Xxx13 o'clock ErikxxX- Um, thanks. I've never been called sparkly before...

cavanaugh-girl- Lol. I get on all the time at school, though I usually don't have enough time to read much. I feel loved, just don't get fired cause of me. I'd be sad then.

rae1112- yes, he was in a closet. I wanted him near Jordan, and couldn't think of anywhere else to put him. sheepish smile

Mac3- Nigel shall always make it out okay...or shall he? lol.

Ms. Dita von Teese- Muahahaha.

peridotstone823- Thank you again.

Alrighty, I guess I'll start with an apology. This was the longest delay yet. I just got so caught up with a whole bunch of other stuff that I never found time to finish this till now.

Anyways, I discovered that I ended the last chapter too soon, so the first bit is actually part of chapter 8. I'll move it back there after a little while, I just want people to have a chance to see it. Thank you all for being patient, hopefully chapter 10 will come a bit more quickly, and then we can finally wrap up the Basement stories. Not planning to write a third one, but there's a slim chance that could change.

- Jordan -

The police finished up fairly quickly, carrying the body away and bidding us goodnight. Bug and Garret gave me another hug each and then followed. The renewed silence seemed fairly eerie.

"Where do you want to stay, love?" Nigel asked quietly after several long moments. "If you don't want to be here, I could take you to my place." I shook my head.

"The danger's gone," I said just as quietly. "Here is fine." He gave me a soft squeeze and we headed inside, Nigel leading me carefully around the crime scene and into the bedroom. We both changed into pajamas and climbed into bed. He wrapped his arms protectively around me and held both my hands, our fingers intertwining. I smiled and whispered, "I love you, Nige."

"I love you too Jordan," he replied. "More than anything."

Chapter 9: Hope

- Jordan -

I awoke suddenly, expecting to feel Nigel beside me, but he wasn't. I sat up in bed, listening, and heard the sounds of typing floating in from the other room. Carefully I slid out of bed and made my way in the direction of the doorway, my right arm stretched slightly in front of me. Then my fingers touched the edge of the half-open door, and I walked through.

"Nige?"

"Hey love," I heard him say from the couch. "Just doing some research on my laptop. Sit down." I did, and he pulled me up against him, setting the computer on both our legs.

"What'cha lookin for?" I asked curiously. There was a pause, and I sensed he was grinning.

"Well right now I'm just doing some extra searches for whatever else there is to find, but I've already got what I want," he said happily.

"What?"

He became suddenly serious. "You were lucky to survive last night, and I realized that something had to be done."

"You lost me."

"Your blindness," he said matter-of-factly, "has been a bit of a hazard lately."

"I'd noticed."

"I've been watching you struggle for months with everyday things, and it's only just now occurred to me to do something about it. So this morning I went online and looked up treatments and possible reversals for vision loss."

An eternity of silence seemed to go by, though I only paused long enough to catch my breath.

"A reversal?" I said. "You mean, a way to get my sight back?"

"Yep. And it took me all bloody morning…"

"But you found something?"

"Have I ever let you down?"

He began tying again, inhumanly fast it seemed. A few seconds later he said, "I looked everywhere, but at first could only find articles stating quite clearly that recovery of lost vision is only possible within the first month or two. Finally, I happened upon the site for a medical institution that claims to have 'only the most updated technology available.' According to this, they have developed a new procedure that can possibly reverse total blindness within the first six months." My eyes were wide as he finished, and I was speechless. I didn't want to give in to the feeling of relief and happiness threatening to overpower me; it seemed too good to be true.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"Detroit, Michigan."

"Well then, I guess we're going to Detroit." I replied determinedly. He chuckled softly.

"Yes," he said. "I guess we are."

We filled out and emailed an application to the center explaining our situation. A reply came the next day, stating that they'd be happy to see me, and we made an appointment at the next available opening, a month away.

We spent most of that month preparing for our trip. Money was going to be an issue, not just for the travel, but for the surgery. If they actually performed it, it would be pricy. We asked around at the morgue, and everyone enthusiastically agreed to contribute as much as they could. Dad insisted on helping also. I grew steadily more and more nervous as the date approached, and things were silent as we finally began packing the night before our departure, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

The plane ride seemed to take forever, though in truth it was only a few hours. I think Nigel slept nearly the whole way, neither of us having gotten a proper forty winks the night before. But I sat awake, wishing that I could see the clouds passing beyond the window, wondering what was coming. My greatest fear was that they would simply refuse to perform the operation, that they would tell me that my sight and I were beyond hope. I didn't know how I'd be able to bear coming home, how I would tell the others, if that happened. I knew that everyone was sitting by the phone (not literally) waiting anxiously for news, good or bad. They would be almost as disappointed as me if I was refused. Almost.

I woke Nigel as the plane began to descend. We got off together, our arms linked as he guided me carefully outside, where a chilly wind caught my hair. I shivered, snuggling into my coat. Nigel put his arm around me, and I lay my head on his shoulder. After we had finally gotten all of our luggage, which took an annoyingly long time, I was guided to the airport's front entrance and heard him call a cab.

Ten minutes later we pulled into what Nigel described as a rather small hotel. It was late, and by now I was tired enough to almost forget my nervousness. We both changed into pajamas, and climbed into bed. It was uncomfortable, but I fell asleep quickly.

I awoke with a stiff back and renewed uneasiness. Nigel wasn't there.

"Nige?" I called. He didn't answer. I slid out of bed, stretching, and then bent down to pick up my cane. Something was attached to it, a piece of paper. It was a note from Nigel. He had obviously gotten out the typewriter, which I had packed up and brought along. I ran my fingers over the dots and felt:

Jordan,

I went to get coffee, be back soon.

-Nige

I smiled slightly, then walked carefully to the table. I ran my hand horizontally about an inch above its surface, and immediately came into contact with the typewriter. I put the note down, and as I did so heard my cell phone ring where it lay on the bedside table. I made my careful way back across the small room and felt for it.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jordan."

"Hey Garret," I said, surprised.

"How are you?" he asked, a tad of worry just barely audible in his otherwise casual tone.

"Fine."

I knew he wouldn't buy it, and sure enough, he said, "You don't have to hide from me Jordan." I smiled, almost laughed.

"Not like I can anyways."

"No, not usually." My smile widened.

"How's everyone?" I asked him.

"Anxious," he replied seriously. "But they all wanted me to wish you luck, let you know their thoughts are with you."

"Thanks," I said. And then what I really wanted to know came forward without command. "And Woody?" There was a pause.

"He does too."

I didn't reply.

"He really does, Jordan."

"I know."

"And-" Garret hesitated. "And he's moving."

"What?"

"Back to Kewaunee. Apparently he's hooking up with an old girlfriend."

"Annie?"

"You'd know better than me."

"When's he leaving?" Another pause.

"He left this morning."

"So he's already in Wisconsin?"

"Probably," said Garret. "Look Jordan, I know he was a jerk. So did he. That's why he left. It was time to move on."

I nodded to myself. "It's for the best."

"He did want me to wish you luck though." I gave a small smile.

"Thanks Gar."

"No problem, Jordan. Listen, I gotta go. With my two best ME's gone things are a bit hectic. The chief ME's gotta try and stop all hell from breaking loose, and I'm feeling very sorry for the unlucky guy that got stuck with that job."

I laughed. "Bye Garret."

"Bye Jordan." I hung up, and then just sat in silence. So, Woody had moved. I tried to figure out how I felt about it. I should have been happy, relieved at the very least. I mean, I had run from Boston to DC, leaving everything, just to get away from him. Now I wasn't sure. But I had meant it when I told Garret that it was for the best. It was truly time to move on.

It was at that moment that I heard the door open and Nigel enter the room. "Hey love," he said cheerfully. "I brought Starbucks!" I smiled slightly as he handed me a warm cup.

"Thanks Nige." I took a careful sip, and sighed heavily. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Well," he replied, "there's almost twenty-four hours before your appointment, so we've got some time to kill." I nodded.

"Alright then, what's there to do around here?"

- Nigel -

I'd been doing a lot of research in the weeks that led up to our trip, and knew exactly what there was to do. It was a warm day, and I took her to an amusement park, where we spent the hours speeding on the coasters and other rides. It was as the sun began to set and it drew close to closing time that we decided to end the day with a relaxing Ferris wheel ride. We stood in the short line and clambered on as our turn came. The small door swung shut with a snap and we began to rise. A light breeze blew both our hair back as we neared the top. We stopped as we reached it. I had my arm around Jordan and she gripped my other hand. It was so tranquil, so peaceful, and I only wished that Jordan could have seen the setting sun.

"Nige," she said, as if on queue, "describe it to me?" I gave a small smile, and then began the routine.

"The sun's setting, sinking below the water way out in the distance. It's blood red, surrounded by an orange glow, but not so bright as will hurt your eyes. It's the kind of sun that, even though you know you shouldn't, you can't help but stare at, because it's so perfect and beautiful. The rest of the sky is pink, with the occasional cloud streaked here and there. The water is dark and calm, each sapphire wave painted with a strip of shining silver, and the specs of a few boats are still visible. The sand is an orange-beige color and covered with the footprints of today's visitors, as well as the odd person still walking along the shoreline."

I looked back at her. Jordan's eyes were closed, an almost-smile lingering on her lips. I pulled her closer to me, and she opened her eyes. I stared sadly into them, wishing that they would suddenly work, that she would suddenly be able to see. Then her hands moved up to my neck, and I was leaning forwards, bending as she pulled me downwards and herself upwards. We continued to kiss even as the ride began to move again, bringing us swiftly downwards, and we were back at the top when we pulled away. She was smiling and looked truly happy. She raised her right hand and traced my smiling lips. I brought my hand to hers and she held it tightly.

"I love you Nige," she said.

"I love you too, Jordan," I replied. "More than anything." Her smile widened.

"How many times have you said that now?" she asked.

"Not nearly enough." I brought my face to hers and we kissed again as the sky began fading slowly into darkness.

Woot! Michigan! Anyways, review please!