On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Three Long Nights

Working on numbers offered pros and cons; and one of the cons was pulling all-nighters for a stakeout. That and the risk of getting shot but John never worried about that. But he never suspected that he could also include getting stuck in a sauna as a con.

"You know, the next time you ask for help with a number I'm just going to tell you no," Joss grumbled as she removed her blazer, plopping it onto her winter coat, as she pulled her blouse away from her neck. It was hot as hell in here and they had to wait for cavalry to show up. That was something she wasn't looking forward too. She begrudgingly undid the buttons at her cuffs and proceeded to roll up her sleeves to help herself cool off at least a little bit.

John had tried—and failed—to bust them out of here. He had removed his coat but now it was about time for him to remove his suit blazer as the heat and humidity was getting to him. "Shaw should be here soon," he murmured rubbing his palm over his forehead and upper lip to wipe away the sweat beading there.

"And then we get to hear all her jokes. Goodie, can't wait for that," she grumbled.

They had chased down their number, Kevin Kauffman, who apparently pissed off the cartel by taking some of their drug money, and didn't want to give it back. It was a race between them and the cartel to find Kauffman who led them to a gym that was closed to the public thankfully; possibly where he stashed the hidden money. A fire fight ensued, as they finally convinced Kauffman his chances of survival went up with them, but before they could make a getaway a third unknown man put a gun to her back which stopped John in his tracks. They were then disarmed, forced in this sauna that they turned on, where they locked them inside, and took Kauffman with them.

John removed his suit blazer and quickly undid the buttons of his dress shirt trying to rid some of these clothes to cool off. "Well if there is anyone that can get Shaw to toe the line it is you, Carter," he remarked. "Finch overheard what was happening before they took our phones from us. I'm sure they'll be here soon."

Joss didn't respond as she was preoccupied with the fact that it seemed John was going to give her, her very only peep show. She arched a brow as he removed his dress shirt and stood only in the white undershirt that was wet from his sweat but clinging to his muscular chest. She could see the outline of his pectorals and his nipples were hard. He had a flat stomach and the shirt was tucked in his dress slacks, but her observant eyes noted sweat droplets rolling from his hair down the column of his neck. John made being hot and sweaty look insanely sexy; god knows she probably looked horrendous. With the humidity it would wreck-havoc with her straightened hair. No doubt she probably had pit stains which were embarrassing but one bright side she thankfully applied minimal makeup and the makeup she did apply was waterproof.

Her eyes tracked another droplet roll down his delicious looking neck making her tongue flick the backs of her teeth as the desire to swipe her tongue across his neck to lick it up grew. The very unfriendly, downright lusty thought jolted her upright as she waved a hand in her face. The heat must be getting to her, because she suddenly felt hotter than before.

"If Kauffman came to this gym that he works at it's probably where he stashed the money. The cartel isn't going to kill him until they get their money back," he said as he sat down beside her on the wooden bench. "All we can do is sit and wait."

And it was decidedly not in his best interests to be stuck in this sauna for far too long. Carter was looking sexier the hotter she got and that left his pants feeling far too snug than previously. If he didn't cool his thoughts then he would surely embarrass himself, because their friendship was too important to screw up by making it something more.

"Are you ready for Christmas?" he asked, trying to think of anything that didn't involve sweat, skin, and this woman.

She scoffed. "No. I haven't gotten one damn thing done yet," she admitted. "But then I haven't had much time between the precinct and you."

"You have a few weeks left…."

"Yea. Thankfully having a teenage son who only wants giftcards helps out," she agreed. "Though it's not nearly as fun at present time," she murmured wistfully. Time sure had flown by. Taylor was nearly a grown adult. "When Taylor was little I would take him out on Christmas Eve so he could try to see Santa in his sleigh so that when he went back inside bummed he didn't see him…he'd find his presents had already arrived."

John smiled. "How did you get away with explaining how Santa came without his knowledge?"

"Oh that was easy; Paul told him it was the magic of Santa," she replied with a smirk.

John forgot they were in a sauna slowly sweating to death as their bodies grew dehydrated. "Was that a tradition handed down?" he asked quietly.

"Yea, my mom and dad used to do that to me. It only worked so long because I used to try to investigate it even going so far as using a flashlight up the chimney trying to find clues," she confided with a smile.

John laughed and Joss felt a little bubble of warmth expand in her chest as the sound was so wonderful. "Always the detective," he purred.

"I was curious." she said defensively. "What about you?—did you have any traditions?" she asked. Joss hoped he wouldn't clam up and switch subjects.

"It depended where we were. But if we were at one of the bases then my dad would pay an Army friend to dress up as Santa and bring me gifts. When we moved to Colorado, the Christmas before my dad died, I had already stopped believing in Santa so my dad and mom decided that I had to work for my presents. They hid them all over the place but it was fun searching for them. The very last gift was these camo waders that looked just like my dad's with a tackle box all of my own." he murmured with a tiny smile on his face.

"That sounds wonderful, John," she whispered. It didn't really surprise her to learn that John enjoyed fishing. It was outdoors and quiet where he could brood if he wanted.

He didn't look at her as he seemed to have zoned out. "We never did end up getting to go fishing together," he said regretfully, looking off into the distance.

"I'm sorry…."

John blinked and his face went instantly neutral and he stood as he cleared his throat. "Nothing to be sorry about; deaths happen, nothing anyone can do to prevent it."

Interesting he would say the word 'prevent' when he said that. "Is that why you work so hard with these numbers…to prevent it because you were just a child that couldn't prevent your father's death?" she asked as she stood too. Joss didn't really want to push but she wanted to understand what drove John to the point of risking his own life time and time again to save someone else.

He eyed Joss sharply, not comfortable with how exposed he felt. "I wonder when Shaw will get here," he commented, changing the subject.

"John, don't do me like that. Answer me,"she demanded brusquely. It wasn't fair of him to want her to share with him and for him to not reciprocate.

He exhaled roughly. "Joss, my dad died doing what he did best; saving lives, just at a refinery, not on a battlefield, but he stilled died a hero. What I'm doing is nothing heroic," he answered sounding strained. "Now find a different subject," he stated lowly.

Joss held her hands out realizing his father was a wound that hadn't healed. And she had a feeling she understood John a little better now because he viewed his dad as a bonafide hero that John somehow failed.

But she didn't have to find a new subject because they heard the door to the sauna being opened. Joss watched as the mask was back in place and no one would ever be the wiser to know that John had opened up to her about his father. And she got another glimpse at the man under the man-in-the-suit who had terrible coping mechanisms and was still trying to grieve over his father's loss to this day. No wonder he used Jessica's death as a shield to keep everyone at arms' length because he never learned how to process loss and shut down instead of trying to move on. It saddened her. But maybe she could help him learn to move on.

They came face to face with Shaw and Finch. "Oh thank god that you both are alright," Finch said with a heavy sigh of relief.

Shaw grinned as Reese and Carter nearly leapt out of the sauna carrying some of their clothes with them. "You two look like you just got through having sex," she joked.

"I can guarantee that sauna is not as much fun working up a sweat as sex would be,"Joss muttered with a little look at John. She had no doubt that sex with John would be pleasurable and something she'd want to do again and again.

"Maybe I should get you your own personal sauna for Christmas," he suggest softly as all signs of his earlier tension was gone as he had a small smile on his face.

"You do and I'll gift back a bullet hole to your knee." she threatened and it made John chuckle.

"Duly noted, Carter…."

AN: Our beautiful little snails are inching their way towards each other. ;D Sidenote: I'd pay good money to see Jim all hot and sweaty in a sauna.

Thanks for reading!