A.N. Sorry for the short chapter. The next should be uploaded by tomorrow. As always, R&R.
Cry Another Day
-Elisabeth Carmichael-
"Hey," she allowed the corner of her lips to turn up, "You're awake."
He gave her a non-reply.
"Did you uh…" she looked down embarrassed, "hear that, what I just said?"
He remained expressionless, "Why? Does that change anything?"
She looked hurt, "No, no Woody, I meant every word of it."
Her hands moved on top of his, "I care about you so much."
He studied her intently with a gruffness in his gaze, "I can't do this right now. You need to leave."
"I'm not leaving you Woody," tears dripped silently down her cheeks, "I could never, ever leave you again."
"Jordan, go."
Biting her lip, she contemplated obeying him, "You'll have to handcuff me before I leave you."
In defeat he turned away and shut his eyes. Their two egos were battling for space in the compact hospital room. As an uneasy silence drifted between them, Jordan shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Walls."
"What?" Woody looked at her exasperated.
"It wasn't really just a kiss."
"What?" he said incredulously.
"In L.A., in the desert, two years ago," she seemed to wistfully remember it.
"Geez Jo, why would you think to bring that up?"
"I lied when I said it meant nothing."
"You lied," he deadpanned, "Water under the bridge by now."
"I really did have feelings for you, but it scared me. Woody I was scared of hurting you…of being hurt. Everyone I have ever loved has left me or hurt me, or been hurt by me. Woody, I love you so much that I couldn't allow you to get close. I don't want to lose our friendship, but friendship won't satisfy me. Nigel was right. I do need to step up to the plate."
"Pity."
She looked away with downcast eyes and then furiously stared him down, "I put my heart on the line and you call it pity? Woodrow I have absolutely NO pity for you. Love is NOT pity." Her yelling broke into sobs as she collapsed upon his chest, "…and I'm so tired of you not seeing it. If anyone hates pity stares..." her head shook profusely, "How could I give you something that I think should be a felony?" her lips cracked only slightly.
"Me?" he asked stunned, "What about you? How long have I waited for something like this, how long have I waited for you to come around? They all saw it, Nigel, Garret, Lily, they all told me to keep going, that my pursuit of you was not fruitless, and after getting my ego crushed for the billionth time, I tried."
She looked hurt, eyes welling with tears, her throat being choked on sobs, "You didn't have to…Woody I wish I had known, or not been so afraid."
She got up and ran her hands savagely back through her hair, "Jesus, Woody, I guess you don't…I'm too late…I'm so sorry…I better go now, leave you how you want to be…not be a pain in the ass for once in my damn life."
"Fine Jordan, just leave! And stay away because I don't need you or your pity."
Her eyes fell, and the color flushed from her face as she stormed out, running shoes pressing against the floor.