The days brought some slow improvement to Jordan, but it seemed that for every step forward her case took, there were two steps back. The area where the lab technician was spotted was heavily wooded and mountainous – he could hide out for days or weeks without being caught by the Maine State Police. Because the doctors were still not sure exactly what strain or concentration the riacin was, treating Jordan was sort of a hit and miss situation. Some days she would be better, and other days the pain was excruciating for her. She never complained, but Woody, Garrett, and the others hated watching her struggle. The nerve damage was there....in her legs. Walking, at best, was a tricky situation. At the worst, the pain shooting through her legs was unbearable. She didn't even want the bed sheets touching them. Still, she continued to work with the physical therapist, hoping that the nerves would somehow reconstruct themselves and she could get back to some kind of normal situation.

After several days of small, incremental improvement Dr. Barker asked her how she would feel about leaving the hospital and going home.

"Home?" She barely dared to breathe out the word. She had been in the hospital for six weeks. Six long weeks. Woody had been great. So had Garrett. But home...that would be wonderful.

"Do you have someone that could stay with you? At least check in during the day and stay with you at night?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"If you can work that detail out, there's no reason you can't go home... as long as you come back for your physical therapy."

"What about work?"

Dr. Barker chuckled. "We'll re-evaluate that in a week or so."

Jordan nodded and picked up the phone. Automatically, she dialed Woody.

"Hoyt," she heard his voice say.

"Hi – it's me..it's Jordan."

Woody, sitting at his desk, shuffling through paperwork, automatically perked up. Propping the phone between his shoulder and his ear, he continued to look busy as he continued the conversation. "I know it's you...how are you doing?"

"Great...really great. Dr. Barker just told me I could go home."

"Home? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, but it has to be on one condition. I have to have someone check on me during the day and stay with me at night."

Woody was silent for a moment. "So..."

"Um....so how do you feel spending the night with me for the next several weeks?"

"Jordan Cavanaugh. Are you asking me to move in with you?" Woody teased.

She felt her cheeks redden. "It would just be for a little while...if it's not too inconvenient."

"Let's see....the woman of my dreams....just uttered the line I've been wanting to hear for the last six months....how inconvenient could that be?"

"Yeah. The woman of your dreams has practically no feeling in her legs and needs help getting up and getting to the potty at night. That sounds really convenient."

"Well...I think it's sweet. You're depending on me...makes me feel...needed."

"Woody..." Jordan's voice held a warning tone.

"Just kidding, sweetheart. You know I will. But on one condition. We don't take you back to your apartment. The lab technician knows where you live. He may come back. I suggest either my apartment or Max's house, your choice."

Jordan knew Woody's studio apartment would be even more cramped than her own tiny two room one. "Dad's would have more room...we'd be more comfortable there."

"Are you good with that?" Woody knew she seldom went back there since Max left.

"Yeah....yeah. I'm okay. The utilities are still on. And Dad had that whirlpool bath put in a couple of years ago. That may help my legs."

"Then it's a done deal. Tell the doctor you've got your bases covered. I'll go by my place tonight and get my stuff. When you leave the hospital, we'll swing by yours to get your stuff."

"Okay...and Woody?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

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"Eddie?" Woody poked his head in his partner's office.

"What's up, Hoyt?"

"I was wondering if I could take a longer lunch hour today? The doctor's letting Jordan go home and I need to go get her."

"Really? She's going home?"

"Yeah...she has to have someone check in on her during the day and stay with her at night, but she's out of the hospital."

"I know she's glad," Eddie said, chuckling. He knew how antsy Jordan could become in one place. "So, you're staying with her at night?"

Woody nodded, feeling a slight blush rising in his cheeks.

"You lucky dog you. Take the afternoon if you need it," Eddie replied.

Woody grinned and headed to the hospital. He had already retrieved a key to Max's house from Jordan and had taken his things over there last night. He had deliberately went ahead and set his things in Jordan's room. Even if her legs got to feeling fine, he didn't want her alone at night at all...not until that guy was caught and locked up for good. She could fuss all she may want, but he was going to be in her bed with her at night.

Jordan was ready and waiting for him when he got there. She had already filled out the paperwork and said her goodbyes to the nurses and Dr. Barker. She was sitting on the side of her bed when he arrived. "Ready to go?" he asked.

She smiled at him and pointed to the wheelchair. "They won't let me try to walk out of here...so I guess you get to push me out."

"Hmm.....so I get to start pushing you around and there's nothing you can do about it?" he joked. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Don't you even start with me Woodrow Hoyt."

He winced at the use of his given name. "Okay, truce. Just don't call me Woodrow, okay?" He carefully helped her out of the bed and into the wheel chair and pushed her down the hall to his car. A nurse helped him get her in the seat and buckled in. First they ran by her apartment so she could pick up her things. Then, a few minutes later, they were at her father's house. Woody took her arm and helped her up the walk and the steps. "Feeling okay?" he asked as he opened the front door.

"Yeah....just give me a minute." Jordan had only been back to Max's house twice since he had left Boston. Once to clean out the refrigerator and empty the garbage and then again to allow an alarm company to install a burglar alarm since the house would be empty most of the time. The house held too many memories for her...not all of them good. In addition to her health, Woody had worried about what the emotional turmoil coming back to the house may cause. But it seemed to him he had little choice. Her apartment was out of the question and his was too small. He watched her closely as she made her way through the entrance into the living room and onto the couch. When she was settled in, he went and retrieved her bag and things from the car and locked the door. He was still a little paranoid about the lab technician coming back to hurt her again.

"Do you have to go back to work?" Jordan asked as they took her things upstairs. So far her legs weren't hurting her too badly and she was maneuvering around well. Woody helped her into her room.

"No. Look, I put my things in here...I'm just not comfortable with you sleeping alone at night until this guy is caught...."

"It's okay, Woody. I'd...I'd rather be with you at night." No matter what happened to her, Jordan felt safer when she was with Woody. She had felt this way ever since she had known him and they started working together. It hadn't changed. Besides, they slept together before, even if it hadn't been on an ongoing basis. Just as long as he knew that right now...she couldn't...everything hurt too much...her back, her legs. "I just..." she stopped, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks.

Woody came over and pulled her into his arms. Resting his cheek on the top of her head, he said "I know, sweetie...I know. It's okay."

"My legs and back really hurt. Dr. Barker said it will probably get better, but no one knows when. Not until we can tell what concentration and type the riacin was. He's treating me with a nerve stimulate...to try to get the sheaths to grow back over the nerve endings. If that happens, I'll be fine. Just no one is quite sure how long it's going to take...I'm sorry."

Woody hugged her closer. The technician had done more than just taken away her mobility and her peace of mind. He had taken away her femininity....her womanhood. And as much as Jordan hadn't spoken her fears, he knew they were there...what they were. "Shhh....don't worry about it now. Everything will be fine...just wait and see."

Jordan shook her head. "I just wish I knew when."

Woody rubbed her back. "Hey, let's get something to eat...I'm starved. What about you?"

"Chinese?"

"Sounds good. Want to order it in or go out?"

"Delivery sounds good...maybe we can catch a pay-per-view?"

"It's a plan. You find the movie, I'll order the food. Sesame chicken?"

"Yeah...Lo Mein, too."

Woody placed the order and before long they were eating. "So, Woody...tell me...since you haven't breathed a word about it since I've been in the hospital...any word on the perp that did this to me?"

"You know I'm not on the case, Jo."

"Well, not officially... unofficially?"

"Eddie Winslow is on the case. He told me they've got him spotted in Maine."

"Maine?"

"Yeah...family there. They have a hunting cabin...it's just really mountainous and wooded..."

"Eric Rudolph all over again."

Woody nodded. Jordan sighed. "I'm going to change before the movie." She went upstairs and put on her girl boxers and a tank top. Wrapping her bathrobe around her, she was making her way downstairs when her legs gave out. Woody heard her as she hit the floor.

"Jordan!"

"I'm fine...fine...just a little pain."

Woody brushed her hair back from her eyes. He had never heard her complain..not once. Not about anything. Swallowing hard, he asked "Do you need to go back to the hospital? Call the doctor?"

"No...no. Just need to take my meds and the pain killer."

Woody nodded. He helped her up and half walked, half carried her to the couch. He got her meds and gave them to her with a glass of water. After she swallowed them, he pulled her against him and lay down with her on the couch. They watched the movie, but Jordan didn't get more than half way through it when the pain medication overcame her and she dozed off. Woody gazed at her. He hated seeing her like this. Gently, he picked her up and carried her upstairs to bed. Pulling his own clothes off and putting on some sweatpants, he slid in the bed next to her, pulling her close. Kissing her cheek softly, he settled down to sleep himself, vowing tomorrow night he was going to fill Max's hot tub and make her get in that. Maybe that would help get rid of some of her pain.