Chapter Ten

A Reason to Return to Boston

By nine the next morning, Woody was at Jack's office discussing the Albanian mob with Briscoe and Curtis.

By eleven, he was hunting down Jordan. Despite what he had promised himself about not saying anything to her, his heart wasn't going to let him leave New York without giving their relationship one more shot…even if the bullet ended up in his ass.

She wasn't answering her Boston cell phone. Woody reasoned that there was no need for her to do that in New York. She probably kept it turned off. He went to the NYC morgue, but Betty said she had called in sick…and asked for a day off. Since it was the first sick day Jordan had taken, Betty had given it to her.

Out of desperation and with no other place to look, Woody found himself back at Jack's penthouse…and this time he prayed the DA was at the office and not playing house with Jordan. With his gut in a knot and his courage quickly slipping, he knocked on the door.

She answered it a few minutes later. Same tone of voice she used last night. "Woody…"

"Can we talk? Is now a good time?" he asked, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the next.

"What else is there to say?" Jordan replied, but pushed the door open wider anyway. "Come on in."

"Nice place." Woody took in the white carpeting, black couch, and fire place. Jack's penthouse made his $700 a month apartment look like a broom closet.

"Very. I'm afraid Jack's spoiling me." She sank down on the couch and motioned him to sit in the chair across from her.

Not sure how to broach the subject, but needing to know more than he needed his next breath, he asked, "So how did…" the words stuck in his throat.

"How did Jack and I get together? I'm not sure that's any of your business, Woody."

Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. I know, it's just…"

"Just what?"

"It seems awfully sudden …"

Jordan stood and walked over to one of the windows, staring out across the way into Central Park. "What should that matter to you? You told me we were through…whatever it was we had…even after I put my feelings on the table for you. I admit, as usual, my timing was lousy, but that is what I felt. You made the decision to push me away and move on with your life. And encouraged me to move on with mine. I have."

"But…he's older than you, Jo. A lot older."

"So?"

"I mean, I just can't picture…"

"Then don't. Let's just say we have a lot of mutual interests and a similar background. Jack's had to deal with his own personal demons while finding justice, the same way I have. And his dad was a cop."

"That's all you're basing your relationship on?"

"No…Jack and I are more alike than different. And he's stable. I know he cares about me and isn't likely to change his mind on a whim." She turned back to stare him down. "So have I answered your questions, Woody?"

"Do you love him?" Woody asked quietly.

"I care for him…immensely. He's a good man. I'm not really sure love exists anymore except in fairy tales, Woody. Maybe we're all chasing this dream…a fog…a mist that will truly burn away with morning's light. Maybe…we just need to find someone we can care about and that cares about us….if not forever, at least for a little while. Maybe that's what it's all about."

"Do you honestly believe that?" He rose from his chair and walked over to where she was standing. "Do you?" he asked, tilting her chin so she would look him in the eyes.

Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the way his eyes still made her knees buckle, she replied, "I do."

He let go of her so suddenly she nearly fell. "Then that's all there is to it…nothing else between you and me." His voice was flat.

"No….Like you said, I have no reason to be in Boston any longer."

His face blanched. If he could get her back to Boston, he would be on his turf…and she would be away from Jack….Woody assumed it might be easier to woo her again once she was back home. "Then you're not coming back to Boston?"

Jordan shook her head. "No, I'll have to return after my rotation. That's the way the contract agreement reads."

"But will you stay there?"

"I don't know. It depends on if there's anything here for me …in New York…that will make me want to come back."

"Would Jack be enough?"

"Possibly."

"But what if…"

Whatever Woody was going to say was cut off by the sound of keys in the door. "Jordan… are you okay? Betty said you called in sick?" Jack had come home for lunch.

"In here, Jack," Jordan replied, her eyes still on Woody.

"Oh. There you…Woody. Nice to see you again. I just came home for lunch." Jack walked over to Jordan, dropped one arm around her waist and lightly kissed her lips. Jordan experienced the pulled sensation of being the wishbone of two alpha males. "Can we get you a sandwich or something?"

Woody felt the room grow warmer and had a sudden desire to jerk Jordan out of Jack's arms and tell the DA just exactly who she belonged to…or used to, anyway. At least he thought she did…and always would on some level.

Obviously not any more.

He needed to get out of that penthouse before he lost his temper and ruined any remote chance he had with her. "No…I'm just leaving."

"But we'll see you again….you'll be here until the end of the week, right?"

"No, actually, I think I'm going back home tonight."

The shrill ring of Jack's apartment phone broke the tension. Jordan made her way into the kitchen to answer it. With her out of ear shot, Jack crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "Did you get the answers you came for, Detective?" Jack motioned with his head toward the kitchen, indicating Jordan.

Woody nodded. "I did."

Jack smiled. A mirthless, I-won-the-girl-sorry-sucker-you-lost smile." But they weren't to your liking."

"Not really."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not. But it's not over."

"Really?"

"She has to return to Boston in three months."

"And you honestly think she'll stay there?"

"She might if I give her a reason to."

The men were standing nearly toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose when a pale Jordan re-entered the room. "That was Lily…"

Instantly concerned, Woody asked, "What's wrong, Jordan?"

"I have to go back to Boston. Now. Garret's just had a heart attack. And he's asking for me."