AN: I posted both chapters 20 and 21 back to back because they are both of Flesh and Blood. It was so long and had too many line breaks that looked awkward to me. So I posted them together so if you wanted to read them in one setting or not it was up to you :)

Italics is for Finch's side of the conversation between Reese and Finch over the earwigs. I guess I just like it better differentiating it for some reason lol. I'll be doing that from now on.

John kept watch on the man that Finch sent him to. "Who am I looking at Finch?" he wondered as he eyed a man in a leather jacket loitering around on the street's sidewalk.

"I was able to trace the financial transactions going out of Elias's accounts. The man you are following is one of the recipients. Elias's payroll reads like a who's who of the U.S. penal system," Finch answered through the earwig. They were connected and actively working the dons' numbers, while he silently worried about Joss's well-being by being smacked dab in the middle.

John watched through his camera's lens and noted that the man he was watching, photographing and following was doing the same thing to a woman and children. "I'm following him but who is he following? It's a family, any idea of who they are?"

"Maybe they are related to the dons? Elias isn't above threatening their loved ones."

John watched as Officer Simmons walked over and hugged the children and the woman. He immediately began taking photographs. "Right theory, wrong organization, Finch. Elias is following HR's family members."

"I don't understand his strategy, HR are his allies."

Of course Finch would be perplexed but to him it made perfect sense. "In war you need to be able to coerce your allies just as much as your enemies," John explained.

"Which means: if any of his law enforcement allies get out of line Elias has a backup plan."

"It's what I would do," John he admitted slowly. It was what he had done during his time in the agency. "Finch, where's Carter?"

"Currently?—getting ready to try to get the dons to go with her to a safe house, I don't know how successful she is going to be. The dons aren't going to want to utilize police protection, not after what happened to Nascerella. If necessary, Mr. Reese, I have her coordinates ready if you need them."

He nodded as he took more photos. "And Fusco?—is he by her side?" he wondered.

"Yes, Mr. Reese, Jocelyn isn't alone. But I am about to text you some new coordinates of yet another man that was a recipient to Elias's cash payout. He has been in and out of jail for a dozen different infractions ranging from two-bit drug charges to first-degree felonious assault."

"Give them to me, I'm about done here." John murmured as he took a few more photos of the man photographing Simmons with his family before turning and disappearing into the sea of people. John eyed his phone as it buzzed with a text.

Fusco yawned as he exited his car with the bag of stuff that he was requested to bring. Carter called way too damn early, he needed his morning cup of Joe to handle her barking orders. He found Carter with her back to him with the trunk open to her SUV. He eyeballed the shotgun she was loading ammo into. His eyes took a quick survey of the ammo, other guns, and grenades littering her trunk. It was no wonder why wonder-boy was crushing on her hard. She was like the hot female version of Rambo.

"Getting shipped back to Iraq or something?"

Joss eyed him. "I need an assist, did you bring the extra vest and ammo like I asked."

"Yea, but…."

She nodded. "Good, just get in because you're the only cop I can trust right now," she said, slamming her trunk shut. Fusco didn't say a word as he walked to the passenger seat.

"Where are we headed?" he finally asked after a few moments of her driving.

"To the dons, to offer them police protection: us."

"Sounds peachy," Fusco grumbled. She smiled as she drove and didn't say a word. They kept silent as she pulled up to the Covenant Club where the dons were having a special meeting to talk about what was happening with Elias.

"Ready, Fusco?" she demanded as she situated the shotgun near the gearshift where it would be ready for use if necessary.

"Even if I wasn't you'd still want to go in there, so we may as well get this over with," he complained and she nodded because he was right. They climbed out of her SUV and walked to the entrance where the bodyguards were waiting.

They both tugged their badges out. "We're Detectives Carter and Fusco and we're here to protect your bosses, so step aside," she said to the bodyguards in her most authoritative voice.

"They don't want to be disturbed," the larger guy with a tattoo circling his eye spoke up. Joss stared him down as she got a little closer, not in the least intimidated.

Fusco laid a hand on her stomach stepping forward himself. "Hey we're trying to protect your bosses and your paycheck, because if they die then you have to go find a new living. So step aside so we can have a nice little chit-chat with them," Fusco said, trying to reason them into compliance.

"That is if you're alive enough to go find a new source of payment," Joss added and smirked as the two boneheads looked at each other, clearly contemplating what they said for a moment before stepping aside. "Nice work at appealing to their greediness, Fusco," she commented as they entered the club.

"You just need to speak their lingo, Carter." She snorted as they headed to the private meeting room they were in. The door was open with two more bodyguards guarding the door.

She held up her badges. "We need to talk to your bosses unless of course you all want to wind up dead,"she stated. But this time she didn't bother to wait for them to think it over, she didn't have the time to wait for their tiny brain to function as she brushed by them to enter the private room, leaving Fusco to trail after her.

Joss eyed Grifoni as he sat at the head of the table. "Detectives, what is so important that you had to bully your way in here?" he wondered.

She nearly snorted. If you asked her they weren't much of bodyguards, she'd seen paper that held up better. "You're going into protective custody until Elias is found," Joss said immediately.

"Not going to happen," Grifoni said coolly.

"I wasn't asking," she replied equally cold. "You failed to control Elias, some of you tried to cut deals with him and now he's coming after you. I'm not about to let innocent civilians get killed because you chose to ignore what was right under your nose."

Grifoni sighed as he sat back. "JIMMY! Come show the detectives out." he called out and she rolled her eyes. She knew it wasn't going to be that easy to get these old dons to listen to her. But when their bodyguard didn't come rushing in at their beck and call, Moretti Jr. got up and shouted for him.

Joss eyed Grifoni with a knowing look. "Looks like we scared off your boys with tough talk about Elias. How much do you want to bet Elias's men aren't that far behind us, so you got a choice: us or Elias?"

Moretti Jr. stormed back in. "We don't work with cops!"

She shrugged. "Fine, if you don't want to come voluntarily than we'll take you by force," she said, tugging her gun out and pointing it at them. Fusco immediately followed suit. "Maybe if I just shoot you then Elias won't blow up a car full of innocent people,"she bluffed.

"Carter, maybe it's time we called for backup." Fusco said quietly for her ears only. He hadn't exactly signed up for this. Wonder-boy said keep an eye on Carter not help her kidnap some old criminal wet-naps.

"You are my backup, Fusco," she said just as quietly.

Did Reese somehow pull a body-switcher with Carter because this sounded like him? "Joy, just what I wanted to hear Carter." Fusco grouched.

John was growing bored with following the men that were bought and paid for by Elias to watch HR's families. He wanted to go be with Joss, make sure she was safe and sound. He trusted Fusco to help keep her safe but he preferred to be with her instead. He didn't like her being on the front lines with Elias, not after what he had almost done to her, using her C.I. against her. He would end everyone if anything happened to her, they ran out of amnesties.

He connected with Finch. "Where's Joss?" he asked again.

"Detectives Carter and Fusco are safe at one of my properties, Mr. Reese, as are the remaining dons."

John looked up with a smile. "Good to hear. How did she convince them to go with her?"

"Perhaps she used the same tactic she used on you, Mr. Reese," Finch said and he shrugged, he wasn't going to deny that her tactic to continuously come to the encampment to talk with him hadn't worked because he would be dead if he hadn't met her. His weird employer sighed. "But she went the more direct approach, she kidnapped them. It seems you have had something of an influence on her."

"Thanks Finch," he said proudly.

"I'm not certain I meant that as a compliment," Finch bantered back.

"Elias isn't going to take this lying down, Finch, no sign of him yet. But I have tracked down a dozen of his men, all of whom are in position to strike HR's family members if things don't go his way."

"Luckily HR doesn't know where the dons are, only Detectives Carter and Fusco do."

John looked up at that comment as a thought struck him and he immediately panicked. Elias wasn't below threatening families to get what he wanted, including families of, say the cops, that were interfering with your plans.

"Finch, the men we are tracking, are any of them near Marbury High-School in Brooklyn?" he asked as his eyes closed. Please don't let him say yes.

Finch took a moment. "Yes, Mr. Reese. Why?"

He immediately whirled around and hurried to his car. "That's where Carter's son goes to school," he answered as he opened the trunk, tugged on a bulletproof vest just in case, grabbed his assault rifle and climbed in and sped off. So help him if anyone laid a hand on Taylor they were dead, no amount of begging would save them from him.

"Oh dear, I'll call the school," Finch said worried.

"No, I'll text you Taylor's phone number. Call him directly, if someone tries to approach him he'll know to stay away," he said instead as he looked between driving and texting Taylor's phone number to Finch. "Do it now Finch, I'm about ten minutes away from his school," he said and hung up on his friend as he tried to hurry.

Come on, come on, come on, he pressed his foot harder onto the gas pedal passing people that were going far too slow. He heard horns blare as he ran a red light. John lost his control on his rage as he saw Taylor already out of the school with Marconi at his side with a firm grip on his jacket. Marconi was a dead man.

He slammed the car into park, climbed out and grew furious at Taylor's panicked shout of his name as he was shoved into the SUV. John aimed his rifle at Marconi and fired rapidly, not aiming for kneecaps. Taylor was the only priority, and even if Joss hated him for killing at least Taylor was safe. Screams filled the air and Marconi fired back nailing him in the chest, making him hesitate as all the air in his lungs was stolen from him from the hit in his vest. It was just long enough for Marconi to get into the car and John couldn't risk firing at the car and harming Taylor. He watched as the boy was whisked off. He immediately turned and walked to his car calling Joss ignoring the burning in his chest.

She answered on the second ring. "Yea, talk to me."

"Joss I need to tell you something. But I need you to know I won't let anything happen to him, you understand, I'll find him." he said, desperately wanting her to trust him and believe him. He would walk through hell before he let anything happen to Taylor.

"Find who?—what's going on John?" she demanded and her phone beeped with an incoming call and looked at who it was. John's words and the fact that it was Taylor's cell panicked her. Why would he be calling in the middle of a school day? She answered Taylor. "Taylor?"

"You got a great kid here, detective," Elias said.

Joss felt her heart stop. She immediately walked into a corner to have a quiet phone conversation so the dons didn't know what was happening. "I swear to god if you touch him I'll kill you," she vowed. She didn't condone killing but she would make an exception if this man even looked at her son funny.

"You have the means to set him free. You can't call for backup, who are you going to trust anymore?" Elias reasoned.

She shook her head swallowing hard to work back the lump growing in her throat. She was in a lose-lose situation. "You know I can't hand these guys over to you, may as well kill them myself."

"If you're up to it that would be extremely helpful to me, detective. That way I don't have to show up to the safe house you are holed up in all alone," Elias said in his usual arrogant way and she stood still. "Yes I know where you are detective. How about just handing them over, that way you and your partner do not get harmed or your son. I truly don't want to hurt him, he's a nice boy. Is the life of your son, your partner and your own worth those men that you are protecting?"

"Why do you need the bosses dead? You've already shown how powerful you are," she asked without answering him.

"That's not it, detective, you don't understand the evil you are protecting. Let me tell you something about Zambrano: he makes his living selling heroin to school children. Grifoni sells guns to the highest bidder and my esteemed half-brother not only imports drugs but young girls. Those are the men that you are protecting."

"And things will be much better under your watch, huh?" she fought, keeping him on the line long enough to know his intentions and just how long she had until he decided to hurt her boy.

Elias sounded smug. "I run an efficient enterprise, Detective; I'm the evolution of organized crime."

She shook her head. "No, you're a force of corruption and weakness. My answer is no," she said, grateful her breath didn't hitch and the tears that were welling up waited until after she gave him her answer. She immediately called John back after unintentionally hanging up on him. He answered on the first ring. "John, he wants to trade the dons for Taylor. How can I do that, knowing what could happen?"

"You can't, but you don't have to make that decision because I'm going to get your son back, no matter the cost. I won't let anyone hurt him, you hear me, Carter. No one will hurt your son."

"Promise me…"

"You have my word, Joss," he promised.

That was enough for her. "Go, save my baby," she whispered before losing her nerve, hanging up.

John immediately switched back to Harold after the call with Carter was short. "Finch, I need you to tell me where to find Taylor." he demanded.

Finch limped down the sidewalk towards the diner just up ahead from him. "I'm already one step ahead of you, John. But the only way to find Taylor is to make a deal with the devil."

John climbed into his car. "I hope you're not referring to Elias because I prefer to kill him with my bare hands than make a deal with him."

Finch smiled, clutching the manila folder in his hand tightly. "Elias isn't the only fallen angel in our rolodex Mr. Reese," he assured him before muting John as he entered the diner and approached Officer Simmons who was seated alone in a booth eating lunch.

Finch smiled as he stopped directly in front of the man who had not looked up yet. "Hello Officer Simmons," he said and the man finally looked up. "I wonder if I could have a few minutes of your time."

"Who the hell are you?" Simmons asked and Finch smiled as he slid down to sit across from the man. "Are you going to tell me who you are or am I going to have to arrest you?"

"I'd like to talk to you about your organization, the one commonly known as HR. It has come to my attention that HR has been paid a large sum of money to ignore any criminal activity involving a man named Elias."

Simmons cocked a brow. "Really, how exactly did this come to your attention?"

"I notice things officer, things that the rest of the world ignores. And I've noticed things about Elias that I believe you overlooked," Finch said conversationally.

"I doubt that, I'm a pretty observant guy myself," Simmons said assuredly.

Finch smiled a little. "You seem to think Elias stands for a return of the way things used to be, but he also stands for other things as well," he murmured as he pushed the manila envelope forward for Simmons to look at. The man hesitated only a moment before opening the envelope and tugged out photos. "This is Elias's surveillance of HR police officers and their families. You're in bed with the devil, this man will go to any lengths to get what he wants, including kidnapping children. Detective Carter's son is only his most recent victim," Finch explained, not believing that children's lives were all that important to him. But his children's lives…now that was a whole other matter.

"I didn't hear anything about that," Simmons lied.

"I recognize the fact that I'm placing myself in danger by coming here, but you need to recognize that you are placing your family in danger by doing business with Elias." Finch said and Simmons flipped through the photos and paused as he froze, evidently finally finding the ones that John had taken earlier this morning of him with his family.

Simmons looked up immediately. "What the hell is this?"

"That man following your wife and kids is an ex con whose prior convictions include rape and manslaughter. Elias is keeping you and yours in check until his plan is finished, and after that…who knows if he'll have any use for you," Finch said, allowing the threat of the unknown wiggle doubt into Simmons. Officer Patrick Simmons was a smart man, despicable, but smart. He would know what's in the best interests of his family.

"How do I know this guy doesn't work for you?" he asked.

"I imagine you don't, but are you really willing to risk your family's life on it?" Finch questioned and Simmons sat back.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to get me the location of Detective Carter's son and call off any men you have helping Elias. HR severs its ties with Elias as of right now."

"That can be arranged, no one stalks my family, not even Elias."

Finch smiled. "I'm glad we understand one another. Now get me that location, Officer."

Finch drove him and John to the location he got from Simmons. "This is the location Simmons gave us. He has already put out the order for HR to disband from helping Elias but we must hurry, Mr. Reese. He gave us intel that Elias and some of his men are in the process of breaking down the door to get in at the safe house. Once the HR men that are helping Elias leave and we give Joss the good news that we have her son, she can focus on getting Elias."

"Fusco will know what to do, I trust him to have Joss's back until we can get there. Our only priority is get in and get Taylor," he said, checking to make sure his clip in the assault rifle was full and then patted his pocket to make sure he had his extra mags.

"What's your plan?" Finch asked.

"No plan, I think the direct approach is best." John said with a nonchalant shrug.

Finch frowned. "Sorry I'm not much use on this end of things. Look, show me how to fire one of these," he offered, picking up a hand gun. "And I could help, I'll create a distraction. I want to help bring Taylor to safety. Jocelyn has been a great help to me before I met you, John. She's a good friend, her son means everything to her."

"It's okay Harold, she knows you appreciate her and I'll be fine. You can help by being our getaway driver. You know how much I don't like it when people mess with kids."

Oh Finch knew, he knew firsthand, thanks to what happened to Leila. John hadn't aimed at kneecaps with the men that had placed the baby in a duffel bag and Joss and Fusco were left to clean up the homicide messes. John climbed out and immediately made his way stealthily to the door and Finch lost him in the darkness.

John knocked on the door and impatiently waited as he listened as footsteps approached. He smiled when the door to the peephole slid open and he fired at approximately where he figured the man's kneecaps were, before shooting the lock. One down, numerous Elias's men left as he kicked the door open. His training that was instilled in him had him moving in a particular fashion, stopping near the barrels, waiting for the slightest sound of movement and moving towards it.

Marconi appeared firing and he followed suit before Marconi hid behind barrels again. John searched through the cracks of the barrels trying to pinpoint where he was but had to duck as Marconi shot at him again. John saw movement to his right and swung his gun that way and fired at another Elias's man, hitting him in the chest.

John moved slowly and methodically as he didn't see Marconi, approaching plastic straps in the back seeing Taylor standing in the corner. Taylor mouthed something to him and he turned as Marconi ran towards him hitting him in the side, jarring his gun loose. He blocked a few blows before landing a couple punches, taking one in the stomach before gaining the upper hand with his years of hand to hand combat training outdoing Marconi. He flung Marconi away from Taylor so he couldn't intentionally hurt the boy and a last Elias man appeared and he grabbed the dropped assault rifle and shot him.

"Taylor stay put," he called as he checked to see where Marconi was and heard running footsteps. Coast was clear and he whirled as he hurried to the boy. "Are you hurt?" he demanded. He'd kill them if they hurt him.

John looked scary and Taylor felt the need to reassure him. "No, I'm okay, just a little shaken up but fine," he admitted. "Is my mom okay?"

"Your mother is alright." John undid the ties on his hands before glancing at Moretti Sr, sitting nearby.

"Are you here to rescue me or shoot me?" the man wondered.

John stared at him. "Tonight, rescue," he said as he undid his ties also. "You better hurry before I change my mind." Moretti didn't need to be told twice as he got to his feet and fled. John turned to look at Taylor. "Come on, lets go." Taylor nodded and John realized that the kid was shaking so he, as gently as possible, led Taylor to the door with a steady grip on the boy's forearm.

John led him to Finch's car where it was on and waiting for them. He opened the backdoor for Taylor and he climbed in before he did the same. "Oh thank god you are alright, Taylor." Finch said.

"Who are you?"

"A friend of your mother's," Finch answered.

Taylor nodded and then looked at John. "Can I call my mom and let her know I'm safe? She must be going crazy with worry."

"Of course,"

Taylor took John's phone and called his mom, she answered nearly immediately. "Mom, its me." he said quickly, trying to put her at ease.

"Taylor, oh thank god, you okay?" she demanded.

"Yea, I knew John was badass but I had no idea just how badass," Taylor admitted and John eyed him with a tiny smile. "Who's the guy with the glasses?" he wondered. His mother never mentioned this man before and he had been the one on the phone trying to warn him that he was in danger earlier. The voices matched.

"If you figure it out let me know," his mom said and he smiled, feeling a little more at ease. He couldn't wait to see her and hug her.

"Where are you?"

"I'm safe, baby, I'll see you soon."

"Okay," Taylor reluctantly ended the call with his mom.

"Are you hungry, Taylor, we could stop and get you something to eat? Your mother is going to be tied up for a while because she's in the process of arresting Carl Elias." Finch asked gently.

"How do you know that?"

The man behind the wheel smiled. "I have my ways, Young Carter."

Taylor yawned. It was a long night. John rescued him late in the evening and by the time his mother was done with booking Carl Elias it was early morning with the sun already back up. "I just need to see my mom, make sure she knows I'm alright."

"You will, she texted me to bring you to the intersection near the precinct," John said.

Taylor sat in the passenger seat. The odd man with glasses had disappeared during the time they were eating dinner at the restaurant and John took him to the place he was staying at until his mom called that she was done with booking Elias and the investigation into what happened. Taylor spent the entire night up talking with John who didn't seem to realize how much he needed someone to just talk to after the ordeal he went through.

He glanced at the man as John drove. "I never did thank you."

"Taylor, you don't have to."

"But I want to. You saved me, you saved my mom. You're our guardian angel," Taylor said as John pulled over and pulled the car to a stop.

John shifted uncomfortable with the gratitude and looked at him before pointing. "There's your mother waiting for you," he murmured. Taylor looked and immediately climbed out and ran, making a beeline for his mother without another thought in the world. He was just so grateful she was alright and he could see the relief flood her face as Taylor approached her.

She dropped the umbrella and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh thank god, Taylor," she held him tightly for a long while, just breathing him in. She pulled out of the hug and turned seeing John slowly making his way to them.

She smiled with watery eyes. "It's good to know you keep your promises."

"I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to Taylor,"he said.

"Thank you, John, thank you," she said from the bottom of her heart. She didn't know what she would do without her son in her life. Joss grabbed his hand and he smiled and winked before he slowly walked away to leave them some alone time. He turned back, seeing Joss and Taylor hugging once more and smiled before turning and walking away to give them privacy.

AN: I really wished the show would have given us a tiny scene of Taylor and John together as he drove them so Taylor could be reunited with his mother. I didn't delve into it as much as I was going to because it was already long as it was but I think the general gist was there with Taylor and John staying up all night talking together.

Next chapter is full of Careese and maybe a teeny bit of sexual tension if you squint (or maybe you don't have to squint) ;D

Thanks for reading!