VIII. Road to Hell
September 1963 Kansas City, Kansas
"What do you think? Do you think she'll like it or is it too small?" Floyd asked as he fiddled with his tie.
Ruth looked at the wedding ring, it was small but it was beautiful "It's perfect and trust me that girl loves you to pieces, the size of the ring won't matter to her."
"So when is she coming over?"
"Her brother asked her to close for him tonight so he could go on a date, so she should be here around 8."
Ruth smiled at the look of complete an utter happiness on her friends face "Look at Pretty Boy Floyd becoming a man and getting hitched."
"What can I say she has my heart and soul, it's like we were made for each other. Once we get married were moving out of this town. I have enough money saved to hold us over for 6 months until I find another job."
"Where are you guys planning to go?"
"I don't know yet, anywhere that I can get a factory or mechanic job, so probably a big city. Detroit, Los Angles, New York.
Ruth stood up "Well let me get out of your hair lover boy. Good luck….not that you'll need it."
Floyd smiled as Ruth headed out, he looked around his apartment dinner was already made now the only thing he was waiting on was the woman of his dreams to come knocking on his door.
*"Wise men say only fools rush in but I can't help falling in love with you. Shall I stay would it be a sin, if I can't help falling in love with you. Like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes some things are meant to be take my hand, take my whole life too for I can't help falling in love with you…"
Queens, New York 4:30AM
John sat on alone on the boardwalk bench admiring the skyline of city. He subconsciously picked at the skin around his finger nail as he thought about Floyd and the heart ache he had been suffering with for fifty two years.
Although he was far from the little boy who grew up in the Catholic Church, he couldn't image not being able to properly lay to rest a loved one. He just wished he could make Joss understand, he wanted to believe in her words but sometimes the law was inadequate and sometimes the only way to right a wrong was in blood shed.
"Yo!"
John took a deep breath "My phones off for a reason Shaw."
Shaw sneered "Then you probably shouldn't be friends with a man who can use the city's camera systems like his own personal GPS and you're going to have to cut your emotional interlude short. We need to get to Westchester, your new BFF just kidnapped and blew up Middleton's house."
"I don't care Shaw I'm not going to interfere with Floyd or his need for revenge."
Shaw cracked her neck in irritation "I'm sure he'll appreciate that but I was referring to Westchester Medical Center to check in on Carter and Fusco, considering they almost got vaporized in the explosion"
John felt his stomach drop as his throat tighten and his heart skip a beat before he shot up and made a bee line to his car.
Shaw smirked as she watched him peel out of his parking space
"Really Ms. Shaw…vaporized, that was a rather dramatic word choice don't you think. Detective Fusco said that they were both fine and that the trip to the ER was simply protocol."
"Yeah well that's what he gets for turning his phone off…. Besides, I'm pretty sure he'd react the same way if I told him Carter stubbed her toe," Shaw smiled as disconnected with Finch.
Harold sat in silence as he thought about Shaw's remark. He too had begun to wonder about John's feelings in relation to the Detective. He remembered the way he had taken it almost personally when her number came up, stating that she was someone that the world couldn't afford to lose. But with the way that he had being willing to rid the city of both HR and Elias, he was beginning to wonder if John had meant that he couldn't lose her.
Harold looked down as Bear whined at his side to be petted, obliging the canine he scratched his ear "Though, I suppose that Mr. Reese wouldn't be the first man in history to start a war over a woman."
Westchester Medical Center New York 5:55AM
"Do you feel any sharp pains?"
Joss winced a little when the Doctor pressed into the bruises on her back "No just some discomfort from the bruises."
"Okay that's good, other than the slight cut on your cheek and the bruises there doesn't seem to be anything other than the minor external damages but once I get your x-rays back I'll be sure. So sit tight and I'll be back with you shorty, feel free to re-dress."
Joss grabbed her shirt slipped it over her head slowly mindful of the bruises forming on her back, which probably would be black and purple by the morning.
"Excuse me sir but you can't be back here.."
Joss jumped slightly as the privacy curtain was yanked back to reveal a worried and determined John Reese.
"Ma'am I am so sorry he.."
Joss smiled and waved the flustered nurse off "It's okay he's…family."
The nurse nodded before giving John a glare before she left.
"That was fast, you don't have to be here I'm almost done," she bent forward to slip her shoes back on before she turned to look at him, her smiling falling as she saw the look of guilt and sadness in his eyes.
"John stop, you had no idea what he was going to do."
"No," John clenched his fist as he saw the cut on her cheek, "…but I should have, if I was doing my job, you could have…"
"Even if Fusco and I hadn't been waiting for ESU we both would have still smelled the gas before we entered and been able to handle the situation."
"Okay Detective I've looked over your x-rays and everything….oh I'm sorry am I interrupting?," The Doctor inquired as she saw John standing next to her.
Joss smiled at the Doctor "no its okay he can be here."
The Doctor nodded "Okay well as I was saying your x-rays are clean so you are free to go, this is a prescription for a mild pain killer to help with the bruises. If you have any adverse reaction to the medication, stop taking it and contact a Doctor, you can have this filled at any pharmacy." The Doctor explained as she handed Joss her prescription slip
"Thank you." She shook the Doctors hand and nodded as she walked away.
Joss turned to look back up at John, he looked like her own personal guardsman as he stood at attention at her beside his fist still clenched at his side. She sighed, she really wished he'd stop acting like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"I really wish you'd stop blaming yourself for the things you have no control over." she whispered softly staring at his clenched fist, hesitantly, she lifted her hand and placed it on his clenched fist.
A smile overtaking her face when he unclenched his fist and gently held her fingers, his thumb brushing her knuckles.
John turned and stared into her eyes, she always had such a warming look to offer him. Even when they first meant she showed genuine concern for him first person in a long time to ask if he needed help. Had Finch not sprung him from custody, he had a feeling she would have personally marched him to the nearest Veterans Affairs office for homeless vets.
He offered her a small smile "I can't help it,… but I'll try" for you he finished to himself as he clenched her hand tighter.
"Oh stop being a baby Fusco I once hiked down the side of a mountain with a knife embed in my shoulder blade."
John tried to control his urge to hold tighter as her fingers slowly slipped from his as the privacy curtain was pulled back. As he soon as he saw Fusco a sinker escaped his lips as he looked at the neck brace and sling.
"Oh my God Fusco what happened I thought you just dislocated your shoulder!?" Joss looked at her partner.
"Well after the adrenaline wore off turns out I have a mild case of whiplash."
"Just whiplash Lionel." John teased.
"I know right he's such a baby." Shaw interjected.
Fusco stiffly looked between Shaw and John "Well excuse the hell out of me for not being a super solider like you two clowns."
Shaw rolled her eyes "let's go Fusco!"
"Go where?"
Shaw smiled gripping his good arm "I'm taking you home."
Joss tried to stifle her laughter at the panicked expression on Lionel's face as he gave her a wide eyed look that said 'save me'.
"Should I be concerned?" Joss asked slightly worried about Fusco's safety.
"Shaw's a good driver….as long as no one else is on the road," John explained "Now let's get you home"
Wheeling Pennsylvania 8:30AM
'A statement has not been released as to whether or not the Commissioner of police for the NYPD was in his residents at the time of the explosion but sources say that a body was discovered and that a full investigation is underway as first responders sift through the wreckage..'
Floyd watched disinterested at the news broadcast of the possible death of the Ronald Middleton as he placed a pack of gum and two lighters on the gas station counter.
"That shits crazy right…that'll be $17.34"
Floyd looked at the teenage "Sure is"
Brooklyn, New York 8:35AM
"Is Detective Carter alright?"
"She has a few bruises and a cut on her cheek" John gritted out as he cracked his knuckles in anger.
Sensing John's agitated state Harold changed the subject."Are you sure he's headed for his hometown Mr. Reese."
"Yes he wants Middleton to show him where Yvonne's body is so he can give her a proper burial."
"Very well, then I will arrange transportation for you and Ms. Shaw to go to Kansas City will I be arranging for the Detectives as well?"
"Can you make their presence there legitimate?" John asked as he stirred the cup of tea he was making for Joss.
"Given that they're current case involves Mr. Vincent, I don't see why a trip to his hometown would be out of the questioned. They will both receive their travel vouchers as soon as I have it approved in the NYPD database."
"Thank you Finch," John disconnected as he headed back upstairs to give her the cup of tea to help her relax.
"Joss here's your…" He trailed off as he walked into her bedroom, seeing her asleep on her bed. He quietly moved toward her setting the tea down on her nightstand and gently sliding the file she had been reading from her limp hands and placing it next to her tea.
He glanced at his watch, she had taken her medication 20 minutes ago, her current state a testament that the extreme drowsiness warning wasn't an exaggerated side effect of her medication.
He smiled as he knelt at her bedside reached out to tucked her hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering next to the small cut on her cheek. He pulled his hand back and clenched his fist to control his anger, he was anger at Floyd for almost killing her and he was even angrier at himself for not following her to Middleton's home.
He brushed his hand aginst her jaw one last time before he stood up and grabbed the throw blanket that was resting on the foot of her bed and draping it over her sleeping form. He watched as she snuggled into the blanket before shifting onto her stomach and sprawling out over her bed.
"I'm sorry I let you get hurt Joss" he whispered softly under his breath as he turned out her lights and closed her bedroom door as he walked out.
New York City 3:30PM
Fusco heaved his carry-on bag into the overhead bin before he slide into his assigned seat next to Carter.
"Where's your neck brace?" Joss asked noticing the missing brace.
"I'm good without it. All I need is the sling. So glasses confirmed that Vincent is on his way to Kansas city?"
"Yea, given the explosion and the amount of time it took the gas leak to ignite, I'd say he has an 11 to 13 hour lead on us and since he has Middleton with him he is no doubt driving, unfortunately until the ME confirms that the body they found isn't Middleton were the only ones who know Floyd has him." Joss explained
"How long is the drive from New York to Kansas?"
"About 23 hours give or take 30 minutes. Once we touch down we can visit the town and see how far we can get but since it'll be past 5 when we arrive I doubt we will be able to do much until tomorrow."
Fusco nodded "So if it's not Middleton's body in the debris who's was it?"
"I don't know but our mutual friends think it was a cadaver, probably stolen from a morgue or grave yard."
Fusco snorted "Figures they'd know. How much you want to bet that the Wonder Twins have probably done the same thing themselves a few times."
"Personally I've done it 23 times. What about you Reese?"
"I don't know Shaw maybe 30 or 40…I never really kept count."
Joss and Fusco looked at each other before looking over the backs of their seats to see Shaw and Reese sitting behind them.
John smirked "Detectives. What a coincidence that we're on the same flight."
"What are you two doing here?" Joss asked irritated.
"Well Detective, I want to go to Worlds of Fun and Shaw wants to visit the birthplace of Twinkies."
Joss rolled her eyes as she and Fusco turned back around in their seats.
"This is going to be a long flight" Fusco grumbled out.
Bloomington, Indiana 3:23AM
Floyd pulled under an underpass as he grabbed a bottle of water and the bag of chips and exited the moving truck. Walking to rear of the truck he opened the conveyer door and tossed the supplies to the man handcuffed sitting on the floor.
"Where are we?" Ronald asked.
"Almost to our destination." Floyd stated as he began to pull the door close.
"What if I have to use the restroom?"
"That's what the bottle is for." Floyd ruffed out as he shut the door, smiling when he heard Ronnie cursing at him.
Floyd turned and sat on the bumper of the truck looking up at the sky as he pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number.
"Hello" a groggy female voice answered.
"Ruth it's me."
"Jesus Floyd what the hell did you do?"
"Keeping my word." Floyd sighed "I seem to have drawn some unwanted attention."
"No shit Sherlock blowing up people's houses can do that."
"Not from the police…someone else…"Floyd smirked "…but that's not why I called, I wanted to ask you for a final favor old friend.
"What is it?" Ruth asked not liking his tone or the use of the word final.
AN: *Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley- Recorded 1961
Thanks for reading and reviewing -next time John and Joss on horse back ,a bar fight, and Floyd finally gets to town.