Present Day

Joss grimaced softly, sitting in her bathroom, as she slowly worked her arm up to work her baggy bed-shirt on, sucking in a breath as it hurt. Her shoulder got dislocated and she had to pop it back in place due to some idiot that was going to double cross his sidekick in a crash and grab theft deal. The guy had rammed her like some damned linebacker. But never bring a knife to a gunfight, it just never worked out.

She exited her small bathroom, moving gingerly into her bedroom. It had been not a good day, in the morning she had gotten a few blisters on the bottom of her feet thanks to the five mile jog she took to follow John. She had no idea how out of shape she truly was until she realized she was sweating and out of breath after the second mile. John didn't even pant after the fifth, but almost as if he subconsciously took pity on her body, he stopped. But she couldn't even say being out of breath was all due to not having jogged for so long, it quite possibly could have been from watching John jog from behind. His white muscle shirt clung to his torso, wet from sweat, and his hair glistened from the run. She nearly took a header as she focused her gaze on those tiny black running shorts that curved to his butt with each movement. She was going to go jogging with John more, not only was it a great workout, but it offered a view that couldn't be rivaled.

But her day had gotten worse thanks to Root calling her up with a new number to work which she hurried to figure out since she had a date with John tonight. They had been corresponding on that dating website for over two weeks now and she was anticipating their next session. But now her shoulder was killing her, she took some aspirin and she hoped like hell she'd be able to stay up till whenever he wanted to. They had talked twice since Root came up with this idea, each time John had tried to figure out who she was but she threw him curveball after curveball. Outfoxing John was fun if she was honest with herself, but more so talking to him was the best. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed their war on the site. He would throw something out, she would combat it, he would try to wiggle out any info to figure her out, and she stepped up her flirting.

She sat on her bed, turning her computer on, and leaned back a little.

Had someone told her a month ago that she'd be flirting with John on a dating website while they both had to pretend to be something they weren't; she'd say they were damned liars. But here she was, Jaycee, the mysterious woman he was corresponding with, flirting her heart out with him, and he was responding in kind. But they weren't totally pretending, because things she told him about herself, about how she longed for certain people back in her life were true. John figured it was a family member; while it was true she longed for her baby boy, she longed for John, and her friends as well. But she didn't bother correcting him, because she couldn't. But John had reciprocated to her honesty and told her he missed people in his life too. It was a way they could give voice to their feelings, an outlet so to speak, and she was going to do her damnedest at getting John to relax enough to tell Jaycee everything.

She logged onto the website, grinning ear to ear when she saw he was already on and waiting for her.

JCgurl42xo: Hi sexy.

Blueeyeguy007: Hi Jaycee, I've been waiting for you.

Joss sighed ignoring the aches and pangs she had. She wiggled until she got into a comfortable position before typing.

JCgurl42xo: I've been waiting all day to talk to you, John.

She had been flip-flopping on whether to coyly tease him about waiting around for her, or be honest and tell him she was longing to talk to him too. Joss had chosen to tell him the truth. She silently wondered what John was wearing, which made her relaxed state go straight to hell. But before she let John answer her reply she further typed to him.

JCgurl42xo: So I've been meaning to ask you John, what is a hot guy like yourself doing on this dating website? I'm sure you have women lining up and down the block to go out with you.

She hit ENTER with a large grin on her face. Not only did she remind him she got to see what he looked like while he was stuck imagining, but she got a chance to see him try to deflect. Their internet battle was nearly as fun as their face to face banter.

Blueeyeguy007: I'll answer your question Jaycee if you promise to post a picture.

She snorted as she immediately replied.

JCgurl42xo: Blackmailing is unattractive John.

She smacked ENTER with a smirk, seconds ticked by before her computer chirped.

Blueeyeguy007: Can't blame a guy for trying, Jaycee.

JCgurl42xo: I'm shy, John, you know that.

She grinned as she sat back getting comfortable once more. This was getting downright interesting. John was trying his damnedest at getting her to reveal something.

JCgurl42xo: Okay, John, since I do have a picture and you don't, how about I answer why I'm on here and then you can answer my question. Is that fair?

Blueeyeguy007: Alright, Jaycee, what are you doing on the website?

She grinned knowing he had gotten something he was hoping for, a chance to learn something about the mysterious Jaycee he had been asked to figure out. She giggled to herself.

JCgurl42xo: I was lonely.

She felt sad as she eyed her words on the screen while she waited for his reply. She was lonely and this was the only way she could be in his life without risking it.

Blueeyeguy007: Me too. I lost a woman I cared for very much back in November. You are the first woman to interest me since her.

Joss sat staring at her screen. The blue bubble with his words, were making her heart beat at a thundering rate. She worked her jaw, her fingers trembled over the keyboard.

JCgurl42xo: You two break up?

She forced herself to type it while she swallowed hard. It took a few minutes before he wrote back.

Blueeyeguy007: She was killed.

JCgurl42xo: I'm sorry, John.

Blueeyeguy007: Me too, she was perfect. She was fierce but compassionate, strong but vulnerable, hard but fair, and most of all she was beautiful from the inside out. There wasn't anything fake about Joss, she made me a better man.

Joss felt tears burn at the backs of her eyes reading what he wrote.

JCgurl42xo: She sounds a little hard to compete with, John. Were you two engaged?

It was killing her to pretend, but half of her was happy he didn't know she was alive. If he knew she was alive, she was unsure if he would let her know how he truly felt, and she was getting a glimpse into what he felt for her. She had a feeling John was telling Jaycee to not expect too much from him, which meant he hadn't figured out the ruse, at least not yet.

Blueeyeguy007: No, she was a really good friend.

Joss's heart sunk at the words she read.

JCgurl42xo: Seriously? You two were just friends? Sounds like there was more to it than that.

She waited for a while as if he was debating on what to say or he was getting suspicious that they were still talking about his feelings for a 'dead' woman.

Blueeyeguy007: I had feelings for her but it was unrequited on her side. Joss never viewed me as anything other than a friend and I wasn't going to lose her because I wanted more.

Joss's eyes widened. So his kiss in the morgue had been more than just wanting to connect with her because of their predicament. She had been so scared to hope.

JCgurl42xo: Were you in love with her?

She didn't think, she just typed and hit ENTER, because half of her was scared to know his answer. Joss just hoped like hell she hadn't pushed this thing too far, because talking about a dead woman, talking about a former woman in his life didn't typically happen when you tried to start something up with a new woman. But it didn't matter, she needed to know. Her heart stopped beating while she waited for his response. If he said no, then when she did reenter his life, she knew what capacity he wanted her in; friendship, love, or whatever.

Blueeyeguy007: Yes, I loved her.

Joss lost the battle over her tears remaining unshed because a few leaked out. But they weren't sad tears but rather happy ones. John loved her. It felt so good to know, she wished she could tell him it back, but his life was more important than her expressing to him that she loved him a million times over. She heard the ding to signify her to know that he messaged more.

Blueeyeguy007: You know Jaycee you remind me of someone.

Joss paused as she read his second reply. Uh-oh, did she go too far with her questions.

JCgurl42xo: Oh Yeah? Who?

Blueeyeguy007: The woman I told you about, you remind me a little of her.

Joss swallowed hard, she had to tread carefully here. John was getting too close to the truth and if she continued she might give herself away.

JCgurl42xo: I take that as a compliment then.

She waited for his response, when she got none, she wondered if he was suspicious. So she forged ahead.

JCgurl42xo: Well, sexy, I answered your question as to why I'm on here. Now it's your turn.

Blueeyeguy007: Actually I already answered it. My friend wanted me to connect with people because I was having a hard time getting over Joss, and my friend said that I might meet interesting people. And she was right, because you're very interesting Jaycee and a tad bit frustrating too.

Joss laughed. Of course he would be frustrated, he couldn't get any info from her.

JCgurl42xo: Me…frustrating, never. You enjoy the chase, John.

Blueeyeguy007: Give me something Jaycee, please.

JCgurl42xo: Alright John I'll give you one question and then I have to go.

She waited for a few minutes, and when she didn't receive a response she wrote further.

JCgurl42xo: Cat got your tongue, John?

Blueeyeguy007: No just thinking of which question I want to ask first, Jaycee. You're not exactly the easiest woman to get to know.

JCgurl42xo: I think that you are enjoying yourself John. I interest you and you don't meet many women that can keep you on your toes.

Joss hit ENTER with a smirk. John could try to play but he didn't realize it was her and she knew him from the inside out. Finally he responded, but not to her latest reply.

Blueeyeguy007: Being that I can't have a photo, tell me three things to describe yourself that isn't in your bio, Jaycee.

She cocked a brow. Hmmmm, John was being secretive himself. Three things to describe herself, huh? She wondered if these three things he was hoping she say would reveal something that would help him figure out who she was. So she decided to throw him a bone.

JCgurl42xo: I'm strong willed I have had my fair share of tragedies but I keep coming out swinging. I'm divorced and I have a teenage son.

Joss paused as she tried to figure out what to write as her third thing to describe herself. She gave him two that would whet his appetite for more, plus keep him intrigued to pursue this little game they were playing. But she wanted her third thing something to throw him off, something that would tease him as she was teased tonight. Learning John was in love with her, meant the world to her, but also made staying away from him that much harder.

JCgurl42xo: I haven't had sex in over a year.

She didn't give herself a chance to think twice of her last tidbit before she smacked the ENTER button. She wanted to surprise him and she hoped like hell she had.

John choked on his beer as he eyed the screen. Jaycee hadn't had sex in a year. Why that satisfied him was beyond him, he needed to seek therapy because he actually liked this mysterious Jaycee. He hadn't been lying when he told her she reminded him of Joss. The way she had bombarded him with question after question had reminded him of his lovely detective. Joss was an interrogator in the army and a damned good one, and she had a hard time shutting that side of her down. She would ask question after question not waiting for an answer and not give up on getting them either. Jaycee seemed to be just like that.

John forced himself to recover from her sexy tidbit. He didn't even know how to respond to it. But thankfully Jaycee wrote another reply.

JCgurl42xo: Does that help paint a picture of little ole' me?

Jaycee added a wink-y face which he sighed. When Root had given him this assignment he had figured that Jaycee would flirt with him, but he hadn't been fully prepared for enjoying it. Jaycee was right he enjoyed talking to her, enjoyed the chase, and she did keep him on his toes. He hadn't met a woman like that since Joss. And damn it, he wanted to meet her and not because the machine wanted him too but because he wanted to see her and meet her in person. He knew she wouldn't be like Joss no one could ever be like her. She was one of a kind and the world sorely missed her, but much more he sorely missed her.

John forced his thoughts on Jaycee rather than thinking about Joss. Not for the first time did his thoughts flicker to Joss while speaking to Jaycee and it was getting a bit disconcerting now.

Blueeyeguy007: Yes

He knew it was a lame answer but he couldn't think of anything flirty to say in return.

JCgurl42xo: I hate this but I have to go now, John.

Blueeyeguy007: That's alright Jaycee, I look forward to our next conversation.

JCgurl42xo: Me too. Goodnight, have sweet dreams about me, John.

John wrote back to her 'goodnight' and waited until she logged off the thread to log off himself. The other women he ignored as he shut down his laptop. He slid from the bed, throwing back the last of his beer. He didn't know why he told Jaycee about loving Joss. He hadn't been going to say much of anything to her other than being lonely. But for some reason his fingers had a mind of their own, typing out what he didn't want to reveal.

But he didn't think that Jaycee was a threat. The machine was wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. John pulled his cell phone out and found Root's number. He immediately clicked her number and waited as the phone rang.

"Hello, John." She greeted.

"I think your need for me to be on that dating website is off." He said, if Samaritan was listening in it wouldn't know what he truly meant.

"Why you were lonely John, I'm sure you met some interesting women…or woman."

"I have but I'm not…interested, Hannah. She's not what I thought and there's no reason for me to be on there." He stated. The machine was wrong. There was nothing going on with that Jaycee she wasn't a potential problem. She seemed like a woman that was lonely and legitimately looking to meet a guy.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I think you got it wrong." He said before he hung up on her. He was tired and irritable. Tomorrow he had work, and he was going to concentrate on that, rather than Jaycee and the connection he felt to her that upset him.

"Hello," Joss snapped into the phone. She was angry that Root was calling her, she had been busy. Busy, daydreaming of John. "What do you want?" she demanded as it had been getting to the good part.

"What happened, Joss?"

"Excuse me?"

"John called me to tell me there is no reason he needs to speak with Jaycee that she's not a problem. He thinks she is wrong, I thought you were going to speak with him and keep him intrigued to continue the ruse?"

"Wait, what? He wants to stop speaking to Jaycee?"

"Yeah, what happened?" Root questioned. And Joss had a vague idea. John said that Jaycee reminded him of Joss because he had no idea that they were the same woman, and if she figured right, John was upset that he found Jaycee interesting.

"I think I might have made a mistake." She admitted.

"Did you tell him the truth?"

"No, John told me that Jaycee reminded him of me, and I think John is resistant to any woman interesting him besides me…or supposed dead me." She said giving herself a headache.

"Because he told you he loved you."

"How do you know about that?"

"She just checked into your thread." Joss exhaled hating that the machine could look into something as private as what they shared…or as private as two people talking on the internet could be. "You are on your own with fixing this Joss, I gave you an avenue to speak to him I never said I would be able to keep him on there."

"Thanks for trying Root. But John is too intelligent he's already getting suspicious, he already thinks that Jaycee reminds him of me, and I can't be anything but myself with him. It's getting tiring pretending anyways, I'm so tired of it." She admitted.

"Wait…" Root said and Joss rolled her eyes. Most likely Root was receiving some intel from the machine right about now. "She suggests for you to show yourself." That surprised her.

"Wait are you saying what I think you're saying?" Joss questioned. Being they were on cell phones, Samaritan could track and listen in on the audio if it so chose. But she needed Root to confirm what she thought she was hearing. Because to her it sounded like Root and the machine was giving her the green light to come back to the living in the eyes of the world. She could be back with her son and seek out John? She wouldn't have to worry about her identity being found out because she could oust herself!

"Yes, I am, but I ask of you not jump into a date too quickly, not until things die down." Root spoke. Joss knew what she meant though. Root was asking her not to go to John until the hype about Jocelyn Carter really being alive died down, for fear of his alias being ousted.

"I won't. Can you have Harold tell John something for me?"

"Sure, Joss."

"Have Harold tell John, I'll be seeing him soon, and that he has my word we'll be seeing one another again when the hype is over. He'll listen,"

"John has been having a hard time Joss."

"He'll listen to this, R-Hannah, I guarantee it."

"Alright, I have to go. I look forward to seeing you again, Jocelyn."

AN: So finally a new conversation between John and Joss and I know you guys have been patiently waiting for this. Poor John, talking to Jaycee and liking her, and then feeling like he's cheating on Joss's memory by liking Jaycee who really is Joss. But here is the teaser for next chapter:

She smiled when she saw Fusco. She couldn't wait to see his face.

"Hey Lionel," his head snapped up and stared in shock.

"C-C-Carter?" he stammered and like that she saw his eyes mist over, a smile bigger than the Grand Canyon greet his face, and he was on his feet barreling towards her.

Okay so I had to choose when Joss and Lionel come face to face as the teaser because I loved their friendship on the show. Thanks for reading and you guys have to be a little bit more patient for Reese and Carter to come face to face :)