John and Shaw arrived at the Fortunes Casino. He had told Shaw about his suspicions and once they got in there they were going to divide and conquer the Wixoms; Shaw was going to lure Selma alone while he spoke with Nigel to find out what he could. Donnelly was at the stateroom watching the Wixoms room for them and promised the moment Root found out something for them that he'd let them know.

John glanced at Shaw as they waited to enter the casino. Now was better than later to tell Shaw something that he had been thinking about. "Shaw, we've been partners and friends for a while, so I feel you deserve to know that when we get back to D.C. I'm asking for a transfer to the New York offices," he said bluntly. Shaw needed to know, deserved to know before anyone else did. She was a good friend and best damn partner he ever had.

She looked at him in surprise. "Why?" she demanded.

"Why?—because Joss and Maddie live there and I want to be near them, that's why, Shaw," he explained as gently as he could.

Shaw thought quickly. "Well why can't she move to D.C.?"

"She has a life in New York, Shaw."

Shaw didn't care. "And you have one in D.C." she pointed out. "Why do you have to drop yours for hers?" she snapped.

"Because wouldn't it be easier for me to move to New York then uproot Joss and my daughter?"

"No!" she said acting like a petulant child.

"Yes it is and you know it. You just don't want me to because you don't want a new partner," he continued gently.

Shaw glared at him. "I don't want a new partner! Reese, I hate everyone but you."

"I know and at one time you hated me."

"That was different. I didn't know you."

"And you don't know anyone else because you don't give anyone a real chance," he murmured. Shaw felt desperate. Reese didn't get it, he was the only friend she ever had and she didn't want to lose him. "Shaw, we'll always be friends; a transfer won't chance that," he said softly, knowing the real reason she was resistant to this.

"But you'll be in a different fucking state!"

"New York is not that far away from D.C.," he reassured her.

Shaw looked ready to say more but stopped short as they entered the casino and were greeted by the waiting Wixoms. He was glad because he was sure Shaw was close to exploding. But he needed Shaw to know his plans so she had some time to digest them.

"Hey guys," Selma greeted as she hugged Shaw.

Shaw was ready to shoot someone and wouldn't mind shooting these two for getting in the way of her convincing Reese to stay in D.C. instead of transferring to New York. But she doubted it would work. If Reese's mind was made up then usually it was made up. And as of right now Reese thought it was better if he moved to New York than uprooting Carter and his kid. Her best bet at getting Reese to stay in D.C. was convincing Carter to move her and the little ankle biter to the nation's capital.

"Hi Selma, Nigel," John greeted since it seemed Shaw wasn't in the mood. He was glad to see that Selma wasn't blushing this time around.

They slowly walked together talking about Cozumel and their plans for tomorrow if they were going out to port for George Town, Grand Cayman. John hemmed and hawed as he wasn't sure what their plans would be. He wasn't sure if Joss and Maddie were going to leave the ship tomorrow or not.

Shaw shrugged speaking up for the first time since he laid the whammy on her about asking for a transfer, "We're not sure yet. We could text you if we decide to go ashore," she offered shortly.

"Sounds good; Nigel and I want to visit the town of Hell! It should be interesting and fun," Selma said with a large smile.

Shaw made a sound, "I'm already in Hell." she muttered under her breath and John bumped her shoulder in agreement, although he suspected his problem was much different from Shaw's.

They followed the Wixoms over to the Roulette table. John eyed Nigel with a firm look and motioned with his chin towards the bar where he first attempted to make contact with the man.

He nodded and rubbed Selma's arm, "Honey, I'm going to go get us our drinks," Nigel said with a kiss to her temple.

Selma smiled and nodded. "Surprise me, darling."

John and Shaw shared a look. "Yea, surprise me too, sweet-cheeks!" Shaw said.

John sighed as he turned and walked aside Nigel. "You're partner is different," Nigel said quietly with laughter lacing his voice.

"Shaw's a character, but, proficient at her job," he murmured in praise.

"You two work together well."

John smiled. "Thanks. Can you please explain to me why your wife is not allowed to know that Shaw and I are here to protect her?"

"I wish I could John, I told Richard that Selma should know but he didn't want to hear it," Nigel said as they approached the bar slowly.

John watched the man's profile trying to get a read on him and so far from what he could see and hear in the man's voice there was nothing but sincerity. Nigel sincerely wished Selma could know but wasn't going to overstep his new father-in-law's wishes.

"Do Richard and Selma have a good relationship?" John asked as casually as he could. But as Nigel came to an abrupt stop, it wasn't casual enough.

"You're not suggesting that Richard would go after his own daughter? No, I don't believe it. And there is no reason for it, John. Richard loves Selma with all his heart," Nigel said firmly.

John nodded. "I'm not suggesting anything Nigel. But I have seen it time and time again; I'm trying to find out who could be a possible threat to your wife, if there is any," he said simply.

"What do you mean?"

"Death threats can be nothing but hot air, Nigel," John explained.

Nigel nodded in agreement. "Yea, I know. I just think Richard is being overprotective of Selma. She's his only child."

They ceased their conversation to order their drinks before resuming it after they were made and each respectively grabbed two. "So you feel that Shaw and I are wasting our time here?" John asked.

"I do."

John didn't want to tell the man that a mystery woman had entered their suite after drugging a female room steward. He didn't want to worry the man; clearly he loved his wife. They let the conversation fully drop as they came back to Selma and Shaw, who was apparently winning because Shaw had blood lust in her eyes. He sighed; they weren't leaving the Roulette table anytime soon.


Joss smiled as Maddie ran to the table inside the Fun Factory room and mommy was all but forgotten once more. Maddie had awakened after her nap; immediately searching for daddy and the waterworks came once she learned daddy had left for work. That was until mommy promised that he would call her later. She would have to text John to do so because that had been the only way she could get Maddie to stop crying.

But with Maddie at the Fun Factory and John with the Wixoms it meant for one boring evening for her. She replayed things earlier before John fled and then last night with their conversation, their kiss, and John's electric touch. She shivered from the memory as she had climaxed so easily. It wasn't enough then, still wasn't now. And her body hummed with intense need to finally be one with him again.

She sighed as she stabbed her pointer finger into the button for the elevator. May as well head back to her suite and head out to the veranda and slide into the whirlpool. She had debated on going to the spa and get a massage but nixed the idea. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts just in case they took a turn that left her in need of release. It would be embarrassing if she got aroused from thoughts of John while having a massage.

Joss exited the elevator and saw a woman that she didn't recognize swiping a sea-pass to get into the Wixoms room. She definitely wasn't wearing the uniform that Donnelly and the other butlers that serviced their floor wore. Joss went on high alert with knowing that they were being targeted. She slid her flip-flops off her feet and moved quick and silently forward and wedged her hand between the door and doorframe after the creepy woman entered.

She pushed the door open and caught sight of the woman thanks to the light from the hallway behind her and stepped fully inside.

Joss moved forward and tapped the woman's back and the shorter woman let out a sound of fright; as she turned around Joss punched her and the woman crumpled to the ground unconscious. "Well she's definitely not a professional," she murmured to herself as she shook her hand to free it from the stinging in her knuckles, before turning around and flipping the light switch on.

Most hired assassins would have had more of a plan than scream in fright and then take a hit. If she knew the FBI as well as she thought she did that meant they had gotten some listening device inside this room and with John and Shaw with the Wixoms that left Donnelly to the cavalry. Joss checked her for any weapons but found none, before she eyed the woman's unconscious form kind of wishing she had her cuffs with her. Joss sat down at the couch as she eyed the room. It looked much like hers.

Joss went on alert as she heard the lock's mechanism go and relaxed when it was Donnelly entering and not some accomplice. "Caught her sneaking in; I took her by surprise and laid her out." Joss said succinctly as she climbed to her feet.

"I know, I saw and heard. What a high pitch scream she has, definitely not a professional," Donnelly said what she had been thinking while he pulled the woman's hands back and cuffed her. Donnelly patted down the woman searching for weapons much like she had before he straightened and smiled. "You have some kind of wicked hook."

She shrugged. "I'm Homicide Detective Joss Carter from the 8th precinct in New York and have downed a guy or two in my hay-day." she admitted humbly.

Donnelly's smile widened, "A detective huh, makes even more sense." he murmured and she was sure he wanted to say more, and she'd bet her pension it had to deal with John, but was refraining because he thought she didn't know the truth. "I'll have to alert personnel." he said getting back to business.

Joss cocked a brow. So he was going to still try to make her buy this load of bull? "So do all butlers carry cuffs with them or just you?" she asked wryly. Not to mention the fact that he claimed he had seen and heard everything which, how could he unless the room was bugged?

Donnelly's smile faltered as he realized his blunder. "Er…well…uh…." he stammered.

Joss waved him off. "I know Donnelly. I know you're FBI because John told me the truth. But if you tell his superior that; I'll tell them that you blew your own cover," Joss said quickly.

Donnelly's eyes widened. "Reese told you?" he repeated in surprise. That didn't sound like something Reese would do and he wondered why he chose to do so on this mission. And he was a stickler for the rules but he liked John and wasn't going to get him in trouble with Ma'am.

Joss crossed her arms across her chest. "Yes, because John's the father to my daughter," she announced.

"WHAT?!" he cried incredulous. Joss lifted her chin, not needing to dignify him with an answer. But it became unnecessary since the woman groaned as she came to. Donnelly turned his focus on the woman as he helped her up and pushed her onto the couch. He produced his badge. "I'm FBI Agent Donnelly. I want to know who you are, why you're targeting Selma Gordon-Wixom, and who you are working for?" he said sternly.

"I-I-I'm not working for anyone. Why is the FBI involved?" she cried as tears welled up. "This is all Selma's fault!"

"You are sending death threats to Mrs. Wixom…" he started but was interrupted by the woman.

"Don't call her that!"

Joss eyed the woman and frowned. "She's not your threat Donnelly," Joss said instantly.

"What?—she was caught a day or so ago sneaking into their room, and this is the second time," Donnelly pointed out. He had patted her down for weapons and didn't find one but that didn't mean that she wouldn't come back for a third time and do something sinister.

"Regardless, she didn't send death threats to Selma. And she's not a cold blooded killer," Joss said easily. She pointed to the woman. "She's stalking Nigel Wixom."

"I'm not stalking Nigel, Nigel and I are in love. He married that shrew because she tricked him into it!" the woman spat. "I was trying to come and find Nigel alone and convince him that he belongs with me. I followed him on his honeymoon to prove to him that I'd do anything for him and that we belong together."

Donnelly frowned. "Seriously, a stalker?" he said with dismay. He sighed in disgust. "You drugged a woman to get in here the first time."

The woman worried her lip, "Yes, I didn't know how else to get in here because I thought Nigel would be in here alone and that lady was just...there, with access. I saw her drinking from a bottled water and saw my opportunity to get into his suite, so I slipped some pills into her water," the woman admitted as she dropped his gaze.

Joss leaned in close to Donnelly. "Bet they were hers." she whispered. "Okay, so how did you get into this room this time?" Joss asked, addressing the woman and Donnelly eyed her. "What?—sorry, I'm used to interrogating suspects," she muttered.

The woman refused to meet their gazes. "I saw Nigel put the card in his pocket while leaving his room with that shrew earlier. So I followed them from afar and got close enough to pick pocket him as he walked to the casino. But it's with our future in mind!" she said earnestly.

Joss cocked a brow, she pick-pocketed him? She wondered if this woman had a criminal history. "What's your name?" Joss demanded and Donnelly looked at her.

"Detective, I'm a Federal Agent on an undercover mission; I supersede you." Donnelly said pulling rank on her.

Joss rolled her eyes. "Sorry, I forget how prickly the FBI are about their rank. By all means continue," she stated with a sweeping gesture.

Donnelly nodded his head, "What's your name?" he repeated and Joss snorted.

"Melinda."

"Melinda what?" Donnelly questioned.

"Melinda Decker…"

Donnelly nodded. "I'll have my partner check you out. And I'll have Marshals extradite you back to the U.S. where you can be arrested for assault and other charges."

"WHAT?! I didn't assault anyone!" she cried.

Joss spoke before Donnelly did, "The moment you laced that drink with something is an assault. Not to mention you admitted to pick-pocketing Nigel Wixom so that's theft. And since you didn't obtain rights to enter this room guess what that means…" she said and refused to look at Donnelly. She was a cop, damn it.

The girl started to cry.

Donnelly was unmoved. "Stop crying Miss Decker, because you chose to come after Selma and Nigel Wixom." he said sternly but it didn't seem to matter to the woman because she continued sobbing.

Joss and Donnelly moved off to the side, leaving the girl to cry the blues as he tugged out his cell phone and immediately called his partner. "Hey Root; I got another name for you to run for me: a Melinda Decker. I just caught her breaking into the Wixoms' room while they are with Shaw and Reese," he said.

Joss listened in on the one sided conversation and it seemed his partner was telling him something important because he turned around and asked 'are you sure' before nodding and more whispering and then he hung up.

Donnelly turned to look back at her. She cocked a brow up, "You caught her?" she murmured.

He shrugged. "Later I'll need a written statement of what you saw but for now I need to ask you to leave, Joss. There is no telling when the Wixoms head back and I need to escort Miss Decker out. She's not the real threat to Selma," he announced.

Joss nodded, knowing when she is being shooed out. "Okay, call me when you need my help again." Joss teased with a wink, which had Donnelly chuckling softly, before she turned around and exited the room, taking a pit stop to get her flip flops.

Joss merrily headed for her door and swiped it open, pushing in and flicking the light switch on. She couldn't wait to tell John.


AN: BOOM Detective Carter is in the house. I just couldn't let John, Shaw, and Donnelly have all the fun. Next chapter:

Ch 18: I Got A Theory

Thanks for reading!