A/N: Once again I would like to thank SWWoman for her beta and answering my annoying amount of questions during this overwhelming process for a newbie. She made it smooth and painless. Please read and review.

Chaos

"I'm going downstairs," John Reese said quietly but firmly to the other two men in the room who were studiously watching the monitors in front of them.

"Yes Sir," they mumbled back to him respectfully.

John took one last look out the window before pushing away to walk out the door of the small office space they had rented in just the right spot to observe the arrivals at the event where Jocelyn Carter would be in attendance that evening.

Her car had arrived precisely on time with one of his men driving, of course. He had watched her step out of the car gracefully, and then turn to wave at the crowd with a stunning smile that took his breath away.

Shaking his head he stepped into the elevator and pulled himself together. He had a job to do. She was a client. Nothing more. That's all she could be.

John and Harold Finch had built Northern Lights Security from the ground up by reputation and word of mouth. Now they were one of the most sought after security firms on the East Coast. Manhattan was their home base, but they had offices up and down the coast.

As the elevator smoothly ticked down each floor John let his mind wander back to Joss. His attraction to her had been growing stronger over the past weeks as he spent more and more time with her. He spent more and more time with her because he kept making up reasons to be with her. The elevator doors slid open and he stepped out, walking toward the entrance to the building.

He slipped on his sunglasses and began tracing Joss' steps as she walked down the red carpet. He crossed the street showing security his badge although they already knew him and were allowing him through. He was now close enough to Joss that if he was needed he would be there but not so close to get in her way.

He looked over her direction and caught her eye. She seemed to let out a breath and relax when she saw him, then she smiled softly. He smiled back and nodded his head comfortingly.

There was that pull again. That connection he just couldn't seem to get away from. He didn't think he was being egotistical to think that she felt it to.

Joss breathed a sigh of relief when she saw John out of the corner of her eye. Thank god he was here. She was hoping he would come and not send one of his lackey's to be her body guard. She should have known though. She knew he was attracted to her but was holding back, either because of his job or because he didn't know how she felt or both. She was beginning to think she might have to make the first move.

Joss had hired NLS because she had felt increasingly threatened by several individuals in her industry. She was in the fashion industry and her company, aptly named High Fashion, had risen to the top very quickly which made some very powerful people very unhappy. That was one reason she was at this event, to receive an award for her 'outstanding achievements' in the industry.

They moved down the carpet, taking photos, answering questions from the press. Every so often they would each catch the others eyes; her to seek reassurance and he to reassure. But behind the reassurance she would catch a glimpse of desire. Maybe tonight she should take that first step.

John moved along with Joss as she slowly made her way down the carpet to the entrance to the building for the awards. Suddenly he felt a chill run down his spine. Something was off.

"Tom, are you guys seeing anything out of the ordinary?" John asked his people upstairs.

After a minute or more Tom replied, "No Sir, everything seems to be clear from here. Why? Do you see something? "Tom knew his boss well and knew he wouldn't ask without a reason.

"Tom, come down here with me. Bryce, you stay with the monitors. And Tom,"

"Yes Sir?"

"Go stealth"

"Yes Sir." Tom replied pulling his Sig out to chamber then replace in his pants behind his back.

John threw a glance at Joss to make sure she was OK. She was talking to a reporter at the moment so she was good. John started scanning the crowd. He saw Tom come out of the building and with a slight nod Tom knew what to do. Tom went the opposite direction scanning the crowd then scanning the buildings.

John looked up just as Joss was stepping away from the reporter far enough to have some pictures taken. He saw the sunlight flash off steel and as if in slow motion he whispered "Joss", then lunged for her. He reached her just as a shot rang out and felt something slam into his back and then an explosion of pain. His momentum and the bullet carried him forward into Joss. He heard her scream his name and then chaos...