AN: Couple things before you guys continue this long chapter: first, italics is a flashback to their night which is slightly on the sexy side.

And there isn't any Root in this just a few mentions of her. The only reason I chose Root to be Donnelly's partner was to mess with Shaw (because making that tiny volcano erupt is fun) and have a recognizable face as his partner.

Okay, I think that's everything so I'll shut up now!


John and Joss laid on their sides, fingers linked and just gently staring at each other sharing her pillow. He broke the silence, "I didn't expect this. You weren't a part of the plan, Joss."

That intrigued her. "What was your plan John?" she wondered softly, gently squeezing his fingers with hers. His eyes searched hers but he didn't readily respond.

She nodded before changing the subject, "Play a little game with me," she suggested as she sat up, greedy to learn more about him.

He looked intrigued as he sat up, stroking fingers across her bare knee. "Alright. What kind of game do you have in mind, Joss?" he asked and she shivered slightly from the soft caress to her knee. Any little touch he made on her skin left its mark. "Can't play strip poker: there's no point, we're both naked already," he teased.

Joss snickered. "If we did play strip poker, you would be naked quickly!"

"I don't know about that, Joss. I'd be motivated to get a very sexy woman naked," he murmured in that incredible soft voice.

"Like I wouldn't be: you're no slouch in the looks area yourself, John," she teased. "But it's more of a Q&A game, also it's a drinking game that me and my girlfriends played several months ago," she admitted. "The game is simple, it's called: Never Have I Ever."

John waited for her to explain, so she continued, "I'll say something that I've never done and if you did that at any point during your life, you have to drink. And to make it even more interesting…." she paused grabbing her wineglass and dipped her index finger into it before looking back at him with smoky dark eyes and drew a line down his chest with the same finger. "…we'll take the drink off each other's body. Sort of like this John." she purred huskily deciding he needed a demonstration as she leaned forward, eyes locked on his as she licked her tongue across his chest catching the small amount of wine there.

She sat back and smiled as his blue eyes darkened immediately. "I'm game. But one question: do we get to choose where on the body we want to take the drink from?" he questioned as he took a slow perusal of her naked form, feeling his groin tighten in response. Learning more about this woman was definitely something he wanted; maybe if he learned more about her he could understand why she enraptured him so wholly in such a short time.

Joss felt heavy between her legs at the mere thought of the places he would take his sips from her. "Yes," she said breathlessly. Her eyes caught sight of the alarm clock and she prayed the time would go slower. She cleared her throat as she focused on him.

"Ladies first…."

She grinned as she rubbed her hands together; she was going to start him off on an easy one. "Okay, never have I ever: watched a porno," she said with a lopsided grin, appealing to her male audience. "Now John, you remember the rules: if you never watched a porno you're safe, but if you have…drink up."

John shook his head as he dunked three fingers into her wine glass. "You did that on purpose," he accused, though not angry with the circumstances. He got to lick wine off Joss's beautiful body.

"Damn straight I did: not my problem, you're a typical man," she said with a laugh, then moaned as he drew three lines with his index, middle, and ring fingers down her right breast right over her exceedingly sensitive nipple from all their activities tonight. John leaned down and licked down her breast drawing his tongue right over her nipple, ripping a moan from her throat, but not stopping as she hoped.

"Mmm, wine covered Joss: my favorite," he whispered as he pressed a kiss to her nipple, barely resisting taking it into his mouth and sucking on the tender peak, and leaned back up.

Joss wanted to grab the back of his neck and push him back to her breast but resisted. "Your turn John," she reminded sullenly.

"Alright, fine," he said; two could play that game. "Never have I ever: went to law school." he said with a firm smirk lodged on his handsome face.

Joss scowled as he turned her little game around on her. "Point taken," she muttered as she dunked nearly her entire hand into the wine glass and splattered his chest with wine with a flick of her wrist. Joss sat on her knees as she leaned over him and licked his chest, her tongue following the little droplets of wine as they rolled down thanks to gravity. He moaned as she lapped up every single drop. She leaned back and licked her lips. "Okay real ones: never have I ever been stung by a bee," she said.

John eyed her in surprise. "Really, never?" he wondered.

"Really," she agreed.

He shook his head as he reached for the wine glass, dipping a few fingers into it. "Don't be: it hurts like a bitch. Been stung six times," he admitted, this time choosing a less obvious choice to draw the line of wine on: he chose her elbow. Joss watched as his tongue licked every bit of wine up and he added a little love bite to the joint which he soothed with his tongue.

Joss never really believed the elbow was a sexy place to be kissed but it was or John made it because she grew wetter with each sweep of his tongue.

He pulled back as he thought long and hard. "Never have I ever…" he paused trying to think one up, then shrugged, "…owned a cat."

She snorted at that one. "Neither have I! Sadly I don't get to take a drink; which means it's my turn again. Never have I ever: gotten a speeding ticket." she said positively smug, surely he had to have gotten one. She wanted that damn tongue on her again. But instead of reaching for the wineglass John merely smirked and she eyed him incredulous. "No way, you never got one either!"

"I'll have you know, Joss, I have a perfect driving record," he teased.

Joss laughed. "I should have guessed though: you certainly like being in the driver seat and you take your good ole' sweet time…driving forward," she said as she squirmed a little, as her double entendre got to her more than him.

His eyes darkened further if possible. "Are we talking about driving a car or something else?"

"You know what I'm talking about," she whispered.

John sat up on his haunches. His cock hard and she was wet, which was the perfect combination if you asked her. "I guess you're right: I take my sweet time to enjoy the ride, feel the hum and listen to the purr," his voice dropped an octave. Joss felt ready to fling him down to the bed and fuck him senseless. "Back to the game, Joss; it's my turn," he said as if he could sense the throbbing tension in her and just how close she was at attacking him.

She groaned but motioned at him and he spoke, "Never have I ever: got an A in school," John said and she stared at him.

"Never?" she breathed, feeling her libido cool a little but not much.

He shook his head. "I wasn't really good in school. Had trouble sitting still, didn't like it."

Joss reached for the wineglass dipping her fingers in and traced a line from his Adams Apple up to his chin. "So what grades did you pull?" she wondered as she leaned in, nuzzling her nose close to his neck.

Joss was making thinking difficult. "Bs and Cs mostly," he managed before her tongue licked from his Adams Apple up and over his chin and her tongue swiped sexily across his bottom lip, producing a gasp as his lips parted and she caught his lower lip between hers and sucked. His hands reached up and rubbed her breasts and she moaned, finally releasing his bottom lip.

Joss was so happy she decided to get John to play this Q&A game with a twist because she was getting to learn little things about him and it was so damn sexy. "Okay, never have I ever broken my arm." she said. She watched as John instantly turned for the wineglass. "What happened?"

"I climbed a tree really high and when I was coming down at my mother's insistence I fell and broke my arm in two spots."

"Ouch, how old were you?"

"Nine," he answered with a rueful smile as he dipped four fingers into the glass. "Joss, turn over and lie on your stomach," he instructed.

Joss felt the desire knotting in her, twisting further as she did as he requested and she groaned as her nipples were hard and puckered so the soft bedsheet was nearly too much. Her breath hitched as he splattered wine on her ass and then his tongue was following the wine path. He nibbled her buttocks and licked nearly every inch, she gasped as his fingers delved between her legs and found her swollen nub of desire. He rubbed her sensually, drawing a moan of his name as her hips jerked up but he removed his hand and she groaned in aggravation.

Joss rolled over and glared at him, needing his touch. He lifted his fingers that touched her up to his mouth and licked them clean. "Mmm…," he moaned before removing his fingers from his mouth and licked his lips. "Never have I ever been to Walt Disney World."

Joss stopped from attacking him as her mouth dropped open. "NEVER?!" she asked.

He smiled at her utter astonishment at the revelation. "Never, for much of my childhood I moved around a lot with my dad in the Army. We weren't rolling in dough and then when my dad died the necessities became more important than vacationing," he said with a small shrug.

Joss immediately reached for the wineglass as he watched. "So I assume you took your son?" he wondered.

She nodded. "Yea when he was three, Paul and I went there while dating, and I went with my friends and parents when I was a teenager too," she said, feeling sad that John never got to go. "You never got to see Mickey, but I'll show you the Magic Kingdom." she promised throatily.

She pushed him onto his back and he watched her as she tipped the wineglass over and poured the last remnants on his cock that splashed everywhere earning a jump of his hips. She leaned over him and wrapped a firm hand around him and licked his length playfully. She lapped up at the wine as he groaned.

Joss leaned back a little to peer up at him innocently. "Mmm, my favorite: wine covered John," she purred before she took his entire length into her mouth and what she couldn't, she stroked with her hand.

John moaned as he grabbed fistfuls of the bed sheet beneath him as Joss sucked his cock. His genitals felt on fire as a tension tightened low in his belly as she set a fast pace. He reached a hand into her hair to stop her but instead his fingers gently curled. Her lips were fitted against his dick tight, her left hand following the up and down motion of her mouth, her tongue washing across the underside of the ridge making him tremble in need.

Her other hand cupped and teased his balls making it nearly impossible to think. He flung his head back at the intense wave of pleasure of being in her warm mouth. "Joss," he groaned to either stop her or beg her to go on, he wasn't quite sure.

She sucked the tip, flicking her tongue across the slit in response; he tightened his hold on her hair forcing her to stop. "Enough," he commanded gruffly as he sat up and kiss her, grabbing her hips and pulling her on top of him. "I need to be inside you." He leaned back on his elbows and she straddled him as she took him inside her and they both hissed in pleasure as she sheathed him fully inside her.

Joss rested her hands on his shoulders as he was buried deep in her and they stared at each other before she finally started moving and they never broke eye contact the entire time as they moved in perfect rhythm.


Joss, Maddie, and John all sat together eating breakfast in the Luminae. Maddie was ecstatic by the fact that they were sharing breakfast together while Joss was still trying to work the image of John in nothing but tight fitting underwear from her brain. It wasn't working out all that great because every time she closed her eyes his sexy image was imprinted there. And what was worse is the idiot man had the audacity to exit the bathroom after his shower with wet hair rumpled from running a towel through it, damp skin, and wearing nothing but a damn towel slung low on his hips. It had on two occasions become dangerously close to unknotting; which she hoped for but prayed against. Joss wasn't in the mood at explaining the difference between boys and girls to Maddie or why mommy was staring unblinkingly at John; not to mention than that insufferable partner of his, that reminded her of Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants, would have gotten a look-see too!

While Maddie and John talked, Joss had let her fantasies take over as she pretended that they had been alone in the cabin and she unknotted the towel and took his long and erect cock into her mouth. She could imagine his groan which had a powerful effect on her because it was such a sexy sound. It was low and gruff that she felt all the way down to her toes. Joss shelved the erotic fantasy when she realized she was growing too aroused by the sexy thoughts running through her mind. Joss squeezed her thighs together trying to alleviate the building pressure in her sex that needed John's electric touch. Hers wouldn't suffice this time.

"Mommy's not listening to us, Maddie," John whispered loudly, earning giggles from their daughter and Joss's attention simultaneously.

They had been talking to her?—couldn't he realize that he had been a wet half-naked Adonis earlier and sent her hormones into a tizzy and she was still recovering! "Um…." she mumbled.

John took pity on her. "I suggested that we go up to Deck 15 and hit the basketball court. Maddie wants to play," he reiterated for her.

"Maddie wants to play basketball?" Joss asked in surprise. Many things could describe their daughter: the next Martha Stewart, a little genius, a girly-girl. But athletic was not one of them, unfortunately their daughter wasn't bitten by the sports bug. Their baby was a little uncoordinated and didn't run very fast but the thing their little girl did best was that she tried, it wasn't her fault she was terrible at sports but at least she had fun being terrible. But then maybe what Maddie needed was a daddy's touch. Joss side-eyed John; he was most assuredly athletic.

Maddie nodded her head emphatically. "John says there is a pig." she announced with sparkling eyes and a wide toothy grin on her face as she swung her legs happily before she sipped her orange juice.

Joss furrowed her brows, as John chuckled. "The game is called: PIG, Maddie, sorry sweetheart there isn't any actual animal involved," he explained. "But do you still want to play?" he asked.

"Yea!" Maddie exclaimed.

Joss snorted. Maddie would do anything to spend more time with John but she didn't say a word since she actually enjoyed basketball. She used to take Taylor to the playground when he was just a little boy and they'd shoot some hoops at the small basketball court, playing PIG or the variant HORSE, and Around the World.

Joss's keen observation skills tracked John as he spread a liberal amount of syrup and butter on his pancakes, reminding her of the sexy game they had played when they drizzled wine on each other's bodies and licked it up while learning small tidbits about each other before they engaged in highly orgasmic sex for what had to have been their fourth or fifth time making love. She truly lost count the number times they had sex that night before he scrambled up, hurriedly dressed and left. Joss watched with interest as he cut the pancake and lifted it to his mouth, plopping it into his mouth. His tongue licked out to catch some syrup on his lip. Lucky maple syrup! She groaned internally as she was jealous of syrup, did he have to make eating so damn sensual?

John swallowed hard, feeling the bit of pancake go down his throat tough as he avoided Joss's gaze, seeing the way her dark doe eyes had grown smoky with desire. It reminded him of their night together as he knew every time when she was ready for another round of lovemaking. Her eyes gave her away and he shifted to ease the tightening in his cock, willing his body to behave for once.

This time he kept his gaze off watching her eat which he hadn't done last night at their dinner party. John had watched with unabated interest as she ate and drank last night which was a new form of torture he decided. He didn't know if she knew he had been watching her because she stroked her fingers up and down the champagne glass, dredging up memories of when that hand had been wrapped around him….

John shook himself firmly, forcing such thoughts away. He was with his daughter. Just because her mother was so damn sexy and hard to resist didn't mean he should be having such lusty thoughts in the presence of Maddie.

After the smoldering breakfast that Maddie had no clue that mommy and 'daddy' were lost in lusty thoughts of the other, they escorted her up to the deck with the basketball courts. Thankfully no one else was using them yet. Today was a full day at sea and tomorrow they would port at Cozumel Mexico, starting at seven in the morning. Maybe she could convince John, even if he had to bring along his partner, to spend the day with her and Maddie on the beach. She was sure Maddie would love that, even if they had to share him with Shaw for the sake of his cover. She'd bring it up to him tonight at drinks after they had their talk so if he couldn't, Maddie wouldn't be upset.

Joss eyed the khaki shorts John was wearing and the white polo short-sleeve shirt he had on that had to stretch tight across his firm torso. He looked so damn good in anything, even flip flops. He dribbled the basketball, smiling as he approached Maddie who suddenly looked unsure.

John crouched down to her level and showed her how to dribble. Their daughter took three tries before she managed to get the hang of it. She smiled triumphantly because she managed to string along six dribbles before the ball stopped bouncing.

"NBA better watch out because they have the next Michael Jordon on their hands but in this case: a little lady," John praised and Maddie soaked it up. He proceeded to explain the game to Maddie and Joss smiled as she felt fuzzy inside at how easy he was with her, he explained the game simply so their sports-challenged daughter could understand. "We'll all take turns shooting at the basket. If any of us misses, that person gets a 'P' and if they miss again they get an 'I' and then a 'G'. The player who spells PIG loses. How about we let mommy go first; since you are the next Air Jordan and I like to think I rival Lebron James?" he stated with a wink to the little girl who giggled and looked expectantly to mommy.

Joss smirked. "Watch and learn sweet-pea, I'll show you that da-John is full of it," Joss said nearly calling John 'daddy' to their daughter before catching herself. John's eyes widened, but thankfully Maddie didn't catch her near slip up. She whirled around as she tugged the ball out of John's hands and cursed herself because it was so natural, so right.

John observed Joss, with her stiff shoulders, rapidly blinking her eyes, and could see how upset she was because she missed an easy shot. She turned to look at him and he smiled trying to soothe her. "Okay, it's Air Jordan's turn," he murmured, reaching for the ball, but patted her elbow in comfort as he turned to Maddie, who was giggling at her nickname. He bounced the ball while walking to the little girl as she leaned her head back to eye the hoop.

John changed his mind as he handed Joss the ball, before walking behind their daughter and plucked her up under the arms and lifted her easily up and set her on his shoulders holding her legs on either side of his head firmly.

"Now she can do any shot she wants," he muttered.

Joss smiled, desperately trying to not cry at them. But seeing Maddie and John together like this was like stabbing a knife in her heart because all she wanted was to tell the truth, and make them a real family. She told herself it was just five more days and she could make it. But with the absolute delight on her daughter's face and the love that shined in John's eyes whenever he looked at Maddie it was becoming increasingly difficult.

But she vehemently pushed all her longing back and masked her expression as she waltzed up to the pair to hand their daughter the basketball. "Sweetie now all you have to do is throw the ball and aim for the net," Joss instructed.

Maddie nodded and her little tongue stuck out in extreme concentration. John had moved exceedingly close so their daughter could make the shot. John looked up and watched as she threw it and missed by a country mile.

"Oh, nearly there baby!" Joss exclaimed happily.

"Don't worry, Air Jordan, even the best can miss." he murmured as he rubbed her shin before hefting her up and over his head and plopped her onto her feet.

Joss snickered at Maddie's look of irritation at being put down on the ground. Their daughter had enjoyed sitting on John's shoulders and being taller than everyone for once. John sunk his shot easily but he chose something simple. Joss dribbled the ball a couple times and missed the shot, which she blamed solely on John. Maddie sunk his shot with ease by being on his shoulders and John cheating as he stood so close to the net that he was practically kissing it.

They laughed and talked, Joss learned that John played basketball for high school which was obvious. John didn't even have a letter while Joss was at P-I, and Maddie had just a P after missing mommy's shot.

John's turn was up again as he eyed Maddie and Joss. "Alright Carter ladies, I got you a toughie," he assured them, before he began dribbling the ball and only sprinted a little before he jumped into the air and dunked the ball.

Maddie clapped for him which John grinned lazily at them which made Joss squirm from the potent effect it had on her.

Joss sighed as she took the ball. "Well here's where I'm out. I can't even reach the rim!" she said as she bounced the ball a little.

John grinned as he stood right in front of her, eyes on hers, glittering with mischief. "Oh I don't know about that Joss," he teased as he grabbed her hips and she squealed as he lifted her up. But while it brought giggles and smiles to Maddie's face; all this did was make her hot and bothered as he held her up easily, like she weighed less than a feather and his mouth was even with her breasts: her breasts that suddenly felt heavy and her nipples hardened as he breathed on her chest.

Joss dunked the ball and Maddie clapped for mommy as she was laughing at mommy and John's antics before running to go catch the ball. John slowly lowered her back to her feet as their bodies rubbed as she went down and her eyes were on his, seeing his light blue eyes darken. She clung to his body before they both separated when Maddie came running for her turn. Joss cleared her throat as she stepped back and John didn't say a word as he turned and lifted Maddie onto her knees on his shoulders, keeping a firm grip on their daughter's hip so she could dunk the ball like them.

After that John threw the game to lose to Maddie and Joss which they promptly called a tie and let mommy and daughter celebrate their victory.

While Joss and Maddie celebrated John was a little lost in thought. He hadn't thought it all the way through with lifting Joss up so she could dunk because what was supposed to be something innocent became sexual and he had wanted to be alone with Joss so damn much.

Joss sighed as she glanced at her watch and sighed regretfully. "Hey baby we better hurry to the pool because you want to make that Macaroni Necklace in the Fun Factory." she said softly. Time flew by when you were having fun.

Maddie leaned her head back and looked up at John. "Swim with me and mommy," she pled.

John crouched down at her level, chucking her under the chin, earning giggles before he smiled wistfully. "I wish I could, but I can't sweetheart," he said honestly.

"PLEASSSSSE!" she begged as she grabbed his hand.

Joss took pity on John because he looked one step from caving already. "Honey, we can't steal John all the time. Mommy will swim with you and you'll have fun making your necklace."

Maddie pouted before it cleared up as her little baby must have come up with something else. "John will you come and make a necklace with me?"

"Sweetheart, grown-ups aren't allowed," Joss answered for him. "But maybe tomorrow we can convince John and Sam to come with us to the beach," she offered and Maddie immediately latched onto that idea as she began bouncing and begging for him to agree. Joss looked at John apologetically; feeling bad because she wasn't going to spring this on him until they were alone but Maddie looked so sad. "We port tomorrow at Cozumel and we'd love to share a day at the beach with you…and Sam. We can have a picnic and go swimming and snorkeling," she said, barely remember to tack on his partner for their little day of fun.

John smiled; he couldn't say no even if he tried. "Yea, we'd like that," he agreed.

"YAAAAAAY!" Maddie cried in jubilation as she flung her arms around his neck.

John rubbed her back before kissing her cheek and reluctantly got to his feet. He didn't want to leave them. He didn't want to go back to his cabin with Shaw and work on a case, not when Joss and Maddie were here; when he could spend more time with them, be with them. But duty called.

He pasted on a smile for Maddie before looking at Joss. "I guess I'll see you then," he murmured.

Joss was grateful John wasn't letting Maddie in on the fact that they were meeting for drinks because Maddie would throw a tantrum about being shafted with a babysitter while mommy went out with John. And as much as she wanted her little munchkin to spend time with her daddy, Joss needed this alone time with him.

Joss nodded. "Eight, sharp," she said pointedly.

He smirked. "Sounds perfect," he agreed, before unenthusiastically turning and heading for the elevators and not seeing Maddie watching him go woefully.


Shaw made a face as she hid from the Wixoms view. She wasn't in the mood to play pretend right now, preferring to watch from the shadows. Reese was out with his kid and that woman, leaving her to go it alone for a couple hours which were alright with her. They didn't need to be attached at the hip and she could easily lie for him and claim he was sleeping in this morning from late night activities if the Wixoms managed to spot her. But she was good at blending in and not being seen unless she wanted to be.

Donnelly however ruined everything, when he beeped in on her solitude. "What do you want?" she snapped in aggravation as she clicked the button in her earwig.

"I have an update. Flo was drugged," Donnelly informed her.

"Who the hell is Flo?" Shaw demanded.

"The other butler on my floor that I told you about, after I contacted Root to get in touch with Celebrity to find out how many butlers they employed this morning; I chatted up with Demetrius and Flo independently," he explained. "Flo admits that she was missing three hours and she doesn't know what happened. She was a little freaked out because when she came to, her clothes were dumped on her body and she felt like her head was stuffed with cotton."

Shaw nodded, yup, definitely drugged. "Did she remember anything?" she inquired.

"At her fifteen minute break she chugged a bottle of water because she was thirsty and about an hour or so later she felt woozy and then everything after that is a complete blank. I tried to comfort her without her realizing I wish fishing for information. She's really rattled by it but is scared to report it since she doesn't want to lose her job because she doesn't fully understand what happened to her."

"So what did your lame partner find out for us?" Shaw asked, speaking about Root.

"She texted me about ten minutes ago that there are more butlers employed on the ship but the theory that she is from a different deck goes out the window with the fact that someone drugged Flo to get her clothes," he murmured.

"True," Shaw had to agree with Donnelly's assessment. The butler was stripped down and her clothes dumped on her and she woke up with missing three hours.

"Wait! Did you just agree with me?" he wondered, incredulous.

Shaw shrugged. "Yea, what's the big deal?"

"You have never ever agreed with anything I ever said; I mean Reese and I could say the same thing and you'd agree with Reese first."

"That's because usually you say stupid shit. This once you didn't," Shaw said with a shrug before chugging her Spritz. Was it early to drink: yes, did she care: no. She was on a vacation of sorts and this case wasn't all that physically demanding so far; besides having to resist the urge from killing Donnelly or any vacationer. "Good job, Donnelly for actually saying something of use," she sneered.

Donnelly did not respond for a moment. "So Shaw…" he hedged.

Shaw narrowed her eyes at Donnelly's tone. "You're not asking me out are you?—because if you are, please do it quickly so I can laugh my ass off as I tell you in many ways of HELL NO."

He made a disgusted sound. "God no, I'm married, Shaw!"

"To a woman?" Shaw murmured in surprise. She did vaguely recall him saying something about having a daughter or something? But she didn't really listen to him since he sounded like the teacher from Charlie Brown because all she ever heard when he talked was: Wah, Wah. "A living one right?" she commented.

Donnelly made an agitated sound. "Yes, Delilah is alive. What do you think I am: a necrophiliac?!" he nearly shouted.

"Delilah, she's a hooker then," Shaw stated.

"My wife is not a hooker! She's an accountant!" he growled. "But I was going to ask you, Shaw: does Reese really like Ms. Joss?"

"I don't know! I'm not his penis now am I?" Shaw demanded. "But if I could control men's dicks that would be the shit because then I'd be in control of their brains!" Shaw stated with a snicker.

"HA-HA funny Shaw, you know what I'm asking."

She exhaled. "Don't know and don't care, Donnelly. As long as that woman doesn't hurt Reese I won't have to dismember her and if I even get an inkling that she mowed over his heart, I'll rearrange her face." Shaw vowed.

Donnelly was quiet for a moment. "Okay, as always, talking to you is an experience, Shaw. I'll keep you updated if I learn anything else," he muttered.

"Whatever…"

"Oh and one other thing, Shaw…"

"Jesus! Spit it out, Donnelly," Shaw barked, wanting blissful silence.

"Root says hi," Donnelly said with a laugh before disconnecting and Shaw let out string of expletives.


John was nearly as nervous as he had been on their coffee-date when he showed up nearly an hour early and then Joss entered forty-five minutes early. Shaw had made fun of him for taking another shower and putting on dressier clothes. He didn't know where Joss wanted to stop at but he was sure they could find a suitable bar.

John exited the bathroom after combing his hair and splashing cologne on his neck after changing into a blue dress shirt and expensive black dress pants. He had tried, though unsuccessfully, to tame his stubborn cowlick; nearly resorting to using Shaw's hairspray but changed his mind. He had learned long ago that his cowlick was nearly untamable and no amount of hairspray or gel would ever help, so he gave up trying.

John rolled his eyes as he saw Shaw, with her back turned to him, setting out their guns on the bed. "Why are you choosing right now to 'clean' the guns?" he questioned, knowing full well why.

Shaw eyed him before saying, "You told me to not threaten her; you didn't say anything about a subliminal death threat."

"Shaw." he said with a sigh as he half-chuckled at her. Shaw was something else and he couldn't change her if he tried; though he wouldn't even if he could.

She shrugged. "It's not my fault you left a loophole." she stated as she eyed the arrangement of guns on the bed.

"You do realize I'm a man in my mid-forties and I've been taking care of myself for a very long time, right?" he asked, just making sure she remembered he was a grown man.

Shaw glanced at him distractedly. "Yea," she agreed before looking back at the guns. "But if this Carter chick can handle a little subliminal death threat then maybe I can handle it if she dates us."

"Us?—you mean me."

"No I meant us. I was here first," Shaw said as she swapped two guns on the bed, apparently there was a method to her madness.

"Not to point out the fact, but technically I met Joss first," he commented which earned a glare. He held up his hands knowing Shaw just needed time. It has been them two for three going on four years; working a lot together and hanging out together outside of work. Now Shaw had to get used to the idea of a third person and a kid. "I think you'd like Joss if you'd give her a chance. She's the atypical woman," he said gently.

"You think of her like that because she's the mother of your ankle biter and you're blinded by her pussy. I'm not," Shaw assured him as she stepped back from the bed, appearing happy with the layout finally. Evidently she wanted the bigger guns closer to the door.

He shook his head in exasperation, changing the subject. "So Donnelly caught me up to speed about what you two talked about earlier with Flo. We made contact with the Wixoms since then and they didn't make a mention of anything missing from their suite," he muttered off-handedly.

"Nope, but that doesn't mean who entered their suite wasn't casing the suite to steal anything. Donnelly is keeping eyes on Flo just in case," Shaw murmured, still focused on their guns before her head perked up as there was a gentle knock on the door. Shaw eyed him before making a mad dash for the door as he did. Shaw grinned evilly. "Move faster old man!" she joked as she opened the door.

Joss stood there in a black dress with a plunging V-neck that had him licking his lips at her cleavage. She wore dark smoky makeup with her hair on one side pinned back but her warm smile melted away when it wasn't John that opened the door but his partner, who was glowering at her. But John was behind her, making her feel sexy.

"What are your intentions with Reese?" Shaw demanded, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed.

"Shaw, let her in," John insisted. God, couldn't he ever befriend normal people?

Shaw smirked at Carter's look, ignoring Reese completely before asking, "When you do you plan on having him back tonight?"

"You're not my mother!" John snapped in annoyance.

Joss decided to have a little fun with his partner since it was clear she was having some of her own, treating them like adolescent kids. "Are you sure about that John?—because she looks old enough to be your momma," she asked innocently.

Shaw's eyes widened and John laughed. Well it seems Shaw has met her match in Joss. "I'm younger than him!" Shaw snapped through clenched teeth.

Joss feigned surprise as she lifted her hand to her mouth. "Oh. Oops." she said making a face. "Might I suggest starting a facial moisturizer regimen then, it might help bring a more youthful look back to your skin," she said sweet as pie as she rendered Shaw speechless.

"You asked for that Shaw," he commented jokingly as he pressed her to the side to allow Joss to enter the cabin.

Shaw had to admit to herself that it was a good jab but was unwilling to cop to it as she slammed the door shut behind Carter and stormed over to the bed, picking up one of the biggest guns on the bed.

"Hope you don't mind, but guns fire better when they are cleaned regularly," Shaw stated darkly.

"Oh I don't mind at all," Joss assured her, not even realizing the subliminal message or if she did, Joss just didn't care. "Oh my god!—you have a Nano! I'm so jealous," she gasped as she hurried over to the bed and picked up the handgun. Though it didn't look anything like the Nano she saw in the Guns & Ammo magazine she perused. Joss shifted her gaze off the glorious badass Nano and onto the other guns laid out. None of them looked like normal guns; all of them had a certain sleeker look to them and the barrels were different. She had to be seeing top of the line and top secret weaponry they brought with them to bypass the security screening. The FBI got some cool gizmos and gadgets and weapons, so unlike what the NYPD had at their disposal!

John winced; that was Shaw's favorite. Shaw nearly broke a woman's wrist at the bureau for touching it on accident.

Shaw hesitantly walked over to Joss, eyeing her before the two ladies talked about the Nano and the array of weapons on the bed. Shaw was pointing out some of the guns that weren't even made aware of being in development and practically gave away a government secret to Joss as she explained just how they were able to bypass the security screening. Joss oohed and ahhed as she listened intently to Shaw, asked questions, and offered sound opinions, making John smirk as Joss found a topic that would loosen Shaw up. And it worked like a charm, because Joss had Shaw virtually eating out of the palm of her hand and he hadn't seen Shaw so animated since he took her to an expensive steakhouse for a job well done. He stayed back, letting the two women talk to find some equal footing.

Joss handed the gun to Shaw. "It's pretty." Joss murmured wistfully, as she eyed the bed full of weapons, unbelieving that she was in the same room with such top secret weapons.

Joss stepped back as Shaw eyed the weapons herself. John leaned in close. "Don't look now Joss, but I think, you just wooed Shaw." he said softly in her ear, with humor lacing his voice.

Joss snorted as she eyed him, incredulous, with a point in Shaw's general direction. "Two seconds ago, she hated my guts and looked ready to shoot me dead," Joss muttered.

He shrugged. "Shaw doesn't like anyone at first, including me. She takes a while to warm up to people, except Maddie. I think she took to Maddie so quickly because she finally found someone smaller than her." he said with a smile before he looked at Shaw. "Shaw, we're going." he murmured before escorting Joss to the door and opened it for them.

Shaw smirked. "Don't do anything I would do," she called out.

John rolled his eyes, "Don't worry we won't burn the ship down," he assured and Shaw snickered before they exited and he slid the door shut.


AN: I think I have a thing about John and Joss playing a game in bed though this one was completely different than my other one. Maybe I should have them play Twister next ;D Next Chapter:

Ch 13: Rendezvous

Thanks for reading!