The hours passed angonizeingly slow for Jordan and Woody. They spent most of their time curled up on the couch or searching through Emma's things, a glass of coffee always in their hands. Jordan grabbed a photo album from the cabnit and walked over to the couch, sitting down and flipping open to the first page, Woody shuffling closer to her to get a better look.
"These were taken when I was pregnant and just after she was born," Jordan said, watching Woody's face as his eyes glided over each picture, a wide smile passing over his features. His eyes lingered a moment longer on one picture that caught his eye; it was taken when Jordan was about six months pregnant but she barely had a belly at all. She was sitting at her desk in her office, her head cocked to one side in the direction of the person who was taking the picture. She was positivly glowing. It made Woody's heart sink a little lower in the realization that he missed so many firsts in Emma's life. The first ultrasound, the first time she kicked.
"Was this taken by Nigel by any chance?" Woody asked, a goofy grin spread over his face.
"How can you tell?" Jordan asked, a smile that matched Woody's playing across her features.
"Just a guess," he replied. They flipped through photo album after photo album, each carefully dated for each stage of Emma's life. Woody didn't know she was so meticulous and organized.
"These are really well done, Jo," Woody commented, flipping through the pages of Emma's second birthday.
"Most of these pictures were taken by Nigel. When he found out I was pregnant he went out and bought a new camera and it was like every time I turned around he had the lens pointed in my face," she laughed in the memory.
"The man has not changed a bit," Woody said, still flipping through the pages.
The time passed slowly but by eleven that night, Woody felt he at least knew his daughter a little better than he did before. And he planned on getting to know her more the second she was back at home.
"Jordan ..." Woody prompted, wondering if now was a good time to explain himself.
She looked up into his sea blue eyes, waiting for him to continue.
"I wanna explain about Nikki," he said again, he head dropping low to his chest in shame.
"Woody ..." Jordan said. She really didn't want to talk about this right now. Not when her daughter was missing. Not now. Not ever for that matter. Woody had clearly moved on and the thought of him with another woman was almost as revulsing as the thought of her daughter in harm.
She was about to continue when a peircing ring from a phone interupted her. Jordan looked down to her lap where her cellphone lay quiet and still. Woody dug deep into his pocket and pulled his phone out, flipping it open and answering it.
"Hoyt," he answered.
"Woody," a quiet and sad voice answered.
"Nikki," Woody responded. "Hey."
"Hi ..." she said quietly and almost unaudiable. "I just wanted to appologize about earlier. When we met you told me you had a past in Boston and I knew that when we came here to meet my parents things were gonna get freaky. I should have stuck around long enough to let you explain," she appologised.
"Nikki, I'm sorry. I really am. And I want to explain this to you," Woody said, turning away from Jordan embarassed.
"Ok how about tonight? We can meet at the Holiday Inn on Fifth St in about an hour," Nikki said, her voice slightly more cheerful and happy.
"Nik ..." Woody said, his voice pleading and appathetic. "Now's not a good time."
"Woody ..." Jordan started. "It's time."
The line was silent except for the noise of Nikki's slightly heavier breathing. "You're still with her aren't you?" she asked, her voice annoyed and angered.
Woody sighed. "Ya."
"You're unbelievable," she said in a huff before slamming down the phone and hanging up on him.
"Nikki? Nikki? ... Nikki!" Woody yelled into the phone. Admiting defeat, he flipped his phone back shut and sat down with a sigh next to Jordan.
"Trouble in paradise?" Jordan asked, a slightly ammused yet disapointed look on her face.
"You don't wanna know," he said, contraditing what he earlier said about wanting to tell her everything about his relationship with Nikki. "Let's hit the road," he said, changing the subject and standing up from the couch, extending his hand downwards to help Jordan up. She gratefully took it and stood up, readjusting her jeans and running her fingers through her hair, her expression changing from ammused to scared.
"Hey, hey, hey," Woody said, grabbing her retreating arm and pulling her back towards him so they were standing face to face. "We're gonna find her. And she's gonna be fine. And never again is she going to be taken away from you. You listening?" he asked, his voice soothing and calm to her ever incresing nerves.
She simply nodded her head for fear of vomiting. The fear in her eyes was evident and it was breaking Woody's heart to see her so upset. He deeply sighed before scooping her up in his arms and holding her tightly to his warm chest, rubbing his hand in small circles on her ice cold back. The familiar feeling of warmth and comfort spread immediatly over her body. They slowly pulled away, their faces inches apart. Woody and Jordan both closed their eyes and leaned in, ready to give in to what they both had been fighting since their reunightment.
"Detective Hoyt," a voice rang out before their lips could meet. They pulled quickly apart and looked at the man who called Woody's name. "It's quarter to twelve. You need to go."
XXXXXXXXXXok so I know there was no point to this chapter but it's just a bridge of nothingness between the last chapter and the next which I'm planning on being action packed. I hope you guys enjoyed and don't forget to review!
love Megan