A/N: Hi there! Thank you everyone who read, reviewed, and favourited this story so far. - I'm back with a short chapter, and this REALLY is off canon. Or maybe a REALLY imaginative missing scene from somewhere around 2x05/2x06 "Bury the Lede" and "The High Road". I like the Zoe/John dynamics, I just don't like what seems to be happening off-screen. Also, I was in a mood when I wrote this, so sue me. (I suspect you won't, though, because even my OC is shipping CaReese .)

Disclaimer: As ever, I own nothing but an overactive imagination.

Off Track

"Late start today?"

John almost stumbled over his own two feet as out of the blue his sister's voice spoke up right next to him. "What the heck?" he squeaked, clueless as to how he didn't hear her coming on his morning run in Central Park.

Hannah shot him a cheeky grin. "Late night?" She easily fell into step beside him, thanks to her long legs.

John eyed her suspiciously. "What's with the interrogation?"

"Oh, you're taking all the fun out of it," his sister whined with a feigned pout. "But since you're asking, a little birdie told me my big brother has a new girlfriend."

Her words were jovial enough, but her tone told a different story.

"I don't see how that is any of your business," John grumbled. "And besides, Zoe's not my girlfriend."

"Zoe. Nice name. And from what I hear, nice everything. So, not your girlfriend?"

The former CIA agent had the distinct feeling he was walking right into a trap, something he wasn't used to being on the receiving end of. "No. And again, none of your business."

All of a sudden, the warm summer air seemed to freeze. "Normally I'd agree, but it became my business when I got a really tipsy call from Joss last night. Care to share?"

John paled considerably, then quickened his pace. Unfortunately for him, Hannah still easily kept up with him. "Look, I'd rather not know what is going on in your love life, unless it's really about love, but you don't seem to know what's good for you, brother!"

"Oh, so now you know best what's good for me, huh?" John was angry, but most of all he felt guilty. He hadn't realised that Joss was so upset about seeing him with Zoe, and he hated having hurt her. "It's complicated," he sighed and slowed down a little. "I do care about Joss, more than I'd like to admit. But you know what she is doing for a living, and you know what I do. You know the kind of man I am. I'll never be good enough for a woman like Joss Carter."

Hannah snorted. "I call bullshit on that. I'm not denying things are more complicated for you two than for other people, but it's not impossible, you know? You think I don't know why you are working so hard on saving all these people? You think Joss doesn't know, too?"

"What do you want me to do?" John hissed, his exasperation reflected plainly in his whole posture.

"Well, first of all, don't fool around with other women!" his sister snapped at him.

"I don't fool around. Zoe and I are two consenting adults, and ..."

Hannah interrupted his attempt at a defence. "I'd say that point is null and void if your consenting activities are hurting a person you claim to care about!"

John sighed. "I'm sorry about that. I had no idea. But why on earth didn't Joss confront me about it when she had the chance?"

"Well, that would be the question, wouldn't it?" And with that, Hannah cut across the next corner, out of sight as suddenly as she had appeared.

A/N 2: That's it for today. If you can spare a minute, don't let that review button get rusty and drop me a line. Have a lovely day and see you next week (hopefully)!