Chapter 5
Rating: PG-13
Not mine ~ they just use my head for a playground sometimes!
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The next day, back at the morgue. . .
Jordan. . .
Ok. This can't be too hard. Dad did say that Garret was going to square things up with personnel and all. Now, deep breath Jordan. The doors are about to open.
"Jordan, welcome back!"
"Hey Nige! Great to see you."
"Your 'flu' must have agreed with you, luv. I don't think I've ever seen anyone recover with a tan!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"So, you going to share details?"
"I just needed some time off." We went into the small office I shared with Dr. Grace Yakura. "Oh, hey Grace. How are you doing?"
"I'd be a lot better if I hadn't had to do twice the number of autopsies for the past two weeks."
"Nice to see you too." As Grace left the room to prepare for yet another one, I turned to Nige quizzically. "Who peed in her corn flakes this morning?"
"Don't bother about her my sweet. We all offered to divide the autopsies, but she insisted. Climbing that ladder all the time you know. So now where were we?"
"We were at the point when Jordan was going to come to my office to have a little chat." Garret popped his head in the door.
"Alright. I'm coming." With a look over my shoulder I looked at Nigel, who gave me a big thumbs-up sign and a wink, trying to reassure me that things would be ok. Feeling strangely like a school girl who was being sent to the principal's office, I went into Garret's office and heard the door shut as I sat down on the couch. Within a couple of seconds, he was on the couch next to me.
"Ok, Jordan. You want to tell me what happened?"
"You mean why I left?"
"Yeah."
"Things just got to be too much too soon. You know, I pretty much came right to work here after I. . .I left the residency program. There was just a lot of stuff that got stirred up and I needed to deal with it."
"Ok. But why didn't you talk with me first? Why did you just take off? Jordan, your dad didn't even know where you were."
"I know. I just. . . I had to get out of here and I didn't want anyone to know ~ to try and stop me or talk me out of it."
"But why? Jordan, I want to help. I want to understand. But you're making that very hard."
"I just can't say anything. Maybe sometime in the future. But not now."
"Alright. Have it your way. You should know that I've called Dr. Stiles to start your psych evaluation. Given everything that's gone on, I think doing it a little early might be a good idea."
"Ok. I understand."
The receptionist popped her head in the door. "Excuse me, Dr. Macy? Dispatch just called. There's been a stabbing over near Tufts. Looks like D.V. They need someone over there now and. . .
"I'll take it. I mean, if it's ok, Garret. Let me make up for some of the time I've been gone?"
"You feel up to a domestic violence case?"
"Ah sure. Why not."
"Alright. Tell them Dr. Cavanaugh is on her way."
"Yes sir. Thank you."
"Alright kiddo. Be safe. And be expecting a visit from Dr. Stiles."
"Ok. Thanks Garret."
So I went and grabbed my stuff and headed out to the crime scene. Pretty gruesome case of domestic violence taken to the extreme. The woman's head was virtually severed from a knife wound. Blood everywhere. I did what needed to be done, then we got the body loaded for transport. The autopsy didn't show any surprises.
Later that night Dad got home and we fixed dinner together, something I'd really missed doing. He said they had the husband in custody and were 99% sure they could conclusively tie it to him.
"Sweetheart, I haven't really asked you. . ."
"Dad, I just needed to get out of Boston for a while. Yes, it was impulsive and unconventional. But it's ok. Things were covered at work, and Garret has Dr. Stiles coming in in a couple of days to do my psych evaluation."
"Alright baby. But if you need to talk about anything. . ."
"I know. I know you're here. Dad? I don't want to be rude, but I'm kind of tired still, so I'm going to go upstairs and get ready for bed. Ok?"
"Ok baby. You know where I'll be if you need me."
"Yeah. Thanks Dad. Good night." I bent over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He pulled me into a quick hug then sent me on my way upstairs."
"Good night sweetheart. See you in the morning."
I ran a hot bath and let myself soak for a while, leafing through a magazine I'd long since forgotten I subscribed to. After that, I washed my face, brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. As I slid between the sheets, I felt safe at home for the first time I could really remember since that day. I closed my eyes, ready for a good night's sleep.
2:17 a.m.. . .
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Jordan? Baby, what's wrong?" Dad burst into my room and grabbed me in a tight bear hug. Still shaking and crying and disoriented from the nightmare, I just clung to him.
"Dad?"
"It's ok sweetie. I'm here. Shhh. I'm here. Baby, what's wrong? What is it?"
"I think they're back."
to be continued. . .