Just FYI this story falls in line with Call in the Darkness and Promise Keeper. Picks up a weeks after the latter. I guess I should have clarified that in the first chapter, just so it was clear sorry. But here's the next chapter I hope to get one more update in before Wednesday. Thank you for all the reviews. I love seeing them. Their great motivation to keep writing.

John and Joss walked as close to the senator as his bodyguards would allow. John remained highly alert as they moved through the hotel where the senator had just finished having one of the many conferences on his busy schedule. Walking to the entrance they each stepped through the shining glass doors into the night. One of the bodyguards turned to face Mr. Marshall.

"Senator, if you and Ms. Phillips will wait here, we will see to your car."

"Thank you."

"Detectives would you be so kind as to keep watch?"

Joss hesitantly nodded, her eyes briefly falling to John's car which waited a few feet away from them. John watched them walk away. Marshall turned to Clarisse and ran a hand across her cheek. "You okay sweetheart?"

Again she gave him a shy smile as she cast an embarrassed glance towards John and Joss. They shared a look and took a few steps back. Joss held in a laugh. Poor Clarisse. She was far from the open type, but Mr. Marshall was not at all bothered by onlookers. His career had seen to that.

"I'm just a little tired." She let out a breath. "It's just there's so much going on. Not to mention it's awkward when reporters ask questions about our relationship. When are we getting married, how did we meet, how long after your divorce was final until we become involved. I also don't appreciate the insinuations that we had an affair." She kept her voice as low as possible.

"They're the media. It's their job Clarisse. They have to look for scandal to make a good story. Anything to damage my political career."

"I know, but I just wish you would be a little more forthcoming with the truth."

"Hey," he lifted her chin and stepped a little closer, "I am not trying to hurt you and I am definitely not out to make you the bad guy here. But I've been in this for some time now. I know constantly defending myself isn't going to do anything. I know the truth. Now, I just have to walk in it and be confident. Please try not to let this frustrate you. I want to see that glow back in your eyes. The one that was there when we first got to know each other."
She let out a small smile. "I love you-" Clarisse squealed in surprise when a bullet flew past her nearly hitting John.

"Get down," Joss and John yelled quickly recovering and pulling out their guns. The couple lowered as John and Joss hunkered down closer to them. Aiming his gun John began firing as they used the cars parked against the street as their shields. Joss peered over one of the car's top and shot across the street. At least three guns were firing at them.

"Stay down!" John commanded. Getting in one good aim Joss nicked one of their attackers in the arm and watched his gun go down.

"Let's move." John commanded slowly taking the lead towards his car. He checked over his shoulder, never ceasing to fire, making sure Joss was safe. The couple stayed low following close on his heels. He opened the back door for them as they slid in. At that moment a car appeared and drove straight toward the shooters throwing them off and causing them to fall back. John and Joss used the opening to climb into the car and drive off before the shots started up again.

"Mr. Reese is everything alright?"

Keeping one hand on the wheel John tapped his ear piece. "We're fine Finch. But we just evaded a few bullets. I think we need to take an alternative route. So far this angle isn't getting us very far." He looked out the corner of his eye when he felt Joss lightly pulling on his suit jacket. It only took him a moment to realize she was checking for injuries. Her hand ran across his chest and after she did not feel the extra thickness caused by a vest she frowned and punched him in the side. John tried not to wince.

"I agree. Don't worry. I'll be sending Ms. Shaw and Detective Fusco to check up on something. Carter had some loose ends and she told me of someone who she thinks might be of help, which is where Fusco and Shaw will come into play. In the mean time remain with Ms. Phillips."

"You got it."
….

"Are you okay?" Joss asked Clarisse. The girl looked a mess. Her face was pale and she was shook up. Mr. Marshall sat across from her rubbing her shaking hands in his.

"I'll be okay Detective Carter. I'm just," she shook her head, "I'm shocked about what happened."
Joss nodded sympathetically. She lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll find out what's going on."
"With all due respect detective," one of the bodyguards said stepping forward, "that is our duty and we will carry this little investigation."

Joss opened her mouth to speak, but John beat her to it. "It has now become our investigation since you failed to protect them when they needed you. And for the record there is nothing little about this. When three gunmen appear at night and attack two unarmed people, it's no small matter." The bodyguard remained quiet not having the courage to speak out against John. "Why don't you both take the rest of the night off? I think my partner and I have proved we can handle things."

The two men glanced at each other then, unwilling to argue, they left the room. Clarisse meanwhile took another unsteady breath. Part of her wanted to curl up into her fiancé's arms. The other part of her wanted to be away from him. To breathe, to return to something more familiar. Not the chaos of the political world. As if seeing her need Joss came closer. "Clarisse would you like to go to your room? Or get some air?"

Although she was still a stranger Clarisse felt comfortable with the female detective. She nodded and stood. "Yes please. I could use that." Without turning to Marshall she stood and prepared to leave with Joss.

"We'll be right back." Joss informed John giving him a knowing look.

Once they were out in the large hallway of Marshall's house Joss noticed Clarisse visibly relaxed. "I'm sorry this happened Clarisse. I assure you we are doing all that we can to help."

She gave a weak appreciative smile. "Thank you. I don't know why this happened. He's never had these problems in the past. I don't understand. Granted I haven't know him for several years, but still. " Tears appeared in her eyes and she took a breath to control herself. Joss's heart went out to her knowing she was under a lot of stress. "So much is happening. The wedding, the campaign, the rumors. Now this. It just has made me question if I'm really ready to get married. I keep thinking about how my life used to be before we met. A long time ago with Will…" Abruptly Clarisse stopped herself. She shook her head dismayed. Carter tried not to react to the name that was just mentioned. Who was Will? "Please keep my frustrations between us. Don't tell Gary. I don't want him to know I'm having doubts."

Joss nodded. "Every bride has jitters." However, even as Joss said the words she wasn't sure that "jitters" was all this was. There was something else bothering Clarisse and Carter wasn't sure what.

"Carter," both women looked down the hall to see John standing in the shadows. "Can I speak with you?"

"Excuse me." Joss's heels clicked against the floor. "What's up?"

"Still nothing from Marshall. He's hiding something Joss. I know he knows more than he's letting on. It looks like we'll have to stay the night. I have a bag for you in my car."

Joss's eyes went wide and she stared at her boyfriend in disbelief. "You went to my place and packed me a bag. John-"

"Relax, I respected your privacy, I had Shaw pack it, but I was with her." Joss rolled her eyes. "I thought it would be smart to keep some of your things with me just in case we ran into a situation such as the one we're in right now."

Joss huffed out a breath. Then looked over him. "You're show you're okay?"

His eyes softened. "Of course. Come on Joss. You know me getting shot at is just another day in my neighborhood."

She smiled. "You just better thank God you didn't get a bullet to your chest while you walked around unprotected."

He smiled. "I already did." He grew serious again. "I'm going to go down to the car and get the bags. Stay here. You take Clarisse. I'll take Marshall."

A corner of her mouth lifted. "Okay." A twinkle appeared in her eye. One that John didn't miss and he smirked. She wanted to kiss him, but not with Clarisse so close. So instead she lifted her fist. He bumped it. Both settling for the small amount of physical contact. "Let me know when Finch gets back to you about what Shaw and Fusco find out. That was my only lead and I'm eager to know if there's anything to it."

…

"Boss, you got company." Tony announced. From out of the shadows Shaw and Fusco appeared. Elias held that same small smile that never left his face. As if he was always finding something amusing. Shaw couldn't stand it.

"Welcome Detective, Ms. Shaw. I mean no offense, but I would rather my dealings from your little team be with John, or my chess partner. I even at this point wouldn't mind my favorite NYPD detective. She certainly would be more pleasing to the eye."

Shaw cocked an eyebrow. "We'll be sure to tell her that the next time we see her."

"Why did Harold send you two?"

"Because Carter and Reese are currently at work."

Elias nodded. "Well, I guess I will have to settle on my disappointment. What can I do for you?"

"We want to know what information you got on a senator." Fusco answered. "He's real hot in the news right now. In the midst of his campaign. Gary Marshall."

Elias's brow lifted in recognition of the name. "Ah yes. I've heard of the name."

"How?" Shaw question not appreciating the way Elias took his time answering questions or going in circles before he finally released the information that had been wanted.

"He's quite the businessman."

"He's worked with you?" Fusco asked in surprise.

"Not me. But his men have."

"His men?" Shaw repeated.

"Marshall was one of top crooked politicians in this city. Had dealings with the Russians and even HR before it was destroyed. He was interested in partnering up with me, but I kept are dealings minimal. Not only did his boys on the street push drugs to kids, but he had too much thirst for power. I knew that could be a problem."

"So the so-called man of the people has been a fake," Fusco concluded. "Letting crime slip for different payoffs."

"Like it or not crime can be very rewarding. There was very little this man wasn't into. Until his recent redemption that is."

"Redemption?" Shaw questioned.

"He went straight. Abandoned his old crooked ways. You can imagine that hasn't set well with his boys who are now without work or a political ally. Word is they put a price on the head of that young girl he's with."

Fusco frowned. "For what?"

"Leverage to get the man to do what they want after he is elected. The key is, if he wants to see his bride walk down the aisle, he'll do what needs to be done to keep her alive."

…

The next day John and Joss followed close to Clarisse. The bodyguards had come with reinforcements and forced them away from the senator and Ms. Phillips, but Joss and John continued to watch her from a distance as she went about running errands. Joss sat in the passenger seat as they both kept a close eye on the number from the view given them in a very large window.
"I can't believe it. This guy is no better than the rest of them," Joss said disgusted after having learned the truth of Senator Marshall. "And what's worse is he has the audacity to walk around all wide eyed and innocent when the whole time he's known what has been going on."

"I can't believe the man was with his wife for twenty years and made her put up with his illegal affairs only to go straight and leave her after he's made that decision. Fusco and Finch learned that she begged him for years to get on the right path. It's wrong to give her her wish when she's not going to get to enjoy the new man he is now."

Joss shook her head. "I don't know John. This relationship has doom written all over it."
"What do you mean?" John took his eyes away from the store to look at Joss.

"Don't get me wrong, I think Clarisse really cares for Marshall, but she's having lots of doubts." Carter bit her lip. "I think she is still in love with someone else. She mentioned another man's name the other night. She didn't say who he was, but the way she said it, and the look in her eye, whoever he is she's not over him. I think that's another reason why she isn't in a rush to get married."

John listened not shocked by the news. He could tell Clarisse wasn't half as eager as she should be. But if she didn't love the man completely what had made her say yes to his proposal? His eyes returned to the store in time to see her walk back out. Her bodyguard, who had been with her moments ago, however did not follow. John clenched his teeth. Why weren't these guards doing their jobs? Clarisse walked past a man standing on the sidewalk. The man glanced up at her watching her walk by before he fell into step behind her.

"She's got someone on her tail," John said, but Joss was already slipping out of her seatbelt. They moved across the street to catch up to the man who was gaining on Clarisse. Just as the man had reached out his hand to grab her, John jumped him, forcing him back to an alley. He raised his fist and struck the man in the mouth causing him to stumble back.

"John!" Joss warned reaching out to stop him. "Calm down. He's not going anywhere." John grabbed the front of the man's jacket taking the time to realize how much smaller he was. "What do you want?"

"Me?" he accused. "What were you doing? Are you here to hurt Clarisse?"

"No. That's what you came to do and I stopped you." Without another word John began pulling the man towards the car.

"What are you doing?" Carter questioned cautiously looking around as they crossed the street.
"He's coming with us. We're getting some answers."

"Uh John I thought we had had this talk about kidnapping."

As John threw the man into the trunk he ignored his protests. "Face it Joss. If this man is who we think he is a short ride in a trunk is letting him off easy."