Chapter Five

Tunnel Trouble

"I don't like you working with her." Lu's voice interrupted his thoughts as Woody was tying his tie, looking at his reflection in the dresser mirror of her bedroom.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have a choice," Woody answered, eyeing her in the mirror. Lu was still stretched out in bed, as she had the day off. "I mean, I'm a homicide detective and she's a ME. It's gonna happen, Lu."

"I still don't like it." Lu arched her back and stretched, making the sheet fall to her naked waist. Woody turned and gave her an appreciative look.

"You don't have anything to worry about," he said, coming over to the bed and sitting beside her, catching her lips in a quick kiss. "I mean I'm here with you and Jordan's nowhere in the picture."

"She's pregnant."

"But it's not mine." Lu gave him a baleful look. "It's not. She told me so herself," Woody answered

"And she's sure."

"Very. I even offered to give Nigel DNA so that we could be positive. But she said it wasn't necessary. And it's not. If Jordan had gotten pregnant at the Lucy Carver Inn, she would already be close to delivering. It's September 15, sweetie. And she's not due until October 28." Woody gently pulled the sheet back over Lu. "So stop worrying your pretty, little head over a problem that doesn't exist."

"But you still have to work with her."

"And so do you." Woody gave her one more quick kiss and stood to leave, grabbing his jacket off the foot of the bed. "We all have to be professional here, Lu. Me. You. Jordan. And Jordan has been…maybe borderline civil, but always professional. But I imagine being seven or eight months pregnant can keep you a little irritated."

Lu nodded. "But shouldn't she be going on maternity leave soon?"

Woody shrugged, one hand on the door knob to let himself out. "According to Jordan, the doctor has said she can work right up until her time to deliver. Have a good day, sweetheart….maybe we can do Morelli's tonight for dinner." Woody shut the door behind him as he left.

"Up until the time she delivers….leave it to Jordan Cavanaugh to think she's Wonder Woman," Lu muttered, pulling the pillow over top of her head.

"Jor…." Woody called after Jordan's retreating figure. It never ceased to amaze him how quickly she could still move even though she was all baby now.

And usually all it took was one look at him or one word out of his mouth to send her speeding off the other way. And today was no exception. As soon as he stepped off the morgue elevators and called the first syllable of her name, she was gone. "Jordan!" he called a little louder and with more force. "Stop….for a minute, please, just stop."

She halted and slowly turned around. "What do you need, Woody?"

"You."

She raised an eyebrow. "I don't think Lu would appreciate that." Her voice just slightly dripped with sarcasm.

"Not that way. Besides pregnant women just don't do a thing for me," he added, finally reaching her side.

"Your loss." Jordan eyed him warily. "So why do you need me?"

"There's a body on the north side I've got a call on. And since you're the answering ME…"

"You need me to go with you."

"Yeah. I thought we could ride together…on the way we could discuss that case we've both got to testify on next week."

"The Sorenson case?"

"Yeah." He rocked back on his heels. Ever since he had told Jordan that he didn't want to be her rebound guy and fell into Lu's bed, he had felt slightly off balance around her…disconcerted, disjointed….uncomfortable. He wasn't sure why…they both had obviously gotten on with their lives. He was in a steady relationship with Lu and Jordan was pregnant with…with…somebody's child. She had never told him who, just that he wasn't the father.

Maybe that was the most disconcerting thing of all. "I'll drive," he added.

"Deal. Just let me get my bag."

The traffic was heavier than normal as they headed out to the crime scene. Woody was sure Seely was already there by now. He got in the driver's side and helped Jordan slide the seat back further on the passenger side to accommodate her belly. After a little shuffling and huffing, she made herself comfortable.

"I bet you're really uncomfortable now," Woody commented as they pulled out onto to the freeway.

"Yeah," Jordan wiped the sweat off her forehead with her fingertips. "The heat's a bitch to deal with and then there's this…" she motioned to her abdomen. "The baby kicks all night and uses my bladder as a punching bag." She leaned back in the seat. "In a way, I'll be glad when all of this is over."

"I'm sure." This was the most Jordan had ever talked to him about her pregnancy. Of course, this was the most time they had had alone in months "Maybe next time you'll be more careful…" Woody meant it as a tease…a joking comment. He hoped to keep the easy banter going between them.

Woody had yet to learn you don't tease a pregnant woman. Not that way. "What do you mean by that?" Jordan snapped at him.

"Mean? I meant….nothing by it, Jor. I was just joking…"

"Then the joke is not funny. Do you think I deliberately went out of my way to get myself knocked up?"

"No…no…" Woody felt the ease of the moment evaporate under her sharp words and temper. "I don't think that…not at all." Beads of perspiration began to break out on his forehead. "Look…let's just drop the subject. I didn't mean anything by it…and I certainly didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just trying to make a joke…get things back to normal with us…"

Jordan snorted. "Don't you think too much has happened for that?"

"Old lovers can be good friends," Woody retorted, never taking his eyes off the road. The traffic had really gotten heavy and driving was taking his full attention.

"Old lovers? Don't you mean more like one night stands?" The sarcasm was back in full force.

"So that's what's got your goat? You think that what we had was just a one night stand?"

"I don't think. I know. One night and then 'I don't want to be your rebound guy, Jordan'. What the hell else was I supposed to believe?"

"I don't know…Damn it…" Woody swore. They had headed into the Ted Williams Tunnel and the traffic had ground to a halt. Grabbing his Nextel, he radioed Seely. "Do you know what's going on in the tunnel?" he nearly barked.

"Three car pile up in the middle. They're trying to clear it out, but it just happened. It's going to take a while. The good news is there are no fatalities," Matt cheerfully responded.

"So there's bad news?" Woody cautiously asked.

"The bad news is it's gonna take at least a couple of hours to clear it."

Woody stifled a groan, especially after getting a glimpse of Jordan's face. She was as delighted as he was over the prospect of being stuck in the TWT for hours with each other for company.

Woody did groan when he knew he'd have to call Lu and let her know Morelli's was out of the question tonight…and why. The blonde would hit the roof and take him with her.

"I've got you covered here. Why don't you see if you and Jordan can just turn around and head back to the morgue and wait for me there?" Seely continued.

"Will do," Woody responded, but a quick glance in the rearview mirror told the detective that was out of the question. Traffic was backed up as far as his eyes could see. "Guess we're stuck for a little while," he said, turning to Jordan, giving her the best boy scout grin he could muster under the circumstances.

"Lovely," she murmured. "For how long?"

"Seely said it just happened. And it's in the middle of the tunnel. Three vehicles are involved," he recited in his best policeman's voice. "It's gonna be a while."

"It can't be." Her voice held a note of resolution.

"Sorry, Jordan. Sometimes things just happen. But it's usually for a reason. Maybe this happened to let us have time to talk things out between us…you know we haven't really…"

"No." She broke in. "I've got to get out of here…" Woody began to hear the panic in her voice.

"Jordan, it's going to be alright. I promise. We'll be out in just a little while," he soothed as he remembered she was slightly claustrophobic.

"No…you don't understand, I have to get out now. Now, Woody. Now."

"Jordan…." He was beginning to get annoyed with her attitude, pregnant or not. "Listen to me…"

"No….you listen to me, Farm Boy. I have to get out. My water just broke."