A/N I'm sure a lot of people were as upset as I was that Donnelly interrupted Reese and Carter's private moment after he was released. So I wrote an alternative version of it. Hope you enjoy. I don't own Person of Interest or its characters.

It had been a long day, Carter thought. And before that, a long 72 hours while John had been locked up at Rikers. Donnelly had been determined, partly crazed and downright relentless in identifying John as the Man in a Suit. She couldn't blame him; he was simply doing his job. And though it went against every oath she took when she became a police officer, she knew as soon as John had been taken into custody that there was nothing she wouldn't do to get him out.

In the first 72 hours she'd switched his DNA sample and deleted his prints out of the database, even stole the hard copies to ensure he'd be set free. And they had been close, so close until Donnelly had blocked their release again. She couldn't keep the disappointment off of her face when he said he'd be holding them just a little while longer.

She was afforded one moment to lock eyes with John and though it was brief, the look of frustration, exhaustion and disappointment was clear to her. In that moment, he conveyed his gratitude for her being there. And she hoped that he could see that she wouldn't leave his side, she'd stand by him, if only figuratively until it was all over and she'd do whatever it took to get him out.

She saw his face turn to stone. She watched him shut down. He erected his shield as she knew his mind went to work thinking of the mental tactics he'd have to employ to get out. She wondered what Donnelly had planned next for him. For all of them.

The interrogations were grueling, tedious, and difficult. He presented himself as an investment banker, his cover flawless, his stories about his family, life in the military and his love for 'Ally' as he called her , so detailed you couldn't help but believe him.

She smiled as she looked out at the New York skyline and held onto the railing of the boardwalk as she thought of the way he flirted with her and made her smile. His gaze was playful, his banter held a touch of wit. Damn even in an interrogation, he'd managed to give her butterflies. She wondered if any part of his 'past' and 'memories' were in fact true.

Hours into it, and she had hope that Donnelly was about to give up. But then he put John out in the yard alone. It was agony to see him being beaten like that. She let out a loud breath, tears stinging her eyes remembering the blood oozing from his nose, his mouth, his brow.

She knew he was probably used to torture, was used to hand to hand combat, so he knew how to withstand injuries. He knew how to hold on before he made his move. But this was different. He couldn't fight back, he couldn't defend himself or Donnelly would know he was the man he was looking for. And he was there alone. She hoped that while it was going on, he found if just the slightest comfort knowing that she empathized with what he was going through. And though she wasn't in the physical pain that he was, she was going through an anguish of her own.

But finally it was over. And here she was standing by this lake, a spot they'd met frequently at in the past wondering where he was and if he'd made it home safely. She hoped that tonight even though he might not be able to sleep, he'd at least try to find rest.

She couldn't go home, she couldn't move. She just wanted to stay there, breathe in the air of the place where they would meet and think of him. She just wanted to think about how relieved she was that he was finally free.

Reese slipped back into his own clothes taking a deep breath, glad to be rid of his prison jumpsuit. They were releasing him. He was overjoyed at the news, but kept his face impassive the entire time. He signed his release papers noting Donnelly watched his every move. He knew the man had him pegged as the man he wanted and he was angry that he wasn't able to prove it. He looked at him briefly and fastened his watch. He didn't look back as he strode down the long hallway to exit the building.

The cold knocked him in the face as soon as he was outside. He buttoned his jacket and walked out onto the pavement raising his hand up to hail a taxi. Once he settled into the back seat he realized that he was tired, no, he was exhausted. He hadn't been able to sleep since he'd first been detained. He looked forward to going back to his loft, and lying down on his massive bed. He longed to be home.

He wondered where Carter was. Whatever she and Finch had done to get him out, he'd never forget it. She had no idea what her being there for him today had meant to him. It had been a while since he'd come back to the States from Ordos. He was used to being on missions with Kara. When things got tight, he was used to having her as his back up.

For the last couple of days he was grateful that Carter had been there to back him up. He was aware of her strength during each session of interrogation they had. She asked him just the right questions that would cement his cover life and paint him in a favourable light to Donnelly.

Her face wasn't in view of the camera, so he appreciated the smiles she didn't have to give, the reassurance in her eyes that he wasn't alone. It had been so long since he'd talked about his family to anyone. They had been nothing more than a distant memory for longer than he cared to admit. He separated himself from his childhood long ago. They were parts of a person he no longer felt he was.

He teased her when she asked about being married and living with someone. He was surprised by how the smile she gave after warmed his heart. It was the only reason he could give for her getting him to lay his heart bare for her. He knew that she knew about New Rochelle and what happened to Peter Arndt. She probably knew that Jessica's death wasn't an accident as it had been reported, but he'd never spoken in detail to her or anyone else about it.

He gave her a fake name, but the story of his and Jessica's relationship poured out of him like water. It was painful at first, but looking into her face, seemed like the most natural thing for him to do in that moment. He wondered if she thought of him as a coward for leaving Jessica behind. A coward for not being brave enough to be satisfied with having her love alone instead of a military career he felt compelled to pursue.

He didn't deserve her there. He didn't deserve her support no matter how freely she gave it. He knew she was compromising her integrity just by her route of interrogation. Her words, her looks were almost as strong as her hand holding his, and when he was on the ground getting beaten by the Aryan brotherhood, the scent of her lavender perfume helped him to get through it.

He gave the driver an address, though it wasn't for his loft on Baxter Street. He had to go there; he needed to be….there.

The taxi pulled up and he got out after paying the fare. He looked around, almost wishing she'd be there too.

It was late and it was dark and the boardwalk was deserted. He was glad that all he could hear was traffic in back of him and sound of his own footsteps on the pavement as he approached the railing. He often met Carter here when they needed to discuss a case. He wondered where she was, how she was, and he just needed to be somewhere familiar.

As he got closer he made out the form of a woman standing at the railing. He almost turned around when he noticed that it was Carter. He swallowed, inhaling deeply and walked slowly in her direction. She stood so still and silent, he almost didn't want to disturb her, but he had to get near her.

She turned her head slightly as he came to stand by her just a mere three feet away but she didn't look at him. He instantly became aware of her presence, and wasn't entirely comfortable with the rush of emotions that came over him just then. He couldn't make eye contact with her; he simply gazed in the same direction as she did.

He was used to having her around, used to calling on her whenever he needed her, but now….something between them had shifted. The minute he got locked up, something had shifted. She was no longer an asset to him. She was no longer just Detective Carter. She was no longer just a friend.

He wondered why she was here. Did she come for the same reason he did? To be at the spot where they'd met so many times before? Did she feel the need to see him as much as he'd wanted to see her?

He dared not hope for that.

"Who you looking for out here, Carter?" he asked quietly.

"No one in particular." She replied, still looking out at the water.

"Where's Fusco tonight? I thought he'd be happy to see me."

"I'm sure he will be, but, he's otherwise occupied."

She turned to him then, the effects of the day showing in her eyes and on her face.

"I don't know how to thank you, Carter. I couldn't have gotten thr..…..thank you for being there." He managed to say with a crack in his voice.

"You're welcome, John. I'm just glad that you're okay. I was worried about you back there in the yard." She said, looking at the bruises near his brow. They were still red and would soon turn into a purplish colour she guessed.

He touched his brow. "Believe me, I've looked worse."

Carter shook her head at him trying to brush off his injuries and turned away. She knew from the kicks and blows he'd taken, the bruises on his body were much worse than the small one on his brow. "Don't make light of it, John. Any longer and you might have been killed." She shuddered at the thought, trying to attribute her shiver to the chill in the air. He came to walk beside her, sorry that she had to witness that grueling ordeal, but silently glad that he hadn't been alone.

"I wasn't. And I'm glad to know that you were watching over me."

"I was sick to my stomach." She said stopping mid stride and holding onto the railing again. He could feel both of their emotions running high right now. He sensed she was feeling the same pull towards him as he did towards her.

"Why, Carter?"

"Why what, John?"

"Why'd you watch over me?"

She shook her head, not wanting to answer the question.

"Tell me, Carter."

"Because, John….."

"Because what?"

"Because…..I…..I care about you." They were both silent again, gazing at the skyline, the hum of the traffic overpowering the loudness of their thoughts. It was Carter who finally spoke quietly.

"Everything you said in there….was it all a lie?"

He stood there unsure of how to answer, but after what they'd been through together, he knew he couldn't lie to her.

"Not all of it. Most of what I told you about my family was true save for a few name changes."

"And 'Ally'?" She turned to face him and he her. The soft look in her eye compelled him to speak.

"She was Jessica."

Carter nodded, she figured as much.

"She meant a lot to me, but I was too much of a coward to stay behind and be with her. And now she's gone. I have a lot to make up for. I think when she died; she took the last good part of me with her."

"That's where you're wrong, John. There's a lot of good in you. You are still a good man. And you're not to blame for what happened to her. She just chose to marry the wrong person. There was nothing you could do."

"You know you make me want to believe that when you say it." he said with a crooked smile.

"What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be home, coming out of the shower and heading to bed?" she joked.

He nodded his head.

"I wanted to see you." He said, his voice raw like it had been raked over hot coals. She was speechless at his admission and even more so when he suddenly reached over to put his hand on top of hers.

Reese heard her gasp softly knowing she was shocked but he was glad she didn't pull away. It was the first time he'd ever made an attempt to touch her like that. She turned her head to look at him.

"You mean a lot to me, Joss." He linked his fingers with hers and held tightly onto her hand. He wasn't used to being emotional. He didn't allow himself to feel much, if anything after Jessica died. This was a huge milestone for him, he sensed that she knew it as well and he felt like a weight had been lifted off of his chest.

They stood there like that for what seemed like ages, doing nothing but holding hands and being quiet together. No words were needed anymore, they'd been talking the entire day, their silence right now spoke volumes.

But Reese knew it was time to go. He'd stayed too long and didn't want to risk that maybe they had been followed.

"Listen to me, Joss. We can't see each other anymore."

"What?"

"Not for a long while, at least."

"John…."

"It's for the best, Joss. We can't be seen together, and we can't run the risk of Donnelly finding out we're connected. I'd never forgive myself if you lost everything because of me."

She saw the look in his eye and reflecting on his past with Jessica, she knew he was telling the truth.

"How long?" She asked hating the idea of not being able to see him or talk to him for an indefinite amount of time.

"A few weeks, a few months, I don't know. But remember what I told you the night you got shot; you're not alone. I won't be far away from you, ever, Joss."

Tears started to sting her eyes and she nodded her head sadly. She gripped his hand even tighter knowing that he was about to leave.

"John…." She said looking up at him.

Reese looked into her eyes and before he knew it, his hand was in the back of her neck and he was pulling her close to press his lips onto hers. Her mouth was soft, inviting against his and he cupped her face to pull her even closer. Carter put her arms around his waist as their kiss became more passionate, full of the need that both of them had been carrying the entire day. A need that begged to be sated. She gave and she took from him as she met his seeking tongue with her own. Reese felt more alive with her pressed into his body than he felt in almost two years. Everything between them since they'd first met in her precinct up until now finally came to a head and exploded at this moment.

He groaned against her mouth and they broke the kiss, both of them breathless, and aware of each other. Reese grabbed her and pulled her against his chest in a crushing embrace.

"Goodbye, Joss." He whispered against her ear, finally pulling away.

"Goodbye, John." She answered and watched as he turned and walked away.

She stood there for another minute collecting herself, knowing things were forever changed after tonight.

She hoped to God she'd see him again. But as she walked to her car there was a small smile on her face and she found comfort in knowing that she'd never be alone.