Chapter Four
He was alone…utterly, completely alone….that was what he felt as he entered that God-awful bar and chased out Albie along with his own brother, Cal.
Cal…the last close family member he had…Cal with all the problems…drugs…girls…gambling. Cal, who he had raised and loved with his whole heart.
And had his heart repeatedly stepped on by the same brother. Woody sighed and closed his eyes. He had written him off now. He had told Cal to leave…get out…that he had only come into the bar for Jordan.
That was partly true. His heart surged to his throat when he found out she was in that bar with Cal…trying to set up some kind of reconciliation between he and his brother. Cal had put the woman he loved in danger. That was the most idiotic thing he had ever done.
It was also the most unforgivable.
He had told Cal several times during his stay in Boston that Jordan was off limits. Any other woman in Boston was fair game. But Cavanaugh was his…whether she wanted to admit it or not.
And now, as he sat outside the bar, in his police car, waiting for the final arrests to be made…and to make sure his brother was gone…he had never felt more alone. After he had shot Albie, he had radioed in for more back up and went back upstairs, taking Jordan with him. From there, he wasn't sure where she had gone. Had she been so disgusted with him and his brother that she just disappeared….or did she think he needed time to himself? He chuckled bitterly…he had enough time now to be alone. His last immediate family member had nearly sold him out…got him and Jordan killed. He had told Cal in no uncertain terms to leave…he didn't want to see him ever again.
Then the passenger side door opened…and she got in. "Need some company?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah…" he reached out and took her hand. "I tried so hard with Cal, Jordan. You wouldn't believe how hard I tried."
"I know…but you were just a boy yourself, trying to raise another boy. You did good, Woody. The trouble Cal's gotten himself into is because he made the wrong decisions…not you. He decided to gamble when he didn't have the money to back up his bets…He got involved with the wrong people and drugs. You, on the other hand, are one of the most decent, honest, loving, wonderful people I know. I know you didn't influence him to do those things. If anything, I know you tried your best to steer him away from it…but there's that free will issue there, Woody. You can influence, but you can't make people live the way they should. They have to want that for themselves."
He looked at her and ran his other hand down the side of her face. "Thanks…When did you get to be so wise?"
"When a certain detective didn't give up on me when I was going off the deep end….as a matter of fact, I tried his patience many times…and he just kept on loving me. He made me want to do better….be a better person." She pulled his hand that was on the side of her face to her lips and kissed it. "I owe you a great deal, Woodrow Wilson Hoyt."
He smiled, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "Seems you saved my butt a few times, too."
"And enjoyed every minute of it. It's a cute, little butt, too." She grinned at him, mischief making her eyes gleam. "Let's go back to the morgue…see if we can find out how Bug's doing."
A few minutes later they were in Dr. Macy's office….discovering that Bug was now conscious and doing better…Nigel and Lily were with him and Garret was getting ready to walk over…. "Wanna come with me?" he asked Woody and Jordan, who were sitting on the couch in his office.
"We'll catch up in a few minutes," Jordan said, giving Garret a pointed look.
"Suit yourself," he grinned, leaving them alone.
Woody sighed and leaned back on the couch. "He was right, Jordan. Cal was right. I would do anything for him. He was all I had left."
She shook her head. "You have me."
His world rocked. He leaned back and looked in her eyes…. "I do?"
"Yeah. You have me. You're not alone." She reached out and put her hand in his. He held it tightly.
"You're sure?" he asked, almost afraid to believe it.
"Positive.."
Later that night, curled up together on her bed, she gently ran her fingers through his hair. He had come home with her…he couldn't bear to go back to his empty apartment…thinking that for some reason Cal might return…or be there….or have left something that reminded Woody of him…. "You okay now?" she asked. He had still been emotionally shaky most of the evening, reluctant to let go of her hand, even in front of Nigel, Lily, Bug, and Garret at the hospital. He had held it as if his life depended on it…and she had let him.
"I'm better." She could still hear the sniffles in his voice. "What makes us so different…Cal and I? I mean, same parents…raised the same way….what made me be me and him be…him?"
She pulled him closer and kissed his forehead. "Everyone has choices they have to make. You made the right ones. Cal's still struggling."
"I mean, was it anger? At our parents for dying … or me for raising him…?"
"Who knows, Woody? That's a question that only Cal can answer."
"But why didn't I turn out like that, too…I mean same circumstances…"
She tilted his head up so he could look her in the eyes. "Because you are you. Woody Hoyt. I can't imagine you any way but what you are…."
"That's enough?"
"Well, it's pretty special to me," she said, gently brushing his lips with hers.
He chuckled. A welcome sound to her ears. "I'm glad….and you're just as special to me…with all your issues…." He caught her by the waist and rolled her over, resting on top of her. "This holding you tighter thing has had some serious repercussions."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. I always thought it would mean me taking care of you…looking out for your safety…keeping you from running. I never figured it would mean me depending on you to just….be there for me."
She smiled. "It goes both ways, Farm Boy. And I'm glad to be here for you. Especially now," she whispered, somewhat breathlessly as his lips began to explore her neck. "Woody…"
"Hm?"
She drew a sharp breath when he hit a particularly sensitive spot, losing her train of thought.
"What, Jordan?" he repeated.
"Oh damn….I can't remember…it doesn't matter…just…..Oh…"
"Hold you tighter?"
"Yeah."
