A/N-Jules, you said something about pressure building? Muhahaha...and as for work, well, I don't want to give things away, now do I? I merely have to say, though, if you did not see this coming, please have your vision checked. You're more myopic than I am...this should have been sneaking up on you like a train in a Bugs Bunny cartoon...and while I highy suggest all the music that I use in this fic, I suggest Coheed and Cambria the most, they're amazing, they have a concept album series-all the albums that they do tell this cool sci-fi story...but even aside from that the music is good...scratch that, the music isn't good, it's flippin' sweet, its cooler than a liger...and Jeremy Irons is the man, god that man is sexy. He needs to do a movie with Miguel and Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson...and no matter what you think from this chapter, this one's not a G/J romance-merely friendship.

Would it really matter if you were to count the days left with your hands
Your focus secure and the loves you left well
Smiles staged in photographs here until...

Coheed and Cambria -The Light and the Glass

He sat behind his desk, feet propped up, gently sipping his coffee. He leaned back and relaxed, enjoying the downtime for at least a little bit. He was almost afraid of it, afraid of what a few minutes of relaxation would bring about. He was was afraid of thinking of her, thinking about what had happened.

He had spent the past three weeks throwing himself back into work, and it had been succeeding. But at the same time he was sleeping somewhat. More than he had been before. Every now and then Jordan would stop by, it was more like every free moment that she had she spent in his office, and he didn't mind.

She was comforting, soothing, she was the one that was keeping his secret, the one that was looking out for him. He heard the single knock on the door frame as she appeared and walked in, sitting on the couch. "Hey." He said simply as she kicked her feet up, mirroring his pose.

"Hey." She replied, and they sat there in amicable silence. He knew that she could sense the effect she had on him, the way that she seemed to help chase away the nightmares-he still had them, but they were less and less common. Less and less damaging. He didn't feel as bad after them, didn't wake up with the same compulsion to drink.

He still wanted a drink, still felt as if he needed it, but he didn't feel as if his life would end without it. He felt better. He was actually starting to make a recovery. And it was because of her. She had gotten him to break down, even if it had been by berating him far enough to punch her.

He smiled at her. "Got any plans?" He asked her.

"Tonight?" She shook her head. "Nothing. Unless Jeremy Irons decides to knock on the door and ask me to run away with him someplace-" He chuckled.

"Jeremy Irons?" He questioned and grinned as the faintest tinge of red crossed her face.

"There was nothing on TV last night but the third Die Hard movie-" He chuckled.

"Starting to check out older men are you?" She grinned.

"There is something-nice-about a man with a little mileage on him."

"Now why can't all women be like you?" He asked raising his glass in a mock toast. He meant it though. Right now he could use somebody to love. He needed someone like Jordan in his life. Someone just like her. Someone that could chase the nightmares away once he got home as well.

He was getting better, but he was starting to become more and more like her. There were times where he slept on the couch in his office, it was more comforting than his own house. He needed someone there to be a comforting presence in the middle of the night. He hated being alone in that house, with nothing but his own thoughts.

And she had been wonderful. She had been there when he had called, almost over the edge one night, had come over still in her pajamas, and had just sat there with him. He needed someone, just a warm body to help chase away the nightmares. Not even to comfort him after one, but just someone there to discourage him from having them.

He needed someone like her to help him sleep. Her, someone just like her, someone patient but stubborn, but most of all who cared. She cared. She was his best friend for a reason. She loved him for who he was, didn't care about whatever shit he was going through, she was still there for him, the way that he had been there for her.

"Because if there were more than one of me in the world the universe as we know it would be in complete and utter chaos?" He laughed.

"You're right. I don't the think the world can handle multiple Jordan Cavanaugh's running around." She grinned.

"Be an interesting sight though-" She was cut off by Lily peeking her head it.

"Hey guys, there's a pickup down by MIT-you guys got it?" They nodded.

"Yeah, sure." Jordan said, getting up, and he followed her out. They drove down the streets with the radio being the only noise. They pulled to a stop in front of one of the small apartments a block from the prestigious school's campus where there was a crowd of young men standing around.

They shoved there way through and up the stairs as directed by one of the men to the room where the body was. He pushed open the door that had been closed out of respect and had to fight back a wave of nausea as he saw what was in there.

Shaggy mouse brown hair hung down, hiding the length of long brown rope around the boy's neck, and as the body spun grotesquely in midair, he felt his stomach drop at the face that looked like it was in need of a shave. He felt her come up behind him and wrap her arms around him, gently pulling him out of the doorway, getting one of the other men to help her take the body down while he slid down the wall and took a few deep breaths, head down between his knees.

"Are you OK?" She asked him gently as she reappeared. He had heard the gurney being wheeled back down to the van. He nodded and she offered her hand to him to help him up.

"Fine." He said and followed her out.

"Garret-" She started and he cut her off.

"You don't have an autopsy scheduled this afternoon do you?" She shook her head.

"No."

"Good, you're assisting on Blake's." He said, closing the door and driving them back to the morgue.