Joss was irritable as she sat in the backseat with Fusco in the driver's seat. She was still posing as Jocelyn Rice even though last night this should have ended if Brandon Reed would have just shown up. So today she was following the itinerary that Finch set up for Jocelyn Rice, but making sure there weren't many innocent people around. She had foregone the sling, tired of wearing the stupid thing, and to hell with Shaw's orders. Her deltoid still hurt but it felt better.

"So wonder-boy solved our case for us effectively, eh?" Fusco commented. He was still amused over that fact.

"Yeah."

"Well, I miss working as a detective because being a chauffeur is not all that it's cracked up to be," Fusco commented, sounding suspiciously close to whining.

Joss agreed however. "Try being a stuck up, rich bitch," she said with a long sigh. "This undercover gig stinks, I can't see my boys and I'm stuck with you all day and night…no offense Fusco."

"None taken, it's nice seeing you at work and outside of work, but seeing you day and night is getting old real fast, Carter, you are so bossy," Fusco said.

"I'm not bossy."

Fusco snorted with laughter. "Carter, you're bossy, I wonder how wonder-boy can even breathe at your place unless he enjoys being told what to do. You told me to not wear just my robe around the safe-house, then there is the choice of shows that we disagree about watching, and you are very stern about what I eat. You basically force fed me vegetables Carter!"

"First off, Fusco you need to eat more vegetables and I did not force feed you them. You liked the smoothie I made you. Secondly, there was just no way in hell you were going to walk around in just your robe with nothing underneath," she clarified. "And lastly, I didn't bitch you out about watching that horrendous movie. I merely told you the plot of the movie because it's just like any other action flick and said it was stupid, but if you wanted to watch something stupid than it was up to you. I just meant that John and I usually watch the military channel after our baby boy is in bed and they have interesting documentaries."

"That's because you two probably get turned on over gun powder."

Joss rolled her eyes, nine out of ten times they would turn the TV off and make out, then go up to their room and make love. But she wasn't telling him that. She and John didn't get turned on by the shows, they got turned on as they snuggled on the couch, and their hands would have minds of their own.

The passenger door opened suddenly and Shaw climbed into her car. "Where the hell did you come from?" Carter demanded and the woman just smirked before growing serious.

"Your number is up and your hubby is otherwise detained, so I figured I'd sit with you," Shaw offered quietly.

"I already know Jocelyn Rice's number is up, Fusco and I are fine."

Shaw shook her head. "No I meant yours, Carter."

"Wait, my real one?" she asked in shock and Shaw nodded her head 'yes.' Fusco shifted a concerned gaze onto her before eyeing Shaw.

"Finch called John because Reese nearly had a heart attack the last time your number came up and wasn't told, but he didn't answer the phone."

Joss grimaced. "That's my fault actually, but John's with Simon and Taylor for the day. I think they are going Christmas shopping for me, trying to keep it on the DL," she admitted, finally realizing the secret that John was keeping for Taylor. "He might think it was me calling him which is why he didn't answer his phone."

"Why is he screening your calls, Carter?"

"Because I've been badgering him," she admitted, ducking her head.

Fusco half laughed. "Badgering isn't the term, Carter, you called him like thirty times since we got out on the road."

She shrugged. "In my defense I was worried my son was going to tell John he was done with college until I realized I heard them in a department store. And since then I have left them alone realizing it was really about trying to get me Christmas gifts early. I have a bad habit of figuring out what my kid is going to get me for a present, so I think he conned my husband into taking him early this year, so he could hide it from me."

Shaw nodded her head. "Makes sense as to why he won't pick up, being called that many times even by you, Carter, would be annoying."

"Thanks, Shaw," she said, making a face.

"Any cases you are working that might have gotten you into any sort of trouble?"

"No, because Fusco and I have been working the Reed case. There was the priority case that you and John finished for us, but otherwise nothing comes to mind."

"Stepped on any toes at work that took weeks for this dickhead to plan?"

"No."

"Piss anyone off recently, anyone that you can think of?" Shaw demanded.

"No, no one, not as myself, the only one that comes to mind is Brandon Reed but I was in my alias."

"Did you have a run in with any woman that could be a secret government agent?"

"No, no psycho for the government dropped coffee on me. And no one burned down my house, and Stanton is dead so it's not her. Of course, there's you…."

"Are you positive that you blew that bitch into tiny little pieces?"

"Yes, I'm sure, they found several charred remains of Stanton, there was no way she survived the blast."

Shaw nodded. "Anyone from your past that hates your guts enough to want to kill you, Carter?"

"No, Shaw, no one. People love me," Joss assured her and Shaw smirked at her. "Well okay, maybe not love me, but tolerate me."

"How about Quinn?" Fusco piped up.

"Quinn is in jail without any power, HR is dead in the water without any way of being resuscitated," Joss said. "I have no idea who would want me dead," she admitted and that was the frightening part.

Shaw nodded and sighed. "Then this is a problem."

"What do you mean?"

"If it's no one you can think of that is after you, then that means they are after you because of your husband. And we all know how Reese reacts when his wife is caught up in his mess of a past," Shaw stated and Joss's eyes widened. She was right, John wasn't going to react well to learning her real number came up, but if her number coming up was because of him it was going to make it doubly worse.

Joss immediately dialed John's number, and prayed he would answer it.

John sighed as he felt his phone buzz yet again. Damn it, Joss, she had been calling him since he made the accidental text of revealing that Taylor, Simon, and him were going out together. She had grown suspicious of their intentions, and had called him numerous times which he tried to deflect, but decided against answering the rest. Taylor, him, and Simon had gone out early in the morning to go shopping for Joss. He had no idea it would become such an ordeal to buy something for her. Taylor wanted the perfect gift. No wonder why the kid decided to go out this early before the holiday, the way he was going through stores it would take till Christmas to find something he wanted to buy his mother.

They spent hours at several shops that made him want to jab daggers into his eyes, Taylor had joked about his look of boredom, but continued to rifle through a ton of stuff. He had gone through all the ideas of candles, spa treatments, clothing, jewelry, anything and everything he had looked at for his mother. The kid had found several different small things for his mom, like perfume that she enjoyed but was undecided on the main item. It was between the spa day or this $100 cashmere sweater that would look amazing on Joss. So they had decided to move onto Simon's gift while Taylor decided.

John, Taylor, and Simon had gone to a craft store and found a Crayola thing that would allow Simon to create any color crayon he wanted. They also picked up a bunch of TMNT stickers, glue, construction paper, and other little things so Simon could create a handmade Christmas card to go along with the plaster molding kit to create a plaster heart with Simon's tiny hand imprinted on it. Taylor suggested that he should purchase the bigger kit to engrave Simon's name in it too, to make his mom a puddle of teary-eyed goo on Christmas morning since his mom was sentimental over things like this. Simon's little curious mind had wondered what Cwissmiss was so John and Taylor had to field question after question about Christmas; the lights, music, the tree they would decorate, and then who Santa was. And once Simon knew who Santa was and what Santa brought….he wanted Christmas now.

After they finished paying for the new toys from the toy store that Simon had convinced him to go into, Taylor announced he was finally settling on the cashmere sweater because his mom would love it.

Which brought him back to where he was currently, in line beside Taylor waiting to pay for said sweater. "So what are you getting Hayley?" John asked quietly, as he held Simon in his one arm, while he carried the bag of toys and craft supplies for Joss's present in the other. Simon was yawning and laying his head on his shoulder. Poor boy, his nap had come and gone. Taylor gave him a sidelong gaze.

"Promise you won't tell my mom,"

"You have my word, Taylor." He said with a smile. Taylor grinned back, sliding the sweater onto his forearm as he reached into his back jeans pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box and John's eyes widened. Oh no!

Please let it be earrings, please let it be earrings, John silently prayed. Taylor's smile never slid from his face as he opened the velvet box. John exhaled. "Mr. Badass your reaction is hilarious, which means my mom will react the same way when I show her. But it's not an engagement ring, it's a promise ring. Neither one of us is ready to get married just yet, but I wanted to get her something special." He was glad because then he didn't want a freaking out mother on his hands.

"You did good, Taylor." He admitted eyeing the ring. It was beautiful, dainty, and perfect for Hayley. Hayley was a small girl, very petite.

"You think Hayley will like it?"

"Hayley will love it because it's from you, Taylor," he assured the young man with a knock on the shoulder. Taylor smiled as he bumped his shoulder back before they were called up as next. After Taylor paid for his mother's gift, and it was gift wrapped for him, they finally got to exit the pricey department store.

"The good thing about being away at college means my mom won't be able to sniff out this gift, which means I might be finally able to surprise her," Taylor said with a large smile. Simon was nearly sound asleep as they walked towards his car, when his phone buzzed again in his pocket. He would have to call her back later, he had a snoozing toddler in one arm and bags upon bags in the other. Taylor took his keys, popping the trunk, and helped pile the bags of purchases into the empty trunk. Or what appeared to be an empty trunk as he had hidden his guns away. Taylor just slammed it shut when John heard a click of a gun, and a definite barrel of a gun was dug into his back.

John froze, Taylor looked panicked as whoever was holding him at gunpoint, removed John's gun from the back of his pants. "Look, take our wallets, the car, whatever just leave us be," Taylor spoke up, sounding scared but trying to appear calm.

"No sudden moves, throw your phones on the ground both of you, and then give your son to Taylor." John did as he was told, noting this man knew who Taylor was. He slowly pulled his cell phone out seeing the numerous missed calls throwing it onto the ground with Taylor's before shifting Simon into Taylor's arms. "Now climb into the car, so no one is the wiser." The man behind him spoke calmly. John nodded to Taylor who climbed into the back seat of the car. "Don't even think about it," the man dug the barrel harshly into the small of his back. John had been tensing to whirl around to disarm whoever was holding him at gunpoint. "You're the husband to Jocelyn, now it makes sense why you are always in my way of doing my work." The man hissed. And John knew who was behind him.

"Brandon Reed, it's nice of you to finally show your face. So I'm guessing you know Joss isn't who she says she is."

"She's a fucking cop'" he growled. "Turn around slowly," he demanded. John did as requested, keeping his arms down, and the gun was pointed to his stomach. He came face to face with Brandon Reed. He prayed like hell that he had no idea who Simon really was.

"Yeah, she is. She has nothing to do with this, nor do they." He motioned to Taylor and Simon in the back of the car. "Let em' go."

He shook his head. "I can't because she is the worst one. Jocelyn Carter is sworn to uphold the law and she is living a double life. One to abolish all the bad she has done as Jocelyn Rice."

John thinned his lips. "Jocelyn Rice was a fake, she's not living a double life, it was just a ploy to lure you out."

"No, no, Gabby told me she was living a double life, and Gabby doesn't lie to me. But you would to protect your wife, to protect her spawn of a child, and to protect your own. You shouldn't have butted into my affairs, now climb into the car or I'll shoot them." Brandon motioned to Taylor and Simon.

"I'll go with you anywhere you want, but you leave them alone," he stated as he pointed to Taylor and Simon.

"I can't do that, you and your family are needed to bring your wife out into the open," he said, never taking his eyes off of him. John couldn't take the risk if he attacked this man that he might shoot Taylor or Simon. "Now get in and drive." John reluctantly moved to the driver's door, opening it, and climbed in as Brandon Reed climbed into the passenger seat. Taylor was quiet and cuddling Simon close, covering the majority of the toddler's body with his own to protect him as he softly dozed. John pulled the car away from the curb, hoping like hell Finch had the GPS tracker on that he placed in his watch, that he wasn't supposed to know was there.

AN: Here's another 2 for 1 because of one specific reason :) Thanks for reading!