"I'm so excited! I cannot hide it!" She hummed along with her radio as she drove away from John's place. Her cell rang and she grinned hoping it was him. She was hoping he had decided to call her and tell her that they could have date number two tonight. A girl could hope, right? She sighed seeing it was Finch. Great, just her luck he wanted to saddle her with one of their people they needed to save which meant no date for them. But she could get to work with John and get a promise for a date then. So it still could be a win-win situation for her.

"Hello."

"Detective you need to head over to Mr. Reese's place right now!" The pure terror in Finch's voice was almost enough to make her heart stop. Something was terribly wrong.

"Whoa, what's wrong? Is something wrong with John?" She flicked her cop lights on swerving to do a U-turn in front of several cars.

"John's being attacked right now."

"WHAT?! I just left his place like ten minutes ago. He was fine!"

"I don't know detective, my source that's never wrong gave me John's num-name. We have to hurry he's in grave danger I could hear gunshots being fired, Jocelyn!"

"Oh my god!" She stepped down hard on the gas pedal. She came up to his building and she saw a smashed window up near his floor and a black helicopter flying away. She threw her cell down, and grabbed her walkie. "I need backup on 810 Baxter Street, apartment 5A! HURRY, SHOTS FIRED!" Joss was out of her car quickly, running as fast as she could to the entrance, her gun drawn. She could hear sirens filling the air already, knowing someone must of already called the police. Joss kept a calm professionalism about her as she hurried to John's floor. It nearly faded when she saw his front door kicked in, hanging barely on one hinge. Joss licked her lips as she pointed her gun in front of her, walking in. "NYPD!" she shouted. Joss's breath caught, seeing bullet holes littering the place, a significant amount of blood on the hard wood floor.

"JOHN!" she screamed when she saw him. He was half laying half sitting on the floor near the broken window. His eyes were shut and his arms were behind his back. He was bleeding from a head wound and he was laying in shattered glass from the window. Joss scanned the area as she ran towards him. "You okay?" She fell to her knees in front of him, checking for a pulse sighing in relief when a strong one beat against her fingers. "John, wake up!" She gasped in agony, eyeing him. Joss looked around his back seeing thick rope restraining his hands behind his back. From the looks of things, John fought long and hard against whoever was coming to attack him. Joss looked back at the blood in the middle of the open room, sensing he kneecapped a few of them. If she speculated by the amount of blood on the floor she'd say John had been severely outnumbered and anger burned inside her. Damned cowards, coming after a lone man with a damned army! Of course, it would take an army, well trained at that, to take him down.

"John, please wake up." She looked back at him and pulled out her army knife, cutting the bindings. She reached out touching him and his eyes fluttered. "Yeah concentrate on my voice and try opening your eyes." Joss saw something blue beside John. She reached over him and picked it up. It was a tranquilizer dart. This attack wasn't to kill him, it was to grab Him. "John, can you hear me?" she asked touching his face.

"Yes." His eyes opened just barely.

"You put up a good fight." she picked up his discarded gun pulling the clip out seeing it was empty. "Who did this?" she asked, helping him up as he struggled to sit up.

"I don't know, they had an accent." his voice was barely above a whisper she had to strain to hear him. She was going to have to wait till the sedative wore off to get more information out of him.

"Are you hurt anywhere, John?" She'd seen the blood coming from a head wound, she prayed he hadn't been shot.

"They got a couple hits on me, but I'm okay. I lost consciousness, I have no idea what spooked them out of here." Joss kept an arm around him as he struggled to get up off the floor. Joss walked with him to his bed, getting him to sit on the edge of it. If she had to venture a guess she'd say that the sirens sounded because of the gunfire, and they were having a rough time getting John knocked out long enough to grab him. They split before they got caught, which meant surely they'd be back to try again on another day. Well not on her watch. Joss reached out to caress his cheek needing to touch him to make sure John was truly alright. Joss, turned seeing a sea of uniforms entering with guns drawn. She flashed her badge and their guns lowered.

"We need an ambulance for Mr.-" she paused not sure whose name was on the lease.

"Warren," he whispered. Joss saw Fusco enter and his brows rose high in surprise when he saw John.

"Hey Fusco, I was on my way to the precinct when I heard that shots were fired in Mr. Warren's apartment; thought I'd help. Men apparently broke through his window and door, both were broken when I came in. It appears they were trying to kidnap him."

"Kidnap him?" when he was close enough he leaned into her. "You sure they weren't trying to cap him, Carter?"

"He was hit with a tranquilizer dart." He nodded. Joss turned, seeing the crime scene unit lifting up another dark blue tranquilizer dart. Her eyes rounded on John. He was hit by two of those?! How was he even awake right now?

"Yep, definitely attempted kidnapping, just why do they want wonder boy alive? I thought most people wanted him dead?" he looked around to make sure no one was listening to them.

"I don't know, but I'm going to damn well find out." Her eyes were on John who was surrounded by paramedics who had just entered the apartment. It took about an hour for her to answer all preliminary questions to Denton, who was lead on John's case. Fusco promised to piggyback the investigation and keep her posted. Joss hurried to the hospital where John had been taken by ambulance even though he had tried to resist. A young woman stood behind the desk and she rushed to her.

"Hi, I'm looking for a Mr. John Warren. He was brought in possibly an hour ago." the woman typed into the computer.

"Yes, he's in room 610." She smiled and thanked her, hurrying to the elevators. When she got to the sixth floor she searched the waiting room area on the floor, looking for Harold. When she didn't see him she scanned for John's room number. She found his room with relative ease, where she heard Finch and John's voices filtering through the door quite easily. They were in a very heated argument.

"Its not up for discussion Mr. Re-Warren."

"You're right Mr. Wren, its not up for discussion because I'm not doing it." Joss threw the door open, entering without knocking earning shooting glares from both men. John's stormy look ceased when he saw it was her, but Harold's was very much in place. She never thought she'd see Finch angry with John.

"What's going on in here?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest so she could resist the urge to wrap her arms around John.

"Good, I'll have some backup here." Joss flicked her gaze off John to Finch, who presumed she'd agree with him on whatever they were arguing about.

"Harold, Carter isn't going to side you with on this. She knows as well as I do that I'm needed in finding these people."

"What's going on?" she asked again not about to agree with either man till she heard what the discussion was about.

"John, here seems to think that he's just going to help in our investigation on whom wants him dead."

"Harold, if they wanted me dead they wouldn't have shot me with tranquilizer darts."

"They still shot you, John!"

"Boys, calm down both of you!" she snapped when both their voices raised once more. John looked as angry as did Harold. "Now that you two have shut up, I'm going to side with Finch on this." she said quietly which earned her a dark look from John. "Oh don't give me that look John, would you or wouldn't you say the same thing to me?"

"Its different."

"Why?" she demanded. "Why is it different between me and you, John? Is it because you're a man?" She scoffed at that. But she didn't get an answer to her question because a doctor walked in. "Is Mr. Warren going to be alright?" she asked.

"Who are you?" the doctor asked before even answering her question. She flashed her badge at the man.

"I'm Detective Carter and I'm on the case, I was just asking him a few questions about what happened."

"Yes, he's going to be fine. He had high levels of fentanyl in his system which is now wearing off. We took x-rays of his skull and we saw no fractures from the blow to the head, though we did see some evidence of old fractures. We are going to prescribe him with a high dose of pain medication just in case you have any lingering pain Mr. Warren. I'll be releasing him in about an hour." John nodded his head. The doctor left and she turned to look back at him.

"You're lucky, John."

"I'll be fine," John said, ready to talk about something other then his condition. "The men had an accent, I'd say British. I took down at least six of them but there were more arriving. I don't know how big the squad was, but half of them were packing real guns while the other half had tranquilizer guns." She tried to stop the anger inside her as he just breezily mentioned how many men attacked him.

"Damned cowards," she said between clenched teeth, earning her a look from John. "Where did their bodies go? When I got there it was empty."

"Seems like they abandoned their plan of taking me and saved themselves instead."

"Quite possibly to make sure no one captured them so they wouldn't jeopardize whoever they work for," Finch sighed. "By the time you are released Mr. Reese, I will have secured you new living quarters." Joss watched as the small man hobbled out, leaving her alone with John. Joss took the few steps forward grabbing his cheeks and kissed him. She had waited patiently for them to be alone and she wasn't going to waste it. John sighed as his hands landed on her shoulders as he kissed her back. They kissed for several minutes before she broke it off, afraid they'd be interrupted.

"I'm going to find who did this to you, John." She stepped back, dropping her arms to her sides.

"We'll do it together." She nodded, deciding to take that for now. She didn't want to argue with him anymore, she just wanted to take him to his new place to stay and make sure he was safe.

John entered his new apartment Finch had purchased him. It was even bigger than his previous place. He looked around as Bear, Finch, and Joss followed him into it. His new place wasn't just one big open room anymore. The industrialist kitchen adjoined to a spacious living space which was already furnished for him. It had less windows then his previous place but what windows there were overlooked the city. He had a small hallway that lead to the giant master bedroom straight ahead with an adjoining bathroom, while the guest bedroom and guest bathroom hung to the right.

"Do you like it, Mr. Reese?"

"Its quite nice Finch, but I'm not worth all the trouble." He looked back at Harold who waved him off.

"Damn Finch, I'm going to have you choose my next apartment." Joss looked around. "But then again I can't afford this sort of place on a cop's salary."

"I noticed that this place is closer to our work place, Finch."

"Yes, I figured you'd be happy with the lower commute." John suspected their was an underlining other reason as to why Finch chose this place. He looked out the window and saw several cameras lining the street below. Yep, it was to keep a better eye on him. He sighed, resisting the urge to yell at the small man, knowing it was done out of fear for him. John's cell rang, and he picked it up seeing it was a blocked number. He answered it slowly.

"Hello Mr. Reese." John immediately recognized the voice.

"Hello Wesley." Finch's eyes widened while Joss just looked on, not sure what was going on.

"It really is a shame that you keep winning my games, though I'm sure the next time we play I will have the advantage."

"Games? You're the one that tried to grab me, weren't you?"

"Yes, you are highly skilled and intelligent, Mr. Reese; you outwitted and out did my best men." John heard a touch of humor in the man's voice, as if he found it entertaining of his men's follies. "But I'm guessing you haven't figured out that I was the one to hire that pathetic organization known as HR to kill your governor just to lure you out into the open."

"You hired HR to kill the governor for no other reason than to play a game with me?" John was angry and he was going to kill this son of a bitch. He placed a lot of lives on the line, including Joss's that night.

"No, I didn't hire HR to kill the governor to play a game with you John, I hired them to kill the governor, so I could watch you." John stiffened, while Wesley continued, "I don't quite know what it is that you do or why you do it, but I did realize that you come out when people are in need of assistance."

"So you set it up for a lot of people to die to see if I'd come to save them?"

"Yes, and you did. You're a good adversary, John Reese, but I must bid you farewell for now."

"Oh yeah, giving up so easily Wesley? I'd say you're a pitiful adversary if you are."

"Oh I am not giving up at all, Mr. Reese, just regrouping. I assure that I learned a lot about you in our little games together this week."

"Next time you come after me yourself."

"Oh I promise you, Mr. Reese, that the next time you'll be coming to me." John hated the smug sound to his voice.

"How so?"

"See you real soon, John, for that drink I want to buy you." John pulled his cell phone away from his ear when he heard the dial tone.

"Wesley was behind this, Mr. Reese?"

"Yes, and behind the governor's attempted murder."

"Just to what lure you out in the open?" Joss asked, looking shocked.

"Yeah, that's not the last we've seen of him and the next time I see him, I will kill him," John vowed.

"Mr. Wesley?" he looked up from the scotch he was drinking as he sat alone in a booth at the local bar. He saw one of his men that wasn't injured standing there.

Wesley smiled when the man held out a manila envelope towards him. Finally, they got the information he needed.

"Oh good."

"When would you like us to strike?" Wesley opened the manila folder, looking back up into his man's dark brown eyes.

"When I'm sure you can handle it! I sent in over ten men to nab Mr. Reese and none of you could handle the mission."

"He's quite skilled, Mr. Wesley."

"Which is why I need to acquire his services. He's astounding, a rare find, and I could use a man like him on my team." Wesley pulled out the photos, and papers.

"He's not just going to willfully work for you, Mr. Wesley."

"I don't need him to willfully want to work for me, now that I have this," he waved the envelope and grinned, throwing back the rest of the scotch. "Now that I have our leverage at acquiring Mr. Reese's services, I will force his hand at working for me or she dies." he pointed at the photos of Jocelyn Carter at Mr. John Reese's apartment last night, the two locked in a kiss. "Follow her every movement, I want you to know her better than she knows herself."

"When do you wish for us to grab her?"

"Soon, when our men are back to full health and when I'm sure that Mr. Reese is least expecting it, then we'll grab her." Wesley grinned, throwing a twenty on the table before sliding from the booth. He walked with his hired gunman towards a taxi and disappeared into the night.

Joss watched John as he looked like a caged animal pacing back and forth on the light colored hardwood floors of his new place. Finch had left with Bear about twenty minutes ago and she just watched him. John looked remorseful, angry, and upset.

"Its not your fault you know."

"What isn't?"

"The attack on the governor, its not your fault."

"Joss, this guy wants to lure me out in the open."

"Probably to kill you, John. You need to lay low for a while."

"I can't! Remember, I have a purpose, I have others to save."

"Yeah, well that source, whoever or whatever it is, gave Finch your name too. So you're in as much danger as whoever else comes up too."

"Threat's gone, Joss."

"No its not. He's just giving up for now, but he'll be back."

"So what am I to do, sit here and wait till he does?"

"I don't know John. I don't know what to say here. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"It won't."

"You don't know that. He almost succeeded in grabbing you, John. The only reason they probably ran off was how many you injured of his men and the sirens getting closer. You were unconscious when I got in there." She moved towards him grabbing his hands. "Whatever he wants you, for its not good and quite possibly could get you killed."

"Joss, I'll be alright, he doesn't know where I'm living now and you need to be careful."

"Why?"

"If he was watching me, he might know about us. About our date and my feelings for you. It might be for the best if we stay away from each other for the time being." Joss watched as he moved away from her, turning his back on her.

"No, its not the best for us to stay away from each other." she disagreed. John turned back and she saw sadness in his eyes. She could see he didn't want to stay away from her as she walked up to him. "I'm a cop John, I can protect myself."

"If anything happened to you..." he paused. "I just don't think it's a good idea to hang around me Joss, not until this guy is caught."

"I don't care if it's a good idea or not. We are just starting something, I'm not giving it up for anybody unless its what WE want, John!"

"Joss, please, I'm trying to do the right thing here. You have a son to think about and we only went out on one date its not like we are in love."

"The best date of my life."

"Joss, stop."

"Why?"

"Because its all my fears becoming realized. Enemies from my past are coming back to haunt me, Joss. I should have stayed away from you because now you could be in danger because of me!"

"Oh my god." she put a hand to her forehead. "We go out on one date and you're already breaking it off with me." She turned from him.

"I'm sorry, Joss, but yes its over."

"Is this what you want?" Pain exploded inside her as tears formed in the backs of her eyes. His rejection hurt, god had she read his signals wrong this morning?

"Its for the best." His reply didn't really answer her question and she flicked her hurt gaze up to his face. And that's when she saw it. The look on his face, his blue eyes, his expressive windows to his soul echoed everything he was feeling at that moment. John wasn't breaking it off with her because he wanted to, he was doing it because he thought it was best for her.

"How dare you?" she whispered, looking down at the floor, afraid of what he might see in her eyes. Joss felt anger pool in the pit of her belly. They had promised one another to break it off, to remain just friends, if it was what they wanted their relationship to be. John wanted to be with her just as much as she wanted to be with him, so he only was breaking it off with her for some stupid noble reason.

"Joss, I'm trying to spare your life." She felt his hand on her shoulder and she shrugged it off, growing angrier at him. She whirled around, stabbing her finger into his chest hard.

"This isn't what you want or what I want, this is what you think is the best for me. Where the hell do you get off deciding what's the best for me? The only person that gets to decide that for me IS me, is that perfectly clear, John?"

"Joss, how do you know its not what I want?" She wasn't about to reveal her cards, that his expressions about her gave him away.

"I'll prove it to you." She sneered with a smirk on her face, reaching up, grabbing his face and kissed him. Joss felt his resistance immediately, feeling him stiffen against her, and she wasn't having any of it. Joss parted her own lips on his slowly, tempting him to participate. Joss heard a sigh from him, she wrapped her arms around his neck bringing their bodies flush against one another, wanting him to deny her, daring him too. Joss scraped her teeth against his lower lip, earning a gasp from him. Joss saw her opening and took it. Joss slid her tongue past his slightly parted lips and deep into his warm mouth. John's non-participation fled and he was kissing her back, unable to stop himself. Joss felt his hands on her pulling her to him closer, tangling in her hair, and god, she felt like she was drowning in him. The same fire she felt when he first kissed her threatened to engulf her fully and this time she wasn't going to be afraid of it.

John took control of her kiss as he savagely kissed her. Joss opened her mouth wide, waiting and willing him to fill it with his warm, wet tongue. She didn't wait long until his tongue touched hers, searched her mouth, and caressed the silky walls of her cheeks. Joss moaned hotly when she heard his own masculine groan, needing to be closer to him. She curled her arms around him tighter, his hands slid from her hair down to her hips, and Joss felt achy, hot, and wet between her legs. Joss sought more from him as their lips ate each other's, fused together, and she felt his hardness against her belly. Her head spun with no other thoughts other than him, wanting him to possess her, and she him. They both sprung apart at the same time almost as if they both shared the same thoughts.

Joss could only stare at him as her chest heaved, as his breath came out ragged. Joss knew she had feelings for him, but she wasn't ready for the intense emotions ravishing her at this very moment. They stood apart, staring at one another, breathing rapidly, and leaving herself feeling open, exposed, and vulnerable for him to see.

"Say something, John." She clenched her lips together when the lower one quivered when he remained silent. Self preservation stirred inside her as she whirled around, running for the door, hoping she could make it out of his damned place before sobs escaped her.

"Don't go," his strangled whisper ceased her movements, her hand on the doorknob, and a sob did make its way out of her as she closed her eyes, as if in prayer. "Please Joss, don't leave me," his voice was raspy, but not from his cold. She opened her eyes, turning to look at him, he was standing in the same spot as when she had turned to leave, looking just as exposed and vulnerable as she was.

"All you had to do was ask." She half smiled, half sobbed as she rushed back to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling his arms wrap around her so tightly. Joss didn't know what their future held, whether or not they could both push past their own insecurities, demons, and fears. All she knew was she was going to have John's back just like he had hers, and maybe, if they were lucky and ready to risk everything, they'd have a whole lot more.

Author's note: okay so this is a whole different version of the final chapter because my original was Joss left and John never stopped her but I was very much afraid of hate mail coming my way lol. Pointy objects and me are not friends hahahahahahahahahahaha, I'll begin posting the next story that accompanies this soon which will be angstier then this story but also slightly more sexy as well :D If you are waiting for the next installment of the Moments series I'm working on it though I'm not sure how long it will be it might be just an one shot because I have two ideas so its whichever one I decide to go with lol. Ooh and I have another small ficlet that's utter fluff, and smuttified coming your way :D

Firstly I want to thank Elaine so much for reading this through for me and her helpful suggestions, I thank you so much for it :D Secondly I want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing, and hopefully enjoying it! Thanks everyone XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO