AN: Sorry for the delay. Enjoy.

XI. Fizzle & Fester

Manhattan, New York City, January 17th 1:20 PM

"So how's it going on the home front Carter," Fusco asked as he drank his soda.

"Stressful, but I'm managing," Joss answered vaguely to avoid the subject.

Fusco gave a small smile, preparing to offer words of comfort when his phone rang. He quickly pulled it from his pocket not even questioning the unfamiliar phone number before he answered, assuming it was either the dynamic duo or their ring master, "Fusco!"

Joss watched Fusco's face go from agitated to confused and concerned "What's wrong Fusco?"

Fusco handed the phone to her "I don't know but it's your kid."

"What!" Joss snatched the phone from Fusco, her mind imagining the worst, wondering why her son would call her partner instead of her directly "Taylor what's wrong? Are you okay? Where are you?"

"Mom I'm fine I'm at the library with Maya…" Taylor assured his mother as soon as her heard the panic in her voice, his eyes drifting up to John who was now sitting across from them "….and John."

"What. Why is he there?" Joss asked confused.

"He said to tell you Maya and I both know about his other job and that you should come pick us up to talk about it." Taylor finished relaying John's message.

Joss pinch the bridge of her nose as she felt her stress and anxiety levels increase tenfold as Taylor explained in not so many words that John somehow blew his cover to two teenagers.

" I'll be there as soon I can, you two finish your project I'll be by to pick you up around four o' clock" Joss bit out trying to control her emotions, "…..and you tell John I'll deal with him later."

Brooklyn New York City, January 17th 1:42 PM

"Okay bye Mom." Taylor ended the call, handing Maya back her phone before turning back to look at John. "Um my mom said she'll pick us up around four….."

"…..she also said she'll deal with you later," Taylor cleared his throat knowing by the tone of his Mom's voice that John was in deep and judging by his demeanor, he knew it too.

John kneed his forehead as he thought about the situation he just created by opening the door for two teenagers to know about who he truly was and what he did for a living. He look at Taylor and his friend, he wasn't too concerned about Taylor, Joss would be able to handle him, however he knew nothing about his friend and given her less than meek demeanor she could turn into a threat. He let out a sigh as he felt his phone buzz.

John tapped his ear piece, "Now's not a good time Finch."

"I am aware Mr. Reese but another situation more urgent then yours may have arisen and I've lost contact with Ms. Shaw and I believe she may be hurt or worse," Harold hastily explained.

John clenched his jaw ,"What new situation?"

"Ms. Shaw and I now believe that the FBI aren't the only ones keeping tabs on Detective Carter." Harold stated as his fingers worked to track Sameen's phone.

John heart skipped a beat in fear that the FBI's attention had attracted a far more treacherous element. "Send me Shaw's last location and tell Fusco to meet me there."

Manhattan, New York City, January 17th 2:45PM

Kate sat at her station as she poured over more raw data, killing time until her shift ended. The flash drive she received from her source had been burning a hole in her pocket ever since she received it.

"Kate." Matt greeted as he sat in the empty desk chair next to her propping his feet up.

"Don't you have something more constructive to do with your time," Kate glared at Matt, still pissed that he barged into her bathroom while she was in the shower.

Matt shrugged "No one to shoot, grab, or kill…yet."

"So you're stuck here, bothering me. Can't you go oil your bullets or something." Kate retorted.

Matt smiled "Oil my bullets? That's cute."

"Well excuse me for not knowing my way around a gun." Kate replied flippantly.

"Are you sure you work for the Agency?" Matt questioned amused.

"Contrary to popular belief the CIA does hire normal people, with mundane job skill sets. Not everyone runs around the world shooting people and breaking necks."

Matt chuckled "I guess you are right, can't have the accountants and janitors running around with M4's."

Kate rolled her eyes, "If you'll excuse me I'm going to go get a cup of coffee."

Matt smirked as he watched her head to the elevator, his smirk falling as the Director followed suit.

Kate quickly pushed the button for the lobby picking at her nails as she waited for the elevator to reach the floor.

"Don't hold it against him Kate, field agents hate being cooped up."

Kate stiffened, her heart rate increasing as she turned her attention to the Director.

"Ma'am…I mean Madam Director." Kate corrected her eyes landing on the two agents, most likely her security who stood directly behind her.

Dian smiled at the younger woman "Please Director is just fine Madam makes me feel like I run a whore house or something."

Kate nodded turning back to the elevator when she heard the ding. As the doors opened they filled in first followed by the two agents.

"Taking a break?" Dian questioned semi enjoying the woman's apprehension.

Kate nodded looking up from the floor "Yes just some coffee."

"Coffee for lunch. That's a terrible diet. How about we get Italian?" Dian questioned.

"Thank you Director but I already had lunch." Kate answered.

"Really? Was that before or after your dead drop at the Bronx Zoo?" Dian questioned in mock politeness.

Kate held her tongue shifting as she eyed the two agents in front of them, wondering if they were there to kill her and dispose of her body.

Dian smiled "No need to be tense Kate they're not here to kill you. At least not yet?"

Kate looked up at the Director as she felt her stomach drop as the elevator doors opened on the lobby floor.

Manhattan, New York City January 17th 3:30 PM

Shaw groaned in pain as she reclined on the plush couch of the safe house, ice packs wrapped securely around her mid-section by bandages.

Fusco shook his head as he handed her another ice pack, watching as she pressed it across the side of her head with one hand as the other held gauze over her still busted and bleeding lip. "Are you sure we shouldn't take her to the doctor?"

John eyed Shaw "I'd prefer she saw a doctor too but she's insisting she's fine."

"I am a Doctor and I say I'm fine." Shaw growled out.

Fusco shook his head at her haggard appearance. "If that's fine I hate to see what isn't."

Shaw glared at Fusco and Reese annoyed at their overbearing concern "I don't need medical attention it's a busted lip and some bruised ribs, I've had worse."

They all turned their attention to the front door as it creaked open. The hurried pitter-patter of paws scurrying across the wood floor echoed through the apartment as Bear rushed past John and Fusco sitting at Shaw's feet. His ears pricked back whining for Shaw to let him know she was okay.

"Hey big guy I'm fine." Shaw smiled as she let the ice pack fall from her head allowing her free hand to scratch Bears ears.

"I believe that is an understatement Ms. Shaw" Harold stated in concern as he saw her condition.

Shaw rolled her eyes "I'm fine Finch just a bruise or two. Anyways we should be more concerned with who else is tailing Carter."

"What! There's more?" Fusco asked shocked.

"You think the FBI would do this and leave me unconscious in an alley?" Shaw replied sarcastically as she eyed Fusco.

"Okay smart ass if it wasn't the FBI who the hell was it?" Fusco glared at Shaw.

"We suspect Mr. Reese's former employers have re-entered the equation due to the FBI's renewed interest in their supposedly dead former asset." Harold stated as he made his way to the table setting his laptop down.

"The hell! The CIA are sitting on Carter too?" Fusco exclaimed.

Shaw turned her focus on Reese, "Maybe?"

Harold looked at Shaw "What do you mean Ms. Shaw?"

"The man I fought he was well trained. Not standard FBI technique. But he may are may not be CIA..." Shaw began.

"Why?" John asked curious.

"Like the FBI, the CIA always follows a playbook. When they engage a target it's to kill or capture. If he was with the Agency he would have either killed me when I was down and disposed of my body or I would have woken up in a black site to be questioned then killed."

"What makes you think he wasn't with the other people tailing Carter who weren't FBI or CIA or whoever?" Fusco questioned.

"None of the other units reacted when we engaged, making me think he wasn't there with any of them?" Shaw finished.

"Very troubling assessment Ms. Shaw" Harold stated aloud.

"Okay so what are we going to do now? The FBI, CIA and mysterious third parties excluded, Carter also has an unexplained homicide bringing additional heat from the NYPD. I don't know about you guys but its looking like four against one and I don't like those odds." Fusco crossed his arms.

"Indeed Detective we are aware. I have been keeping tabs on the FBI and NYPD's investigations, so far nothing has changed the status of either cases. I am currently looking into possible activity from the CIA. However…." Harold continued typing "I believe we should also address another newly developed issue that was created this afternoon."

Shaw watched the boys exchange looks at one another. Her eyebrows furrowing in curiosity as she watched Fusco try and hide his amusement while John looked annoyed. "Ughhh….am I missing something here?"

"Yea Wonderboy over here blew his cover to Carter's kid and his friend." Fusco blurted out.

Shaw snorted "How the hell did that happen?"

John frowned "Joss is handling it."

Shaw repositioned the ice pack on her head "Okay, well ones her kid so that shouldn't be a problem, what about his friend is he going to be a loose end."

"She," Harold corrected "…and her name is Maya Winters, from the information I have gathered so far on her she's 16 years old and goes to Taylor's school. It seems her parents and young Mr. Carters were neighbors and friends for some time in the past.

"Were? Why not now?" John asked.

"Unfortunately Miss Winters' family passed away almost ten years ago in a home invasion. She's been in the foster system ever since. Her grades are average, though she seems to developing an ever increasing discipline problem…" Harold stated scrolling through the girls school records "…the only serious infraction I can see on her file is that she has been put in a community service program as a result of a fight she was in during school hours."

"Sounds like trouble to me, not the type of person I thought Carter would let around her kid" Shaw cracked her knuckles and cocked an eyebrow at John "…speaking of Carter what'd she have to say to you about this."

John shifted uncomfortably, "She said she'll talk to me later…"

Shaw smiled, "In other words she's going to rip you're head off."

Fusco snorted,"…or shot him."

"Finch how do we get information on active CIA operations?" John asked changing the subject.

"We don't Mr. Reese." Harold stood gathering his laptop "I will need some time to look into the CIA, unfortunately any breach in their data will be noticed immediately as such I will need to work from a safer location with more processing power. I will return tomorrow afternoon, till then if you need me you know how to contact me."

"Where are you going?" John asked concerned.

" I will be fine Mr. Reese. I believe your time would be best spent trying to determine if there is a third unknown threat to the Detective." Harold finished as he secured his belongings and moved towards the door.

Fusco watched as glasses left the safe house "Ya'll just gonna let him go off by himself, doesn't he usually take the dog?"

"Finch is a lot more resourceful than you think Lionel" John replied knowing that if Finch didn't believe his destination was secure he would have at least taken Bear. Pushing his concern aside he began to focus on Joss.

"So what now?" Shaw asked as Bear curled up on the couch with her.

"I'm going to go get eyes on Carters tails" John replied as he shrugged his coat on heading towards the door.

"So what do you want us to do?" Fusco asked.

John opened the door looking over his shoulder smirking, "Shaw's in no condition to run surveillance so stays here and recovers,...and you get to make sure she doesn't leave."

Fusco arms fell to his side as he watched Reese walk out the door leaving him on babysitting duty. He turned to look at Shaw seeing her glaring at the door, clearly not liking being benched. He stiffened when she turned her gaze on him a sinister grin creeping onto her face.

Chinatown New York City, 2:58 AM January 18th

Joss sat at the kitchen island staring at her third glass of scotch. The dead silence of the room causing a soft ringing in her ears. She blinked back her tears. The anxiety and stress of work, John, the FBI and now the rift between her and her son were starting to take its toll on her physically and mentally. She sighed as her mind drifted back to the talk she had with her son and Maya.

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

Brooklyn New York City, 6:38 PM January 17th

Joss placed their dis-assembled phones on top of the living room table, after finishing her swipe for bugs, before turning on the TV and making her way into the kitchen. Sitting down directly in-front of them, "I'm not sure where to begin."

"Uhhhh….how about with who your fake ass boyfriend is?" Maya blurted out.

"Maya…," Joss began sternly before Taylor interrupted.

"Mom who is John, really?" Taylor asked wondering why his Mom, who always told him to tell the truth would lie to him about her boyfriend.

Joss inhaled deeply "The name he goes by now is John Reese."

"John Reese. Then why'd you lie and say his name was John Warren?" Taylor asked confused.

"To protect you…to protect him." Joss answered.

"Protect me? From what? Who is this guy?" Taylor asked his thoughts going back to the night the FBI and NYPD barged into their home. The same night John had dinner with them.

Joss looked between Taylor and Maya folding her hands to keep from fidgeting "What we told you at dinner was a part of the truth. John use to be in the military except when he was done, he accepted a position with the CIA."

Taylor's eyes widened in shock "He's a spy?"

"He used to be." Joss answered.

"Is that why he uses a fake name because he's undercover or something?" Taylor rattled back grasping for answers.

"No…." Joss began unsure how to phrase John getting burned by his own country "He and his former employer's had a falling out, which resulted in John having to disappear, permanently, to stay safe."

"Stay safe? Is that why the FBI and cops were here? Because they think he's dangerous?" Taylor asked as he thought about the safety of his family and friends.

"He's not dangerous to us. The FBI are operating on incomplete information. He didn't do anything bad." Joss vehemently defended "…he was taken advantage of by the CIA, they tried to kill him and left him for dead, he's been avoiding them ever since."

"The CIA wants to kill your boyfriend? What the hell are they going to do to us for knowing about him?" Maya questioned in a slight panic.

"Maya you're not in any danger, neither of you are." Joss emphasized.

"….but in order to ensure that, neither one of can tell anybody about who John is" Joss continued "….no one, not even your Dad or Grandma Taylor."

Taylor sat silently digesting his Mom's words. She was dating a spy that had a hit on his head and he couldn't warn his family about. What if the CIA found out the spy they were after was dating his Mom. If a mobster was willing to kidnap him in broad daylight from school to get his Mom who was just a cop. What kind of shady shit would the CIA do to get to John? Would they hurt his Mom, his Grandma or Dad his cousins, aunts and uncles or his friends Taylor glanced at Maya as she sat silently next to him.

He looked back at his Mom, his hero. The one who always told him to tell the truth and taught him, right was right and wrong was wrong no matter the circumstance. Yet here she was lying to other cops and FBI agents, to protect a wanted spy, criminal, fugitive. He bowed his head looking at the table, wondering why his Mom would chose to protect a fugitive over him or their family.

Taylor shot up from his seat his hands clenched, he couldn't be here anymore he needed space to think.

"Taylor…Taylor...please just…."Joss stood watching as her son stormed away from her. The look of disappointment and betrayal in his eyes breaking her heart. She flinched slightly when his bedroom door slammed shut.

Joss rubbed her forehead as she sat back down. Taking a few minutes to composed herself,before turning her attention back at Maya, trying to figure out how to ensure she didn't say anything about John to her friends of foster family.

Maya saw the contemplative look in Taylor's Mom's eyes, she held her hands up in mock surrender. "Don't worry about me. I ain't about to snitch on Jason Bourne."

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

The sound of the front door opening brought her out of her thoughts. She quickly whipped her face blinking back the rest of her tears, before scowling at the man walking towards her.

John breathed out in defeat as he saw Joss sitting at his kitchen island dressed in a still damp hoodie. His eyes drifting to his almost empty bottle of scotch and the half empty glass in front of her. He could tell she had been crying from the glassiness of her eyes and the slight redness around her lids.

"Joss you shouldn't be here." John stated as walked into the kitchen removing his jacket and blazer draping the wet items across the back of the empty stool before removing his gun and placing it on the counter.

Joss scoffed " I shouldn't be here my ass. I just crawled through my neighbors backyards dressed like a thief under the cover of darkness in the pouring rain. I'm at the center of a homicide investigation by the NYPD and the FBI is following me around scrutinizing my every move trying to find you. I tell you to be careful and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse you blow your cover to two damn teenagers at a fucking public library!"

John quirked an eyebrow, he had never heard her curse at anybody before, let alone at him.

"I was following a lead that I thought was a threat to you." John stated bluntly,he wasn't going to apologize for trying to keep her safe.

"In a public library? Not to mention you flashing around a detective badge, a dead detective's badge no less." Joss clenched her fist at his unapologetic answer before tossing back the rest of her drink.

"Would you prefer I used a live detective's badge?" John retorted.

Joss pursed her lips "Do not get cute with me John, or so help he God, I will smack the shit out of you."

"And to answer your question, no you shouldn't be using anyone's badge especially not one that belongs to the corpse I had to dig up" Joss bit out pouring another drink.

John frowned staring at the floor remembering the night he picked Bear up from her after HR had tried to railroad Lionel. His heart clenching as he remembered the caked on mud splattered on her boots and pants and the dazed and defeated look in her eyes. As she told him no one would ever find Stills' body.

"My son hates me? He couldn't wait to get out the house when his Dad came to get him for the weekend." Joss whispered out, fresh tears forming in her eyes.

John felt his stomach clench at her words, he had hoped Taylor hadn't taken their lies to heart or least had been more understanding as to why they lied to then again the truth of who he was and what he did was a lot to swallow for an adult let alone a 16 year old.

"How did this come undone so fast?" Joss asked her voice cracking.

John moved closer as he saw her about to take another drink. He pulled the glass from her hand and sat it back on the counter out of her immediate reach. He moved her stool away from the counter before kissing her forehead and pulling her close, resting her head against his chest.

Joss felt the strain of the past few days wash over her, leaving her numb, exhausted and too tired to explain, lecture or argue anymore.

"I should leave." Joss mumbled out her eyes drifting close as she listened to the steady beat of John's heart.

John held her tighter rubbing her back as he nuzzled her hair enjoying holding her close.

"When?" John asked softly.

When he didn't receive a reply he leaned back slightly, gripping her shoulders causing her to jolt lightly. The blood shot redness of her eyes telling him she had dozed off while they were talking. He glanced at the clock in his kitchen. It was 3:55, the logical part of him was telling him to make her go home but the illogical part just wanted to spend time with her even if it was for just a few hours. He picked her up from the stool and made a bee line to his bed, setting her down before bending down to remove her shoes.

"I should go before the rain stops and it gets to bright outside so I can get back in my house undetected," Joss yawed watching as he took her shoes off.

"The rain isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow afternoon, I'll wake you in a few hours," John stated as he stood, slipping his hands under her damp hoodie and pulling it over her head. He quickly felt her undershirt feeling its dampness he pulled back "I'll get you a shirt"

Joss watched as John rustled though his dresser pulling out a t-shirt before walking back over to her and handing it to her.

"Get some sleep Joss, I'll wake you before dawn." John relayed as he moved to the end table at the head of his bed. Toeing his shoes of first and then untucking his shirt as before placing his phone on its charger.

Joss watched quietly as he began his nightly routine before grabbing a few items from his dresser and heading to the bathroom. She listened as cabinets opened and closed before the sound of a shower turning on echoed throughout the apartment. She stared at the shirt he had given her to sleep in. Deciding to take the invitation she stood pealing off her damp shirt and pants. Leaving her in nothing but her bra and panties before shed tugged the large shirt over her head and slipped into his bed.

As soon as her head hit the pillow she was enveloped in his scent, her body unraveling as she drifted off.

John pulled his shirt over his damp hair as he exited his bathroom. Flicking off the lights in the apartment before heading to his bed.

He quickly set the alarm on his phone for 5:30 AM before crawling in beside Joss's sleeping form. Once under the covers he moved closer, wrapping his arms and body around her and settling in. He kissed her head and buried his nose into her neck as he stared blankly at a random brick in his wall.

"I'm sorry Joss" John whispered softly.

'I'm sorry for destroying your life,' John thought to himself holding her tighter as his eyes drifted close.

AN: Although I wanted to be all sunshine and flowers. I figured if I was in Taylor's position I would flip out if my mom told me she was dating a fugitive wanted by the CIA FBI and NYPD.

Next Time: A further look into the past. Finch digs into the CIA . Kate gets to make a tough decision. Taylor chats with his Dad.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.