"Thanks honey," Joss sighed as she hung up with her son, throwing the phone onto the small diner's table and leaned back. They were all beat after the close call at the charity gala; Shaw and John had stopped the bomb in time, but just barely. "Taylor says Simon is out and they are willing to stay for as long as needed," she told John who looked tense but relaxed when finding out Simon was alright.

"Well its safe to assume Brandon Reed is not father material," Fusco sighed sipping his coffee.

"I don't believe Simon is in danger because of Brandon Reed. However, Simon stays with us until he's dealt with," John spoke up. "There's no telling what Brandon Reed would do if he finds Simon, would he harm the boy or not, and I'm not willing to run that risk. Simon's been through enough and seems to be bouncing back pretty well." Joss wanted to tell John it was because of he-himself, why Simon was bouncing back, but, she remained silent.

"Agreed, Mr. Reese, Simon's safety is our first priority," Finch said earning a satisfied look from John while Shaw's and Fusco's eyes landed on her. She knew what they were thinking, glad they didn't pipe up. Here was the perfect chance at getting John to agree to adopt Simon because he admitted Simon was bouncing back, but it would have to wait. There was a time and place for this particular battle, right now wasn't it.

"Brandon Reed needs to be stopped," Joss said before taking a much needed sip of the coffee she'd ordered. "He's doesn't seem to be connected to Vigilance or Decima, he seems to have his own agenda. We can't keep going on the way we are. We are being pulled in too many directions, we need to do something."

"I agree, he doesn't appear to have connection to Vigilance or Decima, however I feel the best possible solution is we continue as we are. When a number comes up we figure out if they are perpetrators or victims; if they are connected to Vigilance, Decima, or if Brandon Reed is targeting them, we deal with them then," Finch said. That was his plan, stay the course?

"But what happens when that doesn't work anymore, Finch? Someone is bound to wind up seriously hurt or dead, look at what happened with HR, we lost Fisher." Joss's eyes fell on John whose cut and bruised face was testimony to how dangerous this effort was becoming. She had fussed over his injury, annoying the former Green Beret and CIA agent.

"You won't lose anyone, Carter," Shaw assured her roughly, her eyes immediately sliding to John before falling back on hers. "But I agree with Finch on this one, we need to stay the course right now, at least until we learn more about how Brandon Reed picks his targets. So far we only know he targets the rich and the scum."

"And he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage," John picked up, taking her side on the fight. She smiled bumping his shoulder, grateful she wasn't the only one that saw that taking the same course of action would not yield much. "Take a look at tonight, half to maybe three-fourths of those party goers aren't scum of the Earth like the Reeds, but he was still willing to blow them up just because they so happened to be at the same party as this Roland Watters."

"Sorry wonder-couple, I'm with glasses and Lady Psycho on this one, we have nothing to go on with Brandon Reed, at least not yet." She glared at Fusco who gave a chagrined look at siding with Finch and Shaw over her. "I say we keep after these Vigilance guys, isn't cuckoo clock supposedly helping on that front?"

"Who's cuckoo clock?" John asked, perplexed, not recalling if he ever heard that nickname out of the man's mouth before, and no person came to mind.

"You never told your new helper monkey about me, I'm hurt, Harold." They all turned when Root's voice echoed through the nearly empty diner. John narrowed his eyes on the tall brunette who called him a helper monkey. She must be Root. "Hello John, I'm Root." She offered her hand and John did not take it. "No? Not even a handshake? You remind me of Fisher….so protective, but you're so stoic; he was at least a little more fun," she said before giving a sweeping glance. "Hello Shaw, have you missed me?"

"Yeah, just like I miss a hole in my head!" Shaw snapped, looking around the diner as if it was someone else's fault that she was here.

"Maybe you don't want to get rid of me, Shaw," Root winked and she rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Joss asked, wanting her to get to the point and then be gone.

"I'm here to agree with Shaw, Harold, and Lionel, you need to stay the course."

"You popped in just for that?" Joss asked suspiciously. She could have just called, being her cryptic annoying ass self, but she hadn't.

"No, not just for that, I'm here for another reason."

"Why?" Shaw demanded.

"It's not for you either unfortunately, Shaw. It's that storm I was warning you about, it's arriving," Root said as Fusco rolled his eyes.

"Great, Cocoa Puffs, care to be more specific this time?"

"Decima created Vigilance," Root said finally after appearing to debate on whether or not to tell them anything.

"Why?" Finch asked cautiously.

"Because they needed a homegrown terrorist group to oust her, so there would be a need for his child; Samaritan." Root explained. "But Samaritan hasn't been able to come online, yet."

"Why not?" John asked while Fusco appeared perplexed and mouthed to her Samaritan? child? and then Cocoa Puffs? making Joss nearly laugh even though the situation was tense.

"Because there hasn't been a processor on the market that can handle Samaritan, until yesterday. It's a micro-processor and I received a new number from her tonight, a Cyrus Wells. He works for Maxwell Limited—a front for a top secret NSA facility. And inside that top secret NSA facility is that micro-processor that will bring Samaritan to life, the same micro-processor that the government won't willingly give up."

"So this impending storm you have been warning about, is this processor being completed and coming onto Decima's radar?" Joss asked, making sure she understood her implications because she had said a couple weeks ago that John was the key to the end. She was beginning to feel really worried.

"Yes, detective, and we all remember how Decima got their virus uploaded into her. They most likely plan to do a very similar scenario this time; however, instead of it being Fisher I presume it's John since she has said he's the key."

"Yeah, but Fruit Loops, you said he was the key to the end of like humanity."

"No, Lionel, I said he was the key to the end of Decima, to Harold, to us, and to the end of the growing storm," She corrected.

"Big diff," he said gruffly.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop them in their tracks. Simon won't be for sure safe until Brandon Reed is stopped and behind bars, and we can't focus on him until Decima and Vigilance are dealt with," John stated and Joss felt the corners of her mouth tug upwards in a reluctant smile. God, he loved Simon so much….she wished he would just let himself realize it.

"I was hoping you'd say that John," Root said with a smile.


Joss tried to not say anything, she could still see that John was upset with her over what she said to him earlier at the ballroom before all hell broke loose. Root had left after dropping in with her cryptic and pessimistic words, then telling John she'd be in touch, before she poofed out of there. She and John shared a cab, while Shaw, Finch, and Fusco drove away together. She didn't want to think about what was going to be happening sooner rather than later on the Decima front, so she decided to talk to John about their fight this evening and Simon.

"I apologize for pushing so hard, John, but I won't apologize for what I was fighting about with you," she said quietly to keep their conversation private, in the backseat only, her eyes on his profile. "So if you think I'm going to then you have a long wait ahead of you." His eyes shifted onto her.

"I don't want to fight."

"No, you'd rather give up, give up Simon." He exhaled roughly at her words. "So what are you going to tell that sweet little boy if he calls you daddy, again? Because we both know it's going to happen, John. What are you going to say, that you're not his daddy?"

"That's exactly what I'll tell him."

"And you honestly think he'll believe you?" she scoffed, incredulous he'd believe Simon would just magically stop calling him daddy.

"Joss he'll forget about me," he said quietly and Joss just stared at him. He just didn't get it. Simon knew that John loved him, knew that he took care of him, fed him, clothed him, protected him from his nightmares. Simon had nothing and now had everything with John. There would be no telling Simon that John wasn't his daddy, the boy wasn't going to listen.

"John, honestly I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just want you to hear me when I say that little boy sees you as daddy, and no matter how much you tell him otherwise, he won't listen."

"It won't work, adopting Simon ourselves, Joss."

"Why? We love one another, we love Simon, and he loves us. Finch pays you well, I have a steady job, and we'll get a bigger place so he can have his own room. Simon would have love, a secure home, and an older brother to spoil him. Taylor already loves him, I can tell. Hayley was phenomenal with him, I can already tell what career she's going into, and even Shaw wants Simon to stay."

"Joss, please."

"Tell me one good reason why not? And if you can give me a really good reason, I'll drop it, and we'll let Simon go to a foster home, " she offered, knowing there wasn't any good enough reason to let him go, so she wasn't scared in the least.

"Joss it's in his best interests." He sounded as if he had been fighting with himself about this. He wanted Simon, she could tell; he was holding on so tightly that he wasn't good enough for him. She had to fight that notion before just to get herself in John's life; well she'd just do it all over again for Simon.

"No, stop only thinking with your brain that says you're not good enough for him, think with your heart and you'll know that you're the best thing that has ever happened to that little boy! Please, John, think about what's truly best for Simon; is being torn from the man he loves and thinks of as his father really for the best?" she asked, her eyes searched his.

"We are here, senora and senior," the cab driver broke in.

"Give us a minute," she demanded.

"It's your meter, senora." He agreed with a wink.

"Well, John?" she asked.

"He'll forget about me," he repeated lamely.

"No, he won't, " she countered. "Think with your heart, John, and you'll know I'm right."

"I can't do that Joss."

"Yes you can, you did it with me."

"That's different, Joss; you can take care of yourself, Simon would be dependent on me, on us. I'll be bad for him," he said and she scooted close to him, hearing the real reason he was trying to resist, and she touched his hand. He was scared of having a child dependent on him, someone that relied on him, and it was petrifying the strong man. She was sure he felt he was never needed before, which made her sad, and now here was this little boy whose happiness hinged on being with him and it frightened the usually unflappable man.

"Come on," she tugged on his hand. She pulled out money from her purse, handing the cab driver a hefty tip for whistling and trying to not listen in on them. She was going to play dirty to win this fight, she was going to take John to Simon, then force him to think with his heart. They slid from the cab, she held John's hand, and tugged him up into the safe house. They unlocked the door; entering and they saw Taylor and Hayley curled up together on the couch, sound asleep, and the TV blaring. Simon was wide awake staring at the door, apparently waiting for them.

"Daddy, momma, you here you here!" Simon squealed as he bounced a little on the couch. Joss lifted her gaze to John, and then back to Simon, who climbed off the couch, ran as fast as he could to John, who picked him up. Simon flung his arms around John's neck in a tight hug. Taylor and Hayley jerked awake.

"What are you doing awake, sweetheart." Joss cooed to the boy, taking him from John's arms when it looked like John was ready to cry. She tickled him and he giggled. Simon flung his arms around her neck.

"Hey mom, he was asleep before we fell asleep." Taylor said looking sheepish that Simon was awake on them.

"It's okay, Tay, he probably had a nightmare."

"He was asking for you guys every two seconds; 'where are momma and daddy?'" Taylor said with a yawn as they collected their book-bags. Joss gave John a pointed look who found the floor very interesting. "He was perfect though, he listened to us and everything. He's a very well-mannered child."

"Yeah, he's a little angel." Joss agreed kissing Simon's forehead. Simon almost immediately dozed in her arms, while she hugged Taylor first, then Hayley as they headed for the door. "You text me when you get home, understood Tay? And you too, Hayley, John and I won't sleep until we know you are safely home."

"Okay Mrs. C."

"I thought I told you to call me Joss?"

"Sorry, old habits, Mrs. C." Hayley gave her an apologetic smile before adding. "Joss."

"I'll walk you two down," John stated gruffly.

"That's okay, Mr. Badass. Hayley and I will be alright and we promise to text when we get in. Goodnight mom, goodnight Mr. Badass." Taylor grinned at him before waving at them, taking a hold of Hayley's hand as they exited. John shut the door softly.

"I should go watch them home." John murmured.

"John, Taylor and Hayley will find you creepy if you do that," She said as she swayed back and forth with Simon in her arms, helping the little guy fall deeper into sleep.

"It's too late for them to go home by themselves."

"John, it's eleven at night, not three A.M., the reason you want to go watch them home is to not deal with Simon calling you daddy again." She pinned him with a look. "Taylor said he was asking for us all night, calling us his momma and daddy." She moved close to him, handing him Simon. Simon laid in his arms, his little head against John's shoulder, face towards John's neck, arms hanging at his sides, and completely out of it. "So tell me, go ahead, and try to tell me how possibly it is in this little boy's best interests being torn from you and me? Go on John, tell me." She demanded, now that John held Simon in his arms.

"You fight dirty, Joss," John whispered, figuring her out as he held the child in his arms.

"Damn straight I do when I'm fighting for the happiness of someone I love. Simon's happiness hinges on being with you, with me, and with his newly found aunt and uncles. Shaw loves Simon, I caught her actually laughing with him. Shaw never laughs, ever! Finch is already planning on Christmas gifts, buying him a bike, and doting on him. Fusco reads to him those Dr. Seuss books you got him. Please, John, Simon never had a family and he'll have one with us. He'll have a mom and dad, an older brother, uncles, an aunt, and a grandmother because my momma will love to have another child to smother with love," Joss said chipping away at John systematically.

"Joss, but…" but she shook her head and spoke over him. The less he had a chance to voice all his fears, the less likely he'll let them win.

"Think about when you first took Simon, he barely talked and shied away from everyone! He's not like that anymore, because of you. Because of finding you, us, and his real family, I think we were meant to have this boy." She was trying to find the right spot to strike, judging by the way John's face softened as he eyed Simon, she found it. "We're his dysfunctional family, John. He'll have a crazy psychopath aunt, an eccentric uncle, another uncle who is sarcastic, and he's got you and me. Sure we'll smother him with overprotectiveness, but he'll feel our love in it eventually, and appreciate it."

"Joss," he said quietly, halfheartedly, she was getting there. So she struck a little bit more.

"Look at the child in your arms, tell me you don't want him," she said, pointing at the child in his arms.

"I can't," he said as he eyed Simon. "I love him," he whispered so quietly she had to strain to hear him. She smiled as she slid her arms around John's waist snuggling Simon between them.

"Good, because I love him too. I want to adopt him," she said just going for it. She kissed John's chin. "Please, John. Finch, Shaw, and Fusco all think it's a good idea."

"They all know?" he looked her in the eyes.

"Well they cornered me about it at the ballroom; they could tell I wanted to adopt him and I wouldn't lie to them." Joss smiled as he kissed Simon's forehead, and she willed him to agree. He loved the child, he even admitted it, but she just needed to get him to let himself believe he could have what he gave up hope on having a long time ago: a family. "We love Simon and he loves us, if given a choice he'd choose us, John, you are just resisting because you're scared of getting your hopes up."

"Joss, what about the numbers?" he asked as if that was a real concern.

"What about them? You can still work them, just work at making sure you work them safely. Don't take unnecessary risks, John, and that resolves that issue completely. Take a chance, John, we're your family now. You got me, Simon, Taylor, and our friends. It might not be a conventional family but it's ours, it would be all yours, all you have to do is believe in it."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Because it is, John, I love you, Simon loves you, Taylor loves you, and you love us in return. Please don't make me beg, I will if I have to, because Simon's happiness is the most important thing to me and he wants you."

"Joss…" she could hear it, he was so close.

"John, you said you gave up on any hope of having a family, well here you are on the brink of having everything you ever wanted, and all you have to do is just reach out and grab it. I know you're scared of Simon being dependent on you, on disappointing him, but you won't." She stood up on her tip-toes and took his mouth with hers, he kissed her lovingly back. She moved back.

"You sound so sure," he whispered so quietly, so hopeful that he wanted to buy into what she was saying, but was afraid if he did it might somehow be snatched from him. She wanted to tell him she was sure because it was the truth, but she had a feeling it was time for a tactical retreat. Joss knew how far she could push John and when to cease before she pushed too far. She didn't want to make another mistake as she had at the party and push too hard and have him dig his heels in. Simon's happiness depended on her doing this the right way and the right way was giving John some time to process everything she had just said. He knew in his heart that he was the right dad for this boy; his head just had to catch up with what his heart already knew. She did a good job at chipping away at his reservations tonight, she just needed to wait for the right moment to finish him off and it wasn't now. Now, he was worried about Simon's safety, Samaritan, Decima, their friends, and the list went on and on.

"Okay I'll compromise with you," she offered which earned her a surprised look. "What? I'm capable of compromising, thank you very much," she said in a mock offended tone. Well, she was CAPABLE of compromise, she just didn't like it.

"You compromise? You don't compromise, Joss; you're cutthroat, you go for the win," John scoffed.

"I take that as a compliment coming from someone who is the same exact way," she laughed. "But I'll go for the win, eventually, but for now I'm offering a compromise."

"I have to hear this," he teased and she noticed that John discreetly hugged the boy closer to him. She secured her arms around John tighter, loving this man so much and wanted him in bed this very second.

"Try this on for size, John. I'll drop this adoption talk for now, and we'll discuss when we will adopt Simon after Decima is dealt with. Simon is safe as long as we keep him with us and I agree with you, I don't believe Brandon Reed is a threat to the child either. It seems to me like he doesn't want anything to do with Simon, maybe Brandon Reed isn't aware that Simon is still alive," she said.

"That's your compromise, Joss?" John demanded. She smiled at his incredulous look.

"What's wrong with it, John?" she said, knowing full well what was wrong with it. She had emphasized when, and purposely not said IF they were going to adopt Simon.

"First of all it's not a compromise."

"Yes it is," she countered. "I'm giving up our little discussion even though I don't want to and you do. You know what? You're right, it's not a compromise since I'm giving in, so you should give something up too. Say, this whole 'I'm not good enough for Simon' thing, just agree to adopt him and we'll call it a night."

"You just don't quit!" he said on a sigh, even though the corners of his mouth were tugging up.

"Damn straight I don't, John, I never quit on anything. So what's the verdict? Giving up gracefully now or later? 'Cause you know as well as I do that I'm really good at fighting for those who need fighting for, and Simon deserves someone to fight for him."

He exhaled in irritation at her, making her giggle and snuggle more into him. God did she love to spar with this man, he just made life fun, and she had a feeling their adventures in raising Simon would be damned fun as well as fulfilling. John just needed some prodding to realize he could do this. "I take that you're compromising to fight about this another day." She pinched his butt to get a response.

"Yes, because we have other things to concerns ourselves about, Simon can't go anywhere until we are sure he's safe."

"He's not going anywhere, period," she assured him. The flash of anger she received was ignored. "Oh stop your ruffled feathers, John, he's our baby boy and you know it." She tapped his pretty temple (could a man's temple be considered pretty?). "This just needs to realize it, because this…" she dropped her hand to his chest to pat gently his heart. "…already knows." She stole a kiss from John before pulling back and kissed Simon's forehead that murmured something and snuggled further into John's embrace. "Besides I have other….methods to get what I want." She purred to John as their eyes connected. She saw his blue depths darken.

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh yes," she agreed. "You'll be agreeing to anything I say and then some, John." Now was the perfect time to finally appease her ego over what Shaw had said about John's ice cream. John wasn't going to know what hit him, and, if she got him to agree to adopt Simon and show her ego that there wasn't nothing to what Shaw had said then it would be an amazing night. But she was aiming for appeasing her ego because sex wouldn't get John to agree to adopt Simon, but boy would it be fun to try.

"In your dreams," he breathed and she grinned. Her cell buzzed loudly from John's pants pocket signifying one of the kids got home safely, most likely Hayley, and John pulled her cell phone out of his pocket as she took Simon into his arms to let him read the text.

"Come on sweet-pea, time to get you into bed, and then it's off to bed with daddy who isn't gonna get any sleep." She winked at John before breezing to the couch to lay the boy down, covered him up with his new fleece TMNT blanket, and patiently waited till her son texted to yank John to the bedroom.


AN: I love writing Joss Carter's idea of compromise XD John should just give in right now, he's like outvoted by everybody! Here's the teaser which I might get hated for giving but here it goes:

"He's payment for the services rendered from Kara Stanton, her job is quite simple; grab you and keep watch on you while John does the mission we need him to do." Greer explained.

"Great, I'll be in her company, I just might kill myself." Joss said as she eyed Stanton, knowing the woman had a weakness somewhere that she was going to find and exploit during her time alone with the ex-CIA agent.

Poor Joss, she finds herself in the clutches of Decima...but we know our girl, she's resourceful ;D Thanks for reading everyone!