Homicide Detective Jocelyn Carter is the epitome of the no-nonsense, street-wise, fast-paced New Yorker who's nobody's fool. Yet the phone call she received from a familiar voice asking a very unfamiliar favor made the Investigator in her think twice but act promptly.
"Jocelyn meet me at our spot at the Dog Park right away; make sure you're not being followed and bring Bear with you." He ordered before he hung up.
"Did he say 'Jocelyn' meet me at our spot at the Dog Park? Since when did we get a spot? Since when does he call me by my full first name? And what happened to "Boys Day Out at Yankee Stadium?" she said aloud to Bear who immediately responded with tail-wagging excitement after hearing the words Dog Park.
"Go get your leash Reese-Junior" she said to Bear who instantly obeys, retrieving his leash from the front doorknob and dropping it next to Joss on the sofa. She clips the leash onto Bear's collar and gives him a scratch behind his ears. Jocelyn stands and walks to her main window to slightly open the venetian blind to observe those who may be observing her. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary she puts on her jacket and walks into the kitchen to get her gun from atop the refrigerator and put it in her holster. She looks for Bear and sees him behind her standing with his paws on the kitchen counter to remind her not to forget his dog treats.
"Okay ReeseJunior, I've got your treats and a bottle of water. We're going out the back way." Bear follows her to the back door. When the door opens he sticks his head out with his ears pointing up listening & observing for danger. He sniffs the air and slightly growls while standing alert ready to pounce. Jocelyn could only chuckle while saying to Bear: "So protective, just like your Alpha."
Jocelyn drives erratically to make sure she's not being followed. After parking her car she grabs Bear's leash and walks him through the wooded area to allow John to catchup to them. Eyeing the park patrons no one appears suspicious. Suddenly Bear yanks away from Joss to run to a casually dressed, older man wearing sunglasses and sitting on a bench a few feet away. She runs after Bear watching as he immediately sits in response to a foreign command. The man then reaches out and rubs Bear's neck and back.
Joss glances around before grabbing Bear's leash to leave but before she can continue walking, the older man says to her: "Good afternoon Detective, what took you so long to get here?"
A stunned Jocelyn stops her forward motion and sits on the bench next to him, studying him while simultaneously opening her jacket for access to her gun. This man has John's voice she reasons but his frame is heavier and his hair is thick and white.
"No need for your weapon Jocelyn, your eyes are not deceiving you, it's me." John removes his glasses and looks at Jocelyn while smirking at her enjoying her reaction to his mature face.
Carter is still not convinced and asks the too obvious question: "Who are you?"
John replies: "I am the man you currently know as John Reese just 20 years older."
"Will you empty your pockets and show me some identification?" She asks while her hand hovers over her gun.
"Trick question Detective, your John Reese never had identification but always had something lethal in his pockets. I'm quite the opposite now."
John stood and emptied his pockets handing her his license and a thinner version of a Smartphone. Jocelyn made a mental note that he used his left-hand to retrieve the pocketed items and while handing them to her she saw the gold band on his ring finger but quickly dismisses it.
She again scans her surroundings looking for some sort of ruse but John just sits on the bench keeping his body in direct contact with his Jocelyn while scratching Bear's ears. John asks for the dog treats which he removes from her right jacket pocket. She reads his NY State license issued to a Jonathan Careese which expires in 2035. She again looks at John and shakes her head.
Looking at the cellphone she runs her thumb along its face causing the device to light up and speak in a computerized voice: "Recognize Jocelyn Reese… do you wish to call home?...retrieve messages?... or hear appointment schedule?"
Her eyes widen and she looks questioningly at John who nods and tells her to ask the device any question. "That wouldn't satisfy my bullshit meter since Jonathan Careese doesn't exist." Jocelyn said in her interrogator voice.
The phone device responds: "Jonathan Careese, male, born September 26, 1968, current age 65 years, occupation: Head of Security and Anti-Terrorism Instructor for Taylor-Made Security Consultants; vital statistics: single, no children; home address: 810 Baxter Street Apartment 5A, New York NY…blood type…"
Detective Carter ignored the device and instead looks at Bear who obediently sits in front of this New John and happily allows him to rub his ears. She then looks at him and sternly says: "I'm not convinced, I want to search you and I want to know who you are and what you want."
"I can answer any question you have. I can tell you about myself, yourself, and about us; but I'm sure the most interesting intel I can offer you is the answer to the question you've always wanted to know." New John or alias Jonathan Careese said with a smirk and in a seductive voice.
"What would that be Mr. Careese?" said the stern voiced Detective.
"Where Finch and I get our information of course." He responds with a familiar smirk.
The Detective's response was an open-mouthed stare. She couldn't rationalize which part of her wanted answers first: Jocelyn, Detective Carter, or Mrs. John Reese. Settling for logic instead of emotion, Joss decided to let Detective Carter continue taking the lead.
She slid her lower body away from Mr. Careese but angled herself so she could chat face to face with her new confidential informant.
"First, I need you to explain your existence in my present-time frame. Are you here as a friend or an enemy?" Asked the Interrogator.
Jonathan Careese looked directly in her eyes and spoke a bit too harshly. "It would be difficult for me to explain time-travel since I only avail myself of the device and don't question the creator of it nor the mechanics of how it works. It's still a prototype device exclusively used by the US Government. "
Joss didn't accept the insult to her intelligence since the proof is sitting before her. She just continued to interrogate this stranger. "This is neither television nor the movies. Mankind is nowhere near that type of technology. I can barely imagine the disaster of such a device in amoral hands." Jocelyn pondered.
"Unfortunately few moral people have the vision & resources to create such a device and that's what happened in my time. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to know that even in your present-time frame technology is more advanced than the general public knows. I can prove that by explaining how Finch & I get our information. But first, I need you to give me your word that this will be kept in the strictest of confidences. There is good reason for Finch & John Reese to be paranoid. Lives are always at stake." Jonathan paused and allowed Jocelyn to absorb how much danger there would be.
"But Jonathan wouldn't your presence here confirm that the future will be okay? That despite all the threats and chaos that mankind survives?" Jocelyn asked with careful optimism.
Jonathan's face was grim as he answered. "No. I used my considerable charm to access the device and get to you today to prevent the devastation of your future. Finch & John are too paranoid right now to handle my presence here nor could they do all I need done. This is an Operation that must be handled with a bit of feminine finesse. Can you accept my terms? Or do you feel unequal to the challenge?" He asked goadingly to achieve his desired result.
"Tell me why I should believe you and why are you here now? And yes, I give you my word that everything will be held in highest confidence." She wanted to know more and needed him to be more forthcoming with the information. She gave herself a mental pat on the back for not allowing this John to push her buttons.
Jonathan did a visual sweep of their surroundings and felt assured of their privacy. He leaned in closer to Jocelyn determined to have some portion of their bodies constantly touching. She tried staying distant and professional so she moved away from him but again he was very determined so he countered her every move. Feeling the emotional distance between himself and Jocelyn following her hand removal from his; he slid his hip closer to hers so their lower bodies were again in contact.
Two adults sitting side-by-side on a park bench is a normal activity yet Jocelyn was uncomfortable for a number of reasons. She crossed her legs in the opposite direction of Jonathan which allowed her hip to move away from him. He countered by putting his left arm on top of the park bench lifting her hair to touch her back & shoulders. The spark she felt at his direct contact also helped confirm what Bear's obedience already had: this person is the man she knows as John Reese.
Ignoring her reaction to Jonathan, Jocelyn uncrossed her legs and leaned forward to rub Bear's ears who responded with a tilt of his head but his eyes were firmly on his Alpha awaiting orders.
Jonathan softly snorted at Jocelyn and decided to finally end this awkwardness between them. So he stood up and grasped Jocelyn's forearm to pull her up with him encircling her waist and getting in her face.
He invaded her space both emotionally and physically. Jocelyn was trying to avoid looking in his eyes so she only stared straight ahead but her eyes caught sight of his broad frame and clean smell. She exhaled deeply and pulled herself away from him while stepping backward. Thinking to herself: "Enough of this cat-and-mouse crap".
She stood tall and looked him directly in his eyes and spoke sharply. "Look, you may or may not be the man I know but I will humor your delusion until I need to arrest you. Now I want to know everything you know AND I want to know what you want from me Mister Jonathan Careese."
He stood tall over her and that height advantage against her tough-talking Detective persona caused the expected body reactions in him. His pulse accelerated, his pupils' dilated, his breathing deepened, and the excitement of being with the beautiful, younger version of his beloved wife thrilled him beyond measure. He couldn't help himself but his facial expression was the same today as it had been the first time he laid eyes on her: a dumbstruck stare; which he later replaced with his trademark smirk.
He had to fulfill the overwhelming need to touch her warm, soft skin again so he stepped toward her and tried to hold her hand. Catching her unaware he was able to lace his fingers between hers for a moment before she pushed him away with her left hand and began to reach for her weapon with her right. Had he been paying attention to her entire facial expression and not just daydreaming about her lips he would have been quicker to stop her reaction. Instead he stepped back with his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"I apologize Detective Carter, I was focused on something I wanted." He said contritely. "You need more information from me and I will give it. Let's sit back on the bench. I chose this spot because there are no cameras here and since the guys are enjoying a day off at Yankee Stadium there's no chance of John nor Finch following you here."
She looked skeptical but sat back down on the bench and he sat beside her with their knees touching while they faced one another. Jonathan wanted no distractions during his conversation so he again scanned the park for anyone suspicious. Waiting for his gut to confirm their privacy, he then commanded Bear to lie down at his feet rewarding him with a doggy treat and ear scratch.
Jonathan looked Jocelyn in her eyes and with sincerity he asked her to forgive him for what he had to do. He reached for her lifting her chin and when her lips parted he lightly kissed them and he moaned in delight. She was stunned to witness his reaction and was equally shocked when he took her bottom lip into his mouth and gently sucked & nipped it causing her to gasp and moan.
"Why did you do that? Or better yet how did you know to do it that way?" she asked.
Jonathan released a sigh and leaned forehead-to-forehead wanting to explore her even further but dared not since she was still unsure of him and very doubtful of their relationship. Instead he simply answered. "I needed to taste and touch your lips, it satisfies me. And I know everything about your pleasures Mrs. Reese."
Jonathan pulled himself away from Jocelyn avoiding eye contact by looking around the park again but not before Jocelyn saw the look in his eyes which were glossy with need and something else… sadness maybe? Hmm.
She contemplated his show of emotions and soon realized what his untold secret was about their future marriage. She wanted to hear him out before deciding if she needed to know more about the future Mrs. John Reese.
Jonathan began to answer her primary question to put her at ease.
"First you know that Reese and Finch are alias names. You already know my story from your visit to New Rochelle and how I ended up on the street. I didn't realize the full extent of what Finch had risked his life for. After 9/11 Finch and his partner created a machine for the government that monitors every cellphone, email, and surveillance camera around the world and assesses threats to the United States. " Jonathan waited for her response.
Jocelyn was unfazed and simply replied. "We always knew Big Brother was watching us… so go on."
"The Machine sees everything: potential terrorist acts and violent crimes to ordinary citizens and it gives advance notice to protect and serve humanity. Of course the Dept of Defense considered civilian threats irrelevant so they promptly ordered the execution of Finch & Ingram. Finch survived his wounds through the care of a woman named Grace whom he fell in love with. Fearing he was putting her life in danger he ended their relationship and began work on stopping the Government abuse by remotely accessing the machine. Having the knowledge of future crimes but the not the ability to stop them, Finch searched long and hard for the right combination of skilled soldier with compassion and integrity; that's when he found John Reese…and you know the rest."
Jocelyn's eyes widened as she contemplated Jonathan's words. "Of course, he couldn't risk being held hostage to the wrong employee or being forced to do worse than the government was already doing with the machine like when he was kidnapped last year. Finch is a genius. Okay that explains my John Reese but where do you come in Jonathan?"
Jonathan further explained. "You recall our last mission at NSA headquarters, it was discovered that Kara loaded some kind of virus into the D.O.D. computer that was set to program in five months. Finch tried to discover the origin of the virus and its creator but could not until it was too late. In my timeline, The Doomsday Virus is a type of FireSale that destroyed all information stored electronically. In the wake of the firesale it was Russia not China who emerged as the leading economic nation and so the NSA, CIA, and DOD all need to look there for the creator of the virus before the US slowly slips into a third-world nation."
"What I need you to do is to inform Finch that there is no way to destroy the virus, it can only be neutralized through having a pre-Firesale that will cause all the modernized nations to purge and reboot their electronic devices, servers, etc, and in doing so they will discover the Doomsday Virus. It took my Finch over 15 years to discover a way to counteract the destructive effects of that virus."
Jocelyn looked intently at Jonathan listening to everything and replied. "So why don't you tell present-day Finch this yourself?"
Jonathan exhaled and looked around before responding. "There is more to my visit than the Doomsday Virus. I'm going to give you information that will alter the lives of all the Assets. Finch is only interested in the survival of his mission. That has become his life's work and to suggest he change that life course would be met with scorn and outright refusal. He will believe you about the professional threat but not the personal threat to his future.
A bewildered Jocelyn shook her head and said. "So why not tell your younger self this info and have him save the world? Isn't he better trained to handle any unforeseen circumstances than I would be? Especially since I'm not supposed to know about the machine?"
"I can't tell him because he's focused only on his mission and would eliminate any detours. I have the benefit of hindsight. I know that their paranoia, while justified in this present time with numerous enemies at the gate, is temporary. Neither Finch nor Reese will allow themselves to release their guilt and actually live instead of waiting to die. Poor bastards didn't realize that the secret to saving the world would come from them both actually living & loving; not being workaholics paying a debt that can never be satisfied.
Jocelyn watched Jonathan's faraway and wistful expression as he told her the rest of his story to save Finch and the future. But Jocelyn refused to interfere in Reese & Finch's personal lives. She abhorred taking away anyone's free will to choose their own path; especially on the whim of a "what if" scenario.
"Jonathan I will tell Finch about the virus because that can be verified since only you two know of its existence. However, I will not betray the growing trust John & Finch have in me by manipulating Finch into marrying Grace and having children. My reasons are these: One, you don't know if Grace & Finch will get back together and if even if they did have children you can't know that their kids would continue Finch's work. Two: you and I have only had a professional relationship despite the emotional connection we shared on the rooftop when I thought you were going to die. Three: your heart still belongs to Jessica and you are not ready for a serious relationship. Am I supposed to tell you that you and I will be married in the future but if we make that future happen earlier it will cause Finch to have a future as well?" Jocelyn arched an eyebrow and waited for Jonathan to respond to all she'd said.
He contemplated her arguments and could only say: "Yes, that is exactly what I want you to do but with a bit more tact. I can tell you that your objective isn't as hard as you think. I am truly over Jessica and the guilt of her death. I finally forgave myself and began moving on by dating other women. After I survived the experience on the NSA rooftop I knew that I was meant to do more than save people. I realized that I'm supposed to save myself and move in a more permanent life direction. You see Jocelyn, I've always loved and respected you but I never believed you could ever share my affections so I looked elsewhere. So trust me, there is no iceberg around my heart. Once you let John Reese know what you admire and respect about him, he will begin to focus on you again."
Jocelyn shook her head and reiterated her previous concerns. "John Reese deserves my admiration and respect for all he's done for me and the only way to repay him is by being his friend and not betraying his trust. He's made no moves to indicate any interest in a deeper relationship so again, I'm sorry but my answer is no."
Before Jonathan could give his rebuttal argument, Jocelyn notice Bear getting restless as he stood with his ears perked up and giving a low growl. Jocelyn immediately stood up and looked around for the threat while Jonathan also stood but placed himself in front of his wife, then observed his surroundings. A moment later a jogger with an unleashed hound ran past them and Bear barked a few times as if expecting something more but then sat obediently at Jonathan's command.
Jonathan's anger was directed at his wife when he should have been speaking logically to Detective Carter so his words sparked the inevitable confrontation between them.
"You don't get to choose what missions you will accept or deny. This isn't a 9-to-5 where you're off the clock. I'm telling you that this needs to be done and if your delicate sensibilities and goody-two-shoes nature can't handle that, well baby you need to dig deep and find the balls you wore when you saved my ass at Rikers. You can seduce a stranger to get his DNA for me but you can't have a conversation with me? The man you're already in love with? I told you that I know all about you and your pleasures Mrs. Reese. I know how much you care about his well-being."
"This conversation is over Mister Careese. I don't know you nor can I help you with your situation. I do hope Scotty beams you up safely. Best wishes…" Jocelyn stood and grabbed Bear's leash to leave but Jonathan stood, grabbed her arm pulling her into his body, encircling her waist and bending her backwards giving her a harsh kiss while his hands roamed from her waist to her backside squeezing gently.
Jocelyn immediately responded with a sharp slap across Jonathan's face. She could not allow this abuse of her person to go unchallenged so she spoke low and deadly to him.
"Maybe I am your wife and maybe I am in love with you in another life; but today, THIS DAY, I am Detective Jocelyn Carter and I will not be bullied nor disrespected by any man. Remember that it is my choice when to put my badge on the line for someone and Mr. Careese you are not in a life-or-death scenario as was my John Reese. Since you didn't hear me the first time let me repeat myself slowly so you can understand: I Will Not Hurt or Betray The Men I Love and Care About. "
With those words she turned away from Jonathan and walked with Bear out of the park and didn't look back. Jonathan smirked and walked into the wooded area and disappeared. What neither Jocelyn nor Jonathan realized was that they were being watched. Mr. Careese didn't know that The Machine would interpret his presence as an unknown threat to Detective Carter and Finch would be alerted.
The ever-vigilant watcher tapped his right ear and said: "We're in trouble she's been compromised."
Yay. My first POI Story. It's finally out of my time-traveling, vivid J & J imagination and onto the canvas.