Another great story, I wasn’t ready for it to end.

Great finale at the library. First, the delightfully insightful conversation between Reese and Finch regarding both Grace and Carter.; then the rather playful exchanges between Carter, Reese and Finch, over the beer; their evasiveness over what they were discussing just before she walked in; and the anointing of Finch as a superhero. ';) Highly entertaining (I agree with Harold there). A wonderful way to come down from this latest adventure.

Oh, and, you go, Fusco. Enjoy your down time in Hawaii with your son.

Lets just say that this entire chapter was full of so many favorite lines, that I decided against posting any of them -because I'd just be posting the entire chapter all over again. ';)

Enjoyed the fic. Can't you tell? ';D

Aha! So, Lt. Mathison and Finch DID come to that 'understanding' that I was hoping for. Major Keel to the rescue, himself! Great timing. The Major got his wish. Only, he took down the man, himself. It was John and Team Fly-In-The-Ointment that paved the way, though. ';)

"Fair enough." Keel turned to leave and paused. "Ya know son, whatever it is that you did in the past.., it's just that - past. Keep doing what you're doing and let it go. Life is too damn short not to be true to your gut. Not sure if you realized the true scope of what you guys did here today. God speed solider."
(Good advice, Reese)

***
Another awesome take down. ';)

Oh no you didn't leave us with that crazy cliffhanger!
Who appointed this fool God?
Dr. Delusional is about to plunge that instrument into Reese's heart!

Oh, but let's see...there's still the merk and Finch...you think maybe that they could come to some sort of understanding here, and rescue our friends? Or, unbeknownst to us, either Fusco or Carter has come to and are about to intervene (yeah, yeah long shot, but I'm desperate here, ';)

My word! Fusco, Carter and Reese all downed by the drones...And Finch has a very much awake -and extremely pissed off merk - on his hands. And, how do they all get out of this without becoming donors?You sure don't make it easy, do you? ';O

...Oh... don't go there... she chastised, but she couldn't contain it all. "Dammit John, really? What's wrong?" She met his concerned look. "You go off, all half-cocked, without telling anyone your plan, almost get yourself captured and served on a silver platter - to some deranged, organ-stealing hack! Mean while.., I'm committing national treason by hijacking a government satellite, so Finch and I can then play road-warrior down the middle of a populated town! To save your ass!" She regretted the last part the moment she'd said it...
(Well, when you put it THAT way...lol)

"Bet you have as many computers as John has guns." She chuckled and set it in his lap.

"A disturbing thought." Finch spared a quick glance at Reese who made every attempt to look insulted. (lol)

Let me guess? Our broken up John is about to head to the clinic. How his body puts up with him is beyond me...

...How had she missed it? She was a cop! Had medical field training! Been a goddamn soldier! What was wrong with her?! "I asked him if he was hit! He said he was fine!" She couldn't reel in her lashing anger. "What's with the two of you? You think you're ten feet tall and bullet proof!? Not a full day's work unless one or both of you are nearly killed, shot, kidnapped, tortured, or all of the above!?"...
(Poor Carter. These two drive her cray cray)

***
"Unknown. We couldn't go back. There were already two cars at the scene. Same ones that took out the protection details."
"Who the fuck are these people?! Get to the clinic and get back!"
(You will find out soon enough.)

***
Impressive, when you think about it. These are well-trained Merks. And yet, they've managed to be thwarted thus far, by two cops (one ex-army); a special ops/ex-CIA op; and a highly sophisticated, not-your-average geek. ';D

Once again, 007 emerges -alive and, save for a few more broken ribs, nicks and bruises ( maybe some shard glass, too), is able to move under his own power. John's like the energizer bunny. He keeps going, and going...

...Fusco hefted the mercenary out of the ambulance. "Just once be nice if things were that simple. And! I wish you'd nab a midget or at least a really skinny guy... What's with these ginormous jar-heads anyway!" ...**poetic Fusco ';) **

"Damn Carter..!" The out-and-out cowboy-heroics were blatantly evident across the vehicle and definitely more his style than the by-the-book Detective. "I'm impressed." He declared as she joined him.
"You must be rubbing off on me." (Ya think?)

...She smiled up at him, quick to wrap a steadying arm around his waist, despite knowing he didn't need her help. It was more a matter of her needing to touch him. John glanced at her with appreciative understanding, enjoying her contact as they moved toward the cars. ...(awwww...a mini CaReese moment -in the middle of all this cray cray ';)

*****
How could Finch NOT have gotten shot after all that?

And, we are not done yet. Dr. Frankenstein's still out there...

What a battle! ';)

"Don't mention it, figured you were close after seeing the last smoked-out wreck back there. You guys ok? Your car looks like it could double as a pasta strainer."
(lol)

Rut-roh. Me thinks John has just made his move. ';0

...Grimacing against the burning pain of her wound, Carter dug through one of Reese's bags she'd grabbed from the library. "Try to hold it steady!" She couldn't believe what she was about to do. She was taking a page right out of John's play book! And yet, she itched to end these assholes.
(Oh yeah, they're alike, alright.)

...A low resonating blast suddenly made Reese smile. He knew the sound of his grenade launcher anywhere...**CHUCKLES** ...Carter had found them.
(He never wants her involved...but he sure is glad when she shows up. ';)

...Carter felt like she was entering a secret lair - the well-kept secret hidden in plain sight and cloaked in mundanities. "I can't tell you how often I've passed by this place, never even looking up."
"That Detective, is what we count on." ...

...He gave her a sad smile. It struck him how similar she and Mr. Reese really were. ...
(Yeah, that.)

...Carter cringed... Using a national defense satellite for personal reasons? Now that topped the list of her wrongdoings. And she didn't see that list shrinking anytime soon... she swallowed. ...
(Nope. Not when you work with THESE two...)

...Fusco jumped right to the point. "Nothing we didn't already know. He confirmed that the Event is a secret trade show of basically anything that gives the big-time weapons dealers a hard-on. Sounds like they're selling some pretty sensitive stuff."...
**Who doesn't love Fusco's vernacular? ';)**

...A shutter ran up his spin, wondering about the number of previous victims they hadn't known to save. ...
(My sentiments exactly, Silkie.)

'Carter had a sudden wave of anger roll over her already festering helplessness. "Research!? John might not have that kind of time!" She rolled her eyes wondering how in the world these two got along.'

'A gun-slinging hero with a death wish, paired with a reclusive computer geek, guarded and careful to a fault. But the question barely sprung to mind before it clicked; they balanced each other. Two parts of an imposing whole.'
(Gun-slinging hero indeed. ;D )

My question is this: why didn't the machine come up with the prior numbers in the previous year (or years, depending on how long Finch has been at this) especially since this is year 6? If it didn't spit out the numbers for this "event" before, then why now? The machine doesn't pick up on random acts, But it does pick up on premeditative possibilities...

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Jawn is in deep poop. We have ourselves here, a modern day Dr. Frankenstein...

'Keel had to laugh, finding it ironic that he'd be so bothered by this when he'd seen and caused so much death. He certainly couldn't say he was a humanitarian. But this was wrong on levels even his fucked-up sense of morality couldn't live with.'
(NOW it gets to you... why now? Having some nightmares?)

And why these particular ones? (Besides the fact that they wouldn't be missed)? I would imagine that might be others that wouldn't be missed; that they could just take right off the street with a little investigation and less effort...

'He actually wished he could let the wily son-of-a-bitch loose on the Doctor. That would be poetic. He smiled enjoying the idea, but knew he would stick to the plan. It was his way.' (Well now. He just MIGHT get his wish -and he likely might not have a choice in it. ';0)

My man Fusco. He could really like getting into this vigilante stuff, indeed. ';)

*****
I get the feeling that this holographic business might just another ploy to assess our perp/vic's skills. John had better be careful. He's much too good...
(...and I was close. It WAS a set up)

*****
"Are insane?! If you kill or damage him... it'll be you taking his place! Get that out of your leg, and let's move it!" Mathison leaned in, taking a closer look at Reese. "Holy shit! He's not one of the targets, that's the guy that killed Wilson and Bowman! Oh fuck me... the Major's gonna lose it."

"Bastard just bought himself a one way ticket to hell. He deserves every bit of what that psycho, Death Dealer's gonna do to him."
(Copy that...AND you're at it again)

Now we know why they were the first five into the chamber...

...The system interfaces with your nervous system and pain receptors, so it will feel completely real, but again, no permanent damage will result. The perfect way to train for any situation."
(I have a baaaad feeling about this...)

Interesting how our five perp/vics were all,in the same group...

An impressive abyss...
How are Carter and Fusco going to find John if they need to?

Underground situations were tactical nightmares; John recalled a couple tough situations he wished he could forget. Getting in was usually hard, getting out was always harder, and that was assuming he had a clear plan and knew something about the layout beforehand. This was a recipe for disaster.
(Um hum, especially since he doesn't HAVE a plan...)

'Definitely found the hornet's nest,' Reese humorlessly grimaced as his thoughts quickly went to all his concealed weapons and mentally prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation.
(You're really setting him up well...lawd)

'It was like falling down the rabbit hole, he thought.'
(I'll say!)

Impressive showroom!

*****
"Nothing. Hell, most of them don't even have case files, and the few that do, are cold. Well, except one... sort of." Carter paused. "Only a part of one victim was recovered." ( Um... Not a good sign, nope.)