I'm going to spare you any excuses for not writing for such a long time ;-)

11 - Promises

Joss slowly awoke by the sound of voices who seemed to argue but were dampened by something. Still tired and sleepy she didn't want to open her eyes, she felt perfectly safe and intended on keeping it that way. So she snuggled further into the sheets of the comfy bed. As the voices became less she was relieved and ready to get asleep again.

Just then another sound caught her attention. A steady heartbeat right next to her, which wasn't hers. It's been a long time since she awoke with someone next to her. A well-known smell finally alerted her.

The pictures of the previous events began to rush through her mind and her eyes snapped open. She was lying at the left side of a double bed and her right hand was enclosed by a bigger one. Joss lifted her head to check up on John. Their eyes met and she realized he must've been awake for a while now and just watched her.

His face wasn't as pale anymore as it's been when they arrived and the smile he wore since she looked up let him appear healthier. The dark rings under his eyes still showed he wasn't at the top of his game and even though he tried to hide it, Joss saw the signs of pain in his eyes.

Which is what made her wonder about how long she's been asleep. With the shot of morphine she remembered Shaw giving him, he should be free of pain for at least six hours.

His grip of her hand became tighter, he must've seen the beginning worry in her face. As a consequence her thoughts were interrupted and she concentrated back on the present.

"Hey" She greeted him and returned his gesture in squeezing his hand, too.

"Hey there, sleepyhead." His voice sounded rasp but his eyes looked gently at her.

"How are you feeling?" Joss asked him, not wanting to move and interrupt their precious moment alone, before the seriousness of the situation would catch up with them all too soon.

"Like I've been hit by a bus - over and over again. But if it's necessary for waking up next to you, I'll accept it silently." He smirked at her and his eyes were lightening up at her replying smile.

His whole body was aching with the treatment of the last 24 hours. The adrenaline has kept him running but even his body could only produce a certain amount of it before it collapsed. Which is what happened as they escaped the CIA once more. The infection of his shoulder wound wasn't as bad anymore thanks to Shaw's treatment. His ribs were protesting with every movement, so he decided to just lie still and let his battered body recover.

The guilt of being responsible for this whole mess still haunted him, but he knew his friends wouldn't let him down and would rather die before giving him up. Even though he didn't want them to put themselves at risk for him, it caused a warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart. It's been a long time since he could trust others with his life, but ever since Finch and Joss came into his life, he knew where he belonged.

Joss put her hand to his forehead to check his temperature and was relieved as he felt nearly normal again. This was a good sign, everything else would heal with enough recovery time. The only thing that still worried her was his inability to move his left arm since it's been injured. But Shaw didn't looked all too concerned back at the cabin as she checked it. Still…

"Can you move your injured arm?" She finally asked him. John could see slight fear in her face but just smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry, I can feel it, which means there's no nerve damage. It's just a little bit uncooperative, probably torn some muscles but it's going to heal."

"You sound well versed about it."

John stared into space as he remembered. "I had to learn it, lack of knowledge about your own body can lead to panic, which will get you killed while you're operating in a foreign country all by yourself." His face hardened at this thought, but it softened immediately as he felt Joss' hand upon his other shoulder. The sad look on her face hurt him more, because his words put it there.

"These times are over, John. You never will be alone anymore. You really should have accepted it by now. Don't you ever dare to do something stupid again like what you did back at the street." Her voice was serious and she looked straight into his eyes.

"I won't lie to you, Joss. You know I can't promise you this. If there's any chance giving up my life will save yours, I'll take it." Joss made an attempt to intervene, but John cut her off. "I know what you want to say, Joss, but you of all people should understand it. You're a cop and get in danger every day in order to save other people. Both of us are doing this. But you have a son! A family! You can't expect from me to just watch while you are in danger." He glanced at the beautiful woman next to him and feared he had lost her forever now.

Joss looked at him quietly for almost a minute and thought about his words. "I just don't know if I can completely give in to what we have, if I have to fear constantly about you giving up your life for me."

She was torn between what she wanted and the worry to lose it. On one side, she could understand John's explanation, he was in no other position than she was. Her being a cop put her in danger on a daily basis and he had to get along with this, too. Back in the cabin she swore to herself she would enjoy every day with him as if it were their last.

On the other hand she couldn't think of loosing him, once they got together. She was already feeling connected to him like a soul mate and she would break if she lost her other half.

She sighed and closed her eyes as she realized she made her decision a long time ago

In the meantime John was almost convinced she would leave him. His heart was going to break if he lost her, too, but he couldn't change the way he was. There was no way she would die without him taking every chance to protect her.

Her eyes locked with his again, her face still serious. "I do understand it, I really do. But please promise me you'll at least give me a chance to find another way first. A way that doesn't mean you playing the hero and sacrificing yourself for me. I don't wanna lose you, John. Not now, that I finally have you." John let out a breath he didn't remember holding as he understood what she just told him.

The beginning hope in John's eyes made her want him even more. "I can promise that, Joss." No, she definitely won't let him go and she will take good care of him, so he couldn't pull off such stupid stunts anymore. She came closer to his face and after a reassuring look, their lips met.

It was a gentle kiss, one that showed a deep connection and love between them. They needed this proximity now, it gave both of them the strength to stand up to whatever the next days brought. But soon enough Joss' hands travelled towards the naked skin of his upper body and she sighed at the softness.

As John felt her hands caressing his body he moaned. Heat welled up inside him and left a burning desire for more. His hands rested at her cheek during their kiss, but now they were finding the way down over her shoulder and to the side of her breast, which he could feel through the fabric of her shirt. John tried to lift himself up to intensify the kiss but a piercing pain sent him back to the mattress, an arm slung around his ribs.

"Argh… Shit." All romance was gone within a second. "Are you okay?" The worried look was back on Joss' face and he shook his head slowly. "Well, yes." Joss eyes grew big, but before she could go on with her questioning he kept on talking. As he raised his head, she could see the smirk on his face. "I just messed up another wonderful moment with you."

She sent him a soft smile and rolling eyes. "There are a lot more to come after we managed this little catastrophe. And I intend them to be significantly longer, without our friends hanging around right before the bedroom door, or… anywhere near us." She sent him a meaningful look, which in turn made him close his eyes and growling as his head fell back into the pillow.

Joss took the opportunity to sneak out of the bed with a grin on her face. The clothes she wore since they were forced into hiding were crinkled and she missed some fresh clothing. She risked a peak into the wardrobe just to find a variety of clothes in different sizes. One of them was in hers. She took a simple black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Additionally, she grabbed some fresh underwear to change into after showering. Her mind was already trying to think about how Finch got her dress size, but she stopped herself at it. She didn't really want to know it and was just grateful for it right now.

"Don't look!" She commanded John and quickly changed into the new clothes. As she turned towards him again, his eyes haven't left her body. The grin on his face was boyish, but his eyes looked predatorily at her. Shaking her head she opened the door, just to be thrown backwards as something pressed it back with an unexpected force.

A brown shadow rushed past her and Joss' eyes widened in shock, as she realized Bear was running across the room towards the bed. The Belgian Malinois must've waited before the room all the time, eager to see his master again. He launched into jumping right at the bed but stopped at the last second. Instead he whimpered and carefully licked across John's left hand, which lay motionless next to him.

"Bear, ga zitten!" John said. He would've really liked to pet his loyal friend, but he didn't need any further pain.

The dog responded immediately and sat down next to him in a very protecting manner. Then he turned and looked at Joss with a tilted head. Joss shook her head at the two in front of her, but couldn't resist a quiet laughter as it bubbled up in her chest.

Still shaking her head she continued her way out of the room where she was greeted with three people staring at her in silence. Finch looked older than before with the deep concern in his eyes and small signs of exhaustion on his face. Fusco just lifted an eyebrow and looked like the usual himself. A smirk played around Shaw's lips as her eyes moved between Joss and the bedroom door. All of them were sitting on the couch and turned towards her. She crossed the room to stand next to the table before them.

"Detective Carter, good morning, or better, good afternoon. How is John doing?" Finch couldn't hold back his concern.

A quick check on the clock in the living room showed two o' clock. "So far, so good. He's awake at least but I think he needs a refresh on the pain meds. Could you give him another dose, Sam?"

"I'll try, but it ain't gonna be easy." She replied and stood up. "You should take some, too. The car crash isn't something to shake off easily, you must have a pretty good headache yourself. There are some left in the bathroom cupboard."

Carter nodded thankfully in response. As Shaw mentioned it the pains slowly began to settle in. She's been so distracted by the conversation with John that she didn't even think about her own body.

"So, you and Wonderboy are together now?" Fusco blurted out.

Joss felt the heat welling up in her cheeks. "Is this the only thing that concerns you right now?" She dodged the question. This was way too soon to make it public, but she felt like she didn't have another chance since they were going to spend the next few days together. Still, she didn't need to shout it from the rooftops.

"Not exactly, but you would really do me a favor if you two pig heads finally admitted your immortal love or whatever."

"Detective Fusco, please, this is not the appropriate timing for questions of those kind." Finch shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Joss suddenly got a feeling in her gut than this wasn't meant solely for the protection of her honor and the confirmation just followed.

"Oh, come on Finch, you're just trying to keep having a chance of winning."

Joss frowned. Winning? Like in… "Are you two honestly betting about if John and I get together?" Her voice grew louder with each word. She did expect something like this from Fusco, but not from Finch.

"Not exactly." Came a female voice from behind. "We actually betted on when you two get together. And the way Reese was smiling even before he got his morphine I'm afraid you won, Fusco." Shaw just got back from the bedroom and her she was almost pouting.

Joss felt the heat of her cheeks growing towards her ears. Without another word she left for the bathroom, once more shaking her head.

She didn't think John and her were so easy to read. But it seems they had been the only two not seeing the love they showed for each other. The thought of everyone knowing wasn't really something she was comfortable with. At least she wouldn't have to think of an excuse to spend the next nights in John's bedroom, as she was already getting used to wake up next to him.

Cleaning herself up in the bathroom was a real relief. As she felt the hot water running across her body she realized how sore she actually was after the accident and everything that followed. Thankfully she took the painkillers Shaw prepared for her, the headache was worse after all the warm and moist air around her.

Slipping back into her clothes she felt much more ready to discuss their further strategy, she would just ignore the earlier conversation and go on like nothing has happened. But before that she wanted to check up on John. Shaw was suspiciously fast with giving him his treatment, usually he was a pretty bad patient as long as he's conscious.

She left the bathroom and quickly made the way over towards the bedroom. John has obviously been asleep again, but his eyelids were fluttering open at the sound of her entering. She smiled at his attempt on keeping them open.

"Why are you laughing?" His voice was slightly slurred, which only made her smile more because this was a side of him she hasn't seen before and he was just too cute.

"I'm just wondering how Shaw accomplished giving you the morphine."

As a reply he frowned. "She didn't really ask."

A slight grin played around her lips, she could just picture the situation. "Okay, I'm going to let you rest now, I'll let the door open in case you need anything." A groan showed his disapproval but she was sure he'd be asleep any second anyway and so she closed the door silently.

Another chapter ends with a closing door, I'm recognizing patterns here…

I definitely will finish this story, it just takes longer than I initially thought.