Paperwork was the bane of his existence...except for when it served as a valid excuse. The files he was delivering to Trace weren't pressing. In fact, they could have gone with the regular deliveries. He justified it by claiming to himself that the morgue was on his way home. It wouldn't be the first time he dropped something off after a long day. He's usually stop and hang out, maybe tonight wouldn't be an exception. It wasn't like Jordan was the only person up there. He could visit with friends. Maybe see if Nigel had anything cooked up. It wasn't like he was checking in to see if she changed her mind or anything...

The limo at the side entrance to the morgue not only stuck out, but raised a few eyebrows to the people passing...including Woody's. He stopped when the back window rolled down.

"Detective Hoyt, what a surprise."

The voice even sounded more cultured now that a goodly share of the fear had been erased. Woody turned to see Louis Jefferies smiling to him from the interior. It was hard not to feel a touch of pity for the man. Neuroses were hard to deal with and by all accounts it looked like what Jordan had said was true. Louis Jefferies had come a long way in the last few months. Manners dictated that Woody should shake the man's hand but the window was only down just so far.

"Mr. Jefferies." Woody said with an uncomfortable smile.

"Please call me Louis. I was never one for titles." Louis popped the lock of the door and opened it. "Do you have a minute?"

"...sure-ly." Woody climbed into the back of the car and sat across from his host. "Nice ride."

"The museum sent it. I would have rather taken a cab." His fingers tapped restlessly against the armrest. "That way we could arrive after the fracas started and leave before The Globe's art critic had his fifth glass of wine. The man is a lush. This way I'm stuck at their mercy."

Woody smiled in spite of himself. "I'm assuming your picking up Jordan here."

"Yes."

If he was surprised to hear Woody knew that Jordan was accompanying him that evening Louis didn't show it.

"...I told her one time and the driver got us here a few minutes early. I called, she's still changing. I'm glad to have somebody to pass the time with. Don't worry, I'll hold my hyperventilating for later. We kind of got off on the wrong foot last Fall. I understand why I was a suspect. In hindsight, I probably would have felt the same way. Jordan assured me you were only doing your job. She speaks very highly of you Hoyt."

Woody looked out the shaded windows of the car hoping he can end this conversation before Jordan walks out the entrance. It's one thing to happen to be hanging out in Trace and a totally different thing sitting in a car talking to her "date". He had some pride left. Not much, but some.

"Thank you..."

"Jordan tells me you two work quite frequently with each other."

"Yeah, I ..ah...We...ah...work...yes frequently. It's our job." Woody wanted to kick himself for being so tongue tied. What little pride he had flew right out the window.

Louis chucked. "Jordan is a very special woman. I haven't met anybody quite like her in a very long time."

"I really didn't think you got out much..." The little cut felt good.

Louis's chuckle turned into full blown laughter. "You make a very good point Detective. I mean even before... Jordan is genuine. She's had a life that only few could even imagine. I'm proud to admit she has become something of a muse for me these last few months."

"I didn't realize you were spending that much time together."

"Time is what you make it. Two people can spend years together and not know the first thing about each other...and others can spends minutes together and feel like they've known each other for a lifetime."

Woody begrudging had to admit what Louis was saying had a ring of truth to it. "You make a very good point."

"A beautiful woman from a humble, tragic background with a dream of fixing broken hearts...it's almost poetic."

"Broken hearts?"

"Do you think she was born a coroner Hoyt? Jordan is a woman outside of that office. She has thoughts and dreams that have nothing to do with her present career. Did you know she was going to be a cardiothoracic surgeon? She spent so many years working toward a single goal, only to face her own mortality to survive to continue looking for her own way in the world. She inspired me to find the courage to take a chance on life again."

About the only thing Jordan inspired Woody to do was either shake some sense in her or kiss her senseless. Neither of which he ever felt was the right time to do. It made Woody wonder how well he really knew her. Not as well as Jefferies apparently. Like he said some people connect completely...others don't.

"You know, I really need to get going," Woody said holding out his hand. "It's been...a pleasure talking to you again ...Louis. Congratulations on the new showing, I hope it's a success..."

"Thank you Detective Hoyt. You didn't know how much it means for me to hear you say that."

They both knew they weren't talking about the painting. After spending the last few minutes dancing around the subject Woody saw the look in Louis's eyes. He was the victor in this round and Woody wasn't. At least for now.

After an awkward second Woody cleared his throat and left the vehicle. He strode back to his own and tossed the file in the passenger seat. He'd just send it out in the regular traffic in the morning. He wasn't up to Nigel's all knowing , all seeing stare. Not this time.


Jordan used Lily's hand mirror to try and catch herself at all angles in the mirror above the locker room sink. The deep V neckline of her slim black cocktail dress laid perfect down her back but the front had a few issues. She debated for a moment and disappeared into the stall returning a few second later with a handful of toilet paper. After few well placed sheets she reexamined herself in the mirror.

"Well, what do you think?"

"Wow, Jordan you look beautiful." Lily smiled broadly. "It's just..."

"What? I knew I should have picked up one of those Wonder bra things." Jordan cringed pointing at her faintly augmented chest.

"Yes, no. It just I've never seen you dressed up like this before."

"I admit my favorite place to shop is Goodwill, but a girl has to grow up once in awhile...right?"

Lily looked at Jordan like she had just found the Holy Grail. "Don't tell me you got that at Goodwill?"

"Oh God no, I got it at Saks...but on the half off rack. Even then, I'll be eating peanut butter and jelly every night this month to make rent. Is it too...much?"

The black dress was so understated that it screamed class and culture. If only she had some pearls...

"No, it's perfect Jordan. I just can't believe you're really going to this ..thing. It's not like you. They'll be dignitaries and politicians there...not to mention your Grandmother."

"I already checked. She's not going." Jordan smirked.

"It's not too late to change your mind and forget about caviar and chardonnay and go out with us for pizza and beer...Nigel, Bug and I are going bowling. We could use a fourth. Bowling shoes would look darling with that dress."

"Thanks," she laughed. "I did pizza this weekend with Woody." she rolled her eyes. "Pizza and a movie ended up being two matinees and take out. We couldn't agree on which movie to see, so we went to both. By the time we stopped for pizza, we were both so stuffed with popcorn we ended up splitting it and taking it home to eat later. My stomach still hurts...not to mention the brain cells that died watching whatever the hell it was he wanted to see. All I remember was fake boobs and lots of sophomoric humor."

"You had fun though didn't you?"

"A little," Jordan smiled softly as she reapplied her lipstick. "I'd really like to go out with you guys...You know that. Just...some other night. Tonight, I want to..."

"You want to what?" Lily squinted at her.

"Eat fish eggs and drink obnoxiously priced wine while people oo and ah over Louis's new work," Jordan smiled.

"You've been seeing a lot of him lately, haven't you?" Lily asked with a not-so-innocent smile. "I've seen pictures of him. He's kinda cute in that bohemian kinda way."

"He is, isn't he?" Jordan smiled.

"So, are you going to see more of him?"

"Let me get through this date first. I don't know, maybe? We always seem to enjoy the times we've spent together. I feel like I can tell him anything and he won't judge me."

...Or try to save me from myself. Jordan didn't add the last. She didn't want to think about where the thought came from. Not now. Not tonight.

"If you're asking me if I'm going to sleep with him...I don't know. A few years ago, I would have said sure. I'm different know and some things are more important then they used to be." Grabbing her bag and looking one last time in the mirror she winked at Lily. "I promise if I do I'll be careful...and I'll take notes."

Lilly just laughed.

Amazingly, Jordan realized she was leaving right on time. On the elevator ride down to the lobby, she couldn't remember the last time she was on time for a date. Just last weekend she left Woody standing in front of the movie theater for an hour. It took her longer to find her dress for tonight than she thought. But going out with Woody wasn't like going out on a date. There wasn't any of those will he or won't he questions when it came time to say goodnight. Just two friends hanging out. She shook her head. She had spent too much time thinking about him lately. Maybe that's why she could have sworn she saw his car pull out of the parking lot just as she came out the building entrance. Jordan was still looking toward the street when she heard a car door open. She felt like a fool that she didn't notice the big black limousine sitting directly in front of her. She smiled when Louis came up the steps to meet her. Jordan angled her cheeks to receive his continental greeting.

"You look beautiful Jordan."

"Thank you," she smiled.

"Shall we?"

"Of course..." Without looking back out to the street, Jordan climbed into the back of the car.


Woody went back to the precinct. Spending the night alone in his apartment with a microwave dinner and a baseball game normally sounded like heaven, tonight it just sounded pathetic.

His ego was bruised. Not destroyed like he first thought when he stepped out of the limo...just bruised. On his drive back, Woody realized he had a leg up on Jefferies. One that the man reminded him of himself. He worked frequently with Jordan. Something Jefferies had no control over, but with a little help from his friends, it was something Woody could manipulate in his favor. Jefferies might claim quality time, but Woody would be damned if it was both quality and quantity.

He needed to eat and there was some cold pizza in the break room. Cold pizza is one thing but five day old cold pizza is another. Woody tossed the last slice in the trash with a sigh. There had to be a law against wasting pizza. There had to be. Just like thereshould bea law against chicken on pizza.

"Are you still here Hoyt, I thought you would have been hobnobbing with the Mayor by now." Roz drawled from the doorway

"Excuse me?"

"The Jefferies Exhibit? Isn't it tonight?" she asked pouring herself a cup of cold coffee.

"I already told you I'm not going." he said turning his attention away from Roz and his empty stomach and poured himself a cup. "I've got some work to catch up on anyway..."

"This is the homicide division. There is always work to do. Are you trying to suck up to the Lieutenant again? He left an hour ago."

"I might as well impress somebody," Woody laughed.

"It's the High Maintenance chick again huh?"

"She's not that high maintenance Roz. In fact, I just saw Jefferies on his way to pick her up earlier."

"As his date?"

Woody just shrugged. Jordan told him Sunday that she was going as a friend. Because he needed her...but the way she talked about him. It's not like Woody had any say. They were friends. More like family. He remembered what Cal said. "Like a sister." Jordan had joked about...they both had really.

"...oh, bummer."

Roz voice snapped his attention back the present.

"The more I think about the more I'm convinced it really doesn't have anything to do with her...or him for that matter. I think it's more me. How long have you known me Roz?"

"Is this a trick question Hoyt. Because if it is, I've had a long day and I'm not in the mood to play games."

Woody just blinked twice letting Roz know the question was serious.

"Long enough I guess," she sighed "Why? "

"How would you describe me?"

"In effort to get out of here at a decent hour I'll say, you're a good cop. A little cocky at times..but good."

"I don't mean work..I mean as a person..."

"We don't exactly hang in the same circles Woodster...but you're...sweet in you're own way. You have that boy scout charm that I guess is endearing...if that's what's you into. Did your Biorhythms come out whacked this week or something?"

"Or something. You were right when you said I don't understand art. My idea of good music is a Kinks tune on the radio, not box seats at the symphony. Haute Cuisine is just something The Chairman says in the beginning of 'Iron Chef' ..."

"I love that show..." Roz cut in. "..but actually he says "Allez Cuisinez!" which means...Go chef...but I get the point."

"That's what I mean. I'm hopelessly lost when it comes to ...that stuff."

"...and you're feeling like you're missing something? Trust me, I've seen Jefferies work. Insightful maybe, but you know what they say Hoyt; it's all in the eye of the beholder'. Me, myself. I have a velvet painting of Elvis in my place. There is no telling in taste. Jefferies' taste aims more for a bunch of losers, who think they knew it all, that are searching for something that they think just outside of their grasp. Nine times out of ten they're sitting on whatever they think they're missing out on and are just too worried somebody might tell them they don't belong if they go for it. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with having different views. It's what makes us all individuals. We grow and develop. That's human nature. On the other hand, we'll always basically be who we are. You've been in police work long enough to know that a tiger can't change his stripes. We adjust and make changes to accommodate our situations. But it's an unrealistic expectation to change your personality completely...Especially, to impress some chick. You are who you are Hoyt, and if that's not what she thinks she wants than not only is she not worth it...she's a fool."

"I never thought I was one of your favorites Roz." Woody smiled.

"You're still not...so don't get a big head. I'm just saying don't give up but don't give in either...You're worth it. Which reminds me, I need to make an appointment to get my hair done."

Roz manly scribbled on a sheet of paper and grabbed her bag. "Well, it's been fun bonding with you Hoyt . Let's not make a practice of it...and don't stay here all night. It makes the rest of us look bad. "

Maybe salisbury steak and 'Baseball Tonight' didn't sound so pathetic at all. Jordan said she was going to this party as a friend...and after spending years of going out with her as a friend, Woody felt like he, out of anybody, know what Jefferies could expect from the evening. He just hoped their cosmic connection didn't take them back to Jefferies place.


I am so not happy with this chapter. I started, stopped, rewrote, reengineered, questioned, threw out, reorganized, rehashed, added to, chopped off, and basically gave up on it. It still sucks. I suddenly remembered why I don't write these things anymore. I can't get from Point A to Point B without Axis X, Y, and Z giving me grief along the way. Hopefully it'll all make sense when it's said and done.