"You ran my Harold off the road!" her dark brown eyes filled with hatred as she stared down at the bowed head of the woman she had vowed to help, and who was weeping uncontrollably at this moment. She only cared about two things getting her hands on the machine, and Harold. This woman almost took one of those things away from her who happened to be the creator of the machine. Didn't this woman realize whom she could have killed?!
"Who?" Root watched as the woman lifted her head tears trekking down her cheeks her mascara running. Her nose was red, and her eyes puffy as if she's been crying for a while now. She had arrived here with information on where the stupid detective's son, and friend was at when she came upon this mess. She finally gotten the woman to say what happened, and was coming to the realization that she couldn't manipulate this woman as she once thought she could.
"You know the man that was in the car with the detective you tried to kill he's my Harold! I told you I'd help you get revenge against the detective, but in return you would kill John Reese. Which you haven't done yet!"
"JOHNNY!" she sobbed as she buried her head into her hands, and Root grabbed at her hair yanking her head back listening to the grunt of pain slip from Amber, or whatever the hell her name was to stare into her eyes.
"What is the matter with you pull yourself together?!" Root said quietly.
"He loves her. How could he love her after what she has done?" Amber's eyes welled up with more tears, and Root let go of the woman's hair.
"She loves him that's why you were going to kill him remember?!"
"That was before I realized how special he was."
"Special? Joss loves him so much killing him would destroy her!" the woman wasn't listening, and she wasn't making any sense. "I've helped you with going after her son, her friends, and her co-workers now will you just KILL JOHN REESE already!" she didn't care if the girl succeeded or not. She needed Reese out of the way long enough for her to grab Harold.
"He's special he bleeds-" Root shoved the girl's head back, and stood up to full height.
"Yes I know he bleeds beautifully, and he's your grand finale."
"Yes you do understand. Jossy, John, and myself have a date with destiny to go on."
"Oh I understand perfectly Amber." Root walked to her purse where she dropped it on the couch upon entering the girl's small apartment. She picked it up before turning around to eye the unhinged woman smiling at her. "This is exactly why I don't work with people, and why machines are so much better. I thought I could use your hatred to my advantage in getting the machine, and Harold but I can see my own error in that thinking. But I have a remedy for that critical error which is to cut my losses. You Amber are bad code." Root stated as she pulled a gun out. Amber eyed the barrel of the gun, and then back up into her eyes.
"You're going to shoot me?" Root watched as the young woman giggled as she stood up, and danced a little in front of her.
"The fact that I'm going to shoot you is funny? How about I shoot you in a place where you can suffer as you slowly bleed to death?" Root asked as she aimed her pistol to the girl's abdomen.
"Bang, bang!" Amber giggled uncontrollably, and spread her arms wide as if daring her to do so.
"Goodbye Amber." Root grinned as she pulled the trigger.
Everything hurt from the roots of her hair all the down to her toes, but a soft murmuring brought her out of her slumber. Joss struggled to blink her eyes open. She sat straight up in bed immediately feeling her body scream in agony at the sudden movement. She stared wild eyed at John whom was talking to Harold who had his head wrapped with a bandage with a bright red crimson stain at the very top.
"Good evening detective." both set of eyes were now on her.
"How long have I been out?" she asked groggily rubbing her eyes. Her muscles ached like nobody's business almost like she had plowed into the tree instead of the car.
"Since just after the accident you helped me get Harold out, and then you fell unconscious again in my car. I had a half a mind to take you to the hospital, but I was worried that Amber would be waiting for you there." his normal light blue eyes were dark with anger. Joss hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days her mind wrapped around finding Amber before anyone else got hurt because of her preyed on her mind. She had a feeling that she had been more asleep than unconscious, but knowing John wouldn't believe her she kept quiet.
"Glad you didn't." she looked down at herself raising an eyebrow when she saw she was wearing a dark gray man's t-shirt. It smelled of John, and she longed to lift her arm up to inhale the soft shirt sleeve, but couldn't since he was standing right there. Her eyes shot up startled when she realized she had been asleep, so that must mean he had undressed her. John stared at her giving her a sheepish look.
"Your clothes were a bit torn, and had blood on them."
"So you got me naked?" Joss cocked a brow at John. She flicked a quick glance at Harold who looked around the apartment as if it was the most interesting place he ever seen. Joss shifted her dark gaze back onto John who looked so uncomfortable she could have laughed. He could handle ten guys shooting at him, but talking about undressing a woman made him squirm which was utterly fascinating to her.
"Not naked I left your-your undergarments on." he waved a hand helplessly at her. Joss knew that this situation was bad, but she couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped her at John's obvious discomfort. John shot her a look, but she continued to smile at him. "You are staying here until this is all over Joss."
"Exactly where is here at?"
"You're at Mr. Reese's home detective since we can't place you with detective Fusco anymore. We are afraid that Amber, and Root will figure out where he is at, and both of you are in danger once again." she nodded her head. Interesting, she was going to stay at John's place.
"You know it takes me being stalked by a crazy lunatic, and nearly killed in a car crash to get an invitation to your home John." she sighed as she snuggled into his comfortable pillows lounging back needing to relax her sore body. Damn was his bed comfortable the only thing that would make this better was if this was under better circumstances, along with some ice cream, and a big strong male body beside her. The same male body that had piercing blue eyes that was staring holes into her person clearly not happy at how flippant she was acting. Well darn it she was tired of being scared, and on edge! She wasn't going to let Amber take anything more away from her than she already had.
"You weren't invited, and Joss you are not to leave my loft for any reason until I am sure the threat to you is over." she hid a smile at how protective he was being. The man was really wearing his heart on his sleeve without realizing it wasn't he? Joss couldn't resist teasing the big strong man a little bit more. It relaxed her which she needed it has been a harrowing few days.
"I'm under house arrest is that it? What will you do if I step outside will you punish me?" she joked, but the idea of him disciplining her gave her shivers. Damn it her comment was supposed to rile John up not her!
"Detective this is for your own good." Finch sighed, but it was John she watched. John made his way over to his bed where she currently laid on. Who would have thought she'd be in John Reese's bed by the end of today? Sure the hell not her! John stared down at her, and she refused to feel intimidated by his sheer size.
"This isn't a joke, and I don't care for you treating it as such! Harold, and you could have died." John's voice was rough. Since she had awakened about fifteen minutes ago his eyes had darted between her, and Finch as if reassuring himself that they both were truly alright. She now felt terrible for making jokes knowing it must have been hell on him finding the car with Finch, and herself in it not knowing if they were alive or not. She was being insensitive, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.
"I'm sorry John I didn't mean to make light of the situation." she reached out desperately to grab his hand before he could move away. She linked her fingers with his holding his calloused hand in her soft one. "John both Finch, and myself are alright we aren't going anywhere." she said quietly to keep it mostly between them. Joss searched his brilliant blue hues hoping he could see the truth in hers, and believe in it. She wasn't sure if she succeeded or not when he closed his eyes, and disengaged himself from her turning around.
"Joss don't leave this loft for any reason while I'm away."
"Where are you going?" but she was greeted with silence as both John, and Harold walked to his door. He watched her for a moment before Harold limped out first, and he shut the door softly behind him. She grumbled a bit as she flopped her arms on the mattress as half of her wanted to smack him, and the other half wanted to throw him on the bed to kiss him to no end. When he got back they were going to have a conversation, and he had nowhere to go to get away from it since she was under strict rules of not leaving his place! She smiled as she snuggled more into his pillows, and for the first time since this nightmare began she felt like there was a light at the end of the dark tunnel.
John was pissed off. He was angry with the situation, with Joss, and with himself. He was angry that she had shrugged off what had happened to her as if it wasn't a big deal. It was a big deal! Harold, and her could have died in that car crash. Luckily they survived, but when he pulled up upon the scene his heart had been in his throat as he got out his car, and ran to the smashed luxury car. The road was mostly abandoned except for an occasional car or two that passed by, and none offered him any assistance at rescuing Harold or Joss. Which was fine by him because by the time he heard sirens coming he had them in his car, and he took them to safety.
"Mr. Reese could you slow down?" John blinked forgetting he wasn't alone in the car, and let off the gas pedal.
"Sorry Finch. I'm going to ask again that you reconsider, and stay at my loft for the time being Harold."
"And I will politely decline Mr. Reese. I will be safe at the library with Bear."
"Will you?"
"Yes, and you need to go check Amber Sanderson's apartment."
"I'll head there after I drop you off."
"Afterwards you should head to detective Carter's apartment."
"Why?"
"Because I assume the detective would like some of her own clothes to wear." John shifted a bit in his seat when he thought about her laying in his bed in his clothes. She looked damned fine that way to him, but he would do as Finch suggested. "Mr. Reese."
"What Harold?"
"What will you do once this situation is resolved?"
"Move onto the next number why?"
"I meant about your more than platonic feelings for the detective. What are you going to do about those?"
"I'm not sure Harold."
"Detective Carter, and myself shared a conversation before the crash."
"A conversation about myself, and her? Is this when you hung up on me?"
"Yes."
"Finch-"
"I warned her that you probably will cut ties with her, and I advised her to not get too close to keep your relationship as it is." his lips thinned. He didn't like how predictable he was.
"How did she take it?"
"I assure you Mr. Reese the detective will not just allow you to walk away from her without an explanation." he nodded his head knowing that much already. Joss could be stubborn, and he had a feeling he had a fight on his hands when he got back to the loft tonight. He pulled up to the curb cutting the engine. "But I had a change of heart Mr. Reese." John lifted his gaze to his friend.
"You had a change of heart about what?"
"If its really for the best if you try to forget about your feelings for one another, and keep everything the status quo. I came to that rather obvious conclusion when I noticed how you two interacted at your loft Mr. Reese."
"We didn't interact in any way." Finch's raised eyebrows showed he clearly didn't believe him.
"Mr. Reese I do have eyes albeit they are a little less than twenty-twenty vision, but I can see your feelings for each other clear as day. I was worried that you wouldn't be able to handle it which is why I advised her to step back."
"Handle what?"
"Having someone love you, and need you in a way that no woman has in a long time John." he longed for this conversation to be over. He swung his car door open, and Finch did the same. They walked silently side by side into the library where Bear rushed them happily wagging his tail, and yelping. John smiled petting the dog's head. He knew that Bear would kill anyone that tried to harm Finch which made it a little easier to leave his friend here alone.
"I'll head over to Amber Sanderson's apartment now, and then get some clothes for Carter." he said turning to leave the library.
"Mr. Reese." John sighed knowing that had been too easy. He paused turning slightly to look at his friend, and employer.
"Yes Finch?"
"I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"That you can't handle being loved because you can if you could just forgive yourself."
"Finch, Joss shouldn't love me, and after this is all over I will try to convince her of that."
"Good luck to you in that endeavor Mr. Reese though I sincerely doubt you will succeed."
"Thanks Finch." John knew he would have his hands full with Joss, but he had wanted Amber to lose some power which was why he had gone about blurting his feelings out in the open for her to hear. Which didn't work because Amber was nuts, and had tried to run down Harold and Joss instead of coming after him. Now Joss knew his feelings for her, and she seemed to share them making it damned near impossible to think of walking away from her. Her quick kiss had left him wanting more even if he knew it wasn't in her best interests to get mixed up with him. His insides twisted he felt so many conflicting emotions his heart wanted to be with her even though his mind knew he should disappear, and give Joss her life back.
"John one more thing, and I'll let it go to let you decide what you are going to do."
"What?" he let out a long suffered sigh.
"Sometimes you are given a second chance in life, and in love but its what you do with that second chance that defines who you are." John swallowed hard feeling like he was cut open, and exposed for the world to see.
"Harold I haven't known who I am for a very long time."
"She knows, and that's why she loves you Mr. Reese." John stared for a moment longer at Finch before turning his head away.
"I'll call you when I get to Amber's apartment." his voice cracked, so he cleared his throat hating the raw emotions in him. "Find out anything more about her that you can." he said without looking back at Finch exiting the library, but his mind were on Finch's words.
Author's note: hi everyone hopefully people aren't ready to harm me since I haven't posted a new chapter for like a week lol. But it was a lot busier than I thought it was going to be with my friends, and family coming out of the woodworks to hang out with me for my birthday which happened to be yesterday I'm an old geezer now I'm 27(lol) or this would have been posted yesterday :)
*spoiler alert* a twist is headed your way, and maybe a little Creese action :) :)
*sobs* no POI for another two weeks like what is CBS trying to do to us KILL US in anticipation? What are we supposed to do with another two week hiatus? But thank you so much for the wonderful reviews, and for reading :)
