TRY
A Carter/Reese Story

By shoetingstar

CHAPTER 2 PANIC AGAIN

"Nice attempt to change the subject," John, was saying.

It had been a couple of hours. They were way past formalities. The talk became more personal in the rambling of time.

"Okay…You got me," she admitted. "Let's see…When Taylor was 9, I brought home a date. First time since I lost his father…I'll never forget how he reacted, how he looked at me. It was like I had betrayed him."

"Understandable. It is difficult for a kid."

"Definitely. We've both grown-up since then."

"Have you started dating again?"

"No. Find me the time."

"We make time, don't we?"

She considered his statement.

"And you?" She shot back.

"We have crazy hours. And there are risks, for me."

"Looks like we're both afraid."

He didn't disagree with her assessment.

"Eventually. I don't want to end up a crazy old lady. Alone. Poisoning folks." She frowned, worried.

John chuckled. "That's not going to happen. You're more of the shooting-type."

"Aww, thanks for that…"

You're not alone, Joss.

That was one of the few times he'd actually called her by her first name.

"Speaking of bad guys," Carter said suddenly. "Taylor auditioned to play the bad guy. But they said he wasn't ready. Still, it's huge that he got even a small part."

"He wanted to be Shylock? You think Shylock is the bad guy?"

"Shakespeare certainly did. And he was incredibly racist about it."

"I don't see him that way."

"He literally wanted a pound of his flesh from Antonio. I would be hunting this guy down."

"I don't think he would have gone through with it," His voice had an odd quality. "He just wanted justice."

"That's why we have laws," she said firmly. "You're big on Shakespeare?"

John shrugged. "Easy way to impress girls," he said. "I don't know…The Merchant of Venice. The friendship between the two guys – Antonio and Bassanio. That's what stayed with me. No one betrayed anyone. They were just good friends."

"Good friends who were rescued by a woman," Carter added proudly.

"Portia," John agreed thoughtfully. "Yeah, they needed her didn't they? Bessanio needed her. That's what started all the trouble."

"And that's why I don't date. It always brings the trouble and stupidity," Joss said. "Bessanio was a bit of a knuckle-head. His character frustrates me."

"There had to be something good about him. Antonio stuck by him. Portia loved him."

"Or they were just blind to his faults."

"Or they were aware of his faults but still cared for him."

"You have a lot of excuses for some unsavory characters."

"Sympathy," he turned to her. "I wouldn't be here if someone didn't have it for me."

"Here, locked in a panic room while a crazy old lady is on the loose?" She joked.

Reese had to laugh.

"Yeah, what do I know?" he added.

There was a pause and then:

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A FAIR ASSESSMENT MR. REESE. GREAT POINTS, ALSO, DETECTIVE CARTER.

Finch's voice boomed through the room.

"How are you doing that?" Carter shouted.

I COULD EXPLAIN BUT I'D RATHER GET YOU OUT OF THERE IF YOU DON'T MIND DETECTIVE. I AM SURE TAYLOR WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. MR. REESE, KATHERINE NORANGE HAS BEEN APPREHENDED. HER INTENDED VICTIM IS SAFE, THOUGH A BIT RATTLED.

They heard noise at the security keypad, and then the door of the panic room popped open.

They were free.

GETTING PRETTY

"I have 30 minutes to get pretty!" Joss said, bolting from the car to her house.

John hurried after her. "I really hate to ask this. But I have a date tonight…"

That stopped her in tracks.

"You mind if I change here? I sort of have plans."

"With Finch?"

"No. She's not Finch."

"Oh," Joss said, flustered. "That's the reason for all the relationship talk…? I thought you weren't ready?"

She opened her front door and shrugged. "You know what – it's none of my business. Come in."

CURTAIN CALL

"Break a leg!" Carter was so proud of Taylor and tried not to embarrass him too much in front of the other kids.

He smiled but seemed distracted.

"Be right back."

Like most kids his age he was texting someone. She waited impatiently, when her own phone began to buzz in her purse. It was the "bat phone" John had given her.

(John)

Whatcha doin Carter?

(Carter)

I think u know.

(pause)

How's the date?

(John)

Dramatic

(Carter)

Oops too bad, good luck!

(John)

Tell him to break a leg

(Carter)

I will. Thanks.

(John)

Actually…I can…

Taylor was suddenly pulling her toward the stage curtain.

"Your surprise is here!"

He parted the heavy scarlet curtain and urged her to look. She looked up, out into the buzz of people finding seats and chatting. There was the particular electric pulse, the anticipation that only happens just before the first act of the play and the actors finally took the stage. There was John, in the left aisle. She had no idea how he tailed people. He stood out to her like no one else. He had a certain vibe. No, that wasn't quite it. Besides, she wasn't blind. She made a point of ignored how attractive he was, mostly…usually. There were those times, discussing a case, when he would tilt his head and look at her a certain way, or give her one of his rare smiles. Then any thought related to work was momentarily suspended and breaking eye contact was necessary.

He gave them a little wave, and patiently waited: a calm current that hid a potentially devastating storm. Yes. Devastating. Especially his eyes – they always said enough – yet never betrayed him completely. Even when he was first brought into her precinct, a bum by all appearances, his eyes held her curiosity.

Her phone buzzed again. She took a quick peek.

(John)

Actually…I can tell him myself

The, after a pause…

(John)

Good job getting pretty Carter.

She looked down at her simple but chic plum cocktail dress. It was definitely different from her boring cop wardrobe. She quickly retreated behind the safety of the closed curtain. "Taylor Michael Carter!" She said in that what-the-hell-were-you-thinking-boy tone.

"We've sort of kept in touch," he confessed, reluctantly.

Initially this new information was a slight blow to Joss, though she wished it was not the case. Yet, another example of the many things she did not know about her own son lately. Her mind knew it was normal. The assertion of his own independence was preferable to releasing a cowardly mamma's boy into the world. Still, there was a pulling of her heart at these moments. It was too familiar, too similar to loss, to the cut of another severed tie.

However, it was John, Taylor's new hero. And her friend…? She didn't know what else to call him.

"How often does someone save our life? You always talk about being grateful. I just wanted…to let him know I'm okay. I was worth the effort. What's wrong with that?"

He didn't even know about John coming to her aid. She knew exactly what he meant. It was the dilemma of having your life handed back to you and the responsibility that comes with it. She was raising a thoughtful young man.

The director of the play was trying to get everyone's attention. The show was starting soon.

"I'm proud of you. She said before heading down the stairs and out into the auditorium. "And have fun, okay?"

WHAT ABOUT JAY?

The amount of attention Hudson was giving to this particular subject scared Joss. He was always attentive but discussing her love life and John (or "Jay" as she'd called him), seemed to peak his interest.

"So this new information," he was saying. "…Is pretty huge. What are we thinking?"

"I'm thinking I need to be careful," she returned.

"As in…?"

"Just…I have a bigger picture of who he is – the person he was and the person he is now. It's a lot to take in."

She didn't add that she had kept an actual picture of John with his ex-girlfriend. She couldn't begin to explain it, but only knew that shredding that evidence of John's past life was impossible. It seemed almost sacrilegious to abandon that vision of John with a genuinely, happy smile on his handsome face. He looked normal. They looked like a normal, attractive, and happy couple. It was the John that Joss would have met before the CIA had done its dirty work on him.

"Last time we talked you were flirting with possible feelings for "Jay."

"You mean I was flirting with danger?" Joss joked.

"Is it real danger or your fight to remain unaffected…Your struggle to not be vulnerable?"

"There is real trouble. We both have dangerous…professions."

"That could be a possible place of understanding."

"But he is reckless, stubborn and…I don't want to understand him, dammit," she added in exasperation.

"Hmm….Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves - Carl Jung," Dr. Hudson offered, smiling. "Perhaps this Jay is not the person for you. And that's perfectly fine. However, if you do want to be with someone you will have to try, my brave Detective."

"Try? That's it? That's your professional advice?"

"It's a start."

MORE CURTAIN CALL: BETTER THAN NOT

She found her seat – front row, center. She began chatting with the mom next to her.

"This seat taken?" John's calm voice said behind her.

Joss turned, stood, straightened her shoulders, and cleared her throat.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was sworn to secrecy," John said, holding his hand to his heart in his own defense.

He was freshly showered, and dressed in a clean suit, with dark blue button-up. His warm, masculine cologne intoxicated her senses. Dear Moses, he looked good. They looked good together. Together. Them. Huh…?

She introduced Ivy, a good friend and the mom of another performer who was sitting on the other side. (Ivy looked from Joss, up to John with interest. Her deep brown eyes sparkled with questions she answered without Ms. Carter's help. Joss displayed a hesitant eagerness she'd never seen before. The tall, dark and handsome dude had deftly scanned her from head to toe with appreciation.)

They sat down.

Where did she even start?

Did he attend many plays? Did he have a favorite? Why had he been talking to her son? What the hell did they talk about?

"You didn't ask about the date," John whispered. "You weren't curious about?"

Of course I was, she thought.

The lights were dimming. Start time. She changed the subject.

"Kind of risky being here, don't you think? The FBI is now on that long list of people that want you."

"Who are the other names on that list?" He asked pointedly.

This really meant something to him!

"You know. They never stopped looking for you."

He looked away. "I have a back-up plan. Finch says hi. I think he's miffed he didn't get an invite. Oh, he didn't want me to share that. Sorry, Finch."

"Next time?" Joss offered.

The lights were dimmed.

"Well, however you got here John, thanks for coming. It means a lot to Taylor."

His hand found hers, and held on for the briefest of seconds. Again, his calm storm had tamed her inner concern, for the time being. None of her family had been able to make it. If she was brave enough to be honest with herself she would acknowledge it was better having him here, next to her, than not. It was quite nice.

AFTER

Taylor had been wonderful. The play had gone well and the cast received a standing ovation from the community theater crowd.

"We're going to dinner to celebrate," Carter said to John, on her way to see Taylor.

"I know…" he said. He was enjoying this little game.

"What else did you and Taylor talk about?"

"Oh…The weather. Science…Computers…"

She rolled her eyes. As usual, she wasn't going to get any straight answers.

"I'll meet you there," he said, getting up to leave.

"He's bringing friends. You sure you ready to hang out with a group of teenagers?

"Will you be there?"

Her eyebrows rose in interest.

"Then I'll be fine," he continued. "Also, I need you to go by the box office before you leave."

"A case?"

"Not exactly."

Then he was gone.

A BIT LATER…

"Why am I not surprised?" Joss said aloud about the Call of Duty: Black Ops V shooting game John had left at the box office for Taylor.

However, the one John left for her was a welcome surprise. The bouquet of deep, velvet orange roses was enormous. Like a crowded group of little admirers giving a standing ovation. The various shades of orange were amazing. Gorgeous. Devastating.

A FEW WEEKS LATER

Carter read the story from her cellphone and then called John.

Mystery Restaurant Customer Comes To Rescue of Special-Needs Child

"Well, John. That was the most interesting first date I've ever had. First time I went to dinner and my date ended up in the news."

"Slight complication," he said matter-of-factly. She could hear his labored breathing as he walked. "Unfortunately, complete jerks don't take a night off."

Her cab was pulling up to the address.

"I wanted to cheer when you punched that guy. I just hope the FBI doesn't read the New York Daily News."

"Let's hope, Carter."

"By the way, when are you going to use my first name?"

"I didn't know I had permission," he teased.

"Never stopped you before," she paid the driver and wiggled out of the cab.

"Here's a plan: my place, we order take out, and just relax."

Her strappy heels click-clacked on the pavement. She was in front of an impressive building. A park was across the street.

"Just relax, huh? Where did you send me?"

She expected one of his evasive answers, but nothing as distracting as his actual response.

"Could I kiss you and answer that later?"

A heated energy radiated through her, but she said, "You think I could let you get away with that?"

She turned to find him walking up the sidewalk toward her. He directed her toward the front entry as he unlocked the door. Before they touched the first step he stopped her. She could smell his familiar, welcoming scent, faint but still welcoming. His eyes were brilliant, intense. His hand snaking around her waist beneath her jacket momentarily overwhelmed her.

"Carter…" There was an extra huskiness in his voice

"John."

"Jocelyn."

"John, I think…"

"Joss."

Sonofabitch. Think. Thoughts. What was thinking, again?

He stepped forward, backing her onto the wall near the staircase. The rational part of her whispered sense to her, but the human, warm-blooded female portion of her was louder, more forgiving, surrendered.

His hand was still at her waist, the other one was tilting her chin, bringing her lip closer. His lips were a gentle caress. This first kiss was surprisingly gentle, slow like they had all the time in the world. She could feel the tension beneath her fingertips, the heat of his skin beneath his dress shirt. He was holding back.

He stopped suddenly and got that faraway look she knew so well. "Everything is fine, Finch," he said, through some labored breathing. Joss was wiggling herself away from his frame, but he held on and pulled her back to him.

His eyes pleaded with her.

Please. Stay.

He brought her hand to his lips, kissed the palm of her hand.

"Carter is…?" John looked at her for an answer.

"In SO much trouble..." Joss finished.

"She's well. You mind if I take the night off?" He said, holding back a chuckle. His eyes scanned her for agreement. Her breath quickened, her cheeks felt hot.

"So…We're going to try?" John said, after he hung up with Finch.

You will have to try, my brave Detective, Dr. Hudson had said before.

She was taken about. How much had John (and Finch?) heard?

"Together?" John, pressed.

She would have a strong, serious talk with him about being in her business. Later.

"What are you waiting for," Joss said and proceeded up the stairs. John was not far behind.

**THE END**

Disclaimer: Regarding characters related to the television show Person of Interest. I DO NOT OWN PERSON OF INTEREST or its characters. This story was written for entertainment purposes only and with the creative affection of a fan. No profit was made from this work. No copyright infringement intended.

©2013 This is an original work of Shoetingstar (this author's pen name). All Rights Reserved. This story may not be reproduced in any manner, without the express permission of the author. All such requests should be emailed to Shoetingstar through this site.