Back to Boston
Rating: PG-13
Not mine ~ they're just messing with my head. All of them!
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The train ride was pretty uneventful. Jordan stared out the window and willed Jack to leave her alone. Nigel chased several pretty young things to the refreshment car and back. Jack, who elected to travel coach in order to stay close to this person who looked so much like Claire but insisted she wasn't, spent the entire train ride staring at Jordan.
As they pulled into the station, Jordan felt her heart leap to see Woody standing there to meet them. The fact struck her as slightly strange. Yes, the fact that he was there provided an easy way to avoid Jack, but for some reason the feelings surging through her weren't just those of relief. She was actually happy to see him. She was so lost in this realization she jumped when Nigel put his hand on her shoulder.
"Oh look. Woodrow came to pick us up. I assume we're going to be escorted straight to the station."
"Or the District Attorney's office. I'd assume that's where we'll be going first," Jack said. He craned his neck over the crowd exiting the train to see who had Jordan so enthralled. When he caught sight of Woody he almost choked. This was. . .?
"Woody! It is so glad to see you!" Jordan ran to Woody and threw her arms around him. Nigel laughed at Jordan's sudden enthusiasm and Woody's puzzled expression.
"Um, Jordan? Are you feeling alright?" Woody pulled back and raised his hand to feel her forehead.
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing, nothing. I'm happy to see you too." Woody shook his head. He wasn't sure what came over Jordan while she was in New York, but he thought he could get used to it. "Nigel, good to see you. Good trip?"
"It wasn't bad." Nigel shook Woody's extended hand.
"And you must be. . ." Woody turned to the man standing with them.
"Jack McCoy. Assistant District Attorney in New York." Jack extended his hand, which Woody took tentatively. So this was the person who had been giving Jordan the creeps during her time in New York. "Are you going to take us to the police station?"
"Walcott wants you to go straight to her office. Garret's already sent the files on Lauren over to her. She just needs the new proof you have."
"Alright. Let's go." Jordan grabbed Woody's hand. She felt kind of bad about this sudden display of affection, but it was for her own good. And besides, she wasn't all that sure that she was just acting.
When they got to Woody's car, Jordan hopped into the front seat. No way was she getting stuck in the back with Jack. She smiled an apology at Nigel who now had to cram his legs in a much smaller space.
"It's ok, luv. I understand," he whispered.
When they got to Walcott's office, Woody led them inside, then left to go back to work, his lackey work completed. Renee stood to greet Jack, a smile stretched across her face. Jordan thought she looked almost human and whispered as much to Nigel, who stifled a laugh. Renee shot a look in their direction, then turned back to Jack.
"Mr. McCoy. Welcome to Boston. It's great to meet you. Your reputation certainly proceeds you."
"It's my pleasure. And I hope that's a good thing." Jack mentally flinched, knowing there was more than one reputation he had.
"Oh, it is." Renee was all smiles. Until her eyes fell on Jordan. "Dr. Cavanaugh, if you'll just give me that file you can go."
"But Ms. Walcott, she is the one who cracked the case and tied them together. Without her, you wouldn't even have a case." Jack was not looking forward to losing sight of this person. Maybe everyone was right and she wasn't Claire. But spending time with someone who looked so much like her. . . It sounded weird, he knew, but he found it strangely comforting being in Jordan's presence.
"No, no. It's fine. Here. I'll just. . ." Jordan reached into her bag and produced the file, then began edging towards the door.
"Thank you Jordan. Now, don't you worry about another thing. If this comes to trial, Dr. Townsend here will certainly be able to testify." The venom in Walcott's voice was palpable to all in the room, especially Jack.
"Now wait just a minute. From what I understand, Dr. Cavanaugh has been the lead medical examiner on this case. Why would you turn the testimony over to someone else?" Jack was truly puzzled.
"Obviously you haven't don your homework on our dear Dr. Cavanaugh here. She doesn't stand up in front of juries that well. Five jobs in four years doesn't look that good in the eyes of a. . ."
"Now wait just a minute. Have you really bothered to get to know Jordan? Did it ever occur to you that at least one of those was a promotion to a higher position in another city?" Nigel decided that if Jordan wasn't going to stand up for herself, he would do it. None of them saw her edging towards the door. Jordan couldn't wait to get away from Renee's malice. . .and from this creepy ADA from New York who was convinced she was his dead lover.
"Yes, I am aware of that, Dr. Townsend. I am also aware that other than that, she was fired from her other jobs under less than ideal circumstances. I have seen her on the stand. She does nothing to help a case."
"I read her report Ms. Walcott. She is extremely competent. I don't see a problem with putting her. . ." Jack had never met anyone like this woman ~ at least not on his side of the courtroom. This venom she felt towards the young medical examiner. Well, there was one time. . .when he was prosecuting that drunk driver. . . But still.
"Fine. You put her on the stand in New York. I won't do it here. Honestly, I am hopeful that we can come to some agreement and not even have to go to trial. But if we do end up in trial, Dr. Townsend will be the medical examiner I put on the stand." Renee was insistent.
"But. . ." Nigel looked around. Jordan was nowhere to be found. "Where's Jordan?"
"I don't know and frankly I couldn't care. . ." Renee started, but Jack ran out of the office. He hadn't had the chance to talk with Jordan yet and he wasn't going to let her run off before he did.
"Dr. Cavanaugh, wait." He saw her standing at the elevator bay, frantically punching the button.
"Damn it! Why isn't one coming?" Jordan was quickly losing patience. She finally bolted for the stairwell at the sound of Jack's voice. She ran all the way down the stairs and was relieved to see that Woody had brought her Explorer around the front. A note was stuck on the windshield ~ "Thought I'd make it easier on you. See you later! ~ W." She smiled as she jumped in the driver's seat. She'd definitely have to do something special to somehow show him that in her own way, she was beginning to take the wall between them down ~ one brick at a time.
As Jordan pulled away from the curb, Jack ran out of the building. Keeping an eye on the white Explorer, he hailed a cab. As the driver pulled up, Jack jumped in. "Follow that Explorer. Please."
"Alright, hang on." The cabbie pulled away and kept an eye on the Explorer, trying not to lose it in the last afternoon traffic.
Feeling slightly like he was in a bad mob movie, Nigel came out of the building and saw Jack getting in the cab. He didn't have to think twice to figure out where Jack was going. Damn! It was times like this he wished he had a car of his own. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and said a quick prayer of thanks for the "incoming call" list, which contained Woody's cell phone number. He hit call and hoped that Woody had his phone with him.
"Hoyt."
"Woodrow, we've got a problem."
"Nigel? What's wrong?"
"Jordan slipped out of Walcott's office and. . ."
"So? She's not under arrest. She's. . ."
"And McCoy followed her."
"What?"
"He's in a cab following her to her place."
"Oh God. Damn it, I'm stuck here on a case. Can you. . .?"
"No cabs in sight, mate. I'll keep trying, but. . ."
"Alright. Let me know if you get one. I'll try to finish up here soon and I'll come and get you."
"Do you want to call in and have an officer. . .?"
"Nigel, I don't think the guy's dangerous. Yes, he's creepy. But I don't think he'll hurt Jordan. And I think she's capable of taking care of herself. Hang tight. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Meanwhile, Jordan got to her building. It took her a while to find a parking space, just enough time to let Jack's cab catch up. At the end of the block, Jack asked the cabbie to stop and let him out, providing fare and a sizable tip. He stood back, making sure to keep an eye on Jordan as she got out of her SUV. He felt somewhat like a stalker. But he didn't want to hurt her. He only wanted to talk with her.
Jordan went into her building and got into the elevator. As she turned around, she found herself face to face with Jack McCoy.
"What the hell do you want?"
"I just want to talk with you. That's all."
Jordan looked at him warily. What to do? Maybe she could convince him that she wasn't this Claire person if she talked with him. And if things got worse. . . Well, she knew where her gun was and she had Woody on speed dial.
"Please. I just want to talk with you." Jack realized the situation he was in. If she screamed or called someone. . . "I promise you. I'll leave you alone after that. If you'd rather go somewhere else. . ."
Her brush with a methylhexital-scotch combo still in her head, Jordan thought briefly about going somewhere public with this man ~ somewhere like the Pogue, where Max could keep an eye on her. Yeah. That was it. The Pogue. Max would leave her alone if she asked, but he'd still be there to keep a watchful eye on her. Not that she needed protecting, but. . .
"Alright. I know this place where we can get something to drink and talk." But how to get there. As long as she was in control. . . "Come on. I'll drive."
. . .to be continued. . .
