DEVIL or ANGEL
Devil or angel, I can't
make up my mind
Which one you are I'd like to wake up and find
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I miss you, I miss you, I-I mi-i-iss you
Devil or angel please say
you'll be mi-i-ine
Love me or leave me, I'll go out of my mind
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I need you, I need you, I need you
You look like an angel
Your smile is divine
But you keep me guessin'
Will you ever be mine?
Devil or angel please say
you'll be mi-i-ine
Love me or leave, I've made up my mind
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I love you, I love you, I-I lo-o-ove you
Devil or angel please say
you'll be mi-i-ine
Love me or leave, I've made up my mind
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I love you, I love you, I love you
I'd Like to Wake Up and Find (Devil or Angel II)
WOODY…
As we walked out of the diner, bellies each satiated with a serving of warm Belgian waffles, the sun was just coming up.
"Oh, hey! It's Saturday!" Jordan said
pulling her coat around herself tightly and pointing at the sun. I smiled and
looked over to the East, wincing at the new morning sun. I rolled my eyes.
"Actually, it's been Saturday for about…" I look at my watch
carefully, " 6 hours now." I say and Jordan rolls her eyes.
"perfectionist." She says rolling her eyes back at me playfully. She then looks back out over the city at the rising sun and I take the opportunity to pull her close to me. Jordan tenses for a moment then, when I don't let go but don't tighten my embrace, she relaxes into me. "Actually it COULD still be Friday…" I said and Jordan looked at me puzzled. I smiled and stopped walking which caused Jordan to stop. I leaned forward and kissed her lips and noticed her brow was still furrowed in confusion. When I pulled back Jordan eyeballed me curiously.
"And how does that make any sense at all?" She asked smirking. I nodded having hoped that she would ask me that. I wrapped my arm around her again and started walking.
"Because, when we were dancing," I whispered softly into her ear, " I wished last night could last forever." I said and flashed her my best 'aw-gawsh' smile. Jordan answered by laying her head against my chest as we walked. Then she stopped and pulled my head suddenly down to her face and planted one on me so hard I thought I'd explode from lack of oxygen.
"Good," she said starting to walk and leaving me still behind her fighting for air, "Cause I was supposed to do my laundry on Friday…so I still have time…and you can help me." She said and I just smiled between gasps and hurried to catch up with her. We walked back to the Pogue to pick up Jordan's car and headed off for her apartment together. When we got to Jordan's apartment, she made me take my wet stuff off outside the door like a five year old. I caught her chuckling as I yanked off my shoes and sox in the doorway and almost slipped and fell on my ass. When I was finally appropriately dry, I came in and Jordan was filling a laundry bag on her bed. I sauntered in and flopped down on the bed. Jordan didn't say anything just raised an eyebrow at me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around a pillow and snuggled into it.
"Usually, when a person asks for help, and another person accepts the request, the desired outcome of the request is to actually BE helped." Jordan said finally and I lifted my head from the pillow. "Are you using a new shampoo?" I asked avoiding her statement completely. Jordan just rolled her eyes and swung the large bag off of the bed and onto my middle. I let out an 'oof' and stood with the bag in my arms.
…………………………………
"I hope you appreciate this!!" I said from behind the large bag as I walked blindly down the stairs, probably behind Jordan, on our way to the laundry room. I heard Jordan laugh in front of me as we continued our descent.
"Aww…come on it's not THAT bad…and I have a few suggestions for what we could do afterwards if that inspires you in any way…" she trailed off and I dropped the bag to my feet in front of the washer. I seductively approached Jordan and wrapped my arms around her waist loosely, noticing for the first time that morning that she had dark, tired circles under her eyes. I'm sure mine looked just the same though. Jordan raised her eyebrows and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"You don't mean…what I think you mean do you?" I asked playfully and Jordan smiled. Then she nodded and brought her lips within inches of mine and whispered.
"…sleep…" With a smirk. I bit my lip and looked up at the cement ceiling.
"Oooooohhhhhh yeah that's what I like to hear." I said and gently kissed Jordan's lips. Then I started walking backwards, Jordan still wrapped around me, and bumped into one of the already gyrating washers. When we hit it, my eyes shot open and I wagged them from Jordan to the machine and back.
She considered me curiously for a beat, and then rolled her eyes and kissed me on the nose.
"Oh please, honey this is real life, not an episode of Days of Our Lives." She said and I let out a deep, throaty laugh as she bent down to pick up her laundry.
Together we started separating clothes into two washers and I, having opted to handle the delicates was delighted to come across a lacey powder blue thong with little lavender flowers on it.
"Well hello there," I said quietly holding the little scrap of underwear up in front of me and causing Jordan to watch as she placed darks in the washer. "Nice to meet you…I'm sure we'll become VERY good friends in the future." I said slowly turning my head with my best 'Austin Powers' eyebrow raised. Jordan just chuckled and shook her head as I shot the underwear into the washer like a slingshot. I slammed the lid down pointedly and turned to Jordan who was adding detergent to her load. She flopped her lid down as well and then turned to me.
"Ready?" she asked holding out her hand to me. I nodded tiredly and rubbed my neck as I took her hand with my free one. Jordan put her free hand on my tense neck as we waked to the laundry room door. "Ouch! That's one tight neck you got there partner! Want me to give it a go when we get upstairs?" she asked and I let my head drop sideways smiling sweetly at her.
"Do you even need to ask?" I asked with a smile and Jordan pulled open the door.
The next thing I remember, she gasped in surprise as I turned my head to see an outstretched arm and the barrel of a gun pointing right at me. Before I could realize what was going on, the gunmen, face covered with the hood of his navy blue sweatshirt, was making muffled demands for our money through his hood. I quickly assessed his tense manner, blood shot eyes, pale face and shaking arm and decided he was strung out and looking for money to renew a declining high.
"Hey, take it easy man," I said slowly raising the hand that wasn't reassuringly holding Jordan's. I could feel Jordan's eyes on me pleadingly, but I continued unwavering, to stare down the gunmen. His hands were shaky and I could tell he was weak with need. I was sleep-deprived but I had the natural high of adrenaline on my side right then. He twitched his eyes nervously between Jordan and myself. Once again, he demanded our money.
"I don't HAVE any money, my wallet isn't on me…and she doesn't have any either. Jordan here and I…we were just putting some laundry in. Just…walk away man you don't wanna do this." The man nervously shifted on his feet. I realized I had never taken my gun off my hip since last night. I'm so used to it being there now that I forgot about it. I stood there praying he wouldn't see the outline of the butt through my open dress shirt. He held us there, neither of us speaking, while he decided what to do.
"Listen. You picked the wrong people here man, I'm a cop." I wasn't going to bring it up, but I thought it might save us here. If this guy knew I was a cop and that the ramifications of shooting me would be a city-wide manhunt, he might change his mind and leave.
"We won't follow you, we won't report this, we'll just forget it ever happened if you just walk away right now. Okay?" The man looked at me then at Jordan and slowly shuffled forward, intent on checking our pockets. He checked Jordan first, and as he did her eyes looked pointedly at the indent my gun was clearly making on through my shirt. She was telling me not to go for it. But my gut told me this guy was gonna panic when he frisked me for money and found a sidearm instead. He was going to shoot us. And I couldn't let that happen.
As he reached hesitantly down to check Jordan's ankles, he kept his gun trained on me. But as soon as his eyes slipped down to Jordan's foot, I went for my gun. And that's the last I remember of that day.
JORDAN…
I pleaded with him. I could see the wheels turning in Woody's head as the guy roughly frisked my body for cash. So I looked Woody directly in the eye and silently begged him not to go for his gun. As the thief's shaky hand traveled down my leg, Woody's hand slowly began to rise towards his hip. I continued to stare him into leaving it alone, but just as he started to push aside his dress shirt, the gunman caught sight of it and all hell broke loose. Woody yanked the gun from its holster, as I screamed "No!" and the man raised his own gun and fired at Woody. Woody fired back and hit the man directly between his eyes. I watched the man fly backwards from the impact and hit the ground with a thud, his own gun sliding across the basement floor. I was in shock. When I looked back at Woody he was staring down at the man, breathing heavily, his gun still clutched in his hand.
"Woody?" I said as tears stung behind my eyes. He looked over at me, his eyes glazed and far away. They narrowed in confusion at me and he looked down at his side, where his hand had impulsively grabbed for when the other man's gun had fired. He brought his hand away and I let out an angry cry as he held up his hand. The blood dripped slow and dark onto the gray cement floor of the basement.
I hurried to catch him as best I could when he slumped suddenly to the ground.
"Woody!!? Woody!" I said taking his face in my hands as his eyes welled up. He looked like a scared little boy who fell and scraped his knee on the driveway for the first time.
"I…I've never been shot before." He said in a sad, ragged breath. His face contorted in pain and a tear slid down his cheek. I cradled his head with one arm and pressed my other hand to the wound. Woody's body rejected the pressure and his back arched off the ground as he let out a loud, low, cry. I screamed at the top of my voice for someone to call 911.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The paramedics were there in less than two minutes and they asked me to step back while they worked. I started to move around them and Woody tightened his grip on my hand. He wouldn't let me go. I looked into his face. He was still awake and he was terrified. The paramedics descended quickly upon him, checking vitals, inserting tubes. They worked around me for a moment as I was providing them with some valuable information concerning what had happened, if Woody was allergic to anything and how long ago it had happened. I kept switching my eyes between Woody and the dead body of the junkie laying only feet from me. They checked him briefly, and told me he was dead. I thanked them for checking for me and they nodded briefly together as they went back to work on Woody. Finally they decided I was in their way.
"Ma'am, please." One of the medics said and I just looked at him helplessly.
"I
can't he's holding on too tight." I said breathlessly as they rushed
around me. Woody's eyes begged me not to let go. I nodded at him and squeezed
his hand back. Most people would have passed out by now having been shot in the
side from that close, but Woody was wide awake and struggling to move.
"Detective…"One of the medics said placing a mask on Woody's face.
"You need to lay still so that we can help you and you need to let go of
her hand!" he called into Woody's ear. Woody only answered by tightening
his grip on my hand. The medic shook his head.
"Suit yourself." He whispered, settling just to be happy that Woody was calmer. I helped them get him onto the backboard as mobile equipment beeped, and the senior medic gave orders to his younger counterpart. Woody seemed afraid for a second that I might let go.
"I'm not going anywhere Woody." I said into his ear as we approached the stairs.
We hurried for the stairs and I slipped into the stairwell tightly held between the board and the wall. We moved quickly and when we reached the ambulance I silently hopped into the back with the younger paramedic and Woody.
"Ma'am, is he your husband?" the younger paramedic asked. I could tell he wanted me out if I wasn't. I raised my eyebrows at him, still trying to catch my breath from the stairs.
"Do you want him to stay calm?" I asked and the kid nodded quickly, between listening to Woody's chest with his stethoscope. I grabbed it out of his hand as he pulled it away from Woody.
"Then you want me to stay RIGHT HERE!" I called loudly into the little silver disk. The paramedic shook his head as he pulled the earpieces out of his ear in swiftly in pain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I stood outside the trauma room, staring blankly as the doctors worked hurriedly on Woody. They had put him to sleep and I felt guilty that I was relieved. I just couldn't look into those scared, pale blue eyes anymore. It was enough that I would never forget the look in them as he lay there on the cold floor, blood pooling around us.
A nurse came up behind me and asked if I needed medical attention. I shook my head slowly in the negative. She tried to guide me away from the window but I shook her off. She nodded and walked back into the room. I just stared at his limp body as it lay still on the table, needles being inserted into his arms, tubes everywhere. Blood everywhere. I looked down at my clothes. I was covered in his blood. My hands and arms stained red and sticky to the touch. I had to get it off. I turned, exhausted, and started to walk towards the bathroom. I rounded the corner, grabbing a scrub shirt from a shelf, and stopped when I looked up to see my dad speaking hurriedly with a nurse at the front desk.
"Dad?" I said drowsily and began walking towards him. He snapped his head towards me and his shoulders slumped in relief.
"Oh, oh God baby I thought I lost you." He said as I rushed into his arms. He held me tightly and then pulled back to look me over.
"You're hurt?" he asked taking in the sight of my blood soaked clothes. I shook my head. I could feel the tears welling up again and my voice cracked as I spoke.
"No…Dad…it's…it's Woody…he was…we were doing the laundry and…and…I opened the door…and he just…"I broke down in his arms and dad held me tightly as I sobbed into his shirt.
"Shhh……..shh
baby. It's alright I'm sure they're takin' good care of him." He said as
we rocked back and forth standing in the middle of the E.R. Just as I had about
exhausted myself crying, The sliding doors of the E.R. opened and Garrett,
Nigel, Bug, and Lily rushed in. I wiped my face against Dad's shirt as they all
descended upon us.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Dad handed me wordlessly off to Lily, who guided me into the bathroom. She didn't ask much at first, just helped me to get cleaned up and took my clothes and put them in a plastic bag. "So…What exactly happened?" Lily asked tentatively as I was standing staring at myself in the bathroom mirror. I held my hands up in front of me briefly. They were shaking.
I sighed heavily and splashed water on my face again. I shook my head and turned to face Lily, my arms crossed over my chest.
"We…went out to breakfast…went back to my place and I volunteered him to help with my laundry." I shook my head and turned back to the mirror.
"It wasn't your fault Jordan. Who would ever have guessed that someone would hold you up in the laundry room of your building?" Lily said crossing her arms.
I nodded. "Yeah, I know. But he's in there…and I'm out here…and his face…and his eyes. He was terrified, Lily." I shook my head again and Lily nodded soberly.
I took a deep breath and headed back out to the E.R. To reality.
All four men turned together when they caught sight of me and I came to stand with them. Garrett took me in his arms first.
"I'm so sorry, Jordan. But don't worry, he's a strong boy, young, he'll be fine." He said and I nodded. Bug and Nigel couldn't think of anything to say so they just hugged me together between them. When they pulled away I smiled weakly.
"Heard
anything yet?" I asked looking to Dad since he had been there the longest
of them all. He looked at me and sighed.
"They're takin' him up to surgery, Baby. The bullet pierced his small
intestine and went clear through his back."
"So the bullet went all the way through? It's…it's not in him anymore?" I asked and Dad nodded.
"They're just gonna have to repair the damage…the doctor should be out to talk to us in a minute." I suddenly realized something.
"God…someone's gotta call his family…let…them…let them know what…" Dad hushed me.
"Taken
care of Sweetheart, I just got off the phone with his mother a minute ago.
Their on the next flight out tonight. Should be here by about 7 tonight."
He said and I nodded.
"Why don't you go home and get a little sleep, it'll do no one any good
for you collapse from exhaustion today." I shook my head.
"No I just…I'm gonna lay down in the private room for a little." I
said and wandered away from everyone.
"Want someone to go with you?" Dad asked and all heads turned toward me.
"No…thank you…but I need to be by myself for a little." I said and slinked down the hall. When I reached the corner, I noticed a sign pointing down the hall that said, "Chapel." I looked behind me at my crew and snuck down that hall quietly.
I quietly entered the chapel and looked around the room quickly to make sure no one was there. The room was lit dimly with soft light, and a small amount of candle- light from the prayer candles. I slowly made my way over to them and crossed myself before silently kneeling before the candles. I sighed and then bowed my head. I hadn't prayed without the help of a priest in probably about 10 years. But that day, in front of God and no one else, I prayed that Woody would live. I wish I could say it was a totally selfless prayer, but I wanted him to live for me too. I needed him to live. I was so deep in my own thoughts that I didn't notice the doors to the chapel open quietly and my Dad creep in until he was kneeling right beside me lighting a candle. I smiled sadly. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. He cleared his throat and reached into his pocket.
I watched as he produced my Rosary beads. I smiled sadly again and nodded.
"Thought you might want these right now." He said placing them safely in my hands. I looked down at them and gently rolled the smooth beads between my fingers.
"Yeah," I said taking a match with my other hand and lighting a candle myself. As I blew out the match, I turned at the sound of the chapel doors opening again.
I smiled as Bug, Nigel, Lily and Garrett slipped into the chapel silently and each smiled at me. They headed up the aisle together and came to kneel next to me, each taking a turn lighting a candle. I heard the doors open again and seven guys from the force, including Detective Eddie Winslow, strolled in. My friends moved to sit in a pew together. I felt my eyes well up as each detective approached the altar, crossing themselves, and then coming to where Dad and I still knelt and lit a candle each. I stood and Winslow embraced me briefly.
"He's a good kid, he'll pull through." He said and I nodded.
"Thanks for coming here Eddie." I said and he shrugged his shoulders.
"No problem." He said and went to sit with the others. Just as I was turning back to Dad, the doors opened once more and the Doctor slipped quietly in.
I turned back to the altar one last time and looked up to the ceiling. "You owe me one." I whispered lightly and took a deep breath before standing up. I slowly headed towards the door and everyone followed me wordlessly.
When I reached the doctor he smiled.
"Well, I'm sure Detective Hoyt will be pleased to know he has such a big fan club." He said and his hint went clear over all of our overcomplicated heads. He regarded us for a few tense seconds then said, "So, he's asking for his dance partner…anyone here wanna own that title?" He asked and his face spread into a grin that can only be worn by someone who delights in bringing good news. Everyone broke out in relieved laughter. Dad pushed me gently forward and I followed the doctor out the door wagging my eyebrows as a 'thank you' to the Man Upstairs.
I followed him to the elevator and he updated me on Woody's condition as we rode up to the 3rd floor. Nothing made me happier than stepping off that elevator and reading the sign for the floor. "Recovery" it read in big maroon letters. I smiled and followed the doctor down the hall to Woody's room. He stopped me outside the door and prepared me for what I was going to see.
"Now, he's a little out of it…morphine is doin' him good right now, and he's a little groggy. He's got a catheter in and a feeding tube down his nose. But he can talk if he wants to and he's already given us a few big smiles." The doctor rested a hand on my shoulder and I thanked him before taking a deep breath and turning the corner.
I was surprised. He didn't look as bad as I thought he would. He was on his back, raised up a few inches to give him a view of the room and a feeding tube with a milky beverage was inserted in his nose. His eyes danced nervously around the room and when he caught sight of me, his face broke out in a wide grin. I smiled back and slinked over to his side. He raised his hand slowly and I took it in my own, bending down to kiss his knuckles.
"Hey there Cowboy…" I said and Woody raised his eyelids heavily to allow himself a better view of me. I took a seat on the bad next to him and he began rubbing little circled over my knuckles. His lips moved and I read them to say 'hi'. He cleared his throat to talk and I laid my hand on his chest as Dr. Jordan kicked in momentarily. He smiled and wiggled his nose.
"Remember…," he said in a faint whisper, " When you were… little and you laughed… and milk came out your nose?" he said with a smile. I nodded.
"I think… the milk is… getting it's payback." He said and looked down at the tube. I ran my fingers gently through his hair and his eyes started to drift shut again.
"Why don't you sleep now Woody…we'll talk later. Oh and your parents are on their way from Kewaunee. Should be here tonight." I said and Woody nodded.
"My brother too?" he whispered. I smiled.
"I didn't know you had a brother." I said and continued running my fingers through his hair. He smiled and let out a weak chuckle.
"Yeah…, I have a brother." He said simply and I felt this brother was going to be quite an interesting character. I just nodded. He was trying so hard to stay awake. I let my fingers slip down to his pale face and I took two fingers and gently trailed them from between his eyebrows to the tip of his nose and back again in a methodical manner. He sighed and his body settled.
"Your gonna make me purr." He said with his eyes closed.
"No…I'm gonna make you sleep…" I whispered barely audible. "And when you wake up, I'll let everyone come in to see you…and they'll probably bring you flowers and candy…" I said, my voice matching the rhythm I was keeping between his eyes. "Mmmhmmm…"he mumbled as his breathing became even and his face slackened peacefully in slumber. I bent over and kissed his lips gently where the tube wasn't laying. Then I laid my head on his shoulder for a second, hoping to subliminally allow his to pick up where we left off dancing the night before. When I was sure he was completely out, I stood and crept out of the room. As I passed the recovery waiting room, I saw several heads turn towards the door and I stopped in the doorway. Everyone stood and waited for me to speak. My eyes filled up with happy tears and smiled.
"He's gonna be fine. He's breathing on his own, he kidded with me a little…but he's REALLY doped up…so I made him sleep…In an hour or so he should be up and then we can all go in and see him." I said and everyone began chatting, relieved.
WOODY…
I didn't know for how long I'd been out, but when I woke up I was mildly irked that Jordan had put me to sleep like a little boy. I'm a homicide detective Dammnit, not the little neighbor kid she baby-sits. I got passed my displeasure when I lost focus at the feel of something smooth and balled in my palm. I raised my hand gently and opened my fist to find a string of Rosary beads clutched in my hand. I dropped one side of them to admire them and smiled when I realized they must be Jordan's. I also could taste her on my lips. 'I bet she never kissed the neighbor kid like that.' I thought smugly and looked around the room. I sighed and toyed gently with the feeding tube down my nose, still not completely comfortable with it. Just then Jordan walked in.
"Jeez, can't leave you alone for 10 minutes without you trying to mess with your meds." She said hands on her hips. I smiled.
"I'm not trying to take it out," I said and then shifted uncomfortably as something else inserted into me caught my attention. I cringed. "But I'll give you 10 bucks to take this catheter out for me." He whispered with a smile. I laughed and came to sit next to him.
"It bothering you?" She asked and her eyes inadvertently dropped to my lowers. I smiled and then nodded serious.
"Yeah, actually, it is." I said and shifted again, causing a pinching pain in a spot pinching should never be associated with. Jordan narrowed her eyes.
"Do you…want me to take a look at it?" she asked tentatively. I know I must have turned red. I shook my head no.
"I'm afraid…that if you see…that…like that…you'll never be able to see it again without picturing it unpleasantly as it is now…" I explained, my voice coming back to me a little more. Jordan nodded in understanding and told me she was going to go hunt down a MALE nurse for me. I smiled appreciatively and sighed as she walked out the door. I tried to stay as still as possible for the next few minutes and when she returned with a nurse he asked if I wanted Jordan to step outside. I thought for a moment then shook my head.
"Nah…" I said and Jordan came to sit next to me on the bed. The nurse took the courtesy of lifting the sheets on the other side and Jordan took my hand.
"Well, it looks like it's time to change that, give me a sec and I'll be right back to help you out Bud, alright?" He said dropping the sheets gently and slipping back out the door again. I nodded and thanked him. Jordan smiled and bent down to kiss me again.
"You snuck one when I fell asleep didn't you?" I asked with a smirk. Jordan rolled her eyes and ran a hand threw my mussed hair again.
"How'd you know?" She asked with a smile. I shrugged my shoulders as the nurse came back into the room, opening a little plastic bag. "She stayin' for this one too?" he asked pursing his lips as the bag finally popped open. Jordan looked at me. I nodded again. The nurse nodded and rolled a stool up to my side. Jordan was great. She held my hand and didn't laugh when I squeaked in pain. Her eyes never left mine the whole time. I was breathing heavily and a sweat was moments from breaking out on my face when the nurse announced he was done. I sighed a heavy sigh and Jordan tried to suppress a chuckle. I caught her though.
"Oh, you think it's so funny, me in pain like that?" I said meaning it as a joke. Jordan's face suddenly grew serious. 'Uh-oh' I thought looking off into the corner. 'she wants to ream me out for playing high noon at the O.K. corral with that guy. I shook my head before she could speak.
"He
was gonna shoot us whether we had money or not Jordan, did you see his
eyes?" I asked and she nodded.
"You knew I thought it was a bad move, Woody." She said sternly. I
nodded.
"Yeah, but you're okay. And that made it the right move for ME." I said and Jordan sighed. Then she looked down at our entwined hands and shook her head.
"But…you…promised me you'd never leave me, Woody. And…today you almost did." She said and her eyes filled up with tears. I pulled her down into my arms.
"Almost doesn't count didn't you know that?" I said with a smile. "And besides, I understand I had a little help in convincing me to stick around." I said and held the Rosary beads up with my free hand. Jordan wiped her eyes and smiled.
"Yeah, and not just from me." She said and turned to look across the nurses' station and into the waiting room. I tried to look around her as she beckoned for someone. I considered her curiously for a few seconds and she smiled, finally pushing the tears over her lids. I reached up to wipe them away with my thumb as a commotion entered my room.
I smiled and my own eyes burned with unshed tears as Max, Dr. Macey, Lily, Bug, Nigel, and a bunch of the guys from the precinct gleefully entered my room. Max stood next to Jordan and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. With his free hand, he patted my shoulder.
"How ya feelin' Boy?" he asked happily and I shrugged.
"I've had better days." I said and smiled appreciatively at Max. He nodded and Lily sat a vase of flowers on the table next to my bed and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I smiled at her as she explained they were from everyone at the morgue. I joked with the guys from the office and as everyone was laughing, I heard a familiar woman's voice over the commotion say, "Excuse me am I in the right room?" she said and the little crowd parted to reveal my very stressed out looking and confused mother.
"Yeah, Mama, I'm over here somewhere." I croaked with a smile. Her eyes filled up with tears and she hurried to my side.
"Oh my poor baby! Look at you!" she said taking my cheeks gently between her hands. I rolled my eyes when she kissed me on the forehead and licked her fingertips, giving my hair a go as Jordan had earlier.
"Ma!" I complained light-heartedly, not entirely unhappy with her doting. I looked behind her and my step dad Neil, stepped forward along side of her and mussed my hair.
"So how does it feel to have your first battle wound, Son?" he asked with a smile and placed his hands in his pants pockets. I started to respond when another familiar voice protesting all of the attention I was getting beat me to it.
"Oh sure," the voice called from the doorway and everyone turned to see my nearly identical year-younger brother leaning against the doorframe with a smile on his face, "I fall off my bike when I'm ten and have to get 3 stitches in my arm and you tell me to suck it up, but WOODROW gets shot and it's all 'we're getting on a plane to Boston in 5 minutes." He said and I rolled my eyes.
"Calvin, good to see YOU haven't changed a bit." I said as he came to my bedside. In an uncharacteristic move, Cal bent his tall, lanky frame over me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders tightly. I was taken aback and had to blink away a few surprised tears as he pulled back and mussed my hair as well. I smiled.
"Glad your okay bro." He said and I took his hand briefly and squeezed it. My mom made a noise and started rummaging through her purse. She found what she was looking for and pulled out a string of Rosary beads. My Rosary beads. I smiled at her.
"Thanks Mom." I said smiling at her and put them next to my bed with Jordan's. Jordan picked them up and looked them over. I waited for the inevitable.
"Woody…What does W.W.O. stand for?" she asked reading the inscription on the back of the cross. I smiled at my mom and she nodded in approval.
"Ummm…well, when I was 4 my dad died. Mom married Neil 2 years later and…we took his name." I said smiling proudly at my step dad.
"So what WAS your last name?" Jordan asked looking up from the beads.
"Umm…it was O'Connell." I said with a little smile. Max's head shot up.
"I'm sorry I musta misheard you…did you say O'CONNELL?" he asked with a smile.
"Yep." I said and Max shifted from foot to foot. "So then you're probably…" Max trailed off. I finished for him.
"Irish as Guinness beer?." I said with a chuckle. Max's eyes lit up and he came at me quickly.
"Oh Son!" he said wrapping his arms around me tightly and I winced with a cry. He pulled away carefully and Jordan patted his shoulder gently. Everyone laughed and as I was laughing, I let out a loud yawn.
Everyone laughed again. "I guess that's our cue!" Neil said with a chuckle. He patted my leg and mom hugged me and said they'd be back in the morning. Cal eyeballed Jordan and then gave me thumbs up and winked. I shook my head and shooed him off with a little wave of my hand. Everyone said their good-byes and filed out of the room. Well, all except Jordan. When everyone was gone she came over and sat next to me again. I took her hand this time and held it like I had when we danced the night before. She must have noticed because she smiled. Then she laid her head down on my chest quietly. We stayed that way for a few minutes and I listened to the newfound sound of air through my nose since the doctors removed the tube. Then all of a sudden, Jordan started laughing heartily against my chest.
"What?" I asked smirking as Jordan lifted her head. She sat up and traced my face along my freckles.
"Well, you mean BESIDES the fact that you made my dad's year now that he knows your Irish?" She asked and I nodded in understanding. I wrapped one arm around her waist and she laid her head back down against my chest and started to hum. I smiled ear to ear when I noticed the tune. Then my smile got even wider when she began to sing the words to the song.
"Devil or angel please
say you'll be mi-i-ine
Love me or leave me, I'll go out of my mind
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I need you, I need you, I need you
You look like an angel
Your smile is divine
But you keep me guessin'
Will you ever be mine?
Devil or angel please say
you'll be mi-i-ine
Love me or leave, I've made up my mind
Devil or angel dear, whichever you are
I love you, I love you, I-I lo-o-ove you"
JORDAN…
When I lifted my head from Woody's chest he was sound asleep. I smiled and laid my head back down, the days events finally all weighing down on me and the last drop adrenaline in my body was spent as I fell asleep on his chest.
When I woke up, I lifted my head from Woody's warm chest and glanced at his sleeping face. I smiled and kissed his lips softly.
"You know," a voice said from the doorway, "When Woody moved here, I was worried that he'd lost his family." Woody's mom took a step into the room as I stood from his side. She smiled at him as he slept and then smiled at me. I nodded in understanding. She shook her head slowly and smiled at me again.
"But now I can see that isn't entirely true." She said and I nodded again, allowing a wide grin to spread across my face.
"Your son…is…a wonderful man. And he does have quite a family here." I said and laid my hand on his arm, rubbing it gently. Mrs. Hoyt chuckled and covered her mouth to keep from waking him.
"He does sort of grow on you doesn't he?" she said with a shake of her head. I laughed and nodded with her. "Yes, even under the toughest conditions." I said guiltily alluding to my less than warm rejection of him for the first few months he pursued me.
"Oh, gave him a hard time did you?" She asked and I rolled my eyes. "A lot of good it did me." I said with a chuckle. She raised her eyebrows at me.
"Persistent fella isn't he?" She asked and I nodded. "I honestly don't think you have any idea how persistent. You might after you get to know me better." I said and Mrs. Hoyt laid a hand on my arm.
"I think I have a pretty good idea of what kind of woman you are right now." She said and I looked at Woody again.
"Oh you think so?" I asked nervously and she chuckled again.
"Well of course," she said with a coy smile, "MY son thinks pretty highly of you and that's good enough for me." She said and I laughed as we walked out of the room together.
"Would you like some coffee?" I asked and we stopped together in the doorway. She sighed heavily and turned back to look at Woody.
"That sounds wonderful dear." Mrs. Hoyt said as we rounded the corner.
WOODY…
When Jordan came in to visit first thing on the third day I was in the hospital, I think I stunned her when I wasn't laying nearly flat on my back.
"Hey!" she said hurrying to my side and sitting down softly beside me. "Brought you a present!" she said smiling and throwing something light and messily wrapped down on my chest. I sat forward slowly and gave her a kiss. She smiled and motioned for me to open the present. I picked it up slowly and looked it over.
Then I pulled at the ribbon of the present and it opened easily. And a puffy white sponge popped out. I smiled and looked up at Jordan and sighed.
"If there's a naughty nurse costume in your bag, I'll be the happiest man alive…" I said seriously. She wagged her eyebrows and I grabbed for her bag. I flipped open the top and was mildly saddened when I found the bag nearly empty. Jordan chuckled.
"Just be satisfied with what you are getting…"she said and I struggled to sit up a little better.
"And what's that?" I asked trying to look sexy but probably still looking high from my daily 'happy pill'. Jordan leaned forward and smiled seductively.
"A bath." She said and I nodded in understanding, a shy smile playing across my lips.
"But I just had a shower an hour ago, they took the catheter out for good. First thing I did was hop in the shower."
"Ooooohhhhh…….that's too bad, then I guess you owe me a shower when you get out of here." she said and I did a little cheerleader rah-rah in a moment of glee.
"Well, ya know…I have kinda limited mobility so…I don't know if I did a real good job…you could…check my work?" I asked and Jordan smiled and threw the sponge in my face. She caved. I knew she would. This was just too good an offer.
I sat up better and Jordan put pillows behind my back to support me better. Then she shut my door and pulled the curtain around. I watched her as she went into the bathroom and started to fill a little basin with water. I watched her contentedly and after checking the water temperature several times, she finally carried the basin slowly out and rolled my tray table up to the bed. She set the basin down on it and I handed her the sponge. She pulled the sheet to the foot of the bad and I stretched my legs and smiled. Then she moved back up to my side and helped me o lean forward and pull the hospital gown off. She did a double take at my boxers and then started cracking up. I joined her in laughing as best I could.
"Where on EARTH did you get those?" she said tugging on the edge of them to see the pictures. I smile and looked down proudly at my shorts. They had a cherubic little Bart Simpson on them floating on a cloud, a halo over his head and a harp in his arms.
"My brother brought them for me. I just thought I'd give you an answer to your question." I said and smiled. Jordan nodded.
"And what question is that?" she asked and I lifted the side of my shorts for her to better see. I smiled. "Which one you are, I'd like to wake up and find…" I sang playfully. Jordan nodded in understanding and smiled.
"Well, I'm still not sure yet…I haven't waken up with you yet." She said playfully and I suddenly became serious. I nodded.
"But you will…hopefully for the rest of my life." I said and Jordan smiled and under her breath said, "Angel. I hope not ALL the time." Before leaning over and claiming my lips. When she pulled back, I sat forward slowly and handed her the sponge. She took it and dipped it into the water, allowing the water to soak up into the sponge. Then she lifted it out and squeezed it a little so that it was heavy with water but not dripping. We didn't speak. I just let her lean me slowly back and she peeled back my bandages carefully. I watched as Dr. Jordan took over for a few seconds and she quickly assessed my healing. When she was satisfied with the stitch work, she held the sponge over it and gently squeezed the warm water onto the wound. I tensed briefly and Jordan looked up at my eyes to make sure I wasn't in too much pain. I nodded assuring her that I was fine, and she gently set the sponge against the wound. I could only watch as she continued her travels along my body.
It was our first really intimate experience. She didn't move with the cold, methodic routine of a nurse, but the gentle, tender care of…well…a lover. I wasn't even bothered that we hadn't slept together. Taking care of me was so much more fulfilling for both of us right then.
Jordan washed my chest, letting her hands run across it smoothly as she washed and then up and down my arms, gently stroking the spots made sore by IV's and places where blood was taken and given. I sighed and relaxed into her touch. Then she washed my back and the entry wound. I didn't feel any pain, just the gentle running of her soft fingers over the wound. She washed my shoulders and with the tip of her pointer finger ran a trail through my freckles in her own little connect the dots game. I smiled and kissed the inside of her upper arm while it was reached around my neck. She kissed me back at my temple and I could feel her smile against my face. She pulled away then, and fetched some new water to do my face. When she returned, she laid a towel behind my head on the pillow and I laid back onto it wordlessly. I watched the steam rise from the little basin as Jordan placed a white washcloth into it, making the water slosh quietly against the side. She rang it out and then gently laid it on my face. I breathed in the heat and felt the warmth seep into my pores. When she lifted it off, she wet it again and washed behind my ears. Then she sat me back up again and gently leaned me forward, dipping my hair into the basin. She ran her fingers through my wet hair, shaking off some of the wetness and the sat me back up again. I shook with a little chill as the water trickled down to my chest. Jordan ran the washcloth through my hair a few times and then placed it beside her in the basin and used her hands to finish. When she had fixed my hair, she let her hands travel down to my chest and slowly worked the water around on my chest causing it to dry.
When Jordan was finished, she pulled out a fluffy dark blue towel from her bag that I hadn't noticed when I looked before. She opened it with a smile and laid it across my chest. I was enveloped by the warmth. Not only from the towel but from the gesture as well. She dried my face, then my chest and shoulders finally ending by rubbing the towel over my hair several times. When she pulled back I smiled.
JORDAN…
When I had finished cleaning Woody up, I scrunched the towel up and wrapped it around his neck. I held tightly onto both sides and he smiled at me, his hair standing out in 10 different directions. I smiled back and pulled gently on both ends of the towel, bringing him face to face with me.
"Thank you." He whispered shyly. I nodded and claimed his lips. Woody leaned back, probably straining himself a little, and held my hands around the ends of the towels, ensuring that I was leaning forward still holding his lips as he leaned back. He let go of my hands and held my face gently as we kissed. I laid one hand on his chest and the other I ran through his damp hair. I didn't really want to push him any further but, Woody let his hand wander down from my cheeks, down my side, and lifted me up onto him. I tried to keep myself from pushing on him to hard and I sort of hovered above him on the bed.
"Umm…Woody…" I said between kissing and groping.
"Yeah?" he moaned and unfortunately that just turned me on more.
"Remember how I wouldn't have sex with you…on…a washer?" His only answer was another moan as he arched his body off of the bed a little to touch mine. I didn't stop him, but I pulled back to look in his face.
"Annnnnnnddddd…..so what makes you think I'm gonna have sex with you in a hospital bed while you're MAIMED?" I asked and Woody stopped moving. He was silent for a moment then looked at the door and back to me. Then he shrugged his shoulders and started to protest, "But…but…there are locks on the door…aren't there? Locks on…"
But I just kept shaking my head 'no'. He sighed and shrugged again, deciding to ignore me and continue playing.
I kissed him one last time as he tried to pull me back towards him and I started to climb off of him just as the doctor pulled the curtain back.
"Oh! Sorry kids," he said as he looked casually down at Woody's chart. I scrambled off of the bed and threw the sheets back up at Woody before fixing my clothes.
"Sorry? What for?" Woody asked innocently, his hair incriminatingly mussed and his face red with blush. The doctor glanced up with one of those 'are you kidding' looks. Woody looked at me for help and I just raised my arms with one of those, 'I got nothing' looks. The doctor was silent for a beat then,
"Nice undies, I dig the Simpsons." He said with a little smirk and moved up to check Woody's vitals.
"And as for the sorry part, I hate to break it to you but THOSE sort of extra curricular activities can't happen for at the very least…4 weeks?" he said cringing.
Woody went slack jawed. "Huh?" he said and the doctor nodded. "What's..um…what's that mean exactly?" Woody asked sitting up in bed a little.
The doctor sighed and came to stand next to Woody. He threw a clean gown down in his lap and as Woody put it on said,
"That means EXACTLY that you've got a doctor's note for physical education class Tiger…no gym participation for a month." He said and pointed a finger at me.
"Just say 'NO' dear, its every woman's right." He said winking and strolling out of the room. I turned back to Woody. He was still slack jawed.
"Oh will you take it easy? We can find loads of other stuff to do…" I said and came to sit next to him on the bed. Woody furrowed his brow and looked at me.
"Like what?" he asked softly, his voice stolen with his manhood. I rolled my eyes.
"well, didn't you do stuff BEFORE you lost your virginity or did you just jump in feet first?" I asked stating what I felt was the obvious. Woody un-furrowed his brow and turned a little red.
"Oh." He said and I let my fingers graze along his thigh lightly. "Ohhhhhhhhhhh……." He said finally, and I realized he just had his "ah-hah!" moment. I smiled and rolled my eyes.
"Ooooo…….i haven't just messed around in a while." I said and leaned forward to kiss Woody. He smiled and raised his eyebrows.
"Hmmmmm…….four weeks of fore-play……that's gonna put a lot of pressure on me for the real thing….." he said and I leaned forward again, and claimed his lips.
"hmmm…..we're gonna have to stock up on supplies for the weekend…no going outdoors for us at that time." I said and Woody seemed pleased with this proposition. He pulled me gently back down to him again and wrapped his arms around my back, stroking it gently as we kissed. We forgot the curtains were now opened and the entire E.R. was getting a little soft-core porn.
"What are you people rabbits?" A voice called from the doorway and we both looked towards the sound. Cal stood there, arms crossed. I started to respond, but Cal put up a hand.
"it's okay, I understand…I mean…it was the boxers right? I knew they would work…I told Woody that…" he continued and I leaned back down to kiss Woody once again as Cal continued to ramble and we continued to ignore him.
To be continued……….
I swear!! The next chapter is gonna be called, " 28 days." Can't go wrong there can we kids? You know what is gonna be allowed after thse 28 days…and it will happen early..i'm not gonna give you 12 pages of fore-play…as…..entertaining as that….could…be….oh well…it'll be up eventually. Like I said, semester is almost over and that is currently priority one….!!!