It was another busy day at the Boston PD. Phones were ringing off the hook and people were everywhere. Eddie Winslow's office was no exception. It was crazy as hell in the office on Monday mornings. Eddie grimaced and looked over at his partner, Woody, who was shuffling through paper work left over from the weekend. He was absorbed by the task. "Hey, Woody, want some coffee?"

"Sure.."

"I'll get you a cup from the break room. I need to get out of here for a minute, okay?"

"Yeah..." He didn't know how far his partner would get, as Eddie's cell phone was ringing in his hip holder as he exited the door. He heard Eddie say "Winslow," and then "Damn." He figured it was another call about one of the weekend arrests when Eddie reappeared in the office doorway, his face as white as the shirt he was wearing. One glance at his partner told Woody something was wrong...gravely wrong.

"What is it Eddie?" Woody asked, his stomach tying itself in knots...if it was Jordan....

Eddie sat down heavily on the couch in their office, motioning for Woody to turn his office chair around so they could face each other. "I just got a call from the Irish ambassador's office in New York," Eddie's voice faltered. He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.

"Eddie?"

"It's Max, Woody. He was found dead in his hotel room. They need to know what to do with him...he had left my number as a contact if anything should happen...Jordan doesn't know....I've got to tell her...how?"

Woody felt as if all the air in his lungs had been sucked out. Oh God. How were they going to tell her? What was she going to do? Finally, finding his voice, he said, "I think we need to call Garrett first. Let him tell Nigel, Lily, and the others so they can be there when you tell her."

"You'll be there, too?"

Woody nodded. Jordan would need everyone....he picked up his cell phone and punched in Garrett's number.

Garrett had discreetly told Peter, Nigel, Bug, and Lily what had happened. Fortunately, Jordan wasn't due into work until lunch that day, giving the other staff time to deal with their emotions. Max was Jordan's father, but all of them had spent many warm hours at his pub...over his table at Thanksgiving ... participating in his role-playing game once a year to solve cold cases. They all had loved him. None of them knew how to tell Jordan...and Garrett was enormously glad that Eddie had the task...he didn't know if he could do that to her...tell her that her father was dead.

Jordan walked into the morgue around lunch time and went straight to her office and emerged herself in her newest case...never suspecting anything was wrong. A few minutes later, the intercom buzzed on her desk. "Jordan," Garrett's voice came through phone, "Can you please come into my office?" His voice sounded all business...strained...too business like. Slightly apprehensive, she picked up her legal pad and made her way to Garrett's office. Eddie Winslow was there, too. Funny, she didn't have any open cases with Eddie right now...but he looked awfully serious. Woody...her mind jumped to conclusions....did anything happen to Woody? She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Garrett shut the door.

From his position outside Garrett's office, Woody watched her carefully. He had wanted to be in there when Eddie told her, but wasn't sure what her reaction would be. He saw Eddie pull her to the couch and Garrett kneel down in front of her. Eddie took Jordan's hands and told her, as gently as he could, Woody knew, but that still did nothing to soften the blow. The look on Jordan's face was pure shock, then he saw it crumple as she began to sob in pain. Woody never felt so helpless in his life. He saw Eddie try to put his arms around her, but she wouldn't let him, pushing away. Garrett gently tried to hold her, saying something to her....then releasing her. Garrett walked to the door and motioned for Woody. "She wants you," he said to a startled Woody. Woody went in and sat down beside her. It was only then that Jordan allowed someone to take her in their arms and comfort her. Garrett and Eddie cleared out of the office to let Jordan have some privacy.

He held her. Just simply held her and let her sob. He didn't think she was ever going to stop and it scared him. He had never known Jordan to cry...now sobs wracked her thin shoulders, causing her entire body to shudder. Finally, after minutes had passed, she lifted her head from his shoulder. He reached over to Garrett's desk and got a tissue, gently wiping her eyes, but never letting go of her. "What am I going to do?" she asked, looking into his face as he tried to tidy her face. He wished he had answers for her...answers to make her feel better...answers to take away the pain. But he didn't have any of that.

"I don't know, Jo...I don't know. But you'll make it...I know you will."

"Woody, I don't want to right now."

He pulled her back against him. She was still crying. He could feel the tears through his dress shirt. "I know, baby. But you will. And I'll be here for you...anyway you need me...you're not alone." He pulled away and tilted her chin so he could see her face. "I'm here. What do you want to do now?"

"Oh God. What do I need to do? You'd think I'd know, working here....I don't. Lily...I need Lily."

Woody got up off the couch and walked to the door. "Lily?" he said.

The grief counselor was there in a second. "She needs to know what she needs to do...and I do, too," Woody said. Lily went in and sat with Jordan, going over the paperwork required to get Max's body shipped back from Ireland to Boston. A few minutes later, Lily emerged, her eyes red-rimmed and her face wet from crying with her friend.

"I've got her to fill out the paperwork and sign the forms. I'm going to fax them over and I may hear something today. If I do, I'll bring it by her apartment."

"How's she doing?" asked Nigel.

"Not good right now. And that's to be expected. She's asking for you," Lily replied, indicating Woody. Woody walked back in and found her marginally better, trying to pull herself together.

"There's so much to do..." she said when he sat back down and took both her hands in one of his. Her hands ... so small and now they were trembling. "I need to call Dad's brothers and sisters....grandmother....There's the flowers and the minister. The wake...I need a dress." Woody could see the shock wearing off her face. Panic was setting in. He could see it mirrored in her eyes.

"Shhhh". He pulled her back in his arms and softly rubbed her back. "It will be okay." He could feel the tears again. "Let's make a list. You've got a whole group of people waiting outside to help you. All you have to do is tell them what needs to be done." Woody picked up her legal pad. "Now, tell me again, what do you need to do?"

A few minutes later, they had compiled a list. "I guess I need to go home now...start getting things ready. I should tell Garrett that I'll be using some of those personal leave days now..." She was trying so hard to be strong again...

"I think he already knows." Woody helped her up from the couch. She wasn't very steady on her feet. He immediately put his arm around her waist and helped her to the door. She seemed surprised to see Nigel, Peter, Bug, and Eddie still hovering around the office. She held her composure until Nigel hugged her.

"Love, I wish I could do something...something to take away this pain...make it all right again," he said, smoothing back her hair.

"Thanks, Nige. I may need your help before this is all over."

"Anything....anything, love," he said, hugging her close, but looking over her head at Woody. Woody caught the expression. Don't leave her alone for a minute. Call me if she needs anything at all.

"Hey Jordan, don't worry about anything...we'll take care of it for you," said Bug.

"Yeah...," agreed Peter, not really knowing what to say, but wanting to do something. He had never seen Jordan this fragile.

Nodding, she thanked them and turned to Garrett, who hugged her hard. "I think I'm going to need some personal time," she said.

"Take it, Jo. Take all the time you need." Garrett turned to Woody. "Call me and let me know how she's doing," he said under his breath, when Jordan had turned to Eddie. "Let me know what I need to do."

Woody nodded, trying to steer Jordan out of the morgue. He felt like she needed to get away...have some time to grieve privately before the myriad of decisions did begin to pile up on her. Eddie hugged her and whispered something in her ear, then turned to Woody. "Take all the time you need. I've got it cleared through the chief and Walcott."

"Thanks. I'll be in touch soon."

Woody got her downstairs and into his car. Suddenly, he didn't know where to take her...His place? Her apartment? Her dad's? "Jo," he asked softly, "Where do you want to go?"

"Dad's. I need to go to Dad's. Everyone will be coming there. I need to get it cleaned."

He looked at her sharply. The panic was there, along with still a good deal of shock. The best thing he could do for her right now was humor her. He had a feeling reality would set in tonight. He made a mental note to call Lily and see if she would stay with Jordan this evening. Jordan may be more comfortable with Lily than him. After all, a lot had happened between them. "Okay," he replied. "I'll take you by your place first to get your things."

The afternoon was a blur. Jordan had picked up her things and they had gone to Max's. Woody had watched her closely, fearing some kind of reaction from her. Instead, when they entered the house, she had sighed. "It doesn't seem like home anymore...since he left for Ireland. I've only been back a few times. But it's funny. It doesn't seem like home, but yet I feel closest to him here .... And the Pogue. Oh, God. I've got to tell Marge and Gordan..."

Woody pulled her to him. "It's okay. Nigel and Lily are notifying everyone. Then they'll call them back once the arrangements are in place."

Paul had come by from St. Inez. He had comforted Jordan the best way he knew how and said he would be in touch soon. Somehow the word had gotten out to neighbors and friends and Jordan was besieged with food and phone calls. Woody could see her trying to keep her composure and remain strong but finally he put his foot down. She needed to rest. She needed privacy. She needed to grieve. After the last neighbor had left, he locked the backdoor, turned off all the downstairs lights, and went to find her. She was curled up on the couch, just staring ahead.

"Hey," he said, sitting down beside her and pulling her to him. She felt like a rag doll...she was simply worn out. "Let's get you ready for bed. I think Lily is coming to stay with you tonight. You don't need to be alone."

Jordan nodded against his chest, but stifled back her sobs. She had hoped he would stay with her...but with things the way they were...she was just glad that he had been with her so long today. She couldn't have made it without him. He held her for a long time....stroking her back and her hair. "Are you hungry? We have enough food to feed an army .. and you need to eat." Woody was worried about her. The next few days were going to be hard on her...the hardest she had really known for a long time. She needed to take care of herself.

She shook her head no. "Not now...I think it would make me sick, Wood. Really. However, I would like a shower...." She pulled away from him and headed upstairs. Woody followed.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked, when they reached her bedroom.

"Yeah...I just need some time by myself. Go back downstairs. Fix yourself a sandwich. And I think there's still some coffee in the freezer. A pot would be great." She disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door.