Jordan begins to feel the lack of sleep and lunch as she and Nigel help a
funeral home pick up a body later that afternoon. The flu was going around;
at least she thinks it is. Jordan sits down heavily in the chair next to
Nigel's desk and wishes she had the energy to get up and find that box of
power bars she kept in her office. But the thought of chocolate and overly
processed peanut butter sounded unappetizing. Was there anything in the
break room fridge?
Nigel swings into the office, "Well, Mr. Hunt is off. Where were we?"
Working on Nigel's cold case files was something Jordan always enjoyed doing. It fact before she left for California they'd spent many nights and weekends pouring through the files. She needed to make it a point of doing this more often.
"Jordan, I think your purse is ringing." Nigel says trying to get Jordan's attention.
It sure was her phone. 'I must be out of it' Jordan thinks to herself as she answers it.
Nigel watches her as she talks on the phone. It must be Woody by that sappy grin on her face. It seemed like she was spending every free, waking moment with him. And most the non waking one's as well. Bloody good for her! At least someone was getting some action in this office. Too bad Max is being a putz about the whole thing.
Jordan turns her phone off and says "That was Woody, he's cooking dinner tonight. He wants to talk about what happened this morning."
"Did he sound like your father was holding a shotgun to his head?"
Jordan laughed out loud and swatted playfully at Nigel. She stood to leave and browned out for a second. As she gently sat back down she could barely hear Nigel's concerned voice through the buzzing in her ears.
"Jordan, are you alright?"
Jordan let out a self-conscious chuckle and says "I'm fine I just need to get more in my stomach than 2 gallons of coffee." Slowly she tries to stand again and this time the lightheadedness was gone. "See, I'm A- OK Dr. Townsend"
Nigel smiles but still demands to walk her out to the parking lot. As Jordan snaps on her seatbelt Nigel taps on the window. Jordan rolls it down and Nigel says "Give us a call when you get there love. I'd hate to find out you ended up driving into the bay do to a sugar low."
Jordan gives him a little salute and drives off.
Nigel returns to his office and decides to pack it in for the day. Dinner sounded good; but the sound of the elevator doors stops him from grabbing his helmet.
"What did you forget love? I don't think frozen cardboard pizzas take that long to cook."
Nigel looks up to see Max standing in the doorway.
"Have you seen Jordan? I drove by her building and I didn't see her truck. Did she get called out to a scene?"
"Ah, no in fact she just left here a few minutes ago. She's got a dinner date. She does have her phone with her if you want to..."
Max sits down on the chair Jordan had just vacated. "I need to see her in person."
Nigel sits down at his desk. Max looks very pensive. There could only be one explanation. "Max, it's not my place to interfere in family issues but, Woody is a good man and he has brought some peace into Jordan's life. So what is he totes a gun. Give him a chance. They are both intelligent people Jordan is not going to do anything stupid."
"It's too late for that." Max says as he stands and paces the room.
"Nonsense, it's not like Hoyt is someone she just picked up at the pub. They have a history. And even if doesn't work out, they'll be able to say it wasn't because they rushed into anything. Good God the woman held out longer than I thought she would. "
Max gives him a look that could melt lead. Nigel has the good sense to look at the floor. "I'll try to ignore that comment.... Hoyt showed up this afternoon wanting to ask my permission to marry Jordan."
Nigel just snickers, so Hoyt is an old fashioned guy.
"I don't see the humor in this situation" Max paces around the room a few more times and then mutters almost to himself. "I would have thought she had more common sense than this. And Hoyt, what is he thinking? It will take him a few more years just to make rank and be able to afford a family. And Jordan, she has just got herself back in the city's good graces. I know only God plans these things, but the timing is horrible. It took Emily and I years to be able to afford Jordan, schooling alone would be Hoyt's entire paycheck..."
Nigel felt his jaw hit the floor. This can't be true. Was Jordan in the family way? She was a little peaked today. And there was that hypoglycemic moment earlier.... Why that little minx. She sat here all afternoon and never let on.
"You said she was going out to eat?" Max's voice breaks into Nigel's bombarded brain.
"Yes...she said something about Woody cooking dinner at his place..."
"Damn, I wanted to catch her before she saw him. Let's just keep this conversation between ourselves...Thanks anyway Nigel." With that Max walks out of the office.
Nigel sits back in his chair trying to make sense of the scene that just played out in this very office. If it's true, Jordan must have just found out very recently, or have they been doing the deed since before Dr. Macy's party?... Well, either way things would have to change around here, right?... A pregnant mommy should not be around some of the chemical they used, not to mention the x-ray machine.... She would have said something if she wanted this information to go public.... The staff should be informed to have a heads up, right?... There are safety issues to be addressed, not to mention a pool started on a due date. Armed with this justifying argument he picks up the phone.
"Bloody Days of Our Lives" Nigel's dull life just took a turn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody took a panicked look around his apartment. His schedule was thrown off. First they couldn't find a report he'd filed at work on Friday and then he couldn't find a big cooking pot at the store. The water was boiling and the flowers were on the table. The bread is ready to go in the oven, the wine was breathing, and the spaghetti sauce was simmering. Taking a deep breath he tries to calm his nerves and pours the pasta in the roaring water. At the sound of the doorbell he rakes his hand through his hair. "Well, this is it." Popping the bread in the oven he goes to open the door.
"Hi" he smiles as he seeing Jordan standing in the doorway.
"Hi yourself" she smiles back. Woody stands there smiling at her. "Ah, may I come in?"
"Oh yeah, sorry." Woody sputters as he stands aside for Jordan to walk in. As she sits her bag down she wraps her arms around his waist and shows him how much she has missed him today.
After what seamed like minutes Woody gasps for air. "Keep that up and dinner will have to be thrown out."
Jordan stomach let out a protesting growl. "You just looked a little tense there sailor, and besides I'm starving. Your going to have to wait until later...."sniffing the air Jordan says "....it smells wonderful, what are we having?...."
Suddenly a blast of burning food hits the air. Woody quickly lets go of her and runs over to the oven. Opening the oven door he gingerly pulls out the charred black bread. Jordan peers over his shoulder and says "Cajun, my favorite."
"Funny", Woody mutters as he hears the pasta boil over on to the stove. "Shit".
"Do you need some help?" Jordan asks innocently.
"Ah...no...I can....ouch....handle this."
Jordan laughs behind her hand as Woody struggles to contain the rapidly self-destructing meal.
After a few more choice words from Woody and a sink full of overcooked food Jordan picks up the phone;
"Woody, do you have that pizza place on the corner on speed dial or do you just want to go out? My treat, I need food."
Sucking on his burnt finger Woody takes the phone from Jordan's hands and hangs it up. "I think I've got enough groceries to try this over. I really want to make this evening special."
Jordan takes Woody's battle scared hand into hers and looks at the burn. It was a little pink but not terribly hurt.
"So doc, do I need to have it amputated? I can take it; just give it to my straight."
Jordan drops a tender kiss to his fingertip, "no, I think you'll survive."
A devilish gleam came to Woody's eyes as he said "I cut myself...right here...cutting the bread." he says pointing to his thumb. Jordan puts the pad of his thumb to her lips. "And the steam from the stove scorched me here." he points to his cheek. Jordan steps closer and kisses him on the cheek. "And the heat from the oven got me right....here." he points to his mouth. Jordan reaches up to kiss his lips but a hair breath away she says "Feed me. I'm starving."
Realizing the game was over Woody steps back into the kitchen and begins to salvage his special dinner. Jordan finally takes notice of the table with its flowers and candles.
"The table is beautiful Woody. Am I missing some anniversary or something?"
Woody steps away from the kitchen counter as the little blue box begins to burn a hole in his pant pocket.
"Ah, no I just wanted to have a special evening with you." Offhandedly he adds "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"If this is about my dad, don't worry. He's a lot of bark..."
Woody steps out of the kitchen and says "I went to see him today."
Jordan looks at Woody half excepting him to say Max had booked him a flight to China or that he'd have some of his "old buddies" at the force ready to bury him in concrete.
But no, Woody took her hand and walked her over to the sofa. It had to be worse.
"Jordan, you know how I feel about you."
Jordan bits her lip and nods.
"You know we've been friends for a long time."
"Woody, where is this going?"
"Shh, let me finish...." Woody pulls at the collar of his shirt. "I went to see your father today to talk to him about us, and to ask his blessing." Fumbling in his pocket he drops to one knee and holds out the little blue box. Fighting with the box top for a few seconds he turns the open box to her to show the ring sparkling inside. "Jordan, will you marry me?"
Jordan was speechless, this was far worse than nonstop to Hong Kong. Choosing to look at the ring instead of chancing to take a look at him; Jordan takes a second to regroup. Her stomach took that moment to growl again, but food was the farthest from her mind.
Woody took it as an excuse to get off the floor and setting the ring in Jordan's numb hand he sits next to her on the sofa. "I know this is sudden, but after what happened this morning... I really don't want to disrespect your father. And I've been thinking; there are those in both our personal and professional lives that don't look to kindly on our relationship as it stands now.
Jordan finds her voice; "So you want to get married to save our reputations?"
Woody reaches out and lifts her chin so he can look into her face. 'No, I asked you to marry me because I love you and I want you with me forever."
Jordan takes one last look at the diamond ring and closes the little box. Woody felt his heart drop with the lid.
"I'm sorry Woody, but I can't marry you; at least not yet, and not because of what other people think.
Trying not to cry she hands the box back to him. Woody grabs her hand before she can pull it back and notices how delicate her hands are compared to his. He raises her palm to his lips.
Unable to hold back the tears Jordan whispers "To hell with the rest of the world Woody. What we got is good isn't it? You promised me a simple relationship with realistic expectations. Remember, one day at a time."
"With you Jordan I don't think there ever can be a simple relationship." Woody smiles and cups her cheek.
Jordan phone begins to ring.
"I have to get this" Jordan says using any excuse to get out of this conversation.
Extracting herself from Woody she stands and answers the phone. "Cavanaugh... Hey Nig... What's up?....No, I'm fine...sorry I forgot to call.....Really?....No problem I'll be right there.....no it's OK, I'll be there in about 15...bye."
With a sigh Woody says "You've got to go." He knew being in love with Jordan was going to be a roller coaster ride.
Jordan nods "Yeah, they found a gunshot to the head on the upper Westside...you OK?"
"Of course," he tosses the ring box up in the air. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody glanced over at the clock at the side of his bed when he heard the doorbell. At 1AM he knew it could only be one person.
He opens the door to Jordan standing in the hallway waving a white tissue in surrender.
With a wary smile Jordan asks "May I come in?"
He just stood there for a second. Jordan lowers her mock flag and took a good look at him. His hair stood at all angles as if she had just waked him up, but the tick in his jaw makes is face look cold, alert and very awake. Unable to meet his eyes, Jordan bits her lip.
Letting out a long suffering sigh Woody's face breaks out into a lopped side grim as he grabs her arm and drags her in the doorway. Pulling her into to his arms Woody holds her close.
Jordan was the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry the way I left here. It wasn't playing fair."
"No it wasn't fair; but it gave my time to think..." Woody responses as he loosens his embrace. "...you were right."
"Wait, hold that thought. I left my tape recorder in the car." Jordan says as she gives him a relieved smile.
"Stop being a smart ass, I'm trying to be serious here." Woody mockingly scolds her. "Yes... for once... you're right." Taking her chin in his hand so to be able to look her in the eye; "to hell with what anyone thinks about us. I'll just try and not find myself alone in a room with your father for awhile....I don't want to loose you. For now, I'm happy with what we have."
Jordan reaches up and kisses him lightly on the lips and then leans her forehead into his chest. "That's a relief; I couldn't go to catch a couple hours of sleep without knowing where we stand. And don't worry about Dad, I can handle him. But right now all I need is to go home to a drink, a shower and bed, not necessarily in that order."
"Did you eat?" Woody asks wrapping her tighter in his arms rocking slightly.
"Yeah, I grabbed a burger between the scene and the office." Jordan replies sleepily.
Woody smiles into her hair. Only Jordan can leave the site of a gunshot death, preparing to do an autopsy and then think to stop for a burger. He had to fight the shutter of the mental image.
"Well, I think you may just be in luck." Woody says looking at the leftover wine bottle on the kitchen counter. "There's some wine left. And the drive back to your place is so long...there's plenty of hot water...and you only have a few hours before you have to go back to work."
"Please don't break out into a chorus of "Baby, Its Cold Outside" Jordan says with a smile.
Woody walks over to the wine bottle grabbing the glass next it he fills it up. He turns and walks toward his bedroom. Jordan follows behind. He reaches down into a laundry basket of clean folded clothes and after a second produces a white fluffy bath towel and hands it to her. "I'll see you when you get out." He says as he leaps into the bed.
Jordan laughs as he makes it a point to yawn and stretch as he settles into bed. She heads out in the hallway and a split second later she peeks back around the doorframe; "I could use some help washing my back."
The whoop Woody let out as he jumped out of the bed could be heard through out the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I thought you said there was plenty of hot water." Jordan complains as she snuggles closer to Woody as they finally fall into bed.
Pulling the covers up close around them he replies with a satisfied chuckle, "I don't think the landlord was planning for such marathon showers."
Jordan yawns "You should have a word with him in the morning."
"It is morning..." Woody comments, but heard in return was her breathing as it slowed to the deep rhythm of sleep. What a wild day this has been. But it's ending the way it started; with Jordan in his arms. And that's all that counts.
To be continued....soon
Nigel swings into the office, "Well, Mr. Hunt is off. Where were we?"
Working on Nigel's cold case files was something Jordan always enjoyed doing. It fact before she left for California they'd spent many nights and weekends pouring through the files. She needed to make it a point of doing this more often.
"Jordan, I think your purse is ringing." Nigel says trying to get Jordan's attention.
It sure was her phone. 'I must be out of it' Jordan thinks to herself as she answers it.
Nigel watches her as she talks on the phone. It must be Woody by that sappy grin on her face. It seemed like she was spending every free, waking moment with him. And most the non waking one's as well. Bloody good for her! At least someone was getting some action in this office. Too bad Max is being a putz about the whole thing.
Jordan turns her phone off and says "That was Woody, he's cooking dinner tonight. He wants to talk about what happened this morning."
"Did he sound like your father was holding a shotgun to his head?"
Jordan laughed out loud and swatted playfully at Nigel. She stood to leave and browned out for a second. As she gently sat back down she could barely hear Nigel's concerned voice through the buzzing in her ears.
"Jordan, are you alright?"
Jordan let out a self-conscious chuckle and says "I'm fine I just need to get more in my stomach than 2 gallons of coffee." Slowly she tries to stand again and this time the lightheadedness was gone. "See, I'm A- OK Dr. Townsend"
Nigel smiles but still demands to walk her out to the parking lot. As Jordan snaps on her seatbelt Nigel taps on the window. Jordan rolls it down and Nigel says "Give us a call when you get there love. I'd hate to find out you ended up driving into the bay do to a sugar low."
Jordan gives him a little salute and drives off.
Nigel returns to his office and decides to pack it in for the day. Dinner sounded good; but the sound of the elevator doors stops him from grabbing his helmet.
"What did you forget love? I don't think frozen cardboard pizzas take that long to cook."
Nigel looks up to see Max standing in the doorway.
"Have you seen Jordan? I drove by her building and I didn't see her truck. Did she get called out to a scene?"
"Ah, no in fact she just left here a few minutes ago. She's got a dinner date. She does have her phone with her if you want to..."
Max sits down on the chair Jordan had just vacated. "I need to see her in person."
Nigel sits down at his desk. Max looks very pensive. There could only be one explanation. "Max, it's not my place to interfere in family issues but, Woody is a good man and he has brought some peace into Jordan's life. So what is he totes a gun. Give him a chance. They are both intelligent people Jordan is not going to do anything stupid."
"It's too late for that." Max says as he stands and paces the room.
"Nonsense, it's not like Hoyt is someone she just picked up at the pub. They have a history. And even if doesn't work out, they'll be able to say it wasn't because they rushed into anything. Good God the woman held out longer than I thought she would. "
Max gives him a look that could melt lead. Nigel has the good sense to look at the floor. "I'll try to ignore that comment.... Hoyt showed up this afternoon wanting to ask my permission to marry Jordan."
Nigel just snickers, so Hoyt is an old fashioned guy.
"I don't see the humor in this situation" Max paces around the room a few more times and then mutters almost to himself. "I would have thought she had more common sense than this. And Hoyt, what is he thinking? It will take him a few more years just to make rank and be able to afford a family. And Jordan, she has just got herself back in the city's good graces. I know only God plans these things, but the timing is horrible. It took Emily and I years to be able to afford Jordan, schooling alone would be Hoyt's entire paycheck..."
Nigel felt his jaw hit the floor. This can't be true. Was Jordan in the family way? She was a little peaked today. And there was that hypoglycemic moment earlier.... Why that little minx. She sat here all afternoon and never let on.
"You said she was going out to eat?" Max's voice breaks into Nigel's bombarded brain.
"Yes...she said something about Woody cooking dinner at his place..."
"Damn, I wanted to catch her before she saw him. Let's just keep this conversation between ourselves...Thanks anyway Nigel." With that Max walks out of the office.
Nigel sits back in his chair trying to make sense of the scene that just played out in this very office. If it's true, Jordan must have just found out very recently, or have they been doing the deed since before Dr. Macy's party?... Well, either way things would have to change around here, right?... A pregnant mommy should not be around some of the chemical they used, not to mention the x-ray machine.... She would have said something if she wanted this information to go public.... The staff should be informed to have a heads up, right?... There are safety issues to be addressed, not to mention a pool started on a due date. Armed with this justifying argument he picks up the phone.
"Bloody Days of Our Lives" Nigel's dull life just took a turn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody took a panicked look around his apartment. His schedule was thrown off. First they couldn't find a report he'd filed at work on Friday and then he couldn't find a big cooking pot at the store. The water was boiling and the flowers were on the table. The bread is ready to go in the oven, the wine was breathing, and the spaghetti sauce was simmering. Taking a deep breath he tries to calm his nerves and pours the pasta in the roaring water. At the sound of the doorbell he rakes his hand through his hair. "Well, this is it." Popping the bread in the oven he goes to open the door.
"Hi" he smiles as he seeing Jordan standing in the doorway.
"Hi yourself" she smiles back. Woody stands there smiling at her. "Ah, may I come in?"
"Oh yeah, sorry." Woody sputters as he stands aside for Jordan to walk in. As she sits her bag down she wraps her arms around his waist and shows him how much she has missed him today.
After what seamed like minutes Woody gasps for air. "Keep that up and dinner will have to be thrown out."
Jordan stomach let out a protesting growl. "You just looked a little tense there sailor, and besides I'm starving. Your going to have to wait until later...."sniffing the air Jordan says "....it smells wonderful, what are we having?...."
Suddenly a blast of burning food hits the air. Woody quickly lets go of her and runs over to the oven. Opening the oven door he gingerly pulls out the charred black bread. Jordan peers over his shoulder and says "Cajun, my favorite."
"Funny", Woody mutters as he hears the pasta boil over on to the stove. "Shit".
"Do you need some help?" Jordan asks innocently.
"Ah...no...I can....ouch....handle this."
Jordan laughs behind her hand as Woody struggles to contain the rapidly self-destructing meal.
After a few more choice words from Woody and a sink full of overcooked food Jordan picks up the phone;
"Woody, do you have that pizza place on the corner on speed dial or do you just want to go out? My treat, I need food."
Sucking on his burnt finger Woody takes the phone from Jordan's hands and hangs it up. "I think I've got enough groceries to try this over. I really want to make this evening special."
Jordan takes Woody's battle scared hand into hers and looks at the burn. It was a little pink but not terribly hurt.
"So doc, do I need to have it amputated? I can take it; just give it to my straight."
Jordan drops a tender kiss to his fingertip, "no, I think you'll survive."
A devilish gleam came to Woody's eyes as he said "I cut myself...right here...cutting the bread." he says pointing to his thumb. Jordan puts the pad of his thumb to her lips. "And the steam from the stove scorched me here." he points to his cheek. Jordan steps closer and kisses him on the cheek. "And the heat from the oven got me right....here." he points to his mouth. Jordan reaches up to kiss his lips but a hair breath away she says "Feed me. I'm starving."
Realizing the game was over Woody steps back into the kitchen and begins to salvage his special dinner. Jordan finally takes notice of the table with its flowers and candles.
"The table is beautiful Woody. Am I missing some anniversary or something?"
Woody steps away from the kitchen counter as the little blue box begins to burn a hole in his pant pocket.
"Ah, no I just wanted to have a special evening with you." Offhandedly he adds "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"If this is about my dad, don't worry. He's a lot of bark..."
Woody steps out of the kitchen and says "I went to see him today."
Jordan looks at Woody half excepting him to say Max had booked him a flight to China or that he'd have some of his "old buddies" at the force ready to bury him in concrete.
But no, Woody took her hand and walked her over to the sofa. It had to be worse.
"Jordan, you know how I feel about you."
Jordan bits her lip and nods.
"You know we've been friends for a long time."
"Woody, where is this going?"
"Shh, let me finish...." Woody pulls at the collar of his shirt. "I went to see your father today to talk to him about us, and to ask his blessing." Fumbling in his pocket he drops to one knee and holds out the little blue box. Fighting with the box top for a few seconds he turns the open box to her to show the ring sparkling inside. "Jordan, will you marry me?"
Jordan was speechless, this was far worse than nonstop to Hong Kong. Choosing to look at the ring instead of chancing to take a look at him; Jordan takes a second to regroup. Her stomach took that moment to growl again, but food was the farthest from her mind.
Woody took it as an excuse to get off the floor and setting the ring in Jordan's numb hand he sits next to her on the sofa. "I know this is sudden, but after what happened this morning... I really don't want to disrespect your father. And I've been thinking; there are those in both our personal and professional lives that don't look to kindly on our relationship as it stands now.
Jordan finds her voice; "So you want to get married to save our reputations?"
Woody reaches out and lifts her chin so he can look into her face. 'No, I asked you to marry me because I love you and I want you with me forever."
Jordan takes one last look at the diamond ring and closes the little box. Woody felt his heart drop with the lid.
"I'm sorry Woody, but I can't marry you; at least not yet, and not because of what other people think.
Trying not to cry she hands the box back to him. Woody grabs her hand before she can pull it back and notices how delicate her hands are compared to his. He raises her palm to his lips.
Unable to hold back the tears Jordan whispers "To hell with the rest of the world Woody. What we got is good isn't it? You promised me a simple relationship with realistic expectations. Remember, one day at a time."
"With you Jordan I don't think there ever can be a simple relationship." Woody smiles and cups her cheek.
Jordan phone begins to ring.
"I have to get this" Jordan says using any excuse to get out of this conversation.
Extracting herself from Woody she stands and answers the phone. "Cavanaugh... Hey Nig... What's up?....No, I'm fine...sorry I forgot to call.....Really?....No problem I'll be right there.....no it's OK, I'll be there in about 15...bye."
With a sigh Woody says "You've got to go." He knew being in love with Jordan was going to be a roller coaster ride.
Jordan nods "Yeah, they found a gunshot to the head on the upper Westside...you OK?"
"Of course," he tosses the ring box up in the air. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woody glanced over at the clock at the side of his bed when he heard the doorbell. At 1AM he knew it could only be one person.
He opens the door to Jordan standing in the hallway waving a white tissue in surrender.
With a wary smile Jordan asks "May I come in?"
He just stood there for a second. Jordan lowers her mock flag and took a good look at him. His hair stood at all angles as if she had just waked him up, but the tick in his jaw makes is face look cold, alert and very awake. Unable to meet his eyes, Jordan bits her lip.
Letting out a long suffering sigh Woody's face breaks out into a lopped side grim as he grabs her arm and drags her in the doorway. Pulling her into to his arms Woody holds her close.
Jordan was the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry the way I left here. It wasn't playing fair."
"No it wasn't fair; but it gave my time to think..." Woody responses as he loosens his embrace. "...you were right."
"Wait, hold that thought. I left my tape recorder in the car." Jordan says as she gives him a relieved smile.
"Stop being a smart ass, I'm trying to be serious here." Woody mockingly scolds her. "Yes... for once... you're right." Taking her chin in his hand so to be able to look her in the eye; "to hell with what anyone thinks about us. I'll just try and not find myself alone in a room with your father for awhile....I don't want to loose you. For now, I'm happy with what we have."
Jordan reaches up and kisses him lightly on the lips and then leans her forehead into his chest. "That's a relief; I couldn't go to catch a couple hours of sleep without knowing where we stand. And don't worry about Dad, I can handle him. But right now all I need is to go home to a drink, a shower and bed, not necessarily in that order."
"Did you eat?" Woody asks wrapping her tighter in his arms rocking slightly.
"Yeah, I grabbed a burger between the scene and the office." Jordan replies sleepily.
Woody smiles into her hair. Only Jordan can leave the site of a gunshot death, preparing to do an autopsy and then think to stop for a burger. He had to fight the shutter of the mental image.
"Well, I think you may just be in luck." Woody says looking at the leftover wine bottle on the kitchen counter. "There's some wine left. And the drive back to your place is so long...there's plenty of hot water...and you only have a few hours before you have to go back to work."
"Please don't break out into a chorus of "Baby, Its Cold Outside" Jordan says with a smile.
Woody walks over to the wine bottle grabbing the glass next it he fills it up. He turns and walks toward his bedroom. Jordan follows behind. He reaches down into a laundry basket of clean folded clothes and after a second produces a white fluffy bath towel and hands it to her. "I'll see you when you get out." He says as he leaps into the bed.
Jordan laughs as he makes it a point to yawn and stretch as he settles into bed. She heads out in the hallway and a split second later she peeks back around the doorframe; "I could use some help washing my back."
The whoop Woody let out as he jumped out of the bed could be heard through out the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I thought you said there was plenty of hot water." Jordan complains as she snuggles closer to Woody as they finally fall into bed.
Pulling the covers up close around them he replies with a satisfied chuckle, "I don't think the landlord was planning for such marathon showers."
Jordan yawns "You should have a word with him in the morning."
"It is morning..." Woody comments, but heard in return was her breathing as it slowed to the deep rhythm of sleep. What a wild day this has been. But it's ending the way it started; with Jordan in his arms. And that's all that counts.
To be continued....soon