Merry Christmas from Nina...this time co-written by jmkw and nccjan. This story is roughly based on the O. Henry classic, The Gift of the Magi. So sit back...fix a up of your favorite warm beverage...and enjoy. Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: We don't own Crossing Jordan. If we did, there would be more Woody and Jordan moments like the ones that follow.

Warning: This may be a two Kleenex story. And maybe a cold shower at the end.


Chapter One

Window Shopping

"Only two more shopping days left until Christmas," the overly cheerful DJ announced through the radio in Jordan's El Camino. "Better go on those last minute shopping trips, wrap those presents, trim that tree, and get the turkey out, folks. It's Santa Claus count down time…."

"Ho, ho, ho," grumbled Jordan back at her radio, all the while searching for a parking place. She had left work a couple of hours early under the guise of buying a few last minute Christmas gifts. And while the last minute gifts weren't exactly a guise, most of her shopping was already done -- the pitiful, small amount it was. Nigel. Bug. Lily. Garret. She hadn't heard from Max in months and had no idea where to even send his gift.

No, there was one more present she needed to get…had to get … wanted to buy. She finally squeezed her truck into a parking place downtown and hit the sidewalk. She was looking for a present for Woody.

Even though they had barely remained civil with one another during the past several months, Jordan's feelings for him had not changed. Even through Danny…and then JD, her heart remained the detective's, although Woody was unaware of the fact. Danny and even JD had been her attempts to fill the void in her heart that Woody had left.

And both men had failed to measure up. Miserably.

She needed something special…something wonderful…to let Woody know that he was loved….not that she would even dare to put her name on the gift because she was sure that if he found out who it was from, he would refuse it. But she wanted to give him something nice to let him know that he was cared about….and Jordan had a sneaky suspicion that was an emotion sorely lacking in the detective's life right now, but one he sorely needed. So even though it was going to be anonymous, Jordan was hell-bent and heaven-bound to buy him something he had always wanted….even if she didn't have the faintest idea of where to start.

Pounding the pavement for a half an hour and coming up empty, she found herself standing in front of a jewelry store…Sterling Jewelry….not very far away from the morgue or the precinct where Woody worked. Stopping to gaze in the window, two things caught her eye. The first was an eye-popping array of men's watches…from Rolodex to Timex, it was there. Woody's watch had been giving him problems for the last month…maybe a new watch was what she needed to buy him…but then her gaze glanced downward from the watches to a lady's necklace and earring set. The jewelry was set in the latest bohemian type of fashion, but even a novice's eye could note that this wasn't modern jewelry. It was and antique-looking set of costume jewlery…and was set with a stone that Jordan couldn't put a name on, but knew instinctively that it matched her eyes perfectly. Gosh…I would love to have that set, she thought. But this year, it's not about me…it's about him…he needs to know that he's loved…even if he doesn't know by whom…

Jordan was so engrossed in her thoughts that the jangle of the bell over the jewelry store door made her jump. And the voice coming after that jangle made her nearly crawl out of her skin.

"Fancy meeting you here." It was cold. It was indifferent and harsh.

It was Woody.

"Oh, hi…"

"Christmas shopping?"

Jordan shook her head. He can't find out. "No…my Christmas shopping is done. Garret let me off work a little early and I'm just out….window shopping to kill time."

Window shopping? Jordan doesn't seem like the type…still… it is Christmas. His curiosity got the best of him. "So what are you looking at?"

Jordan pointed to the bohemian jewelry set. "That."

Woody mentally gave a low whistle. It looked like Jordan. Unconventional. One of a kind. But fragile and beautiful all at the same time. And matched her eyes and hair. God, that would look so good on her… and from the tone of her voice, she really wants it. "Nice set," he gruffly replied, swallowing his thoughts.

"Yeah, it is. Maybe I'll get it for myself for Christmas. So what are you doing here? Christmas shopping, too?"

If Jordan would have compared her pitiful, small number of presents she had to buy to the sum zero number of gifts that were under Woody's tree, the pity that the detective feared she had for him would have been realized. "No, no," he continued, still gruff. "I'm through with that. I'm had to get my watch repaired." Okay, so it was a half-lie, half-truth…

"Ah. Maybe you should have bought a new one for yourself for Christmas…" Jordan hedged, hoping that if he had been eyeing a new watch, now he would clue her into which one.

"Nope. I have my eye on a 1930 19876FT antique roby."

"Roby?"

"Antique robot. I collect them…antique robots that is. And that one is rare. There's only one dealer that has one in stock in an antique gallery that has old toys, about three blocks from here."

"So you're getting yourself that for Christmas?"

"If it doesn't cost too much. Antique robots can be kind of expensive, because there really weren't a whole lot of them made. And if they're in good condition, like this one is, well…the cost really shoots up." He was talking like the old Woody, enthusiasm lacing his words.

"I'm glad you found one, then." Jordan smiled at him, glad to finally hear something that at least faintly resembled the man she once knew.

Woody's face suddenly darkened. "I doubt I'll be able to afford it, though. At least not for Christmas. My out-of-pocket medical expenses have about broke me…I can't even afford to fly home to Wisconsin for Christmas," his voice dropped a notch and Jordan was sure she heard regret.

But just as quickly, Woody recovered. "But there's always after Christmas sales and such. Maybe I'll get lucky."

"Maybe. I hope you do, Woody." Her voice held a note of guileless sincerity.

"Thanks," he hesitated for just a minute, scenes of old times and a well-worn past friendship flitting like blinking Christmas lights through his mind. Finally, he couldn't take her gaze any longer…a look that was still tinged with hurt. "Well, I need to get back to the precinct," he finally said. "Merry Christmas, Jordan."

"Merry Christmas, Wood…" her voice trailed off. He had already turned on his heel and was gone…leaving her out in the cold once again.