Disclaimer: No ownership

A/N: Sorry for the delay,had to get big man ready for school. I can't believe I have a third grader. I also found out that my ten year high school reunion is this week,man,I'm getting old...lmao.

P.S. 2kool4skool...i heart farmboy...mwhahahaha

Chapter 10: Playing Hero

Getting into the car they ended up riding most of the way in silence. They had agreed to hold off on the main conversation until they had reached Jordan's apartment. Both were lost in thought on how they would approach the other. Both hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

Once inside Jordan sat her keys down on the table next to the door. Woody quietly entered behind her,closing the door and locking it. This surprised her.

" Locking it so I won't run?", she asked.

He looked down, " Sorry,it's a habit I have at home."

" You are a 'safety first' kind of guy."

This comment slightly amused him. He couldn't help thinking to himself of the previous night, 'Not always.'

Jordan had made a pot of coffee and brought two cups to the couch that he was now sitting at. Woody thanked her as he grabbed one of them from her hand.

" So,you want to know what is going on between Nigel and me?"

" Look,Jordan,I didn't mean to ask that..."

She quickly cut him off. " Yes you did. And there's nothing there."

" There was a little something there and you can't deny that. I saw the way he looked at you last night and I also know that he stayed in close contact with you while you were in DC. Nigel has always had a thing for you,Jo. I mean,he could've been killed and who's the first person he wants to see."

Jordan simply sipped on her coffee taking an extra minute in responding. " You're right."

Woody started feeling nervous, " I am?"

" Yes,you are. Nigel does care for me and maybe for a brief moment I thought I had something for him,but I don't. Nothing other than sincere friendship. He is also fully aware of everything going on in my life and where I am emotionally. I owe him quite a lot and you have to understand that I will always be there for him when he needs me."

He was quite aware of the fool he had made of himself. Sheepishly he apologized.

"It's okay,Woody. I have to admit something myself."

He was curious, " What's that?"

Blushing, " When Lu called this morning,I was jealous. Angry. Frustrated."

He chuckled, " Welcome to my world!"

" It's my turn to apologize now."

He wasn't sure of what she meant,she hadn't done anything to him. " For what,Jo?"

She sat her coffee cup down on the table and moved closer to him. Looking him straight in the eyes while grabbing his hand with hers, " For not being there the way you needed me to."

This confused him and she could tell, " What do you mean? You've always been there for me."

" But I was too busy dealing with my own past,chasing after ghosts and pushing everyone away that I missed what was happening."

" Jordan,you needed to deal with that stuff in your own way. Everybody knew that."

" Yes,and because of that there were times when I put lives at stake.Mostly yours. No matter what I was doing or why, you were always the one there by my side to protect me. What have I done for you?"

He simply smiled, " Jordan,I chose to chase after you playing your hero. Turns out you didn't need me." He paused for a moment,lost in thought. " I'm the one that needs..." but he didn't finish,he just lowered his head.

She could tell it was eating at him. The truth. Things had gotten out of hand for him,too. His past was overwhelming him. She had been through it,now it was his turn. " Are you saying that now you are the one that needs saving?"

He wanted to argue but he didn't have the strength. Nodding his head, " I've been seeing a shrink. I've been trying to deal with my anger issues from the shooting and also dealing with my father's death and having to raise Calvin alone. Plus,the whole deal with Annie and her dad."

She was surprised but relieved, " That's good,Woody. I'm glad that you are able to talk about it. As long as it's not Lu that you are seeing."

This made him laugh, " Hell no! I'm not going there again. I'm making sure I get real help this time."

She laughed with him. It felt good to let go of that part of the past. Mistakes had been made on all of their parts and now was the time to fix them.

Continuing, " So,seeing a shrink? Do you think you're making good progress?"

Woody really didn't know what to say. " Well,I'm feeling better about some things and scared to death about others. I still feel like a failure in most aspects."

Leaning in, " Why do you say that? I think you are one heck of a man,Woody. You've just been trying to do it all and sometimes you have to let someone help."

Woody had a huge smile plastered on his face when he turned to look at her. She melted into the depths of his dimples. " Funny...that's the same thing he said to me."

" Really?" She couldn't help but turn away to keep from laughing. " Sounds like a really smart man if ya ask me."

Throwing his arms around her and pulling her close, " Could it be true that our little Ms. Cavanaugh has truly grown-up! I mean,you have so much wisdom these days."

" It's about time someone noticed," as she poked him on the shoulder.

" I noticed right before you decided to run away to DC,thank you very much. You just didn't give me much time to catch up."

She could see a little bit of hurt in his eyes when he said this. She felt bad about putting him in the situation,yet again,of choosing career over love. He would go to the end of the Earth for her and back if need be and she used that to her ability everytime. It was time for payback. Lots of it.

" I am sorry,Woody. For everything. I promise to make it up to you." She leaned in and hugged him tight.

" You shouldn't be sorry for anything,Jordan. I made up my mind along time ago that no matter what happened between us I'd never let you get hurt. Even though several times it was me that hurt you. That's what bothers me most."

She looked up at him, " Things happen when we least expect them to,Woods. I look at it this way..."

He leaned his head back on the sofa and chuckled, " This should be interesting."

" Seriously,hear me out."

" Okay."

" We both have hurt each other and both have taken turns in making it right. We both have our demons that we seem to fight daily and now it seems as if we're winning those fights. And you know what the coolest thing is?"

He wasn't sure what to expect, " There's something 'cool' to be found in personal torture?"

Jordan snickered, " Well,since you put it that way..."

Woody sat up and turned to face her as she got up to refill her coffee cup. " I didn't mean it like that."

As she returned from the kitchen, " I know." She grinned and he rolled his eyes.

" Please continue then."

" The coolest thing is,Mr.Hoyt,that we are doing all of this together. We may be battered,bruised and a little broken,but we are healing. In all of the insanity we have managed to stick together. I think that's a major accomplishment for both of us."

She sat down next to him and kissed him deeply.

Pulling back for just an instant, " Well,since you put it that way..."

" Shut up and kiss me,Farmboy."