Chapter Ten

All too soon Jordan found herself back on an airplane with Woody by her side. Once again, lacking sleep, but this time for very different reasons. She blushed when she remembered.

After the chief had called, there had been a flurry of activity to get ready to go. They had showered, realizing that was probably going to be their one last time together before they left. They had packed quickly and were waiting for the truck when it arrived to pick them up. Woody had handed the keys to their rental car over to the chief, who promised to return it as soon as the snow had melted a little more. They arrived at the airport within minutes of their flight leaving. There had been no time to talk.

Until now. Woody gently took her hand, she turned to face him. "You okay?" he asked softly.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a beat. "It's going to be awkward now, isn't it? This … thing…between us. Especially while we're both involved with someone else."

He slowly nodded. Neither of them had given any thoughts to who was waiting for them at home. There had been no time. Neither of them had wanted to.

"So what are we going to do now?" she asked.

He took a deep breath. "Go back home. See how things pan out." He looked directly into her whiskey-colored eyes. "Stay in touch."

Jordan swallowed hard. She didn't know how she could bear knowing Kim was still with him. She wasn't sure what she was going to do about John. Softly, she asked, "Truth or dare, Woody. Do you regret yesterday?"

Still holding her gaze, he replied, "Truth. No. No regrets, other than I can't stay with you tonight."

She looked away then, out the window, willing her tears not to come. She knew he couldn't stay with her until she untangled herself from John and he did the same with Kim. Somehow between the two, she knew Kim would be harder.

Somehow, she wasn't sure if Woody really would tell the blonde to leave.

However, she was sure of herself. She loved Woody. She had never stopped. And she was at the point, if it came to just accepting what little time he could give her, she was nearly ready to do so.

Their respective partners met them at the airport, Kim falling all over herself to get at Woody. John's greeting was quieter, but full of affection. Jordan tried not to watch as Kim hugged and kissed Woody, and Woody likewise tried to avoid looking at John kiss Jordan.

Days moved on after that. Jordan realized soon after returning that it wasn't fair to John to keep seeing him, perhaps unintentionally leading him on in the hopes that other aspects of their relationship may develop. As gently as she could, she told him it was over…and it had nothing to do with him. He was a wonderful guy, but her heart was held in a cold deadlock for the love of another man. John had long suspected…but had hoped against hope he would eventually win her heart. "You're a great woman," he told her. "I hope Woody realizes that. But if he doesn't, I hope you won't spend the rest of your life waiting on him."

But Jordan had been right in one aspect. Kim was much harder for Woody to disengage himself from. If she had been clingy and whiney before their trip to Virginia, she was worse when they got home. Jordan still overheard conversations between Kim and Woody when she was out on a call with the detective, but while at one time, the blonde would have his complete attention, now Woody barely answered her. Often, he would switch her calls over to his voice mail, grimacing when he saw her number come up on caller ID.

Jordan no longer hid herself when the couple came to the Pogue. While she wouldn't wait on them, she didn't go back into her father's office and take care of the paper work. She was making it clear to Kim and to Woody, that while she wouldn't fight for Woody, she was standing her ground. She knew she loved him, but Woody would have to come to her.

That would be the only way she knew he was really serious….really honest.

And really wanted only her.

She knew her heart. She loved him. She needed him. But Woody had to make a decision. He had to tell Kim the truth….because the dare on this gamewould mean he lost Jordan for good.

Woody tried. He kept putting Kim off. He had done everything but tell her outright what had happened in that cabin. He kept hoping she would take the hint and move on to the next man…or the man she was seeing behind his back. But every time he tried to talk with her, she'd brush him off, or avoid the subject, or threaten, or resort to tears. Or worse, try to seduce him.

That was the hardest for him. Not because he gave in….No. He hadn't slept with her since before he and Jordan went to Virginia and wasn't planning on doing so again. The only woman he wanted sharing his bed now was a brown-eyed medical examiner with long chestnut hair and a cute butterfly tattoo on her hip. The difficult thing was making Kim believe he no longer wanted her…not in any way. Not her arms, not her kisses, not anything she could do for him or to him. He only wanted her out of his life as soon as possible.

He wanted to see that butterfly tattoo again.

And Kim wasn't cooperating.

He also knew Jordan wouldn't let him be with her until the other woman was completely out of the picture.

As a result, he had mixed emotions when he saw Jordan that week. She was the ME on duty and caught his homicide call. There had been a shooting outside a strip mall in one of the seedier parts of Boston. He always feared for her safety in that part of town. The police had Kevlar. The ME's had nothing. Of course, it was always assumed they were called in after all the shooting was over. But a worry always niggled the back part of Woody's mind, what if something happens…what if a dormant crime scene suddenly becomes active again…could she be hurt? Could she take cover in time?

Over time, that worry had nearly died down. They had worked together nearly four years now and the only time Jordan had gotten hurt at a scene was when she ignored his orders and rushed in where angels had feared to tread.

So he really wasn't thinking about anyone getting hurt that morning. The crime scene was dormant. Jordan was there only to collect evidence and the bodies. It was a typical homicide scene. He was walking with her through the scene…not so much trying to get a handle on the homicides as he was trying to gauge her feelings….where they were at. But it was difficult…she had her sunglasses on and he couldn't see her eyes.

There was a reason for that. She wasn't sleeping well at night…and when she did finally doze off, she dreamed of him. Dark circles ringed her eyes … and she didn't want him to know. He had to make his decision on his own…without any persuasion from her whatsoever. She was only half-listening to what he was saying about the shooting when a movement caught her eye. She saw the glint of the sun against a shiny object and heard a faint click. Without thinking, she pushed him down and out of the way.

Woody hit the ground hard, not sure if the loud explosion that echoed through his ears was the result of his head hitting the ground of the gunfire. He rolled over to check Jordan and make sure she was all right….she had hit the ground right after him.

Red. All he saw was red….the crimson color of blood. She was shot. And he didn't know how badly.

She had rushed in this time where angels had feared to tread…and this time, hedidn't protect her.