Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Crossing Jordan.

Regret

Chapter 3 – Misery loves company

Jordan sat at her desk and stared at the file she had pretended to be reading when Lily left. How the hell do you tell someone who is bedridden that their last remaining family member is dead? Jordan thought. She had only known of Cal's death for about an hour and she didn't really want to go down to the hospital the second Woody got out of surgery. Then Slokum knocked on the door.

"Dr. Cavanaugh, I am doing the autopsy on Detective Hoyt's brother and I… well umm… you see, Dr. Cavanaugh, I am allowing you to take off the rest of the day so you can go down to the hospital and tell Detective Hoyt."

Jordan looked up, slightly in shock. "Thank you Dr. Slokum," she said as she gathered her things. Maybe it was best that she go early and tell Woody, the longer she waits the angrier Woody will be at her for holding back the information. "Dr. Cavanaugh, do you want any information before you go?"

Jordan was surprised. "Umm…sure."

"He was shot several times, he's been dead probably about a month. He's been in the water for basically the entire time. Did he happen to have any affiliation with gangs?"

Jordan wasn't sure how to respond. Should she sell Cal out? No one but her and Woody knew what happened when Bug got hit with the shovel. She knew if she told Slokum everyone would know and then how mad would Woody be? "Yes, I do believe he had some connections. I think it was over drug money or something."

"Well if you or Detective Hoyt know any more information please pass it along."

"Yes, sir," she said feeling more nervous by the second.

"You're doing the right thing Jordan." Lily said as Jordan wandered past her.

"Yeah, I'd like to see you be in my situation."

Lily said nothing and neither did Nigel as Jordan got into the elevator. The ride down was unbearable. She kept picturing Cal's face as Seely removed the sheet. Tears burned behind her eyelids and all of the pain from the last few days rushed forward into her mind. She began to sob quietly at first but louder after every second. When the elevator doors slid open she was a wreck. As they opened, Framus stood there she had been waiting for the elevator.

"Jordan are you okay?" Framus asked but Jordan didn't respond; she just walked straight out the front doors.

When she unlocked her vehicle she sat in the driver's seat and cried. She felt like her world was crashing down. Her nerves were shot and her head was pounding like someone was hitting her with a hammer.

Finally she placed the keys into the ignition. She tried to regain her composure but she couldn't. All of what she kept bottled up was being set loose, Woody's rejection, Garret's betrayal, Cal's death, it even went back to as far as Woody dating Devan and all the guilt Jordan felt when she died. Then she realized someone was knocking on her window.

Jordan pressed the button and the window rolled to down to reveal Framus. "Jordan I know you are going through a lot right now, do you want to talk about it?"

"No thanks, I have to get to the hospital and let Woody know of his brother's death."

"Jordan, Woody's surgery didn't start until 10 and it is only 10:45. Even if his surgery is almost over he'll be in recovery for like an hour. There is no point in you going there until noon."

Jordan knew she was right and she liked Framus, mostly because Framus drove Bug crazy. "Thanks for the offer but I don't think I need company right now."

"Oh come on Jordan, misery loves company."

"Don't you have to work?"

"I'm sure I can spare a break. Just give me a minute to pick up a report from Buggles and I'll be right back."

Jordan wanted to leave and be alone but she figured it might not be so bad to listen to Framus talk for a while. It might even calm her down.

In the morgue Slokum and Nigel were beginning Cal's autopsy. Nigel felt sad because he had really liked Cal. Nigel removed one of the bullets and then went off to the lab to have it identified.

Slokum carefully checked over the body removing the other bullets Nigel hadn't yet removed and placed them in a petri dish. He was careful as he looked at the bruising around each wound. He found each entrance and exit wound and documented everything as he went along. Then he called in Lily, "Miss Lebowski, I need you to be my scribe, everything I say I want you to write on the report." She didn't bother arguing and did as he said.

Jordan and Framus sat at a coffee shop and Framus asked Jordan if there was something specific she wanted to talk about.

"No nothing in particular."

"Come on Jordan, you were an emotional wreck in the morgue. I won't tell anyone anything you confide in me. My mouth will remain shut."

Jordan smiled, "Honestly, I feel a lot better just getting away from everything. I mean away from work. Yup, that's what was stressing me out, just work."

"Jordan a person with an IQ of 2 would know that you weren't having a emotional breakdown in the elevator over a stressful workload."

"Did you ever meet Cal, Framus?"

"No, Woody wouldn't allow him at the precinct and since Woody was dealing with the mob case, the rest of us had to remain at the station doing the homicide cases that came in. I saw him and Woody leaving the hospital when I went to visit Buggles, but I was probably about 100 feet away. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if Woody let anyone meet him."

"No, he was probably afraid that his brother would reveal all of his deep dark childhood secrets."

Jordan laughed and felt a bit of relief from her headache. They talked for a little while longer, mostly about Bug and Nigel. Then Framus asked a question Jordan wasn't sure how to answer. "Jordan, do you think Nigel is attracted to Bug?"

Jordan practically inhaled her entire cup of coffee. She began choking and then finally responded. "Honestly Framus, I don't know. I think they're just friends. Nigel just got out of a serious relationship with a woman. Who knows, anything is possible." The truth was the entire morgue was curious on the level of Nigel and Bug's relationship, people just chose not to bring it up.

"Well Jordan, I should be getting back to work, but I'm glad you agreed to go out with me. I don't have too many female friends and I'd really like for us to hang out sometimes."

Jordan nodded. She did really enjoy herself. Besides she would do anything to avoid her emotions and telling Woody about his brother.

So Jordan and Framus drove back to the morgue and since it was 11:30 Jordan decided she should probably be getting to the hospital.