Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but it fun to take them out for
a spin once in awhile....
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I know nothing about the season finale. I know... nothing, I see... nothing. Can't you tell by the fingers sticking out of my ears? LA LA LA LA LA...sorry I had to do that. Denial is always a great tool.
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Jordan's father takes a night off. He leaves Jordan in charge of a crowded bar that includes many friends and acquaintances. Can one evening be so perfect?
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Jordan takes a short break and leans over the bar to get Lily's attention, laughingly she says; "I spent thirteen years of my life so I wouldn't have to do a job like this." Grabbing a towel to dry a glass she continues, "I shouldn't complain. With Dad gone for one night the music is better, the language raunchier, and from this side of the bar the view is most defiantly better" Both Jordan and Lily look over the crowded pub "Is it just my mood or has the Boston PD decided only to hire good looking cops?"
"Most defiantly" Lily agrees with a sigh. "I take that four to go...and those three I'll put on lay away."
"What are you putting on lay away?" Bug asks as he steps up to the bar after a game of pool.
Lily looks at Jordan trying to keep a straight face. "Nothing... Can I buy you a drink?"
Jordan mouths 'good save' as she turns to draw Bug a beer. In the corner Nigel and Garrett are in the middle off in a game of darts, each opponent squaring off as if it were a duel to the death. Meanwhile, Peter has the new chick from police dispatch cornered, and she doesn't seem to mind. Eddie is holding court at the pool table, taking on any one who had a twenty and the nerve to challenge him.
A perfect evening, all an all; the only notable absentee, outside of her father, is Woody.
Jordan couldn't help but wonder if he was just sitting home folding socks. Unless he is working, she decides he needs to drag his butt down here. Picking up the phone she dials. Woody answers on the second ring. Jordan covers her ear to be able to hear him over the noise.
"Hello"
"Hoyt, get your happy ass down here."
"Sounds like a busy night."
"You bet and Winslow is running out of marks for the pool table. Come on farm boy."
"Actually I'm sitting out front."
"Really, don't just sit there, get in here. Dad's gone and left me in charge. If you're nice to the bartender, I may even buy you a drink."
"Jordan, I...I need to talk to you...can you met me out here."
"Is there something going on?" When she didn't get an answer she says, "Sure let me find someone to cover for a few."
"Meet me out back."
With that Woody hangs up. Jordan looks at the phone for a second and then hangs it up. She's not on duty tonight; but if Woody had something interesting...
"Hey Nig; can I get you to cover the bar for a few minutes?"
Nigel walks around the bar counting the cash he had just won off of Garrett. "No problem love, do you need to powder your nose?"
"Woody wants to meet me. I'll be out back if you need me."
"Darling, THAT should take longer than a few minutes..."
Jordan just shakes her head as she walks away. As she steps out the back door she hears Nigel announce it was time for shooters. Jordan hopes this doesn't take long...or her father would never leave her in charge again. Pushing open the heavy fire door she sees Woody standing against the wall staring at the sky.
"Penny for your thoughts cowboy..." Jordan says to get his attention.
Woody steps away from the wall. The first thing Jordan notices is that he isn't dressed for work. He stands there silently as he looks her up and down as if committing her image to memory, at the same time his gaze looked a hundred miles away.
"Woody, are you alright?" Jordan says trying to catch his attention.
"Yeah" he tries to smile and fails.
"Good" she says grabbing his arm, "You are missing a great time, come on. Nigel's going to get us all arrested if I don't get back in there soon...." Jordan laughs.
Woody pulls away and stands his ground. Jordan becomes suddenly serious. "Something's wrong, oh my God it's not Dad is it."
Woody looks at the ground. "No, No it's nothing like that..."
"Then what is it?" Jordan closes the door and lays a hand on his arm. Woody reaches up and covers in with his own.
"I stopped by to tell you I got a new job today." He says with another valiant attempt to smile.
"Really" Jordan says excitedly. "You're promotion came through! This is great. Come on, this really gives us a reason to celebrate!"
"Yes, I got the promotion...but I turned it down."
"I guess I'm not following you."
"I've decided to take a job in L.A."
It took a few minutes for the words to connect with her. And then suddenly the ground felt like it opened and swallowed her whole. She steps away and takes a deep breath to regroup "Wow, L.A...."
"I thought I should tell you in person instead of you hearing it through the grape vine."
Still in a deep state of fog Jordan says. "You need to work on you're practical jokes Hoyt. They're not funny."
"This isn't a joke Jordan. I've got some time on the books so I'm taking my two weeks notice as vacation. I'm leaving to drive out in the day after tomorrow."
"You certainly move fast don't you?" Jordan says failing to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
With a deep sigh Woody puts his hands on her shoulders. "I have no reason to stay here Jordan; I never really fit into the boy's club at the department. It's time to move on."
Letting out an unladylike snort Jordan says "I can understand that; but L.A. Woody? I've been there. It's the same shit different pile."
"Yeah, I know." Letting go of her arms opens the fire door motioning for her to step in. Jordan stands and staring at him for a moment and than steps inside.
"You have no one in California...you have roots here."
"I never thought I'd settle down here Jordan. Boston was to first place that had an opening when I left home. I came here for the experience, now that I've had it. It's time to move on."
She couldn't fault his logic; it was the same argument she has used a number of times before. "Well, come inside and maybe we can talk you in to changing your mind."
"No, I really need to finish packing. I've got a lot to do in the morning."
"Hoyt, at least come in a say goodbye."
"I'm not into long goodbyes." He leans over and kisses her on the cheek. It was all Jordan could do not to throw her arms around him and beg him to stay. He turns and walks away. Jordan stands in the open door as he turns the corner. Slowly she makes her way back into the taproom. One of her favorite songs is playing. Laugher and merriment is all around. She walks back behind the bar. Nigel looks up from the tap.
"So, where's Woodrow?"
"He left" she says as she gabs a bar rag and attacks the pile of glasses she left earlier.
"Don't tell me you're loosing your touch darling."
"I guess I am." She says with a hallow chuckle.
Nigel takes a double take look at her, and then walks around the bar to blend back into the crowd.
Quickly wiping away the stray tears that littered her face Jordan pastes on a happy face. Her heart would have to wait its turn to break tonight. The music was too good, the crowd to interesting, the evening too perfect.
Now if she could only convince herself of that.
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The idea hit her like a ton of bricks. It was a harebrain at best...in some states she probably could get arrested for it. To carry this off she was going to need to talk Garrett into a last minute favor...one day ought to do it, but she asks for two weeks just in case.
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The morning of Woody's move dawned clear and warm. One of those crystal blue mornings you hardly ever saw on the east coast but were a daily event out west. Woody had sold his car the day before to the new girl in dispatch. He doubted it would even make it to L.A., and besides the salt rust around the wheel wells would stand out like a sore thumb in southern California. He loads the last of his stuff into the back of a U-Haul truck. He was 14 minutes ahead of schedule...this is good. Standing back he realizes the whole of his worldly possessions take up less than half of the space. Boston was just a side trip anyway...He was surprised he lasted two years as it was. But two years is a long time...he did have friends that really should at least say goodbye too. Maybe a quick stop at the M.E.'s office wouldn't take out to much time from his schedule. Taking one last quick look at his neighborhood he reaches up to pull down the back gate of the truck.
"Hold it! You forgot something!"
Woody turns to see Jordan stepping out of a cab. In her hand is an old Army duffle bag. Before he could say anything she heaves her loads in to the back of the truck.
"Jordan, just what in the hell do you think your doing?"
Reaching up to grab the door Jordan pulls it down with a bang. She turns and walks to the cab of the truck, "Can we stop and get some coffee before we hit the toll road?"
"Jordan?! What is going on?"
"I would think that was obvious...and you call yourself a detective..."
Before she can jump up into the cab, Woody grabs her arm. "This isn't funny Jordan."
"I'm not trying to be funny Hoyt; I'm just going along to make sure you make it all the way out there. I need the vacation any way."
"I don't need help Jordan."
"I've made this trip a few times myself... it's a bitch by yourself....and besides you'd probably get lost somewhere around Ohio."
Woody reaches up into the cab and pulls out a folder full up maps and directions. Jordan grabs it out of his hands and opens it up.
"As you can see, I have plotted out an itinerary that will put me in L.A. by....6pm on Thursday."
With an arched eyebrow, Jordan throws the folder back into the cab. "By Thursday...? Are you planning on sleeping or eating in the next few days? You are so lucky I decided to come along." She jumps up into the cab and slams the door. Woody barely gets his hand out of the way in time.
"Jordan, get out of the truck."
"Woody, what is this? Your co driver...?" Jordan holds up a fish bowl complete with goldfish.
"I pick it up after I got back from..... Put that back down and get out of the truck."
"Is this all the music you have....I suppose it will have to do... Good, you have a cooler of sodas."
"Jordan this is your last warning...."
"I'm not going anywhere Hoyt, You can consider this road trip....hijacked; just get in here and start driving...or the fish gets it."
To be continued.....
I know nothing about the season finale. I know... nothing, I see... nothing. Can't you tell by the fingers sticking out of my ears? LA LA LA LA LA...sorry I had to do that. Denial is always a great tool.
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
Jordan's father takes a night off. He leaves Jordan in charge of a crowded bar that includes many friends and acquaintances. Can one evening be so perfect?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan takes a short break and leans over the bar to get Lily's attention, laughingly she says; "I spent thirteen years of my life so I wouldn't have to do a job like this." Grabbing a towel to dry a glass she continues, "I shouldn't complain. With Dad gone for one night the music is better, the language raunchier, and from this side of the bar the view is most defiantly better" Both Jordan and Lily look over the crowded pub "Is it just my mood or has the Boston PD decided only to hire good looking cops?"
"Most defiantly" Lily agrees with a sigh. "I take that four to go...and those three I'll put on lay away."
"What are you putting on lay away?" Bug asks as he steps up to the bar after a game of pool.
Lily looks at Jordan trying to keep a straight face. "Nothing... Can I buy you a drink?"
Jordan mouths 'good save' as she turns to draw Bug a beer. In the corner Nigel and Garrett are in the middle off in a game of darts, each opponent squaring off as if it were a duel to the death. Meanwhile, Peter has the new chick from police dispatch cornered, and she doesn't seem to mind. Eddie is holding court at the pool table, taking on any one who had a twenty and the nerve to challenge him.
A perfect evening, all an all; the only notable absentee, outside of her father, is Woody.
Jordan couldn't help but wonder if he was just sitting home folding socks. Unless he is working, she decides he needs to drag his butt down here. Picking up the phone she dials. Woody answers on the second ring. Jordan covers her ear to be able to hear him over the noise.
"Hello"
"Hoyt, get your happy ass down here."
"Sounds like a busy night."
"You bet and Winslow is running out of marks for the pool table. Come on farm boy."
"Actually I'm sitting out front."
"Really, don't just sit there, get in here. Dad's gone and left me in charge. If you're nice to the bartender, I may even buy you a drink."
"Jordan, I...I need to talk to you...can you met me out here."
"Is there something going on?" When she didn't get an answer she says, "Sure let me find someone to cover for a few."
"Meet me out back."
With that Woody hangs up. Jordan looks at the phone for a second and then hangs it up. She's not on duty tonight; but if Woody had something interesting...
"Hey Nig; can I get you to cover the bar for a few minutes?"
Nigel walks around the bar counting the cash he had just won off of Garrett. "No problem love, do you need to powder your nose?"
"Woody wants to meet me. I'll be out back if you need me."
"Darling, THAT should take longer than a few minutes..."
Jordan just shakes her head as she walks away. As she steps out the back door she hears Nigel announce it was time for shooters. Jordan hopes this doesn't take long...or her father would never leave her in charge again. Pushing open the heavy fire door she sees Woody standing against the wall staring at the sky.
"Penny for your thoughts cowboy..." Jordan says to get his attention.
Woody steps away from the wall. The first thing Jordan notices is that he isn't dressed for work. He stands there silently as he looks her up and down as if committing her image to memory, at the same time his gaze looked a hundred miles away.
"Woody, are you alright?" Jordan says trying to catch his attention.
"Yeah" he tries to smile and fails.
"Good" she says grabbing his arm, "You are missing a great time, come on. Nigel's going to get us all arrested if I don't get back in there soon...." Jordan laughs.
Woody pulls away and stands his ground. Jordan becomes suddenly serious. "Something's wrong, oh my God it's not Dad is it."
Woody looks at the ground. "No, No it's nothing like that..."
"Then what is it?" Jordan closes the door and lays a hand on his arm. Woody reaches up and covers in with his own.
"I stopped by to tell you I got a new job today." He says with another valiant attempt to smile.
"Really" Jordan says excitedly. "You're promotion came through! This is great. Come on, this really gives us a reason to celebrate!"
"Yes, I got the promotion...but I turned it down."
"I guess I'm not following you."
"I've decided to take a job in L.A."
It took a few minutes for the words to connect with her. And then suddenly the ground felt like it opened and swallowed her whole. She steps away and takes a deep breath to regroup "Wow, L.A...."
"I thought I should tell you in person instead of you hearing it through the grape vine."
Still in a deep state of fog Jordan says. "You need to work on you're practical jokes Hoyt. They're not funny."
"This isn't a joke Jordan. I've got some time on the books so I'm taking my two weeks notice as vacation. I'm leaving to drive out in the day after tomorrow."
"You certainly move fast don't you?" Jordan says failing to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
With a deep sigh Woody puts his hands on her shoulders. "I have no reason to stay here Jordan; I never really fit into the boy's club at the department. It's time to move on."
Letting out an unladylike snort Jordan says "I can understand that; but L.A. Woody? I've been there. It's the same shit different pile."
"Yeah, I know." Letting go of her arms opens the fire door motioning for her to step in. Jordan stands and staring at him for a moment and than steps inside.
"You have no one in California...you have roots here."
"I never thought I'd settle down here Jordan. Boston was to first place that had an opening when I left home. I came here for the experience, now that I've had it. It's time to move on."
She couldn't fault his logic; it was the same argument she has used a number of times before. "Well, come inside and maybe we can talk you in to changing your mind."
"No, I really need to finish packing. I've got a lot to do in the morning."
"Hoyt, at least come in a say goodbye."
"I'm not into long goodbyes." He leans over and kisses her on the cheek. It was all Jordan could do not to throw her arms around him and beg him to stay. He turns and walks away. Jordan stands in the open door as he turns the corner. Slowly she makes her way back into the taproom. One of her favorite songs is playing. Laugher and merriment is all around. She walks back behind the bar. Nigel looks up from the tap.
"So, where's Woodrow?"
"He left" she says as she gabs a bar rag and attacks the pile of glasses she left earlier.
"Don't tell me you're loosing your touch darling."
"I guess I am." She says with a hallow chuckle.
Nigel takes a double take look at her, and then walks around the bar to blend back into the crowd.
Quickly wiping away the stray tears that littered her face Jordan pastes on a happy face. Her heart would have to wait its turn to break tonight. The music was too good, the crowd to interesting, the evening too perfect.
Now if she could only convince herself of that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The idea hit her like a ton of bricks. It was a harebrain at best...in some states she probably could get arrested for it. To carry this off she was going to need to talk Garrett into a last minute favor...one day ought to do it, but she asks for two weeks just in case.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The morning of Woody's move dawned clear and warm. One of those crystal blue mornings you hardly ever saw on the east coast but were a daily event out west. Woody had sold his car the day before to the new girl in dispatch. He doubted it would even make it to L.A., and besides the salt rust around the wheel wells would stand out like a sore thumb in southern California. He loads the last of his stuff into the back of a U-Haul truck. He was 14 minutes ahead of schedule...this is good. Standing back he realizes the whole of his worldly possessions take up less than half of the space. Boston was just a side trip anyway...He was surprised he lasted two years as it was. But two years is a long time...he did have friends that really should at least say goodbye too. Maybe a quick stop at the M.E.'s office wouldn't take out to much time from his schedule. Taking one last quick look at his neighborhood he reaches up to pull down the back gate of the truck.
"Hold it! You forgot something!"
Woody turns to see Jordan stepping out of a cab. In her hand is an old Army duffle bag. Before he could say anything she heaves her loads in to the back of the truck.
"Jordan, just what in the hell do you think your doing?"
Reaching up to grab the door Jordan pulls it down with a bang. She turns and walks to the cab of the truck, "Can we stop and get some coffee before we hit the toll road?"
"Jordan?! What is going on?"
"I would think that was obvious...and you call yourself a detective..."
Before she can jump up into the cab, Woody grabs her arm. "This isn't funny Jordan."
"I'm not trying to be funny Hoyt; I'm just going along to make sure you make it all the way out there. I need the vacation any way."
"I don't need help Jordan."
"I've made this trip a few times myself... it's a bitch by yourself....and besides you'd probably get lost somewhere around Ohio."
Woody reaches up into the cab and pulls out a folder full up maps and directions. Jordan grabs it out of his hands and opens it up.
"As you can see, I have plotted out an itinerary that will put me in L.A. by....6pm on Thursday."
With an arched eyebrow, Jordan throws the folder back into the cab. "By Thursday...? Are you planning on sleeping or eating in the next few days? You are so lucky I decided to come along." She jumps up into the cab and slams the door. Woody barely gets his hand out of the way in time.
"Jordan, get out of the truck."
"Woody, what is this? Your co driver...?" Jordan holds up a fish bowl complete with goldfish.
"I pick it up after I got back from..... Put that back down and get out of the truck."
"Is this all the music you have....I suppose it will have to do... Good, you have a cooler of sodas."
"Jordan this is your last warning...."
"I'm not going anywhere Hoyt, You can consider this road trip....hijacked; just get in here and start driving...or the fish gets it."
To be continued.....
