AN: Here's the follow up to Secret Admirer...enjoy :D
I. In Medias Res
Langley, Virginia January 26th 3:41AM
The room was quiet, she could her the empty ringing resonating within her ears as her brain interpreted the lack of external noise that surrounded her. Joss stared at her reflection in the two way mirror, her hair was disheveled traces of blood splatter decorated her dark grey t-shirt.
The only thing more distracting than her personal appearance was the numerous sensors of the polygraph machine that were attached to her body. She looked at her hand resting on the cold surface of the stainless steel table, her eyes zeroing in on the galvanometers wrapped securely around the tips of her index and ring finger.
The silence of the room was interrupted as three individuals entered, two white males, both brunette and one white female, blond.
Joss watched as the woman sat down in front of her, the two men standing on opposite sides of her, careful not to obstruct the view of whoever was watching behind the two way mirror. She watched dis-interested as the woman placed three dark brown folders on the edge of the table, before carefully selecting one.
Joss let her eyes roam over the standard 12-by-9½-inch brown file folder, the words 'Military Personnel Records Jacket United States Army' printed in bold black letters across the front.
"My names is Agent Kate Barns and I will be conducting your interrogation."
Joss let out a sarcastic laugh.
Kate pursed her lips, "Ms. Carter I hope you realize the seriousness of this situation, depending on your corporation I will recommend that you get life in prison instead of a needle in your arm."
Kate opened the personnel file "We will begin with a simple set of control questions please reposed to the questions with a simple yes or no. Are you ready to begin?"
"You detained me under false pretenses. So I really don't think my opinion matters at this point?" Joss asked deadpan as she looked the woman in the eye.
Kate gave Carter a tight lipped smile before directing her eyes to the monitor "Is your maiden name Jocelyn Marie Howard?"
"Yes."
"Where you born March 22, 1972 in Baltimore Maryland?"
"Yes."
"Was your name legally changed to Jocelyn Marie Carter in August of 1992?"
"Yes."
"Are you still currently married to Paul Michael Carter?"
"No."
"Do you identify your-self as an African-American?"
"Yes."
"Is your son's name Taylor James Carter?"
"Yes."
"Are you currently engaged in crimes against the United States of America?"
"No."
"Are you aware or in contact with persons or groups who are enemies of the United States of America?"
"No."
"Have you now or ever been in contact with a man named John Hunter Riggs?"
Joss cracked a smile as she thought to herself, 'of course he'd have a country ass middle name like Hunter.'
"Ms. Carter answer the question. Have you now or ever been in contact with a man named John Hunter Riggs?" Kate repeated.
"No."
Kate narrowed her glanced at the readings on the machine, eying the steady lines.
"Are you aware of or have had any contact with a dead operative named Mark Snow?"
Joss clenched her jaw slightly at the mention of Snows name, "Yes."
"Was this contact in regards to a rouge CIA agent named John Reese?"
"Yes."
"Since then have you had contact with the rogue CIA agent named John Reese?"
"I really doubt I'd be here if you thought I didn't," Joss retorted as she diverted her eyes to the two way mirror.
"Please answer the question with a simple yes or no Ms. Carter?"
Joss moved her eyes back to the woman seated in front of her, "Yes."
"Do you have frequent contact with the man named John Reese?"
"Yes."
"Are you on amicable terms with the man named John Reese?"
"Yes."
"Have you willfully and knowingly compromised federal and state law for the man named John Reese?"
"Maybe," Joss replied with an unconcerned tone, intentionally agitating the interrogator
Kate smirked at Carter, 'the bitch was trying to get under her skin, two can play that game.'
"Is your relationship with John Reese purely professional?"
Joss narrowed her eyes at the young woman, clearly seeing where her line of questioning was going.
"No."
"Are you currently engaged in a sexual relationship with John Reese?"
"You've seen his picture, you tell me?" Joss replied with a smirk.
"Answer the question Ms. Carter." Kate retorted.
"I didn't realize my sex life was relevant to your investigation." Joss stated.
"Answer the question Ms. Carter!" Kate repeated in a raised voice.
"Why? I don't see how that question affects national security or are you just fishing for your own records", Joss bit out as she looked the young woman up and down, "judging by how uptight you look I can tell you're not getting any."
"Answer the damn question Carter!" Kate replied furiously.
"Yes I am. Do I need to state for the record his size and favorite position," Joss stated flippantly, "you know just in case his dick tries to take over the country."
"Enough!" Kate yelled as she stood up slamming her hands onto the table.
"My thoughts exactly little girl," Joss glared at the young woman.
"You do realize that we can drop you in a dark hole and make you disappear." Kate threatened, "you've lost everything you ever worked for and you'll never see your son or your family again."
The room was engulfed in silence.
"One final question." Kate straightened up looking down at Jocelyn, "You're. Are you really willing to die to protect this man?"
Joss paused for a moment letting a small content smile grace her face "I think you already know the answer to that."
New York City, January 12th 6:23PM
"Okay the black wedges or black heels?" Joss asked holding up her shoes.
Jasmine examined the outfit Joss had picked out against her wishes "Wear the heels, it will add a little more sex appeal to your dress."
Joss rolled her eyes as she slipped her heels on, "Jazz stop complaining, the dress you tried to get me to buy was way too short, John already knows I'm a female, I don't need to show him, besides I'm trying to go for conservative here it's our first date."
"You don't have to worry about that if you were any more conservative you'd be a nun" Jasmine replied as she watched Joss smooth down the invisible wrinkles in her dress.
"Okay how do I look? Do think I should change my jewelry or maybe I should put my hair up?" Joss second guessed herself as she turned around in the mirror, "maybe this dress is to short."
Jasmine stood up and grabbed her by the shoulders "Joss you look perfect and if he doesn't think so, then I'll hire his partner to break his legs for you."
Shaw would probably do it for free." Joss joked.
"We have 30 minutes before your Kevin Costner gets here, time to brush and floss before we put your makeup on." Jasmine ordered pushing Joss toward the bathroom.
"Will you stop calling him that this isn't the Bodyguard." Joss remarked.
"Anddddd… I…will always loveeeee yoouuuu" Jasmine began to belt out.
'Bring the wide end around front, over the narrow end from right to left….. then, bring the wide end down through the knot in front and pull…damn it,' John yanked at the crooked tie, undoing the knot for the twelfth time.
"Mr. Reese, perhaps you'd like some assistance?" Harold offered looking at his wrist watch, "if you don't hurry you'll be late picking up your date."
John let out a sigh as he walked over to Finch to let him correctly tie his tie.
"John it would do you well to relax, I'm sure whatever you have planned for Jocelyn will be wonderful," Harold offered reassuringly.
"That easy to tell I'm tense?" John asked.
"Just a little. Why are you so nervous, it's not like you haven't been on a date before?" Harold asked as he finished securing John's purple tie in a perfect Full-Winsor knot.
"It's been a long time since I've been on a date where I just get to be me," John moved to stand in front of the mirror as he buttoned up his vest, "no guns, no knives, no bad guys to stop...just me...I don't want to mess this up,"
As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, "I just...want something,to last, that won't fade away like a dream...something,...real" John softly muttered as he let his hands fall to his side.
Harold felt his heart clench at John's words before he could respond, the pattering of paws and barking echoed through the library as Artemis and Bear came barreling into common area.
"Your still here?" Shaw questioned as looked at John, taking in his outfit, as he pulled on his suit coat and jacket, "Well look who's all on his suit and tie shit."
John shook his head "You've been listening to much Justin Timberlake Shaw."
"Please,"Shaw snorted as she watched him leave "No such thing as to much JT."