A/N:THIS STORY HAS BEEN NEARLY COMPLETE FOR SOME TIME, I JUST HAVE TO GET IT TYPED AND POSTED. SO I KNOW HOW IT ENDS, YOU HAVE TO KEEP ON READING TO FIND OUT. PLEASE ENJOY IT. I STILL DON'T OWN THEM, BUT I'M WORKING ON IT.

CHAPTER 7: I WON'T LEAVE

As the late morning light streamed in through the hospital windows, Jordan woke a bit startled. She sat up quickly to see two new nurses attend to the morning routine with Woody. They were replacing bandages, taking his vitals, drawing blood, and administering medications. She quickly jumped up to his side just as they were finishing.

"Hi, I'm Janet, this is Tess," the older of two nurses greeted. The other just smiled and waived. "We'll be here all afternoon."

"Okay Detective," Tess began, but was silenced by Woody's hand.

"It's just Woody now," he stated, sighing heavily.

Jordan could see the light fade from his eyes. He's giving up, she thought.

"Well Woody, let's sit you up a little," Tess continued, undaunted as she pressed the button on the side rail of the bed, "so we can give you something to eat."

"Well liquids only, for now," Janet chimed in. "You must be starving."

The bed had only raised about halfway when Woody turned a sickly shade of green. Tess stopped when she noticed him pale.

"You okay?" Jordan asked, putting her fingers to his wrist, taking his pulse. "Slow deep breaths, Woody," she instructed, soothing him by rubbing small circles on his shoulder.

Woody could feel the room spin and the sweat form on his forehead. "We don't want you passing out on us," Janet told him.

"We'll go slower," Tess added, pausing to let Woody adjust to the movement. "It'll pass."

"You haven't been upright in a few days," Janet reminded him. "Or eaten anything in even longer."

Woody closed his eyes and put a shaky hand to his head as he rested back on the pillow. "Can I get you anything?" Jordan asked, running her own hand through his hair.

His glaring eyes met hers. "No Jordan, just go," he replied flatly.

"I would like to stay and help," she countered sincerely.

Woody looked away sadly. "You can't help, Jordan, no one can."

"I can't…..I won't leave you Woody, I love you too much," Jordan stated, turning his head with her hand so he would look at her. "I love you." Smiling at him, she bent over and kissed him on the lips.

The medication started to kick in by early afternoon and Woody fell asleep for most of the day. Jordan kept vigil by his side.

When Woody woke up that evening, his throat was dry and sore. "Jordan?" he called out hoarsely. He could see her sleeping form on the recliner across the room. He watched her for a minute and not really wanting to wake her up, he reached for the call button. The nurse arrived promptly, "Yes Woody dear, what can I do for you?"

"My throat is a little dry, may I have a drink?" he asked tiredly.

"Sure honey, water or juice?"

"Ooh, a choice," he quipped, almost smiling. "Juice please, apple." The nurse nodded and turned to go. "Wait", he called softly after her. "Could you cover her up?" he asked, nodding over at Jordan. "She might get cold."

The nurse nodded, took a blanket out of the cabinet, and covered Jordan; then left to get the juice. When she returned, she promptly offered the straw to Woody. "Slowly," she reminded him in a motherly way. His chest clenched as he thought of his own mother. What would she think of her son now?

"You know, she really cares about you Woody."

Broken from his thoughts, Woody looked up to see the nurse smiling at him.

"It's just pity," he grumbles, watching as the nurse discards the cup.

"We see a lot of pity here," she stated, patting him on the arm, "but most of it is self pity." Woody turned his head away. "Give her a chance Woody," the nurse advises before she leaves. "You've both been through a lot, and she's still here."