Chapter Six

Jordan rounded the corner of the hospital hallway at a full run. She had stayed on the line with Garrett long enough to get the information of where he was at and had sped off to Massachusetts General. She stopped in the waiting room of the eleventh floor long enough to catch her breath and try to find out more details. Looking around, she saw Nigel and Lily, who looked as if she had been crying for a while. Rene' Walcott was on her phone, but flipped it shut when she caught sight of Jordan. Devan was no where to be seen. Jordan assumed she was in the room with Woody.

"How is he?" she asked, as she soon found herself surrounded by them.

"He's stable...that's about all we know right now," said Rene', gently rubbing her hand down Jordan's arm. While it was widely known that Rene' and Jordan didn't get along, Rene' had been hoping that Woody and Jordan would make a go of things...especially since Jordan had seemingly put her past behind her and settled down.

"When will we know something?" Jordan asked. She had to know something...soon...or she was going to explode.

"Garrett's back there now with him. He should be out in a minute," Nigel said. He saw the panic in Jordan's face...and the confusion. She wasn't sure what she should do...how concerned she should be...what was her place. "You okay, love?"

Jordan shook her head. "No...not until I know...."

At that moment, Garrett came through the swinging doors of the critical care unit. He gently pulled Jordan and Nigel aside. Lily and Rene' soon joined them.

"What happened, Garrett? I need to know....what? How is he...please?" Jordan pleaded.

"He's doing okay right now. He's on oxygen, but only with the nose clips. He's got some IVs running – a few lines for medicine, nutrition, that sort of thing. His eyes are bandaged."

"What happened?" she asked.

"It was supposed to be a routine drug bust. His department heard rumors of a meth lab over off of Culvert Place. They substantiated the rumors. Supposedly, the lab was no longer working, but they were selling out of the apartment. He went over with the under covers doing drug surveillance, because they were afraid there was going to be some trouble. The door was broken down, and as usual, Woody was the first one through the door. We don't know if it was a deliberate act on the dealers or not, but the meth lab blew up – right in Woody's face. The doctors are not sure if his blindness is due to the light from the explosion or the chemicals from the meth. Or a combination of both. It could be days before they know."

Jordan listened to all of this, carefully taking it in. "Can I see him?" she asked softly. "Will he let me see him? Will Devan mind?"

"Devan?" asked Nigel, incredulously. "Oh, that's right...you haven't been in the office for nearly a week. Devan's gone."

"Gone?"

"Yeah. Got a phone call from mommy in Paris. She had procured a position for her lovely daughter there in a medical institute. Devan was on a plane quicker than you could say 'French fry' and is out of ours and Woody's lives."

The shock showed on Jordan's face. "So...then he's alone?"

"All alone, love. No one."

Turning back to Garrett, she asked again, "Can I see him?"

Garrett nodded and walked her down the hall. "What are you going to do, Jo? Do you think this is the wisest thing for you to be doing?"

"I need to see him...just to make sure he's okay."

"That's not what I meant." Garrett stopped her and pulled her around to face him. "I know where your mind's going. You're going to take him home with you and take care of him as soon as they release him. You've got a great opportunity waiting for you in North Carolina. Let me remind you that Woody was the one who broke up with you....not the other way around. How do you know when it's all over...when he's well, he still won't leave you again?"

"I don't, Garrett. And that's the thing about loving someone. You just don't know all the answers. It's like Woody told me one time – you've got to follow your heart."

She quietly entered his hospital room. Some of the equipment she was still familiar with from her time training to be a heart surgeon. The pumps...the monitors...the tubes. She grimaced. Not a whole lot had changed. A critical care unit was still a critical care unit. Except this time everything was all hooked up to Woody. All the machines were monitoring him – the man who still held her heart...even if he didn't want it anymore. Quietly, she made her way over to his bed. Despite his six-foot plus frame, he looked smaller in that hospital bed. She grinned to herself. Too many times she had cursed her shortness when he had towered over her, giving her the tenth degree on something she had done wrong...looking down his nose at her, angry...flustered...frustrated. But she had relished his height...his masculinity ...his strength... when he held her...as they danced, when he hugged her...when he stood behind her with his hand on the small of her back – to guide her through a crowded room or a tricky homicide scene.

Now he seemed smaller...vulnerable...and the patches over his eyes did nothing to dispel this. Jordan noted each eye had a circular pad over it and then both were held in place by another bandage that went completely around his head. The white gauze was quite a contrast to his tanned face and unruly hair. She had hardly made a sound since she entered the room... still standing in the doorway, observing him, when he turned his head and said quietly, "Jordan?"

Amazed that he had heard her...and even more amazed that he knew who it was, she walked over to the bed and placed her hands on the rail. "Hey..."

His hands moved around, trying to find hers. Gently she placed one of hers in his. "How'd you know it was me?"

He smiled sadly. "You know what they've taught you in med school – when one sense is taken away, the others become sharper?"

"Yeah..."

He chuckled. "Your perfume...I smelled your perfume...lavender and vanilla. You're the only person I know who wears that. I knew it was you."

"Other than your eyes, how are you feeling, Woody?"

"Headache...hurt pride...but other than that, I'm okay."

"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner..."

"Yeah, I know. Macy told me you had an interview in North Carolina. Did it go well?"

"Real well. They've offered me the position."

"Going to take it?"

At that moment, the nurse came in. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she told Jordan. "You can come back in a few minutes. The doctor needs to examine Detective Hoyt's eyes."

Jordan nodded and squeezed Woody's hand. "I'll be back in a few minutes, if you want me."

He sighed. He was only just beginning to realize how much he still wanted her. And now, if she took that position in Durham, he may not have her again for a long time. Even if she decided to stay in Boston, he may not be able to make things right. How many ways could you spell the word 'fool'? He knew of only one – W-O-O-D-Y.