This is still kinda scattered, but I promise it will all come together…

Chapter Two

The Time Has Come

All-in-all, Boston hadn't really changed that much. Winters were still bone-chilling cold and summers could be lobster-boiling hot. Mondays after weekends were still crazy and Mondays after long holiday weekends were even worse, Jordan mused to herself as she once again trod down the familiar halls of a morgue she wasn't sure she would ever return to.

"How's it going, Jordan?" A well-meant question, but one Garret had warily asked several times since she had returned Jordan wasn't far off the mark when she had wondered out loud if that was Garret's way of checking to see if she was ready to leave town again.

"Good. But we're backed up in the crypt. Any idea when Bug's going to be in?"

Garret glanced to vacant station in the office Bug still shared with Nigel and then to Lily's dark office. "Not sure, but he said he wouldn't be too late."

"Oh." Jordan raised her eyebrows. "Something I need to know about?"

Garret shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Ah. Honeymooners still…oh, to be young and in love…" she joked.

"Something like that," he replied turning to go back into his office. "I'll scrub up and be in autopsy in a minute." It was the least he could do, after getting her back and throwing her head first back into the madhouse called the Boston morgue.

"I can handle it until Bug gets back," she called to his closed door. "I really can…" But Garret wasn't listening. Jordan sighed, tucked a curl behind her ear and made her way down the hall to the break room to grab a cup of coffee before heading back to autopsy.

A fifteen minute caffeine fix, she thought as she poured herself a cup and mused over the changes that had taken place while she was gone. She had been surprised that most of the morgue staff, at least the ones she had known before she settled in Princess Anne, were still the same. Garret was sober, older, and more cautious than ever. And maybe just a little more compassionate, as of late. Nigel was still Nigel. He hadn't changed any. Glad to have her back, but still as eccentric as ever.

And always her friend.

The biggest changes had been in Bug and Lily. Which Jordan had kind of expected. They were the only married couple in her circle of old friends from Boston. She knew that things would change…Bug and Lily would change….but she hadn't expected them to change quite so much. It wasn't as if they were like some couples who get so wrapped up in each other and their life together that they turn their backs on old friends, but something was keeping them pre-occupied and Jordan knew it wasn't just newlywed sex.

Bug wore a worried expression a good portion of the time and Lily always looked on edge. If Jordan was a betting woman, she'd bet Lily was pregnant despite what Garret had said about "nothing being out of the ordinary."

As a matter of fact, she'd wager a night out at the Beef-n-Brew that was what was wrong. She smiled as she finished her coffee and set her cup in the sink. If it was, it would explain Bug's worried looks and Lily's edginess…a baby brought a lot into play. Money. Lily's health. A house. College funds.

But a baby…

Despite that fact that she was Jordan Cavanaugh and people still expected her to behave in certain ways, she really had changed and matured during her time in Somerset County…even more than when she had been in Boston.

Whether it was the slower pace along the Maryland coastline or just the point she was at in her life, Jordan began to think about having a family herself. Nearly all the people she had worked with at the Maryland morgue had families. It seemed she was constantly being sent invitations to baby showers, bridal showers, christenings, kindergarten graduations. Even Bar Mitzvahs. She had gone to Saturday soccer games with her friends that were soccer moms and Friday night football games to see her former chief ME's son play quarterback.

And wondered what it would be like to be a real part of that. Have a husband. A few kids. A dog. A house with a white picket fence. Drive a mini-van for the next fifteen or so years.

Feel life kicking inside her.

Spend twenty hours in labor in order to produce someone who might have the next cure for cancer or AIDS tucked between their ears.

But be just as proud of them if they made an eighty on their Algebra I final.

A baby.

She hoped Lily was pregnant. Jordan might not experience motherhood herself, but a best friend that was pregnant was the next best thing. Lily would share. She had shared everything else with Jordan.

And this way I don't have to deal with colic, two a.m. feedings, or teething…

"It's negative," Lily said, trying hard to keep her tears at bay.

And not succeeding very well. Another negative pregnancy test…

"It's okay, Lily," Bug replied, coming up behind her and gently cradling her against him. "It's okay. When the time is right, we'll have a baby. Don't worry."

"But I do. I worry." Lily reached for a Kleenex and wiped her nose. "We've been trying for two years…and nothing." She turned in his arms and cuddled into his chest. "Two years is a long time to try and nothing happen."

"What did the doctors tell us? We're a little older, and sometimes it takes us 'old farts' a while to conceive. We'll just have to keep practicing until we get it right." He pushed her hair out of her eyes and gave her a lewd grin. "And we know how much we both like practicing…."

Lily giggled despite her tears. She had to. The grin was so seemingly out of character for Bug, unless you knew him really well….knew him like she knew him, anyway. "I know…but don't you think it's time we called the other doctor?"

Bug sighed. "Dr. Roberts?" He really didn't have to ask. He knew who Lily meant. Dr. Roberts was the fertility specialist that Lily's regular gynecologist had recommended.

"Yeah. Him. Don't you think it's time?" she asked again, still sniffling back her tears.

Bug slowly nodded. "I…I guess so," he responded, trying his best to keep the reluctance out of his voice.

Lily blew her nose. "I'll call him when I get to work. Make an appointment." She kissed him softly. "I'll let you know when it is."

Bug nodded again. "I guess we should get going. Jordan's going to be wondering where I'm at."

"But Garret knows?"

Another nod. "Dr. Macy knows. He said take as long as we need. But don't worry, he's not telling," he hastily added, to reassure his wife.

"I know he won't…I guess I just don't want anyone to know about this until we have something definite nailed down."

"If…if … things don't work out, no one ever has to know, Lily."

Lily nodded. "I know that, too."

"So you've got an actual date tonight?" Nigel asked as Jordan was getting ready to leave work early.

"That surprises you?"

Nigel shook his head. "No. Yes. I don't know…I mean I know you were gone for three years and probably dated in Maryland. I guess we're kind of stuck in that zone you were in after….after…" his voice trailed off.

"After I sent Pollack packing and shut myself off from everyone?"

"Yeah…" After you realized that Woody and Lu were seeing each other and you weren't expecting that…not after that night at the Inn. Jordan didn't know Nigel knew about the Lucy Carver Inn. Woody had confessed it to him one night over too many beers and a raging bout of guilt. After he had broken up with Lu, and shortly before Jordan had announced she wasn't coming home yet.

Jordan grinned and fluffed her hair out. "I did date some in Maryland. No one serious."

She's moved on and grown up…"Then who's the lucky guy tonight?" Dear God, don't let it be Woodrow.

"Remember Eddie Winslow?"

Nigel thought for a minute and nodded vaguely. "I think so." Detective Winslow had been on his way out of the Nineteenth about the time Nigel was on his way in at the morgue.

"Eddie's in Cambridge now, at the Eighth. He sent me an e-mail the other day about an old case we worked on together years ago…after I got back to Boston from LA. We started talking… one thing led to another…"

"And you're rekindling the old flame tonight?"

Jordan laughed. "More like just pizza and a few beers, Nige." She put on her coat and made for the door.

"Be good…" His voice trailed after her.

"Always am…."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't…"

Her head popped back in the door. "Well, that leaves the field wide open, doesn't it?"

Nigel threw a paper wad at her retreating figure, chuckling the entire time. It was nice to see Jordan settling in so well. For weeks he had wondered, even feared, if her stay in Boston would be temporary.

To his and Garret's relief, it appeared that she was really home this time. She was peaceful…content….grown up.

And made no effort to re-establish what almost-was with Woody. The fact that she was dating someone else and shying away from a relationship that had at one time left her hurt, confused, and on an emotional rollercoaster was a good thing.

Good for both of them.

Good for everyone involved. Nigel sighed in resolution, put both hands behind his back, and leaned back in his chair. Now if he could just get Buggles to loosen up, all would be well in his little morgue-hole. Nigel had assumed that marriage….finally getting the woman that Bug had really loved since the day he had laid eyes on her…would lighten up the moods of his semi-morose friend.

And it had for a while.

Nigel couldn't detect there was trouble in paradise, but something was definitely wrong…he just couldn't put his finger on what it was.