eternalgorithm- lol. yes, that's my CJ philosophy.

Mac3- yes, I'm thinking about starting a new story very soon!

rae1112- lol. I can Nigel saying that as well. It paints a funny picture.

KittyDoggyLover- Thank you. Yeah, I'm only an eighth grader, and middle school is really really annoying! I wish I were in high school. At first, I had no idea how old the people here were! Or at least the people in the CJ section. Then I saw some profiles that gave age and I was like, holy crap I'm surrounded by old people! (Not old, just older than me.) lol.

Silver Snape Silk- N/J 4 EVER! (Hehe...)

NadezhdaSt- Thank you for the talent comment. I realized my misjudgement, but I had messed with the story a lot on the editor here instead of the original document and didn't feel like editing the whole thing over again. I've edited it for the copy I let my friends read though. Oh, and you're right. cliffies are way more fun when you have the next chapter right in front of you. Lol.

Well, this is it, the big one, the one we've all been waiting for! (Sorry, Harry Potter quote for those of you who caught it.) Anyways, the last chapter. I'd still appreciate reviews and I've got an idea for another fic. It may be coming soon. It was a half day of school today (and we spent the whole time taking the ACT explore test, blah) and I have no school tomorrow, so I may start really soon. Enjoy the final chapter!

The Basement

Chapter 10: Back Again

- Nigel -

I stood by the door, sipping a fresh cup of coffee. My other hand was balled into a fist and my teeth clenched. It took all of my willpower not to say something to Woody, who was clearly audible across the room. Then Jordan began to talk, and I was surprised, and pleased, with the way that she defended me. I felt the same when she said that she had no desire to run away, the way she'd done in every other relationship of hers. She went on to talk about what Woody had said the day I found her crying in her office.

"For what you said about me and about my family." So far this was the most detailed account of what had happened that I'd heard so far, for Jordan had never told me exactly what Woody had said to her. Yet if it was about her and her family, then it made sense that she would be extremely upset by it. I glared inwardly at him. Jordan's little speech lasted over a minute. When she was done, she turned her back and walked towards me.

"You can't hold a grudge forever Jordan!" I heard Woody call. I almost snorted. Yeah right. This was Jordan he was talking to. She could hold a grudge as long as she wanted to. He just had to look at her old grudge against Detective Winslow to know that. She turned back to him.

"Try me," she said. She turned again and walked up to me. I didn't say anything, simply put my arm around her and we walked out together. The others were all gone by now, and it was pouring rain. I turned to Jordan.

"Where to?" I said loudly over the sound of the storm.

"My apartment?" she suggested. I nodded and called a cab. Neither of us had vehicles anymore. I paid the driver when we pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building. We sprinted through the downpour and inside, and both of us were soaked as we stepped into Jordan's apartment. She turned to me and smiled.

"I can order Chinese if you want. And I bought some more root beer." I laughed.

"Sounds good love." What I really wanted was things to be back to normal, the way they were before Jordan was kidnapped. Well, normal with the exception of Jordan and I being together. She returned from the fridge with two cans of root beer.

"We're going to be a little wet though," she said apologetically. "I don't have anything dry to offer you.

"We could always just take our clothes off and hang them up to dry," I said teasingly, putting my wet arms around her. She smiled.

"I'll pass if that's okay Nige," she said. "I'm not running," she added quickly. "No, not at all. It's just, I'm not ready. It's too soon, especially after…well, yeah. Can I take advantage of your patience one more time?"

"Course you can love," I said. "I understand." She laid her head on my shoulder.

"Thanks Nige."

"You're welcome love."

It was just like the night before Jordan's kidnapping, except that she and I were much closer than before. This made it much more enjoyable as we talked, laughed, ate, drank, and messed with each other the way that only we could. Our clothes gradually dried out as we went on into the night. We later stopped talking and watched a movie together, her head resting on my shoulder again, my arm around her. Eventually I noticed that her eyes were closed. I couldn't tell whether or not she was asleep.

"Love?" I asked softly.

"Mmm?" she mumbled.

"You want to go to bed now?"

"Yeah." I got up and gently lifted her off the couch for the second time. She seemed thinner than before.

"Nige," she said as I laid her softly on the bed. "Stay with me?"

"Of course love," I said, stroking her hair softly. I pulled back the covers and slid in next to her. Our clothes were dry by now, and I gently wrapped my arms around her in a familiar way. It was nearly the same fashion in which we had slept in the basement, except that we were lying down. She took hold of one of my hands and I squeezed it warmly. She turned her head slightly and we kissed again.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too Jordan," I whispered back. "More than anything."

- Jordan -

I awoke late the next morning, Nigel's arms still around me warmly and my clothes still firmly in place. I smiled. If I had gone to bed with Woody somehow I doubted the outcome would have been the same. Nigel stirred.

"Good morning love," he said sleepily.

"Hey Nige," I said. "Do we have work today?" It was at that moment that my phone rang. I groaned and reached to pick it up.

"Hello?" I said.

"Jordan?"

"Hey Garret."

"Hi Jordan. Listen, I wouldn't normally do this to you, and I feel terrible about it, especially since you just got home. But there was an accident and we really need you here. And Nigel if he's with you."

"He is." I said. "Don't worry about it Garret, we'll be there."

"Thanks Jordan."

"See you Gar." I switched off the phone and, after replacing it back on the table, slid out of bed.

"Going somewhere love?" Nigel asked.

"They need us at the morgue," I said. "Accident." Nigel sighed.

"Alright love, I'm up." He pulled himself out of bed as well and stretched. "I should probably change," he said.

"We both should," I agreed.

"How about I take a cab home and meet you at work?" he suggested. I nodded. This was a practical plan, though I was reluctant to leave Nigel. As though he sensed something was wrong, his face fell slightly and he moved towards me.

"You alright love?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said quickly, smiling to cover my reluctance, but he continued to look worried. "We can go together if you like Jordan," he said, but I shook my head.

"No," I said. "It's alright. You go. I'll meet you at work." He nodded, and, his hands at my waist, leaned forward to give me a kiss goodbye. I accepted it gladly.

"Call if you get to work first," he said. I nodded.

"Bye Nigel."

"Bye love. Be safe." He left, taking one last look at me on the way out. I sighed as he shut the door behind him. Then I walked to my closet and began to pick out some clothes for the day.

I was fidgeting as I walked outside to get a cab. No one could blame me, considering what had happened the last time I was out alone. I knew that when I eventually got a new car, I would find myself looking into the back seat every time I got into it. The first part of this thought became unnecessary however as the taxi pulled into the morgue parking lot and I saw my car sitting in its usual place. I paid the driver and got out, staring at my car, eyes wide. What was it doing here? I'd figured that Mitchell probably sent it over a bridge or something. Yet here it was, good as new. I stared for a moment, and then walked cautiously up to it, peering through the window. It was mine. I had known that instantly from the license plate, but I had to settle it. All of my stuff was laid out on the seats the way it was before.

"Surprised?" I turned to see Nigel standing in the doorway, grinning his usual grin. He had beaten me here somehow.

"Yeah, I am," I said, still staring at my car.

"Police found it a mile or so from Mitchell's hideout. They got my motorcycle too. It was still sitting where I had parked it." I turned to him, smiling as well.

"Wow," I said. "Our luck seems to have changed at last."

"It sure has love," he said, walking up to me. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment, the way we had done before in the basement. Then, Nigel's hands at my waist and mine at his neck, our lips came gently together again. It was easier to kiss Nigel than it had been with Woody, or anyone else for that matter. I knew it would take me awhile to get over what had happened in the basement, and it would be a long road for the both of us. I would remember it every time I saw the scar on his neck. But I also knew that I would never have to go it alone. Nigel would see to that.

Our kiss ended and we stood smiling at each other for a moment. Then we made our way through the morgue's front doors, back to our daily jobs, hand in hand once more.

- THE END -