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Anyone who knows him wouldn't be surprised to hear John admit he's been at a bit of a loss since Finch's disappearance from Darrow. He's getting along well enough, he hasn't let himself slip into the sort of drinking he'd done after Jessica's death and although there are certainly times when he feels old thoughts slinking back toward him, he's been able to keep them mostly at bay. Work is a good distraction, which is funny, given that John Riley had only ever been intended as a cover for a short period of time while they Samaritan was hunting them.

But John Riley is a good detective. And John Riley is a generally well liked man, both at the precinct and otherwise, and although there are people who know who he really is, there are days when he feels more like John Riley than anyone else.

It's a little dangerous, this complacency. John isn't opposed to happiness, he thinks he's done both Finch and Carter proud with the people he's let into his life -- Karen in particular -- but he also knows this isn't the reason Finch rescued him from himself. While he had wanted John to let people into his life and while he had encouraged him to find happiness with Karen, the life he's living now isn't the mission. It's not even close.

Their team barely functions these days. They haven't all been together in the warehouse in some weeks and John is only here now because he's trying to figure out what to do. Where to go from here. The computers sit silent and blank and he hasn't the slightest idea where to begin with them, but he's been thinking about Peggy, about asking her if she knows anyone who would be good with the computers. Someone she might trust enough to bring into the team.

It's funny that he's thinking of her in that moment, because the lock on the door behind him beeps and then slides open and he turns with a small, amused smile to find her standing here.

"You have good timing," he says simply.

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"We could have a smaller space," she suggests, because a warehouse had always seemed quite large and silly to her, but then, she was used to operating out of the hidden back offices of a talent agency or a phone company, so it's not that she doesn't admire the panache, it's simply the lack of use that had been odd to her.

"If you are still looking for something, perhaps you can come by for dinner and drinks with Daniel and I," she suggests, sipping at her tea. "We could discuss Hydra, our next steps, see if that's something you're interested in helping fight against?"

The warehouse made sense when Finch's computers were being used and it works as a place to store John's weapons, but he can find something smaller and more secure for that. The warehouse just doesn't make as much sense without Finch around and John knows the computers will have to go into storage somewhere. He wouldn't know the first thing about wiping them safely.

"That'd be nice," he says with a smile. "I'd like that. I have my work, too, it's just... being a detective was only ever meant to be a cover."

And now it's all he is. Most of the time he's not sure what to do with that.

"And here you see, being a detective for me was merely a side part of my job seeing as being an agent still meant you had to detect, but usually stranger things," she can't help the warm jibe, seeing as she holds a great deal of respect for those who do the job.

"You should come around for tea or dinner anyway," she decides, because if Finch is gone, then he'll need more company anyhow. "Daniel and I would love to entertain yourself and Karen. Call it a double date if that's more amenable."

"That sounds nice," he answers. "And I'm sure Karen would like it, too."

She's better with people than he is anyway, kinder and much more open in her way. The secrets she keeps -- and she keeps plenty, John had noticed that a long time ago -- she does with such poise it never really seems to matter to anyone. Karen would have made an incredible agent and all he can do is be thankful that's not the sort of life that ever really found her.

"And the more people who are better conversationalists than I am, the better for everyone involved."

"Perfect," Peggy says, with a determined nod, having been unwilling to take any other answer than the one they've landed on. "Daniel will be more than happy to have you over, but I do hope that neither of you will mind if I don't cook," she says. "Fair warning, it would be quite terrible if I attempted it," she can assure, thinking it's better for everyone in the event that they order in.

"Maybe once we put our heads together, we'll think of something," she adds, still willing to be optimistic.