So, this story has been haunting me all week...even with a split double that managed to wipe me out! The bad news is that there is another split double on the horizon for this week, too! But I promise to post something before then. That said, I hope that you don't mind me opening the story with CAREESE - after all, it is their story. Don't get too wrapped up in the feel good because there IS going to be conflict. The good news is that I know who the bad guys are! And I have a pretty good guess you do, too! But we'll get to that later. Enjoy!
I'd Come For You
Six weeks later...
Joss Carter huddled deeper into her coat as the bitterly cold New York City wind whipped between the buildings and carried flakes of snow to dust the sidewalks. Breathing out, she took a little pleasure in the way her breath turned to vapor. Sure it was a childish thing to do, but not if there was a possibility of never being able to do it again. As others complained about the long winter and prayed for summer, Joss was grateful for the moment. She vowed never to complain about the seasons...even if the city got below freezing in winter and sweltered in the summer.
Climbing the stairs to the double doors of the precinct she never expected to see again, her eyes took in every single item. She was home! She looked at her watch. Okay, she was a couple of hours early, but that was alright; she could enjoy the quiet before the first shift arrived.
Shrugging out of her coat and scarf, Joss hung them on the back of her chair and noticed the brown bag and large cup of coffee on her desk. She shook her head in disbelief and chuckled. He could still find the little ways to amaze her.
"Good one, John," she mumbled. Her heart picked up the pace as her eyes darted around the room. Was he watching her?
At that exact moment, her phone rang.
****
Tucked against a tall building across the street from the precinct, John Reese still found it easy to blend into the crowd – though maybe the dusk seemed to aid in his surveillance.
Dressed conservatively in a long coat to protect his trademark suit, he kept his eyes trained forward. He barely registered the noise as the city slowly came to life, nor did he feel the rush of the people as they hurried past him – he was concentrating on a more important target.
From his corner, he watched as Joss Carter hurried up the steps toward her precinct and thru the double doors. He dialed his phone and put it to his ear. "Good morning, detective," he greeted with undisguised pleasure.
"Good morning, John," Joss sat down and opened the bag. "I still don't know how you manage to get in here without anyone seeing you."
"Trade secret."
"I suppose that trade secret is tied in with mind reading." Carefully she removed the plastic lid from the cup and sipped. Perfect. "How did you know that I take it with cream, no sugar?"
"Hmmm," he replied noncommittally.
"You're up early. Getting a head start on the bad guys?" she teased and looked toward the door way. Nowhere to be seen, but she knew he was out there just watching – her very own guardian angel.
"I just wanted to say that it's good to have you back," he smiled. Hearing her voice was enough to make his day.
Joss grinned. "It's good to be back." Even the stack of folders on her desk wasn't enough to dampen her mood. She had missed everything from the lousy coffee to the constant noise, but she was back. And God willing, she was never going to leave it again.
"Do you think that New York survived without us being gone for two months?" Reese asked tongue in cheek. He rubbed his gloved hands together as the cold wind whipped around him. The temperature seemed to be dropping, but she was worth it.
"Oh, I'm sure that Fusco held down the fort while we were out," she said and cast a glance at her partner's desk. He had one more week of convalescence, and she had no doubt that he was spending those days with Lee.
"So, what are you doing up early?" Reese prodded. "I thought you still had another couple of weeks of medical leave?"
A sharp pain caused Joss to draw in a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she counted to ten. Slowly she sipped the hot coffee and began to relax.
"Heh. I had to get out of the house. I love my mother, but…" she confessed with a shake of her head. "The four walls were slowly closing in. I had to leave or go crazy." She didn't go into detail how her mother had taken it upon herself to wait on Joss hand and foot. "She means well, but I had to get out of there or go crazy."
Reese knew how suffocating a room could become while lying in a bed with nothing to do. He had been there too many times to count. Of course, this time, Joss was waiting for him. His heart began to beat a little faster. He still dreamed of her lips on his, and the way she looked up at him with those big brown eyes full of questions that he wasn't sure he could answer.
Even now he wasn't sure if he had the answers, but after cheating death for the umpteenth time – and almost losing her – he was ready to explore the unknown. But he couldn't tell her that…not right now. They both had to heal first.
"What are you doing up so early?" Joss returned. "Doctor give you the clearance to go back to kicking the bad guy's ass?"
"Almost," he confessed and rotated his left shoulder. The bullet had torn up the muscle pretty good, but his rotator cuff had been spared. "Like you, I needed some fresh air. How about dinner? Tonight?" he asked out of the blue.
Joss bit her lip. She didn't want to think that there could be anything more to Reese's invite, but she couldn't help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive. After all, his kiss still haunted her.
"I'd love to, John," she sighed, "but I know that there is a mountain of paperwork on my desk. I-I want to tackle that before I go home tonight."
"I understand." And he did. More than she could know.
"But I'll take a rain check," she added quickly.
"I'll hold you to it."
"Stay out of trouble," she ordered. "Though I know you won't."
Reese chuckled and hit the button in his earwig to disconnect the call. He hit it again when it beeped. "Good morning, Finch. You're up early," he greeted his friend.
"I wanted to get an early start on the day. I see you had the same idea." Finch measured the dog kibble and poured it into Bear's dish. Eagerly, the dog devoured his breakfast. "How is Detective Carter?" Finch asked as he carefully lowered himself into the office chair and turned on the computer.
"She talked the doctor into granting her a light duty chit so she could go back to work. She should be taking it easy," Reese argued.
"As should some other people I know," Finch replied evenly. He knew better than to try talking his best friend out of doing something once his mind was set. All he could do was hope that the numbers continued to come in sporadically. So far, Shaw had held down the fort – he wasn't complaining - but for how long?
The computer buzzing drew Finch's attention to the monitor. A series of numbers scrolled across the screen.
"I'm feeling better. Besides, didn't you tell me that the numbers never stop coming?" Reese returned back in kind his employer's motto.
"Be that as it may, Mr. Reese, you still need to think about your health. It won't do anyone any good if you get reinjured." Finch's fingers flew over the keyboard as he pieced together the cryptic clues the Machine had given him.
Reese appeared bemused by the statement. "I almost think you care, Finch."
"Well, it appears to be your lucky day; a number has come in. A car jacking is about to go down three blocks from your location. I'm sending you the information right now."
Reese looked down the moment the alert came in. "I'm on my way."
"Be careful, Mr. Reese."
An enigmatic smile was Reese's only response.
