A/N: HERE IT IS, THE LAST CHAPTER(I AM SOOOO SAD). I REALLY LOVED WRITING THIS STORY AND IF I DIDN'T STOP NOW, IT WOULD PROBABLY GO ON FOREVER. I HAVE A FEW MORE STORIES IN THE WORKS AS WELL AS A FEW FOLLOW-UPS TO THE STORYLINES HERE. THANK YOU, SO MUCH, FOR READING AND TO ALL WHO REVIEWED. I HOPE YOU ENJOY. AND NO, THEY'RE STILL NOT MINE.
CHAPTER 32: THE END OF THE BEGINNING
The morgue was going through a complete overhaul, due to a change in administration and city cutbacks. With Jordan still out on maternity leave and Lily on her honeymoon, chaos was overtaking the entire staff. The city was not allowing anyone to temporarily fill open positions, so Garret, Bug, Sidney and Nigel were working overtime and Emmy was puling double duty as secretary and acting grief counselor.
"Hey Gar, What's up?", Jordan asked in a phone conversation, one leisurely June morning. "God Jordan this place is going to hell without you and Lily. That damn Matt Seely had to surprise Lily, and the rest of us, with a three week cruise to the Mediterranean.", Garret vented as he tossed four chalky tablets into his mouth. "Aw Garret, you miss me, how sweet.", Jordan joked. "Of course I miss you, you're my best M.E. I don't know what I'm going to do Jordan, there's all these crazy new changes to put into place, I've got the mayor breathing down my neck to get this done by the end of the month, the D.A. because we're so far behind on cases, not to mention the fact that everyone seems to be dying.", Garret ranted.
"I know my three months are almost up. I only have two weeks left at home with Millie, but if you really, really need me, I could talk it over with Woody and see if we could work things out.", Jordan said halfheartedly, hoping Garret wouldn't need her to come back from leave early. As it turned out, Jordan was not getting a full three months at home with Millie because she was forced to take early leave due to her pregnancy complications.
"No, no. Um, about your position……Yeah, could you come down here so we could talk. You're more than welcome to bring the baby. Is this afternoon okay?", he asked with apprehension. "Sure I guess, this afternoon should be fine.", Jordan said cautiously. "Great so I'll see you around three, then?", Garret said in closing. "Yeah three.", she repeated. Jordan sat in stunned silence for a minute after hanging up the telephone; my position , changes, cutbacks. What the hell is going on? Do I even have a job left to go back to, she thought.
Things weren't much better for Woody at the police station. They were faced with the same changes and cutbacks as the morgue, but their position was even more precarious due to the charges of corruption from within the station house. With three homicide detectives due to retire, one on his honeymoon, two on vacation and Santana temporarily bumped back down to narcotics, Woody, Lois and Roz were left to split the cases. Four senior detectives were sent in to help out with the field work leaving Woody to handle most of the interrogations and paperwork, not to mention putting in almost double the hours.
"Hoyt, how'ya doin'.", Captain Peterson asked. "Just fine Sir.", Woody replied as he looked up from the mountain of papers on his desk. "Listen Hoyt, I know this may not be the best time to come to you with this, with the new baby and all. You see, it's about your position here….I think we should talk in my office.", the captain said cautiously, looking around, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear. Woody nodded, then shook his head slightly, trying to figure out what the captain was saying; I knew it, they want me to take disability. It was just a matter of time, a detective who can only do half his job. How am I going to tell Jordan, he wondered, as he followed the captain to his office.
Woody came home from work late as usual, skipping the therapy session that was scheduled. That didn't matter anyway, he was off tomorrow, so rescheduling wouldn't be a problem. "How was your day?", Jordan asked , passing him in the hall. "Don't ask.", he replied, washing up for dinner. When he returned to the kitchen, Jordan wordlessly handed Millie to him, then paced a bit.
"I saw Garret this afternoon." "My captain spoke to me today", the both said in unison. "You go first.", he chuckled. "Well it seems with all the changes taking place, my position is no longer necessary. However, there is a new position available, more flexible hours, more money, a chance to eventually move up. Garret wants me to be the Assistant Chief Medical Examiner.", Jordan said unsurely. "Hey Jo, that's great.", Woody stated, pulling her down for a kiss. "You think? At first I was so worried I was going to lose my job, then when he told me, I got excited. I think I really want this Woody.", Jordan exclaimed with a smile, taking Woody's hand in hers and Millie's in the other.
"Well, about loosing jobs…..Captain Peterson asked to see me, in his office, today, it was about my status as a detective. It seems I'm up for a promotion and he wants me to take the Sergeant-Detective test again. They'd be able to waive some of the requirements if I'm able to complete the rest of the duties, and most of it is station work anyway. The pay is almost double, the hours are better and I would still be able to work with Lois, she'll be a sergeant too, if she passes her exam. Although I don't think Seely, Capra, Framus and Santana will like having to answer to me, I'm younger than everyone but Santana.", Woody chuckled.
"Oh Woody I'm so proud of you. You deserve this so much.", Jordan said, wrapping her arms around him. "So what do you think, do we do this?", Jordan asked seriously. "How could we not, as long as it doesn't interfere with our family.", Woody replied, looking down at his daughter. "What do you think Millie, should Mommy and Daddy take these new jobs?", Woody asked babyishly. Millie's huge blue eyes met her Daddy's and she gave him a great big smile, then shoved her fist into her mouth and began to suck loudly. "Good idea, we'll decide over dinner.", Woody laughed.
Woody and Jordan both had a little more than two weeks to make definite decisions about the new job offers, which was good, because they were busy planning a truly blessed event. Millie and Colin were going to be christened together at St. Inez, by Father Paul. It was Sunday June 17, 2007, Father's Day. At first Jordan was a little worried about having the christening that day, but Woody insisted, "That would be the best present ever.".
Cal was chosen to be Millie's Godfather and Lily picked to be her Godmother. Wanting to do something special for her best friends and their baby, Lily asked Max if he still had Jordan's christening gown and had it lovingly restored so Millie could wear it. Woody was Colin's Godfather and Dolly his Godmother, they had Aunt Betty create a little suit from the one Woody and Cal wore when they were baptized. Family and tradition taking center stage at this joyous occasion.
The group gathered around the baptismal font; Jordan holding Millie, Godmother Lily, Godfather Calvin, Colleen holding Colin, Godfather Woody and Godmother Dolly, surrounded by friends and family.Millie was first, even though she was slepping, Paul started with the appropriate prayers. "Emily Grace Hoyt, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.", Paul announced, pouring the water onto her forehead as Jordan held her over the fountain.
Aunt Betty and Bug snapped as many pictures as they could. Millie's sleppy blue eyes fluttered open and she gave Paul a huge smile. Colin was next, Colleen held him out and Paul repeated the sacrament. "Colin Woodrow Hoyt, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.", Paul stated, trying to keep his voice above that of the screaming baby boy. After the ceremony the group headed over to the Pogue for a small banquet to celebrate the babies initiation into the Catholic church.
The following Sunday was Jordan and Woody's first wedding anniversary. "Dad are you sure about this, I mean we could just take her with. That would probably be better. What if she wants to nurse instead of taking the bottle? And she likes Woody to sing her to sleep.", Jordan rambled as they stood in the living room of Max's house. "Sweetheart, she'll be fine, it's only dinner and a movie.", Max chuckled, trying to pry Millie from Jordan's arms. "Okay, we'll be back around eleven, but if you need us we'll both have our phones and pagers on.", Jordan replied, handing Millie to her grand-father. "Oh and here are the numbers to the restaurant and the movie theatre.", Jordan added, pulling the paper from her purse and reluctantly handing it to Max.
"C'mon Jo, our reservations are for five and the show starts at eight.", Woody stated nodding to the clock. "Okay, your right. Bye sweetie, you be good for PaPa. Mommy and Daddy will be back soon.", Jordan told Millie, giving her and Max a big kiss each. "Hey Princess.", Woody said, kissing the top of Millie's head. She gave him a smile in return. "Wow, Daddy's sure gonna miss you.", he whispered, kissing her on the cheek this time. She started to coo at him.
"Woody.", Jordan playfully called from the doorway. "Yes Jordan, I'm coming.", he answered hesitantly. "Now Dad, if you need us to come home...", Woody said as they made their way to the car. "I know, I'll call...Just go.", Max answered from the porch, lifting up Millie's hand to waive. As the car left the drive, Max turned to Millie, "What are we going to do with your parents?". She looked up at him and smiled brightly. "Well we can worry about that later, right now, you and PaPa have a date with the couch.", he chuckled as they went inside, telling her everything he had planned for the evening.
Jordan and Woody sat comfortably at the table, waiting for the waitress to come and take their order. "Happy Anniversary Jordan.", Woody toasted, holding his glass up to Jordan's. "Happy Anniversary to you too.", she replied, tapping his glass and leaning over to kiss him.They talked and laughed throughout dinner, but somehow the subjet of Millie overtook all of their conversations. Luckily they were able to get through the rest of the meal before calling Max to check up on her. Once they knew their daughter was content, Woody and Jordan were able to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.
"It's such a beautiful night, let's take a little walk by the river. Dad said Millie's still asleep.", Jordan suggested, snapping her phone shut and looking, lovingly at her husband. "Sounds good to me.", he replied happily. They strolled from the theatre, past the swanky shops, over to a little common area. Jordan sat on a bench, next to Woody as they looked out over the river. "You know what I miss the most?", Woody asked out of the blue. "Hmm?", Jordan inquired, not sure if she fully understood the question. "Dancing with you.", he said quietly. Jordan glanced at him, but he continued to look straight ahead.
"Woody we still dance.", Jordan stated, tangling her fingers with his. "Yeah, but not like we used to. Now it's awkward and uncomfortable, at best; and I can hardly even get through one song.", he said sadly. "Woody", Jordan whispered his name. "I know, I'm sorry...It's just...during dinner...I saw how you looked at the couples on the dance floor...I just wish I could hold you while we danced...with the crutches I can't...", Jordan stopped him with a finger to his lips. "You can hold me now.", she said sweetly and slid onto his lap. "Jordan?", he whispered, looking around. "Shh.", she hushed, pulling his arms around her waist, running her fingers through his hair. She hummed to the music playing through the speakers and rocked back and forth with her foot.
"Well it looks like you two had fun.", Max stated as he greated his beaaming daughter and son-in-law. "We had an excellent time, thanks Dad.", Jordan replied. "How's my little angel?",Woody asked, scooping Millie from Max's arms. "She looks hungry Mommy.", he added, looking up at Jordan. "Well you're more than welcome to stay and feed her, but I need to go and take care of my 'baby'.", Max chuckled, nodding to Bailey, who looked like she needed a walk. "Go ahead Dad, we'll wait for you here.", Jordan said taking a seat on the porch swing.
Jordan patted the seat for Woody to come and join her. He put his arm around Jordan, she scooted down and laid her head on his shoulder. Woody played with Millie's tiny feet as she nursed contently. "Jordan what is it, what's wrong?", Woody asked concerned, as he felt her shoulders shake. "I don't know, I guess I'm a little sad.", she replied through sobs. "Sad, why?", he questioned seriously. She shrugged. "It's just this past year, it's been so wonderful; with our wedding, the baby, our new jobs...I don't want to see it end.", she confided, snuggling closer. "It's not gonna end Jordan, this is just the beginning.", Woody stated, squeezing her tightly with one arm. "The beginning of us.", he added, cradling Millie with his other arm.
A/N2: WOW THIS WAS A LONG ONE. ACTUALLY THE WHOLE STORY TURNED OUT TO BE LONGER THAN I HAD EXPECTED. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU LOYAL READERS WHO STUCK IT OUT WITH ME, PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR FINAL COMMENTS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.