Broken Chapter Five, a crossing jordan fanfic

-- FIVE --

When Garret blinked his eyes open the next morning, he rolled over and looked at the empty space on the bed next to him, before looking up and seeing sunlight streaming through the bedroom window that overlooked the city below. He sat up slowly and then looked at the clock on the table on her side of the bed, nearly having a heart attack when he saw that it read 9:42 . He rubbed his eyes softly and looked around the empty bedroom, before he got up, walking out into the living room and raising an eyebrow when he saw her curled up on the couch, book in hand.

"Morning sleepyhead." Renee smiled up at him with a grin. "Coffee's done."

"Am I dreaming?" Garret looked at her as he walked over to the kitchen, then poured himself a cup of coffee, and took a sip off of it, drinking it black. "It's nearly ten and I'm still here...and you're here." He rubbed his eyes with one hand. "I'm supposed to be at work."

"No you're not." She got up and walked over to him, resting a hand on the bare skin on his back gently. "I called you in sick. Jordan said she'll cover your shift today." She kissed the back of his shoulder softly. "Figured you could use a day off..."

"But why aren't you at work." Garret raised an eyebrow slightly and then yawned, before taking another sip of his coffee. "The chief medical examiner and district attorney are both MIA...the city will fall into ruin."

"It's Sunday." Renee smiled and then yawned. "You know, you're cute when you sleep."

Garret just laughed softly and then set his mug of coffee down, stretching his arms up over his head and grunting when she slapped his stomach as she walked back into the living room. "What was that for?!" He raised an eyebrow and then finished his coffee, before his eyebrows shot up when she turned on the tv. "You make me coffee AND you're a Patriots fan? And you keep scotch around?"

"I drank some coffee too. It wasn't just for you..." She rolled her eyes and then moved over so she was sitting on the far side of the couch.

Garret walked over and pulled a blanket off the back of the couch, before wrapping it around himself and laying down on his side on the couch, resting his head on her leg. "You're too good to me." He smiled softly and then snuggled down to watch the game.

"No Garret...I'm not nearly good enough to you." Renee leaned down and kissed him softly, before settling back on the couch to watch the game.

They chatted softly for a while, until Renee noticed his breathing even out as he fell asleep, and she smiled as she wrapped the blanket around him a little better, before turning her attention back to the game to let him rest.

"Come on Garret!" Renee nudged him in the side playfully. "Look at those kids. They all look so embarassed." She looked over at the group of young teenage boys who were huddled on the small stage area in the back of the Pogue. "You know you want to."

Garret just shook his head and took another drink off his beer. "I don't know any of their material." He shrugged and then looked over at the group of kids, missing a drummer. It was a few weeks after he'd broken down, and he and Renee were at the Pogue at a "Battle of the Bands" that Jordan had set up at the persuasion of Renee, although he didn't know it.

Jordan and Renee had talked about how Garret played the drums, and how he hadn't played since Abby had died...and they agreed on the fact that he needed to. They weren't planning on the group's drummer not showing...it was just a nice surprise. They were planning on asking him to play for them after everyone had gone home and it was just them.

"Garret." Jordan walked over and handed him a glass of scotch. "They've got five minutes until they withdraw." She smiled sadly and looked over at the group of kids, who were looking around and asking if any other drummers would help them out.

"I...I..." Garret sighed and looked at the kids. "If I had sticks I'd do it."

"Say no more." Jordan pulled the pair of drumsticks that he normally kept in his desk out from under the bar and set them in front of him. "Boys! I've got you drummer!" She called over to the group, who all turned around and stared at her. "He may look a little funny but he's damn good."

Renee stifled back a laugh and then looked at Garret, who just glared at Jordan.

"I hate you." Garret narrowed his eyes at Jordan, and then looked at the kids. "Fine." He muttered softly and then downed the glass of scotch in one swallow, before standing up, sliding off the stool, and grabbing the drumsticks. "If I suck, don't count it against them."

"Not planning on it." Jordan smiled and patted him on the back. "You'll do fine Bones."

"Bones?!" Renee laughed and looked over at Jordan as Garret walked over to the stage area. "Where'd you dig up that?"

"I...did a little digging into his scrapbook one night...the one he keeps in his desk and pretends doesn't exist. I was just looking for a file and I saw it...and one of the first pictures was of him when he was seven, playing the drums. I posted it up on the bulletin board." Jordan grinned innocently. "Nigel was calling him 'Ringo'...Lily called him 'Dr. Rockstar'...and I called him 'Bones'." She laughed softly. "It was pretty good."

"Sounds like it." Renee looked over as Garret pulled on pair of headphones, listening to the song that he was gonna have to play. "You think he'll make a fool of himself?"

"I don't know. I've never heard him play. I don't know how long it's been either...but I think he's got a set in his garage. And the fact that he keeps the drumsticks in his desk." Jordan nodded slowly and took a drink off her beer. "I think he'll manage. He ever play for you?"

"No." Renee turned around and sat on the barstool, crossing her ankles and leaning back, smiling as Garret nodded and sat behind the drumset, moving things around. "He sure knows where stuff needs to be though."

"Yeah." Jordan walked around the other side of the bar and sat next to Renee and watched him set up. "How's he been doing? Besides work." She spoke softly without looking at her.

"Better I think. He still has bad nights...he was crying the other night in his sleep. I didn't have the heart to wake him." She sighed softly. "But I think he's finally letting go."

"Renee..." Jordan paused hesitantly, then looked over at her. "Thank you...thanks for helping him in ways I couldn't."

"You're welcome Jordan." Renee smiled. "Same goes for you." She looked up as she heard a few taps on a snare drum and saw one of the boys step up to the mic.

"Umm...tonight we're gonna be playing a song by the Foo Fighters...its a pretty popular song right now on the mainstream radio, so maybe some of you will know it. It's called "Times Like These"." The boy smiled. "Oh, and we're 'Metaphor'." After a small round of applause and a few cheers, he picked up a guitar, looked back at Garret, and whispered softly. "Remember you start in after the first guitar."

"Got it." Garret smiled softly and took a deep breath and nodded, before cracking his knuckles and picking up the sticks. "Go."

"Ooh...tough guy." Jordan laughed softly when she saw him crack his knuckles and then sat back once the boy started playing the guitar. After the first ten seconds, Garret kicked in and Jordan jumped at how his persona instantly changed from 'overworked depressed boss' to 'kick ass drummer'. "Wow."

I, I'm a one way motorway
I'm the one that drives away
Then follows you back home
I, I'm a street light shining
I'm a wild light blinding bright
Burning off alone

"Holy shit." Renee muttered softly as she also saw how he changed, totally getting into the beat and just going for it. "He's better than I thought." She nodded softly.

"He's damn good." Jordan just watched him play, totally into it. "I think even the kids are shocked."