AN: This takes place just before 4x01 :D

Nearly Six Weeks Later…..

"I love you Joss which is why we can't be together."

She sat slouched in the barstool, her fist balled under her chin, and her shoulders slumped. Joss didn't know how she was going to get John back, but she was going too. She never gave up ever, no matter how bleak things looked she wasn't giving up on that man. Her kid reminded her of that. But she didn't know how to get him back because she hadn't seen John in nearly six weeks. She felt helpless and she hated that feeling because she didn't know how to fight this situation they were in. Had John been trying to break it off because he thought she deserved better, she could fight it. Had John been trying to break it off because he thought he was protecting her, she could fight it. But this, this wasn't something she could fight. Because John didn't want to break things off with her, he didn't want to leave, it was because he had too, and she felt a void created that day. And with each day since John left that void grew bigger and bigger. She wondered where he was, what he was doing, and better yet who was he now?

Joss, heard a sound beside her, and she immediately straightened hopeful it was John, but her hopes were dashed when it was some random woman. She heard a clearing of a throat to her right, she turned to look, and saw Shaw standing beside her. She was somewhat shocked but disappointed too. "Not who you wanted?" Shaw wondered out loud as she slid into the barstool beside her. "Scotch on the rocks," Shaw ordered and the bartender nodded.

"Sh-Sameen," She greeted eyeing the black dress, the long hair high up in a ponytail. It was odd having to call Shaw, Sameen, because of their new identities and needing to hide from Samaritan. Joss had 'met' Sameen at the department store she was working at, about a week ago, and nearly got sprayed in the face with perfume until Shaw realized it was her. Everything had been quiet from her friends and the man she loved, since they disappeared, she had been elated to see Shaw that she nearly gave the woman a hug. Joss had calmed herself because to the eyes of the world she never met the woman that was selling perfume before, so they had to pretend. From the small bits that Shaw could tell her she hadn't seen any of their friends either.

"How you're holding up?" Shaw asked after a few moments.

"How does it look?" Joss snapped and instantly regretted the rude tone. It wasn't Shaw's fault she was miserable, it was Decima's.

"Like you lost your best friend."

"I did." She agreed. "I miss him. I don't even know where he is, what he's doing, or who he is now." Joss whispered as she threw back the last of her drink, slamming the glass onto the counter in anger. "I'm going to get wasted."

"Definitely not like you," Shaw commented. "So what do you imagine he's doing?"

"Missing me," Joss sighed.

"That's a given, but, I meant job wise."

"I don't know,"

"Maybe he's a stripper,"

"Don't even kid about that." Joss growled with an irritated glance. Shaw had said that on purpose.

"Oh come on, imagine it."

"Yeah, I can all those women putting money down my man's underwear…I'll break their scrawny little necks." If this super-computer thing did that, she'd shut the damn thing down herself!

"Relax the ruffled and jealous feathers, Carter, I was joking. But seriously I think he needs a job without any social skills because your boyfriend seriously has none."

"You're one to talk." Joss snapped motioning for another round. Shaw laughed softly. "When we first met you weren't exactly Ms. Congeniality." Joss took her drink from the bartender gratefully. "Look you can stay and drink with me, Sam, but can we not talk about you know who, doing god knows what."

"Fine by me," she agreed holding out her glass, which Joss gratefully banged hers against and sucked her alcohol down.

Fusco grumbled as he exited his car. He couldn't wait until Carter was cleared for active duty, she had her physical coming up, and if she passed she would be allowed to work active cases again. He couldn't wait because he missed having his partner around, to help, and bullshit with. It was evening, past eight at night, and of course some gang banger had to shoot and kill a druggie. Just great, a uni lifted the crime scene tape for him, and he recognized the lone figure that was inspecting the crime scene already! Fusco's eyes widened as he rushed towards the scene.

"You," Fusco stated and that got the lone figure to turn and look up.

"Detective," he greeted without giving away he knew him already. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding stood up fully, and held out his hand. Fusco eyed him like he was insane, before his eyes dropped to wonder-boy's waist and saw the shiny badge clipped there. "I'm Detective Riley, Narcotics."

Fusco took his hand slowly. "Detective Lionel Fusco, Homicide." He responded, unsure of the game, but the badge looked legit, and it wasn't Stills' it literally was for the 103rd precinct. "What do we have besides a gang banger killing a known drug dealer in the area?"

"That's about all, murder was messy." John murmured as he motioned to the deceased. "Shot multiple times, probably out of anger. Maybe, he reneged on a deal of some sort. The deceased is Ryan Sullivan; on the streets and in the precinct he was known as Sully. I can compile a list of possible suspects for you, detective."

"Alright," Fusco agreed still waiting for the other shoe to drop. When Mr. Sunshine turned evidently believing that was it, Fusco grabbed his elbow. "Whoa, what the hell is going on? You and our guys all fled, Carter has been mum about where the hell you guys went. But I can see she's upset, and waiting around for you to pop your head back in. So what's going on, did you break things off with her? What are you insane, Carter and you worked, you better grovel at her feet to take you back!"

"Detective, I had to do this, and I'll have you that list of suspects for you soon." John murmured and Fusco saw it. Wonder-boy was missing Carter. The split between them wasn't wanted on either side, so what the hell was going on? He watched as his bane of his existence turn and leave, with shoulders slightly slumped. He climbed into a state issued car, before he drove off. Fusco motioned at the officers.

"Bag the evidence, I have to go." Fusco demanded. The officers nodded their heads. Fusco moved to his car pulling out his cell phone. He phoned Carter, she answered slowly.

"Hello," she had a slight slur to her voice. He narrowed his eyes.

"Are you drinking?"

"Yeah, kind of feeling down, Fusco. I have today and tomorrow off, so don't worry I'll be ready to go for my physical in two days." She teased softly. Fusco climbed into his car.

"Is this drinking because you miss the big guy?"

"I miss him with all my heart, Fusco." She admitted. "So what's up?"

"Got a new case from our new hardass captain."

"Captain Moreno, seems nice enough, you think she's a hardass because she wants our reports and time slips done within days not weeks."

"Well speaking of this new case, it was some drug dealer, and I'm getting help from Narcotics. He's actually going to compile a list of possible suspects for me."

"Well that's good, I can't wait to be out on the field with you, Fusco."

"Me too, but the thing is the detective is really familiar."

"Oh yeah,"

"Yeah, he is tall, dark, and stormy."

Fusco could swear he heard her breath catch. "What did you say? Did you say what I think you said, Fusco?" she questioned and suddenly her voice didn't sound nearly as slurred. It seemed with the possibility that he found wonder-boy sobered her up real quick. "Damn it Fusco answer me!"

"Well now you don't seem so buzzed…" he teased. "But yeah, I did."

"How is he, how does he look, is he alright? Did he ask about me, does he want to see me?"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Carter. From what I could see he looks alright, a bit dejected but alright." Fusco admitted. "He greeted me like he didn't know me, he didn't ask about you either. Did you two break up or something, you haven't exactly been forthcoming with what happened between you two?"

"We did and we didn't,"

"Well which is, did you breakup or didn't you, because he misses you."

"It was forced on both of us, neither one of us wanted our relationship to end. What's his name?"

"Carter, he seems to think he needed to do this."

"He did." She agreed. "Our friends need to lay low, but I can't get into why over the phone….besides it's better you not know. What's his name?"

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, Carter."

"Tell me now, Fusco, we are friends and partners."

"I know, I know that, but if you guys were forced apart there must be a reason, and there must be a reason he hasn't come in search of you." Fusco paused. "I'm not sure if he would want me to tell you, or not, and I rather have my kneecaps intact, thank you very much!"

"If you don't tell me what his name is, I'll kneecap you myself." She threatened.

"I love you too, Carter," he griped. "Fine, I know I'll regret this, but his name is Detective John Riley. We were in the upper Bronx."

"That's all I needed to know, thanks Fusco." She said happily before hanging up. Fusco sighed, he was sure he was going to lose his kneecaps for telling her.

Joss slid into her desk chair. "What are you doing here, Carter?" she blinked looking up seeing her friend Detective Kane standing there.

"I wanted to finish up some leftover paperwork I don't have much to do tonight, so figured I'd catch up." She offered. He nodded with a smile walking away, she quickly logged onto her computer, and, brought up the database before typing in John's alias's name. "Got you," she whispered as she eyed John's photo. He was working at the 103rd precinct. She scribbled his address down, before snatching the paper out of the pad, and rushing out of the bull-pen.

Joss ran out of the precinct, immediately hailing a cab down. "Take me to the 103rd precinct in Bronx." She demanded, and the cabbie nodded his head, lurching the car forward. He took her the quickest route, but it wasn't quick enough. She threw him money for the fare, before she climbed out, and ran up the steps of the precinct. She prayed he was here still, if John left, she did have his home address. She entered, flashed her badge at the clerk, who motioned for her to enter. Joss pushed the double doors open to the bullpen. This precinct had a smaller bullpen then the 8th, but she had a friend at this precinct that she saw making his way over to her with a smile on his face.

"Carter it's good to see you," Detective Banks was a nice enough guy, he was married with three daughters all whom were getting married around the same time. He was going gray more and more.

"Nice hair," she motioned as she shook hands with him.

"Yeah, it's getting grayer with each new wedding demand my girls give. I can't wait until they're all married." He teased. "You're looking better, back on active duty yet?"

"Not yet, but soon."

"So what are you doing here, can I help you with something?"

"Yes, you can I'm looking for Detective John Riley in Narcotics, he here?" She asked desperately trying to keep the hopeful tint from her tone. She didn't want them to know that she knew him already. "He's working with my partner on a case he was compiling a suspect list for my partner who asked me to pick it up." She lied smoothly.

"Oh the new guy, he was transferred in after he worked undercover for four years for the 45th precinct, we had him for almost six weeks now. He's a loner, quiet, but he works his ass off. He's a great addition to our precinct, I saw him around earlier. That's his desk, I'll go look in the restroom, or evidence room see if he's there for you."

"Thanks, Banks."

"Don't mention it Carter," he grinned before turning and heading to the men's room. Joss moved to the desk that Banks motioned at, and sat down at his chair. Joss eyed his desk seeing absolutely no personal effects, he had a mountain of paperwork piled on it, and his computer was on. She felt giddy. If his computer was on, meant he was here somewhere. Joss felt the oxygen in her lungs seep out of her, as her eyes connected with a looming figure that was speaking to Banks. Banks was true to his word he had found John for her. He was holding a file, he nodded at something Banks said, and he moved towards her. Joss slid from his seat as he approached her.

"Banks said you're picking this file up for Detective Fusco," he said quietly as he stopped directly in front of her. It was literally taking everything inside her to not launch herself into his arms. "I'm Detective Riley," he murmured faintly before holding out his hand.

So she played the game, because at least she'd get to touch him. Joss took his hand and closed her eyes. "Detective Carter, but call me Joss, please."

"Alright….Joss," she reopened her eyes and saw he was struggling himself from pulling her to him. He dropped her hand immediately. "Here are all the possible suspects for Sully's murder." He held out the file. She took it, brushing her fingers against his on purpose wanting his touch still.

"Thanks," she took the file and clutched it to her chest. "Walk me out." she didn't ask she demanded it. He nodded his head curtly. Joss turned and he touched the small of her back intimately, and she shivered. He dropped his hand as they moved side by side, towards the exit of the bullpen. They remained quiet, the tension between them was thick, and she flicked a look around searching for the cameras. They were moving towards the front entrance, when he grabbed her arm, and tugged her into a room. John's mouth was on hers immediately when the door closed with a soft click. Oh god, how she longed for this. She dropped the file on the floor, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him back. He pushed her against the wall, his arms wrapped around her back, as he deepened the kiss.

He moaned softly before he pulled his mouth free, which broke her heart. She wasn't nearly done kissing him. "I'm sorry, Joss, I had too." He whispered before gently removing her arms from around his neck. He wiped her lipstick off his mouth, he squatted down and started picking up the papers that fell out of the manila folder. She squatted down beside him.

"John,"

"I'm sorry,"

"We can be together now."

"How?" he scoffed. "I can't be with you Joss."

"Why not? John Riley has technically met Joss Carter, two ordinary detectives." She said touching his hand. "In the eyes of this bad super computer we are just that, detectives, you in Narcotics, and me in Homicide." She whispered. "I love you John I can't wait much longer. It's been nearly six weeks."

"I love you too." He whispered. "But if I make one false move it's not just my life that will end, it's that of our friends', and yours. I'm not risking your life."

"John, please…"

"Here you go, detective," he whispered as he handed her the file. He stood up, opening the door for her, and she sighed. A damned supply closet was not a place to have such discussion. She exited, and he followed, and he held open the front door for her as they exited together. They took the steps to the precinct together. "Where's your car, detective?"

"I said call me Joss." She said despondently. "I didn't drive here, I took a taxi." He nodded before he hailed a taxi for her. John opened the door for her. She moved forward, and discreetly touched his hand. "See your around, Riley."

"Call me John," he muttered.

"Alright, John," she smiled. Joss slid into the seat, gave her precinct's address when John closed the door. She now had to drop this file off to Fusco since she had lied to meet with John Riley. She refused to feel the ache as the taxi drove away and she could no longer see John's figure, because it was just temporary. John was afraid her life would be in danger if they were to be together, she understood his fear she also understood the risks, but she wasn't afraid. There was nothing left standing in the way of John Riley and Jocelyn Carter from dating and falling in love, except John's fear he'll make a mistake. And she was going to prove to him that it'd be fine. She smiled, Joss Carter was going to get her flirt on with hot detective John Riley, and she was going to get the man she loved back!

AN: Ha, I forgot this has two more chapters, it finished off on chapter 12 and in all my responses I was telling everyone there was only two left when there is actually three counting this one. So I apologize. And I'll be posting this Friday chapter 1 of Entangled III, so I'm going to try to finish this one off before Friday XD

Thanks for reading!