All of You – Chapter 3

Several weeks later:

All Reese wanted was a bottle and his bed.

He had fallen through the floor of an old warehouse while chasing their latest Number, who had turned out to be just your garden variety greedy asshole who planned on killing innocent people to get the things he wanted.

Reese's knuckles were scraped raw from pulling himself, and the Number to safety, long gashes had been torn in his back from the splintered floorboards, he'd wrenched his shoulders, twisted a knee and he ached all over.

Shaw had cleaned the wounds and slapped some bandages on him, Finch had handed him a bottle of his own pain medication and he'd been ordered to rest.

For once, Reese didn't argue.

He just wanted to pass out and forget that he hadn't seen, or spoken to Joss since that night at her home.

Barely a day after she'd returned to work, Joss went undercover with LaBlanca (*1), who needed her legal acumen and skills as a former Army interrogator to untangle a tricky fraud case.

Now it was Taylor, having gotten a few cryptic tweets from his mother, who assured Reese that she was alright while they played hoops.

He sighed when he saw that there was light shining under his apartment door.

Shaw – after a pointed look from Finch – had mumbled that she'd drop off some additional medical supplies and – after another look from their employer – hang around for a while, in case he needed anything.

Reese didn't want to deal with the tiny op's sniggers, waggling eyebrows and endless questions about what it was like "playin' house with Carter, 'to-get-her', day and…night."

He had everything he needed, Reese thought, hefting the bottle that he had in his hand as he unlocked his door.

He almost dropped the bottle at the sight that greeted him.

Jocelyn Carter, holding a frying pan over her head, as though she was going to hit him with it.

"Sam said to make sure you were knocked out tonight, John," she smirked at him.

"I think she meant for me to take these, Carter," Reese smirked back as he pulled the pain meds from his coat pocket.

"We'll see, we'll see," Joss shrugged as she lowered her arm back down.

Drinking in the sight of her, Reese slowly crossed the room. "Hello, Detective," he said softly.

"Hey," she said just as softly back.

Joss looked even more beautiful than the last time Reese had seen her. Her hair was cut in a sleek bob with soft highlights that caressed her face the way Reese wanted to, and while she had a pantsuit on, it was beautifully tailored to her luscious curves.

They stared at each other for a long moment, then Reese asked, "Case turn out okay?"

"Yeah," she smiled, as she placed the frying pan on the coffee table, "put away some bad guys and returned the money they stole to people who really needed it."

"So you did good, for some good people," Reese smiled.

"Yeah, we did." She tilted her head at him. "How 'bout you? Are you okay? Finch said you took quite the tumble."

"I'm fine, Carter," but he winced as he leaned down to place the bottle on the table.

"Let me help you, John."

Reese stood there for a moment, and then he slowly nodded.

Joss helped him ease out of his overcoat, then she took off his jacket.

She stood close to him as her slender fingers unbuttoned his shirt, and slid it down his arms, and then Joss slowly pulled his undershirt free from his pants.

Her hands curled around the hem to help him take it off, but Reese, knowing he'd be totally undone if she touched his bare skin, stepped slightly back.

"I've got it, Carter," he said gruffly.

She blinked, then nodded as she stepped back as well. "Right."

He felt her eyes on him as he left the room.

Reese entered his walk-in closet, shed the rest of his clothes and then slowly pulled on a long sleeved t-shirt, drawstring pants and some thick socks.

Stepping into the bath, Reese splashed water on his face, which had two days growth of beard on it, and then tried to smooth back his unruly hair.

He scowled at his reflection in the mirror. "She's only returning the favor, asshole," he muttered.

When he finally walked back out into the living area, music was playing, the dining table was set and he could smell something delicious cooking in the oven.

"You…" he raised a surprised, skeptical and more than slightly worried eyebrow at her, "cooked?"

Joss gave him that look. "Don't worry, I didn't make it. Pizza, from that place you like a couple of blocks over."

The pizza parlor, who knew him as John Rooney, was one of the few places in the city where Reese broke his rule about never frequenting any establishment more than three times, their stuff was so good.

"And how do you know that I like that place, Carter?"

"I am a Detective, John. And," her lips quirked, "I saw their 'take and bake' menu stashed in one of the kitchen drawers, so I figured you liked their stuff. I also thought you could use somethin' easy," she glanced at his bandaged hands, "to scarf down tonight."

"I could," he smiled.

The pizza, the beer - which they drank instead of the bottle - and especially the company, Reese thought, was perfect.

As they settled down on the couch with some smooth, decadently rich mousse from Joss' favorite dessert shop, Death by Chocolate, Reese suddenly noticed that her suitcase, the same one she took when they went to Texas, was on the other side of the couch.

"How…badly…did Finch say that I was hurt, Carter?"

She laughed. "I just got back this mornin', John. Sherri – LaBlanca - and I met with our Caps, then I got Taylor outta school and spent the afternoon with him, before he and Paul went to the Nets game and then…I came here."

"So you haven't been home."

She shook her head. "Not yet. Finch said that he, Sam and Fusco had some work to do; between that, and tryin' to keep those two from killin' each other, he wasn't sure when he'd be able to stop by tonight to check on you, so I'll just hang out until they're done – or until," she smirked, "we need to post bail for the survivor."

"Or for Finch," Reese smirked back, "he might just wind up killing them both."

They shared a wry glance, then Reese leaned towards her and touched her sleeve. "Nice suit, Carter."

"LaBlanca and I had to be sleek corporate types for the assignment, so the brass sprang for the haircut and the clothes," she shrugged.

"I like them, especially," Reese almost reached out and touched her hair, but he caught himself, and touched her sleeve again instead, "your hair."

"Thanks," ducking her head, Joss looked up at him through her lashes. "I'm thinkin' of keepin' 'em both; they're lettin' us buy the clothes at a discount, and I like the hair, too."

"You should, they suit you."

"Yeah, I think so, too; even without this case, it was time," she glanced at him again, "for somethin' new."

Their eyes met and held, but then Joss narrowed her eyes at his back. "John, you're bleeding!"

"It's nothing, Carter," Reese protested, but she sprang to her feet and picked up a med kit that was next to her suitcase.

"Let me look at it," she said firmly, in a voice that brooked no argument.

Sighing, Reese slowly pulled his t-shirt over his head, and shifted forward, so that Joss could examine his back.

"What did Sam do, throw these bandages at you, and hope that they stuck?" Shaking her head, Joss rose to her feet and returned a few minutes later with some warm water.

Carefully, tenderly, she removed the bandages, gently washed his cuts, applied ointment and then rebandaged everything, her slender fingers both a balm, and a torture to Reese.

Finally satisfied, Joss fetched another long sleeved t-shirt from his closet and helped him put it on.

"You really should get some sleep, John." She handed the bottle of Finch's pain meds to him. "It's either these or the frying pan – your choice."

Sighing, Reese took the pills, then walked into the bath to brush his teeth.

When he walked out a few minutes later, Reese could feel the powerful medication already taking effect.

He didn't protest when Joss helped him into bed.

"You gonna tuck me in and kiss me good night, Detective?" he said drowsily to her.

"You're a little old for that, John," Joss smirked at his pout.

She added an extra pillow next to his shoulder to cushion his injured back, draped his bathrobe at the foot of the bed, and then slowly pulled the covers up over him.

She paused, gazing at him, and then her slender fingers smoothed back his hair, and Reese knew, without having to take a look, that his stubborn cowlick, just like the rest of him, had succumbed to Jocelyn Carter.

Joss then rolled her suitcase into the bath, emerging a short time later, dressed in her own long sleeved t-shirt and sleep pants, her hair tucked up under a silk wrap.

Through his drooping eyelids, Reese watched her shut off the lights, and then she settled down on the couch.

"Good night, John."

"'Night, Carter."

Reese knew that when he woke up, Joss would be gone.

"Joss, I…"

But his eyes snapped shut, and he fell fast asleep.

XXX

Reese awakened the next morning to coffee brewing.

Sitting up, he stretched tentatively.

His back was still very tender, and he knew that several of those aches had turned into ugly bruises, but he felt much better than he had yesterday.

Looking at the couch, Reese sighed.

The blanket that Joss had used last night was neatly folded on the arm, and her suitcase was gone.

"Oh, good, you're awake. How do you work this stupid juice machine?"

"Carter? I thought…" grinning, Reese rose to his feet. "Okay…so who's in jail?"

"Nobody," she grinned back at him, "at least not yet. I just told Finch that since I was already here, there was no reason for him to come over. I put some of your stuff in the wash, and mine – I hope that's okay."

"That's fine, Detective."

"Good. Now about this damn juice machine…"

Reese followed her into the kitchen.

XXX

After a hearty breakfast that consisted of a tasty frittata that Reese had made by combining last night's pizza with eggs, bacon and spinach, and freshly squeezed juice, they sat down on the couch with cups of coffee, while music played softly in the background.

Putting down her cup, Joss took a deep breath and faced him. "You were right to go that night, John," she said quietly, "even though I wanted to shoot you for leaving. If we had…as much as I wanted it, wanted you, it wouldn't have been right for either one of us."

"What are you saying, Carter?" Reese's voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm saying that…" she took another deep breath, "I want all of you, John."

Reese took her hand. "Joss…"

"And, I want to give all of me to you, too. It's just…it's been a long time for me, John, it's gonna take some time for me to get it right."

With his other hand, Reese smoothed back her hair. "I've…never…given my all to anyone, Joss. It's going to take me some time, too."

"But we'll figure it out, John."

"Yeah, we will, Joss."

Leaning forward, Reese cupped her beautiful face in his large hands and gently kissed the woman he knew that he would love fully, deeply and unreservedly for the rest of his life.

Their kissing grew deeper and more passionate, until a sighing Joss pulled back. "John, you're still hurt pretty badly."

"We could make medical history, Carter," he smirked, "but you're right. I want to wait until I can give you my best."

Rising to his feet, Reese walked over to his desk, pulled out an envelope and handed it to her.

Inside was paperwork for the lot next to Joss' home.

Reese had bought it.

"John…" she shook her head, "you didn't…"

"I did, Joss. Just call me your new 'neighbor'," Reese smirked.

Rolling her eyes, Joss groaned, "There goes the neighborhood," but with a smirk of her own, she tilted her head at him. "So whaddya planning on doing with the site, 'neighbor'?"

"The PITS list, with some…additions…of my own, of course."

"Of course," she said drily.

"It's gonna take time, a long time, to complete all of the stuff on the new and improved PITS list, Joss, but if we do it together…"

"Yeah, if we do it together…"

He pulled her back into his arms and they spent several more glorious minutes kissing, until it was Reese now who pulled back. "Don't you have to get to the precinct, Joss?"

"It's Saturday, John, and," Joss rose to her feet, "after crossing three time zones, dealing with two egomaniac captains, my son, and the world's crankiest patient," she smiled at him, "you know what I'd really like to do?"

"No, Joss, what?"

She took his hand. "I'd like to take a nice long nap in a proper bed. Care to join me?"

"I'd love to."

Hand in hand, they walked to the bed and slipped between the covers together.

And putting their arms around each other, John Reese and Jocelyn Carter fell into a deep, dreamless slumber, as the music softly played around them:

Cause all of me loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I'm winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all, all of you

(*1) La Blanca was the detective in the S1 ep Flesh and Blood who helped Joss figure out how Elias was funneling money to finance his criminal operation.