This is a retelling of the Season 1 Episode entitled Many Happy Returns with added dialogue and scenes. It focuses on Carter's thoughts as she deals with revelations about John Reese that are hard for her to accept. This work diverges from canon ever so slightly. Dialogue marked with ** is taken directly from an episode. No copyright infringement intended or implied. Characters and the story belong to others and not to me.

I had difficulty finding a transition that worked between sections, so ended up posting each section as a chapter. So although the writing is complete, posting may take a while. Frustration abounds.

If you have complaints, complements, or suggestions, please hit the review button. – Dix.

Second Thoughts

Carter pushed through the door and out onto the sidewalk. She looked both ways and scanned the street across from the bar. She was nervous. Meeting Harold Finch face to face, even in a place as unlikely as this bar, posed a risk and now wasn't the time to drop her guard. Not seeing any familiar shapes or faces, she headed for her car, parked a block away.

She'd met Harold hoping for some clarity. She hoped he'd have answers to her questions about New Rochelle. Instead he'd deflected her concerns and encouraged her to go chasing after Special Agent Donnelly. He'd even had the audacity to suggest she cover John's tracks. At least that's what he seemed to be saying.

Special Agent Donnelly was sure that the man in the suit had participated in some sort of murder for hire scheme in New Rochelle. She'd hoped Harold would be ignorant of the event, or better yet have evidence to the contrary. "John?" She'd hoped he had said, "He would never do such a thing." Instead talking with Harold had only served to muddy the waters. "You'll get to any evidence before the F.B.I."** He'd told her. Well he had confidence in her investigative skills at least; even if he did think she was a dirty cop.

Her immediate reaction had been indignation. But by the time she reached the car, the irony of it, made her laugh out loud. Who was she kidding? She was already protecting a known fugitive. She was lying to her colleagues and passing on confidential information. It would seem that Harold knew her better than she knew herself.

So she'd go to New Rochelle and have a look for herself and if the truth about John's past was difficult to accept, she'd have to face up to it.