Disclaimer: I don't own any of the content that is recognizable below. The use of said content is for entertainment purposes only.

Pre A/N: So this story came up after this week's episode of Empire. The ending flashback really had me tearing up when I thought about what Cookie went through for Lucious and I thought it would be nice to do something that touched on the same subject a little bit with John and the Rikers situation. This is A/U because John is released without any problems. This story is also unbeta'd so I apologize in advance for any mistakes that are found.

True Love

Joss shut off the TV before wiping the tears from her eyes. The final moments of the show really hit her hard and reminded her that the same thing almost happened to John. He was in that small cell, trapped with nowhere to go. Even though it had only been a few days, it felt like an eternity to her.

The woman known as Cookie sat in her jail cell during the last flashback of the episode, thinking of nothing but her family. What was especially heartbreaking to Joss was that Cookie had stolen the drug money to help her man realize his dream of starting a music company. Her thoughts were always of him and being together again. It was bittersweet that she was eventually forgotten and Lucious went with another woman. Empire was started and Cookie was left all alone. Joss compared the situation to John's and what he was thinking of while he was in that cell. What were the first things on his mind when he woke up and the last things he thought about before going to sleep?

All Joss had to do was reach over and grab the burner phone that sat on her coffee table. She didn't want to pry though. Joss knew how much John would want to recover since he was finally released about two hours ago.

As Joss leaned over to put the remote down, she gave in and quickly reached over to take the phone. She flipped it open and scroll to the contacts section. John's number sat there was by itself staring back at her. Joss still had no idea why he had given her his personal number, but she was glad he did. Their late night talks were a highlight when a case had been particularly rough and she needed someone to talk to that could understand her. Her fingers hovered over the send button as her mind once again drifted to those nights of loneliness when she couldn't hear his voice.

This wasn't how it was suppose to be. They were only meant to be acquaintances working towards the same goal of cleaning up crime, nothing else. Her heart was pounding as she got comfortable on the couch, putting her back against the armrest and laying her legs across the cushions in front of her. She knew John would be home. Finch had given him a few days off to recover from his ordeal while Fusco and she take care of the numbers. John definitely needed the rest after everything he went through.

She should just head to sleep. That's what her mind was telling her at least.

Before she could stop herself, Joss pressed the send button and put the receiver up to her ear.

After two rings, John picked up. "Hello Detective" he said that sultry tone that he always used with her.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" She asked as she shifted a bit.

"Honestly, I don't know which is worse, being trapped in a tiny cell with nothing to do or my apartment." Of course John would have his jokes even after going through such an ordeal.

Joss couldn't help but laugh. "You're already getting restless? Finch gave you a few days off because you were in jail remember?" It was relief that they all could finally put Rikers behind them.

"I guess it does help that I have a private shower. Wasn't exactly a fan of the bathing arrangements there. I just don't want to sit around when there is someone out there that might need my help."

Joss's heart warmed at John's devotion. However it was that same devotion that got him caught because he stayed behind to make sure that girl and her military boyfriend got out of the basement safely. "It's alright John, Fusco and me can handle it."

"I don't want you to be overwork on account of me Joss. You've done more for me than I could ever ask for." His voice held a knowing tone.

There was a pause as Joss thought for a moment what he could have meant. Then it hit her. "Finch told you what I did?"

"He did and at first I didn't want to believe that you did all that for me. I wish you hadn't told Donnelly that you couldn't ID me and spared yourself from doing that." John was actually angry because she had done something that could have jeopardized everything.

"I couldn't just leave you in that hellhole John" she confessed. "You almost died."

There was a sigh on John's end. "You risked your career and your son to help a man who deserves to be dead. While I was in my cell, I would wonder to myself what I did for you to put all your trust in me. Finch shouldn't have forced you to help me."

Joss put a hand to her chest, hoping to calm her fast beating heart. So John had been thinking of her while in there. She couldn't help the smile as she clutched the phone tightly, wishing that she physically be there with him. "Finch didn't force me to do anything. I just wish I could have done more before they threw you in the yard."

"You did enough. I don't know how I can ever thank you."

Joss took a strand of hair between her fingers to distract her. "It's funny that I manage to render you speechless." Just then, the sound of a car was heard, confusing her because it came from John's side and it sounded close. "Everything okay John?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. So how are you doing?" John hoped that she was alright.

"I'm doing okay. I just finished watching a TV show and called to see what you were up to. I missed our late night conversations while you were away."

"You weren't the only one Joss. It's gets lonely in there. Talking to you in that interrogation room was like a blessing. You were really the only friend I had in there. To be able to open up to you so openly was something that I've wanted to do for a long time."

Joss sunk deeper in the couch as she tried to understand what he meant. "I'm happy that you trusted me enough to tell me more about you. I know it wasn't easy."

"I trusted you since the day we met but I just wasn't sure how you would look at me if you knew the truth. That's why I tried so hard to do some kind of good with my life. I wanted to be the person you saw underneath the grime and booze."

"Don't worry John, you passed the test." She confirmed. "You definitely cleaned up for starters."

John interrupted her before she could continue. "Joss, there is something that I need to tell you that I didn't have the chance to do for some time now because I wasn't sure if I was imaging it or not."

As she waited for him to continue, there was a knock at the door. "John, hold on. Someone is at my door. Who would be here so late?" Joss rose from the coach and made her way over to undo the chain lock. When Joss pulled the door open, her eyes widened. "John? What-" Her words were cut off when without warning he crashed his lips into hers. The phone slipped from Joss's grasp and landed on the floor with a thud before she tightly gripped his coat for leverage.

John moved in until he was able to close the door. He then spun Joss around so her back was up against it as he continued to ravish her lips. His hands moved up her body until they found themselves in her thick hair. Joss's hands moved away from his coat to tug at his short salt and pepper hair, jumping slightly when she felt his tongue teasing her.

The kiss ended a short time later but John didn't give Joss any space. Instead, he looked from her surprised eyes to her swollen lips and smiled. "I wanted to tell you that I never stopped thinking of you Joss. You have haunted my thoughts ever since we first met. I wondered what would happen if I had been discovered and forced to spend the rest of my life in prison. Would you wait for me?"

His question reminded Joss of what happened to Cookie and how she had nothing to come back to. No, if it came to it, she knew that the same thing wouldn't happen to John. She slowly reached up to caress his cheek. "For however long it takes" she whispered with so much love behind her words.

John smiled at Joss before capturing her lips again. This time, her hands went underneath his coat, sliding it off his shoulders to the ground. He pulled her away from the door to slide his hands down her back before gripping her backside. In one swift movement, Joss found herself in the air, instinctively wrapping her legs around John's waist before being carried off to her bedroom.

Post A/N: I hope you enjoyed. I'm currently in the process of working on Chapter 3 for First Meetings since a lot of you requested it but I will let you know now that it will be more Careese than in the show because why not. I would like to thank the person for starting that whole thing and she knows who she is;)