There was a putrid smell of burning flesh in his nostrils and mewling cries in his ears.
Reese looked at the dim light bulb hanging by a drop cord in the ceiling and for a minute he blocked out the sound. He rested the thin butane torch on the table in the back of the room and leaned up against the wall.
In front of him was Lars Eichel a 'banker' they'd apprehended in Nice after following him for two days. Intel had told them that he'd had links to spies who wanted to acquire weapons information to start a nuclear programme for a well funded, power hungry dictator.
For a minute he pretended he wasn't here inhaling the scent of urine and feces. Eichel had lost control of his bowels ten minutes into their session.
Reese was used to denials, he was used to lies and he knew when someone was being deceptive.
The high pitched screams Eichel had made told him that poor man was innocent. Their Intel had been wrong. He knew it in his gut, but Kara wanted to be sure. So he'd used the butane torch, slowly at first, then he spent thirty second intervals on different parts of his body. He concentrated first on his right arm and shoulder blade with first degree burns.
"Bitte! Ich bin ein Banker. Ich arbeite an der Schweizer Royal Bank. Ich weiß nicht, was sie sprechen. Bitte. Oh Gott, bitte hör auf."
(Please! I am a banker. I work at the Swiss Royal Bank. I don't know what you are talking about. Please. Oh, God please stop!)
Over and over he screamed and pleaded and begged. Over and over again. By the time his back was covered in third degree burns, he could do no more than whimper.
"Sie fordern sie immer noch nichts wissen?"
(You insist you still know nothing?)
Reese's voice, quiet, raw and dripping with the weariness of the session, came from the back of the room. Eichel's head suddenly slumped over; he was unconscious, blacked out from the pain.
Reese took a deep breath, pushing the heavy steel door open and walked out.
Kara watched Eichel through the glass and shook her head. "He still won't talk."
"Because he doesn't know anything." He replied.
"Or you're not pushing him hard enough. We don't have much time."
"Kara, the Intel was wrong. Eichel's not the man we're looking for."
"Wake him up. And start again."
He stared at her, his face hard, his patience drawing thin. He could still smell the rotting flesh in his nose. He had a headache now and he felt sick to his stomach.
"Start again John."
He heard her voice in his ears, so close behind him and he snapped. He spun round quickly, gripping her by the throat and started to choke her.
The Boy Scout was gone. There was only the dark now. But curiously enough, she showed no fear even though his grip on her throat grew tighter by the second. She started laughing, quite maniacally. Her face was changed, twisted and she looked at him in deranged scorn.
"You are the dark, John. You can't run from it no matter what you do."
His grip was getting tighter, when he heard a voice behind him and a hand touched his shoulder.
"Don't do it, John." He turned around. It was Carter. Her voice was sweet, gentle and she held him tightly around the waist.
"Let it go, John. Come with me and let it go."
She took his hand, leading him away from the room. They were bathed in light again. The smell of the interrogation room was almost gone and he smelled a hint of jasmine filling the air.
He felt light hit his body. He felt fresh air hit his lungs, but he heard Kara screaming behind him. She was gaining on them fast as they walked out of the building.
"Don't look back….don't look back…"
O0o0o0o0o
"John? John, wake up."
Carter didn't remember what time she fell asleep. All she remembered was John saying good night to her and everything after that was a blur.
Sometime during the early morning, he started to twitch and murmur and his grip on her tightened like he was holding on for dear life. He was probably having a bad dream. She tried to rise up a bit out of his embrace, but his arms around her wouldn't budge.
She put her hands on his face, trying to get him to respond.
"John…baby wake up. Wake up."
He gasped and the light trickling in from the porch lamp allowed her to see his eyelashes flicker and he finally opened his eyes.
He groaned and finally relaxed his hold on her. She ran her hand over the side of his face, softly, trying to calm him.
"It was a bad dream. It's okay."
He looked at her, letting out a deep sigh and then pulled her close again. He didn't go back to sleep and neither did she and she lay still with him as he ran his hands up and down her back. She lay still as his heartbeat finally slowed down and she felt him start to relax again.
"You're still having them?" She asked, and she wondered if he'd respond. He seemed to be gathering his thoughts and it was a while before he finally did speak.
"Off and on."
"Your sister?"
"Sometimes." He said quietly. "Other times, someone else."
"Someone else like who?" She already knew the answer, but she wanted him to say it.
"Kara." The lone word on his tongue seemed like a weight thrust into the air. He'd been through so much with his partner. He'd left that part of his life behind, but he still carried around so much guilt.
His arm around her tightened again and she pressed her lips to the side of his neck.
"Tell me about it."
"It's normally the same. It's a mission we'd been on, someone she killed while I watched, or….something I'd done."
She ached at the inflection in his voice as he said the last words.
"It was different this time."
"How?"
"I was...I can't remember how, but….you were there…just as I was about to…..I don't know. All I remember is that you were there and…you saved me."
"So I was your Woman in a Suit tonight."
She loved how his chest rose and fell as he managed to laugh a little. It made her smile.
"Yes. You were."
"See….I told you. I got my own little bag of tricks."
"You do."
"No telling what I'll pull out of it next, John."
He squeezed her again, and his hand rested on the small of her back as he kissed the side of her face.
"I love you, Joss."
O0o0o0o
"I love you, Joss." He said it softly and it seemed like he was holding his breath thinking of what she'd say. It had been months since she'd said it. He felt so lucky to finally be here in her space, holding her in his arms; maybe he was being too greedy to expect to hear it back. But still everything in him waited, needed to hear the words.
"I love you too, John." She said.
His heart turned over. He felt as if he'd come full circle, gone all the way back to the beginning. Their relationship had started with a confession of feelings. Now their second chance had done the same.
He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing how much the admission meant coming from her after everything she'd been through. He never got over her tremendous capacity to love and give of herself. She was everything he needed and could ever want.
They fell asleep again and this time there were no more nightmares, no more bad dreams. In fact he slept more soundly than he had in a long while. He woke up the next morning with the smell of fresh coffee in the air. He could hear movement coming from the bedroom and the quiet sound of Carter humming.
He got up, and walked into the hallway and saw her wrapped up in a towel sitting on the bare mattress of her new bed. Her cell phone was balanced between her ear and shoulder as she held a bottle of lotion in her hand.
She hadn't noticed him as he stood at the door watching her. His eyes travelled over her smooth brown skin that was practically glowing. Her hair sat atop her head in a messy bun, and a few wet strands framed the edges of her face and her shoulders ever so softly.
She was a portrait of beauty and he missed mornings like this where he used to watch her get dressed and ready the morning after he'd lost himself inside her. He felt himself stirring in his pants as the smell of jasmine filled the air. It had been so long since he'd had a chance to linger on her. He yearned to run his tongue over the surface of her skin, to run his hands over the peaks of her breasts and to taste the soft junction between her thighs as she dripped for him.
He wanted her.
"…Martin this is Jocelyn. I'm sorry I missed you, but I think it's time we talked. Call me when you get this message so we can set something up." His heart sank at the mention of Thompson's name on her lips and she finally glimpsed him as he walked towards her. She put the phone on the bed next to her and smiled at him.
"Look who's finally awake." She said and pointed to some clothes that were folded next to her on the bed. "I forgot I had these. I wore them home the day after the charity ball last year. I figured you might want to grab a shower and get into some fresh clothes." She got up and walked over to the floor length mirror that was by the window and quickly grabbed a brush that was on the drawer beside it.
She let her hair down and he watched as she loosed it from the confines of its ponytail holder and let it fall to her shoulders.
"What was the call to Thompson about?" He asked as he stood in back of her and slipped his arms around her waist.
"I just need to sort things out with him, let him know what's going on." Their eyes connected in the mirror and he bent a little resting his chin on her shoulder. "I owe him that, John, you know."
He knew she was right. He knew it was only fair that she give him that courtesy after three months of going out with him. Three long months, he thought, but still he couldn't help feel uneasy about her meeting him, spending time with him, no matter how brief.
"And what happens when you see him and he tries….."
"You know you're very handsome when you're jealous. The only thing we're going to do….is talk." She turned around then, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Go on. Go take a shower and when you get out, we'll have some coffee."
She turned to face the mirror again and he wandered into the bathroom. She still hadn't fully set the bathroom up yet, and there were boxes of toiletries, rugs and other items lined up against the wall. She'd hung a simple liner up so they'd both be able to shower.
She was humming again; he thought with a smile and closed his eyes as he stepped under the steady flow of hot water.
He got out of the shower ten minutes later, brushed his teeth and exited the bathroom with a large fluffy towel wrapped around his waist. She walked into the room with two cups of coffee and handed one to him.
He was happy to see that she wasn't dressed yet. The towel was still wrapped around her and the beginnings of the erection he had a little earlier when he first saw her this morning was back and getting stronger.
She took a sip of her coffee, but instead of finishing it, she grabbed the neglected bottle of lotion she had in her hand before. He leaned on the bureau drawer watching her as she put some of the fragrant gel in her hands and started to apply it to her legs.
"You are such a tease." He said walking over to her as she did the other leg. He took the bottle out of her hand and pulled her up in front of him. With a quick movement the towel was cast aside and his hands were on the bare skin of her back and he pulled her close.
"John….."
"Not a word." He murmured against her mouth and his lips gently touched hers. Her hands moved to the back of his neck and through his damp hair. The touch of her fingers so soft and fleeting sent an electric current through him. His kiss deepened and he felt his cock swell against the towel. He removed it, and he gasped as her hands found him and started to glide over him.
As his lips parted under her tongue, he felt himself harden in her hands and he was at full erection in a matter of seconds. His fingers were on her nipples and she leaned into him as he pressed his lips to her ear, snaking his tongue along the edge.
He was just about to pick her up when the shrill of a cell phone pierced the air. He groaned, and muttered a curse. He was reluctant to move, his hands were still in her hair, her hands were still on his throbbing cock, but he had to answer.
He got his pants off the bed and went through the pockets. He grabbed his phone and picked up.
"Mr. Reese?"
"Yes, Finch." He answered and looked at her with lust filled eyes. She sat on the bed, then lay on her back, taking a deep breath; she was just as heated as he was. He barely heard Finch's voice in his ear, her nipples were hard, her skin so inviting. He wanted nothing more than to…..
"We've got a new number."
He listened to the few details Finch gave him over the phone and he hung up. He leaned over her on the bed, and she reached out to hold him in her hands again. As her hands moved up and down on his shaft he lamented that their time was cut short. He was tempted to stay for just a little longer, but he didn't want a quickie. He wanted to take his time.
"I have to go." He said brushing his lips over hers.
"I heard." She said with a slight frown. She touched his face before he got up and she turned on her belly watching him get dressed.
When he was done, he bent down to mash his lips on hers one more time.
"I want you so much." He moaned against them. "I'll call you when I can." He promised and he left, heading straight for the library.
O0o0o0o
Carter watched him get dressed, putting on his boxers, then his shirt and his pants. His desire for her was still very evident by the bulge in his pants. His kiss as he said goodbye left her wanting more. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted him to stay. But it was probably for the best. She had to get her house sorted out and he had work.
She got up and got dressed herself, put her hair back into a ponytail and went in the kitchen to fix breakfast. She turned the TV on to have some noise in the background while she moved from room to room emptying box after box.
She was very busy all day. Busy was an understatement, but she wouldn't have it any other way. There was a simple joy she found in setting up her bedroom and bathroom. She smoothed the new sheet set over the bed, slipped on the comforter and then pillow covers and hung the matching curtains and the space transformed from a bedroom into a master suite. She ran her hand along the solid wood frame of her new bed, touched the headboard with a smile on her face and appreciated the gift Reese had given her. Every piece of the set was exquisite and she felt happy that she owned it.
Moving from room to room, adding personal touches here and there filled her day. She hoped to hear from Martin, hoped he'd return her call, but by noon she still hadn't heard from him. A few more hours rolled by and she hadn't heard from Reese either. He was working, she knew, so she didn't think anything of it, it was perfectly normal for him not to call if he was incredibly busy. She took a short break to grab a small bite to eat and then took all her empty boxes to the trash outside.
As soon as Taylor got home from school, he lent a hand. He was a big help and he unpacked and set up everything in the second bath. She sat in the living room and watched as he hung pictures on the wall and lined the new bookshelf she purchased with their books. They stopped for a few moments to look at old photographs as they sorted through some old albums and she smiled looking at some pictures of her dad.
She ordered a pizza come evening and as they sat down and ate, she could feel her body crying for rest.
She could do with a nice shoulder massage she thought and even though she was still a little sore from all the lifting and moving, she unpacked the silverware, the plates and her pots and pans. It was late at night and Taylor was already in bed by the time she was done.
The only room left to set up now was the den. The furniture was already laid out how she wanted. All that was left was to put the flat screen TV on the wall and set up the blinds. She would tackle that another day.
By midnight she was in bed with the TV on and she realized she still hadn't heard from Reese. She was only slightly worried. She knew he could take care of himself, but still she wanted to talk to him. She smiled at how easy it was for her to miss being around him like they'd never broken up. Already they were in their routine. He watched as she got out of the shower and got dressed, she brought him his coffee.
Things were on their way to normal she guessed.
She thought about his dream for a moment. He'd started having them the minute they'd gotten closer last year and shortly after, things started to fall apart. She silently hoped that the one he had last night wasn't a sign that things would be the same.
Her eyelids were getting heavy and she felt sleep starting to overtake her. It wasn't long after she closed her eyes that she fell asleep with the sound of the TV playing in her ears.
O0o00
Martin stepped out of the bathroom of his hotel suite in Chicago. He'd been there for the past three days on a business trip and was due back in New York this evening. He had one more meeting that was starting at mid day and then he'd be done.
He toweled himself off, sitting on the bed and turned the TV on to the morning news. A smile crossed his lips at the murmur of protest that came from the back of him. He turned around slowly as she emerged from underneath the covers and glared at him.
"It's time to get up, Monica."
"I have a headache, Martin. Do you mind turning that down a little?"
"Too much to drink last night?" He asked getting up and pulling the covers off of her. "So sad. A grown woman should really know how to hold her liquor." He bent down biting her bare shoulder, leaning over her.
"Stop it." She protested as his lips travelled along the porcelain skin of her throat and he brushed her long red hair to the side. "Between the TV and your cell phone ringing, my head is about to explode." She pulled the covers over her head again and he walked over to the nightstand to pick his phone up.
He had a missed call. It was from Jocelyn. It had been a few weeks since he'd heard from her and he thought their goodbye on her steps after their trip to Philadelphia was their last one. He listened to the message she left saying she wanted to talk.
Was she still interested? He wondered if it even mattered anymore. He was still bitter about the trip, but looking back in hindsight, he realized she'd told him she wasn't ready from the beginning. He was the one who said he would wait. He should have known what he was getting into. He'd hoped that after a while she'd come to care for him, but in the end you couldn't force what you didn't feel.
He looked over at Monica as she lay under the covers and smiled. Monica was a nice distraction, she was fun and he had a few more hours to kill before he had to go to work. He'd think about Jocelyn later when he got back to New York.
0o0o0o
THE FOLLOWING DAY
Carter got off the elevator and walked into Banks, McKinney &Thompson's lobby and through the back to Martin's office. It was a short while as she waited for him to wrap up his meeting and she sat in the small waiting area till he was done.
He emerged eventually and two junior associates filed out of his office. The smile on his face when he saw her was genuine and he took her hand leading her inside.
"It's so good to see you, Jocelyn." He said and pulled her in for a hug. "You look amazing."
He was dressed in a dark gray suit, light blue shirt with cufflinks and he wore a striped tie with suspenders. He was looking pretty amazing himself and she told him so. He invited her to sit with him over on the sectional at the far side of his office and he asked her how she was.
While they made small talk he offered her something to drink, and she sipped on the cool beverage he gave her. They joked around for a while and she remembered why she liked him so much when they first started dating. He was still so easy. Even after the awkwardness of their trip to Philadelphia and how awful it ended, he was still so easy going.
She told him about the house and how that had taken up her time for the last few weeks. She told him there were still a few things left to unpack but overall she was settling in well and so was Taylor. He congratulated her and told her he was happy for her.
He seemed quite guarded, she noticed, but she couldn't really blame him. She set the glass down on the table in front of her and realized it was time to tell him why she wanted to meet him.
"Martin, I'm sorry about Philadelphia, about leading you on, about how horrible everything turned out."
She reached out and tentatively took his hand, fully expecting him to push it away but he didn't. In fact he squeezed it instead.
"I know it must feel like I used you…I probably did unconsciously, but please believe it was never my intention. I think you're a great guy, you're actually a truly wonderful man, but…."
"….but you're still in love with…..whoever this other guy is." He finished for her with a hint of bitterness to his tone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, bracing herself for the rest of the conversation to turn ugly.
"I care about you. I really do."
"It's not necessary." He said in a slightly biting tone. "I blame myself actually. Maybe it was my ego telling me that I could make you forget about whoever it was. Maybe I had to prove it to myself." He looked at her and she felt herself harden a little at his comment. She moved to pull her hand away, but he held onto it.
"Or…maybe I was really attracted to you, and genuinely wanted to get to know you. Maybe I thought that you were a really special woman, one of a kind and I just wanted to know what it would be like to be with someone like you."
She thought about what to say, but came up short.
"I kind of expected this, really. But I guess it'd be wrong to be angry with you. After all, the heart wants what it wants. Right?"
Twenty minutes later Carter hit the ground floor of the building with tears in her eyes. Her conversation with Martin had been as uncomfortable and as awkward as she expected it to be, but she was glad that it was over. All she wanted to do now was get back home. Actually what she wanted to do right now at this very minute, was to talk to Reese. Besides a voice message he left last night while she was asleep, she hadn't heard from him for the better part of two days. At least he had let her know that he was alright. She called his cell phone, but he didn't pick up.
A call from him right now though would truly do her some good.
She decided to stop to get lunch on her way home.
A few hours after eating and unpacking the last few boxes, she got a call from Reese. The current case he was working on was a complicated one, rather delicate and he hadn't had any free time to call her until now. He sounded tired, a little worn out and she wondered when he'd last had time to sleep.
"Please tell me you've had some time to rest." She said.
"I'll rest soon. I'm about finished here, so it won't be long before I see you."
"Where are you?"
"Right now? Long Island. But not for much longer."
"What's going on, John? Do you need some help?"
There was a smile in his voice when he answered. "I do, but I'm getting help. Finch is here and Fusco's on his way. You just focus on taking care of the house."
"But…" there were muffled voices in the background and what sounded like a woman crying.
"Sorry, Joss. I gotta go. I'll see you soon."
O0o0o
The next few hours for Reese passed by in a blur. At the end of it he'd help to rescue two kidnapped daughters and reunited them with their parents. Fusco along with one of his old partners took out the kidnappers and retrieved the ransom money. The family was a high profile one so coverage of the criminals' apprehension made the news.
He slipped out of sight just as the camera crews arrived and smiled as Fusco fielded questions from reporters.
"Good job, Lionel." He said to himself and got into his car to start the drive back to New York City. It was late Saturday night and all he wanted to do was get home and see Carter. He missed her so much, and the feelings for her that he'd purposely pushed to the back of his mind so he could focus on the new numbers came rushing back suddenly.
At the end of the drive he went back to the library to check on Bear, made sure he ate and played with him for a bit. The animal, sensing that his master was tired, wasn't too rambunctious and pushy for play this time. Instead he stay curled up with him for a while as he talked with Finch about the Andersons, the family they'd just helped.
"You look tired, Mr. Reese. You should take a day or two off." Said Finch, turning his chair in Reese's direction.
"No new numbers Harold?" He asked rubbing his hands over his face.
"None. But I'm sure Fusco can give us a hand if we get one. Go on. It's time to call it a night."
He took Finch's advice and checked his watch. It was already past midnight. He questioned the wisdom in going to Carter's house. He didn't want to wake her if she was asleep, but his urge to see her won out in the end.
When he got to the house, the porch lights were on, but inside was dark. He pulled into the driveway, shut off the engine and dialed her number.
She didn't answer right away, and he was about to hang up when he heard her voice. It was so soft, he could barely hear her.
"I woke you."
"John?"
"It's me." He answered. Her voice was like a warm blanket thrown over him.
"Where are you? Are you okay?" She asked and he could hear her moving around in bed, probably getting up.
"I'm outside, let me in."
He hung up and a few minutes later he was inside the house and she was in his arms. Her body felt warm, her curves familiar and soft against him. The jasmine was in his nostrils again and her lips on his made him realize just how much he missed her.
"Come on." She said taking his hand and she led him into her room. "You must be tired. You sound tired. You want something to eat? You need a shower?"
He loved the way she fussed over him, took care of him, made sure his needs were met. Everything about it was perfect. She helped him out of his clothes and he took a shower. He spent the rest of the night with her lying on his chest listening to her voice and the sound of her laughter.
He felt as if he'd been away from her forever. It was a torture really, and one he hoped he wouldn't have to endure again. At least not too soon.
"Oh, Joss." He said with his face buried in her neck. "I missed you so much."
O0o0o0o
Taylor got up from his bed in the middle of the night, intending to go to the kitchen to grab a snack. He walked down the hallway and was about to pass his mother's bedroom when he heard voices.
He paused, and held his breath for a moment and listened. He heard muffled conversation and realized that his mother was in there with John. He heard laughter. Her laughter. Whatever it was he said, she found it very funny. Taylor heard him shushing her like a child and he was sure he heard John saying –
"Joss…..you don't want to wake up Taylor do you?" Before he dissolved into a fit of giggles himself.
He shook his head at the two of them and smiled to himself as he continued his walk to the kitchen.
It seemed they were back together and once again his mom was happy. John seemed like he was happy too.
It was about time, Taylor thought as he grabbed an ice cream bar out of the freezer and went back to his room.
O0o0o0o
Morning broke and the sunlight that came through Carter's bedroom woke Reese from sleep. It was almost 7AM and he wanted to leave before Taylor got up. He looked down beside him. Carter was still asleep, her knuckle resting under her chin. She slept in late on the weekends when she had them off. He remembered.
He got dressed quickly, washed his face and brushed his teeth. When he came back in the room, she lifted her head up off the pillow. He planted a few quick kisses to her neck, her bare shoulder.
"I'll see you later, Joss. Taylor's gonna be up soon."
"I don't want you to go." She said sleepily pulling on his hand.
"Neither do I. Don't get up. I'll let myself out."
He walked out into the hallway and came face to face with Taylor walking out of the kitchen. They both froze and John was incredibly embarrassed.
"I thought…you'd still be sleeping." He said sheepishly. "I'm sorry Taylor….I don't know what to say…"
The boy put a hand up to stop his horrible attempt at an apology.
"Its okay, John. Really. And I'm glad….about you two." He said and looked briefly at his mother's bedroom door, which opened suddenly.
Carter walked out with an awkward look on her face and cleared her throat.
"Uh, what's going on out here, I heard voices." She said looking back and forth at the two of them.
"Well….I …" started Reese.
"I was just telling John here that next time he doesn't have to rush home right away. It'd be good if he could stay for breakfast sometime." Reese was sure he turned beet red for a second and from the look on Carter's face, he could tell she was mortified. Taylor excused himself and went to his room.
"Oh my God. I don't believe this." She said and came to bury her face in his chest.
"Am I imagining things or did your son just give us his stamp of approval?"
She giggled and squeezed his arm. "Get outta here before I die of embarrassment."
"I'll call you later."
"Promise?"
"I do."
"Give me kisses."
O0o0o0o
Carter's feet were up and she was relaxing on her mom's sofa in the den later that evening. Instead of cooking, she and Taylor had gone over to her mother's house for dinner and to spend some time with her there.
Her mother brought her a slice of homemade apple pie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. She started to push it away, but her mother insisted she take it.
"Mom, are you trying to stuff me? I can barely move because of that big dinner."
"Oh shush Jocelyn. Just relax and enjoy one of the simpler pleasures in life."
She bit into it, closing her eyes and made the hmmm sound that she did whenever she bit into something sweet.
"This is soooooooooo good, mom."
"I know it is. You know what would make it better though?"
"Tell me what."
"If Donna was here."
Carter nodded her head. She agreed. She really missed Donna. She hadn't spoken to her since right before the move. It was time to call her again. They needed to plan a trip. They had so much to catch up on. Either she was going to have to go to Boston, or Donna was going to have to come to New York.
"Apple pie was daddy's favourite." She said.
"Yes it was. And he used to like to come here in the den after dinner and have his apple pie with vanilla ice cream just like you do. I miss my man." She glanced at the wistful look on her mother's face. "I really do miss him, especially on days like this."
"Like what?"
"Days when my family's all around me. It's like I can still feel him in the room."
She knew exactly what that meant now. It's how she sometimes felt about John. "I miss him too mom. I miss him too."
O0o0o0o
Reese spent the rest of Sunday morning and afternoon sleeping. As soon as he got home, he stripped off his clothes and went straight to bed.
He got up around 5pm and showered before putting on some jeans and a polo shirt. He made his way down to Murray's a family restaurant a few blocks from his place and ordered takeout before going back home.
He sat on the couch, opening up the bags and took out the containers. It smelled so good. Murray's had a reputation for being one of the best in the neighbourhood. It's what he craved right now. The salad, steak, bread and potatoes all hit the spot and he felt satisfied after it was all gone and the containers were in the trash. He washed his hands, got a beer out of the fridge and put his feet up on the sofa and cut on the TV.
He put the bottle to his head taking a long pull and found a documentary on the latest Navy Seal training. He watched it for about an hour or so, but his mind was elsewhere. He thought of Carter as another hour went by, wondering what she and Taylor were up to. He longed to see her again.
Finch had told him to take a few days off and he wasn't planning to, but he remembered that Carter had another week home. A day alone with her with no interruptions seemed like a perfect idea the more he thought about it.
He wanted to take her out, for a meal, maybe a movie. Maybe they could spend some time with Bear in the park.
Just like a real family.
The thought came into his mind suddenly and before he realized it, he was smiling.
"Just like a real family." He said aloud.
He heard a knock on the door and got up walking over to it. He opened it slowly and saw Carter standing in front of him, an overnight bag in her hand. She was a welcome sight.
"Want some company?" She asked quietly. The look on her face was unsure, hesitant even, but he swung the door open letting her inside.
"Of course." He said as she came in. He realized that this was the first time she'd been back since the night Finch had sent her over. Prior to that, she hadn't been back since he'd told her to leave. He figured she had just cause for being a little nervous.
"I was thinking of coming to see you later." He said as she looked around awkwardly.
"Great minds think alike?" She asked, with an uneasy laugh.
"What's this?" He asked pointing to the bag and she dropped it to the ground.
"This? Well I brought some of my things over. You know, a few clothes, some underwear; there may even be an extra toothbrush in there somewhere too. I figured I would leave those things here and this time…..you won't have a problem with it and you won't freak out about it either."
"Is that so?" He said trying not to smile as she started to slowly unbutton her shirt.
"Yes." She said nodding as her shirt came off and she let it drop to the ground. "And when I leave, I figured I'd take a few of your things with me, you know so I could keep them at my place so you'd have something to wear when you stay over."
She took off her shoes, and shortly after her pants followed until she was standing up in front of him in only her underwear.
"And this…?" He asked taking in the sight of her.
"Well it's been a very busy week. I've been trying to take care of the house. You've been tied up with work. The only time you've been next to me is when we were both exhausted."
She shrugged and he walked up to her sliding his hands, first around her waist, then over her hips and thighs.
"Please, keep going." He said as his lips found her neck.
"I just think if we're going to try this getting back together thing…" she paused as his tongue moved over her mouth. "…..we should really consummate it." She wrapped her arms around his neck as he picked her up and she stuck her tongue deep inside his mouth, tasting the inside. She bucked against the bulge in his pants.
"That's what you thought?" He whispered.
"Mmmm hmmm…." She responded and she looked at him biting her bottom lip between her teeth. "Make love to me John."