Chapter Twelve

Her state of consciousness came and went for a while, mainly as a result of the drugs they had her on for pain. But her condition improved and a matter of a few days she was put in a private room out of CCU. Max stayed with her the first night…Woody saw him there the next morning, noting the older man's exhaustion. "Max, I'll stay with her tonight…you've been up here the whole time…let me stay tonight."

"She's my daughter, Woody."

"I know. And she may need you more when she gets out of the hospital than she does right now. And if you're too tired….or have made yourself sick, you won't be any good for her."

Max reluctantly agreed. "But you're one to talk…you've been here just as much as I have."

Woody had. Every minute he could spare from work….after he got off work…..until Max would order him home around midnight. "You have a job, son," he told him. "Leave my daughter to me…you go home and rest. If anything changes, I'll call you." It had rejoined a bond between the two men that had been broken long ago after James and the Malden case.

However, the bond between Woody and Kim was dissolving. She was still calling him, but he no longer took her calls. He had told the receptionist at the precinct not to tell her that Jordan was in the hospital, nor to let Kim know where he was during his breaks or at lunch … checking on Jordan. SoWoody knew Kim had no idea that he was spending his evenings with an unconscious woman in CCU at Boston General.

Woody went home from work that evening and changed into jeans and a comfortable shirt. It was Friday, and he didn't have to work the weekend, so he could stay with Jordan for as long as he liked…or as long as she would let him. He had a gut feeling the lady wouldn't like being watched over so closely, no matter how sick she was.

Jordan was asleep when he got there. She was, of course, still on medication to make her rest and sleep….and they both dozed for while that evening…but the meds she was on now wasn't nearly as strong as the ones she had taken in CCU. At midnight, Woody began to hear her move around in the bed. Then he heard her call his name…she was dreaming. And it wasn't pleasant…he could tell by the tone of her voice. She was frightened.

"Jo…Jordan….I'm right here. Sweetheart…" He gently shook her. "Wake up…you're dreaming."

Her eyes shot open and held his blue ones for a minute before he felt her body relax beneath his hands. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She shook her heard. "Dreamed…that you had been hit by the bullets…I didn't get you out of the way in time."

"It was just a dream. I'm fine." He held her hand against his chest to reassure her with his heartbeat. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"It was so real…"

"It was just a dream," he said, continuing to soothe her until she went back to sleep.

And all was peaceful until the next morning when the sound of high heels tapping down the halls of the hospital woke him up. He knew who it was.

It was Kim.

"What are you doing here….with her? Why haven't you answered my calls….my messages?" the blonde hatefully spit out.

"Jordan was hurt…shot….at a homicide scene a few days ago. If she hadn't pushed me out of the way, I'd be the one here in the bed…not her. I owe it to her to stay with her."

"That's why there are doctors and nurses. They can take care of the ME….I want you with me." She reached for his shirt.

Woody firmly pushed her hand away. "No. No Kim. Not anymore. You need to leave now. Don't call me again. Don't show up at my apartment. It's over."

"You chose her over me?" she asked incredulously. It was clear she couldn't understand Woody's thinking. "Her? Look at her….she's thin and has no figure. She's …plain, Woody. And I bet she could never do what I do for you," Kim purred.

Woody felt the anger boil beneath his skin. Keeping his voice a whisper, but putting force behind it, he told her, "Out. Now. Don't come back. Don't call me. Don't come to my apartment. I never….ever….want to see you again.

"Yes, I've chose Jordan over you….for reasons you couldn't even begin to understand. It's over. Leave." He turned her toward the door, held her elbow, escorted her to it, closing it behind her when she left.

Returning to the bed to find Jordan looking at him. Her eyes told him she had heard most of the conversation. "Ummmmm," he mumbled. "Sorry about that, Jo. I didn't know she was coming. Honest. I don't know how she found out you were here."

Grinning up at him, she took his hand and tugged him down to sit on the bed with her. Weakly she said, "Truth or dare, Woody. You love me."

He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. "Truth. I do. Very much."

"Good. Because I love you, too. And that's the truth."

She recovered faster than anyone expected….leaving the hospital within two weeks of her injuries. Her father said it was due to great medical care and the good Lord still answering a few prayer requests.

Jordan chalked it up to the loving attention of Woody. There was no way he wasn't going to let her get better.

She had gone back to her father's house. He could be with her during most of the day and Woody was staying with her at night. During the daytime, she lay on the couch in the living room. In the evening, when she was sleepy, Woody would carry her upstairs and tuck her in, remaining with her until Max got home.

Despite being ill, Jordan cherished these times. She got to see more of her father.

And she had time alone with Woody. She had laughed at him the first time he had helped her change her bandages. He had held his breath as he undid the one on her abdomen. To his great relief, the butterfly was still there….intact. "You have no idea how much I've missed seeing that little creature," he teased.

"Well…give me a while longer and you can see it up close and personal again," she rejoined.

He grinned. "When you feel like another game of Truth or Dare?"

"Yeah…or Spin the Bottle?"

"Oh…you've played that one, too? What about Post Office?"

"I'm as good as the US mail…neither rain nor snow nor sleet….nor hail…"

"So you deliver?" he teased, bringing a blush to her cheeks.

"Every time," she shot back, making his face turn red this time.