This is a tag to season 4, episode 20, 'Terra Incognita.'
I absolutely love, love, loved this episode and it killed me that we didn't get just a little bit more of the rescue at the end.

Here's what I think might have happened.
Dialog taken from the episode is in italics.

P.S. - I'm new to the fandom, and haven't actually seen everything that leads up to this - so please bear with me if I get anything wrong...

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Terra Incognita Tag
by PapayaK
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Finch - to John:
"You're missing the point… Some things simply cannot be replaced."

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(First chapter is because Krista asked for it. I hope it lives up to expectations.)
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Root: "He's really got you worried. Doesn't he, Harry?"

Finch: "John has always maintained a certain… distance... But this is not like him."

Root: "So have you found anything?"

Finch: "I managed to isolate his phone's last connection to our mesh network. Unfortunately, the signal was lost soon after. And I have no other means of determining his location..."

Root: "I'm sorry, Harry"

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Finch stared at his computer screen. He'd tried fifteen different ways to locate Mr. Reese; none of them successful. And that was after he'd known Reese would be impossible to find.

He felt an irrationally strong urge to call Mr. Reese's phone for the twelfthtime. Doing that, he understood logically, would be a completely pointless course of action.

He did it anyway.

Finch had, years ago, begun to recognize that peculiar and unpleasant feeling that meant: John's in trouble.

It was not something supernatural, or telepathic, or any other ridiculous device found only in fiction. It was simply an exhaustive knowledge of and familiarity with Reese's habits and abilities. Reese appeared completely mysterious and unpredictable to the numbers - to their enemies - to anyone he wanted.

But not to Finch.

Mr. Reese had come to accept how well Finch knew him and he'd stopped fighting it a long while ago. Now he let himself be predictable and (Finch hoped) he appreciated the comfort of it - the trust. Although he did still maintain a certain distance.

That distance had increased greatly upon the loss of Joss Carter. The distance had become half a continent, and then very nearly half a world. The distance may have become permanent if not for the intervention of the machine.

But that distance- which Finch had - and always would - respect was not in play now. This was something different. This was not like him.

His current 'behavior' if it could be called that, was completely outside of his habit. There was no discernable reason this time and therefore... John was in trouble.

Finch had no way to find him and no idea of what to do next.

At that moment the phone rang.

Finch moved to answer, hoping beyond hope that it was Reese.

Even Root's head popped up at the sound. She told herself it was just because Harry's anxiety was contagious, but if she were truthful, she was worried about the big lug too, and so was her mistress.

"Hello?!"

"Hey." It was, disappointingly, Fusco. "You hear from Tall, Dark, and Missing?"

Finch pursed his lips. His gaze, hopeful a moment ago, fell. "No. I was rather hoping you were calling with news of him."

"Well, actually I might be… You said he was working the Patterson case? Guy's family got whacked a few years ago?"

Finch physically cringed at the indelicacy of the detective's words, but paid attention. After all, Chase Patterson was their latest number, and the case which Reese had been investigating. "Yes, Detective, that is correct. What can you tell me?"

"Well." Fusco responded. "Thing is… You happen to know who last worked on that case?"

"No, Detective… I'm afraid I do not." Finch responded with exaggerated patience, understanding that the detective enjoyed knowing something he didn't.
While he listened, he began typing, re-opening the information he'd collected for John on Chase Patterson.

"Carter." Fusco responded with finality.

Finch took a moment to consider the weight that might carry for John, and then asked the detective to elaborate.

"Look - I'm not… y'know - so in touch with my emotions…"

"I am aware of that, Detective..." Finch interrupted, wanting him to get on with it.

"But.. If I had a thing for Carter… Y'know… I could maybe want to see this thing finished… A case she never solved… Never got the chance to see it through... If I were that guy - I might look into it."

Finch sighed. "Where might one go about 'looking into it?'" he asked.

"Okay - so the Coiffed Columbo left the file in his desk - I figured it was okay to go through his stuff since you were so worried and all."

"I was merely concerned…" Finch amended.

"Yeah - whatever." Fusco continued. "I guess he can memorize everything he sees or somethin', because he left the file and it's pretty obvious where we should be looking."

With barely contained impatience, Finch asked, "Where, Detective?"

"The family's got a cabin up in the mountains… you want I should-"

"I will have a car pick you up momentarily, Detective. Please bring your sidearm… And the address." Finch was already on his feet, gathering up his warmest overcoat and double checking that a fully supplied first aid kit would be in the car that he and Detective Fusco took into the mountains.

He hoped he was overreacting. He hoped that they would find John and that he would be fine and even amused at their concern. But he knew John was far too resourceful to be out of contact for no reason and for this amount of time.

He was in trouble.

Finch only hoped they weren't too late.

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TBC…
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