Chapter Nine

The next few days were a blur for Jordan and Woody. Cal got massive doses of radiation to kill off all the cancer cells. The results were that he was sick, weak, and his thick head of hair was gone. He looked painfully thin and small in the hospital bed. And due to the fact that the radiation killed off both the bad and good cells in his body, his immune system was nil. No one could go into the room and see him but the doctors and nurses, and they had to be completely sterile and wear masks.

Woody's marrow had matched, and now Jordan found herself running between two hospital rooms…making sure Cal was okay and then checking on Woody…who actually had little discomfort after his bone marrow had been harvested. She had a harder time keeping Woody's spirits and hopes up about his brother. Their mother's death from the disease overshadowed everything, despite the fact that medical treatment in this field had moved light years ahead of what it was when their mom had it. When the day finally came for Cal to receive the marrow, they stood outside his door, arms around each other, looking through the window at Cal. It would be a while before he fully regained consciousness. It would be even longer before they knew if the transplant "took." It simply would all be a matter of time.

A week later, things looked better. Woody had long since recovered and Cal was improving. But Woody noticed Jordan looked beat. She had stayed with him at the hospital nearly around the clock, not leaving to go back to the hotel but maybe once or twice. She hadn't slept much and wasn't eating right. And as much as Woody was concerned for Cal, he was equally worried about Jordan. "You need to go back to the hotel and get some rest," he finally told her. "You're wearing yourself out."

"But you need me here…"

Woody smiled down at her. She had been by his side nearly every waking and sleeping minute – what little sleep she got in the hospital. If this didn't solidify their relationship, he didn't know what would qualify to do it. "I need you to get some sleep, so you don't collapse on me. Go back to our room. Take a hot shower. Order in room service. And hit the sheets."

"What about you? You need to rest, too."

"If Cal's still doing better, I'll be there in a little while.

So reluctantly Jordan left, taking a cab back to the hotel and doing what Woody told her. Finally donning a satin night shirt, she climbed into the bed and found herself dozing off against her better judgment, and eventually sinking into a deep sleep. That was how Woody found her hours later, before he got in the bed next to her, spooning her against him like he did the night after the bar got robbed. Then he was holding Jordan to comfort her. Now he was doing it to comfort himself. He was slightly amazed how much her mere presence had brought him some kind of peace and tranquility while he dealt with all the decisions to be made about Cal. She never said a whole lot…just listened when he needed to talk, held his hand when he just needed her there, and encouraged both of the brothers. She had been his support during a time when he had no one else to turn to.

He didn't know if he would ever be able to thank her. Or if he'd ever be able to find the right words to tell her. He tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

The sight movement woke Jordan. She reveled in the feel of his arms around her again. Gently she placed her hands on his arms.

"You're awake?" he questioned, whispering into the darkness of the room.

"Yeah. How's Cal?"

"Doing better. He regained consciousness a little while ago. He sent me home. Told me to rest and come back tomorrow."

"How are you doing, Woody?"

"I'm better, too." He felt her reflectively squeeze his arm. He gently rolled her to her back so he could brush the hair back from her face and look into her eyes. "Thanks for coming with me, Jo."

"You're welcome. I'm glad to do it." She touched his cheek. "You've always been there for me, Woody. Through everything. I've never told you how much it meant to me….how I appreciated that and you. I want to be here for you."

He turned his head and kissed her hand. "I've always want to be there for you when you need me, Jordan. Always."

She was about to answer him when she caught the look in his eyes. They were blue… a smoky blue she hadn't seen before….a look tinged with affection and, well, passion. She felt her heart thud in her throat…as he slowly lowered his lips and kissed her.

Woody was a good kisser. That much she knew. But Jordan soon found that she could loose herself and her way in these kisses. She only felt herself respond as he pushed her back into the pillows and unbuttoned her sleep shirt, and then moaned softly against this mouth as he settled on top of her…kissing her neck, her shoulders, the sweet hollow between her breasts. She pushed against him then, putting some space between them, so she could look at him…and do some exploring of her own…letting her own lips and hands wander over his broad shoulders…down his chest…to that curious line of curly hair that began just below his navel. And feeling him respond with the same moan that had come from her. "Ah…Jordan…." And then his lips were back on hers kissing her with a fierce intensity that made her forget everything but him…as he moved inside her, soon finding they both could disregarded the whole world as their bodies met with shattering emotions….and they both could do nothing but simply hold on to each other until they floated back down into reality and slept until the next morning.