Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Crossing Jordan nor do I own "Animal I Have Become," by Three Days Grace.

A/N: Sorry once again for the delay. I went away on vacation for a week and this is my first real day off in weeks. I also had a little writer's block with this chapter. I already have the next three songs picked out its just a matter of writing storylines to them. As annoying as my procrastination is I'm trying. It's hard to have four stories going at once but I'll get them done. This story won't be finished until I reach Don't Leave Me This Way. Anyway, enjoy. Oh and rating subject to change in upcoming chapters.

Animal I Have Become – Woody's POV

A week went by and Woody had accepted that JD Pollack wasn't just a one – night stand. She had let Pollack in. That thought angered him. Then again, everything made him angry lately. Any little occurrence made his whole body tremble with rage. He couldn't explain it, but it frightened him. He couldn't be around Jordan without getting mad and he hated his shrink, she was analyzing him way too often and he was getting tired of it. To ease his aching head he turned on the radio and the song, "Animal I Have Become," by Three Days Grace, started playing. He was shaken by how closely the words resembled his own life.

I can't escape this hell

So many times i've tried

But i'm still caged inside

Somebody get me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

He thought about the cases he'd worked since he got back from his recovery. He remembered beating the crap out of the guy who had imprisoned Jordan in the mineshaft. He'd justified that anger with his fear of losing Jordan. He thought of when he'd almost killed Riggs' fence. He'd justified that anger with need and frustration in finding Riggs. He thought about holding the gun tightly against Riggs' neck. He'd justified that anger with his need to give Riggs' the justice he deserved. He also thought about having the widowed woman arrested whose brother was killing people left and right. He'd justified that by telling himself it was the only way to get another cop killer off the streets. Then he thought about the kid who thought he'd killed his teacher and pinning the kid's brother against the wall. He'd justified that by claiming the case hit too close to home, with his relationship with Cal. However, when all these incidents were analyzed together, the only thing they proved was that Woody was a very angry person. If only he'd realized before now.

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one would ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

(This animal, this animal)

He realized now he needed help. He didn't want to be this person anymore. He was scared of who he'd become and even more scared that he couldn't change.

I can't escape myself

(I can't escape myself)

So many times i've lied

(So many times i've lied)

But there's still rage inside

Somebody get me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

He wanted to be himself again, the man he was before the shooting. The man who came to Boston with real hope that he could become the man that he'd always wanted to be, the man Annie's father would be proud to have marry his daughter. How long ago had that man died and been replaced with a bitter, angry, tempermental man, whose only accomplishment was surviving a sniper shot?

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one would ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

As much as he didn't want to admit it, he missed Jordan. He missed their relationship. He missed the times when they'd just hang out and hold one another. He missed the times they'd gone out and had fun. He missed her. She wouldn't want him now, he was damaged goods, the shell of the man he once was and could never be again. He knew help at this point was fruitless. He had become an animal, a vicious, angry animal.

Somebody help me through this nightmare

I can't control myself

Somebody wake me from this nightmare

I can't escape this animal

Maybe he should just ask Lu for help. Maybe it was time to try and change. It was his only hope. Jordan couldn't help him and by now she probably didn't want to. She has Pollack now and he would never treat her the way Woody did. She deserved someone who didn't get angry over the slightest imperfection.

This animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal, this animal

As Woody thought about it, he realized that he wa an animal. He didn't want to be but he was. He had become an animal that could never be changed. An animal that would spend his entire life becoming angrier and angrier until one day he snapped. An animal that could never be tamed.

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one will ever change this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Help me believe it's not the real me

Somebody help me tame this animal

(This animal I have become)

The only place to start was his shrink. She was the only person that could help him. The only person that could help him through his anger. He made the decision that was the only thing left to do.