A/N: Ah…After Dark is such a wonderful episode…much loved by me. As is many other things. Like Fanta. And food. And…I can't remember exactly. Don't mind me, I'm spacing. Better move on to the chapter now. Okay.

But before I do, a short recap for those with memories likes fish (myself included):

The body of Ray Marks (the dude who was the last person 'with' Lesley Morgan before she um…killed herself) was found in an alley, murdered in cold blood. Earlier that day, Lily had counselled Lesley's brother Nick, whom was angry and wanted revenge on the person that 'killed' his sister. Also earlier that day, there was a momentary, first kiss situation between Devan and Woody. Mwahahaha! My evil plans will rule the earth someday, I tell you!

Only For The Truth
Chapter 4: An Overdue Cure

Jordan cringed as she plucked the nine-millimetre bullet out of Ray Marks' heart with surgical tweezers. She moved it over towards a plastic container where she watered the blood off it with a small hose-like tube. She examined it quickly before dumping it into the container, where it lay next to the other one she had pulled from the body. She sighed and peeled off her gloves.

She nodded towards Devan. "You want to do the honours?"

"Absolutely," Devan replied, stepping over to the body to clean it up.

Jordan yawned. "That'll make my job easier. He has a brother coming in later tonight to identify him, then we can sign him out."

Devan nodded while picking up a small sewing kit. "Okay." She paused and looked over to Jordan. "Can I ask you something?"

Looking up, Jordan flashed an expectant glance. "Go ahead."

Devan took a quick breath in. "Have you ever preformed surgery before?"

Jordan frowned at the oddly-placed question. "Yeah, once or twice. After that, I decided dead people were more my thing. Why?"

Devan shrugged as she threaded a needle through Ray Marks' dead skin. "Just curious."

"What about you?" Jordan asked on impulse.

"I did a residency at a hospital about a year ago," Devan replied quickly. "Turned out to be a delicate operation, and I'm not exactly the delicate type."

Jordan smiled, understanding. "That makes two of us. Are you right here, 'cause I really want to clean up and go home."

Devan nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Good," Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She pushed the doors of the autopsy room open, and Nigel walked in wearing an anxious look. He turned to Devan and noted the fact that the autopsy was yet to be completed.

"Ray Marks' brother is here," he said before biting his lip.

Devan looked up from her sewing and chewed her own lip. "Can you get Lily to delay him just a little? I need some more time on this one."

Nigel nodded and was about to leave the room when a nagging thought stopped him. "Woody's waiting for you in your office…"

Devan made a half-hearted attempt to roll her eyes. "Let him wait."

Woody tugged on his ear and yawned. Glancing at his watch, he noted the time. Ten minutes to ten at night. And he was tired. He sighed when he realised she was doing this on purpose. Procrastinating so that he would be pissed off. She did it for her own amusement, he knew, but why was beyond him. What had he ever done to her?

He stood from the leather chair suddenly, aware of her presence in the room. "I've been waiting in here for an hour."

Devan shrugged at his angry tone. "Who told you to stay here? You've could've gone down the road, bought some coffee and ordered some take-out…"

"You told me to stay here," he answered quickly, cutting her off.

"Oh," she replied distantly, deliberately speaking slowly, "so I did."

"What did you find?" Woody asked quickly, ignoring her. If she wanted to play games, that was fine with him.

Devan sighed dramatically, leaned back against her desk and folded her arms. "Two bullet wounds, one just above his collar bone and the other straight through his chest."

"Anything else…?" Woody prompted.

Devan hid a smirk. "Last meal he ate was surprisingly small, with maybe just a single slice of vegetarian pizza filling up most of his stomach content. Small contusions on his upper arms and a vertical scar across his back. Oh, and he has a small mole on his left ass-cheek."

Woody sighed, giving her one of his annoyed beyond belief looks. "Anything that links the killer to the body?"

Devan nodded with a smile. "A blonde hair and a few prints found on his wrists and clothes."

"Are you running them?" Woody asked quickly.

"As we speak," Devan answered, countering his quick tone.

Woody began to walk around Devan, his eyes carefully avoiding hers. Before he felt for the door handle, however, he turned back around and asked dangerously, "Why are you pissed off at me?"

Devan stared at him, wide-eyed, playing the innocent card. "Excuse me?"

Woody leaned in, speaking quietly but firmly. "Was it the thing that happened before, or what I said before it happened?"

"Wow," Devan glanced at her watch, mocking him slightly, "you managed to last…five hours without mentioning it. Good work."

"Is it the sexual tension? Because I can feel something there and it can be…overwhelming…"

Devan cringed as Woody continued guessing. "Woody, listen. The tension's good, I've always been a fan, and the flirting is fun. The kiss was nice but…I don't think this is going to work."

Woody stopped and opened his mouth slightly, his eyes fixed on hers. "Okay…"

Devan looked down and sighed inwardly. "It's just that…we work together, well, sort of and…if it didn't work out then we'd have to deal with seeing each other regularly and working together on cases…and being in elevators together."

Woody lifted an amused brow. "That's worked out just fine before."

Devan wondered at the strangely seductive way he had said the word 'fine'. She was lost for words and said the only one she could find, "No."

Woody watched as she brushed past him and walked through the door, closing it quite loudly behind her. He frowned in confusion, wondering if all she had said was just a clever play…or maybe she really was afraid of what she felt. Only time would tell…

Jordan yawned before she took another sip of her…slightly cold coffee. She watched Nigel type on a keyboard and felt a twinge of jealousy she had never really felt before. She wondered unfairly why Nigel was the one capable of carrying out all the technical babble and not her. Not that she really cared, anyway. Cutting up bodies was good enough for her. The doors of the lab were pushed open suddenly and a disgruntled Devan walked through, her hair out and her hand running through it quickly. She held a large coffee in her other hand.

Jordan lifted an eyebrow. "Rough night?"

Devan shook her head. "Don't even get me started."

She noticed Woody standing quietly beside Jordan and averted her eyes, to instead focus on the screen above her. Nigel was busy typing something and Devan didn't even bother interrupting him to say a good morning…not that it really was. Maybe good mourning would have sufficed.

Jordan pointed towards the screen. "Nigel found a match on the prints found on Ray Marks' body and clothes."

Nigel sighed. "Yes, and since the computer very nicely decided just this morning to crash on me, I'm having a hard time pulling it up again. Bear with me, ladies." He flicked his gaze over to Woody. "And…gent."

"Thanks, Nigel," Woody began in an annoyed voice, "but I don't really feel like one lately."

Devan sighed. "Please, feel free to share with the class."

Woody glared at her. "You know, maybe you should take a lesson on human behaviour."

"Children!" Nigel held out his hands. "Please!"

Devan blinked, took a sip of her coffee and pretended to lose interesting in baiting Woody. "Maybe you should take a shower."

Woody looked at her, beyond annoyed. "How about we save water?"

Devan frowned. "Don't go there."

"Lenny Keller," Nigel interrupted skilfully when the computer bleeped and a face appeared on the screen. "Drug runner, arms dealer, con artist…the only thing this guy isn't going for is Sainthood."

Jordan smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Nige."

"No problem, Love," Nigel replied as he walked off. "Anything else, call me."

Jordan stared at the screen, studying the face of the man they needed to find. His dark, cropped hair indicated he had been incarcerated more than once, as did the sign he held underneath his chin that read his name. And his outstanding criminal record helped a lot. Still, here was a man who knew the law. So why leave prints on the man he killed?

"I'm going to find him," Woody whispered quickly to Jordan, ignoring Devan. "I'll call you when I pick him up."

Devan laughed from where she was standing and both Woody and Jordan lifted individual eyebrows. "There are so many wonderful things about that sentence."

Woody flashed her a sour look before walking briskly out of the lab and down the corridor.

The interrogation room seemed to shudder at the prickly atmosphere. Lenny Keller sat on one of the wooden chairs, slouched backwards in a relaxed position. The sort you'd expect from a criminal. Many earrings studded both of his ears and several other features on his face, and there was a chain that hung loosely from his neck. It didn't reach very far, resting against the top of his chest, but it looked quite heavy. His black eyes roamed the room in a bored way, his expression plain and expectant. His attire of grease-stained black pants and a dirty white shirt that hung open was anything but subtle.

Woody entered the room, sucking in the room's atmosphere with a short breath. "You've been a bad boy, Keller. Mind telling me where you were yesterday afternoon at around three?"

"Three you say?" Keller lifted his chin into the air, mockingly thinking. "Just about to feed my kid broccoli and carrots."

Woody laughed almost painfully slow. "That's cute. But you and I both know you've never reproduced in your life. Now, the truth would be nice."

Keller frowned. "What is the truth, Detective? Is it something that's real, or what someone wants to believe? Anything can be true if someone really wants to believe it."

Woody considered the words, then rolled up the sleeves of his blue shirt. "I guess the truth is that yesterday afternoon, you shot someone twice, once through the heart. And left some trails behind for us to follow."

Keller smiled, showing his teeth. "I didn't shoot anybody. Only roughed him up a bit."

Woody gestured with his hand. "Oh, so you know who I'm talking about?"

"Ray Marks," Keller answered while nodding. "He was a hit of mine."

Woody sat down on the table and shifted until he was comfortable. "I guess we can add hit man to your increasing list of crimes. Who hired you?"

Keller narrowed his eyes. "Haven't you ever heard of confidentiality? That stuff's private."

Woody smiled falsely. "Between one sicko and another. Stay right here."

As the door closed behind him, Woody pointed a finger. "I'm going to get a name out of him even if I have to beat it out."

Devan shrugged, looking bored. "Why are you telling me that instead of doing it?"

Woody sighed impatiently. "What are you even doing here?"

Devan threw her head back dramatically. "I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm drawn to you by some magnetic force that I just can't deny."

"Okay," Woody began seriously, "that's got to stop."

Devan frowned. "What?"

"The sniping," he replied quickly. "It's getting old."

Devan rolled her eyes and ignored him. "Thanks for the phone call last night. I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

Woody shrugged. "Just tyring to get you to apologise."

Devan looked incredulous. "For what?"

"Making me wait a very long time for you tell me what I already knew last night," Woody said quickly, avoiding her eyes skilfully. "That was mean."

Devan gave him a scathing look. "Okay, you want to talk about sniping. Anyway, I'm going home. Call me if anything pops up."

Woody watched as she turned around and walked away, a smirk slowly appearing on his face. He appreciated her confusion and even felt like apologising for creating it, but it was just so much fun to do.

There was a knock on her door and Devan hurried to answer it. Woody. She saw the blood on his shirt and immediately ushered him inside. His shirt was cut in a tight strip along the left side of his chest, and she guessed by the amount of blood the wound was pretty deep. Taking his hand firmly, she gently pushed him down onto the floor next to her bed, looking around for any appliances for the slash wound. Finding an alcohol swab next to a cotton gauze, she knelt down in front of him and shook her head.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

Woody shook his head and groaned. "I don't know. One minute I was walking and the next he was on me, holding me down in a choke hold. I don't remember what happened next."

Devan frowned. "And you found your way here?"

He shrugged. "It was close. Can you take a look at it?"

Devan paused before reaching up to his eyes and peering into them. They were flickering heavily and he was having a hard time keeping them open.

"Hold still," she said as she placed one finger on his eyelid and lifted it up. His eyes were slightly bloodshot.

"Devan," Woody began irritably, "it's not my eyes that are cut."

"Do you want my help or not?" she snapped bitterly, still with her hand on his face. She quickly moved it away and swallowed heavily.

Sighing, Woody took a deep breath before nodding his answer. "Sorry, it just hurts."

"Yeah, well," Devan ripped open the cotton gauze with a grimace, "imagine being a woman."

Woody managed a half-smile. "No thank you."

Devan's smile was short-lived. His shirt needed to be removed and when Devan looked down towards his hands, they were shaking. His eyes were open now, and barely flickering. He shrugged slightly when he realised why she was delaying going any further. Devan took a shaky breath and reached over to unbutton the top of Woody's shirt. She immediately noticed the fine detail of the top of his chest and willed herself suddenly not to be distracted. She had a job to do. Undoing the rest of the stubborn buttons, Devan realised Woody had his eyes closed and she was thankful he could not see the blush that was rising on her cheeks.

His eyes opened suddenly when she reached the last button and he cleared his throat impulsively. "Thanks."

Her hand reached inside the shirt and she slid it off slowly, watching it fall to the ground. She swallowed hard. "You're welcome."

Devan reached for the alcohol swab, peeling off the protective layer before placing it around the wound on Woody's chest. Sliding it across instinctively, Devan noticed the excessive amount of blood that was soaked up. Woody cringed at the sting and held out his hand, grabbing onto Devan's wrist.

She looked up at him with an apologetic look. "Sorry, forgot to warn you."

He shook his head and let go of her hand slowly, almost reluctantly. "It's fine. Doesn't hurt that much."

Devan smiled before looking behind her. "Did you want to lie down?" She stopped when she realised how that sounded. Frowning at his smirk, she shook her head. "I mean, it might be more comfortable."

Woody's smirk remained even as he shook his own head slightly. "I'm good."

Devan nodded before looking back down at the cut. It was still bleeding, but she hoped with the alcohol swab it would stop soon. Skimming over the wound lightly, she watched as Woody cringed again. Part of her actually wanted to see him in pain, but the sensitive side felt exactly what he was feeling. The blood tinged the outside of the wound a smeared red but the cut itself was a darker shade.

"You're lucky," Devan began in a quiet voice. "Any deeper and you would've severed an artery."

Woody sighed and closed his eyes. "Guess I'm just a lucky kind of guy."

Devan looked at him before reaching behind her for the cotton gauze. She placed it over the cut carefully; making sure it was stuck down firmly on the sides. Woody breathed a quick sigh of relief before opening his eyes, only to find Devan staring at him. She averted her eyes quickly, willing her cheeks to stop burning. He didn't look away, though. His eyes remained focused on her even when she moved into a sitting position.

He smiled when her eyes flicked over to him. "So this is your room," he said while looking around. "Always imagined it to be…bigger."

She levelled his look. "You've imagined my room?"

His eyes widened. "Not really. I mean, sometimes I…never mind."

Devan smirked, though it was more of an involuntary action. "Okay."

They sat in silence…on the floor. Devan rested her back against her bed while Woody sat with his arms around his legs. The cut didn't hurt anymore and he was thankful for that, although he still felt dizzy after the attack. His eyes had returned to their normal colour, no longer flushed with blood, and his muscles didn't seem to ache anymore. It wasn't a cold night so not wearing a shirt didn't affect him much. The only problem was Devan could not look at him for a second before turning away. He had always known he had some affect on her, but not like this. This was serious.

Devan sucked in a short breath and turned to him, her eyes meeting his. "Do you want something to eat?"

Woody shook his head. "I'm not hungry. Being stabbed with a kitchen knife really takes a lot out of you."

He shifted his position slightly and Devan flinched involuntary. He noticed but didn't make an attempt to question it; he knew why she was so tense. An unresolved kiss can have repercussions. Serious ones. Woody smiled suddenly, teasing her when he moved forward an inch or two. She swallowed and looked down, a dizziness spinning in her head. He was playing her to see her reaction. She gazed up at him suddenly, an undertone of a pleading look reflecting in her eyes asking him to stop.

He didn't. He moved closer still so their noses were almost touching, his breath fanning over her face. It was almost unbearable and the only thing keeping Devan there was the desire she wanted so much to give in to. Woody's face came forward as he leaned over her, but she inched her own face back. Woody quickly flicked his eyes to hers just to be sure and when she closed them he placed his lips over hers, softly at first, just to see how she responded. There was a sigh and he broke the kiss.

"What are we doing?" Devan whispered as her head lowered and her eyes closed.

Woody shifted, taking Devan's hand and standing up. When his hand rested on her cheek he replied with his own whisper, "What we both want."

Devan's lips widened into a smile as Woody kissed her again…and this time she surrendered to it.

A/N: As I said before, mwahahahahaha!