XI. Progression
Edward clenched his throbbing bicep as he threw open the kitchen door to his family's old house and rushed to the sink, grabbing a hand towel and wrapping it around his bloody arm.
"Fucking son of a bitch!" Edward barked out as he swiped the dishes off the counter onto the floor.
"So close..so close," Edward mumbled as he stood still in front of the sink.
"Too close Edward."
Edward jumped and spun toward the kitchen door as he heard a male voice. He watched in stunned silence as the man who was trying to take Joss from him stood menacingly in his kitchen.
John slowly shut the kitchen door and locked it as he keep his attention on the man standing still in front of him.
Edward watched as the man close the kitchen door and pulled out a chair.
"How did you find me? Who the hell are you?" Edward blurted out as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
"I've been many things in the past but lately I've been a vigilante trying to repent for my mistakes by saving people. But right now, I'm the pissed off man behind the woman you've been stalking and harassing. Unfortunately for you Edward, I'm not here to save you…..I'm here to kill you." John replied as he glared at Stevens.
"Shaw, you really don't have to sit in here all night with me; I'm sure you have other things to do," Joss said as she looked at Shaw.
"I've been put on guard duty by your man so, I'm staying," Shaw stated flippantly.
"Guard duty? My man? John's not my man, Shaw."Joss replied, flustered.
"Someone better tell him that. Better yet, you can tell him that when he gets here. Until then, I'm not going anywhere Carter, so deal with it," Shaw stated, as she leaned back in the hospital chair.
Joss let out a frustrated sigh, "At least put the gun away before a nurse or doctor see it."
Shaw grabbed her jacket and laid it across her lap to cover her gun, before she turned back to Joss and let a smirk slide across her face
"Since we're talking about your man, anything you want to tell me?" Shaw asked with a raised eyebrow
Joss raised her own eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"I didn't bring it up before because Finch told me not to, but when I came over to your house after Finch removed those cameras, I couldn't help but wonder why Reese was wearing an oversized t-shirt," Shaw asked with a look of mock innocence.
Joss shifted in her bed as she remembered the kiss she and John had shared before her stalker interrupted them.
"He'd spilled paint; I just gave him another shirt to wear," Joss replied, as the clock on the wall suddenly became much more interesting.
"Is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Shaw mocked.
Joss rolled her eyes as she laid back in her bed.
John watched Edward try to inch his way towards the living room. "That's not going to work; you're not going to be able to out run me. I have to leave soon it's a long drive back to New York and if you make me late, I can guarantee I'll keep you alive and suffering for as long as possible."
John stepped away from the chair he'd pulled out and gestured towards it, "Now quit wasting my time and sit down before I sit you down."
After a moments hesitation, Edward sat down and glanced back at John as he made his way further into the kitchen, pulling open drawers until he found a knife.
Edward let out a half hearted laugh "What are you going to do? Torture and then kill me?"
When John slowly made his way back over to Edward, he pulled out another chair and sat down in front of him. "No, I'm not going to torture you but, I am going to kill you."
Edward smiled, "Once you murder me, the police are going to investigate and when Joss finds out you killed me, she'll hate you forever."
John gripped the knife tighter before he made eye contact with Edward again. "I contemplated how I was going to kill you the entire drive down here. At first, I thought maybe I'd just put a bullet in your head. Then I thought about dismembering you and dissolving your body but that would take too long, so I settled on a simple accident."
"Accident?" Edward questioned in confusion.
"Yes, an accident. You see that bullet in your arm isn't in too bad a spot. In fact, if you were to go to the hospital, you'd make a full recovery but, unfortunately, you are going to make the unwise decision to remove the bullet yourself and in doing so, you're going to accidentally cut into your Brachial Artery." John stated, his voice low,as he gripped the knife harder.
Before Edward became aware of his situation John lunged from his chair and plunged the knife into Edwards upper arm where the bullet wound located and stepped back as Edward let out a scream of pain as he shot up from his chair.
John narrowed his eyes as he watched Stevens yank the knife from his arm and stumble around the kitchen, frantically trying to stop the bleeding as he fell into the wall.
John stared on with a detached look as Edward slumped to the floor clutching his arm, the blood flowing freely.
After ten minutes, Stevens head slowly lolled forward as his hand fell limply to his side and his chest stopped moving.
Once he was sure Stevens was dead, John replaced his chair and removed any trace of his presence from the scene as he exited the house and made his way back to New York.
Fusco leaned against the elevator wall as he rubbed his eyes and rolled his neck. When the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened, Fusco made his way down the hallway. He slowed his pace as he saw Reese sitting in the waiting chairs across the hall outside of Carter's room.
"So I guess I don't have to tell you Stevens is dead," Fusco asked as he slowed his pace to stand next to John.
"You and your female double have anything to do with it?" Fusco continued in a hushed voice when all he receive was a apathetic look.
John stood up as he finished tying his tie and looked Fusco in the eyes. "Does it matter?"
Fusco stared back at Reese as he shook his head slightly, "Not to me it doesn't, but if you did, and Carter ever finds out, don't expect me to cover your ass."
John stepped closer towards Fusco. "And what exactly do you plan on telling her happened to Edward Stevens?"
"Cool your jets, terminator, I'll tell her exactly what the medical examiner said happened; the sorry bastard cut an artery when he tried to dig out my bullet, or at least that's what it looks like he did," Fusco snorted out as he rolled his eyes and made his way into Carter's room.
Reese pulled out his fake glasses and put them on as he watched Fusco walked into Joss's room and Shaw walked out.
"Not a word Shaw," John gritted out as Shaw tried to hide her grin.
"Wasn't gonna say anything, Poindexter," Shaw replied back with a grin.
John turned his focus away from Shaw and stared at the hospital door Joss was behind as he contemplated his next move.
Shaw watched as John eyed the door with a hesitant and contemplative look.
"Having second thoughts again? " Shaw asked as she shoved her hands into her pockets.
"If I cross this line, I could be putting her and her family in danger," John mumbled out in a soft voice as he continued to stare at the hospital door.
Shaw let out a sigh and rolled her neck, "You really are an idiot. I swear, men and their emotions these days."
John turned his head and glared at Shaw.
Shaw rolled her eyes. "Think about it, Reese; if it came down to it, do you really think that your enemies would just leave her alone? You have a connection to her, it doesn't matter on what level that connection is,if they want your head, they will come after her and her son to get to you. It's too late to turn back the clock now. So when your enemies come knocking, you'd better be ready."
John listened to click of Shaw's shoes as she made her way down the hallway.
"So, he's dead?" Joss breathed out as she read the official report Fusco had brought with him.
"Yea, stupid bastard tried to dig out my bullet with a knife and nicked an artery. Can't say I'm sorry he's dead," Fusco replied as he watched Carter look over his report.
"I guess. Were you guys able to identify the other victims? What about their families? Are any of them still alive?" Joss fired off as she flipped through the pages.
"Carter, you need to relax and recuperate. For God's sake, you were nearly kidnapped by a psychopath,drugged and hit by a car; I think you deserve some time off," Fusco replied as he shook his head and gently pulled the report from Joss's hands.
"Fine," Joss sighed as she watched Fusco as he stood to leave, report in hand.
"I'll keep you informed, Carter, but in the meantime enjoy the downtime; you deserve it." Fusco smiled as he turned and headed for the door.
"Fusco wait," Joss whispered softly.
Fusco stopped mid-step as he prepared to open the door and turned towards her, a question in his eyes.
"Thank you…for everything… for having my back." Joss stated quietly as she caught his eyes.
"I always will, Carter." Fusco replied with a smile and a nod as he opened the door and made his way out.
Joss smiled as she sat on the side of her hospital bed as she rolled her socks on and prepared to put her shoes on.
"I see you and your partner are bonding Joss. You've come a long way from almost shooting him in the bathroom."
Joss chuckled and let a smirk play across her face as she heard John's voice.
"Which was your fault entirely, if I remember correctly," Joss replied as she abandoned the task of putting her shoes on and lifted her head to greet John. When their eyes finally made contact, her eyes widened as she took in his appearance.
"Uhm John, what are you wearing?" Joss asked as she looked at him confusion.
"Yea, well, thanks to your partner, I had to dress like a wall street dork," John mumbled out as he tugged on the tie around his neck.
Joss let a laugh and watched John fiddle with his tie as he stood in front of her in a three piece suit, tie, and black rimmed glasses.
"Unfortunately, the glasses were Shaw's contribution," John stated as he removed the fake glasses and moved closer to the bed. He sat them down on the bed as he kneeled down in front of her.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," Joss replied as she watched as John slipped her shoes on.
"You don't have to do that, John. I can do it myself," Joss argued softly as she watched John finish putting her shoes on.
"I know you can. But I just wanted to help," John replied as he rested his hands on her knees and looked up at her.
Joss gazed into his eyes, and noticed something different about them. She let her eyes drift across his face. She couldn't put her finger on it, but his face seemed slightly harder and she got the feeling he wasn't telling her something.
"John, what's wrong?" Joss asked as she outstretched her good hand and touched his cheek lightly.
John closed his eyes as he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm before he stood back up.
"Nothing. I'm just glad you're all right," John replied as he sat down next to her and held her hand.
Joss gave him a small smile realizing he wasn't going to tell her what was on his mind. Deciding to let it go, she changed the topic.
"So what now?" Joss asked as she squeezed his hand back.
"I take you home so you can rest." John replied back with a smirk.
Joss chuckled, "I meant about us, John."
John sighed as he looked down and their interlocked fingers before making eye contact with her again, "I'll be honest with you, Joss. I wasn't very good at relationships before I joined the CIA and I'm pretty sure I'll be even worse at it now, but you make me want to try, and I'm willing to give my all for you."
Joss felt a stinging in her eyes as they brimmed with tears while she listened to John's heartfelt words. She leaned in a planted a soft kiss on his cheek as they rested their foreheads together.
"There's nothing I want more then all of you, John." Joss whispered as she brushed her lips across his cheek.
John closed his eyes as he relished the warm comfort that radiated off her,"I guess this means you're stuck with me, Joss."
Joss let a small laugh out, "I wouldn't have it any other way. Now take me home boyfriend, I'm hungry."
"Yes Ma'am" John replied with a chuckle as he let a soft smile grace his lips.