BURY THE LEDE

Harold Finch: "No, I simply made the grievous error of buying Bear a squeaky toy."

All according to plan, then. Bear would protect Finch outside the library, and prevent him from being too caught up in their work inside the library. John hadn't been sure it would work, but well. Good for Finch, that it does.

Harold Finch: "You must protect Ms. Angelis, but you have to do it without giving her any more proof that the man in the suit exists."

Great. He'd almost forgotten why he doesn't like journalists. Something about them trying to know everything, regardless of if it's a good thing or a bad thing to know. Because the truth is always the answer, right?

Harold Finch: "Oh, and Maxine's fondness for intellectuals presents us with a graceful way to help cover up your identity."

What made Finch think, oh, of course, let's make John a nerd, it will work like a charm, exactly?

Harold Finch: "Mr. Reese. Wrong answer! Maxine is passionate about her career, and she wants a partner who feels the same way. Okay, time for reinforcements."

Great. Sorry that he's not overly enthusiastic about being used as bait. John is good at undercover work, but what he doesn't like is manipulating romance like that.

Harold Finch: "George Orwell."

Oh God. It's official, Finch is the one who should have gone on that date.

John Reese: "Maxine's not in danger, Zambrano is."

And there it is... The truth, his ass. Oh, Maxine had the best intention, surely, but she worked on limited intel, and sometimes that meant you were certain of something wrong. That's a risk, too, when John and Finch work the numbers, but at least they don't try to frame it as the absolute truth which should be divulged to everyone because "the public deserves to know". They make mistakes, of course – Elias comes to mind – but at least they try not to be arrogant about it, to entertain both doubt and a readiness to act.

Maxine Angelis: "Okay, well, I don't know what your work emergency is, but I bet mine's worse. I just put Zambrano's life in danger, so I need you to give me a ride."

Technically, John's work emergencies are always worse than anyone else, but since they share this one, he'll concede. Anyway, considering how many accessories to murder end up dead at the end of their story – especially those who run headfirst into danger – well. He'd better stick with her.

Harold Finch: "Ms. Angelis' future as a journalist may be in doubt, but she's not done investigating."

She thinks the truth is the only right way. John isn't quite certain whether she learned from her mistake – trying to correct it, to truly find the truth this time, without simple speculation as a base – or if she didn't – still certain she can salvage it all, that she will be the one to expose it all. Time will tell – perhaps.

Maxine Angelis: "I put getting the scoop before getting the truth. And my arrogance cost a good man his life. Now I can't- I can't do anything to fix that. But I sure as hell can catch the bastard behind all of this."

Or she could let someone else – someone who didn't screw up yet, like the FBI – do it. The usual dilemma, responsibility of retribution, or acknowledgment of failure. Being the one who will undo our own mistakes, or admitting that we've done enough damage. John can't really talk, because he more often chose the first than the second – though, unlike Maxine, he is best equipped to go against armed killers.

John Reese: "I know how it feels to do things you can never take back."

Mostly, killing people. Can't undo that one. But he doesn't doubt that he occasionally got people killed, too – failures may get operatives on the other side burned, and burned operatives don't always go back home for retirement.

Maxine: "No, but if they're trying to kill me, I must be doing something right."

Goddamnit. He's starting to really like her, but she's not making his job easier. Still too open for his taste, too trusting in the power of the truth, but.

Maxine: "And honestly, I still think you're a little hung up on Zoe Morgan."

Well, he likes Zoe well enough, but that may have more to do with having been volunteered for those dates without a warning. And the multiple lies he told her too. So indeed, John might have been a bit distant, even while trying to be there to help – and protect, but she can't know that – her.