V. Fair Warning
February 1962 Kansas City, Kansas
Floyd looked down at his glass as he sat at the counter, "You hate me don't you sir?"
Clarence glanced up while he cleaned out a glass cup "wouldn't say hate, you seem like a nice kid…but..."
"But you don't like me being with your daughter," Floyd interrupted.
Clarence sat the cup down glaring at Floyd "My daughter is as hard headed as her mother so whether or not I like you is irrelevant, but you're right I don't like you hanging around my little girl, we already have enough problems around here for just being black, we don't need your white ass adding to them...don't you see the problem with what you two are doing….slavery may be over but segregation is still alive and kicking…and I'll tell you right now that no law is going to get rid of prejudice and hate, didn't you read about what they did to that poor Till boy from Chicago...killed him just for flirting with some white woman."
"We're not all racist, you can't blame me for the actions of a few" Floyd rebutted.
"And not all colored people are rapists and crooks...but that doesn't stop this country from judging us all based of the actions of the few.
"So you want me to walk away and give up because of what other people might say about us."
"No." Clarence emphasized "I want you to walk away because of what other people might do to you both."
Floyd looked at Clarence in confusion.
Clarence sighed "There is no worst pain then for a parent to have to bury their child."
"I would never let anything happen to Yvonne!." Floyd looked down" ..I know it won't be easy but I …I love her."
Clarence shook his head "I hate to tell you this, but love don't mean a damn thing in this day and age, loves not going to stop the clan from burning crossing on folks lawns, loves not going to stop the racism and hatred, and just loving my daughter isn't going to keep her safe from harm."
"I… know" Floyd muttered under his breath, "but I still love her and I promise you, I'll keep her safe."
"Promises are mere words...and life has an unfair and tragic way of reminding us of just how easily they can be broken." He sighed "You two being together won't sit right with everybody, you'll have enemies, both white and black and I Pray to God that you two are ready for the hell that your about to bring on yourselfs."
x-x-x-xx-x-x-x
"I talked to your Father earlier today" Floyd said rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"Uh oh did he scare you off already," Yvonne chuckled, "what did he say this time."
"That I should let you go" Floyd looked down at the ground That its to dangerous for us to be together"
Yvonne placed her hands on Floyd's jaw looking up into his green eyes "Do you want to let me go?"
Floyd looked down at her and shook his head no, "But I'm afraid something will happen to you."
"I'm afraid too" Yvonne replied as she wrapped her arms around Floyd burying her face in his neck "but I love you and I'll take the slings and arrows if you're beside me"
*'If the sky that we look upon, should tumble and fall, or the mountain should crumble to the sea, I won't cry, I won't cry, No I won't shed a tear, just as long as you stand,stand by me and darling, darling stand by me oh, stand by me, oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me, darling, darling stand by me oh, stand by me, oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me'
Present Day New York
"You want to tell me what you guys did yesterday to piss Carter off" Fusco whispered into his cell phone as he watched Joss unload another clip into the paper cut out.
"Is she still mad" John questioned as he heard the echo of bullets in the background.
"Yeah I think she passed mad about 50 rounds ago." Fusco added. "So what's this about?"
"Shaw and I tipped off Vincent that the police considered him a person of interest in two homicides," John shifted uncomfortably "not to mention him confessing to the murders and threatening to turn the man in the suit in to the authorities."
Fusco widened his eyes "what the… how the hell did that happen?"
"Long story Fusco but let's just say Riker's isn't as big of a place as one would imagine."
"Yeah well I have to go pick my kid, I'll keep you guys updated if we get another lead…but in the meantime you better make like Houdini and stay off of Carter's radar before you turn up missing." Fusco replied shaking his head.
John smirked "How does one turn up…missing Lionel?"
"Whatever wise guy, I'm just saying that Carter made a body disappear for me, saved glasses from a serial killer and hoodwinked the FBI and CIA for your sorry ass" Fusco relayed as he left the firing range "all I'm saying is you better start appreciating the quarterback before she lets your ass get sacked."
"I know." John muttered after Fusco hung up on him
"Perhaps we should send the Detective a gift as our apologies for undermining her investigation" Finch chimed in.
"I'll apologize later right now our focus is on keeping Vincent close." John replied as he sat astride his motorcycle waiting as their target ate his breakfast.
"Following this guy around is boring as hell all he's done is stop at the hardware store and eat." Shaw complained as she sat in the back of the diner.
"I'd rather he be boring then on a killing spree Ms. Shaw."
Sameen shrugged "Whatever Finch."
John slid his helmet visor down as he saw Floyd stand up
"He's headed your way Reese," Shaw stated shoving some bacon into her mouth.
"I've got him, in the meantime Shaw go back to his place and see if you can find anything that will explain why he's doing this." John ordered as he waited patiently as Floyd exited the diner, getting into his car before pulling off, John let another car pull out before he followed.
John slowed down as they approached a red light, he had been following Floyd for thirty minutes and all he had done was drive around, when the light changed finally changed green, Floyd's car didn't move, instead he turned his hazard lights on. John cursed under his breath as he watched the two cars in front of him move around Floyd, if he didn't follow suit Floyd would know he was being tailed.
Reluctantly he began to pull forward, when he was a car length away he heard the screech of Floyd's tires as he backed up rapidly, John threw himself from his bike, hitting the asphalt hard rolling out of the way as the tail end of the car smashed into his bike. He tried to get to his feet, his hand going for his gun, before he could draw it, a bullet tore through his shoulder sending him reeling backwards, the last thing he saw was a shoe coming towards his head.
"How's it going Carter?"
Joss looked up from her desk as she eyed Officer Simmons "It's going," She replied curtly going back to her report
Patrick smirked "That's good to hear, how's your case doing?"
Joss stopped writing, giving Simmons her undivided attention "Can I help you with something Officer."
"Just being friendly Carter, Where's your partner?"
"Out for the day." Joss replied tight lipped.
"Tell Fusco I stopped by, have a good day Detective." Simmons threw out as he walked away.
'Snake' Joss thought as she watched Simmons walk away until her phone vibrated.
She flipped her phone open "Carter."
"Detective I have some urgent news Mr. Reese has been abducted by Vincent."
Joss felt her mouth fall open "What!...is he okay… do you know where he was taken." She stood up holstering her gun, listening to Finch describe what had happened, as she rushed out the precinct, "Give me his last location."
John groaned his head pounding as he came too. His vision blurring as he opened his eyes taking in his surroundings, glancing over the wooden beam framework, the exposed insulation, surmising that he was in an under construction home of some kind.
He looked up his wrist where bound together with extension cords and duct tape as he hung from the overhead banister the tips of his toes barely touching the ground. The wound in his shoulder throbbing at the uncomfortable position.
"I see you're awake." Floyd walked into the room how are you feeling
"Clearly better than my bike…I hope you have insurance"
"You and your friend are starting to annoy me with all the following" Floyd stated as he stood in front of John.
"Sorry it's kind of in our job descriptions."
"And what would be the purpose of your job." Floyd questioned. When he didn't receive an answer, he grinned before punching the man twice in the gut before pressing his thumb into his bleeding shoulder wound.
"Tell me who you work for?" Floyd asked with a hard jab to John's ribs "Why are you so interested in interfering in my affairs?"
"Like I said earlier…" John grunted "It's my job to stop psychopaths like you from killing innocent people."
"Innocent…." Floyd stepped back "There is no such thing as innocent there's only guilty, ignorant and unlucky."
"So what do you consider the people you murdered?" John asked, watching in silence as Floyd looked away from him briefly in a semi daze. He strained his ears briefly hearing the word guilty, muttered under his breath as he was lost in his thoughts
Floyd blinked his memories away returning his focus back on John. "I'll never pause, never stand still, until death closes my eyes."
John narrowed his eyes in confusion at Floyd's words
"I admire what they say you do vigilante…but they forfeited their right to live 52 years ago, I will not warn you a third time, stay out of my way or else," He voiced out before walking out the room.
John tried to pull his hands free of his restraint but after ten minutes of struggling he admitted defeat. Listening to the silence in the house John pondered if Floyd had left him. His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a slight creek coming from behind him. He readied himself in case Floyd was in the mood to use him as a punching bag again.
"I see you managed to get yourself into more trouble …again."
John sighed in relief as he heard Joss's voice.
"Are you okay?" Joss asked as she made her way towards him, gun still drawn.
"I'm peachy Detective…just hanging around."
"You're an idiot" Joss rolled her eyes, lowering her gun as she looked up at John's restraints.
"Yes." John agreed with a smirk, "but I'm your idiot."
"I should just leave your ass here for causing me so much grief." Joss walked over the end of the extension cord that was tied to the wall, pulling out her knife and cutting through the cord.
"You know it's not your job to look after me Joss." John dropped to his feet pulling his still bound wrist to his chest, relaxing the wound in his shoulder as he turned to face her holding his wrist out so she could cut the duct tape off.
Joss sighed shaking her head, "someone needs to keep you safe while you're busy saving everyone else."
John felt a small tug at the corners of his mouth, a calming feeling spreading through his chest at her words. He watched in silence as she freed him from his binds, enjoying her gently touch as she caressed his slightly raw wrists with her small soft hands.
"Come on I have a first aid kit in the car, it should hold you over until Shaw can patch you up." Joss looked up scrunching her eyebrows in confusion as John just stared at her with an odd expression, "What's wrong."
A soft smile graced his face as he took in her cute confused face, he wondered what she would do if he told her she was cute when she looked confused, opening his mouth he was cut off as her phone ringing. His words dying on his tongue as she answered the phone turning it on speaker, hearing Finch's voice asking them if they were alright.
"We're fine Finch but Floyd got away and from what he said I have a feeling that he won't stop until he accomplishes his goal." John affirmed.
"What did he tell you Mr. Reese?"
"Something about never pausing or standing still until death closes his eyes…or something like that not quite sure what he was quoting."
"Here on my knee I vow to God above, I'll never pause again, never stand still, til either death hath closed these eyes of mine or fortune given me measure of revenge'….It's Shakespeare from Henry the 6th" Joss quoted.
Joss looked at John's surprised and impressed face and noting Harold's silence over the phone "What? I can't like Shakespeare."
AN:* Stand by Me- Ben. E King - Recorded 1961