Parallel Lives Chapter 3

A/N: I split chapter 3 in two. In this short chapter, Harold decides to watch, but not listen.

Harold's plane arrived at the private airport just outside Manhattan right on time. Getting out of his chauffeured car two blocks from the diner, he actually enjoyed walking in the cool night air. Even in a private jet, there were still things that made travelling uncomfortable, especially for someone with his injuries. The chance to stretch his legs, even for a few minutes, gave him time to think before what was sure to be an intense meeting with John Reese and Detective Carter.

As Harold approached the diner, he paused for a moment, concealed by a construction passageway. Knowing he could blame a few minutes tardiness on the evening traffic, he shut off his phone.

He needed to listen with his eyes.

Harold watched John Reese. He noted how his sharp features softened, just a little, when Detective Carter strode up the sidewalk, her raven locks rippling in the light breeze. He noted how Reese's hand lingered on the small of her back as he guided her into the empty diner. He noted how Reese pulled the ever present crossword puzzle out her jacket pocket without her noticing it, slipping it into his own jacket pocket, his fingers securing the torn newspaper like it was a piece of priceless ancient vellum.

Harold watched Detective Carter. He noted how she gave Reese a curt little nod when she saw him outside the diner, her eyes flowing over his lanky form. He noted how her fingertips grazed his when he passed the cream to her for her coffee. He noted how she somehow managed to glare and smile at Reese at the same time.

Harold watched how they leaned ever so slightly towards each other, the language of smirks, sidelong glances and just-barely-there touches saying so much more than all those many phone conversations between the two of them, so many that sometimes he felt like an exasperated parent, dealing with adolescents who needed to have their phone privileges revoked for a week, so that they would actually read something for a change.

He wondered if he turned around and left, how long it would be until they actually missed him.

He wondered if they knew how much they cared for one another, if they even admitted it to themselves, late at night, after that last phone call of the day.

He wondered if what he was going to ask them to do would bring them together or tear them apart.

Perhaps it would do both.

He crossed the street and entered the diner.

A/N: In the next chapter, Finch tells John and Joss about their new assignment.