A/N: So when the honeymoon phase is over, what happens to the new normal?

If you're new this chapter refers to the video from Chapter 14 - without it it won't make sense.

As always, enjoy x

Saturday, 2.55am, Joss' apartment

He reached for her under the covers, feeling material and more material. She wasn't in her usual position; naked, sleeping on his chest with the scent of her hair conveniently under his nose for comfort. She was laying on her stomach, with a grey camisole and shorts on, not sleeping. "You didn't tell me how you cut your lip." He broke the ice.

"Silence resisted arrest." She said.

"What's with the neck brace?"

"She's faking an injury."

"I hate it when you're like this."

"Like what?"

"Stoic. Why is it so easy for you to shut down like this?" She couldn't answer. "It's not just me. You do it to everyone. And Taylor does the same thing."

She shook her head. "No, that's not true."

"Did I touch a nerve? Joss you've got to let go,"

"Of what?"

"Control. The world won't stop because you're not micro-managing everything. You even micro-manage Taylor and he hates it."

She shot him a death glare. "I love my son."

"Then let him go. Let him breathe. Matter of fact: let me go."

Her face cracked. "You want to leave?"

"See? You're not listening. You can't control me Joss. Yes, I invaded your privacy and I'll do it again a thousand times because that what it takes to protect you. I get that you're pissed about the safe. Granted there are things in there that aren't for Finch and Shaw, but does it really matter? You can still share it with me."

She didn't respond, she heard Taylor coming in late downstairs. "What time does he call this?" She kissed her teeth. "Acting mannish."

"Did you hear me?"

"I heard you." He got out of bed and went downstairs. "Where are you going?" She called after him.

John returned minutes later with the contents of her safe. "Ghosts." He called them.

"What?"

"Ghosts of the past, present and future. The hard drive, the ring and the deeds. We're not sleeping, we're not going anywhere until you talk to me."

She sat up and pulled her knees into her chest. "The hard drive has all my home movies on it, from when I was a kid. I wanted Taylor to know where he came from."

"I've got all night." He stated.

"You want to watch?" She asked.

"This had to start somewhere."

"What did?"

"Your lack of trust, Joss. Laptop or TV?"

"Laptop." She resigned.

He started with the Babyjet video, watching it three times. "You were adorable." She couldn't fight back the smile. "He lied to you, about who he was."

"I know that now."

"Why didn't he tell you he was a soldier?"

"I was four John. And he was a Captain."

"You didn't answer my question."

"They were afraid if I knew who he was I'd know the danger he was in."

"How long did it take for that bubble to burst?"

"I always wondered why he was away so long. I think I was eight, he came home injured from some hostage retrieval that went wrong."

He calculated the dates. "Operation Eagle Claw? That was an embarrassment, it was all over the news. It cost Carter the election."

"Thanks for your sensitivity John." She said sarcastically. "Well, I remember hearing Mom say we could lose it all."

"To your dad?"

"No. She said it to Uncle Vinnie."

"What did she tell your dad?"

"Everything is gonna be alright."

He sat for a while, pensively. He disconnected the hard drive. "I've seen enough. So that's where you got it from."

"What?"

"The idea you have to lie to the people you love to make them feel safer."

"John, I don't lie to you."

"You do. Every time you say I'm fine, don't worry about me, I can take care of myself, it's nothing I can't handle, you lie to me. What you really mean is, help."

She couldn't argue with that.

"I needed to get that ring so I could tell you we already know how this ends. And in the end, right or wrong, it's me and you. It's that simple."

"I can't accept that."

"It's not up to you Joss. It's just the way it is. I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid of dying without you knowing what you mean to me. So maybe it's the wrong ring and it doesn't say it. But I just did. Did you hear me?"