Joss Carter hummed as she applied her makeup, it had been a long timesince she had been on a date, and she was looking forward to it. She enjoyed dressing up but got very few opportunities to do so. Few men were willing to ask a single mother out, and even fewer were willing to ask a single mother who was a tough cop out.

Her son Taylor leaned against the door jam of the bathroom, watching her. "Who are you seeing tonight, Mom? The Bad Ass?" He asked hopefully. The Bad Ass was Taylor's name for John Reese, former Special Ops, ex-CIA agent, and current Vigilante and Bringer of Chaos. Taylor had admired him since the night Reese had saved him from thecrime kingpin Elias, and had made it increasingly clear to Joss that he would consider Reese a very cool step-dad.

Joss, for her part, was not so sure a guy who knew 10 different ways to kill you with nothing more than a pencil was such a hot prospect as a step dad, no matter how hot and bothered he could make the mother with just a simple "Hello" and a smirk.

Joss glared at her son. "No, I'm seeing an attorney, if you must know." A nice safe and sensible attorney; not some dangerous, gorgeous ex-CIA agent with the sexiest voice and soulful blue eyes….

Taylor had no way of knowing that Joss would really rather be seeing Reese, and there was no way she would ever tell him. She was pretty sure Reese did not consider her dating material anyway. She wondered if he considered anyone dating material or if he still carried a torch for Jessica. With Joss he was flirtatious, but she assumed that he was like that with all the women, particularly the ones he found useful to his work. She knew she was an asset to him, nothing more.

"OK Mom, you know the drill, what's his name and where are you meeting him? You should always tell someone where you're going and who you will be with, you know." Taylor smirked at her, delivering the same lecture she gave him almostweekly.

Joss sighed. Ah, the joys of raising a bright kid. "His name is Douglas Cline. We are meeting at Kobe. I should be home by 11. OK, Dad?"

"Sure, Ma. Have a good time." And Taylor sauntered off to his room to call Harold Finch, computer genius and Reese's boss in vigilantism. Taylor knew Finch would run a background check on Mr. Cline if he asked, and probably alert John as well. Taylor was not going to give up on the idea ofbringing The Bad Ass into the family easily.

"Hello, Taylor. What can I do for you?" Finch answered on the first ring.

"My mom has a date, and I need you to check up on the guy."

Finch was most unhappy to hear the Detective was going out with someone who was not John Reese. Finch knew Reese had feelings for her, and he did not want to see Reese hurt or distracted by a messy love triangle. Finch knew Reese had a romantic streak and felt that Carter would be his best chance at moving past his dead lover Jessica and finally healing that part of his troubled soul.

"What's his name and occupation? I'll call you back as soon as I find something."

"Douglas Cline, he's a lawyer. Thanks Finch", and Taylor hung up.

Finch began running the information, on one hand hoping something would turn up so he could send Reese in to interrupt the date, on the other hand hoping nothing turned up, which meant Carter was safe.

After about an hour he had his answer. He called Reese.

"Busy here, Finch", Reese snapped. Finch could hear the noises of a struggle coming through the phone, so Finch sat and waited.

After a few minutes, the sounds of the struggle ceased. There was another minute of silence except for heavy breathing, and then an obviously winded Reese snarled, "This had better be important."

"Detective Carter might possibly be in danger, is that important?" Finch calmly asked.

Finch heard the concern in the younger man's voice. "What's wrong? Where is she?"

"Taylor called me about an hour ago, he asked me to run a background check on a man she has a date with tonight."

"Carter has a date?" Reese's voice was very tight and gruff, which Finch had learned long ago meant he was upset. Good, maybe Mr. Reese would get off his duff and do something about it.

"She's a beautiful woman, why wouldn't she have a date?' Finch asked innocently. Zing! Take that Mr Reese! "I did as Taylor asked, and it turns out that her date is an attorney whose client list reads like a who's who of Elias's organization."

"Where are they now?" Reese was angry now; Finch could hear it in his voice. Finch almost felt sorry for Douglas Cline, but then decided that anyone who was onElias's payroll wasn't worthy of pity.

"A restaurant named Kobe."

"On my way. Call Fusco to come pick up Mr. Lester here, he's not going anywhere." And Reese stormed off to his car and peeled out.

Reese was angry. First off, he was angry at the number he hadjust finished knocking out for diverting his attention from Carter for several hours when Elias was once again after her. Second, he was angry at Elias for going after Carter again. Lastly, he was angry at Douglas Cline for asking Carter out under false pretenses.

Mostly Reese was angry at himself. He was angry because somehow he had let his guard down and Carter had wormed her way under his skin and into his heart, to the point thathe could not go more than a few days without seeing her. He was angry at himself because she held his heart in her hands and he no idea what to do about it. He went to sleep at night wondering what it be like to have her lying next to him, and woke up in the morning wondering if he would get to see her that day. And, as badly as he wanted one, he had no idea how to make a relationship with her actually work.

Right now he would focus on Cline. He knew Carter didn't date much and she was bound to be hurt when she discovered that Cline's interest in her was only because Elias was paying him. He was going to hurt Mr. Cline very, very badly for toying with her feelings.

By the time John pulled into the alley behind the restaurant, he was in a very dark mood. He parked the car and sent Carter a text message: Meet me in the alley behind the restaurant. Bring your date.Urgent.A few minutes later she came storming out of the back of the restaurant, obviously pissed beyond measure, with a baffled Cline in tow. She came storming up to John, breathing fire and flashing lightening from her eyes. She was wearing a sleeveless teal tank dress that hugged every curve and high heels that showed off her perfect legs. John thought she was the sexiest thing he had ever seen, and it was all he coulddo to restrain himself from grabbing her and kissing her to death.

"Hi, Joss." He smirked at her, and then decked her date with one punch.

"John, what the hell….?" She yelped as she grabbed his arm.

John held up one finger in a 'Wait a minute' gesture. He reached down, grabbed Cline by the throat, picked him up, and threw him down on the car hood.

"Now Mr Cline, would you care to explain your true motivations for asking this lady out tonight?"

"I don't know what you mean!" Cline managed to croak out.

John slightly increased the pressure of his fingers on the man's throat, cutting off his air. He kept eye contact with the man the entire time and Cline saw the stone cold killer in John's eyes. Joss gasped, but didn't interfere. Out of the corner of his eye, John saw her face grow hard and angry. He knew she was probably going tear him a new one later, but as long asElias's lackey wasn't around trying to put his filthy hands on her, he would deal with the fallout.

After what seemed like an eternity to Cline, but was really only about sixty seconds, John relaxed his fingers enough to allow Cline the air to speak. Cline gasped for several seconds and finally said, "I was ordered by Elias to get close to her. I swear I wasn't supposed to hurt her, just keep track of her."

John glanced over at Joss to see how she was taking the news. Her face remained hard and angry, and now one tear tracked down her cheek. She looked away, and John's rage grew. He cut off Cline's airway again.

"Why? What was the plan?" John demanded calmly in a low deadly tone of voice as he relaxed his fingers another 30 seconds later.

"I don't know, I swear! All I know isthat I was supposed to get close and report everything I learned to Elias."

John could barely contain himself. He pulled Cline close, so they were nose to nose, so Cline could see the darkness of the emotionless killer in his eyes. Report that to Elias, asshole.

"Tell Elias to leave Carter and her son alone, or there will be no place on this planet thathe will be safe from me. Do you understand? The next one of his associates to mess with her will be sent back to Elias in pieces; very, very small pieces. Do you understand?"

Cline whimpered out a "Yes", and John released him.

Joss stepped around John. "May I have a word with Mr. Cline?" She asked sweetly, too sweetly. John nodded and stepped back. Whatever she had planned for Cline, he did not want to be in the way.

Joss did not disappoint him. She looked long and hard at Cline. "So let me get this straight. The ONLY reason you asked me out is because your boss, a vicious crime lord who has been trying to kill me, told you to ask me out?"

Cline was rubbing his throat where John had held him. He was going to have a beauty of a bruise there, not that either John or Joss cared. Cline however, did care, and was quite upset about how he had been manhandled. Cline was one of those people who really didn't give a crap about other people's feelings, especially the feelings of those he considered beneath him. He drove an expensive car, wore expensive suits and ate in expensive restaurants, and anyone who didn't, was considered beneath him. It went without saying that he considered cops beneath him and he had been less than thrilled with his assignment from Elias. So, when Joss asked her question, he made a big mistake; he answered honestly.

His lip curled up in a snarl of contempt, "I wouldn't date a cop if I didn't have to, I prefer my women more upscale", he spat at Joss.

Joss then delivered a knee to his balls with such power and speed that it made John's eyes water just watching it. Cline dropped like a rock, writhing on the ground, in so much pain he couldn't even cry.

Joss smoothed down her hair, and with great dignity turned to John. "I would like to leave now. May I trouble you for a ride Mr. Reese?"

John gave her his warmest smile. "Of course, Ms. Carter" he said smoothly, and hurried to open the car door for her. Once she was settled in the passenger seat, he shut the door and walked around the car. "Later, Doug", he called out cheerfully to theman writhing in pain on the ground as he walked past him. John climbed into the car and backed it out of the alley, leaving Cline to fend for himself. John figured he should be able to stand up again in about half an hour.

John heard a small sniffle coming from Joss. He glanced over to see her fish a tissue out of her purse and wipe her eyes and nose. "I suppose I should thank you", she finally said.

John pulled over and parked. He turned to her. "I'll understand if you don't. I'll understand if you're mad at me for ruining your evening."

"I'm not mad at YOU." She sighed. "Should've known. My first date in months and it'swith a spy for Elias."

"You deserve better Joss…" John started to say.

"Well I'm not going to get it, am I?" She retorted sharply. Then she shook her head, "I'm sorry John, you're the last person I should be mad at, considering how often you save my ass."

"It's a very nice ass, Carter." John spoke before he thought.

She finally turned to face him, and favored him with a small, tight smile. "Thanks." She took another swipe at her eyes with the tissue. "I should go home and lick my wounds", she finally said.

John touched her arm. "I ruined your date; I should at least buy you some dinner before I take you home."

"Despite what you seem to think, John, I'm not your responsibility. I'm sure there is someone out there who needs you right now." She didn't even turn to look at him, she just kept staring at the tissue she was turning over and over in her hands.

Seeing her so hurt broke John's heart. He reached over, placed his fingers under her chin and turningher to turn towards him. Hetilted her head so she was forced to look him in the eyes.

"I think there is someone I would like to help right here." He said softly.

She searched his eyes for a few minutes and then looked away. "I look like shit, John."

He turned her face towards him again. "No, not to me. Make up can be touched up. Come on, spend the evening with me."

"I'm not going to be very good company. I should just go home."

John smiled at her, "Are you going to make me beg? I hate to waste an evening with you all dressed up and looking so good."

Joss gave a little snort of alaugh. John decided to take that as a yes and put the car in gear and pulled out into traffic.

Joss was stunned. Once again John Reese had turned her world upside down. She nearly died when he made her look into his eyes and she saw the tenderness there. And now he was dragging her out on a date, refusing to take no for an answer.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Haven't thought that far ahead."

Finch interrupted with a long suffering sigh. "Mr. Reese do I have to doeverything for you? You have reservations at Gaiser's in 30 minutes."

John chuckled. "Thanks, Finch," and rang off. He turned to Joss with a big smile. "Fix your makeup, Finch got us reservations."

Joss pulled herself together in the car and was most impressed with Finch's choice of restaurants. The restaurant was dark and intimate, the perfect place for an ex-CIA agent who didn't want to be noticed, to take a date. If fact, it was pretty much the perfect place for anyone to take a date.

John was most impressed with the numerous admiring glances the detective drew as they walked to their seats. 'More upscale my ass, Cline', he thought to himself as he escorted Joss to their table, almost giddy with happiness.

The food was excellent, and the company was even better. Dinner was a smashing success; Joss's disastrous earlier date was completely forgotten. Both of them thought they had died and gone to heaven.

Later, as John pulled up in front of Joss's building, Joss turned to him. "I don't know how to thank you, John. You always seem to show up when I need you. Tonight started really shitty, and then you turned it into the one of the best nights I've had in a long time."

John stared at the steering wheel in front of him. "Joss, why did you agree to go out with Cline?"

"Believe it or not, he can be quite charming when you don't have your hands on his throat. He faked being interested in me real well, so I thought I would give it a shot." She shrugged. "It's been a long time since I had a decent date, and I guess my douche-bag radar was rusty. I can't believe I was taken in so easily."

"You shouldn't blame yourself. And I meant what I said earlier; that you deserve better."

"Thanks, that means a lot to me. Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time for me to head upstairs, check on my son and collapse into the bed."

"Need any help?"

"You better mean the part about checking on my son and not the part about collapsing into bed."

John looked innocent. "Of course that's what I meant, Joss." He didn't, they both knew that. He smirked at her.

Joss rolled her eyes. "Good night, John."

"Good night, Joss."

Before she was able to get out, John reached over, cupped his hand behind her head and gave her a gentle good night kiss. He rested his forehead against hers and said, "Let's do this again, soon."

Joss, caught off guard, took a moment to respond, but then smiled at him and said, "Yes, I would like that."

John watched as she got out of the car, and walked up the steps. At the front door she put her key in the lock, opened the door and turned to giveJohn a big smile and wave. Then she vanished inside.

John sat for a minute staring at the shut door with a rather goofy grin on his face, and then he started up the car vowing that they would do it again soon, like, maybe tomorrow.