Joss sat uncomfortably on Frank Spencer's lumpy couch. She was tired and her nerves were shot. Knowing that the end was near with Elias was making her extra jumpy from adrenaline. However, she was tired because of John, what turned out to be a nice dinner and wonderful moment between them of feeling Taylor kick, had turned quickly into deeply personal conversation that neither of them had been ready for. But she wasn't going to fret, especially since John didn't give the appearance that what transpired last night had any lingering effects, he was acting as if it hadn't happened. But she was beginning to learn that was just his way of dealing with things. He compartmentalized things quite well, and he set aside his possible feelings for her to do the job at hand. And the job at hand was apprehending Paul for the even exchange: her life for Paul's. Though she was adding the wrinkle in with the police, which John didn't approve of but didn't actively dispute either.

She glanced at Frank who had gotten her water out of politeness. It had been awkward since she came here by taxi. John had been upset when she suggested that she be the one to take the taxi. But he couldn't argue it would be easier to transport a man against his will in their car rather than a taxi. They remained in constant communication until she arrived at Frank's. Joss was sure if there was a way for John to have arranged for someone to be there with her he would have sent in his own form of backup.

"So all I have to do is call him, keep him on the line for as long as I can again, and then I'm done?" Frank asked again, for what seemed like the millionth time.

Joss nodded, knowing it was nerves for him too. "Yea, and your part is over. I'm sorry we need to use you like this but it's our only way of finding him," she softly, sympathetic to his situation.

He shrugged. "If this is a way for you to forget that I knew where he was and wasn't helping the police find him then so be it. Isabella means everything to me and I can't lose her. She'd divorce me in a heartbeat if she knew I chose to help a criminal evade police," he admitted.

"I can tell you love her," Joss agreed.

Frank smiled and he looked younger. "That I do. Just too bad we couldn't have one on the way like you are," he said with sadness seeping into his voice.

"Why can't you?" she wondered, trying to not pry too much.

He looked down at his cup of coffee. "We've tried everything. Exhausted all the different avenues to get pregnant and nothing has worked. Isabella and I are at wit's end."

"Have you ever thought of adoption?" she asked.

Frank looked back up startled. "Honestly?—no, we were focused on getting pregnant ourselves."

She nodded. "What about surrogacy?"

He shook his head. "No, we won't do that. I will not make my wife feel inferior to other women because she can't bear our children herself," he said quickly and sternly. It was something that must have come up.

Joss smiled. "Well I think adoption is something to think about. It's obvious that you and your wife are good people."

"How can you think that?"

Ah, guilty conscience was rearing its head huh? She reached out and rested a hand over his. "You're not a bad man, Frank. Should you have come to the police, yes, but you're helping now. And I'm not going to let Paul be murdered by Elias. We just need Elias to think he has won so he'll leave me be. I'm going to send both Elias and Paul to prison where they belong."

"You're a good woman, Joss Carter."

She shrugged. "Once you're finished calling Paul your part in this is over and you can focus on getting on with your life and having that child you and your wife desperately want."

Not even five minutes later John called her up. "Have Frank call. I'm in Brighton Beach and in position," he instructed.

It was no wonder why Paul fled to a Russian led territory of the city, if only Paul knew that Elias was posing as a teacher teaching the Russian students to learn his foes from the inside, that the danger lurked closer than he thought. Joss placed John on speakerphone before motioning at Frank to begin his call. She didn't know how this was going to work but John seemed adamant it would. No doubt Harold had gotten John some illegal tools to wiretap Frank's phone to hear the conversation which in turn should make the trace be a cinch for Harold.

Paul, once again, answered immediately and without a pleasantry. "Who visited you this time? Was it Joss again?"

"No. But some guy did; he didn't give me a name but he was asking if I'd seen you," Frank lied. Joss motioned for him to keep him on the line for as long as before. It had been a few minutes before John had let Frank get off the phone.

"Did he have a scar on the side of his face?" Paul asked quickly.

Joss nodded. Frank immediately answered; "Yes!"

A litany of curses fled from Paul's mouth. "That guy is Marconi; he's Elias's right hand man. He didn't threaten you did he?"

"Not really, but he made comments about Isabella being a nice woman which means he has been watching her, Paul. I tried to help you but I can't do this, I can't have Isabella hurt because I chose to protect you," Frank said, sounding like he wasn't lying this time. Joss prayed he didn't give their ruse away.

"Shit Frank, I'm sorry; I never meant for you to get hurt. Get out of town and take Isabella with you. I can wire you some money."

Joss stiffened. Oh, he could help Frank and Isabella but he left her and Taylor to fend for themselves with only a flimsy warning. Frank seemed to take exception to it as well. "No. I can take care of myself and my wife, Paul, which is more than what I could say about you."

She looked at her watch and hoped John was getting the trace going because it sounded like Frank was gearing up to lay a major guilt trip on Paul, which could result in his hanging up on him.

"Whaddya mean?"

"Paul, you told me just the other day that you did all you could for Joss which isn't true. You could have helped her or protected her as you are suggesting for me."

Paul scoffed. "First, Joss wouldn't touch a dime of my money. She'd tell me it was tainted with blood in her holier than thou attitude. Besides the moment I'd show my face around her she'd have me arrested."

Paul had her pegged because both of those statements were true. She would refuse taking money from him because she knew where it came from. And she would have had him arrested the moment she saw his face.

"You don't know that, Paul, I'm pretty sure Joss would do anything to protect her child even though it seems you couldn't care less about it."

"If all you're going to do is bitch at me I'm hanging up," Paul threatened.

Frank looked at her and Joss motioned for him to keep him on the line for a little bit more. She turned off speakerphone and moved from the room as Frank kept the conversation going as he apologized for arguing with him. Joss put the phone to her ear.

"How much more time do you need John?" she asked quietly.

"Harold is working on finishing the trace right now and texting me the location. Try to have Frank keep him on the line as long as possible so I can get where he is before he leaves." John said.

Joss kept her phone to her ear but entered the living room once more and saw Frank was looking worried which meant that Paul must be getting close to hanging up.

"If that's everything…"

Frank looked panicked. "What should I do if he comes back, Paul?"

"I already gave you options," Paul snapped.

"But I can't just walk away from my job. I help people and they rely on me being there," Frank disputed.

"You're a therapist in the VA, you barely get paid anything and can find a better living elsewhere. Fuck the people you are helping, they would do it to you if they were were in your shoes," Paul groused. "Now I have to go."

John spoke up; "He texted me the address. I'm headed there now."

"Hurry," she whispered.

It seemed Paul enjoyed Starbucks because he was there again at this time of day. John sped quickly so that Paul wouldn't leave before he got there. He had heard how close Paul was to hanging up. John swerved into the parking lot of the Starbucks to get eyes and ears on him. He couldn't very well abduct him here or he'd have the police looking for him. He had to be patient with this. Joss had showed him a photo of Paul, the last one she had of him was when he had been pretending to be a doting husband and not a raging sociopath.

John climbed out of his car and entered the Starbucks scanning his surroundings casually. He paused when he found him sitting in the corner, with the phone near his ear, looking agitated. John pulled out his phone and proceeded to force-pair with his phone. Paul angrily pulled the phone away and it beeped, which signaled the force-pair was complete. John immediately turned on his GPS already installed on his phone, so it would be easy to track the man.

He moved in line to the front where the barista was patiently waiting to take his order. He ordered a normal black coffee which seemed to humor the flirty young woman. But when he didn't respond to her overtures moved on.

"Here you go," she murmured handing him his coffee cup.

"Thank you," he mumbled before handing her a twenty, which was way more than what the cup of coffee was, and turned.

When it appeared Paul wasn't ready to leave he sat down at the table behind him and watched him covertly as he sipped his coffee. Clearly what Frank said angered Joss's loser husband as he smacked the table with his fist in frustration. John smiled into his cup knowing his bad day was just going to get worse. The moment he stood, John did as well and followed him out. John threw his half-drunk coffee into the trash and headed to his car as Paul began walking down the sidewalk. He pulled out of the parking lot after giving the man a head start.

John picked his phone up and tracked Paul. He was living in an apartment building that looked pretty sketchy on the outskirts of Brighton Beach. He took a photo of the place and sent it to Harold for him to find out what he could on the place. John sat parked at the curbside. Before entering the section of town, he received a phone call from his friend.

"What do you have for me, Harold?" he asked.

"That place is the Double Bs,' even the Russians don't go in there because it is run by a Bulgarian drug dealer, perhaps even Elias won't go there himself," Harold answered.

"But is the perfect place for a man trying to hide out from Elias and the police until he can think up his next move," John murmured as he pulled around the back of the dingy and dilapidated motel. "Thanks Harold…"

"Don't mention it, John. If you need anything else, I'm just a call away," Harold offered before hanging up.

John exited the car and walked unhurriedly to the complex that didn't have any security cameras, doorman, or armed guards. This was going to be a cake walk. He kept his phone out and followed the GPS coordinates as he entered the apartment complex. Apparently Paul was on the second floor which did anger him a bit, not wanting to carry him down a flight of stairs.

John went up the flight of stairs and followed the coordinates to the end apartment on the hall. He knocked on the door as he put his phone back into his pocket. It took several minutes and a few more knocking before finally Paul slid the door open just a crack.

"What do you want?"

John smiled. "Have you heard of Armageddon?" he asked.

Paul made a face. "Are you one of those doomsday preppers getting ready for the 2012 apocalypse?—get with it man, it ain't gonna happen. Now leave me the fuck alone, I don't want whatever you're selling…" he stated and went to slam the door shut but John kicked it open, surprising him.

"I meant your own personal Armageddon, Paul Carter. I'm here for you," he vowed as he disarmed Paul as the man went to aim the gun at him, he wrenched his hand to the right, hard, and kicked it well away from the man before he could react.

"You work for him, don't you?" Paul growled as he backed up.

John smiled. "If you're referring to Elias the answer is no, I do not. I'm here on behalf of your pregnant wife, you know, the one you left behind and don't give a damn about. You see, I made a deal with Elias, she remains safe if I bring you to him and I will do whatever it takes to make her safe," he explained as he stalked the smaller man. John was measuring him up knowing that Paul wasn't going to go without a fight.

"Fuck you and fuck her!" Paul shouted as he lunged forward and John grinned, wanting a brawl.

John blocked the blow and immediately followed up with one of his own that, surprisingly, Paul blocked. Apparently he would have a challenge. They were nearly on equal footing as both were steady with their attacks and defenses. Paul eyed him. "You have to be former military too," he muttered.

"Special Forces," John agreed, as he kept his focus on the task at hand.

Paul kicked as he reached for the knife he kept with him at all times, just for these moments without a gun, and when predictably the man went to block his blow he moved forward and jammed his knife into his side. John hissed but otherwise showed no sign of pain as he headbutted him and then pushed him back, making Paul stumble and collapse to the ground.

John sucked in a breath at the white hot fire in his side as he drew the blade from his side and pocketed it having a half of mind to slit Paul's throat with it. But he needed him alive, and Joss wouldn't be happy if he killed her husband in cold blood. He glanced at the window and waited for Paul to regain his bearings having an idea.

Paul sat up. "I won't let you take me to Elias to save Joss. You both can rot!" Paul growled as he stood and charged forward. John watched and waited for the right moment. As Paul came to tackle him to the ground John grabbed his arm as he charged towards him and spun him around towards the window and let go. Paul's forward momentum thrust him towards the window without being able to stop and he careened through it, shattering the glass as he let out a helpless cry as he went, disappearing from John's view. Breathing heavy and grabbing his wound to his side John moved to the window and hoped the bastard wasn't getting away. There on the ground laid Paul writhing in pain as he grabbed his leg that was bent in a very unnatural way. Good, he wasn't dead and he couldn't get away.

He exited the apartment and ran quickly down the steps and exited the same door he entered. No one was around as Paul screamed in pain. No one would care. Not here.

John moved toward him and he whimpered as he struggled to crawl away and John sighed. "You're coming with me one way or another, Paul." he assured. John assessed Paul's injury and noted he broke his femur, at least, in two spots. "That must hurt." he stated the obvious before grabbing and applying pressure on the break. The scream it produced made John smile. "That's for putting Joss in this mess in the first place." John whispered and with that he punched him in the face knocking him out.

John grabbed under his arms and dragged him to his car, popping the trunk. "Thanks for saving me the trouble for carrying your ass down the stairs," he remarked as he flopped Paul unceremoniously into the trunk and slammed it shut. The knife wound hurt like a bitch but it wasn't lethal. John climbed into his car and pulled out his phone to call Joss.

"Do you have him?" she asked softly, sounding nervous.

"Yes. Get home, quickly. I'm going to need help bringing him in. Harold should have already called the front desk to let them know we are bringing home an extra person." he murmured.

Quietness was soon followed by; "John, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just be there before I get back." he instructed and hung up.

AN: And so it begins :) I wanted Paul to have some equal footing in the fight since he was former military too except he is no match to John with his training from both the military and the CIA.

Thank you for reading!