Woody arrived back at the precinct at 5:15. By that time, all he wanted was to get out of there. He had had a crazy day. He gathered his jacket and briefcase and booked out of there. He drove in silence back to his apartment. Woody wondered if his daughter had had a good time exploring the city. He loved Boston and wanted her to find it's magic as well. He found it hard to call Hannah his daughter, though. He had only know her for twenty-four hours, and it didn't seem real. It had all happened so fast and so far it seemed like a dream. Woody wondered if he should tell her about the test that Dr. Macy had preformed. He thought she might react badly, but he knew that trust was vital in the beginning of any relationship, including his own. Now that Woody knew Hannah was truly his daughter, he really wanted to get know her. She seemed like a really great kid, from what he already knew about her.
XIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIXIX
Woody had just arrived at his apartment. He could see light creeping through the bottom of his front door, and knew that Hannah was back. He sighed and leaned against the wall. He put his head into his hands and then ran his fingers through his hair. Woody had no clue what to talk to Hannah about. Sure they were kin, but he was, it seemed, so foreign to her. He turned and stared at the front door, and then finally got the courage to enter.
"Hannah?" Woody called out.
"In here," she yelled. Her voice had come from the living room. He walked in and saw her seated with Jordan.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. Woody was surprised she was here. He had just seen less that an hour ago.
"Well, Woody I wanted to see your bachelor pad," Jordan said sarcastically. "What do you think? I wanted to see Hannah, and to tell her some stuff about Papa Woody."
"Okay. First of all, Hannah don't believe everything she tells you. Second of all, Jordan how did you get here so fast. I left the morgue less than an hour ago," said Woody.
"I have my ways. Anyway, I brought Chinese," she said smiling.
"Okay. Jordan can I talk with you. Out here." Woody said point blankly.
Jordan got up off the couch and followed Woody out into the hall. She wondered if he was going to make her leave. It was in his nature to do that.
"What Woody?" she asked innocently.
He gave her a menacing look. "I can't believe you came here."
"I know. I just thought that you might like somebody to be here with you. I wanted her to know that I care," replied Jordan.
"Oh. Sorry for getting so, so...," said Woody.
"Spastic?" added Jordan in a questioning tone.
"Yeah," replied Woody. "I just want to get to know her better before I tell anyone. I mean, I told Garrett because he wouldn't give me the results if I didn't. I told you because I knew the longer I waited to tell you, the more grief you would give me when you found out."
"Hey!" said Jordan smiling. She punched at his arm playfully. "I would have understood."
"Really?" he asked. "I guess I have been underestimating your reactions lately."
"Yeah. You know, you should have more faith in me. Just when you think you have me all figured out, I will always surprise you," she replied.
"I don't think I will ever fully figure you out," said Woody teasingly. She punched his arm again.
"You better stop while you're ahead. You don't want to have too many bruises before you go back in there," said Jordan jokingly. "I guess I can leave so you can have some time with her."
"Thanks," replied Woody. She turned to go, but Woody kept talking. " Jordan, do you think I can this?"
"Do what?" she asked, turning around to face him.
"This whole parenting thing," he replied.
"Woody, I think you will make a great father. I always thought any kid would be lucky to have you as a dad. In fact, that's what I told Hannah," said Jordan.
"You did?" he questioned further.
"Absolutely. You have this quality about you that makes people feel safe when you're near," she replied.
"Thanks, Jordan. That is exactly what I needed to hear," he said earnestly.
"Anytime. And you know, my offer still stands. I will always be here to help you. And so will Garrett, and the others at the morgue," said Jordan.
"I know," he said. He watched her walk down the hall and out of sight before he entered his apartment again.
"Hey," said Hannah as she watched him walk toward her and sit across from her in the living room.
"Hey," he replied. "I just want to tell you, that I had a DNA test done today. I took some of your hair and had it examined by my friend at the morgue. It said that we are related."
"I felt you pull at some of my hair last night," said Hannah.
"Are you mad?" he asked, afraid of her answer.
"No. Not at all. In fact, I was going to suggest that we have that done. I knew you wanted to be sure, and... I wanted that as well," she replied.
"Oh," was all he could muster.
"Jordan brought us some food," said Hannah, dismissing the subject at hand.
"Yeah, I saw that," Woody said.
"Is there something going on between you to?" she inquired.
"No," Woody responded quickly. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, I got the vibe that she likes you as more than a Detective, and as more than a friend." she replied. "Not to mention how quickly you said no to my question."
"Oh. There's nothing going on, but... you really think she likes me?"
"Yeah. It's a girls intuition," said Hannah, smiling.
"Well, let's switch the subject. Hannah, I want to know everything about you. I want to know where you go to school, your favorite color, your favorite food and---,"said Woody.
"I... get the picture," said Hannah, laughing. She was glad that Woody had taken such a keen interest in her. She wanted to know everything about him as well.
"As you know, I am fourteen. I was born on December 11, 1991, in Wisconsin Central Hospital. My middle name is Elizabeth. It came from my grandmother. I attended Lincoln Elementary School, and I'm currently enrolled in Lincoln Middle School. I will be in 8th grade this year."
She and Woody sat there for the next few hours, telling each other about their lives. Woody had told her about his family. His deceased parents, and addict brother. Why he had enrolled in the police academy, his past relationship with Laura, and about all his friends at the morgue. Little did they know as they sat their reminiscing, that the weeks ahead would be harder than anything they had yet experienced.