AN: Hey guys sorry for the long hiatus in my stories, my grad school work got a bit intense, hopefully ill be able to get back into regular updates soon. :)
Enjoy.
X. Where There's Smoke
Brooklyn New York City, January 17th 5:30 AM
Joss lay still as she stared at the window. Even though the blinds were drawn, she could still see the inky blackness of night gradually fading into the blue grey tone of early dawn. She had barely slept during the night, Moss's words playing on repeat in the back of her mind.
'Just wondering what lengths a man who kills for a living would go through to protect you…..Makes you wonder if he's keeping secrets….'
Her mind had been imagining the worst all night. Questioning the circumstances of her stalker's death and wondering where John had disappeared too after she had broken down in his arms at the hospital.
Her hand drifted over the empty side of her bed. Her lip twitching into a smile as she reminisced about his soft snores and how intense of a cuddler he was. She practically had to nudge him awake so she could get up and use the bathroom.
Her smile dropped as her alarm clock beeped to life, letting her know it was time to get up. She sighed as she sat up, turning the alarm off and rubbing her eyes to sooth the strain of her sleepless night. She quickly rose from the bed laying her work clothes out before heading to the bathroom, hoping a quick warm shower would make the stress, exhaustion and anxiety disappear.
Manhattan New York City January 17th 6:30AM
John grunted as his knuckles struck the leather bag repeatedly. His raw knuckles showing the extent of what two hours of hitting a punching bag without gloves or tape could do. He steadied the bag as he took a step back, using his already sweaty shirt to wipe even more sweat from his face, glancing over his shoulder as he heard a familiar gait approaching him.
"You have an exit?" Sameen stated nonchalantly as she leaned against the wall.
"It won't get that far," John eyed her before he went back to punching the bag
Shaw frowned knowing that every skilled operative always had multiple exit strategies even if they never had to use them.
John paused his workout, "I…won't let it get that far."
Shaw snorted knowing that he was going to turn himself in instead of running, "Does Carter know that you're going to fall on your sword?"
John turned and glared, "All that matters is keeping them safe."
Shaw eyed Reese "You should just run with them, you act like Harold couldn't fix papers for them like he did for us."
John sighed, "They're not like us Shaw. They can't disappear, they have people who will miss and look for them...and...Taylor's just a child, I can't destroy his life before it's even started."
Shaw frowned, they both knew what would happen if he turned himself in. The FBI would question, process and transport him to a federal detention center and the CIA would make sure he "disappeared" before he even got to the facility.
Shaw felt her frown deepened as she turned on her heel and walked away. She wasn't quite sure why, but for some reason she felt agitated, she couldn't push aside the fact that she wasn't okay with knowing that at the end of this ordeal, John could end up dead.
Brooklyn, New York City, January 17th 11:23AM
Taylor's eyes carefully scanned the investment firm's web page reading the pictureless biography of John Warren. On screen, everything looked normal. His moms boyfriend sounded like a normal guy with a normal job.
"You find anything interesting yet?"
Taylor looked up from the desktop of the library computer as Maya sat down next to him.
"No. Not yet. He's just normal and boring." Taylor shrugged as he tilted the screen towards her.
"Well that's not surprising, I know they say you can find anything on Google but I think a list of known vigilantes in New York might be pushing it." Maya stated as she looked at the employee biography for John Warren. "Have you looked up anything else?"
"Like what?" Taylor questioned.
Maya pulled the keyboard closer as her fingers began typing in random phrases. "How about…..John Warren investment banker arrest record."
They both watched as no resulted surfaced.
"Okay how about... Is John Warren investment banker the man in suit vigilante." Maya hit enter into Google again.
Taylor cocked an eyebrow at the zero results. "Seriously? Did you really think that would actually work?"
"Hey I'm not some kind of computer wizard hacker, besides I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas!" Maya fired back.
Taylor shook his head as he cracked open his history book "Let's just finish our project."
Midtown, New York City, January 17th , 11:30 AM
Harold's fingers paused in his research into Moss and his investigation. His eyes darting to the alert blinking on his screen. He quickly clicked on it, realizing that his keyword phrase monitoring program had been activated. As a precautionary measure, he had been continually monitoring his employee's alternative identities in case of compromise by an unknown third party. When he saw that the alert was for John Warren he feared the FBI had made a linkage between Warren and the Man in the Suit. His fear quickly turned to confusion as he realized that the IP address being used to research Warren's connection to the Man in the Suit was coming from the public library, instead of a secure government location.
Harold quickly pressed his speed dial, unsure of who the threat was. "Mr. Reese we might have a situation. Someone at the Brooklyn Public Library seems to be trying to link John Warren to the Man in the Suit."
Bronx New York City, January 17th 12:50 PM
Kate pushed her way through gaps of people as she weaved her way through the zoo. Her contact had told her to walk to the fountain circle. As she approached the fountain, she scanned her surroundings looking for anything out of the ordinary. Her contact was always careful, never the same bank accounts, never the same drop offs and never the same delivery patsy.
Kate jumped slightly as she felt a tap on her shoulder as she turned around she saw a man holding a yellow balloon animal. Before she could say anything he handed the novelty toy to her.
"The archivist says you should use caution, you're walking around in a minefield."
Kate watched silently as the man turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowds of people. She looked down at the dog shaped balloon animal. As she stared at it she noticed something inside its belly. She quickly popped the balloon and sifted through the rubber remains until a USB drive fell out into her palm.
Brooklyn New York City, January 17th 1:00 PM
John marched into the library, he had already been in a foul mood when Finch had called him, finding out someone was trying to link his clean alias to the man in the suit only made it worse, "Which terminal was it Finch?"
Harold cringed slightly at the undertone in John's voice, "Mr. Reese might I remind you that you're in a public place and causing any type of scene could lead to serious ramifications for Detective Carter."
John clenched his jaw "I'm just going to have a quick chat Finch, now which terminal is it?"
Harold sighed"It should be in station four on your left and Mr. Reese please..."
"Thanks Finch you should check in with Shaw" John interrupted before disconnecting with Harold as he maneuvered to his way through the rows of desk top computers. He stared in confusion as the only occupant near the computers was a young black teenage girl, maybe 15 or 16 years old. Judging from how high she sat in her seat, she couldn't have been more than 5 foot . Before he could determine if she was armed the girl looked in his direction.
Maya glared at the creepy white guy staring at her, "Can I help you?"
"Actually yes …"John began, flashing Stills' badge as he moved closer to the computers "My names Detective Stills, I was wondering if you've seen any suspicious activity around these computers."
Maya sat up straighter at the sight of the police badge "Suspicious activity?...No Why?"
John slipped his badge back in his pocket, before he could continue a familiar voice called his name.
"John?"
John cursed under his breath, turning to see Taylor walking towards him with a book in hand before handing it to the girl he had been about to questioned, the same girl he had just introduced himself to as Detective Stills. He prayed to God that Taylor hadn't mentioned who he was to his friend yet.
Manhattan New York City, January 17th 1:15 PM
Shaw watched Carter and Fusco head into their typical diner for lunch as she sat down on the bench across the street pretending to play with her phone. Her eyes briefly glancing at the feds following Carter around. Two were in a black GMC and two were in a Camry. She also clocked three goons trying to blend in on the street in front of the diner, not to mention their surveillance van parked half a block away and the plain clothes man in the hoodie standing at the opening of the alley 12 yards to her left.
Shaw tapped her ear piece as it buzzed
"Finch, any more luck on finding out what Moss has on Carter yet?"
"Some…," Harold paused debating on whether or not to tell Shaw about John's potential situation.
Shaw rolled her eyes at the worry in Harold's voice "Clam down Finch it's a public library he's not going to get into a shootout unless it's necessary."
"How did you…," Harold trailed off before looking around in suspicion "You bugged the library again didn't you?"
"Not again…" Shaw smirked "…you just never found them all the first time. So what do you have on Moss's case so far and how did he get so many tails approved?"
Harold eyed his sanctuary in frustration before turning back to his desktops "Right. Since Agent Moss could not prove that Detective Carter knows John in a personal nature, he presented her case as a potential victim in need of protection against a rouge CIA agent."
"So he's hoping the protection detail will catch Reese and Carter conversing and then he has probable cause to arrest her." Shaw finished.
"Precisely, lucky for us, all John and Detective Carter have to do is avoid the four agents Moss assigned to follow Joss until the four day period is up."
Shaw stiffened before moving her hands into her jacket pocket and gripping her gun, "Finch I think we have a new problem."
"What do you mean Ms. Shaw?" Harold asked confused.
Shaw casually rose from her bench making her way towards the tail near the alley, "I've counted at least eight people and a surveillance van tailing Carter."
"Eight" Harold felt panic rise in his chest "Ms. Shaw the FBI only has four agents assigned to tail Detective Carter."
"Well I guess it's time for me to find out who else is sniffing around" Shaw stated as she readied herself to comfort the man standing at the alley entrance.
Damien glanced out the corner of his eyes as a short woman in black began to approach him. He tugged his hood down further before turning away from watching the Detective and ducking back into the alley.
Brooklyn New York City, January 17th 1:20 PM
"Maya this is my Mom's boyfriend John. You know, the one I've been telling you about..." Taylor said with emphasis, hoping Maya wouldn't say anything about his suspicions of John. Before he turned hos attention back on John.
"….and John this is my friend Maya from school. So John what are you doing here?" Taylor asked curiously.
"Just taking care of some business. What are you two doing here on a Saturday?" John replied hoping Taylor hadn't told his friend to much about him or at least not his last name or job occupation.
"Investment banker my ass!" Maya exclaimed as she stood up gripping the back of Taylor's shirt and pulling him closer to her.
Taylor looked at Maya in confusion as she tugged him away from John
"I don't know how dumb you think I am pal but you got five seconds to tell us who you really are before I scream bloody murder and call the real cops.. Detective Stills" Maya threatened as she glared at the man who just pretended like he didn't just introduce himself as a cop to her.
"Detective Stills?...Who's that?" Taylor asked confused as he glanced between Maya and John, his confusion turning to concern as Maya gripped his arm tighter.
"Taylor I need you to use your friends phone to call Detective Fusco and ask for your Mother please."John asked as he held his hands up in submission hoping Taylor's friend wouldn't cause a scene.
Manhattan New York City, January 17th 1:25PM
Shaw quickened her pace as the man ducked into the alley. As she rounded the corner she ducked to the side barely dodging a hit to the face. Before she had time to regain her footing she felt a blow connect with her lower stomach knocking the wind from her lungs.
Damien quickly gripped the hunched over woman's hair, yanking her head back before readying himself to smash her head into the brick wall of the alley.
Shaw brought her heeled boot down on the man's foot before slamming her elbow into his side. Causing his grip to loosen allowing her to jerk her head out of is grasp, ignoring the sting of hair being ripped from her scalp as she broke completely free of his grip, drawing her gun hastily.
Damien charged at the woman hurdling them both into the wall and causing her gun to fly from her grip. After she was disarmed hand he drew back and brought his knee into her stomach causing her to buckle to her knees, gasping for air. He stepped back slightly gaining momentum as her directed a kick to her ribs.
Shaw gasped for air as she threw her arms up barley blocking the man's foot from connecting and possibly breaking her ribs.
Damien jerked his foot away, quickly changing tactics and bringing his fist down on the woman's head. Watching her collapse to the ground motionless.
AN:Next time John deals with an upset Joss. Joss deals with an upset teenager and Fusco gets to babysit wounded and angry Shaw.
Also Director Bates has a talk with Kate. Hopefully i should be able to post the next chapter by Sunday if not Monday night.
Thanks for still reading and reviewing. :)