Disclaimer: I don't own Crossing Jordan, nor do I own 'Try' by Nelly Furtado... In fact the only thing I do own... is myself.

Note: I should have my next story posted by tommorow, its called 'Brokendown Palace.' which yes I know is a movie, but the title fit so give me some credit. LOL enjoy the last chapter everyone!

Woody sat in the empty space of his apartment, the silence mocking him. Boxes scattered the room, most of his furniture had been moved out into a old U-haul, a few boxes in his car, his friend Josie, a waitress from the diner down the street was helping his drive the U-haul. He was unaccountably sad for reasons unknown even to him, he should be happy for the substantial pay raise, not to mention he could afford a bigger apartment. Yet, something held him back, some indefinable reason he couldn't leave.

He heard Tyler in the doorway calling him, he sighed and came in.

"Hey Tomcat, what's all this?" she asked pointing to the boxes in his empty living room.

"I'm moving." He said softly, refusing to meet his eyes, her grey-green eyes scanned the room.

"And when were you planning on telling your girlfriend that?" she asked, playing with the tips of his hair.

"I didn't know how to tell you." He said softly, closing his eyes, he hated lying to Tyler, she was a great girl and deserved someone who appreciated her, someone who wasn't in love with a driven medical examiner that pushed his every button and enjoyed doing it.

"Listen..." he started, she quickly stopped him.

"Don't start like that, nothing good starts with 'listen'." Her voice was soft, she cocked her head to look at him better, she could see the pain in his eyes with every word he spoke.

"I don't want to do this Ty, I like you a lot..." his voice trailed off once again.

"I know Woody baby, its hard to be in love with someone who doesn't love you back." She stood, placed a soft kiss on his forehead and left, closing the door behind her softly.

He didn't know how long he sat there in the barren studio, reminding him on how barren his life was. He was starting over again, a fresh page in an old book, a pilgrim in a strange new land. It was over, Boston was over; at now he stood at crossroads, wondering which fork to take, wondering if he would ever know the answer.

Jordan slammed her fist against the middle of the steering wheel hopelessly, trying to see over the endless sea of vehicles packed onto the expressway, normally she would have been surprised at how fast the crowd was traveling, especially in rain. But today it seemed sluggish and lengthy. She sighed in frustration and looked for the nearest exit.

For some unaccountable reason she started to cry, a solitary, salty tear falling gracefully down her cheek, she knew the second that he made it to the airport it was over, and she couldn't stand the thought of that, it being over, just like that. She knew it was her fault, for him leaving, he was running away from her, from what she caused. She pushed, one too many times, he stopped pushing back. Her long hair was matted softly from the rain; her red woolen coat soaked threw. The picture he left for her propped on the dashboard, she looked at it ever so often, remembering how happy she felt then, when he was there with her. All she wanted to tell him was simply.

Stay.

That one word had always been frightening to her, it used to be stay away. Until she walked into a bank and met this freakishly dorky cop that had some really weird hobbies, but cared, and didn't care how long it took. Before she knew it that lone tear was an army, she quickly pulled off to the side of the expressway, the city all lit up, the cars whizzing by. Without warning she pounded her fury into the steering wheel, slamming all she had into that inert object, hoping the pain would disappear.

Woody slammed the trunk of his car shut, leaning against it for support. He didn't know why he was waiting there, he was set to leave, all he had to do was get in the car and drive... just like when he was little, all he needs to be free is to drive away and keep driving. Sliding to the ground, he rested his head on the black lacquered car door. He couldn't move because he felt like... he was betraying someone, Jordan, he knew she never meant to hurt him... but she did, and one day soon he could forgive her, when he was a safe distance away. He slammed his head against the car, hoping that the pain in his head would take his mind off the pain in his heart. Slowly he stood and stretched, looking up and down the empty residential street, not sure what he was hoping to see, just hoping to see some sign he should stay. Not so much as a dog on the street, running a hand threw his hair, he climbed into his car. With a nervous groan he shoved the key into the ignition.

Jordan's driving was already shaky, but she was speeding down the narrow street, only when she felt the curb under her tire did she stop completely. His light was on, good sign, at least he didn't leave.

Now she really hated that he lived on the top floor, 'I mean really, who ever buys a apartment on the twelfth floor?' she thought as she saw his familiar baby blue door, the brass numbers spelling out 445, his apartment, she breathed in.

"Woody!" she shouted as she smashed her small hand into the door, pounding frantically. "Woody please, don't leave!" she was sobbing as she yelled at the door, still it didn't budge, the door stood still. All she could hear was the steady drum of the rain against the roof. When it opened, like magic, she smiled, wiping her tears away quickly.

"Woody." She said excited, but to her astonishment, it wasn't Woody standing in the doorway, it was Tyler, dressed in a simple white spaghetti strap shirt and levi's.

"He isn't here." She said softly but a little stiffly. "He left about five minutes ago... the only reason I'm here is he asked me to pack up some stuff he left behind." Jordan almost sunk to the floor, her knees going weak, her face falling. Tyler sized her up a bit and smiled "Its not to late to catch him Jordan, hurry."

Jordan didn't even remember running down the stairs, just that when she felt the accelerator she pressed down, hard. She passed a old woman in a car, turning, hearing her car skid, not caring. Her windshield wipers streaking rain away from her line of view, but only to be returned with more of the silver water. She saw his taillights before her headlights hit him; she felt excitement course threw her veins.

Pushing her car to go faster she passed the double yellow line, honking viciously, he didn't even notice her, his eyes seemed so distant. Before she could stop herself she passed him up, only to blockade the lane with her car, next thing she heard was the skidding of brakes.

"Dear God Jordan are you insane!" Woody screamed, leaping out of his car, slamming his door so hard his car shuttered.

Slowly she got out of the silver ford explorer, her hands trembling.

"Woody, I have to talk to you!" she screamed over the din of the rain.

"And that requires you killing yourself?" he asked loudly, his hair in his face, he was already soaked with rain, now he was drenched.

"What were you just going to leave, and not say anything to me... just leave without a trace?" she demanded angrily.

"If that's what it takes." He said firmly, crossing his arms in a determined manner. Jordan could see him trembling with cold in his T-shirt, he acted like it didn't matter, but Jordan knew it did.

"Woody please, I want you to come home, to Boston, Boston is your home... please." She begged, her chin trembling. "I want you here with me." He leaned against his car, closing his eyes and running his hand threw his hair, 'his nervous habit.' Jordan thought to herself, his sopping hair slicked back. He was thinking, she knew he hated to be interrupted when making a decision; he began to chew furiously at his fingernail.

"Woody... I... Please." She begged, hugging herself and coming closer to him... the empty road only occupied by them suddenly seemed to wide, as if he could get away, she desperately craved to be closer. She could hear his radio on, a DJ talked quickly, about things that didn't really matter; Woody finally opened his eyes after a long minute.

"What do you want Jordan, I don't even think you know." He rebuked softly.

"I want you Woody... please... please." She begged, almost on her hands and knees, with each second that passed she realized that he might say no, something that register in her mind until now. Something that she should have thought about. It was several excruciating seconds before he spoke, when he heard the first song come on the radio, it's tune soft and melodious, the lyrics bleeding together with the music.

And to Jordan's relief, Woody smiled. "Dance with me." He commanded gently, holding out his hand, she took it before he had the chance to pull away. She leaned into him, suddenly she didn't feel her body shaking from cold or fear, she felt safe, and warm right threw. Setting her chin on his shoulder she smiled, she wouldn't let him out of her sights again.

All I know
Is everything is not as it's sold
but the more I grow the less I know
And I have lived so many lives
Though I'm not old
And the more I see, the less I grow
The fewer the seeds the more I sow

Then I see you standing there
Wanting more from me
And all I can do is try
Then I see you standing there
Wanting more from me
And all I can do is try

I wish I hadn't seen all of the realness
And all the real people are really not real at all
The more I learn the more I cry
As I say goodbye to the way of life
I thought I had designed for me

Then I see you standing there
wanting more from me
and all I can do is try
Then I see you standing there
I'm all I'll ever be
But all I can do is try
Try

All of the moments that already passed
We'll try to go back and make them last
All of the things we want each other to be
We never will be
And that's wonderful, and that's life
And that's you, baby
This is me, baby
And we are, we are, we are, we are
Free
In our love
We are free in our love

One year later...

Woody sat at the base of the stairs that led to the street, rain battering the sidewalk, much like that day Jordan came for him. his job back, everything back into place, he could breath again. It was such a long time since he had seen familiar, to long to count the years. But for the first time in his life he felt... safe, and happy. It had been a long time since he felt that cold metal bat in his hands, and heard that tired moan. Still he heard them like yesterday, they left a vivid image in his mind he couldn't forget, he didn't want to. Maybe, he thought to himself, Maybe, the past isn't meant to be forgotten, its suppose to be remembered and learned from, even the most painful experiences, can have something good come out of them.

"Hey, Woody Honey, you coming inside?" Jordan asked from the doorway at the top of the stair, a small pouch to her stomach, showing threw her overalls, white paint smudged her face. They we're painting the spare bedroom for their child. A simple but tasteful gold ring on her finger. In seven and a half months they would have a new reason to stay in touch, to learn and experience, there was just one more thing to do. Slowly he pulled up the touchtone phone that sat in his clammy hand; this was a long time coming.

"Deana's Diner, how may I help you?" a voice said on the other end, Woody swallowed hard before answering.

"Yeah, I'm looking for Leah Hoyt, she still works here right?"

"Yeah Honey, can I ask who this is?"

"Woody Hoyt, her son..."

Fin