Okay, since I got so much positive feedback (thank you so much for this!) I'm moving on to the next chapter.
2 - The new number
John still had a small smile on his lips as he left Carter's apartment. Within his imagination, a day couldn't start any better. The New York streets were busy as always but that's the way he liked it. If everyone was occupied with their own problems he could easily wander around unnoticed.
While driving over to the library he just stopped to get their usual cups of Sencha green tea, coffee and a box of doughnuts. He wasn't about to let this day become anything other than great just because Finch didn't drink enough of his favorite tea.
As he entered the doors of their headquarter he could already hear Harold's typing. Bear was greeting him as soon as he made a step in. The Belgian Malinois was alway happy to see his master. After he was petted by Reese he walked back to his bed wagging its tail.
It seemed like this would become a usual working day for John. He just hoped he could wrap this case up before tomorrow morning since he was eager to repeat this breakfast as often as possible.
"Good morning Finch" he greeted his partner who looked up for a second before continuing his typing "Good morning to you too, Mr. Reese. Did Detective Carter appreciate your cooking skills?"
John was already used to the fact that Finch seemed to know everything so it didn't bother him anymore. It didn't mean he had to answer those questions. "Do we have a new number?"
"Yes, we do. But you are not going to like this case." Finch said with a worried look on his face. Reese raised an eyebrow on him. A minute ago his was convinced this would be a good day but with Finch looking the way he did 'not like' will be an understatement. He circled the table after putting their breakfast on it.
This couldn't be real. The picture of a Detective Jocelyn Carter dressed in a police uniform stared up at him. He'd hoped this would never happen again and was even tempted to ask Finch if this might be a mistake. But it would be useless, he certainly checked it already. "Damn it…"
After a few minutes in which each of them was lost in their own thoughts, they had to get started about listing some possible perps.
"Well, there would be the usual suspects, HR, Elias and about a few hundreds of people she put in jail." John sighed. 'Damn this girl for being this good at her job.'
"The first question to answer would be if you intend to tell her she's in imminent danger. The last time it helped because she was wearing her bulletproof vest as her CI chose to deceive her." Finch remembered him of the one picture he was still trying to get out of his system. Joss laying there in the alley and those awful long seconds until he made sure she was going to be okay.
"Yeah, but if I tell her she's not going to stop telling me she can handle this on her own. Then I would be forced to observe without her seeing me which will make it a lot more difficult. I don't want to take any chances" John growled. He didn't want to lie to her, but in order to protect her he would do anything. Even though he knew she was going to be mad at him later.
"Then what are you planning to do exactly?" Harold asked without judging his decision.
"I'm just going to be by her side as much as possible and try to figure out who's trying to kill her this time. Somebody who has been planning it to be precisely." John answered. 'At least this whole mess has one good side.' Being about her most of the time was like a wish become true.
"You guy need some help with it?" Both men jumped at the sound of the former assassin Sameen Shaw who was leaning at the doorframe. Reese was surprised he didn't noticed her arriving, she was just as sneaky as him. He had to pull himself together to be more alert of his surroundings and not let his thoughts slip too much over to a certain detective.
"Indeed, Ms. Shaw, I think we could use your support for this case." Finch nodded. "Our mutual friend, Detective Carter, did come up as a possible target by the Machine. We agreed not to tell her this fact because she would want to handle it by herself otherwise."
"I think she's a big girl, Finch, as a detective she's used to this. But I'll play along." Shaw shrugged and spotted the box with doughnuts. "Since John's going to be around her all the time what's my job?" she asked grabbing one with chocolate on it.
"You could take a look at the suspects we identify or take turns with Mr. Reese."
"No Finch, I guess Carter would discover we're protecting her if Shaw turns up at her steps asking for a girls' night watching a tearjerker or to go shopping shoes with her." John returned dryly. "You better go with the first option. I'll organize some more eyes and ears." Pressing quick dial on his cell phone he just had to wait a few seconds.
"Hello Lionel" he said in a low voice. "I've got some work for you to do."
"It's not like I just hang around and wait for you to call me, you know? I actually do have a full time job."
"Stop complaining Fusco, I know it does help your career that I drop a little present here and there. I need you to stay close to Carter, according to our source someone's planning to harm her."
"You mean like the last time? Oh boy, I can ask her if she got any threatening letters lately. I mean except from the usual stack of them."
"NO! Don't you dare to drop a single word about this conversation to her. It will only make things a lot more difficult. Try telling her there's a new directive for detectives to always wear a bulletproof vest, I guess Finch can help you out on this."
"You want me to lie to her? She's going to rip my head of as soon as she finds out!"
"If you keep talking she might won't be able to do this anymore! We need you to keep an eye on her while she's at work. I hope you do this without me reminding you anyway so you're not really lying to her. Call me if you notice something wrong with her or you got a suspect for us." he said before disconnecting the call.
"All detectives at the NYPD just received an email with an order to wear they vest at anytime during work hours." Finch looked up at Reese who smiled in return. "Thank you, Finch."
"I will also try to search through Detective Carter's recent cases and see if I can find anything suspicious in there. Meanwhile I will write a code who will give us a list of all persons which she arrested, are free now and still reside in New York City." He said while rather hectically typing at the keyboard. Reese was really thankful for the fact that they didn't even need to speak in order to work perfectly together. Especially this time.
John breathed deeply as he dialed her number. "Hello Detective" he said in a low voice. "I was just wondering if you have any plans for your free day?"
"John? Please, can't you call Fusco for doing a stakeout or whatever you're up to? I just want to enjoy this day without breaking the laws."
"I don't think I want to have Fusco as company for a walk in the park with Bear. This could be easily misunderstood."
"Why not? You're a cute couple."
"Carter…" John growled as she explode with laughter.
"Okay, okay. Just a walk in the park you say? I'm in then."
He could hear her still smiling even over the phone. "I'll pick you up from home, see you"
Being relieved he disconnected the call and noticed Bear in front of him. His leash between the teeth the dog was hopefully looking up at him, wagging its tail.
That's it, the second chapter is done. Please let me know if you liked it or not :-)