II. Two Turtle Doves

December 13th 11:30PM Brooklyn New York, NY

"No", Joss proclaimed adamantly as she stood in her kitchen listening to John explain his last case and her new house guests.

"Please Carter. It's only for a few days," John stated as he held out Finch's strict dietary guidelines.

"And why the hell do I have to keep them? Can't you or Shaw watch them?" Joss asked as she glared at John.

"Shaw and I are barely at home enough to feed ourselves let alone pets," John replied as he placed the bird feed into the cage.

"You can't keep them at the Batcave with Bear and Alfred?" Joss asked as see looked closer at the cage sitting on her counter

John sighed, "We tried but Finch didn't enjoy having to stop Bear from trying to eat them."

Joss stifled a laugh as she imagined Finch defending the birds from Bear.

"Pleaseeeeeeeeee…." John pleaded as he clasped his hands together and sported the look he use to give his mother when he was younger and wanted something.

Joss felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips as she witnessed John's best innocent beggar face, one she often found her son using when he wanted something really bad.

Joss shook her head as she caved under his gaze "Fine John but just for a few days."

"Thank you I owe you one" John replied smirking as he stood to leave.

"You sure in the hell do" Joss stated as she stared at the two huddled white doves sound asleep in their cage.

John pulled his coat on wincing slightly, as he tried his best to mask the pain of the bruises he sustained from earlier.

"Are you okay?" Joss asked as she watched him try to mask his pain.

John glanced up at her noticing the irritated but mostly concerned look she was giving him. He cracked a faint smile "I'm fine Joss just a few bruises, nothing I can't handle"

"You better start taking better care of yourself before I authorize Shaw to start giving you daily physical exams", Joss chastised as she looked at the feeding directions for the doves.

John smiled, despite the haunting thought of Shaw giving him physical exams he couldn't help the warm feeling he felt her concern for his well being.

He glanced one last time at the two turtle doves locked in their loving and peaceful embrace before he made his way back out into night.