Woody's POV:
I stepped off the elevator into the medical examiner's office. I think I might have stepped into a land where chaos seemed to rule. Something must have been brewing because people were running from room to room. Everything was so chaotic that no one seemed to notice that I was being carried by my two feet with the assistance of crutches.
It had been two long weeks since I saw Jordan. It had been two long weeks since Santana and Framus verbally slapped me in the face. They woke me up to the fact that I was being an asshole. It took me two weeks to digest the fact that I had driven a huge wedge between Jordan and me.
"Lily, where does this go?" I heard a familiar voice ask. I turned around to see Cal carrying six or seven files that were stuffed to the brim.
"Cal, storage room B. Blue tabs always go in storage room B," Lily replied, "Is Jordan nervous?"
"Freaking out about giving this presentation. She practically has the coffee pot attached to her arm. I don't think she got any sleep last night," Cal replied. I stood in the wings listening to the conversation. It seemed like Cal knew some pretty personal things about Jordan. I smiled as I remembered how I once warned him that he could have any woman in Boston expect my Jordan. She didn't seem much like she was mine anymore.
"Do I look okay?" Jordan said as she emerged from the conference room straightening the gray suit she was wearing. It was fitted to every inch of her skin.
"You'll knock them dead, boss," Cal replied. His comment nearly ripped my heart out all over again.
"Thanks for lying. You don't know how much it means to me," Jordan replied with a smile, "I've got to go finish setting up. Cal, do you know how to hook up projectors?"
"Sure thing, boss. Let me just put these in Storage B," Cal said as he turned towards me. He nearly walked into me before noticing that I was in his way.
"Cal," I said in what I thought was the least offensive voice possible.
"Woody, wow. You're walking," Cal said with a genuine smile on his face, "I need to get going. Jo needs help getting ready for her presentation."
"Oh, you're working here?" I asked.
"Jo got me the job. I kind of like it here," Cal replied.
"You know how I said that you could have any girl in Boston except . . . " I began.
"No dice, bro. She's a great woman. She needs someone that is going to treat her well. I just don't think you are that person," Cal replied as anger flashed across his face, "I need to go."
I was left standing in the middle of the chaos.
Lily's POV:
I knew the day was coming when Woody would need to come back to the morgue. I had always hoped he would come to make amends rather than come on business. I wish he hadn't picked the day that Jordan was presenting interesting cases to a visiting professor from Texas Southwest. The man happened to be very influential in the world of forensic science. The work he did in the morgue in Dallas was considered to be cutting edge. He always ran a continuing medical education inservice that operated on an invitation only basis.
Garrett knew that Jordan wanted to attend that inservice. She had come back from where ever reenergized. She said it was time she got a little more serious about her career. In the wake of Slokum, I think Jordan figured out that she eventually wanted Garrett's job. The rest of the staff was more than happy to make sure that someone from the inside was capable of stepping in if Garrett ever needed to leave.
"Hey, Woody," I said with a smile that I hoped masked the dread that I was feeling. I knew Jordan wasn't mentally capable of handling Woody's wrath today. "You look so good."
"Thanks, Lily. What's going on around here?" he asked as he shifted uncomfortably on his crutches.
"Dr. Adams from Texas Southwest is here for a few days to observe the morgue, give talks, and listen to a presentation from Jordan," I replied. I knew that probably wasn't the answer he was looking for, but it was all that I was willing to give.
"Oh, she's nervous, huh?" Woody replied. I wondered what Cal said to him. The Woody that I knew was angry. Since the shooting, I hadn't seen him look dejected or apologetic. I wondered what changed from two weeks ago.
"There's a first time for everything," I replied with a smile.
"When did Cal start working here?" Woody asked.
"Two weeks ago. We never really trained anyone to take over my old job after I became the in-house grief counselor. Cal's getting the hang of the paperwork, filing system, and who likes what kind of coffee," I said. Woody smiled for a moment before his face fell flat again.
"I should go. I wouldn't want to upset anyone. I'll stop by sometime," Woody rambled as he turned around.
"That might be a good idea," I said carelessly and selfishly. I didn't want Jordan to see him. It was her day to shine, and she didn't need confrontation right now.
"Lily, wish her good luck for me," Woody replied as he moved toward the elevator.
"Woody, Dr. Adams leaves tomorrow afternoon," I called out as he got onto the elevator.
His blue eyes were a little darker. He might have started to come to terms with his injury and a certain woman that he hurt.
For Jordan's sake, I hope he took Nigel's advice. It was now or never, and from the look in his eyes I think he wanted her back.