"Welcome back Joss," John said with a smile but the crack in his voice betrayed his relief. Although she had finally awakened, his heart sank as he saw her struggle to open her eyes and seeing the breathing tube nearly broke his heart once again. Carter blinked rapidly at him as her eyes adjusted to the light in the room. She grimaced at the pain building in her chest as he held her hand. John tightened his grip and continued to stroke her forehead, trying to comfort her. He had no intention of leaving her side and he planned on staying with her when Dr. Madeleine Enright came in to take her off the breathing machine.

The doctor entered the room along with a nurse to assist in the procedure. She introduced herself to Joss, since she had not seen the doctor that had saved her life until today. Finch had told John to expect to see the doctor whose wife's life he'd saved, and he gave her a small smile. Dr. Enright smiled in recognition when she saw John and asked who he was to Joss.

"I'm her fiancé," he lied, knowing he wasn't allowed in Joss's room because he was not related to her. "Thank you for saving her life."

Doctor Enright smiled and nodded. She could tell John was lying but she felt she owed him and would always owe him, for saving Amy's life. There was no way she was going to refuse to allow him in the room with Joss. Honestly, she still couldn't wrap her mind around why Joss was alive. Medically speaking it didn't make sense. Yes, there were a small percentage of people that survive traumatic chest wounds but Joss had been dead for a long time and the doctor was about to call time of death. She had massaged Joss's heart as her chest cavity filled with blood. The emergency team was able to eventually control the bleeding but all through the process Joss was gone. No pulse, no breathing. At the last minute, her heart suddenly started beating and she became responsive. The doctor was glad Joss was recovering. John had saved her wife; it was an honor to take care of the woman he claimed as his fiancé.

Joss noticed that her doctor recognized John but she was shocked when she heard John say that he was her fiancé. Her eyebrows knitted together and she continued looking up at him. John gave her a look as if to tell her to go along with the charade. The doctor explained to them both how the procedure would take place. After a weaning trial Joss was deemed strong enough and was breathing enough on her own to remove her from the ventilator. The tube was removed as Joss coughed and her body shook uncontrollably. Her chest hurt from all the coughing and tears rolled down her face. She was hoarse and her throat hurt like hell but she was finally free of that blasted tube. She was still unable to speak because of the discomfort.

John wiped the tears from her cheeks and wished he could trade places with her. He hated seeing her like that; he was not used to seeing Joss so weak and in such pain. He felt guilt down to his bones; that bullet had been meant for him not her. He decided he would do any and everything to try to make it up to her and even then, it wouldn't be enough.

Joss gazed up at John and gave him a slight smile letting him know she was grateful he was there during the ordeal. However, the ever curious Carter wanted to know how he knew her doctor, but she decided to table that line of questioning until later. Hell, she couldn't speak now if she wanted to anyway.

Dr. Enright told both John and Joss that she would continue monitoring her overnight and depending on her vitals, would make plans for her transfer to a rehab facility so she could continue the healing process. After the doctor left her room, Joss looked back to John and whispered slowly in a raspy voice, "Thank…you." John continued stroking her hair and kissed her forehead. Her cheek dimpled in response to his kiss. She fought the pull of sleep as she tried to focus on him but with the nurse adding more medication to her IV she finally succumbed, all the while holding onto John's hand.

Fusco caught Simmons as he was about to board a private plane to leave the city. After a full-on brawl, Fusco was rewarded with the deep satisfaction of beating the holy crap out of and placing Simmons under arrest. Lionel felt as if he had done his friend Joss proud. He knew she would be pleased to hear that he was finally in custody and no longer a threat to any more innocent people.

Although Carl Elias had learned that Jocelyn had survived the ambush, he had been angry enough to make sure Simmons would no longer be a threat to her, or anyone else for that matter. As loyal as a mafia don could be, he was pleased to watch as his right hand man Anthony "Scarface" Marconi used a garrote wire to strangle the corrupt cop and cut through his carotid artery.

Simmons was defiant and unrepentant to the end. His death was slow, painful, silent and, in Elias's opinion, overdue and much deserved. He figured it was the least he could do for Joss saving his life all those months ago.

Joss had been at the rehab facility for only a couple of weeks and although it was one of the best in New York, she was already going stir crazy. Joss prided herself on being independent; she hated to be dependent and having to rely on the help of others. Yet, here she was with nurses and physical therapists hovering over her. The main focus of her stay was to strengthen her heart and lungs and build her stamina. A nutritionist even customized her diet. All these were things Joss thought she could do at home, so she pushed to leave the facility. Her mother, Taylor and Paul asked if she could just be patient with her recovery and stay in the facility a little while longer.

John visited Joss while she was in rehab whenever the numbers would allow. He kept her in the loop with what was going on with HR, giving her inside information when he had intel that was not in the news. It appeared that Quinn was sure to be indicted soon.

When Joss saw on the news that Simmons had been killed in the hospital, Joss looked down, focused on her hands and shook her head. She was shocked. She was disappointed. Even though he had shot John and her, she still wanted to see him go through the legal system. She wanted to see him go to trial and to prison; not dead. She pitied him.

John was always amazed at Joss's heart. How could she feel pity for someone who would kill her as soon as look at her? She asked John who did it, afraid that he would admit to her that it was him. John told her he didn't know. He had an idea and figured it was probably Elias but he would never tell Joss. He assured her that it was no one on the team. John noticed Joss's mood changed after he told her. She had become somber and introspective. He gently took her hand, rubbing it as they sat silently together in her room for the rest of his visit.

The following week, during another visit with John, Joss half-jokingly told him that she may have him break her out if they didn't release her soon. She couldn't take much more of the doting staff. She knew they were just doing their jobs but she was over it. Besides, she thought, she could do the same exercises at home or at the gym. Joss was still weak and knew it would be months before she felt half the energy she used to have before this ordeal, but she was determined to go home. John actually sided with her family and tried to persuade her to stay but Joss wasn't having it. By the end of the week she told him that she was going to leave whether she was released by the doctor or not.

All of John's efforts to convince her to stay at the rehab center a little longer fell flat. He knew Joss was just as stubborn as he was. He was concerned for her safety and wanted to make sure she continued working on her recovery. John brainstormed with Harold and they both agreed it would be best for her to stay at one of Finch's safe houses. John wouldn't admit it, but he wanted to stay with her so he could keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe. If he were being truthful with himself, he wanted to continue what they started in that morgue weeks ago; to see where their relationship would go. But above that, he wanted her to be safe. He imagined Joss would insist on going home to her apartment or staying with family but John would remind her that it would not be safe for them if she was there. Any remnant of HR gunning for her could retaliate by going after her family. He knew that convincing her to move into one of Finch's safe houses with him would take some effort but he was determined to do so. There was no way Joss was going to live by herself; he was going to keep an eye on her. And, after almost losing her, he was determined to let her know exactly how he felt about her.

Ever since Joss's near death experience, she felt unsettled in every way possible: emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. She knew she couldn't go back to that beautiful place, not until she fulfilled her purpose. Since waking up in the ICU, her emotions ran the gamut. She felt frustration, sadness and anger all wrapped up in one big ball of emotion. She also felt moments of panic where she would have to calm herself down. Those times when the anger was just brewing beneath the surface, and not really knowing why, she would intentionally start an argument or pick a fight with close friends or family; whoever was in her presence at the time. As much as she loved her son, she was glad Taylor was living with his father on a full time basis now. Joss recognized that her emotions were all over the place and she did not want him to see her in this emotionally unstable state. Being cooped up in this infernal facility didn't help.

Joss sat at the edge of her bed after a session with the physical therapist looking around the room. She made up her mind and decided that today was the day she was going back home to her apartment. As she pulled her suitcase out from the closet John walked into her room.

"I take it I won't be able to convince you to stay a little longer," John quipped.

Joss looked up at John, her raised eyebrows affirming his sentiment. "Nope."

John let out a long suffering sigh accompanied by his signature smirk.

"I'm going home and you can't talk me out of it John," she said defiantly.

"You know you can't do that, right?" John said becoming serious.

Joss stopped packing and put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

"Hear me out Joss." John put his hand up to stop her.

"Quinn's in custody and you know Simmons is dead. The majority of HR is in jail, but you know there's a remnant of those cockroaches still out there. All Quinn has to do is send them after you to finish what Simmons started." John said sternly.

"Joss, you can't go back to your apartment; I guarantee you he has eyes there just waiting for you to move back in."

Joss hated to admit it but John made a good point.

"John I can't stay here," Joss replied tiredly. "And I can't…I won't let those guys intimidate me."

"I get that, but you have to use common sense too. You want to be here so you can testify against them and finish what you started," John said. "And I'm sure you want to be here for your family and friends." And me, he thought.

"So where am I supposed to go? I can't move in with family. I'd be putting them in danger too," she said frustrated.

"One of Finch's safe houses." John's voice trailed off. He swallowed hard before finishing his statement. "With me. You'd be safe and I could help you with your physical therapy."

Joss's eyebrow went up. "Help me with my physical therapy, huh?"

John's ears turned red as the smirk reappeared. "I didn't mean it like that," he replied. Yes he did.

"Listen, I just want you to be safe. And honestly Joss I would feel better knowing you were at one of Harold's safe houses. You know you'd have the best of care; the physical therapist, a nutritionist, everything you'd need to get you 100%. Taylor and your mom could come over to visit whenever they wanted to."

"You sure are trying to sell me on this idea John," she said wryly. She knew he was just trying to be helpful. She also wondered if he was trying to pick up where they left off in the morgue. She wanted to explore their feelings but didn't know if John would feel the same after everything that had happened.

The Detective didn't want to admit it but she knew John was right. She didn't like the idea but knew it was the best one given the circumstances.

"I'll take you and Finch up on staying at one of his safe houses. But I don't want to put you out John. I should be fine at the house by myself."

Damn.

"Joss, I'd feel better if I were there with you," he admitted.

"Oh, so you can keep an eye on me," Joss said, not letting him off the hook, "I don't need you baby-sitting me John," she said defiantly.

John said nothing. She paused as if in thought and the longer it took for her to continue the more anxious he became.

"I wouldn't be baby-sitting you Joss. I'd know you'd be safe there."

She continued to challenge him. "Besides, you can't guarantee that I would be 100% safe there."

"No matter where you go, there's no 100% guarantee, but…" John paused. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. He decided to be direct.

"Look Joss, I almost lost you. When I thought you had died in my arms…" his voice cracked and his eyes watered. He paused to gather himself. "Would you let me do this for you? Please," he said, barely above a whisper.

Joss blinked back the water forming in her eyes as she realized how deeply almost losing her had affected John.

"John you don't owe me anything. You're my friend," she said sincerely as she moved forward closing the space between them.

"So let me do this for my friend," John answered. What he wouldn't admit was that he wanted to be near her. He wanted her to be close to him.

"Finch and I can take care of the details with Dr. Enright and the facility to get everything you'll need: p.t. schedule, workout equipment, meal plan from the nutritionist; whatever you need," John promised.

He had a look of hope in his eyes as he spoke to Joss. He wanted her to say yes. Joss's heart was full. She saw how much he wanted her with him. But then she thought of her new purpose. She'd been given an assignment and she had to tell him what she experienced after being shot. She had to tell him who she saw and what they told her. Joss pursed her lips and John saw sadness in her eyes. Her mood had shifted in an instant. He didn't understand what happened. Joss's head went down and she turned her back to him trying to summon up the courage to talk to him.

"Joss what's wrong?" John asked confused.

"John, I have something to tell you," she said folding her arms across her chest as she began feeling unsure of herself.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" John wondered.

John felt tension rising up from his lower belly matching Joss's sudden wave of fear. He noticed her shoulders rise as she tried to find the words to say to him.

"John, you didn't say or do anything wrong. I - - I'm just not sure this little arrangement will work after I tell you what I have to tell you," she said with uncertainty in her voice as she looked down at the floor.

John came behind her and she felt the warmth radiating from him as he gently placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him.

"Joss what is it?"

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She pursed her lips once again and looked over his shoulder. She couldn't make eye contact with him at that moment. She couldn't remember a time when she felt so insecure. Joss had been in combat but had never felt this nervous. Her palms became moist and her breathing shallow. She had mulled over for days how she would tell John about her near death experience and never really knew when the right time would be, but she knew it would be sooner than later. She had no way of knowing how he would react; she was afraid of the way he'd react. She had no fear of him harming her – it wasn't that. She was more afraid that he wouldn't believe her; that she was making all of it up or being cruel when she told him about Jessica. She was afraid that John would think she had lost her mind after she told him what she went through. The idea that John might not believe her made her want to disappear at that very moment.

Joss realized that she wanted to be near John as well. She knew she would have to tell him; there was so much to tell him. She remembered what her father said to her about her and John. They'd been dancing around their feelings for each other for months now. Joss took a deep breath and slowly released it.

"John, we have so much to discuss," Joss finally said.

"Ok," John replied.

He knew she was right. They had a lot to discuss. "I agree," he finally admitted.

"So you gonna help me pack?"

John's smirk reappeared.

"Let me call Finch and let him know to make the arrangements," John said.