Jordan looked up to the ceiling then back down to Veronicas face which was looking at her.

"Don't get to excited," she said. "It's just one of them coming down. Happens all the time," she told Jordan.

"Well aren't we just little miss sunshine?" Jordan mocked.

"I mean it. I've been in here long enough to stop getting my hopes up. Everytime I heard that retched clanking I thought it was someone coming to save me. But after that clanking, another thug comes in here for a torture session. The sound is like the bells of hell warning me that there's danger to come," Veronica said.

Jordan understood what she meant. But she coulnd't help hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone was coming to save them, to make all their problems go away.

XXXXXXXXXX

Woody found the next step with the flashlight, then carefully placed his foot on the step where the beam was held. Then shot the light back up for the step under Garret for him to see as well. Woody didn't care how awkward climbing down this tunnel was, as long as Jordan was at the bottom, safe and sound for him to wrap his arms around. He had tuned out the beating of his heart which was hammering painfully against his chest. not wanting to think about exactly what lay at the bottom. He just kept climbing down, hoping to God that Jordan was ok. Finally, they reached the bottom. Woody dropped himself from the tunnel then held his hand out for Garret to take and help down. When Garret was beside him, the two of them looked around, sizing up the trouble they were in. It was a cold, dank room. Stone walls with the occasional torch mounted on the wall, one lonely door on the opposite side of the room. Woody looked at Garret who said, "After you,". Woody walked across the room, paying no attention to the steady dripping of water from the the ceiling. When he reached the door, he pressed his ear against it, trying to see if he could hear voices of any sort. There were none. Grabbing the handle and swallowing his fear, he turned and pushed, leading the way into a hall exactly like the room they had come out of. Garret could hear Woodys heaving breathing in front of him. He wanted so bad to lean over and comfort the detective, but his own sorrows were weighing him down. They looked left, then right, trying to decide which way to take, Woody's handle on the metal instrument in his holster. To the right was another door at the end of the hall, the left, the same thing.

"Pick your poision," Woody said, coating the fear in his voice with collectiveness.

"Right," Garret said, not giving himself time to consider his decision.

Woody nodded and turned right, walking down the narrow hall. The emptyness and quiet was unsetteling. He wished someone would just jump out, at least then they would know they were in the right place and they weren't alone. When he got to the door, Woody pushed it open and looked inside. It was dark, to dark to see. Woody flicked on the flashlight and waved the beam around the room. This one was almost the same again. Woody was tired of the sameness of all the room. But as he looked around this one, one door stood out more than the others. It was heavier than the others, a pad lock placed in the middle. Woody turned around to look at Garret.

"Is she's here, my money's on the the fact that she's in there," Garret said, offering Woody encouragment.

Woody nodded and walked over to the door, pressing his hands against it.

"Jordan!" he called through it. "Jordan are you in there!"

On the other side of the door, Jordan and Veronica both looked up, hearing a faint but distinct voice on the other side. Jordan slowly stood up, listenig again.

"Jordan! Jordan!" Woody called again.

It finally clicked for Jordan. She hauled herself off the floor and walked over to the door.

"Woody! Woody is that you!" she yelled.

Woody heard her.

"Jordan!" The relief was apparent in his voice. "Jordan are you ok? Garret and I are both here! We're gonna get you out!" he said.

Jordan could feel the tears welling up inside her eyes. "They're here," shetold Veronica. "They're really here!"

Veronica was overjoyed too. But back on the otherside of the door, Woody and Garrets enthusiam was quickly evaporating. They had found Jordan all right, but how were they gonna get her out? The lock was thick, there was no way it was coming off without a key.

"Garret you look for something to pry open that lock. I'm gonna go talk to Jordan," Woody said. Garret nodded. Woody walked over to the door and yelled through it.

"Jordan? Are you ok in there?" Woody asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

"Ya I'm fine. Are you getting us out?" she asked.

"Us?" Woody asked back.

"Oh ya. You're failiar with the Donovan case right? Missing M.E from California," Jordan said.

"Ya. I'm familiar with it. Why?" Woody asked.

"Well Veronica Donovan is in here with me. She's been in here for five months," Jordan answered. Woody drew in a breath, though not one loud enough for Jordan to hear.

"Are the two of you ok?" Woody asked.

"Ya we're both fine. Relativly speaking," Jordan said. "Just get us out and we'll be even better," she finished.

"I'll be right back Jo. I'm not leaving you, just leaving the door. Holler if you need me," Woody said, leaving to door and walking over to Garret who was holding up a pair of gardening shears.

"How 'bout this?" he asked Woody.

"It'll have to do," Woody said, taking the shears from Garret. Woody walked back over to the door. "Jordan we're gona cut the lock. Don't mind the noise," he informed her. On the other side of the door, Jorda nodded even though Woody and Garret couldn't see her. She back slowly away from the door, putting her hands over her ears and motioning for Veronica to do the same. With a crisp, swift movement, Woody sliced the lock clean in half. He hauled it off the door and tugged on the handle, pulling the door open. Seeing Jordan standing there made him want to cry all over again. He stood there for only a second before running over to Jordan and wrpaaing her in his arms, refusing to let go. Garret walked over to Veronica and wrapped his arms around her, giving her the first kind human touch she had had in five months.

"Woody, my ribs" Jordan gasped.

Woody laughed but loosed his grip and pulled away so he could see her face. But he couldnt handle it. He wrapped his arms back around her, burrying his head in her hair/ Jordan was surprised. After he had pushed her away and refused to see her, but now here he was, his arms gripped so protectively around her. Not that she was complaining. She loved having him back in her arms. And he wasn't letting go, not now, not ever.