Joss hadn't come out of her room since leaving where Paul was. John had checked in on the man. He pulled the gag off to immediately put it back on as the man begged for him to spare his life. Apparently Joss hadn't let the man in on the fact that she was going to call the police and tell them where to be at to get not only Paul Carter but also Carl Elias into custody, and he wasn't going to ruin her secret. John walked by her door several times, a few times stopping to listen in, and heard nothing, before moving on with his restless pacing. He was worried what Paul could have said to her. Joss wasn't one to lock herself away in a room and so help him if Paul said anything that made her cry he would decapitate him for upsetting her.

John tried to give her privacy; tried until he couldn't. His care, as unwelcome as it was, for her and her unborn child made him march up to her door and knock on it heavily. She opened the door and looked like hell. Her face was splotchy from crying, her nose red, and more tears brimmed in her eyes.

Fury burned through his veins. Yep, Paul was a dead man before he ever made it to Elias. "I'm going to make him suffer before handing him over to Elias," he vowed darkly.

"Please don't John," she whispered.

John worked his jaw. "But he made you cry," he rasped gruffly.

"Yes…no…not really, he said nothing that was surprising," she answered before shocking him as she flung her arms around his neck seeking comfort. John stiffened, not from the fact that her touch was unwanted, but because of the polar opposite as he felt an uncomfortable desire to hold her and never let her go. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, with her protruding belly nestled safely between them, and held her. "I'm crying because I'm upset with myself." she whispered in his ear.

"Why?"

"I can't call him," her voice cracked on 'call'.

"Can't call who?" he asked gruffly, his arms seemingly unable to let her go.

"Fusco." she answered shortly. "I can't make myself call him. I know if I hand Paul over to Elias without calling Fusco that I'll lose a chance at arresting Elias and saving Paul from death, but, I can't stop thinking that if I do and double crossing Elias to save Paul that I'll be dooming my son. But if I don't call the police I'd be letting Elias take Paul, and he'll be murdered and I did nothing to stop it."

John tightened his hold on her as she let out tiny sobs. He knew what he'd do but his moral code was shaded grayer than hers was or ever would be. Joss was a good person while he was not. His aggravating attraction to this woman he had convinced himself had been purely lust but this new feeling had nothing to do with lust. Her spirit, her unwavering resolve, and just everything about her ensnared him. John knew without a doubt he never met a woman quite like the one in his arms, and he knew he never would again.

"You can still call the police, Joss. I warned Elias that you're under my protection no matter what. Anyone lays a finger on you at his behest I will kill him even if Elias is in prison and anyone loyal to him. I'll figure out a way to infiltrate it and make it look like suicide," he said softly in her ear.

Joss didn't stiffen in his arms at the rather dark promise. Rather it felt…comforting. Oh good lord, what was happening? The fact that John was taking her and her son's safety very seriously made her feel ridiculously sentimental, even though he was promising to kill people. It felt nice to mean something to someone but she couldn't let John do what he promised to do. She broke free of his hold and looked up at him. "Answer me honestly John; do you think Elias would heed that warning?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly as he felt lost without her touch. "But know this, Joss; I'm not saying anything that I don't mean. I will kill him if he tried to hurt you or your son."

She nodded. "I can't take the risk then. Not for you or me. I've gambled before and it paid off. I'm ballsy but not when what's at stake is my son's life. I rather wimp out than risk Taylor," she whispered.

John stared at her. "You are the bravest woman I've ever known Joss. The word wimp could never be applied to you," he told her, meaning every word. His words produced a little smile and he felt like he just won the lottery. He let out a disgusted sigh at himself before focusing on making things right for her. "What if there is a different way?—a way that won't appear as though we double crossed Elias and we still get him in prison? It won't save Paul, Joss, you need to know that up front. Paul is dead even if we get him hospitalized and in police custody," he murmured and she furrowed her brows. "Elias will have his men do it. If he can't get his hands physically on him himself he'll have someone else carry out the deed. Paul is good as dead no matter what you do so please don't expect anything else for him because you're setting yourself up for a heartache you don't deserve."

Joss knew it was true but it was tough to hear said so matter-of-factly. "How do we get Elias without reneging on our deal?" she asked quietly.

He looked angry now. "It requires us changing the timeframe in which we do this. We'll need to take Paul to Elias tomorrow so I can pick up a tracking device and plant it on Elias's car, but it will require your assistance," he admitted.

"I'll do anything for my son." she assured fast and sure.

John nodded. "We'll need to pay Charlie Burton a little visit at his school tomorrow." he murmured.

"Why?"

"If we want Elias to believe that you have nothing to do with the police capturing him then we're going to need to plant a tracking device on the vehicle used to pick Paul up with." John replied.

Joss frowned. "Yea but there is no way in hell Elias will use the car he uses as Burton not with the way he wants to have two separate personas."

"No, but if I give him a subtle prod into calling Marconi to show up at the school then we might get lucky. We'll put the tracker on Marconi's car because without a doubt Marconi will accompany Elias to pick up Paul if he's the right hand man as Zoe claims." John murmured and Joss felt a little hope grow inside her. "After we give Paul to Elias, we wait an hour or so…then you call this Fusco friend you've mentioned, and give the GPS coordinates for Elias. Tell him you don't want your name involved and make up a story about a C.I. giving him the information. I don't really care what your friend says as long as your name is not attached to it because we need Elias to have doubts over how the police received the information."

"Lionel will lie for me," she admitted, though she hated to ask Fusco to do so. But she was willing to do anything to protect Taylor and knew Fusco would do the same.

John felt the need to warn her. "I'm not sure on this though. The plan hinges on the tracker being placed on the right car, and the one that Marconi will drive up with to the school might not be the one they use in the transfer of Paul. We might do this and Elias gets away anyway Scott free."

"It's better than not trying at all. And if it is the wrong car we will still have one on Marconi's car that might bring down Elias in the future," she reasoned.

He nodded. John never made a promise that he couldn't back up. Only once he had and failed in the worst way, he wasn't going to do it again with Joss. "It's my turn to make dinner," he mumbled as he stepped back, needing a little space from her. John moved to turn away when he felt a small touch to his forearm. He looked back to her.

"Thank you," she said softly, sincerely.

"For what?"

"For trying to find a way to bring them both to justice; you didn't need to look for one but you did, and I appreciate it."

Unable to take her gratitude he merely grunted, turned and walked away.

Tomorrow came and true to John's word he had gone out to get a tracking device and drove them both to Brighton Beach. He parked nearby the school that Charlie Burton, aka Carl Elias, worked in. Joss sat in the passenger seat with binoculars, water, and a bag of chips to subvert her munchies. "I've actually missed stakeouts," she admitted. And this would be her last one she'd be on until after maternity leave.

"You'll have your life back soon enough Joss. I'll send you the signal after I meet up with Elias so be ready for Marconi,"he instructed before looking at her funny. "Joss?"

"Hmmm?"

"Just…your stomach looks a little different," he admitted. Joss looked down at her stomach that she left the jacket unzipped, and then back up at him.

"I know…."

"Is it normal? Is your baby alright?" he asked concernedly.

Joss smiled at him. "Yes and yes. I'm nearing my due date John; Taylor is just getting ready to be born. From all the books I've read that lightening can start a few weeks ahead of labor which would put me right at my due date." she explained softly. "Although, being on a stakeout now kind of stinks since I literally feel the need to use the restroom again and I just went minutes ago before we got here."

"Then it's a good thing that we almost have this all cleared up for you then," he muttered and with that he was gone. Joss pulled out her binoculars as he walked away and unapologetically let her gaze wander down to his butt.

John, oblivious to the ogling, strode into the high-school, flirted with the secretary in the front office, and got Burton's room number. Fortunately, for him, not the kids, the school's safety protocol was rather loose. Anyone could just enter the school and that bothered him. Perhaps with the help of Harold he'd help fix that little problem in the future, but first was Joss's problem.

He followed her directions to the room number and knocked on the door. On the door there was a small rectangular window near the top, which John peered in through, seeing Elias standing in front of the class, teaching, and turned to look his way and John smiled at the surprise on his face. Elias turned his attention to the class for a moment before walking to the door and exited.

"Hello, Elias." John greeted lowly.

"It is Burton here," Elias reminded him sternly.

John shrugged. "Not my problem since I'm not living a double life but I thought you'd like to know I have Paul," he murmured and Elias's eyes lit up.

"Is he with you now?"

"No. We'll meet tonight so the cops don't see that I'm meeting up with America's Most Wanted while having America's Second Most Wanted in my possession," John replied dryly. Elias smirked. "Here," John pulled out a slip of paper with an address written on it.

"What's this?"

"Where I want us to meet for the hand off," John replied smoothly.

"I choose…"

John interrupted; "No, you don't. I have what you need. We meet there or I could just hand Paul over to the cops right now and collect the handsome reward money."

Elias tightened his lips. "It could be a trap. You could kill us all with how capable you are to protect Joss, who you clearly care about."

"Could be," John agreed with a shrug. "I guess we won't know until tonight, Elias."

Elias stared harshly at him before letting out a long exhale. "Alright, we'll be there."

"Come by at 8pm; I'll be waiting. And once you have Paul if you ever even think of Joss Carter again I will make you wish you never were born," John promised before turning to leave Elias to watch him.

Joss perked up as John exited the school and flashed her a smile as he strode opposite from where she was currently parked. She instantly called him. "How did it go?" she asked watching him.

"He didn't like the fact that we are choosing when and where but he agreed since he really doesn't have a choice. Now you know what to do once you see Marconi show up right?"

Joss rolled her eyes. "This isn't my first rodeo," she reminded him. "Besides I'm motivated to get you the info as soon as I have it; Taylor is slowly torturing my bladder for fun!"

"mmm…" John sounded.

"How do you know Elias will contact Marconi to come by?" Joss wondered as she watched from her place parked curbside across the street from the school. Joss had the binoculars plastered to her face as she waited for Marconi to show his—rumored to be scarred—face.

"Let's just say I planted an idea in Elias's head to make sure he brought along some backup."

Joss snorted. Of course John was going to make Elias uneasy; John was rather skilled at making people uncomfortable. It took over an hour and a half of waiting until finally a man matching Marconi's description appeared. One half of the man's face was scarred and he didn't look fatherly at all to arrive at a school. He turned into the parking lot with speed and Joss zoomed in on the license plate.

"License plate: Oscar, Foxtrot, Echo, Papa, 1-9-8-6, black, new model Cadillac Escalade, and heading South towards the school as we speak. He looks to be heading to the back of the school," she relayed the information to John quickly. "The rest is up to you, Mr. Fabulous."

"Thank you, Detective," came John's retort that sounded full of mirth.

John was back up to bat as he moved away from his hiding spot to head where Joss had seen the SUV head. No doubt Marconi would want retribution for the ass kicking he received even if it defied Elias's direct command so he needed to do this quietly. He searched and saw Marconi heading for the back entrance of the school just as Joss said. John smirked as he kept back until Marconi disappeared from view. He focused his attention on finding the right SUV, and after surveying the license plates he found the right one. John got down onto the ground and shimmied under the car pulling out the tracking device.

"Have it done yet?" Joss asked impatiently in his ear.

John paused. "Not yet." he muttered, pregnant women were sure pushy. He wondered if her need to pee was getting too hard to ignore.

"Really?—thought you'd be done by now."

John exhaled. "I would be if I wasn't being interrupted." he retorted as he began to zip-tie the device to the car.

He heard her soft chuckle. "Oh, of course, I'm distracting you," she teased.

John couldn't help but smile as he turned the device on. "Is it coming through?" he asked. After a moment of silence Joss gave a quiet affirmation. "Good, now I need to get out of here. Care to pick me up, detective?"

"Be ready, it's beginning to be a dire situation in here for me!"

John rolled out from under the SUV and stood. He looked around and when he was satisfied no one had seen him he turned and walked away. He found Joss waiting for him near the entrance of the school's parking lot and he climbed into the passenger seat. She pulled away from the curb quickly. "We need to stop for lunch somewhere." she admitted defeat as she was close to embarrassing herself.

"Just try to get us far enough away from Brighton Beach as you can physically handle Joss, then stop," he agreed. Being pregnant had to suck.

She nodded, needing a distraction. "So…whose turn is it to make dinner tonight?" she asked as she sped away from Elias's school that he was posing in.

"I think it's time we both took a night off and just order out," he suggested instead.

Joss grinned. "My thoughts exactly,"

Joss was nervous which was probably why her stomach was feeling unsettled. They had gone out for Thai which John picked up for them to eat at home. By 7pm, dinner finished, her nervous butterflies building to a crescendo, John had loaded Paul up with Benadryl to make him drowsy enough for them to take him with them easily. She peed nearly a few dozen times before heading out to their specified destination but even still the urge was still there. But her anxiety over their impending meeting put the need to use the restroom again to the back burner.

She sat nervously in the backseat, per John's request, after she insisted on coming with him, and refused to stay home no matter how much he argued with her, and John finally relented but with his stipulation.

He pulled deep in at Randall's Island Park where John had requested them to meet at. John seemed to know that there weren't that many surveillance cameras around there, so either he had already done something there before during his CIA days or he just guessed. Joss knew that John never left something this important to chance. John pulled behind the large bricked support that was part of the RFK Triborough Bridge. It was quiet as the park was under renovations so it affected the times when visitors were allowed to come, which John seemed to also know. She wondered if that information was given to him from Harold.

John climbed out of the car but leaned down to peer in back to her. "Stay in the car unless I tell you otherwise," he stated brusquely, clearly not wanting to argue but would.

"Alright," she agreed, though needing to bite the inside of her cheek to do so. She knew it was the safe play and even though it made her swallow her pride she would do it. He nodded and swiftly closed the door and walked to the back of the car and she listened as he popped the trunk.

John didn't like bringing Joss but she insisted on coming, but that just meant he'd pay extra attention in this drop off. He picked Paul up, which created a dull ache in his wound that he was given thanks to the heavy man, and carried him away from the car before unloading him onto the hard ground. An SUV pulled up, shining his headlights right into his eyes, before shutting them off as it parked stationary. Two doors opened and out walked Marconi and Elias.

John eyed Marconi. "You look different conscious," John commented which seemed to enrage Scarface a little.

Elias smiled as he saw Paul, not caring about Marconi's anger, before looking up to John. "Thank you for bringing him to me in such a timely manner. I'm afraid I wasn't going to give you much time to bring him to me,"he admitted before looking past him and at their car. The smile on Elias's face grew as he saw eyes staring back at him thanks to the little light the park gave. "I see you brought the lovely detective with you. May I speak with her?"

"No," John growled.

Elias held his hands out. "Please, I must, John, and I won't take no for an answer and things could become…unpleasant. God knows Marconi wishes it so," he murmured persuasively.

The door to their car opened and he squeezed his hands into fists, knowing she cracked a window open to listen in on them, as she wasn't that far from them, but he couldn't take his eyes off Elias or Marconi. If either of them thought of taking a shot at her he would kill them both. He tracked their eyes and felt Joss sidled up next to him and he realized she held her gun poised on them.

"Sorry, my son dictates that I hold you at gunpoint." she stated coldly. John relaxed a little. He should have known Joss wouldn't just agree without being armed. But just to be sure John angled himself to be directly in front of her stomach.

Elias smiled. "I don't mean you any harm. John has made it perfectly clear that you are forbidden to even think about after this mess is handled. I just wanted to apologize to you detective; it was never my intention for you to be involved in this mess but seeing as you are pregnant with Paul's child I figured he would hand himself over to me for you." he explained. The gun never wavered as she held it pointed at Marconi, not Elias, knowing who the threat to her and her child really was.

A groan from the ground made their gazes drop to Paul as he came too from his slumber. He wiggled and squirmed on the ground as he looked around. His face paled as he rolled onto his back and saw Elias.

Elias crouched down near him. "Hello, Paul, long time no see," he greeted without warmth.

"E-Elias,"

"Glad you remember me. But the more important question is: do you remember Bruce Moran?—my friend, you know, the one you got murdered by the Russians?"

Paul shook his head. "I made a mistake, Elias, I didn't mean for him to get hurt! I didn't…"

Marconi made a face as he kicked Paul in the gut and he made a low grunting noise. John glanced at Joss who didn't show any sort of reaction to the fact that her husband was about to be given to men who would kill him as soon as they were through exacting revenge. It was that revenge that was going to give them enough time to set up Elias to be caught by police.

"You double crossed me for money. You got my friend killed and I cannot accept that even if it means that I send a message to the Russians and lose my anonymity," Elias explained coldly as he slowly rose to full height once more. He looked to Marconi. "Take him…."

Paul looked around panicked and found Joss. John shot him a deadly look to shut his mouth but the man didn't heed it. "Joss, don't let them take me! I'm the father to your child and your husband!" he pled as Marconi moved close once more.

That plea got a reaction out of Joss, John noted, though it wasn't the one he was suspecting, but rather one of rage. "My husband died in Iraq because the one that came back wasn't him. The man I married was a good man who did what was right and fought for his country. The one before me now is weak and pathetic, killed people for the highest bidder, and chose to let me fend for myself against a man who was hell bent on finding you. Paul, you chose yourself over me and my son, so now I'm choosing us over you," she said angrily, her voice low, but the little waver of her gun showed her true emotion because she knew deep down that Paul was a dead man no matter what happened tonight.

Marconi bent down and Paul looked around his shoulder. "Please, Joss!" he cried.

"Goodbye Paul,"

"You fucking cunt! You let them take me, you're a murderer just as I am!" Paul raged at her. Joss steeled herself from him as she refused to let him place the blame on her shoulders.

Marconi stared at him darkly. "She's nothing like you. She works to put people like us away and is only in this situation because of you," he hissed before slipping a gag around his mouth to shut him up. Paul squirmed and screamed which came out muffled in the gag.

Elias looked away from Paul as Marconi dragged him to their SUV. His eyes sought out John. "I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye." Elias murmured. "I'll stay out your way and you stay out of mine, John, and we should be able to coexist in the world together."

John merely stood there. "Stay away from Joss and her son and I won't kill you," he replied. Joss gaped at John who didn't even turn to look at her. Elias's smirk was enough to know how she was staring at him.

"Goodbye John, it was a pleasure to meet you. And if you ever do require a job please feel free to find me some time as I would love for you to come join me," Elias murmured before turning to look back at their SUV where Marconi was struggling to slip Paul into. Marconi used force to make Paul comply, placing a well-aimed punch to the clearly broken leg, before shutting the door and they climbed into the SUV.

"We leave first, Elias." John stipulated. Elias merely nodded as he looked back their way and actually waved at them. John escorted Joss, who finally lowered her weapon, towards their car while hoping their plan could work. They wouldn't know if it did or not until Fusco went to the coordinates and looked later. Joss let John maneuver her out from the open as they headed back to the car to get away, just so no one caught them. Elias stood watching them and she wasn't that surprised at how quickly John had her secured in the car and was pulling away, with the headlights turned off, and drove backwards until he could find a side exit that was nowhere near Elias, or where they actually entered from originally. John was cautious as well as paranoid, which she was actually grateful for.

She couldn't believe it; it was finally almost over. Now all they needed to do was wait the hour and place that call in with Lionel with what they hoped to be Elias's coordinates. Joss watched as John circled back and she looked to his profile in surprise as he pulled to a stop still with the headlights off and parked in between similar cars across the street from where the drop off had been with Elias.

"What are you…" she began but trailed off as the SUV that carried Marconi and Elias in the front seats pulled out into traffic. They both moved up to strain to see the license plate. Sure enough it was the same car that arrived at the school with the tracker on it and then a large Mack truck pulled out blocking their view of the SUV. Joss sagged in relief and it seemed John was happy with the outcome he turned the headlights on as he executed an U-turn and headed for their apartment. "You were right."

"It was just a hunch; glad it paid off. Now we can get back to the apartment so you can pee." he teased softly and she smiled at it.

Joss's smile froze on her face when she felt and heard a popping sound and then felt a stream of liquid escape from between her legs. "John," she called out alarmed.

He looked at her quickly. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head as she gripped his forearm. "My water just broke."

AN: Now the chaos erupts ;D

Thank you for reading!