BAD CODE

Joss Carter: "Look, I need to know where you're getting your information."

Carter can't know that, obviously, but she doesn't "need" to know, not in this case. Knowing wouldn't change anything, because there is nothing to deduce out of the source. Also, he doesn't have time, neither to explain to them "where" exactly he's getting his intel, nor to convince the detectives he'd be telling the truth. They'll have to do without.

John Reese: "I need you to stay here, Lionel, and find out who's messing with the case."

This time the detective can't complain that he's given unimportant jobs.

John Reese: "And if I do, the bathtub will-"

No bathtub – which, in a way, is not so bad, considering the normal size of a bathtub, and John's size. He doesn't fancy getting all folded up in order to fit in... No sleep tonight, anyway.

Joss Carter: "I don't know what you just did, but this is not the way-"

He let her try her way, heard it wasn't working, and went his way. That's him respecting Carter's ideals, and yet being effective. It's a life in the balance, here, not only the answer to a murder.

Brian Frey: "It wasn't the first time he followed her home, but they can't prove a damn thing without a body. Then one night, me and my brother paid Cody a visit."

He can't say he doesn't know the feeling – revenge was, is, and always will be his biggest flaw. He'd probably have done – had, did, and would do – the same thing... Only, there's always a limit, some line to define what you could do out of sheer belief, and what you were allowed to do out of certainty. Him, he always stopped at harming innocent people... But what if you are persuaded the one in front of you is guilty, when he actually isn't? John is quite an efficient judge of that – guilty of what is another question, but guilty of something, that, yes, he can always say – but not everyone is.

Cody Grayson: "What do you want me to say, man, that I cut her up, dumped her in the swamp? Ain't nothing you can do this town hasn't already done worse."

Well maybe it would have helped if the guy hadn't started smarting out at the police, when he was actually innocent of Hanna Frey's disparition. Nothing says "guilty" more efficiently than being a cocky little shit when interrogated.

Joss Carter: "Making friends, huh?"

They started it.

Barbara Russell: "No, he was a good man. It was just a mistake."

One mistake, two mistakes, and soon enough everybody is an innocent little angel. Besides, not all sexual predators are also drug dealers. Not all murderers are gruesome, undereducated assholes. Some monsters even do good things in their lives, genuinely at that. John's a good example of that. Such things, though, don't balance each others out; they simply exists together inside one human being.

John Reese: "Maybe- maybe Russell took her, but she escaped. She got her revenge."

That's something John would do, in Hanna Frey's place – not because he thinks he's worth a revenge, but because someone else could become a victim if he didn't act. It doesn't really matter what was Root's reasoning, in this case, not now, at least – John is pretty sure it was only pure revenge on her part, and he won't begrudge her that. What matters is that it could lead him to Finch.

Barbara Russell: "They just arrive from all over the country. No note, no sender. Like someone just wants to be cruel."

There's no "like" in this sentence. Someone does want to be cruel. That, if nothing else in this situation, is something John can heartfully comprehend.

John Reese: "She's not done yet."

He learned a lot from the CIA – from his short time in the police, even – but that was only honing a natural skill, so to say. John is really, really good at seeing the lie, at knowing when something isn't said – but people hide so much, so often, it's not always an useful skill. This time, though...

Frank: "Think it's time for a rematch. Don't think you're gonna sucker punch me again."

Well, too bad. He's already doing it.

Joss Carter: "Why is there a crossbow on the bed?"

Ah, damn, Carter's back. He'd have liked to keep the crossbow – no, seriously, not the most inconspicuous weapon, but cool as all hell.

Joss Carter: "Only child. Her mother died about ten years ago. So Sam left town, was never heard from again. If anybody's Root, it's gotta be her."

There. That's why he took Carter along – because John was so focused on getting to Root, that he didn't see the possibility that she isn't Hanna Frey. He went with one plausible explanation, and neglected the rest – which, by the way, still got him closer to Root. He does know where to go... But thanks to the detective, he can think more clearly.

John Reese: "Tap code. Finch... Really?"

For a man who's not expecting any help, Finch sure does do what he can to be found.

Harold Finch: "I really didn't intend for you to come and find me, Mr. Reese. There are other people that need your help."

Maybe. Except that, even if Finch... even if Harold decided he wasn't, the older man still is part of those "people". And he did leave a message in tap code.

John Reese: "Harold, meet Bear."

Right, he's going to have to explain the dog...

Root: "I wanted to thank you... for finding my friend Hanna... giving her a proper burial. I won't forget it."

If only it could stop here. If now that Root's revenge has been entirely carried out – it didn't end with Trent Russell's death, but with the truth being revealed – she could decide to change. Not even becoming someone good, not even stopping her criminal activities entirely, but simply... Simply being a bit less inhumane. But it won't happen, will it? Root isn't going to see reason, not now, not anymore. John knows that. And that knowledge takes away any sympathy he could have for her.