He moved around his kitchen quickly, tapping the 'talk' button on his cell phone when he got an incoming call from Shaw. They received a new number or rather shall he say an old number that got himself in trouble again. Leon Tao, was eventually going to get himself into the kind of trouble that would result in them not being able to get there in time. Shaw claimed it would be a piece of cake to solve without him, while Finch was less enthusiastic with his assurance since the previous time the two of them had met ended up with both of them in a cemetery. Luckily neither of them had become permanent residents. John had made them both promise the first moment they needed his or Joss's assistance, they would end their date immediately, and go help with the number. They agreed, but assured him that they were fine without them.
He placed his cell phone by his ear but didn't bother greeting her. "Is Finch alright, do you need assistance, Shaw?" He should have known the drop off of the stolen bonds wouldn't go well with the people Leon stole them from.
"We're fine, all of us are. Fusco and Leon are in the backseat whining like babies, Finch is sitting beside me on his laptop, and I am waiting to shoot some kneecaps."
"If need be, Ms. Shaw." He could hear Finch in the background correcting the woman. He cradled his cell phone in the crux of his neck and shoulder to free up his other hand. He opened the oven to eye the chicken cooking to perfection. He inhaled the aroma, hoping Joss would enjoy the meal he was making.
"So, what do you want?" he asked, Shaw never just called up for no reason. He needed to finish getting ready for his date tonight; he had taken a shower, shaved, but had stopped short of getting dressed to cook the meal. He was only in his black running shorts, which weren't exactly second date apparel.
"I want to make sure you know it's your second date."
"I know how to count, Shaw." He answered irritably, vaguely wondering why she cared how many dates he went on with Joss. He lifted the top of the pan of fried potatoes, tomatoes, and other ingredients, making sure they were browning just right. He replaced that top, to check how the mango was cooking. He sure hoped Joss would enjoy trying spicy mango salad.
"Yeah, well I got a bet with Fusco, it's double or nothing, on if you and Carter will have sex tonight." He stiffened. They were betting on his possible relationship with Joss.
'I'm glad you see this as a joke," Reese's voice became softer. Deadly.
"It's not a joke, Reese; its two hundred bucks and I hate losing. So get yourself some." He exhaled roughly before hanging up on her, flinging his cell phone onto the counter beside him. He felt some of his excitement for tonight flee him. Fusco and Shaw viewed his feelings for Carter as a joke, something to bet on, like a game. Maybe they knew that things wouldn't work out for them, and that what he had always figured was correct; that a woman like Joss could never fall in love with a man like him.
Why was he letting them get into his head? It was Shaw, she didn't know anything about emotions or feelings and Fusco didn't want the bane of his existence near his partner! But even though he tried to put his mind at ease over their stupid bet, he couldn't. Because it was all his self-doubt being shown to him through people that knew him and Joss best, they knew he'd just fuck it up. It was why he was alone, Jessica had given up on him, and he couldn't quite get his shit together to get her back. And when he finally did get it together, it was too late, she was gone.
He slammed the cupboard door shut irritably after finding two champagne glasses. Maybe he should just call and cancel with Joss, she didn't know he was in love with her, he could just let her think it was just purely sexual attraction and that be that. Save her from the mess that was his life, he didn't do relationships, they never lasted for him. He lost acquaintances, close friends, family, girlfriends; some because of his own stupidity, some because they were taken from him, but even though it would be the better thing of him to do to call her and cancel, he couldn't. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he had been alone for so long, and he was so tired of it. Maybe it was because he was in his forties, or maybe it was all the near misses he's had in his life, but this time he wasn't going to allow fear of opening his heart up stop him. It cost him Jessica when he let her just leave in that airport, he had rather lived alone because it was easier, it was all he had known. Putting his heart on the line with no guarantee scared the hell out of him, more than looking down a barrel of gun of a terrorist. He tried to rationalize it, that it was better for her, safer, and he couldn't give her the life she needed and wanted. But in reality it had been selfish, it had been because of his fear of letting someone in, but with Joss, she was his second chance and he wasn't going to be afraid this time.
"Well, well, well I'm glad I didn't knock on the door." He blinked, whirling around, having been completely wrapped in his thoughts that he hadn't heard her break in to his place. It was uncharacteristic of him, his ears had been trained for even the smallest noise to alert him or he'd be dead, which left him a little unsettled at just how easily Joss could overtake his brain. She was wearing a long wool black jacket, her legs bare beneath it, her long hair down once again, darker makeup on this time, and she had a giant smile on her face. Her eyes weren't on his but rather his bare chest. "I had this stupid fantasy that you would be wearing a 'Kiss the Chef' apron, but I got to say this is so much better."
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" he asked with a tilt of his head and a smile that spread across his lips. She leisurely slid her gaze up his body to finally meet his eyes.
"Have you, John?"
"Touché." For the first time he noticed she had a box in her arms, he became immediately suspicious, he told her no food. "What's in the box?" she grinned as she walked towards him, giving him an intoxicating inhalation of her perfume. Was it jasmine? She put the box down on his countertop of his kitchen island, before flipping open the lid to the box, and he peered inside.
"Finch, told me you had a weakness for chocolate." His eyes lifted. "So I hope you like chocolate éclairs." He reached in to grab one, and she smacked his hand, before slamming the lid shut.
"Hey," he looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"No dessert before dinner." She tsked before sliding her purse beside the box, and removed her jacket from her body. He gulped a little as he eyed her. Had he thought the red mini-dress she wore two nights ago was beautiful, provocative, and mouth-watering, this dress sent a shot of heat straight to his cock. It was another mini-dress, the cut just different, the neckline didn't plunge low. Instead it dipped to give him a hint of her cleavage, but not nearly as much as the other night, but it was the damned color. He was sure red got most men going, but Joss in a shimmery shade of silver, was going to kill him. She had dark skin, so the silver enhanced her beautiful eyes, beautiful body, and he shifted a bit.
"You look amazing."
"In this old thing," she waved a hand at him. "I couldn't splurge on another dress after I spent my life savings on the red one." His eyes widened. "Oh relax, I'm joking, mostly. I hope you don't mind I wore an old dress." Mind…if she looked down she'd see just how much he enjoyed this dress.
"Clothing doesn't matter to me, you could wear a brown paper bag, and you'd still be the most beautiful woman I ever seen in my life." She smiled warmly at him. "I'll take your coat," he motioned, grabbing it from her before rushing away. "What are you doing here so early anyway, Joss?" he asked, eyeing her as he laid her coat on the stairs that lead upstairs.
"Well, I wanted to see if you needed a hand cooking, plus you owe me a tour of your place, since I've never been invited before. I didn't want that to get in the way of our date." He lifted his arm to look at his watch.
"So that's why you showed up an hour early?" he shook his head not believing that. He knew the real reason she was here early. "You were making sure I wasn't cheating and ordering takeout, weren't you?"
"NO!" she couldn't lie worth of spit, he eyed her while shaking his head. "Fine, okay, yes I wanted to catch you ordering takeout."
"Why?"
"Because, I wanted to tease you, you get so flustered, it's cute."
"I don't get flustered Joss...and I am not cute." He assured her walking by her.
"No you certainly aren't," she agreed but he didn't miss the look on her face as her gaze slid to his chest. "How are you feeling?" she demanded seemingly taking the moment to remember his injuries. She followed him to his kitchen.
"I'm feeling better Joss, they're healing." Her eyes traveled over his gunshot wound at his shoulder, before dipping to eye the one on his side. They were very fresh, still very tender, but they were healing. She reached out, and brushed her fingertips against the one that was life-threatening. He thought he saw unshed tears welling up in her liquid brown eyes. He slid a finger under her chin and lifted, forcing her gaze up to his. "I'm fine, Joss."
"I know, but it just makes me realize that I might never have gotten here." A tear slid down her cheek, which he wiped away with his thumb.
"Gotten where?"
"Here, with you. We didn't have time to talk about what happened at the morgue because you were arrested, I took Quinn to the Fed's building, and everything was happening so quickly. It made me realize that life is really short and you have to make the most of it while you can."
"Joss," the words were on the tip of his tongue, he was ready to blurt out he loved her, but stopped. He took a step back before he cleared his throat, her gaze appeared a little stormy. "We have all night, tonight. Let me check dinner first... and go change." He motioned with his thumb behind him. Her gaze cleared up as a smile filled her face.
"You don't need to change for me,"
"If Finch realized I wore my running shorts for our date tonight, I think he might have a stroke."
"It could be our little secret," she grinned mischievously.
"Nice try," he murmured remembering the last time they had a similar conversation and it had been him wanting to keep something secret from Finch.
"Oh come on, you're still sore about the coffee."
"Yes, because I needed that coffee." He opened the oven to check on the food. He slid the oven door closed. "Then I had to endure not one lecture, but a second one when you hung me out to dry with Finch."
"I don't remember him lecturing you." She furrowed her brows.
"He did, remember it was right before you helped take my boots off and I…" he paused realizing she played him. He fell right into her evil trap, as he decided Joss was a vixen, as she grinned like the damned Cheshire cat. "I'm going to go change."
"No finish what you were saying, John, when I helped take your combat boots off and you…."
"Nope," he shook his head.
"And you had a raging erection for me which you didn't want me to see." She supplied. He paused halfway to his closet.
"Raging," he arched a brow at her choice of words.
"Yeah, I read a lot of romance novels." She smirked. "So what are we having for dinner?"
"Speaking of, since you are here early, can you do me a favor and stir the pan in the front and to the left. It should be coming close to being ready to mix."
"Sure, but what are we having?"
"It's called Chicken Biryani, with a side of spicy mango salad."
"Never heard of either one, what's in the spicy mango salad?"
"Mango," she rolled her eyes, which he resisted the urge to smile at.
"Besides mango, John."
"Well it has shallots, cilantro, some red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to add to the spice. It tastes good," he assured her, watching as she stirred the pan he asked her to, which left him a moment to eye her ass. He groaned inwardly as the dress clung to her shapely behind before he forced himself to look away. He disappeared into his closet, needing to change, he slid his running shorts off of him before grabbing a pair of gray boxer-briefs, and he slid his dress pants on. He decided to wear a gray dress shirt, and exited the closet with the dress shirt undone. She turned to watch him as he buttoned his shirt up, before tucking it into his pants. He held his socks in his hands as well as his dress shoes, before she shook her head.
"Leave them off."
"Why?"
"Because it gives me an excuse to bail on these heels that are killing my feet," She gave him a sincere look. "I'd feel obligated to wear these Chinese torture devices if you are wearing your dress shoes." He smiled softly at her.
"Okay."
"Oh thank god," she reached out leaning a hand on his forearm as she immediately yanked one heel off before going for the other. She lost about four inches of height, and she leaned her head back to stare up into his eyes. "You're a life saver."
"Why did you wear heels that hurt your feet, Joss, I wouldn't have cared if you showed up in slippers?" he walked back to his closet throwing his socks and shoes into it before sliding it shut, but not used to being barefoot while dressed up.
"And let you see my bunny slippers on the second date, are you nuts?!" She teased.
"Wait, you actually have slippers?"
"Yeah, how do you keep your feet warm?"
"Socks."
"You caveman." He laughed, noticing a smile spread widely across her beautiful face. "I like it when you laugh, you should do it more often." Their eyes met, he saw the humor dancing in them as well as something else that he couldn't make out. He walked around her back to the pans on the stove, making sure nothing was burning. He stirred it once again, figuring one more minute, and it should be done. "John..."
"Yeah?"
"You're sexy barefoot." He shifted just his gaze to eye her as she stood beside him. She leaned forward with her forearms against the countertop beside his stove and cellphone, giving him a nice look down her dress. He cleared his throat looking away, wondering if she was doing this to him on purpose.
"I didn't realize you had a foot fetish."
She laughed. "No, try more of a…John fetish." He turned to eye her, surprised. "What, have you never had a woman flirt with you before?"
"I have, I'm just getting used to you flirting with me."
"Well, get used to it." She laid her hand on his, while his gaze slid to her lips. "Although your flirting skills need some work, you only got one that works." She sighed. "And it works ALL the time on me." He had no idea what she was talking about.
"Oh and which one is that?"
"The only one that works is when you bat those pretty eyes at me with those long lashes, it should be outlawed."
"I do not bat my eyes at you," he shook his head as he bent to pull the chicken out of the oven placing it on a burner on his stove before sliding the oven mitt off.
"Oh yes you do!" he motioned for her to grab the two plates on his dining table. She walked over there, coming back with the two empty plates, and he noticed she had hot pink nail polish on her toes. He looked away and started putting the mixture of rice, tomatoes, fried potatoes, and onions onto each plate, before strategically placing several chopped pieces of chicken onto each plate. "All you have to do is look at me with those baby blues and I'm toast."
"Really? Why doesn't it ever work when you reaming my ass about me doing something illegal?"
"Because, I have fun reaming your very fine ass about your illegal activity," She retorted. He shook his head, finding this night even more enjoyable than their first date. She was relaxed, having fun, and seemed to be in a light mood. It helped since he had been so close to canceling the date because of learning about the bet. He scowled a bit. "What's wrong?" he blinked after he realized he had paused.
"It's nothing, can you hand me the two small plates?" She carried the two platefuls of food to place them on the table before returning with the two smaller plates which he was going to put their side dish of the spicy mango salad on. He scooped up some for both plates before motioning for her to go ahead, that he'd carry it. She sat down which he frowned at. "Oh, relax John you don't have to pull out my chair at every date."
"Yes I do."
"Why?"
"Because, Joss, it was how I was raised."
"You mentioned you lost both your parents at a young age, who taught you to be so chivalrous?"
"Whenever my dad was home from being deployed he would teach me how to treat a woman, he told me to always open doors for women, hold out their chair, and be gentlemanly." He said quietly not having thought about this stuff in a very long time. He placed the plates down for them before pouring her a glass of champagne, then himself before finally sitting down across from her.
"Everything looks so delicious, John." He watched her silently as she took a forkful of his chicken biryani, before placing it into her mouth. Her eyes slid shut.
"Are you alright? It's too hot isn't it?" she waved him away as her eyes opened as she ate before swallowing.
"This is delicious, where did you learn how to make this?"
"I learned it while I was over-seas, it's a Pakistani/Indian dish."
"Well everything is perfect," they ate in comfortable silence for a while. After a little bit she seemed to be mulling something over in her mind, her eyes were on him almost unblinkingly, and he was a little worried over whatever was on her mind.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She answered slowly.
"Are you sure? I got a feeling that there is something on your mind." She nodded a little in affirmative, before sliding her fork down onto the plate. He sensed this was round number two of deep conversation that he was sure would leave them both feeling a little exposed.
"You said I changed your mind, changed you, did you mean that?" He took a sip of his champagne before answering her.
"Yes. You changed my mind, you impacted my life in that moment without even knowing you did it. I was just this bum to you, but to me you were something unique, you exuded something I was sure was gone from this world."
"And what was that?"
"Selflessness, you didn't see a bum, a homeless man, you saw someone that needed help regardless of whether they deserved it or not."
"You deserved it." She reached out, touching his hand. "When I first met you, you're right I didn't see a homeless man, I saw someone hurting. John, your eyes are so expressive, I felt like I was drowning in your sorrow, and I had no idea how to help you."
"You changed me in that moment and you continued to change me for the better the longer I knew you, you challenged me to be a better person. You've been helping people for so long, not out of guilt, remorse, or in search of redemption like me, but because it's who you are," he said quietly as he stared deeply into her eyes. She didn't look away, but he broke the eye contact to retreat a bit, and focus on his food. He angrily stabbed his fork into his food realizing he was once again allowing the fear of opening himself up to hold him back. They ate quietly again for several minutes, she seemed preoccupied with what he told her, and he was silently berating himself for not telling her everything. He ate his food he prepared but didn't taste a damn bit of it.
"You changed me too, John." He looked up shocked. "Don't look so surprised, you truly have no idea how remarkable you are. You have no idea your own impact on my life and the lives of people around you. I always believed everything was black and white, good and bad, no wiggle room, but not everything can fit into a neat little category. You didn't, you intrigued me when you were only known to me as the 'man in the suit', I didn't know what the hell you were, but I didn't entirely think you were this angel of death. You were this unusual criminal that I didn't always believe was behind everything, you annoyed the hell out me most days, and I soon realized my cases often ran smack dab into you." He smiled softly.
"I have the ability of pissing people off." She nodded absently.
"Then you saved my life when you had no reason too. None whatsoever, you didn't ask for anything in return, and I thought I was doing the right thing when I turned you into Snow and his happy helper." He watched as tears welled up, he couldn't stand it to see her cry over something that happened a long time ago, and he never viewed her as the cause of his shooting. They were bound to catch up to him sooner or later, it just so happened they used her good nature to get to him sooner.
"Joss..."
"No I need to tell you this. I only gave you up to Snow because I didn't want to find you bleeding out. I didn't want you to die, I wanted to save your life, I wanted to save you from whatever the hell you were doing. I thought that if I gave you up to Snow, you'd be safe, and I got you shot instead." Tears slipped down her cheeks, and he was helpless to stop them. "I feel guilty till this day, you're a good man, John. You think you are this man that belongs in the shadows, but you can never entirely walk in the dark because there is so much light that ebbs from you. You aren't the dark, John, you aren't like the other CIA agents, you have a heart that bleeds, that yearns for something more. And as I got to know you better and better, the more I understood you, and the more I valued our friendship."
"Joss..." He tried again to get a word in edgewise, but she reached out grabbing his hand, almost as in a way of asking for him to let her finish. He patiently waited, stroking his thumb across her palm, as they both abandoned eating their food.
"John, being a woman surrounded by men in the workplace doesn't exactly build trust with the boys, they don't want a bitch on their turf. So I had to be ballsy, I had to have an attitude, and I had to do everything myself because I knew that people would stab me in the back to get rid of me. I was always alone, never needed to trust anyone, which was perfect because I don't trust many people as it was but it was so easy to trust you."
"Do you still trust me?"
"With my life, do you trust me?"
"With my life." He whispered her words back to her, feeling like he had just declared his undying love to her. He cleared his throat realizing that he had nearly eaten everything off his plate without even remembering, putting the actual food in his mouth. He slid his chair back. "I'm full." He stood up.
"Me too." She picked up her champagne taking a sip before standing up. She moved towards his kitchen island while he cleaned up the plates. He would just wash everything tonight after she left or tomorrow. When he had cleared the table he turned to find her standing still beside the kitchen island waiting for him. Soft music filtered through his place. "I turned your stereo on." That wasn't all she did. She had dimmed the lights of his place, his eyes were drawn to his made up king sized bed off just a bit from the dining room. His place was basically one gigantic room. "You still owe me that tour."
"I do."
"I'll get it later, right now I want to dance."
"I don't think that's such a good idea." He said hesitantly.
"Oh come on, think of it as your first lesson." She grinned, staring up at him. He decided to try, she had her hand outstretched and he took it. He pulled her to him wrapping an arm respectfully around her middle of her back, while holding her right hand.
"If I step on your toes, I'm sorry."
"Nothing can be as bad as those torturous heels I was in." He stood still, like a statue. "John?"
"What?"
"Dancing requires moving," she teased before dropping her arm down from his shoulder and releasing his hand. "You can follow my lead." She murmured grabbing his hands placing them on her slender hips before she wrapped her arms around his neck. She moved and he followed. "You learn quickly." He didn't bother responding he just stared down at her, while he matched her movements. "I wasn't totally honest with you." She whispered leaving him confused. She was always honest, even to a fault.
"About what?"
"About why I didn't want you to help me with bringing down HR, I told you it was because, in the eyes of the law you were a criminal, but that wasn't the real reason."
"Okay, what was the real reason?"
"I didn't want to lose you."
"What?"
"John, I didn't fully believe I would survive the fallout with HR and the Russians. I was so determined to do it alone so that I didn't get you, Finch, Shaw, or Fusco in any harm's way. I knew if I told them they would listen, but you, you would have never listened. You'd follow me, you'd follow me to the end of the Earth to protect me, and I couldn't let you die because of me, because of my need to get justice for Beecher, for myself, so I hid on you to do it myself."
"I'd die before I let anything happen to you."
"I know and you almost did."
"I'm right here." He lowered his head and kissed her softly, tenderly, and lovingly. She kissed him back for a few seconds before he broke the kiss. Their foreheads rested against one another's; he could easily see the exposed emotions on her face. He worked his Adam's apple, willing himself to tell her. "Joss..."
"Hmmm?"
"Can we sit down on the couch and talk?" She leaned her head back sensing something was different. Her brown eyes were so filled with an unnamed emotion he wanted to reach out and hold her. She nodded slightly, he slid from her arms to go grab their glasses of champagne, and the box of éclairs taking them to his living space. She put her clutch that she had grabbed from the kitchen island placing it on the coffee-table before she sat down slowly onto his couch. He placed their glasses down onto the coffee-table along with the box next to her purse when his cell phone rang. He had the earpiece out for their date. "Hold that thought, I need to make sure they're alright."
"Yeah sure," she agreed and he smiled softly. He felt nervous, but he also felt determined. After he spoke to Shaw, he was going to tell this woman he loved her, and to hell with the consequences.
John, I love you. Nope too bland, she decided. John, I know it's too soon to say this but I can't help but be in love with you, she shook her head against that one too. She tried different variations in her head while she watched him walk away to go answer his ringing cell phone. He moved with the grace and elegance of a panther. She had a sense that this conversation he wanted to have was something big and she was anxious over what it was. She had just put herself out there this time after he had opened himself up to her on their first date, and he responded just the way she thought he would. His eyes showed what he was feeling as she opened up to him. He looked ready to share himself with her and then BAM, he said 'can we talk' which had to mean he was running. He was stubborn, as was she, so he wasn't going to get away from her that easily. She watched as him as he answered the phone.
Her own phone began ringing, which alarmed her. Not only was his ringing but so was hers. That couldn't be good. She reached over to the coffee-table grabbing and opened her clutch, pushing past her gun, going for her cell phone, seeing a recognizable unknown number. It was Shaw. She answered while John was already talking looking tense.
"Hey,"
"Hey, can you and Reese get your asses down here!" She heard gunfire in the background.
"What happened, I thought the case was clear cut and dry?!" she demanded standing up. John looked over to her as he ran to get his shoes on. Oh great, she was going to have to wear the damned torture devices again.
"Tell that to the twenty guys that have us surrounded with our number, who knew this guy could piss off so many people!"
"LEON DID WHAT?!" Joss heard John's roar, she never quite heard John so loud. "Finch, when Joss and I get there and save them, Leon's dead!"
"Uh, Shaw, who is this number again?" she asked as she vaguely remembered a man named Leon, which drew an irritated look on all their faces, when they had called upon the man to drive a stolen ambulance. She nearly cried when she slid her feet back into the heels.
"That dumb-ass named Leon who keeps whining for John. He assured us that everything was cool with his company; so we did the drop off with the stolen bonds with the original people that were after him there. They are neatly tied up in the back with a few knee wounds; however our attempt to leave the building was sort of stalled when about twenty guys with assault rifles appeared. Leon failed to mention he had swindled about a hundred thousand dollars from the company he was currently working for, and now THEY want to kill him. Bottom line, Fusco, and I need your assistance."
"Don't forget me too," a man's whining voice sounded in the background.
"Shut up," Shaw's aggravated tone was the last thing Carter heard before she hung up as she rushed over to where John was practically running towards a closet between his bed and the living space. He opened it and she eyed inside incredulously.
"Hot damn, now that is quite the stash." Half of his body disappeared into it, his butt was hanging out and she moaned softly. "And that's quite the view, John." He reappeared handing her an assault rifle, while holding his own. He then re-disappeared into the closet, allowing her to gaze on his butt again, before he stood straight up and held two vests before sliding the door shut.
"What did Shaw manage to tell you?"
"Twenty guys with assault rifles all baring down on them because of some guy named Leon." She relayed the limited information she got while John's look grew stormy.
"Finch called me, he's stuck in the car; he was going to cut the power, but he feared that it would give the Belgiums the advantage rather than Shaw and Fusco." He gave her a vest which she put over her dress before grabbing her discarded jacket. He did the same before yanking on his long black wool coat of his own. "Can you run in those?" he motioned to her heels.
"No, not unless I want blood in them, but I'll just ignore the sound of my feet dying, let's go." They rushed out of his place and down the long hallway, before they exited into the cool night's air. They climbed into his car. "John..."
"Yeah," he said as he started the car.
"Our date is going to continue after we save our friends from certain disaster, right?"
"If you want it to." He gave her a smile as he drove quickly away from his apartment complex. "We still have those éclairs you brought to eat."
"And you owe me that tour of your place and you really need to finish your first dance lesson."
"Plus I want to talk to you about something." She saw the shadow flicker across his face. Whatever this was, it had to be bad, if it was worrying him this much. Well whatever it was, she would combat it because she wasn't giving up. Sure they were running out into a dangerous situation in the middle of their date, but they were together, doing it, and it felt natural. It felt perfect, they just belonged, and she was willing to go slow as a snail's pace for him if he needed her to.
"So John, when we get there, you'll let me do most of the shooting, right?"
"No."
"You have two healing wounds."
"Yes, healing wounds Joss."
"I'm not letting you get shot up again." She couldn't live through that again, watching him get shot. She had to suffer through watching him bite bullets twice now, and both times it was because of her.
"That's why I have the vest on. There is no way in hell I'm letting you go into that office building alone."
"I have Shaw and Fusco." She reasoned.
"Who have pistols and limited ammo since taking down the other group of people that wanted Leon dead. They aren't any help to you."
"I'm not arguing with you on this, John."
"Neither am I, Joss, because I'm going in there." She dropped the subject realizing she wasn't going to win this fight. When he made his mind up, it was up, so all she could do was sternly lecture him about being safe.
"Can you promise me not to get shot?"
"I will try not to get shot, that's the best I can do."
"I guess that's good enough." She sighed as he pulled up beside what she recognized was Finch's car. Their mutual friend exited the car as they exited John's. He had his laptop with him and placed it on the hood of his car.
"Mr. Reese, Detective Carter, our friends are in the south corridor and were heading for the emergency exit, but their way out got blocked by about twenty men with assault rifles, surrounding them."
"This company, who are they?"
"It's a dummy corporation, it's a front for the Belgium's mafia, they hire different temp agencies to help launder their money without realizing it. They never keep any employee for longer than a month or two, which then the temporary workers are told their services are no longer needed to keep people from learning the truth. Mr. Tao figured it out, tried to skim some off the top, and they realized it." Joss noticed John's dark look telling her this was not the first time he had done something like this. They both looked over Finch's shoulders to eye the building's map he had on his laptop. He pointed to where Shaw, Fusco, and this Tao guy were stuck at. There were three entrances in total, the front, a side entrance, and a back which was for emergencies only which was the one their friends were trying to get too.
"If we split up we could take them by surprise." He pointed to the computer screen at the front entrance, and side entrance which was furthest from their friends' location.
"No, John, you'd be alone."
"I don't like it either, because you'd be alone, but if we can get a jump on them without their knowledge Fusco and Shaw can help after we draw fire towards us." She opened her mouth to argue some more, but he grabbed her free hand. "If anyone can handle about twenty guys wanting to shoot her it's you." She smiled at his compliment.
"You're just sucking up to me so I don't skin your ass later," she whispered linking their fingers together. The slow masculine smile on his face gave her the shivers, before she cleared her throat, and looked at Finch who had a peculiar smile on his own face as he watched them. She decided to ask him about it later, they had friends to save right now. "Show us the entrances, Finch." He nodded and they got back to business, which was to save their friends and this guy who John seemed to want to kill afterwards. They came up with a plan of attack. "Be careful John," she called out as he ran towards the side, while she needed to head in from the front.
"We have the rest of our date to finish tonight." It was his own way of acknowledging her worry without reassuring her he would be alright. She ran to the entrance that they mapped out, checking the magazine in the assault rifle, and slid her heels off before entering the building. She needed quiet she needed to sneak up on them as close as possible, which she couldn't do with heels. She entered light on her feet, running towards the south corridor where their friends were holed up in a room. She had to wait for John's signal, as they were connected to Shaw on a three-way. She heard John's soft voice. "Shaw, I'm entering the building from the west entrance, I'm going to be drawing their attention. Carter's entering from the front of the building."
"The moment you shoot, Fusco and I'll be ready to take some out while their eyes are on you and Carter."
"I'm in position, you ready Carter?" he spoke to her in a small whisper.
"Ready, John," she whispered, crouching in a doorway, seeing about five men directly in front of her with their backs to her. She heard gunfire, the men shouted as they swung their guns away from Shaw and Fusco's position aiming towards John's. She began firing at their kneecaps, hearing screams, and watched as Shaw and Fusco popped out from a room they had taken up residence in waiting for the cavalry. Shaw was squatting while Fusco was at full height, shooting some men that were close to their room, but had their eyes turned towards her and John. One turned and saw her, swinging his gun toward her, and she slid back into the room just as he fired rapidly at her. It splintered the wood of the doorframe.
"Joss, are you alright?" John sounded like he was running, loud gunshots rang through her earpiece nearly making her go deaf.
"Fine, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn." She could swear she heard laughter coming from him, how could he laugh at a time like this! She laid on her stomach, glad for her jacket and vest to not get her dress dirty, and rolled out aiming up at the man's kneecap. He clearly had expecting her to pop out at full height, she rolled her eyes, what a moron. He screamed as he fell into a limp pile forming on the ground around him.
"Reese! Fusco and I are nearly out of bullets!" Shaw shouted.
"I'm working on them, Shaw." More gunfire rang out between her and John's assault rifles, mixing in with the ones from the bad guys'.
"Work faster, I'm hungry." She listened to Shaw and Reese, go back and forth bickering for a few minutes before he stopped abruptly. She took the last two down, before sliding from her position on the floor, and moved out of the room. Joss hurried towards the mess of screaming men, blood, and limp bodies. She could make out Shaw in the shadows of the room.
"It's all clear!" she shouted. Shaw nodded before she grabbed a small, Asian appearing man that she now remembered by the wrist, yanking him out, with Fusco directly behind him. "John where are you?" she demanded. He appeared from the opposite side of the same corridor, trying to weave his way through the groaning men.
"Right here," he moved to stand beside her. She didn't miss the hot look he was giving her, which made her very aware of the tingling feeling that was growing inside her. "You're badass, Joss." He murmured.
"Right back at you." They turned to walk side by side, before slowly exiting the office building with about twenty guys all moaning and groaning. They met up with Finch, Fusco, Shaw, and Mr. Tao by their cars after she put her heels of death back on.
Leon seemed to be ecstatic to see John as they made their way over to them. "Hey John, it's been a long time." From the way John was looking, she'd guess that it wasn't long enough in his book. But Finch sensed his intense urge to murder the man that they just saved because he ushered him well away from John's reach.
"Come on, you, we have the rest of our date to salvage." Joss grabbed his hand and tugged. The look he was sending Mr. Tao would make any sane person shrivel up in fear, but the man seemed to not take the hint. He was waving at him, before asking him to go out for a beer. "See you guys later and please don't call us," Joss told her friends. She had plans on having some dessert, sharing some conversation with John, and getting some action. The sweet kisses were very loving, but she wanted him to let go and kiss her the way she knew he wanted to.
"Wouldn't dream of it, I need you two to bang one another tonight." She felt John stiffen beside her. She almost asked what she meant by that, but before she could she felt John rip his hand from hers. She allowed her confusion to show, she saw Finch's disapproving look, while Fusco had the grace to look sheepish, and Shaw clearly had no idea what the big deal was. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, Shaw was betting on what was going to happen between her and John.
"Who are you betting with Shaw?" Carter demanded.
"Fusco." Her eyes immediately flew to Fusco's. How dare they? How dare they make bets on their happiness, on their future, they were supposed to be their friends?! "You look mad." She shifted her gaze back onto Shaw, allowing her to know she wasn't mad, she was pissed off.
"Screw you both,"
"Carter!" she stormed to the other side of the John's car, ignoring Fusco completely, and slammed it shut. She was so angry but John's look was dark, lines were etched on his face, his body stiff, making her look mild in comparison.
He didn't say a word as he sped away from the parking lot, leaving Finch, Shaw, and Fusco behind. She knew Fusco would call it in with the NYPD, while Finch, along with Shaw, took Mr. Tao back to wherever he came from. Fusco was going to have to grovel at her feet for taking a bet with a woman that was so emotionally stunted she didn't realize betting on your friends' happiness was a major error in judgment. She had some damage control to do thanks to their stupid friends. She had gotten pissed by it, but she was worried that John would use what their friends were doing as a way to keep her at arm's length. Damn it, couldn't they just have kept this stupid bet to themselves, she knew John didn't view himself good enough for her but she was desperate to show him otherwise.
"John…" but he shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about it, not right now, Joss." He whispered in the dark car as he drove. "Please." She nodded her head, before gazing out the window at the passing scenery. After a moment she shifted her head and gaze to eye his profile. "What?" he let out a long drawn out sigh, like he was preparing himself for her to press him about what happened anyway, but she wasn't going to.
"So, when our date resumes do I get that tour, or do I get another dance out of you?"
"Whatever you want," he sounded so down, sounded weary almost.
"Good, I'm glad you said it like that, because I'm going to surprise you then."
Author's note: I had to have their second date be interrupted, I just couldn't help it. For one thing I think if they were ever a couple on the show I believe wholeheartedly that they would be interrupted a lot lol, and secondly I just love when Careese are badass together so I had to add it in somewhere. Chapter 8 resumes their date, resumes some talk between them, plus something slightly sexy(nothing too huge). There is only chapters 8 and 9 left. Well for some maybe just chapter 8 since if you don't like smut, then chapter 9 is NOT something you'll enjoy. I hope you guys stick around for chapter 9, because my friend Elaine and proofer seems to think rating it M is too mild }=P I went all out for our babies in chapter 9, I'll leave warnings just in case :D
I'm thinking of posting chapter 8 tomorrow, if not tomorrow than Monday for sure. But since I'm an evil tease here's a little glimpse of chapter 8:
He opened his mouth to argue the point that he wasn't going to run from her, that if she'd stop yelling at him he could tell her he loved her, but she stood up on her tip toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Okay time for me to skadaddle(I always wanted to say that lol), I got a house to clean(*sobs*) and some errands, then I'm thinking of reading some Careese fanfics out there I have some time to myself tonight(awww yeah). I haven't gotten a chance to read some new ones and I want to read anything Careese. Anyways, thanks for reading, reviewing, or what have you I adore you all.
