A/N: T/Y SWWoman!

Second Chances

The case was wrapped up, and the bad guy carted away in handcuffs curtesy of Detective Joss Carter, but John Reese couldn't get the case of Andrea Gutierrez out of his mind. It had been a fairly straight forward case of greed and murder that, with Carters' help, had been solved fairly quickly. Although, without her insight into the DFS scheme he would have followed up with the prison lead which would have been wrong.

It had been a close call when Andrea had gone to DFS to talk to the case worker about Terrance's transfer, and found herself staring at the wrong end of a gun, but John had gotten there in time. Carter had been right behind him to arrest Chris Scollard, and take him to jail.

So why am I sitting at Lyric Dinner in a back booth staring into a cold cup of coffee still obsessing about the case? John thought. Something about this case had struck a nerve with him, and he knew exactly what it was.

When Andrea had so passionately voiced how she was taught that it was okay for people to make mistakes, and that "everyone deserves a second chance," it had affected John deeply. He had told her that she wasn't the only one who believed in second chances when he saw her at the court house that afternoon. He gave people second chances every day, but he had never believed that he could have a second chance. His mistakes were too heinous to ever think he could have another chance at life….at love. His mistakes would catch up to him sooner or later, and anyone he cared about would get caught in the crossfire.

"Your coffee's getting cold," a soft, slightly husky female voice said in front of him. John looked up in surprise to see Joss Carter standing at his booth with a secretive smile on her face. She was so beautiful. Her long, dark hair fell across her shoulders, and down her back, framing her lovely face. She had large, soft, dark-brown eyes that he could get lost in, fringed with long dark lashes. She wore very little make-up, but her golden-brown complexion was exceptional, and her soft, full lips wore a shimmer of gloss that made his mouth water. She still wore her long, black coat with the belt cinched tightly around her small waist accentuating her full, firm breasts.

"May I?" Joss asked motioning to the seat across from John.

John smiled a slow smile, and leaned back against his seat, "By all means," he replied indicating she should sit.

Joss slid into the seat across from John and busied herself with loosening the belt of her coat then unbuttoning it to slide it from her shoulders. She wasn't exactly sure why she was there or how she knew John would be, but after finishing up her paperwork on the Gutierrez case her steps had led her to the Lyric Dinner instead of home. Now she sat across from him, looking into his seductive eyes that could change color from blue to green or grey depending on his mood and the light, and was once again struck by how extraordinarily handsome he was. He had a strong jaw, sharp cheek bones, high forehead and just a slightly crooked nose that only added character to his already stunning good looks.

The waitress came over to their table, and Joss ordered a cup of coffee while John asked for a warm up to his. When she left they sat in silence for a moment just staring at one another then he dropped his eyes to the table where his hands rested. Something was troubling him; she could see it in his expressive eyes as they had gazed at one another. He looked up as if he was about to say something, but just then the waitress returned with their hot coffees, and he remained quiet.

After the waitress left Joss waited for John to say whatever he had started to say, but he lingered in silence as if he had thought better of saying it. She tilted her head sideways, and gave him a small smile.

"What were you about to say just before the waitress arrived, John?"

John hesitated a second longer then asked quietly with his eyes looking at his cup, "Do you believe in second chances, Joss?"

Joss was taken aback; one, by the question itself, and two by the use of her first name. John looked up then, and she almost gasped at the vulnerability in his troubled blue eyes. She had to think before she answered because this was obviously very important to him.

"Yes, I do. We all make mistakes, John." Joss answered simply.

John nodded his head in apparent agreement then asked another question, "Even for men like me?" Although his face was impassive his eyes still held that troubled vulnerability that came from deep in his soul.

Joss was filled with compassion, and something else she wasn't yet willing to name, for this tender-hearted man that had been so brutally treated by life. He was convinced he was a terrible person, a monster, but she had seen the care he had taken with Andrea Gutierrez and Theresa Whitaker before her. She knew he was a good man despite what he may have done in his past.

Without a second thought she reached across the table, and took his hand in hers. John tensed at first then relaxed, and let his fingers curl around hers.

Joss looked John directly in the eyes as she said, "Yes, John, I do. You were led astray, and walked a dark path for a while, but your heart wasn't in it. You're not that man anymore. You're a good man who deserves a second chance."

John squeezed her hand tightly, and swallowed hard. He looked at her intently as he said softly, "I have so many enemies. Anyone I….care about could get hurt or die because of me, and that would kill me, Joss."

Once again, Joss was stunned by what he said, and also the intensity in his eyes. Could John be saying what she thought he was saying? Could he possibly care about her more than just as an asset?

Joss had accepted that she was attracted to John even though they hadn't officially met until he was shot by Snow's partner. He was mysterious, intriguing, and when he had stood in the beam of Snow's headlights he had taken her breath away. She had been so worried about him after he was shot she couldn't sleep, and she had wondered how he was or if he was alive. She had never been happier than when he had spoken softly behind her, and then had slid gracefully into the seat across from her the other morning. Her eyes had devoured him. Now he was saying he cared for her? The way he was looking at her now said he did, and much more. There was heat in his gaze, and she responded to it strongly.

John watched as a myriad of emotions played across Joss's face after his statement. He hadn't outright said he cared for her, but the implication was obvious. He had thought about it for a while, and he believed he fell in love with her the moment he met her at the 8th precinct after a fight with some punks on a subway. When he was still a dirty, stinking bum, she had asked if he needed help. From some grainy camera footage she had somehow known and understood his history. She had shown him compassion that he hadn't felt in a very long time. Her compassion had kept him from making a terrible mistake that night. When her number had come up he had been frantic with worry, and had been ready to kill anyone who harmed her. That's when he had acknowledged his deeper feelings for Joss. He leaned forward, and linked their fingers together. She didn't pull away.

"Joss…" John looked deep into her dark eyes, "could you give me a second chance? I made a terrible mistake once with someone I cared deeply for," his voice was low, quiet, and he briefly looked at their linked fingers. "I left her behind, and I never told her how much she meant to me….how much she changed my life," he looked back at her with such emotion and desire Joss caught her breath. "I don't want to make the same mistake again," and he brought her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against the back of her hand.

"John…" was all Joss could breathe at the moment, she was so overwhelmed. She returned his gaze, and then pulled his hand toward her, placing a soft kiss on the back of his hand. She heard the catch in his breath. "Does that answer your question, John?"

John's voice was slightly deeper as he asked, "Can we get out of here to someplace more….private?" Something sparkled in his blue eyes as they turned just a shade darker.

Joss sighed, and shook her head in mock frustration. "You sure ask a lot of questions, John," then she looked at him seriously, her own eyes darkening with that same something. "Come on. We can go back to my place. Taylor's with his grandmother on a trip to visit relatives for a few days. We'll have plenty of….privacy there," she said softly.

Reluctantly, John released her hand, and then reached into his pocket to pull out some bills to pay for their coffee while Joss quietly slid from the booth, slipping her coat back on. He slid out of his seat to stand beside her, tossing the money on the table, and then took her by the arm, leading her out of the diner. They walked side by side to her car, and John climbed into the passenger side as Joss entered the driver's side.

They didn't speak much on the way to Joss's brownstone, each caught up in their own thoughts. John's were about how this could all go so wrong, and ruin the budding friendship between them, not to mention compromising their working relationship. He was also considering how little he had to offer her, and how she had so much to lose in having a relationship with him.

Joss was having similar thoughts. His job was dangerous, and he faced death every day, every time he worked a case he took the chance that it could be his last. Then again, so was her job. He had a dark past that could come back to haunt him any day. Could she put herself, her son in a position where they might be in danger? She glanced over at John's profile, and the answer was easy. Yes, she could because she knew he would protect her and Taylor with his life.

Luck was with them, and they found a parking place a few spaces down from her brownstone instead of having to park a block away. They climbed the steps to her door, and Joss unlocked it with her key, re-setting the alarm once they were inside. In the entryway she took Johns' coat and suit jacket, and removed her own, hanging them on the coat rack in the corner.

"Well, come in, John. Make yourself at home," Joss said with a nervous smile. Now that they were here she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. "Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine, maybe?" she asked for something to distract her.

"Yeah, wine would be great," John replied. It seemed he had become just as nervous as Joss was.

John walked into the living area, making a cursory scan of the room, but didn't sit down right away. Joss returned holding two empty glasses, a corkscrew, and an unopened bottle of Merlot. He turned toward her, and let his eyes roam over her body in the soft glow of the table lamp she had turned on when they arrived. Without her heavy coat and suit jacket, she wore a red short-sleeve silk blouse tucked into the tiny waist of her grey slacks that couldn't hide her exquisite curves. The top three buttons of her blouse were unbuttoned, giving him an enticing glimpse of her cleavage as the silk clung to the shape of her breasts. She had removed her low-heeled pumps, and he could see her red nail polish peeking out beneath the hem of her slacks. The dark, golden-brown skin of her arms seemed to glow, and appeared softer than her silk blouse. Her dark, lustrous, hair fell over her shoulders, framing her face, and wide, dark eyes. She was an absolute vision.

"Will you open the bottle, and pour us a glass?" Joss asked, pulling him out of his contemplation of her. "I want to put together a little snack to go with this," she explained when he didn't answer right away.

"Of course, but you don't need to go to any trouble, Joss. I mean, it's just me," John said in his soft voice. Joss shivered slightly at the sound.

"It's no trouble, really," Joss said a little breathless, then turned back toward the kitchen.

John watched her leave, his eyes caressing her ass as she went – just as his hands wanted to do. He finally turned, and walked over to the sofa, placing the glasses, bottle of wine and corkscrew she had given him on the coffee table in front of it before taking a seat. By the time he had the bottle open and two generous glasses of wine poured, Joss was back with a large plate of assorted sliced cheeses, fruit, summer sausage, and sourdough crackers. A feast fit for a king. He handed Joss her glass as she settled onto the sofa beside him.

"This is a nice spread, Joss," John said as he munched on the crackers and cheese with a slice of pineapple. He washed it down with a sip of his wine. "The wine is very good, too. I noticed it's some pretty good stuff. When did you get it?" he asked curiously.

"My sister brought it home from her trip to France last year," Joss replied, then looked directly at him. "I've been saving it for a special occasion. This seemed like the right time," she said softly.

John took another sip of his wine, swallowing hard, and then set his glass on the table. He took both her hands in his looking at her with that same troubled vulnerability.

"Joss, I was thinking, on the way over," John began quietly. "I was thinking, I have so little to offer you, and you have so much to lose if….if we take this any further."

"Oh, John," Joss breathed softly. She raised her hand to caress his cheek, and John's eyes closed for a moment at her touch. "Don't you understand? I made my choice when I took that piece of paper with Andrea Gutierrez's name on it," she gave him a teary smile. "My fate is already sealed, John. I love the way you care for people, I love your passion to protect them, I love your need to save them, and I love your desire to give them a second chance even though you think you don't deserve one," she paused and took a deep breath, gazing into his now shimmering eyes, "but most of all...I love you."

John made a choking sound, and then his lips were on hers, moving over them hungrily and she whimpered. Joss returned his kiss just as hungrily, threading her fingers through his hair, feeling its softness touch her fingertips. His hand gripped the back of her head, and his fingers were lost in her thick, dark hair, pulling her closer to him. His kiss became tender, seeking, as he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. Her mouth opened, and he slipped his tongue across her lips, caressing her tongue with his as she kissed him back.

Soon the need for air broke them apart, and John placed his forehead against hers, both breathing deeply. He looked deep into her soft dark-brown eyes, and could see the truth shining in their depths.

"I never wanted to believe that you could feel the same for me that I feel for you," John breathed, his voiced heavy with emotion.

"And how do you feel, John?" Joss asked breathlessly.

"I love you, Joss. God help you, but I do," then he kissed her tenderly again until they were both senseless.

Joss felt her heart soar as John gently nuzzled her neck, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "What you don't understand, John is that you're not the only one getting a second chance," she whispered passionately as his lips found the sensitive spot behind her ear. He looked at her then, and she smiled at the expression of surprise on his face. "Yeah, I'm getting a second chance, too. I've been alone for so long, not able to trust anyone, and then this badass vigilante stormed in, and saved my life then he told me I was never alone."

John stared into Joss's shinning eyes brimming with unshed tears, and his own eyes began to pool. He held her face in his large hands, his thumbs caressing her cheeks as he pulled her into the most tender kiss she had ever experienced. His lips were soft as they brushed across her hers as light as a butterfly's wing. Then his mouth touched hers again, and moved sensually, persuading her lips to open as he pulled on her bottom lip with his. She felt she was burning from the inside out as heat spread from between her thighs throughout her body. He was killing her softly with his kiss, and his touch as his hands moved over her, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

All John wanted to do was to kiss and touch Joss for the rest of his life. If he could remain in this moment forever it wouldn't be long enough. Her full, soft, lips were sweeter than the fruit he had eaten, and more intoxicating than the wine he had drunk. He couldn't get enough of her taste, or the feel of her soft, warm, body.

Joss pulled out of the kiss, and then looking deeply into John's eyes, she stood up, holding out her hand. He stood beside her, and took her hand, and then she led him up the stairs to her bedroom. They began passionately kissing again, holding nothing back as they both knew there was no turning back now. As he pulled her closer to him he slipped his tongue into her mouth to fully taste her. He caressed her tongue with his, and they trembled at the sensation of their tongues twisting and curling around each other's.

Their clothes fell at their feet between kisses and caresses, and John shook at the feel of Joss's skin next to his as he finally laid her gently on her back on her bed. Her hands on him were making him mindless with desire as she stroked his shoulders, back, and chest. He settled himself between her thighs, and his erection throbbed madly as it made contact with her wet, heat. He pulled out of the kiss, and buried his face in her neck, inhaling the heady scent of her perfume, and her natural female scent. He heard her moan softly as he nuzzled the place where her neck and shoulder joined, sending tremors through his body. His hands roamed her body, discovering the hills and valleys of her curvaceous terrain. He cupped her breast, molding it to his large hand, while his mouth explored her neck, shoulders, and chest finally finding her other breast, taking her nipple in his mouth, and circling it with his tongue.

Joss's body arched into John's touch, to his mouth as he took her breast, and laved her nipple with his tongue. She moaned as she reached for him, taking him in her hand and she stroked him gently from base to tip. He groaned low in his throat as she gradually stroked him, his hardness heavy in her hand. He kissed his way back to her mouth and kissed her ravenously. Placing his hand over hers, he stopped her delicious torture.

"I can't wait any longer. I have to be inside you," he whispered throatily against her lips as he slid one hand down to stoke her clit with his finger. Joss cried out at his touch, her body arching from the bed. He then slid one long finger inside her, and she moaned.

"I need you, John, please," Joss panted desperately as another finger joined the first. She grabbed at his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin.

John removed his fingers, and poised his cock at her slick entrance. He looked deep into her dark, desire-filled, eyes, and he whispered, "I love you, Joss," and then he impaled her with one hard thrust. They both cried out at their union. It felt so perfect, so right. Her body fit him like a tight glove and his body shuddered. He buried his face in her neck then began moving his body in a steady pace, and Joss picked up his tempo.

Joss had never felt anything so right, and so perfect before. They moved together as if they had been lovers forever. Every touch, every sigh and every cry of each other's name was a melody written in time and their body's moved to their own rhythm. She clawed at his back and shoulders, urging him faster and harder, moving her knees to cradle his body in a loving embrace, and to lift her hips to meet his demanding thrust.

"Oh god, John, yes….Ohh god," Joss moaned deeply as John arched his back, his hands under her ass to penetrate her deeper and deeper with every thrust.

"Joss….Ohh god, Joss, you feel so good," John groaned softly into her ear as he continued to push into her sweet, soft, heat, and he felt her walls start to tighten around his throbbing cock.

"Come for me love….come for me….," John breathed, pushing harder and deeper, grinding into her to penetrate even deeper into her.

John reached between their bodies, stroking her clit with his finger, and suddenly Joss came apart in his arms. As she cried out her orgasm he thrust wildly into her until he emptied himself into her welcome body, his cock pulsing with his release along with hers.

They both fell to the bed exhausted, but sated, and John pulled Joss over close to him as she snuggled into his shoulder and chest. It took a while for them to catch their breath, and they lay in one another's arms feeling content. He ran his long, elegant fingers along her spine, and she caressed his chest with her small soft hands until after a while they stilled.

"Are you asleep?" John asked quietly in case she had drifted off.

"No," Joss replied, looking up at him.

"What are you thinking?" John asked cautiously.

"I'm thinking…" Joss said softly as she traced his jaw with her finger, "….that I'm glad we both have a second chance….together." Then she smiled that smile that always melted John's heart.

John couldn't help but smile back, and the way it lit up his face and sparkled in his eyes, Joss thought it was like a new sunrise after a long dark night.

They didn't know what the future held, but it didn't matter because they had today.

Thank God for Second Chances…..

A/N: Thanks for reading...See you soon...