„Mr. Reese, good that you´re back", Finch greeted John as he entered the headquarters.
„Do we have a new number?", his employee asked. With their latest number just done, Harold knew how John would start to feel bored soon. In fact, it was more a restlessness whenever he got too much time – a remain of his past that even though he was very skilled in adapting to new situations, he struggled with this particular trait up to this point.
„Not until now but I could use your help otherwise."
Seeing his partner frown in curiosity, Harold went over to a newly arrived server unit.
„This will give us a lot more storage for data that could be helpful in regard to future cases. The problem is that I would like to store it beneath the old one in the corner behind you", he pointed to another device behind John.
„As much as I would like to do it on my own, my physical capacity won´t allow me to do so. For you on the other hand it shouldn´t be a problem", he looked at Johns physics that weren´t only measured in regard to his disability far beyond his own.
„So the job you´re giving me is to move something, that takes… 10 seconds?"
„I´m sorry that New Yorks criminals don´t please you with another case just yet. However, I´m certain they will do so again soon."
„Told you to start with push-ups. You could do it on your own in no time", John took off his Jackett.
In the knowledge that his partner only tried to motivate him, they both knew that he would never be able to fulfill certain physical tasks. Encouraged by his partners words nonetheless, he even tried to set up a little sport program in the past; an attempt that failed due to a painful ache in his spine very soon.
Hanging his Jackett onto the clothes rack, John noticed his partners confused glance.
"What´s wrong", he asked.
"You´ve … you´ve got something on your throat. It looks like lipstick", the man with the black framed glasses pointed to the right side of his neck in a no less confused tone.
Touching the area in an involuntary reaction, John tried to rub off the remains of something that wasn´t meant for his partner to know just yet. In a helpless try to ignore the immediate tingling feeing at the memory of Joss´s lips covering his whole torso with kisses, he knew that he had to come up with a plausible explanation quickly.
"Just a little warm up this morning. A thief shouldn´t try to rob someone when I´m around. No clue why this lady had a nervous breakdown though."
"Not everyone is used to crime on a level that we are, Mr. Reese", Finch stated as his mobile rang.
„Excuse me", he grabbed for the phone.
„Detective Carter, how I can help you?"
Listening into silence, he checked his service.
„Detective Carter, can you hear me?", he asked once again.
A glance to John whose pose instantly switched to what he called soldier mode, amplified his uneasiness.
„Who´s there?", he heard the Detectives unsteady voice.
„It´s Mr. Finch. Are you okay?"
Another moment of silence. „Detective Carter?"
„What´s wrong, Harold?", John asked with a serious concern in his voice. Gesturing him for a moment of patience, he brought his attention back to the phone.
"I´m sorry. I don´t who I´m speaking with. I woke up in this hospital bed with no memory. The doctors said that someone beat me down. I was going through my things and found your number as my last call."
„In which hospital are you?", Finch asked, looking over to John, who grabbed for his Jackett immediately.
„Columbia Public health."
„Columbia Public health", he repeated the information towards to his employee, who was heading to the exit already.
„Tell her I´ll be there in 10 minutes", he let him know before the door fell shut behind him.
„John is on his way to you", he informed Joss.
„John?"
„A friend, Detective. He will take care of everything necessary."
Another silence on the other end before he heard a simple „okay."
„I´m sorry, the nurse is back. I need to end the call."
„Alright. John will be with you soon. Until then take care of yourself", Finch her let know, as the connection got interrupted. Admittedly worried about the situation he could only hope that his partner would have good news about the type of her injuries soon.
While keeping their new relationship status still a secret to the world, Joss loses her memory after being attacked on duty. Waking up in a hospital bed she has no memory of John, who´s keeping it friendly to stress her as less as possible. When first memory pieces find her, she´s all confused but can´t deny a strong bond to the man in the suit.