DISCLAIMER: Jordan Cavanaugh, Lisa Fromer, et al belong to Tim Kring, Tailwind Productions and NBC Studios. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. The story along with any/all original characters are the sole property of the author and cannot be used without expressed permission first.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is a part of the "Scared Straight" series and follows "Waiting." If you haven't read them before and would like to, you can find the series here: http://glasswrks.150m.com/Jordan.htm.
SPOILERS: For second season episodes "Scared Straight" and "The Perfect Storm."
THANKS: My beta reader Myra. Once again, you've done a wonderful job.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
COPYRIGHT: April 17th – May 1st, 2006.
Scared Straight: Baby Steps
By A.M. Glass
"Lise..." Jordan called out as she entered Lisa's condo.
"In here."
Jordan closed the door behind her, and put her keys on the end table.
She took off her coat, draped across the couch, and continued into the bedroom. She looked around and still seeing no one called, "Lise?"
"The bathroom."
"Hey," Jordan called out as she leaned against the bathroom doorjamb.
It had been a few months since the incident at work when a virulent strain of E. Coli had left three people dead, among them, Elaine Duchamps.
The hours before Elaine's death were tense. A new M.E., Peter Winslow, had become sick and not long afterwards, so had Macy. Jordan had no idea if she'd see her father, Max Cavanaugh, or Lisa again.
Once the source of the bacteria had been discovered, it was simply a matter of time before help arrived. After Macy, Winslow and Bug had been transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital for treatment, Jordan left for Lisa's condo.
She was surprised to find her father waiting for her when she opened the door. He explained as he held onto her that Lisa had called and told him there was a problem that she hadn't been able to contact Jordan, and Lisa thought he should know.
He had rushed over to Lisa's during the worst blizzard Boston had seen in some time. They had spent hours waiting for news – anything that would let them know what was going on.
He had explained how Lisa had gone into what could be best described as shock after watching a news report concerning the situation announcing that there had been three apparent fatalities.
After he left, Jordan had gone over to the couch where Lisa had been rocking silently and sat next to her.
She had told her: "Lise... it's Jordan... please say something."
At first Lisa had said her name, as if proving to herself that Jordan was there with her. Then she held on, repeating, "You're home, you're home."
It wasn't long before Lisa started grabbing Jordan's clothes franticly, kissing her with an urgency Jordan couldn't recall ever having experienced before. Lisa couldn't get enough of her – as was evidenced by the bruises and bite marks she'd left behind.
Jordan had decided to leave the jokes about the marks behind when Lisa cried while touching her, telling her "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Jordan held her tight, whispering to her, "It's okay, it's okay."
She knew why it had been frantic – desperate and rough. They had been at the edge of a precipice, their lives hanging in the balance. Their lovemaking had taken on a whole new meaning as they realized how easily it could have been Jordan in the crypt instead of Elaine.
"I don't want to lose you Jordan, I can't," Lisa had whispered as she kissed her, trying to make amends.
Jordan was taken out of her thoughts as Lisa spoke to her. "Hello there," Lisa said as she touched up her lipstick. "Have an interesting day?"
Jordan pushed away from the door, walked up behind Lisa and hugged her. "It was okay. You smell nice," she said as she placed a few kisses on her neck.
Lisa moved her head giving Jordan more access. "Thanks... that... feels good," she whispered.
"I hope so," Jordan quipped. She recognized that she'd become more affectionate – more physical since that night; from small touches – holding hands – brief kisses, to touches that left them both gasping for air, perspiring, sore and achy, touches Jordan quite looked forward to. "Hot date?" she asked as she rested her chin on Lisa's shoulder, wrapping her arms around Lisa's waist.
"Scorching," Lisa replied smiling. "We've got some leftover Chinese in the 'fridge if you're hungry," she said as she turned in Jordan's embrace. "Hello." Lisa brushed her lips against Jordan's, feeling her breath hitch when Jordan responded by tracing her lips gently.
"How much time do you have?" Jordan whispered as she nuzzled Lisa's neck.
"Forty-five minutes, if I want to get there on time," Lisa gasped as Jordan began to suck on her earlobe.
"That gives me..." Jordan calculated in her head, "About..."
"No time, sweetheart. You know..." she groaned as Jordan continued her oral assault on her neck. "Oh... Jordan..."
Jordan smiled as she placed kisses along the side of Lisa's neck, moving downward until she stopped at the cloth barrier of the dress. Her hands, which were at Lisa's waist, began to move up slowly, caressing, enjoying the tremors as she found the special spot on Lisa's body, which made Lisa shiver with delight.
Lisa had no control as she whimpered as Jordan's hands reached her breasts, not quite touching, more like teasing her – making her back arch for more contact. It never failed to surprise her how quickly Jordan could turn her to a massive puddle of flesh.
She had been with Stephanie a long time, but Lisa couldn't recall, even during the beginning stages of their relationship, when Stephanie had been able to make her feel as if she were the only person on Earth. . . to see to her every want, her every need.
Jordan, as far as Lisa was concerned, was, hands down, the best lover she had ever been with. At first, Lisa chalked it up to the fact that Jordan was new to the entire situation. Of course it would be different, exciting.
A stray thought had crossed Lisa's mind moments before Jordan had made love to her for the first time: "What if?"
She wasn't able to continue her thought processes as Jordan's inexperienced, yet amazingly capable, hands managed to make her lose herself in the sensations of being swept away.
In the last few months they had practically worn themselves out – going from room to room. First at her condo, then Jordan's place – no room had been left uninitiated.
Then there were the quick make-out sessions in the car, when neither of them seemed able to get enough of the other. All in all, Lisa thought herself quite lucky.
"We... can't," she groaned as Jordan's hands finally caressed her breasts.
"I'm sure your date won't mind," Jordan teased, as she tasted Lisa's skin.
Lisa raised her hands and gripped Jordan's head, moving her away from her chest and stared into her dark brown eyes. She could see a barely restrained lust in them – a fire that would consume them both if she let it. "When I get home," she said, watching in amusement as a look of surprise crossed Jordan's face.
"You're leaving?" she asked incredulously.
Lisa smirked, "Yes. As difficult as that may seem, I have to go," she said as she kissed Jordan.
"That kiss," Jordan groaned, "Does not say stop."
"Just something to hold you until I get back."
Jordan playfully leaned against the vanity, "I'm not sure I can survive until then."
Lisa laughed, "Oh Sweetheart, you do this every time..."
"And every time I'm hoping you'll give in."
Lisa embraced Jordan, "What am I going to do with you?"
"Anything you want," Jordan answered.
"And on that note," Lisa stepped back knowing she'd never leave if she didn't.
"Go on, I'll be good."
"That goes without saying," Lisa told her as she left the bathroom.
"Lise?"
"Yes, Sweetheart."
"I... have you given any thought to what I asked."
"You mean?"
"Yeah – getting a place together. It seems like the best thing to do. You're either at my place, or I'm here with you. Think of the money we'll save..."
"Jordan," Lisa sighed as she turned to face her girlfriend, her partner.
"Never mind, forget I mentioned it," Jordan told her as she crossed her arms and looked down.
Lisa walked over to Jordan, seeing the defensive posture she was in, as if she were trying to protect herself from the conversation. Jordan..."
"You're going to be late."
"I don't care and I doubt your father will mind."
Lisa and Max Cavanaugh had gotten to know each other better since the "incident" as she called it. They had decided to have dinner once a week, with or without Jordan, depending on her caseload.
Lisa had not missed one, and actually looked forward to them. Max was always regaling her with stories about Jordan as a child, much to Jordan's chagrin.
"You know I would love to get a place with you. Max has even asked why we haven't yet."
"He has?" Jordan questioned as she looked up. "He hasn't said anything to me."
"I think he's waiting for you to say something."
"Oh."
"Jordan, I'm not going to hide our relationship. Your picture is on my desk at work, and if someone asks, I tell them you're my girlfriend..."
Jordan looked down; she knew where this was headed and she knew she had no one to blame but herself.
Lisa reached out and gently lifted Jordan's chin. "But..."
"Until I can do the same... I know."
"I don't want to push you into something you're not ready for."
"You're not – honestly."
Lisa caressed Jordan's cheek, "I love you, Jordan, and I know you feel the same way..."
"I do," she answered readily.
Lisa smiled. "I'm willing to wait for you..."
"I don't..."
"Shh," Lisa placed her fingertips on Jordan's lips. "I'm going have dinner with your father, and when I come home, we can finish what you started earlier, unless you don't want to. I won't force it."
"I know you wouldn't."
Lisa nodded, "Or we can talk or simply hold each other. It's up to you. It doesn't matter what we do, as long as it's together."
"All right. Give my dad a kiss for me?"
"Of course I will. Will you still be here when I get back?"
"Yes."
"Okay," Lisa kissed Jordan quickly. "I'll see you later."
Jordan watched as Lisa left the bathroom, grabbed her purse and coat, and left the bedroom. Moments later she heard the front door open then close. Sighing deeply, Jordan went to the bed and sat down.
It wasn't as if she didn't want to tell people, her friends and colleagues, about Lisa, she did.
She was simply scared.
Scared of their reactions, considering how they teased her when their photograph appeared in the newspaper – how her arm was protectively around Lisa's shoulders as she led her out of the police station.
She knew she over-reacted then, when she wasn't in a relationship with Lisa, how was she going to react when they found out she was.
She was scared they wouldn't accept Lisa's presence in her life. She knew deep down, if any of them said anything, she'd not only put a stop to it, she'd leave, but not without making a big stink about it.
Friend or not, no one could get away with bad mouthing Lisa.
She closed her eyes and when she did a face popped into her mind: Woody.
She hadn't told him, except for saying she was seeing someone. Of course he'd asked who it was, and was she sure she could, "Trust this guy."
She had told him, "With my life," and left it at that.
Why was this so hard?
Jordan could think of all the worst-case scenarios – of all the things that could happen, but until she said something, she'd never know.
"I'm not gay," she muttered to herself. She just happened to fall in love with a woman, and not just any woman.
Lisa.
She sat up.
Why was she waiting to tell everyone about the person who made her feel alive? The person who made her life something more than just a job, someone who her father, the one person in the world whose opinion mattered most of all, accepted with open arms.
Jordan got up and went into the living room. Sitting on the couch, she grabbed the phone, dialed and waited.
"Hello..."
"Garrett..."
"Jordan?"
"Yeah. Umm, hey, I was wondering if the poker party is still on?"
"I thought you didn't want to go?"
"I, ah, I changed my mind."
"All right."
"Garrett..."
"Yes?"
"Can I bring someone?"
"Sure, I don't have a problem with that."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night Jordan."
As she hung up the phone, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Baby steps," she said out loud. A frown covered her face. "I wonder if Lisa knows how to play poker?"
The End