A.N: This short story takes place in the second season – but relates to the season 1 episode: "Many Happy Returns."

"A Happy Return"

Joss Carter had just finished washing the dinner dishes when her son came into the kitchen perplexed and holding a shoebox.

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

Carter dried her hands on a blue towel and sat by the dining table. "Sure, Taylor. What's wrong?"

Taylor put the box down and pulled out a photo. "Nothing's wrong, mom. I was looking for some old family photos for a class project and found this. That's John Reese, isn't it?"

Carter sat up taller. "Yes it is."

"I knew he was a soldier! Why do you have it? Who's that? His wife? She's hot."

Carter rolled her eyes. "No, he's not married, Tay. She was…an old girlfriend."

"Where's she at now?"

"She died a few years ago."

Taylor's expression fell. Next to his mother, John Reese was his hero. "Man, that's too bad. Where'd you get it, mom? He gave it to you?"

Carter's cheeks reddened. She'd long debated why she kept the picture and the answers eluded her.

"No baby, he didn't. Um, well, you know the kind of work he does. I was on a case for him and this picture came up. I kept it before it got lost. I must've tossed it in there and forgot about it."

Taylor's brow rose unconvinced, but he knew his mother never lied to deliberately hurt him. He understood that secrecy was sometimes part of her job description. "Okay. So, why don't you give it to him now? I'm sure he'd want it back. They look mad in love."

Carter traced her finger over the tropical drinks on the table before John and Jessica. Every time she'd stared the picture a lump formed in her throat and she was helpless to control her tears. Her emotional reaction was a big reason why she stowed it away in a shoebox on the top shelf of her closet. She put it face-down and gave Taylor a tight, sensitive smile.

"You know, baby, I've been meaning to and I keep forgetting."

Taylor glanced at the photo a last time. "I think he'd want it back. It might be his only picture of her."

Carter patted his hand. She loved how mature he'd become. "You're right, Taylor. I really should." She glanced at the clock. It was half past ten pm. "So, did you finish your homework? When's this project due?"

"I did some of it. This isn't due for two weeks. I wanted a head start. It's a family tree for history class."

"Sounds cool. Tell you what, I have an errand to run, so I'm gonna bring you to grandma's."

Taylor slumped in the chair. "Now? It's so late, ma."

"Ehh, it's Friday and she's a night owl. I won't be long. Besides, if you need pictures, she has the goods. She has albums going back to her great grandparents. You know she loves to keep all those things."

Taylor nodded and grinned. "Yeah, you're right. I'm afraid to even move in her place, she got trinkets all over. I can scan her pics and use copies for the report. Thanks, Mom."

"I know you're good with that Photoshop, maybe you can fix some of her damaged ones and we can get her new prints in a frame. That'll make a nice gift. I'd like a few too. I'm gonna wash up. Give her a call that we're coming and get your coat."

In the bathroom, Carter glared apprehensive at the mirror after scrubbing her face and re-applying a little makeup. She wasn't sure how Reese would react. He'd definitely want an explanation. She didn't know if Harold had ever told him what she did with his Fort Lewis file. Reese never mentioned it and she'd never bothered to ask.

While she shred the file, Harold Finch had somehow maneuvered his way into their databases and deleted all traces of the electronic version. The computer wizard made it so that John Reese never attended Fort Lewis in the summer of 2001. She'd often wondered if Reese even had a digital footprint or a social security number on file. His name had to be an alias too. The man was a living phantom.

She hit Reese's number and he picked up on the second ring.

"Hello, Carter." He said softly.

"Hi, John. Is this a bad time?"

She never knew if she were interrupting him during a mission, like Harold often did as he chattered while Reese pummeled baddies and engaged in shoot-outs. One day, Harold checked patient records on a whim and informed her that hospitals across New York had a stark rise in knee-cap gunshot wounds thanks to their mutual friend.

Carter wasn't one to give Reese personal calls, but it sounded very quiet on his end. "Not bad at all surprisingly. Is it a bad time for you? Where are you, Carter? Are you okay?" A worried edge crept into his voice.

His concern warmed her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just hanging with my son at home. Look, do you think we could meet for coffee? I have something important to give you."

"A present for me? How thoughtful, Carter." He murmured. "Where?"

She imagined the slow, wry smile that often played on his lips when they were together.

"The Waverly Restaurant in the West Village. Know it?"

"I know it. They have great cheesecake."

"Good. I was just thinking that. Give me a half hour. I gotta drop Tay off at his grandma's and beat the traffic from Brooklyn."

"I'll be there, Detective. Take your time."

~Oo~

When Carter walked into the diner she saw Reese seated by a window in his black suit. He strummed his fingers and scrutinized the passersby. John Reese was forever on the alert, ready to move and act at the mere hint of danger with the speed and agility of a panther. She slid in the seat across from him and an Indian waiter came over with menus and poured them water.

"Just a coffee please." Reese said.

Carter wanted to laugh. Of course Reese would tempt her with the cheesecake but not order it for himself. She'd discovered he had a penchant for donuts, but he didn't maintain his trim and wiry physique by eating heavy sweets at this time of night. She smiled at the waiter.

"I'll have a coffee too and a slice of chocolate and vanilla cheesecake."

"Checkerboard or half and half?"

"Hmm…checkerboard." She glanced at Reese. "It's more fun that way."

"Okay, coming up." The waiter left.

Reese simply gazed at her and she shrugged. "It's one of those days. I may have some junk in the trunk but I'm pretty good at keeping my girlish figure."

His eyebrows went up and his blue eyes widened. "I didn't say anything. You're in for a real treat."

"Hell, I know it. I'll work it off somehow tomorrow. You guys always keep me running around."

"It never ends. So, what did you want to see me about, Detective?" Reese sat forward with a bit of urgency and Carter gulped. She took a swig of water as her mouth suddenly went dry.

"I'm not sure how to begin…" Carter dug inside her inner coat pocket and pulled out a small manila envelope. "I think you should have this. She would've wanted you to."

Reese carefully handled the envelope and Carter bristled and held her breath while he took his time opening the flap and sliding out the picture. His hands flattened on the table and he peered hard at the photo. The waiter came with their orders and left before Reese even lifted his head. His jaw clenched and his firm mouth twitched side to side.

Melancholy cloaked him so tight that Carter even felt it. She cleared her throat.

"How did you even get this? Where?" He asked without looking at her.

"Do you want the long or short version?" Carter replied, hoping to lighten the mood.

Reese's gaze traveled up to meet hers. Tender emotions shone in his eyes, but the rest of his face hardened like a bronzed, chiseled stone. "The restaurant is open twenty-four hours, Detective."

Carter took a big bite of her cheesecake to give herself a bold sugar rush and downed some coffee. "It was from the Marshal Jennings case last year. I was assigned to work with Special Agent Donnelly in New Rochelle. Donnelly had made the connection to you because they discovered your blood in Peter Arndt's house."

"I know that. I was there, Detective." Reese said. "He jabbed me with a poker. I didn't have time to play Mr. Clean. Was this picture in his house?"

"No. We visited Jessica's mother."

"And she just handed it to you?"

"I had my own suspicions so I questioned her after Donnelly left. She told me that Jessica dated a soldier while she was up in Tacoma. I know how to put two and two together. She let me go through Jessica's personal effects and I found it hidden in a jewelry box. Her mother had no idea it was there and I didn't show it to her."

Reese took a long breath and sipped his coffee. "I never thanked you, Carter."

The subject had turned and she looked at him curiously. "What do you mean? For what?"

"For what you did with my Fort Lewis file. Throwing Donnelly off the New Rochelle trail. Finch told me when I got back."

Carter cocked an eyebrow. "Right, from your little expedition in Mexico."

"Yes. Finch said you were instrumental in the case and that you figured out Jessica was murdered before the car crash."

"I was a regular gumshoe. And what about Peter? Did he own up to it?"

Reese looked away at the Duane Reade across the street. "He bawled like a baby. The coward said it was an accident, that he'd never meant to hurt her. He was stressed and angry and millions in debt. His confession didn't negate the fact that he manhandled her, cracked her head, and broke her neck. Or that he'd abused her from the beginning."

Reese controlled his anger and glided his fingertips over Jessica's smile. He needed to get some guilt off his chest. "I should've seen it long ago. I heard the pain in her voice the last time we saw each other at the airport. She was already engaged but she'd reached out to me. "Tell me to wait for you, and I will…" " He trailed off.

Carter shook her head. "But you couldn't say it. You didn't want to drag her into that life of yours. You know it would've probably…hurt…her."

Carter closed her eyes. "Never mind. Damn it."

She felt his firm, warm grip over her hand and he gently called her name. "Joss?"

John's expression softened when she opened her tear-soaked eyes. "Hey, it's okay, Joss."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I hurt you with this, John." Her voice trembled.

Reese squeezed her fingers reassuringly. "Don't be sorry. It's the best thing anyone has ever given me. I appreciate it."

Carter grappled for some napkins and dabbed her eyes. She forced a laugh to cover over a sob that tried to escape. "Don't let Harold hear you say that."

Reese drew his hand away to let her compose herself. He cracked a lopsided smile and tapped his earwig. "It's off. And I'm bug free. Trust me, he'd understand. You know what I'm gonna ask you now, right?"

Carter nodded and finished off her cheesecake. "Of course. But let's walk to my car. It's on the next block."

Reese shoved her wallet away when she tried to pay and left a ten dollar bill on the table. The cool autumn breeze refreshed him and Carter tightened her lavender scarf and put her hands in her pockets as they strolled quietly. She relaxed against the driver's side door and Reese stood at attention in front of her, just close enough to respect the minimum one-foot rule of personal space. He would intimidate anybody, but his closeness was a comfort to her. Knowing Reese guarded her and Taylor helped her feel protected, and he continually reminded her that she was never alone.

"You want to know why I kept it, don't you?"

"I'm mildly curious."

Carter narrowed her eyes playfully. "I think you're more than that."

"Okay, then. I'm dying to know." He droned.

"To be honest, I couldn't figure it out until tonight. Or maybe…I just didn't want to admit it to myself." Carter fought the urge to fidget and look elsewhere. Reese never took his eyes off her and waited patiently with no judgement.

"With the photo…I had a human connection to you, John. You're not a machine, or soulless killer. And you know it took me some time to realize that."

"I'm glad you did, Joss." He said tenderly.

"John, you are a good man. You…you have more heart than many of the cops I know. Seeing the photo fully convinced me that I was doing the right thing by helping you and Harold make this city a better place. I took an oath in life, as a soldier, and a cop, to serve and protect. You took that same oath, and I'm forever convinced that you do it better than anyone."

Carter heaved her shoulders and looked down a few seconds. When she peeked up at him, a wet glow had filled his eyes. She'd wondered when or if he'd ever cried. He looked on the verge of it now. His throat moved up and down as he swallowed his tears and Carter almost gasped as a smile as genuine as the one in the photo spread across his face and crinkled his handsome eyes.

It was a first for her and she was compelled to reach out and grab him.

John enveloped her and they hugged. His body was hard and secure, hers soft and inviting, and neither let go for a long while. He sniffled, and his embrace tightened.

A teardrop escaped and he quickly brushed it away. He glanced at the streetlight post and a camera peered down on them. The real machine had witnessed everything – crunching data and figures and making guesstimates. Reese cocked his head and caught the red light on top turn off and on.

The machine winked at him. He curled his mouth ironically and winked back.

Reese reluctantly loosened his grip on her. "Thank you, Joss. I think I really needed to hear that."

"You deserve to hear it." Carter whispered as she gradually pulled away. She hit her car lock button. "Drive you home?"

Reese gentlemanly opened the door to usher her in. "Sure."

~Oo~

They parted with barely a word. The hug had spoken volumes. After picking up Taylor she immediately changed into her pajamas and dove into bed. She snuggled under her quilt and glared at the ceiling with her emotions in a tailspin. She said a quick prayer and a realization dawned on her. Before shutting her lamp she rummaged through the second drawer of her nightstand and pulled out a copy of a certain picture. She'd made it in case she lost the original.

She smiled tenderly and stroked the face of the happy man in uniform.

"Good night, John."

The End.