Jordan Cavanaugh looked at the two children in her care. Isabel clung tightly to her brother with a look no fear on both of their faces. She turned her attention back to the children's father, Hector Rodriguez, who was aiming a gun at her head.

"Okay, listen, you have my attention, but you also have theirs. They are your kids. I know that. We all know that, but this is not the way to get them!"

"It's the only way. Their mom…she took them from me. We were happy and then just one day, they were gone. She changed their name, hid them, cut me out of their lives…she probably didn't think I'd find them, but I did. I followed her to work and told her I was taking my kids back home. She got in the way."

"So you took care of her and now that I'm in your way, you are planning to do the same with me?"

"Nothing personal," Hector Rodriguez said.

"Do you really want to do this in front of your two small children? This will scar them for life," Jordan said, finding it more and more difficult to keep her voice from cracking. At that moment, Woody appeared in the doorway of the apartment. He pointed his gun at Rodriguez, who was startled and immediately cocked his gun that was still pointed at Jordan.

"One step and she's dead! Back off!" he said.

"Just calm down, Rodriguez. I don't want anyone to get hurt here. Just put the gun down," Woody said loudly with his eyes glued to Hector Rodriguez.

"You put yours down. Don't think I won't pull this trigger!"

"I can't do that," Woody replied. "Put the gun down."

"Woody, back up a bit," Jordan started, "I don't want these kids to see anyone die here today."

"And I don't want to see you die here today, Jordan," Woody said, refusing to put down his gun. Jordan turned her attention back to the gunman.

"Look, you have one cop in here, others are no doubt arriving outside as we speak. The exits will be blocked. There is no way out, no where to hid. Just pu the gun down and end this now."

"The only way I'm leaving here today is with my kids," Rodriguez said as he took a couple of steps towards Mateo and Isabel, but Jordan quickly jumped in his path.

"That's not going to happen," she said. "I can't let you take them."

"Jordan!" Woody called out but Jordan put her hand up and waved him off, still not taking her eyes off of Rodriguez.

"To get to these kids, you will have to shoot me first, and if you do that, Detective Hoyt will shoot you, and will be killed. And all of that, will be with your kids watching. Do you want that?" she asked, but when she got no response, she yelled it again. "DO YOU WANT THAT?"

"No…that's not what I want. I…I just want my kids."

"Then put the gun down and turn yourself in to Detective Hoyt. Give these kids something to be proud of in you. If you put down that gun and end this now, yes, you will be arrested, but your kids will know you did so for them, that you chose them over more killings and you chose them over death. You can turn your life around starting right this moment. Make them proud of you. Don't let their last memory of their father being you shooting me, then getting shot yourself." Jordan said as she could tell she was getting through to him. Moments later, without a word, Hector Rodriguez let the gun drop to the floor and he put his face into his hands and began to cry.

XXX

Jordan hugged both of the children close to her as Woody read their father his rights. All of her friends, Nigel, Bug, Lily, Kate, and Garret, as well as her father, stood off to the side. Woody handed Hector Rodriguez off to another officer and looked over at Jordan and slowly made his way to her. Lily came up to Mateo and Isabel.

"Would you guys like to help me with a puzzle?" She asked them as she led them to a quieter part of the apartment. Jordan watched the children before turning her attention to Woody. As soon as he had reached her, neither said a word for a moment. Finally, Jordan smiled and Woody returned the smile before pulling her into a passionate embrace.

"I love you," he whispered into her ear as he held her tight.

"I love you too, Woody," she replied as their lips met for a long, deep kiss.

XXX

"You always manage to attract trouble no matter what you do, don't you?" Garret Macy said later that night as the group all sat at a cozy little family restaurant just outside of Boston. They were all there, seated together at a table in the corner.

"Well, you know me," Jordan said with a smile as she helped Mateo put ketchup on his fries.

"Just promise us you won't go looking for any more trouble for at least a couple of days," Nigel said as he threw his balled up straw wrapper at Kate, who just rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll try not to," Jordan replied before pausing. She looked around the table at all of her friends. "Look…you all being there for me…well it was really great to see all of your faces when that whole thing was finally over. That meant more to me than any of you will ever know. I could not have asked for better friends….family. Thank you all."

"Ah, we love ya, Jordan! Even when you scare the crap out of us by leaping in front of a gunman!" Lily teased as she hugged her friend.

"Hey, she wouldn't be my daughter if she didn't take risks!" Max said as he patted Jordan's hand. The group continued to eat and talk before one by one they began to excuse themselves and leave. Bug and Lily had to pick up Madolyn from Jeffrey's, Nigel and Kate were on the early morning shift the next day so they needed sleep, Garret wanted to see Abby before she left to spend the next couple of days at her mom's place, and Max had to go close up the bar for the night. Soon all who was left at the table were Jordan, Woody, Mateo and Isabel.

"Are you guys ready to go?" Jordan asked the children.

"Yeah, but can we get some ice cream on our way back?" Mateo asked.

"I don't know…it's pretty close to bedtime, Mateo." Jordan said.

"Please?" the boy pleaded.

"Peeze?" Isabel added.

"Yeah, Jordan…Peeze?" Woody chimed in with a taunting smile on his face.

"Well, okay, a quick stop, then it's right to bed!" Jordan said, caving in, "but you're buying!" she said with a wink at Woody.