BABY BLUE

Joss Carter: "Don't tell me you're here for Moretti. How did you know he was being released? Should have guessed. Whenever you show up, trouble's right around the corner."

Sometimes he'd like people to acknowledge that he shows up because trouble's coming, and not the other way around; that he's there to help, and not the reason everything goes to hell.

Harold Finch: "The numbers don't wait in line, Mr Reese."

Of course they don't. But as it is, John would like to point out that if their little team takes too many numbers at a time, they probably won't save anybody at all.

Harold Finch: "Mr Reese, I think I have a situation."

He's not particularly surprised. And he can't come over to sort things up, because as it is, he also has a situation going on. That's what happens when you bite off more than you can chew.

John Reese: "What do you mean by "rash"?"

Finch's mild vocabulary is a bit misgiving, in this case. The man's definition of "rash" is probably much lower than John's, but at the same time, Finch always downplays everything when it comes to talking about it. No point pretending that "rash" can't be a wide variety of things.

John Reese: "You think Carter can piggyback the police investigation?"

She'll probably complain, but hell. That was in the – unwritten, unsaid – contract she signed – not – when she decided to be a part of this.

Harold Finch: "Be serious, Mr Reese."

What? That's a valid question, which one of the two is the father. And if Finch doesn't want him to use baby speak, he shouldn't have kidnapped a baby to begin with.

Joss Carter: "No, you won't. She's dead."

He's almost said something to defend himself, thinking Carter is, again, trying to keep him from doing his job, but he has to admit that yeah, that's a solid reason for him not talking to Claudia Cruz.

John Reese: "I don't think Bradley Petrosian was sleeping with Claudia Cruz."

Weeeell, the youngster could possibly be bisexual, but...

Harold Finch: "It's still a grenade."

Well excuse him, but he hadn't expected the need to childproof his arsenal. Finch is the only one, aside from himself, who's even supposed to come here, and somehow John doesn't see him as someone who plays with grenades on a daily basis.

Harold Finch: "When? After the whole place is blown up? You know how I feel about guns."

Well Finch's not the one risking his life out there each time someone brings a gun to the fight, is he?

Nicola Petrosian: "What are you gonna do, torture him? You've tripped the silent alarm. The police are gonna be here in five minutes."

As it is, John knows that. He's not ignorant enough to think such a house doesn't have at least a silent alarm. The thing is, he doesn't care. First, because the Petrosians would have a fun day trying to formally complain against a man with no identity and without having to talk about Leila. Second, because he doesn't need five minutes.

Adnan Petrosian: "How could you do such a thing?"

It's ironic, coming from the man who had an affair and an illegitimate child to begin with, but still – John guesses it's better than having done what his wife has. There are grades even in how low you can fall.

Gang member: "So kill me, but I still don't know. Your baby's gone. Whoever he was just handed him over. Even he couldn't tell you. So go ahead. Shoot. No one knows where she is."

The worst is that this scumbag is saying the truth. He hates it when criminals are clever enough to not even put themselves in a situation where they could actually do something. That way, they can always say they really can't do anything. It's not their fault. They don't know. They can pretend, because they refused the knowledge.

John Reese: "I'm all out of moves, Finch. Risk is all I've got left."

He's all for an alternative, but if he isn't given one... He doesn't like it, but it's Leila's life on the line.

Carl Elias: "You did, didn't you? But you also broke up a little family reunion that I had planned. That was you, wasn't it? Honest to a fault."

John knows a few people who would laugh at that statement. It's not like pretending otherwise would make Elias forget, so he doesn't see the point of denying it.

John Reese: "I know you're aiming to take over this city, but to control it, you need rules. People start targeting children, there are no rules. No winners."

It's about Leila, yes. But not only. If Elias wants to last in this city, he has to put down a few rules. What isn't allowed even amongst the lowlives. John's not even talking about fighting those who do the unforgivable, but simply not protecting them. Handing them out. Because if everything's allowed, then people will eventually rise against Elias... or a newcomer with even worse methods will step in, no morals to stop him, and Elias will be surprised by what the world has come to. By what he allowed it to become. And that surprise will end in death.

Novak: "You'd just shoot me."

Not wrong. Except he will shoot the man anyway. The question is where: if the man had done what John asked, it would be a kneecaping – he didn't, so it's in the head.

John Reese: "Don't do this."

It's useless, he knows it. But what else can he say?

Carl Elias: "We both win, John."

Do they, really? It's easy to think so, when you stand on the other side of the line.

Carl Elias: "You were right. I would never harm a child. But then I knew you wouldn't either."

If only. John would like to think so too, except he can't. He can't, because he has. He wasn't in his right mind, back then, and yes, the medication was making him a bit... single-minded. But that's not an excuse. They are still dead. He still killed them. He might not be entirely responsible, but that won't bring them back.

Joss Carter: "You say there was no choice, but there was, John. It's called the police."

And how exactly does she see that playing out? Him, in an interrogation room, them interrogating him and not believing a word of what he says, not until it's too late for Leila? Maybe he could have handled it better. Surely he has made mistakes. He isn't denying it. But Carter doesn't get the right to pretend it's all so easy.

Joss Carter: "I can't do this anymore. I can't. You and your friend. I'm sorry."

That, at least, he can understand. He hopes she will change her mind. But he can understand.

John Reese: "Be nice to have a child. Children. Think that'll ever happen? Probably not. Our line of work."

He tried, once. It ended badly.