It was an uneasy night for them both. Outside the wind howled and trees shook, threatening to collapse at any light touch. Jordan lay tossing and turning in Woody's bed, and Woody lay motionless and alert at every noise on the couch. Woody had refused to let Jordan stay at her place, especially when most of her stuff she would need was already at his place. And furthermore, he refused to let Jordan sleep on the couch.
But since things were still hazy and unknown between the two of them, they slept separately. And with the absence of body heat next to them, both Woody and Jordan were restless.
At 2:48am, the rain began to pour down. It was coming down in buckets, Jordan could not even see out of the window, the rain was too heavy. A moment later, booming thunder sounded and lightning crashed the quiet darkness.
Jordan sat up and hugged her knees tightly to her chest. She hated storms. Actually, storms were one of her biggest fears. Most people who knew Jordan knew she was a rebel against the lawful ways to investigate, could handle murders and criminals of all sorts, and was not afraid of Walcott or Garrett. Most would say Jordan Marie Cavenaugh was fearless. They were wrong, since she was three-years old, Jordan was terrified of storms. When Max was still in Boston, Jordan would call him during a bad storm, just to hear the calming sound of his voice. Once her heroic Daddy disappeared, Jordan was alone for storms. Until one day, during an especially violent storm, Jordan called Woody. Now Woody was Jordan's only comfort for her fear, the only one who knew, the only one who could protect her. And he was in the next room.
Wasting no time, Jordan scurried into the couch and shook Woody from a restless sleep he was in (he had been sleeping only eight minutes before this awakening).
"Jordan? What's wrong Jo?" Woody mumbled, sleepily, but deeply concerned. He sat up on the couch and pulled Jordan into him.
Thunder shook the apartment, and lightening quickly followed. In an instant, the power failed.
"Jordan. Jordan! Jo, look at me." Woody beckoned to the shaking figure buried in his chest. She looked up at him, her honey eyes finding his crystal blue ones in the darkness. "Jordan, you need to come with me, we need some candles. Okay? I'm not going to let go of you, we just need to go to the kitchen and get a few candles, matches, and my flashlight. Can you do that Jordan?" Woody whispered. It was as though he were talking someone off a ledge, rather than to the kitchen for candles. But it was Jordan's fear, her weak point, and Woody knew he was the only one who made her feel safe. He had no intention of letting go of that, or her, for that matter.
Fumbling in the darkness, with his right hand holding Jordan's left, Woody quickly found a few candles, a flashlight with working batteries to his luck, and a lighter. As Woody pulled Jordan back to the couch, he flicked on the flashlight. Woody set the candles down on the living room table, in front of the couch, and carefully lit the wicks. He never let go of Jordan.
Slowly, Woody sat back down on the couch, and Jordan sat so close she was practically on top of him. Lighting illuminated the room and thunder crashed, louder than ever before.
Jordan shook with fear and jumped into Woody's lap, circling her arms around his neck tightly and burying her face in his chest. Woody's arms wrapped around her shaking body, rubbing circles in her back the way he always did when she was so vulnerable and so close to him, seeking protection and security from the cruel world.
"Jo, it's okay Jo. I'm here. Nothing is going to hurt you, not as long as I'm around. Remember Jordan? Remember I promised? Do you remember my promise Jordan?" Woody whispered.
He felt her nod into his chest, her eyes wet with her tears, and her mouth dry from fear.
Woody gently continued rubbing small circles in her shaking back, rocking slowly as he had done so many times before. He felt her breathing grow calm and heavy, she was asleep. And soon, so was Woody. The storm raged on, but Jordan and Woody slept in a peaceful, safe embrace…finally.