A/N: This is a long chapter so no long notes. Just many thanks to all the reviews and, especially SWWoman, of course. Please enjoy...
Breaking Point Chapter 4
"Oh god, I love you," Joss said breathlessly as she collapsed onto Johns' chest after climaxing for, she couldn't remember how many times, since returning to the hotel room after breakfast. Their make-up sex had been mind-blowing, especially after declaring their love to each other, albeit accidentally. His finding her FBI badge could have been the end of their relationship but instead it lead to a wonderful new beginning.
"I love you, too, sweetheart," John breathed out, trying to catch his breath after their marathon of make-up sex. It had lasted hours but was still not long enough for him. Since finding out Joss loved him after nearly leaving her because she had not told him who she really worked for he never wanted to stop loving her. He wanted to just stay in this room forever and never leave. But, he thought sadly, that wasn't an option. Wrapping his strong arms around her he held her close.
"It's that time, isn't it?" She whispered quietly in his ear before nuzzling his neck.
"I'm afraid so, sweetheart. We can't put it off any longer." He replied pulling her closer to him as if he would never let her go. "As much as I love making love to you we have things to talk about, and it is mid-afternoon already." He said with a chuckle.
John felt her smile against his neck then she kissed him, and he felt that familiar stirring in his loins as she continued to kiss and nuzzle that sensitive spot that she knew drove him to distraction.
"Joss, we really need to…." he didn't finish his sentence because he moaned as she began to suck on that sensitive spot. Running his hands up her naked back, her skin silky smooth beneath his fingertips, as he tangled his fingers in her hair to pull her head away. Instead he found himself turning his head to give her better access and clutching her to him. "Oh god…." he moaned, the feelings taking over his body were overwhelming his good sense. He could feel himself getting hard.
"Joss…" he groaned turning her over onto her back so she lay beneath him. He looked into her desire-filled dark eyes and was lost. His mouth crashed onto hers in a bruising kiss meant to let her know just what she had started. Plunging his tongue deep into her mouth he plundered the treasures there and felt her body tremble at his ruthless invasion.
Joss had only meant to give him a little kiss and nuzzle before getting up to dress and begin their talk about…..everything. But he tasted so good; warm and salty sweet she couldn't help herself, she had to have another taste…then another and another. He was so responsive too, it turned her on like nothing else. Now here she was having the stuffing kissed out of her and loving it. She wrapped her arms around his neck running her fingers through the soft hair at his nape wishing he hadn't had to cut it.
Their tongues dueled for dominance, both moaning and grunting as they each fought the other. Then he cheated. With his tremendous strength he easily grabbed both of her wrists and with one large hand pinned them above her head. She squirmed beneath him but this only seemed to excite them both. She could feel him pressed against her fully erect and throbbing. She had a feeling this was going to be fast and furious.
Pulling away from Joss's sweet mouth John said breathing heavily,
"See what you started? We were supposed to talk."
"Yeah, I see. More like I feel," she replied grinding her hips into him and he grunted. "You gonna finish it or do I have to take matters into my own hands?" She asked provocatively.
John just smirked. "I always finish….and you will too, more than once" he said releasing her wrist and sliding down her body and murmuring against her soft curls, "….before I do."
Joss ran her fingers through his salt and pepper hair and her lips parted in a soft moan as he began to explore what treasures she held deep….and he kept his promise…..
A While Later...
Sitting up cross legged opposite each other in bed both fully clothed so they were less tempted to go at each other again, Joss pulled out her laptop and a thick manila folder John assumed was her case file.
John looked at her thoughtfully. She was taking a big risk doing this. If her people found out that she had told him, a CIA Agent, what her mission is and all the information she had gathered, she could not only lose her job she could face federal charges. He made a decision as he watched her boot up her computer.
"Joss, wait."
Joss looked up curiously. "What? I have everything here. All I have to do is type in my password."
"If you do this you could get into serious trouble. And I don't mean the slap on the wrist type of trouble. You could go to jail if someone found out you told me what your mission and information is. I don't want that. We can still work together without my knowing and you won't risk your job and your life." He finished reaching over and taking her hand. "I love you too much to put you in that kind of jeopardy." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
Joss smiled warmly. Love radiating from her eyes. "I love you too, John." Her smile faded. "That's why I'm going to tell you everything. Not just because I want to be open and honest in the new direction our relationship has taken," she paused taking a deep breath and looking directly into his stunning eyes, "but because your life could very well depend on it. The threat to your life isn't coming just from Maxwell with whom your cover was blown. It's coming from your own people. Agent Donnelly doesn't know about this yet. I haven't been able to brief him because we've been on the run and it's something I discovered right before you burst into my office break room. "She stopped for a moment to let him process what she had just told him. His face was an unreadable mask. She hated it when he got like that because it meant he was pulling away from her, trying to re-build the walls it had taken her months to tear down. She couldn't even imagine what that kind of news would be like. Hearing that people you had dedicated your life to were going to betray you had to be very difficult to hear.
John sat very still as he listened to Joss trying hard not to reveal any of the turmoil that he felt inside. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. His own people wanted him dead? She had to be wrong. She was misinformed. Then a memory from long ago began to wiggle its way into his mind. No that couldn't be it he had been careful. No one knew he had switched the detonators so the bomb wouldn't be as catastrophic. It had still been horrific with so many people dead and even some bodies never recovered from the water. But if he hadn't done what he did, well, it was unthinkable the amount of death and destruction that would have occurred that day just to kill one man. He still got ill thinking about it.
"John?" He was pulled away from his thoughts by Joss calling his name.
"Yeah, um, you were saying?" he said, gruffly clearing his throat.
"I wasn't saying anything. You just seemed to drift off into la la land and I couldn't get your attention. What were you thinking about?" Joss asked, concern written all over her face.
"It's just a memory; one that may or may not pertain to this case. But we'll talk about that later, it's not relevant now if it is at all." He answered honestly. "Why don't you tell me what your mission is and we'll go from there?" She seemed ready to argue then changed her mind.
Still holding hands gently Joss began. "My mission was to go undercover as a lawyer with Stiller, Mitchem, Allen & Co. which, as you know I did. My task was to get assigned to a case they were handling for a man named Dillan Maxwell," John looked at her in surprise for that was who he and Kara were undercover with. Joss nodded her head. "Yes. We knew the CIA was running an operation, with government approval, with Dillan Maxwell and we felt this would be our prime opportunity." Joss paused looking away from him a moment.
"It would be your prime opportunity for what, Joss?" John asked quietly.
Turning her head back to him he saw tears shimmering in her eyes.
"It gave us the opportunity to investigate yours and Kara's operations. Your methods had become suspect. The FBI wanted to get proof that you were using illegal methods for gathering intel. You have to understand," she rushed forward at the look in his eyes, that same look of betrayal, "this was before we met, before I knew the good man that you are, and that you only did what the Company forced you to do. Just like me."
A seed of doubt had begun to spring up in his heart but as he looked at her and listened it was quickly dispelled and he squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "You're right. We didn't know each other then. We're different people now. Go on."
She squeezed his hand back in gratitude and plunged ahead. "The long and short of it is that Kara is neck deep in some nasty shit, some I don't think even you are aware of, and I intercepted some emails between her and another agent about it being time for your 'retirement'. That's why your cover was blown, not because of jealousy, at least not completely, but because Kara thought she could kill two birds with one stone. She was on to me somehow too, how I don't know but I intend to find out. That bitch is messing with the wrong woman if she thinks she can threaten my man and me and get away with it. Oh, Hell no."
Joss had glanced down at her laptop while she was saying this and looked up startled when she heard John burst out in full laughter. She smiled and started laughing herself when she thought about what she must have sounded like.
Grabbing Joss by the shoulders he pulled her on top of him and kissed her soundly.
"I love you," he said with a huge grin on his face. "My trash talkin' woman!"
"I love you too. And Kara's gonna get what's coming to her, one way or another. Now, let me up so we can go over all of this info, then we can get something to eat. You worked up my appetite after breakfast." Joss said laughingly.
"I worked up your appetite?" John said indignantly. "I will have you know that last go around was your doing, not mine."
She grinned at him wickedly. "Yeah, and you loved every minute of it," she said seductively.
"You're damn right I did." He replied huskily his eyes growing smoky with desire. "I wouldn't mind loving it again."
"As lovely as that sounds," she whispered tracing his lips with her fingernail and then moaning softly when he took it between his teeth. "We really need to figure out what's going on."
Reaching behind her head he pulled her down to him so his lips brushed against the side of her face just in front of her ear. "Well, if you insist," he murmured against her skin pressing a small kiss against her ear. She could feel heat rush through her body. Damn. Why couldn't she have a normal life like everybody else?
Pulling her head away she looked at him her eyes now nearly black with desire, "That was below the belt".
His eyes traveled down her body, "I certainly hope so."
Pushing herself from his body she sat up and punched him in the arm.
"Ow! Such violence!"
"Get over here and let's finish this."
"I was trying to do just that."
Joss just threw him a glare.
"Alright, alright. Playtime is over back to business." Just as he was sitting up Joss launched herself at him and they both went down in a tangle of arms and legs laughing the whole time.
Eventually they did get around to going over Joss's information she had gathered which was as detailed as it was extensive. John was very impressed. They weren't able to peruse all of it but they hit the highlights and then ordered take out cause neither wanted to try to find a place to eat this late.
So they sat at the small table by the window eating Thai and talking about the case when there was a lull in the conversation and John said,
"Joss, we really need to think about moving your son and mother. And it wouldn't be a bad idea if we changed hotels. We've been here three days. That's too long. If we're not careful someone will trace us. I would suggest we check out in the morning and find a new place. "
Joss sighed and chewed her food then swallowed. "You're right. I was thinking about that, about mamma and Taylor, and I'm just going to give her the bare minimum but I'm going to give her the truth. She deserves that I think. We do need to change hotels too. Who would we be this time?"
John was nodding and chewing. "I would have to check my available I.D's that The Company doesn't know about. But I agree about what to tell your mother. I also think you should tell her about me, about us, how it all connects. I'm sure Taylor has told her about me as much time as we spent together while I was at your place." John stopped and tilted his head curiously, "You know, in all the time we spent together Taylor never once mentioned what you did for a living. I never brought it up either. Weren't you afraid he would oust your true profession?"
Joss stopped and looked at John startled. In all the time that John and Taylor had spent together it had never occurred to her that her son might accidentally tell John who she worked for! How could she have missed that!
"You never thought of it?" John said incredulously. Joss just shook her head speechless. That one error could have blown her whole case! Then Joss looked at John curiously. "John. You said they were beginning to dig into my background, but why would they need to do that if they have Kara? She already knows me. She knows I have a son, and a mother who lives close by. Why not just get the information from her?"
John sat lost in thought for a moment. "I don't know Joss. If Kara was the one that blew both our covers there would be no reason for them to dig. They would have all the information they needed about me and most about you at their fingertips; somethings not adding up." He stood and started pacing back and forth beside the table. What if it wasn't Kara who ousted him? If not her, then who? And where was Kara? He hadn't been in touch with her because he thought she was helping Maxwell but what if she wasn't. Turning to Joss he said,
"Joss you said earlier that Kara was into some nasty shit, some you thought even I wasn't aware of. What did you mean by that?"
Rising to her feet she replied, "From what I gathered she was in bed with the Russians moving large amounts of illegal drugs and laundered cash out of the country through her not so savory CIA connections she had made over the years. I have shipping documents and schedules, routes and photos as evidence. Kara would meet this man," and she walked over to a folder on the bed and pulled out a photo of a dark haired man with a trimmed beard and mustache and cold black eyes, "once a week at a warehouse in Queens. I followed her there but wasn't able to get inside. I can only assume it's a stash house to keep goods until transport."
John looked at the photo. He didn't recognize him as any known associate of his and Kara's. Kara was clever. He shouldn't be surprised that she could be involved in something like this and no one ever know. That's why she was such a good agent.
"Okay," John sighed running a hand through his hair, "I'm beginning to think Kara didn't out us. But that just brings up more questions. Who did, for one? Why? And how does Kara fit into all of this? Is she an ally or an enemy?"
Joss just looked at him. Finally he said, "What?"
"Did you forget about the emails I intercepted between her and another Agent talking about your 'retirement'?" Joss asked patiently.
John looked chagrined. "Oh. Yeah, right, definitely an enemy."
"Damn straight," Joss mumbled underneath her breath but John caught it anyway and hid a smile. Joss had disliked Kara on sight and vice versa. There was no love lost between them; they were only civil to each other because of John.
Getting back to the matter at hand Joss said tiredly, "Well. Let's narrow it down to one thing. Who had the most to gain by revealing our identities and having us dead?" Then she looked at John and John looked at her and they both groaned. They were going to have to go through Joss's notes again and John's notes too now to figure out what the hell was going on and who wanted them dead and why. It was going to be a long night.
Three hours later they were still at a dead end.
"I think Maxwell is our biggest threat," John said for the umpteenth time starting to sound like a broken record.
"He is NOW. But he wouldn't have been the one to blow…." And Joss stopped as a thought occurred to her. Why hadn't she thought of that before?
"John." She said eagerly gaining his undivided attention. "We've been looking at this all wrong. We've been thinking that ONE person outed BOTH of us. What if that's wrong? What if someone outed me and someone else outed you?" she finished breathlessly as the idea became more plausible as she said it out loud.
It was evident John hadn't thought of either by the look on his face. It made perfect sense though, he thought. If one person outed Joss and Kara outed him then it would make sense why they were digging into her background and not using Kara for information. Then he frowned as a thought came to him.
"But, Joss, wouldn't the person who outed you know you and have all the information Maxwell would need?"
Joss chewed her lip for a minute, thinking.
"No," she said slowly, "not if it was an anonymous tip. Someone who just called Maxwell and told him who I was and what I was doing." A disturbing thought was beginning to take root in her mind and she didn't like the implications.
John noticed the change in her demeanor and walked over to her placing his hands loosely on her hips.
"You alright, sweetheart?"
"I don't know. I just don't like where my head is taking me." She said looking up into his concerned eyes. "The only person who knew my cover was my handler. But why would he out me to Maxwell? I was just his lawyer, per say. It doesn't make sense."
"Who is your handler?"
"Donnelly, the agent who recruited me. He's been with me during my whole career as an agent. Even before that really," she said with a little laugh.
John frowned. "What do you mean, 'even before that'?"
Joss placed her hands on his broad chest as he still held her loosely in his arms, "After we worked that case together, the one I told you about with the missing kid, he seemed to always be around the precinct for some reason or other and he would always look in on me." She smiled looking into his face teasingly, "At first I thought he might be kinda sweet on me but then he offered me the agent position and I assumed he was just watching me work. Why did you ask?" she questioned when she finished.
Before he could answer a bullet came splintering through the window and whizzed by both their heads.
"GET DOWN!" John shouted and he pulled Joss down to the floor just as another bullet whizzed over their heads. "It looks like they found us." He said unnecessarily, and breathing heavily. Joss just nodded then crawled over to the nightstand to retrieve their guns. Handing John his, she ratcheted hers while John did the same. There was no way for them to shoot their way out so they were going to have to use the back exit that John had specifically chose this hotel for. Hopefully they wouldn't have that covered. From the sound of the gun fire there were only two assailants thus far.
Reaching under the bed Joss grabbed both of their "go" bags they had packed in case of just such an emergency and they had to get out fast. Packed with only the essentials to be carried lite they could survive at least two days until they found a new place. They were going to have to leave the car John had jacked for them but there was nothing to be done for it.
"Damn, I think they added another gunman," Joss said breathlessly as bullets hissed overhead at an alarming rate.
"Yeah, I think so too. We need to get moving before they discover the backdoor. You got your shoes on, your jacket? The heavy one cause I don't know how long we'll be outdoors. "John said all of this in a rush his adrenaline kicking in.
Joss just nodded again and he signaled for her to start crawling toward the bathroom where the backdoor was located. They reached the bathroom and turned a corner before they stood to go out the door. With their guns raised chest high they both took a deep breath and John unlocked the door and turned the knob slowly. Pulling the door towards him he opened it only slightly to look around before opening it completely. He stepped out and Joss followed. It seemed that the shooters hadn't found the backdoor after all.
John turned to smile at Joss just as he heard the report of a gun being fired and he saw Joss grimace and scream his name in pain as she fell to the ground.
"Joss!" He yelled just as another bullet grazed his cheek. John's blood boiled seeing Joss on the ground writhing in pain. He looked up just as someone stepped out of the shadows. That was a big mistake. John's vision tunneled as his focus zeroed in on the person who had hurt his Joss. They were going to pay and pay dearly.
The man, seeing John stalk toward him with single minded purpose unafraid of the weapon the man carried, froze. John had the devil in his eyes and vengeance on his mind. Reaching the poor scared shitless man he ripped the weapon out of his shaking hands brought it up and slammed it across his left cheek then his right, he did this several times until the man was unconscious and bleeding profusely. Letting the man drop to the ground like a broken toy John rushed back over to where Joss lay motionless on the pavement.
He bent over her unconscious body and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. He had to get her some help and there was only one person he trusted. Taking his phone out of his pocket he scrolled through the contacts finding the one he wanted and pressed. He listened to it ring a few times then,
"Dr. Tillman."
"Megan, It's John," he said quietly holding himself in check.
"John! Hi! How are you? I haven't spoken to you in ages." She answered cheerily.
"Not so good Megan. I've got a problem. Someone I love is hurt but I can't take them to an emergency room. It's too dangerous. Can you help me….please?" His voice hitched on the last question and Megan's heart went out to the man who had saved her life, her sanity.
"Bring her here, John, immediately. What kind of injury does she have so I know what to prep for?" Megan said instantly.
"Gunshot wound to the shoulder. It looks through and through but I don't know about internal damage. She's lost a considerable amount of blood. "He rattled off what he could see in the dark behind the hotel. "Megan? How did you know she was a woman?" John asked curiously.
Megan smiled. If John said he loved someone it was a woman because John didn't love easily. "Just a guess." She replied.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes…or less" then he hung up.
He picked up the bag Joss had dropped when she fell then gently picked her up cradling her to his body. She looked ashen in the moonlight.
"Don't worry sweetheart Megan's the best there is. She'll take real good care of you. And the bastards that did this have a reckoning. I'm done running. I'm ready to hunt."
A/N: Sorry this chapter was so long but as you can see I had a lot to cover. What will John do now that Joss has been hurt and he probably blames himself? Can Joss reign him in before he does something reckless? I don't know, the killer has been awakened in John and he's hard to put back to sleep. We'll just have to wait and see...