Note: So sorry for the long delay in posting! My daughter and I have both been under the weather and honestly, this was like pulling teeth. Thank you so, so much for all the reviews, follows, and favorites. They drive me to write more, better, and often. I'm new to the world of POI so any mistakes are mine. I'm trying to get them all rewatched so I don't screw anything up! Now that this is officially waaay off script, I'm sure you won't mind if I have a little fun with these two. I hope you enjoy!

Hour 14

Carter's ears buzzed. Had he really just gone there?

"Commando," she parroted, incredulity in her voice, her brow cocked. He gave her a negligent, one-shoulder shrug.

"Hey, you asked."

"I think you're full of it."

"Only one way to find out. You know?" His voice was lower, his blue eyes inexplicably dark as he gazed at her.

"Now I know you're full of it," she retorted with a snort of disbelief. He was totally playing her, had probably lied about the languages too. Had to be. There was no way he'd turned that dark look—wanton, really—at her like he wanted to gobble her up. He was a master of deception. She shouldn't forget who she was dealing with. Even if the thought of his naked, tight little ass in those suit pants did make her want to swallow her tongue (and him) whole.

"Maybe, maybe not. Now it's my turn."

"Your turn to what?"

"I get my 20 questions."

"You know everything about me! Don't think I don't know it. I've been with you and Mr. Wizard long enough to know how you work. You probably know me better than I do." Her look practically dared him to disagree.

"I know the basics. The facts. But I don't know what makes Jocelyn Carter—Joss."

"And why would you care about that?"

"Why do you think?"

"Because you like to know what motivates your assets and enemies. It gives you the upper hand."

Even though she knew the statement to be true, she didn't understand why he looked stricken and why she suddenly felt horrible for putting that look on his face. He only saw her as a means to an end, didn't he? Sure, they'd formed a fledgling friendship over the past few months. They joked; she was getting comfortable with him, trusting him but she'd known many like him in the Army. People who were focused on the end prize. They were okay with casual acquaintance but the bonds of friendship never deepened so that they could be easily cut when the time came.

There were moments of kinship, sure. Flashes of what true friendship with him might be like but she'd made those mistakes before. She'd been the one easily cut away from people she considered friends. She knew she was meant to walk alone and she was okay with that. She knew John felt the same and understood. That's where the…feeling, for lack of better word, came from when she was around him, wasn't it? True understanding and respect from like recognizing like?

Silence stretched between them as she searched for an explanation. Or at least something to say to make it right. She had offended him, maybe even hurt him, and she just wasn't okay with that. She was confused by what was between them, by the feelings it was stirring up, and it made her feel off kilter. She would never purposely insult him or hurt him, though. He didn't deserve that and certainly not from her. She owed him everything—her life, her son's life.

"John," she started, her voice scratchy with unreconciled emotions.

"It's okay, Carter. I deserved that."

"No, John, you didn't and I'm sorry. I didn't mean that hatefully. I just feel very…," she searched for the word.

"Unbalanced."

"Yes."

"Me too. You're a little unexpected for me, Joss. I'm not really sure what to do with you."

"Tell me," she agreed.

"I've forgotten," he said quietly, "what it's like to have friends and to trust and to have a connection to the world. Sometimes I wonder if it's too late for that."

"You have people who care, John. Me. Finch. Even Fusco. You're a good man. Honorable. And maybe you've forgotten how to live with that connection but you seem to be cultivating it just fine."

"I don't want to be responsible for hurting you."

"Hurting me? John, you've saved my life how many times? And Taylor's? Even when I was trying to take you down, you had my best interest at heart. I don't think you're capable of hurting me."

That realization rocked her, probably more than it did him. He was ruthless, cold, succinct in his brutality but when it came to her, he was loyal to a fault. He'd take care of her regardless of whether it meant his demise. How had that happened? Why did she inspire that in him? She didn't know what to do with that, how to react.

"You're not capable of hurting me," she said again. "Why, John? After all I've done to you, why in the hell would you protect me?"

"Because you're good. Your nature is fundamentally good. You seek justice and you don't compromise or bend even in the face of adversity. Your moral compass never wanders. The world needs you. I need you. And I can't explain that and I know it sounds crazy but it's true. You restore in me a faith I'd lost. You are the personification for all I thought I stood for. And maybe, just maybe, if you exist and you're real then all the things I did in the name of God and country weren't for nothing."

She was stunned by his impassioned words, so out of character for the man who usually said so little. She was deeply moved by his honesty and his ability to be so open with his thoughts. He'd always been that way with her even when he knew she wouldn't like it. He was becoming quite the enigma to her.

"Favorite color?" he asked gruffly, interrupting her reeling thoughts.

"Yellow."

"Why?"

"Because it's sunny."

"Favorite flower?"

"We gonna paint each other's nails, John?" she teased, trying to break the melancholia that swept through the car.

"Could be fun," he replied doing that almost imperceptible head tilt of his. "Answer?"

"Daisies."

"Why?"

"I dunno."

"You don't know why you like daisies?"

"Well, it's not cuz they smell pretty," she retorted.

"Well played, Joss. Then why?"

"Because they're so happy I guess."

"Favorite thing to do?"

"Sleep?"

"Okay, when you're not sleep-deprived."

"Anything outside, really. I think I'd like to try white-water rafting."

"Really?" His surprise was evident.

"Why does that surprise you?"

"I just don't see you as a nature girl, I guess."

"What do you see me as?"

"City-dwelling detective mom?"

"I'm from Georgia. I grew up outdoors."

"Perfect first date?" he asked rather slyly.

"Stranger or known quantity?"

"Known quantity."

"Hmmm. It's not really the activity but the connection. I want to converse and laugh and feel connected to that person."

"Does a 29 hour car ride count as a date?"

"Isn't that like a phase 3 step?"

"Phase 3? It's been a while since I've dated."

"Phase 1 is casual dating. Phase 2 is sleeping over. Phase 3 is the step right before you realize there is no turning back."

"Sounds terrifying."

"Isn't it? Probably means I'm stuck with you, Cujo, and Mr. Wizard for life," she grumped.

"Probably. Would that be so bad?"

"I'll let you know."

"Why did you go to law school?"

"Know about that, huh?"

"Yep."

"When I got back, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I had drive, I was a good investigator so I thought—prosecutor."

"Why didn't you follow through?"

"Because I learned in court that the law isn't about the black and white and the carrying out of justice. It's the nuances and the shades of gray—manipulations and loopholes. The bad guy doesn't always get punished and the good guy doesn't always win. I wasn't okay with that."

"So why law enforcement?"

"Because if I do my job right, it can be black and white and about justice. It doesn't always happen that way but I try. When I submit my report, it's predicated in fact. I know that I've done my absolute best to find out the truth and nothing can ever change that. Even if the courts don't rule in our favor, I did everything I could to represent the victim and bring them justice."

"And that's it."

"What's it?"

"The reason you and I will always be connected."

"I thought Finch was the reason."

"No, Finch brought us all together and for that I will always be grateful but this thing I feel has grown beyond that. At the risk of sounding like a complete jackass, I feel like…" still he hesitated.

"…our souls recognize each other," she said quietly.

"Yeah. Why doesn't that feel crazy?"

"I don't know. I guess it makes sense."

"Really?"

"Sure. We've had similar experiences, share the same fundamental beliefs, seek the same thing."

"Even if our methods are sometimes polar opposites," he said with an amused grin.

"Uh yeah. You need to stop blowing shit up and knee-capping people."

"But it's so fun, Joss," he whined. She gave him her best disapproving glare before they grinned at each other, things right between them once again.

AN: Special thanks to Amy and Jez for listening to me whine and spaz!