rose_griffes: John Reese from Person of Interest on CBS (reese (the *other* messed-up Reese))
rose_griffes ([personal profile] rose_griffes) wrote2012-03-07 05:18 pm

Person of Interest ficlet: A Picture's Worth...

This has spoilers for the promo for 1.17. If you've seen the pictures or trailer already, you're good.

title: A Picture's Worth...
fandom: Person of Interest
characters: Zoe Morgan, OC (references to Zoe/John, though this is decidely gen)
rating: G or PG?
summary: Zoe gets some interesting pictures.
word count: 800
notes: 1) Not beta-read, lemme know if I missed something. 2) Now the secret is out to anyone who didn't already know: sometimes I write utterly ridiculous fic on purpose.


Just because he was handsome and had saved her life once didn't mean she was going to throw caution and self-interest to the wind. She'd had John followed after that meeting outside the Powell's home. Brian was the only person she would trust to do something that dangerous, and Zoe didn't stint on hazard pay. Three days, she'd told him. No more than that, because she'd already figured out that John's survival depended in large part on his observation skills. Even Brian's talents for disguises would be put to the test with this assignment.

What Brian had found led her to more information that confirmed her suspicions: her erstwhile chauffeur was indeed the man that the CIA and NYPD were seeking.

She'd had that drink with him anyway. Zoe took risks as long as she knew the odds. John was attractive, unlikely to demand more than she was willing to offer, and he was connected to a man who probably had access to more information about the force behind the failed Powell frame-up job. She couldn't ignore an opportunity to learn more about that.

Too bad that last part didn't pan out, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable interaction, one she was looking forward to repeating at some point.

Brian had done a couple of other jobs for her since then but Zoe had a feeling that John was somehow involved when Brian sent her the text message. It read: something you need to see 8O

An emoticon, really? Brian loved to display a cheeky attitude, but the last time he'd used an emoticon in a text was when he'd been following John. Zoe raised her eyebrows as she considered the possibilities, then she sent him a text in reply to set up a meeting.

Early March weather didn't deter Brian; he preferred outdoor meetings whenever possible. Zoe sat on a park bench to wait, grateful that it was merely cold and not raining or snowing as well.

"Hey, doll," Brian said as he approached her. He was sporting a thug look today: baggy jeans, a hooded sweatshirt and his shaved head was covered with tattoos. Temporary tats, she assumed; Brian used his face and body as a blank canvas to create different looks. Right now his slight frame radiated menace; amusing to her because she knew how deceptive it was.

"Brian," she said with a slight nod, not acknowledging the brashness of his greeting. "You have something for me?" She was looking for clues on how to start negotiating a price for this without knowing what he had.

He sat next to her--deliberately close, just because he loved trying to discomfit her. Slipping an envelope into her hands, he said, "A service for a long-term client."

"Oh?"

"You have to look at it now, though. That's my price."

Porn? she wondered. That was unlikely, but she couldn't think of what else it might be. She looked at the manila envelope for a moment and then slid her nail under the flap. Time to see what this was all about. Two photos, both of the same subject, slid into her hands.

"Good Lord!" she exclaimed. Next to her Brian snickered. She stared at the pictures in disbelief. John, wearing his usual suit and overcoat, with a baby strapped to his chest. She would have thought a bomb was more likely, to be honest. Maybe he was using the baby to hide one? No, probably not. At least she hoped not.

It was just... "so wrong," she muttered.

Brian snickered again. "I know!"

"I can't stop looking at it," she said faintly.

"It's the way he's balancing the weight, leaning back like that," Brian said. "Or the baby in combination with a suit."

"Or the fact that it's John with the ninja skills and guns holding onto a baby," Zoe replied.

"It's a cute kid," offered Brian.

"Yeah," she agreed. Brian looked at her in surprise. "Well, it's clean and not attached to me, so it's cute." She shuffled between the two photos again. John and baby. John and baby.

"Why only two pictures, by the way?" she asked.

"I was doing another job and rocking my Mary Jane Watson look, and your guy? Totally has an eye for the red-heads."

Zoe's lips twitched. "Really," she murmured.

"Yeah, too risky. I couldn't get any closer in case he looked past the hair and fake boobs. Mary Jane will have to go into hiding if you ever have me tail him again."

She quietly laughed. "Hopefully that won't be necessary." Turning to look at Brian, Zoe said, "I do owe you one for this. Though now I'm not sure how I'm going to get this image out of my head."

Zoe flipped the pictures again. John. Baby. John. Baby. Next to her Brian unsuccessfully stifled another giggle.

[identity profile] litlover12.livejournal.com 2012-03-07 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
*snicker*

Love it. Especially the part where he's probably not using the baby to hide a bomb.
Edited 2012-03-07 23:37 (UTC)

[identity profile] melawen-c.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
I'm piggy-backing on this comment because, yeah, that was definitely my favorite part. :D and I can't stop looking at those pics either...

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
*laughs* Those pictures are mesmerizing! (Thanks for commenting.)

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, the line about hiding a bomb was a last-second add-in. Probably a good thing, because I giggled out loud when I thought of it. (Hard to be discreet about fic-writing when laughing.)
jedibuttercup: (john reese)

[personal profile] jedibuttercup 2012-03-07 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, lovely. *giggles* Thank you.

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for commenting!

[identity profile] angstbunny.livejournal.com 2012-03-07 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Please never stop writing Zoe fics.

This is lolarious. I love imagining the look on Zoe's face when she sees those pictures. Her reactions here are awesome.

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[identity profile] lizardbeth-j.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
lol. Zoe speaks for us all! :D

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
INDEED!

[identity profile] blacktop50.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
This is excellent. Brian is a fresh new character, especially with his chameleon tendencies. Zoe doesn't seem as blown away by the image of Reese with a baby as I was, LOL!
Edited 2012-03-08 01:01 (UTC)

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Hee, yes, I think my own brain sort of stuttered the first time I saw the promo pics.

[identity profile] brickhousewench.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I was ... rocking my Mary Jane Watson look, and your guy? Totally has an eye for the red-heads."

LOLOLOLOLOLz

Love it! Zoe crack is the bestest crack. =D

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
*laughs* Yeah, writing Zoe's POV for this was fun.

[identity profile] sockie1000.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
lol, rose. I especially liked the bomb crack. nice job! :D

[identity profile] kspretenderfan.livejournal.com 2012-11-02 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh!!! You a fan of pretender too? I love MP & Jarod.

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-11-03 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup, way back when. I didn't know about fandom yet, but it was the show for me--I made sure to be home or have my VCR (!!!) set up for the episodes.

[identity profile] kspretenderfan.livejournal.com 2012-11-03 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
hah! VCR's OMG. I finally got rid of our dual (plays vcr tapes and dvds) last summer. We kept them for the kids Disney movies. Oh wait, I still have one vcr in our basement.

Anyway, Pretender was awesome. I still troll missingpieces and there are still some writers out there that write in a language I can read (English), and darn it, I've tried reading the foreign ones by using google translator but it just doesn't sound right.

Anyway. Love your fics, zoe/john especially. This past week's ep was great! and next week sounds like it's going to be a hoot.

Thanks.

PS: I left you a comment on your main page to see if you could beta read a fanfic for me to make sure I didn't steal any and all of your zoe/john ideas. If that creeps you out that I appear to be a lurker (read: stalker), well, if it works like facebook, you can always unfriend me. Anyway, I ramble.

Keep up your fic writing, I enjoy it. You have a fan for life!

[identity profile] zootsuitzappy.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
LMAO, oh this makes me want tomorrow's episode even more! I love Zoe, she's one of my favorites, and I love your portrayal of her!

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! (And I'm sooooo sad because I won't get to watch until Friday. *sigh*)
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I had a blast writing this, so I'm glad it was fun for others as well.

[identity profile] sdemar.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
I am so happy we have someone writing Zoe , Zoe/Reese fics. This was a pleasure. Thank you.

Only thing I thought of when I saw Reese holding the baby was it should have been with a rifle holster.

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
A rifle holster! *dies laughing* Yeah, I can totally imagine him doing that.

[identity profile] mein-profil.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
"It's clean and not attached to me, so it's cute." - could have been me, saying that! Thanks for writing this, beautiful idea!! Too bad, she didn't get a pic of Reese and Finch fussing and mother-henning over the baby, that would have completely destroyed his rep with her ;-)

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-08 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahaha, yep, if Zoe was this freaked out by Reese carrying a baby, I can't even begin to imagine her reaction to Finch being all fatherly as well...
ext_18106: (Annabelle is a Rock Star)

[identity profile] lyssie.livejournal.com 2012-03-09 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
I don't even remember if I've commented yet (I've been failing at that this week), but this is fabulous--mostly, I really love how you've added more dimensions to Zoe's life and a background character for her, and, and--ok, also, the hilariousness. =D

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-09 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
Yay, thanks! (So much fun to think of Zoe doing something like investigating Reese. IT'S ONLY LOGICAL!)

(I do wonder how long it will be before we get an episode in which Zoe's self-interest collides with the Boy Scout Troop from Hell's altruistic crusade.)

[identity profile] brickhousewench.livejournal.com 2012-03-09 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Aaaaaannd nothing in last night's episode to indicate that your story might not have happened.

*high fives*

Still head canon for me!

[identity profile] rose-griffes.livejournal.com 2012-03-09 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent! Good to know in advance, since I'm still waiting on the episode. (I tried to keep the photo descriptions to a minimum in hopes of avoiding any conflict with the episode; glad it worked.)