AN: Oops this was supposed to be posted like two days ago.


Her son must have forgiven John from last night because the two were thick as thieves all morning long. And when John left to go pick up Joan her boy tagged along for the ride. Joss was left alone with her thoughts and cooking, which was alright by her. She had already run it by Taylor that he had to stay with his grandmother for the time being after his overnight stay with his father. Joss had to do some fancy footwork to wiggle out of telling her son everything, but her boy was bright that he knew enough. Taylor knew it had to have something to do with John being shot and something that unnerved her. Her son agreed to it only if he knew that John would be staying at her place during his absence.

Her son was damn slick at steamrolling John at staying as 'protector' for his mother, knowing for damn sure she didn't need protecting. Taylor had pulled out all the stops with his impassioned speech including: 'my mom needs someone to watch her back and you're the only one I trust with her.' Not to mention he added his puppy dog eyes which nearly made Joss laugh at John's look as he turned to her for help. John didn't know the art of telling a teenager 'no' yet. She kept her mouth zipped, not assisting John in the slightest and let the two boys figure it out themselves because she would reap the rewards if John said yes, due to the fact she wanted John to live here eventually. At least this way they'd get a practice lap of living together. John, the sweet overprotective and caring man that he was, agreed and was going to stop at his place and pack a bag so he had several changes of clothes. Taylor gave her a discreet fist-bump and mischievous smirk which said all that needed to be said. Her boy set John up. Joss already cleaned out a drawer and made some space in her closet for him, more than okay with the arrangement.

Joss glanced up when she heard the front door open. Yep, that was way too soon for John and Taylor to be back with Joan. Joss exited her kitchen and sighed as she found Shaw entering the previously locked door. True to his word Finch had someone out to install home security cameras this morning on her front and back doors from a trustworthy company: his. Did he have one of every kind of company?—she made a mental note to find out just how many companies Finch owned!

Joss eyed the new finagle thing that showed her front stoop empty before eyeing Shaw with irritation. "Don't you people ever knock?"

"No," she answered simply and Joss rolled her eyes as she walked over to take Shaw's coat to be the gracious host, but was swatted away. "I can do it myself."

"Well you're the first guest since you're over two hours early," Joss muttered. "My momma would have been, but she can't make it since I had to postpone it until today. She has a date," Joss said in irritation, unsure of how she felt about the new development. Her mother had hemmed and hawed about telling her why she couldn't make it because Joss had interrogated her the moment she said no. It didn't make sense because her mother was salivating at the idea of cornering John again and when she declined coming today, Joss wanted to know why.

"Your mom is seeing someone?"

Joss frowned. "Yea, momma sounds so happy," she said slowly. Joss wanted her mother happy but she didn't want someone trying to take advantage of her or break her heart.

"How old is she?"

"My mother is in her late sixties." Joss answered with a sigh. "I know it's young but my mother never wanted to date before because no one compared to my papa."

Shaw shrugged. "Maybe she met someone that changed her mind."

"Yea," she agreed absently. "But I'm going to make her tell me his name and I'm going to have Finch do his backwater check on him! And then my mother is going to let me meet this mystery man," Joss stated fiercely; maybe she'd even drag John with her and let him scare the bejesus out of this man. Joss led Shaw to her kitchen, before opening the fridge and pulled out a beer for Shaw which she greedily took. "So why are you here so early?—no number to work." she asked, changing the subject.

Shaw snapped the can open. "Nope, the machine is acting even more erratic. I hope it gets fixed soon because I signed on to work these numbers, not sit and twiddle my thumbs. If that's the case I'm going to go search for new clues to find this Root woman so I can shoot her."

"Don't do that. From what John has said is, you need to wait for the machine to fully crash so you can protect the payphone it's going to call. We need all the help we can get so the machine doesn't fall into wrong hands, Decima hands."

"Yea, well, can it happen already. I liked working the numbers since I got to shoot some people still," Shaw said dryly before taking a sip of her beer. "My boredom is due to this Stanton broad, speaking of her: we need to do something about her."

"I know."

"I have an idea." Shaw stated.

Joss eyed her. "Let me guess: kill her?" she asked and Shaw shrugged. "Out of the question, Shaw, we aren't like her," she said turning to prep her food for the impending dinner.

Shaw eyed her profile. "Do you really think Kara belongs in prison after the things she has done?—after strapping you with a bomb vest. Do you really think Reese is just going to let her live?"

"John isn't a killer anymore, Shaw. Neither are you," Joss said simply. "You work the numbers to stop bad things from happening, not commit the same acts you are trying to stop."

"Maybe, but sometimes, there are people who you can't stop with a shot to the kneecap and I think you and I both know Kara is one of them. You're just resisting because you're a good moral person," Shaw retorted before dragging in another gulp of beer.

Joss turned away from the food she was prepping to look at Shaw. "Yes, alright I'll admit to it, yes I think that this showdown with Kara isn't going to end well. And there is a high chance that Kara will have to be killed to be stopped. But I still want to try to stop her and make her face real justice," she murmured.

Shaw shrugged. "Whatever. But we know for damn sure that she'll be coming after you to force Reese's hand. Anyone with a damn pair of eyes can see you're his weak link."

Joss side-eyed Shaw with a tight look, "Are you suggesting that if John and I weren't together that John would be a stronger man?" she asked barely above a whisper, to hide her fury from the younger woman.

"No. I'm saying Reese will be crushed if something happens to you and everyone knows it; including Stanton."

Joss felt her anger squashed at the answer Shaw gave. Good, she didn't want to pop her one. "I know. And I'm going to be ready this time." Joss agreed before going back to cooking and baking while Shaw sat trying to sneak some taste tests.


"So your not-girlfriend told me that Richie Rich was coming to this shindig along with Batgirl." Joan muttered as she sat in the backseat of the car as John drove and Baby GQ sat in the passenger seat.

She had gratefully taken up John's offer to use his place to freshen up. She wasn't entering cop lady's place without sprucing herself up a bit. Joan had spent a little while looking over John's place and liked what she saw for the most part. Only thing it could use was a female touch and some personal effects. It was too barren. But then John had to go pack a bag and explained why which nearly made her whoop and holler in happiness until Baby GQ mouthed at her to keep silent because John didn't exactly get the significance. And while John had packed a bag, her and Baby GQ talked a bit about it:

"John thinks it's just to protect my mom, he doesn't know that I'm pulling his leg and that I only stipulated it because they love each other, and it would give them a taste of living together," the boy admitted softly.

Joan grinned evilly. "You're as devious as your momma and nearly as devious as me, I like it."

Taylor laughed. "Now I understand why John and my mom love you, Joan."

She snickered to herself. John just didn't stand a chance with these two, which was good. And from what she understood John was well aware that his not-girlfriend was his damn girlfriend. It took a lot of her self-control to not tease him mercilessly but she didn't want him to know what her and Baby GQ were talking about: namely him.

Joan eyed cop lady's son who sat beside John in the passenger seat. Taylor was a sweet little thing and quite the looker. Cop lady was going to have to beat the girls off her son with a stick.

Taylor smiled as he turned around to eye the red head in the back. He liked her and the way she treated John. He could see why John and his mom cared so much about her. "Yea, Finch and Shaw are coming. Also mom's partner on the force is coming too. You two should get along quite well," Taylor said.

"Why?"

"He calls me: wonder-boy," John supplied.

Joan smiled. "Wonder-Boy, I like it! So, Baby GQ, tell me more about yourself?—of course you're smart, your cop lady's kid."

Taylor laughed. "I do okay in school. I want to do something maybe in the medical field," he admitted.

"No ass whooping like your mother?" Joan questioned with a smirk.

"Nah, I'm more a pacifist than a fighter," he explained. "And I don't think it will go over well with my dad."

"Why ever not, if being a doctor or whatever makes you happy your pops should be happy too," Joan retorted. She never understood why parents had ideas in their heads for what they wanted their kids to do. Kids had minds of their own and would do what they wanted just as the parents did when they were kids once.

Taylor eyed Joan. "Because he has always wanted me to join the Army like him and my mom, I never had the nerve to tell him I never wanted that life. Mom said she doesn't care as long as I am happy."

"It'll be okay, Taylor. You and your father are getting reacquainted with each other. He'll understand." John murmured.

Taylor eyed John. "Would you?—understand I mean, if you were my dad and you had your heart set on me joining the Army to follow in your footsteps?"

"Yes, because I want you happy and if going to medical school made you happy then that's all that matters," John told the young man.

Taylor smiled and Joan grinned ear to ear. John would have made a wonderful dad. The conversation fell away as they arrived in front of Joss's brownstone. Joan whistled. "Well now isn't this fancy," she said softly and grinned as Taylor opened the door for her. "Thank you, Master Carter."

Taylor shook his head as she slid her hand around his elbow. "Is there any way to convince you to just call me Taylor, Joan?"

"Nope, giving nicknames is more fun," Joan explained as she allowed Taylor to escort her to his home with John following behind them closely carrying the bag he packed.

"What was John's?"

"Grumps, but since your mother got a hold of him that nickname doesn't fit much anymore. Maybe he needs a new one, how about Smitten Kitten?" she asked with a snicker and Taylor laughed. John just ignored her as he walked up the stoop to open the door for them.

"I call him Mr. Badass." Taylor added.

"Yea, John's only smitten around your mother," Joan said. John shook his head but didn't respond as they entered. Shaw, Finch, and Fusco were already there mingling, or if you could call Fusco and Shaw griping at each other mingling. Joss and Finch appeared to be in a real conversation. They all looked up.

Joss smiled happily as she got to her feet immediately. "Hey Joan, I am so happy you didn't change your mind."

Joan snorted as she felt nervous. "As if this one would let me," she motioned at John. "He batted his eyes at me and everything. Did you tell him to do that to me?"

"Yes."

"That's it, I don't like you anymore," Joan mumbled and Joss giggled as she helped take Joan's coat as John and Taylor hung theirs up. Joss could see how happy John was that Joan came. She was happy too and she was ecstatic about the large bag he packed. Joss shifted her gaze back onto Joan and didn't comment on the new clothes that John managed to convince Joan to get. Seemed Joan was coming around very slowly.

"Let me take you on a tour," Joss offered as she took her arm and Joan nodded as she shooed John and her son away.

"Baby GQ and John, you go mingle with Richie Rich and Batgirl, I need to talk to my favorite cop lady alone."

Joss eyed Joan. "Baby GQ?"

"Your son, he's cute as a button," Joan said and Joss smiled.

"When you're right, you're right," Joss agreed. John looked irritated that he was shooed away but her son didn't seem to care as he entered the living room as he fist-bumped a hello to Fusco.

John motioned with his hand to his bag. "I'll take it upstairs."

Joss nodded. "Put it on the bed. We'll put your stuff away later." she instructed making him frown.

"Put it away?"

"Yea, I cleared a drawer and some space in my closet for you. You don't wear wrinkled clothes do you?" she asked breezily. John shook his head as the frown remained for a moment more before it cleared away. He turned and grabbed the bag and took it upstairs.

"He's done in for, he won't be leaving here anytime soon will he?" Joan questioned with a wide grin.

Joss eyed her conspiratorially. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Joan,"she murmured before she rubbed her arm with her hand enthusiastically. "Now before that tour you have got to meet my partner and friend, Fusco!" Joss insisted as she entered into the living room and dragged Joan to meet Lionel. "Lionel this is Joan; Joan, this is my partner on the force and friend, Lionel Fusco."

Fusco held out his hand. "I heard a lot about you from Carter. She said you put up with Mr. Happy for a while, my deepest apologies," he said with a grin.

Joan smiled, liking this one already. "Yea, I like to think I whipped John into shape, Boston."

"Boston?" Fusco questioned.

"Your accent, it sounds like you're from Boston," Joan said as she eyed John, watchful of him. He entered the living room and sat down beside Richie Rich and Taylor, who seemed to fall easy into conversation while John simply listened. But his face was relaxed. She liked that he was happy here, made her feel good. Her eyes slid back to the short chubby man in front of her.

"Yea, born and raised in Boston before I moved to New York," he admitted. "You got a sharp ear."

"Yea, which goes along with her smart mouth," Joss agreed.

Joan laughed as she held cop lady's arm tightly. "You two are sweet-talking me," Joan said with a smirk. "But cop lady wants to take me on a mini tour, Boston, so catch you later."

Joss tugged Joan with her and began giving her the mini tour, sensing that Joan wanted to talk to her alone. "So what did you want to talk about without John overhearing, Joan?" she asked as she began showing her, her kitchen, and was shocked when Joan burst out into tears. "What's the matter?" Joss asked immediately, rubbing Joan's back in comfort.

Joan waved a hand in front of her face. "It's dumb! I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me and for taking such good care of John. You and Richie Rich got John in a good place and it's all I was hoping for since finding him," she admitted with a quick swipe of her tears. "Sorry I'm not usually an emotional person. He belongs here with you and your son, it's safe and warm here. Something he needs. I don't think John had that in a long time."

Joss hurried and grabbed a napkin knowing she didn't have any Kleenex in the downstairs bathroom. She knew she forgot something when she went shopping. "Here," she murmured and Joan took it dabbing at her eyes. "Joan, I wanted you over for a while. And about John…I love him so much. I don't have any plans of letting him leave here now unless I have too." Joss said quietly as she rubbed her arm soothingly.

She nodded. "Yea, this place here is a home. John belongs in a home, not just a house."

"And you belong in a home and not on the streets," Joss said. "John would agree."

Joan shook her head ruefully. "I should have known that was coming. You and John both are stubborn as mules."

"Coming from someone that's just as stubborn, I'll take that as a compliment. And if you think John will ever be satisfied with you living on the streets, you have sorely misjudged him. John won't ever truly be happy until you're safe and sound." Joss said with a firm pat of her hand. "But I won't push too hard because this dinner isn't about that. This dinner is because I care about and I love you, and wanted to do something nice for you."

Joan smiled. "Thanks Joss, you truly are good people."

"And so are you. Now I need to show you around the rest of the place so you can go in and mingle, Shaw has missed you."

"Wait…Batgirl likes me? I didn't think so."

"Shaw won't admit to it but she does," Joss reassured her and with that she took Joan on the rest of her tour before leading her back to the foray and John was none-the-wiser over Joan's emotional outburst. Maybe Joan was getting close to facing the facts that living on the streets wasn't what she wanted anymore.


"Do you think if I asked Joan to leave the encampment she would?" John asked as they sat on the couch, sipping wine, long after the very nice dinner was over.

Conversation between everyone was never stunted and Joan jumped right in the thick of things offering jokes, insight, and conversation. No one would ever have known that she was a homeless woman. The only one extremely quiet was John but what else was new? Even Shaw had been talkative…especially with Joan. Joan brought out the best in everyone and that didn't bode well for the woman because now she didn't just have her and John to deal with about removing her from the encampment. But now it has become a joint effort with them, Finch, Fusco, and Shaw.

The dinner party had run until just after eight and John left to take Joan back to the encampment reluctantly. Fusco had left next, along with Finch and Shaw following him. Taylor decided to go out and catch a movie with his girlfriend, promising to be home by curfew which left Joss home by herself to clean up until John came back, who had been upset she was home alone, which was about an hour ago.

Joss looked at John and shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, John. But we can continue to try to ask and prod her into thinking about it. You know as well as I do that Joan will do what Joan wants and we can't force her into leaving the encampment. It's all she's known for so long," she said.

"But you should have seen her at my place. She enjoyed being indoors. And if she is worried about me supporting her, Finch could help me find her a job so she can feel independent," John said.

Joss smiled. "That's sweet and I'm sure if you can convince Joan to leave the encampment she would like to be independent. Joan doesn't strike me as the type to take handouts, she's a very proud woman who had given up everything to try to save her husband's life." She didn't want to tell John that she felt like they were close to getting their wish for Joan to leave the encampment. She couldn't tell John that Joan had admitted that John would be what made her leave the encampment, because she didn't want John to get his hopes up.

"What did she want to tell you as you guys went on that tour?"

"Nothing in particular, why?" she asked, not about to tell him what Joan said or what she said in response.

"Just curious."

"It's private and you're not even allowed to know," Joss said conspiratorially.

"Is she alright?" he asked immediately.

Joss looked at him in surprise before leaning over and kissed him to comfort him. "It's nothing bad, I promise. She's fine John," she promised. "It was something she wanted to tell me in confidence and I don't feel right breaking her trust in me. I know you love her, but I love her too."

He nodded. "Alright, I trust your word that she's alright," he said gruffly.

Joss leaned forward and placed her wine down, before turning and rubbing a gentle hand on John's injured arm. "How's your arm? During dinner I noticed a couple times you grimacing."

"Fine, it hurts…. a little," he said dismissively.

Joss nodded, grateful at least he told her some of the truth. She doubted it hurt only a little. And she could tell he was worried about her safety and scared for Finch. It was evident at this small get together as he habitually went to the windows and watched, as if searching for Kara and waiting for her to attack. He wasn't going to relax until Kara was caught. But hopefully she could somehow get him to not make himself sick with worry.

"John, can I ask you something?" she wondered.

"Sure."

"I want you to teach me how to fight like you." He glanced down into her eyes. "Now here me out: Kara knows where I live and has the advantage of knowing how to fight, I know standard self-defense. And it has saved my life, but with Kara, normal self-defense training isn't enough. And who is better to train me then you, John? You know how to fight just like her, if not better, and I'm a quick study. Plus, if I ever run into a problem, knowing how to fight like you is a benefit for me too."

"Joss…"

"This is a good idea and you know it."

"It is," he agreed.

Joss gathered breath to continue her argument when she exhaled when he agreed with her. "Glad you realize it too."

"What I was going to say is: are you sure you want me to train you and not Shaw?—Shaw and I would be completely different. And quite possibly Shaw would be more Kara's mindset."

"I'm a thousand percent sure," Joss said immediately. She trusted John with her life and only wanted his teachings.

John smiled gently. "That's pretty sure. Alright, stand up, Joss." he murmured as he got to his feet.

She blinked in surprise. "You want to start right now?"

"Why not?—we are alone and I can start you off with the basics until we can practice somewhere where you have a mat to fall onto," he said.

"Or for you to fall onto," she suggested.

John's lips twitched as mischief sparkled in his eyes. "Maybe, if I let you."

Her eyes narrowed at that. "Oh, really if you let me huh, now it's on! I'll show you, you'll be kissing the mat!" she declared.

John's lips slid into a slow sensual smile. "Show me what you got, Joss," he humored. She eyed him in his dress pants and tight undershirt that was plastered to his well-toned body. She wouldn't mind starting their first lesson tomorrow and retire now upstairs in her bedroom before her boy got home. She wouldn't have to be quiet then. He cocked a brow as a smug smirk crossed his face. "Unless of course you can't handle me being your teacher, I'll ask Shaw to train you."

"I can handle you being my teacher, John." she assured feeling her competitive nature attacked.

"Then get into your stance." he ordered and Joss did as she was told, noting that John did the same and he looked fierce before he frowned and straightened. "You're in a defensive posture, Joss."

"This is my only stance, John," she admitted reluctantly. She had boot-camp training where she learned some fighting but not his sort of skills. He was trained by the best of the best for hand to hand combat, which was why she wanted to learn from John. She had no doubt that Shaw was good, but in her eyes, John was the best.

John closed the gap between them and cupped her face. "Joss, do you really want me to train you?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she answered immediately, reaching up to grab his wrists. "I want you to show me how to fight like you, so if Kara ever comes after me again, I can protect myself and my son. I know I won't be as good as her, but if I know enough I can fend her off."

"Joss, you're a moral and good woman. Of course the only stance you know is defense. But these skills I am going to show you aren't to just fend Kara off."

Joss searched his eyes. "You're going to teach me how to kill her?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because if you are in a hand to hand combat with Kara that means there is only one outcome and when it comes down to your life or hers, I want to make sure you are the one that comes out the other side," he whispered.

Joss's breath hitched before she recovered. "Alright, show me how to beat Kara Stanton, just in case I ever need to use it."

He smiled. "First thing you need to know about Kara is that she fights dirty. If you get the upper hand on her she'll cheat. She tends to keep a knife in her right pocket as her right hand is dominant. It's quickly accessible and she's lethal with it. So if you can, break her right wrist as quickly as possible. It will balloon out and she won't be able to reach for the knife" he instructed, all business now.

"I see."

"If you can't snap her wrist and she does manage to get the knife, I'll train you how to block it and disarm her. But first things first: the basics."

"And that is?"

"Your stance," he murmured as he rounded her and began moving her the way he wanted her, like she was a doll. Joss quietly allowed him to situate her and when he was done, she felt awkward. "Keep your shoulders back, hips strong, and feet spaced apart," he muttered. "You're younger than Kara by a few years, smaller, and quicker which will help. You are in shape, plus you will have the added surprise that you know how to fight as she will naturally assume you don't."

"Idiot," she said under her breath.

He smiled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek from behind her. "She is for underestimating you," he agreed as he walked back in front of her and eyed her stance. She concentrated on the stance and getting used to it. After a little while he told her to stop and they sat down on the couch together. "Thank you for my first mini lesson even if it wasn't physically demanding."

"You have your stance down to an art now, Joss. Tomorrow we need to head to the gym Finch owns for Shaw and me to work out at, so you can start your real lesson."

Joss blinked as she pushed away from him. "Finch owns a gym! Why didn't I know about it until now?"

He shrugged. "It's just a rundown place for Shaw and me to work out at and keep up our reflexes. It's nothing fancy."

"I don't need fancy." she huffed. She was a little miffed she was never invited to this gym before. As if she would condemn it for being rundown. They based their operations in a derelict library that needed bulldozing.

He smiled. "Well, we do have room for one more membership," he teased.

She smiled as she leaned into him. "Oh, you do, do you?" she purred as she rested her hand on his lower abdomen careful of the bruises that were healing from the takedown of HR, inching her hand down, letting her fingertips stop shy of pressing against him through his pants.

John's eyes darkened with lust. "Yes, however, I need to perform a rigorous physical exam," he murmured as he climbed to his feet, tugging her up before scooping her into his arms uncaring about the healing gunshot wound. "Make sure this gym is the right gym for you, you understand," he said playfully.

She chuckled. "Oh sure, I understand alright, this gym sounds pretty inclusive," she said as he carried her upstairs. She settled her mouth against his neck sucking gently. John set her on her bed after the short journey and smiled down at her as he began removing his clothes. Joss laid on her bed naked and spread her legs to beckon him. "I'm ready for my thorough examination…."

John groaned as he climbed onto the bed.


AN: Sorry no smut for you guys. Smut is trying to take a hold of this story so I forced myself not to write any for this particular scene. Here is the happy chapter and well...things begin to happen :) Thanks for reading!