The blood curdling scream, from upstairs, made Woody chuckle. He smiled at his son, as Carter exited the downstairs bathroom and said, "Daddy, I remembered to flush."
"Good job, buddy." He replied grinning as Jordan gave him a dirty look as she came downstairs in her bathrobe, her hair in a towel.
"How many times do I have to ask you to fix the water? It nearly scalded me."
"Jordan, I don't think I can fix that. I think it is just living in an old house. We could always buy one of those new ones a few blocks over."
"I hate those houses and you know it. They have no personality, they are all the same," Jordan said grimacing. "Plus they have yards the size of postage stamps."
Their conversation was interrupted by Carter adding, "Mommy, I remembered to flush."
"Yeah baby, I know." Jordan said; she had to smile at the pride on Carter's face. "Hey Carter; go get ready for school. We need to leave in a fifteen minutes."
She turned back to Woody and taking the coffee he was holding out for her Jordan. "So I will take him this morning. Can you pick him up at lunch and bring him to the morgue?" I know you have that afternoon meeting, but I can't get away because of the new M.E."
"Sure no problem, I am going to head out now though. I'll see you at the morgue at about 12:30." He bent down and kissed her adding, "I love you." As he reached the door he yelled goodbye up to Carter, who came tearing down the stairs to say goodbye.
Jordan hurried upstairs to get ready and headed off to take Carter to Pre-School. She was so proud of him. He was a confident and happy little boy. He loved school and constantly asked when he got to go to kindergarten. Woody's fears had been assuaged; Carter had no memory of his life prior to Woody's entry. They had fallen into a wonderful life as a family.
Shortly after 12:30 Woody showed up at the morgue with Carter. The new M.E. was running Jordan a little ragged. "She is so head-strong," she said with a sigh falling onto the couch between Woody and Carter.
Woody laughed saying, "I bet Garret would say that is karma."
"I was never that bad…" she began but stopped when Woody gave her a look. "Okay, fine I was." She lay her head on Woody's shoulder and sighed, adding, "I can't even imagine being that way now, it just looks exhausting."
"Well, you weren't a mother then. You could also stay up past 9:30 at night then," Woody grinned down at her.
"Man, I was such a pain in the…" she stopped, editing her language in front of Carter who was now coloring on the floor.
Woody leaned down and kissed her cheek. "You were wonderful then and you are wonderful now." He started to stand up, "I should probably get back to the precinct. My meeting starts soon."
"Okay. Oh, Bug asked if he and Lily could borrow my car. Lily's is in the shop again and she can't pick him up or bring him to work tomorrow, cause of the kids. I told him I would see if you could pick us up."
"Of course I can, but I think they need to get her a new car. That van is in the shop every other week."
"I'll tell him you said that. I will see you later. Love you."
"I love you too. You too buddy, have fun with Mom today."
"Okay, bye Daddy," Carter chirped.
Woody was exhausted by the time he made it back to the morgue at 5:30 to pick up Jordan and Carter. His meeting that afternoon had been in regards to a serial killer case he had worked a few months before it was long and tiring in addition to being emotionally draining. The killer had targeted young women, single mothers in particular. It had pulled at Woody a little too much. It was like this guy was looking to harm as many people as possible.
He stood outside of Jordan's office for a few minutes watching as she sat at her desk with Carter on her lap. He was drawing while she was reading a file over his head. She looked up and smiled at Woody through the window. He smiled back and walked inside.
"Are you two ready to go home?" He asked as Carter jumped off his mother's lap and ran to hug Woody around the legs.
"I'm ready Daddy," he said with a grin.
"Yeah me too, just let me get my stuff and…" Jordan was interrupted by the new office assistant sticking her head in the door.
"Umm, sorry to interrupt Jordan but there is a man here asking for you."
"Okay, thanks Jess. I will be right out." Seeing Woody's face and Carter's which mirrored it well, both with a look of utter desperation to get home and eat dinner, she added, "Then I am going home."
Jordan walked out into the hallway and down towards reception. She stopped dead, saying "What the hell are you doing here?"
Okay, there you do. Please let me know what you think.