author's note: A BIG thank you for every single review. Seriously you all made me smile. I tried to update as quickly as I could. Here is the last chapter to this story. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Joss's heels clicked on the pavement, John walked by her side. Again his eyes swept over her admiring the dark blue dress that left her brown arms exposed. The New York night sky gave her skin the perfect sheen and she appeared flawless. Her hair was parted to the side its ends lightly flipped up, falling gracefully over her shoulders. Joss walked close to John's side occasionally bumping arms with him. She couldn't believe what a great time she had had with John. In spite of what she had expected things were not awkward between them. They spent their time talking and teasing each other the way they always did. Since John knew her so well she did not feel the need to impress him or to be anyone else but herself. And John felt the same. If anything, tonight he was even more free than usual. Since John had taken this step with Joss he figured he might as well allow himself to be more relaxed around her. To let her see more than just the man in the suit.
They walked up to her home a comfortable silence once again falling between them. Joss eyed him waiting for him to speak. When he didn't she slowed her pace and stopped before the steps.
"John. You're going to have to say something eventually." He glanced down at her not bothering to ask what she was referring to when he already knew. Therefore Joss continued. "You didn't bring it up when you called, or mention it during dinner. My door's less than ten feet away. You're running out of time."
John smirked confidently. "Do you really think I forgot Carter? I'm just waiting for the right moment."
"So," she said with a shrug, "is this the right moment?"
The smirk left his face and she found herself staring into the eyes of the man who had borne his soul to her one night in a morgue. "Do you remember what I told you that night?"
Joss swallowed and nodded. He didn't need to say a date or time for she already knew what night he was referring to.
"It stills stands. I didn't just say that because I thought my life was going to end. I've always known it. You were the one who made me realize that there are still good people in this world. And you inspired me to become one of those people. Do you believe me?" he asked desperately intensely looking into her eyes.
He needed her to have no doubt that he spoke truth. Joss's eyes were wide and open just as they had been that night. This man before her was so different from the one she normally saw. And without fail it threw her off guard as it had before and left her speechless. She nodded giving him the assurance he longed for. She fought to find her voice. John knew he had unsettled her, so he patiently waited for her to compose herself. "What do we do?"
"I need to know how you see me Joss." He said honestly. "You don't have to lie or even spare me. If you don't feel the same way tell me now and I'll let it be-"
"I do," Joss thrust out. She hadn't planned on being so forward, but hearing John preparing for her rejection resulted in her wanting to shut him up and to stop every negative thought that had began to enter his mind. "How do you think I couldn't? I've lied for you. Protected you. I put my career at stake for you. Risking everything, including my life with Taylor, something I never done for anyone. And when you walked away from me with that bomb vest strapped to your chest," she shook her head at the memory tears forming in her eyes, "I could've killed you myself." She said through clenched teeth. "You'll never know what the thought of you dying alone did to me John." Her voice wavered and she fought to contain the well of emotion that hit her. "Why did you push me to Cal? If you felt this way why would you back away? First you told me you thought he would be good for me and then you stopped talking to me. Why would you just step back and let me go if I meant that much to you?"
"I thought I was doing the right thing. When you went out with Beecher I figured you were interested in him and that it was false hope for me to think you would want more than friendship between us. Besides he was a cop right in your field. He didn't have a past to run from." Briefly he looked away and ran a hand over his face.
Joss shrugged. "Then why now? Why suddenly are you willing to act on these feelings?"
"You once asked me, why am I willing to save everyone else's life but my own. Well, Joss you have finally persuaded me to see my life is worth saving. But in order to save my life," he paused and lifted his hand to her cheek, Joss could feel it lightly trembling, "I have to save yours. I need you Joss."
Tears appeared in her eyes. She couldn't control herself. Seeing John like this touched her to her very core. He was showing her a piece of himself that he kept hidden from the rest of the world. It caused the loving vulnerable woman within her to come out from behind her walls of defense and to again want to be the light in a man's eyes. "But are you really ready? Ready to move on…from Jessica?" She had to know. There was no getting around in. "I'm not gonna be vulnerable and put myself out there if you're not going to take this risk with me. I can't have half of you John. I just can't."
He stepped closer showing his determination. "I'm ready to move on Joss. But only with you. Which means you stop doing everything on your own…"
"And you start seeing how valuable your life really is and stop thinking that a cloud of doom is following you everywhere you go."
He nodded.
Hesitantly Joss cupped his cheek. "Okay, John. Let's give this a try."
John's eyes roved over her face his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek before he leaned in and captured her lips. His hands slipped around her waist pulling her closer and running up her back. One hand played briefly in the ends of her hair before dragging up her exposed arms to again hold her cheek. Joss gave herself to him freely without any resistance allowing him to hold her the way he had desired for the past three years. Allowing herself to enjoy being cherished in his arms. She ran her hand against his jaw.
She liked this. Liked having John look at her the way a man does when he is interested in a woman. Liked having his attention. Liked him wanting to be with her. The real her. In truth she just liked him. The man he was and the man he was constantly striving to be. And as John held her in his arms and seconds ticked by Jocelyn Carter realized she liked John Reese kissing her. At that thought Joss realized it was time to stop. If they were going to move forward with whatever this was, and she wanted to, they were going to have to take it slow.
Slowly Joss pulled away her finger went up to touch John's lips in order to stop him from following her as she separated his mouth from hers. She gave him a small smile and whispered, "Good night John."
He took a breath understanding that she needed them to take things slow, yet he did not release her. His eyes looked deep into hers. "Good night Joss."
Slowly his fingers dropped from her waist. A corner of Joss's mouth lifted as she stepped away. She couldn't help the feminine pride she felt over the look in John's eyes. She had put that look there. She climbed the steps gingerly knowing John was behind watching her, her ever faithful vigilant.
The familiar smirk returned to John's face as he watched Joss walk up the steps to her home noticing the extra sway in her hips. He had put that sway there. It was official. He and Joss were together. After all this time he finally someone. Once her door was locked and secured John began to walk away. He did not talk often to God. Many times he felt he didn't deserve to. But his faith that God cared about him had been somewhat restored after Joss survived Simmons bullet. '
God if You've given me Jocelyn Carter, I promise You I'll protect her. I won't hurt her or leave her as I did before. And I guarantee that no one else will lay a finger on her, or so help me it will be the last thing they ever do. If someone dares to touch or bring harm to Jocelyn Carter they just better know that her vigilant will always be right behind her.
author's note: For those of you who would like to know the dress Joss wears on her dress in the blue dress Taraji P. Henson wore in a photo shoot for Person of Interest. Sorry I don't have a link to it, all I can say is Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel are also pictured and it looks like a book cover. Also I know I did not show them during dinner. honestly I wasn't quite sure what to write for that portion of the date. When I wrote this back a few months ago I never had a part that showed them at dinner and I didn't want to ruin things by trying to add it here. So I hope you all are satisfied with what you've got. :)