A/N: I'm back! And I forgot to say last time that this fic will lead up to Fire From The Sky, with each episode being a set time apart from the last one. I think the total time between the beginning of this fic and Fire From The Sky is about a month, give or take a few days.

FrenchKissingWoody: Wow…I'm wondering why your mum didn't like your name…anyway, thanks for the review! How's Salsa Girl going? Looking forward to that one. Ah, you are really going to hate this fic cause it's completely anti-Jordan/Woody. Oh and look out for the 'donations to the bank' in this chapter…I wrote it before you told me about Tomcats and I didn't want to say anything about it…enjoy it!

bigandcarrie: Trust me, I can't get enough of Devan/Woody either! I just wish there was more of it…thanks for your review and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

LeoDiabla: Thanks, Dylan! Lots of good, encouraging words…rock on! Thanks for your review and I hope you keep enjoying this fic!

Oh and this fic will have a few religious references so if anyone is offended by it, please tell me so I can change it.

Deception
Chapter 1: An Interesting Lead


Garret Macy paced inside of his comfortable, yet somewhat unstable office, flitting through some files Jordan had given to him that morning. She had seemed distracted and unsure about what it was she should do, since the morgue had been quiet lately. No major deaths, no calculated murders, no bodies stuffed in absurd places…none of that. Yes, quiet was indeed the word to describe the city's resident morgue.

However, something soon disturbed the peace as the doors were flung open and a flustered Devan Maguire stormed through, Woody not far behind her.

"…you shouldn't assume that you're going to just be handed your murderer and that's one case solved," Woody ranted defensively a step behind the blonde Medical Examiner.

"And you," Devan turned fleetingly around to face Woody, her curls springing along to the side, "shouldn't assume that I'm going to be in a good mood after you wake me up and call me in for a murder, which wasn't even a murder in the first place!"

Woody sidestepped to catch up when Devan turned a corner. "Well we don't know that! But the likelihood of a murder in the park is pretty high."

"For all we know a woman could've given birth this morning," Devan sighed when she turned around only to face Woody standing in the doorway to her small office. "Move."

He did obligingly, though he followed her in before she could shut the door in his face. "Then how do you explain the semen sample you found?"

"Woody," Devan planted her palms down on her desk and turned her head to the side. "I have a lot of paperwork to finish now, so until you can find a plausible cause to annoy me, go do some police work."

Woody leaned against the door indignantly. "I was until you thought it was a waste of time."

"Well no one said you had to drive me back here, did they?" Devan sat heavily down in her chair before sighing and flicking through her work.

Woody lifted his hands in protest. "You don't have a licence anymore, remember? Besides, I thought you'd appreciate it."

Looking up from the tip of her papers, Devan smiled. "Thank you, but a taxi suits me fine. Now get out." She looked at Woody's offended face and sighed impatiently. "Please?"

The detective glared childishly at Devan before nodding. "Fine. I'll go test that semen sample you picked up. That would classify as police work, wouldn't it?"

Devan shrugged without looking up. "Not exactly, but it's a start."

Without turning around, Woody twisted the door handle until he heard it click. "That's why they call me a detective."

"Yeah, and this is why they call me a Medical Examiner," Devan said while looking around the room. "Call me when you find some new evidence."

Woody frowned at the obvious emphasis the young doctor played on the word 'new'. "And I thought we were friends," he said playfully before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

From her paperwork, Devan smirked at Woody's falsetto. This case could get very interesting, indeed.


Nigel was lost in his thoughts. He just could not understand how someone could die from making potato salad. Before him lay a middle-aged man lying on the autopsy table, chest fully opened to reveal his vital organs. Sidney had conducted a full autopsy; though there was no sign of hemorrhaging, no sign of the man suffering from a stroke, or a heart attack…nothing. He had just dropped dead in his kitchen, with his wife and two children looking on helplessly.

Nigel had been told the family was having a barbeque and their friends and relatives were supposed to be coming around. It was going to be a reunion to celebrate the man's job promotion. His wife had been preparing the meatloaf while his children were watching television. Just a normal day, Nigel supposed, and something like that had happened. A cruel twist of fate.

"Hey, Nigel."

The man jumped with surprise and turned to face Jordan, whose equally surprised expression told him she hadn't expected him to jump. "Hi, Jordan."

Jordan nodded slowly while looking down at the operating table where the man lay naked, except for the synthetic blue shorts covering below his torso. "Wow, he was young."

Nodding his solemn agreement, Nigel flicked off the above monitor. "Yeah. George Gray, twenty-eight years of age. A wife and two children."

Jordan sighed. "Hate it when that happens. How did he die?"

Nigel looked up enigmatically, directing his eyes into Jordan's. "In all honesty, I have no idea. There are no signs of…anything that can lead to death in this man. I ran some tests on his blood for an indication of diseases, cancer or anything like that, and they've all come up negative. He just dropped dead at seven this morning."

Jordan frowned. "Exactly seven?"

Nigel nodded solemnly once again. "Exactly seven."

"Wow," Jordan replied. "Well, call me if you find anything; I'd like to help. In the meantime I'm going to check out that guy in autopsy two with a bullet lodged in his brain."

Jordan waved a quick goodbye before exiting the room, Nigel staring after her for a moment before going back to his corpse. "Good luck, Love."


No matter what she tried, Devan just couldn't settle with her paperwork. She knew she should be working with Woody on his case but that kiss the two of them had shared the other night seemed to haunt her whenever she was with him. That unacknowledged awkwardness between them was apparent, but tolerable, and yet she couldn't figure out why it was constantly on her mind. After all, it was just a mistake and both had acknowledged that. So…why was it so awkward?

She remembered it clearly; his soft lips on hers, the hand on her cheek, then the slip of the thumb indicating he had made a mistake in kissing her. The way his eyebrows had been lined in a frown and the frustrated look he gave to no one in particular…he clearly wasn't over Jordan, so…why had he kissed her?

"Devan?"

She looked up from her desk to see a familiar face standing in the doorway. Lily Lebowski wore an anxious look that told Devan she was wanted.

"Woody's at the front desk for you. He said something about the friendship being in jeopardy…" Lily trailed off with a confused look while Devan stood from her chair and smiled.

"Thanks, Lily."

The grief counsellor waved a quick goodbye before walking down one side of the hall, while Devan began walking down the other towards the front desk…where Woody was waiting with a folder full of papers.

He spotted Devan walking and waved the folder out to her. "Devan, I know the friendship's in serious jeopardy, but you're not exactly going to love me for this."

Devan shook her head slowly and frowned. "No…why, what is it?"

When Devan reached him, Woody handed her the folder and steered her towards the door. "A profile on an Adam Moore. He's our semen donor…and a regular at that. According to the local clinic, Moore used to donate once a month for two years…until he developed testicular cancer a year ago. It was too far developed to be cured through chemotherapy so he had to have it removed. A month ago the clinic was broken in to and two samples of his semen went missing."

Devan noticed Woody's car parked out the front of the morgue. "Right…so why did you hand me the file when you just told me the whole story?"

"Because there's more," Woody replied. They were outside and close enough to his car for the central locking to open it. "He and his wife had been looking for a surrogate for the past three years because she was infertile. Turns out she did the disappearing act on her husband nine months ago."

Devan walked around the car to step into the passenger's seat. "Again you tell me everything."

Woody turned the key in the ignition and the car started. "Just read. We have a long drive ahead of us."

Devan sighed and flicked through the papers. "Great. Anyway, how did you find out that sample belonged to this Moore guy? Isn't that kind of access restricted in these clinics?"

Woody flicked his eyes and looked wistfully at Devan. "I have a few friends at that clinic." She gave him a look. "Not for me, personally!"

A small smirk appeared on Devan's features. "Right."


"Hey, Bug," Jordan greeted the ever-articulate scientist, who was testing a blood sample in the laboratory. "I just got your message."

Bug looked up from the bench he was working at and slipped off his goggles. "Jordan, you might want to take a look at this."

He waved her over to the bench while walking over to the closest computer screen. "I was running a few tests on the blood sample Devan found this morning…" Bug trailed off and typed something on the screen. "…and I came up with something peculiar."

Jordan flicked her eyes over the screen and waited for Bug's explanation. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Thought you might be interested," Bug looked almost hurtful, then the look completely disappeared. "Besides, Devan took off with Woody. Now, since Devan picked up two blood samples out of curiosity, I did similar tests to both of them."

Jordan nodded. "This is all very interesting, Bug…but what exactly is your point here…?"

"Well," Bug began, "while there was no match on the actual DNA, there are in fact two different types of blood, as Devan suspected. One of them is of a full-grown female, and the other is male…and a child."

"A child," Jordan echoed.

Bug glanced briefly at the computer. "A child of about nine to ten months old."

"So," Jordan muttered, "we're looking at double homicide here."


"Is this it?"

Woody glanced fleetingly at the file Devan was holding and nodded decisively. "Yeah." He promptly pulled the release on the door and stepped out of the car, Devan following suit, still holding the file firmly.

When they neared the door, Woody gently grabbed the young Medical Examiner's arm and leaned in slightly. "Remember, this guy is our main suspect in a homicide investigation so try not to provoke him."

Devan smirked at Woody's worried face and countered his whisper with her own. "I won't if you don't, Woody."

Woody released his grip on her arm and she walked slowly around him and up to the door, knocking loudly where there was a glass frame. Looking around the front garden, Devan could see what was once a small lion fountain, but now there were several cracks in the sides and a large chunk had been removed from the stone base. There was also no water in it. Woody noticed this too and gave Devan one of 'those' looks. She ignored it, of course.

There was a rustling noise behind the door and eventually the handle twisted, revealing a tall, blonde man whose pale green eyes peered expectantly at the two. Woody took the lead immediately, stepping slightly in front of Devan.

"I'm Detective Hoyt from the Boston Police Department. This is Doctor Maguire from the M.E.'s office. We have a few questions regarding a homicide investigation." The man looked vaguely horrified and ushered them both in quickly.

Woody flicked an anxious look towards Devan before continuing. "You are Adam Moore, I presume…?"

The man nodded. "That's right. But I don't know anything about a murder, I swear."

When they were in the living room, Woody carelessly took a seat on the plastic-covered leather couch, Devan following suit quickly. "Mr. Moore, that's what they all say. Anyway, it would help if you had an alibi for around twelve last night and seven this morning."

Adam Moore frowned suspiciously at Woody, then at Devan. "I would like to know why I am being questioned, thank you."

Woody nodded. "Right, of course. Doctor Maguire…?"

Devan gave Woody an annoyed look before turning her complete attention to the blonde man being questioned. She pulled a pen out from her jacket pocket and gestured towards the file she was holding. "We found a sample of your semen at a crime scene this morning at approximately seven thirty."

Adam Moore nodded slowly. "May I ask where this crime scene was exactly?"

"Is," Woody cut in. "The local Boston naturist park. A jogger had been running along a specified path when he spotted the blood, but there was no body. He called the police and waited until we arrived. Doctor Maguire found the semen, which evidently belongs to you. But…I don't know how that's possible since you can't…produce anymore."

A laugh resounded from Adam Moore. "You're asking me? I haven't been able to produce since a year ago. And now you're telling me that some of my semen just appears at a random crime scene."

"Yeah," Woody shook his head, "but see, this wasn't random. Someone targeted whoever was murdered, and I'm guessing someone targeted you, as well."

"Meaning…?" Moore pressed.

Devan took the lead. "Meaning we think someone set you up. The clinic where you used to donate was broken in to. We think you were targeted. How else do you explain what we found."

Moore leaned back further into the leather seat he was sitting on. "So then why are you questioning me about this?"

Woody turned his eyes away from a crucifix that hung above a religious painting on the wall. "Because we need to know who would want to target you. Any enemies, so to speak."

An incline of the head told the two investigators that there were none he wished to speak of, though one he was protecting. "None that I can think of…"

Woody stood suddenly from the couch. "Come on, man. This isn't my first day on the job; I know you're protecting someone and I want to know who it is."

Devan shrugged and flicked her pen around. "We read in your file that your wife disappeared nine months back. Maybe she…"

"No!" Moore snapped, jumping from the couch and looking Devan directly in the eye. "She has nothing to do with this. Nothing."

Woody sat back down on the couch, giving Devan an apprehensive look on the way down. "We also read that you were fired from your job as a mechanic after an abrasive fight with a colleague. Mind telling us what that was about?"

Moore flicked his eyes around the room and sat back down. "Nothing. He called me a few names, that's all. I punched him and then it was stopped."

Woody made a quick gesture with his hand. "Simple as that…?"

Moore gave an indignant look. "Yes."

"Ok," Woody shuffled through the manila folder he took from Devan and pulled out a few pictures…pictures of the crime scene. "The murder occurred right next to this tree," he handed the photo to Moore, who took a long look at it. "And if you can see the ulterior spray, you would know to classify this as an actual murder, not a birth gone wrong."

Woody gave Devan one of his looks while she just rolled her eyes. That had been an example, she hadn't been serious when she said that. Before she could say anything, her phone began ringing. Excusing herself and walking over to the crucifix and painting, Devan answered.

"Yeah." The voice on the other end spoke clearly for some time, and Devan nodded fleetingly. "Ok, thanks. I'll see you soon."

Devan hung up and walked back to the couch, sitting down heavily and narrowly missing Woody's leg. She leaned over and whispered quietly. "That was Jordan. Bug tested the blood and found no match on the DNA, but was able to distinguish two types of blood. One female and one male. The female was around thirty while the male was just a baby of around nine months."

Woody nodded slowly. "So we're looking at a double homicide," he muttered under his breath. Devan just shrugged and looked back at Moore, who was peering at them both confusedly.

"We're going to need everything you have to offer about your wife," Devan said quite slowly. "That includes why she would want to set you up."

Moore shook his head firmly. "No. You leave my wife out of this. As I said before she has nothing to do with it."

"Maybe not, but…" Devan began, but was never able to continue.

"Get out."

Woody stood up, trying to reassure the man. "Listen, Mr. Moore…"

Moore stood as well, his height towering over Woody's. "Didn't you hear me? I said leave."

Devan stood and gave Moore a level look before walking to the door, Woody not far behind her. Devan turned the knob and thanked the blonde man for his time before walking out into the fresh air. Woody turned and looked once more at the crucifix, and he noticed something he didn't see before. Just above the crucifix there was a small wooden shelf, and what appeared to be a goat antler resting neatly on top of it. Woody frowned slightly at it before following Devan out to his car.

When they were far enough out of reach, Woody pushed down on the central locking button, unlocking his car. "Got a little chilly in there, wouldn't you say, Doc?"

"Definitely," Devan replied. "What do you think he's covering up?"

"A lot," Woody opened the driver's door and stepped inside, Devan readily doing the same to her side. "As much as he needs to, anyway. His wife has something to do with it."

"Think we should check her out?"

Woody flicked the keys in the ignition and started the car. "If we can. She disappeared, remember? I haven't been able to locate her; none of her credit cards or anything like that have been accessible since a few months ago. She obviously doesn't want to be found."

Devan nodded. "All the more reason for us to check it out. We have to go back into that house. It's our only clue trail."

Woody shrugged. "We're going to need more evidence."

A smile played on Devan's lips. "Let's get it, then."


"Doctor M?" Nigel knocked twice on the Chief Medical Examiner's small office and poked his head through the open door.

"What is it, Nigel?" Garret looked up from his desk and pulled off his glasses, sighing in contempt slightly.

"That autopsy Sidney just conducted on George Gray…" Nigel began hesitantly.

"What about it?" Garret interrupted abruptly.

"Well," Nigel glanced behind him before continuing, "we haven't been able to find a plausible cause of death. There was no abnormal haemorrhaging, no contusions…nothing that I could find with the equipment we have."

Garret sighed impatiently. "Nigel, what's your point?"

Nigel bowed his head for a second, thinking of a way to say what he wanted to. "I don't know what to write on the report. If I say he died from natural causes, then what would they be? Because right now, I'm at a dead end. No pun intended."

Macy rubbed his forehead. "Nigel, leave it to me. I'll figure something out. In the meantime I want you to look over that case with Jordan. The one with the brain tumour."

Nigel nodded his thanks and left the room, in search of Jordan…again.


"Ok, so we're back at the crime scene. This time we have to find something that can give us a court order to search Moore's place." Woody picked his way carefully around the many shrubs and plants that surrounded the taped-off crime scene. The blood was still in tact, albeit the underlying layer had seeped into the soil underneath the grass. "Hey, why hasn't this been cleaned up yet?"

Woody's question was directed at the CSU team that still surrounded the area, warding off annoying on-lookers. Witnesses still ranted on to various officers while Detective Adrian Lenning tried to calm down a teenager who had been passing by accidentally and had seen the extensive amount of blood.

A member of the CSU team caught up with Woody and Devan and began explaining. "We had orders not to clean it up until you two arrived back here. Something about needing some more evidence."

Devan cringed as the blood rippled in the sunlight. "We don't so much need the blood now, only what surrounds it. Such as," she knelt beside the large tree that was right next to the blood, "the ulterior spray."

Devan examined it while Woody waited anxiously beside her. "So do we know what kind of weapon it was?"

Devan turned her head slowly to look at Woody. "What am I, Sherlock Holmes?" She shook her head and traced along the outskirts of the line of thin blood. "Judging by the angle of it, I'm guessing the killer had to be standing about a foot away from this tree and to the left side. The victim was facing her killer, while the tree stood on an angle beside her. I don't think the murder was caused by a gun; the spray's angle is way off for that. Maybe a knife, definitely a sharp object."

Woody nodded. "Right. I'm thinking a knife, since they're very easy to find, as well as use."

Devan gave him another look. "Do they pay you to say dumb things? Anyway, I'm not too concerned with the ulterior spray…" she trailed off and looked beside the tree. "I'm looking for drag marks. The murderer had to have removed the body somehow, it's just a matter of what they left behind."

Sure enough, the blood trailed along in a line a little further out than the actual pool, and there was a partial foot imprint left in a soft patch of soil. Devan looked at and compared it with her own. "What do you think? A seven, maybe eight?" She looked up towards Woody's questioning glance and shrugged.

Woody looked closely at it. "Hard to tell, but the heel seems to fit yours perfectly."

Devan straightened and peeled off her gloves. "Thank you, Woody." She then nodded towards the CSU team and they immediately rushed to clean up the scene. "We'll have to come back tonight for fingerprints, though."

Devan began walking away from the scene and headed towards Woody's black car. The detective soon followed and opened his car door. "Tonight's the Governor's Ball."

Devan smiled and opened her side, sliding in and promptly pressing on the radio. "Ah yes, it's been a week, hasn't it? So, you still taking Jordan?"

Woody shook his head and turned down the radio a few notches. "No, she said she's too busy. A lot of work, apparently."

A frown lined Devan's features. "That's weird, the morgue's been quiet lately."

Woody shrugged. "Paperwork, then. Speaking of which, don't you have a lot to do?"

Devan gave a look of irritation. "Don't change the subject, Woody. So you're going alone?"

Woody shrugged. "Unless you're free…?"

Devan looked at Woody seriously. "I'd rather be doing paperwork than be a stand-in for somebody else, Woody."

Woody returned the doctor's level look with one of his own, looking her directly in the eyes. "Devan, you are not a stand-in for Jordan. I promise. Jordan and I are just friends and I would like nothing more than to have you accompany me to that banquet."

Devan thought about that. Then about the kiss. Woody had made it pretty clear that Jordan and himself were friends only and that there was nothing going on between them. But…why had Woody turned away from that kiss. "Ok," she finally answered, "but only as friends."

Woody smiled appreciatively. "Friends it is."