Halfway to the Brooklyn brownstone, John's cell buzzed. "Call Shaw or Fusco, Finch", he rudely snapped, without an acknowledgement of any kind.
"Mr. Reese, I see that you are about to do something drastic. I have stayed out of your business with Detective Carter at your insistence, but I cannot sit by and watch you make such a colossal error. What if she and her date are there?"
"They aren't", John stated simply, suddenly wondering just how much Finch knew about Joss and her date and for how long.
"But what if they are?"
"They AREN'T", John insisted. "He's taking her to his place."
"How do you know?", asked Harold, trying another tack.
"It's what I'd do."
"So you just intend to do what –", asked Finch.
"If you want to help, you can let me know when Joss is on her way home and if she's alone. Otherwise, nice talking to you." John abruptly ended the call.
Twenty minutes later, the Uber stopped at the corner of Joss's block and its lone passenger disembarked. John scanned the area for a few moments then walked up to her front door and carefully let himself in while listening for signs of life inside. He closed the door behind him.
John noticed immediately that Joss had made a few changes since he was last here. She had completely mirrored the half wall that created the small vestibule just a few feet inside the front door. The mirror not only expanded the small space but gave her a great view behind her as she entered. John was pleased at the added security. Joss had also lengthened the wall so that it acted as a sort of privacy screen for the living area. The table was still pressed against the wall and the bowl where she typically deposited her keys was still upon it. Joss had added a small antique lamp that at that moment dimly lit the small entryway. John liked the feel of the created space.
He saw that Joss had rearranged the living area. She had separated the sectional into a sofa and love seat that faced each other over the square coffee table. Very cozy, he thought. Makes it a little more difficult to steal kisses behind the couch while Taylor was watching TV, but where there's a will there's a way. John prayed to have a chance to test ways to solve that problem. Walking over to the fireplace, he noticed a few new family photos on the mantel, but none with Almeida. Thank goodness for small favors, he thought.
John then quietly walked upstairs going first to Taylor's room. Cracking the door open, he saw that Taylor wasn't there. He checked his watch, 12:30 a.m. Probably at his grandmother's, John thought. He peeked into the small guest bedroom, then the upstairs hall bath, saving the upstairs best for last - Joss's bedroom.
He opened the door to Joss's bedroom slowly and stepped into the private place into which he had been welcome at one time. He took a deep breath – the smell of the space bringing a familiar comfort. John was inexplicably pleased that Joss had not made changes to the space – their space. The bed was neatly made with a pastel duvet and matching shams. John sat of the edge of the bed, remembering the things they had done to each other in it. He lovingly ran his hands across the soft fabric, recalling how it cocooned them from the world as they lay in each other's arms.
Joss's work clothes had been hastily tossed. Some of the things landed in the chair, others on the floor. He smiled at the thought of her rushing in to shower and dress for the gala this evening, but then he remembered that it was someone else she was rushing to and he scowled deeply. He spotted her underwear, reached over and lifted it from the chair - a pair of pale tangerine colored lacy thongs. John specifically recalled the matching bra. He smiled to himself, thinking about how he had convinced her of the benefits of trading her sensible underwear for the little nothings in which he loved her – literally. John crumpled the skimpy material in his hand, raising it to his nose. He inhaled deeply. Joss's smell was unique and it never failed to cause his body to react immediately, just as it did now.
He stood quickly and tucked the panties into his pants pocket. John skipped Joss's closet and next stalked to the en suite bath, where a wet bath towel was haphazardly thrown across the top of the hamper. He took his time examining Joss's toilette articles stationed on the bathroom vanity, sniffing each – experiencing the various smells as if they had already interacted with Joss's body's chemistry.
John started to bypass the dresser, but decided instead to have quick look in her panty drawer. He was dismayed to discover several new expensive lingerie sets, one or two still with tags. Gifts from Almeida probably, John frothed. And her vibrator was missing too! John now regretted going into Joss's dresser and returned to her bed to sit and settle himself into a more pleasant state.
It wasn't long before wistful moments returned, so he finally headed back downstairs to the kitchen. John opened the refrigerator and observed takeout boxes of leftover pad thai, pizza and a few other things that were unrecognizable. Of course she wasn't cooking, John thought. Between work and Almeida, when would she have time to cook a decent meal for Taylor and herself? John huffed angrily because he had spoken to her time and time again about taking better care of herself. She needed to be sharp at all times – the streets were unforgiving. He would know.
John reached to the back of the fridge and pulled out an unopened bottle of red wine. Getting a wine glass, he passed the dining area and made for the living room… to wait.
John's CIA training elevated the wait to an art form. Waiting, in fact was the most difficult part of many of his assignments. The anticipation, the adrenaline rush, the pressure, the uncertainty, the butterflies, the angst, the fear. John felt all these things and could handle every one of them with the cool aplomb of a professional. But thoughts – it was the thoughts that were doing him in – Joss was with Almeida. What were they doing? He knew what they were doing. He was touching her, entering her, stroking her….
John poured himself a healthy glass of wine and sat at one end of the couch, making certain he was out of view from the front door. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He took off his tuxedo jacket, removed his diamond cufflinks and set them on the table. He downed the glass of wine, poured another then checked his watch, 1:20 a.m.
Meanwhile at a Gramercy Park Condo –
A naked Joss extricated herself from Sebastian's arms, gathered her clothing and slipped into the bathroom to quickly shower. She emerged, fully dressed, 16 minutes later. At first she thought to leave Sebastian a note, but decided instead to wake him. There was no need, however, as Sebastian was awake and slightly smiling at her as she approached the bed.
Joss stroked his face and smoothed the hair away from his handsome face. "Hey baby", she purred. . Sebastian opened his mouth in preparation for the kiss that he knew was coming. When it arrived, it was long, deep and searing.
"Hey yourself", he responded, after. "I had hoped you would stay the night."
"I had planned to", Joss said, "but I have to go in now because of the cases."
"Are you certain that's the reason? We've been sleeping together now for 2 months and you have not yet spent the night with me. I want to wake up to you, cook you breakfast", he said, pressing kisses to her face and neck.
"But-"
"Yes, I know, the walk of shame thing. But you could bring clothes. If you stay tonight, I will have Diego pick up something for you. I promise I will be a good boy", said Sebastian, giving Joss more kisses.
"We will have 3 nights together in San Francisco. I promise, you will be tired of me by the time we are back."
Still not satisfied, but accepting her decision, Sebastian swung his long legs over the side of the bed. "I don't agree, but just give me a minute and I'll take you home."
"You go back to bed - I'll get an Uber", Joss insisted.
"I won't hear of it – at least I will have Diego take you, then." Sebastian grabbed his phone, spoke to his driver, kissed Joss again, and murmured, " I cannot wait until Wednesday."
"Neither can I", Joss agreed.
"We'll talk tomorrow, or is it today", smiled Sebastian.
"Yes", laughed Joss. "Now rest." She rose from Sebastian's bedside and exited the condo.
Back at the Brownstone…
John felt as if it were 100 degrees in there. He knew it was his mind again – the temperature isn't real, he kept repeating to himself. But he couldn't deny that his body's reaction to the perceived heat certainly was. He untucked his shirt from his pants and unbuttoned it completely. Then he stood, ran his fingers through his hair impatiently and paced the living room. He couldn't turn on the TV – the light would be visible from the street.
After pacing for a while, he sat back on the couch, drained his second glass of wine and poured a third. Thoughts of Joss and Almeida were still raging through him. His heart racing, John quickly pulled off his shoes and socks, then dug his toes into the plush area rug under the coffee table. He found that activity to be comforting so he kept that up until his heartbeat was under control. John took deep calming breaths, as images of Almeida and Joss assailed him. He breathed into the images, allowing the sickening feelings to wash over him in waves. That is how he sat until he heard a key in the lock of the Joss's front door. John checked his watch – 2:15 a.m. and he stilled and steeled himself for what would surely follow – a situation for which he had no plan.
A/N: So now our vigilante has turned into creepier John! Stealing panties?! I struggled with whether to include the Taylor – John-Sebastian bit, but I figured that it hadn't been long for Taylor and Sebastian, and imagined that John was busy and hadn't seen Taylor as frequently, as might happen given John's job. I also didn't think Taylor would spill the beans on Joss to either man, because a), he wants to see his Mom happy, and b), Taylor was loving his life at that time. Writing is not without risk, my friends, eh? (smile) What do you think about the Johari window of relationships among Taylor, John, and Sebastian?
I hope you are enjoying this tale. Let me know! Hugs and kisses!
