Title: Take Me Away

Author: wolfmusic218

Summary: Reese takes a big step in his relationship with Carter. Between a motorcycle, some guns, lots of mud & rain, and their own fears...will they actually make it?

Author's notes: This story. I don't even know what to say about it. It should have been done a long time ago. It took almost a year and a half to finish and I'm really sorry. If it weren't for Chellero and PiscesChikk keeping at me and encouraging me to stop worrying about the stops and starts and just "finish the damn thing, girl", I honestly think I'd still be pulling my hair out over it. I hope it was worth all that fussin', my friends...

Since Chellero also has an evil side, yeah, there's gonna be an epilogue (as a separate story). It's been started though, so if I take too long on it, y'all have permission to track me down and beat me about the head and neck. ;) Or I'll just send you her address.

This is a continuation of the The Space Between and Tactics, Trajectory, and Teenagers universe. It would make a lot more sense if you read those first.

I've been looking for you all of my life,
But I never ever knew it 'til I saw you last night.
I can barely tell you how it made me feel.
When the world stopped moving and my heart stood still.

-Zachary Richard

Rolling through the streets of New York City at 7 o'clock in the morning was a thrill. If he was being honest, zipping through any early morning traffic on two wheels always upped Reese's adrenaline, but the destination he had in mind for today gave him more of a rush than his new Harley ever had. He was on his way to Brooklyn and back to Carter's.

He'd woken up, after actually sleeping for more than his usual few hours, feeling...refreshed and excited about the day. He realized while shaving that it wasn't the sleep that had done it. It was her. He'd dreamt of her. The evening they'd spent together, the kiss they'd shared, had brought something to the surface he hadn't felt in so long: hope. It had taken him less than two seconds to decide that he had to see her again, it had to be today, and he knew just what they had to do.

After calling in a few favors, he'd grabbed the keys to the bike, made a stop or two on the way, and pointed the motorcycle in the direction of Joss's apartment.

He knew she'd taken the day off as a birthday present to herself. He hoped she was still sleeping but, knowing her, she'd probably get up to see her son off to school. He wanted to surprise her and decided to make sure Taylor let his mother sleep in. Parking the bike, he flipped open his phone and hit speed dial 3, hoping Taylor had his phone on silent as they'd agreed. They'd decided not to tell her that Reese had given him the phone, not yet. It was a secret between men. A secret to keep a boy he'd come to love as much as the boy's mother, safe.

After the third ring, he heard, "Hey, John."

"Morning, T. Your mother still asleep?" From the low voice on the other end, he knew he had his answer.

"Sawing logs in her room, yeah. I think she's still recovering from her spa day. Need me to wake her up?"

"No, let her sleep. Come on downstairs quietly."

"Got it. Let me grab my lunch and I'll be down in a minute."

Reese thumbed his phone off and waited. A few minutes later, Taylor came bounding down the steps of his apartment building scanning the area for him. His eyes passed over Reese three times before landing on him leaning on the bike.

Taylor let out a low whistle. "Damn, is this yours?"

Reese cocked his head. "No, I stole it."

Taylor squinted at him, gauging his seriousness. "You're bullshitting me."

Reese laughed. "You're getting better at that. No, I did not steal it. And if you keep talking like that, you're going to do it in front of your mother one of these days and it won't be pretty."

"You're right about that. So, what are you doing here this early?"

"I thought I'd take your Mom to breakfast." Reese shifted and was startled when Taylor broke out in laughter. "What?"

Taylor waved his hand at the bike. "You really don't think you're going to get Mom on that thing, do you?"

It never occurred to him that she wouldn't. "Well, yeah." His hand smoothed over the extra helmet hooked to the side of his seat.

Taylor covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. "Um, yeah. There is no way in he...heck...that you're going to get my mother on that thing."

Reese's left eyebrow rose just a fraction and he smirked. "Would you like to bet on that?"

"Oh my God, man...you are so on. What's the bet? You're going down in flames."

Reese stood up from the bike and set his helmet on the seat. "I don't think so. If you're so convinced you're going to win, you make the bet."

The surprise showed on his face only momentarily. "Really? OK, let me think."

Reese waited a few seconds while Taylor made a show of it. "I don't have all day."

Taylor tapped his finger on his lips, contemplating. "I need a new laptop. Mine is ancient. And I know that guy you work with could come up with one that could launch a freakin' rocket or something so..."

"Deal."

The surprise at Reese's instant agreement showed on Taylor's face "Seriously?"

Reese walked over and stood in front of him, smirking. "Yes. And do you know why I agreed so quickly?"

"I don't like that look on your face, man. If you already talked to her about it, that's cheating."

"I haven't talked to your mother since I left last night. No, I agreed so easily because I know I can convince her. And, in that event...you'll owe me a week...no, a month...of cleaning."

"Dude...cleaning? What do I look like?"

"You look like a boy who's confident that he's going to win...so...take it or leave it. Oh, and did I mention that the cleaning you'll be doing will be your own house?"

Taylor's head turned up quickly at that. "Hey...there's nothing wrong with my house!"

"I know. And do you know why that is?"

The lightbulb went on as Taylor's eyes and head dipped down. "Because my Mom spends a lot of time taking care of it."

Reese put his hand on Taylor's shoulder and smiled. "Exactly. For one month, if you lose, you'll clean up after yourself. You'll clean the dishes without being asked. You'll hang your towels up. You'll vacuum, you'll dust, you'll take out the garbage. All without being asked. And I'll know if you don't."

"Dude, you know if I start doing that, she's going to expect it all the time."

"You have to ask yourself if you're willing to take that chance. Are you so afraid you're going to lose?"

The bravado returned at that comment. "Nah, man...there is no way in this world you're going to get my mother on that thing. Ever. You might as well just go pick up that laptop for me now."

Reese stuck out his hand, trying to keep the grin off his face. "So, we have a deal?"

Taylor shook his hand. "It's a deal."

"Get to school and good luck on your test. I'm going to go talk your mother into a bike ride."

"How'd you know about my test?" He shook his head, "Never mind, I don't wanna know. I'm going." As he walked away, Taylor turned, waved, and then stopped. "Hey, you need my key?"

Reese cocked his head, grinning. "Nope."

"She's gonna shoot you, you know that, right?" He laughed and spun back around without waiting for an answer.

Reese kept an eye on him until he met up with his friend on the corner. "That's a distinct possibility."

As usual, it was entirely too easy to break into the Carter home. He shook his head as he closed the door behind him, making a mental note to talk her into getting one of the security teams Finch employed to rework the locks on her door. Hell, maybe he'd just have them put in a security system. He really, really didn't like the idea of her being so vulnerable in her own home. She might be a cop with a gun, but she was still a woman living with her teenage son. Both of whom he'd come to care about a great deal.

The sun peeked through her blinds as Reese leaned against the doorjamb watching her sleep. Her bare arm hung over the edge of the bed. Sometime in the night, after he'd put her to bed, she must have gotten up and changed. A very small part of him hoped she had at least something on under the comforter...but the rest of him, the man who was falling in love with her, hoped she didn't.

He untied his boots, slipped them off, and padded over to the bed keeping an eye open for any movement or change in her breathing. Squatting down, he kept his eyes on her as he drew his finger down her arm gently, barely touching her skin. Her pinky twitched and he smiled, increasing the pressure slightly. She shifted on the bed a little, making Reese pull his hand away. He didn't want to startle her; he just wanted to wake her slowly. He slipped his fingertip under her palm once she settled, running smooth circles over it.

"You're better than any alarm clock, John." Her voice was deep with sleep and she kept her eyes closed, but a slight smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

He gave a soft chuckle and ran his fingers through hers, reveling in the feel of her hand gripping his lightly. "How long have you known I was here?"

Her left eye opened only a bit and she gave a light, unladylike snort. "Since you walked in the doorway to my bedroom. Taylor let you in?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you probably picked the damn lock like you always do. Didn't we discuss this?" She snuggled down deeper into the covers. Reese thought she looked like she was cocooning herself. He wished he was in there with her, feeling her snuggling tightly against him.

"Mmmhmm...we did and we'll discuss it again soon, I'm sure." He winked at her. "Now, get out of bed; we have things to do today."

Carter lifted her head, turned it and fell face first into the pillow, groaning. The sound, although innocent and done in frustration, hit Reese straight in the groin. If that wasn't enough, the sound that escaped her next nearly undid him.

"Jooooooohhhhn..." she spoke into the pillow. He closed his eyes at the sound of his name escaping her like that. He wanted to hear it again. And again.

"You do realize it's my day off, right?" She paused then groaned again. "Shit, of course you do; that's why you're here."

He leaned down closer to her ear, his voice soft. "I took the day off too."

Her head came up and around so quickly, she nearly brushed his lips with hers. Reese took a quick breath, steadying himself so he didn't lean forward and do just that. Then he asked himself why the hell he shouldn't. He smirked as he watched her...he could tell the same idea had crossed her mind.

She shook her head of the thought reluctantly. "You did not. Did you?" At his quick nod, "Why?"

He ran his hand absently up her arm. "Thought I'd take my favorite birthday girl to breakfast."

The gooseflesh rose on her arm and he curled his fingers, running the tips over her tricep.

"It's not my birthday anymore." The words came out in a whisper.

He gave a small shrug and a light blush and grin spread across his face. "Well, maybe I'm just using that as an excuse..." Before she had a chance to respond, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "C'mon, I have a surprise for you."

"What did you do?"

Reese stood and turned toward the door, looking over his shoulder, "What part of 'surprise' don't you understand? Come on."

He turned fully towards her to make sure she was moving, only to catch her swinging her legs out from under the comforter and standing. Yep, she'd definitely changed last night. He swallowed hard at the sight before him. Even rumpled from sleep, she was a vision in her thin tank and drawstring pants.

There must be a chill in the room, he observed with a tightening of his stomach. He spun quickly back around, but not before she noticed his discomfort. He was screwed.

"Something wrong, John?" He could hear the unmistakable teasing in her voice.

"Nope, nothing. Just giving you some privacy to get your robe." He cleared his throat and jammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

"Robe? I don't even own a robe."

Her voice sounded closer so he turned his head to glance over his shoulder. She was right behind him now and her hand landed on his hip, turning him. As usual, he couldn't resist the pull of her.

She looked up at him and smiled, not-quite-innocently. "Would you mind putting on some coffee while I get a quick shower?"

"Sure."

As she walked past, her hand stayed on him, running over his hip and then his stomach. She stopped next to him and rose up on her toes, kissing him quickly near his mouth, but not close enough for his liking.

"Thanks. I'll be right out."

She dodged his hands and giggled as she headed to the bathroom.

"Carter?"

She stopped at the doorway and turned to look at him, her eyebrow raised and a saucy grin on her face. "Hmm?"

"Lock that door."

He heard her laughter as she shut the door, but he never heard the lock turn.

Reese wiped his hand over his mouth with a grin when he heard the shower come on. Grabbing his boots, he headed to the kitchen and out of temptation's reach.

tbc