Okay so I thought my last chapter was a little lame. I just needed to get some information out though so the story could keep going. Let me know what you think


Chapter 4

Of Balls and Bathtime


"Jordan, can I talk to you in trace?" Nigel was moving toward the door quickly.

"Umm, sure Nige," Jordan said following him to the door. Turning to Woody she added, "I'll be back in a minute if you want to talk."

"Yeah, okay." Woody moved to sit down near Lily.

"How is it being back in Boston?" Lily asked politely.

"Different," he replied looking over to where Carter was attempting to climb up onto the counter. "Is he always so…?"

"Active?" Lily said finishing Woody's thought, "Yeah he is. Jordan used to nap during her lunch breaks. I think she is used to it now."

"Well, "Woody looked down not sure what to say.

"You're mad at her aren't you?"

"Damn straight I am and I have a right to be," Woody snapped. "I don't even know my son because of her."

"Have you told her you are mad?" Lily asked.

"No, this is the first time we have seen each other since I found out," Woody said sighing.

"So how are you feeling about it all?" Lily asked in her best counselor voice.

Woody started to roll his eyes then he remembered how helpful it could be to talk things out with Lily. "I guess I am thinking that as mad as I am I want to know my kid. I am really mad that Jordan didn't tell me but I don't want to screw up the future because of that." Woody looked down at the table and then back up at his son.


"When did he find out?" Nigel asked before the door even closed behind Jordan.

"Last night," Jordan said matter-of-factly. She wasn't sure she wanted to get into this now but knew Nigel wouldn't let her leave until he had some answers.

"Last night?" Nigel repeated in disbelief, "And you didn't tell me?"

"Okay, he came over because of the fight we had, he wanted to talk or something." Jordan prepared to explain the whole night, "Well we didn't talk, we screamed. The whole thing erupted into a screaming match."

"About what?" Nigel asked fairly confident he knew what it had been about.

"About him leaving, about what happened before he left, about us," Jordan listed. "The screaming eventually woke up Carter. Once they were in the same room together I just had to tell him."

"Wow," Nigel looked at Jordan somewhat in disbelief. "You just told him?" She nodded back. "Well what did he say?"

"He asked some questions then he said he needed to go think about it all," Jordan replied. "Shit, I need to go talk to him. I bet he is really pissed off."


As Jordan hesitantly walked back into the room Carter scurried over and wrapped his arm arms around her legs. "Mama, Home," he demanded.

Jordan glanced at the clock. "Okay baby," she said looking down at him. Turning to Woody she gestured toward her office saying, "Woody do you want to…?"

"Yeah sure," Woody and Jordan followed Carter out of the room. He ran down the hall swerving back and forth.

Jordan sat down on the couch and began packing Carter's bag full of stuff. Woody sat down on the edge of Jordan's desk. He wasn't sure what to say. As Jordan was about to put the last of Carter's books in the bag she stopped. She turned to Carter handing him two books and saying, "Carter baby, why don't you take these down to Aunt Lily and see if she will read them to you. Mommy will come get you when it is time to go home." As Carter ran down the hallway Jordan turned to Woody.

"Do you always let him run around the morgue on his own?" Woody asked sharply.

"Woody you can judge me all you want but it is hard to be a single parent."

"Well maybe you wouldn't have had to do it on your own if…if you had just…told me," Woody spat out.

Jordan hung her head and sighed. "I know you are mad," she said. "I was getting him out of here so you wouldn't have to edit what you want to say to me and so he didn't have to hear his dad yell."

"I just can't believe that you…" Woody began, "I can't believe you would… that you didn't." Then he stopped, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. He just didn't know how to say what he was feeling.

"Woody all I can say is that I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Jordan took a deep breath. "If you are interested I want you to be a part of his life, as much as you want." She knew there was no way to make up for the past all she could do was offer him a chance for the future.

Woody knew it too. He just didn't know what to say. So he just sat quietly.

Jordan, taking his silence as disinterest, stood up, gathered her and Carter's bags, and walked out of her office. She walked down the hallway to Lily's office, as soon as Carter saw her he jumped off of Lily's lap and ran to his mother who gathered him up in her already full arms. Lily handed the books to Jordan who slipped them into an outside pocket on one of the bags. Jordan boosted Carter up higher on her hip, said goodbye and thank you to Lily, and started to leave. As they approached the elevator Jordan stopped at the voice behind her.

"Jordan, I umm," Woody hurried down the hall toward them. "Could I umm come over tonight and spend some time with Carter?"

"That would be nice," Jordan responded. "You can come over for dinner if you want. He usually needs to eat at 5:30 or 6:00 at the latest."

Woody nodded. "Okay, I'll see you later. Bye Carter," he said as Jordan and Carter got in the elevator.

"Bye," Carter chirped as the elevator doors closed.


Jordan was juggling a bottle of grape juice (the clear kind), a sippy-cup, and a jar of peanut butter while trying to make sure the pot on the stove didn't boil over when the doorbell rang at 5:28. Adjusting the items in her arms to one side she looked at Carter who was playing with a ball in the living room. "I think that is your daddy," she said to him. Then turning toward the door she continued, "And just think someday you will be big enough to answer the door yourself and then Mommy with have a break."

"Hey Woody," she said opening the door, as she did so she lost control of the objects in her arms and everything fell to the floor.

"Whoa, hi Jordan." Woody bent over to help Jordan gather the dropped items. As they moved into the apartment Jordan went back to the kitchen while Woody stood in the entry way tentatively.

"You can come in Wood," Jordan said putting the juice bottle and sippy cup on the counter. "We are having Mac and Cheese and Peanut Butter sandwiches. I hope that is okay," she said taking the jar of peanut butter from Woody. "Friday night is Carter's choice."

"That sounds great," Woody answered. "Is there anything I can help with?" He took off his jacket and paced it over the back of a chair.

"No, I have everything covered. I bet that little person next to you would like a playmate though."

Carter was now standing at Woody's feet beaming up at him. "Ball," he said lifting the ball over his head to show Woody and accidentally dropping it behind his head.

"Yeah that is a ball," Woody said as he chased after the ball that was now rolling under the table. Grabbing the ball Woody handed it back to Carter who proceeded to throw it again, deciding he had found a good game. After about ten more minutes of Jordan cooking and Woody chasing after the ball they all settled down to dinner.

Jordan found the situation a bit surreal; they were eating together like a family. Carter dug into his Mac and Cheese with his hands. "Baby, try and use your fork," Jordan said encouragingly. Carter screwed up his nose but picked up the fork. He then proceeded to pick up the food with his other hand and place it on the fork before sticking the fork into his mouth. Woody laughed. "He just started learning," Jordan explained.

Dinner proceeded really well. Jordan and Woody talked while they ate, occasionally stopping to laugh at something Carter was doing. At the end of the meal Jordan cleared the table offering Woody any job involving Carter. "Would you mind cleaning him up?" she asked Woody holding out a warm wet washcloth.

"Of course not," Woody said as he took the cloth and removed the tray from Carter's highchair. Carter squirmed as Woody began wiping the cheese sauce and peanut butter from his hands and face.

As Jordan came over to get the high chair tray to wash she advised, "Woody, make sure you check the back of his neck."

Woody who was already starting to un-strap Carter stopped, asking, "Why the back of his neck?"

"Just trust me," Jordan responded from the kitchen sink.

"Alright," Woody checked and sure enough there was food all over the back of Carter's neck and in his hair. As Woody finished cleaning Carter and let him out of his chair, he turned to Jordan. "How does he get food on the back of his neck?" he asked.

Jordan smiled and said, "He is like his dad." She nodded toward Carter who, as if on cue, was rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. Woody laughed unconsciously rubbing his neck as well, which just made Jordan laugh harder. "Do you want to give him his bath?" she asked.

"Can I?" Woody asked anxiously.

"As long as you don't burn him or let him drown. There is baby shampoo and wash on the side of the tub and bath toys in a bucket under the sink. There should be a clean green towel on my bed for him."

Woody enthusiastically chased down Carter scooping him up while saying, "Come on buddy it is bath time."


Once Jordan finished cleaning the kitchen she toward the bathroom to check on Carter and Woody. Stopping near the doorway she peered in. Woody had his shirt sleeves rolled up above his elbows and was splashing the water in the tub. "Whoa buddy, you got me in the face," Woody said laughing.

Jordan backed away from the doorway. She went to Carter's room to find a set of pajamas. She chose a pair with brightly colored jungle animals and then found a pair of socks. As she was about the leave the room a photo on the bookshelf caught her eye. Sighing she grabbed a diaper and headed back toward the bathroom with Carter's sleepwear.

As she entered the bathroom she could tell Woody was trying to figure out how to get Carter out of the tub and into the towel without drenching himself with water. As he struggled he noticed Jordan. "I was going to let the water out of the tub but then I remember that I heard once babies get too cold if you do that. I figured I mean he isn't really still a baby but, you know," Woody rambled.

"No, you're right," Jordan said. "You aren't supposed to let the water out, he would get too cold." Jordan smiled. "Can I teach you a trick?" she asked.

"Sure," Woody said glad for the help.

Jordan moved next to him taking the towel from his hands. She squatted down next to the tub. "Hey, baby boy," she said to Carter. Jordan pushed her hair behind her ears and spread out the towel placing the center of one side under her chin then pressing her chin to her chest. "Stand up Carter," she said while she reached out and lifted Carter out of the tub and up against the towel hanging in front of her. With one hand at a time she wrapped the towel around the little boy and held him close. Turning to Woody she said, "It takes some practice."

Woody smiled and Jordan handed the bundled up toddler to him. She grabbed Carter's pajamas from where she had left them on the counter and led Woody into the living room. Woody dried Carter off and Jordan got him dressed. As she finished she swept him up in her arms and said to Woody, "I'll show you how I put him to bed if you want." Woody nodded. Jordan went into the kitchen and got a sippy cup of milk out of the refrigerator. Then she went into Carter's room followed by Woody.

The bedtime routine had been perfected down to a "T". Jordan was just dreading when he was ready to move into a toddler bed, she had heard that threw everything off. Jordan sat down in the rocking chair setting Carter down on the ground. Carter toddled over to the book shelf and picked up two books that were stacked in front. He then tottered back to his mother holding out his arms to be helped onto her lap. Carter snuggled into Jordan lap as she handed him his sippy-cup and began to read to him. After the two books Carter had finished his milk and was starting to drift off to sleep on his mother's lap. Jordan began to sing.

Christopher Robin and I walked along

Under branches lit up by the moon

Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

As our days disappeared all too soon

But I've wandered much further today than I should

And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood, so…

Help me if you can I've got to get

Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one

You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky -

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

Woody had been sitting quietly on the floor of Carter's room leaning against the closed door. As Jordan sang he felt tears coming to his eyes. This time he noticed he didn't feel sad or angry. He was happy, happy that he was here, happy that his son knew so much love, and mostly happy to know his son.

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

Seem to follow throughout all our lives

After all's said and done I was watching my son

Sleeping there with my bear by his side

So I tucked him in, kissed him, and as I was going

I swear that old bear whispered, "Boy, welcome home"

Jordan lay Carter in his bed quietly and kept singing rubbing his back gently.

Believe me if you can, I've finally come

Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one

What do you know, there's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky –

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and -

Back to the ways of Christopher Robin and -

Back to the days of Pooh

As she finished singing Jordan bent down and kissed Carter's cheek before backing away from his crib and out of the room. Woody moved up to the crib and kissed his hand before placing it on his son's cheek. Woody then began to follow Jordan out of the room. As he was about to walk out his was stopped by the same photograph Jordan had been looking at before. He gently picked it up. It was a photo from years before, taken at a party at the morgue. The picture was of him and Jordan, he had his arm around her shoulders and they were laughing and smiling at the camera. Still holding the picture he slid out of the bedroom closing the door behind him.


Woody approached Jordan who was now sitting on the couch folding laundry. "One thing nobody mentions about having a kid is that you spend half of your life doing laundry," she said smirking. Woody sat down next to her and held out the photograph. Jordan took it from him and said quietly, "You may not have known Woody. But you have always been here."
Author's Note: Okay so that actually wasn't where the chapter was going to end originally. There was more. But now it will just have to be part of the next chapter. This one was getting to be a bit long. I am usually not a fan of using songs in stories but I just couldn't help it on this one. Since Jordan sings it just seems to me that she would sing to her kid, plus I love that song (House at Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins for anyone who doesn't know it) so i felt like I needed to include some of it. Well anyway, because I wanted to add more to this chapter I may post another one fairly soon. (I blame the pathetic state of my thesis on this story.)