Chapter 2
"Ooookaaayyyy John." Joss is now intrigued by his response because she's learned from past times of helping him and the team that it's usually not a good idea to accompany John anywhere without her service weapon or her Nano.
"I'll wear the blue sleeveless dress with the plunging neck line." Joss starts thinking out loud and to let John hear so he can give her input as to how dressed up she needs to be.
"No Joss, not that one." John never seemed to want her to wear that dress even though she knew she looked fierce in it.
"Alright then. How about the red silk sheath dress with the little pink shrug?"
"I don't think that's the one either for what we'll be doing." He was sounding like he didn't know what he wanted which put Joss' radar on alert.
John was rarely uncertain in most things and almost never when it came to a number. So what was up? The conversation had started to get a bit strange so the detective in her wanted answers. Joss decides to play with him so she asks in a sultry voice, "What about the maroon and black leather dress that I wore to Blur."
Joss stifles a chuckle as she remembers the last time she was asked to get 'dressed up' to help out with a number. Then it was Finch who asked her to wear, "…something elegant, but also less than conservative." She hears John almost growl on the other end of the phone.
"I thought you had gotten rid of that dress." John says low and dangerously.
Joss knew he had a love hate relationship with it. He loved how she looked in it and he hated that Ian was so attracted to her when he saw her in it. Some days John wanted to burn it because it always made him think of Ian. On others he wanted her to wear it so he could see just how fast he could get her out of it.
From his refusals it seemed that John wanted her to wear something really high end and that was something she didn't have in her closet right now. She was getting inpatient and with an exasperated sigh Joss asks," Ok, look John. I can't go naked so what do you want me to wear?"
The small almost silent groan followed by a heavy silence from the other side of the conversation brings a smirk to Joss' face. She knows he's picturing her naked when she hears John clear his throat a couple of times. A coy smile graces her lips and she listens to John pouting.
"Joss. That wasn't fair." She can hear that his breathing has picked up through her phone and smiles at the frustration she hears in John's voice.
"Ok. So once again what do you want me to wear John?"
On the heels of a deep sigh John shocks her by telling her, "I'll have some things sent to the house for you to try out. I know you'll look wonderful in whatever you pick, as usual."
There that purr was again. He made her want to jump through that phone and jump his bones. Man, this had to stop or she was not going to be able to get any work done for the rest of the day. She hurriedly told John she loved him and with his self-satisfied chuckle rumbling in her ear she hung up.
That was two days ago and now here she sits in Janelle's hair shop in her chair getting ready to get 'the works'. She could tell how important this was to John. He has been, of all things, nervous the few minutes she's been able to spend with him since talking with him two days ago. His nervousness has Joss worrying her bottom lip. If John is nervous and she doesn't need to carry this must be one interesting number. He wants her to look special so she will. Besides she hasn't treated herself to 'The Works' in a very long time; hair, mani-pedi, threading, facial and for a little extra, a Brazilian wax. Joss is looking forward to not only looking fierce but feeling fierce tonight as Janelle takes her to the shampoo bowl in the back.
John looks at his watch and gives a small rumble of disapproval. Its past 4:30 and he wanted to meet Josh at Janelle's to check with her on how she was going to fix her hair for their 'assignment'. He knew that his trying to have some input into how she was going to wear her hair would get a rise from her but he loved to watch her facial expressions when he got on her "last nerve". That storm he saw in the depths of her beautiful doe eyes always got a rise out of him.
Her appointment was at four but he really didn't care how she was going to wear her hair. She would be beautiful even if she shaved it all off though he would be really disappointed if she did that. He liked running his fingers through her beautiful tresses when they made love. Well pretty much anytime he got the opportunity too he loved to tangle his fingers in it. He especially liked it when she wore it loose and they were lying in bed and she leaned over top of him to kiss him. It would fall forward and cover their faces, block everything out and cocooning them like they were the only two people on earth in an embrace that neither ever wanted to escape from.
The thought of them locked in a lover's embrace brought an unconscious smile to John's face and other thoughts to his mind. However, Fusco's gruff voice at his elbow snaps him back to reality.
"Ok partner. I know that look so knock it off and bring your mind back here to the squad room where it belongs. Jeez. Since you two got together that twinkle in your eye is just…", Fusco shivers "…its freaking me out." "Can you leave that at home, please. We got work to do."
Just to irritate his partner with a little whine in his voice and a smirk on his face John addresses Fucso.
"I'll try but you know how beautiful she is. It's just so hard for me to not think of her and the position she's in right now, probably bending over her desk reaching for her briefs..."
"Hey! That's my partner you're having impure thoughts about. Tone it down ok. Yuck."
John gives Fusco the innocent puppy dog eyes even though the smirk is still plastered on his face.
"I don't know what you mean Lionel. You know I'm concerned about her bar review which will be Monday." When he was in a good mood John enjoyed giving Fusco a bad time to no end.
"Alright, Alright. Just knock it off, ok." Fusco tosses the files on John's desk as he gives him the breakdown of the situation.
"Here's the files for that guy's body guards that got aerated yesterday. I been looking into this guy and his entourage. He's not just a diplomate. He's the crown Prince of his own little country."
"Aerated and entourage? Lionel?! I see Finch is rubbing off on you."
John picks up the file and his smile slips from his face. The Prince is their new number he's been working on for the past two weeks. Two days ago when he had asked Joss to help him he had really thought that he would be done with this case. As usual he wasn't going to let anything get in the way of their assignment. But this case had turned out to be just what he and Joss needed. On Tuesday John was giving Harold an update on the Princes' case when the idea struck him.
"Harold, I need a favor from you."
"Alright John. How can I be of assistance?
"Well it's not really me you're going to help. It's Joss. She needs to accompany me on Thursday night."
"Ah I understand Mr. Reese. She will be helping you with the current number, the Prince? I know that the black tie gala and fund raiser for the Prince is that night."
"Yeah, but I need Shaw to handle the main part of the Princes' case on Thursday night."
"Ok John. Shaw's not busy right now so I'm sure she will enjoy getting off of the sidelines and into the fray. I'll speak with Lionel too. If he's available, I'll inform Ms. Shaw that she will have Detective Fusco as her back up for Thursday night."
"I know Shaw and Fusco can handle anything that may come up or after the Prince." John agreed.
"They should be fine Mr. Reese. Anything else?"
"Well, there's a second favor I need."
Two favors from John Reese and at the same time no less, has Harold's eyebrows reaching for his hair line.
And your second request Mr. Reese?"
"I need two tickets to the gala Harold, for the Prince's table."
"Two…one for you and the other for Joss I presume?"
"Yeah, Harold that's right. Could you please send a couple of dresses over for Joss to pick from to wear that night."
"Certainly, Mr. Reese." Harold knew that living on a cop's salary did not afford Joss the funds to buy haute couture. Though John was more than 'financially stable', Harold also knew that Joss rarely accepted money from her husband for things such as clothes. If she was going into this situation undercover she would have to have a gown that says I belong here. Something as breathtaking and beautiful as the detective herself Harold mused.
"Take the donation from my account."
Harold's fingers pause over the keyboard after John gives his instructions about the donation for the tickets. He can hear Finch's hesitation even before he speaks.
"Uh, Mr. Reese you do know what the donation fee for that particular seating arrangement is?"
Though John in no wise considers himself to be a wealthy man, Finch's compensation for his work is more than generous. He has very little use for things so he mostly keeps what he only needs for essentials and uses the rest for more philanthropic causes. Though of late, he had been saving more of his funds for future needs, like Taylor's college fund which Joss didn't know about, yet. Then there is the off shore account in her name he set up to make sure she is well taken care of when something happens to him. That was a conversation he was trying to put off for as long as possible.
He knew Joss would love to attend this affair. She admired the Prince and all he had done to improve the lives of his people especially the extremely poor, the orphaned children and the changes in misogynistic practices towards girls and women. Joss raved about the clean water, education and entrepreneurial programs the Prince had put in place. The laws he enacted to support his country's growth as well as the extensive clean-up of the government, military and police forces gave Joss a bit of hero worship towards the Prince. Last week while they were curled up together on the couch just spending precious time together and watching TV, a news story came on about the Princes' visit to the city and his accomplishments. His efforts to reform and revitalize his country took a lot of money and the gala that was to take place on Thursday was to help raise funds to support his country's changes. Joss had said how much she would love to meet him. She would give an arm and a leg just to talk with him for 10 minutes about the importance of an honest police force for the true protection of a people.
John remembers that conversation well and it brings a very soft and humble smile to his face. The passion with which Joss spoke about the goodness of the Prince that night humbled John for later that evening she spoke with even more passion about what a good man he was. As he remembers what she told him many times that night about the good man that John Reese is, his heart melts again and strengthens at the same time in its resolve to do any and everything in his power to keep his love happy and safe. Going to this gala would make Joss very happy.
"Look Finch. I know that you can access my accounts any time you choose and I don't really care about the cost so just set it up for me."
"Mr. Reese," Harold stammers, "uh each ticket for that table is…one hundred thousand dollars. John are you sure about this?"
"Finch we've found out these past couple of weeks that the Prince is a good man trying to do the best for his country and people so it's for a good cause." With a smirk on his face John adds, "I can always write it off on my taxes. You can even dock my pay."
"You don't pay taxes Mr. Reese, the machine does. And I don't need to, dock your pay. This is a work expense and it will be treated as such and be drawn on the general account so…."
John jumps to interrupt Finch. "No Harold, umm…. I want to pay for this. I need to pay for this."
Harold could hear the unease in John's voice, maybe a little trepidation even.
"John what's going on? You've never asked to use your own money for operations before, why now?"
Harold wondered what could be so important that John would use his own funds for such an exorbitant thing. Harold hears John's soft sigh of resignation before he starts his explanation.
"It's a date Harold. A surprise one, but a date none the less. Joss and I rarely have time to spend alone much less out on a date. We're still at the, finding out about each other stage. You're supposed to do that during dating. But you know after Quinn and Simmons we jumped right into marriage; we kind a skipped that dating thing."
Harold could hear the regret in John's voice and it stirred him to help John make this one of the best dates John and Joss could have.
"I understand. We never seem to have enough time with those who mean the most in our lives."
Thoughts of Grace and Nathan flit through Harold's mind as he gets busy getting things together for John and Joss.
"Have no fear John I will take care of those things you've asked of me."
Harold could hear the relief in John's voice.
"Thank you Harold."
"No thanks needed John. You and Joss have a wonderful date night."
As John disconnected their call he knew Finch's mind was already thinking of designer, gown styles and colors that would complement the great beauty that is Detective Jocelyn Carter.
