DISCLAIMER- I don't own any of the characters of course and this is done purely for my own (and hopefully other's) entertainment. No profit is being made etc.
Storm Before The Calm CHAPTER 1: The Morning AfterJordan awoke with something of a start- she wasn't alone. However it didn't take long for her brain to remind her it was Woody whose arms were holding her. She heard him breathing softly and carefully turned to face his sleeping form.
Her mouth curled up to one side in a half smile as Woody whimpered quietly and twitched in his sleep.
"Damn" she muttered as she noticed the glowing clock said 10:23. She had less than 30 minutes before she had to leave.
She gently reached over to Woody and ran her hand gently down his cheek.
She immediately felt terrible when he jerked slightly and his eyes slowly opened.
"Jordan?" He mumbled, nowhere near fully awake.
She smiled softly "Mornin' Wood"
"You're still here" Woody said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Well, it is my apartment"
"I know- I-I just meant that..."
"I know what you meant, Woody" Jordan leaned forward and kissed his forehead "I'm still here"
Woody gave a somewhat relieved smile. "I'm glad"
Jordan grinned "So have a good birthday then did you?"
Woody nodded "I really did" He grinned back at her. Even when she woke up Jordan was the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen.
Jordan smiled back and started to get out of the bed when Woody gently grabbed her arm "Stay with me"
"I can't, Woody. As much as I'd like to I've got to get to work" She could hardly believe what she was saying.
"Call in sick" Woody suggested.
Jordan shook her head " Uh uh. Won't work. But…" She said as she stood on the floor of her bedroom and faced him "It's a short shift. Five hours. Then I'm done. And I'm not on call either. We could go out for dinner? My treat"
Woody sighed "Alright" He agreed.
She smiled back at him before noticing the clock again "Crap" She turned and started rummaging through her drawers to find something other than her pyjamas to wear to work. She found what she wanted and headed towards the bathroom.
"Jordan?"
She turned "Yeah?"
"Have a nice shower and I'll make us some breakfast…"
"I don't have time for breakfast" Jordan interrupted.
"You'll make time" Woody ordered.
Jordan sighed and continued on her way to the bathroom.
While in the shower, thoughts of the past few hours ran through her head. That could very well have been one of the best nights of her life. They hadn't gone any further than kissing but that didn't matter. Not with Woody. She didn't need sex to feel wanted by him. Just lying in her bed, cuddled up in his arms and exchanging some silly banter before finally falling asleep was fine.
Never had she felt so comfortable with someone. It had taken her almost too long to realize this of course, and she almost lost him but he kept persevering, Good thing he did, too she thought to herself as she turned the shower off.
Once dressed in a casual blouse and neat black pants, her hair in a ponytail, Jordan made her way to the little dining table where Woody, still in his boxer shorts, was just placing two plates down.
"Something smells good" Jordan smiled as she sat in the seat that Woody pulled out for her.
"Busy Medical Examiners need a hearty breakfast" Woody half-smiled as he sat across from her. "Juice?" he held up the carton of orange juice.
"Please" Jordan nodded. Woody filled her glass. She took a bite of the omelet on her plate "Hey this is really good, Woody"
"Thanks. It was just something I threw together with your amazing lack of edible goods. Or goods that are still inside their use-by date"
She narrowed her eyes at him before taking another bite "Where'd you learn to cook like this anyway?"
Woody shrugged "I just picked it up along the way" He took a few bites of his own omelet and the pair sat in silence for about 3 minutes while they ate.
Jordan looked at her watch "Dammit. I've really got to go"
Woody looked a little sad.
"Hey. I'll be back in a few hours! Make yourself at home. Watch a DVD. Go shopping for me" She teased.
He rolled his eyes at her before standing and taking both their empty plates to the sink.
"Alright. And thank you again for last night. Thank the others for me when you see them?"
"Will do" She nodded grabbing her jacket, bag and car keys off the bench top. "Spare key is in the bathroom, 3rd drawer down"
Woody nodded "Bathroom. 3rd drawer. Got it" He walked her to the door and held her close before opening it "I love you" He said softly.
Jordan didn't answer, she just kissed him. I want to say it back to him. I do. But not just yet.
"Have fun, Woody" She called as she moved down the hall to the elevator.
Woody shut the door once he saw her safely in the elevator, and leant against the hardwood.
"That." He said out loud "Was the best present ever"
"Hey only nine minutes late. Not bad" Jordan said to herself as she parked her SUV in the underground parking lot. She had just gotten out of the car and was about to grab her bag from the passenger side when she felt the all too familiar coolness of a gun-muzzle on her bare neck. She froze and slowly raised her hands.
"Get back in the car and drive outta here" A gravelly male voice ordered.
"You didn't say please" Jordan said, heart thumping in her chest. She didn't move.
The gun was pressed harder into her neck "Don't get smart with me, lady. I'm the one with the gun, remember?"
Jordan said nothing. She just climbed silently across the car into the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition.
"Good" Came the satisfied response from her new friend. "Now drive out of here, take a left and then a right at the first intersection"
"We really need some security down here" Jordan muttered to herself as she followed the man's instructions and drove.