KittyDoggyLover- Thanks much! It's great to hear that!

rae1112- Nah, you didn't miss anything. Like I said, I'm updating slowly. Hope you enjoy it though!

peridotstone823- yeah, I like to make Woody suffer like that evil laugh lol.

eternalgorithm- yay!

Mac3- Thanks, patience will be needed. Everyone is accepting...except Woody. LOL

Alright, I was originally going to have the format of this story be similar to that of The Basement, with Jordan, then Nigel, then Jordan, then Nigel, etc. But then I realized that that wouldn't work. This story is mostly about Jordan, so most of it will be from Jordan's POV. I may add Nigel back in again later. We'll see.

Thanks for the reviews so far!

Back to the Basement

Chapter 2: Plan

- Jordan –

The next few days, thank God, were much busier. Nigel and I both found ourselves pulling doubles as more unlucky victims came in. Naturally I had my cell off to prevent any distractions. When I turned it back on later, I found no less than eight messages on it. The only two that weren't from Woody were from Dad, calling to make sure I was alright, to say that Woody had called him looking for me, and that if he was bothering me he'd take care of it. I couldn't help but smile at the way he said that, and was tempted to take his offer, but I knew I could handle it. I wouldn't drag Dad into my own affairs.

Nigel came to my apartment again that night for a late dinner. Though he seemed in the mood to talk, I remained nearly silent. He noticed, but didn't press me on it. On the contrary, he pretty much stopped talking as well, only asking yes or no questions, so that I could simply nod or shake my head. It was at times like this when I loved him the most. After dinner, we sat on my couch and listened to music. I wasn't paying attention to it however. I was thinking about Woody, wondering how to get him to leave me alone.

"What's on your mind love?" Nigel asked suddenly. I looked at him for a bit, looked at the scar on his neck, and opened my mouth to answer. Then my cell phone rang. I let my breath escape in a long low sigh and shut my mouth again.

"You want me to get that love?" Nigel asked. I nodded, and he stood to retrieve it from the counter. "Jordan's cell phone," I heard him say. "Yeah, she's here. Alright, hold on." He reached over, handing it to me. "It's Woody," he whispered, slightly worried. I nodded.

"Hello?" I said.

"Jordan, it's me," he answered.

"What?"

"I was just calling to talk to you."

"I sorta figured that out on my own."

"Don't be a smart-ass Jordan!"

"Well I'm sorry, but that happens to be a part of who I am, and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop trying to change that. In fact," I said angrily, "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop bugging me altogether!"

"You could at least hear me out!" he replied.

"You don't want me to hear you out, you want me to forgive you and run back crying into your arms! And let's face it, you only want that because you think
I'm hot!" I heard Nigel give a small snort of laughter.

"Who said I think you're hot?" asked Woody.

"You did!" I said exasperatedly. Nigel snorted again.

"Well," sputtered Woody, "Well you'd be better off than you are with Nigel!" I felt my fists clench.

"We've already had this discussion Woody," I said, more quietly, trying to keep my voice as even as possible.

"Have you ever seen the way he looks at you?" Woody continued, ignoring my comment. "The guy's a pathetic stalker!" This shocked me so much that I found myself momentarily paralyzed.

When I could finally say something I said, "Shut up! How can you even say that? You're the one who won't leave me alone! If anyone is stalking me, it's you Woodrow Hoyt! For the last time, leave me alone!" I was easily shouting by the end. I quickly hung up, though he called back a few seconds later, and I turned the whole phone off. I was so angry that I went to chuck it across the room, but Nigel quickly grabbed my arm to stop me.

"You'd regret it later love," he said softly. I just stared at him for a moment, before moving quickly into his warm embrace.

"Thanks Nige," I whispered.

"Anytime Jordan," he whispered back. We walked to the couch and sat down together, his arms still around me.

"So," he said after a minute of so of simply sitting there, "Woody called me a stalker?" He sounded amused. I nodded. "You know that's not true, right love?"

"Course I do Nige," I said, looking at him. "I love you."

"I love you too Jordan." He bent down and we kissed.

"Nige," I said as we pulled away. "I think I'm gonna turn in early tonight."

"Yeah, I should go," he said, standing up as I did the same. "I'd really love to stay tonight, but I've got other plans. You sure you'll be alright love?"

"Yeah," I said, doing my best to smile. "I'll be fine."

"You sure?" he said. "Cause I can cancel, no problem…"

"No, it's alright. You go have fun doing whatever."

He sighed and nodded and gave me a final kiss goodbye before heading towards the door. He turned and gave one last small smile, which I returned. Then he closed the door, and was gone. I turned around and walked into my bedroom, sitting down on the edge of the bed and thinking about what Woody had said. Now that I didn't have Nigel here to comfort me, I was getting angry again. I wondered how best to deal with the detective.

I could talk to Dad, have him take care of it like he said he would. But no, I had already decided that I wouldn't get him involved.

I could file a restraining order. I actually smiled at this thought, yet I knew a restraining order couldn't keep him away to the degree I wanted.

But then how else could I get him to leave me alone? He had become so overbearing that everyday became miserable. He visited me at work, called me at home, left countless messages on my cell, and always seemed to do it at the worst times. I needed to get away from him, more than just physically. My stomach churned as I realized that there was only one option left for me, though not an entirely new one: run.

I would hate to do it, but there was no other way to totally escape him. I stared at my hands as I began to work it out in my head. I didn't know where I would go, just anywhere away from here. Anywhere away from him would work. I knew that Garret wouldn't tolerate it this time, knew that if I went, I couldn't come back, that I would be fired. I would have leave it all behind, my friends, my job, the morgue, and my home.

And Nigel.

I froze where I sat, eyes wide. Somehow, in my anger, I hadn't thought of that yet. I would have to leave Nigel behind, and my heart nearly broke at the thought. I had come to love him so much, how could I simply let him go?

Yet maybe I didn't have to. My heart rose. What if he came with me? He would, I was sure. All I had to do was ask him. Then we could ride off together to who-knows-where, away from Woody, away from everything. We could start over; I was sure that we could find a job together, perhaps even at another morgue, and I would never have to see Woody's face again.

It was then that I realized the absolute selfishness of my plan. I simply couldn't do that to Nigel, couldn't ask him to leave everything and everyone behind because I couldn't deal with Woody. Even if he'd agree to, I wouldn't ask him in the first place. No, if I went, I would go alone. My heart broke again. Was it worth it? No, I decided. It wasn't worth leaving Nigel.

But I would do it anyways.

I couldn't stay, because even with Nigel, Woody was making my life miserable. I had to do something. I stood quickly and nearly ran into the other room. Beside the phone on the counter was a blue pen and a pad of yellow post-its. I scribbled a note to Nigel, explaining my absence and telling him not to worry; apologizing for leaving and assuring him that it wasn't his fault. I stuck this on the inside of the door and then went into my room to pack.

Yep, Jordan being Jordan. Review please! If any facts are messed up, I'd like to know. I'm not Nigel; I don't know every obscure bit of info there is to the world. LOL.