John smiles faintly, acknowledging and accepting the compliment in his own quiet way. It's strange to be here sometimes, strange to think of himself as actually working this job in a way he'd never truly imagined he might. Not before Carter, not before New York. It's true the Machine is the one responsible for John Riley, it's true that's where the identity and the credentials came from, but without Carter's influence extending to him even past her death, he knows he wouldn't be even half as good at this job as he is.

And it helps that Finch is willing to do what he can to assist John when he needs it.

"I was happy to get Mr. Anson in off the street," he admits with a small nod. "Sooner or later he would have done something to his wife there was no taking back and I'm just relieved we were able to get him in before that happened." Because he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself for that. It was the right move, waiting and doing things legally, he knows that and Finch absolutely supports the decision, but there are still times when John wishes he could do things how they used to.

Then, of course, Casey Anson might not have ever been found again.