Chapter Four

Woody absently mindedly listened to the police radio as he processed the paperwork on a murder investigation he was trying his best to finish up before he left to go back to Jordan's house. With any luck and little criminal activity in the next half hour, he should actually be able to leave on time.

Until he heard the call on the radio for a unit to go to 1513 West Centennial Street.

The Pogue….

His heart dropped to his shoes. Paperwork forgotten, he pushed away from the desk and ran for the door.

"Hey, wait…Woody….we're just about to bury this sucker," said Framus. "Where are you going?"

"The Pogue…the call that just came in said it was robbed….and Jordan was closing…" he yelled back over his shoulder as he disappeared down the stairs, not waiting for the elevator.


Flashing his badge he ran through the door of the bar, noting the paramedics on the inside. They weren't normally called during a simple robbery….but he soon saw why they were there…Jordan was crumpled in a corner, holding her head. Holstering his gun, he knelt beside her. "Jo…Jordan?" There was no response. Wordless he stared up at the paramedic trying to treat her.

"She was robbed. The guy had her at gun point. She handed over the money in the till, but he wanted more…she told him she didn't have anything else and he pistol-whipped her several times…took the cash and ran out the back door. She put up one hell of a fight."

"Was there anyone else here…" Woody's voice trailed off. He should have stopped by to keep an eye on things while she closed.

"Nope. She was by herself…"

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Physically? Yeah. She's going to be sore and have a monster headache for a few days, but she'll be fine. Emotionally….well, that's another story. I know Jordan…and Max. I've come in here for a few beers now and again. I know she's hanging on to the bar for her father….I also know this is a bad neighborhood for her to be alone in so late at night," the EMT's eyes softened. "Are you her boyfriend?"

Woody shook his head. "No…just a good friend."

"If you're her friend, I'd watch out for her for the next few days. She's going to need someone. And help me get her to the hospital for a head x-ray. She doesn't want to go." The man shut his medical case up, patted Jordan on the back and turned to leave.

"Jordan," Woody began again, gently taking her in his arms. "Jordan…look at me, sweetheart."

"Woody?" Her voice was faint, like she was only just hanging onto consciousness. She lifted her head and looked up….then reached for him to pull him closer. "H-h-h-he had a g-g-g-g-g-un. I was so….scared. I didn't know what to do…He was so big…" her voice trailed off as she tightened her hold on him. "I was here by myself….I was too afraid to do anything."

"Sh…it's okay…it's all going to be fine, Jordan." He tucked her as closely to him as he could as he tried to stand and take her with him.

"He got the money….all tonight's cash receipts…."

"It doesn't matter, Jordan. What matters is that you're okay."

"My head hurts…."

"I know. I need to get you to the hospital for an x-ray. Okay?"

"My car…I don't think I can't drive."

"We'll get it home. You come with me." He gently pulled her through the tangle of police officers.

"But I need to lock up…."

"I'll take care of it, Jordan. You just go with Woody…I'll get your car back to the morgue for safekeeping," a voice said behind them. It was Framus. She had followed Woody over to the bar.

Woody nodded his thanks and handed her Jordan's keys. "I owe you," he whispered.

"Just go take care of her…she doesn't look so good," Roz said, looking at Jordan with worried eyes. In fact, Jordan looked close to collapsing.


The x-ray showed that everything was normal…there no long-term injuries, no fractures, or anything else that should worry Jordan except a bad headache. A really bad headache that had her ears ringing and her eyes wincing at the bright lights. The doctor gave her a pain killer and told her to take it easy for the next few days. And if she started feeling nauseous, to call him right away.

Woody took her home and helped her inside, nearly carrying her up the stairs. "Do you need some help getting ready for bed?" he asked. It was only after it came out of his mouth did he realize how it sounded. "I mean…"

"I know…it's okay, Woody. I think I can manage getting on my pajamas just fine. But thanks. And thanks for everything you did tonight…taking me to the hospital. Staying with me…"

"It was nothing, Jordan. I wanted to do it."

"Still, it meant a lot to me," she said in a small voice, looking down at the floor of her bedroom from where she was sitting on her bed.

It was then Woody realized just a little bit how alone Jordan must feel. No mother. Her half-brother was presumed dead. And her father had seemingly vanished with no word from him for nearly a year now. Was it the little things that mattered the most to her – like someone sitting with her in the hospital? Was it those types of things that really touched her heart? Underneath all the brassy attitude and sophistication, was she really a lot more simple than he ever contemplated? He walked back over to her and sat down beside her on the bed. "I was happy to do it for you, Jordan. I wanted to." He begin to pull her into his arms, expecting to feel her resist. She didn't. She nearly melted into his hug.

"I was so frightened, Woody. I've seen guns all my life…my dad has had them. But it wasn't until tonight that I stared down the barrel of one, wondering if my life was over."

He held her and stroked her back, whispering soft words of what he hoped was comfort in her ear. He wasn't too surprised when he felt something warm and wet on his shirt a few minutes later. "It's okay, Jordan. Cry it out if you need to. It might help." She began to sob silently.

"I'm not normally like this…" she said, her voice still full of tears.

"Well, normally you're not robbed at gun point," he replied, keeping his tone light.

She laughed softly. "Yeah. You're right…."

"You were scared. That's normal….and human, Jo. Anyone would have been."

She continued to stay right there, with his arms around her, holding her close for long moments. She felt safe and had no desire to have him move away. In fact, if he would just stay right there…but she felt his weight begin to shift and he released her, getting up off her bed. He walked over to her dresser and pulled out her sleep pants and a tank top. "Here. Get ready for bed. Your painkiller is on the dresser. Take one before you go to sleep…and don't plan on doing a thing tomorrow. I'll clean, you can tell me how to do your laundry, and then make me a list for the grocery store. You are to park it on the couch and take care of yourself." He handed her the pajamas. "Is there anything else you need before we call it a night?"

There was. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

"Would you stay with me tonight? In here? I really don't think I can handle being alone tonight. N-n-not with that guy still being out there….Framus told me they haven't caught him yet."