A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS A CONTINUATION OF THE LAST ONE. NONE OF THEM BELONG TO ME, BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT. ENJOY!
CHAPTER 33: A REASON TO LIVE
That evening the morgue family along with Cal and Woody gathered at Max's house. They all sat around the dinning room table starring at Jordan. "How?", she asked shaking her head and balling up the tissue in her hand. "She just confessed, Jo.", Woody said rubbing her back. He looked up at Max leaning against the wall, Max nodded. "She followed Malden here intent on killing both of them for having an affair. She killed your mother first, then turned to Malden, but there was a knock at the door. It was James, they panicked and left.", Woody explained. "But Dad, Mom wasn't having an affair with Malden when she died, was she?", Jordan asked nervously. "No Jordan, but Malden and his wife were married when James was conceived. You see, Mrs. Malden couldn't have children, so when she found out about James, she just snapped.", Max confided.
"All these years you thought it was James?", Jordan asked her father. "Yeah, I saw him running from the house right before I found your mother. James was sick, that's why I couldn't tell you Jordan, you understand now, don't you? ", Max replied. She nodded, looking around the table. "That's why I was gone last year, I was helping James. He had a major breakdown, but before I came back home, he told me he has nothing to do with your mother's murder, and he didn't know who did. Don't worry, he's safe now.", Max added, kissing Jordan on the top of her head.
The group finally left late that night. Woody and Jordan sat eye to eye. "So what do I do now?", she sheepishly asked Woody. "You start living again, just like me.", he chuckled. Max came in and said, "Goodnight Sweetie, I'm going to bed, you look exhausted, why don't you stay here tonight." Jordan glanced at Woody who was saying goodbye to Cal, "I think I will Dad, thanks.", she replied. "Nice work Detective.", Max said to Woody. "Right back at ya, Max.", Woody said with a smile. He wheeled back over to Jordan and took her hand. "You okay?", he asked. She nodded. He felt a flood of emotions, Just tell her. Tell her you love her, you idiot. No, no this is not the right time. Oh Jordan I do love you., Woody thought. "Well I've got an early day tomorrow.", he said yawning. "Oh Woody, I forgot, you have a doctors appointment tomorrow. I can't go, I have to work. I'm sorry.", Jordan said sadly. "That's alright, it'll probably be the same as last month, and the month before…", his voice trailing off. "Don't say that, it will get better.", Jordan said positively. "I know, it just takes time. Right?", he said sarcastically.Then he kissed her on the cheek, "Goodnight Jordan."
She watched him roll away, "Goodnight Woody.", she called after him. Jordan was so tired that she was wide awake. Great, insomnia, she thought to herself. She sat on the couch and put the television on. As she flipped through the channels she wondered where her life was headed. What was she going to do with the rest of her days. She was always so consumed with her mothers murder, and now it was solved. Over. Finished. She never really thought of a future, sure she thought of the future, but never her future. Then it came to her, the vision of her future…..and he was right behind the den door.
Woody woke up groggily, with an added heaviness around him. "Sorry did I wake you.", a small voice called out from behind him. Woody grabbed the bar over his head and sat up quickly. "I couldn't sleep last night, so I climbed in bed with you.", Jordan explained. He looked at her, confused, his hair sticking straight out on one side. She smoothed it down, "Wow, those meds really do knock you out.", Jordan added, laughing. Jordan got up to leave, "Good luck at the doctor. Call me after.", she said kissing him goodbye. Woody sat there for a while trying to figure out what just happened, he shook his head, and started to get ready for his appointment.
Woody waited anxiously as the doctor finished with the exam. "Well Woody, you seem to be healing just fine.", the doctor said hopefully. "But?", Woody interjected. "No, not but, I'm really happy with the fact that you have regained a little feeling in your upper thighs. It's just after the last surgery, I would like to have seen a little more improvement. I know I've already told you there is basically no chance for a full and complete recovery. Now, but with some alternative methods and intensive therapies we might be able to get you to make some real progress. It wont be easy and I can't make any promises.", the doctor said factually. Woody sighed, his stomach tied in knots. "What do you think? You ready to do this?", the doctor asked positively. "Yeah Doc, I'm ready.", Woody answered with a small smile. As he left the office, Woody knew he had to try, he now had a reason to try. Jordan was his reason, his reason to live again, to maybe someday walk again.