A/N: THIS CHAPTER HAS A LITTLE MORE ANGST THAN THE OTHERS, BUT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UPDATE OF THE LAST STORY. I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING, IF SO, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. I WOULD LOVE TO CLAIM THEM, BUT SADLY I CAN'T.
CHAPTER 2: TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING
The group was meeting for dinner at a small casual place near the morgue. Jordan and Woody had both left work early to get some last minute running around done. Max was the first one there. Cal and his girlfriend, Colleen brought Uncle Charlie, Aunt Betty and Dolly. Garret and Sidney had to work that evening, so the family would just have to wait for Nigel, Bug and Lily to get off of work. The group was just getting settled at the bar when Jordan and Woody came through the door. They were dressed comfortable, Jordan had a flowing sundress on and Woody had on khaki shorts and a t-shirt.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late.", Woody stated, smiling and waiving as he wheeled ahead of Jordan. They all turned to greet the pair when Dolly gasped, "Oh Woody.", she cried, tears filling her eyes as they focused on his pale, atrophied legs. "Dolly?", he questioned, concerned. "I'm sorry.", she stammered, releasing her gaze from his chair and heading for the ladies room. "Wait, Dolly.", Woody called after her. He looked up at Jordan with a confused expression. "I'll go.", Jordan said, patting his arm. "Dolly?", Jordan whispered as she opened the bathroom door. She found her leaning on the bathroom sink, crying. "Are you okay?", Jordan asked putting her hand on Dolly's back.
They made their way to the sitting area. "I'm just……….It's……..Oh Jordan.", Dolly cried, collapsing into a plush pink leather chair. "It's Woody, isn't it?", Jordan asked already knowing the answer. Dolly nodded, pulling some tissue out of a box on the end table. " I understand, it just takes some time to get used to.", Jordan comforted her. "I guess because he was standing this morning, I just assumed he would be fine. I didn't even notice the crutches until he mentioned them.", Dolly admitted.
Jordan looked confused, "I thought you two talked on the phone a few times a month. He didn't tell you?", she asked. "We would mostly talk about old times, things we used to do when we were kids. He never wanted to talk to much about his injuries, and I didn't want to be the one who brought it up. He always said he was slowly getting better……", her voice trailed off. She looked up at Jordan, "Wait, tell me what?", she asked, concerned. Jordan took a deep breath. "Well, for starters, he only has about thirty percent function, and that's mainly in his torso and hips, with a little in his upper thighs. It's a miracle he can walk at all, and without the braces and crutches, he can't, they support him while his arms do the rest of the work. He can only handle being on his feet for a few hours a day, it really takes a toll on his back, hips and arms. He gets tired and sore really fast, and by the early evening he's totally exhausted, so he uses his chair.", Jordan explained.
Dolly looked up, tears spilling down her face. "God Jordan, that's just so sad.", she admitted. "Yeah it is, but Dolly, please don't let him hear you say that. He doesn't do pity very well.", Jordan exclaimed, thinking about how long it took her to convince Woody that she didn't pity him. "Oh no, it's not pity. I just feel bad for him, he's been through so much.", Dolly sniffled. "But he made it through, Dolly. He's accepted what has happened to him and we're both moving forward. Life is good, really good.", Jordan added, taking her hand.
"I wish I could help him or do something for him." Dolly confessed. "You can do something for him, you can love him the way you always have. Don't treat him differently because of what has happened, things may have changed, but he is still the same Woody.", Jordan replied. Dolly gave Jordan a small smile then her head lowered again and her face fell. She hesitated, then looked back up at Jordan and asked sadly, "Will he ever get any better?". Jordan shook her head. "Probably not. He gets a little stronger every day, and he's always learning new ways to deal with his limitations. He can still do so much, you'd be surprised. He's a fighter Dolly.", Jordan smiled proudly. "I know he is.", Dolly agreed. "C'mon, we'd better get back.", Jordan stated as she took Dolly's hand.
As they left the bathroom, talking and laughing, Cal caught up with them. "Is everything alright?", he asked, concerned. They both nodded. He put his arm around Dolly, knowing how she felt. "It's hard to see him in his chair, isn't it?", he asked. She nodded, again. "Sometimes I think he's gonna jump up and start walking or running or do the things he used to do. It's so unfair.", Cal said, his words falling to a whisper. Jordan came to the other side of Cal and put a sympathetic arm around his waist, they both squeezed him. "Everyone is here, our table is over there.", he nodded across the room, and squeezed both ladies back.
Cal made his way to the private dinning room with Dolly on one arm and Jordan on the other. "You've always known how to make a grand entrance, haven't you Calvin?", Aunt Betty joked, remebering how Cal always liked to be the center of attention as a child, the total opposite of his brother. Woody looked over his shoulder, "What happened?", hewhispered looking from Jordan to Dolly. "Dolly just got a little emotional, with you getting married and all.", Jordan said with a smile. "Yeah, I'm just so happy for you Woody.", Dolly offered, as she bent down to hug him, trying to mask the heartache she felt for him. "Is that all? You worried me.", he replied, with a little chuckle.
Nigel got up from his seat as soon as he noticed the auburn-haired beauty. "So, who do we have here?", Nigel interrupted. "Oh, sorry. Nigel, Bug , Lily, this is my cousin Dolly Hoyt.", Woody introduced. "Well, hello Dolly.", Nigel responded, kissing her hand. Dolly giggled. "I'm Dr. Nigel Townsend, forensic criminologist. I'll be your escort for the wedding.", he stated. Bug gave Lily an amused look, she bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. "It's very nice to meet you Dr. Nigel Townsend, forensic criminologist. And I'm looking forward to having you as my escort.", she replied, her cheeks turning bright red.