A/N: I wrote a scene where Shaw gets John out in time but you know I love writing conflict. Next chapter will have a time jump based on a prompt from SWWoman about Monique, Taylor and Amy. But more about that later.

This is for odalys-ortiz

As always, enjoy x

Saturday, 17th May 2014, 11.56pm, Joss' apartment

Taylor knew something was up when she wasn't waiting downstairs to bust him for coming in late. He noticed the brown size 12 shoes right away because of the horse and jockey logo amongst the sneakers and heeled boots by the door. John's here. The sink was full of pots and utensils he never knew they had, a clear sign that she went to town making him dinner. The vibration of the bass came from the living room where a song he hadn't heard before was playing on repeat. When he turned off the music the room felt hollow, maybe because the dishes and empty wine glasses were still on the table like two people got kidnapped in the middle of their date. Gotta stop watching horror movies.

Her bedroom door was open which struck him as odd because she never did that. He didn't know why he was standing in the doorway but once he saw them together he couldn't look away. John was holding her in a way he'd never seen any man hold her before. He found it weird; weird and kind-of-normal at the same time. She looked serene, like she finally let go of whatever was worrying her for long enough to get some sleep. She stirred but didn't wake up because her fingers were between John's, and he was squeezing her so their bodies made 2 crooked letter S's. Although Taylor was pissed John's shirt was hung over her wicker chair like he was one suit away from moving in, at least he wasn't making her cry and that scored points in his eyes. Like a B. B Minus for the shirt. But John looked right at home. At home? C Minus.

The most 'at-home' Paul's girlfriends ever were was making breakfast in a T-shirt then disappearing after a few short weeks, or months later, if they were lucky. Deep down he felt it was wrong but he didn't feel he could say it. Or anything his dad didn't want to hear. Maybe because he seemed fragile, unable to hear the truth without crumbling beneath it. Maybe.

Sunday, 18th May 2014, 2.05am, Joss' apartment

John knew he shouldn't be there, but he had become so comfortable it was hard to break away from the warmth of her bed and of her body perfectly slotted in his arms. It was like she sweated intoxicating drops of jasmine and rained down on him until he was soaking wet. How else could he explain how she was weakening him this way? He located his clothes before realising his shoes were still downstairs. Amateur's error. The only way out was downstairs and he couldn't remember which one of the steps squeaked. It was futile trying to figure it out as Taylor was waiting downstairs. He couldn't sleep with John in the house. After seeing them in bed together he couldn't sleep at all.

"Are you serious about my mom, John?" He asked, wondering if he owned any clothes other than suits.
John answered with a question. "If I tell you, will you tell her?"
"That was an accident."
"I know. But I think you should leave it to the two of us from now on. Seeing as I haven't told her."
"You haven't?"
"I'm gonna tell her on my own time."
"Like when?"
He shook his head. "You haven't heard a thing I said, huh?"
"I need to know that you're not playing her. That you won't dump her when you get bored."

John realised he was saying something he probably hadn't said aloud before. "Look, I don't know what you're used to but I have no intention of dumping your mom. I see where you get your curiosity from though."

"I don't know what I'd do if someone hurt her."

"Don't think like that. All you need to know is I care about Joss and I do all I can to protect her." Nods. "And that's why I'm leaving through the fire escape."
"Is this one of those I wasn't here kinda things?"
"No it's a quit while you're ahead kinda thing."
"Are you really a Fed?"
"If it makes you happy."
"Wait, what?"

8.26am, Joss' apartment

Joss hit the palm of her hand on her forehead when she realised John had spent the night and it was her fault. She winced when she stepped on a silver cufflink barefoot. Not to mention the door was open, not all the way open, but open enough. Her head started to ache at the thought of Taylor seeing them in bed together and thinking his mom was a whore with a neon Open 24 Hours sign on her bedroom door. She put on a mismatched pair of pyjamas and ran downstairs looking for her cell phone. There was only one number to call.

"Did Finch call you back to the townhouse?" She asked, smoothing back her hair.

"No. I got the feeling you'd change your mind."

"About what?"

"Asking me to stay with you. I didn't plan on it, you asked."

"Must've been the wine talking."

"Thanks." He replied sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it like that it's just...you left the door open."

"I didn't want to wake you. And I think I left my cufflinks over there."

"Yeah, I know..."

"I'm sorry, I should've been more careful." His tone was almost clinical.

"It's my fault."

"Why does it have to be anyone's fault?"

She decided now wasn't the time to explain mother guilt. "I'll get those cufflinks to you."

"Thanks."

9.33am, Joss' apartment

After working herself up for an hour Joss braced herself for an awkward conversation with her son. Taylor was in the same clothes he wore to the concert the night before. His room was night and day, half of it was clean enough for her to sit on his computer chair. "What's up?"

"I wanna talk about last night." He shrugged his shoulders. " So how was it?"
"Great." He showed her the illegible signature on his left arm.
"So you guys met him?"
"Yeah."
She spun from side-to-side awkwardly. "I'm glad you had fun...About last night,"
"Mom-" He didn't want details. He wanted his memory wiped.

"We have to talk about it, Tay."

"Why?"

"'Cause what affects you affects me."

He sighed. "Is John moving in?"
"Of course not." She was confident that locking John down was as easy as putting a bridle on a Mustang. Taylor got the answer he wanted, but he still wasn't satisfied. "He shouldn't have stayed, but that's on me 'cause I like having him around."

"You really like him." He couldn't mask the sadness in his tone.

"I do, I like having someone I can count on. What's going on with you, Tay?"

"What if he hurts you?"

She was struck by five simple words as thought he'd posed a deep philosophical question. "I don't know. No-one goes into a relationship wanting to get hurt."

"That's not an answer."

"There is no answer. It's just life. Is this about Dad?" He hated when she read him. His silence said enough. "Because I remember how you took it when he broke up with Tracey. And I think you'd feel bad if that happened to me. Tay, I don't want you worrying that something bad's gonna happen, 'cause it's not."
"How do you know?"

"Because whatever happens, I can take it. And I think John's a man of his word. Don't you?"

"I guess. Aren't you scared?"

"There's not much left to be scared of. And before I know it, you'll be out living your own life, so it feels like it's time."

He squeezed his blue stress ball. "Why did he leave through the fire escape?"
"He doesn't know if he's a Shark or a Jet."
"I don't get it."

She smiled. "Of course you don't."