~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Each time I see a crowd of people" "Just like a fool I stop and stare." "It's really not the proper thing to do," "But maybe you'll be there." "Someday if all my prayers are answered" "I'll hear a footstep on the stair." "With anxious heart I'll hurry to the door," "And maybe you'll be there"-Diane Krall-- Maybe You'll Be There
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first leg of the flight was smooth, but the almost three hour lay over in Chicago was anything but. Jordan sits at the gate waiting for her flight to be called trying in vain to read the magazine she picked up when she first landed. In disgust she throws it on the seat next to her. Slinging her overnighter on her shoulder Jordan walks over to the large plate glass window that looks out over the tarmac. She reaches for her cell phone to check messages. The bag slips off her shoulder when she hears she has one. Quickly pushing the right buttons she hears her father's voice asking her to give him a call back. Jordan dials his number.
After Max answers she says "Hi Dad, what's up?"
"Not much darling, I just haven't heard from you in few days and thought I could talk you into stopping by and helping this evening...."
"I'd love to Dad but I'm in the middle of O'Hare right now."
"Chicago...? What are you doing in Chicago Jordan!?"
"It's just a short lay over." Jordan says as she looks around the crowded terminal.
"Jordan..." Max warns.
With a sigh she says "I'm on my way to L.A."
"If you were craving Mexican there's a great place just around the corner..."
"No, I'm going to bring Woody home."
"I thought he was visiting family in Wisconsin."
"It's a long story. Can I tell you later, I've got to go?" Jordan says as she hears her flight being announced.
"When you coming back?" Max says in a concerned voice.
"Tomorrow, if everything goes alright. That's when Garrett's going to chain me to my desk."
"You'll call me if anything changes?" he says
"Yes Dad...bye" Jordan turns off her phone and gets ready to board the plane. She misses a second call from Nigel.
As the flight to LAX lands, Jordan is busy thinking about her next move. The first order of business was to try and get in touch with Woody. Hopefully he was busy playing tourist. Striding to the car rental kiosk, she turns on her phone...one message. It was from Nigel asking her to call as soon as she checked her phone. After signing for the car she dials Nigel's phone.
"Nig, what's up?"
"I'm glad I caught you. I by chance did some checking with the airlines a few hours ago. Woody has purchased a one way ticket back to quails, whole milk, and Calvin. His flight leaves in a couple of hours." Jordan turns around looking at the crowded terminal half expecting him to be standing there. "Jordan...? Are you still there love?"
"Yes" Jordan says looking for the departure schedule.
"Good, Hang on a sec...and...I think...yes...I think I can find out right where he is. Rental cars...my God, how did he fit into that econo-box?.... Yes, where was I? .... Right, Rentals are sometimes equipped with LoJack."
Jordan stops looking around and fully concentrates on her phone. After a few seconds Nigel gives Jordan an address and the make of the car. "I know right where that is. Thanks Nig." Jordan sprints to her car. The pier where Woody was parked closes after sunset. She had less than an hour in rush hour traffic to get there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan pulls up to the pier; she breathes a sigh of relief when she sees his car. The crowd is thin for the time of day and it takes her only a second to see Woody's profile leaning against the railing. Jordan grabs her phone and steps out of the car. She's been trying to get a hold of him all week, just one last call twenty feet away...just to make sure his phone works. He answers on the first ring.....
"Hello"
"Catch the bad guy yet?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody thinks it feels good to have his arm around her as they walked to the end of the pier. He feels better at this moment then since he stepped on that plane in Boston. What seems like a lifetime ago. "What are you really doing here?" Woody finally asks.
"I'm just here to make sure you can find your way home. L.A. is the wrong direction to go from Kewaunee if you're heading back to Boston... So, you're out here with all the beautiful people. I thought we might have lost you. Did you meet anyone new?"
Woody thinks about the goldfish that he dragged around the city. "Yes, in fact I did."
"And...?" Jordan asks not really sure she wants to hear the answer.
"I just couldn't get rid of her...you know the type. Yeah, it would of never worked, the conversations were too one sided and she drank way to much water."
Jordan knew there had to be a story attached but choose not to go there right now. Just like some day soon she would have to tell him about her dinner with Gary...but not right now.
They stop at the end of the pier Jordan stands at the railing Woody steps up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist pulling her back. Jordan leans her head back on his shoulder. They stand watching the sunset for a minute. Woody breaks the silence by asking...
"So what's the story with this Hector?"
Jordan chuckles and says "Ours; was an exciting affair..."
"He's a little pissed at you...."
"Ours; was a turbulent affair...."
Woody drops a kiss to the side of her neck. "He's also happily married with three and half kids...."
"Ours; was a secret affair..."
Woody turns her around kisses her deeply. It takes Jordan a few minutes to catch her breath afterwards.
After she regroups Jordan says "I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for here."
Woody stiffens up for a second and looks out at the waves, "Sometimes things just don't work out the way you plan."
"No, sometimes life just throws you a curve when you're not looking. Like they say; one door closes another opens."
Woody laughs and looks back at Jordan's face. "This from a woman who if one door closes, she just takes a sledge hammer to the wall to just make a new one."
"That's all part of my charm." Jordan says as she wraps her arms around him tighter "I hate to say this...but, you have a flight to catch in a couple hours and I have to go buy some bribes for three beautiful girls and a grumpy fat man."
"You may need some help, I can always cancel my flight." Woody whispers in her ear, pulling her close.
"I wouldn't be surprised if half the LAPD is not there to make sure you get on the plane. You don't mess with those guys at Sunset and get away with it." Jordan says half tempted to just stand there forever.
Woody reluctantly lets go of her as the last sliver of the sun dips below the waves. They turn and walk back up the pier slowly hand and hand.
"Actually, those guys are not that bad." he says Jordan just arches an eyebrow at him. "They just don't like you very much though." he continues.
"Yes, well....you told them you know me?" Jordan laughs "I'm surprised they let you out of custody."
"It was touch and go there for awhile. Sweet place they have there though."
They walk the rest of the way to the parking lot in silence. But the death grip Jordan had on Woody's hand said it all. They arrive in front of Jordan's rental and she opens the door, hesitant to get in. Woody senses her concerns and drops a soft kiss to her lips then says. "Don't worry I'll see you when I get back."
"I better." Jordan gets in the car and rolls down the window still not willing to drive away just yet.
Woody squats down to the open window and touches her face. He stands back up and looks back out to the water for a second as looking as distant as he did when she drove up. He catches himself and turns back to her. "Don't you have to go and meet with your angry Latino ex?"
Jordan looks at her watch and with a start notices the late hour. She reaches for the keys to start the car.
Woody reaches out to grab the doorframe to stop her from leaving. He leans towards the window "When are you going to fly back?"
Jordan puts the car in gear and says "I have the red-eye non stop out tonight...or Garrett will be issuing a shoot on sight order on me."
Woody chuckles at the idea. He stands back as Jordan pulls away from the parking lot. He puts up hand to wave good bye, watching her car until it's out of sight. A salty warm breeze wafts across the parking lot. With one last deep breath Woody let's himself into his rental... He needed to get to the airport.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan checks to make sure her sunglasses are handy as her flight taxis up to the gate at Logan. She was tired; the flight was a little too turbulent to catch much sleep. She was lucky to catch her flight. Hector, Maria and the kids wanted to see her off at the airport. Getting three sleepy, cranky kids through the terminal was a nightmare.
The stewardess opens the cabin door and Jordan is one of the first to disembark. She wonders how Woody is doing back in Wisconsin. Reaching for her phone she turns it back on. Before she can dial Woody's number her phone rings. It's probably Garrett making sure she was finding her way back to Boston.
"Cavanaugh..."
"So, how was your flight?" she hears Woody's voice say
"Actually I just landed..."
"...is that a fact....You LOOK tired."
Jordan looks around the bustling terminal and sees him lounging against a wall with his duffle bag at his back, a pile of empty soda bottles and snack wrappers at his side. Jordan walks up to him and looks down at the mess. "Have you been waiting long?" She notices the circles under his eyes also.
Woody looks at his watch "About 6 hours. You were right you know. The LAPD was waiting to put me on my flight and when I told them I changed my mind, and wanted to take the redeye, they still made sure I was on the next flight out." Woody reaches up and grabs Jordan's hand throwing her off balance. She tumbled down into his lap. He leans back with his eyes closed and just holds her close.
Jordan lays her head on his shoulder and for a second closes her own eyes. This...this is home, she thought. For a crazy moment she began to fantasize that they could just run away, find a place where they both could call home...with no ghosts, no past...nothing. They could start over together....sell maps to tourists, travel with the seasons...
"Jordan...?"
"hmmmm...?"
"Security is giving us the evil eye...I think we had better leave. Did you drive? Can you give me a ride home?"
Slowly they stand up. Sure enough Security was watching them, Jordan notices. So hand in hand they leave the terminal.
"Are you going to tell me you hung out at the airport half the night just to bum a ride? Woody you can be honest with me; did the water swilling bimbo clean out your bank account or something?"
"Or something...." he answers as the bright Boston glare hits them head on.
The End.
"Each time I see a crowd of people" "Just like a fool I stop and stare." "It's really not the proper thing to do," "But maybe you'll be there." "Someday if all my prayers are answered" "I'll hear a footstep on the stair." "With anxious heart I'll hurry to the door," "And maybe you'll be there"-Diane Krall-- Maybe You'll Be There
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first leg of the flight was smooth, but the almost three hour lay over in Chicago was anything but. Jordan sits at the gate waiting for her flight to be called trying in vain to read the magazine she picked up when she first landed. In disgust she throws it on the seat next to her. Slinging her overnighter on her shoulder Jordan walks over to the large plate glass window that looks out over the tarmac. She reaches for her cell phone to check messages. The bag slips off her shoulder when she hears she has one. Quickly pushing the right buttons she hears her father's voice asking her to give him a call back. Jordan dials his number.
After Max answers she says "Hi Dad, what's up?"
"Not much darling, I just haven't heard from you in few days and thought I could talk you into stopping by and helping this evening...."
"I'd love to Dad but I'm in the middle of O'Hare right now."
"Chicago...? What are you doing in Chicago Jordan!?"
"It's just a short lay over." Jordan says as she looks around the crowded terminal.
"Jordan..." Max warns.
With a sigh she says "I'm on my way to L.A."
"If you were craving Mexican there's a great place just around the corner..."
"No, I'm going to bring Woody home."
"I thought he was visiting family in Wisconsin."
"It's a long story. Can I tell you later, I've got to go?" Jordan says as she hears her flight being announced.
"When you coming back?" Max says in a concerned voice.
"Tomorrow, if everything goes alright. That's when Garrett's going to chain me to my desk."
"You'll call me if anything changes?" he says
"Yes Dad...bye" Jordan turns off her phone and gets ready to board the plane. She misses a second call from Nigel.
As the flight to LAX lands, Jordan is busy thinking about her next move. The first order of business was to try and get in touch with Woody. Hopefully he was busy playing tourist. Striding to the car rental kiosk, she turns on her phone...one message. It was from Nigel asking her to call as soon as she checked her phone. After signing for the car she dials Nigel's phone.
"Nig, what's up?"
"I'm glad I caught you. I by chance did some checking with the airlines a few hours ago. Woody has purchased a one way ticket back to quails, whole milk, and Calvin. His flight leaves in a couple of hours." Jordan turns around looking at the crowded terminal half expecting him to be standing there. "Jordan...? Are you still there love?"
"Yes" Jordan says looking for the departure schedule.
"Good, Hang on a sec...and...I think...yes...I think I can find out right where he is. Rental cars...my God, how did he fit into that econo-box?.... Yes, where was I? .... Right, Rentals are sometimes equipped with LoJack."
Jordan stops looking around and fully concentrates on her phone. After a few seconds Nigel gives Jordan an address and the make of the car. "I know right where that is. Thanks Nig." Jordan sprints to her car. The pier where Woody was parked closes after sunset. She had less than an hour in rush hour traffic to get there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan pulls up to the pier; she breathes a sigh of relief when she sees his car. The crowd is thin for the time of day and it takes her only a second to see Woody's profile leaning against the railing. Jordan grabs her phone and steps out of the car. She's been trying to get a hold of him all week, just one last call twenty feet away...just to make sure his phone works. He answers on the first ring.....
"Hello"
"Catch the bad guy yet?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody thinks it feels good to have his arm around her as they walked to the end of the pier. He feels better at this moment then since he stepped on that plane in Boston. What seems like a lifetime ago. "What are you really doing here?" Woody finally asks.
"I'm just here to make sure you can find your way home. L.A. is the wrong direction to go from Kewaunee if you're heading back to Boston... So, you're out here with all the beautiful people. I thought we might have lost you. Did you meet anyone new?"
Woody thinks about the goldfish that he dragged around the city. "Yes, in fact I did."
"And...?" Jordan asks not really sure she wants to hear the answer.
"I just couldn't get rid of her...you know the type. Yeah, it would of never worked, the conversations were too one sided and she drank way to much water."
Jordan knew there had to be a story attached but choose not to go there right now. Just like some day soon she would have to tell him about her dinner with Gary...but not right now.
They stop at the end of the pier Jordan stands at the railing Woody steps up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist pulling her back. Jordan leans her head back on his shoulder. They stand watching the sunset for a minute. Woody breaks the silence by asking...
"So what's the story with this Hector?"
Jordan chuckles and says "Ours; was an exciting affair..."
"He's a little pissed at you...."
"Ours; was a turbulent affair...."
Woody drops a kiss to the side of her neck. "He's also happily married with three and half kids...."
"Ours; was a secret affair..."
Woody turns her around kisses her deeply. It takes Jordan a few minutes to catch her breath afterwards.
After she regroups Jordan says "I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for here."
Woody stiffens up for a second and looks out at the waves, "Sometimes things just don't work out the way you plan."
"No, sometimes life just throws you a curve when you're not looking. Like they say; one door closes another opens."
Woody laughs and looks back at Jordan's face. "This from a woman who if one door closes, she just takes a sledge hammer to the wall to just make a new one."
"That's all part of my charm." Jordan says as she wraps her arms around him tighter "I hate to say this...but, you have a flight to catch in a couple hours and I have to go buy some bribes for three beautiful girls and a grumpy fat man."
"You may need some help, I can always cancel my flight." Woody whispers in her ear, pulling her close.
"I wouldn't be surprised if half the LAPD is not there to make sure you get on the plane. You don't mess with those guys at Sunset and get away with it." Jordan says half tempted to just stand there forever.
Woody reluctantly lets go of her as the last sliver of the sun dips below the waves. They turn and walk back up the pier slowly hand and hand.
"Actually, those guys are not that bad." he says Jordan just arches an eyebrow at him. "They just don't like you very much though." he continues.
"Yes, well....you told them you know me?" Jordan laughs "I'm surprised they let you out of custody."
"It was touch and go there for awhile. Sweet place they have there though."
They walk the rest of the way to the parking lot in silence. But the death grip Jordan had on Woody's hand said it all. They arrive in front of Jordan's rental and she opens the door, hesitant to get in. Woody senses her concerns and drops a soft kiss to her lips then says. "Don't worry I'll see you when I get back."
"I better." Jordan gets in the car and rolls down the window still not willing to drive away just yet.
Woody squats down to the open window and touches her face. He stands back up and looks back out to the water for a second as looking as distant as he did when she drove up. He catches himself and turns back to her. "Don't you have to go and meet with your angry Latino ex?"
Jordan looks at her watch and with a start notices the late hour. She reaches for the keys to start the car.
Woody reaches out to grab the doorframe to stop her from leaving. He leans towards the window "When are you going to fly back?"
Jordan puts the car in gear and says "I have the red-eye non stop out tonight...or Garrett will be issuing a shoot on sight order on me."
Woody chuckles at the idea. He stands back as Jordan pulls away from the parking lot. He puts up hand to wave good bye, watching her car until it's out of sight. A salty warm breeze wafts across the parking lot. With one last deep breath Woody let's himself into his rental... He needed to get to the airport.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan checks to make sure her sunglasses are handy as her flight taxis up to the gate at Logan. She was tired; the flight was a little too turbulent to catch much sleep. She was lucky to catch her flight. Hector, Maria and the kids wanted to see her off at the airport. Getting three sleepy, cranky kids through the terminal was a nightmare.
The stewardess opens the cabin door and Jordan is one of the first to disembark. She wonders how Woody is doing back in Wisconsin. Reaching for her phone she turns it back on. Before she can dial Woody's number her phone rings. It's probably Garrett making sure she was finding her way back to Boston.
"Cavanaugh..."
"So, how was your flight?" she hears Woody's voice say
"Actually I just landed..."
"...is that a fact....You LOOK tired."
Jordan looks around the bustling terminal and sees him lounging against a wall with his duffle bag at his back, a pile of empty soda bottles and snack wrappers at his side. Jordan walks up to him and looks down at the mess. "Have you been waiting long?" She notices the circles under his eyes also.
Woody looks at his watch "About 6 hours. You were right you know. The LAPD was waiting to put me on my flight and when I told them I changed my mind, and wanted to take the redeye, they still made sure I was on the next flight out." Woody reaches up and grabs Jordan's hand throwing her off balance. She tumbled down into his lap. He leans back with his eyes closed and just holds her close.
Jordan lays her head on his shoulder and for a second closes her own eyes. This...this is home, she thought. For a crazy moment she began to fantasize that they could just run away, find a place where they both could call home...with no ghosts, no past...nothing. They could start over together....sell maps to tourists, travel with the seasons...
"Jordan...?"
"hmmmm...?"
"Security is giving us the evil eye...I think we had better leave. Did you drive? Can you give me a ride home?"
Slowly they stand up. Sure enough Security was watching them, Jordan notices. So hand in hand they leave the terminal.
"Are you going to tell me you hung out at the airport half the night just to bum a ride? Woody you can be honest with me; did the water swilling bimbo clean out your bank account or something?"
"Or something...." he answers as the bright Boston glare hits them head on.
The End.