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

Regret

Chapter 15 – Uncle Woody

"Hi Uncle Woody!" Jordan said. Woody looked up to see Jordan carrying Jackson into the room. "Woody this is your nephew, Jackson Woodrow Hoyt."

Jordan watched his face grow a smile as she walked closer to him. "Jackson this is your uncle Woody." Jackson had grown to like Jordan and by the end of the car ride, he had begun to talk her ear off. Now that they were out of the car he even allowed her to carry him. "Woody this is your sister in law, Katie Hoyt."

Woody looked to the doorway. He didn't know how to react to her. "H…h…hi, Woody."

"You know what Woods, Jackson and I are going to leave the 2 of you to talk. I'm sure he'd like a drink from the cafeteria."

When Jordan left, Woody turned away from Katie and stared out the window, "Please take a seat. So tell me about this life you and my brother shared that I knew nothing about."

"We met almost 3 years ago at a party. One thing led to another and he got me pregnant. When I told him, he agreed to marry me. He told me all about you, he admired you, but he never let me meet you. He said, this was a part of his life you wouldn't want to know anything about. Anyway, I'm sure you knew he had problems, he'd go on trips and be gone for months at a time. He had problems, with drugs, alcohol and gambling. When Jackson was born, he tried to clean up his act for him because he wanted Jackson to have a childhood, unlike his own. However, he still had a gambling problem and I was terrified he was putting us in danger, so about 3 months ago, I threw him out. I had no idea the danger he was really in. I wanted to contact you but he said I was never permitted to do so."

"That's why you didn't report him missing because you didn't know he was?"

"That's right, I feel so guilty. I hate the thought of Jackson growing up without a father."

Woody, felt so lost and alone. "What was your wedding like?"

"Nothing special, we went to Vegas to a chapel. You know Woody, he wouldn't let me name Jackson anything else. He said, that he must be named after you."

Woody tried to smile but he felt so racked with guilt. His brother loved him so much and was so ashamed of himself because he could never live up to him. "I'm sorry that my brother was the way he was."

"Hey, despite his problems I still loved him. Sometimes he was the sweetest guy in the world. Everyone has problems and I learned to look past his for the most part. Near the end I just couldn't handle it. I lived in worry all the time. I thought kicking him out would prove a point. Don't beat yourself up. I know you guys didn't have it easy growing up and I know that it was unfair for you to have to raise Cal so young but he really was grateful for you."

"Do you have any family?"

"No, my parents passed away in a car accident 5 years ago and I was an only child. Cal was really all I had."

"Me too."