VIII. Adding Fuel

Brooklyn, New York, January 16th 6:25 AM

Joss held two shirts up, trying to decide if she should wear the sky blue button down or the black button down. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she remembered that the black shirt had been the same shirt she had been wearing when she first met John. Her smile immediately turned into an angry frown, as the fact that he was still avoiding her crossed her mind.

The logic driven side of her knew he was doing what he had to, to keep her safe but the emotional side of her wanted nothing more than to see and hold him and know that he was okay. The emotional side of her had her feeling overly upset with his absence.

She still found it hard to believe that he hadn't found a creative way to make contact with her yet. After all he ran around the city breaking and entering, assaulting mafia dons, attacking Federal Marshalls and shooting at diplomatic convoys and yet all she got was radio silence.

Joss snorted deciding on the blue shirt as she finished dressing and heading downstairs and into the kitchen. Her thoughts, concerns and agitation grinding to a halt and turning into surprise as she saw Taylor up, dressed and eating breakfast before normal.

"Well, you're up early?" Joss committed heading to the coffee maker.

Taylor looked up from his bowl of cereal, shrugging "Went to bed early last night."

Taylor eyed his mom discreetly as she made coffee. Not sure how or when he should ask her about the police and FBI or his theories about her new boyfriend.

"Something on your mind Taylor?" Joss asked as she looked over her shoulder, sensing her son's lingering stare.

Taylor cursed to himself, forgetting his mom's spider senses, "Oh nothing. Just thinking about school and the Jr. prom and stuff…"

"Oh really?" Joss asked excited pouring her coffee. Deciding this was a perfect opportunity to do some digging into her son's life. Specifically his sudden need to shave his dreads off and work out. Her mom sonar telling her that her son may have a girlfriend.

Taylor scratched the back of his head as he stirred the conversation away from his real thoughts. "Yeah it's in June, and I was thinking of going and I'll need to get a new suit and stuff."

Joss sipped her coffee and smiled "Okay we can do that….soooooo….who are you going with?"

"Ughhh well…you see…." Taylor began to explain "….I haven't ….you know asked her yet."

Joss smiled at her son's shyness and embarrassment. Just as she was about to get a description of her son's potential date and girlfriend, her phone rang.

Joss sighed as she answered the phone "Carter.….really? Okay, thank you, Johnson. Can you make me a copy and send it to my desk. I'm on my way in; I should be in by 8."

Taylor grabbed his backpack, using her phone call as a means to end the conversation before his mom gave him a military style interrogation. "I'll see you after school Mom I got to go, or I'll be late."

"Ok," Joss mumbled in disappointment, watching him rush out the door before she could continue the conversation.

86th St. / Lexington Avenue, New York City, January 16th 9:45 AM

John sat silently watching as strangers shuffled on and off the subway as he rode the train north. He rubbed his eyes gently trying to coup with fatigue. His sleep patterns had become more erratic over the past few months.

First, his conscience had been keeping him awake at night, reminding him of the secret he had been keeping from Joss about how her stalker actually died. Now, his paranoia and nerves were being added to the equation too. His thoughts were in overdrive as he tried to pinpoint when the FBI picked up interest in him again. He cracked his knuckles in agitation.

Twenty plus year's in the Army, almost seven years with the Agency. He utilized all his training and skills on a daily basis to save complete strangers, some good some bad and yet when it can to the woman he cared about he felt utterly useless. He felt like the hounds of hell were circling, and his options were slim to none.

His jaw clenched as he thought of Moss. A part of him wanted to dangle the bastard off a roof, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything permanently. He tried to think of alternatives, but he keep ending up with solutions that had a high chance of ending with someone in handcuffs.

A grim smile pulled at his lips as he thought that the best option for everyone was for him to surrender before he ruined any more lives.

He pulled his phone out, dialed and waited for Shaw's usual annoyed grunt followed by an angry what greeting.

"What."

"Shaw I need you to do me a favor?"

Federal Plaza, New York City, January 16th 10:00 AM

Eric Folsom looked up at Moss after reviewing the summary reports on his desk "And you want me to approve this operation based on an anonymous tip and circumstantial evidence.

"When I was in the counter-terrorism division we worked off far less evidence," Moss replied.

"Yea well the government and the American people are far more supportive when we're stopping terrorists instead of arresting U.S. citizens," Folsom answered sarcastically.

"She may not have pulled the trigger, but she's involved in Donnelly's murder and connected to the man in the suit. I know it." Moss reiterated pointing his figure forcefully at the file on Jocelyn Carter.

"Regardless of your feelings Moss I can't get a sign off on a surveillance detail and a wiretap based solely on your hunches."

"All due respect sir I know you can. This woman's guilty of impeding a federal investigation, tampering with evidence, and a slew of accessory after the fact charges." Moss retorted.

Eric pinched the bridge of his nose. Moss was just like Donnelly. Two very competent investigators who had the propensity to develop tunnel vision. "I'll try Moss but no guarantees. In the meantime, I can get a protective detail approved for maybe four days, citing she may be in imminent danger from a hostile suspect. But if you can't come up with something solid in that time-frame I'm pulling the plug."

"Thank you, sir." Moss nodded as he stood up headed to the door.

"One more thing Moss…..," Eric began "…should you turn out to be wrong, I hope you know you're risking to your career."

"We are supposed to be a country that holds itself to a higher standard, Sir. No one is above the law. Not our friends and not our families. If she's blatantly abusing her power and breaking the law to cover up for a criminal; who she is, and the good she's done doesn't mean a damn thing to me." Moss turned and walked out of the office.

Bronx, New York, city, January 16th 12:00 PM

Joss drank her soda as she watched Sameen eat lunch. Her eyes glanced at the four already empty plates sitting on the edge of the table. It was like she was taking the all-you-can-eat lunch special like a personal challenge.

"As much as I love watching you devour your food Shaw what's so important that I had to come out to the Bronx to meet," Joss questioned.

"All you can eat buffet ….and sitrep," Shaw replied washing down her mouth full of food with orange juice.

"So you guys found something."

"Yeah," Shaw wiped her hands "Finch dug around in the FBI's open case files. Turns out Moss was able to get a protective detail on you for the next four days."

"Protective detail? Four days?" Joss scoffed "How'd he pull that off?"

"He's just trying to collect more evidence so they can put a full surveillance team on you. From what we know they haven't bugged your phone or home yet." Shaw continued.

"Yeah I know they haven't bugged my home…." Joss trailed off not wanting to divulge that she still felt paranoid in her home. Even though she had a new security system and a dog she still swept her house for hidden devices every time she came back.

Shaw watched Carter silently, she knew that Carter liked to keep her problems to herself, but that didn't stop her trained senses from picking up on subtle changes in her demeanor. Ever since her stalker she quadruple checked her surrounding and eyed male strangers with more caution. Deciding she'd let the issue be for now, she carried on with the real reason they were at lunch.

"I'm here to deliver a message from your man." Shaw grinned as she watched Carter's face contort with irritation at the mention of Reese.

"Oh really and what did he say." Joss snapped.

Shaw grinned knowing John was going to get an ear full from Carter for ducking her. "He wanted me to tell you to get a deluxe wash at the rapid laser car wash three blocks over."

Joss looked at her confused "Why?"

"Safe place to talk away from the prying eyes and ears of the two empty federal suits that have been following you since this morning," Shaw replied.

Joss snorted she had known she was being tailed ever since she left her house. "I don't know about you Shaw but I think me washing a clean car would be pretty suspicious to anyone, federal suit or not."

Shaw grinned "I know. That's why I paid some kids to accidentally vandalize your car with a can of paint."

Joss closed her eyes and sighed pinching the bridge of her nose "Of course you did."

Shaw just grinned wider as she watched Joss leave to get her car washed. Her eyes drifting to the back of the restaurant where the ice cream machine was wondering silently if she had time to get some before she snooped around Moss's apartment.

x-x-x-xx-x-x-x

Joss pulled her keys from her pocket as she walked toward her car. Frowning as she saw the bright pink paint splattered all over then hood and roof. As she stared at her poor car, she felt a bump to her shoulder, causing her hand to move to her gun in a slight panic. Calming down as the man in the black jacket and gray hat ignored her and continued down the street not paying attention.

"Hey, watch where you're going pal!" She yelled after the man as he continued to walk away, eyes glued to his phone oblivious to the world around him. Watching him continue across the street not paying attention as he disappeared around the corner.

"I hope your rude ass walks into traffic," Joss mumbled under her breath as she slid into her paint covered car and headed to the car wash.

Midtown, New York City, January 16th 12:15 PM

Harold sipped on his tea as he continued to sift through the incomplete electronic file that the FBI had started on Detective Carter. Apparently the whole investigation was the result of an anonymous tip about Donnelly's murder. Unfortunately, there were no pictures or external files detailing the evidence further.

Although Agent Moss had obtained an order of protection, his criminal investigation into the Detective was flimsy at best and wouldn't hold up in court or warrant an arrest. What concerned him the most was Agent Moss divulging to the Detective in his conversation, that he was only interested in John. That particular detail made the situation most unsettling.

Once Moss began to dig into Donnelly's death, he had no doubt in his mind that a certain Agency would be monitoring the chatter He knew that the CIA didn't believe John was truly dead after the mess with his former partner and Agent Snow. They had simply deemed him irrelevant but if they felt that their rogue agent was a threat, they'd react with extreme prejudice, and that was something he wasn't sure any of them were prepared for.

Bronx, New York City, January 16th 12:45 PM

Joss eyed her rear view mirror seeing the federal agent's tailing her pull off to the side of the street to avoid her seeing them. As she pulled up to the entrance of the car she selected the deluxe was and slowly pulled forward. Once her car was in position, the car wash engaged just as the buzzer sounded and the brushes began to move her passenger door opened.

John quickly shut the car door as the water began to spray down on the car washing away the pink paint. "Interesting choice of color."

Joss rolled her eyes as she removed the battery from her phone again and dropped it back into the cup holder. "Blame Shaw."

John gave her a meek smile

"It's been two days." Joss declared staring out the windshield.

"I needed to make sure you were safe and figure out what was going on," John replied.

"Why'd you sneak out without talking to me?" Joss asked as she watched the soap suds cover the windshield and windows completely.

John blinked as he avoided the question. Not wanting to tell her the truth. He didn't want her to know he panicked and for a lack of a better word was afraid. So he decided on a alternative and easier answer "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your family."

Joss sighed as he avoided the question. She turned her eyes on him, seeing nothing but fatigue in his face. So instead of chastising him like she had planned to due she reached out and held his hand, letting her thumb move over his knuckles,"All of us John."

John looked at her confused.

"All of us. Your forgetting you're a part of the equation too John." Joss clarified. "I don't want anything happening to you either."

John heard his watch beep faintly, he looked out the windshield watching as the water washed away the last of the suds "Times up, I need to go."

"Please be careful," Joss asked as she turned his face to, leaning over the console and giving him a chaste kiss.

John savored the soft kiss, opening his eyes as he felt her lips leave his, her hand still lingering on his jaw.

"You won't see me for a while until I'm sure that Moss isn't a threat. I'll make contact when I can." John stated as he compartmentalized and buried his feelings and the words he wanted to say.

Joss nodded as he moved her hand from his face and exited the car.

"…I love you…" Joss mumbled watching as he disappeared behind one of the giant car wash brushes. She quickly put her car in drive and pulled out of the car wash and headed back to work. As she drove down the street, her stomach started to feel queasy as a feeling of dread settled in.

Lincoln Center Plaza, New York City, January 16th 1:04 PM

:RFI John Hunter Riggs Case file Z1884560.

Kate hit the send button watching the message disappeared into the encrypted chat room. She sipped her salted caramel mocha as she sat at the random terminal in the public library. She had made initial contact during her lunch break yesterday. It usually took her contact a day or two to let her know if her request was accepted or not.

Kate sighed, as much as she hated shelling out her own money, she hated unanswered questions even more. She needed to know what made Reese so important. He was only one man in his middle forties, impressive skill sets but not unique or irreplaceable. From what she had learned he was never attached to any assignments of substantial secrecy. He was just another lap dog of no significant importance. Yet for some reason he had the Director of Operations personally overseeing the performance of the task force dedicated to finding him.

Her contemplation was interrupted by a message popping up in the chat room.

:8K now, 8K later.

Kate agreed to the price on the message board and waited for an ETA on her information and a routing number. Her screen flickered and a new message popped up.

:2300 Southern Blvd 1253, two days. RN-395785039

Kate watched as the computer turned off on its own accord. Knowing that her contact was rendering the computer unusable by overwhelming it with virus's and adware to prevent a trail. She wiped the keyboard down and quickly walked away from the terminal exiting the library and heading back to work.

Manhattan, New York City, January 16th 1:12 PM

Damien looked on appreciatively at his workstation. One thing a person of his nature could count on was the ease of being able to find an arms dealer who didn't give a damn who they were selling to. Eyeing his new arsenal, it was surprising the variety he had gotten for only twenty grand. Two mini Uzi's, an ACR, a SuperSix MRGL grenade launcher, two Beretta 9mm's mounted with laser sights, a spear point survival knife, a k-bar combat knife and a lovely assortment of Semtex and C4.

As he began to assemble his explosives, he replayed in his head the conversation he had overheard between the Detective and Reese. Luckily the woman hadn't found the listening device he had slipped into her pocket when he bumped into her on the street.

His plan was starting to fall into place. The brashness of the FBI agent had lured Reese out of hiding. Although he had told the Detective that she wouldn't be seeing him for a while, Damien knew Reese would be keeping tabs on his girlfriend from a distance.

Eventually, he would notice that it wasn't just the FBI watching the Detective. Once that happened he'd do what any sensible agent with something to loose would do. Take the woman and her kid and disappear.

When that happened, he'd make sure he'd get to the woman first. He would use her to make Reese suffer and when he was broken he'd put John Reese in the ground permanently.

AN: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next time Shaw snoops around Moss's apartment. Matt has a nice chat with Kate and some flashbacks on Damien are revealed.