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It was still dark and quiet when John parked his car under the bridge and switched it off. The lights from the town that was infamous for lack of sleep were glinting in the far horizon and the distant hum of passing traffic sounded like a soothing lullaby.
The location was one of the few scattered areas left out of the purview of security camera and its quiet vibe took John's thoughts to Finch again. Somehow the man was equal to a version of lucidity and amity in John's mind although looking from outside it seemed anything but the state of peace. The constant battle to save would be victims or perpetrator whose social security numbers they received had been a constant that had somehow brought them together in what someone might have called amicable collaboration. But what if…his thoughts were unpleasantly interrupted by a low crunch of gravels under heels approaching his car.
It was too early and too dark for even the early birds to come out and therefore impossible to see who the figure was without resorting to artificial light which was not desirable. So John instinctively loosened up his gun to aim in a flash only to let it go when he saw Root and her dubious smile peering at him from the side window.
She mouthed: "May I?" and without pausing for the answer she jumped in. "I'm glad to see you've got the message correctly."
John growled, "I should have known it was from you!"
She still had that irritating smile, "Who else did you expect John? A certain intelligent but private man?"
John ignored her comment, "What do you want Root?"
"Oh, it's chilly in here. Can I turn on the air conditioner for a few minutes? I should have listened to her and brought a scarf but I was in hurry. I don't have much time these day, shifting between covers constantly. So how are you detective?"
John only grunted.
"Still riled I see!" Grinning at her own pun she went on, "Is it about the new apartment? I know it's a hole compared to what Harold gave you for your birthday but a New York City detective can't earn that type of life and I don't think I need to remind you about the importance of keeping…"
John cut across her, "No, you don't. But I hate feeling like an imposter each day, playing Detective Riley of Narcotics who only arrives to bag the bodies it seems. I hate acting after the fact and I'm getting restless. Happy? So what's with the late meeting? What does your boss want?"
She faked a hurt look, "Oh John, why does she need an ulterior motive to check on you?"
John didn't even bother looking at her. His head was threatening to throb again and her heavy perfume didn't help either. "Cut to the chase. I'm already tired from the stupid day job."
"Alright. But just to keep the face, if anyone approached, I need you to play the role of a good boyfriend and you know…"
John's disgusted face wasn't an act which made her laugh so hard her long curls started bouncing. "You can be funny sometimes, you know. I'm beginning to realize why Harry cares."
John was gritting his teeth so hard he felt a few might have cracked. "Did you call me here just to play make-out for New York criminals or you actually have something serious to talk about?"
She stopped laughing suddenly and her big brown eyes became fixated ahead on the slowly shifting colors of sky. "Of course I do. But she keeps telling me to clear things between us first."
John banged his open palms on the steering wheel. "Fine. We're good. We're clear. Are we done?"
"No we're not. We haven't cleared anything yet and you don't trust me nor her. It's ok. I get it. You're a bit jealous which is somehow adorable but…"
John turned to face her despite himself and asked incredulously, "Jealous?! What the hell are you talking about?"
She turned to face him fully and with a solemn face. "Do you trust me? Honestly?"
John smirked, "We're playing the honesty card now? Fine. No. I haven't since you kidnapped Harold two years ago and I don't know if I ever will."
Root nodded, "So here’s my chance to improve the situation."
"Why bother?" John asked a little surprised.
"Because whether you like me or not John, we're in this war together. We're all fighting to survive and save the world from Samaritan. You don't have to like me or even trust me completely. Just accept a friendly gesture. A metaphorical olive branch."
"Which is?"
"That I understand how you feel."
"About working with you? It's like what you said, I don't like it but I've worked with worse people before. So."
"I must be flattered I guess?" She grinned and continued, "But no. I wasn't talking about me. Actually, as long as we're talking about this particular topic, I must ask you to be more discreet."
John shook his head, "I can't be a better detective. If it doesn't go with your boss let me just…"
"I wasn't talking about you exactly."
"Can't you just tell me in plain English what you are talking about then?"
"Harold."
"What about him? He's alright, isn't he? Do you know something that I don’t? Because if that's the case…"
She giggled in the familiar fashion John found most irritating. "See what I mean? Discreet!"
John glared, "I don't get it!"
"I know you're nowhere as smart as Harry but she insists you're not dumb."
"I must be flattered I guess?"
"No need to be nasty John. I know exactly how you feel about Harry."
John's eyes widened in an infinitesimal amount which apparently had been enough for Root even in semi darkness. "My god, she's right. You do have a tell!"
John replied futilely, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Her voice getting a little higher she answered, "Listen well because I can't go through all this again. I don't have time for it. We don't have time for it.
"I don't care if you ever trust me or even like me. I don't need either to do what I must do. But believe me when I say I care about Harry and that's not just because she cares. Harry is a truly remarkable and unique person so I don't blame you for falling for him."
"WHAT?"
"We don't have much time John so don't waste it on denying the fact which I think except Harry and bless her, Samin, almost everybody else sees."
John protested, "I've only been doing my j…"
"I said don't waste time John! Besides, I'm telling you it's ok. You don’t have to lie to me about it. I said I understand. But I also understand how important it is for both of us to do our jobs and protect him, keep him safe. And under the circumstances you two can't get together. None of us can actually. What do you think stops me from taking Samin to a nice private restaurant and…"
"Fine, fine, you made your point!" John said raising his palms.
"Besides, even at this modern time, a gay cop would stick out like a sore thumb in NYPD. Not to mention how illogical it would seem for a cop and a professor to start dating. I mean what are the shared common…"
"I said you made your point!"
"I know it hurts. I do but we really need you to play the role perfectly least attract the attention of Samaritan."
"For the whole damn three months I've only seen him once! It was by an accident and in passing which even that part I believe, the machine made possible. How safer do you want me to play this role?"
"Remember it's not me who asks, it's her. So don't take it on me. As for seeing Harold, she says she does have plans. And I keep telling you, I get it. I mean if it were up to me I wouldn't waste a second away from Sam…"
John snapped, "Yeah, yeah. I know!" his hands were back on the wheel again.
"Why are you such a jerk about this then?"
"Because she's like a sister to me. Can't we just leave her out of this for now?"
"Fine! Be that way. But there's something else you need to do. Soon, you'll be promoted out of Narcotics in your current precinct to go to the 8th. She thinks you and Fusco will work better together and forces will be united."
"I don't think Lionel's gonna be too happy about it."
"He doesn't have a say in it. But while you're there you need to be as close to a straight detective as you can."
"I'm not exactly gay you know! And what's with name calling and labeling anyway? I like to think we're better than that."
"I know. That's why I kinda respect what you've got going on for Harry. Because he's been the only one for you and I know what I'm about to ask will be really tough, emotion-wise."
Leaning slightly to the left, John pressed his index and middle finger on his throbbing left temple. The whole thing was getting ridiculously more and more out of hand by the second. "Out with it. I'm tired with this game as it is."
"Should the prospect of dating arise in the work environment, you must take it."
He nearly jumped, "No!"
"John!"
He took the wheel with both hands again, willing himself to calm down, "I said no. It's bad enough that your boss doesn't like me spend time with the person I want, it can't tell me who to be with!"
"Please do as she says, it's the only way you can protect Harry. No one ever said love was easy."
The word choice shocked John into silence for a full minute. His knuckles on the steering wheel had turned white. Finally he said, "I have a condition of my own then."
"She's listening."
"I know Harold well. I know he feels responsible for Samaritan although right now he's too royally pissed off to want to have anything to do with this mess. I know he'll come around and get involved again." Staring ahead, he smiled painfully and fleetingly, "I don't know how long it takes but I know there will come a time he'll feel the only way out of this situation, this war you keep calling, is self-sacrifice.
"When such a day arrives, I want your boss to spare him. I'll take it. I'll do anything necessary to complete the mission, to protect him. Absolutely anything, only if I know for sure he's gonna survive this war. I'll do anything the machine wants for Harold to be safe. I can't afford to lose him and neither can this world."
She had him under careful observation for a few seconds and then asked, "That's what it takes you to behave like a good chap?"
John stared back and replied firmly, "Take it or leave it."
"Deal! Now get ready for the meeting you have with three drug dealers."
John growled, "What?"
"She's arranged it for you. There's money in the trunk. They'll be here shortly near sunrise." Getting out of the car she smiled and said, "I'm glad we had the talk John. And uh… yeah, she wants me to tell you Harold is not there yet exactly. In case you didn't know. But he might be, someday." Then she tilted her head as if listening to someone close by and after a pause said, "Really? I should tell him?" then shrugged and continued, "Ah well, she says you're a good couple. So…"
"Just shut the damn door and go!" John grunted.