the time, but we have a case"

"I'll be there in 20"

I stored my phone back in my pocket and waited for Alma to pick the book she wanted me to read her tonight.

"This one daddy" she handed me one and crawled on top of me, I reclined myself on the bed and let her sit in the nook between my arm and my torso.

"Okay"

"Are you tired?"

"I am" I replied, hoping she would take the hint that I wanted her to go to sleep quickly, she didn't.

"I'll read it for you"

"It's okay princess" I pressed her head to the spot on my chest she always fell asleep in and I opened the book.

She didn't make it past the third page. I'd taken some tips about reading to children at night. A monotone voice, long articulation of words, Bob's your uncle.

Once I carefully snuck from under Alma's body and laid her properly on her bed, I headed to the bedroom to get changed.

Mags was fast asleep already, I'd taken Alma's nighttime routine tonight because she was feeling more tired than usual.

When I exited the bedroom, buttoning my cuffs, I saw her laying on the middle of the bed, more to my side than hers, giving me her back. I think we were both disappointed when I hovered over her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She muttered the usual question, I didn't know if out of habit or if she was actually awake.

"Alma's asleep?"

"Yeah, she's good" I replied, my lips downed on her temple and I kissed her again "I have to head out"

She frowns, her body turning and she holds herself by her forearm, lifting herself from the bed just a bit to look at me suited up and ready to leave.

"Why so late?" She murmurs, now laying facing me.

"I don't know love, but I'll be back soon I hope" I clear her forehead free of stray hairs and kiss her on the temple again.

"Okay, be careful"

She grabs the comforter and pulls it under her chin, closing her eyes as I lean and kiss her again.

"I will"

I'm already at the door when I feel something creep on my chest, something's that's been tainting my thoughts for a while now. The simple and terrifying thought of something happening to my two girls and the tentative third one.

"I'm going to turn on the alarm" I say, trying to make it sound like it's an every day thing. Truth was we hadn't turned on the house alarm once in the three years we've lived here.

"Okay" she replies. I'm not sure if it's a reflex answer or if she's awake enough to understand me.

Punching the numbers in the alarm pad brings me a certain sense of peace, my phone vibrates with a notification and I give the cameras a quick look from my phone checking that all of them are working correctly.

Upon arriving at the post office and being briefed of the case we had on our hands, it doesn't bring me much ease. Having an activist abducted by the people who wanted Reddington dead and Liz's new partner wasn't going to cut it for me and my slowly growing paranoia.

Once again, Aram and I found ourselves estranged by Liz's plans and partnerships, doubting her endgame and her alliances.

At some point in the evening we found ourselves at the usual crossroad. Making deals with criminals for information to get other criminals. The lesser evil.