AN: End of 3x10 and then the rest is all added by little ole' me :)

Shaw stood beside Finch who sat beside her, both of them eying their fallen friend. "Doctor said he's going to pull through, lost a lot of blood." Shaw whispered while Finch fidgeted with John's blanket. "I'm going to steal some morphine from Manhattan General, and check in on Carter."

"Alright, Ms. Shaw."

"Where's Root?" Shaw questioned. She hoped that crazed woman hadn't escaped but she had been their only way of tracking down Reese. Carter would kick their asses when she got better, had John gotten himself killed. "Never mind, I'm heading out now."

"Yes, call me if Jocelyn's situation has changed."

"Will do," she agreed before moving away from John's bedside, exiting. It was quiet for a while, John had been out of it for a few hours now, and it was early morning. It had been a long night, a touch and go, sort of night. John had needed a few transfusions, he lost too much blood. He moaned as he came too. John's eyes opened, immediately going for the IV in his hand.

"John, relax." Finch murmured.

"No…Joss," he whispered hoarsely.

"John, please, listen to me…Jocelyn isn't gone. She's not dead." Finch said easily subduing the bigger man's attempts to leave the bed. His eyes were wild, pain so vivid in them. His skin an ashen color, his attempts to get up, fled.

"She's not?" John sounded so tentative like he was scared to believe that to be the truth. Like this was a dream to him, that he had really lost Joss, and wasn't ever going to see her again.

"She's at Manhattan General, John she's on life support and fighting for her life."

"I need to be with her." He struggled once more to get out of the bed. "I need to…"

"You need to get rest, and get better John. You are in no shape to go to the hospital to sit with her."

"I need to see her," John struggled to get up but Finch refused to release his shoulders. Even when John's strangled sob escaped him, Finch's eyes filled with his own tears, feeling like a heel but he was in no condition to go to her. "Please, Finch, I need to see her with my own eyes." Finch knew he was in bad shape when he couldn't even fend him off, and he was crippled.

"When you are well enough to walk, you can be with her, John. But I promised you I would never lie to you, and I promise, she's not gone from your life." Finch assured releasing one shoulder, to lean over to the table, and grab a prepared syringe that Shaw left that was filled with the last of the morphine.

"No, please, please Finch, don't." he begged, watching in agony as Finch easily injected the needle into his arm. "I need to go to her, I need to see her, to touch her I'll never know for sure she's alive if I don't. Please," He whimpered as struggled to keep his eyes open as the morphine immediately entered his system.

"I'm sorry, John, but your life matters to her and to us as well."

John struggled fruitlessly trying to remain awake, but, slowly he lost the battle against the morphine as he fell asleep. Finch fixed John's blanket, spoke a command to Bear, and exited the room while Bear remained and kept watch on his fallen master.

Shaw slowly exited Carter's hospital room with a soft smile as she slid off the lab coat, pulling on her jacket that housed the stolen morphine for Reese. "You, what are you doing here?" she turned when Lionel spoke.

"You're her replacement watchdog, Lionel?"

"No, I'm here for a different reason, but what are you doing here? Besides, parading as a nurse?"

"Just finding out what's going on with Carter."

"How is she?" Fusco asked.

"She's off life support nearly ripping the tube from her own throat, but the docs took over while her son relieved her. Carter's vitals are stable and she's awake, her survival chances just took a dramatic change for the better. Our girl is one helluva fighter." Shaw spoke sounding proud, like she was Carter's mother. If you asked him it seemed like Shaw adored Carter.

"My partner would kick anyone's ass," Fusco agreed amicably. "Anything else happen in there that I should know about?"

"Her doctor gave her a minor exam seeing what mobility she has in her right arm, and she doesn't have much, which was what they feared. Bullet did a lot of internal damage to Carter, did a lot to the surrounding tissue. They have to run more tests on her to determine if she can regain any mobility in her arm back, and if she can it will take months of rehab." Shaw explained.

"Is that why you're here, checking up on her?" Fusco asked.

"Partly, I swung by to steal some morphine for our other injured friend." She said opening her jacket up, showcasing the stolen meds. His eyes widened. "We have to keep him medicated so he doesn't reopen those stitches again."

"Don't show me that, I'm a cop remember."

"Whatever, Lionel, keep watch on her."

"I will but not because I have too, not anymore, not with Quinn locked up and Simmons dead. He was murdered a couple hours ago, which is why I was called upon to the hospital. I was planning on swinging by later to see Carter."

"Simmons was murdered?"

"Yeah, there is clear evidence of a marking across his neck, preliminary cause of death; affixation." He stated. Well, there went that thought of watching Simmons on trial, but he couldn't exactly say he wasn't happy the piece of garbage was dead. He eyed the small operative that saved his son. "It wasn't you, right?"

"No, it wasn't me unfortunately. But good on whoever did do the deed, stopped me from having to do it myself at a later date. I have to go, Reese needs this morphine."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah stop reminding me that you stole meds." Fusco waved her off and she shrugged before she unhurriedly walked away. Fusco sighed as he walked to Carter's room, and entered. Taylor and Paul were already in the room, their eyes not looking away from the bed. The doctor turned to see who entered and smiled at him.

"Detective,"

"Doc," Fusco greeted. "How's my partner?"

"How about you ask her, yourself." Taylor said, looking up with a large grin on his face. Fusco felt his pulse begin to race not realizing she was still awake, as he walked to the bed, and the doctor moved back a bit. Carter's eyes were barely open, she looked like hell, but she was very much there with them.

"Carter," he greeted gruffly.

She worked her throat, before she mouthed Fusco. "Sorry, Lionel, mom is having some hard time talking. The doctor said it's due to her injuries, medication, and from having a tube down her throat."

"It's alright, we're just glad we have you back, Carter." Fusco assured feeling his eyes mist a bit. He rubbed her hand and she adamantly mouthed something at him. He furrowed his brows trying to figure it out. Soft sounds escaped her, as she became frustrated, and upset.

"Her heart rate is up," the doctor murmured as a nurse entered. They fiddled with her IV bag, before they gave her meds, and Joss's eyes slowly shut as she fell asleep.

"Is my mom alright? Was it too soon to take the breathing tube out?"

"No your mother's vitals before and since taking the tube out have remained the same, and are strong. Your mother will make a full recovery; I believe your mother's heart rate rose because of whatever she was trying to ask." The doctor said quietly as he eyed Fusco.

Fusco wished like hell he had known what she was trying to ask, it seemed really important to Carter….and just like that it hit him like a ton of bricks. She didn't know if John was alive. Geez, these two were more worried about each other than they were about themselves. "I think I might know what she was trying to ask, and believe me, I'm going to reassure your mother, Taylor."

The kid nodded his head, grateful.

"I have some phone calling to do, to let some friends know that your mom is going make it."

"Tell them thanks for worrying about her," Taylor spoke up knowing exactly who he was mentioning. Fusco exited the hospital room, immediately pulling out his cell and ringing up Einstein.

"Hello, detective, how is Jocelyn?"

"She's awake, breathing tube has been removed….the doctors were wrong, I knew they would be, Carter didn't need 72 hours to open her peepers because she's better than some pesky bullet wound." Fusco said with a soft laugh. It was either laugh with happiness, or cry like a baby with happiness, he chose the laughter. Carter had saved his life, he didn't know what he'd do without her, and gratefully he didn't have to know.

"Jocelyn, is alright?! Oh thank god," Finch sounded relieved, and elated.

"How's the bane of my existence?"

"Medicated, I assured John that Joss was in the hospital that she wasn't gone, and he had wanted to leave to go visit with her."

"How, he can't even stand up."

"I know that, detective, but when it comes to Jocelyn Mr. Reese does not care if he has to move heaven and Earth to be with her, he will be with her."

"Yeah well I think Carter nearly gave herself a heart attack."

"What do you mean?"

"She couldn't speak thanks to her ordeal, and she was trying to ask me something. Her heart rate went up when she got frustrated that I didn't understand her, the docs sedated her so she didn't cause herself any undue pain, but I think I know now what she was struggling to ask me."

"What, detective?"

"I think she wanted to know if John was alright."

"Oh, yes, Jocelyn wouldn't know what had become of John. She witnessed him being shot twice, if she remembered that fact, even in her medicated state it would be upsetting to her."

"Is it just me or do these two have something going on?" Fusco wondered out-loud. He really hoped like hell he wasn't the only one that saw it. "Because our guy went on a psychopathic rampage to get to Simmons, and Carter nearly gave herself an aneurism trying to find out if he was alright."

"I'm not sure, detective, but what I do know is that John values Joss in his life and it's clear that she values John in hers. The rest they'll just have to figure out as they go." Fusco snickered. Four eyes had basically answered his question without meaning too. He saw it too. The looks they gave one another, the way they looked out for one another's well-being, and had it been last year Fusco would have made jokes about it. But now, nah, wonder boy and Carter just fit. "Keep me informed, detective, and I'll try to be by there soon to see her myself." Fusco blinked as four eyes took him out of his thoughts, he had nearly forgotten he was on the phone with him.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just take care of the big guy." Fusco said before hanging up with his friend. Today was hell of a lot better than yesterday. Yesterday Joss's outlook had been bleak at best, Reese had gone off the reservation nearly killing himself searching for Simmons. Fusco hadn't known if he was going to lose both people he valued the most besides his kid; Reese changed him, while Carter saved him, and he didn't want to lose either one of them. But today, early this morning in the wee morning hours he had arrested Simmons, arrived a few hours later to find out Simmons was murdered (not that he cared much for that filth being dead), and Carter was awake. Reese was back on his leash, getting the help he needed. Yep, today sure the hell was better than yesterday, and he just thanked god it was.

Joss felt like she was coming out of a fog, like she had been asleep for years or something. She blinked her eyes open, looked around. Where was she? Oh right, the hospital. She had been shot in the chest by Simmons. Joss had no idea what day it was or anything, she only remembered waking up previously seeing her son, then realizing she couldn't speak to him, and there was something down her throat. She had nearly freaked out, struggling to yank it out, and then there were doctors around her….nurses, one that suspiciously looked like Shaw that calmed her down and removed the tube. They explained what had happened. She hadn't needed that, she already knew what happened to her, Simmons shot her. What she didn't know was what was happened to John? Was he alive? She'd kill Simmons if he took John from her, she'd hate John forever if something happened to him. She couldn't lose that stubborn man. She just couldn't. Joss felt panicked at the thought. She lost so much already. She shifted her head a bit when a beeping sound grew louder and quicker, when she realized it was her heart monitor.

Joss forced herself to relax not wishing for the doctors or nurses to come in and sedate her. She didn't want to sleep, she was fearful that she had been sleeping for much too long as it was. Once she calmed herself, Joss looked around the room her eyes falling on a lone figure in a seat, and she smiled softly when she realized it was Harold. He had his cheek on his hand, elbow resting on the armrest, and he was asleep. "Finch," she whispered hating that her voice was still a no-show. She tried again. "Finch," it barely got a fraction louder but it was enough to rustle her sleeping friend awake.

"Jocelyn," his eyes immediately widened, a smile graced his face as he sat forward. "Thank god. How are you feeling?"

"Crappy," she whispered. "John….is he…" she couldn't even force the words out. Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart monitor began going crazy.

"Jocelyn, relax, please he's alright. He's alive." He assured patting her hand affectionately and soothingly.

"Oh god, thank you." She smiled as she eyed the ceiling, feeling a few tears leak out. "You're not just saying that because I'm in the hospital right?"

"No, I would never lie to you Jocelyn. John is alive, he's injured but recovering." Finch assured as she turned her head and eyed him.

"How bad was he injured?" Joss asked clearing her throat and the more she talked the louder her voice got. She was almost to above a whisper, which was progress.

"It was touch and go for the both of you for a while, yours was more severe, while his was due to blood loss." Finch sat forward touching her right hand softly. She tried to curl her fingers around his but could barely move her fingers. She panicked slightly as she tried again. "Joss, your heart rate is elevating again, what's the matter?"

"I can't grab your hand, Finch."

"Relax please, Joss, just concentrate on relaxing." Joss did as he suggested, when he was satisfied that her heart rate lowered that none of the doctors and nurses would arrive, he spoke again. "Jocelyn you don't remember the exam the doctors performed?"

"No, I remember my son, and seeing him crying and kissing me. I remember the doctors telling me I was shot, but, things get fuzzy after that." She admitted.

"When Simmons shot you, the bullet caused a lot of damage to you internally. You should really hear the rest of this from your son and the doctors."

"Tell me now," Joss pleaded. "I need to know what's going on."

"They aren't sure if the bullet caused permanent damage, they are hopeful that you will gain mobility back in your right arm with physical therapy, but aren't sure until more tests are performed."

Joss just nodded, refusing to feel sorry for herself. She was alive, John was too, and that was all that mattered. She would work her ass off to gain mobility back in her arm again. "Where's Taylor?"

"Paul took him home after I arrived."

"Good, he needs his sleep." She said quietly, yawning.

"So do you." He responded kindly.

"No, I don't want to sleep anymore. What day is it?"

"It's Friday, you were shot four days ago. You had emergency surgery just to save your life on Monday, it was touch and go all through Tuesday, you awakened yesterday but because of your injuries and meds you have been asleep for much of the day and night."

"What time is it?"

"It's eight at night."

"Was Simmons caught?" she asked, forcing the tiredness to go for the time being. She wanted some answers before she drifted off to sleep again or worse yet when the doctors came back in with more pain meds.

"He was,"

"Was?"

"Detective Fusco arrested him, brought him to the hospital where he was murdered by an unknown assailant. It is likely his murder will go unsolved, it seems finding out who murdered him is not a top priority at the precinct." Finch murmured before standing up, softly patting her hand. "But I must go, you must have sleep to get better. You have a long road to recovery, Jocelyn."

"Promise me something, Finch."

"What is it?"

"John….when he feels good enough, can you bring him here to visit me. I need to see him…"

"Trust me Jocelyn, he wants to see you more than you know. Ms. Shaw and I are keeping him medicated for fear he'll rip his stitches." But before Finch could finish what he was going to say the door to the room opened, and both he and Joss looked. Finch's eyes widened as John stood there, in dress pants, and just a stark white undershirt. His jacket hung on his body, he lost weight from his own ordeal. John's eyes were red-rimmed, his hair uncombed, and his face unshaven.

"Joss," John's voice cracked as he staggered forward.

"Mr. Reese!" Finch's eyes widened as Shaw stood behind John, she gave a chagrined look as she helped John forward keeping a secure hand around John's elbow.

"Don't look at me like that, Finch, Reese was coming here with or without my help so I figured to give him some or he'd pop a stitch again." Shaw admonished. Joss struggled to sit up, but gave up when she couldn't, hating her weakness. Tears blurred her vision of John, he collapsed next to her when Shaw released her firm hold on his elbow.

"Joss," he repeated, touching first her hand then her face. "You're…you're really here."

"I'm really here." She assured reaching up with her one good hand, touching his cheek tenderly as tears slipped down his cheeks. She rubbed a few away with her thumb. They stayed like that for a while, his head bowed, foreheads touching and both silently cried. It took several moments for her to realize that their friends had left, and they were alone in her room. "Stay here with me," she asked, staring at him. He looked like hell, probably similar to her. "Please, John."

He nodded his head, before he stood up slowly, and pushed his jacket from his trim form. She lifted her blanket a little with her good left hand while he toed off his shoes, before he slipped under the blanket beside her. He tugged her into his arms, gently. She eased herself against his side, afraid of hurting him. "Is this side hurt?" she asked as she yawned.

"It doesn't matter," he whispered tucking her into his side. "I don't feel a thing, besides you." His reassurance didn't really reassure her much. But her tired brain and body couldn't think of anything to say back, because she was already drifting back to sleep.

"Stay with me, please." She whispered, not fully sure she got the words out.

"I will you have my word Joss." And Joss sighed contently, because she knew when John said she had his word, she had his word, and she fell asleep.

Shaw looked in on the pair, it hadn't taken long for either injured friend to fall back to sleep. Nurses entered, then giggled at their sight, and Shaw rolled her eyes as she turned. Finch was glaring at her.

"What?"

"Mr. Reese needed bed rest, not to be out and about, and Jocelyn shouldn't be getting too excited. She's awake but I worry about her, she was seriously shot."

"Finch, he needed to see Carter, and she needed to see him. They are now both relaxed and happy, being together. He was struggling to get out of bed since you left him with me, and short of overdosing him on morphine, I had to help him. I left for two minutes, when I got back he was up, and staggering for his clothes." Shaw said with a shake of her head. "Nothing anyone would say or do would keep Reese from getting to her."

They fell into step side by side as they moved to leave the hospital. There was no point in staying, John wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon, as he was out cold much like Carter was. Finch paused at the clerk to explain the presence of John Warren, before they walked to the elevator.

"Was it necessary to tell them they are a couple?" Shaw wondered.

"Well Ms. Shaw, how else was I to explain the reasoning as to why John climbed into her bed?" Finch asked softly as the elevator doors opened. "Please, first thing tomorrow morning be here to take John back to the safe-house."

"Sure, if we don't have a new number."

"We won't." Finch assured because he had no intention of picking up. He was upset with the machine, he wanted to know why it hadn't warned them sooner to be able to avoid John and Jocelyn from being injured. Shaw didn't say anything, as they exited the elevator. They split apart going their separate ways to their cars, and, Finch was left with his unsettling thoughts about the machine, and the evolving situation between Mr. Reese and Detective Carter. He had listened in on John talking so heartfelt to Jocelyn at the morgue, and he possibly hadn't realized they were still connected probably forgetting, lost in the moment, but Finch was just glad John finally told her. Finch had suspected of John's more than platonic feelings for the detective for quite a while, though he never outright asked his friend if he had romantic feelings for Jocelyn not wanting to embarrass the younger man.

Finch limped outside into the parking lot towards his Lincoln. He just hoped that with Jocelyn being alive and well, John would bounce back from this near tragic end of HR without any more psychological wounds. He determinedly pushed those nagging worries away, determined to be just grateful both his friends were alive and on the road to recovery as he climbed into his car. And with that he turned his car on, pulled out of the parking space, and drove off into the night.

AN: This story is crammed full of Careese because well I can't help myself :D They are perfect together! Thanks for reading everyone!