Title: Walking across Egypt

Author: Jenna Nelson

Disclaimer: I do not own Crossing Jordan, if I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfic's on my really slow computer on a Sunday afternoon.... I'd be chill'n with Jerry and Jill at universal studio's.

Note: Okay, this is the lowdown on 'Walking across Egypt' I know I'm crazy for writing two fan fictions at the same time but it wouldn't leave me alone. I wrote a fanfic on a CJ fanfic site, can't remember the name right now, but I will after I post. Anyhow, I did this fanfic called 'And the sea will tell." Never finished it, too many inconsistencies in my writing, it was kind of sloppy, so I'm writing a fan fiction extremely similar to it now, and, congratulations your reading it

For Sasha

Woody swirled the drink in his hand absentmindedly, his mind a million miles away. The Pouge was littered with people, people of all different shapes and sizes, colors and backgrounds. It had seemed so long ago he had left Kewaunee twelve hundred dollars in his pocket and a trunk full of boxes, a small bit of memories packed into the back of a truck, to leave the bad memories behind, to chase after them, just a step behind.

"Woody, you okay." A voice asked behind him, he didn't glance back, knowing who it was. He guzzled the last of his beer before answering, swallowing his thoughts with the frosty beverage.

"Yeah, I'm fine Jo, just tired that's all." She sat herself down on the barstool next to him, placing a soft hand on his shoulder; she could feel him tense beneath her gentle touch. She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Woody I miss you." She said almost mutely, her eyes looking up at his face.

"What are you talking about crazy woman, I'm right here." He muttered giving her a small smile, the biggest his thoughts would allow.

"No your not, what's the matter, you haven't been the same since the Sullivan case... you've been sad, now, tell me what's the matter before a take away your beer rights, what is it." She teased, yet her honey eyes were serious.

"Nothings the matter, I'm fine, leave me alone." The way he said it, it wasn't mean, he just sounded, suggestive, well to Jordan it sounded suggestive, but who was she to listen to anyone else?

"Come on Farm boy, tell me." She persisted; suddenly he stood, gathered his coat and made a hasty exit.

"What the hell is the matter with you!" she shouted, chasing after him.

"don't you ever give up?" he half shouted.

"I thought you'd know me better by now Hoyt, I don't give in." she threw him a lopsided grin. He backed up, not even a ghost of a smile appeared on his face, he looked towards the sky irritably and groaned.

"Jordan, don't." he warned as she slinked closer to him, poking him in the ribs playfully.

"come on, I know you want to smile... smile," with a jab to the ribs, he smiled, backing up, he quickly caught himself.

"I'm a homicide detective damnit!" he shouted, she backed up quickly, swallowing a laugh.

"You know what Jo, I think I'm just going to go home... numb out, spend some time alone, see you tomorrow." He mussed her hair playfully before climbing into his car and speeding away.

Jordan watched Woody drive off, she felt an eerie sense of inevitability wash over her, a sick sadness that crept up on her unexpectedly, what was he hiding. She missed his sunny smile, playful banter and harmless flirting, she missed her friend, maybe she had to face the fact that things do change. Maybe he had changed, maybe things could never be the same. She hated that word, Change, it meant that the familiar and safe would be interrupted and altered before they knew it. He had a secret, she could feel it in her heart, and she had to find out.

Scrambling back into the bar, grabbed her purse and keys.

"Hey Bozz." She yelled to the temporary she had hired after her father left.

"Yeah Cavanaugh?" he responded from across the room where he was taking a young ladies order.

"I'm leaving, don't give anything out on credit." She ordered and ran out of the Pouge without any explanation.

The stars sparkled in the night sky, glittering down on the city of Boston like windows into another world, off somewhere, watching as earth glittered down on them. Jordan noticed the direction he was going, he was going home, where it was safe,

The night was clear, yet it seemed the autumn had snuck up on her, she didn't notice the crisp oranges, rustic reds, and bland browns the leaves had turned, in that drive it seemed she had noticed more than she ever had in a lifetime. She noticed the way the trees swayed in the breeze, the way the air smelled, salty and brisk, like the ocean that wasn't that far off. The way people walked when they were happy, the way they walked when they were drowning in sorrow.

She pulled up behind his car in front of his apartment building, his light was on, she could see his shadow, black against the glare of his lamp. She only needed to find the courage to go upstairs and talk to him, she had this sickening feeling he was running, maybe not physically, but emotionally, he was screaming for help.

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He pulled the crumpled photograph out of his pocket, smoothing out the edges with his fingers, hoping to smooth out all the wrinkles in his life. Somehow he thought they were supposed to live for so much more. Maybe second chances really didn't exsist, maybe he wasn't meant to know what it felt like to have some siblance of love in his life at all. In the end he knew it didn't matter that she was dead, or the fact he was so alone. What mattered was right now, and right now, he had no where to go.

A brick wall, he had just hit a very large brick wall, he was cornered and alone. Feeling the affects of the beer, he laid down on his couch. Not taking his eyes from the photograph in front of him. She was perfect, his pillar, she was the reason he had stayed a cop, when he knew that he would lose everything he had worked for. She looked so small in her school uniform, out in the snow, her tan messenger bag sitting carelessly next to her. Her smile, wide and happy, her dimples, her eyes glowing in some momentary excitement.

She existed now only in his memory, a little girl in a photograph that no longer lived, no longer sat on his lap as they watched the sun sink down under the earth. She used to tell him her 'theories' she had a million, stupid little theories that seemed so illogical, yet, she was completely certain that they would come true.

'I guess when your seven everything can get better, nothing is completely unfixable.' He thought to himself, taking another sip of his corona. Slowly he stood, slipping the photo back into his pocket, he wandered to his closet, he knew he didn't want to see what was inside, but he couldn't stop himself. Something told him the key to his freedom was in that box, sitting forgotten on his closet shelf, waiting to be opened.