After the disastrous lifeboat drill John and Shaw had searched for the Wixoms for about twenty minutes without any luck, so they decide to head back to their stateroom, setting up their laptops to receive the footage and audio as it became clear why they needed their third wheel; Donnelly. Browsing their notes they had on Selma and Nigel Wixom, they learned that the newlyweds were in the Royal Suites which utilized butler services. Donnelly managed to persuade a co-worker to let him turn down the Wixom's bed, so he could plant a hidden web-cam and bug in the room.
"Please tell me you're getting this, there's no telling how much longer I have until the Wixoms come back to their room, they are newlyweds after all," Donnelly muttered as he was just finishing up setting the small web-cam hidden in the frame of the painting resting on the wall. It got most of the room and what they couldn't see, they'd be able to hear an intruder or anything suspicious with the bug planted in the potted plant near the balcony door.
Shaw frowned as she got an eyeful of Donnelly's face and John leaned back in response to it. "Did you last trim your nose hair during the Clinton Administration?" she sneered before getting a smirk on her face as she glanced at Reese. "Which is about the last time Reese had sex!"
Donnelly immediately grabbed at his nose and glared into the web-cam. "A simple 'yes' would have sufficed," he grumbled over their connection as he stepped back so his face didn't fill the screen.
John glared at Shaw for her comment about his sex life. She smirked. "Oh come on, I don't count dry as toast, Iris; sex between you two probably was about as hot as summer in Antarctica," she sneered.
Shaw hated the woman the moment she was forced to be nice to her. Shaw wasn't nice or polite, and hated having to pretend to be either one. Reese was the only one that understood that and he handled her attitude and dished it right back. They met Iris Campbell during a mandatory seminar on the awareness of mental health. The ginger had flirted hard with Reese and it made her want to puke as he agreed to a date. She didn't know why; Reese hadn't been all that interested. But men did tend to think with their dicks and Reese was a man, though usually a smart one. Since that ill-fated love affair Shaw decided to handle Reese's sorry love life for him and scare off the ones that sucked and weren't good enough for him, which was every single bitch. Not a single one had the balls to tell her to go fuck herself…which meant they weren't good enough for Reese.
"Careful, Shaw, say things like that and I could just turn away room service one of these times," John threatened.
Shaw narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't," she said but he didn't look away, letting her see just how serious he was. He knew how to get Shaw to cooperate. "Fuck, you would starve me, you heartless prick," she muttered good-naturedly, knowing when she was beat, and he grinned evilly. "Okay, you win, Reese; no more cracks about your sex life or lack thereof," she caved in.
"Reese, one of these days you are going to teach me how you handle Shaw!" Donnelly murmured in aggravation.
"Handle me?—there is nothing to handle, Donnelly. I like Reese. I don't like you," Shaw stated sharply which drew an exhale from the man.
"Don't take it to heart, Donnelly; Shaw hates the entire human race," John commented as he was only half paying attention to their squabble.
"That's because, aside from you, Reese, everyone else blows!" Shaw announced.
Donnelly spoke subdued, "This is going to be a very long week." John nodded in agreement, tell him about it. Not only did he get relegated to babysitting duty when he could be in Chicago right now, stopping an anti-government group from carrying out their plot, he had to listen to these two complain about each other the entire time. "Is audio coming through okay?"
"Just fine," John agreed with the noise cancelling headphones on. "If anyone somehow manages to get into their room we'll know about it."
"And we'll know how often newlyweds actually have sex," Shaw added.
John rolled his eyes. "I thought monogamy wasn't for you, Shaw."
"It's not but I am interested in knowing when their sex life takes a nosedive or is it immediately after the: 'I do's!'
"Now I got to turn down their bed so if they come back there is a reason why I'm in here," Donnelly said before he disappeared from the camera's view.
There was a knock on the door and John rolled his eyes as Shaw's face lit up. He was never going to understand how for such a small woman had a never-ending appetite, she ate more than he did and he was a foot taller than her and weighed at least seventy more pounds. He shook his head as he took the headphones off and sauntered over allowing Shaw enough time to close the laptops and hide their guns from sight.
John let the man inside. "Hey, Pete," he greeted, unfortunately having seen the man three times in the span of an half hour, already knowing the man's name.
"Hey again, Mr. Jones!—I haven't had to deliver so many plates of food to one room in a span of an hour before." the man spoke jovially as he wheeled in the desserts Shaw ordered.
"My wife has a very healthy appetite," John assured him as he tipped the man.
Shaw smirked. "Well I have to keep well fed since my husband and I are newlyweds. Gotta keep energized for this one, all he wants is sex, sex, sex," she said with a motion of her head at Reese. "I try to eat lots of sweets so when he eats my…"
"Sam, my love, stop talking," John commanded speaking over her to drown her out.
The worker eyed her appreciatively and then looked at Reese with a male smirk. "You're a very lucky man."
John almost laughed at that, but barely kept a straight face as he just nodded his head. "He knows it, trust me; he shouts it to the rooftop," Shaw assured him.
John just kept a very wide smile on his face, hiding the fact that he wanted to strangle Shaw. The worker exited the cabin. Shaw stuffed her face with the chocolate truffles and he eyed her darkly. "What?—you said no jokes about your sex life, you said nothing about our imaginary one."
He sighed. "If they think we're having sex all the time it actually explains why we keep ordering room service, otherwise they'll think you're pregnant." he muttered and Shaw actually shuddered in response to that.
"Oh god, don't even joke about that, Reese; could you imagine a mini one of her out in the world. Please Shaw never procreate, one of you is enough," Donnelly said.
John chuckled and Shaw looked deadly, Donnelly might finally be getting how to handle Shaw; stop letting her get away with every comment.
They sat down in front of the laptops watching an empty room as Donnelly left. Things were quiet in their room besides the sound of Shaw hoofing food down her throat as she destroyed the food cart. It was gone in minutes.
"I'm bored," Shaw announced as she fidgeted beside him. "You take the first nerd shift. I'm going to go out and try to find the Wixoms to get eyes on them," she murmured as she climbed to her feet, raiding the carryon to pull out more wiretaps.
"Where are you going to look first?"
"Places newlyweds are probably at; I'll look into Bistro on Five, if they're not there then I'll try Café al Bacio and Gelateria, then I'll try the Passport Bar or the Cellar Masters,"Shaw said.
"So basically you are going to some of the restaurants to eat and then hit the bars to get a couple drinks," John said dryly.
"Yea, we are on a cruise Reese. We need to think like vacationers."
John shook his head as she whirled on her heel and hurried for the door. He didn't really mind. Shaw worked her ass off and did deserve a little relaxation too. And taking the first shift of surveillance wasn't all too hard. John wasn't looking to partake in any kind of vacationing or relaxing. He was here to do his job, even if it was remedial.
John was watching the screen of an empty room as his mind shifted to Joss. He had been thinking about her a lot lately. Possibly because he wished he had done things differently, instead of letting fears keep a grip on him, breaking free of them and see what was truly between him and the lovely detective from New York. But he hadn't and he had to live with the regrets of his inaction. And all he was ever going to have was memories of their night together. A night that probably shouldn't have happened because he had known that Joss wasn't the type of a woman who had casual sex and one night stands, yet he had agreed to go back with her to her place because he wanted to continue spending time with her. Yet he had taken her to bed where they engaged in sex over and over again.
John smiled as he thought about that night. Shaw asked him who was 'good pussy' but Joss was that and so much more. He hadn't met a woman that fit against him as perfectly as Joss did. He didn't share much of himself with anyone because he rarely met anyone that he could be himself around. But with Joss it had been different, he had shared with her more that night than he ever had in his entire life. For a long while he never could readily understand why he had shared as much as he had. But now since he had healed from the loss of Jessica and grown…yes, grown up emotionally, even this late in his life…he had realized it was because he met the woman. But it had taken him too damn long to figure it out and he lost out on something amazing because of his own insecurities. It was a tough pill to swallow.
But what if she was available? What if by some dumb blind luck that Joss was still available or single again and he was staying away from seeking her out because the idea of seeing her with another man could crush him? Maybe he was staying away because, once again, he was letting his insecurities rule him and he was tired of it. Joss had been easy to fall for, perhaps the landing wouldn't be as rough as he was imagining. Perhaps the fear of getting hurt was still sabotaging his chances of real happiness. Harold and Grace both spoke to him separately about there was no reward without risk. Maybe he would take a few days for himself and go to New York to go find that brownstone of hers, when he was finished with this assignment. Pangs of doubts immediately crept into his mind but he stubbornly pushed them aside as he still had seven days on this cruise to get through before he had to decide on whether or not to ask for time off.
Thoughts of Joss and his insecurities faded off to the background as Selma and Nigel Wixom entered their room. John sat up straighter as he listened to them talking happily. He smiled a little as he caught sight of them very much looking like a happy married couple in love. In fact they reminded him like Harold and Grace. Grace and Selma both had red hair though Grace had beautiful blue eyes, while Selma had bright green. Nigel was taller than Harold and didn't wear glasses. But his hair was thinning on top and he was a little heavier than Finch. Harold always jokingly teased that Grace was the beauty and he was the beast but there was nothing beastly about Harold Finch. The man was gentle, kind, and one of the best friends a man could ask for.
The happy pair disappeared out of the camera's view but he could still hear them talking. Both were excitedly chattering about going to Fortunes Casino before heading out to one of the restaurants. John tapped his earwig. "Shaw,"
"What?"
"Where are you?"
"Currently I'm looking for the Wixoms in Cellar Masters. But they are a no show, though this place has the good shit here. I'm having a great Pinot Noir, not cheap, but who cares, the FBI is picking up the tab," she commented.
John rolled his eyes before speaking, "I know the Wixoms aren't there since they are in their room."
"So you got it covered. I'm going to finish my drink before I start my nerd shift."
"They are going to be heading to Fortunes Casino. Once they leave the room I'll head to the casino too, how about accompanying me."
"Maybe then we can meet them and act like disgusting newlyweds that want to socialize. The bureau so doesn't pay me enough for this," Shaw sneered.
John muted her during her bitch fest, before connecting with Donnelly to give him the heads up. "Hey Donnelly, I got eyes on the Wixoms finally. They are in their room as we speak but have plans on going to the Casino. Do you have any idea what deck that is on?"
"Not a clue. But I could ask Demetrius for you. He's showing me the ropes because he knows I'm new here."
"Please, and get back to me soon. The Wixoms are getting ready to go," John instructed before disconnecting with Donnelly. While he waited for the information he should go change too. He wasn't wearing mesh shorts and a tank-top to a casino.
John tugged on dressy black jeans and a dark blue dress shirt. He kept to black, blues, or white dress shirts with simple black suits. John wasn't splashy and just liked simple. He only ventured off once and chose to buy and wear a lavender colored dress shirt. The first and only time he wore it was for that evening coffee with Joss that led to an amazing night. But in his haste to make it to his flight on time because she nearly made him stay; he had tugged on his undershirt and forgot the dress shirt at Joss's. But it wouldn't have mattered anyways because he would never be able to wear that shirt again without thinking of her.
After hitting the restroom and washing up quickly. He sprayed on his cologne and exited the bathroom when his cell phone rang. He hurried to grab his it as it rested on the table. He picked it up and saw it was Finch.
He answered immediately. "Hey Finch, this isn't really a good time."
"No? Working again I take it."
"I am." John agreed as he settled the phone in between his shoulder and neck so he could pull on his socks and dress shoes. "Undercover, but what's up? Does Leila want to talk to me?"
"She always wants to talk to and see her Uncle John but Grace took Leila out to the movies to see Zootopia for the fourth time."
John's lips twitched into a smile. "Why didn't you join in the fun or after the third time it loses its luster?"
"I know the words before they're said, Mr. Reese." Harold said with a sigh and he chuckled.
"Your daughter loves animals. But if it's not Leila, what's up Finch?" he asked as he stood up ready to head to Fortunes Casino to go get eyes on the Wixoms. John frowned when Harold hesitated.
"How is everything?" he asked finally.
John narrowed his eyes. Harold sounded like he wanted to say something else but instead settled on that question. "Fine," John answered hesitantly, wondering what Harold called to talk about that he felt he needed to beat around the bush.
"Are you in your cabin?" Harold asked casually, too casually.
"Yea," he answered confused, before he stiffened immediately. Wait a minute. Wait a damn minute! "You said cabin." John said stiffly.
"Yes you said you were on a cruise," Harold murmured quickly.
"No I didn't. I never mentioned where I was. Because I wouldn't as I am undercover," John countered immediately. "How the hell did you know I was on a cruise, Harold?" he asked pointedly.
His friend paused. "Well…Senator Gordon and I are old friends; I actually was at Selma's christening when she was just a baby. I met Nigel Wixom while the two were dating, we are partners in an endeavor; he's a good man. And I was very pleased that Nigel and Selma fell in love and planned to get married," Harold said, sounding delighted.
But all John heard was the fact that Harold knew Senator Gordon; the Senator that wanted more security for his daughter on her honeymoon, the same Senator who was good friends with his superior Ma'am. "No…you didn't! Finch, you got me reassigned!" John stated angrily . Now it made sense why Shaw and he had gotten taken off their case in Chicago for this babysitting case. Because of Finch!
"I'm sorry, John, but I didn't intend for you to get reassigned," Harold admitted and John narrowed his eyes, trying to tell if his friend was lying or telling the truth. Usually Harold could lie worth his life but right now he couldn't tell if he was or not. It left him irritated. "Rich and I were speaking at Selma's wedding. He was very upset about the death threats that his daughter was receiving and how worried he was about her going on this upcoming cruise. I merely mentioned you and the fact that you are a well-respected FBI agent that piqued his interest and we spent a good twenty minutes talking about your credentials. Rich asked me if Leila needed protecting would I place her in your hands and I answered him truthfully: yes, I would hand you my daughter without a second thought."
"Finch, telling him that is as good as telling him to specifically request me!" he growled.
Harold chuckled. "Knowing Richard that is what I suppose he did when he went to speak with your superior," his friend agreed, sounding unperturbed by his anger. "Well, if Selma's death threats are just empty then view this cruise as a mini vacation John. You need one. You have been working so hard and not taking the time to enjoy life."
"Finch, you don't get to decide what's best for me. I'm your friend not your kid," John said, deciding he sounded reasonably cool especially since he was so angry he could see double.
"I will always worry about your well-being, John, as someone should. Life is passing you by as you work for others so they can enjoy their lives."
"My job is to protect others."
Harold sighed before responding, "Perhaps you shouldn't only live to work, John. I'll talk to you in a few days," he said and, with that before John could get an angry retort in edgewise, his best friend hung up.
John glared at his cell phone. "Wait until I get back from this cruise from hell!" he grumbled as he angrily pocketed his cell and stormed towards the door.
Joss casually glanced at her watch feeling languid and relaxed after that amazing massage, seeing she had another half hour before she would go pick up her daughter. After they had waved goodbye to the shore Joss escorted her baby back to their room to get changed into their swimsuits and go swimming. Her daughter had been ecstatic to go swimming and looked extra cute in her brand new hot pink one-piece that had ruffles around the waist, along with purple arm floaties. Maddie and Leila had gone together for swimming lessons last year but she was still too little to not have anything on to help keep her up afloat. She had changed into her cobalt colored bikini that had strings to tie: two on the top and two on the bottom. Joss had almost chosen a different swimsuit but she wasn't as self-conscious about the scar on her abdomen anymore. John helped with that.
They had gone up to the pool deck for a while and she played with Maddie in the pool before climbing out to watch her as she sat in the sun for a little while. Maddie had a ball acting like she was part fish as she nearly cried when mommy told her it was time to go. That was until she learned that she was going to go Deck 14 so she could be with other boys and girls her age to play and make things. Suddenly the pool had become second rate at the idea of getting to make a paper mache mask. Before going to the pool Joss had found and asked Demetrius, another of the staff that was a butler, who was sweet and knowledgeable that told her all about it. The kid's club was actually called the Fun Factory and Maddie would be placed with other kids her age. And they did all sorts of activities from: sports, to games, to crafts, music and karaoke, and treasure hunts. And it ran from 9 in the morning to 10 at night. Demetrius had also told her that they had babysitting for a low price so she could go solo for an evening and that her daughter would be safe and secure. It was nice of Demetrius to tell her about that particular amenity that they offered but she wasn't going to require the use of it.
When Joss had taken Maddie to where the Fun Factory was located Maddie didn't even give her a backward glance, immediately rushing over to the other group of kids already in the room. The making of the paper mache mask was just beginning and afterwards the kids were going to do sack races and first, second, and third places would win various prizes. Her daughter wasn't entirely athletic but she enjoyed playing and would do her best. Her little girl was very handy; she loved doing crafts and making things. But it helped having a creative master in Aunt Grace as both Maddie and Leila did lots of artsy stuff when they babysat for her. Maddie also loved baking with mommy. And then gram-gram was teaching her on how to sew, a trait that Taylor hadn't cared to learn, Joss thought with a chortle. Her momma had gotten Maddie all excited about 'graduating' to making her own clothing if she kept practicing. By the age of ten her daughter was going to be the next Martha Stewart!
Joss had left when she took the hint that Maddie wasn't even going to wave goodbye and gotten a massage and since then just walked the ship taking in the sights and the scenery. It was so beautiful. And while she was walking she received a text from Harold to go to Deck 8 and head to the very aft of the ship. She wasn't sure what he wanted her to see but she was following the instructions. Her thoughts slid back to her daughter. Her daughter was getting close to kindergarten age which left Joss a little sad. Her baby was growing up so fast. And growing up without her father; the tall, sexy man that starred in her dreams.
John.
She just wished one day she would see him again. Joss let her imagination and fantasy grow. She would be standing in the sea of other faceless men and women when she would hear her name: Joss, being called out by his sexy soft timber. Not unlike how he called out her name as he came deep inside her. She bet that second time they made love was the one that conceived Maddie. That second time something far deeper happened between them as they made love. The first time he had closed his eyes trying to hide from it, but the second time; he left them wide open and she saw deep into his soul. As they neared their climaxes neither one was able to drop the contact and then they both were exploding, gasping at the intensity, and holding each other as they rode out their mutual orgasms. Joss never had a simultaneous orgasm before. It was hot as hell.
But Joss drifted back to her fantasy of John finding her in the sea of nameless and faceless men and women walking right up to her to grab her cheeks, whisper her name, and kiss her, making her whole again. Joss groaned as she shook the fantasy away. How cheesy was she? Ugh, she needed to lay off the romance movies for a little while, they were filling her head with nonsense that would never happen.
Her senses went on high alert when she heard a door to a room open and close, seeing a man exiting his cabin. He had his back to her but that scent she immediately recognized. It was John's, it was spicy and masculine and a hint of something else that she had decided was all John so…no, it couldn't be him. It was just a phantom scent that her mind conjured up because she missed John. But to be sure, her eyes that were caressing the fine behind of the man in his dress pants slowly rose to the back of his head. She gaped: there was that sweet V, except it wasn't as dark as it once was because now there was some gray sprinkling back there too. Joss felt her body react to the man's in front of her.
He turned towards her and stopped dead in his tracks. And she felt like the world stopped spinning, everything else fell away, and her heart thundered. It was John, her John, his unforgettable blue eyes meeting hers. He looked just as shocked as she was as he just stared at her.
"John?" she whispered, nearly frightened he was a figment of her imagination. That he wasn't really here and the man she was gawking at was some old chubby man that she morphed into her sexy John.
"Joss," he breathed as if he was having the same trouble reconciling the fact that she was standing in front of him. But his voice had the ability to make her quiver inside. He took a hesitant step forward. "Joss," he repeated as if he was finally realizing the truth.
"John," she repeated this time too; stronger and with conviction.
She licked her lips as her eyes fell to his, recalling them on hers and they still looked impossibly soft as she knew them to be. John was truly standing before her in the flesh. He was here and she could tell him about Maddie, they could pick up where they left off, but this time go further and become a real family. Surely John had to be over his ghost by now. They just met at the wrong time of his life. Five years have come and gone, and the thing that was between them from their first meeting was still there so that had to mean something, and so did the jackhammering of her heart. No man could make her feel so much, as this man did. And that intense attraction between them that burned bright was alive and well, set aflame all over again as they came face to face. Joss felt her body crackle alive and begin to tingle in need of his hands, of his mouth, of his tongue, and his cock. Her sex began throbbing at the thought of having him buried deep inside her again. While her body yearned for his touch and love, her mind desired the emotional connection they shared. She wanted to ask him why he never came back to New York but it didn't really matter. As long as they could start their future together now she'd take it because she believed everything happens for a reason. There had to be a reason why they spent these last five years apart.
Her thoughts came crashing to a halt as her eyes fell on his hand, his left hand that had a simple gold band on his ring finger: a wedding band. Now she knew why he never came back to New York to pick up where they left off. Because he found someone else when he moved on from the dead woman and picked up the pieces of his heart. And their one night had just been one night for him.
"You're married," she whispered, her mouth turning as dry as a desert.
He blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?" he said as he shook his head a little, as if trying to shake thoughts free that were grabbing him.
Joss looked up deep into his blue eyes that have haunted her for five years before motioning at his hand, feeling crushed before saying; "You're married." It wasn't a question, it was a statement, an ending to her years of dreams.
AN: Ugh, I know another cliffie of sorts but I'm trying to get the length between updates shorter. Next chapter:
Chapter 5: You've Got Some 'Splainin to Do!
Yes, an I Love Lucy reference...sort of, but very fitting of the theme of next chapter. Thanks for reading!
