Finch was nervous as he tapped his fingers on the tabletop near the keyboard. He truly didn't know what kind of mood Mr. Reese was going to be in when he came this morning. Was John still going to be upset by what he said yesterday or pretend that nothing was said at all? Ms. Shaw called him up last night wanting to know if he knew what was wrong with Mr. Reese because he cancelled dinner and had been immediately suspicious when he stammered in his attempt at saying no. It was evident that Ms. Shaw figured out that there was more to the story. But Harold, for the life of him, couldn't figure out why it mattered to his newest, slightly unhinged, employee as to why John cancelled.

Harold looked up with a soft smile as he heard the gate open to only frown when it was Ms. Shaw and not Mr. Reese. "Geez Finch; you sure know how to make a girl feel welcomed," Shaw deadpanned as she set his tea in front of him. "Turn that frown upside down or the next time I get your tea it's going to have an added ingredient you won't want," she threatened.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Shaw; I just thought John would be here by now," he acknowledged resignedly.

Shaw straightened. "You want to bust his balls too?—well get in line! He cost me a damned steak dinner!" she growled as she squeezed her cup of Joe.

Finch opened the cap to the tea to let it cool down slightly. "Care to explain what you mean about Mr. Reese costing you a coveted steak dinner?" If there was anything that he had learned about Sameen Shaw in the short time he has known her was that food, mainly steaks, were an integral part of her life.

Shaw shrugged. "Not much to say; Root and the machine showed Carter some simulations about her and Reese so Carter needed my help to try to lure Reese to dinner. She promised me a steak dinner if I did and Reese cancelled on her. Now his ass is mine!"

"WHAT?!" Harold's voice grew loud in startled surprise. Thankfully he had waited to take a sip of his tea or he surely would have spat it out in astonishment. "The machine showed Detective Carter simulations?!"

"You know what they say; a picture is worth a thousand words, Harry." Finch looked up and saw Ms. Groves approaching them with a smile tilting her lips up; her brown eyes solely on Shaw. "Hi sweetie…."

"God, what are you doing here?—isn't there someplace else you need to be other than bugging me?" Shaw complained.

"Not yet. SHE says I need my beauty sleep."

"Yea, you do have bags under your eyes," Shaw agreed darkly.

Finch looked at Ms. Groves, who lifted a hand to her face. "Why on Earth would the machine show the Detective simulations?" he demanded. "The machine was created to protect people not interfere in their lives."

"SHE wasn't interfering Harold; SHE was helping." Root chided. "Lurch and his detective were struggling with what to do with their back and forth. The ole' cliché of will they or won't they, so SHE gave the detective the chance to glimpse what life would be like if they did or didn't. SHE would have extended that offer to the big lug but John wasn't the right candidate to view the simulations."

"And what conclusion did they reach?" Finch asked with a heavy sigh. There was no use in being upset; now that the machine was self-governing it could do as it wished. If it wanted to show Detective Carter simulations of possible outcomes of a relationship with John than it could. He only hoped the machine wouldn't interfere with their wishes if it didn't coincide with what the machine wanted them to do.

Root frowned. "I don't know. SHE won't say."

The telling sound of the gate opening once more alerted them to the fact that John had arrived. They all turned to watch him expectantly as he walked toward them.

"What?" he asked as four set of eyes were all staring at him. John felt a little uncomfortable and almost as if they could tell he was wearing the same suit from yesterday even though he had about ten of the same pair.

Shaw raked a keen gaze all over Reese. He looked different but she couldn't put her finger on why he looked different. "What's wrong with your face?" she demanded.

John tried to bite his tongue, he really did, but he was still irked by Ian's appearance at Joss's door. "What's wrong with your face?" he repeated her question.

Shaw made a move forward but Root grabbed her arm. "Now, now kids; you two play nice," Root instructed.

"If you don't let go of my arm; I'm going to turn all the bones in your hand to sawdust."

Root grinned. "You say the sweetest things," she chirped but let go of her arm.

Finch could see John looked ready to throttle Ms. Shaw and Ms. Groves, so he played mediator. "Mr. Reese, what I believe Ms. Shaw meant is that you look different this morning," he explained.

"Yea, what Finch said," Shaw agreed instantly.

John shifted his gaze from Shaw to Finch to Root and back. He shrugged. "I forgot to shave this morning." he confessed and hid a smile when he saw a thunderous look erupt on Shaw's face, clearly finding fault in the answer.

"Where the hell were you last night?" Shaw demanded angrily. She tried the subtle way but subtle wasn't her thing. "You found my trackers and my bugs, and cancelled dinner the one damn time I let you choose. Why?"

John kept his face neutral but barely. He was surprised that the machine hadn't filled in Root who would love to tell Shaw every sordid detail. There was security cameras at the alley way where he and Joss had met up and they had put their phones on too. He was sure the machine knew that they found each other last night. But the machine was keeping it secret for whatever reason.

"I wasn't hungry." he answered. Shaw cursed. John didn't know why she didn't just ask the question she wanted to and he would answer her truthfully. But for now; if they didn't ask then he wasn't going to tell them about him and Joss. He turned to eye Finch. "Do we have a new number, Harold?"

Harold sighed. "Sadly it appears our recent good fortune has run out. We received a new number earlier this morning." he murmured. He would just have to wait to ask John about yesterday when they were alone, without Ms. Shaw and Ms. Groves around. Perhaps John would feel more comfortable telling him when they weren't around.

Fusco sidled up next to Carter. She had been absentmindedly stirring her creamer into her—hours old and tasted like it—coffee for a good five minutes. Either she wanted it sufficiently mixed or she was daydreaming and judging by the dopey smile on her face it was the latter.

"Are you still in the station or you're dreaming of some fun in the sun?" he asked softly, trying to draw her from her thoughts without spooking her.

It didn't work. She jumped a mile and grabbed at her chest shooting him a glare. "Don't sneak up on me like that, you're liable to be shot."

He snickered. "Sneak up on ya?—I walked over here in plain view. It ain't my fault I caught you when you were daydreaming, Carter."

Joss picked up her coffee and headed for her desk. He had interrupted a daydream that she hadn't realized she slunk off into but it had been oh so good. It featured John and 'disciplining' him. Damn Ian and his lousy timing; she might have gotten the real deal and not some fantasy that her mind conjured up. But she doubted Fusco would want to hear about it. It would make him view the bane of his existence in a whole different way.

"So what's got you daydreaming at work?—it's not like you. You're not the type to have your head up in the clouds on office hours," Fusco asked he followed her.

"You make me sound so boring," she complained mildly, trying to change the subject off what she didn't want to talk about. She knew John said it was alright to tell their friends about the new shift in their relationship but she didn't know if she wanted to share it with anyone just yet. Right now it was just her and John, and she liked that fact.

"Nice try Carter, what were you daydreaming about?"

She sighed. "John." she answered honestly.

Lionel stared at her. "John, as in wonder-boy, as in Mr. Fabulous, as in…"

"Yes, John, our friend, the bane of your existence but not mine, in fact I really enjoy his company. He's kind, funny, and sexy…so damn sexy." she said with warmth and chuckled at the look on Fusco's face. "Hey, you asked."

"Yea that's because I thought it was about some beach somewhere that doesn't include a mountain of paperwork and not about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Demented!" he complained. But he had always thought there was something between his partner and the bane of his existence. They stared at each other for a beat too long for to be just purely platonic. Carter could do no wrong in the eyes of the big guy. "So I take it that stutter-boy managed to untie his tongue around you long enough to make a move on you?"

"So to speak; it was mutual. We are tired of pretending to be just friends so we're not," she explained without fully explaining everything. Lionel still didn't know about the machine and Finch wanted to keep it that way for, at least, the time being. "It's something we both want, Fusco, and I'd like it for you to not make too many jokes about it to John. Please, if not for John, do it for me. He has a low opinion of himself and I don't want to have to contend with his inner voice telling him that he's not good enough for me and other outside voices trying to make him believe it more. He's what I want."

Lionel held up his hands. "Hey, far be it for me to tell others what to do with their lives, Carter. If you and the big guy want this and it makes you happy then I'm all for it. You're my partner but more than that you're my friend," he said heartfelt.

Joss smiled a little. "Thank you Lionel, I appreciate that," she murmured sincerely. "You're a good friend and the best partner I ever had."

He nodded before grinning. "You and wonder-boy," he muttered with a laugh. And with that he turned and headed for his desk. Joss was grateful. Since she hadn't heard from John or from her friends maybe it was going to be a quiet day for them. It would be a rare treat. She could get some paperwork done, take a nap when she got home, and get dinner for her and John so they can enjoy an evening in together. Maybe make out on her couch which sounded so perfect.

She tried resisting the urge to call him. She did. Really, she did. But the urge won out as she whipped her phone out of her pocket and immediately called him. He answered on the second ring. "Hey…."

"Hey John, sorry for calling you but I was curious to find out if you have a new number so I should expect you for dinner or not," she said reasonably. It at least sounded better than saying 'hey John, sorry for calling you but I desperately needed to hear your voice because I think I'm a lovesick fool'.

He sighed which didn't bode well for her for tonight. "I'm not sure. We received a new number this morning. Shaw is currently watching Deputy Mayor Floyd while I'm heading to meet Zoe for information on who might be going after this guy and why."

Joss bristled at the mention of Zoe Morgan. That woman wasn't refined with her desire for John and for some ungodly reason Zoe took opportunity after opportunity to make it known to her that they were bed partners.

John must have noticed her silence because he spoke again; "Joss?"

"I'm going to try to say this without angering you, John," she admitted.

"Alright," he said hesitantly.

"If we're going to be a thing then I don't want you sleeping with her anymore. I get that you two were friendly bed partners or whatever the hell it was that you two were that she practically crammed down my throat, but I don't share," Joss stated brusquely.

"It was never a thought, Joss," he murmured softly. She felt her shoulders relax instantly, grateful that she hadn't angered him by blurting it out as she had. "Zoe and I haven't slept together in months. Before last night I've been celibate."

"John, it's okay if you did, I mean you were a single man and she's attractive," she said quickly, not wanting him to think that she needed to hear that. She truly didn't care what he did with Zoe before they got together; it was now that she cared about.

"I'm telling you the truth. We haven't slept together for a while."

"Uh-huh, not even after the Murphy case?—you were waiting for her." she pointed out.

John smiled as he drove to the bar Zoe asked to meet at. Perhaps it was time Joss knew the truth. "Joss, the real reason I was there wasn't because of Zoe but rather you. You were distant, trying to bring down HR alone, so I wanted to give you the space you wanted but also see you. I walked Zoe home and left." he murmured, leaving off the fact that Zoe had tried to cajole him up to her place to relieve a little 'Carter' tension as she so colorfully put it. He couldn't pull a fast one on Zoe who had known before he did how he felt about Joss.

Joss sat there, not shocked by the admission. She had seen the lingering looks he gave her when he saw her in the cop uniform. Joss felt like he was disrobing her. At first she told herself that she was imagining things. Then when he surprised her at her car after busting her with her surveillance of HR, there was something in his eyes as they drank beers and reminisced about simpler times. They had gotten in some weird eye contact where they couldn't break the hold and unconsciously moved closer together as they talked. It had been a nice evening even though she had been trying her damnedest at keeping John at arms' length since she couldn't risk HR learning of their alliance.

"That took some creative thinking," she replied softly.

John chuckled. "I'll have you know I'm rather good at thinking on my feet," he murmured.

She snorted. "Oh, I know; I was there when you used the nail gun as a weapon on that hired gun man," she muttered with a smile. "Just so you know; Fusco knows about us. Caught me day dreaming…about you." she admitted.

John grinned widely. "You were day dreaming about me?" he questioned.

"Yea, but don't let it go to your head! I just can't get the thought of disciplining you out of my mind," she whispered seductively.

"Me either," he moaned.

"Maybe someday soon we can make our fantasy come true, although I have a few fantasies I want to make reality," she purred.

John felt the stirring of arousal and made a face as he arrived at the bar that Zoe requested. This wasn't the time or place he wanted to be with an erection.

"You'll have to tell me these fantasies sometime soon but I need to go, Joss."

She nodded. "So I guess I'll play dinner by ear then?" she suggested.

"Thanks…."

"Do you need any help?" she asked.

"If I do I'll call you," he replied swiftly.

"You'd better…."

He picked the lock of Joss's back door. He rarely ever used the front one out of habit. Back doors were far more shadowy than front ones where streetlamps and porch lights typically were. On rare occasions he had them to deal with at back doors, including home security cameras but Joss didn't have any of that. If anyone ever tried to harm her or Taylor he would take care of them.

John wasn't entirely sure if it was safe to assume he was welcome to sleep here without an invitation. Sure they had sex last night, sure they decided to forego friendship and try something altogether scarier, but that didn't necessarily mean he had the right to just enter her place and cozy up with her in her bed because he liked holding her. He enjoyed holding her as much as kissing her. Joss was an excellent kisser; she made his heart race, and he couldn't seem to get himself under control which led to sex. And sex with Joss was amazing. He had good sex before but Joss was on another level. She was a sexy mixture of sweetness and spice; it was intoxicating that she could go from vixen to angel and back to vixen leaving his head spinning and so damned aroused.

Shaw, Finch and he had finally finished up the number just about a half hour ago which made him miss having dinner with Joss, who would probably be getting up for work in about an hour. He hadn't slept much the night before for far more enjoyable reasons than tonight. But it was too late to rethink his decision of just letting himself into her home to slip between her covers to hold her for what was left of the night, because he already had the door open and the exhaustion was making him sway on his feet. Shaw had been obnoxious with her questions but still wouldn't come right out and ask if he was seeing Carter. She kept prodding about where he was last night. He wondered if Shaw was worried about breaking a confidence by accidentally telling him about Joss and the simulations.

But he'd think about just telling Shaw so she'd leave him the hell alone later, right now all he wanted to focus on was getting in Joss's bed and sleep. He trudged up her stairs in the otherwise quiet home and stilled at the top as his eyes drew to the other bedroom across the hall. He frowned as he surely hadn't thought this fully through since her son was home. But even that fact didn't stop him from turning and heading for her room. He opened her door and softly closed it behind him.

John approached her bed where there was a small collection of her clothes on the floor. He began adding to the pile with his own as he eyed her. She was sound asleep, curled on her side with her face facing away from him. After a lengthy debate over whether or not he should sleep in the nude or not; he decided on nude, which was more comfortable for him. He rarely slept with clothes on and didn't want to try to sleep with his boxer-briefs on just on the chance that her son would barge right into her bedroom. Taylor was nearly a legal adult not a child, so he doubted he would just enter.

He lifted the comforter and slid in beside her. John smiled a little as Joss muttered something as she wiggled closer as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her close and fell instantly asleep.

John was startled awake about an hour later and realized it was Joss's alarm clock that awoke him. She grunted and groaned in annoyance as she roused too before shutting the alarm off. "When did you get here?" she asked sleepily snuggling into his embrace once more.

After a few seconds John caught his wits and yawned. "About an hour or so ago, I didn't think you'd mind," he whispered as he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head as she wasn't in a hurry to get going.

"Mind you slipping into my bed?—I'd mind if you didn't," she retorted. "Number finished?"

"Yes."

"Everything is alright?"

"Mmmhmmm," he sounded, dozing a little.

Things grew silent. Joss was letting herself slowly awaken and bask in the fact that she was waking up this morning with John's arms around her. Yesterday morning he had beat her up so she wasn't granted such a luxury and she sure wasn't stupid and going to waste the opportunity. Nope, she was going to soak up as much of this until it became imperative that she got her ass in gear or she'd be late.

They laid there for a long while and listened to him lightly snore when she reached over to the nightstand where her cell sat next to her alarm clock. Call her old school but she didn't like using her cell phone as an alarm clock. She sighed in disappointment not because her phone was nearly dead but because it was time to get going or she'd be incredibly late for work.

Joss wiggled a little trying to free herself without waking him up but couldn't. "John," she whispered and waited but when it was clear that didn't work she called his name again but this time a little louder.

"Hmmm…" he sounded.

"Let go, I have to get up to get ready for work. Just sleep in and stay here for however long you want." she spoke softly but when he grip didn't loosen she exhaled. "Seriously, John, let go; I can't get free."

"Who says I want to let you go?" he questioned sleepily.

She chuckled. "Well regardless if you want to or not, you have too."

"Who says?" he murmured sounding awfully awake now.

"Me," Joss declared irritably. John seemed unimpressed as his hold merely tightened and he simply mumbled 'no' at her. She squirmed a little trying to wiggle free but his arms were like bands of steel!

"Keep up that squirming and you're going to be really late," he muttered.

Joss groaned at that. Did he have to tease sex?—because it had been on her mind since waking up with his arms wrapped around her and feeling his cock hardening against her butt. She was only wearing a long short sleeve shirt that rested on her mid thighs and nothing else. It was what she usually slept in. She reached around behind her and between them and her eyes grew big realizing John was naked.

One of John's arms loosened from around her middle as he let his hand wander down tugging her shirt up and slip between her legs. She gasped as he touched her and suddenly all desire to be on time for work was gone.

"John," she breathed as she leaned her head against his shoulder as her hips jerked forward to follow his hand, not wanting the delicious touch to end as her body crackled alive under his wicked hand.

His mouth was on her neck as his cock poked her butt which was now resting against it without her shirt as a barrier. She felt how warm and hard he felt but also how powerful as he twitched against her as he grew aroused by touching her.

"Joss," he whispered near her ear as he slipped a finger into her and it was rather embarrassing how wet she became at such a simple touch.

"Yea," she managed as grabbed the pillow in her fist as she lifted her leg to rest it on his thigh to spread herself more as he inserted a second finger into her and was thrusting them into her over and over again.

"You're going to be late," he vowed as he withdrew his fingers and she whimpered in protest.

John shifted so he was lying on his side and positioned his aching cock between her spread legs, holding onto her hip as he pushed into her wet heat from behind and she cried out softly as she gripped the sheet beside her. He was inside her on one long slow stroke. He slipped his hand between her legs and found her clit with ease as he slowly began to move inside her.

"Oh god," she moaned. She dreamt of his touch, of him inside her again.

He shifted closer and sucked at her neck as he pounded inside her. He teased her clitoris as he felt the muscles in her thigh begin to quiver. John moved his mouth near her ear. "Maybe I won't let you come," he whispered raggedly in her ear. "Maybe I'll let you go to work thinking about the climax you could have had and want it, desire it, need it the entire day until you're insane with need."

Joss whimpered at the thought and nearly cried out in frustration as he slowed his pace down considerably. "Please John, don't…" she begged softly, as her eyes closed and pushed hard back against him wanting it hard and fast. She slid her hand between her legs resting her hand on his pressing his fingers harder onto her.

He let his hand that was buried between her legs slide up her body to tease her nipples. She replaced her hand where his had been and rubbed herself in time with his strokes, both moaning in need. John let his hand fondle her breasts for a few moments before sliding up her neck meaning to tuck some of her hair back, but she moved her head down catching his middle finger between her teeth. He hissed in pleasure as he allowed her to suck his finger, which had been between her legs, into her mouth.

"You're so damn hot," he whispered before he withdrew his finger from her mouth to settle his hand on her hip so he could drive into her hard and fast, feeling the heat in his belly grow.

"John," she moaned in need. Her orgasm was so close…

She flung her head back as she cried out before muffling it as she buried her face into her pillow as she came about the same time he did. He bit his lip to make sure he didn't shout but rather softly moan as he emptied himself inside her before relaxing into a shuddering pile of limps on her bed.

Joss moaned in soft protest as he withdrew from inside her and flopped onto his back. She rolled over to rub her hand on his belly. "You know I've never been late to work before," she commented, breathing heavily but immensely satisfied.

He smiled at that. "There's always a first time for everything, Joss."

She pressed a kiss to his lips before leaning back. "I'm going to take a shower. Would you like to join me?"

"Let me think about it…yes," he said eagerly as he slowly rose up alongside her.

"No sex though." she stipulated. "I'm already late and I'm not going to be super late or I'll never hear the damn end of it from Fusco."

"Oh, then maybe I should take one later. Having you naked and wet against me is not good for my libido. You can't expect me to behave," he muttered as he flopped back down on her bed.

She rolled her eyes. "Like it's all that easy to have you wet and naked against me," she retorted but slid from bed, her legs still felt like jelly from that orgasm. "You can stay the day you know; you don't have to slip out the back door and pretend you never were here. My son is nearly eighteen so I don't expect him to believe we aren't having a physical relationship."

John yawned again as he nodded. "Alright," he agreed hesitantly, however she wanted to play it with her son than he'd follow her lead.

Joss leaned down and kissed him on the lips lightly once more. "Kissing you now just in case you fall asleep the moment I enter the bathroom since you look tired. See you later tonight?"

"Unless there is a new number, and I'll make it up for missing our second attempt at a first date."

"Someone's life is more important than dinner, John, I know who and what you are. It's why I care about you," she reassured him gently as she rubbed a finger on his chin. She wanted to say 'it's why I love you' but why ruin such a nice moment with a premature declaration. "Now sleep, and that's an order!" she stated and pressed another small kiss to his lips again and pulled away to hurry to her bathroom.

"Yes ma'am," he purred and he was asleep the moment his head hit her pillow.

AN: If you have been patiently waiting for some Taylor/John fluff it's coming next ;D I just adore Taylor/Joss and Taylor/John stuff.

Thanks for reading!