Hello! Where is everyone? It seems a bit dead in here...I know lots of people are over at VS7, but there's still plenty of writing for the rest of us to do!

This is more of a transition chapter, but I hope it works nonetheless. Reveiws are always good; it helps me know people are still reading! Thanks:-)

Chapter Six: Slicing and Dicing

"Jordan, remember—under no circumstances are you to leave the morgue and go out into the field. I don't care how crazy a case Nigel concocts. You are not allowed out! You understand me?"

Jordan rolled her eyes as the elevator dinged. "Geez, Woody. I'm not a five-year-old. I'm fine, and I can take care of myself."

Woody walked with her and continued warning her like an overprotective parent. "You're still sick, Jordan. You shouldn't even be back at work," he said. Jordan gave him another look, and he stopped. "Just be careful, okay? I don't like it when you're sick."

She smiled. His insistence was irritating, but it felt good to know that he cared so much. "I'll…try my best…not to get involved in anything outside the morgue," she said.

"Promise?"

"Yeah."

Kate came out of the doors just as they finished their vows. "What are we promising?" she asked.

Woody jumped on it quickly. "Jordan promised not to do any field work until she is 100 healthy."

"Hey, that's not what I said!"

Kate smirked. "Yeah, well Woody's right. No field work until you're all better. And Dr. Macy left me in charge, so you have to do what I say."

It was Jordan's turn to smirk. "Orders from the chief never stopped me before."

"Then I guess you'll have to stay home."

Jordan looked back at Woody, but it was all too clear that he was happy to have Kate as an ally. "Fine," Jordan grumbled and headed to her office.

"I'll pick you up for lunch!" Woody shouted after her. Jordan waved her hand in acknowledgement and kept on walking.

When Woody came back for lunch, he found Jordan in Autopsy. He watched her through the window for a while, enjoying being able to stare without any interruptions. His stomach reminded him of the reason he came, and prompted Woody through the door.

"Hey," he said softly.

Jordan looked up, slightly startled. "Hey," she said back.

"Almost done?" he asked.

"Yep," she replied. There was a beat of silence, and then she said, "Aren't you going to check and make sure I got this body from inside the morgue?" Clearly, she was still a bit put out from his ranting that morning.

"No," Woody said simply. "I trust you."

This time Jordan stopped working and looked at him properly. Her eyes asked the unspoken question, You do?

His eyes didn't lie. "I'm sorry I was pushy this morning," he said. "I know you just want to get back to normal. Me, too. I just don't want working to make you more sick than you already are."

Jordan came over to him, tossing her gloves in the trash as she went. "It's okay. I should've been more understanding of you, too."

They smiled at each other timidly. Talking things out felt a bit weird, but neither of them wanted a repeat of the day with Dr. Stiles.

"So…does it feel more normal now?" Woody asked.

"Yeah," Jordan nodded. "At least a bit…Bug's not back yet. He wants to spend one more week with Lily and Madeline. And Garret…."

Garret had taken the surgery harder than expected. Though he was going to be fine, he had to stay in the hospital longer so that his body could reset itself.

"We could stop at the hospital on our way to lunch," Woody offered.

Jordan slipped her hand into his. "That's the best idea you've had all day."

Garret was awake and sitting up when Jordan and Woody got to his room.

"Hey," Jordan said as she leaned over to give him a hug.

"Hey yourself," Garret said back. He looked her over, like a father would, and then said, "You look like crap."

Jordan smiled. "You looked at yourself in a mirror lately?"

"Yeah, well. I have a better excuse. And don't cough on me," he teased. "I don't want to be in here any longer than necessary."

Woody shook hands with Garret. It was odd…though Woody was a member of the "family" in every sense, he still felt as if he had to treat Dr. Macy with a degree of respectful distance.

"Are you keeping her on a tight leash?" the doctor asked.

"As tight as she'll let me," Woody answered.

They chatted for a while, and Jordan promised to come back and see Garret the next day.

As they headed out to lunch, Jordan sighed a little.

"What's wrong?" Woody asked.

"Nothing…just enjoying 'normal' things."

"Like driving to lunch?"

"Yeah…and doing autopsies…talking to Garret…heck, I even enjoyed Kate's sarcasm today."

Woody chuckled. "That's because you two are more alike than either of you would like to admit."

Jordan smacked him playfully on the arm. "Whatever," she said.

"Well, this time let's hope that 'normal' sticks around for a while," Woody concluded.

"At least in the 'almost dying' category," she agreed. "It can be un-normal for new things…like us." She looked over at him, trying to gage his reaction.

He smiled—a big, genuine, full 'Woody' smile. "Of course. But soon, we'll be normal together, too."