[FanFiction] With The Hands Up In The Air

[Almost_Something]

Title: With The Hands Up In The Air
Author: Anna-Lena
Rating: T
Pairing: W/J (what else?! I'm a die-hard shipper)
Spoiler: Only until the middle of season 4 ;0)
Summary: When the impossible happens, how will everyone take it?
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.

Chapter I: Somewhere
When he opened his eyes, he was startled to find a pair of bright honey-colored ones staring down at him, wearing an almost frightened expression. Seeing he was wide awake, her gaze turned all professional, but there was something else, too. Something that had been missing far too long for his liking, even though he couldn’t place it now. He tried to smile, but found he wasn’t able to. A sharp pain shot through the lower half of his face, making him wince. He dimly wondered how they had even managed to fasten the bandage there.
“Hey.”
Her voice held an unusual warmth, embracing him like a soft blanket on a cold winter day. And she was as welcome. But when he tried to respond, he found he couldn’t speak at all. A moment of sheer panic flared within him, but she had already seen his struggling and was at his side in an instance.
“It’s okay! Just don’t try to speak. You still need that breathing tube. Just nod or shake your head, will you?”
He did as told, even though it hurt like hell. This time she caught his grimace.
“Are you in much pain? Do I need to call the nurse? Is there anything I can –“
She stopped when his questioning fingers found her cold hand and squeezed it gently. Almost ashamed, she lowered her gaze to the floor. He couldn’t see it, but he knew she was toying around with the laces of her shoes, twisting them back and forth in a rapid motion.
Suddenly, he felt the overwhelming urge to run his fingers through her soft chestnut curls and tell her everything would be alright. But he couldn’t, not now.
His frustrated sigh made her turn her head up again, her eyes wide with worry.
“That’s it. I’m gonna call the doctor.”
Before he even had a change to protest, her hand had slipped out of his and she was gone.
If he hadn’t been hurting so badly, he’d have chuckled.

Sorry, it's really short. But it's kinda an introducion :p

[Almost_Something]

Chapter II: She Ain’t Right

Her arrival was announced by the steady thump thump of hospital shoes slapping against the freshly polished flooring. It was hardly a comforting sound, and Woody found himself inching ever-so-slightly under his covers, preparing for a throughout inspection by each of the medics. The more he was surprised when the steps didn’t even slow down when they reached his door and only a much lighter pair of sneakers could be heard behind them. Straining to hear something else, he noticed a decidedly feminine voice interrupting the nonsense chitchat with a somehow unnecessary force, not letting any room for arguments.

“You can’t honestly be serious about that! His medication is way too low, and you don’t even consider a stronger remedy? What the hell is wrong with you people! I worked around here long enough to know what’s able to cover the pain and what’s not. This is not! When you really don’t care a **** for your patients, then at least try and tell them the truth why you are not able to move heaven and hell to ease their ache!”

At this point, faint whistles could be heard. Woody sank further into his bedding, wishfully trying to ignore Jordan’s voice, but he couldn’t quite say she hadn’t poked his curiosity with her rant. Now what was wrong with his medication? He hadn’t felt a change for the worst in the last few minutes, and despite her fear, he wasn’t in that much pain. It only got nasty when he tried to move his head in some way.

“Please be more quiet. Those patients need their rest.”

Well, that was not Jordan… but he had a feeling he’d be hearing that voice again very soon. It moved closer. The next words were nearby and he still couldn’t make out why this person wasn’t making that annoying shoe-sound on the floor. After all, he could hear Jordan’s steps. Yet it sounded as if the voice belonged to a younger girl – maybe a student.

“I told you, he’s already asleep.”

Asleep? Woody blinked. He wasn’t asleep, not by any stretch of the word. The room was darkened, but he still could see clearly, even though he still wasn’t able to tell where Jordan and that girl were standing. They had to be just outside his room.
When Jordan spoke again, he breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t angry anymore. Her tentative words almost didn’t reach his ears.

“Woody? Are you sleeping?”

He briefly wondered how she wanted him to answer that question, but she was already inside and could see he wasn’t. At least not yet… he was beginning to feel really drowsy.

The last thing he noticed before his eyes flattered shut was the warm, comforting touch of her fingers mussing his already messed up hair.

[Almost_Something]

Chapter III: Nowhere

When he woke up again, the room felt awfully empty. Gone was even the last trace of her unique perfume, and he found himself wondering if he had imagined the last hours. But then, his unsettled fingers found something small nestled against the bed frame, almost unnoticeable.


The metal felt somewhat lively, comforting and warm against his hand, and he tightly held onto the tiny locket, knowing without a doubt it was hers… the very same he had returned to her after the burglary. It seemed so long ago -almost like a lifetime away.


So much had happened – or not – between them after that day, so many things couldn’t have gone worse… but yet here they were. Himself lying in a hospital bed and longing to talk to her, and Jordan… yes, where was she? His guess was somewhere between Connecticut and the cafeteria.


With a little, painful smile, he lifted his hand to take a better look at the object of his curiosity… and a cold fear ran down his spine, settling into his mind and letting not much space for rational thoughts. He could feel the locket… he could grasp it… but he couldn’t move his arm.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


It was hard to stay calm.
When he had tried to lift his other arm, he had gotten the same result there… and it occurred to him that it wasn’t just a normal bar fight he had been involved in. But he couldn’t exactly remember what happened. The last thing he knew was walking down the precinct with Jordan… someone was calling him on his cell. He stopped for a second to answer it… and then things got hazy.

The next thing he remembered was waking up here, with an aching jaw, evidently bruises all over his body and as much as no feeling in his arms. What had happened? And what a role played Jordan in this? She had to know something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been this angry about his medication. He vaguely remembered her talking-or rather screaming-at the nurses because she though his medication was too low… too low for what? Numb him? If that was the case, she had failed.


But he shouldn’t really jump on conclusions now, not before he knew what really happened.


“Are you okay?”

The small voice stopped his useless thoughts. He wanted to respond, and was surprised he actually could.. no tube was down his throat anymore. They must had gotten it out while he was asleep.


“No, I’m not! What the hell is wrong with- “


Woody stopped himself when he noticed who he was talking to… a girl. A little girl. A very little girl, looking strangely familiar.

Confused, he tried to place her somewhere in his memory, but he was sure he had never seen her before.
She was barely seven, he guessed. And with her long, chocolate-colored hair and hazel eyes, she was certainly cute, almost like an angel. But why would she care about him?


“I’m sorry. It’s just… could you please get a doctor? I don’t feel so well.”


And he didn’t. His throat was awfully sore, his ribs hurt, and his lungs felt as if they were just about to explode. No, he wasn’t feeling well.
To his amazement, the girl grinned. And shook her head.

“Nope. I’m gonna go and fetch Jo.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


She wasn’t kidding, he found out.

Two minutes later, she was back, an instantly concerned and alerted Jordan in tow.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have left, I was just trying to get an update on your condition from one of the doctors, and then Jess came and told me you’re awake. How do you feel?”