Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Crossing Jordan.
Making Amends
Chapter 5 – Falling Apart
Woody watched Jordan walk away. Tears burned his eyes. He yearned to follow her, pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be all right. He knew deep inside, he would never get that chance again. Besides maybe his need to comfort Jordan was his own selfish desire. He hurt her and he deserved more than just a broken face, he knew that. He'd never forgive himself for causing her such pain, it was all his fault.
A hand on his shoulder pulled him from his reverie. He turned to face Seely. "I told you it was your funeral."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted front row seats for round two," Seely said with a smirk.
"You came all the way here for that?"
"I lead a very boring life. That and I realized that this is the same location as a body I had last month."
"How do you know they're related?"
"How do we know they're not?"
"Does this mean we're working together?" Woody asked, choosing not to hide his annoyance.
"Guess so Partner."
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Jordan stormed into the change room, feeling enraged at Woody for still being able to make her cry. She slipped into her teal scrubs and pulled her hair back into a messy bun. The sooner the autopsy was done, the sooner she'd be off Woody's case.
She stopped in front of the mirror on her way out and observed the dark circles that had appeared below her eyes that could no longer be masked by make up. She fought the tears that threatened to fall, rubbing fiercely at her moist eyes. This was all Woody's fault.
"Jordan are you all right?" Lily's soft voice echoed through the room.
"I'm fine. Allergies…"
"Garret's looking for you."
"Great," Jordan muttered. "Thanks Lil."
Jordan grumbled the whole way to Garret's office. She walked inside and glared at him, "What Garret? I'm about to start an autopsy."
"Shut the door," he ordered firmly. Jordan complied and then dropped into the seat in front of his desk.
"I'm leaving." The words tumbled from his mouth. Jordan opened her mouth to respond and he raised his hand to silence her. "I'm taking a leave of absence. When I was off for two months the opportunity arose for me to do the things I'd always wanted to do. I didn't realize, however, until it was too late. I was too screwed up with my drinking. I have a lot of problems that I need to work through Jordan. My daughter's in rehab for Christ sakes, mostly because I failed her as a father. It's time for me to make amends with her. I owe her that much. I don't know when I'll be back, if ever, so you will need to act as Chief ME."
"Garret, I don't know how to do your job. You can't leave," Jordan said, trying her hardest not to let her tears fall.
"I have to. You'll do fine, you've done my job before while I was on vacation."
"I almost killed the staff."
"It's either you or Slokum, take your pick."
Jordan dropped her head and stared down at her hands. Tears poured from her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. Her life was falling apart, everything was going wrong.
Garret watched her fall apart and stood up to get closer to her. He kneeled down in front of her.
"Everything's going to be all right Jordan. You have to believe that."
She looked up at him, her tears glistening in the fluorescent light. "Nothing ever goes right for me. Nothing in my past can make me believe in a happy future."
Garret wrapped his arms around her to comfort her and she pulled away. "You're running away Garret, after all the times you told me not to."
She stood up and walked away. Feeling even more depressed as she made her way to trace. She opened the doors and bumped into Woody and Seely, who were waiting inside. "I thought you switched cases?" she grumbled to Seely, ignoring Woody's presence.
"It turns out the crime scene is the same as one I had last month. It went unsolved."
"Whose case?"
"Macy's."
"Looks like it's mine now," she sighed. She wished she had called in sick today, she was certainly feeling sick. "Well tell me about the case."
"Jordan are you all right?" Woody asked, looking at her red puffy eyes.
"Even if I wasn't it would be none of your concern," she said before turning back to Seely.
"Caucasian male, blunt force trauma to the back of the head. He was 48 years old, his name was Donald Keets. Went missing the day before he was found dead. No suspects, no arrests."
"Great, I think we may have a serial killer on our hands," Jordan muttered. "Well why are you still here?" she asked Woody.
"I'm working with Seely."
"Why? He worked the initial case by himself, I'm sure he can do it again."
"Well no one was arrested in that case. I'm here to help him."
"I don't need your help," Seely retorted. "Tell her the truth man, you're on this case because you feel guilty for banging the new girl."
The tension that filled the room was suffocating. Jordan dropped the instrument that was in her hand and walked out of trace. Woody turned and glared at Seely.
